The Indianapolis journal. [volume], August 05, 1888, Page 11, Image 11

About The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL. SUNDAY, AUGUST 5. 1S88 TWELVE PAGES.
II
FOUND A FORTUNE.
How an Illinois Coal Miner Dlscorered a
Cliest Full or Gold.
Galena (111.) Social.
A story, equal in point of interest to that of
the treasure ears la Dumas s famous ro
mance of the 'Count of Mooto Cristo," or of
the valley of diamonds discovered by Sin bad,
the Sailor, a pits a ia the "Arabian Nights"
tale, ia related by a nan named Alexander Stan"
bone, -who arrived in this coanty two weets ago,
af tar an absence of thirty-one years, devoted en
tirely to travel, which has taken him to every
part of the habitable globe. He has crossed the
Atlantic forty-three) times, made thirteen trips
up the Mediterranean, a dozen or mors voyages
across the Pacific from China to San Francisco,
and visited every portion of South America as
many times over as ho has fingers and thumbs
on both hands.
Tbo past five years Staohose has devoted to
travel in ths Unite! States, particularly that
portion between the Pacifte coast and the Mis
sissippi and Missouri rivers- He is fifty-nine
J ears of age, bronzed and athlete In appearance,
is s:x feet and two inches of stature, marked
muscular development end erect carriage, com
bined itith a genial handsome countenance, lit
p by a pair of keen gray eyes, and surmounted
by a head of silken brown nair, making him s
distinguished figure among his fellowmen. Of
eourse, it has taken a large amount of mooey to
induce Stanhope's propensity for sitht-seeing
and adventure, and es be was known to be a
poor young man during bi3 residence in the
Galena lead mines io early times, the story as
to how he obtained the xnevis to defray bis ex
penses, forms a chapter "i remlng romance
whieh the inerednlous will fc iow in believing,
but whieh is nevertheless tru- in all its details,
jodgicg from the aoparent pel feet eandor of the
hero himself, whose interesting narrative, as re
lated for the first time to a Globe-Democrat re
porter, is as follows:
"I came to Galenc in 1317, having; emigrated
to this country in that year from Truro, Eng
land, after the death of both my parents and all
zny near relatives. Like many other foreigners
who settled here, I embarked in the business of
Dining, and alone, with, nothing but pick and
gad, began the exploration of a natural drift at
the foot of the pr . npitous bluff now known as
New California, in this (Jo Daviess) county.
After working industriously for ttvo weeks, dur
ing which period the 'drift became wider and
wider, I suddenly broke into a large cave, the
vaulted roof of which was decorated with stalac
tite and spar, the latter glistening in the light
of my solitary miner's lamp like
a million diamonds. Struck with awe at the
sight before ne, I could but peer with wonder
ing and strained eyes into and about
the cavexn, the full dimensions of which I
was unable to estimate on account of the
imperfect light shed by my lamp. While stand
ing, spell-bound, at the mouth of the cave I no
ticed, a short distance to the right, inside the
cavern, a shelving of rock, jutting oat probably
three feet from the wall and about breast high
from the floor, upon the top of which rested
what proved to be, on examination, a large iron
bonnd chest of calc. the lid of which was se
cured bv a eurioualy-ehaped padlock of brass.
With the aid of my iick and gad I broke open
the ehest, and to my utter amazement 1 found
ie to be filled to the top with Spanish doubloons,
bearing the date of 152& Overjoyed, naturally,
at the discovery, I fell to speculating upon how
to remove the gold, and eavo but little thought
as to the phenomenal circumstance of its being
there. On leavine Galena for Mew California I
had purchased a good-sized, strongly-built skiff,
in which to transport my tools, provisions and
other mining outfit to that place, which is ao
ceonihle all the way by water.
Without lengthy forethought I decided to
transfer the treasure to my boat, and, as soon as
that was accomplished, to set out for New Or
leans, where I could anvaotageously dispose
of it. I began, accordingly, with great expedj
tiou?nes3 lest I should be disturbed by inquisi
tive new-comers, to carry the plan into execu
tion, and succeeded that eight in conveying the
gold to my skiff, where I deposited it safely in
two strong lockers which formed the seats in
the forward sod stern ends of the boat. On the
following morning, after effectually banking up
the mouth of the drift. I set out noon my
lengthy voyage, which I accomplished in exact
ly three weeks, with but few unpleasant advent
ures during tne trip, and without exciting the
slizhtest suspicion cf any one on the way as to
the valuable nature of ray cargo.
"At New Orleans I sold my doubloons to
Las pier c Du Bois, bankers and brokers of that
city, receiving in exchange an equivalent in
American cold, amounting in the aggregate to
$300,000. Purchasing English, French and Ger
man exchange with n;y money. I took passage
for Liverpool on the first European-bound ves
sel, and after sojourning a while in my native
town of Truro, I determined upon spending the
balance of my days in wandering about the
world, thus gratifying an ambition which bad
teen my fondest dream from my early boyhood.
Having journed. many times over, through
every continent on tho fcemijphere, covering
more consecutive miles in that manner than
any other traveler in existence, 1 have tem
porarily given up my wandering, and with
which I am becoming somewhat surfeited, and
propose to seek rest ataong the scenes of my
early manhood, which are still familiar to me,
although thirty-one years have passed since I
rimed my back opon them, my heart deeply
elated over this golden fortune which had so
suddenly and wonderfully come into my hands."
The drift in which Stanhopa found tbe Span-
; ish treasure was not discoverei until 137G. wnea
nwo Irih prospectors one of thern Tom Shat-
ron. well known in ttii rerion as the "Hero of
ChickamangV broke into tbe cave after several
years of fruitless search for an "opening," and
took out of it a large fortune in mineral. Tbe
chesjjphieh contained the doubloons secured by
Stat-ije was found by Shannon, and occasioned
unbounded surprise and no little speculation as
to how it got there. The mystery has, of eourse,
sever been solved; but it is believed by Stan
hope that the chest of treasure was stolen by
some of De Soto's soldiers at the time he discov
ered and explored the Mississippi, and was se
creted in the cave, the entrance to which had
been blocked up by the alluvial deposits and
changes of upwards of 300 years.
Bill Arp and II la Doc.
Atlanta Constitution.
Tbe other night about a dozen of the uabora'
dogs came visiting to our bouse, and made such
a racket that I got up and blared away with a
run promiscuous, and the next morning there
was a dead one in the front yard. That was
bad for the dog and bad on our nabor, but it was
good for us. Tbe next night our dog went out
visiting to return tbe calls, and came back with
a bullet-hole through him, and I was glad of it,
for I was feeling sorter mean about killing our
' nabor's dog, and so this helped to restore the
equilibrium. Our dog laid around all day, and
. wouldn't die. and we doctored him as well as we
could, and the next morning we couldn't find him
anywhere. After a general hunt one of the boys
said maybe he had got under the house
' and down in an old eellar that we didn't use; so
we lifted up the trap-door in the back entry, and
sure enough the dog was down there licking his
wounds. We jumped down to see how he was
getting on, and gave him some water and vittels,
and while we were squatted down over him tne
cook woman came along from the kitchen, and
. was making for the pantry with a great big nan
of hot water to wash the breakfast dishes. She
tlidn't know the tran-door was open, and she
couldn't see it for tbe dish-pan that was before
her, and she is sorter near-sighted anyhow, and,'
of course she just walked right into the hole,
and lit down on me and the boys and the dog with
' the hot water to boot, and she fell all over us
before we could tell what it was that darkened
the hole, and she come a screaming and holler
ing and praying to the Lord, and we all screamed
and hollered, too, and the dog gave a yelp,
and jumped out of the cellar, and all the
women folks come a-runnicg, and just such
a rumpus never was raised in these parts be
fore, and 1 hope will never be again. But after
all there was nobody killed or wounded or
scalded very much. Tbe cook woman had to
go home and get calm and serene and change
her clothes and fix up. and me and the boys had
a family reception and lots of hilarious com
miseration, and the dog vacated that eellar for
rood, and I reckon the hot water eured him, for
he is getting welL I haven't been able up to
this time to discover the good that was in the
tail end of the frolic, unless it is that the women
folss ever and anon break, out into such a fit of
laughing they have to stou sewing and as "a
Coed laugh helpeth digestion.'' I hope they won't
need so much liver medicine for a season. They
seem to sympathize with us a good deal, but I
sever did appreciate sympathy that was mixed
op with so much one-sided hilarity.
Angels or Folks, Which?
la'iana Cbriatian adrocate.
As that venerable servant of God, Father Tay
lor, the great sailor-preacher, wss slowly ap
proaching tbe close of his long and useful life,
ia one of the momenta of ecstaey which are so
often vouchsafed to the dying Christian, one
landing near said: 'The angels are hovering
near." "I do not want angels, I want folks.'
said tbe bluff old preacher. In that be tersely
expressed the preference of every man whose
earthly ties have bound him to friends and
kindred dar. Bat are not the angels who
minister to us folks! Is not that a false inter
pretation of Scripture which assumes that the
spirits who are interested in us are a separate
order of beings, unconnected withusl Thev are
folks in tbe spirit life, and they hover around
us as our guardians, un perceived it may be, but
sot always unfelt. The angels who sat at the
foot and the head of where the Savior had Iain,
were men. The angels who tarried with Lot
were men, and so the bible through. Thse
angels are folks, and they are our own folks.
, Tint, xao&cr who has gone tefaro, that bub&sj,
that wife, that child are they not all minister
ing spirits sent forth to minister to those who
shall be heirs of salvation to minister to us!
Ther are not mere servants who have sno inter
est in their wards but a perf onctory interest;
they are drawn to ns by that tie that death had
not dissolved; they are folks, they are our own
folks.
ALPINE GLACIERS.
A Scientific but Uotechnlcal Explanation of
Their Formation ana Movements.
Prof. John Tyndall, la Youth's Companion.
Some years ago, I stood upon the roof of tbe
great cathedral of Milan. The air over the
plains of Lombardy was then as pure and trans
parent as it is here to-day. Prom the cathedral
roof tbe snowy Alps are to be seen; and, on the
occasion to whieh I refer, a light wind blew
towards them.
When this air, so pr.re and transparent as long
as the sunny plains of Lombardy were under
neath to warm it, reached the cold Alps, and
was tilted ud their sides, the aqueous vapor it
contained was precipitated into clouds of scowl
ing blackness.
If you pour cold water into a tumbler on a
fine, summer day, a dimness will be immediately
produced by the conversion into water, on the
outside surface of tbe glass, of the aqueous
vapor of the surrounding air. Pushing the ex
periment still further you may fill a suitable
vessel with a mixture of ice and salt, whioh is
colder than the coldest water. On the hottest
day in summer, a thick for of hoar frost is thus
readily produced onMhe chilled surface of the
vessel.
The quantity of vapor which the atmosphere
contains varies from day to day. In England,
northeasterly winds bring us dry air, because
the wind, before reaching us, has passed over
vast distances of dry ground. Southwesterly
winds, on the other hand, come charged with
the vapor contracted during their passage over
vast tracts of ocean. Such winds, in England,
produce tbe heaviest rains.
And now we approach a question of very great
interest. The condensed vapor which reaohes
tbe lowlands as rain, falls usually upon the sum
mits as scow. To a resident among the Alps, it
is interesting to observe, the morning after a
night's heavy ram. a limit sharply drawn at tbe
same level along the sides of tbe mountains,
above which they are covered with snow, while
below it no snow is to be seen. This limit
marks th? passage from snow to rain.
To the mountain snow all the glaciers of the
Alps owe tieir existence. By ordinary mechani
cal pressure snow can he converted into solid
ice; and, partly by its own pressure, partly by
the freezing of infiltrated water, the snow of
the mountains is converted into the ice of the
glaciers.
The great glaciers, such as the one now below
me, have all large gathering grounds, great ba
sins or branches, where tbe snow collects and
becomes gradually compacted to ice. Partly by
the yielding of its own mass, and partly by slid
ing over its bed, this iee moves downward into
a trunk valley, where it forms what De Saussure
called "a glacier of the first order." Such a
glacier resembles a river with its tributaries.
We may go further and affirm, with a distin
guished writer on this subject, that ''between a
glacier and a river there is a resemblance so
complete, that it would be impossible to find, in
the latter, a peculiarity of motion which does
sot exist in tho former."
It has been proved that, owitfg ti the friction
of its sides, which holds the ioebaek, the motion
of a glaeeir is swiftest at its center; that, be
cause of the fnetion against its bed, the surface
of a glacier moves more rapidly that its bottom;
that, when the valley through which the glacier
moves is not straight, but curved, the point of
swiftest motion is shifted from its center
towards the concave aide of the valley. All
these facts hold equally good for a rivr.
Wide glaciers, moreover, are sometimes forced
through narrow gorges, after which they widen
again. At some distance below the spot whero
I now write, is tuft gorge of the Massa. through
which, in former ages, tbe great Aletsoh glacier
was forced to pass, widening afterwards, and
overspreading a large tract of country In its de
scent to the valley of the Rhone.
It is easy to understand that, with a substanee
like glaeier ice, when some parts of it are held
back bv friction while other parts, not so re
strained, tend to move forward, tensions must
occur which will break up the ice, forming elefts
or fissures, to relieve tbe strains. The crevasses
of glaciers are thus produced.
CANADIAN INDIANS.
What a Jesuit Priest Saye of Their Moral
Condition.
C IT. F.-trnlian. in Anmit Harrer.
"Was it not very difficult to give them Chris
tian principles? How did yoa beginP
It was all very simple," said the priest; "it
bad to be simple, for an Indian of eighteen is
notbove a white child of six years. It was
hard work for them to learn to read their own
tongue; but a few learned to read and sing
from manuscript books written in the characters
of our printed alphabet. As they are exceed
ingly lond of music, and liked our tnelodiea far
better than their own dull chants, they at once
took to copying these hymns. Music led them
on till, finally, nearly all have learned to
real their hymns and catechisn now
printed for them. They write a good many let
ters for me to carry from post to post. And in
the woods they frequently gife news and mate
appointments in the hunting-grounds by writ
ing on birch bark which they put into a split
stick erected on some frequented route. This
primitive postal eervioe is quite reliable, and
bricgi me news often from even the most re
mote families; and yon wonld be surprised at
the delicacy and strength of sentiment in some
of those letters. Their earliest literature, so to
speak, is geography, very accurate maps of their
country drawn on birch bark to guide the first
traders and missionaries; some of them are still
preserved by the Hudson Bay Company, at
Montreal. But to return to their conversion,
their progress was comparatively easy after they
became Interested in the hymns."
"What do you try to teach themr
"Simply to read the hymns and catechism.
Then our preaching is npon the most elemental
duties and morality of Christians. They need
nothing beyond this in their simple existence;
in fact, they are with us so little, and have such
slow minds, that it would be impracticable to do
more. They eannot count even beyond ten. ex-
cent by adding to ten. as ten-one, ten-two, eta
"Do yon find any difficulty in governing
themr
"None whatever, if they Veep away from the
whites. They are very obedient, and tbey wor
ship the missionary as veritably the representa
tive of Ood. And we have to be doctor and
magistrate, as wsll as teacher and preacher to
them. They take very easiiy the leading ideas
of Christianity, and follow them pretty well;
and tbey are very regular in their religious
duties, even in the woods."
"But why don't you give them more of the
material advantages of civilization and extend
their education morel"
"That is scarcely practicable. They will not
eh an re their mode of life. The only way to help
the Indian is to give him the simplest code of
moral and religious conduct, emake him feel the
constant criticism of Ood even in his isolation,
and then let him continue his natural life ia the
woods. They must be kept firmlv under con
trol, but only through kind and sympathetic re
lations, and through the influence of religious
duties. I think that your Indians and every
wild race should be governed peaceably by such
means, instead of by armies and industrial civi
lization that they will not accept."
The winter life of these Montagnais is essen
tially the same as that of, their heathen fore
fathers. They all start for the woods in August
in their canoes, loaded down with provisions,
etc. They travel slowly up the various rivers
of the coast in companies to the far interior,
there each family leaves its companions as it
reaches its hunting-ground, and sets up its lodge
on its ancestral domain. They spend a month
or more preparing snow-shoes, toboggans, etc.,
for winter; then, as navigation closes, they put
up their canoe and begin the winters hunt. Ths
game is too small and scarce to allow more than
a family or two to live in a given locality, so the
arctic winter passes in dreary isolation.
The Punishment Fitted the Crime.
Judge.
"The man is intolerably wicked and likewise
insane," said the policeman to the police justice,
pointing to his victim, a youth with a poetio
cast of countenance.
"What is your reason for that conclusion,
slrP Inquired his Honor.
"He not only writes campaign songs, but he
sines them in the street. n
"Ninety days," said his Honor, sternly.
"But, sir," said tbe man of blue cloth and
brass buttons, "he writes and sings Cleveland
Tburman songs."
"Merciful heavens!" exclaimed his Honor,
holding ud his hands with horror. "Ninety
years, and every one of them on bread and wa
ter." A Lamp Where Luclurlg Died.
London Figaro. .
A fresh object of interest now awaits tourists
at tbe S tarn berg lake, for on the spot where the
lil fated King Lndwigof Bavaria was drowned a
memorial pillar has been set up on which a star
like lamp burns continuously, night and day.
The number or visitors to the Bavarian high
lands associated with the last and more romantic
years of tbe late King's life is said to be grow
ing most rapidly. Not only do the faithful
Bavarians flock in thousands to gazeatthe fairy
like palaees the ill-starred monarch erected, but
tourists of all nations, especially English and
Americans, are also finding their way to the
grand scenes whieh now seem haunted by the
laeaory el poor Kins Ludvif as by & phantom.
HEAT FROM ELECTItlCITT.
A Cleveland Invention Which Is Expected to
Take the Tlace of Fuel.
Cleveland Press.
On a small street in this city lives an invent
ive mechanic, who for years has spent his snare
time in a little shop back of his boos. Ii.it
electricity reigns supreme, and tbe owner has
worked out the triumph of many hours of study.
Models of alvncst every electrical apparatus
known he has mt.de for himself. In front hangs
a powerful carbon light, while every corner ia
illuminated with soft, mellow incandescent
bulbs, all made by himself and rnn by his own
dynamos and engine. Miniature buzz-saws
running so fait as to be almost invisible, elec
trical cars, phonographs, telephones, batteries
and motors of all kinds, everything operated by
electricity, turn this curiosity shoo into a place
where one feels the very influence of that sub
tle fluid on his body and even in his brain.
All these machines and toys are mere by-play
to the great discovery of generating heat from
electricity, on whieh be has been spending his
lifetime. Under a cloth stood bis invention,
small, yet perfect and capable of generating
beat enough to turn the shop-room into a regu
lar Turkish bath. Tbe inventor uncovered the
machine and explained some of its workings, but
the most important parts are still secret. "For
years," he said, "I studied and experimented in
vain. My first work was on the rule that from
tbe result tbe cause would be produced. Fol
lowing this theory I commenced on tbe electro-
thermic battery, reasoning that if heat generat
ed tbe electricity, by working backward heat
could be made by electricity. For a long time I
clung to this, but hvl finally to abandon it as
practically impossible. Various other theories
were tried, and many weary hours spent in study
when I should have been resting from my day's
work.
"Some of my experiments produced heat, but
not in sufficient quantities to be of any benefit.
Finally I started off on another tack and began a
new line of reasonining. Heat is simply an ac
celerated motion to . Ihe molecules of a body
which crowd out a larger space for themselves in
their faster movements, and consequently cause
the expansion noticed in a heated object This
heat is diffused by radiation, that is by impart
ing its motion to the adjoining molecules. This
is the case either in a solid body or in fluid.
Following up this theory I began experimenting
with electricity as a means for causing an in
creased motion to tho molecules of a body. The
first thing necessary was to form a substance on
which the electricity eould act. Here it is."
An irreguiar-shsped piece of composition that
looked like a luma of coke or carbon was dis
closed to view. Wires connected at opposite
ends of it, and that was all. The inventor
pressed a button, and in an instant tbe mass
gave forth a heat, not dry like a furnace, nor
yet damp, but that pleasant warmth felt on a
spring day, when the aun shines brightly and
fairly invigorates a person after the cold days of
winter. In the further corners of tbe room the
beat evenly penetrated, and exeept when quite
close tbe sound could not bo noticed. The mass
did not change color, nor present any different
appearance when the current was shut oC
"The composition of that is the first secret, T
said the electrician as be broke the current,
"and will be so as long as I oan keep It. As you
can see, it is principally carbon to conduct the
electricity. By adding certain acids it oan be
melted and molded in any form desirable; in
masses to put in grates, shaped like radiators,
flat and placed under registers or whatever way
wanted. I call it by a low came, carbodium.
Eut here is the most important part of the
whole thing: the machinery whieh gives motion
to the molecules and generates beat in the
carbodium. It consists of a deviee for making
and breaking a strong current of electricity
as is done in an electric door-bell. This, how
ever, is mado on an entirely different plan,
and cost me two years of study. As
it is not patented yet I don't wish the principle
to become known, but it acts with inconceivable
rapidity, in fact, so fast that placed in a eircuit
with electric lamps tbe light barely quivers.
The current is intended to pass through this and
in jerks to the carbodium. On that peculiar
composition it has the effect first of producing
the small amount of beat given by an electric
light of two wires when crossed. This is suf-
ficient to start the accelerated action of the
molecules, which is then taken up by the elec
tricity, coming in broken currents faster than
tbe motion of the molecules themselves, and
quickly causes an intense heat From this
simple outline and the test you see my inven
tion is a success. It can be attached to the
same wires which ran an electric-light circuit,
and does not require nearlv as mueh power as a
single light. Owing to the equal diffusion of
the heat, one carbodium will warm half a dozen
rooms. The apparatus itself costs very little.
Of course a severe shoek would be rocoived if
the carbodinm were touched, but with the care
given a carbon lamp no accident need result.
am engaged now in perfecting a new kind of in
sulation which will not wear off and which is
entirely different from the covering used for
wires at present. By dipping the wire in a pe
culiar kind of solution permanent insulation is
secured, which makes it impossible to receive a
shock even from the most powerful dynamo."
The inventor thinks his fortune Is made, and
he has secured moneyed men to back him, in
eluding a well-known and wealthy electrician of
this city.
DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI.
Itemluiacencee of the Steamboating Days
that Are Gone Forever.
Sew Orleans Picayune.
The destruction of the splendid river steamer
Edward J. Gay by fire Sanday night could fur
nish to the historian of steamboating on the
Western waters a mournful episode to close the
annals of a most brilliant and remarkable pe
riod in navigation. The era of steamboating
on the Mississippi river was embraced in three
quarters of a century. In that time tbe slow
going, ill-constructed craft, modeled npon the
plan of tbe ancient Ohio river arks, developed
into the magnificent and majestic floating pal
aces of which the pay was one of the last repre
sentatives. Life on board those splendid and elaborately
furnished steamers was, in the days before rail
ways gridironed tbe continent, the realization of
Oriental luxury. Nobody was in a hurry, and
the lordly planters and wealthy merchants who
traveled with their families on these great ships
which navigated tbe mighty Father of Waters
contrasted with tbe rude and uncouth wilder
ness upon its banks, and with tbe negro slaves
who also made up a large proportion of the car
goes of these floating palaces assisted to form a
strange and remarkable panorama of life in the
heart of the new world.
There were hundreds of these great vessels,
all vying with one another to present the most
attractive features of comfort and luxury. On
one of these boats might be found assembled,
but not alwys associated, the most distinguished
and celebrated men, tbe most beautiful and ac
complished women, the most daring pioneers;
tbe most desperate adventurers, with a due
sprinkling of commonplace persons. Sometimes
scenes of delightful festivity, desperate gamb
ling, will on vies of deoauch and bloody crime
might have taken place on one of these boats.
Tbey furnish material for tbe most startling
dramas and the most gorpeous romance.
But the era of the rail and the wire dawned
and the whole world becsme plunged into a
vortex of hurry. The great river steamers be
gan to decline in favor. They became fewer
year by year, while the river craft developed
into the most advantageous forms of freight
carriers, svs if t and powerful tugs and low-lying
barges. To-day at the wharves of New Orleans,
where forty years ago there might have been
seen at any moment a hundred of those great
boats, gleaming white as colossal swans on the
turbid river, balconied, latticed, and pinnacled
like an Eastern palace, with a score of gay flags
fluttering in the breeze and tall black towers
belching inky smoke and vexiog the blue sky
with their murky vapors, there are now seldom
more than two or three. In a short time there
will be none, for they no longer seem to have a
mission in the commerce of the West.
A TROPICAL SERPENT.
One of the Snakes That Adds Interest to Life
In the West Indies.
Lsfcadio Ileum, in Auguat Harper.
There are eight varieties of him (the fer-de-lacce).
the most common being the gray speckled
with black, 'precisely the color that enables tbe
monster to hide himself among tbe roots of the
trees by simply coiling about them and conceal
ing bis triangular head. Sometime he is a
beautiful flower yellow; then he may never be
distinguished from the bunch of bright bananas
among which he hangs oiled; or he may be a
dark yellow, or a yellowish-brown, or the color
of wine lees speckled with pink and black, or a
perfect ash tint, or black with a yellow belly, or
black with a rose belly all hues of tropical
mold, of old baric, of putrefying trees, of forest
detritus. The iris of the eye is orange, with
red flashes; at night it glows like incandescent
charcoal.
And tbe fer-de-lance reigns absolute king over
the mountains and the ravines; he is lord of the
forests and the solitudes by day. and by night
be extends his dominion over tbe public roads.
tne laminar pains, the parks, the pleasure re
sorts. People most remain at home after dark
unless they dwell in tbe city itself; if you bap-
tn to be out visiting after sunset, only a mile
from town, yen friends will caution you anxi
ously cot tofo'low the boulevard as you go back.
and to keep as cloaelr as possible to tee v ry
centre of tbe path. Even iu the brightest noon
you cannot venture to eoter the woods unescort
ed; yon cannot trust your eyes to detect danger;
at any moment a seeming branch, a knot of
lianas, a pink or gray root, a clump of pendent
yellow fruit. may suddenly l take
lift, writhe, swell, airotcb. frricc, 1 itrUtg.
Then yon will need aid Indeed, and
most Quickly; for within the space of a few
heart-beats the stricken flesh chills, tumefies
softens, changes color, spots violaceonsly, and
an icy coldness crawls through all the blood.
If the physician or the pauseur arrives in time,
and nc artery or vein has been directly pierced,
there is hope; but tbe danger is not passed
when tbe life has been saved. Necrosis of the
tissues begins, tbe flesh corrupts, tatters, tum
bles from the bone; and the colors of its putre
faction are frightful mockeries of the hues of
vegetable death, of forest decomposition, the
ghastly pinks and grays and yellows of rotting I
trunks and roots melting baek into the thick,
fetid day that gave them birtb. Ton xnolder
as tbe trees molder; yon crumble and dissolve
as dissolves tbe substanee of tbe balatas and
the palms and tbe acorn at ; the Death-of-the
Woods has seized upon you!
And this pestilence that walketh in darkness,
this destruction that wasteth at noonday, may
not be exorcised. Each female produces vivipar
ously from forty to sixty young at a birth. The
haunts of the ereature are in many eases in
accessable, inexplorable; its multiplication is
prodigious; it is only the surplus of its swarming
that overpours into the cano fields, and makes
the high-roads perilous after sunset, yet to de
stroy three or four hundred thanatoohidia on a
single small plantation during tbe lapse of
twelve months has not been uncommon. The
introduction of the maneouste (the iohneumon)
may, it is hoped, do much toward protecting tbe
workers in the cane fields and on the cocoa and
coffee plantations; but the rnangou3te's powers
are limited, and tbe ocean of death is illimitable.
THE HOME OF THE DIAMONDS.
The De Beers Mine, the Scene of the Recent
Terrible Disaster.
S'w York Times.
Tbe De Beers mine disaster in the South Afri
can diamond fields, by which twenty-four whites
and 200 natives perished, as reported in cable
dispatches from Cape Town, via London, has
awakened fresh interest among those who deal
in the most valuable of precious stones. By far
the greatest portion of tbe diamonds now ob
tained come from the mines of South Africa,
which were discovered near Hopetown, in 1807,
by some Dutch children. The mines are situa
ted in Griqualand west, now a part of Cape Col
ony, in latitude 'J3J 40', longitude 2os 11 east.
about G40 miles northeast of Cape Town and &00
miles from the sea coast. Although they are at
an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet above tbe sea
level, the heat is excessive during the summer
months when the work is principally carried on.
According to the first report of the terrible
calamity If was "the De Beers coal mine, at
Kimberley," had caught firo. The manifest
error in regard to tbe character of the mine was
not corrected in subsequent dispatches, bnt the
cause of the fatal fire was exp.ained in this
way: "While tbe shifts were being changed
tbe hauling-wire broke and the ship rushed
down the shaft with frightful rapidity. The
oil lamps were broken and the blazing fluid
quickly ignited the wooden casing of the shaft
Flames in great volumes shot op the shaft.
completely preronting egress. The mine was
soon filled with smoke, and the lights carried by
the miners were rendered useless. The panio-
stricken natives and whites, in their efforts to
escape, became massed together in the galleries
and were suffocated to death.
The scperintendent of the De Beers mine is
Gardener F. Williams, of Oakland, Cel. He
went to South Africa on bis second trip in the
latter part of 1SSC. He is a regular correspond
ent of George F. Kunz, Tiffany & Co.'s gem ex
pert and mineralogist. A limes reporter talked
with Mr. Kunz last evening and obtained from
him some interesting facts about the De Beers
mines.
The mine covers 131 acres, or C10 claims, each
31 feet square, with a roadway of 15 feet between
each claim. Tbe mines were originally worked
in individual claims, 3,143 in number, and each
31 feet square, with a roadway 7i feet
wide between each pair of claims. These
small claims avj now' consolidated into about
ninety large companies and private firms,
having a gross capital or nearly ?oC. CQO.OOO.
There are four large mines, all within a radius
of a milo and a half. The celebrated Kimberley
covers seven and a ball aores. Thirty-three
million carats (over six and a half tons) of dia
monds have already been taken out, valued in
the rough at 45,000,000, and, after cutting, at
90,000,000. Tbe absorption of tbe smaller by
the larger companies is constantly going on, and
it is proposed to consolidate all the companies
into one. Ten thousand natives, each receiving
1 a week, are employed in the mines under the
supervision of 1,200 European overseers. The
enormous sum of over 1,000,000 is annually ex
pended for labor.
This mammoth investment of European cap
ital would have been more profitable to tbe
shareholders were it not for the thievishness of
the native diggers, who instigated by the vieious
whites that congregate on tbe field, at one time
stole and disposed of from one-fifth to one
fourth of the entire yield. More improved
methods of surveillance, recently Introduced,
have diminished this loss. None but authorized
agents are permitted to purchase or possess
rough diamonds, and a large detective force is
on the alert to prevent any infringement of the
rules. A record is now kept of every diamond
found. The thieves have been caught making
chickens swallow diamonds in the mine, and a
post-mortem held on one of the natives who died
suddenly revealed the fact that his death was
caused by a CO-earat diamond which he had
swallowed.
According to the latest official reports there
were employed in the De Beers mine 394 whites
and 2,7ao natives. Of the latter 3u0 were hired
from the government at a cost of 53 per an
num. Formerly the natives were allowed to
leave the mines, but owing to the fraudulent
trafiio carried on 2,300 of them were last year
compounded. They practically lived in tbe
mines, and were better of! than those who bad
their freedom. The old system of open work
ings has been to a great extent abandoned for
tbe shaft and the underground plan. Under
the original method the excavations were car
ried on to a depth of 500 feet. There were many
accidents owing to the falling shale or reef. A
rock shaft is completed to a depth of 641 feet
and taps low levels. During tbe last year over
21,621 feet of main tunnel were driven. There
is one shaft of 791 feet, another of 477 feet, and
a third of 12o feet. . As many as eighteen tribes
of natives have been represented in the mines.
Some of the natives have Desn known to tramp
a thousand miles to get work.
Last year 890,000 loads of "bine stuff" were
hauled out of the mines and 850,906 loads yielded
979,7321 carats of diamonds, for whieh the com
pany received 894,085 14s. Cd. The actual ex
penditure was 115,183, leaving a profit of 508,-
697. The De Beers mine is capitalized at 2,-
500. 620 J in ten-pound shares. These were quoted
as high as 52 last month, and since then have
slumped to 30 and advanced again to 39. It
is the opinion of Air. Kunz that tho recent ac
cident will cause another deeline in shares.
From Sept 1. 18S2, to Dec. 31, 1887. tbe De
Beers mine yielded 344,015 carats, valued at -V
450.333. an average of 1 id. per carat. This
includes everything taken from the mine. In
the beginning of tbe enterprise tho mine pro
duced 4-10 carat per load, but last year the yield
wss 8-10 carat per load, a significant fnerease.
Water flows from the mine at tbe rate of 5,-
500 gallons .per hour and at the rate of 1,200 gal
lons from the rock shaft. There are nine big
washing machines in use, which are more re
liable than tbe band or eyes. It is so accurate
that a diamond the size of a pin head cannot os
cape.
An Issue Which Concerns Colored Men.
Indiana Christian Adrocste.
Only one other well-defined and sharp issue
of vital importance is in this canvass the right
to vote and have that vote counted. As a rule,
that right is respected in the North. A few
Democrats tried to introduce the Demooratio
policy in our local elections two years ago, but
tbey wish they had not done it. uemocratie
citizens helped to bring the matter before a
grand jury on which wero Democrats,
and before a trial jury, a part
of whom were Democrats, and a Dem
ocratic district attorney, assisted by a
Democratic lawyer of ability, sent them
to a penitentiary managed by Democrats all.
however, over the protest of pure Democratio
politicians. Io the South it is otherwise. There
no rtretense to a fair vote and a fair count is
made, and even the religious press justifies this.
To such an extent has this been carried that in
Georgia one vote counts as much as seventeen
in Indiana in the election or uongressmen or a
President Not knowing, or caring, how others
may regard this, we hold it as paramonnt to
every other auestion before tbe people of this
Nation, and w'e are free to say that tbe war is
not ended, and never will be till this wrong is
righted. Now, if these colored bretbern like the
attitude of the Democratic party on this issue
better than that of the Kepublican party, they
ought to go with them. It is not a question of
color but a question of manhood, it docs not
anect ono race alone.
s
Itespected the Government Mules.
rWrnit f'rro Prp
Talkin? cf mules." said Capt. John S. Loud,
,4I was riding with a party of ladies and chil
dren in a government ambulance rrom t orl J)ie-
Kinney to Douglas, when at a turn of the road
a cowboy eame galloping into eight, boiling a
revolver in each band, and firing as be ran. My
driver had a four-m-band team, and the first
thing I kuew the leaders were looking me in the
face and we were all twisted up in a heap. As
the fellow saw tbat it was a United States mili
tary party he drew ud and pocketed his revol
vers. Then making a half-defiant, half-sbamed
bow toward tbe wreck, he said: Ef I d a knowd
them was government critter I wouldn't her
fired. I'd bate awfully to skeer a United States
rauie.'"
IN A CONNING TOWER.
TTfcat One Man's Hand Controls on Hoard of
a Man o' IVar.
Murray's Magazine.
Here in this spot is concentrated the whole
power of the tremendous machine which we call
an ironclad ship.
Such power was never till the world began
concentrated under tbe direction of man, and
ail that power, tbe judgment to direct it, the
knowledge to utilize it, is placed in the hands of
one man. and one only.
What is the power!
Talk of Jove with his thunderbolts, of
Kasmyth with his hammer! the fables of myth
ology and the facts of ths latter-day science!
where has there ever been anything to compare
to itl Here in the conning tower stands the
captain of tbe ship, and beneath his feet lie
hidden powers which tbe mind ean scarcely
crasD. but which one and all are made subserv
ient to his will, and his will alone. Picture him
as he stands at hi post before the battle begins;
all is quiet enough, there is scarcely a sound
save lapping of tbe water against the smooth,
white sides of the iron-clad w and no outward
sign of force save the ripple of the parted
waters falling off on either side of the ram as it
sheers through the water. But mark that white
thread escaping from the -steam-pipe astern,
fleecy vapor rising into the air and nothing
more!
But what does it meant It means that far
down below, some thirty glowing furnaces are
roaring under tbe blast of steam; that in the
great cylindrical boilers the water is bubbling,
surging, struggling, as the fierce burning gases
pass through the flues; and that the prisoned
steam, tearing and thrusting at the tough sides
of the boilers, is already raising tbe valves and
blowing off at a pressure of 100 pounds. It means
that tbe captain in his conning tower has but to
press the button by bis side, and in a moment
the four great engines will be driving tbe twin
screws through the water with the force of 12,
000 horse-power, and -that the great ship with
the dead weight of 12,000 tons will be rushing
onward at a speed of over twenty miles an hour.
In her turret and in her broadside batteries
there is a deep hush of expectation; but there,
too, waiting to respond to the "flash of the will
that can," lie forces of destruction which appal
the imagination.
Far down below our feet, in the chambers of
the great guns, lie the dark masses of tbe powder
charges. A touch, a spark, and in a sheet of
flame, and with the crash of thunder the
steel shot will rush from their muzzles.
speeding on their way 2,000 feet in a second,
and dealing their blow with the im
pact of 60,000 foot-tons 5,000 founds weight of
metal discharged by one touch of the
captain 8 band. Is or is this all; another touch
and another sign si will liberate the little clips
which detain the four Whitehead torpedoes in
their tubes. A puff of powder, a click as the
machinery is started, and the two screws are set
off whirling, and with a straight, silent plunge
the long steer torpedoes will dive into the water,
and at the appointed depth will speed on their
way thirty miles an honr on their awful errand
of destruction. Move that switch, and through
the dark wall of the night a long straight beam
will shoot forth with the radiance of forty
thousand candles, turninsr the night into day.
A word spoken through that tube will let loose
the hailstorm of steel and lead from the quick
firing and machine guna on tbe upper deek and
in the tops. A discbarge of shot and shell, not
to be counted by tons or scores, but by hun
dreds and thousands, a storm before which no
living thing can stand, and under which all bnt
the strongest defenses will wither and melt away
like a snow bank under an April shower.
And last and most terrible of all, there is
one ether force ready to the captain's hand a
force tbe sum of all others, and which, if rightly
utilized, is as irresistible as tbe swelling of the
ocean tide or the hand of death. By your side
and nnder your hand are tbe spokes of the steam
steering wheel; far forward nnder the swirling
wave which rises round the ship s cut-water lies
the ram, the most terrible, tbe most fatal or all
the engines of maritime warfare. It is the task
of the hand which turns that little wheel to
direct the fearful impact of the ram.
Think what the Dower confided to one man's
hand must be; 12,000 tons of dead weight driven
forward by the frantic energy of 12,000 horse
power, plunging and surging along through the
yielding waves at a speed of ten feet in every
second, and with a momentum so huge that the
mathematical expression which purports to rep
resent it to the mind conveys no idea to an in
telligence incapable of appreciating a conception
so vast To receive a blow from the ram is
death, the irretrievable catastrophe of a ship's
career. To deliver such a blow is certain victo
ry. It is with the captain, and the captain alone,
as he stands here in the conning tower, that the
responsibility of inflicting or encountering this
awfol late lies.
Now yoa will understand wiat I mean when I
ay that uever since the world began have such
forces been placed in the hands of a single man,
whose eye alone must sea the opportunity.
whose judgment alone must e aable bim to utilize
it, and whose hand alone must give effect to all
that his courage, his wisdom and his duty
prompt.
AN IIOCU WITn DUMAS.
The Novelist's Opinion of Women lie Keeps
Thirty Goose-Quill Teos Ready for Action.
Pall Mall Budget.
"Well what aro yoa going to talk about?
Literature! eaid M. Dumas. "By all means.
And begin by saying why yon are so hard on
yonr contemporaries, old and yonng. "Because
I am surrounded by chefs-d'oeuvre, Everybody
has written one and wants yoa to know it.
Chefs-d ceuvre are not so plentiful as that One
may deem himself fortunate if, in a lifetime, he
writes one good thing. Take the inventory of a
century and see what yon find the eighteenth,
for instance. Diderot, two novels, 'Gil Bias and
'Alanon Leseaut. two plays, 'Le Marisge do
Figaro' and Le Barbier;' a few comedies by
Harivanx; some extracts from Voltaire and
that is alL by, everybody can write. Noth
ing is more common than literature. But the
pretty phrases mean nothing. It is action
great initiatives I want, though they demolish
great beliefs."
"It is a cause of very legitimate pride with
the men of America," said Le Cocq de Lantieppt,
of the Critic, "that their countrywomen have
proved tbat a liberal education and personal
judgment aro the best and safest prompters in
tne choice of a husband." "roob, pooh a
woman marries a man because she likes bim. or
doesn't marry him if she does not; that's the be
ginning and the end of their analysis. I am
surrounded by women, now mothers and grand
mothers, whom 1 knew as girls. I have been
able to observe very closely how much is im
plied by marriage. The day that woman is
given the same rights and privileges as man, she
will despise bim. until tbat time she is depend
ent on him. What is more farcial than the in
stitution called marriage? Women re
gard it as a liberator. It prefixes 'Madame to
their names and takes them away from papa
and mamma, of whom they are no doubt very
f oud, but whom they are delighted to leave. For
some it insures the gratification of maternal in
stincts: nothing else."
Intimate friends climb two flights of a fine old
oaken staircase to tbe study of the dramatist,
where tho eye is gratified with a mass of pict
ures and books. In the middle of this well
lighted room is an immense writing-table laden
with letters, papers, books, and a stand for pen
holders, where bristle as many as thirty yellow
goose-quins, uumas win nave nothing to do
with the prcsaio steel pn nor tbe aristoeratio
gold pen, and the legibility of his cbirograpby
suffers somewhat in consequence. Next to this
study is tbe author's bedroom. Here again are
pictures and other objects of art, a beautiful set
of Sevres and Saxe being especially noticeable
on the mantel-piece. The bed is low and wide,
with a soring and hair mattress. The only lux
urious things in the room are objects of art.
Dumas is an early riser. He is out of bed at
6:30 in summer and 7 in winter. After dressing,
he goes to his study, where he lights his own
fire, reads his letter?, receives bis friends, and
works a littie. lie does not read the papers, for
ho generally hears the news before it gets into
the journals. His first breakfast consists of a
glass of cold milk; the second, which occurs at
noon, is a very plain meal. After eating, Dumas
works until about 4, when be goes out for a
promenade. He walks rapidly, with head erect,
rolling his shoulders a little. He dines at 6, and
goes to bed between 10 and 1L Dumas is a light
eater, but a heavy sleeper. He needs from
eight to nine hours of repose. He enjoys
exercise, and plays billiaads with this
in view. He is very ordsrly. I
have seen him more than once, feather-duster in
hand, employed in dusting his study; at another
time I bavefonnd him in his shirt sleeves, aided
by a servant, changing the place of a piece of
furniture. It is on Sunday that he especially
indulges in this house-cleaning mania. He is
often assisted on these occasions by his godson
a young man of forty! who is as much at
tached to Dumas as a son would be.
Alexandre Dumas does not believe that young
girls should enjoy much liberty. His two dangh
tere were never allowed to go to tbe theater or
to bells. Up to tbe day of her marriage Mile.
Callette bad gone to but one evening party, and
but twice to tbe theater, on both of which occa
sions tragedies were played. But since she has
become a mother Mme. Lippmann goes every
where, reads everything, sees everything. She
copies ber fathers manuscripts, and frequent)?
crlti:ises tbem, and the father often profits by
the observations of his daughter.
A Tiny Traveler.
8sn Frsncisro Chronicle.
Among the passengers who arrive&on the
overland train, yesterday afternoon, was a little
girl nine years old. Hsr appearance was very
atuactiTO aalTfonU invite xaora tfca& a passing
glanee from the least observing. A large wide
awake straw-bat shaded a high, white forehead,
over which fell dark, glossy hair, whieh huog
in wavy ringlets to her shoulders. Two large
black eyes, a straight nose, cherry lips and son
burnt cheeks made up a faee of exquisite loveli
ness. Her drees was covered with a gingham
apron, on which was pinned a card bearing the
inscription: "Maud Steele, Crescent City. Cali
fornia. " The little tot bad traveled from Cedar
Falls, Minn., where her parents bad formerly
lived. Her mother had died when Maud was
quite young and her father was accidentally
killed some months ao. Tbe people of Cedar
Falls,learningthatshhad an aunt living io Cres
cent City, Del Norte county. California, made up
a purse for her. and placing her in charge of the
conductor of the train, started her out on ber
long journey. She was transferred from one
conductor to another, and from train to train,
until she arrived here, yesterday, under the
protecting wing of transfer agent Kent, who
will send her to her aunt The little orphan
says that she enjoyed the trip, and tbat every
one she met was very kind to her.
RATTLESNAKE VKNOM.
Method by Which It Ie Safely Ilxtractsd from
the Dangerous herpents.
forest abd Stream.
The snake is seized a short distance behind
the head by means of a staff having at its end a
thong of leather passing over tbe end and through
a staple, and this is tightened or loosened, as occa
sion may require, by means of a string
extending up tbe handle. It has been
found necessary not to confine the snake's
head too tightly, as otherwise it cannot be in
duced to strike. The head being secured, a stick
having its end covered with absorbent cotton is
pressed against the snake's mouth, and it is
teasel until sufficiently irritated to strike its
fangs into the cotton, which re
ceives the venom and obviates ai
danger to tho fangs, as it has been found in al
lowing snases to strike against a faucer the
fangs are frequently broken off. Generally a
snake will strike three or four times very
viciously and then relapse into sullen a pat by.
We have in vain endeavored to procure venom
from our snakes by pressing over the poison
glands, but this has been unsuccessful except in
one instance unless the snake was chloroformed,
and if this is done the reptile generally sua
cumbs within a few days. This fact is mentioned
as it has been learned through tbe publio
prints that some experimenters iu a neighboring
city have succeeded in squeezing out the venom
while the snake was active.
The quantity of venom obtained from differ
ent individuals varies greatly. From a large
rattler, weighing perhaps three or four pounds,
our first attempt resulted in securing about fif
teen drops of venom alter the reptile had struck
three times; but if the process is repeated every
day or two but a very small quantity is ob
tained. The smaller snakes give a much smaller
quantity. The cotton, after having tecoived its
charge of venom, was removed from the etick
and washed out carefully in glycerine, and by
measuring tbe quantity of this substance first,
and then after the venom has been added, vre
were able to tell accurately the strength of the
solution, which consisted of eight drams of
chemically pure glycerine and one dram of
the venom. This is tbe preparation which was
used in all the experiments, and it is called
glycerine-venom. One fact should be stated
as bearing upon the popular belief that snakes,
if kept from water, are not poisonous. It was
found that by keeping tbe rattlers without wa
ter for a week or two, the quantity of venom
was materially smaller than when we allowed
them free access to water, and that the color of
the venom, which was yellowish-green when no
fluid was supplied, became much lighter in color
when they bad freely drunken. We have never
been able to induce our rattlesnakes to cat, al
though they have been tempted with a variety
of food, but water they consume largely.
When the present supply of rattlers was first
received, it was a very easy matter to grasp any
one of them behind the necK with a snake-staff;
but experience has taught them that they must
do something against their will, and tow it is
quite difficult to secure them, and even when .se
cured it is difficult to make tbem strike; in fact,
one specimen is now so tame that it may be
bandied with impunity, and it is the writer's
belief that a rattler, if carefully and tenderly
handled, will not bite the hand that grasps ic
It is believed tbe Moqui Indians aro aware
of this, and it enables them to handle
with impunity the venomous snakes used
in their fearful dance, so well described
by Capt John G. Bourke, U. S. A Many per
sons suppose that the fangs of a rattler once re
moved the reptile ia harmless for all time. rJ
that at least a year is required to replace the
fangs. This is an error, for the writer has in
his possession a rattler in which the fa nee were
twice replaced after an interval of thrc o weeks
only. As tho rattler doubtless knows when tho
contents of tbe poison eland is exhausted, as is
evidenced by his re fa sal to bite after two or
three efforts, he probably also knows that it is
useless to show fight when the fangs have been
removed, and this has been practically tried on
one of our snakes. She continues to coil and
rattle, but no matter bow much teased and
irritated, makes no attempt to bite.
An interesting fact has been noticed during
the portant to record. It is that the rattler does
not invariably use both fangs in striking, the
muscular movement or either side or the jaw
being quite independent of the other, and quite
at the will of the reptile. Tbe practical bearing
of this point is that occasionally in snake bite
but one puncture will be found, and some doubt
might exist if this was really dee to the ser
pent's fantrs or not. Another point of interest
lies in be fact that if only one f&ne is plunged
into the tissues, tbe patient will not have re
ceived ao large a dose of the venom as if both
teeth bad been used, and a more favorable prog
nosis can be made.
Airs. Amelle Klves-Clianler.
New York Sun.
It is well known tbat the Harpers have one
and possibly two stories cf Mrs. Kires-Cbanler
locked up in their safe-deposit vault, but they
don't eeem to be in a hnrry to print. St. Nichol
as has another story of hers, and the Century,
too, bnt they are probably waiting for 'The
Quick and the Dead to blow over. Neverthe
less, there was keen competition among tbe pub
lishers for Mrs. lllves-Chanler s next novel, and
although the published priee e he was said to
have accepted for it. $:0.000, is absurdly exager
ated, ahe yet got several tnousond dollars, about
four times as much as any American novelist
that can be mentioned.
The story that Thomas Nelson Page first en
couraged her to write, examined her manu
scripts, or had anything, in short, to do with her
in a literary way, is a mistake. They are not
even personally acquainted.
Mrs. Kives-Cbanler is of a very indolent
turn, and when ahe is not hard at work at her
writing desk is generally lolling in bed. Some
gnests invited tu visit at Castle nill were quite
disappointed at discovering that the young
genius found her bed and a novel ee entertain
ing that she conld scarcely be persuaded to leave
them. Her usual outdoor dress in the country
is a Tarn O'Shanter cap, a bine shirt laced up
the front, a very short corduroy skirt, and boots.
She is short, but pretty. Her sister Gertrude
is also a beauty,. and there is a voung one of
fourteen or fifteen coming on who will, it is
thought, throw both her sisters in tbe shade.
Mrs. lla Wheeler Wilcox is a tremendous ad
mirer of Mrs. Rives-Chanler, and wrote tho
managers of Lippincotts Magazine as follows:
Whatagreat story Amelia Rives wrote you!
Tbe best of all your novels! I think her tLe
greatest living woman to-day!"
Capacity of Locomotives.
M Fornev, In Aueupt trcrlb'ier.
The capacity of a locomoiive to draw loads is
dependent on the adhesion, and this is in pro
portion to the weight or pressure of the driving
wheels on the rails. The adhesion also varies
somewhat with the weather and th condition
of tbe wheels and rails. In ordinary weather it
is equal to about one-fifth of the weight which
bears on the track; when perfectly dry, if the
rails aro clean, it is about one-fourth, 'and with
the rails sanded about one-third. In damp or
frosty weather tne adhesion is often consider
ably less than a fifth.
It would, then, eeem os'tbongh nil tbst i reed-,
ed to increase the canaeitv of a locomotive to
draw loads would be to add to tbe weicht on V
driving-wheels, and provide engine power suffi
cient to turn them which is true. lint it Las
been found that if tho weight on the wheels is
excessive both the wheels and rails will bo in
jured. Even when tbey are all made of stel,
they are crushed out of share or are rapidly
worn if the loids are too gret. The wei2ht
which rails will carry without being injured de
pends somewhat on their size, but ordinarily
from 12,000 to 16.000 pounds pr wheel is about
the greatest load which they should carry.
For these reasons, when the capacity of a lo
comotive must be increase! beyond a limit indi
cated by these data, ooe or more additional pairs
of driving-wheels must be used.
Iteats the He cord.
BelWonU (Ta. Snfl1.
Ceuter county thus far beats tbe record for
the largest number of votes that will be cast
this fall by single families for tbe same political
candidates. 13esile the caes already reported,
the news now comes that Mr. Isaac Gingher. of
Milesburg, bis seven son, his three sons-in-law
and three grandsons, have declared their in
tention to vote unitedly for Harrison. Four
teen votes from one family for the same aandi
dates beats the record.
William and the Tope.
Chicago Mail.
The Pope has congratulated Emperor William
on the birth of a son. It is a pity William cut's
retails tta com; Usual, ;
WOMEN WEKE WOUTII
Feminize Experience In striking a Bargain
with a Nantucket Tuherman.
Sw Tork Post Letter.
ne put down Lis dipper and said, with itrpres
tire deliberation, that it waVt his habit to take
women out, but whea be did break throu-a bis
habit, be was 'bleeged to charge more.
WhyP 1 asked sharply.
'Sence yoa arsk me," he replied. 'Til give
yon a few of my reasons. It's wuth more, ta
begin with," putting on bis logical a:r. They,
have petticoats on, natcberly. and tbem petti
coats, when tbey ain't a ketchin' inta books acd
tackle, are a swishin' into the water in the bot
tom of the boat, and every time tbey ketch on,
and every time they swish, the wearers en 'en,
give a little yell Tte best kind of a woman I
ever took out fish in' was one that was sick from
fust to last, and bal to lay on a
blanket on deck every blessed minute
on her back. When we'd once got ber down,
there wa'n't no more trouble with ber. But
they gen'ally ain't sick enough fcr that. Some
of 'em ain't sick at all and them's tbe west kind.
Tbey fling around tbe lines, and knot 'em op,
and make the boat lurch, and allers have thei.
beads in the way when the sail is changed, and
they yell when the fish come in. and caU 'em
slimy, horrible things; and they are mad if you,
don't ketch tbe biggest fish that ever swum,
and tbey think its your own enssedness if the
wind isn't right, and but I dnnno's I need ta
go on. I shall lose my temper if I do, and I
guess if you don't see cow why it's wuth mora
1 1 take women, I don't think I can 'make yoa
see it
His eloquence bad swept over me scathingly,
and I was obliged to give myself time to re
cover before I asked if it were customary cn the
island to charge more when women went out in
a boat I was willing be should have the regn
lsr rates, and no more I had no fear lest tho
repular rates should not be enough.
"Wall, no, 'twa'n't customary; bet it ought t
be."
"The price is a dollar an hour visually, isn't
it?"' I questioned relentlessly.
Dob Dunn looked baffied. and annoyed, as well
a? a man with that kind of a face could loo'i that
way. He grunted assent to to price I bad
mentioned.
Do yen want to tate a rartr of three ont at
that price," I next asked, "and two of thejgL'
women?' S "
"Durn'd if I do!" was his forcibIrrsply.
I rose from lounging on the sand and began
making my way up towards the bluff. When I
had gone half the distance, Mr. Dunn's vclta
asked loudly if I wouldn't make it a dollar n' a
quarter an hour. I did net even torn back. In
another moment the same voice said explosive
ly that I might call it a dollar then, and when
did we want to go?
I retraced my steps. In ten minutes it wai
arranged that we wonld start at 9 the next
morning. Tbe man's last words as I left him
were that "wyaen were wuth core, acj .
way."
What a Dnke Costs England.
London letter !n A!anchetr GnarJian.
Mr. Summers has drawn tbe facts as to thfe
annual payments from public funds to the Duke
of Cambridge, and if Mr. Bright motion, made
in 1650, had been carried, his Koyal Highness
would, for the last twenty-five year a, have re
ceived less by 0,741 a year. That is to say, U
Mr. Dright's motion, which was largely su
ported, had been adopted, the publio treasury
would have been better off, with interest, bf
about 200,000. But the inquirers hare net vej
quite got to the bottom of this subject. f ha
statement In the array estimates that tbe salary
of 6.632 is personal to the Duke means some
thin? more than Mr. Goschen admitted, because
tbe colonelcy of the Grenadier Guards, with an
endowment of 2,000, is one of those honorary
colonelcies which Sir George Treselyan used to
designate as a "horrid scandal." Toere are two
proposals which might fairly be made, both ia
the interests of economy. The commander-in-chief
may see the propriety of ceasing to draw
the salary of the colonelcy, and tbe House o!
Commons may deem it advisable to accept a res
olution aSrmine that parliamentary provisions,
such as that of 12,090 a year enjoyed by the
Duke, should be treated as pensions, and thai
tbe amount of any oScial pay received by ths
holder should be deducted, as in the caie of
pension. The executive government would them
have to take the needful steps to give effect ta
this wholesome decision.
Tlie Catholics and Temperance.
Cof tan Transcript.
Clerical faces are common on the street to
day, called together by tbe convention of the
Cathoho Total Abstinence Union; and yet tha
majority of the delegates to this convention ara
by no means clergymen. A good many peopla
team e ui ui ucau 'ii's zv; - -j i-Li -jl -
not to be surtrisedt thi--ra-rtt)
temperance agitation to find that there is it
mneh igorcus opposition to salmon influence
among the Catbolio population. It is a fact,
which nobody onght to forget, that in this pari
of the country at least the Catholics f orniih a
large majority of the members cf total ab
stinence organizations. Tbe convention, as ia
passed through the eity this morning on the xrtf
to the church, certainly showed iuelf to be si
fine body of men. Most of the members ara
rather young men, acd sturdy men too, who
look as if they represented a body which mean
what it says on the temperance question. Total
abstinenco nndr church auspices seems to be a
queer eabject for a torchlight ftroreesion, but
there isn't really any inappronriateoess in IL
Anti-abstinecce has been painting the town red
long enough, tbe abetaore ear; why ahould
cot we take a hand at it! Tho boys succeeds 1
last night, in spite cf the rain. What ranks up
on ranka of handsome boy, pledeed to rigid
temperance, bad their part in this procession. II
was a cheering sight to see them.
She Wanted Tea.
2few Tork Special
It seems that Catharine Gaffney, who fell heir
to $100,000 by the death of her bachelor brother
in Chicago, was in tbe BlackweUa Island (X. Y.)
Almshouse when found.
"Is thcro anything you wantH asked the law-
yer, when he had informed her of her good
fortune.
"Yes," she answered quickly; "some tea. I
only want plenty of tea.
"Well, you shall have all von can drink," said
Mr. Stillwell, banding ber 53.
"Oh, no; cot all that Fifty cents will bf
enough, she said, pushing the money away.
rCNERAXi NOTICE.
VNC'IENT ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE,
At LEV Of IXDUXAPOLIS.
To all regular Tree Masons ot the Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite:
Sorrow! borrow borrow!
ROBERT THOMAS 3J
Died Satardav morning, Au. 4.
The brethren are requested to meet at the rooms of
the Rite on Sunday, kt 1:0 p. in., for the
purpote cf attending the funeral
serrie, which will be held
at his late residence.
CcnTeyanccs are provided to take theme tubers direct
ly frota the rooms of the Rite. Fraternally,
JOHN T. IihCSII, 33, t. P. i. M.
Adociram Grand Loire of Perfection.
CHARLES E. WRIUI1T. 33 M. K, S. MM
Sarn'.ab Council, P. of J.
BYRON K ELLIOTT, 33 M. V.. and P. M.
Indianarw-tlls Cfcajiter of Rrs Croix.
P. G. C. CUNT, 3.P, III. Com.-in-CLif,
Indiana Conxi story, S. P. R, S.
JOS. W. Silim, 33-. Grand Secretary.
IO. O. F.-PniLOXENTA.S' LODGE. XO. 44
a Members are requested to meet at hall at
p. M. to-Jy, An?. 5, preparatory to attending the
Xaueral o Uro. Iwubert i.Lorna. - ;
T. J. ICEVTHAK..
L. W. McDAjntr Ree. Stc.
ixi:d.
SOMMER At 9;C0 p. nu. Aug. 3. CWles Som
mer, a?l forty-eight years ai.4 tl-n month. Fu
neral from fam.!y residence. 111 J et ilerarty
street, at 1:0 p. m.
uiiOay, Au. O. ir;ens la
Titei.
TIIOMAS rvobert Thosia, In lis fifty-.gUhyear,
p. m., from his late residence, in BrightwcxxL
ANN OUNCES! EXT?.
.a. ia tLree laoaths.
o&ice.
- - - - " es a aV
Address BUSES' Lis, Journal
SHORT-HAND SCHOOL TIIOE WnfNO TO
take a coarse in short-Land and type-writin? can
bare one wck oa trial free of charge, pm iis in
structedindiridually. Mrs. May Cable.
alUE BANKRUPT STOCK OF ROOTS AND
shos of tbe Capital Shoe Store, 15 Weat Wash
iegton street, assigned to JL 3. Tuxroll, will be closed
out t.l ence. Call early.
IVAN TED 1A KTN E It.
"T TT ANTED I VILL GUARANTEE A PROPTS
T V ot 1,000 on an invejtmc ct of 00 in three
months' time. Xo applicant cors?.drfi with less tbr-3
$f00 spot cash. AdJreas IL. Journal ofilce.
aaawatBnKataMnMHee)aaaarnaaawBa
FPU SALU-HKAL ESTATU
1?OR SALE BARGAIN IN A TWO-STORY EAST
float house, on Delaware st. Lot 40xl50
2,700. W. J. McCULLOUUlL tf J E. Market.
l?OR SALE BARGAIN IN SIX EAST-FRO r?
X lots ou t'olarubia evencN nar LiLth strw
each $100. W. J. McCULLOUGH, 02 E. Market.
tVANrKD MALC HELP.
IITANTED A MAN OF BUSINESS ATTITCD3.
I T located out' J lnd.anatclia, to act fjrU-e
tablisbed home. 'aUrT .?U mouttlr. Inferences
required. ILMi UrACTL'iwi;'5 Lociksa
awaV"