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|v._ Ip. Is:" h'"r |T m- W gVij1 ERS LOOK FOR PROSPEROUS YEAR Recent Rains in South Dakota Makes Crop Outlook Most Promising. SMALL GRAINS JUMPING Predictions Made That Land Will Ad vance Alter Crop Is Harvested— Other News of South Dakota. Sioux Falls, 15. D., May S.—Reports from all parts of South Dakota are ex tremely favorable to the farmers. The recent rains have soaked the soil thor oughly and already small grain is be ginning to shoot up.. It Is true that in some sections the farmers have been delayed somewhat from planting by cold weather and heavy rains, but now that the soil is in sucli excellent con dition planting will be prosecuted with vigor and grains come up early. Never before have the farmers of Dakota had a more prosperous year confronting them and already there is speculation in some quarters what the increase in land prices will be next fall. Some pre dict that land will go up $10 to $15 per acre. With a few more good rains at intervals during the summer months the harvest in South Dakota will be the most prosperous in history. Big Grain Yield Predicted. Watertown, S. D., May S.—The re cent heavy rains places the hopes of the farmers at a higher point than has ever before been the case at this sea continue as favorable throughout the season the state will have the biggest yield of grain in its history. Land men and land owners believe that prices will advance another $10 or $15 per acre, should present crop expectations be met this year. Hotland Reports Favorable. Hetland, S. D., May 8.—More than an inch of rain fell in this part of the state Monday, and, together with the recent rains, the ground has been well soaked. This is almost sure to bring a fine crop to this part ol' the country. The crop has been put in in fine shape and prosperity is written over the land. Land values are advancing and many land buyers are coming to buy now and thus have all the advance that comes. Grain Coming Up Fast. Vermillion, S. D., May S.—The crop outlook in this locality is very encour aging for this time of year. The small grain is jumping along at a rapid rate. Showers have fallen at opportune times, and thj April drought has been fully relieved. Farmers are looking on with a feeling of satisfaction. SOUTH DAKOTA ELECTIONS. Anti-Saloon Element Won Decisive Victory at Wakonda. Wakonda, S. D., May 8.—In the city election here 72 votes were cast. The principal issue" was high license, and heretofore has carried by a small ma jority. Sentiment has changed since the last election, however, and the anti saloon element won by 2 majority. The vote on town officers was not very hol ly contested, and the following were elected: Board of trustees, Ellas Gray, H. P. Ttasmussen and F. P. Harvey city jus tice, George Paxson clerk, George Perry: treasurer, N. R. Gilchrist mar shal, John B. Knight. Geddes, S. D., May 7.—At the Geddes town election the citizens' ticket was elected except that L. Kiterman, for marshal on the people's ticket, had three majority over the present mar shal, E. A. Boyd, who ran for re-elec tion on the citizens' ticket. For town trustees L. E. Convey,. T. Morton, H. C. Tucker, F. W. Noll and John Kreitie were elected. For treasurer W. S. L. Hawley for town cleric, Stahl for jus tice of the peace, J. A. Foerste for assessor, Joy Welsh, .by majorities of from S to 23. Jefferson, S. D„ May 7.—The town election here resulted in the election of the following ticket: Trustees,' Charles LaBresche, Ed Brusseau and Philip Bernard treasur er, P. U. Bernard -clerk, Lawrence Au thier marshal, J. Brouillette assessor, P. M. Limoges, sr. justice of the peace, W. P. Chamberlain. The liquor question was not an issue. BROTHER IS HELD. Joe Coleman Charged With Murder ing His Brother. Faulkton, S. D., May 8.—The coron ers' jury in the Coleman case found Ed Coleman met his death from a gun shot wound in the rear, and th^t. death was not accidental, nor was there sui cidal intent. A warrant was sworn out by the state's attorney for the arrest of Joe Coleman, the dead man's brother, for murder in the first degree. A preliminary hearing will be held before Justice Smith Friday, May 9. At the coroner's inquest Dr. Edger ton, who assisted in the post mortem, stated death resulted Instantaneously from a bullet entering the back and passing through the heart, coming out two inches higher, carrying part of a rib from the back to the opening in front. Joe Coleman claims that his brother was alone in the house cleaning the gun and shot. himself that he died twenty minutes later he talked and went with assistance from one room to another testified he paid the pre miums on Edward's insurance policy of $5,000 payable to nim, and within the past six weeks applied for a second $5,000, and the application was ac cepted. Lodge of Red Men. Beresford, S. D., May 8.—The Red Hen organized a lodge here last even ing. Forty-eight candidates were in lUated, the degree team from Yanktor. iolng the work. The visitors were tanqueted after the work was all over, jtf I— *12 if VA "For thirty year," he said, "I've sailed the seas, and seen good and bad, better and worse, fair weather and foul, provisions running out, knives going, and what not. Well, now, I tell you. I never seen good come o' good ness yet. Him as strikes first is my fancy dead men don't bite: them's my views—amen, so be it. And now, you look here," he added, suddenly changing his tone, "we've had about enough of this foolery. The tide's made good enough by now. You just take my orders, Cap'n Hawkins, and we'll sail slap in and be done with it." All told, we had scarce two miles to run but the navigation was delicate, the entrance to the northern anchorage was not only narrow and shoal, but lay east and west, so that the schoon er must be nicely handled to be got in. I think I was a good, prompt sub altern, and I am very sure that Hands was an excellent pilot for we went about, and dodged in, shaving the banks, with a certainty and a neatness that were a pleasure to behold. Scarcely had we passed the head be fore the land closed around us. The shores of the North inlet were as thickly wTooded as those of the south ern anchorage but the space was longer and narrower, and more like, what in truth it was, the estuary of a river. Right before us at the south ern end, we saw the wreck of a ship in the last stages of dilapidation. It had been a great vessel of three masts, but had lain so long exposed to the injuries of the weather, that it was hung about with great webs of drip ping sea-weed, and on the deck of it shore bushes had taken root, and now flourished thick with llowers. It was a sad sight, but it showed us that the anchorage was calm. •Now," said Hands, "look there there's a pet bit for to beach a ship in. Fine flat sand, never a catspaw, trees all around it, and flowers a-blowing like a garding on that old ship." "And once beached," I inquired, how shall we get her off again?" "Why, so,." he replied "you take a line ashore there on the other side at low water take a turn about one o' them big pines bring it back, take a turn round the capstan, and lie to for the tide. Come high water, all hands take a pull upon the line, and off she comes as sweet as natur'. And now, boy, you stand by. We're near the bit now, and she's too much way on her. Starboard a little—so—steady—star board—larboard a little—steady steady So he issued his commands, which I breathlessly obeyed till, all of a sud den, he cried: "Now, my hearty, luff!" And I put the helm hard up, and the Hispaniola" swung round rapidly, and ran stem on for a low-wooded shore. The excitement of these last man euvers had somewhat Interfered with the watch I had kept hitherto, sharply enough, upon the cockswain. Even then I was still so much interested, waiting for the ship to touch, that I had quite forgot the peril that hung over my head, and stood craning over the starboard bulwarks and watching the ripples spreading wide before the bows. I might have fallen without a struggle for my life, had not a sudden disquietude seized upon me, and made me turn my head. Perhaps I had heard a creak, or seen his shadow moving with the tall of my eye perhaps it was an instinct like a oat's, but, sure enough, when I looked round, there was Hands, already half way toward me, with the dirk tn his right hand. We must both have cried out aloud when our eyes met but while minq was the shrill cry of terror, his was a roar of fury like a charging bull's. At the same instant he threw himself forward, and I leaped sideways toward the bows. As I did so I left hold of the tiller, which sprung sharp to lee ward and I think this saved my life, for it struck Hands across the chest, and stopped hlni. for the moment, dead. Before he could recover, I was safe out of the corner where he had trapped me, with all the deck to dodge about. Just forward of the mainmast I stopped, drew a pistol from my pocket, drew a cool aim, though he had already turned and was once more coming di rectly after me, and drew the trigger. The hammer fell, but there followed neither flash nor sound the priming was useless with sea water. I cursed myself for my neglect. Why had not I, long ago, reprimed and reloaded my only weagon? Then I should not have been, as now, a mere fleeing sheep be fore this butcher. Wounded as he was, it was wonder ful how fast he could move, his griz zled hair tumbling over his face, and his face itself as red as a red ensign with his haste and fury. I had no time to try my other pistol, nor, in deed, much inclination, for I was sure it was useless. One thing I saw plainly I must not simply retreat be fore him, or he would speedily hold me boxed in the bows, as a moment since he had so nearly boxed me in the stern. Once so caught, and nine or ten inches ol the blood-stained dirk would be my last exeprience on this side of eternity. I placed my palms against the mainmast, which was of a goodlsli bigness, and waited, every nerve upon the stretch. Seeing that I meant to dodge, he also paused, and a moment or two passed in feints on his part, and corresponding movements .upon mine. It was such a game as I had often played at home about the rocks of Black Hill cove but never before, you may be sure, with such a wildly beating. heart as now. Still, as I say, it was a boy's game, arid I thought I could hold rny own at it against an elderly seaman with a wounded thigh. Indeed, my courage had begun to rise so hig-h that I allowed myself a few darting thoughts on what would be the end of the affair and while I saw certainly that I could spin it out for longf I saw no hope of any ultimate escape. Well, while things stood thus, sud denly the "Hispaniola" struck, stag gered, ground for an instant in the sand, and then, swift as a blow, can tered over to the port side, till the deck stood at an agle of 45 degrees, and about a puncfeaon of water splashed Robert Louis Stevenson. into the scupper holes, and lay in a pool between the deck and bulwark. We were both of us capsized in a second, and both of us rolled, almost together, into the scuppers, the dead redcap, with his arms still spread out, tumbling stiffly after us. So near were we, indeed, that my head came against the cockswain's foot with a crack that made my teeth rattle. Blow and all, I was the first afoot again, for Hands had got involved with the dead body. The sudden canting of the ship had made the deck no place for running on I had to find some ne\y way of es cape, and that upon the instant, for my foe was almost touching me. Quick as thought I sprang into the mizzen shrouds, rattled up hand over hand, and did not draw a breath till I was seated on the cross-trees. I had been saved by being prompt the dirk had stuck not half a foot be low me, as I pursued my upward flight and there stood Israel Hands with his mouth open and face upturned to mine, a perfect statue of surprise and disap pointment. Now that I had a moment to myself, I lost no time in changing the priming of my pistol, and then, having one ready for service, and to make assur ance doubly sure,'I proceeded to draw the load of the other and recharge it afresh from the beginning. My new employment struck Hands all of a heap he began to see the dice going against him and after an ob vious hesitation, he again hauled him self heavily into the shrouds, and, with dirk in his teeth, began slowly and painfully to mount. It cost him no end of time and groans to haul his wound ed leg behind him, and I had quietly finished my arrangements before he was much more than a third of the way up. Then, with a pistol in either, hand, I addressed him. "One more step, Mr. Hands," said I, "and I'll blow your brains out! Dead men don't bite, you know," I added, with a chuckle. He stopped instantly. I could see by the workings of his face that he was trying to think, and the process was so slow and laborious that, in my new found security, I laughed aloud. At last, with a swallow or two, he spoke, his face still wearing the same expres sion of extreme perplexity. In order to speak he had to take the dagger from his mouth, but in all else he re mained unmoved. "Jim," said he, "I reckon we're fouled, you and me, and we'll have to sign articles. I'd have had you but for that there lurch but I don't have no IUCK, not I and I reckon I'll have to strike, which comes hard, you see, for a master mariner to a ship's younker like you, Jim." I was drinking In his words and smiling away, as conceited as a cock upon a walk, when, all in a breath, back went his right hand over his shoulder. Something sung like an ar row through the air, I felt a blow and then a sharp pang, and there I was pinned by the shoulder to the mast. In the horrid pain and surprise of the moment—I scarce can say it was by my own volition, and I am sure it was without a conscious aim—both my pis tls went off, and both escaped out of my hands. They did not fall alone with a choked cry the cockswain loosed his grasp upon the shrouds and plunged head first into the water. CHAPTER XXVII. "PIECES OF EIGHT." Owing to the canting of the vessel the masts hung far out over the wa ter, and from my perch on the cross trees I had nothing below me but the surface of the bay. Hands, who was not so far up, was, in consequence, nearer the ship, and fell between me and the bulwarks. He rose once to the surface in a lather of foam and blood and then sank again for good. As the water settled I could see him lying huddled together on the clean, bright sand in the shadow of the vessel's sides. A fish or two whipped past his body. .Sometimes, by the quivering of the water, he appeared to mqve a lit tle, as if he 'were trying to rise. But he was dead enough, for all that, being both shot and drowned, and was food for fish in the very place where he had designed my slaughter. I was no sooner certain of this than I began to feel sick, faint and terri fied. The hot blood was running Over my back and chest. The dirk, where it had pinned my shoulder to the mast, seemed to burn like a hot iron yet it was not so much these real sufferings that distresesd me, for these, it seemed to me, I could bear without a murmur it was the horror I had upon my mind of falling from the cross-trees into that still green water, beside the body of the cockswain. I clung with both hands till my nails ached, and I shut my eyes as if to cover up the peril. Gradually my mind came back again, my pulse quieted down to a more natural time, and I was once more in possesion of myself. It was my first thought to pluck forth the dirk but either it stuck too hard or my nerve failed me, and I de sisted with a violent shudder. Oddly enough that very shudder did the business. The knife, in fact, had come the nearest In the world to missing me altogether it held me by a mere pinch of skin, and this the shudder tore away. The blood ran down the faster ,to be sure but I was my own master again and only tacked to the mast by my coat and rfcirt. These last I broke through with a sudden jerk and then regiained the deck by the starboard shrouds. For nothing in the world would I have again ventured, shaken as I was, upon the overhanging port shrouds, from which Israel had so lately fallen. I went below and did what I could for my wound it pained me a great deal and still bled freely but it was neither deep nor dangerous, nor. did it greatly gall me when I used my arm. Then I looked around me, and as the ship was now, in a sense, my own, I began to think of clearing It from Its l£st passenger—the dead, man, O'Brien. He had pitched, as I have said, against the bulwarks, where he liy like some fc. y? vkV horrible, ungainly sort of puppet life size, indeed, but how different from' life's color «ir life's comeliness! In that position I. could easily have my way, with 'him, aiid .as.'-the tragical ad ventures had worn off almost ail my terror for the dead, I took him by the waist as -if he had been a sack of bran and, with one good heave, tumbled him overboard. Hewent in with a soundinir plunge, the red cap camo. off and re mained floating on the surface, and as soon as the splash subsided 1 could see him and Israel lying side by siVie,^both wavering with the tremulous move ment of the water. O'Brien, though still quite a young man, was very bald. There he lay, with that bald head across the knees of the man who had killed him and the quick fishes steer ing to and fro over both. I was now alone upon the ship the tide had just turned. The sun was within so few degrees of setting that already the shadow of the pines upon the western shore began to reach right acruss the anchorage and fall in pat terns on the deck. The evening breeze had sprung up, and though it was well warded off by the hill with the two peaks upon the east, the cordage had begun to sing a little softly to itself and the idle sails to rattle to and fro. I began to see a danger to the ship. The jibs I speedily doused and brought tumbling to the deck but the mainsail was a harder matter. Of course, when the schooner canted over the boom had swung out-board and the cap of it and a foot or two of sail hung even under water. I thought this made it still more dangerous yet the strain was so heavy that I half feared to meddle. At last I got my knife and cut the hal yards. The peak dropped Instantly, a great belly of loose canvas floated broad upon the water, and since, pull as I liked, I could not bulge the down haul, that was the extent of what I could accomplish. For the rest, the "Hispaniola" must trust to luck, like myself. By this time the whole anchorage had fallen Into shadow—the last rays, I remember, falling through a glade of tlie wood and shining, bright as jew els, on the flowery mantle of the wreck. It began to be chill, the tide was rap idly fleeting seaward, the schooner set tling more and more on her beam ends. I scrambled forward and looked over. It seemed shallow enough, and, holding the cut hawser In both hands for a last security, I let myself drop softly over board. The water scarcely reached my waist, the sand was firm and covered with ripple marks, and I waded ashore in great spirits, leaving the "Hispani ola" on her side, with her mainsail trailing wide upon the surface of the bay. About the same time the sun went fairly down and the breeze whis tled low in the dusk among the tossing pines. At last, and at least, 1 was or. the sea, nor had I returned thence empty handed. There lay the schooner, clear at last from buccaneers and ready for our own men to board and get to sea again. I had nothing nearer my fancy than to get home to the stockade and boast of rny achievements. Possibly I might be blamed a bit for my truantry, but the recapture of the "Hispaniola" was a clinching answer, and I hoped that even Captain Smollett would con fess I had not lost my time. So thinking, and in famous spirits, I began to set my face homeward for the block-house and my companions. I re membered that the most easterly of the rivers which drain into Cattaln Kidd's anchorage ran from the two-peaked I hill upon my left, and I bent my course in that direction that I might pass the stream while it-was small. The wood was pretty open, and, keeping along the lower spurs, I soon turned the cor ner of that hill, and not long after waded to the mid-calf across the water course. This brought me near to where I en countered Ben Gunn, the maroon, and I walked more circumspectly, keeping an eye on every side. The dusk had come nigh hand completely, and, as I opened out the cleft between the two peaks, I became aware of a waver ing low against the sky, where, as I judged, the man of the island was cooking his supper before a roaring fire. And yet I wondered, in my heart, that he should show himself so care less. For if I could see this radianco, might It not reach the eye of Silver himself where he camped upon the shore among the marshes? Gradually the night fell blacker: it was all I could do to guide myself even roughly toward my destination the double hill behind me and the Spy glass on my right hand loomed faint and fainter the stars were few and pale and in the low ground -where I wandered. I kept tripping among the bushes and rolling into sandy pits. Suddenly a kind of brightness fell about me. I looked up a pale glim mer of moonbeams had alighted on the summit of the Spy-glass, and soon af ter I saw something broad and silvery moving low down behind the trees, and knew the moon had risen. With this'to help me I passed rapid ly over what remained to me of my journey and, sometimes walking sometimes running, impatiently drew near to the stockade. Yet, as I began to thread the grove that lies before it, I was not so thoughtless but that I slacked my pace and went a trifle war- I ily.. It would have been a poor end to. my adventures to get shot down by my own party in mistake. The moon was climbing higher and, higher it." light began to fall here and there in masses through the more open districts of the wood, and right in front of me a glow of a different color appeared among the trees. It was red and hot, and now and again it was a, little darkened—as It were the embers of a bonfire smoldering. ... For the life of me I could not think what it might be. A.t last I came right down upon the borders of the clearing. The western end was already steeped in moonshine the rest, and the block-house itself,- still lay in a black shadow, checkered with long silvery streaks of light.' On the other side of the house an Immense fire had burned itself Into clear embers, and shed a steady, red reverberation, con trasted strongly with the mellow pale ness of the moon. There wsjs .not a soul stirring, nor a sound beside the noises of the breeze. (Continued next week.) One Defect. Town and Country: First Tramps— "Did you hear about that new law for teachln' the school children about the effects of liquor Second Tramp—"Tea If they'd only, provide fer the appoint ment of a terrible example fer each school, at a big. salary, you .and, I might have struck a snap." $jpr.«T HAVANA WELCOMES ESTRADA PALMA Hearty Reception to the Presi dent-Elect in the Cu t' ban Capital. A N E W A O N O O S -f| F°r the Flrat-Tlnvo the Cuban Coforf Float Overtho Famous Fortress— "Vlt Wood Receives General- V:', Palms, .• ,•!•{/,« 1 It was a moment of exultation for the Cubans, and the fact that the stars and stripes floated from its customary flagstaff beside the Cuban flag ovei the castle did not lessen their enthusi asm. The Cuban flag was hauled up when the smoke of the Julia was seen in the i|apkt. direction of Matanzas. As it rose the bands stationed along the water front played the Cuban national hymn, steamers saluted and church bells were rung. Two hours later, after the last ol the great fleet of vessels that had gone out to escort the Julia to the harboi had returned past Morro castle, thle flag was lowered and raised over the senate chamber. There was continuous saluting as the Julia sailed between the rows of deco rated tugs and barges, and there wer« cheers from the crowded wharves. The several warships in the harboi were also decorated. The stars and stripes floated over the wreck of th« Maine, and under this flag the Cuban commission In charge of the festivltiej had caused a black and ,white pennant to be placed. The steam tug Dauntless, the old filibuster, was given the right of way In the marine procession. When the president-elect arrived at the wharf he was welcomed by Vice »k& President-elect Estevefc a brief speech. From the wharf the president-elect was escorted to the palace by member* of the rural guard. Governor General ., Wood, his staff and the secretaries re ceived Senor Palma at the palace. From here the president-elect proceed ed to the municipal council building, SisS where speeches were made by the may or of Havana and Mr. Palma. General Wood accompanied Senoi Palma to the residence of General Max imo Gomez, where the president-elect will reside until his inauguration on May 20. The municipal council gave a break fast In honor of Senor Estrada Palma yesterday afternoon. At a dinner given last night by General Wood, Senor Palma, General Gomez, the arch bishop of Havana, the secretaries and a number of prominent Cubans were present. Mrs. Estrada Palma, wife of the pres ident-elect, will be welcomed officially when she arrives today. AERONAUTS KILLED. Senor Severo's Airship Ex plodes During a Sunday^ Ascension in Paris. VA "S? 3 Havana, May IS.—At S3 minutes of S o'clock yesterday morning a large Cuban flag was hoisted over Morrc castle here. This was the signal thai the steamer Julia, with President-elect Estrada Palma aftd his party on board had been sighted, and cheers went up from the thousands who were on the '. VS shore opposLte Morro castle and had i« patiently awaited the Julia's arrival ••"W'' since daybreak. ii 4i 21 The crowd cheered for the new presl- J' ,v dent and for the flag Which was hoistec over the famous foitress for the flisl V*1 time. "4 Paris May 13.—The airship belonging to Senor Auguste. Severo, the Brazilian aeronaut, made an ascension yesterday. The airship exploded and ,Severo and one of his assistants, who were on board, were killed. Senor Severo's airship, called La . Palx, had made two ascensions at the Vaugararsa aerostatic park' since May 4: Upon both occasions La Paix was held by a rope at the height of 40 me ters. In this position the airshif maneuvered for a short time. success fuliy. Ia Paix was not unlike Santos Du ment's airships In appearance but II differed from them in- many details. The gas capacity of La Palx was near-: •, ly four times greater than that of San tos Dumont's balloons. It had three main propellers and two smaller ones. used for steering and In ascending and descending. The two petroleum motors of La Pabc were of 24 and 16 horse power, respectively. After the ascension of May. 4 Senor Severo said he would not make another trial until there was perfectly fair weather, and that he would then attempt to extend^, his flight. XJpon this occasion Senot Severo and ,two assistants went up ir. the airship. :r Senor Augusto Severo has occupied himself with the problem of air flight for more' than twenty years. In 1881 he carried out some interesting steer able kite experiments Sn-BraSiil. In 1894 he constructed a large steerable bal loon, but the results with this were not satisfactory. Senor Severo waB at one time a dep uty and president of the budget com mittee in the. parliament at Hie Janeiro. He was born about 4C years ago. Senor- Severo arrived in Paris with a flying machine Mst November. He then announced Ills Intention to sail acropt and around Paris. HIA last balloon is described as car rying a car shaped like 6. long paral lelogram, drawn. directly beneath thf balloon Tbe balloon Is rigid, the cover cannot crumple or cave In, and it does not tip or: cateen like that oi" SantosDumont. s»~» Lortmer Nominated Again, .-Chicago, May io.—Former Congress man William Lorimer was nominated as republican candidate for Congresl from the Sixth dUtricj today.