July.
THE WEST SHORE.
101
they related conversations with natives
who gave accounts of such peoples and
countries farther to the northward.
A hint of this kind, after the spoiling
of such a city as Mexico, was enough
to inflame the imagination of the
Viceroy; and an expedition was imme
diately determined on. In order to
avoid a conflict with the natives, which
soldiers were sure to provoke, two
friars were selected to make the jour
ney, having for guide one of the before
mentioned adventurers, named Rtriwan.
cis, n Mnor. Friar Marcos dp Nisa the
principal of the expedition! returned
the following year with talcs so tempt
ing, of the rich and beautiful countries,
and large and splendid cities that he
had seen, that nothing was talked of in
Mexico but the El Dorado to which
everybody was eager to go, and the
Viceroy, Mendoza, more than all. To
conquer this new and rich region was
the ambition of all military men, and
Mendoza had no trouble in raisin"
two armed expeditions, the one to pro
ceed by sea, and another by land, to
CO-operate in subjugating these wealthy
cities of the interior.
According to Friar Marcos, the coun
try they were seeking laid between
he 35th and 36th degrees of latitude,
and in a general northwesterly direc
tion. The sea forces were to proceed
to the head of the Gulf of California or
"Sea of Cortez," and there quitting
their ships, to proceed by land. But
instead of being forced to march over
hind, as they expected, the naval com
mander discovered a large river, which
he entered, and up which he proceeded
eighty leagues in boats, making inqui
ries as he went, concerning the beauti
ful cities whose houses were built of
stone and ornamented with precious
gems, besides being inhabited by a peo
pie willing to embrace the Christian re
ligion. Neither did the commander see
anything of the numerous crosses which
Friar Marcos declared he hail erected
secretly, thereby taking possession of
the country for his Catholic sovereign.
Some rumors he did hear of cities in
the interior, and of monstrous beasts and
enchanters, very like talcs of the middle
ages, but nothing to induce him to
penetrate further into a desert country,
lie therefore returned to Mexico before
the year was out, having done nothing
of! importance except to discover the
Colorado river.
Not so the commander of the land
expedition, A march of three months
brought his forces to the designated
country, where nothing was discovered
but a few villages, containing, it is true,
-tone houses, rudely built, and a people
not altogether savage, possessing a few
trinkets of gold and silver. Thus ended
the exciting search for the rich and
ancient cities of Cibola. The country
was good enough to tempt the soldiers
to remain and settle it, but their com
mander would not allow it. He was
not vet satisfied with looking for cities
ing the command to his pilot, Bar
tolome Ferrclo, who resumed the voy
age, and on the 26th of February, 1543,
reached a cape in latitude 410, to which
he gave the name of Caio de J o tunas,
(Cape of Perils) on account of the se
vere weather encountered there. He
continued on north, to latitude 440,
when the winds being adverse and his
crew sick, he put about and returned to
Mexico. But there can be no doubt
that Ferrclo first discovered Cape
Mendocino, and the coast of Oregon.
To rV Continued.
IX SEARCH OF A I1RAIN.
DV NICHOLAS NU.ES.
Ill the summer of iS6y I had occasion
to visit the Kushmore Asylum for the
Insane. I he institution is, I believe,
iccKoneu among tne best ot its kind in
this country. The distinguishing fea
ture in its system of treatment is that
of according to patients all reasonable
freedom a system, I am informed,
which has been followed with the most
encouraging results. So far as practi
cable, the inmates of the asvlum arc
treated like sane men and women; and,
uisieau 01 neing Kept constantly re
minded of their infirmity, they are led
to forget it if the power to forget re
mains. On the day of my visit I had pur
chased a case of medicines for one of
the assistant physicians, who was my
intimate friend. This I had done a't
his request, and it was to deliver these
medicines that I made the journey to
the Rushmore Asylum.
Ascending the massive stone steps, I
was conducted by one of the attendants
into the reception-parlor. Here I was
left to wait until my presence could be
announced to my friend Dr. Balcom.
It so happened that I was the only oc
cupant ot the room, and to engage my
mind while I waited, I picked up a
copy of De Qulncy's "Confessions," and
began to read. While thus occupied, a
voice accosted me, saying:
"Did you wish to see any one, sir:"
Looking up, I saw that the sneaker
was a small, neatly-dressed man, who
hail entered unobserved, and who had
evidently addressed me in order to make
his presence known.
"I was waiting," I replied, "to see
Dr. Balcom."
"The doctor is engaged just at pres.
cnt on a very important case. Would
you like to make a tour of the build-
I answered that I should be pleased
to do so, and thereupon my friend con
ducted me out into the hall. I discov
ered that he was one of the attendants
in the asylum, and he also informed me
that he had studied insanity for a num
ber of years, with a view to fitting him
self for a physician. Under so excel
lent a guide I was conducted throtigh
the buudlng, and shown the numerous
points of interest Those patients whose
cases possessed particular interest were
also pointed out to me, ami their idio
syncraeies fully explained.
"The man whom we have just
passed," said my companion, referring
to a large, fresh-faced, mild-cved pa
tient, "is one of the most dangerous
cases which we have ever had."
"Indeed?" I replied. "One would
not think so from looking at him."
"No; but the appearance of all insane
people is deceptive, 1 here was
to plunder, and spent two vears wan- Woman here some time ago a pale,
1 ., . - ,1 . , sweet-laced, delicate creature whom
dermg with his men throii"h the coun- , , . , , . ,
6 we all thought a saint, and who acted
try that must now be called Utah, dis- j like one until she succeeded in getting
covering the sources of the Colorado hold of a carving-knife, and then she
and Platte rivers before he returned to j ,hc groats of two of her fellow.
Mexico. It may reasonably be con- pa'',cn's,!" , , , , , , .
. , . ' , ,,,'., Is there not danger, I a-ked, "111
jectored that tne ruined dues of Arizona I granting so much liberty to the in
were in some way reported to Friar mates?"
Marcos; but he must still have drawn "Well, it is our peculiar svstem. We
largely on a lively Spanish imagination j '" s""lc mstauccs, of course, that
for the accounts which induced the
I the freedom is abused, but in the nut-
1 ii.ritv nf rncf-c it Works u-fll
Viceroy to undertake so important an1 This, and much more conversation.
expedition as this. I took place between the attendant anil
The next attempt at discovery was myself as we passed through the halls.
by sea, when in 1842, two vessels were ' wa5, mos' f"vn"by impressed with
.: , . . . , his intelligence and manners, and the
ili-patchcd by Mendoza up the coast, 1 ,hm,Rnl slrucli me forcibly that he was
teaching the latitude of San Franci-co fitted t" fill .1 hiirhcr position than that
Bay, but not discovering it. Bad
Weather drove the vessels back to the
Santa Barbara group of islands, where
the Commandant? Cabrillo died, leav-
which he occupied
"I observe, he said, "that you carry
.1 mcdicinc-casc, and I infer that you
arc a physician."
"No," I rejoined. "Although I have
the equipments of a doctor, I should
make but sorry work at using them.
They belong to Dr. Balcom, and 1
called to deliver them." Then looking
at my watch, I added : "I fear that 1
am keeping the doctor waiting by mv
long absence."
"1 think he is not vet disengaged,"
returned my companion. "We shall
have time to go on to the roof of the
building, from which the view is really
magnificent."
Accordingly, my guide led the way
up the spiral staircase, which connected
the topmost story with the roof, I fol
lowing at his heels. As we emerged
tuiouga uiu broad skylight, the scene
which presented itself to the eye was
indeed magnificent. To the right lav
the river, wending like a silver thread
through the pleasant valley; in front
could be seen the distant spires of the
city, glistening like the sunlight; and
afar off rose the hills, their summit lost
in the deep blue of the heavens. The
carefully kept grounds of the asvlum,
immediately beneath us, looked like a
map, gorgeous with its many hues of
flowers.
"This is certainly a splendid view,"
I said.
"It is still better from the opposite
side of the building," returned mv guide.
"Let us go over there."
Accordingly, we walked along the
flat roof, the attendant taking the pre
caution to close the skylight behind us,
lest any of the patients should be
tempted" to follow us. The Rushmore
Asylum is some two hundred and fifty
feet in length, and as we had emerged
from the westerly cud of the roof we
had this considerable distance to walk.
Suddenly, when we had reached a point
about midway in the building, my com
panion stopped, and, turning upon me
abruptly, said:
"Have you a large brain?"
I looked at him a little wonderinglv,
and then laughed as 1 replied:
"Well, if I have, the world has not
discovered it!"
"Don't jest, sir," he said petulantly,
and with a seriousness that Rallied an
unpleasant suspicion across my mind,
"1 wish to know distinctly whether or
not you have a large braiiir"
lie was looking me full in the face,
with a peculiar expression in his dark
eves which 1 had not before observ ed.
There was not the slightest betrayal of
levity in his manner. He was terribly
in earnest. His thin, white lingers
worked convulsively, and there was a
twitching about the muscles of the
mouth such as I have seen in persons
suffering intense pain. The horrible
truth Hashed upon me as I returned his
steadfast gaze.
This man was a maniac.
I am possessed, I fancy, with an aver
age amount of courage, but at that mo
ment I felt it oozing out of the very
pores of my skin. I know that I turned
deathly pale, and for a moment was
Utterly unable to think. Then I grew
calmer. Doubtless this maniac had
brought me on to the roof of the build
ing with the idea "of pushing me olf.
As I have already said, he was a small
man. Physically, I was his superior.
Hut I was without any weapon of de
fense. Suppose that he was armed ?
"My good sir," I said, endeavoring
to speak in a natural tone, "I can assure
you that my brain is not a large one;
and, as my time is somewhat limited, I
think we had better go down now."
I made a movement as if to retrace
my steps to the skylight. Quick as
thought, the madman sprang in front ot'
me, and, with his eyes glaring wildlv,
albeit he spoke in a low, unexcited voice,
he said :
"I think your brain is large enough
for my purpose, sir. You must under
stand that 1 have a great mission in this
world to fulfill a mission which I have
not as yet even begun. The strain
upon my own mental faculties will be
too great; I therefore intend to take
out your brain and insert it in my own
head"."
Here he drew from the bfeaai-pockct
of his coat a largc-sizcd clasp-dagger,
which he opened, and begun to rub the
blade up and down on the palm of his
hand.
"I have given years of thought to
this subject, he continued, "and I am
convinced that I shall succeed. With
a double brain-power, I shall lie en
abled to accomplish a double amount of
brain-work. I have been waiting for a
Hibject a long, long time, but not until
I -aw you did I find one suited to mv
purpose. You are the man the brain
for whom I have been watching 1"
"1 fear, sir," said I, "that you are
sadly mistaken. Your idea is a grand
one an original one. Hut I am not
fit to aid yon in carrying it out. You
should select a strong, active, healthy
brain. Mine, on the contrary, is weak
and diseased. Why, sir, up to the age
of fourteen I was considered an idiot.
Since then my friends do not permit
me to have control of my own allairs.
1 am actually little better than a lunatic.
1 can neither read nor write. I "
"Nevertheless," he Interrupted, "you
will answer my purpose, and I am
about to lake out your brain with this
dagger and insert it in my own head.
I have brought you on to the roof here
that we may be free from all intcrrup-
tions. You will now oblige me bv
lying down!"
If my mind had been stunned by the
first discovery of the man's madness, It
was active enough now. A thousand
schemes rushed through toy brain. I
took in the situation fully. I was alono
with a maniac armed with an ugly
weapon, and bent upon my destruction.
To cry out would be useless. Nobody
could hear inc. The chances of any aid
trom those within the asylum were I
small indeed. I could not run away.
If I attempted to gain the skylight,
would certainly be killed. The medicine-case
in my hand suggested the
thought which saved my life.
"If you are determined to make use
of such an unworthy subject as I," I
1 said, "well and good, I shall offer no
further resistance. But I ask that you I
will grant me live minutes while I ad- I
dress a brief farewell to my friends. I
will give it to you to deliver to them." '
" cry well,1' he replied. "If you
know how to write, proceed. I will
wait five minutes."
lie took up his position a few feet
from me, watching every motion I
made with horrible eagerness. I knelt
down, with my back towards him, took 1
from the medicine-ease a bottle of chlo
roform (which I knew it contained), anil
saturated my handkerchief with the ,
liquid. This I succeeded in doing with
out his knowledge. Then, rising tu
my feet, I scribbled some unintelligible
words upon the back of an old envelope,
and said :
"You will do me the honor to read
what I have written lu re."
He came towards me, and while I
held the envelope in my hand stood by '
my side and looked at the writing. I 1
had the handkerchief in my light baud
and the envelope in my left. As hp
bent forward to decipher the words, I '
suddenly clutched his hand, which held
the dagger, and at the same instant
clapped the baud kerchief over his
mouth and nose. He struggled fiercely
for a moment or two, and then the
fumes of the drug began to tell upon
him, His efforts to release himself
grew weaker, and he finally ti ll to the
roof, insensible.
Willi alt haste I made my way to the
skylight, down the spiral staircase and
into the halls below. There I recounted
what had happened, and two of the '
assistants were sent to bring down the I
murderous maniac. I Ic recovered in
good time firom file effect! of the chlo
roform, but the last I heard of him he
was still looking for 11 suitable subject
to furnish him an extra brain.
Union, the county seat of Union
county, is one of the most thriving and
prosperous towns east of the Cascade
mountains, Being slt'iated in the south
ern portion of Grande Rondo valley,
the nearest and most accessible portion
of the county to the extensive placer
stid quartz mines in Union and Baker
counties, it flbfdl the best market of
any business point in Union county.
During the past year property has rap-
idly increased in value, .old many im
provements of a substantial nature have
been made. Everything bean evidence
Of thrift, proaperfty and a healthy sub
stantial growth. Union Sentinel.
ay is upon
1 11 li WEST Siiiihk foi Ma
our table. I his monthly ir, hccomhiir
most deservedly popular, anil should be
Incorporated into every household in
the land. It should take precedence 1
because of the character and variety of
its subject matter, the tone and literary
excellence of its pages, and last, though
not least, because it is a home produc
tion, arrishnrg Nucltk t.
Be just and fear not.
The West ShoM.
Sub rlbe for
i