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About Grant County news. (Canyon City, Or.) 1879-1908 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 1880)
Saved ijy the Doctor. The episode I am goiug to relate oc curred not far from the township of Horsham, Victoria, Australia. Where tjie exact locality is I have no intention of divulging; but if any of my readers are acquainted with the part of the world I refer to, they will rein ember that there exist one or two large streams within the wide radius I have named. Beside one of these rivers there was standing, about twenty years ago, a hut, which was known at the homestead as the Deep Water Station, and it was here that my lot placed me as a hutkeeper. I lived at the Deep Water Statiou for two years. I remember I was sitting at the hut (the Deep Water Hut) one summer af ternoon, looking for the coming of "Long Mat." The sun was passing away blood-red behind a range of dim blue hills; long shadows were fast spreading; the deep water-hole had lost the light; tho hills behind the river were just tipped with a crimson glorj and stars seemed dropjjing like silver specks ou the paling sky. Long Mat, the shep herd, was later than usual. The darkness had not quite fallon be fore I recognized the bleating of the flock in the distance, and soon after the white lleeces of the sheep slowly ap peared from out the somber shadows of the trees. I had. just'walked inside the hut to prepare suppe-, when the quick, nmflled fall of horse's feet became audi ble I knew the canter well, and came to the door to await the arrival of Mr. S , tho owner of the station. He galloped up to the hut, with a cheerful "Good evening, Bill;" and as usual came inside to ask me if I wanted anything, and to light his pipe. "I can't stay long with you this time, Bill," he said pleasantly, but with a lit tle anxiety; "the black fellows are about again. I hope your gun is in order. Do you want any jjowdcr or lead?" "We have quite enough," I replied, "both Mat and myself; but there's no bullets; I'll run them to-morrow. Mat's rather late this evening; but the flock's not far off; they'll be home in a quarter 6f an hour; I s.iw them pass the belt be fore you came." At this instant the shadow of a man darkened the door and Mat entered. "Good evening," lie said quietly to Mr. S and myself. "The sheep's feedin' home all right, sir, but there's a few missin'. One of my marked ewes is gone, and I can't see two of the crawl ers." "You'll pick them uj) to-morrow, Mat," replied the strong, pleasant voice of the squatter. "Bill says you've enough powder and lead. The blacks arc about; do you know that?" Without waiting for an answer Mr. S proceeded to undo his horse and was about to mount when Mat (who was an American) said: "I guess you had better stop to-night, sir." "Why?" "Injuns is close up. One of the sheep I spoke of was speared." "I he-ird there were black fellows about, said Mr. S , delaying to mount; "but the ride is safe enough; I've got my rifle with me." "They're too close," responded the shepherd, after filling a pauikin of tea, and, contrary to his custom, standing his gun against the table. We looked at him inquiringly. He kept his eyes wandering over and around the flocks while he explained, "Wall, you see, sir, after seein' the spear wound on the crawler, I looked about me purty sharp, but couldn't see nolhin' till I was leavin the belt there, when I sighted one of the varmints wrigglin' through the grass like a snake. I was goin' to give him a pill, but I saw another wrig gle in his wake, and then another; and," continued the narrator, with something like a glow of expectation, "they ain't far off now, I reckon." Ho had scarcely uttered the words when he lilted both hands and struck 3Xr. g full on the chest with enough force to drive him to the extreme end of the hut. At the same instant a spear whizzed through the open doorway, and quivered in the slabs behind. More remarks were drowned by a loud quivering snort from tho poor horse; a moment after, and he rolled heavily across the hut door, completely blocking up the entrance. Mat muttered away: "First-rate for us coons! Ye'd better bar the door, Bill! Doctor! Doctor: Doctor! Pst,! Pst! Here lad." The dog leaped on the shep herd. "By gum,"he said, "I thought he was outside." By this time Mr. S was coolly recon noitering through the loopholes. He had let down the window, and was pre paring for action as unconcernedly as the shepherd. These quiet, brave men inspired me -with confidence, and I remember think ing, as I threw water on the fire so as to extinguish the light, that the black fel lows had met with their match. By this time the moon was up aud the light was graduallv growing on the landscape. At first we could discern the outlines of the trees, and then, as the night gathered, the white seared grass between the shad ows There was a long time of silence. Mat' Mr. S aud myself had our barrels through the loopholes and were closely watching for any movement out side The convulsive shuddermgs of the horse had ceased, and there was a painful silence. The squatter and Mat were like two statues, and, notwithstand ing the quiet breathing of the dog and the croaking of the frogs along the river, there seemed to be a frightfu signifi cance in the silence that was brooding above these sounds. Every instant 1 was expecting a rush from the outside, but there was not a sign or sound to be tray the presence of any enemy, ljie sheep were camping quietly around tiie hurdles. Silence the bright moon the white fleeces mingling with the color of the grass the still shadows of the trees the far black forest the spectral tracery of the branches in the moonliglit. The silence was terrible. One of the outside ethers rose and walked forward a few yards, then commenced stamping quickly on the ground. "Darn my eyes," sai'l Mat, for the first time breaking silence, "if de 'Ole Parson' ain't sighted one of the niggers! ' The "Ole Parson" was a patriotic wether that was alllicted with the foot rot, and usually fed on his knees. "So he has, and by gum there's a crowd; the whole tribe hev come to visit. Not enough in shade, boss," concluded Mat, after another interval, and in a half whispering tone. The next moment the first report rang out into myriad echoes. A shrill death shout followed, as tho dark figure of a man leaped with a sudden force from his ambush aud fell prone, gurgling out blood and broken words. "Now, boss," said Mat, looking out, but still charging, "fifty yards to the right of the hurdle." Boss (Mr. S.) changed the position of his gun and fired. The human figure seemed to sink down so quickly, so calmly, so helplessly, that I felt a strange thrill of pity. "He's fixed ' as safe as houses; let's physic another or two, and maybe they'll make tracks," again muttered the shep herd, in a tone of suppressed glee. "Cook, why the devil don't you shoot? Squiut around that first block to tho right of the wattle." Looking in the direction indicated by Mat. whose eyes seemed everywhere, I saw the figure of a man partially visible against the ground. He was evidently sheltering himself from the other two guns, but, owing to my silence hitherto, he must have been of the opinion that the portion of the hut where I stood was unoccupied, jp'or an instant I could see nothing through the the smoke, but it cleared almost instantly. Just as the shepherd said "Don't shoot again he's fixed," I saw the poor wretch staggering wildly towards the hut, and then falling with a dull sound. God forgive me, it was very like murder. This was the the fir.st life I had ever taken. The next thing I remember was Mr. S asking me if I had run any bullets. "Not one." "Have vou any in the hut?" "Not oiie." Mat informed us that we were "tree'd," much in tho same way as he would tell the overseer that the rations were short. He quietly pulled his gun from the loophole, saying, "I've only one more pill to keep our skins whole. We'll hev to trust to Doctor." "Mat's dog Doctor was partly a Smith field and partly a Newfoundland. He had been trained by him to all sorts of tricks. Amongst others, he repeatedly took written messages to the station, when attached to his collar, and I pre sume this was the object Mat had in view when referring to him as capable of procuring relief. "Mister, d'ye think you kin rite a missage in the dark, or by the moonlight, askin' the hands at the Homestead to come this way ? No time to lose; I see tho darkios dodging round the hut. Bill, knock away the low part of the rotten slab behind your back. Here, Doctor." The message was scrawled and fast ened to the dog's collar in little less thau a minute, and the noble brute, who seemed to know tha- danger, stood anx iously trembling till the preparations were completed. As 1 before stated, the hut stood close to the stream, and from the rear the bank sloped abruptly toward the water. The American for the first time seemed affected. When the man fell under our shots, there was not the slightest change perceptible in his voice; but tho words he spoke to his dog were broken and singularly soft. I'll be sworn there were tears in the man's eyes. Everything being at last prepared he spat upon the doer's muzzle, held his head close to his cheek for a moment, and then pressed him quickly out of the hole and away down the shelving bank. Wo listened anxiously for a time, and then there arose a wild jabbering for a minute; the next instant we detected a yelp of pain. "My God! said 1 involuntarily, "tne Doctor's speared." "No, he arn't, darn ye!" snapped Ben. "He's jist touched, anil no more. He'll do it." "He must be quick, then," said Mr. S ; "the black devils 'have struck a light somewhere, and they're going to burn us out. Look!" Our eyes were now intently scanning the movements of the savages through the loopholes, and -we saw a flaming bmnd whizzing through the air and scattering sparks in all directions. It fell on the stringy bark roof above our heads. Another and another came, but it did not appear to us that any of them had taken effect. . Bv this time the black fellows had gathered courage. Believing that our ammunition was expended, many of them had left cover and might be seen flitting about like specters. They had kindled a fire some distance off, and across its glare shadows were almost constantly falling. The fire brands were thrown no more; some fresh mode of attack was prepar ing. Our suspense continued for a long period (nearly half an hour), during which time not a word was spoken by any of us. Our soul dependence was on the Doctor; and if help did not soon ar rive it was certain we could find no es cape from the demons who were trying to compass our destruction. "Now, look slick," whispered Mat. "I see their game; they're goin' to give us fits. How's the moon? well aback of the hut, I guess. Bill, stick your cabbage tree on a pillow, and hold it at the open window when I tell you. I'll just go out and bid them good evening. Don't bar the door after me, mister, but when I show them my heels open it. You see we can't spare ammunition." While speaking Mat unbarred the door. He slipped out noiselessly as he concluded the sentence. Through the slabs ho said to me; "D'ye see that devil with the blazin' log? When ho gits close to the wattle, open the window and prop up the pillow. Take care of their spears yourself." As soon as the black fellow came to the point indicated, I opened the long little shutter with some noise and held up the dummy. In a moment a dozen spears passed through the aperture, and I let the window fall as though one of us was mortally wounded. There was a wild shout without. At this time the black fellow who carried the log was within a few yards of the hut, and I heard Mat preparing for his move outside. Looking out as quickly as I could, I had just time to see his tall figure emerge beyond the shade as the butt end of his gun fell crashing on the head of the fire bearer. The door was opened as Mat turned; it required but one or two bounds to take him to the door, but the savages were too quick for him with their spears. He staggered through the entrance and fell just as ho cleared the threshold. "Caught in the thigh, I guess," he exclaimed, as he slowly recovered him self, and painfuily.strugglcd to the window. "Don't mind the spear," he remarked to me as I approached him ; "its better as it is, till help comes." "If it ever does," thought I. The American's sortie, I believe, had rather a disastrous effect, for the black fellows seemed to conclude at once that our ammunition was all expeuded, and they thronged around the hut without caring to shelter themselves. In a short time the crackling flames on the roof put an end to our trouble. The hut was on fire, and there was nothing left for us but an attempt to dash out and clear the aborigines. I proposed this, but Mr. S would not try without Mat, and underneath the blazing roof, with clubbed guns, we grimly awaited the final attack. The American s rifle rested in the loophole where he had first taken up his position. "There's the worst of them," Mat said, looking along his weapon; "he's coming up with a log to stave the door. He'll never do it ;" and our last bullet brought down the ringleader. There was consternation and a hurried consultation. After a lapse of about five minutes, the whole force of the be siegers rushed shrieking on our little garrison. A moment's surge outside, and the door fell back as Mr. S 's gun swung down on the crowding savages with terrific force, felling two of the foremost like oxen. I remember a wild struggle with our guns and fists. Mat and the squatter towered above their op ponents like giants, fighting with terri ble energy. The black fellows had forced me to the ground; one was shortening his grasp of the spear to drive it through my body, when I felt a gush of blood spouting over my face and chest, just as the savage fell on me lfiortally wounded. Then I remember a hurrah outside and the cracking of rifles. "That was a good backhanded blow, boss," said Mat faintly; "I gue?s the cook's got another squeak. D'ye hear that? Hooray! Knowed tho Doctor i'd do it," said he, with renewed energy; "take that;" and I heard the dull sound . of another blow, and a low moan of pain as the station hands rushed in. The Doc- ( tor soon recovered. So did Mat, Avho is j now one of the richest men in the colo nies. I well I have a large scar across ' my breast. A HIoiKsicr Swing Machine. Tho largest world, a Sin sewing machine in the i irnr has recently been ' finished. The machine weighs over : four tons, and is in Suine respects of . new design, uniting much simplicity of construction with strength of parts. It is adapted for general maim facturing purposes of the heavier sort, although specially made for stitching cotton belting, an article which is just now taking the market as a cheap and servicable institution for the gearing and the ordinary leather belting. The material used is of great strength and toughness.and is sewed together in piles ' or layers up an inch in thickness. The j belting in being sewed together is passed j through heavy feed rollers some nine inches in diameter, and more than eight j feet in length, getting stretched and; pressed in the process. There are two needles at work with two shuttles which can be removed from the bottom without , disturbing the overlying piles of belting, i The rollers between which the work: passes are actuated by reversible worm and cam motions, aud the machine has t in addition to these roller feeds, what is known as a lop -feed motion, suitable for a lighter class of work. The stitch, as in the ordinary sewing machine, can be adiusted from one-eighth inch upward, and the pressure of the rollers on tlie work passing through the machine can be regulated at the will of the operator, j The machine, which is driven by; steam, has been made for a manufactur ing firm in Liverpool. At the Orleans Railroad .station in Paris the other day, eight thousand pil- crrims worn irnthnvnil fnr a trip to j-, w - I 1 Lourdes. A large number were crippled and bed-ridden. The station was blocked . up with stretchers and mattresses upon which emaciated and helpless forms j were reclining. Babes abounded, and their wan and scared faces were pitiable. The incapable numbered one-fourth of the entire band. An Actress' Romance. The appearance of Miss Ada Caven dish, the English actress, at the Arch Street Theater, says the Philadelphia Times, will lend much interest to her romantic history, which has never been published in this country before. Some forty years ago one of the most cele brated law cases ever tried in England came before tho lord chancellor for trial, after being fought from court to court. The issue in question was the legitimacy or illegitimacy of a certain member of the Cavendish family. If the lord chan cellor, after examining into the case, should decide that this man was legally born, he would, by virtue of prior birth, be the head of the family and heir to the vast estate that fell with the title of duke of Devonshire. So great results hung on "my lord's" opinion. But the case was never decided, the cla'mant was so hampered by circumstantial evidence, rather than direct proof of his rights, and the defense saw so clearly that their opponent could make it unpleasant for them, that both parties agreed to a com promise, the details of which are worth reciting, as a curious illustration of the standard of morality in the English aristocracy of that day, which generally approved of the compact. It was argued that the claimant should be acknowledged as legitimate and the head of the family, taking the title and possessions of the duke f Devonshire for life; but he was expe sly forbidden to marry, and on his deatli tho title and property passed to the opposing party. Under such circumstances the duke, be ing but human, naturally formed attach ments which the law did not sanction. Most of these, however, were of short duration, but when he had been about nine years in possession of his title he met a Miss Cameron, of Edinburgh, Scotland, to whom he became strongly attached. This lady was of gentleblood, of great personal beauty, and one of the mot brilliantly educated and accom plished women of the age. During sev eral years' acquaintance she learned to return the afiection of her titled lover, and he, to do him justice, used all the means in his power to protect her good name. Being forbidden to marry by his legal settlement of the suit, he offered Miss Cameron what is known as a morganatic marriage in Europe. This marriage is conducted as follows: Tho contracting parties are united in -wedlock by a regularly-ordained clergyman, marriage cer tificate being furnished as usual. The wife in this case was known as Miss Cav endish, not as the duchess of Devonshire. Her children were legal, bearing the family name. At the death of the father and mother, intestate, the children in herit his personal estate, the widow hav ing her dower right of one third, but the Devonshire estates and titles pass to the nearest of kin of the ducal line. This style of marriage was long since invent ed to give the kings, princes, and no bility generally of Europe, a chance to follow the dictates of their hearts with out shame, where reasons of state policy forced them into loveless )olitical mar riages. Morganatic marriages are gen erally very happy, and are not regarded in Europe, especially on the continent, as fastening any shame ou the parties participating therein; neither do they en tail any loss of social position. Miss Cameron accepted the duke's offer, and was morganatically married to him. They lived together in perfect happiness for eleven years, being p.trted only by the death of Mrs. Caveiulish. The duke survived her about eleven years, but he was a changed man from the day of her death. Formerly genial and heatry, a lover of society, the turf, etc., he became crabbed, nervous, and silent. He shut himself up at Brighton and very seldom saw any one to his dying day, in 1870. One child (a girl) was born to this marriage, and was called Ada Cavendish. On her the parents lavished their ten derest'love and devotion. She was care fully reared, like any young scion of the British aristocracy, and her beauty, sweet, joyous disposition and brilliant talents combined to make her their idol and the center of one of the happiest homes of Old England. A few years af ter the mother died the daughter, fol lowing her natural bent, placed herself under the tuition of Mrs. Charles Pel by, of the New Royal Theater, London, at which theater she soon made her debut as an actress. From that time until the day of his death tho appearanc6 of his daughter in a new roll was the only thing which could tempt the old duke from his seaside retirement. She was a faithful and devoted daughter, and at her father's deatli came into possession of his entire personal estate, amounting to 10,000 -850,000 and some mag nificent jewels. Miss Cavendish has steadily risen in the theatrical world, her success as Mercy Merrick, in "The New Magdalen," rendering her famous in jMigianu ami -iimeiicu. t- i . i i a ... : " Speech anil Size. The Power of Speech. A man who cannot use his eyes should use his tOllgRO. Man's darkened soul can call for a light when it cannot strike a light. The spiritually blind man can utter a loud and exceedingly bitter cry that shall pierce heaevn aud enter into the ear and heart of God, Size. Bigness is not greatness, and yet smalluess is in itself no blessing, though it may be the occasion of a man's winning one. Happily for little men the giants have seldom any great wit. It is not pleasant to see every one about you a bigger person than yourself. Yet this is a slight many do see who are not dwarfs in stature. Hints on Calling. Do not stare around the room. Do-not take a dog or small child. Do not linger at the dinner hour. Do not lay aside a bonnet at a formal call. Do not liget with your cane, hat or parasol. Do not make a call of ceremony on a wet day. Do not turn vour back to one seated near you. Do not touch the piano unless invited to do so. Do not handle ornaments or furniture in the room. Do not make a display of consulting your watch. Do not go to the room of an an in valid unless invited. Do not remove the gloves when mak ing a formal call. Do not continue to stay longer -when conversation begins to lag. Do not remain when you find the lady on the point of going out. Do not make the first call if you are a new comer in the neighborhood. Do not open or shut doors or windows or alter the arrangement of the room. Do not enter a room without first knocking and receiving an invitation to come in. Do not resume your seat after having arisen to go, unless for important rea sons. Do not walk around the room, exam ining pictures, while waiting for tho hostess. Do not introduce politics, religion or weighty topics for conversation when making calls. Do not prolong the call if the room is crowded. It is better to call a day or two afterwards. Do not call upon a person in reduced circumstances with a display of wealth, dress and equipage. Do not tattle. Do not speak ill of your neighbors. Do not carry gossip from one family to anothe?. Do not, if a gentleman, seat yourself upon the sofa beside the hostess, or in near proximity, 'unless invited to do so. Do not, if a lady, call upon a gentle man, except officially or professionally, unless he map be a confirmed invalid. Do not take a strange gentleman with you, unless positively certain that his introduction will be received with favor. Do not, if a gentleman, leave the hat in the hall when making merely a formal call. If the call is extended into a visit, it may be set aside. When sitting or standing, the hat may be gracefully held in the hand. A Wonderful Feat of Memory. The history of the celebrated conjurer, Robert Houdin, furnishes a remarkable example of tho power of memory ac quired by practice. He and his brother, while yet boys, invented a game which they i)layed in this wise: They would pass a shop window and glance into it as they passed, without stopping, and then at the next corner compare notes and see Avhich could remember the greatest num ber of things in the window, including their relative positions. Having tested the accuracy of their observation and memory, so that after running by a shop window once, and glancing as they passed, they would enumerate every ar ticle in it. When Robert became a professional conjuror, this habit enabled him to achieve feats apparently miraculous. It is told of him that, visiting a friend's house where he had never been before, he caught a glimpse of the book-case as he passed the half-open library door. In the course of the evening, when some ot tho company expressed their anxiety to witness some specimens of his power, he said to his host: "Well, sir. I shall tell you, without stirring from this place, what books you have in your library." "Come, come," said he, incredulously, "that is too good." "We shall see, replied Houdin. "Let some of the company go into the library and look, and I shall call out the names from this room. They did so, and Houdin began: "Top shelf, left hand, two v&luines in red morocco ; 'Gibbon's Decline and Fall;' next to these, four volumes of half calf; 'Boswell's Tohnson;' 'Rasselas,' in cloth; 'Hume's History of England,' in calf, two volumes, but the second one wanting," and so on, shelf after shelf, to the unspeakable wonder of the whole company. More than once a gentleman stole into the drawing-room, certain he -would catch Houdin reading a catalogue; but thero sat the conjuror, -with his hands in his pockets-, looking into tha fire. A Boy's Essay ox Statesmen. Thar waz a statsman. His color was 1G and his hat was 5. He went to a meetin' to orate. He said "ax me a question if you want to no." So when he was a swetin under his shirt a man hollered and he said: "Wot is tarif any way i And the statsman lie Jariea kinder short, and he sed, "I want no foolin' around me. I am a b-a-d man, and I cary a kane." So he gave his kane a whirl and laid it on the table. Then this orful man down among the sprtous sed again: "How much is tarif a peck, anyway?" An' the statsman sed, Veal hot, "lama freeman, aud IwonMAbe adjourned, so I demand the law. And then tho law, dressed as a polishman, got the orful man by the back-hold, and tuk him to the kaboze. And when m tho kabozo he did not ax any more tani queshons, but fotthe cokrochesall night. An' the statsman went home with his kane. Cleveland Herald. The tree keeps its trunk in good order during the winter so that it shall be able o leave early in the spring. t