The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918, May 28, 1887, Image 2

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    MUTINY AT SEA.
"When you como to speak of dreadful
things, you may set it down thnt a rail
tinj at noa can be classified first. It l. In
most cjvmj8 the turning o the worm. Men
who hnVe had it drilled into them for
years that they must put up with such
food as hogs would refuse, obey every or
der without question, peril their lives at
the word, cringe nnd tremble- before r.no
of their own species becnuso ho is in i.u
Chority.nre not to bo driven into mutiny on
tins high sens without extreme provoca
tion. When the worm turns, then lool: out
Your cringing foremast hand, who only
Oioday before thanked tho mnto for
knocking him down, may bo o tyrant In
turn.
Tlio ship becomes a floating hell. The
slaves of yesterday are tho masters to day.
If onoe they take tho step which render
l.liem mutineers, they will not hesitate to
go farther nnd ndd murder to the crime.
In tho year ISO-, after having served on
eisUug vessels for govern' years, and
muwkrone voyugo from Now York to Liv
erpool, I shlppod ns second mate on the
bark Afedwny, bound from San Francisco
to the tfandwich Islands, and thenco on a
trading voyage to tho islnnrts of the south
west. Tho bark was n small one, but a
god sailer nnd a dry ship, and I believe I
vfan in luck In securing' my berth. The
captain, whose name was Hurrows, seemed
a very pleasant mnn, making uso of no
jirofauo language, and nppcarlng to bo as
mild -tempered as a parson. Mind you, I
nm Riving my first impressions ns 1 sized
him up while wo yet lay at tho wharf.
I shipped at Honolulu, tho bark having al
ready completed the first part of her voyage-
1 he ird rumors to the ellVct that her
wholocrew dwerted her on her at rival
at tho Islands, hut rumors among suilora
nro not to be depended on, and I gave tho
matter no investigation, though I saw that
she was shipping u fresh crew. Wo ieft
Honolulu with twclvo men before the
mast, und wo woro not yet oit
Houndlnga when tho trouble began.
Too moat which had been boiling away
In the cook's coppers during the fore
noon gnvo out stango odors. From tho
whiffs I had caught now and then 1 knew
something was wrong, and when the meat
wan carried forward in tho kids at noon
tlw stench, was enough to turn ono's
stomach. Tho mate, whoso uamo was
Uerry, saw that I was surprised such
ini'ftt should be placed before the men on
n voyage Just begun, nnd he growled;
"Alii d 'em; It's too good for such nit
they. Jut let mo catch 'em making a
fuss over it, anil I'll work up their old Iron
In n way to open their oyeftl"
J was astounded. Mr. Uerry had seemed
a quiet, ovon-lompoted man, and I had
,wiid to myscif that there would be no
."bullying aboard of tho Mod way. The
watches had not yet been set, but tho
bark was on her eourso before a light
breer.0, and things were being made ship
shape, Tho captain was already at din
ner, and boon after uttering the remarks
quoted abovu tho mnto went down to Join
him, I was thus left In charge of ttie deck,
but tho ciow, with the exception of tho
man at tho wheel, wero forward with their
kid. As tho beef made its nppearnuro
.hero was a movement of surprise, and I
heard several of thept utter expressions of
disgust. Tho meat was picked up and
closely examined, anil then all faces wero
turned In my direction. Then, after a
' brief consultation, an old sailor whoso
ovory look and action proved tho genuine
tar, picked up tho meat tub and came aft
with it. llo win going to make a com
plaint which ho had a perfect right to do,
awl I, as officer of tliu deck, had no right
o rofiwo to listen. He put down tho tub,
dulled his hat, and very respectfully said:
"Mr. Curling, tho meat isn't hardly III
to bait a shark. His probably the tault
of the cook. Will you kindly forward our
complaint to tho captain"
At that moment Captain Hurrows ap
peared on deck. Taking In the situation
nl a glance, he walked straight up to the
sailor anil thundered:
"What In hell's name does this mean,
.you dogf" Fin .log fault with your pro
visions before the first meal is begun! tlet
forward, you In I rnal whelp!"
Tlio man n iivated without a word In
reply, but led t.to tub behind him. I'm
telling you the coloinn truth when I say
that tue odor : it was enough to turn my
stomach seven .i 'elght feet away.
"It's just like 'tun, the hounds!" roared
tho captain, '-ii' tho beef they find fault
with, oh Here, every mother's son, como
ufrl"
Tho men slowly obeyed, knowing that a
storm was at hand. Tho captain picked
up the tub, held It out toward them, and
wild, "Is there anything wrong with the
intuit" Who says tills isn't us Hweet iieet
jts was ever placed before bailors!" Who
Ja tho nianr"
For a minute not ono of them answered
him. Then the man who hail brought the
tub aft steppud out, made a respectful ba
lute, and replied, "Captain Hurrows, wo
didn't find fault with you, but, with tho
-cook. Tho meat Is so l.ir gone that no
man aboard can eat it."
"Oh, it's bad, Is it" sneered tho captain,
nsho placed the tub iu my lunula. "No
ono can eat it, eh? Let's soj about that)'"
With his miked lingers ho lilted Up a
piece and bltotfa mouthful und swal
lowed it. At that moment tho mate ap
peared on deck, and the captain culled:
"Mr. Horry, tho men "declare this moat Is
unlit to eat. Come and taste It, and give
mo your opinion."
The mate came forward and tasted it. I
itaw him wince tut ho chewed at the siutl,
but ho bravely swallowed it down, and ex
claimed.1 "Tho best beet I over saw
aboard a ship!"
"You wholpsl You hounds! You gang
of lnr.y sojers, but I'll teach you to Unit
fault!" screamed tho captain, ns he throw
the tub at tho nearest sailor; anil then ho
daubed among them, followed by tho
mate, and four or llvo men were knocked
down and kicked aWmt In tho most brutal
maimer. Not one of them made an ut
cmt at resistance, nnd they weto not fol
lowed beyond the foremast.
"Therel I guess they huvehnd an Intro
(luctlon tome, and will know hereafter
how to braoo tholr yards," chuckled tho
captain its ho cumu aft. "1 run tills craft.
Mr. Curling, and I want every man
aboard to know It. I want no man In
tho cabin who coddles tho fo'enstle. Why
didn't you knock tho dog down when he
came oft with tho beef f"
Cnpt. Hurrows," 1 replied, "I wai never
Aboard of u vessel yet where the master
would not listen to n complaint when re
spectfully and regularly set forth."
"Oh, you weron'tl And so I'v got a
second mate who can toftch mo&omcthlng.
Jlow very.fortunnte I nml Iot mo say to
you, sir that you hnd bettor go slow. 1
.can break you nnd wind you forward
tunong the men, nnd I'll do It It you glvo
me the slightest exouse."
With that ho turned and went Mow.
In a little tlmo the wntohea wore named
And bet, and as 1 was ready to turn la the
mute took occnelou to obicrvoi
"The old man la a little headstrong, but
It needs a strong hand over these fellows.
If onco you begin to palaver with 'em
they'd demand cabin stores within a
week."
"Hut the ment was horrible."
"Well, I've seen better: but thoy hnd no
business to kick up n row about it. They'ro
lucky to get meat of any sort."
I went below realizing that I had
shipped aboard a floating hell, nnd that
my position was a precarious one. As for
following tho cxiifnplo of cnptaln and
mnto I would not, nnd If I wns degrnded
and'sent forward a matter which lay en
tirely with tho captain I had better go
overboard at once. Had the captain been
a Just nnd mlld-tempcred mnn tho mate
would have been under restraint. As tho
captain had taken the lead and shown
thnt he intended to govern by kicks anil
blows, the mnto felt freo to exerclso his
brutul nature. "Within hnlfan hour after
I had left tho deck ho forced an excuse for
knocking ono of the men down, and an
hour Inter he reported to tho captain that
ho had never r.atlod witli such u gang of
mutinous dogs.
During my night watch I saw nnd hoard
enough to realize a feeling of deep indig
nation had taken hold of tho crow, nnd
that It needed only another act of brutal
ity to lnclto a rebellion. Tho man at
tho wheel Invented un oxcuso to speak to
me and presently observed:
"Some of the mon feel pretty sore, Mr.H
Parting, and I hope they won't bo driven
to "
Ho dltl not finish the sentence, nnd
said:
"Lot them take their grievances before
tho first American consul. There aro
laws to protect tho sailor us well us tho
oIlcer."
"Hut who of us evor saw thoso lawscn
foiced.slr? .hick is a dog at sea, and a
nobody nshore. Tho captain tells bis
btory to tho consul, and if Jack follows
alter, he's more likely to bo sent to prison
than to receive justice."
I could not gainsay it, nnd I, as an offi
cer of the ship, had no right to encourage
n spirit of complaint. Sailor men will
stand poor rations and tho most brutal
nbuso so long ns they aro without a
leador. What had happened during tho
day might have been passed over and fur
gotten bad not the sconos been renewed.
Tho mnto camo on deck in bad lumper,
nnd as my watch turned in ho was abus
ing his for their tardiness in answering
the call, though 1 never saw a quicker
change on.any craft. It happened that tho
man who had acted as spokesman in re
gard to the beef was the last one out of
tlio fo'eastle. It was no wonder for sev
eral of his teeth hail been loosened nnd J
one of his eyes closed by tlio blows, and ho
was piobably1 still" anil sore. As l went,
down tho companion I heard tlio mnto
shouting:
"Ahl you Infernal skulker, but I'll euro
you of this! If you've como aboard this
bark to sojor and llvo on sweet cake, you
want to look out forme!"
I turned In sick at heart, now realizing
that then) would bo no let up on the part
of captain or mate to the end of the voy
age. It did not seem as it I had been
asleep halt an hour, though in reality
three hours had passed, when some ono
pulled nt my arm, and a voice said:
"Mr. Curling, you aro wanted on deck,
sir."
"Who is lt" I nsked.
"It's me, sir .lames Martin. Will you
emin; on deck lit once!1"
1 knew that the man was a common
sniliir, though I did not know uny of them
by namo as yet, I reached tho deck a
minute Delimit mm,, i no mint was or a
course, but tho bree.a was very light. To
my astonishment I found most or tlio men
aft, and I was no booner on deck than I
saw that something was very wrong.
"Mr. Carllng," said the mini who had
complained of tho beef, nnd who.,o nainu
was Johnson, "tho Medwuy is iu our pos-so-slon.
Wo have been driven to mut
iny." "It can't be," I oxclnlmcd, as I looked
about.
Hut It is true, sir, and now we want to
know whether you are going to stand by
us or side with the captain '
"Where Ls tlio captain!1"
Lying over there in the lee scuppers
bound hand and foot, Tho mnto went
overboard halt an hour ago."
I walked over to where the captain wns
lying. Ho was securely hound, but no
harm had come to him as yet. lie was,
however, iu mortal terror, and as soon as
ho set eyes on mo lie called out, !n broken
tones:
"Mr. Carllng, for (tod's sako save my
life! Don't let them murder me In cold
blood!"
As 1 looked from captain to mutineer,
Johnson said:
"Tho mate was among us with a belay
ing pin, seeming bent on murder, and we
had to do for lit in. Then wo reasoned that
wo might as well be hung for u sheep as a
lamb, and wo secured the captain."
"Men, you have done a terrible tliingl
Don't you know every onu ot yon will
swing for this?"
"We want no preaching, Mr. Carllng,"
replied Johnson. "What wis want to know
Is, how you stand!1 The mate has gone,
and tho captain must follow. If you will
naviuato tho bark for us, no harm shall
come to you. If you refuse, then wo shall
set you adrift. We've gone too far to back
wattr4
" Tark to 'em, Mr. Purling," gasped tho
captain, who was greatly broken down.
"Tell 'em that If thoy will spare our lives
they shall not be punished for what they
have done, 1 give my word they shan't."
"What will you tlo with him"" 1 asked.
"Set him adrift in thu yawl at day
break." "And If I refuse to uavlgato tho barkf"
"You go with him, though we'd bo sorry
for It, for you've used tho mon right."
"What point do you wish to muko"
"The coast of Hrazil."
"Will you all sign a paper to tho effect
that 1 hail nothing to tlo with bringing
about this mutiny, nnd that I navigated
tho bark under duress?"
"Wo will that!" they shouted In chorus.
"Very well, 1 will remain; but why not
keep tho captain a prisoner Instead of
bending htm adrift?"
"Ho must bo punished, Blr," replied
Johnson.
I argued with 'cm together and sepa
rately, but It was no use. They had de
cided on u course, and could not be
swerved from It. Captain Hurrows was a
cringing coward, llo begged, entreated
and sought to bribe, and when day fully
broke ho hadn't the heart of a woman.
A man wsb sent nloft with a glass to sur
vey tlio sea, and when ho camo down am.
reported tho be.i clear of sail tho ynwl wa
lowered, a keg ot water, soma cf tin
spoiled meat, and a lot of wormy bUcult
wero placed In It, and thoy weio ready I
K'lid tho captalu adrift. His cownrdic
was ho great that ono could not pity bin
lie had to bo lowered over tlio side llko .
lialo of rags, nnd in his boat tloutod uwa
ho cowered down on tho bottom, hu
bveined to fall Into a 6tupor. When I
was half a mile astern, Joluitou cal.i
every tuuu nft und ualdt
"Now, men, Mr. Carllng ls to bo our
cnptaln, and ho la to bo promptly obeyed.
I shall be first mate, Peterson second, nnd,
though we licrth in the cabin, you shnll
have just ns good food as wo do. We will
now name tho watches, and things will go
3)i as If there hnd been no trouble."
His word was not questioned. There wns
no exultation, no lawlessness, no boast
ing. Kvery mnn wns quiet nnd thought
ful. They had been wronged. They Jiud
righted that wrong In their own wny, and
were now slnply seeking to make n snfo
escape. In twenty minutes nfter tho cap
tain was set afloat you could not have told
that anything out of the routine hnd hap
pened. Tho decks were washed down,
breakfast prepared, nnd when things had
been cleared uwny Johnson cumo'down
Into the cabin and said:
"Mr. Carllng, how far aro wo out from
the Sandwich islands?
"Not to exceed seventy miles."
"Very well; will you please givo us tho
course for tho I'aumotu islands."
"Hut I was going to alter tho course to
run for South America."
"We don't wnnt to go there. What I
said wns to deceive tho captain, for it's
likely he'll soon be picked up. Wo want
to run down to tho I'aumotu islands."
I got out tho charts, gave him the
course, and followed him on dtJck. Every
thing was shipshape, the mon ns respect
ful ns you please, and it was hard to real
ize that anything like mutiny and murder
had occurred. It seemed ns if tho very
winds looked upon tho revolution with
favor, for tlio breeze hauled to our best
sailing point and sent us along hour utter
hour nml day after day until we wero far
to the south of tho Sandwich Islands.
I am telling you now what I nftorwitrd
swore to, that n better crew never trod a
deck. There was no wrangling, no drink
ing, and not the least indication of Insub
ordination. When wo camo to overhaul
the ship's stores wo found four-fifths of
them ns fresh und sound as any sailor
could ask for. Tho other portion must
have been put In by the captain on some
speculation.
Near tho lino of the equator we had
light winds und calms for several dnys,
but finally got u slant which carried us to
the south until we got u holding breeze,
and one afternoon wo sighted the islands
for which wo had long been headed. The
gintip comprises fitly or more Islands,
with those of tho Society, Cook, and
Tnbiiii lying just to tho south. At this
day most of t lie islands aro inhabited. At
Unit date only u fewot thcni were, and
there were not ubovc three or four ports
of call, mainly for tlio convenience of
whalers In want of vegetables and water.
The bark bud planned to visit tho Mar
shall, (tilbert, und Phoenix islands, lying
near tho equator, and much non'rer Hon
olulu. The Paumotu Islands had been
selected by the mutineers because two of
them hail onco been wrecked among them,
und spent n year or more in leading a lialf
civili.ed life.
Hefore dark wo had made a sufo anchor
age, and, though the voyage was now
ended, discipline still remained as strict as
ever. That evening Johnson cumu down
to me and snld:
"Mr. Curling, tho voyage is ended. You
have done as you ngreed, nnd jou must
admit that tlio men have been well-behaved.
Will you go with us to-morrow or
stick by thu bark?"
"1 must stand by the craft."
"Just as you say, sir. This is a sheltered
spot, and we will leave you In good shape.
Wo bhall take the long boat some spare
sails, u few stores and other things, but
nothing to cripple the bark. Good night,
Mr. Curling."
Tlio next day the long boat was hoisted
out, und the men took some muskets, a
few hatchets, kettles to cook in, fishing
tackle, tobacco, pipes, and u keg of rice,
and llnifJied oil' with ship stores enough to
last 'em for a couple of weeks. Theic was
over $a,(KK) in gold In the cabin, and as
Johnson knew it tlio others must havo
known it ns well, but not u mnn nsked for
u dollar. It was ;i o'clock lu the afternoon
before they were ready to go, and the lust
two hours were spent In making every
thing snug. All tho light sails were sent
down nnd put Into the sail room, and
tiie others wero carefully stowed.
The second anchor was dropped, and
tho capiuin's dingey was hoisted out und
Hindu fast alongsido for my use If I wanted
to go ashore. Then every mnn signed the
paper 1 bad drawn up, and as they went
over tho sldo each ono took my hand and
bade mo good-dy. 1 uover saw one of
them again.
Six weeks later n Massachusetts whaler
dlscove.cd tho Medwny in her snug berth,
and, as she happened to have the crow of
a wrecked vessel aboard, 1 had no trouble
in securing u compliment of men to re
turn the bark to San Francisco. Tho cap
tain, as was afterward learned, had
drifted two days boforo ho was picked up
by a trading steamer, but ho tiled several
days after his rescue. So far as I know no
stops wero over tnken to overhaul tho mu
tineers, ns after my statements in tho
courts public sympathy win altogether in
their titvor, Now Votit Times.
What an KiiKllkli Joiiriiiil SliiiiKlly Si).
Efforts are being made to create a reac
tion against tho present ragu for the gen
eral use of steel instead of iron. Com
menting upon tho disastrous results or the
experiments to le&t toe inerlt.s of some new
Krupp guns, several oi which uuisi nun
killed a number of gunners, the Manu
fauturers' (iasettu slanglly says; "These
were sieel allairs. like too null or tlio uro-
non, which proved to bo as brittle as pipe
clay. Tlio Ynuk'jos have demonstrated
their ability to maKo iron guns mm. won t
bust.' and thnt will givo all tho service
sieel guns yield, und cost ubout one-hull
what steel guns tlo. -Now, wny not ue
velopiron? Our leading Investors in your
western railways aro talking hereabout
that good o.d-tashionetl iron rallsoutlust
tho 'new-fangleit' steel ones, and aro tlgnt
ing 'tooth and nail' imamst buying any
more of tho 'pesky things.' It was on a
compromise to settle this that that first
notable steel-rail order went nbroatl. Now,
let uj have a good test of tho big Iron guns
the ivernnient officials havo been fooling
with at Sandy Hoon tlio year past, anil see
if the boat iron has not somo virtue let'U
Steel Is fashionable, that's what's tho mat.
terl" Chicago News,
lliiollllK-TllP of Woiiil Pulp.
Roofing-tiles nro being mana'diuroil of
wood pulp, and uy the use of iLJeio: '. col
ored bauds a variety of tints nro un;ulod
to tho ttlos, rendering them uipnuio of
producing pleasing eifects iu orii t'nenta
lion. It is claimed that their ll-thtnaii
obviates tho necessity of heavy frauung to
support tho roof, while tholr tougl-noss
proioctH them against blows, footstep-, or
tho action ot frost. Pulp tllos art . tore
elastic than wood, and tuoreforo llo iu.'er
together and nails ponotmto thorn more
easily and bind litem tuuni ciutwiy to tueii'
bods than is the case with shingln. Chi
cago Nowa
Coylon now olalui. to grow tho tliicst
tea in tho wond.
THE MOCKIXG BIRD.
GRADUAL EXTERMINATION OF THE
SONGSTER OF THE SOUTH.
Stmt liy Unnoiitlinetitrtl Itiinlrr Unti
tling the Sent Tin- Moi-lilng Mini friiin
H SellllliH-iital Point lit View His Wn
1 -i fill Pom er of Siiiik.
A great deal has Is-en wrltten during
the last three years concerning the grad
ual extermination of the south's splendid
sonttster, the mocking bird, or to be more
definite, the Mtnius Polyglottus. Tho
Telegraph first called attention to the sub
ject, and I see no reason to doubt that the
theory then advanced to nccount for the
growing scarcity of the birds was and is a
true one. The reason given was tup un
checked slaughter ot the birds by negro
"sportsmen," uiul the destruction or cap
ture of their young from wantonness or u
desire for gain. The theory has been com
bated. It is stated by some thnt the Eng
lish sparrow is driving out tho singers.
Hy others that the destruction of the for
ests has something to do with tlio evil. It
is even suggested Hint hurricanes may bo
the ical cause. None of these theories
will stnnd the test. The 'English sparrow
enn not, lu fact no bird can, drive out the
mockers, who belong to u game and bel
ligerent family. The common mocking
bird will attack dogs, cats, hawks, crows,
and buzzards when they invade his range,
:md I have never known one of them to
give up tlio conto-a. He is not a fore-t
bird, but of the fields. He prefers an open
situation nnd the haunts of men. The
orchard, hedge, u solitary haw bush,
where he has plenty of sunlight and u
breadth of view, suits him best. And it is
in the fields nnd orchards that ho finds
food. Ot all nests his is probably the
most carefully built, and little trouble ls
taken to conceal it. He seems to feel that
his song is the price of security, und this
mistake is fast playing havoc with him.
I)i:sti;uction itv M:ano hi;.tei:s.
Up to emancipation times, or rather tho
closo of tho war, mocking birds were
plentiful every where in Georgia. Dur
ing the years that followed freedom nrined
a race to whom guns had been forbidden.
The uegro became an enthusiastic hunter,
but he was unskilled nnd could not grat
ify his craze for destroying only upon
birds that wero nearest at hand'. Mock
ing birds, curdlwiK jo-reels, catbirds and
thrushes went down as easy conquests .be
fore a class that had never been taught
better, and had neither sentiment nor con
science. The negro hunter of to-iluy, with
,oss,bly u few exceptions, are not wing j
. . ... 1 -I II !.. 1 ...t.l. l.,...lu !
siiois, nun uiey nn uiuu uns u mum
that can bu killed iu tho trees. It goes
without saying that these are tlio birds
that should bo spared to the fields and to
society. My observation has been that
few, very few, negroes will pass, gun in
hand, anything that has feathers and is
large enough to cook, und this is borne
out by tho fact that the bluejay, the wood
pecker, and tho catbird aro disappearing
from the fields and woods almost as fiibt
as the mocking bird proper.
The destruction of tlio mocking bird has
been more rapid because his nest litis been
systematically robbed -by parties of both
colors for private gaiu or grati
fication. A year or two since
wu noted one shipment of theso birds
from Savannah which contained 000 or 70(1.
Upon the streets of this and all other cities
they are openly sold every summer.
When, however, we look at him from a
sentimental point, the wonder that any one
can harm a member of the mocking bird
family increases. No song bird iu thu
Vorld can equal the sweetness of his notes
rr sustain u song so long. No bird known
to naturalists can produce tho notes of
others and of fowls or even nniinals with
such precision nnd iu such combination.
The little gray sin er that balances him
self upon trcctops, or dances along the
ridges of our houses, seems to have all the
bird notes of the land at his tongue's end,
and to delight in weaving them into new
tonus of beauty. That he has never been
the poet's theme to tho extent that the
lam;, the nightingale, or even the robin
has, 1 ntuibute tohisuanie. It is not fitted
for verse, nor is It nt all poetical. Had he
borne the name of Orphous, us does his
cousin, of tho Greater antilles, ho would
have filled tho song lore of tho south. Paul
llnyne, William Huniiltou Hiiyne, inula
few others havo used him, but none have
conquered his plebeian name.
SONUS OK THE MOCKIXO ntui).
Mocking birds can bo taugnt almost
anything in tho way of tunes. Macon
used to boast of a bird that whistled
"Dixie," and years ago a Frenchmen
traveled about tho country playing uirr
upon the piano which his bird would fob
oiv accurately. At tho Pulaski house, in
s'lViinnali, a negro used to keep u bird
that would whistle a good alto to tunes
his master whistled.
One of tho most popular errors con
cerning tlio mocking bird is the belief that
ho has no song of his own; that he adopts
and blends only the notes ot oth6r birds
into u song. Tills Is pure nonsense, The
young mocking birds reared in tho gar
rets of great cities and beyond tho reach
of the songs of others sing as do the na
tives in their freedom, though pot as
strongly, since they lack the inspiration
of mates, tho mellow sunlight and lib
erty. Their song, is, in fact, a number of
songs, but entirely original. No man ever
heard the divisions ot the mocking bird's
song in any forest. That ho' intersperses
them with cat-calls, tho hawk's screech,
the whir of the bull bat and chlckeu's mel
ancholy "peep," and notes front other
birds is true, but these nro only characters
in his recitative ballad, features In tho ro
mance of hi summers. Thnt he slugs ills
parts backward nnd forward and com
bines them anew is also true. .The mock
ing bird's song is to the ear what th kalei
doscope is to the eye, and the coui jinn
atious of his songs nro as endless as the
glass forms lu the toy. Hut the song
notes are the same.
The bird is probably tho most continu
ous singer in tlio world, but there nre two
weeks out of every fifty-two when nothing
can tempt htm to slug, and that is when
he Is moiling. At such times ho may be
found moping in a secluded spot lost iu
rayless melnncholy. Ho looks then hot
and siek, nnd the only noto ho utters U
u short low wills tie, not unlike that which
the fat man makes as he removes his hat
and mops his brow. Perhaps during this
season the bird lays aside mockery, re
pents, and makes good lvsolutious. Ma
con (Un.) Telegraph.
Grrut Aclilrveimtiit of Science.
Tho freo Monday scientific lectures have
become such n passion among tho duugu
tors of the lowly ut Hirmlnghum, England,
that "wash-day" has been changed to
Tiiuodny, which Tho Loudon Globe consid
ers thu grunt est nohtovamuut of bcioncu
thus far. Chicago Herald.
I rcccr.TC ntr NiTnn.r.l vr.PRINE.
Cniitrnilirtloii of ti NiMvupnpcr Article.
i:xi-liii Cannot Cause Atiiitlillutlon.
A nitro-ylycerine explosion cannot
cause annihilation of lmmnn Ixxlics,
horse, magazines, etc., ns therein stated.
It is true that a man's lxxly is often re
duced to minute atoms, but the debris
will cover tho ground for n largo tijiact'
all about, nnd ft is imiiossibk' to gather it
together. 1 havo soon a number of ex
plosions, and in the winter us well as the
summer. Tliat tin- snow or ground re
muiiiiNl pure and spotless in any case,
ufu-r such an explosion is false.
I was o.i tho ground within ton min
utes after a lntro-glyccrine explosion Unit
Implanon in the woods near Aiken, this
county, about four yearn ago. A shooter
w.-us dVivi:i;r along the road with a sleigh
lm,d of tixly quarts of the explosive.
From some menus or other, tho stuff went
o!T 1 here was a hole about three feet
deep and four feet square blown in the
trozen ground. The horses were hurled
forward nbout twenty-live feet, and their
uind quarters wero driven forward into
i heir fiodie. Nothing remained of the
sleigh but splinters, and those were very
uiiall. A part of the tongue, with one
of tho wliifllptrec, was still connected by
the harness to the horses. Of the unfor
tunate driver, wo picked up probably
thirty ounc!s of ilesh mid bone. Several
Uvea woro cho;iod down to secure small
l.-ortioiis of his remains. His face was
intact, but there was nothing left of his
skull; but the ground for an area of sev
eral acres was covered with the blackened
portions of the wreck,' interspersed with
darkened blood stains, that sliowotl out
clearly from the snow.
An;?. 27. 1 8S., a nitro-glycerino factory
was blown up, just beyond tho city limits.
Hventy-three hundred pounds of the ex
plosive wore destroyed. .The wreck was
complete. A horse was killed, anil his Inxly
was blown several yards, but it was not
annihilate 1. beverr.l heavy iron safes wen;
turned over, but they were not removed
fro;n human vuion. Where the factory
hud stoo.l was a large hole in tho ground,
and a space of alxvit twenty acres covered
with kindling wood. There was a score
or more of the heavy iron drums in which
acid i3 transport oil, scattered about. None
of them was annihilated. I c;m cite a
th::vn more cu-es if neceseary. Urad
ford (Pa.) Cor. Scientific American.
Dignity al tliu Ciinttnt.
Originally, it is Kii.l in history, the
United States senate was a very digniiied
hotly; its members wero returned for
many wiecossive terms; they were men
who belonged to the old colonial aristoc
racy, which hi Id itself aloof from and
above the people as distinctly as the laud
ed gentry does to-day in Ua.'dand. The
n-aditionof this has tlesei nded; much of
the dignity, it is true, has evaporated,
but the recollection of the personal con--ideration
btill lingers, and tho women of
the family niako the most of it. It is
amusing to watch some of these ladies.
Many arrive in Washington knowing
nothing of the social usages that prevail
there; ignorant of the very meaning of
precedence; not aware that people ever
o in to dinner in any peculiar order or
with any significance. They wear high
Ixxlied gowns anil unfashionable gloves
when they first dine out anil make their
husbands put on yellow cravats to "look
like other men." But all this changes, in
single season. Before tho end of the
first session thoy learn to get their gowns
from Paris anil their gloves from who
. ver is tho most the nuxle; whilo aliout
the etiquette of visits ami the place they
initiat on at table they are as inflexible as
if they hud lieen born at the White
House ami never been out of bight of the
fi.pitol.- - Adam Badeau ia ITow Yor!
.Vo.-U.
Tin- Priisshin I'ollt'viiiiin'N llM;iiy Lot.
The police of Berlin are only on tlutj
during the day. At night the capital is
confided to tho care of tho night watch
ers, who are under the orders of tho
president of police, wear a special uni
form anil are furnished with a whistle
and sword. Their t-orvieo last from 10
to o o'clock, according to the season.
They number uliout .101), whilo the police
men number !!,.00; fifty of them are
mounted. All tlio iKilieemen are old non
commissiouod ofiicors, tall, well formed
men, who have served many years in tho
army, and only thoK) who havo Ixhmi
noticed for their good conduct, their
zeal and faithfulness, are eligible for this
duty. The people respect them and are
on good terms with them. Sometimes
they act as if they wero still in tho army
anil are Loinewhat brusque. The people
me accustomed to submit to these men.
and at a parade ono iolieomun is all that
s required to maintain order. Tho mor
ality of thebo men is excellent ; they nro
upheld by the jieople and by their supe
rior.! and every fault or negligence is pun
i.Jiod. They know how ami when to
nintsh us well au to protect. Berlin Cor.
iVlbany Argus.
(liilliiiuceoiis Vn nihil s,
II. D. Thoreau was onco called upon bv
Mrs. II. W. Emerson, whoso ilowor gar-
len was being bcratchod up by the hens,
to help her devlso somo plan to prevent
further damage. After a consideration
of wavs and means, Mrs. Emerson hit
upon tho exjtetlient of putting linen
gloves upon tho feet of the gallinaceous
vantlau.
Thoreau, who had a keen sense of
humor, restrained tho laughter which
was nearly choking linn, and gravely,
under Mi's. Emeivon's direction, bandaged
tho claws of the assembled barnvard in
stout linen cloth. For an hour or so tho
fowls did no harm, anil tho Emerson
household was greatly pleased.
Finally them was heard an exultant
crow. Tho rooster had scratched through
his banila;jes anil was triumphing over
his exploit. The liens followed suit, and
Mrs. Emerson was reduced to despair,
while Thoreau went to tho woodsv whero
ho coidd let his laughter have vent.
Youth's Companion.
(lyiiiiiiisluin for Women.
Boston has a gymnasium exclusively
for tho mo of women. It liaswx lxiwling
alleys, n tennis court, a gymnasium hall,
i running track of twenty laps to tho
nile, hot and cold water baths, etc. It
was projected by Miss Mnry Allen, who
uis for years been u devotco of imysieal
ulturc It is well imtronlaed. Chicago
Mil.
No task is well performed by a re
hk tunt hand. Nisauu.
A BIT OF HISTORY.
How the ritlteil Stales Vcrj- Nnrrowly E
cnpe'l a Vt'llr With Spiiln.
.lutle. Advocate General ltemoy of
the navy gave me an account the other
night tif an incident which illustrates
how much a proud--pirited people will
undergo for a mere qucslioii of senti
ment, .lust nfter the war Adihirnl
John Kodgers, with a convoy of three
war vessels and the prosit double-tur-reted
monitor, the ilonadnoe, was
sent to go around, the Horn anil visit
the Pacific coast. This trip was a test
on the sea-going qualities of the mon
itor. This heavy vessel stood tho voy
age better even 'than any of the vertsels
of tho licet. They arrived off Val
paraiso a few months after the war had
closed. Their vessels wero manned by
veterans and eoiiniianded by ono of
the most courageous ollicersof the war.
The Spanish authorities at that time
had sent out a fleet to punish Chili for
some insult to tho Spanish Hag. Ad
miral Hodgerswhen ho steamed around
the point into the bay opposite the city
found a largo licet of Spanish men-of-war
blockading tho harbor. The Chili
ans had understood that the Ameri
cans were coining to ntiso tho block
ade. The houses in the city worn
black with people. Cheer u-on cheer
burst upon the air .as tlio four Ameri
eiui vessels swung insido the Spanish
line anil anchored in the bay. J hern
was one other American war vessel in
tho harbor at tho time of tho ar
rival. General Kilpattiek hud just arrived
then in Chili as our Minister. IU- came
down to the flagship anil soon msulo
the Americans acquainted w ith the. sit
uation. The Spanish Admiral had noti
fied the people of Valparaiso that ho
intended to bombard the town in four
days unless the Chilians would run up
the Spanish (lag at a point out in tho
harbor as a salute to the Spanish licet.
This the Chilian authorities had refused.
As there were large American i uteres to
in the shape of bonded warehouses m
the city General Kilpatriek was very
anxious to have Admiral Hodgcrs drivu
oil' the Spanish licet. Admiral Koilgers
was ready for a fight, ami said that if
tho British Admiral, who was thoro
with two or three vesseN, would co
operate with him to divide the respon
sibility lie would go in. The English
had then even larger interests than tho
Americans in the city. There was a
French Admiral in the harbor at tho
time of the American's arrival, bqt hu
stole out one night without saying a
word' to any one, to avoid complica
tions. Lord Donhatn, the British Ad
miral, agreed to go in. Admiral Uotl
gers then had his vessels prepared for
action. He lloatrd oil thu wooden cals
ins ami hung out chains around tho
vessels. The monitor was reduced to
lighting trim right under the nosoa of
the Spaniards. Meanwhile the ollieers
of the Spanish and American Uceus
were visiting back ami forth. Tho
Spanish Admiral dined with Admiral
Kodgors the night before the day set
for the bombardment. This Spanish
Admiral, who was a very small but
plucky fellow, asked Admiral Kodgors
what he was going to do. But before
receiving his reply the Spaniard said:
"Admiral Kodgors, you have made your
reputation in the last war of the rebel
lion in the States. I have mine to make.
I hereby notify you that 1 shall carry
out the orders of my Government to
morrow morning at eight o'clock as
long as I have a gun afloat, and with
that he retired. The English Admiral
lliinketl at the very last moment, and so
we were spared a serious international
complication because Admiral 1 lodgers
did not feel like incurring tins responsi
bility alone. Ho moved outride tlio
line in the morning, and the Spaniards
bombarded the town under their very
eyes. A third of the town was burned
ami several million dollars' worth of
property dost rou'd. But the Chilians
never cried for quarter, and from the
beginning of the bombardment to tho
close there was not the first oiler made
to run up the Spanish flag at tho tlag
post near the harbor. II 'ushinyton Cor.
A". Y. World.
Tno "obtest " institution of tho
Lutheran Church in America is- Hurt
wick seminary, near Coopert..wn. N.Y.
I mm mmr "'III IIMIIB HI 111
Your Liver ?
Is tho Oriental salutation,
knowing that good health
cannot exist without a
healthy Liver. When tho
Liver is torpid the Bow
els aro sluggish and con
stipated, tho food lies
in the- stomach undi
gested, poisoning tho
blood ; frequent headacho
ensues ; a feeling of lassi
tude, despondency and
nervousness indicate how
the whole- system is de
ranged. Simmons Liver
Ecgulator has been tho
means of restoring moro
poople to health and
happiness by giving them
a healthy Liver thau any
agency known on earth
It acts with extraor
dinary power and efficacy.
NEVCR DEEN DISAPPOINTED.
Asa Konoml family remedy torpyMWfy
Torpid Llvur. fVmstt imUIoh, J
.war uso anytlilnt; eWt, nnd havo uev
been disappointed lu tlio clltct prodtJ
it n.H!tns to Ik utmost n Perfect wIL
disease ttlF&v. 0
How s