The
Main
Chance
n
Meredith Nicholson
CorrstoHT 1903
Thb Bobis-Merrill Compant
CHAPTER X. (Continued.)
Within a few days two more checks
rom Porter to Peokham passed through
he usal channels of the bank. By the
Imple feat of dividing the amount of
aeh check by the current quotation on
traction, Wheaton was able to follow
Sorter's purchases. The price had re
named pretty steady. Then suddenly it
ell to thirty. He wondered what was
lappenlng. but the newspapers, which
rere continuing their war on the eom
lany. readily attributed it to a lack of
bnfidenee in the franchise. Wheaton
Bet the broker, apparently by chance,
mt really by intention, in the club one
vening, and remarked casually :
"Traction seems to be off a little?"
"Yes; there's something going on there
hat I can't make out. I imagine that
lie fellows that were buying got tired of
itiniulatmg the market, and have thrown
I few bunches back to keep the outsiders
fuessinp."
"Right now might be a good time to get
n," suggested Wheaton.
"I should call it a good buy myself,
t guess that franchise is all right. Met
er pick up a little," he said, tentatively.
"To tell the truth," said Wheaton,
Ihoosing his words carefully, "those out
if town people I spoke to you about have
rritten me that they'd like a little more,
f it can be got at the right figure. You
night pick up a hundred shares for me
it the current price, if you can."
"How do you want to hold it?'
"Have it made to me,' he answered.
Be had debated whether be should do
bis, and he had been unable to devise
iny method of holding the stock without
etting his own name appear. Porter
rould not know ; Porter was concealing
lis own purchases. Wheaton could not
ee that it made any difference;' he was
lurely entitled to invest his money as he
Iked, and he raised the sum necessary
n this case by the sale of some railroad
onds which he had been holding, and
in which he could realize at once by seud
cg them to the bank's correspondent at
Chicago. He might have sold them at
lome; Porter would probably have taken
hem off his hands ; but the president
mew that his capital was small, and
night have asked how he intended to re
ovest the proceeds.
A few days later Burton sent for
Vheaton to come to his office. One hun
Ired shares had been secured from a
ttnehman. Wheaton carried the pur
Ihase money in currency to Burton's of
Ice ; he was. as shrewd as William Tor
r, and he did not care to have the
ilerks in the bank speculating about his
thecks.
lt locked his certificate, when Burton
(Ot it for him, in his private bor in the
fault, and waited the rebound which he
Irmly expected in the price of the stock.
His sole idea was to make a profit by the
mrchase. He felt confident that Porter
tad bought Traction stock with a defin
te purpose; he still had no idea who
rere the principal holders of Traction
took or bonds, and be was afraid to
nake inquiry. A man who was as se
iretive as Porter probably had confideu
lal sources of information, and it was
lot safe to tap Porter's wires. His con
icience was easy as to the method by
i-hich he had gained his knowledge of
Porter's purchases; he certainly meant
harm to Porter.
CHAPTER XI.
Timothy Margrave was, in common
ihrase, a good railroad man. He had
idvanced by slow degrees from the in
tumbency of those lowly manual offices
Hilled jobs, to the performance of those
lobler functions known as positions,
llargrave's elevation to the office of third
'ice president and general manager was
lue to his pull. He had resolved that
he railroad was gettiDg too much out
if him and that he must do more to
(romote his own fortunes. The directors
fere good fellows, and they had eer
alnly treated him well ; but it seemed
i-ithin the pale of legitimate enterprise
lor hirn to broaden his interests a trifle
rithout in any wise diminishing his zeal
br tbeTranscontinental. The street rail
ray business was a good business, and
Jlarkson Traction appealed to Margrave,
noreover. on its political side. If he re
irganized the company and made himself
ts president lie could greatly fortify and
ttrengthen his pull.
Almost any day, h was told, the East
irn bondholders might pounce down and
ut a receiver in charge of the company,
ilargrave did not understand receiver
fhips; they were an excuse for pillage,
ind it was a regret of his life that no
!at receivership had ever fallen to his
ot. But he was not going into Traction
ilindly. He wanted to know who else
as interested, that he might avoid com
llicatlons. William Poru-r was the only
nan in Clarkson who r-ould swing Trac
lon without HSMstnne ; lie must not run
ifoul of Porter. Margrave was a master
if the art of getting information, and he
ecid-d. on reflection, that the easiest
ray to get information about Porter was
coax it out of Wheaton.
He always called Wheaton "Jim." In
emembranr-e of the early days of Whea
pn's residence in Clarkson when Whea
ton had worked in his office. He had
latched Wheaton's rise with interest; he
look to hinself the rredit of being his
liscoverer. When Wheaton called on his
laughter he made no comment ; he knew
lotliing to Wheaton's discredit, and he
rould no more have thought of criticizing
Uabel than of ordering dynamite substi
tuted for coal in the locomotives of his
railroad. When be concluded that he
iacded Wheaton. be began playing for
Mm, Just if the cashier had been a
councilman or a member of the legisla
ture or a large shipper or any other fair
prey. He now resorted to that n t in
sidious and economical form of bribery
known as the annual pass.
Wheaton accepted the pass as a tribute
to his growing prominence in the town,
lie knew that Porter refused railroad
passes on practical grounds, holding that
such favors were extended In the hope
of reciprocal compllmeuts, and he be
lieved that a banker was better off witu
out them. Wheaton, whose vanity had
been touched, could see no harm In them.
He had little use for passes as he knew
and cared little about traveling, but he
had always envied men who carried their
"annuals" in little brass-bound books
made for the purpose. Ho be sure it was
late In the year and passes were usually
sent out In January, but this made the
compliment seem much more direct ; the
Transcontinental had forgotten him, and
had thought it well to rectify the error
between seasons. He felt that he must
not make too much of the railroad's cour
tesy; he did not know to which official
In particular he was Indebted, but he
ran into Margrave one evening at the
club and decided to thank him.
"How's traffic?" he asked, as Margrave
made room for him on the settee where
he was reading the evening paper.
"Fair. Anything new?"
o ; it's the same routine with me
pretty much all the time."
"I guess that's right. I shouldn't think
there was much fun in banking. You got
to keep the public too far away. I like
to be up against people myself."
"But you railroad people are not con
sidered so very warm," said Wheaton.
"The follows who want favors sem to
think so. By the way, I'm much obliged
to some one lor an aiuui.il . u.u u..!
up in my mail the other day. I don't
know who sent it to me if it's you "
"I'm?" Margrave affected to have
been wandering in his thoughts, but this
was what he was waiting for. "Oh, I
guess that was Wilson. I never fool
with the pass business myself; I've got
troubles of my own."
"I guess I'll not use It very often,"
said Wheaton, as if he owed an apology
to the road for accepting it.
"Better come out with me in the car
some time and see the road," Margrave
suggested, throwing his newspaper on the
table.
"I'd like that very much," said Whea
tonu. "Where's Thompson now? Old man's
pretty well done up, ain't he?"
"He went back to Arizona. He was
here at work all summer. He's afraid of
our winters.''
"Well, that gives you your chance,"
said Margravce, affably. "There ain't
any young man in town that's got a bet
ter chance than 3-ou have, Jim. I be
lieve there's going to be a good thing for
some one in Traction stock. Porter
ought to let you in on that." Margrave
didn't know that Porter was in, but he
expected to find out.
"Mr. Porter has a way of keeping
things to himself," said Wheaton, cau
tiously ; yet he was flattered by Mar
grave's friendliness, and anxious, to make
a favorable impression. Vanity is not,
as is usually assumed, a mere incident
of character; it is a disease.
"I suppose," said Margrave, "that a
man could buy a barrel of the stuff just
now at a low figure."
"What's your guess as to the turn this
Traction business will take?" asked
Wheaton. He had not expected an op
portunity to talk to any one of Mar
grave's standing on this subject, and he
thought he would get some information
while the opportunity offered.
"Don't ask me! If I knew I'd like to
get into the game. But, look here" he
moved his fat body a little nearer to
Wheaton "the way to go into that thing
is to go into it big ! I've had my eye on
it for a good while, but I ain't going
to touch it unless I can swing It all.
Now, you know Porter, and I know him,
and you can bet your last dollar he'll
never be able to handle It. He ain't built
for it!" His voice sank to a whisper.
"But if I decide to go in, I've got to get
rid of Porter. Me and Porter can't trav
el iu the same harness. You know that.
Now, I don't know how much he's got,
and he's so mysterious you can't tell
what he's up to. You know how he Is ;
you can't go to a fellow like that and do
business with him, and he won't play
anyhow, unless you play his way."
"Well, I don't know anything about
his affairs, of course said Wheaton, yet
feeling that Margrave's confidences must
be reciprocated. "Just between our
selves, he did buy a little some time ago,
but no great amount. It would take a
good deal of money to control that com
pany." "You're dead right, it would ; and Por
ter hasn't any business fooling with it.
You've got to syndicate a thing like that.
He's probably got a tip from some of
his Eastern friends as to what they're
going to do, and he's buying in. when he
can, to get next. But say, he hasn't any
Traction bonds, has he?"
Wheaton had already said more than
he had intended, and repented now that
he had been drawn into this conversation ;
but Margrave was bending toward him
with a great air of condescending inti
macy. Porter had never ben confidon
tiaf with him; and it was really Mar
grave who had given him his start.
"I don't think so; at least I never
knew of it." His mind was on those
checks to I'eckham. which clearly repre
sented purchases of stock. Of course.
Porter might have bonds, too, but having
gone thus far he did not like to admit to
Margrave how little he really knew of
Porter's doings.
"That's all between us that little mat
ter," said Margrave.
"Certainly, Mr. Margrave.",
CHAPTER XII.
Porter went1 into Kenton's private of
fice and stmt and locked the door after
him. He always did this, and Fenton,
who humored his best client's whims per
force, pushed bark the law book which he
was reading and straightened the pens on
his blotter.
"I didn't expect you back so soon," he
said. Porter looked tired and there were
dark rings under his eyes.
"Short horse soon curried." he remark
ed, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
There was something boyish In Por
ter's mysterious methods, which alwayi
mused Fenton when they did not alarm
and exasperate him. Porter Mt daw at
a Tong table and the lawyer drew vp a
chair opposite him.
"Which way have you been this time?"
"Iown in tho country," returned
Porter, Indefinitely.
Fenton laughed and watched his client
pulling the rubber bands from his pack
age. "What have you there oats or
wheat?"
"What I have here," said Porter,
straightening out the crisp papers he had
taken from his bundle, "is a few shares
of Clarkson Traction stock."
Oh !" Fenton picked up a ruler and
played with it until Porter had finished
counting and smoothing the stock certifi
cates. "There you are," said the banker, pass
ing the papers over to Fenton. "See if
they're all right."
Fenton compared the names on the
face of the certificates with the assign
ments on the back, while Porter watched
hirn and played with a rubber band.
"The assignments are all straight'
said Fenton, finally.
He sat waiting and his silence Irritat
ed Porter, who reached across and took
up the certificates again,
"I want to talk to you a little about
Traction."
"All right, sir," said Fenton, respect
fully. "I've gone In for that pretty deep this
fall. I started in on this down East
last summer. Those bonds all went East,
but a lot of the stock was kicked around
out here. If I get enough and reorganize
the company I can handle the new se
curities down East all right. That's busi
ness. ' Now, I've been gathering in the
stock around here on the quiet. Peck
ham's been buying some for me, and he's
assigned it in blank. There's no use
in getting new shares Issued until we're
ready to act, for Barnes and those fel
lows are not above doing something nasty
if they think they're going to lose their
jobs."
"The original stock issue was five thou
sand shares," said Fenton. "How much
have you?"
"Well, sir," said Porter, "I've got about
half and I'm looking for a few shares
more right now."
Fenton picked up his ruler again and
beat his knuckles with it. Porter had ex
pected Fenton to lecture him sharply, but
the lawyer was ominously quiet.
"I'm free to confess," said Fenton,
"that I'm sorry you've gone into this.
This isn't the kind of thing that you're in
the habit of going' into. I am not much
taken with the idea of mixing up in a
corporation that has as disreputable a
record as the Traction Company. It's
been mismanaged and robbed until there's
not much left for an honest man to take
hold of, they issue no statements ; no one
of any responsibility has been connected
with it for a long time. The outside
stockholders are scattered all over the
country, and most of them have quit
trying to enforce their rights, if they may
be said to have any rights. You remem
ber that the last time they went into
court they were knocked out and I'm
free to say that I don't want to have to
go into any litigation against the com
pany." "Yes, but the franchise is all straight,
ain't it?"
"Probably it is all right," admitted the
lawyer reluctantly, "but that isn't the
whole story by any manner of means. It
it's known that you're picking up the
stock, every fellow that has any will soak
you good and hard before he parts with
it. Now, there are the bondholders "
"Well, what can the bondholders do?"
demanded Porter.
"Oh, get a receiver and have a lot of
fun. You may expect that at any time,
too. Those Eastern fellows are slow
sometimes, but they generally know what
they're about."
"Yes, but if they weren't Eastern fel
lows "
"Oh, a bondholder's rights are as go id
one place as another. Those suits are
usually brought in the name of the trus
tee in their behalf."
"Now. do you know what I'm going to
do?" demanded Porter. I'm going to
turn up at the next annual meeting and
clean this thing out. You don't think it's
any good; I've got faith In the company
and in the town : I believe it's going to be
a good thing. This little gang here that's
been running it has got to go. I've dug
up some stock here that everybody
thought was lost. At the last meeting
ouly eight hundred out of five thousand
shares were voted."
(To be continued.)
Important Point.
The man was Piling a Southern rail
road for da mazes, owing to a delay
which made him miss an appointment,
and the ordinary preliminary questions
were beinir put to him.
"Age. please?" asked the Judge.
"Well, your honor," paid the plain
tiff, "do yon want my ape when I got
on the train or when I got off?"
Yonkers Statesman.
ntlilnsr Dolnsr.
The Burplnr Hold tip your hands.
Mr. Newwod Sure; but let nie fay
that I've just paid for my wife's new
hat.
The Burglar That's enough. On
your way.
Modern I.ffe.
"She Is wonderfully accomplished.
She can ride, fence, shoot, swim, golf
and cook."
"Cook? That's a queer fad. What
will the girls be taking up next?"
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Difference In Men.
Mr. Feckem I guess my brothel
will live and die n bachelor. He says
he's afraid to marry.
Peckem That's funny. I never knew,
what fear was when I was single.
Did tbe Tclcwoplna-.
"You say the train was telescoped?
"It was."
"But how did you escape Injury?"
I was on the through car." Cleve
land Leader.
A Sare Care.
My, why don't you wash yoa
face?"
"Aw, I keeps It dolty no'n da golls H
sot alius ba klssln' me !"
It oof on Plank Frame.
The sort of frame here pictured la
called the plank system and ia a hip
roof braced from the sill and plates
without post. The sketch explains It
self, but to make certain that no mis
take will occur a key to the numbers
Is given. No. 1 Is the main side post
buodt of two pieces of 2 In. x 8 In.;
No. 2, purllne post built of two pieces
2 In. x 8 In.; No. 3, purllne roof sup
port, one piece 2 In. x 8 In. 10 In.;
No. 4, main tie, one piece, 2 In. x 8
in.; No. 5, sub-support, one piece, 2
in. x 6 In.; No. 6, stay, two pieces, 2
ft. x 4 In.; No. 7, tie, 2 In. x 8 In.,
or 2 in. x 6 In.; No. 8, strut, .2 In. x
6 In.; No. 9, sill or main cross tie,
two pieces, 2 In. x 8 in.; No. 10, line
showing pitch of roof; No. 11, main
plate, two pieces top piece, one piece
2 in. x 10 In., and side piece, 2 in. x
8 in.; No. 12, purllne plate, two pieces,
2 in. x 8 In.; No. 13, collar tie, 2 in.
x 10 In., or 12 in.
Dry Potatoes for Food.
Consul Frank S. Hannah sends a re
port to the Department of Commerce
and Labor relative to some recent ex
periments In the drying of potatoes
under the auspices of the German Im
perial Interior Department, which
may offer a new field for farmers.
The potatoes are reduced by this proc
ess to about one-quarter of their orig
inal weight, and can be kept in a
good condition in this compressed
form for an indefinite length of time.
The military authorities have made
thorough experiments with this prod
uct and have become convinced that
its nutritious value is fully equal to
that of corn, and that the dried pota
toes can take the place of one-third
of the former ration of oats. The fact
that the potatoes are reduced to one
fourth of their original weight brlng3
about a corresponding reduction In the
price of freight, so that It will pay to
grow more potatoes than has former
ly been the case. Michigan Farmer.
The Plain Farmer.
Speaking of farmers' Institutes, one
man says: "I would like to know
what la In the mind of the working
farmer In felt boots, who sits in the
back seat." He adds: "A few people
who are good talkers praise the work,
but what about the, silent ones who
listen and say nothing?"
The Rural New Yorker, comment
ing on these statements, says: "The
Institute speakers can not do any
wiser thing than to learn how to en
courage and keep just this class of
farmers. The retired farmers and suc
cessful men who make up a good
share of the audience are well able to
take care of themselves. It is pleas
ant to entertain them, and their
praise gives a man a thrill of satis
faction. It Is a truer service to the
State, however, to gain the confidence
of the plain farmer and help him."
Live Stock and Prosperity.
Live stock ia the chief element of
agricultural prosperity. It Is the foun
dation upon which both the pretent
and future profits are established. We
boast of our great wheat and corn
crops, and we have a reason for so
doing, but If we depend upon them
alone we rob ourselves and our chil
dren by selling off the fertility of the
soil with each year's crop. For many
year3 the soil will continue to yield
their crops, but they will get poorer
and finally fail unless they are fed.
How much better to make your farm
richer Instead of poorer; to get the
benefits of the increased crops during
your own lifetime and then leave a
rich and valuable farm to your chil
dren after you have done with it
Live stock will do It as nothing else
can. Kansas Farmer.
Tbe Work Hone In Summer.
Working horses from grass has
never been our way. although a great
many do It and keep their teams In
very good fix. When there is only
light work for a few days, our horses
have the run of good pasture when
not In the harness, but most of the
time they are In the barn, where they
get grain and bright hay three times
a day. It seems to us they are better
able to stand hot weather when on
a hay ration, with grain, than when
they get grain and green grass for
their roughness. It probably does no
mora harm to a horse to sweat than
It does a person. It Is usually certain
that when a horse Is sweating freely
he la taking no hurt, but a "grass
sweat" can be avoided by feeding hay
JoflUa4. Twentieth Century Fanner.
-
r-LAXK SYSTEM FRAME.
Farmer Mint Watch the Prop.
In order to determine what elements
of plant food are deficient in a soil,
It Is necessary to carefully study the
growing crop. Many farmers seem to
be of the opinion that a chemical
analysis of the soil will show the
amount of plant food contained there
in. This, however, ia a mistaken idea.
The chemist can only determine ap
proximately the amount of nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash In a soil,
without specifically showing what pro
portion of these elements can be taken
up by the growing plant. A large per
centage of these elements is not avail
able to plant food. Hence the neces
sity for them In an available form.
We must turn, then, to the crop, and
by watching It closely during its
growth and by a careful examination
when matured, see whether the soil la
deficient in plant food and what ele
menta are lacking.
Care of Setting; Hens.
When sitting the hena in order to
keep the lice from bothering them, a
good plan is to fill the nest boxes
with wood shavings, preferably those
that have some odor about them. Ce
dar shavings are excellent and so are
cedar twigs, and the hens will appre
ciate the nest of such materials. Lice
are a great drawback to a hen when
she Is on the nest, and many times
they compel the sitter to leave her
nest when she does not desire, and if
there Is anything the poultryman can
do to keep the sitting hen comfortable
he will be amply repaid for It In the
end. The shavings are inexpensive
and are easily destroyed. They do
not pack hard In the boxes fid are
quite comfortable for the hen. Try
some of them when sitting a hen and
see how useful they really are. Rural
World.
A Celery Spray.
Celery blight can be controlled by
spraying with ammonical carbonate of
copper. To make this, dissolve 3
ounces copper carbonate In a pint of
ammonia, and add 25 gallons of water.
To make copper carbonate, dissolve 5
pounds copper sulphate (blue vltrol)
In 5 gallons of water, also 6 pounds
carbonate of soda In 5 gallons of
water. Mix the two solutions slowly,
stirring well. Let the mixture stand
until next day to settle, after which
pour off the liquid. Pour on 10 gal
lons of water, let stand until next
day., and repeat the operation, after
which strain and dry t.e blue powder,
which is the copper carbonate.
The Flavor of natter.
It has been a generally accepted
theory among teachers apd writers on
dairy subjects that the production of
good butter necessitates the develop
ment of a certain amount of acid in
the cream, for two reasons to de
velop a desirable flavor and to im
prove the keeping quality. Recent in
vestigations by the United States De
partment of Agriculture indicate, how
ever, that butter made from pasteur
ized sweet cream has better keeping
qualities and remains free from ob
jectionable flavors for a longer time
than butter made from sour cream.
Dry Farming Fruit.
Dry farm fruit promises to yield an
abundant crop this year in Colorado,
according to E. R. Parsons, of Parker,
Colo., one of the most successful dry
farmers In that State. Mr. Parsons
created much Interest in the subject
of fruit growing on non-irrigated land
when he described his orchard In an
address at the third dry farming con
gress at Cheyenne, and has promised
to send an exhibit of his dry farm
horticultural products to the Inter
national exposition of dry farm prod
ucts when the dry farming congress
holds its fourth session at Billings,
Mont, October 26, 27 and 28 next.
Profit In Sheep.
There is one thing the farmer can
not afford to overlook In sheep rais
ing, and that is thrift. Thrift means
health, gain in quality, quantity and
productiveness, the elements out of
which the profits are derived. It must
be the first object of the owner to
keep his sheep in thriving condition.
The quality of the wool, as well as
the quantity, and the general product
iveness of. the flock make this require
ment Imperative.
Have Senile of Direction.
Bees return to their hives in a di
rect line when they have been carried
away and liberated, up to two miles.
This has been supposed to be due
either to the sense of sight or of smell,
but the experiments of Gaston Bonnier
have proven that neither sight nor
smell can serve the purpose and that
bees have a special "sense of direc
tion." This sense is not in the anten
nae. When to Cat Gpmi for Hay.
Good hay can only be made by cut
ting the grass as soon as it heads out
and clover as soon as the heads are
in full bloom. It is a mistake to wait
until the heads turn brown. There Is
nothing in the theory that sunshine
alone makes hay. Air is as much a
factor as sunshine. Curing mainly in
the winrows and hay cocks Is now
practiced by many of our best hay spe
cialists. Spiced Currant.
Spiced currants make an excellent
relish to serve with meats. Allow
to each pound of the fruit a pound
of sugar. Make the syrup In the pro
portion of one pint of vinegar to each
four pounds of sugar, two teaspoonfuls
each of maca, cinnamon and allspice,
a teaspoon ful each of cloves and salt.
When boiling add the currants, cook
twenty minutes and put up in (lasses
the same as Jelly.
THE WEEKLY
1808 Founding of the city of Quebea
by Samuel de Champlatn.
1609 Hudson, on his first voyage, ar
rived off the banks of Newfound
land. 1676 New Jersey divided into East
and West Jersey.
1691 Boston visited by its sixth great
fire.
1775 William Ewen became president
of Georgia. .. .Washington arrived
at Cambridge to take command of
the Continental army.
1776 Continental Congress adopted
Lee's resolution of independence,
and It was proclaimed two days
later.
1777 British force under Burgoyne be
gan the Investment of Ticondero
ga. 1807 President Jefferson Issued a
proclamation forbidding all inter
course with British ships of war.
1812 American frigate Essex sailed
from New York on a cruise against
the Irittsh.
1813 Virginia militia defeated the
British in battle at Craney Island,
in Chesapeake Bay.
1829 Slllstria surrendered to the Rus
sians. 18.'' Boston and Buffalo were con
nected by telegraph.
1848 Convention at Utica nominated
Martin Van Buren for President of
the United States.
1851 Large section of San Francisco
destroyed by fire. .
1855 The -islature of Kansas met
at Pawnee and organized.
1859 M. I.londin first clossed Niagara
Kails on a tifcht rope.
1862 The Union Pacific Railroad char
tered by Congress.
1S63 Beginning of the three days' bat
tle of Gettysburg. .. .Gen. Schenck
proclaimed martial law In Balti
more. .. .Second day of th .battle
of Gettysburg.
1864 The Federals were repulsed In
attacks upon the Weldon railroad
in Virginia.
1873 Prince Edward Island entered
the Dominion of Canada, with
James Colledge Pope as the first
premier.
1881 President Garfield fatally shot by
Charles J. Guiteau.
1885 The Indian chief Big Boar cap
tured in Canada.
1889 Nineteen persons killed In acci
dent on the Norfolk and Western
Railroad.
1893 British warship Victoria sunk by
the Camperdovn in collision oft
Tripoli, with loss of 462 lives....
The South Carolina liquor dispen
sary law went into effect.
1894 Opening of the Tower Bridge,
across the River Thames at Lon
don. 1895 Statue of Gen. James Buford un
veiled at Gettysburg.
1897 Celebration of Queen Victoria's
diamond Jubilee.
1898 Spat.iards made an unsuccessful
attempt to retake San Juan hill.
....American troops defeated the
Spanish in battle at El Cnney....
American squadron destroyed tha
Spanish fleet off Santiago.
1900 Russian imperial ukase publish
ed, abolishing in a large measure
banishment to Siberia.
1904 Victor H. Metcalfe of California
became secretary of commerce and
labor.
1908 Million-dollar fire destroyed 300
houses at Three Rivers, Quebec.
. . . .William II. Taft resigned as
Secretary of War.
BODY PERFECTLY PETRIFIED.
Not a Feature Changed of Woman
Buried Forty Years Ago.
A remarkable case of the petrifac
tion of a human body has just come to
light in Buckingham County, Va.
When Camm Patteson. one of the best
known men of Central Virginia, died,
about two months ago, his last request
was that the body of his wife should
be exhumed and buried beside him.
Several days ago the body of Mrs. Pat
teson, burled nearly forty years ago,
was disinterred, and through the glass
of the coffin it was discovered that tha
body had been petrified. Those who
saw the body were astonished at the
absolute llfelikeness of the face; not
a feature had been changed. As soma
years ago the body of a child disin
terred from the same cemetery was
found to have been completely petri
fied, it is thought that peculiar min
eral properties of the soil account for
the petrifactions.
RAILROAD NOTES.
The proposed new ore carrying rail
road from the Cuyuna range to
Duluth is an assured enterprise.
The St. Paul road has gained en
trance into Yellowstone Park by pur
chase of the Yellowstone National
Park Railway.
The reorganization of the Chicago
Great Western railroad is being stren
uously pushed. By fall It Is expected
that this Una will ba out of the handa
of the ractlvars.