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About North Georgia times. (Spring Place, Ga.) 1879-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 18, 1889)
NORTH GEORGIA TIMES S. JL"OAftfkR, | Proprietors. The First Grandchild. “Grandmother P’ called the farmer, and there came Out through the vine wreathed porch a blush¬ ing dame, Surprised and eager at the strange new name. The clock within rang forth the chime for eight, “A message? Read it—quick—how can you wait?” Her husband, smiling, leaned upon the gate, At arm’s length holding In his trembling hand The crisp, white sheet, while he the writing scanned, Then read once more, with voice almost un miymed: * "‘Thy granddaughter salutes thee, "Baby Bely” Mother and child, thank God, are doing well” A moment's silence on the proud twain fell. She broke it soon, “Grandfather I con grat”— “What, me?" the good man cried, lifting his hat— Grandfathor?—me? I hadn’t thought of that!” —Anna A. Preston, in Harpers, IN THE NICK OF TIME. Miss Lily Somers, night telegraph operator at the Floodwood station, sat before her table on which tho telegraph instrument clicked busily, a thoughtful expression on her face. A face whoso expression was its charm, that never could be called pret¬ ty, but that, nevertheless, suggested a possibility—only a possibility—of being handsome. For there is a vast differ¬ ence between pretty and handsome. Pretty people seldom know very much; but to he handsome a person must have brains, an inner as well as an outer beauty. Floodwood was a forlornly desolate spot, and one where any woman, except Lily, would have been afraid to come, much less to stay alone all night with nothing but tho wind sadly sighing through of the wires wild overhead and thoshriVl shrieks the cats away up on the mountain side to keep her company through her nightly vigils. But to her thero was something fascinating in tho very desolation of tho place. From ear¬ ly childhood she hod been accustomed to commune with nature in her wilder scenes, and played and wandered at will in the mountain glens and canons. With no foolish old woman or silly nurse girl to frighten her childish souses with sto¬ ries of hideous ghosts and monstrous goblins, she had grown to womanhood naturally brave and fearless. In truth she did not understand tho meaning of the word fear. Her office was nothing more than a roughly built shanty, seven or eight feet square, with a small window in each end and one in tho door which faced the railroad track. It had been hurriedly put together with green lumber while the road was in courso of construction, with the intention of only using it temporarily until a better one could bo built, but, as usual in such cases, it had done duty for its original purpose ever since. The rough, unpainted boards were badly warped and shrunken by long ex¬ posure to the elements, and in many places large knots had fallen completely out. No doubt in the winter time the bleak mountain wind cheerily whistled through these many apertures, and while one sido of the unhappy operator was being nicely browned like a piece of toast by the red-hot stove the other side would be refrigerated like a frozen rabbit. It was about 1 o’clock in the morning when Lily received an order from the train dispatcher, which read as follows: To Operator, Floodwood:— Hold No, 21 until No. 22 arrives. E. K. C. On receipt of this order she immedi¬ ately displayed the red signal light, which is furnished all telegraph stations for this purpose, in a conspicuous place, in plain sight of passing trains, and also where it could be seen from the office window. The necessity for this order and posi¬ tion of the two trains, briefly stated, are as follows: No. 22 had arrived at Silver Creek, ten miles west of Floodwood, a few minutes after No. 21 had passed Red¬ wood, which was thirteen mile3 east of Floodwood. As No. 22 was late and could go no futher on the schedule, ac¬ cording to tho rules of the road, they would be compelled to lay at Silver Creok until No. 21 arrived there, unless they could get orders by telegraph to meet them at some other station. Flood wood being the only intervening tele¬ graph office between tho two trains, the SPRING PLACE. GA.. THURSDAY. JULY 18, 1889. dispatcher gave the above order to that station, and as soon as it was properly acknowledged by Lily ho sent another order to No. 22 at Silvor Creek, which read in this manner: To Conductor and Engineer No. 221 Meet No. 21 at Floodwood. Approach care fully. E. K. C. The intelligent reader will readily un¬ derstand that by means of these orders the two trains would meet each other at Floodwood in perfect safety, notwith¬ standing that one of them knew noth¬ ing of the arrangement. To explain: If No. 21 should arrive first, they would be stopped by the rod light, which showed that thero were or¬ ders for them at this station. The con¬ ductor and .engineer would immediately proceed to the telegraph office, where tho operator would deliver them a copy of the order to hold them for No. 22. This would bo sufficient, and they would wait until No. 22 arrived. If No. 22 should arrive first, the execution of the order would be yet more simple. No. 22 would tako siding, and as soon as they were clear Lily would bo at liberty to tako down the red signal lantern, and allow No. 21 to pass without stopping. No. 22 having arrived, the object of the order was already fulfilled. If both trains should happen to arrive at the same time, the red signal would stop No. 21, and as No. 22 had instructions to “approach carefully,” they would do so, expecting to find No. 21 occupying the main track. Lily perfectly understood tho import¬ ance of tho order she had just received, and during the long hour which wore slowly away she kept careful watch of the signal light which, however, con¬ tinued to burn as brightly as ever. At last she’heard a rumbling noiso away in the west which gradually became louder and louder and more distinct. By this time she knew that No. 22 was coming and -yould probably get in on tho siding before No- 21 should arrive. The rumbling became londor and louder each moment; the earth began to tremble, and tho peculiar vibration in the air which gives warning of a rapidly approaching train hummed loudly in her cars. She began to feel anxious, as they were evidently coming at a high rato of speed, and not approaching as carefully as their order had instructed them; she also had not heard the whistle which is always sounded by trains when ap¬ proaching a station, and this omission increased her fears that something was wrong. But she was given no timo for fur¬ ther reflection, as tho train now dashed around a curve not a hundred yards dis¬ tant, running at full speed. Lily flew out and stood between the rails swinging hor hand lamp wildly across the track and shouting at tho top of her clear young voice. But no at¬ tention was paid to her signal, tho train coming madly on, with such a rattle and clash that it drowned tho sound of her voice. Tho roaring, rushing train was now upon her, and she barely had time to spring from the track and escape with her lifo. With a rattling crash and an awful rush of air tho hissing, throbbing monster sped swiftly past her, while the clang, clank of tho car wheels passing over a looso splice near by was so rapid that it resembled the rapid hammering on the anvil in a blacksmith shop. For a moment Lily was unnerved and bewildered, but suddenly arousing hor self to action she rushed into the office, and seizing a piece of firebrick that did duty for a stove leg, she turned and hurled it through tho window of tho caboose that was just passing. An in¬ stant later the red lights in the roar end of the train had disappeared around a curve in the cut, and the rattle of the run¬ away train quickly lessened in the dis¬ tance. Lily’s heart throbb ed painfullyand she was seized with a sudden fit of shiver¬ ing, which most persons of delicate or¬ ganizations are subject to when under great excitement. As soon as she had somewhat recovered she went into the office, and calling tho train dispatcher, who answered at once, she said: “No 22 passed at full speed and No. 21 not yet arrived 1” “My Godl" telegraphed back the dis¬ patcher as swiftly as his frightened fin¬ gers could form the letters, “the crew must -be asleep. They will strike in that cut and pile up fifty feet highl Heav¬ ens! This is horrible 1" Lily then went on to explain that sho had attempted to awaken them by throwing a brick through a caboose win- JS^St to finish and said excitedly: “Run to the east end of the siding, and, if you see them backing them throw the switch and let them in on tho tiding. No. 21 is not duo hero five minutes, and there is a chance for them yet.” “I have no switch key,” said Lily. “Break the loek with a hammer, a rock, or anything,” was the quick reply. “Run, fly I” Lily seized an old ax that was handy, and, with a vague idea that toojf: Afl might also need tho rod light, she it into her other hand and flew up tho the track with speed of tho wind, at the •imminent risk of falling and breaking her neck in the inky darkness. • Once she stumblod and fell, and file lantern was dashed from her hand and went rolling along the ground far be yond her reach by the sudden impetus which her fall had given it, but without pausing to regain it she sprang to her feet and bounded on. Tho switch at the end of the siding was fully half a mile from tho office, and about the same distaneo from the beginning of tho cut. If No. 22 could back in on the siding in time they would be safe, but if they attempted to back down tho main track past tho telegraph office they were liablo to be overtaken by No. 21 before going half tho dis¬ tance, as, according to tho dispatcher’s figures, No. 21 should now bo very close. As Lily reached tho switch a pair,of gleaming red lights suddenly appeared around tho curve in tho cut, and she knew that the train was already rapidly backing up, and that she had not a mo¬ ment to lose. Fooling for the lock in the darkness, she then struck it several heavy blows with tho ox, which she stiU retained. Luckily, one of the blows taking effect, the broken lock dropped to the ground. She then grasped the switch lover and* ried to throw it over, but it resisted her utmost efforts to move it. Tho train was now only a short dis¬ tance away, and with tho energy of de¬ spair she braced her feet against the switch standard, and, putting forth her strength in one mighty effort, tho ob¬ stinate lover camo over with a sudden jerk and No. 22 glided safely in on the siding. Tho shrill scream of a whistle was now heard in tho cut, and as soon as tho train was clear she again exerted all her strength and threw the switch back to its former position. A headlight now flashed around the curve, and a moment later No. 21 rushed roaring along. Lily, by her bravery, promptness and presence of mind, had averted a terrible calamity. At the official investigation which took place a few days later tho entire crew of the runaway train acknowledged that they were asleep, and that the con¬ ductor had been awakened by a brick thrown in at tho caboose window. Tho only excuse they had for their neglect of duty was that thoy had been on tho road for thirty-two consecutive hours without sleep or rest, and that they were completely worn out. Notwithstanding tho fact that tho management of the road was responsible for requiring the men to run tho long double trip, tho entire crew wore sum¬ marily discharged for neglect of duty, as though man’s endurance was an infal ible bank, to bo drawn on at pleasure 1 Grim Humor. It was at Tonquin. The young Count do T——, who was serving as a private in a light infantry French regiment, had his skull fractured by a bullet during an engagement with the Black Flags. He was taken up for dead, and removed to the ambulance. “Ho won’t recover,” said the surgeon-major; “ono can see the brain.” At this word, tho patient suddenly opened both his eyes. “You can see my brain?” ho asked; “I beseech you, major, write at once to apprho mo father of the fact; he made me jcin tho army, because he pretended I had no brains.”— Argonaut. Not an Intentional Smilo. Miss May Morningside—I’m very sor¬ ry to hear of your brother’s death, Mr. Villers; but you’ll pardon me if I say that I see no reason to smile over it! Mr. Yorke Villers—Oh, dear, no l I’m not smiling, don’t you knowl It—it— must be this eyeglass I’m trying to keep in! A sign writer—The stenographer PORPOISE CATCHING. A Successful Harpooner Needs Courage, Skill and Endurance. .. . 'il Methods of _ Securing the Fish i£ and Trying the Blubber. * Along tho coast of Maine there aro ^several places where porpoise catching is , carried on extensively, and affords the rincipal mCAns of su PP ort f or many of ,ho P C0 P le living in those localities. Tho ■ Ba y of Fund Y 13 on especially good fish ' ’’ n £ ground, and Indian Beach, border * u g on the waters of tho bay, is moro or less occupied the year round by whites iind Indians who do little else. For years the Passamaquoddy Indians have ^eado a practice of camping on the boach d epplyiog themselves assiduously to .porpoise harpooning and shooting. The Winter fish aro the fattest and give the most oil; that is the va’uablo part of tho catch. Tho largest porpoises are about seven feet long, will girt fivo feet, weigh 1500 pounds and over, and yield from 'Six to seven gallons of oil. Tho blubber is an inch or so thick in warm weather, but in tho winter double that. A . fat fish’s blubber will weigh about ' 100 pounds. The Indians do their wor R in much the samo way | n ow as they did in early years, the most primitive methods prevailing. In trying | out the blubber the appliances aro of Abe rudest kind. The fires aro built | among pilos of stones, over which iron pots are hung. The blubber is cut into Small pieces and slowly melted. The Oil is skimmed into jars and cans, and At hen pure is worth 90 cents a gallon. The host oil comes from tho jaws of tho rpoise. Tho jaws are hung up in the un, and tho oil drops down into a ves el, each pair producing about one-half pint. fine Watchmakers and others using a very oil tako it in preference to all ijft? or, and it • commands ■ a big price, Tho blubber oil gives a good light, and for years was burned exclusively in the light-liouseg along tho coast. In a good season an Indian will catch nearly 200 porpoisos, each yielding about threo gallons of oil, but most of them fall a good deal below this, as they aro not over-partial to labor, and, as long as tho returns of one catch will last, will loaf around tho camp rather than go out again. Tho custom is to got a few gallons of oil, go to tho near est market and sell it, then “rest" till forced by necessity to make further ex¬ ertions. Tho porpoiso’s flesh is much liko pork when cooked, and is a staplo article of food. The bravery, skill and onduranco de¬ manded of the porpoise-catchers in their work is almost uuknown to the outside world. In tho morning, when the men are going “porpoisin’, ” tho women and children turn out to see tho canoes off. Each boat has two men, and when a storm comes up while they aro out, or they are unusually late coming in, there is great anxiety among thoso on shore • It takes years of training to make a good porpoise-hunter, and the big boys begin by going out with tho experienced men. No matter what the wator’s condition, be it rough or smooth, if thoro is a trip contemplated, tho start is made. In calm weather tho blowing of the por¬ poise can be heard a long way, and guides the Indian in the right direction. Shooting is the most successful method of killing tho fish. Long, smooth- bore guns, with big charges of powder and double B shot are used. As the fish is floating, swimming, and diving about the water, first on tho surface and then below, tho canoe is paddled as near as possible. Then, as tho porpoise lifts himself to dive the gun’s charge is let fly. There is seldom a failure to make a sure shot, but tho fish is speared to stop his floundering about in tho dying struggle. It is then landed in tho ca¬ noe by grasping tho pectoral fin with one hand, sticking a couple of fingers in the blow hole, and dragging it over the side. In still water this is easy, but when a high sea is running tho under¬ taking is hard and dangerous. Sharks are plenty, and their fins are almost always visible, cutting tho water as soon as a porpoise is wounded, the blood attracting them. No end of stories are told of men having had their arms bit off by a shark while they were reach¬ ing into the water to secure a porpoise, but old fishermen scoff at such a thing, and pay no attention to the dread ocean monsters, as they almost rub their noses against the sides of tho canoes.— St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Vol. IX. New Series. NO. 24. The Tea of the Himalayas. The tea of the Himalayas is the best in the world, writes Frank G. Carpen¬ ter, and I would advise housekeepers to try Indian tea. There is a tea in Thibet which has the flavor of milk to such a degree that when used it has all the properties of good tea mixed with tho most delicious of Jersey cream. This j Himalaya tea has the flavor of flowers. It is pure and clear and it is supplant¬ ing the Chinese tea in tho English mar¬ kets. The tea plant grows wild through I these Himalaya TT . . hills, and , in . some of ... the regions near here it attains tho dimen- j sions of a large tree. Still it is now only about half a century since tea cul¬ ture was commenced in India, and now there aro many Indian tea men who prophesy that Indian tea will eventually push Chinese tea out of the markets of tho world. The lower hills of these Himalayas are covered with tea plantations. Tho plants look not unliko well-trimmed box-wood hedges, and they rise in ter¬ races up the sides of the hills.-. Here and there you may see a gayly dressed woman picking their leaves, and now and then a low shed in which the firing is done. Tho seeds arc sown in nur¬ series in December and January, and they are transplanted between April and July. Tho ground has to be well drained, and I am told that the best tea soil is virgin forest land, which in In¬ dia is very rich. The plants begin to bear about the third year, and they are at their best when they aro ten years old. The Indian tea planters get about five pickings a year, and often seven. In China and Japan three pickings is considered good. Catching Abalonos and Turtles. ’The coasting trado with Baja Califor nia from San Francisco, San Pedro and San Diego is much larger than is usually thought. Abalone shells and meat form a large portion of the trade. The abalone is an enormous clambko shellfish; from the interior of the shells is mado more than half of the “mother-of-pearl” used in the world. The shells are chiefly shipped to Paris where they aro ground and tho article put into a marketable form. The shells bring from $25 to $35 a ton, according to their quality; and as they often grow as largo as a wash¬ bowl, it does not require very many to make a ton. The meat is in very great demand among tho Chinese, and is ex¬ ported largely to China where it is worth $110 a ton. Moro than half tho whaling done on this coast is done off tho shore of the peninsula, and the hunting of turtles is very profitable. The United States fish commission steamer Albatross returned to San Diego from a trip down the coast. While in the vicinity of Bartholomew bay a big seine was cast as an experi¬ ment. Tho seine was 400 foot long, and it required thirty-five men to haul it ashore, and when it was landed it was found to contain 167 green turtles, av¬ eraging 125 pounds each. Tlie Hatching of Lobsters.. Mr. E. A. Brackett of tho Massachu¬ setts Commission on Fisheries and Game is making arrangements to commence tlie propagation of lobsters on the Mas¬ sachusetts coast early in June. A steam launch has been purchased by the com¬ mission and is now being fitted for this work. Mr. Brackett has mado the drawings for hatching boxes, and they are now being constructed. He expects to be able to turn 40,000,000 young lobsters into Massachusetts waters this season. Tho experiment will be watched with a great deal of interest by every one interested in fish culture, as this is the first attempt made to propagate the lobster artificially. The lobster fisher¬ men are interested in the experiment, and have promised to give all the aid and assistance in their power to help the project along, and it is from them that Mr. Bracket expects to secure tho fe¬ male lobsters, and, as a female lobster of twelve inches in length carries from 30,000 to 40,000 eggs, ho will only re¬ quire from 1200 to 1400 to furnish tho requisite number or eggs to make up tho enormous number he proposes to hatch this season. Professor S. Garmeu will be detailed from Harvard College to assist Mr. Brackett in this great un¬ dertaking. An Exorbitant Charge. Convalescent— “Doctor, how much do I owo you for saving my life?'’ Doctor—“Sixty dollars.” Convalescent— *‘Sixt dollars 1” (with aa air of convictiou) It ain’t worth it.” The Silver Lining. Above my head, beneath my feet The black clouds roll in fury by: I glance as far as eye can see, And naught but storm clouds All my sky No ray of light, no sunboam shining— Noglimmer-of a silver lining. About my soul and on my heart, The shadows fall In silence grim, The murkey clouds have Ailed my brain, And left my weariod vision dim. My soul in grief and woo repining, Can see no gleaming silvor lining. Clouds of the past but roll away, To let the present gloom appear; While future years rise dark and stern With threat’ning cloud heads far and near, Tho hand of fate my lot designing, Obscures tho blessed silver lining. Roll on dark clouds with grief oppressed! Thy vaporing mists must pass away. The soul bears but its destined load Qf sullen sorroW3 day by (Iay . Some welcome breeze thy mists entwining, Must yet discloso the silvor lining. —Lurana W. Sheldon. HUMOROUS. Consumptivo’s early stage—A linck. Were the dead lauguages talked to death? Nature’s serial story—Tho spinal col¬ umn, continued in our necks. “I should rc-mark,’’said thomerchau when the price of goods wont up. The frontiersman who shot an Indian corpse didn’t know it was Lo-dead. Tho man who mado himself a new til® out of fur was fur-tile in resources. When tho “shrill music of tho shells" is spoken of, is a bomb bard meant? “Only a how and cry,” said tho boy who sliced his foot with o broadaxo. When a man goes out for a “spin” on tho road ho should use a “top” bug sy To uso the languagoof gushing youth, tho very perfection of tho beautiful ia the smilo which now adorns the face of tho seaside hotel keeper. Youngs Lady—Mr- CondustM^will I have time to say good-by to my friends? Conductor—Guoss not, miss; this train leaves in two hours and a huif. A lawyer’s lifo is full of trials and tribulations, but ho mannges to make money out of the trials and leaves noth¬ ing but the tribulation for his clients. Mr. Softleigh (approaching the point) —“Tho sentiments I hold toward you, my dear Miss Iveeno, are so tender that I cannot express them !’’ Miss Keene— “Then you might send thorn by mail." Pupil—“ Teacher, kin mo an’ Bill go an’ git a pail o’ water ?” Arkansas Schoolmaster—“Thero you go again. How many times have I got to toll you that it ain’t good grammar to say me an’ Bill?” Pupil—“What ort I to say?" Teacher—“Bill and mo. Can't I never learn you nothing.” When In the orchard Robin sings, When in the meadow springs tho grassy Tis time for cucumbers arid things And tender “garden sass." Spring vegetables glad the heart; Oh I thoy are welcome ever; A zest to life do they impart, And purify the liver. “Are those our men?” asked Major Pitcairn, as a squad of soldiers ap¬ proached along tho road near Concord. “No, sir,” replied Colonel Smith. “They aro minute-men.” General Washington believed that it was to this that the British defeat may be attribu¬ ted. A Plentitude of Meals in Russia. The Russian cats on an averago once every two hours. The climate and cus¬ tom require such frequent meals, the di¬ gestion of which is aided by frequent draughts of vodki and tea. Vodki is the Russian whisky, mado from potatoes and rye. It is fiery and colorless and is generally flavored with some extract liko vanilla or orange. It is drunk from small cups that hold perhaps half a gilL ' Vodki and tea are tho inseparable ac¬ companiments of friendly as of well of business intercourse in tho country of the Czar. Drunken men are rare. Rus¬ sia and Sweden aro tho only countries in which the double dinner is the rule When you go to the houso of a Russian, bo he a friend < r a stranger, you are at once invited t j a side tablo, where salted meats, pickled eel, saltod cucumbers, and many c .her spicy and appetizing viands, are urged upon you with an im¬ pressiveness that knows no refusal. This repast is washed down with fre¬ quent cups of “vodki.” That over, and when the visitor feels as if he had eaten enough for twenty-four hours, the host says, “And now for dinner.” At the dinner tablo the meal is served ia courses.— 2few York Star.
