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VOL. XXVII.—NO 46.
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
A TRUE STORY OF ADVENTIRES ON THE GREAT PLAINS
IN 1850.
There sits in my office while 1 write, a
veteran prospector and miner. Daniel
Evans by name. v. iio. now in his seven
tieth year, is still as alert and active as
are m »s» men of afty.
“Unde Dan.** as every one calls him, is
an Intelligent an-1 fairly well educated man.
quite unlike what many people suppose
tne pioneers of western travel to be. He
f. rsook a wandering life more than a quar
ter century aim. married and settled down
in Michigan to enjoy his well-earned com
petence.
Having myself been for many years a
California and Australian gold digger.
Pat.'s reminiscences of those times greatly
interested me; as I trust, ins last story
•nay do my readers- I give it. nearly as
possible, in his own words, premising that
during the whole narrative he nt ver, for
1
x\
He Struck Out Right and Left.
himself or others, used the uncouth dialect
which some imaginative writers ar» fond
> f ascribing to all the early California
g •• 1 seeker®. whereas* as a matter of fact,
••my the uneducated and rougher class of
these men ever spoke in such fashion. Rut
t Dan’s story, wiikh. from his well proved
v •raettjr. is. I am sure, entirely true:
•Ml the 13th vs July, I.<A when 1 was a
: oung fellow of twenty-six. our overland
tr m. ronstolißg of soar “prairie schoou
; , m-hI 'Mr men. •» ••.M.. "ur gold**, old
1 ill comers, reached the western part of
Arizona without having lost a man.
•ktrly that 111 -rning we cro -el she Big
Sandy, ei-.-ht or ten miles above its junc-
•»n with the Santa Mina. and ft little
ith of llu.ii.ipti mountain, a certain pass
hruugh the foothills of whi>-h we <*■ sigm-d
• • take. This route, vs Bill’s own choos
•,g. lay far to the south of that usually
allowed. Hence we found no trail—po
■ heelmarks nor foot prints—to guide us;
• as Hainers felt confide:;’ of finding the
ir. d short cut. we did not trouble our-
-• Ives about that.
••n •onimg to in- foothills, however, and
pr ting several ravin- s in succession, he
<1- -iared all to be impracticable. “But.”
said he to Tom <>ran; er. our captain, ”1
k w there's a pass tn realivutz. I went
■.1.: -ugh it alone. In ’l'*, n 1 I'm bound to
hl: it off. Keep your train where it is,
Trn. while I go ahead and climb one of
tit se cott-»nwo<-ds. to look around a bit.
i ll be back in half an hour, sure.”
So, leaving his horse a..-! ri:l behind, the
guide set off on foot and quickly disap
p ,r»-i among the quaking asp bushes at
ti e foot of a mountain spur.
We all watched the tall cottonwood trees
kt sms higher up. expecting every mo
n nt to see him shinning up one of them;
but we never did.
The had h >ur and another passed away;
. : : a sight n-r sound of Kill could we
-It . mighty que«r.” at last grumbled
T m Granger. “What vn earth can k« p
I.- -• old If >n;”
Oh. h -'ll b- Lack directly,” said some
<• “Likely hi’s found a pass that !<»»ks
a -••.it right an-1 to •racing it out, to make
sure It- s suf.- enough or we’d have heard
a shot or two from his revolver.”
Now, since entering Arizona, we’d had
Wo ug’y s rimmases witu Apacbes, but
as a ha In’l s- —n one, nor an Indian of any
k ad, forth.- tost week, we couldn’t think of
a:.:* pos ..-I.- harm happening to our friend,
kay «m- of az might ham l ■ 1 • ,:i
the foothids. but such an idea in connection
-r.th the guide was aosurd. Still he didn’t
« -me. It was getting la'- in the forenoon.
.. I «h-r-- we were-—loafing around and do
ing nothing.
At ith ta- exception of Abe Johnson, a
fwity-Bve-y.ai-01-l Kentuckian, we were all
y-ung men. knowing only so much of In*
>. -n w., as we had I- art:- lon our pr< sent
bad served I h : ■
s 11 a-< 1 M, • an war.-, and was pretty
w-ll post.-d in 1 gird to the “varmints’”
v. I- . When first organising, we had el-et
< i . -n tq th- • plain y. an honor which he
u. declined, saying that the young
e r.t. Tom Gr.-uger, was lar more lit for it
■.V. ~ when n o’clock had come, w thout
a .. of Somers. A«>e began to gus|»ect mis-
.' y 1.-in here, boyr.” be raid, “till I
u . .1 little scout.” And on he went in
t-<- -cm-tion previously taken by the guide.
We saw aim at intervals and a ..»in lost
s. .i.t or him. exactly a we had done with
Ltd, but unlive Hl - latter, he cam.- sau.y
1-. - , j •. rtv minuies or so. looking mu.ti
di.-tn .g<ed.
■ he quietly sai.. 'you want to
»1> I right about and form s. cviTal out on
t. • ; . p ..a,, forty I kta clear of uni-r.
. oor itid s in the hands of the Indians.
:urc. The varmints have sne:ik--l up ati-l
lassoed him, er struck him dov.n before he
could pull trigger or give the alarm. 1 saw
t!.? trril when they hauled him 'way down
.i»t-- «i pass he’ll found, ami they re hl-iinr,
iu there n >w. waiting f r us to corae along.
"Do you think they v. killed Somers?”
asked Grangvr.
No, < ap. I don’t believe he’s hurt a mite,
for I didn't see a drop of bkxid anywhere,”
A piled Abe. “The reds have likely choked
I. m sit.si !-lit •’.r.igg I him It to I*
’ »rlur»--l ;•» <!-aiii. And. b »ys. we've got to
r.scue him before sundown: for when
devils see that u. ’re not going to fall into
lhe trap, they'll begin their hellish work
just at that lime.”
“We’ll do that, or die,” savagely exclaim
ed one of our men. “How many of the
brutes are there. Ate. and how far off?”
t'an’l say ; thaylie twenty -maytie a hun
dred, Lui. judging by the sign, no nor- than
half a dozen ta bled Bilk 1 don’t know'
• where the main crowd’s located, but it’s
! sure to In- n- ar the narrowest and bushiest
! part of the pass.”
I "Abe,” sdd Tom Granger, “you’d better
' take i-ommand of the party till this thing's
I settled; and I'll b-- full private. I want a
| chance to light without being w.dher< d giv
ing or iers. Besides, you know what ought
I to be done, and I don’t.”
| All of us seconded Tom's request, and the
. old soldi, r tn ally consented to the arrange
s merit.
While tiiis talk went on we’d moved away
from th-.- foothills, and on retching a little
••reek in the vicinity where there was n >t a
tree, shrub or rock to shelter an enemy,
we corralled the wagons. tetlu red the
horses out to feed and got our own din
d-.
I'heti Johns-n said: “Boys, I want nine
i tc.-is volunteers besides myself for this job.”
Every’ man of us jumped up on the instant,
and Alk- smilingly continued: "Well, since
you ail want to go. we’ll draw lots, so as to
give every one an equal chance. I'll put
twenty-nine numbered tickets in my hat,
shake ’em up, and the fellows that draw
. the first nineteen will go with in.. Th ■ oth-
I er ten must stay to guard the camp.”
"All rig !tt. 'I ha - 1 1 ••;: uh. Go ahead,
Abe.” wo agreed. And the little pieces oi
■ p;::-t«boar 1, cut from an oid book cover,
were placed in the hat, each man shutting
his eyes, aft. rwards withdrawing one. Both
• Tom Granger and 1 were among the lu< ky
nineteen, and the disappointed ten submit
ted gracefully.
t In addition to his muzzle-loading rifle,
; each one of us carriel a heavy Colt’s re
-1 volver—a mighty costly weaiwn at th a’,
time—so twenty of us could tire in all, ID
| abets without reloading.
"Friends,” thoughtfully obscrvc<l our new
captain, “of course the redskins have sc tils
out watching us. They’ve marked our
, change of position and will reckon on us
staying right here and sending a stprel into
' the pass to hunt for our eoinrudc. if w--
| were fools enough to do that, not a man
! would ever coine back. Then they'd try to
wipe out the rest of us and capture the
: stock about day break tomorrow morning.
■ If they don't see us make a move, all the
■ warriors ambushed in this end of the pass
i wili fall back on the main body In-f re sun
down. and not one of the band will ever
I thit'k of being atta. ked from tile further
i end of the gorge.
“Now, h.-re's my plan: The bank of this
, creek's high enough to hide us c impletely,
, and we'll sneak al< ng its bet till w< get to
' lhe tiinb. r this side of the Big Sandy. Then
I we’li work our way round th.- spurs to th
- west end of i||.- |>ass ind tak- th. rear.
, KII be ’ tv u< . n m i-s 1 .mjt, 1
n-koii; but. 1 ..thing else .an sav< I .ill S >lll
- ers.”
"Do you think we can get there in time,
I Abe’.’" I tske.l,
I "Easy enough. Dan.” he replied. “There’s
( s.-v. n hours of dayhrht I. ft. The wa •w- •
: going, th<>i>g!i imposs.;’,. for vv.ig-.tis, will
I likely be not bad to push thr. ugh on foot,
an I w. ought t. reach th far end of the
I pass in four hours. Thal’il leave us thr.
to creep tij on th. reds. The- can't any
great distance from the west op-nmg, but
we’ll have to crawl like snakes lor th.- last
half mile < r so. Th-r. 'a sure to be go >!
‘ cover, though, and if we get there before
1 s.ms.-t w-'ll save Bill, even if there’s a hun
. tired of the murdering villain: . So, s ic';
1 hunting knives in your ix-lts. recap rifles
and pistols;’ take plenty of grub, and let's
start. I’ll n..| a tj.sk of brandy in case
it should Is- wanted.”
Shaking hands with our stay-at-home
comrades, who wer. hardly likely to see
all of us again, we enton-d the bed of the
creek, our movements being perfectly
screened by the high-topped wagons until
'-x . *•'
\* •" ' . Z *J» •' 'db■, m •-
■ ■
■. . ■
I
cP ™ 7
Tie vol vers Boyz ! Give It to Thein.
| that purp-?*e was served by the bank it
-IZ4 If.
Sometimes wading tn the water, some
t , ■ 1 . we -.it< ’> gained
f th*' timber.
ITh' n I»r three hours we s truggled
through an nn<!rt growth so d« n <■ that cur
1 j»r<'.:i' - s w.:s n’-'-es* inly si >w: but ilic sun
• w.is still high when w< arrived at the end
I if c pass, which a .re.th trail of pony
• tr:> ks at one.- 11 v« dto b" ;!•■ right one.
I Uurefuhy examining the t<4ltaie boos
: ii:.:k~. A* •• said: "'ii:- :•■’.* from fifty to
sitxy warriors in this hand, boys. Our only
hope of saving the gill I is in a surprise so
sudden and complete that they won’t have
a chance to kill him. which, if n->t too busy
saving themselves, is the first thing they’d
do on being alarineu.
"We must, son-.how, manage to get
within sdb t before they know it. If
we can do that, t uccess is certain. Take
to cover now and sneak along quiet as
ghosts, for there’s no telling how near the
I redskins may be; but don’t shoot, whut
| ever h- ppers, til! I give tl.e word."
t On either side of the trai! and well up on
I the slopes of the pass was a heavy growth
<>f tr<-es and bashes, now in full leaf.
Spreading ourselves out. each one of us
| nonmd his way az if all depend.-'! upon
his individual caution, though the whole
twenty of us kept almost within touch of
I each other. For hours, silently us shadows
| ;,nd intently listening, we crept on and on;
bu’ during all that time had proliably not
• advanced over one mile.
Then, as if by won! of command, the fine
i stoop'd; for, right before us, th" gulch
I oiH-m-d out into a kind of amphitheater.
' nearly bare of undergrowth, and we heard
the gentle stamping of invisible ponies, and
: . ceafuzed murmur of vrtcez trl a group
, of dismounted warriors numbering over half
a hundred, who seemed to be engaged 1.1
an excited discussion. Wc could see them
ATLANTA, GA., MON DAY,NOVEMBER 12,
quite plainly, though completely hidden
ourselves in the dense scrubwood.
The sun was now within a few minutes
of setting; but the light was still good. '
■ Presently the arguing Indians had ap
' patently settled some disputed point, and
then we saw a sight which drove us nearly '
■ mad with tierce Inlpatier.ee for our lead- -
i i r’s signal. Four tall warriors disappeared
; for a moment behind a big rock, and on
1 emerging bore between them the bound [
i and half-naked form of our old guide.
' Meantime two others of the red liends •
I In. led themselves in preparing, from ;
green rods, a number of small, pointed
stakes. The four braves in charge of Som
ers then carried him to a clear spot cf
ground and cut the thongs from his
wrists and ankles preparatory to further
proceedings.
No sooner, however, were the gallant ;
fellow's limbs free than, uttering a taunt- j
ing shout, lie struck out right and left like |
liehtnmg and sent two of his captors head
long to th. earth, his evident design be
ing to provoke the crew into killing h tn
at once. But a dozen of the miscreants
threw themselves upon him in a body and
bore him down again.
1 Then, while son:- of the demons held his
1 arms and leg.-, others drove th- sharpened
atak-s into the ground, and soon the poor
■ fellow, never lor u moment ceasing to re
vile his < m ini ■ ■ as “w nite-hv. !'• d squaws ;
1 and and coward ,'’ was st.'etch'd out, .
. face up, and securely bound by
' his extended hands and feet to j
' the st.ik* s. The monsters intended to build 1
' a tire upon his stomach and thus slowly j
burn him to death—and alt this within fifty :
, yards of win re w- eroUehe j’
Ev rj man of us. half crazy for action. :
held his rille rea-iy for instant use; but
still there was n<> signal from Abe, and I
nothing but our perteet confidence in his i
judgment prevented an attack, our cruel 1
j wait was 11.-ariy ended, how. Ver.
While the main body of savage:-, yelling 1
j and dancing in hellish delight, form. I a ■
great ring around tiieir victim, two braves ,
' approached, < lie of whom i.or<: 0.11 armful j
of dry twigs and the oth< r a lighted brand. ,
Th® circle waz just opening to let then*
t pass, when, like tile trump of doom, tilt-re
;-.:-:g out from the lips of our leader the ,
•nil word “Now!''
’Twa lhe lust earthly sound heard by .
nearly a score of blood-thirsty Apaches,
f-i a rille bullet the-; fasttr tnun its re- I
, -rt. over so short a .-pa e. and those who
fill .1 ■ oi on the tiring of our simultaneous
Volley he.ifd only the signal shout.
Never was surprise more complete or
victory mon- instantaneous. The four con- ,
lousiy tall warrior., the two execu
tioners and twelv other braves dr. pped '
tieiid in tiieir tracks; while the sui viv >r-. ■
utt. rly panic stricken, 5....>d for one second
111 i.tiicz-d bewilderineiit; then turned to by. j
as above tiieir affrighted cri -s arose thi
triumphant cheer of tin- t prisoner.
' K-vohers, boys! Give it to th ni!” yell
ed Captain ,\i»-. and, tiring -is we went, v,e ;
ail dashed forward in pur ui’ of the scurry- :
ing horde. Three more fell at our first vol- '
ley, ai. 1 even tho ■ few who happt • 1 to
“1. v tiieir bows m hano never .-lopped 10 j
draw them, ail rushing for cover at their
topmost •■peed
. we charged aioitj:. '1 1:1 <i <r .-r i - ;
feet three >n l.es in height, strom; as a bull (
b.iffflo and s.- :tl of foot as a de. : It the 1
i.st of us behind, and raging like a. mini
den. d tiger, overi-.li two of the ...ivtiei.i ’
<r- th.-y . old gain shelter. Oi - fell witli j
;i btlil.t l-c-aiLh h<: brain, but the ...I’ei
suddenly turned and :urt:< it with v.-ngeful
knife at his p'ltiuer. Swif'ily sw-rvin . '
Tom avoided th- <<<■:.Hly thru- t, caught tiie
i-How up in h ■ arm.' and < mtemp ion-ly
.shouting. “I’ll not waste !< ■. I on you: car
cass. da h» <1 him down with t- r: 1 ie force i
on a piece of roeg. killing him as suddenly
as might a thtuiderhi/t.
i.y this time a- l a i:v< Indian was to i>e !
s. •->; more than one half the total loi -g (
lay dead upon tiie ground, and many oth. rs 1
had IL'iped away more or less w'Oimd I. I
So. giving up the useless pursuit, w • turned ■
1 • fr .- I lilt S' .tiiers.
•That was a mighty close call, boys,” ti- I
coolly said as vve lit ted him up. “Which of I
yo i follows laid out this raid? - ’
"Abe Johnson did; the Lord blesjs him: I ■
never could have planned ii,” g< nerotisly ;
answer -d Granger.
“Wed. Abe, I'm everlastingly beholden 1
to ye. The oi l-st Indian-tighter in the j
whole west couldn't have done it b tter, |
. .4 all the boyi ba ; 1 you up like bricks. 1
1 111 real proud of t tie crowd.”
me just as I’d found a good pass. Not
thinking there was a red her-about*, I'4 I
Iks-ii c.trels.* like, ami the first thing I i
k | l " I v ’.’ 1 up it-'.'it here, tied fast hand j
•■i?''' ‘ J l ',’. ’ k'.e:-sed,'’ rejoined Abe. I
II e. I JI. l Ike a pull of this,” handing ,
over ).■ fl isle. ■“ j
'.'Veil, I'm .-m stly a leetct iler, Abe; but I
t-. -is i-atne: an < xl--a ".•easlon. So here !
* ''.'7 • ' ! til " “bi guide took a hearty !
t- “.a, v.h, in sm h a case, was the best |
I ble .-..dotation. !
' ’i hr king ar "... i, we found fifiv-three i
peon- hn.•< iiah. .1 m a glarfsy )io) i oW a
1.-w ro-ls auay, while ,i|| tj 1( . ] an ces. war- i
clubs ami mo-t o| tn.,. b„ws ami arrows be- I
1- ng’Llg to lb.- rout'd ravage., had i.-eessa
t ily bei n lei 1 behind.
About twi-nty-flv" of tin varmint . have
imt away, mid Somers, az he was hun
gi.i. <tev i;rmg some luirdtaek mid bae,.m,
; ! K 7" v ' ’’“thing l.ut knives left, we
II -■■l-i 1 . ;her about them. Ail <-cation
< ol'la 1 "a ■■ th. m. . pitch info t hi ,a: y
agim. M iKe a bom.re of all the weapons,
noys, im-n we q mt a p ( , n y apiece, lead
- ht through the
i ve-'ll tm.'k "bT. * 7 ' !n away, and
| Ji m<«K. |( iK’lij’e it | . a |
1 ii, ’ic< t *'ii, tl “i r ,' llh ? ! , b, ‘ watching us, an-1
■ . ' <r 1 for ,h, T can't
! lie ni.e ui,h us, and the sight’ll be w>--e
I ’ r ""i 'rr..w we’ll . ome
! 1 1 . nigh here with our -Ah le train just as 1
i’-n' l',v S '. 1, - , !'i K j* T'- I ”” ,is and m ,
I '-ht ' s "* strike the Big t’oloradu ail
1 he ten m.-it leit nt th,, corral had heard
tin- tiring ami we:e cxtremelv anxious about
us. V. ii -11. H:e'-t f. >re, we arriv"! with the
rescued guide, the siring ot ponies ..nd
without a s' tatch on ani of ' inselves there
was ;< perfect jubilee of rejoicing.
On passing through the defile next day :
not a dead warrior was to he seen —all had '
been removed during the night nor did we
t n remainder of our journey a s "gle
hostile Indian. Best of all. while making
•nr way to the then small town of San
Francisco, we sold the whole herd of cap- .
tured ponies at a good figure.
BIRDS OF THE DEEP.
KO.VKrmxti a Hour nt 1: .4 t,i:a rntiss
jyn 01 iti'i: kings or the air.
HOW THEY MANAGE TO LIVE AT SEA.
Interesting Facts About. Gulls, Gooneys,
Mother <'ary’» < hickens and Other
Birds of Li s- Note-
“You said there were many birds that live
at sea. Toll me something about them
what do they live on, where do they light
when they g t. tired of flying, how do they
raise their young, etc.?''
"Tiie nr . ta.niliar are the gulls which
live exclusively in bight of land. These are
Very <! .111 sii<: unless hunted, and in seaport
towns ate turned to a very profltu(||e use.
They are nearly twice as large as a pigeon
and have something of their appearance,
!>• .ng white, drab-volore.i. or both. They
frequent bays waere vessels lay, and sub
sist principally on the- refuse thrown over
board, being very poor fishermen. At low
ti l.- they hunt on the ivach for shrimpr,
clams, muss 1.., etc. 1 have Seen them take
clams in their talons, fly up about l')0 feet
above the b-acii and drop the shell, so as
to .break it open, and dar down rapidly to
secure it before some other rascal got it.
Whi? there are 1:1:1. y dropping shells there
are just as many more laying in wait to
grab onto the prize, so that it presents
quite an interesting sight to watch th..
squabbling of the drones and busy ones,
an I there is really a io ic of merriment on
one of them when he succeeds in swiping
th ■ other’s clams, as though he wanted to
give him tho horse laugh for doing the
work and losing the pay. We frequently
tied two pi-ct a of in. at p g. ther by a strong
string a yard or so lung anti hove it over
board to watch the sport. The minute it
struck water several gulls would be ready
to grab it and fly off from the others, bn'
one wot.l I m t one piece and one th eihtr,
and start in opposite directions, b:;t the
string would f- h them up with u round
turn anti make them drop it f. r two more
to grab and g > throvgn a similar y< rform
ar.ee. Th • excitement would run high
among them until their chattering.* and
screechings would be vi-aftning. Ferhiip.s
one would gel his piece swallowed and
ni.uk • off with tiie other pi-ce dangling in
air, anc then the chase w >uld get amus
ing, wiJ’ a d z- t< others clamor.'- for the
second pier- and ;. tug-of-war followed
ea h time th. second pi.--e was cav.ehl. I.
aiwajs ended in .taking the stung or
tearing the meat loose.
"\v n ’ ■ at work otf tin- coast, of Mexico
w- <a- ht 1 great m-ay tish and snarks
un.l th. gulls got their lull share -t r.-ads
and ch, du ;.;. They be ,m.- so 1; n. • u- t-
U.. d ..>••. tak. p- ■ ot 1 h ~u c:.
hand. <.a.v a. young shark ano... a 1 >ot
and a half long wa* thro.vil overs aid and
a gull about one fool 1 ..ig, u. I. rl-.'ik to de
vour him. Like all other bir , th wal
low tii- ir food whole, and his : a: • wou. I
net ae. otn:..od::‘I* th*’ size of tile ,-ii.:: k, so
that about <1 t in. h<.- 01 the vvriagling
shark :va - tn. :-• ■ num. i it • . box e. a! et!-,er
;,idL w.ttu.d t ■> ■ i. t him in his job, but
he <(>::! I nt turn 10.. e wh.it he :: I ■ ady
had m-t' take mi., b.-.i ;• grip on the r.--
m.'.iteng part still outside. .\t «-ve:y gulp
of tn- gull the shark entered protest 1.,
sqtiirming at a femii:! r;;t-, and at every
at.em;.t the other :.. Is male to as det th
gull there was a vi tu ois prat--t on cite
part ot the party of the first part. V. e
never saw tho 11; 1 .4 it. I mean of the
squabble. They th •■- away to escape the
ridicule of the spectators.
“But how ar.: they profitable?”
“Well, they 1 ave regular bat :hing
grounds, where tiny all go to lay their
eggs, and (near San Fran'Kco) th Chines;
and Dagos t.-.k- the eggs 10 market. They
cxli them Ti.rallone’ egg*, named fr-mi the
small islands ju. t oft’ the Golden 'kite, to
keep one- from suspecting that they are
gull eggs. Cheap r.-.dmirants and hotels
pass th nt on th-ir ecstum.rs v.ithbut tii
least pan.g of eonscie.iVnoth'-r s uree
of r-v.-nu.- . th to.uu)-- trad -, it.aoc-:it
traveler, wishing tv try everything o i l, be
ware of tl:< lam us 'goo lu de cni-kem. to
male,’ for j -it will ii • d,' it a. s. aport
to.', iq and I..".:: d. 4 t as quit . a goo 4 Joke.
“Another very common bird unit haunt*
the waters near shore is the ‘.-hag.' This
is a very inferior spades of duck mud
hen, has a long, slet. ler necx and ht ad,
which is tin- only part of the body visible
when in the water, the balance being .sub
merged. The reason I mention 't is be
cause ii is the only kind of bird that swans
with its wings, inster l of its feet.
“They go through the exact motion of
flying when swimming, and use their feet
merely as rudders, by means of which they
can change their direction by a right angle
almost. They swim with gt at rapidity, en
abling them to overtake almost nnj' tlsh,
though they rarely eat any kind except
very young ones. In the air they are awk
ward-looking, ungainly things, living with
their long necks and feet stretched to the
fullest extent, and 111:1k- a. peculiar whis
tling not: • with their wings like steam es
caping from a valve. They come nearer be
ing the connecting link between birds'and
tislies then anything I ever saw,
“There is one other kind of sea bird that
lives I.ear the shore that has some reputa
tion, having b< -n irnm-rt illzed in the coat
of-arms of Louisiana. It is the clumsy pel
ican. These monstrosities, about twice the
size ot a goose, have m.,r«> idea of military
order than all the bird . reatlon. They tly
in single file, and when the leader liipc. his
wings they till flap; when he sails th-y till
sail: when he changes direction each one
behind him flies up to the same point at
which he changed, and there angles in the
new direction. Whe t llshing they fly imlis
ci imlnateiy as to direction and stay about
titty or sixty feet above the water. The
oment one sights a tish he folds his
Wings and dives headforemost into tho sea,
and just as b-- strikes tin* water opens his
mouth wide, wti.eh stretches the large sack
that hangs llal oily under the lower beak to
its fullest extent, which aets as a seine.
'Phis same bag is used as a storage place
for his c tch until he finishes fishing, when
he goes ashore on the rocks to dry and “en
joy the fruits of his labor.” In water where
there tire sharks they come up immediate)}
after diving and take flight—l suppose to
keep from being caught, though I never
heard cf a shark eating a bird, but I have
seen a good many one-legged p dicans, sup
posed to have had their legs bitten off while
fishing.
"There are many other shore birds, such
as .'■wan*, h< tons storks and others too com
mon to mention, though some of them are
very interesting to study.
“As we leave the land and get out to sea
we meet a different class birds that never
visit the land only to breed. The gooney is
th" commonest of all. It has a dark brown
color, and is about the size of a large gob
bler. Their wing., are narrow but very
I -ofc, and they can fly long distances with-
out. the least motion of the wings. They
will follow a vessel clear across the ocean
almost to sight of land, but no further. One
of the surest indications of approaching
land is the loss of the gooneys and the ap
pearance of the gulls. Another sure sign
of land is the change of color of the water
from deep blue to dark green.
"Another deep sea bird, one the sailors
hate, is ttie Stormy petrel, commoniy known
us “Mother Carey's cincKens.”
"These b rds look like snipes, being about
the same size ami co.or. When the sea js
calm these little iellows are very quie. an 1
seem really drowsy, but when there is a
storm they are lively enougn. They will
circle around a ship, labormg In a heavy
sea wave, uttering the most lit .ecus
screams and cries, while they dart thiot su
the rigging as if to tantalize the sai.or..
with the danger of the storm. At n.gat
win n the wind is howling tnrougn toe cord
age ami the ship is heaving he.iviiy, it
muKes one's blood run cold to hear :h»se
little torment* taunting you wnn ue ithiy
yells.
"There Is another small bird very much
like tne p- Tel, tnat is as peaceiul as they
are turbulent, 't hese are Known as wfiale
birds, iroin tne fact that they subsist ■ a
tirely on the little crustaceans they pick
Irvin th-' bony of tne wiiaie wnen it rises
lhe surface, an I they do not frequent wa
t» ry where there sire no whales.
“The g< amn st of sea birds, the king of
them all, is tn Albatross. This bird grows
to a length of four feet -lufl measures from
fifteen to seventeen lift fnmi tip to tip an 1
weighs from twenty to tinny potinus. 1
is an inhabitant of the souttiern seas, neV’ r,
or rateiy, getting north of the equator,
the only om-s north being off the < oast of
.Sharia, The color is pure white and some
times strecKed with bine.k ami brown on
lhe back. it. like the gooney. nas I,jn
narrow wings and is capibl- 01 tlj.ng fm
days and night* without resting < nee. I’.
will follow’ a ship as long as it sta s In
the latitude it frequents to pi « ”P t, "‘
refuse of the ship. Ain ng the natives of
the South American coasts it is consider' 1
very fine eating and they use the lung
bones of the wings for pipe stems and p >p
guns, they b ing hollow. »f e atr lhe.
11*0 u;-'- th- entrails of this bird to max ■
buoys for their tish nets The entrails ai '
infla'ei lik- a bladuer amt see :red at eitner
eml "f the net to how where the w nd .:ii 1
tide is drifting the net. Ho rare are t- I<s r
birds In the northern hemisphere that hir •
rewards are outstanding from so.i.< ot t“
lines’, zoological gardens of I’hig and a: i
this country t"r the . afe delivery o u *'
albatross. Many attempts have l e-n ma .',
by eunten to bring th“in aer -s the erpia
ior. but they always <1 <. ■ 1 h. 1-. -- ! -'
amusing Fasten .1 * *
trong lish hook and let it low a.on-r .1
«terr Tin v soon grab it ami hang tmm-
.]v.- With little exertion the.' can o
~,..4. I er. deck, ftra nr- to ay.
, . t :ur . s- t bird will get d-attuy s".m.< .•
v. en taken aboard ave <l. A.- hough tty
been rocked in th- .'radio of the dee.i
' . , ... a dlfferen* ro-k from
"The albatross is the nmst *!'
all ’he sea birds in breeding. 1 he? • '■'
.i>me deserted island or coral re 1 at' -
there, in a hole, which they scratch •'-t.
■I me .gg, which is about sig in n- -•
in length, wh te 'vi'.n brown spots over <• a
sue. A* soon as the young one ''
: 1 look out f>r its. if the *’l‘l ones go t.»
sea ag iitl. Other bird- flo< \ to s ene c
land in ir.ives and rais" their young. I *n
r.ogeslolf volcano, a small island Jn tne
Behring r 1. is a 1 giilar rook'-’ ■’ *'or a
birds. All kinds flock there ,-iml lay th'
egg - ami in many instani"'-* d-'pen 1 on t..--
heat ri r the ground to hatch then-:. Ihe
earth is r.-nt in so many fl sues where the
steam front below comes out. res l--r-:,.
the same heat the 5 ar round, and tho
surface of the groan 1 is a chaotic mass of
fresh egss, stab- eggs, > oung birds, ol I
birds, ami egg shells, until the ground
cannot be seen at all. On many other is
lands the bir!.; come in siicti immense
lb eks that the natives can go to the rook
eries ami frail them down with sticks.
Thev do this especially with ducks ami
geese. I am told th'i' many people along
the I lori'ia coast, which th' birds use as
raolf.-rles. gather hamper baskets full of
ei-L-s every morning ami ship them inland
to the markets.
"Tin re is a tradition among sailors as
old as the sea itself that the soul-- of d -
1 -'■ ' 1 ' ' ■ ■
ler.;--, there to sp.-mi the'.' >■’ ''n tv. M ia
of them b Iteve it as firmly as thev b.-h.-ve
their own existence, nor would they think
any mot" of killmg one of them than tliey
w. killing themselves. ire all fa-
miliar with the late of th-: 'Ancient
M.ina'-r,’ who killed th- albatross and suf
fered untold agony for his punishment. li
no doubt was transformed into a Mother
■Car.y chicken v.'hmi !:e Kiepart.-d tns
life.” _G_W -CKLSSILLE.
.1 MG JI I’ Ol' TEIUIOH.
From The Pittsburg Dispatch.
in these days of forest a.td prairies tires,
involving heavy losses of life and property
an experience of my own may be ot some
interest. In ISIS a company of emigrants,
numbering nearly IM, loft in lependene -,
Mo., for the Sor.omo valley, ‘ al. At t.- e
.-ml of the fifth day’s journey we • ncaniped
in a grove of 2W or IWO acres, in tiie mi Ist
of u pl;:in apparently limitless in extent,
on every side of it stretched beyond, the
range of vision * zea. of waving grass.
~,, (M 1 4 «111 flown rs Os ev< ry I ok*.
Th month was August or September.
j’hc season had lieen very dry ami the
ea.'tli was cracked and par-’h'-d. Xegetats-n
v .:s beginning to feel the i-ffeet of the
drought, especially the short, or buffalo
grass wnich carpeted the ground. The trees
in tiie grove looked brown and sere. The
sky had a brassy appearance. e did not
realize all th( se things at once, and to ear
eastern eyes the panorama spread out be
fore us was one of great magnificence.
Tin- wagons were arrange'! in the form of
a hollow square as a protection against
night prowlers'. Supper was prepared and
eaten, arms iook» d after, sentries stationed,
ami all who were off duty gathered around
the captain’s tent t • talk over the events of
the day and plan for the future.
We had engaged a scout at Independence
as guide and hunter during the journey
His name was James Fletcher, lie was six
feet in height, spare and sinewy as an In
dian, a brave man and a dead shot. He
achieved distinction as a member of Ber
dan’s corps of sharpshooters during the
civil war.
Wolves Gave the Warning.
About 11 o’clock we all. except the sen
tries and the scout, turned in for u few
hours* sleep for we were to be up and
ready for march at daybreak. When we
closed our eyes and sleep fell upon us
there were no indications of anything un
usual. The silence was pr'found, except
when broken by the movements of the
horses or the occasional howling of prairie
woives.
Fletcher, our scout, sleepless and restless
after the manner of his tribe, remained
up, taking frequent strolls around the stock
ade of wagons, and making observations of
PRICE l-’LVE CEN L'S
the environments of the camp. Without
knowing why, he had a presentment of
coming evil. There was a glow on the
horizon that he did not like. Wolves ap
peared in increasing numbers, moving in
an easterly direction. Flocks of plover
and other birds of the plains flew past with
unwonted cries. To Fletcher’s trained
mind and eye the occurrence foreboded
evil. He thought of lire, but apprehended
no danger from that source. He knew
there was a river eight or ten miles away,
to the west, and he believed it would be an
effectual barrier to a conflagration coming
from that direction. He knew there was
no lire on our side of the stream.
Puzzled by the movement of animals and
birds, and keen, as always, for adventures,
he saddled his horse and galloped off into
Vhe night to investigate. He rode rapidly
for an hour, which brought him to tha
river, it traversed a valley several miles
in width, which sloped toward the west.
The bank on our side was fifteen or twenty
feet higher than on tiie opposite side. Ris
ing like a wall it shut out the view from
the westerly side of the stream.
Dismounting and standing on a little
knoll, or Indian grave, h ■ looked upon a re
markable scene. For miles beyond the
river the plain was a mass ot flames,
gathering force and volume as it swept
forward, and consuming everything in its
course. This was the cause of the glowing
tint we and he had observed on the hori
zon. He was not alarmed, for he still
thought the river would check tiie progress
of lhe flames.
Mauiiiflcent, but Awful.
For half an hour he stood motionless,
watching the magnificent spectacle. Rapid
ly the lire eat its way toward the river.
At a narrow place a tuft of burning grass
wa-. caught up by the whirlwind of flames
and wafted over the stream. He knew in
an instant what this, meant. Tl.e camp
w;ts in danger an t we would have to light
for our Ilves.
Putting spurs to his horse he began a
ride for the camp as h roic as that 01
Sheridan from \V‘..Chester. His horse was
wiry and active, and he did not spare him.
IBs feelings can be better imagined than
described as he sped along under the silent
.'■l trs with death in hi.-- w*a.ke. His object
was to reach the carap long enough in ad
vance of tl.e lire to enable us to take
measarez for our safety.
.-Jiisiiing through the stockade of wagons
without drawing rein, Fiet-her discharged
his pistol and shouted: “The prairie is on
tire! The flames have crossed the river!
Tiie camp is in danger!” Every member of
;h • partj’ wa ; up in an instant. There was
no panic. Even the women were coo! ana
collect'd. We were always on the lookout
for danger, and were in u manner prepared
for it. A hurried council wte held to de
vise measures for our safety. None of us
knew how tp fight a prairie fire, and ito
stim lively we turned to Fletcher for ad-
Lu:e a general, with the glow of excite
rs nt upon I:;-: ’’ ice, he iss’t-d his orders
1. ddly and deroankd prompt ob-'-lienee.
Knowing that t trees w till increase the
danger, he conducted us out of the grove
into the open plain. The wagons were
arrang' d as before. Be iding and clothing
wet drenched wi.h .'::*-r .rota a spring
near by and thrown uv- r the wagons for
protection. Grass was mown for some dis
tance around. The nnimals were turned
loose to shift for themselves, but they
hov -red around the camp as if conscious
of the impending danger.
A 'iuruatiit of Finnic.
These preparations hud hardly been com
pleted when the tire burst upon us. It
cant, sweeping over the plain in great bil
lows. It stru k us fa.ir and square. Ail at
once we were environed by flam ■ We had
done all we could and silently awaited th ■
ini ;• and tl
sm ke stifling. We saw that the wet bei
d.ng and clothing on the wagons was hold
ing back the tire in th.it direction. Five
minutes of intense anxiety ensn .. Then
tne s*-1 of flame part i a. I t forward
o-i either side witli a roar like that of a
tornado.
We then looked after results. Two small
children had been smothered by the smoke
and heat. Three men, wno h.iu nought
saft ty by ciinming ;r «-s, contrary’ to or
ders, were four 4 hunt'.- ■ to a er sp. The
flatties hail enve! tpe-l every tre tn th
grove from root to topmost branch. Ai! if
oar bedding had b.-en eonsuni 1 and t .e
wagons were badly sc <rch.-I. Fk-tciier
k. pt watch over t; .• anim i.-. ami wre n tit-,
flame parted he ilrove them mto the ir.-
ctosttre from the r ar. ('h.ee horses and
several eo.vs. stray ng oh, p : :-;.e i.
Next morning we dug a grave 1 11 the
foot of a large w iln.it tree, in wnich we
deposited our dead, mended our wagons
the best w-? could, and with no b«-4 ih.g an-l
little clothing resumed our journey with
heavy hearts. The five bodies were after
wards exhumed and taken to Sonoma lor
interment.
The awfulness of prairie and forest fires
cannot be realized by those who have never
witness'd them. Pecq 1- in the northwest
who are passing through this terrible ex
perience. the worst proliably in the history
of the country, ar’ deserving of the ac
tive sympathies of th< American people.
HERMAN HARTER.
In rictj nPijrhborno'Ml. V»r hn ■<* xivei. away ove.
rlnfrathe D**t twovrar*. A •
L M. iSSOCUTIWk SS» D3ABBOWI ST-t CHICAGO, IU»
tleDtlOll Hie CviiStltUCiOUL _
a®" It I and head Boi-esrcheved by using
w® I ' ■ milw.vs toisov sense eauuklss.
I \ \ •<■ Er'irtly new.s •lentiiicinrcr.tion:
X'-«L C<G>' ■ '•! uifi•■ •■••nrfrom :t loti'vrdevh > -;t •
•ionlvru i •.c’-to::: ble. <■
f fi- ’invisible ecr drum a the wot! t.
•’■ .. ’ *"'■
•■2.-4 K «?!“■? / • iwtiero inedlc.d skid tiaSfailc.i. N •
/stringorwlreattai imicnttoirritate
,„ ) W / tne ecu '’'rite tor j amphlou
iff 7 WILSON EAn £-RvM M.
* 1W
Mention • tie Constitution.
I OdBOTOUIOWI"
PMBTOIC
fir ii£tfe;B.>. vwt'.ns for ” s’-'e,
IwAUXm ar.ls.<-ir r- •"■ '--\Me. .ar ts,
’Yes' for |i .a’iii- '••••’••■••-
he ’aHBR ; > LShl
S>2l
’ ! ” ¥ BRASS BAND
’ i Instrument*, Dmis. I niiorms. Eqirp-
1 the fcl- I f nients for Bands and Dnnn Corjis. Lo*-
Feller it ft
Vrench, 1 • V-. (5S J r.iflrijinoi • r '' ri it ■ Band
: From The Youth's Companion.
It is well to be cauuuus, but there are
times when even caution may be carried to
~x c. .s s . The w: low of a German ot'ice.'
i went to a pension office lor the purpose ot’
i drawing the pension <iue her. Sa<* present
’ ed the usual certificate of tlv- mayor ot the
! villny • m which she lived, to the effect that
I she was stii: alive.
• This certificate is net right, said the
ofii. tui in charge, severely.
■What is the matter w.th it? inquired
i tlie iiuor wsl-’w .
“It beats the date of IXtcenßKT 21 ’ w.: .
i the stern repiy. ' and your pension was due
! on ih cemfier 15th.
••What kind of a certificate do yon wish?"
i inquired the di-app. int< q aiipiicant.
“We must have a < .-rtihi ;te slating that
J vou were alive on the '. h of D.. mbe.."
said the official, with gr. .it firmness. ’
what possible use is tlii. one that says you
i were alive on the 21st of December—six day*
| later?”