Decatur Democrat, Volume 35, Number 25, Decatur, Adams County, 11 September 1891 — Page 6

©he DECATUR, IND. N. BLACKBURN, ... Publisher. THE PROPER THING IS TO READ THIS COLUMN FOR NEWS OF THE WORLD. • f' Inhuman Treatment In St. Vincent Prison at Montreal—Fell from the Clouds—Hawley tor the War Portfolio. YEARS IN SOLITARY. Terrible Tale of Cruelty from Montreal; Montreal special: An astounding revelation of cruelty at St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary came to light when a discharged convict limped into a hotel in this city and taking off his dusty shoe took from it a letter from James Ferry, now serving a seven-year sentence in that institution. Out 6f the four years he has served this wretched convict has spent, he declares, no less than twentyfour months in the black hole. This punishment cell is a portion of the cellar of the penitentiary, and is so closely shut with iron doors that daylight never reaches the cells in it as long as the convicts are there. The unfortunate prisoner put there is kept on bread and water, being giving one regular prison meal every day. He sleeps on straw, and the guard who furnishes him with his scanty food is prohibited from speaking to .him. It is perpetual night and unending silence for him. It is the hardest punishment that can be inflicted, and yet this unfortunate man has spent two whole years in this hole, besides being horribly beaten and kicked. The culminating point was reached on August 23. Ferry had been allowed a breath of pure air in the stone yard, when one of the guards came along and ordered ( him back to the dungeon. Ferry refused to go, and begged for a few minutes more in the daylight. The guard sprang at him and knocked him down with a blow of his club. The other convicts allege that he and three others jumped upon his chest and body. lie lay upon the ground stunned and senseless with blood flowing from his mouth and nose, and yet he was dragged by the throat to the stairs and thrown into the black hole, as they state, without medical attendance, although he is now known to : have been severely injured internally. Refused a Fortune lor a Horse. “Would 8200,000 buy Allerton?” was the question put to C. W. William by A. G. Best, of Salt Lake City, at Independence, Mo. “Nd, sir,” was the prompt and decisive reply. It is said Mr. Best was acting for Marcus Daly, of Montana. Mr. Williams has issued an offer to any horse with a record of 2:12 or better to meet Allerton at the October races, offering a purse of 85,000 if Allerton is defeated and allowing the horse 82,500 for expenses with no entrance fees. An answer has been received from Bud Doble-. stating that Nancy Hanks will pot meet Allerton, it being too late in the season. ■ r Fell from the Clouds. Peoria (Ill.) special: Another aeronaut has fallen into Peoria Lake. This time it was Mme. Kiefer, wife of the man who fell in the lake a week ago. Mme. Kiefer made the ascension under protest, as a strong wind was blowing over the lake. The plucky little woman sailed away and when at the height of 5,000 feet cut her parachute loose and dropped. She had counted on reaching the Tazewell shore but the parachute did not open soon enough and she fell into the lake. The immense crowd on the shore was horrified to see her sink with the big parachute netting over her. Trouble at Samoa, Correspondence from Samoa, per steamer Mariposa, says that the country is in a state of great unrest. Mataafa is still at Malico with three or four hundred men and has sent out messengers again to raise a party in his behalf. It is generally understood the Government is only waiting the arrival of an English war ship to make a joint demonstration of the three nations and to punish the natives who refuse to obey Malietoa. Unless sonie action is taken without delay there probably will be trouble. Murder and Suicide. On the Lamb plantaion near Vaughans, Miss., Mrs. Mary Coleman, colored, -blew out her husband’s brains while he was asleep in bed, with a double barreled shot gun. She then left the house taking her little boy, 2 years old, and went to a creek a short distance from the house where she committed the bloody deed, and jumped in the creek with her child and they were both drowned, 'J’he woman is supposed to have been insane. Hawley for the War Office. Private advices received in Washington state that Senator Hawley, of Connecticut, has been offered the war office, to succeed Secretary Proctor, and that Gen. Hawley is at Cape May conferring with President Harrison about the matter. The Ladies Favor Sunday Closing. j After a long and earnest discussion, the board of lady managers of the world’s fair, by a vote of 56 to 36 passed a resolution in favor of the closing of the world s fair on Sundays. Killed by the Falling of a Bridge; Christ Roewenkamp of Nashville, 111., was instantly killed by the breaking down of a bridge across which he was driving. He fell seventeen feet and the team fell on top of him. Balmaceda Coming. It is reported that ex-President Balmaceda, of Chili, is on board the steamer Williamette, which is due at San Francisco next week from Iquique. Drowned Vt’hile Boating. Henry Higiveliat and I. A. Horman, while boating near Atlantic City, were drowned. The Bridge Went Down. At Red River, Ky., the iron bridge of the Kentucky Union Railroad went down with a freight train. J. C. Stall, fireman, was killed and J. V. Stanna, conductor, was fatally injured. The rest of the crew escaped by jumping and swimming. Fell Over a Precipice. Advices have been received that Dr. Holst, a Prussian magistrate, while ascending Mount Terglou, 4n the Carnic Alps, fell over a precipice and was killed. power or the Louisiana Lottery Broken. J. C. Maynard, the Postoffice Inspector in charge of the New Orleans district, has returned to Washington from New Orleans, where he has completed the work tn some twenty-five cases against the President of the Louisiana Lottery Company for violation of the law which prohibits the sending of ■ lottery matter through the mails. Mr. Maynard says • the chain of evidence in these cases is . r * complete, and that the lottery company Will hardly dispute facts. He thinks the power of the company is broken, and says the business is reduced to such a joint that although lladvertises a capital

prize of >300,000, yet it does not sell more than half of any ticket, so that it is impossible for the capital prize to be drawn. ROAD AGENTS. Daring but Unsuccessful Attempt to Rob a Los Angeles Express Train—One Man Killed. San Francisco special: The Los Angeles express was held up by two masked men a few miles south of Modesto, Cal. The robbers boarded the train at Coes and compelled Engineer Neff and Fireman Wallace to extinguish the headlight and fill the boiler with water. They then made them get down and go to the express car and ordered it opened. Conductor Roche and Brakeman Fox were in the front car and they at once went out on the platform and looked out of the east side of the car. At the sight of a conductor’s lantern one of the robbers called out for them to go back, firing a shot at them. The conductor set his lantern back and fired two shots at the robbers. The conductor at once went back into the car and sought Detective Len Harris, of Los Angeles, and De-r tective Lawson, who chanced to be on the train. Harris got out of the west side of the car and walked toward the robbers, who had gone over to that side of the express car. When about two cars lengths from the express car Harris opened fire with a revolver. The robbers returned the fire, firing three shots, all of which took effect, hitting Harris in the neck and over the left eye. Meanwhile t e . robbers were compelling Engineer Neff to hold a torch while Fireman Wallace worked at the door. They called several times to the express messenger and his assistant, Charles, to open the door and come up, claiming that they would not hurt them but they refused to open the door. A bomb was exploded against the door, shattering the beams and making an opening large enough for them to enter through, but the shooting by Harris and also shots fired during the affair by Roches and Brakeman Fox evidently scared them off, and they left without securing any treasure. Harris was taken to Merced, where he is dying. As soon as the news of the attempted robbery reached Merced a special train started for the scene, bearing officers and a posse of sixty men. who are now in pursuit. Officers have &lso started from Tulare, Modesto, Merced and Lathrop. THE AMERICAN HOG. The Embargo on It Lifted by Germany. Secretary Rusk has received official notice that the German Government has raised the embargo on American pork. The agreement relative to the admission of pork into Germany was signed at Cape May Point about ten days ago, but at the request of the German Government the fact was withheld from the public press until official action could be taken by the home Government. The agreement not only provide for the admittance of our pork into Germany, but also affords to the United States the saine schedule with reference 1 to all farm products as that promulgated by Russia. Secretary Rusk is confident that lie will soon be able to extend our market for corn by introducing it into Germany for an article of food in the place of rye, the crop of which in Germany is this year exceedingly short. To this end he has instructed his corn agent, Col. C. J. Murphy, now in Europe, to proceed at once to Berlin and lay the matter before the German Government. ? Berlin special: The Rcichsgesclsblatt published an order to the effect that the prohibition of the importation of swine, pork and sausages of American origin, shall no longer be enforced when such live pigs or hog products are furnished with official certificates stating that they have been examined in accordance with American regulations and are found free from qualities dangerous to the health. The Chancellor has sent instructions to the proper officials that the order be given immediate effect. RUBBERS’ PICNIC. Tile Gay and Festlv« Road Agents Relieve the Express Companies ot a Little Cash. Texas Creek (Col.) special: The Denver and Rio Grande train No. 4, from Ogden, was “held up” four miles west of this station Wednesday night by seven masked men, and the express car robbed of 86,600. None of the passengers were molested. The night track walker was overhauled by the robbers at 9 o’clock in the evening and compelled to flag the train. Torpedoes were placed on the track. Sheriffs of neighboring counties have dispatched posses in pursuit of the robbers. One of the robbers was described as a man of 40, wearing a dark stiff hat. A second member of the party was a man of about the same age, a third was a smooth faced boy, apparently not over 20 years. A detective agency at Denver was at once called upon and a car load of operatives were quickly started for the scene of the robbery on a special train, accompanied by the surgeon of the road. A Bogus Nun. Sister Beatrice, the notorious bogus nun, who has been frequently exposed in the newspapers, was arraigned in the Jefferson Market Police Court at New York, on the charge of vagrancy, preferred by Agent Jerome of the Charity Organization Society. She was committed for examination. The woman has a history. She is the same woman who the late Senator Cameron, of Pennsylvania, for 850,000 for breach of promise of marriage. Gen. B. F. Butler was counsel for Senator Cameron, and the trial which lasted about two weeks, resulted in a verdict against the woman. She is said to be Marie Oliver, wife of Thomas Marshall Oliver, of Louisville, Ky., who discarded her. Senator Cameron first met her in New Orleans in 1876. She followed him to Washington and he secured her a position in the Treasury Department. While she was living at the Tremont House Gen. Cameron advanced her 81,000. Affairs in Mexico. St, Louis special: The sensational news from the City of Mexico in relation to the impending revolution was read with more than passing interest in St. Louis. George F. Miller, formerly private secretary to Samuel J. Randall when Speaker 6f the House at Washington, had an extensive acquaintance with prominent Mexicans and Mexican affairs. He pronounced the charges against President Diaz the veriest bosh. Gen. Francisco Olivares, of the Mexican army, was in St. Louis in June last, and Mr. Miller had quite a lengthy conversation, during which the General told him that President Diaz had not antagonized any party. That his course had been such as to win him friends of all political color. Gen. Olivares is a Catholic, and he had no hesitancy in saying that the President had done nothing to arouse the enmity of the clerical party. Another Balloon Horror. The 10,000 persons Jn attendance at the Oswego, N. Y., fair, witnessed a horrible accident. Prof. John J. Frisbie, of that city, was advertised to make a balloon assension and a parachute Jump, and much interest was felt in it from the fact of his residence there. When everything was in readiness ahd Prof. Frisbie was about to take his seat on the trapeze, the big balloon in some manner got away from those holding the ropes. It shot up like a rocket, the spectators were horrified to see a man who bad been holding the ropes swept off the ground and bang dangling between the parachute 4 f&afe&lak ■ i .■'’i/ .•* ,-'-4..

and the ground. When np about 100 feet he attempted to drop, but his feet caught in the ropes and turned him over, and he plunged headlong to the ground. He struck on his head and was instantly killed. His name was John R. Woods. A Horrible Affair. Kansas City special: Louis Bulling, of St. Joseph, Mo., the wife murderer, before the time for the execution, shot himself in a vain effort to commit suicide. The Sheriff ordered four deputies to carry him to the scaffold and he cursed and swore at them in a horrible manner. The Sheriff told him to stand on the drop. He refused and four deputies held him up. The black cap was placed over his head and yelling, screaming and blaspheming ne shot through the opening. His neck was broken by the fall, and he died almost instantly. The Rev. Lavake has been arrested for giving Bulling a revolver with which he attempted to commit suicide. The minister denies the charge, but says he was on his knees praying when Bulling fired the first shot. Shot Three Men. A bloody affair occurred at Velpin, Pike County, Indiana. Two men were instantly killed and another severely wounded. Three men, named Posey, Miller, and Fleming, went into a small restaurant at that place, and attempted to rob the proprietor of everything they could lay hands on. The proprietor ran for his pistol and shot, instantly killing Posey and Fleming. He ran to the door and shot twice at Miller. One shot took effect in the fleshy part of the thigh, inflicting an ugly wound. The man who did the shooting was at once arrested and placed under guard. The little town is wild with excitement, and threats of lynching are freely indulged in. Lottery Men in Court. Before United States Commissioner Wright, at New Orleans, Messrs. Paul Conrad, L. Perchea, W. Valentine, A. J. Bacheman, J. E. Brulatour, P. L. Labarre, M. P. Armant and P. Voorhees were up for a hearing in the now celebrated case of sending lottery mattei through the mails. The accused waived examination before the Commissioner and the case was sent before the United States District Court, Judge Pardee. This court will open in November next, when the point as to whether the accused should furnish bonds for appearance before the United States District Court in Texas will be argued. A Brother's Vengeance. A terrible tragedy occurred on a farm near Chane’s Crossing, Ohio. Two young men were standing on a threshing machine, one cutting bands and the other feeding. The band cutter accidentally cut the hand of the feeder, which so enraged him that he threatened to throw his fellow workman into t e machine. A few minutes later the knife came in contact with the feeder’s hand, and in a rage he picked up his companion and threw him into the machine. The murdered man’s brother witnessed the act and plunged a pitchfork through the murderer’s body, killing him instantly. A Steamboat Collision. Detroit special: The steam barge E. H. Jenks was sunk, having collided with the steamer Morley, on the west bank of Ballard’s reef, and lies in twenty feet of water. Three persons were drowned. Six of the crew of the Jenks, who were on the decks when the collision occurred, jumped into the water as the boat sank and were rescued bv the crew of the Morley. The three who perished were below. The Jenks is owned by the Jenks Shipping Company, of Port Huron, Mich.,’and was valued at 810,000. A diver has gone down to rescue the bodies of the dead. Canada’s Cabinet Tottering’. An Ottawa (Canada) special says that in view of recent startling disclosures, Premier Abbott has called upon Secretary of State Chapleau to resign. There is some talk of an early dissolution. It is said that Lord Stanley has been urged by Lord Salisbury to dismiss his Government and dissolve Parliament in view of the startling revelations recently made. It is said the Government by no means reflects the sentiment of the people which is unmistakably in favor of the freest possible intercourse with the people of the United States. Menace to Austria. Russian villages near the Russo-Aus-trian frontier are thronged with soldiers. Whole regiments are permanently quartered at every available ] point, and ready to act as a strong advance guard in pouring into the Austrian Empire in the event of war. Observation towers are being built to the frontier, and the Russians are also planning the erection of three or four large forts to form a base for the. invading ariny. The Russians are also constructing pontoons at Reni for use in crossing the Danube. Egan May Be Recalled. The assumption of government by the Junta of the Chilian Congressional party, as announced in a dispatch received by the envoys of the Congressional party in Washington, will result in the recognition of the new Government by the United States within a period much shorter than has been supposed. Until that recognition is given, however, Mr. Egan will still continue as Minister to Chili, unless the demands of the Congressionolists prove strong enough to oblige Secretary Blaine to recall him. A Schooner Lost. The schooner Pannonia, which .left Marshall Islands May 1, for San Francisco, with twelve persons aboard, was wrecked on the reefs to the northwest of the Hawaiian Island, and all on board were lost. The crew numbered seven men, nearly all Americans, and Capt. Geo. D. Lovdall had his wife and children on board. The vessel left San Francisco in February last, with a cargo of general merchandise for trading with the natives of the South Sea Islands. Shot the Constable. Constable John Snyder, of Doolittle Mills, Perry County, Ind., assisted by his brother Saul, attempted to arrest William Enbow for stealing watermelons, and was fatally shot through the bowels by Henry Enbow. Saul received a bullet from the same source. The Enbows escaped through the woods and defy arrest. Isaac W. Falkenburg, prominent merchant and lawyer of the same place, accused of participating in the melon theft, was chased into Crawford County and arrested. Miss Lincoln Married. The marriage of Miss Mary Lincoln, daughter of the United States Minister, Hon. Robert T. Lincoln, to Mr. Charles B. Isham, of Chicago, took place at the Brompton Parish Church, London. A number of fashionable English people and Americans, mostly intimate friends of the Lincoln family, filled the church. After the marriage ceremony the most intimate friends of the two families partook of a wedding breakfast at the United States Minister’s residence in Cromwell Gardens. Tsxe Rio Grande Robbers. Denver special: An unconfirmed rumor,is current here that the seven outlaws who held up a Denver and Rio Grande passenger train in Grand Canyon, Monday night, have been surrounded in the mountains near Alamosa. A desperate tight followed in which three were killed. Guatemala Excited. Advices received from Guatemala says that the election excitement there is intense, and it is feared no election can ■ •>. ■■■‘3-..- • v.tribT. ■

take place. In such case President Barillas will hold over, and he may try to declare himself dictator, which will not only cause complications in Guatemala but in all Central America. Typhoid Fever. Typhoid fever has become an epidemic in the city of Negaunee, MU.h. There are now over fifty cases, four deaths, and people are taken down with the disease at the rate of five or six a day. The epidemic is directly due to the filthy water trom the lake, a pond about one mile long, which receives the drainage of a number of dwellings, slaughter houses and mipes, and in which pine logs are collected and allowed to rot. Made Short Work of Him. Port Gibson (Miss.) special: Willie Smith, colored, who criminally assaulted a white lady at Lucknow farm, three miles from this place on August 21, was captured near Oakey, Miss., brought here, and taken to the scene" of his crime, where he was fully identified by his victim. A mob of nearly five hun-' dred men, mostly colored, deliberated on his case and decided to execute him, which they at once carried out by hanging him to a limb of a tree. Four Killed by Lightning. Four persons were instantly killed by lightning near Magnolia, Ark. Mr. Couch, a prominent planter, was in a small cotton house with five or six others weighing cotton. The lightning struck the end of the building, tearing it to pieces and setting it on fire with the cotton. The killed were Samuel Carter and his 15-year-old son James, John Brown, Dock Blakely. Mr. Couch was insensible for some time but js now out of danger. A Serious Wreck. A wreck near Sacramento. Cal., was one of the most serious that ever occurred on the California railroads. Notwithstanding the fact that several cars were literally crushed to splinters, Mail Agent Quimby was the only man killed. While there were others who received quite painful injuries, it is thought that none will prove fatal. The loss to the rolling stock will be large. . Struck Again. The freight brakemen and conductors on the Lake Erie and Western road struck at Lafavette, Ind., again, and have notified the men at Peru. Lima and Indianapolis of their action. The new schedule did not prove satsifactory to them, and the committee waited on Gen eral Manager Bradbury at Indianapolis. The conference did not prove satisfac tory and a strike was inaugurated. Rain to Order. Cheyenne special: Melbourne had just started to make some more rain the other day, when the committee called upon him and begged him to desist. He did so. but agreed to furnish half an inch of precipitation next Sunday. .At the suggestion of leading land owners Melbourne will submit a proposition to deliver eighteen inches of rain in April, May and June of next year. A Bad Fall. Lincoln Gardner, a prominent young farmer, living about a mile'from Covington, Ind., while picking peas slipped and fell upon a picket fence, inflicting a very painful and dangerous wound. A physician was called and found him to be suffering from internal injuries, from which it is feared he will never recover. Eyesight Probably Destroyed. The 13-year-o)d son of Henry Dickinson, five miles northeast of Lebanon, Ind., was shot in both eyes by an unknown party while he and his companions were playing tick-tack at the residence of a neighbor.- His eyesight is probably destroyed. Head Severed from the Body. Richard Nash, of Philadelphia, engineer on the fast Reading express, while on the lookout was struck by some obstruction near OrrviUe-Station, Pa., and his head was severed from the body. He hung out of the cab window some minutes before the fireman discovered his mangled remains. Reward Ottered. The Richmond and Danville Railroad Company has offered a reward of 810,000 for the arrest and conviction of the person who opened thejswitch or misplaced the rail, which caused the fearful loss of life near Statesville, N. C. r> * Recaptured After a HardlFight. William Johnson, the murder of Sam Brown; who broke jail at New Albany, Ind., has beer, recaptured after a desperate battle. Dale and Smith are still at large. Horrible Mode of Suicide. Alfred Hedrick, an old citizen of Mansfield, Ohio, during at fit of temporary insanity poured coal oil over his clothing and set himself on fire. He died several hours afterward in great agony. Most Quit Drinking. The Senate of Georgia has passed the House bill disqualifying physicians addicted to drink from the practice of their profession. It will be signed by Gov. Northen as soon as it is engrossed. Stole Uncle tSani’s Money. The postoffice safe at Granite Falls, Minn., wa'fe blown open and about 81,000 in money and stamps taken. There is no clue. Big Fire at Youngstown. The Youngstown, Ohio, Bridge Works were entirely destroyed by fire. Loss 875,000; insurance 855,000. They will bo rebuilt at once. f THE MARKETS. CHICAGO. Cattle—Common to Primes 8.53 & 6.50 Hogs—Shipping Grades 4.00 @ 5.75 Sheep 3.00 @ 5.25 Wheat—No. 2 Red 99 @ 1.01 Corn—No. 2 63 & .64 Oats—No. 2 .29 & .29)6 Rye—No. 288 @ .90 ’ Butter—Choice Creamery 22 @ .24 Cheese—Full Cream, flatso9 & .09)4 Eggs—Fresh 1514® .16)4 Potatoes—New, per bu4s .55 - INDIANAPOLIS. Cattle—Shipping 3.50 @ 5.75 Bogs—Choice Light 3.50 & 5.25 Sheep—Common to Prime 3.50 @4.50 Wheat—No. 2 Red 99 @ 1.00 Corn— No. 1 White63)4@ .64)4 Oats—No. 2 Whiteß3 & .33)4 ST. LOUIS. Cattle 8.50 @ 5.75 Hogs... 4.50 5.50 Wheat—No. 2 Red9B & .99 Corn—No. 258 &' .59 Oats—No. 228 @ .29 Rye—No. 382 @ .83 CINCINNATI. Cattle 3,50 @ 5.50 Hoes <OO @ 6 ,“50 Sheep 3.00 @ 5.00 Wheat—No. 2 Red i.oi @ 1.03 Corn—No. 2 64 @ .66 Oats—No. 2 Mixed .32)4® .83)4 „ DETROIT. £*®tlx 3.00 @ 5.35 Hoes Sheep.. 3 ,c0 @4.50 Wheat—No. 2 Red 1.04 @ 1.03 Cobn—No. 2 Yellow 67 @ .68 Oats—No, 2 White3s @ .86 TOLEDO. / Wheat—New 1.01 @1.03 Corn—Cash. 65 @ .66 Oats—No. 2 White 33 @ ,83 92 @ .93 BUFFALO. Beef Cattle B.r>o @ 5.75 LivbHogs 4.25 @ 5.50 Wheat—No. 1 Northern 1.14 @ 1.16 . Corn—No. 9 71 @ ,73 „ MILWAUKEE. Wheat—No. 2 Spring9B A 1.00 Coen—No. 363)4@ <64 Oats—No 2 White 88 (A .84 Rye—No. 1 .88 @ .90 Baulky—No. 9 .64 @ .65 Pork—Mesa lo.oo @10.95 „ NEW YORK. mo aa.75 Wheat—No.9Rid 1.10 fin Oats—Mixed Western 89 S .88 Ls. : '■'’*|’A

ABOUT RAIN-MAKING. GEN. DYRENFORTH’S OPERATIONS EXPLAINED. The Fact That Rain Followed Heavy Cannonading Made a Philosopher and a Patentee of an Army Officer—An Extensive Rainfall Followed the First Experiment. Compelling the Clouds. Scientists, farmers, and ranchmen, and in fact the entire reading public, have recently had their attention centered on Texas and the successful operations of the Government rainmakers. The cowboys of the “Staked Plains” of that State have been treated to a free exhibition of fireworks such as has seldom if ever been equaled in the Lone Star State. The coyotes and antelopes have been scattered in terror by this terrific cannonading of the experimenters, and to the joy of the ranchman copious rains have fallen on the parched prairies of the Llano Estacado, breaking a drought

V' GEN. DYRENFORTH.

of long duration and averting the distress and suffering which would have followed a few more weeks of dry weather. Before the close of the late war, it became so conspicuous a fact that heavy rain would almost inevitably follow a hot engagement that the storm was fully anticipated, and was regarded as one of the factors in the case to be considered by a leader when forming his plans upon the eve of a battle. In most o* these cases the storms began about twelve hours after the heavy firing, generally arising in the night following the battle, and in cases of continual fight-

I 7 I "■ ■l' <i" ir j Hjl K 3 EFILLING THE BALOONS.

ing for several days, as in the battles of the Wilderness, they occurred nightly during the continuance of the engagements. History also shows that during the Mexican war many battles on the arid plains of Mexico were followed by copious rainfalls, a condition previously almost unknown in some of those localities. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, of Fredericksburg, Va., was among the number of those who observed the regularity of this phenomenon or rainfall after battles, and soon after the close of the war he applied for a patent on the idea of “producing rainfall artificia’ly by means of explosions in the upper air.’’ Gen. Ruggles’ ideas were crude, bqt obtained his patent and thereoy the exclusive right to the wholesale and retail trade in the artificial rain-storms in this country. However, when Congress took up the matter and began to talk of investigating the subject Gen. Ruggles fjpely surrendered all his rights In favor of the government After Gen. Ruggles had taken out his papers the subject of artificial rainfall received little attention for twenty yoers or moie, but as the grain and cattle Interests extended into the semi-arid regions of the West and Southwest, the possibilities of the subject began to be discussed, and many of the prominent farm and ranch owners of the West were soon convinced that the scheme was well worth a trial. C. B. Farwell and Nelson Morris, of Chicago, both of whom are largely interested in stock lands, took the matter before Congress and by dint of earnest agitation obtained last an appropriation of K,OOO for use by the Department of Agriculture in prosecuting investigations in this line, and the last Congress added 87,000 to this sum for a series of practical experiments. At the urgent request of the friends of the scheme Gen. Robert G. Dyenforth consented to superintend the investigations and experiments. A series of tentative experiments were first prosecuted near Washington at which a number of prominent officials and scientists were present. At the time of the operations in the District of Columbia the explosions produced great alarm throughout the suburbs, and a petition was immediately presented to Uncle Jerry Rusk praying that he remove “his dynamiters” to a region more remote and secluded, and an arid spot in Texas was selected. The mode of operation which General Dyrenforth adopts is to form a “line of battle” covering a position about three miles long and two deep Along the front of the line giant powder is fired, from mortars, and bombs of “rackarock” mixture are exploded. Behind this a second line is formed, consisting of fifty cloth kites held by electric wire and bearing loads of dynamite. The dynamite is exploded when the kites are high in the air by means of a cap and an electric current which is passed through the wires. The dynamite is suspended from the kites by wires of a length sufficient to prevent the kites from being injured by the explosions. A third line is formed behind the kites consisting of explosive balloons of 10, 12, and 20 foot diameter charged with oxhydrogen gas, which is one of the most violent explosives known to science Ten to twenty of these balloons are in the air at once, each containing from 500 to 5,000 cubic feet of the explosive gases. The concussions from the explosion of one of these balloons is so great that it must be allowed to rise to a great height in order to prevent injury to the operatives and surrounding objects. The explosion is produced by means of electric wires or by a time fuse so regulated that the explosion will take place when the balloon has had time to reach the proper altitude, which varies according to conditions, from 1,000 to 7,000 feev

In charging the balloons with the gases the empty envelope Is first spread on the ground and filled one-third full with oxygen. This is done by attaching the balloon by a hose to retorts filled with chlorate of potassium and manganese. The retorts are then subjected to intense heat in oxygen furnaces constructed for the purpose, when oxygen gas is generated and passes through a lime-water wash into the balloon. When the balloon is one-third full it is detached from the oxygen apparatus and connected by a pipe with one of the large hydrogen generators, which completes the inflation. The hydrogen generator consists of a large tank half-full of water and iron borings turned from cast-iron projectiles in the navy yard at Washington. Into this sulphuric acid, or vitriol, is slowly decanted. The acid separates the water into its gases, hydrogen and oxygen, and the iron takes up the oxygen, allowing the free hvdrogen to escape through a pipe and washbarrel into the balloon, which is held captive by a netting attached to sand bags. The observation ascents are made in balloons of twenty feet diameter. The balloon is held captive at a height of 1,600 feet by a strong cable while the meteorologist in the basket communicates the readings of his instrument through a telephone to those on the ground below. The cable is then let go, and the balloon rises to the height of over two miles, and then descending lands the occupant at a distance of several miles from the starting point A carriage has already started from the headquarters, however, and the aeronautical observer is seen riding quietly back on terra firma, with his balloon, folding basket, and instruments safely packed away. Three ■ closely related principles of theories are recognized and acted upon by General Dyrenforth and his party in their experiments, which, stated briefly and bereft of teennieal terms, are as follows: First, most rainstorms have their origin in the mingling of different currents of the upper air strata, some of which are warm and moisture-laden (in any locality) while others are much cooler. As soon as these currents begin to mingle, the warm, moist current is cooled and its moisture is thus squeezed out of it as from a sponge. This moisture first becomes visible as vapor or “cloud,” and : finally condenses into rain. The process ; is a progressive one and will generally 1 multiply upon itself from a very small

beginning. The immense air waves produced by the explosion of the balloons at high altitudes, start this mingling of currents which, progressing by the force of the latent heat released in the condensation of moisture, grows into a storm center. The second theory is that a continuous series of explosions jars together or agglomerates the particles of moisture in the air into rain drops, which are precipitated to the ground. The effect is evident after a heavy clap of thunder and has been repeatedly produced by General Dyenforth’s party, heavy showers having been shaken from light clouds from which no rain haa been falling. To produce this effect tlje kites are used with dynamite cartridges attach?*!. Gen. Lyrenforth does fiot claim that he has fully demonstrated the practicability of producing rainfall artificially at all times and under all conditions, but it seems certain, from observations made, that his operations have exerted marked influence upon the condition of

MORTAR TOR FIRING POWDER.

the weather and produced definite practical results in the midst of the arid “Staked Plains” of Texas. In the third place it is believed that the frictional electricity which is generated in the jarring of the earth and air at the point of the operations and so creates a magnetic field into which the particles of moisture are drawn and gathered. The explosions on and near the ground are especially calculated to secure this result Passing Events. Tailors now use the band saw for cutting cloth. In six years Brazil has multiplied its debt four times. Molasses can be brought from Cuba in a tank vessel for two cents a gallon. The estimated wheat crop this year is 563,000,000 bushels in the United States. Cherra Pongee, in the Assam hills, British India, has a rainfall of over 500 inches per annum. It takes over one-third of the income of the Russian Government to pay the interest on its debt The total amount of life insurance In Great Britain is nearly Identical with the total national debt Norway Is wealthier in nickle ores than any other European country; but only two mines are now working. An electric drill in an Idaho mine recently performed the feat of boring a two inch hole through twenty feet of solid rock in four hours. Continued experiments have still further reduced the cost of aluminum. It can now be bought for one-fifth of what it cost three years ago. A woman 71 years old and many times a grandmother has begun a breach of promise suit in New York. The defendant is just one year her junior. The Czar of Russia is reported to have presented the Stanford University, In California, with a complete collection of Russian and Siberian minerals. V ■*' *

THE WAY THINGS RUN IN THE GREATEST OF GREAT STATES, INDIANA. Thins. Which Have Lately Happened Within Its Border.—Some Pleasant and Some Sad Beadluc. —Hogs are dying of cholera in Wayne County. —Hay rack parties are in order at Michigan City. » —A project is on foot to start a bank at Wingate, Montgomery County. —Charles Bellitz, near Michigan City, fell under a hand car and broke two ribs. —Crawfordsville will have gas this winter. Will pipe from the Sheridan fields. —The Crawfordsville Dully Argus News has beotj sold to S. M. Coffman, a former proprietor. —Mr. Sloffer’s 2-year-old child was caught in the wheels of a reaper and ground to pieces near Fort Wayne. —Mrs. Lizzie Lucus, of Bartie, fell out of bed while asleep and broke her collar-bone and dislocated her shoulderbone. —John D. W. Eprieost, once a prominent attorney at Princeton, has got in a hole. He took poison in a saloon at Ft. Branch. —Fifty colored men at Jeffersonville contributed 50 cents apiece to a strange negro, who promised them work, but had none for them. —M. T. Lewman, of Jeffersonville, has secured contracts to build twenty schoolhouses in Mexico, at an estimated total cost of 8150,000. —Mary Gibson, who would soon haye been 90 years old, died at her home, in Greensburg. She was one of the earliest settlers of the town. —The Hamlin oil well, just drilled in « at Portland, is good for 200 barrels a day. The Standard Oil Company is laying its pipes to the Jay County field. —Orvill Babb, residing near Montpelier, was badly injured by the explosion of one barrel of his shotgun. He was seriously burned about the face and head. —John Cronin, a Jeffersonville youth, was climbing a tree when he slipped. A ring on one of his fingers caught on a broken limb, stripping the flesh completely off. —A straw-board factory is to be located at Middletown. It will cost 8100,000 and give employment to 150 men and will increase the population of that town to 600 people. —Elizabeth Whitehead wants 55.000 damages from the city of Evansville. She was injured by being thrown out of her wagon, which overturned on account of bad streets. —While loading logs in the woods southwest of Franklin, Bert Chandler was caught under a rolling timber and instantly killed. He leaves a wife and, eight children. —Frank Linn, a fireman, but who was making an extra run on the Monon as a brakeman, was struck on the head by a bridge, near Gosport, knocked insensible and lay on the top of the ear for some time before being discovered. —ln the New Albany division of the Seventh internal revenue district there are forty-five distilleries in operation, an abundant fruit crop rendering it possible for them to run day and night, and the output is something marvelous. —Charles C. Madden, a dessolute character about Lexington, was horsewhipped into insensibility by James R. Morgan, a liveryman, lor insulting and attempting to enter the room of his 12-year-old daughter. He has been warned by citizens to cease this practice, and if the offense is repeated he wili be roughly handled. —An epidemic of measles is prevailing in the Home for Feeble-minded at Fort Wayne. Dr. Dills, in compliance with an order from Secretary Metcalf, of the State Board of Health, investigated the sanitary condition of the home, and found the epidemic to be of a serious nature. He issued an order that the institution shall be closed to all visitors during the prevalence of the contagion. —The little daughter of Grant Ray, a leading business man of Mitchell, metwith a sad and perhaps fatal accident, while engaged in play with a neighbor’s child. The children obtained possession of a large butcher-kuife, and, running around the house in opposite directions, collided at the corner. The knife penetrated the abdominal cavity, causing a frightful protrution of the bowels, and making an incision necessary in order to replace them. The child’s condition is very dangerous. —A year ago the residence of E. P, Phillips, President of the First National Bank at New Castle, was burglarized of some money, jewelry and diamonds. t A man named Merldith was sent to the penitentiary for four years for the crime, but would not reveal the whereabouts of the booty. A few days since Merldeth wrote a penitent letter to Prosecutor Barnard, of Henry County, telling him two of the diamonds, valued at 8140, were in possession of Kate Phinney, a notorious character in Muncie, to whom he had soid them for 84. The diamonds were recoyered. —David Black went to Kokomo and represented himself as being authorized to collect premiums for Knights Templar and Masonic insurance. He got the money and left town. fraud. —Bees took possession of the house of Mrs. Charles Logan, of Hanover, whileshe was making peach jelly. Mrs. Logan, her two children and a colored servant were severely slung before the arrival of Mr. Logan, who vanquished the insects, and swept up half a bushel of them after the battle was over.. —During the present year there has been shipped from New Albany 284,000 gallons of strawberries, 116,000 of raspberries, 60,000 gallons of blackberries, 3,000 barrels of apples, 5,000 baskets of grapes, 15,000 bushels of peaches, 2,000 boxes of pears, 15,000 packages of plums, 16,000 gallons of cherries, and 2,500 gallons of currants aud gooseberries. The shipments of peaches will reach fully 25,000 bushels before the season closes, while fully 10,000 barrels more of apples will be shipped. The total cash receipts . for the fruit wtH net the growara of Floyd County more than >200,000.