Daily Greencastle Banner and Times, Greencastle, Putnam County, 11 September 1897 — Page 2

THE DAILY BANNEK TIMES, GREENCASTLE, INDIAJNA.

A few years after gold was discovered in Montana, 1 found myself for the second time in my life in the vicinity of the Prickly Pear Canyon, through which now passes the Northern Pacific railroad. There was not a cabin within one hundred miles excepting a ranch where I remained for two weeks. In the early days this was built by a squaw man, who, at the time of the Fur Company which had several posts on the Missouri, was quite a power in that country. He was a sinister old man, and was liked by no one, though his unpopularity did not last long, as he was killed by an Indian boy—but, to come back to my story, the present owner of the ranch and I were talking of some of our hunting experiences. The conversation had turned to mountain lions, as lately there were many in the vicinity. The ranchman, a few days previous, had lost a valuable colt, it being killed by one of these prowling creatures. The colt had been drinking a< a stream not over five hundred yards from the ranch, when a powerful lion sprang from an overhanging tree upon the little animal's back. The old mare was feeding only a short distance from the colt at the time, and, hearing its cry of distress, rushed forward and attacked the panther with such fury that the latter was compelled to sneak off and leave its prey, but not until the poor colt's neck had been broken, causing it to die instantly. Early in the spring of that year this same ranchman, who was a hardy frontiersman, had been out for two days hunting up some cattle which had strayed off during a windstorm. The fellow was just coming home, and saw his wife and little six-year-old girl down by the old cabin, then used for a cow-shed. The mother was milking a cow close to a haycock by the barn, and the child was playing near her. It was a murky morning; the mist had not yet cleared away. The father, after turning his horse loose, was just in the act of throwing away some water from the basin in which he had been washing, when he casually looked in the direction of the old cabin; and, to his horror aad consternation, he saw a pair of panthers looking down as they crouched in the haycock and were preparing to spring

these pretty creatures, but they were very shy, and to approach within shooting distance it required great caution on our part. We all rode horses and had splendid mounts, not knowing what moment we might fall in with some of Sitting bull's warriors, and It depended more on fast horses than arms. We kept together as much as possible, but became separated in chasing the game. Not that we followed them on horseback, for we had picketed our horses, and were ''still" hunting. Each man for himself tried to approach the game by stealth. It was an exceedingly hot day, and the heat from the prairie was rising in what appeared to be tremulous waves above the bunch-grass and soap-weed, making objects in the distance of a thousand yards look as if they were trembling in the glow of a fire. I was crawling toward a group of half a dozen antelope and dragging my rifle after me through the grass. None of my companions were in sight. The game were very restless, and I was anxious to locate the other hunters, so as not to stray away from them, for the pleasure of hunting antelope was not so great that 1 wished to take chances of meeting any Indian singlehanded. Therefore 1 decided to risk a long shot and get away. My gun was a navy carbine and I could carry a great distance. Although having a more modern gun, my carbine was a great favorite of mine, having used it more and making some excellent shots, it Very naturally was preferred by me when hunting game. The antelope were about six hundred yards off, and that seemed to be as near as I could approach. I tried all sorts of maneuvers to arouse the curiosity of the game, such as flagging and waving my moccasin feet in the air by holding my feet over my head, but ail this seemed to no effect. Ho I raised my carbine sight and fired at the foremost one, which was facing me. At the report of my rifle they all wheeled about, and I saw the one nearest me had been hit; his leg was dangling as if his shoulder were broken. Just at that moment I saw something which made me start in wonder 1 and surprise and stand gazing after the retreating game. In the uncertain

light it looked to me as if another an-

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THE BALL FROM THE HUNTER'S REVOLVER CRASHED THROUGH ITS BRAIN.

ipon the unsuspecting mother and hlld. There was not a minute to be ost; he must act at once, or it would le too late. Quick as thought and with he nerve and alertness only an old rontiersman can show, he grabbed his Vinchester, which was standing gainst the door, and, fearing the arger of the two beasts, which was n advance, would spring before he ould shoot, took a quick aim, without aising his rifle to his shoulder, and Ired. The panther was in the very act if springing, and as the ball hit him le fell in a heap at the mother's feet, he cow started off in a mad run, kickng over the pail in its rapid (light. !'he wife and child were speechless vith fright, and stood trembling with ear. The dead panther's mate skulked iff, but not until it had a ball in its dde. After reassuring his wife there was io more danger the ranchman started n pursuit of the wounded panther, vhich was limping and making slow irogress toward the forest on the nountain side. After a short chase the mnter overtook the beast and killed icr by firing two more shots from his ifle. This narrative made me aftervard keep my eyes open and on the ookout, should I happen to run across my mountain lions during my sojourn n this region. A few days after our conversation I vas in a small party hunting for anelope. which, the ranchman said, alhough they had been very plentiful, rere now becoming scarce in the neighlorbood. We had seen a small herd of

telope had jumped upon the one with the broken leg and was making off with it. It filled me with astonishment, and I was bound to unravel this strange mystery; so, quickly running to where my horse was picketed, 1 mounted and galloped after the antelope. As I gained on it I was enabled to solve the problem and understand the strange scene. A large panther had jumped on my game, seeing it was disabled, and was carrying it off toward the mountains. Reining in my horse, I dropped another cartridge in my rifle, halted for a moment and sent a ball after the animal. It dropped my game, which I soon had across my saddle, and made a quick run to camp. When I reached the spring near which we had picketed our horses I found only one of my companions had returned. 1 told him of my experience. He laughed and said. "Oh, that's a fishv story!” But I soon convinced him of its truth by showing the marks of the panther's teeth in the neck of the antelope, which it had broken. We were both very hungry, and knew the others would be when they returned, so started a fire and began cooking. The rest of our party came in about an hour afterward, and to our surprise we saw one had a mountain lion's skin behind his saddle besides an antelope. It seems he had been hunting north of me two or three miles, and was stalking a small band of antelope, evidently part of the bunch I had come across, which had been separated by the mountain lion. He had noticed

something moving among the antelope, which they seemed to avoid, and about their color, but paid little attention to it, as he was trying to get a shot at one of the creatures. They were very wild, and this seemed almost impossible to do, but after several attempts he succeeded in shoot ig a buck, after which he took the shortest route to camp. The trail followed a washout to the edge of.a little sandstone bluff which rose from the prairie in irregular forms. The bunch grass grew in patches and in great profusion. As he was riding along the trail something seemed to move through the bunch-grass. His horse snorted a few times, and seemed uneasy, which, from a sense of caution more than fear, caused him to draw his revolver and carry it in readiness for an emergency, he being a particularly good pistol shot from the saddle, an excellent rider and a man of great experience. In passing along a turn in the trail under the edge of a sandstone ledge, he was suddenly startled by hearing the growl of a large panther, which was crouching In the act of springing upon him. It took but a second to realize his position. The horpe sprang forward with a bound which would have thrown many a man from the saddle, though he be an excellent horseman. The mountain Hon had risen and was flying through the air as the ball from the hunter's revolver went crashing through his brain, and in a second it was writhing In agony upon the ground like an enormous cat in its death agonies. As she fell two young panthers ran to the entrance of the cave where she had her den. This was probably the same animal which had tried to carry off my antelope a few’ hours before. The mountain lions, or cougars, are known to be very savage and ravenous, and require plenty of meat, especially when they have young, and large quantities of prairie chicken are destroyed by them. The rest of our party, who had returned to camp, had only succeeded in bagging a few Jack rabbits and some prairie chickens. The next morning we went to the cave and endeavored to catch the cubs, but all to no purpose. They were evidently feeding upon the skinned carcass of their mother, but on our approach slunk off into the cave.

I’mler » Tre«*. Dean Swift was walking on the Phoenix road, Dublin, when a thunderstorm suddenly came on, and he took shelter under a tree where a party were sheltering also two young women and two young men. One of the girls looked very sad, till as the rain fell her tears begun to flow. The dean inquired the cause, and learned that It was her wedding day. Thev were on their way to church, and now her white clothes were I wet, and she could not go. "Never mind—I’ll marry you,’ said the dean: and he took out his prayer-book and then and there married them, their witnesses being present; and, to make the thing complete, he tore a leaf from his pocket-book, and, with his pencil, wrote and signed a certificate, which he handed to the bride The certificate was worded as follows: "Under a tree in stormy weather'', I married this man and woman together; let none but Him who rules the thunder sever this man and woman asunder.- Jonathan Swift dean of St. Patrick's.” Forgot Their Dignity. The old gate keeper of Virginia Springs in speaking recently of the early days of that resort, told of a dinner given by Henry Clay to his friends. The dinner was solemn enough until almost dawn, when the cloth was removed and the pipes passed around and a negro fiddler brought in. Then Henry Clay, the great statesman, and Rufus Shoate, the lawyer, stood up before the company, and while (Hay danced a Kentucky breakdown, Choate danced a New England pigeonwing. Quit* Proper. "How Is this, Rosa; you are still in mourning, and yet you mean to go to the masked ball?” "What does it matter? I am going as queen of the night, all in black."—Kolner Tage blatt. WHAT WOMEN ARE WEARING. The princess of Saxe Meiningen chose a skirt and rape of a pretty cloth, lightly checked with powderblue. The skirt was bound with leath-

er.

The princess of Naples while in England distinguished herself for her exquisite toilets. At the Buckingham state ball she wore a dress of mauve satin, with court-train of velvet. The skirt was embroidered in steel and silver. Pretty capes bought by the Princess de Ligne and other titled women are heliotrope Scotch plaids or made of heliotrope Scotch tweed lined with mauve brocade and, of reseda tweed checked with white, with collar revers and lining also of white. Gowns for the season in Scotland are now being considered abroad aud many valuable hints may be gathered from the descriptions of dresses chosen by fashionable women. Princess Victoria of Wales has ordered a cape of navy blue tweed, with reversible lining of red. circular in shape, with strapped seams and a smart hood. There seems an epidemic of yellow and one of the handsomest gowns of this color was recently worn by the duchess of Marlborough. Pearls, steal sequins and turquoise beads were wrought in a design on the skirt. Lady Londonderry wore at the same function a pale-green brocade, while a French visitor was striking in ruby China crepe with gold embroideries and a tiara of rubles and diamonds.

AN HOUR IN A CIRCUS. TH,S band .s a wonder.

HOW IT LOOKS IN THE DRESSING ROOM,

No Mutter How Short the Time, the Arllsti* Are Alwuy* Heady Kindly and Sympathetic People Always Willing to Aid Others. (Special Letter.) USY bees are what the women performers of a circus appear in the tent allotted to them as a dressing room. The active life of the ring does not rr affect their IndusA trious habits. In- — ' ‘l^fl A deed, it may only intensify them, for when they leave the gaze of the admiring and applauding public some of them not only have to rush to make a new toilet for a new act, but they darn their stockings, mend their bespangled gowns and wash their pink tights like the most commonplace of housewives. But no matter how short a time they have in which to don the gorgeous raiment in which they are to please the hundreds of boys and girls, there is always plenty of time to lend a helping hand to button up a frock which fastens in the back or to help tie some long string which keeps on one of the many dainty white petticoats of the bareback rider. Each one helps her neighbor and they have them on each side, for each woman's plaee is in front of her big circus trunk. The two or three feet in front of it is home. At least it is for the most of her summer life, for these professional women so dearly love their life that they do not often care to wander far away from the tent. Many a society belle would wonder how these women could make the elaborate toilets they do, all in together. Then their acts are on, they close their trunks and there isn't a lot of gowns, ribbons, hats and shoes strewn about. No, indeed, the fond mamma, who has taken the greatest amount of pains with her daughter's education

Meilcan l-aper*. Dmcrlptlon of Native Mu»n-ianV Triumph. A reporter, wandering into the barracks of the Kith battalion, at the bark of the palace building, found the finest military band of Mexico engaged in J rehearsing an air from the grandiose [ creation, "Sampson aud Delilah,” says the Mexican Herald. This crack band, formerly known as the 8th regiment and now as the presidential staff band, returned last Monday evening from its tour through the United States. It has conquered everybody with its matchless music. Its first trip to the United States, under the leadership of Capt. Encarnaclon Payen, that prices of leaders, occurred in 1884; since then it returned thither in 1888, 1891, 1893, 1894 and this year as well. By special permission It played also In old Spain in 1892, and it was on that occasion that the queen regent of Spain conferred upon Payen the order of Isabel the Catholic. Capt. Payen is about •■>7 years of age, a native of this oity and a first captain in military grade. Unfortunately he is somewhat Indisposed and is at present confined to his home in San Pedro de los Pinos, just beyond Tacubaya. During his sickness the baton is wielded by the assistant band master, Capt. (second) Lorenzo Santibnnez, a native of Guadlajara, 41 years of age, a consummate musician. It is little wonder that the common people In Mexico are so enthusiastic over music; they have it poured into their ears by the finest military bands in the world. At least that was the impression that fastened itself on the newspaper man as he entered the barracks of Col. Juan de Mata Echeveste and listened for the moment for the magnificent music of the Banda del Estado Mayor. They were rehearsing in an immense room belonging to the bat racks under the leadership of Capt. Santibanez. It may be added right here that this has been the first trip to the United States made by Santibanez, and judging by his enthusiastic appreciation of the wonderful sights and scenes he witnessed, it will not be his last, provided the opportunity arises. He said that as yet Capt. Payen was not aware of the intentions of tho Mexican government respecting this band. As to whether they would re-

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IN THE DRESSING ROOM.

and bringing up would sigh u she could see that dressing room and wish she had been as successful in teaching neat habits to her careless daughters. Everything has a place and is in it. They all sit on their trunks after finishing dressing for their acts and await their turns to go on. "We know when we are wanted by the music,” answered Miss Ashton to the writer, as she put one lace trimmed skirt after another on her handsome figure. “We can tell from here everything that is going on in uie ring by the music. We usually allow three acts to go by in which to get ready, so we readily tell time by what is going on in the ring instead of by a

watch.”

As the women returned from the ring they talked of how their performance had gone and w'hether it had been satisfactory to them or not. Each one was interested in what had taken place to her companions, and if professional Jealousy existed the women kept it well out of sight. One told what a dear girl Jessie Miller, the cornetlst, was. and all agreed that Ella Ewing, the biggest woman who ev^r lived, was just as niee as she could be. None of them had known this girl giantess before this summer, but when she wandered into the dressing tent, accompanied by her nice looking mother, she was greeted on all sides. "How do you do. Miss Reid,” asked the big girl of the • countess,” who sat before her trunk making some sort of a pretty neck dressing. ‘T came in to see if you were better." "Oh, I am much better, thank you," returned the great tandem driver. “1 only felt badly for a few days. I don’t think your mother looks well, though, and you ought to make her take some

tonic."

Then in the mast unprofessional way these women discussed tonics, and later with true feminine zeal, talked of whether pink face powder or white was most becoming. Near by the pretty Italian girl was turning somersaults, and every time would come up without a fine black hair out of place. She took up a little more room than was allowed her, but no one complained and all squeezed nearer to the trunks when passing by. The only "lady clown” on earth sat near by making herself look as funny as she really is, but no amount of ugly red paint nor black crayon could spoil the beauty of her lovely brown eyes.

turn to the United States on another tcur within the next few months, he could say nothing as nothing had been decided. The costume of this band is characteristic. It consists of a cap, black In color, with a flaming red silk plume, a blue coat with tuple bows of shining brass buttons, garnished with yellow bands, a silver lyre on the left arm. also silver bands on arm and shoulder; a leather pouch suspended from the shoulder and crossing the chest, and pantaloons of blue with a double stripe of red. A sword, In each case of finest steel, and when in service sharp-toothed spurs and high top cavalry boots complete the castume. They must have made quite an impression during their American trip, with their brilliant costumes and their bright, beautiful music. Several of the younger members of the organization who were met by the newspaper man wore buttons of all kinds from Paula Edwards buttons to McKinley buttons.

Spruce Trees Divine Out. Spruce trees are the raw material of wood pulp, and consequently of a large proportion of the paper used in the printing trade. According to estimates recently given out by the Forestry Department at Washington there is only six years’ supply of coniferous woods in sight if the present rate of consumption is kept up. says the New York Times. Dealers in wood pulp are somewhat skeptical regarding this statement, although they admit the increasing scarcity of spruce in this country. There are thousands upon thousands of acres of untouched spruce forests in Canada, however, and the Canadian lumbermen are contemplating with no small degree of interest the prospects of a spruce famine in the United States.

The Stormy Petrel. A bird of immense wing power is the tiny stormy petrel; It belongs to every sea, and although so frail (apparently), it breasts the utmost fury of the storm. Skimming with incredible velocity the troughs of the waves and gliding rapidly over their snowy crests, petrels have been observed 2,000 miles from nearest land.

A school teacher lately put the question: "What is the highest form of animal life?” "The giraffe!” responded a bright member of the cla«s.

PONY AND WHEEL RACE. Aud the Westerner# Hud to Arknowt* [ edge Their] Defeat. "Before the people knew as much about bicycles as they do now,” said the man who has lived pretty much all over the civilized world, according te the Detroit Free Press, “there were some funny things happened. I’ll never forget what occurred while I was visiting a friend of mine running a ranch up in North Dakota. A young college boy on a vacation came through there on a wheel, the first one the cowboys had seen. Their comments on the machine were amusing. ‘Wonder if the thing bucks?’ asked one. ‘Rope a steer from that saddle.’ grinned another, ‘an’ he'd throw you so far you'd never know where you lit.’ 'Wouldn’t be much good in 1»jun fighting.’ declared an old-timer, and a trim-looking young fellow that was the dude of that ranch announced disdainfully that he could go farther in a day on his broncho than the young fellow could do in a week. “ ‘Tell you what I'll do, Dick,’ I said to the boaster. 'I’ll bet a hundred that he can cover fifty miles on his bike in less time than you ran on your pony.* I was snapped on every hand, even my friend expressing a willingness to tap my pile on that same proposition. I accommodated them all, as far as possible, and the race was arranged for next day. The send-off was like a Frourth of July celebration. A flying start was made over a straightaway course over a well-known trail, twenty-five miles and return. Dick was in his gayest attire and when my friend gave the racers the word there was a fusillade of revolvers mingled with yells that must have reached the man at the turning post. Of course Dick forged ahead at the start, and his partisans were jubilant, railing at me till my watch and pin went up against their accepted valuation. Things had quieted down and we had done a lot of smoking, so that the time seemed short, when wp saw my favorite coming on his wheel as though an electric motor was supplying the power. He was a humped-up scorcher and no mistake. There was a strong disposij tion to question his claim of having gone every inch of the route, hut when Dirk came in, his mount in a complete state of collapse and Dick with both hands in the air above his head, the crowd wilted gracefully and I had enough to buy a half interest in the

ranch."

FLAGS FOR UNGLE SAM. For more than thirty years the flags which our ships and men-of-war have flaunted all over the world have been made in one suite of rooms at the Brooklyn navy yard. Tt is the boast of the department that the workers turn out flags better ma 1« than those obtainable in any other po--tion of the globe. Not only are American flags made but flags of all nations, for each warship is required to be fitted out with a flag of every nation which sends ships upon the sea. James Urimmins, the foreman, knows more at out flags than any one else in the world. He weighs the bunting, tests the colors, measures the stripes, cuts the cloth, carves out the stars and inspects the sewing. The department reserved for the measurement of the flags resembles a gigantito tennis court, only in place of white lines the floor is inlaid with strips and plates of brass. The measurements of the flags must be perfect. The floor is so good and so large that the semi-monthly balls of the officers stationed at the Brooklyn yards .are held in the room. Some of the women who sew the flags together have worked for fifteen years. Machinery and electricity have done away with the necessity of sewing the flags by hand, but the women who sew on stars are expert needlewomen. A eirtain number of stitches is allowed to one inch and only careful hands can do the work. Cutting out the white stars is interesting to watch. The foreman folds the cloth twenty times, places a metal star on the pile and marks the pattern. Then with chisel and mallet he cuts out a whole shower of stars at once. The flags used by the navy have to endure frost and snow, rain storms and blazing suns, and therefore great care is exercised in the choice of goods nnl coloring and many testing devices are used before choice is made of cloth.

One of Tho*e Slrange ILippuningH. A good one is being told on a Chicago man. A few days ago, the story goes.he received a photograph from his girl in another town. The girl had wrapped the picture in a piece of newspaper on which was printed the ad of a stove firm. A portion of the paper adhered to the picture and the young man was very much surprised to see sta’- r.g at him on the face, in bold, la.Ap type, the words, "See the name on the leg.” Whore It Came In. Pluejowls—Yes, I am very fond of the variety stage and think I’ll stick to It. Footlights—Yet you are hardly a variety actor. The sketch you put on is quite "legit." Bluejowls -Quite so. but I get my salary regularly and that’s where the variety comes in.— Town Topics. A Poor Hale. "Remember, my son, that early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise." "is tnat the reason the farmers are the richest class of people In the nation?" | —Indianapolis Journal.

INGALLS’ SPOTTED DOC. How HI# Owner Tamed the l.angh on tieueral Grant. General Horace Porter, In his "Campaigning with Grant." in the July Century, relates the following anecdote: General Ingalls had just returned rom a trip to Washington and brought with him an English spotted coach dog, which followed him everywhere through camp, and attracted no end of attention. A dog of any kind was rather an unusual sight in an army in the field, and an animal of the peculiar marks and aristocratic bearing of Ingalls’ companion excited widespread remark. Every time the dog came to headquarters General Grant was certain to comment upon the animal and perpetrate some good-natured joke at the expense of his classmate. The dog followed the usual canine custom and expressed his feelings by an agitation of his caudal appendage. To describe his actions astronomically, it may be said that he Indicated anger by imparting to his tail a series of longitudinal vibrations, and pleasure by giving it a gentle "motion in azimuth"— familiarly known as a wag. One evening, as the general was sitting in front of his quarters, Ingalls came up to have a chat with him, and was followed by the dog, which sat down in the usual place at Its master's feet. The animal squatted upon Its hind quarters, licked its chops, pricked up its ears and looked first at one officer and then at the other, as if to say: "I am General Ingalls’ dog; whose pup are you?” In the course of his remarks General Grant took a long look at the animal and said: “Well, Ingalls, what are your real intentions in regard to that dog? Do yon expect to take it into Richmond with you?” Ingalls, who was noted for his dry humor, replied with mock seriousness and an air of extreme, patience: "I hope to; it is said to come from a long-lived breed.” This retort, coupled with the comical attitude of the dog at the time, turned the laugh upon the general, who joined heartily in the merriment and seemed to enjoy the joke as much as any of the party.

’Trying to .Make Diamond#. The experimeins of Moissan and ins success in producing microscopic crystals of carbon which, technically at least, we entitled to be called artli fleial diamon Is, are well known. We now have further contributions to the subject of the crystallization of carbon by the well-known electro-chemist, Dr. Borchers, who contributes an article to "The Zeitschrift fur Elektrocheinv ’ reviewing the past attempts in this direction and describing his own e>periments. Moissan worked upon the line of crystallization of fused carbon under immense piessure, while Borchers attains the same or similar resul’.s by maintaining a carbon rod at the high temperature of the electric furnace for considerable time, the surface of the rod showing distinct evidences of crystallization. The experiments have been carried out upon a small scale only, and, being unable to continue the researches. Dr. Borcuers gives a full account of his method and apparatus, trusting that further investigations may be carried on by those who hive powerful currents at their disposal, and opportunity to carry out all the conditions which s'..c*

cess demands.

A Prehistoric Doll. This curious object is the doll ot some prehistoric Mexican child. It was discovered by a French anthropologist, Dr. Chlpault, who has recently published the results of his work. A curious fact about this ancient toy is that it is hollow and contains a rattls,

THE ANCIENT IDOL. which proves that children delighied in making a noise a long time before Columbus discovered America. Old Hour Ditnred » Jig. Silas Sharp, a truck farmer of Seneca Falls, N. Y., bought a horse at auction. The animal is handsome, strong and docile. Next day the farmer hitched up the nag and loaded bis wagon with vegetables for market. Approaching a farm house, Mr. Sharp heard the sound of music, and soon came across a band of traveling musicians. Sharp's new horse stopped with a jolt. The farmer told him to go on, but he did not move, and the whip was used with the same result. Then to complete the farmer’s bewilderment the horse arose on his hind legs and commenced capering around in time to (he music. Sharp and his vegetables were spilled Into the road, and the horse kept up his Jig, and only ceased with the discontinuance of the music. Inquiry elicited the fact that the horse had formerly been a trick dancer In a circus and could not withstand the sound of the music..