Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1892 — Page 3

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; The Waif of the Western Prairies.

BY WELDON J. COBB.

CHAPTER XVll—Continued. Darrel and his companion disappeared through the aperture in the wall. The two guards, recognizing the scout as an enemy, began firing at him. The latter sprang behind the bowlder that had blocked the exit from the cave, and which Darrel Gray had forced aside in entering the place. It afforded a strong inlrenchment lor him, and ho had his enemies at a decided disadvantage. A sharp fussilade ensued, during which one of the men, evidently wounded, retreated down the corridor with a savage howl of pain. His companion followed his examp e and boat a hasty retreat Ranger Ralph coulcj hear them calling for help to their companions in the main outer cave. “They have sounded the alarm and will soon* return with increased force, ” decided the old scout. He watched at his post for some time, abandoning it only when a wild commotion arose in the corridor. Armed men bearing torches came rushing in pursuit of the fugitives. Among them the scout observed Despard and Danton. He glided through the aperture leading to the outside, and found himself in the same moonlit valley into which Darrel Grey had fallen a few hours previously. Darrel and Inez were nowhere in sight, and the scout supposed that they had succeeded in making their escape. He therefore set about finding some way himself to leave the valley. The apparently inaccessible walls of the place made the task seem almost a hope ess one, however. His investigations were forced to be desultory and brief, for in a few minutes the outlaws arrived on the scene The scout had just time to safely ensconce himself in a small thicket, when Despard and his men came into view. Immediately the little inclosed valley was the scene of the wildest excitement. The men, with torches borne aloft, scoured every portion of the place. A shout of triumph thrilled the scout, aud a minute later he saw several of the bandits emerge from a smaller cave, where they had found Darrel and Inez. In the glare of the lights Ranger Ralph could discern the pale, distressed face of Darrel and the despairing one of Inez. With exultant cries the bandits tore their prisoners to the spot where Despard was. “Remove the girl to the cabin and guard her until morning,” ordered the bandit leader. “As to him,” and he indicated Darrel fiercely, “he has crossed our path once too often. Ho shall die. ” “No, no!” pleaded Inez, frantically; but she was borne away with her appealing words unheeded. Ranger Ralph could scarcely contain himse.f and he grasped his revolvers grimly. Despard, Danton and several of the men were standing near him, but he realized that it would be folly to attempt to fight against such uneven odds. “There was another of them,” ho heard a voice say excitedly. “Ha!” ejaculated Despard. “Who?” His informant was one of the guards. “A man dressed like a half-breed." Despard started violently. “He was friendly to the girl and the prisoner?" he asked. “Yes.” “Then he was no half-breed at all. Danton, wo have been deceived.” “By Tallula?” “Exactly. ” “You think he is no messenger from the Modocs?” “That's it.” “Who is he. then?” “A spy—a friend to the girl. ” “Ranger Ralph, probably." “Perhaps. Boys, search the valley thoroughly. He cannot have escaped, ” called Despard to the men. The bandits at once began a systematic scour of the valley. From ills covert the scout could see Despard and Danton and several of the men return to the cave. The outlaw chief repaired at once to the log house on the cliff where the disguised scout had been led by Vance. Inez, weeping, was seated in the room. Despard, a fierco glitter in his eyes, approached her at once. “Girl,” he said. “I have a few words to say to you ” Inez did not reply, but continued to sob bitterly. “You are entirely in my power,” resumed Despard, “and neither you nor your friends can defeat my plans. You must become my wifa ” Despard’s words aroused all the resentful womanliness in Inez’s nature. She started wildly to her feet, her eyes flashing, her face pale and defiant. “Never!” she cried. Her firm refJTy did not appear to disturb her captor. “There is no escape,” he continued calmly. “I will die first!” “No; you will obey me. You will not only become my wife but you will also do as I tell you regarding the fortune your father has left you.” “Take that fortune, then. Release my friends and myself, and it is yours. ” “No, my fair Inez,” jeered Despard. “Your charms have fascinated me, and I shall wed you. As to the fortune, that is in the hands of a man named Walford. You will visit hjm with me tomorrow morning. You will tell him that I am your legally wedde'd husband, and induce him to turn over your fortune to me. Then you will accompany me to some distant country and become my wife. ” Inez listened silently until Despard had concluded. “And if I refuse?” she demanded. Despard came a step nearer to her. There was a fierce glitter in his evil eye. “Shall I tell you?” he hissed. “Yes. ” “The man you love, Darrel Grey, shall die!” With a cry of dread dismay Inez Tracey recoiled. At that moment there was an interruption. One of the outlaws came rushing, excited and breathless, into the room. “Captain!” he cried, “we have found the half-breed!" “He is captured?” “No. He is armed and in a position where we cannot dislodge him.” Despard started from the place. “I give you an hour to decide your lover’s fate,” he cried, warningly, to Inez. What the outlaw had reported was true. Ranger Ralph had been discovered. Driven to a place behind some rocks, however, he held the bandits at bay. They were forced to retreat before his rapid fire. Still he knew that when reenforcements came he must necessarily be dislodged and cap.tured. With some dismay he saw Despard and others arrive on the scene. His situation was a critical ono. Hopelessly he glanced

up at the perpendicular walls before him. Then he resolved to battle desperately when his foes made another attack. Just then he seemed to hear a voice on the cliff above him. At the same moment a lasso dropped nearly before his face. “The lasso—seize it, quick!” spoke a low, silvery voice. The mystified scout obeyed. Some strong hand lifted him foot by foot from the ground. A series of savage yells escaped the bandits as they witnessed his ascent. A score of bullets flattened against the cliff. Steadily the lasso was drawn in. The scout reached the top of the cliff uninjured by the shots of the discomfited bandits. A small but sinewy hand drew him over the edge of th: cliff and led him out of view of the outlaws in the valley below. With profound curiosity Ranger Ralph surveyed his strang rescuer. A cry of amazement escaped his lips as ho recognized her. It was White Fawn, tho Modoc princess. CHAPTER XVIII. THE OLD HEKMIT. For some moments Ranger Ralph stood silently regarding the beautiful Indian maiden who had rescued him from a position of peril in so timely a manner. “White Fawn!” he ejaculated in be- j wildered tones. “Yes, it is the child of Shadow Snake. Who is the half-breed?” She peered curiously.into the scout’s face as she spoke. “I am no half-breed.” The Fawn thought so; at least she knew that ho was an enemy of the outlaws. “She knows you now. You are the great scout. ” “Ranger Ralph, yes. But how camo you here?” “The Fawn will tell her friend and rescuer all; but they must not remain here. ” “There is danger’” “Yes; the renegades will soon be on our trail. Come. ” She led the scout from the spot to a secluded portion of tho valley. Ranger Ralph noticed that near by there was a horse bridled and saddled. In rapid tones the Modoc princess related how she had rescued Darrel Grey and had led him hither. She explained that when she left him to reconnoiter the st:onghold of tho bandits, he must have wandered into the valley and later had been captured. The scout listened interestedly to her graphic recital, and noticed the fierce, revengeful light in her dark eyes when she spoke the name of her relentless foe, Dyke Despard, “You have seen him—you penetrated to his haunts to-night?” he asked. “Yes. ” “And you know his p’ans?” “I know that wi£h the morning he intends visiting the old hermit they call Walford. ” Ranger Ralph started “You are sure of this?” he asked. “Yes; White Fawn is not mistaken. ” “Then the outlaws have located the recluse?” “One of their men has, and no will lead the crowd thero with the morning. ” This information disturbed the scout not a little. The reader already knows that this man Walford was the lricnd to whom Inez Tracey’s father had intrusted the charge of tho fortune intended for his orphan daughter. Tho old scout knew Walford, but he had not seen him for years. He did not know his place of residence, however, except that it was located somewhere in tho vicinity. Now that Despard had discovered it, th ; scout readily saw that unless Walford was warned the former would succeed in his plans to secure the fortune. “Do you know where Walford lives?” he asked anxiously of the Indian girl. “No. White Fawn only knows that it is about ten miles down tho canyon. ” The old scout reflected deeply, inevitable disaster seemed imminent to all his plans for rescuing Inez Tr,acey. The Modoc princess watched his face impressively. Finally she asked: “What will my friend do?” “I do not know. Grey and the girl are captives, and the cave is well guarded. We can do nothing to rescue them. ” “White Fawn will!” There was a determined look in the dusky face. “How?” “By going back to my father. Shame, disgrace at my misery, caused me to fear to return to my tribe. F'or the sake of the friends who saved her life, the Fawn will go to the Modocs. They shall know all, and a terrible vengeance shall be brought against the Crow and his renegades. ” “You will go at once?” “Yea I stole a horse from the outlaws. I can reach my tribe in a few hours.” “You must make haste. Once Despard has seen the man named Walford, he will fly the country.” “Fear not. The Modoc warriors shall be on his trail with tho earliest morning light ” “They will rescue my friends—they will not include them in their vengeance?” “Fear not The Fawn will plead with her father’s braves for the safety of her friends. ” White Fawn sprang to the saddle of the horse near by as she spoke. Ranger Ralph saw her disappear rapidly down the canyon. He know that he must remain inactive, so far as the outlaws were concerned, until the morning. He realized that it would be folly to again attempt to penetrate to their stronghold. The thought of Walford, however, caused him to determine to endeavor to find the recluse, if possible. He made a wide detour of the cave and started down the canyon in the direction where he supposed the mountain home of the recluse to be. It proved' to be a profitless journey. All the long night through he wandered up and down the valley. Not a trace of human habitation could he find. The morning light did not materially change the situation of affairs. He finally determined to keep a close watch for Despard, theorizing that the outlaw leader would set out on his journey that morning for Walford’s place of abode. He ensconced himself in a thicket at the side of the canyon, and watched and waited patiently. It was. nearly noon when his vigilance was rewarded. Coming down the canyon, he saw finally a dozen or more persons. As they neared him he made out Despard, Danton and Vance on horseback. On another steed was Inez Tracey, surrounded by several of the bandits on foot. * They had evidently left Darrel Grey a prisoner at the cave with the remainder of the band. They passed so near to the scout that he could almost hear their conversation. A look of utter despair pervaded the countenance -of Inez Tracey- Apparently the threats of the heartless Despard • had induced Inez to agree to his schemes. To save her lover’s life she had consented to sacrifice her fortunn The scout waited for some time after the cavalcade had passed by. Then, cautiously and stealthily, he took up their trail. The bandits rroceeded straight down the canyon, and Ranger Ralph followed them at a distance until they finally came to a halt They seemed to have

some difficulty and delay in locating the hermit’s home, their evidefft point of visitation. Suddenly the entire party disappeared 'from view in a break in the canyon. When the scout roached the spot ho found a large opening in tho rock. Int) this cave-like aperture the bandits had evidently disappeared. Ranger Ralph threaded a dark, low passageway, groped his way blindly around and then pausod. lar above hl3 head he could see a light glimmering dimly. A series of steps cut in tho solid rock seemed to lead to the point where the light was. The horses of tho party had teen loft just outside the place. The scout began to ascend the stops and at last arrived at the top. Beyond him was a large apartment filled with evidences of a long career as hunter and trapper, consisting of trophios of the hunt, the skins of various animals which were hung up about tho place The apartment was a gloomy one, and was lighted by a lamp hung by a chain from the roof of tho cave. Standing beneath it was a man, whitehaired and august in appearance. His ,clear, steady eyes were fixed upon Despard, who was slightly in advance of the party that accompanied him At a glance the scout recognized the strange od hermit. Walford, whom ho had not seen for many years The latter was speaking as the scout roached the shadowed extreme of the < ave. “Who are you? What does this intrusion mean?” ho demanded, sternly. “We came from Miner's Gulch,” was Despard’s ready reply. “To see me?" “Yes. ” “How did you find this place?” “From description, Mr. Walford. You were the friend of a man named Tracey." Tho hermit started. “Yes,” he said; “what of it?” “I came in behalf of that man s daughter. ” “Ha! Then you know ” “All concerning the fortune ho left. I have come to claim that fortuno ” “You!” “Ygs ** “What claim ” “As the affianced husband of Inez Tracey. ” Walford glanced suspicious’y at the intruder. “Allowing that there Is a fortune,” he said, “I must have some further proof that you aro to receive it.” “It shall be forthcoming when you want it,” replied Despard, promptly. “Inez. ” At IBs word his despairing captive stepped forward. [TO 11E CONTINUED.]

Child Lite in Slam.

It is always interesting to learn how boys and girls in distaut lauds amuse themselves. In this account—taken from “Siam and Loas”—the most noticeable thing is that no mention is made of schools. When the Siamese young folks get up in the morning, they do not go to the washstand to wash their faces, for the simple reason that Siamese houses can boast no such articles of furniture. So our little Siamese friend just runs down to the foot of the ladder—for the house is built on posts—to a large jar of water with a cocoanut-shell dipper. There she washes her face by throwing the water over her hands and rubbing them over her face. She needs no towel, for the water is left to dry. She does not brush her teeth, for they are stained black by chewing the betel nut. Her hair does not require combing, either, for it is all shaved except a little tuft on the top of the head, and that is tied in a little knot, and not often combfd. After breakfast is over, the children go off and find some pleasant place to play. The girls play at keeping house, and make dishes of clay dried in the sun. Little images of clay washed with lime are their only dolls. The boys in Siam are very fond of pitching coins, and spend much of their time in this game. They play leap-frog, and very often jump the rope. Now, that so many foreigners come to this country, they have learned to play marbles, too. In the month of March, though, usually dry and hot winds are blowing. At this time, the Siamese, young and old, are much engaged in playing games with kites, which are fitted with whistles, and the air resounds with noice produced by the boys and shouts of the multitudes of people engaged in the sport. As the streets in Siam are almost all rivers and canals, the Siamese boys and girls eaily learn to row, and paddle their little boats almost as soon as they learn to swim, which they do when they are only four or five years old.

A Clergyman's Advice.

Tho Rev. Dr. Thaln Dav'd on, of Islington, England, in a sermon to young men, made the following remarks on lifo Insurance: “If some of you will act upon the advice I am going to give you you will ihank me for it some day. While you are to hope and prepare for a long life ytu are to contomp ate the jossib 1lty of being suddenly called away, and you are to make provision, even in thi s world, against such a contingency. it is meanly selfish for a man, dying in the prime of life, and professing a Christian hope, to be perfe tly happy while he knows that as he steps into heaven his v ife and children will step Into (he work--1 ouse. I say it is abominable. If you have the faintest prospect of 1 aving any d -pendent upon you, you have no business to spuid cn gratification all your weekly or your yearly salary. It Is not yours to spend. The first few sh. Rings or the fir.-t few pounds belong ti them, and should go to jay the premium on a policy that at least will keep them from b 'ggary. Excuse me from nr-nt'ouirg this, but lam really provoked to see men, through shrer thoughtlessness, laving up for their families trouble that might easily have been spared had they only assured their lives in some sound and respectab'e office. Now, next year is not the time to do it, if you can do It to-morrow; for you don't need me to tell you the sooner you take the step the lighter the burden will be. ”

Swearing vs. Praying.

Old Abner Kirby is one of the bast known men in Milwaukee. He owns the Kirby House there, and is generally a good citizen and a piomlnent man. Mr. Kirby is at the head of a very fine family, who, one and all, with tie exception of himself, are regular attendants at the church of Rev. Dr. Ashley. Profanity seerns to be one of Mr. Kirby’s strong points; he is noted all over the Cream City for his prolific swearing, and one day when he met the clergyman, that individual asked If he could not be Induced to attend church with his family, saying, “It will do you good.” “In what way?” asked Mr. Kirby; “I am not religiously inclined.” “No, I suppose not,” said the preacher, “butthztdoesn’tcutany figure; come to church anyway; perhaps if you do you won’t swear so much.” “Well, now, Doctor,” said the old gentleman, “I don’t know that It hurts me to swear; you tee, I swear a good deal and you pray a good deal, but we don’t either of us mean anything by it.”— Arkansan Traveler.

THE WAY THINGS RUN

IN THE GREATEST OF GREAT STATES. INDIANA. filing* Which Have Lately Happened Within Its Borders—Some Pleasant and Some Sad Readine. The Northern Prison. The annual report of tho Northern Prison, submitted to Governor Chase, sets forth the condition of tho institution. Warden Freueh has only been in charge eight months, tho first lour months of the fiscal year being under tho Murdock regime. The Warden’s report states that there aro in the prison 800 convicts. During the year 323 were discharged and 41(5 received. The receipts of tho year from contracts and miscellaneous sources, independent of tho officers’ boarding house and stewards’ sales to prisoners, were SI 16,(593,1)0, and from tho library fund, 51,140, making the gross receipts $117,833.90. Tho net expense of maintaining the prison, independent of tho officers’ boarding liouso and steward’s sales to prisoners, was 8104,384.5(5. Thb directors—Messrs. Levi Mock, John Brodieand James Renihnn—say in their report that they believe every prisoner should be given an opportunity to attend school. Tho Board states that in its next recommendation to the Legislature it will ask that bettor provision bo made for tho education of prisoners. Tho directors also ask that tho Stato Board of Charities give tho prison more attention. Fort Wayne Methodists aro in the midst of a revival. Mrs. John Bkggs, of Clark Countv, died suddenly of appoploxy. Charles Stockwell, of Rushviile, died from an overdose of morphine. Henry Scott, farmer near Wabash, whipped his wife, and tho “White Caps” paid him a call. Mrs. A. R. Boyerlo, wife of tho junior editor of the Goshen Daily Times, died after an illness of a week. A cow belonging to a farmer near Nappaneo was bitten by a mad dog and went stark mad. Had to be shot. Henry Boli.inger’s store at Blue Lick was entered and robbed of goods to the amount of 8100 and S3B in money. Jacob Hurbord, the oldest man in Scott County, died at tho ago of 9(5 years. His wife’s death occurred throe days before. Arthur Kinson, of Brazil, ruptured a blood vessel iu his stomach while putting on a shirt and came near bleeding to death. Louis Wagner, a workman with tho electric company at New Albany, was struck by a broken electric wiro and Instantly killed. Five boys near Mitcholl was scared nearly to death by seeing a ghost “sure ’nough.” Two of the lads are seriously 111 as a result. Old Larry Hart, of Peru, has reached his 105th birthday, and lias tho honor of being tho oldest man in Indiana, llo’s never been married. Mrs. Kidhart, of Whiteland, thought she was being carried past tier station. She stopped from tho moving train and was fatally injured. Near Branchvillo, Perry County, tho 7-year-old daughter of Amos May foil from a wagon, the wheels of which passed over one of her legs, severing it below tho knee. Gov. Chase made Mitchell Mallott a Christmas present of his liberty. Mallott was serving a term in tho Prison South for murder in the second degree committed at Vincennes in 1877. A watch-peddler in Southern Indiana is swindling boarding-house keepers by alleging the theft of jewelry from his room and refusing to pay for board and lodging until tho missing articles aro returned. The remains of J. C. Kolly, of Altoona, Pa., were found strewn along tho lino of tho Fort Wayne railroad at a point near Wheeler Station. Kolly was beating his way from Chicago, East. Tho remains will De taken home by friends who were with him. The residence of Elmer Conner, four miles west of Roann, was destroyed by fire, with nearly all Its contents. Mrs. Conner had gone to Peru and Mr. Conner was husklng.com near by when he discovered the tire, which ho thinks started by a spark from the stove. Db. H. W. Taylor, a Farmers’ Alliance talker, has prepared a bill entitled “An Act for the Relief of the People o's Indiana.” and sent it to Senator Peffer to bo introduced In the United States Senate. The bill requests the loan of $150,000,000 to be made to the people of Indiana for twenty years at 1 per cent, per annum.

At Crothersvlllo, at tho residence of Mitchell Lott, Mr. Lett and his brother Branham wore loading shells. In taking some charges from shells that had missed Are one of them exploded in Mitchel’s face, burning his mustache and hair, and setting lire to a plate of powder which exploded and firightfully burned the little child of Branham and set the house on fire. By the presence of mind of Mrs. Mitchell Lett the fire was put out before it reached a package containing several pounds of powder, her husband being blinded for the time being, although ho was not badly hurt. Tho child is yet In a critical condition. Ax Pleasant Plain lives Cornelius S Myers, who for twenty-seven years had tho contract for carrying tho mail between Pleasant Plain and Huntington. He has recently been compelled to retire from the business on account of ill health, but ho tells many good stories of his experiences while employed by Uncle Bam. His routes took in a circuit, varying from time to time as new villages sprang up, between Huntington and Pleasant Plains. At one time he had a fifty-five mile circuit. Mr. Myers has computed the number of miles traveled during bis service, and finds that they amount to 106,104, equal to four times around tho globe. Nkab Yallonia, when Mr. B. H. Jones, a well-known fruit-grower, arose and went into an adjoining room he found the lifeless body of his wife lying across the wood-box, where it is supposed she fell while up in the night, William Titks, of Kouts, was found by the roadside at a late hour at night in an unconscious condition. He had been assaulted by highway robbers, and when found was bleeding profusely from wounds in the head. He lingered a few hours, when death resulted. The authorities have been unable to establish any clew to Tites’ assailants. The victim was a mute. Gas was turned on in the natural-gas mains between Sheridan and Crawfordsville recently. It was quite a sight to see what was blown out of the mains at the air-holes along the route. Rabbits were blown out by the dozen, and some of them have every hair on their body blown off, so great is the pressure of the gas. Mrs. Margaret Stevenson Peck, mother of the late Capt. William Peck, and one of the early pioneers of Putnam County, died at her home, near Greencastle, aged 82. She fell a victim to the prevailing influenza, resulting in catarrhal pneumonia. Mrs. Peck leaves a large number of descendants, even to the fourth generation.

Elkhart Is now in with the Indiana Trotting and Pacing Circuit The roar of the now gas well at Nobiesvilio Is said to bo terrliic. There's a panther loose noar Washington. Escaped from a circus. 'Tis said that a farmer near Elwood is allowing his live stock to literally starvo to death. The oldost school-house in the State Is a log cabin in tho city of Richmond, erected in tsio. Workers at tho flint glass works, Muncie, have returned to tliolr posts after a several days’ strike. Sixteen young women and gentlemen have been arrested and fined at Hope tor disturbing religious services. Thom as Barr, who stole eight head of cattle in Brown County last August, has been captured in Gilman, 111. Well-diggers near Crawfordsvllle have unearthed some prehistoric bones, believed to be the remains of a mastodon The people of Dubois County are determined to ferret out tho White Caps who whipped John Lee, and prosecuto them. At a church in "Hell’s Half-Acre," in Tipton County, some rowdies pitched a beer-keg through the window during service. The dead body of a little child, sewed up in several napkins and wrapped in a newspaper, was found in the woods noar Valparaiso. Indianapolis is in earnest about wanting tho Democratic National Convention, and has started out to raise a fund of *IOO,OOO. Samuel Thurston, about ninety years old, of North Vernon, was caught beneath a falling treo and instantly killed, near Groensburg. August Joust, young Frenchman, killed himself at Evansville. Intended to wed a married woman and she failed to get a divorce. That settled it. Muncie is elated over the fact that twenty-five families will follow tho Dowling shoo factory, now being removed from New York to its new property at Muncie. Miss Cora Allen, tho young lady of Gosport who mysteriously disappeared last week, was found In a cave, tied hand and foot and nearly frozen. No ciuo to her abductors. In tho Muscatituck River, Thursday, near Seymour, a young man named Busch, from near Salem, was drowned together with his team, whllo trying to cross the swollen stream. Tho body was not recovered. Miss Donnaghkb, of Shelbyvlllo, who has eaten seven dogs in as many weeks, and who was reportod to bo gradually getting tho best of her consumption, is down with the grip, and a serious sotback is feared. T. A. Armstrong, of Montgomery County, after two yoars' correspondence with a beautiful widow, Mrs. Lulu Edgerton. of Cooper, Mich., won her heart, and loft to bo married recently at tho homo of tho prospective brido. Benjamin Scupper, a school-teacher at Tipton, yanked Frederick Oglobayout of his seat for creating a disturbance, breaking the boy's leg. Ho is the son of a prominent attorney. Ho nnd other bright urchins have been trying to run the school. Frank Taylor, of Brown County, who was bitten by a copporhead snake twenty years ago and becamo Insane, and who after years of treatment at tho asylum was sent home as an incurable, has become so vlolunt recently as to necessitate incarceration again. During a ball in tho City llall at English, there occurred a free fight In which all tho males and many of the fomales took an active part. Iron weights, stones, and bludgeons flow through the air with telling offect. Among those wiio were seriously hurt are John Ispam Blevins, James Newkirk, and Edward Filch. The dance, of course, broke up prematurely. A novel wedding was that of John Manning and Miss Maggie Hwopo, which occurred in the show window of a dry goods store at Porn, Ind., tho merchants paying the minister and furnishing a nice supper, which was eaten In tho window and witnessed by fully a thousand people. Tho bridegroom partook so heartily of tho repast as to become sick; and a physician had to bo called In. The State Board of Agriculture, has decldod to purchase tho Yoss farm, four miles northeast of Indianapolis, as a State Fair site. The tract contains 160 acres and lies between the Lake Erie and Wostcrn and tho Monon railroad tracks. The Board purchases eighty acres outright and takes an option on the rest. The purchase price Is *3OO per acre. The old fair buildings will bo removed to the now site at once, and the grounds will bo put in order early in tho spring. Farmland is now in tho midst of a general boom. Four factories have located there, and a contract was closed recently witti tho St. Mary’s (O.) Tow Company for a plant, which will employ many hands. Business men are running a full force of Clerks, and say that business was never bettor. The gas supply Is stronger than ever, with ten wells to take from, and men are now at work drilling another. Dwellings are In great demand, and tho town is full of speculators ready to Invest their capital. A glass factory Is talked of, and laboring men are flocking In by hundreds. William Higgins and Charles Sellers, jr., were tho victims of a terrific powder explosion, at the Freeman coal mines, near Vincennes. Higgins was blown 155 feet, and Sellers hurled a distance of sixty-five feet through an underground entry. His shirt was torn and his body frightfully mangled. How tho men ever escaped with their lives is a mystery. The cause of the accident was a spark irom a miner’s lamp into a keg of powder. After two hours of suffering and intense anxiety the Injured miners dragged themselves to the air-shaft, and each was surprised to find tho other alive. An investigation of the Auditor’s books in Randolph County, from 1886 to 1890, inclusive, has resulted in *7-,360.20 being paid back into tho county treasury; *3,447.56 of this amount was for "illegal fees,” and the remainder, *3,812.64, for “warrants improperly drawn.” Gov. Chase has pardoned William Shular, who was sent to the penitentiary from Crawfordsville for seventeen years for murder. Shnlar’s release had been promised by Gov. Hovey. The murder was committed during a brawl, and there was always some doubt as to who fired the fatal shot. George Graff, employed in the Journal official at Peru, had his fingers badly mashed while wiping off the press. The toll-pikes in Delaware County are having a tough time of it, and recently several of them have been presented to the County Commissioners by dissatisfied stockholders. The farmers, in many instances refuse to pay the fee, and several lawsuits have ensued. The other even*, ing four farmers, John and Samuel Baell, Nelson Adams, and John McClean, were going to Muncie on the Granville pike. A toil-gate was pulled down and locked on them for refnsingto pay the 3cent fare. Samuel Baell hitched hil team to tbe gate, pulled it down, and proceeded to Muncie.

EAGLE GORGE HORROR.

The Landslide on the Cascade Division of the Northern Pacific. The recent landslide which occurred in Eagle Gorge, near Canton, Wash., was the most, serious of the many that have taken place upon the Cascade division of the Northern Pacific Railway, ten or twelve men having been buried under the debris, two hurled into the river and drowned and six others being seriously injured. A cloudburst and heavy rain caused a serious washout near Canton, a station fifty-four miles east of Tacoma on the Green River, and a force of sixty-two men was set to work repairing the track and putting the roadbed in good condition, but with specific instructions not to disturb the soil at the base of the cliff which towered for 200 feet above them, overhanging the track and forming a portion of the face of the mountain. These instructions were not given be-

SLIDE ON NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.

cause a landslide was thought probbut to save unnecessary work, and, as was afterward proven, they were implicitly obeyed. The sixty-two men in the construction gang were busily at work, when the foreman, happening to glance upward, noticed two huge bowlders upon the face of the bluff toppling. In another instant the side of the mountain began to move, and, shouting to his men to run for their lives, he took to flight. The laborers needed no second warning, but unfortunately about twenty of the men were in the direct line of the slide, and they hardly had time to throw down their tools before they were overwhelmed with a conglomerate mass of railroad ties, mud and stones, and either hurled to one side or pinioned to the earth and buried beneath the debris, which covered them to the depth of from six to fifteen feet, and borne to the bottom of the river, where many of the bodies still lie. One man was thrown entirely across the stream by the force of the slide and found alive but unconscious in the underbrush a few feet from the bank. Six others who were on the edge of the slide were taken out seriously wounded and two bodies recovered by the surviving workmen, who returned and made a heroic effort to find the bodies of the dead. How many perished in the slide will never be known, some workmen placing the number at nineteen and others varying from six to ten. The railroad was severely censured by the press because it took no immediate steps to recover the bodies of the dead, not beginning the search in earnest until five days after the disaster, when, owing to the affidavits of surviving workmen that they believed a large number of bodies were buried in the debris, an official investigation was ordered, It was oven stated that they caused the debris of the slide remaining upon the track to be shoveled off and thrown into the river at the point where the bodies must have lain, and thus effectually prevented their recovery.

DEATH OF COMANCHE.

The Only Thing of Custer’s Command that Came Out Alive. There died at Fort Riley, Kan., recently, the most famous horse in the West in many respects. It was Comanche, the war-horse that was the only thing on Custer’s side that came out of the massacre in June, 1876,

“COMANCHE.”

alive. Comanche had never been under saddle since, and lived at ease until death by old age, the pet and care of the Seventh Cavalry. He was twenty-five years old, and was visited by sight-seers from far and near during the last years of his life. Professor Dyche, of the State University, secured the skin and skeleton for mounting, and will prepare them for exhibition at the world’s fair. With Custer was Captain Miles Keogh, who rode Comanche. The horse had been in several battles and could stand fire like a post or run like a mustang. At first the soldiers seemed successful, but then the terrific fire told on their ranks. Captain Benteen and Custer were driven slowly before the great force of the enemy and waited for Reno to attack the rear, but he did, not come. Leaving Captain Keogh on a lower ridge, General Custer and his men ascended the crest of the knoll to which they were driven and there made his last stand. Keogh, seeing his men exposed to the fearful rain of bullets, gave the order to the men to kill the horses and take refuge behind their bodies. The order was obeyed. He still rode Comanche—and here there is a variance as to the manner in which the escape of the animal occurred. Some Indians say he broke away and ran, but the more popular version is that his master being unable to consider the thought of taking the life of the beast who had served

him so well, dismounted and giving the animal a stinging blow with his sword, drove him away and turned his unprotected front to the foe.

THE NEW WHALEBACK.

A Passenger Steamer that Will Cross tho Atlantic In Fire Days. The new “whaleback” passenger steamer, now building at Wilmington, Del., Is intended to make the distance between New York and Queenstown in five days and to combine speed with safety and plenty of room. The hull, says the Scientific American, is of the steel barge pattern, almost submerged, supporting a strongly built pier beyond the reach of tho wildest sea. Two longitudinal bulkheads divide the hull into three main compartments, which are subdivided by transverse bulkheads into twentyone separate water-tight sections, without doors below the water-line. The curved deck affords immunity from crushing waves above, and tho double bottom from the perils that may lurk below. The engines designed to drive this vessel at a speed of twenty-four knots an hours are of 10,500 I. 11. P., three in number, of the triple expansion type, running 120 revolutions per minute, with propellers of 24.2 feet pitch, 11.8 ameter, and are to be supplied with steam by sectional boilers at a pressure of 115 pounds. There will be numerous auxiliary engines for electric lighting, elevators, hoisting, ventilating, heating, etc. The superstructure is supported by five piers twelve feet in diameter, at distances respectively of GO, 180, 204, 228, and .'172 feet from the bow, and at a distance of 132, 300, and 344 feet are steel iuusls, used also'as ventilators. The arrangement of apartments is in accordance with latest ideas. The lower floor is devoted to staterooms that are lighted by incandescent electric lights at night. During the day those rooms along the central girder are lighted from beneath by disk grating, over which an electric mat heater Is placed. Accommodation for 720 first-class passengers Is provided. Steerage travelers will of course be limited to the hull. On the upper floor are the various halls, parlors, a grand dining-room, and as novelties a billiard parlor, baths, a laundry and ocean mail room; and for those who delight In promenades, two four feet wide completely round tho floors, and that upon tho roof.

THE NEW “WHALEBACK" PASSENGER STEAMER.

Passage between the hull and superstructure is accomplished by means of electric lifts, within tho first, central and last piers. Ry tho separation of hull and living apartments the passenger is enabled to avoid the smell of machinery, the racket of freight handling and all those ills that transatlantic travelers condemn. By the union of ship and and hotel he Is enabled to convert tho voyage of three weary months In an open caravel Into five days of luxurious ease nnd pleasure. The accommodations and capacity of a ship thus designed will commend it to tho favorable notice of thoso Interested In European trade and travel.

PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ALL.

Tlie Twin Cltlea Can Kaxlly Aceommo«lato til4) Republican Hoiti. There can be no argument successfully advanced against the ability of the Twin Cities to properly entertain and care for a convention whose numbers might far exceed any political gathering yet held by the Republican National Convention. Minneapolis alone has hotel accommodations for 6,800 guests and St. Paul, which is within a twenty minutes’ ride from the convention hall, can entertain 5,100, making a total hotel capacity for 12,000 people. What other city In the United States can make a better showing in the hotel line, except possibly Chicago and New York? The fact that St. Paul Is ten miles from Minneapolis, union depot to union depot, cuts no figure. That distance Is rendered insignificant when compared to the magnificent distances in Chicago and New York City. Men think nothing of riding twenty mileson the elevated roads of New York, and ten to fifteen miles on the cable and steam lines of Chicago. There arc seventy trains of steam cars running between Minneapolis and St. Paul dally, and more than fifty trains over the electric lines during the same time. The time of the steam trains Is only twenty minutes, and of the electric only thirty minutes. This Is short time compared with other cities within their own limits. Besides these lines between these cities, there are nearly 200 miles of electric and cable lines

THE EXPOSITION BUILDING MINNEAPOLIS.

running to all parts of the two cities, and taking in the splendid park system of Minneapolis. These various lines of transporation handle more than 100,000 people per diem as their regular traffic. The addition of 50,000 or 100,000 more would hardly be noticed. “No, Gubbins, you will never be a brainworker.” “Why not?” “Haven’t got the tools. ” — Dansville Breeze.