Daily Wabash Express, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 25 August 1889 — Page 5

"LET'S GO A FISBIN'," SAID BE.

A Prize Essay For the Special Premium Offered by H. S. Richardson & Co.

ED. RELDOMRIDGE'S EFFORT IN KITIN' AND DRAW IN'.

Bass Fishing as "On The Bill%" and as It Really Is—The Good Old Times.

The following is the essay competing for the Vigo county fair special premium of $0, offered by H. S. Richardson & Co., written and illustrated by Mr. Ed. Seldomridge:

If presidents are fond of angling, why not common folks? President Arthur was an expert bass angler, President Cleveland could catch more trout with two Hies and a pocketful of the bucolic angleworms than anybody, and President Hurrison is an active member of the Indiana liy lishers' association, and bas the reputation of taking more "red eyes" from the shady nooks of White river than most men

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The romance of angling for blank bass lies in the grand, exquisite scenery. The willows dipping their tender tips into the icy cold water the whirling caps of liquid Lhrowing gleams of irridescence into the shmiy nooks under the great trees, aud the old mossy bjulders standing amidst the clouds of bubbling foam, behind which lurk the timorous fish ready to snatch the liist minnow that swims his way, or the tirst grasshopper

that drops near him while the sun Bhootsa mellow tinge through the clefts

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of orags and plays hide-and-seek in the green folinge. This is where you fish for black bass according to the tourist's guides and excursion letters.

bank to give a quiet shade and tangle your line when you make a cast, all the better. Such a place, with a sand bar stretching back where_ the succculent "shiner" can disport himself in the sunlight, to the great satisfaction of base and red-eye, you will fined the B. B. at home.

Terre Haute has a number of expert bass anglers. Some of them can cast a minnow or swish a tiy across fifty feet of aa rough water as any angler would wish to tackle.

The time was, when catching black bass in the Wabash was easier than finding mosquitos now. The favorite way was "j umping" them. The fellow with his split bamboo, fifty yards of silk and Kentucky reel was not known. While not the experience of the writer, yet it is a fact and can be Droven by any angler of character, whose reputation for truth and veracity in the neighborhood in which he lives -is good, that "jumpiDg" bass has many claims of superiority over the common method of taking them, except that of a good cast into a first class fish market. It ia a well known fact in fish life that in the spring all inland water fishes seek spawning grounds up Btream from their usual haunts, and in doing so they travel near the right bank, and in coming back they travel near the left. Old anglers took advantage of this well-known habit, and "jumped" them. It was done in this way: About the time dogwood trees began to bloom, two men would take a "dug-out" canoe

I

IS ASS FISIIIVG AS IT IS.

have hay. The art of catching black bass come from long experience. They are a smart species, and there are days when a man can go out to the most insignificant stream and catch them with a piece of liver, but such days are few and far between. Trout are the game lidh par excellence, the s-p, b-ts of the anglers of 1 ST J, but as there are none such in the Wabash, the Vigo county angler cuutents himself with large and Hiuall-rnouth black bass, Dick Thompson shad, and the plainer littie croppie, with a side dish of channel-cat for change.

Any man whose business keeps him at his books or cutting coupons, will be beuelited by a trip for black bass, lie may swear when he starts that nothing but three-pound small-mouths will fill the bill, but mark my words, he will bring home even the blue-gill' sunny," the pug-nose croppie, and the plebeian cat will find position in his catalogue of catch.

•1SH1NO FOl! BLACK 1IASS ACCORDING TO THE TOURISTS' Gl'IUKS.

The plain fact is that you don't get black bass that way now-a-days. The man who goes after bass, A. D., 1S&9, must makeup his mind to crawl through innumerable stretches of weeds, briars, and viues: he must fight mosquitoes, pull off "ticks," scratch for "chiggres," knock out sand Hiee. and watch for snakes. The oass of the Wabash valley are smart. They don't waste any time seeking for beautiful cascades where they can enjoy the intoxcating liquid ozone from the whirlpools, and dance a moonlight polka to the music of the whip-poor-will. Oh, no you will find him in about the nastiest water you can find: full of logs, brush, weeds, etc., and if au old tree stands on the

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and two bushy limbs with the leaves on. When the moon was full, they would, if in the spring, row up stream two miles and flaoat down near the right bank, beating the water with the bush, and the bass would become so frightened that they would jump into the canoe it was not an unusual thing for one canoe to "jump" 200 pounds of bass on one trip.

Another novel method of catching fish at an early day in the Wabash was by the "gander float." Many an old Hoosier mother of fifty years ago traded black bass of her own catching for wild turkey and jerked venison. It is well known that the good old mothers of Indiana, and especially of the Wabash valley, took great pride in the softness of their beds, and the drowsiness of their pillows. There was not a family along the Wabash without its flock of geese, and the good old mother's native wit provided means to have broiled fish at every meal if wanted. In the mating season there is always one gander in a Hock of geese who is driven out none will mate with him, and in consequence you will always see a lone gander near a flock, looking as lonesome as a Mugwup in Washington. The good old Hoosier mothers utilized this lone gander for catching fish. He was petted and fed, and when a five-pound bass was wanted for dinner, Mr. Gander was caught, a six foot line and hook baited with a feather which had been colored red with poke berries, was tied to his leg, and he was carried down to the river. He soon learned what was wanted and would swim out. In about three minutes a bass would strike the hook and when he jerked Mr. Gander's leg, with a shriek Mr. G. "tore out" for home,

where he was met by the good old mother, who untied the line, threw the five-pound bass into a big gourd of water, gave Mr. Gonder a handful of corn and turned him out to gr&'". This was catching bass with a "gander float" and was very popular in its day.

Juat before the "Horace Greely" campaign'there came near being a pestilence in this vicinity by reason of fish. Some fellow near the mouth of Otter creek had erected a barbed wire fence in the bottom. There came a heavy wind storm, followed by a cloud burst, and the bottom was overflowed.. The terrific wind had blown countless grasshoppers, beetles and even small birds were impaled on the sharp barbs. The result was that when the water filled the bottom, fish of all kinds came out and fed on the insects and birds found on the barbed wire fence and, consequently,

were themselves impaled the sharp iron barbs caught every fish that attempted to swallow a grasshopper. When the water receded the stench from decayed bass and red eyes almost bred a pestilence. Old anglers estimate the number of fish caught on this barbed wire fence at 9,478 pounds.

These angling exploits of pioneer history are not markers to some that have occurred of late years. An angler is supposed by the general herd to be a constitutional liar. Yet nine times out of ten he is telling the truth about his adventures and catches. For example, a few weeks ago the writer was fishing in Bruilet's creek, west of Clinton. He had worms for bait, and a string of nine channel-cate, each afoot long. He struck a four-pounder and landed him while stringing him he floundered about, and vi his struggles the writer fell into the creek in five feet of water, and all the fish got away imagine his surprise to find in his coat pocket, after scrambling to shore, two large sun fish that had crawled into them while he was scrambling to get out, and had eaten all his worms. Now, there are people who would not believe him on this particular fish story.

Again, about three weeks ago two well-known gentlemen of this city, both expert fly fishers, drove up to Ellsworth to cast a few lines for bass in Otter creek. One of them was making a practice cast from the railroad bridge and his line was not long enough by two feet to reach the water, yet a nice black bass mped out of the creek, two feet, struck the fly and was landed. These same gentlemen saw there a bass about ten inches long, as white as snow, with the exception of a dark stripe on each side albino bass are scarce, but Otter creek has one. There are people who would not believe these stories, yet they are plain truths.

The time will come when the angler and his stories will be appreciated. It may be along time, but as sure as fate he who casts a fly, or tickles a minnow's lip with a aproat will flirt with the goddees of truth, and will be crowned king of Veritas. En. SF.r.DO.MRincK.

August 10,1889.

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STRAY INFORMATION.

A woman tiled a complaint against her brother-in-law for provoke, the other day, but when they came to the justice's court for trial the court prevailed upon them to "make up" and diapenae with a trial. The fact that the complaint was filed led the justice to comment on such cases. The justice's remarks, however, applied only to women who are inclined to complain in court coilcerning petty differences. "Yes, it was a family affair," said the court, "and I perauad ed them to 'make up' and go home peaceably. I always do that in provoke cases, when I can, because they are the meaneat cases on earth to try. They always make more trouble than they settle and they're a nuisance to the court that tries them. They harrow up family affairs that are better out of court. Complaints for provoke more frequently are made by women and it is almost impossible to get the women to tell the truth. I remember one day, years ago, a womaa^me into my court and filed a complaint against another woman for provoke. The constable was given the warrant and aerved it. The plaintiff had repeated a long list of epithets that the defendant had applied to her and further stated that she had listened to all of the abuse without returning a word in reply—not a word. When the constable served the warrant he found that the defendent was an aged, infirm woman who was not able to walu and he had to hire a wagon to bring her into court. When she came into court I recognized her and she immediately said sbe wanted the plaintiff prosecuted for provoke and repeated a long list of the vilest epithets I ever heard that the plaintiff had applied to her. As soon as the constable had deposited h3r in mv offics he went away. He was followed by the prosecutor and presently by the plaintiff and when the old lady completed her complaint thare was no one present to prosecute the case and nothing was done. You see, the defendant had more reason to complain than the other woman, ft nearly always happens that vr°y."

Two bakers got "gay" last Thursday night, and, having a few moments of spare time, iudulged in a foot race through the alleys between Main and Cherry and Fifth and Sixth streets. The fact that one man was pursuing another, made the hearts of some of the policemen who happened that way flutter, and immediately aroused the suspicion that a citizen was in hot pursuit of a burglar. Sergeant Voit immediately started in pursuit of the two men, and finally succeeded in overtaking them in au alley. Joe McChesney became alarmed at, the sight of three men pursuing each other, aud he started iu pursuit of Voit. When the cause of all the alarm became known, neither of the party had anything to say, aud they say as little as possible about it yei. Four men chasing each other through alleys excited the curiosity of a number of persons on Maiu street.

ATTEMITH POISONIXC..

A Kiimily Near MsicksvlIIe Poisoned liy a Harvest Hrtixl. Mr. James Holland and children, living near Macksville, were poisoned the latter part, of last week, and the attending physicians were able to save Mr. Holland and children. Food which had been left from aupper and warmed over for breakfast contained the poison. The physicians pronounced the poison Spanish fiy and said that the victims received too much of the poison or death could not have been averted. The threshing machine had been threshing Mr. Holland's wheat on the day proceeding the misfortune and had completed the work in the evening. After supper the machine men went to Mrs. Holland's father's residence and Mrs. Holland also went to her father's to assist the latter with work of cooking for the the men. This curcumstance prevented Mrs. Holland from partaking of the poison. She was almost prostrated when she heard of the misfortune. The servant Jgirl of the Holland family also shared the same fate. Suspicion rests upon a man who was working for Mr.

Holland, because he was accused of it and immediately afterwards Mr. Holland came to this city with Mr. Hugh Roquet. When Mr. Holland returned his hired man was not to be found. The poisoned family recovered rapidly after the weakening and nauseating effects of the poison had passed away.

Real Estate Transfers.

Martha Gilbert to Maggie Nlpson. 36 feet ofl south side lot 13, In Gilbert Dlace... $375 00 John W. Peacock to Joslah Uodgers, tract In section 19. town 12. range 9 25 (JO City of Terre Haute to J. C. Kolsem. the gravel pit near Colleit park, 9 37-101) acre* 93" 00

Total $1,337 00

RAIT.ROAD NEWS NOTJES-

General and Pgnoaal Mention of General and Local Interest. A lady, Mies Bullard, ia auditor of the Indiana Midland railway.

J. E. Starbuck, of the engineer's office is visiting at Lake Maxinkuckee. General Superintendent Blee, of the Big Four, was in the city yesterday.

MorriB Herzog, of Waynetown, shipped 1,000 bushels of wheat in one car last week.

Division Superintendent J. Q. Van Winkle, of the Big Four, was here yesterday.

No. 21 was sent east yesterday for a trial trip, and proved satisfactory in every respect.

After to-day the popular Sunday excursions to Lake Maxinkuckee over the Vandalia will be discontinued.

It is expected that the Illinois Central bridge over the Ohio river at Cairo will be completed and ready for use by October first.

Every road running into this city has reduced rates for the fair, and, no doubt, will be liberally patronized if the weather proves favorable.

The drought is so severe at Pana, 111., that the O. & M. company has to haul water twelve miles for the use of the shops and engines.

Two hundred and twenty-six men are employed in the Big Four shops at Mattoon, with the prospect of the number soon being increased to 300. Most of the repair work of the V. & C. is now done in these shops.

John Donaldson, recently elected sheriff of Cass county, had been a locomotive engineer for thirty-nine years. He ran the engine that hauled the second train over the New Albany & Salem, now the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago road.

Greencastle Democrat: As fast time as is made over any roads in the country is now made over the Vandalia and the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, between St. Louis and Cincinnati. Train No. 2 makes the run in nine hours and fifty minutes the distance ii5 395 miles.

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Interesting Statistics.

The advance sheets of Poor's Manual, the accepted standard authority for the United States, give the following figures —the railroads of the United States comprising more than half of all in the world: "The total number of miles of railroad in the United States at the close of 1888 was 156,082, of which 7,028 miles were constructed during the year—the rate of increase being 4.7 per cent. The mileage of lines making returnB of their share capital and funded and Hiatintf debts equaled 154,270, against 147,999 for 1887, the increase being 6,277, the rate of increase being 4.24 per cent. "The state capital of the mileage completed at the end of 1888 equaled $4,438,411,342, against §4,191,562.029 in 1887, the increase equaling $246,849,313, the rate of increase being about 5.9 per cent.

The funded debts of all the lines at the close of the year aggregated $4,624,035,023, a sum $437,091,907 in excess of the total of 1887, ($4,186,943,116), an increase of nearly 9.5 per cent. '•The other forma of indebtedness of the several companies at the close of the year equaled 81506,952,589, against $294,682,071 for 1887, the increase being $12,270,518. The total share capital and indebtedness of ail kinds of all the roads making returns equaled at the close of the year $9 369,398,954, an increase in the year of $696,2 LI,738 over the total of 1887 ($8,673,187,216), the rate of increase for the year being about 8 per cent. "The cost per mile of all the roads making report, as measured by the amount of their stocks and indebtedness, equaled very nearly $60,732, against $58,603 for 1887. "The gross earnings or receipts of all the lines, including elevated railroads, from which returns were received for the year,equaled $960,250,270, of which $251,356,167 were received from the transportation of passengers, $639,200,723 from transportation of freight, and $69,699,380 from the transportation of mails and express matter, profits of leased lines and other miscellaneous sources of revenue. Tn the latter sum are included the gross earnings of elevated railroads. "The gross earnings of all the lines for the year ending December 31, 1887, equaled §940,150,702 the increase for the year 1888 equaling $20,105,568, or 214 per cent. The earnings in 1887 from transportation of passengers equaled $420,542,876, from freight $636,666,223, from transportation of mails and express matter, etc., $62,941,603, against $69,699,380 for 1838. "The earnings per mile from which full returns were received in 1888, equaled $6,540, against $6,861 for 1837, the decrease equaling $321 per mile. "The net earnings for all the lines for 1S38 equaled $301,631,051, Hgainst $334,989,119 for 1887, the failin* off equaling $33,358,063, the rate of decrease being about 10 per cent. "The amount of interest paid in 1888 equaled $207,121 288, against $203,790,352 in 1887, the increase being $3,333,936, the rate of increase equaling more than 1.63 per cent. "The amount paid in dividends in 1888 equaled $80,243,041, Hgainst $91,573 458 in 1837, the ifalling off equaling $11,330,417, the rate of decrease being about 12 1 per cent. "The number of persons transported in 1888 by all the lines was 451,353,655, against 428,225,513 for 1887, the increase for the year being 23,128,142, the rate of increase equaling 5.4 per cent. "The number of passengers carried one mile in 1888 equaled 11,180,613,679, against 10,570,306,710 for 1887, the increase equaling 620,306,969 persons carried one mile, the rate of increase equaling very nearly six per cent. "The distance traveled by each passenger in 1888 equaled 24 78 miles in 1887, 24 68 miles. "The amount received per passeneer per mile equaled 2246 cents in 1888, against 2.276 cents in_ 1887. Had the paasenger rates for 1887 been maintained for 1888 the earnings from this source would have equaled $25o,034,086, a sum $14,491,210 greater than that received.• "The number of tonB of freight transported on our railroads in 1S88 equaled 589,398,317, against 552,074,752 tons in 1887, the increase equaling 37,323,565 toDS, the rate of increase ing about 6*4 per cent. The value of tonnage moved in 1888, estimating its value at $25 per ton, equaled $14,633,957,925. "The number of tons transported one mile in 1888 equaled 70,423,005,988, against 00,561,069,996 tons moved one mile in 1887, the increase of service performed for the year equaling 8,861,935,992 tons moved one mile, tbe increase being about 14 4 per cent.

Fnnarals.

The funeral of Mrs. Weldele, who died at 10:45 a. m. Friday, will occur from the family residence, 220 E'gle street, at 2 p. m. to-day. Interment will be at Highland Lawn cemetery.

The funeral of Miss Ida Smith, who died of consumption last Thursday, occurred from the family residence, one

mile north of Macksville, yesterday. The Rev. Mr. Hollingsworth conducted the funeral ceremonies. ».r "V

JUDGK MACK IS INDIGNANT.

He ObjecU To the Publication of the Records As To Probate Matters. Judge Mack was very indignant the other morning because TOE EXPRESS published the news in regard to the amount of proba business on the docket of the circuit court. He was not angry at THE EXPRESS but waa-very angry, and so addressed himself to Mr. P. B. O'Reilly, deputy county clerk. It so happened that Mr. O'Reilly had prepared a list of the cases referred to and enumerated in THE EXPRESS and had included in the lists the names of the estates that remained unsettled and the names of the guardians and administrators of the estates, and had delivered these lists to Judge Mack. The lists were prepared and delivered at the judge's request. The lists therefore covered the same cases that were enumerated in THE EXPRESS, and the judge jumped at the conclusion that Mr. O'Reilly had furnished the facts for THE EXPRESS'report. The judge descended from his private chamber to the clerk's office and threw the papers down on the counter, saying that he did not want them, and accused Mr. O'Reilly with furnishing THE EXPRESS with the information. The result was a very heated discussion. The greatest surprise, of course, will be felt by every one that the judge should allow his temper to rise above the natural judicial iottincts that have fitted him for tbe position he now occupies as judge of the circuit court. It is commonly (accepted as a fast that a coincidence is not sufficient upon which to base judgment. He would as well say tha*. because the moon shines and the dog barks, therefore the dog barks at the moon. There are other chapters to the same story. The fact that there are 307 guardians' cases and 122 administrators' cases on the probate docket, making a total of 429 probate cases, represents merely the superficial part of that department of jurisprudence in the county. In former days citations were issued by the circuit judge to delinquent guardians and administrators, compelling them to appear in open court and either furnish reasons for delay or report. A citation is now a thing of the past, not one having been issued since Judge Mack has been judge of the circuit court. The reBuit is too evident from the number of cases now on the probate docket. As to administrators of estates for the four years during which Judge Mack has been on the bench the following is an enumeration of the casee: 1885 18 188 7 $ 188 8

eeeD,

written with pencil,

"off docket." This entry means that the estate has been stricken from the docket without having been finally settled by the administrator or guardian submitting a final report. This leaves the administration of the estate liable to be reopened at any time aud makes the title of heirs to property more or lees questionable. A final report in an estate makes the portion of property for each heir a matter of record. Settlement without a final report leaves that record incomplete. Although the title, may be good the final entry in settling the estate does not show it. The real estate men and abstract men have been troubled considerably by such entries, because it is a question with them whether titles to property depending upon such entries are good tit-lee. The real estate men have often grumbled quietly about this matter, and one of them eaid yesterday that while the titles to property might be perfectly good yet such entries always left tbe question of titl9 open because the estate was subject to being reopened at any time for final settlement. Such entries are often uiade by mutual agreement of the parties, but that does notexemptt.be property of heirs from having an incomp'ete title in black and white.

PROFESSIONAL CARDS. W. R. L, H. BJlKTHOLOMW.

DRS. MAIL "4 BARTHOLOMEW Derjtists,

(Successors to Bartholomew A Hall.

529^ Ohio St. Torre Haute, Ind

I. H. C. ROTSK. M. K. SUKKMAN.

ROYSE & SHERMAN,

Attorneys at Law,

NO. 517 OHIO STREET.

DR. C. O. LINCOLN.

DKNTI8T.

All work warranted aa represented. Office anO residence 810 North Thirteenth street, Tern Ind.

DR. E, A. GILLETTE, DENTIST. V: *UUng

01

a Specialty.

Office—McKeen's new block, cor. 7th and Main it*

THE GENTLEMAN'S FRIEND.

Our M&lydor Perfection Syringe free w»lhever7 bottle. Prevents Wtrietnrr. Cures fioxjjrrlMMi and Ulrct In 1 to 4 dajm. Aslc yOuf Druggist forlt. Sent to any address for SI.OO. For sale liy CUL.ICK A CO., Druggittf, TEBRE HAUTE. I..O

Double Babes. Double Babes. Double Babes. Double Babes.

Jones Twins. Jones Twins. Jones Twins.

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Total 75 Hence, Bince there are but 122 unsettled estates in the hands of guardians on the docket, more than half that numbar have accumulated during Judge Mack's administration—in fact, almost two-thirds of the number have accumulated in that time. During the years 1885,1886 and 1887 there are seventyeight cases OQ the dockets from which reports from guardians are due and have not been made. The total number of cases in which guardians reports are now due is 161, showing again that almost one-half of the unsettled cases have accumulated since Judge Mack's administration began. It may or may not be that these cases would be on the docket even though the guardians had reported, but the fact remains that they have not reported. The number of administrators' cases for which reports are due is seventy-five, and the number of guardians' cases is seventyeight, making a total of 153 cases in which reports are du&and have not been made. Each of these cases represents heirs whose interests depend largely upon the honesty of their administrators and guardians. Many cases have been disposed of in that time, and of these many have been disposed of i% an unsatisfactory manner. On the judge's docket iu these cases this entry is often

Established 1861. j. H. WILLIAMS, Fteddeot.

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The Jones Twins. The Jones Twins. The Jones Twins. The Jones Twins.

The Double Babes. The Double Babes. The Double Babes.

At the Vigo County Fair. At the Vigo County Fair.

Two Healthy, Living Children. Two Full Sized, Pretty Infants. More Wonderful than the Siamese Twins.

Exhibited at the Vigo Fair. Most Remarkable Lusus Naturae In the World.

These wonderful Tipton county babes exhibited at the fair in company with their father and handsome young mother, under the mauagement of Dr. Cooper, of Tipton (tor a small extra charge)

Showed Last Week to 20,000 People. Showed Last Week to 20,000 People.

Excursion Trains Run to Tipton for Visitors. Excursion Trains Run to Tipton for Visitors.

THE VIGO COUNTY FAIR.

ADDITIONAL OFFER.

John Q. HeiDrwill present to each lady or girl exhibitor a nice pot plant, on Friday, "on showing of exhibitor's ticket. It will take several hundred, but Mr. Heinl don't care.

THE DEMON CHILD!

Eighth Wonder of the Nineteenth Century, on Exhibition This Week

AT THE FAIL? GROUND

The most extraordinary representation ol this freak ot natnre ever plnced before the public. A ihlld born with horns, hoofs and claws Instead ot llnuerH.

No one should leave the Fair Grounds without seeing this marvel.

Admission 10 Cents.f I Children 5 Cenls.

-MIHUf ACTUH1CHH OF-

Sasl], Doors, 1 inds, 6cc

-AM) PKALSKS IH-

Lumber" Lath, Shlnglee, Glass, Paints, Oils, and Builders' Hard

'X Oornor of MlaUiand Halb«rry HtaMta. T«r« Htnl*. md. -^*3*

c^ REAT SCOTT!

OIL. OK NO OIL,

GEO. A. TAYLOR HAS THE FINEST

And Beat |2 Shoes In the city lor ladles. Just received from the factory. Call and examine tlieui ut

No. H05 WABA9H AVENUE, SOUTH SIDE.

HEN^Y HILD,

Boiler Maker and Sheet Iron Worker.

Steam Boilers. Tanks, &c. Repairing a Specialty. All Work Guaranteed Klrst-class. No. lOll MULBERRY STREET.

Incorporated 1B8U.

J. M. CLIKT, Sec'* and TtoM

CLIFT & WILLIAMS CO.,

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