Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 June 1887 — Page 2

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 1887 TWELVE PAGES.

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Trinlt'l hi Sftcial Mrarrt. Copyrighted, 157.

THE "EMILY CMMf BRIGANTINE Her Strange Story, . BY ASDKEW IllTSSKY ALtK.V. PART II. On Cnilitig myself thus closed in my first undefined idea naturally waa to reach the deck and call DrnytoD. I was startled, but I do not think that I. was afraid at first Son now trick w bout to bo played upon na and I wanted him to aee what it wm with me. It did not occur to me tfcat the companion hatch conld have been made fast, so I turned to the stops, the dot: accompanying too closely too closely, in fact. As I raised my foot I felt that I was unable to place Hon the first stair. It was as though the exit from the cabin bad been walled up. A second attempt wa equally in vain. I endeavored to precipitate myself into the com paction way. I might as well bare tried to walk through a wall of solid rock, and still, in extending my bands and looking before me, I felt nothing but a soft though forbidding pressure and saw nothing but the open stairway. I cannot say whether my sensation was one of terror or bewilderment perhaps it was a mi c slice of the two. I called aloud with the full strength of my luops. but the sound of my voice seemed strancely muffled, even while I was perfectly conscious that . I had full possession of my senses. During all this time the do had been pressing close against tne, trembline like a leaf shuddering. I laid my hand on his head. It wae hot to the touch. I looked down at him. With his ears laid back, his eyes protruding, and bis tongue banging ont, he was the picture of terror sueh a picture as I hepe never to see strain. A great, fearless, noble mastiff utterly abject and cowering like any little our. And now the cabin lamps were suddenly extinguished and only a small lantern left burning on the table. Toe atmosphere became oppressively hot and a musty, moldy odor pervaded the apartment. In the deepened darkness I turned to look behind ma with an added foreboding if my borror may be said cot to have reached its ncme already. Beneath the door of the starboard state-room, forward, I saw a brilliant line of lifht, and in the same place as before the weird shadow of the afternoon, now bent over as though he who cant it there were listening at the door. With mv hand still on the mastitt'a head, and impelled by some power not my own and stronger than my will, I moved towards the shade. My third step placed me directly in front of one of the large leather lounging chairs, wbich was so situated as to squarely face the dreadful corner. Into this chair I sank, not only in 9i.au tarily but seemingly by physical compulsion, the dog standing against it beside rae. As again I laid my hand upon him I felt that be was rigid and strained in very mt'cle. As I gazed at the shadow it lowly betf.rue upright and huge and east itself clearly upon the door, which immediately swung open without sound. With this phenomenon an indefinable sensation of almost intolerable pressure came upon me. I felt as though bound with iron or incased in lead. The chair seemed to hold me in a vice-like embrace. All power of motion left me. I tried to speak. I was dumb. The silence was awf nl. My sense of loneliness appalling. My mind, however, was most active and acute, and, after a moment, every faculty seemed to be concentrated upon Attention to what was going on before me. Within the state- room I saw a short, thia:t man seated on a camp-stool beside the berth, under a banging lamp which shed a brilliant Sight. With his face in his bands and bis head eaning against the partition before him, he seemed asleep; but I could cot see that he breathed. Behind him and half turned from me, I saw one standing who seemed to me to be the original of the shadow, and who, as I looked, raised his right arm in the air and dealt the sleeping man a terrible blow at the back of the bead with a heavy inarline-epike, crushing the ;ull and killing the victim instantly. No blood followed the stroke, and. although, as I have said, the room was brilliantly illuminated. I saw no shadows. The murderer seized the dead man's body before it fell to the - floor, and opening the forward door of the state-room, which led into the between-decks space, passed out, dragging the corpse with him, and disappeared in the darkness. Almost at once, however, - he- returned, and as be came towards me into the cabin I strain recognized the horrible face of the giant I bad seen cross the deck above in the afternoon the face of the man at whose band 1 believed that Drayton, with unerring aim, bad fired in the open port hole a little while before. He entered the apartment, and,; following with my eyes the direction of bis movements, -1 saw him extend bis hand and take up from the buck, where be might have been sitting a few moments earlier, what appeared to me to be a carpenter's chisel or screw driver. With this is a azain vanished into the darkness between decks. As he did so tne forward door of the state-room closed behind him and, simultaneously, the light within it went out and the lamps in the cabin were relighted, while the doors and port-holes, skylight and companionhatch were, I felt, reopened. My band being Still upon the dog I perceived a tremor or shudder pass through his entire frrme, as with a deep sigh be instantly thereafter dashed from the cabin to the deck. I heard Drayton's voice call loudly. "Itoy, Boy!" and then a splash in the silent sea. , ' Freed from the terrible pressure I cow arose blindly to make my own way to the deck from the stifling atmosphere of the cabin; but the walls and f urnitnrs seemed to whirl and spin around and around me and I remembered no nore. . When I recovered consciousness I was again seated in the heavy chair, the cabin was cool, and there was the odor of brandy about. Drayton was standing over me with his hand on my forehead and I heard the tramp of feet on the deck above. I looked at my watch, which I bad laid onon on the table several hours earlier, and and it told me that I had been in the cabin alone 1 with the dog but ten minutes at the uttermost. From my companion I learnod that after leavrlng me be had called the forward watch and one of the men from the deck-house, and searched i fruitlessly for a trace of the man at the porthole. As he had approached the companion-way t the dog bad dashed from it foaming at the mouth ' and in his madness, leaped into the sea. Every effort was made to save him, but we never saw the poor fellow again. ' The remaining hours of the night passed without indent I related to Drayton what I bad seen iuthe cabin, and we agreed that whatever the power was exhibiting itself on board the brigantine whether bnman or superhuman; ua'.ural or supernatural it was one that we certainly eould not account for. theorize as we might Drayton, however, held to his purpose of taking the vessel to Gibraltar, there to turn her over, with as much of her story as we could tell, to the Vice Admiralty Court for investigation. , , In the morning we made an examination of the room in which I had seen the phantom murder committed (if I may describe as 'phantom' those who seemed no less real flesh and blood than myself), and of the between-decks space forward or it. but we discovered nothing. At the edge of the port hole however, at the spot where the band bad been, we found the bullet t rorj the revolver buried in th wood. By this time the seamen had gotten an inkling of the character of the ship's mystery, but cone f them had actually seen anything (nor strangely enough had beard the shot) Drayton's good sense and firmness triumphed over their superstition and we were enabled to work the derelict to port without difficulty and without further incident. A second night passed in her cabin by both of us was quiet and uneventful in every Way but we were satisfied that we bad discovered the cause of her abandonment. The sailors would have said that she was "haunted." We made Gibraltar on the morning of the 13th of December, and, immediately reporting the circumstances under which we had found the "Emily Brand," we turned ber over to the authorities. The Queen's proctor in admiralty at once ordered a special survey of the vessel by the surveyor of shipping, assisted by the marshal of the court and un expert diver. The result of Ibis survey was a reDort substantially embodying the facts, at to the finding of the vessel and brr condition, here related by me. In addition to this, however, the stains on the old cut!a.a and on the vessel's rail were subjected to a chemical analysis, by which it was proven that they were not blood stains, and this fact was made an Item of the report. Upon this unsatisfactory conclusion Drayton and I determined to communicate to the authorities an account of the Almost incredible events of our first day and night aboard the mysterious veesel. This we were enabled to do, without making ourselves ridiculous, through the good offices of :"ne governor of the fortress, to whom Drayton was well known. Thereupon a second survey was ordered, during which the entire cargo was removed. At the request of one of the officials engaged in this second survey, I accompanied him aboard the brigantine for the purpose cf pointing out the movements of the phantom murderer. This otffbial developed a remarkable detective inreeuuy. lie subjected me, in the course of or SWW-:tfir-1.''wWf?ti '.jSR',. i rilniwil -i-- m. r ,Y ISWSMIIWSS iSih nm him hiiiii-iihii

conversation, to a close cross-examination concerning tbe chisel or screw driver, for which the assassin had. returoed.af ter tbe murder. On my remaining firm in my conviction as to what the tool appeared to be, heoonfiiod to me his theory of the terrible , mock - murder which I had . witnessed. lie 'believed, he told me, that the crime which had caused tbe vessel's abandonment bad been revealed to me ''by the spirits fas be expressed it) of the principal actors." Proceeding on this theory, he personally ' (permitting me to accompany him) made a careful examination of the fatal state-room and of the how empty oetween-Cecks space forward, 'his '. object being to discover some evidence of the use of such a tool, to the appearance of which he attached the greatest importance. At a point about fifteen feet distant from the state-room he found a narrow strip of oak, abont an inch in thickness and five feet in length, projecting, by its thickness, boyond the smooth surface of the vessel's inner shell. On scrutinizing it closely we perceived that it had been fixed in its place by means of five screws, apparently of brass, as the beads were iccrusted with bright green rust or mold. We immediately summoned assistance, procured a screw-driver and removed the strip. Having accomplished this we discovered that the strip had been affixed over a perpendicular succession of the joints of the narrow planks of tbe vessel's interior bull, which Strang outward as they were released, far enoneh for my companion to insert his fingers behind them. Wrenching them off we found, to our horror, wedged in the inner space, the grinning skeleton of a man, upon which hung shreds of clothing. As this skeleton was lifted out something dropped to the deck with a metallic sound, and rolled to my feet. I stooped and picked it up. It was a plain band of gold a ring. On the inside was engraved: From LL M. to J. B." The clothing, of the unfortunate man appeared to have been partially eaten by rats. At the time it seemed to me a fortunate thing that it had not been entirely destroyed, as, otherwise the ring which had been retained in one of the folds, would long before have slipped from the bony finger to the bottom of the hold, and rendered positive identification, perhaps, impossible. The skeleton was ciean, dry and white and, on further examination, we found that the back of tbe skull had been fractured, apparently, by a blow from a clnb. Since our arrival at Gibraltar, and about a week before the finding of tbe skeleton, Drayton had written to the owners of tbe Brigantine, at New York, having learned who they were from the surveyor of shipping, to whom her missing captain had been well and favorably known. In his letter to these gentlemen. Drayton had asked for such a history of-the "Emily Brand" as her owners were willing and prepared to give. He particularly required alull account of her missing company, and the details of any mutiny or other crime that might have occurred on board within their knowledge, with a description of the participants. At the end of . , about three weeks from the date on which the skeleton was found (we in the meanwhile having had a run up the Mediterranean and back) a new captain and new crew arrived from New York, sent out by Messrs. Barries & Spaulding to take the brieantine on to Genoa, for which port she had been originally bound. The captain Mr. Church presented himself on board the; Nomad tbe day of his arrival, as the bearer of a long letter to Drayton from Mr. Barnes, the senior member of the owner's firm. From that letter I transcribe the ensuing account of the "Emily Brand." 'The brieantine was built for us about two years ago at Portland. Me. Including ber present voyage, she has made four in alL The first two were prosperous, and on neither of them did anything out of the ordinary run occur. A year ago last November, however, she sailed from this port with a miscellaneous cargo for Libson, taken out by Capt. James Blaisdel. who had been in our employ for many years, and who had commanded ber on her two preceding voyages. "Among her erew was a Swede, or Norwegian, of tbe came of Peterson, a gigantic, iil-favored fellow who had been injured in our service some time before by a fall from the rigging in which be sustained a severe contusion of the brain. For 'several months be lay in the hospital here in what was believed to be a hopeless condition of imbecility; but finally, having recovered or apparently recovered, be applied for a berth on the 'Emily Brand." Blaisdel, with whom he bad sailed before, was perfectly willing to take him, as he had always borne a good reputation though his looks belied him and was an excellent ship's carpenter. "When he shipped he was in good physical condition, so far as the Captain could see, though at times still a little light-headed and foolish. Nevertheless we wanted to give the fellow a chance, and as we thought that the ocean breezes mieht clear bis head permanently, no obtion was offered' to his going as a sort of extra band. "On the 11th of December we received news by cable from Mr. Riggs, the mate, of the death of Captain Blaisdel and the man Peterson. On the 26th a letter came giving the particulars, which were briefly as follows: "About the eighth day out from New York Peterson developed symptoms of a relapse of his disease (caused by the fall), which seemed, however, to affect his mind only with a sort of intermittent stupor. He exhibited no signs of mania or violence, andwas capable of performing his light duties about one-half the time. He was accordingly not confined, and the master did what he couid for him. treating him with the utmost kindness and 'advising him to "layoff his work. -This be did for several days, but apparently without beneficial effect. "On the night of Dec 5 Mr. Blaisdel turned in at eight bells (12 o'clock.) Tbe weather was clear, the wind over the port quarter, and the moon, about half full, lighted up the deck. The vessel was then distant between four and five hundred miles from Formigas. somewhere about latitude 38 northloogitude 17 west near the point at which you. picked ber up. Just before two bells (1 o'clock.) the man at the wheel saw Peterson, whom, he recognized bv bis great size, cross the deck amidship to the starboard rail and throw something,. ioUs the sea. On being hailed by this man Peterson went aft and said that he had thrown a pair f ' oid shoes overboard. He was in his stockini feet. 1 c " "In the morning xhe master failed to appear, and after waiting a reasonable time the steward knocked at Ms door. '" Receiving no response, he called Mr. Riees, the mate, who entered the state-room and found:it empty. The berth had not been occupied. When, after a search, it became evident that tire Captain could not be found. Miller, tbe man who bad taken the wheel at midnight, told the mate of Peterson's appearance and his conversation with him.' Peterson was sent for. and found in his bunk, apparently sleeping. He was aroused and bronght on deck in a very excited condition, and, on being interrogated by Mr. Riggs he became incoherent and violent. The mate thereupon ordered two of the men to seize him; but as they approached to do so, he eluded them, and darting to the vessel's side, went overboard. They put her about and lowered a boat immediately, bat he was never seen again. "It seems clear that in a fit of insanity be murdered the captain and threw his body into the sea during the eight. How this was accomplished no one knows, for no nois was beard, nor were any traces of violence found anywhere about the vessel. Other theories as to Blaisdell's disappearance have been advanced, but this is the only plausible one, and it seems to me to be the only one to account for it Blaisdel was a man of good character, excellent habits, well-balanced mind, and a thorough sailor. "On her present voyage Mr. Riegs, the former mate, went as master of the vessel. He was, I believe, thirty-six years of aee, married, and had one child a little girl of five or six years. It is our custom to allow our masters to purchase an interest in the vessels they command,' and Mr. Riggs and his wife owned two-sixteenths of the "Emily Brand." He was a man of the highest character and thoroughly competent to go 'as master. On this last voyage his wife and child accompanied him. I inclose a copy ot tbe manifest and I can vouch for the good characters of the mat and steward." "I caunot form the slightest conjecture concerning the strange disappearance of poor Riggs and his family, with ail on board, and I have but little belief that they will ever be heard of again. Although I am far from being a superstitious man. it is with many misgivings that I shall see Captain Church j(who will band you this letter) sail to-morrow. He was fully acquainted with all the disastrous dettils of the vessel's two unhappy voyages before be agreed to take her." From this letter it became evident that the skeleton found up in the between-decks space was that of Captain James Blaisdel. with whose name tbe initials engraved in the ring corresponded. The remains, thus Identified, were interred at Gibraltar. Some hope of the rescue of the castaways was for a time entertained, as it was learned that tbe boat (the brigantine bad but one) in wbich they were presumed to have left the vessel was a lifeboat, new, light, and incapable of sinking. Moreover, it was known that they eorfld not have encountered any bad weather for many days after parting from the "Emily Brand. Accordingly the widest publicity was given to the fact of their having disappeared, and for more than a year the civilized world was searched throughout with all the facilities at the disposal

Xhev were both Americans. Of the six seamen three were Germans or Prus.ians. and their characters were af terwariis asserted to be excellent, in a letter from a respectable resident of the Isle of Tohr, Prussia, written to the United States consul at Gibraltar. Of the other- three names of the crew list, cue was a Portuguese and the remaining two were Clark ami Gardner. I have si are learned that the bearers of the last two ware both from Maine, and had been eoatwie sailors for a number of years before this voyage.

of our government and that of England, upon the chance that they had made some land or been picked np by some passing vessel. . But no trace of the life-boat or any of its occupants was ever discovered. 49 The Nomad weighed anchor ou the 30th of January, and a few months later we learned that the "Emily Brand" had sailed for Genoa on the 6th of the following March, discharged ber cargo., reloaded and made a safe and uneventful return voyage to New York. I have seen her name in the shipping lists a number of times since and I do not donbt that she is still afloat.

-MOW TO CAMP OCT. Some Practical Instructions to Lovers of OutDoor x.if What Supplies to Take. , San Francioco Chronicle. Those who are looking forward to this diversion, and who have not gained wisdom by experience, may not disdain some bints from one who has tried it The first and most important thing is to be sure of your party. Remember that you are to "eat and drink," and that you hope to be "merry" with them for days and weeks, and therefore it is quite necessary to have no incongruous element to spoil sport. Be prepared to "rough it," and do not try to burden yourself with the refinements and luxuries of your kitchen, to say nothing of your parlor and diningroom. As it may puzzle a novice to know how much of each article of food to provide, the followin g will be found a safe allowance of the most necessary supplies for one person for one week: One pound of flour, three loaves of bread (if you are going to bake your bread, eight pounds of flour), one pound each of sugar and butter, ouehalf pound each of bacon, lard and rice, threequarters of a pound of coffee, one-eighth of a pound of ten, one pint of molasses and one-half peck of meal. To this add a four-ounce can of pepper, for a party of six, and at least two quarts of salt. Of course you will supplement these with. sueh. articles as your various needs and tastes may suggest, providing such luxuries ' in the way of canned meats and goods of different kinds as the exigencies of the case are likely to demand. Sueur, coffee, tea, etc., should be carried in tin cans with screw tops: butter in a porcelainlined butter-pail. A wooden flour-pail holding fifty pounds or less will accommodate the flour and a smaller one the meal. If eggs are carried pack them in the latter and there will be no fear of breakage. Unless you expect to "rent a cow," yon will want a can of condensed milk for each person. , Have two email spice boxes with double covers, the under one perforated, to hold salt and. pepper for use in the commissary of your camp, and to supply the place of cruets on your dinner fable.. . Put the vinegar in a large whisky flask, and as you will be likely to take some of the latter commodity for your "often infirmities," it-will be well to adorn the flask holding vinegar with a conspicuous label. In the way of utensils, provide a cup, knife, fork, spoon and plate for each person. The first and last should be of granite ware. The coffeepot should have the handle and lip riveted, as. if soldered, they will be likely to melt off. The frying-pan should dh without a handle, and the plates can nest in it on the journey. A lage pot, a three-qnart stew-pan and two smaller ones, with a pair of blacksmith's pliers, and, if you are going to bake, a Dutch oven, will complete the indispensable utensils. The pliers should be from twelve to eighteen inches long, and quite broad in the gripping part, which should be curved to a slight angle. With these you can lift your frying-pan (which is withont a handle for the sake of compactness) from the fire without fear of a burn. A granite pitcher for waser. and another for milk if, as I aid before, you are to invest in a cow; a ladle and a long-handled kitchen spoon and fork will about complete year outfit. It is a great mistake to burden yourself with too much. ' Let it rather be a question of what you can get along without, than ot how much you can take with you. A camp stove is an unnecessary piece of furniture. It makes a camp look like a summer kitchen in a back yard. It is smutty and unwieldy to handle, and, in short, it is one of the things to be left behind. At a properly-made camp-fire, (which is as inseparable from any romantic idea of camping out as is a range from a city kitchen) every necessary culinary operation can be performed. If you are a true woodsman you will not forget an ax. Select two green logs, six feet long and twelve inches in diameter, and as neariy as possible of an even thickness throughout. Lay these side by side on a level piece of ground, toncbing at one end, and about a foot apart at tbe other thus forming an elongated V. Hew the upper sides until the surface is level enough to support pots and pans in safety. This will be your warming oven. Between these logs build your fire. This may be done in California v. h a very small allowance of profanity, owing to the drycess of the summer, which renders, the twigs and grass very combustible. When the fire is well under way and blazing brightly pile on it plenty-of short sticks and let them all burn to coals before beginning your culinary operations. You can fry or broil directly on the coals, but where a boil is to be kept up for several hours it will be necessary to set up a forked stake at each end of, the fire and hang the kettle on a cross piece between. If you have any lingering prejudices in favor ot , a stove the following . light and portable - affair will answer your purpose: Have a blacksmith make you two bars of quarter-inch iron,- four feet long, and bent over fifteen inches from each end; provide yourself, also, with a piece of sheet-iron about twelve by fifteen inches, and turned down an inch on each end; have four boles, five inches in diameter, cut in the top. When you are ready to build your fire, drive the bars in tbe ground abont three inches, make the fire in between, lay over the piece of sheet-iron, and convince yourself by experiment how very unnecessary are many of the sff-Called necessaries of life. A camp dintng-table may be made by driving down four forked stakes in the corners ot an imaginary rectangle. Connect the end states with cross-pieces, and lay planks from one crosspiece to the other. Make it just high enough to stretch your feet under as comfortably as under your mahogany at home with this difference, that in camp you will sit on the ground. Wash your dishes immediately after each meal. Heat a kettle of water while you are eating, and if the frying-pan has been used, fill it with with water and letit boil over the coals at the same time. Do cot allow your camp to assume the feature of a gipsy encampment or of a dumping-ground for city garbage by an accumulation of old cans, bones and feathers, but carry all such refuse "without your gates." If ladies are to be of the party, these directions are unnecessary. To return to our fire; you ean fry or broil directly on the bed of coals, but where a boil is to be kept up for several hours it will be necessary to set up a forked stake at each end of the fire and hang the kettle on a cross-piece between. Souds are excellent and invigorating, and should be indulged in whenever tbe materials are at band. An excellent sonp can be made of rabbits, squirrels or any small game. Skin and joint one or more and crack tbe bones well; add a sliced onion, a slice or two of pork and such herbs as your camp affords. Cover with cold water, fit with a tight cover and stew for four hours. Skim off the fat, season well, take out tbe coarse bones and dish over slices of toast. If you have among yon a disciple of Izask Wal ton, and there is any fishing in your vicinity, you will want a fish chowder. Clean and cut up the fob. leaving out the heads, tails and as many bones as possible. Cover the bottom of the pot with a layer of fat salt pork, over that a layer of sliced potatoes, then of chopoed onions, then of fish, and lastly of crackers. Repeat these layers, omitting tbe pork, until tbe pot is nearly full, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper. Add enough cold water to just cover the whole and simmer gently for one hour. Brnnswick stew is a famous dish for .out-of-door dining if you can obtain the necessary vegetables from some adjacent farmer. Cut two squirrels into joints and lay in cold water to draw out the blood; put on a gallon of water, and after tbe boiling point is reached add one tablespoonf nl of salt, six potatoes and one onion sliced, one pint of butter or lima beans, six ears of green corn cut from the cob, . bait a pound of salt pork cut into strips, a teaspoonful of black: pepper and a quarter as much cayenne and the squirrels. Stew two hours and a half very slowly, and stir frequently to prevent burning. Add one quart of tomatoes and a tablespoonf ul ot sugar; stew an hour longer; add a quarter of a pound of butter cut in bits an t rolled in flour: give a final boil, and ietyonr reward be the satisfaction of those who partake of the feast which you have provided. Sayings of Little, Folks. A child who was enjoying her first visit to Charlotte, and had never seen a steamboat: "O, mamma," she cried, "see there! The locomotives are in swimming!'' "Mamma," exclaimed little tbree-and-a-half-year-old Walter, earnestly, as he came running in at the back door, "now I know what the sKy is; its the roof to all-over!" 1 A little girl was sitting at a table opposite a gentleman with a waxed, mustache. After gazing at him for several moments, she exclaimed: "My kitty has got smellers, too." A little boy, while playing, fell down the steps and bruised himself severely. His mother scolded him for bis carelessness, and be sobbed out. "Mamma, please don't scold me till I get done hurting." A little boy who wss to pass the afternoon with the doctor's little daughter was given two pieces of candy. When be returned bis mother inquired if ho gave the larger piece to tbe little girL "No, mother, I didn't. You told me to give the biggest piece to company, and I was the company over there."

IX MEXICO. A Tradition Concerning the Seal of the Republic IIow Pulque Is Made.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal. Chihuahua, Mexico, June 15. The great seal of the Republic of Mexico bears the design ot an eagle standing upon a cactus plant, with a serpent grasped in his claws. This design also appears stamped upon every silver dollar issued from ber mints. History or more truthfully speaking tradition informs us that about the beginning of the thirteenth century a wandering tribe of Indians from the far North found their way into Mexico, and, year after year, keeping up their customary migration enduring many hardships, meeting with various casualties, and for a period being held in slavery finally, abont 1323, reached the borders of the lakes which surround the present city of Mexico. In the early morning they beheld, perched upon the stem of a prickly pear, or cactus, which shot out from the crevice of a rock that was washed by the waves, a royal eagle, of great size and beauty, with a serpent in his taioons, and his broad wings open to the rising sun. This vision at the lakes on that lovely morning in 1325 was hailed by the oracles, not only as an auspicious omen, but indicative, also, of the site of the future city and permanent home of this hitherto nomadic race of people. The cactus grows wild in Mexico in almost endless forms of growth, whiie in some localities certain kinds are cultivated for the profit to be derived through their production. The maguey, a plant of the cactus family, is one of the most valuable of the products of Mexico, and the uses to which it is put by these people seem almost infinite in variety. A fugitive paragraph cut from a newspaper furnishes . a partial list: "The maguey seems a special gift of nature to supply the simple wants of the native. Its coarse cloth makes his first, last and only garmeat, and its strong rope ties down his coffin lid. The fiber of the leaf, beaten and span, forms a fine and beautiful thread, glossy as silk in texture, which resembles linen when woven into fabrics. It is manufactured into a coarse cloth, also into paper, bagging,, sail-cloth, sac it -ing, etc The rope made from it is called manilla hemp, and is of uncommon strength and excellence. Cut into coarse straws, it forms the brooms and whitewash brushes of the country, and, as a substitute for bristles, it is made into scrub-brooms, dnsting-brusbes and the tiny brooms which take tbe place of combs among the poorer people. Beautiful fancy baskets, money bags, purses, satchels, and a thousand toys, trinkets and ornaments are woven from its fiber. If your horse has a sprain or your donkey a bruise, a maguey leaf, pounded and bound upon the injured member, is a certain cure. The pointed thorns, which terminate the gigantic leaves are strong as nails and sharp as needles, and to this day, as in primitive times, they serve for nails, needles and pins. Upon paper rarde of maguey fiber the early Mexicans painted their picture histories and hieroglyphic figures. Every Mexican estate, in certain districts, cultivates more or less maguey. The mighty plants answer for hedges and mark tbe boundaries of ranches, two rows with their enormous leaves and bayonet-like thorns making an impenetrable fence." In short, the magney is food, drink, clothing, medicine and writing material for the Mexican. It has well been called "a miracle of nature," and it is probable that she has never, in any other way, so lavishly provided, in such a convenient form, anything from which man can produce so many things to sustain life and add to his comfort and convenience at home. One species of the maguey plant furnishes a drink known as "pulque," which, before fermentation takes place, is not intoxicating and cot unpleasant in taste. It presents a milky appearance, and is slightly tart and pungent. Fermentation occurs in a few days after production, and pulque then, like "hard cider," will produce intoxication if taken in sufficient quantity. In some localities this drink is qmte as extensively used in this country as i3 the malt beer now so largely consumed throughout tbe United States. In the city of Mexico, where the water is of poor quality, pulque is almost universally used, many persons discarding entirely the water furnished by the city, and using the unfermented pulque solely as a beverage. One of the richest citizens of the Mexican capitol realized his immense fortune from the sale of pulque, being tbe proprietor of several retail 6bops in various quarters of the city. His income is estimated at over $30,000 per annum. When it is known that on aa estate of one thousand acres of the cheapest quality of land a million plants may be constantly flourishing in their several stages of growth, and that during the entire time there will be a sufficient number of matured magueys to furnish about four thousand gallons of pulque daily, it will be qnite apparent that there Is a good margin for profit in the production of this popular beverage, which is worth about eight cents a gallon as it flows from the plant. ...... It is said that oyer forty ..thousand gallons of pulque are 8 "id and drunk in the City of Mexico daily. From the duty cbareed for the privilege of bringing this liquor within the corporate limits, the municipal treasury derives an income amounting to $1,000 a day. D. xr. o. A GOOD SUMMER I. IK. How a South American Scientist Utilizes Eels for Electric Liglniujj. Philadelphia Evening News. Don Mignel Santa Mezzito, a wealthy gentleman living in Achaguae, Venezuela, now stopping at the Girard House, tails a wonderful story, alleging that he has succeeded in-utilizing electricity generated by electric eels, and that bis residence is lighted by electricity from that strange fish. Senor Mez?ito is a well-educated man, was graduated from Heidelberg University and speaks several languages, including English, quite fluently. . . "Yes." said he, "I have my residence lighted throughout by electricity generated by large batteries of electric eels. There is sufficient electricity wasted in the streams of the northern portion of Sonth America to light a city as big as Philadelphia, could it be properly utilized. The town of Acbaguas lies on the bank: of a small river of that name, which empties into the Orinoco. 100 miles to the southeast. It is in tne state of Apure, about 150 miles from the eastern boundary of the United States of Colombia. The city is reached by boat up tbe Orinoco to San Fernando, and by rail from that place. Acbaguas is an old town, and has been tbe home of my family for many generations. I give you this in detail, because I have met scientists since I came to this country who evidently disbelieve that I have electric lights running by electric eels. "I got my first idea of utilizing the gvmnotns electricus while studying electricity in Germany. Living as I had for years near the streams in which the eels abounded, and knowing personally of men and animals that bad been prostrated and were killed by eels in water, I was especially interested in Faraday's account of the torpedo aud other fishes. I was particularly impressed by the great scientist's statement that a fullgrown electric eel contained electricity equal to fifteen Leyden jars of 3,500square inches. Upon returning to my home' I at once began experimenting; and was both surprised and delighted with my success. I found that by holding a small eel, the head in one band and the tail in the other, the shock was much stronger than in any other way, and soon discovered that the positive and negative cells are divided, the negative near tbe pectorals and tbe positive near the tail, I also satisfied myself very anickly that the electricity from the eel was the same asommon electricity. It rendered the needle magnetic, decomposed chemical compounds end by it beat was evolved and a spark was obtained. On these points, however, the scientists readily agree with me. I was satisfied that the power was there if it could be utilized, and after two years of further experimenting I succeeded in getting a battery by which a small light was run nearly an hour. Then it was merely a question of time and study. I have had the lights manning, eight of them, eifht -candle each, for three months. My success has brought me to this country, and 1 propose to erplaia my invention and discovery to the members of the Franklin Institute before I return to Venezuela, "I first tried tbe placing ot a number of the eels in one large rubber tank, well insulated, but I afterward discarded it and tried the forming of a strong battery by the connection of fifty cells with two or more eels in each. Tbe result was more than satisfactory. "Each cell so connected as to complete a circuit through the wires running from either end of the row to tbe lamps, wbich are all in one circuit. Tbe only secret is the manner in which the electricity is conducted from the cells. That I believe to be an entirely original discovery, and I shall not divulge it until it is protected by patents both in Europe and America. The eel, I learned, makes heavy, involuntary discbarges of electricity when its circulation is increased, or when unnaturally excited. This I learned by seeing the Indians, under my orders, driving eels into our nets by the aid of horses and mules. With half a dozen hordes rushing through tbe water the eels throw off such quantities of electricity that tbe animals are prostrated and sometimes killed." ' This without actually coming in contact with the fish. In an hour tbe eels will have discharged their store of electric fluid, and, coming to the surface, lie quite still. They are entirely helpless. Taken in by tbe nets, the eels are placed in receiving tanks, and in half an hour

their electric cells are as strong and as active as ever. The Indians and ignorant people in the vicinity of Achaguas regard me as a wizard, and my life has been threatened because a minor chief of a small tribe living a few miles west of Achaguas was killed by au electric shock w"hile taking eels for me. "But I was telling you of the batteries. I found it necessary to keep the eels excited in order to compel them to throw off their store of electricity steadily. I tried several ways of keeping a wheel revolving in each cell, but afterward learned that the feeling of strychnine to them, or rather the placing of strychnine in the liquid in which they are kept, accelerated circulation by producing tetantic contraction of the muscles, and did all that was required. "How about when the store of electricity is exhansed, you ask? "Well, that is easily overcome. I do not allow a battery to work more than half an hour at a time. By a very simple clock-work contrivance I have so fixed th intra as to instantly and at regular intervals throw one battery off and another on. I keep three batteries of thirty cells each ail the time ready. Relieved for an hour the eels are as active as ever. During tbe half hour of service tbe strychnia has become absorbed and tbe fishes quickly recover their natural power. "Thirty cells of two eels each are equal to a thousand volts, and strong enough to kill three men should tbe current pass through them. There are two positive and two negative cells one-thirtieth of an inch in diameter in each eel, and each eel has many minute cells within it. I keep a large tank full of the eels on hand all the time, and am compelled to replenish the batteries every day or two. I have attempted to propagate the eels, but thus far have not been successful. "No, I do not see that my discovery and invention will ever benefit the world very much, .because these eels are not found much outside of northern South America; but it is interesting from a scientific stand-point, and I consider my time, labor and money well spent." Senor Mezzita will remain in Philadelphia for a few days, inspecting woolen-mill machinery, and will then go to Boston.

SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS. The Sanitarian says that the well-known rainwater taste is due neither to roof-wood nor deposits, nor to flying particles of dirt, but to the absorption of aerial gases. Any water exposed to the open air will acquire tbe same taste. One who claims to have tried it says that rubber may be fastened to iron by means of a paint composed of powdered shellac steeped in abont ten times its weight of concentrated ammonia. It should be allowed to stand three or four weeks before being used. A new theory of the final destruction of the earth is that the polar ice is penetrating the interior of the globe like a wedge, and that as soon as it reaches the furnace there will be an explosion that will split the world into pieces too email for truck patches. It is a curious fact that persons far from robust often outlive those of extraordinary strength and hardihood. Upon this subject tbe Canada Heaith Journal says that the vital parts of the system must be well balanced in order to attain long life, and that excessive strength in one part is a source of danger. Hence an over-developed muscular system invites dissolution, because it is a continuous strain on the less powerful organs, and finally wears them out. The heat of fire is very likely to put a piano out of tune. - This is not due to the expanding and contracting of the strings, as generally supposed, but to the variations produced in the sounding-boards under the influence of the increased dryness of the air, especially in furnaceheated houses. . Sounding-boardss are. made of spruce, because of the superior resonance of that timber; but spruce, of all woods, is most affected by changes of temperature. A Russian physician. Dr. S. Th. Stein, reports some remarkable experiments, in which he has induced cataract in the eyes of yonng porpoises by subjecting them tc the continuous vibrations of a tuning-fork for twelve to twenty-four hours, or for a mnch less time when the animals were deprived of the power of hearing. The cataract soon disappeared on removing the exciting cause, and could be renewed. The phenomenon has cot been satisfactorily explained. This was the way a country blacksmith was seen removing that portion of an ax-handle from the ax that remained in the eye, the break being close to the iron: The wood could cot be driven out. and, as na'ls had been driven in at the end, could not be bored out. He drove the bit of sharp edge into some moist earth, and then built a fire around the projecting part. The wood was soon charred so tnat it was easily removed. The moist earth so protected the tempered part of the ax that it sustained no injnry. At a meeting of tbe Physiological Society of Berlin it was given as a fact that when the bee has filled bis cell and has completed the lid, a drop of formic acid, obtained from the poisonbag connected with tbe sting, is added to the boney by perforating tbe lid with the sting. This formic . acid preserves honey and every other sugar solution from fermentation. Most of the insects that have a stinging apparatus similar to that of tbe bee are collectors and storers of honey, so tbe sting has a double function it is a weapon and a pickle. M. Ligner, au Austrian meteorologist, claims to have ascertained, after careful investigation, that the moon has an influence on a magnetized needle, varying with, its phases and its declina-' tions. Tbe phenomenon is said to be more prominently noticeable when the moon is near the earth, and to be very . marked when she is passing from the full to her first or second quarter. The disturbances are found to be at their maximum when the moon is in the plane of the equator, and greater during tbe southern than it is during the northern dedication. Prof. Charles Mayr: A very insidious enemy lurking in all well water is lead. Lead is the less dissolved tbe more impure tbe water. No taste or odor betrays tbe enemy in the water; it is cool, sparkling, but much worse than sewage. Water containing about one part of lead in 1,000,000 will produce acute lead-poisoning, lead colic and lead palsy. Water containing lead between these and certain lower figures produces many dark and mysterious ailments of digestion and control of muscles. Lead is very common in waterand one in five wells contains enough to be dangerous. The Masculine Slave of Fashion. Boston Transcript. The Listener is sorry that the straw hat is going out. It wasn't particularly picturesque, but it was national aud rational. It yielded itself to all sorts of treatment and shaping to suit individual peculiarities, and kept countless thousands of heads as cool as the weather would possibly allow. ' In place of its pleasing diversity we are to have now the weary monotony of the everlasting Derby, and its discomfort into the bargain. Our climate in summer it generally tropical, but the craze of the men for uniformity in dress has carried us into the wearing of a headgear that is intended primarily for cool and foggy England. But diversity in dress for that matter, is quite at an end. The man who does not dress just as other men do, preferring to adapt his garb to his own idea of what suits his face and figure and personal idiosyncrasies best, is regarded as an eccentric. We are imitating the Chinese in more ways than' one, nowadays, and especially in this matter of uniformity of dress. The Chinese conform, however, "to a universal type which their own national conditions and preferences baveevolved; we conform to a foreign model, and earefully eliminate, in the straw hat, the last vestige of an article of wear which was developed by our climatic conditions. It is a pity, but tbe man who wishes to conform to the good old Chesterfieldian dictum in the matter of every fashion, "be not the first to put it on nor the lost to put It off." must presently discard his straw bat or run tbe risk of being the last man to wea.r it. , A Chinese Sell. . San Francisco Chronicle. I was specially requested not to give it away. Please don't repeat it. But tbe late flower show, you know, where they sold bouquets of choice roses at 75 cents for one night, and made tbe men pay $2 for a buttonhole all the rest of the time. Shrewd, indeed, it was. One f ight there was a great stir. A very swell Chinaman walked in in gorgeous robes. He came np to the bonbon stand and smiled on tbe ladies. He put down his money and bought something with Oriental dignity. The ladies whispered to one another. "The Chinese consul." and he paraded around followed by an admiring crowd of girls until he reached the flower stand, and one of the ladies said: "Ah, Lee, come down to see tbe show)" It was the cook of ber elegant establishment in the Western Addition. A breery joke. And a friendly poke. In the ribs, 'mid laughter mellow. Is never bad. But a man iit mad If it's not on the othar fellow. ; Detroit Free Presn. INDIANAPOLIS Geo. W. Miller. Ed. Dickinson. GEO. W. MILLER & CO., Carriage and Wagon Builders, 88 and 88 East New York St. 52?"RepairiBg and Job Work a Sp3cialty.

INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS DIRECTORY. DYER & RASSMANN, Fire Insurance, Real Estate and loan Agents, 27 Circle Street Telephone 523.

- Solicitor of American PATENTS F0EEIGN Journal Building, -C I M DI A ! A PO LI 8 --O.' ' . S t . A to. Carpets! Carpets! Carpets! Elecrant styles of new Spring Carpets to be sold at great bargains, at Hutchinson's new Carpet Store, 87 ast Washington street. Kleeant Velvet Carpet. $1 per yard. .Best Body Bruaselg, SO cents per yard. All-Wool Eitra Superfine. 05 cents per yard. Cotton Ingrain Carpet, ii5 cents per yard. (iood Ra Carpet. 25 cents per yard. Hemp and Cottage Carpet. 15 cents per yard. Window Shades and fixtures. 35 cents each. Heaw Oil Cloth, 25 cents per vard. The chetpest place in town is at UtTTCHUTSON'S, 87 East Washington street. Established 1873. 74 North Fenn. St Old FramM SefUded EQVAL TO NEW. NEW YORK STEAM DENTAL CO. From $1, $5, $6. 8, $10 to $50 per set. All kinds of line dental work at reduced prices. Fine gold filling at 5)1 and upward. Silver and amalgam, 50c and 75o. Teeth extracted for 25c. Teeth extracted without pain. All work warranted as represented. Fifteen year's experience. A. P. HERKON, M'g'r, Booms 3 and 4 Grand Opera-house. MIC TIMBER AW) f(HL BYEKIT'S COMBINED SHEATHING AND LATH Makes solid wall, and saves 30 per cent. Plaster won't crack. All architects and builders vrho have used it commend it. Manufactured at our planing mill. Large stock of Dry Lumber on hand. C. C, FOSTER LUMBER CO., 181 West First Street. FISH, v. OYSTEES, FULTON Fish. Market, Cl North Illinois S gaik, r.tr.. -- utiAa. .'una. PENSIONS JOSEPH MOORE. CHAS. E.. THORNTON. Lata Lt. Col. 58th Regt. Ind. Vol. - nTTin ttt t n Every soldier who believes that he has a claim for pension, increase of pension, back pay or bounty, should write, inclosing; stamp, giving state ment ot case to ahjvjk.c ac jijrt.iTON. U. S. Claim Attornevs for West"ern Soldiers. 77 9 East Market St.. Indianaool a, Indiana. No charge for information. BROOM BROOJt MATERIALS MATERIALS No. 38 Fast No. 38 East Sonth St. South St. ' GRUBB, PAXTON & CO.. GENERAL INSURANCE. FIRE, MARINE, LIFE, ACCIDENT, LIVE STOCK TORNADO. SI Circle Street. Dry Goods, Notions, Etc. 28 commission and J ob . St Lots. 1, Z tiu'wm:. c. smock, Attorney at Law. Office: 33 ortli Delaware St. Probate matters and collections a specialty. Will act as Trustee, Receiver or Assignee when desired. "oj3r 'A 9 S. D. CRANE, Practical Optician, 98 East Washington Street, near Lelaware, Carries the Largest Assortment and Most Complete Stock of SPECTACLES and EYEGLASSES. Mr. Crane is well qualified to fit with Glasses all cases of imperfect vision, having given years of study to this branch of his business. DENTIST. DENTIST. Room. 1 S.W.cor.Wash. 1 and Meridian Sta. INDIANA BICYCLE COMFY, 114 N. Pennsylvania St., INDIANAPOLIS, IX D State Agentslfor the Columbia, New Mail and American cycles. We make a specialty of repairing and exchanging new wheels fii.. .ill! .1 1 1 ( i ii,t.lri(.n. and second-hand list. J7W. GILBERT Manager. $1. Room No. 7 Baldwin's Block. WeMake the Best Clothes FOR TIIK MONEY Of any bouse In the city. Our Fita are Perfect and of tbe Latest Styles. L. MUELLER OLD RELIABLE MERCHANT TAILOR, 40 South Illinois Street. V.f OTt - V '-' rvK-T.V KTFT1 r-T 'J m m m ' m -S"4rr- PER OT. BOTTMf, T-l. JAMES N. MAY HEW, PRACTICAL OPTICIAN. Spteialties in Frames and Lenses. OculisU' prescript Vtna accurately and promptly fidtd.

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Electrotypers and Stereotype, UDEL Xj Woodeaware Worts, A. A. BARNES, Prop., North Indianapolis. Wholes!, BAKERs. Crackers. Bre. Cak. MANUFACTURERS' Mutual lire Insurance Vance Bloolc, The only company organized under th, Stat, U which carries large Hues of insurance on 8rst ' manufacturing property. A. H. NORDYKE, Presl. CHAS. B. FUNSTON, Sec. Solicit correspondence. TIIK CAPlTAlT" ENTER PRISEWRSmiPWn Foundry, Manufacturers of all kinds of (iray Iron C&ktinga. 176 S. Pennsylvania St. Stamps, Seal. Owck, 1 U.th Merid Sti ilPAgrots wnti KRUSE &-DEWENTER. MANUFACTURERS OF 27 Styles ixntA Sizes Wrought - Steel Warm-Air Fimcis, 54 South Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis. MILLERS, Call on C. II. Waloott, 1S4 S. Meridian St.. for Bolting- Cloth and Millers' Supplies. Meriogtoa & Bsraef, Founder & Machinists. Boiler & Sheet-iron Work, rpArchitectiirJ Work . Specialty. mto27 W. South Sirs. Hadley Shoe tytm XI" A XT TT V A fTTT DTD Stv LADIES', MISSES' AND CHILDREN'S ; FINK SHOES' CAPACITT, 200 PAIRS A DAY. Honest work and the best of material used in nuiina Shoes. Orders from the trade solicited. TO and 83 S. Pennsylvania St WHITEHEAD & WRIGHT, MONUMENTS No. 75 Ea; Market Street ISTox-tl vlco Sc Marmon Co. Estah. 185L hOUNDERS AND MACHINISTS MILL AND ELEVATOR BUILDER.? Indianapolis, Ind. Roller Mill, Mill Gearing, Belting, Bolting Cloth. Gram,, cleaning Machinery, Middlings purifieryl Portable Mills, etc, etc Take atreet-cus for stockyards. LEMOX ORANtiE PJXKAPPLB ICES! LEMONORANGE PINEAPPLE ICES!! A Specialty. F u r nas 54 Mass. avenue. A Specialty. Purn as, 51 Mass. avenue. HOWE PIP Al ENGINE CI, 82 South Pennsylvania Street, MANUFACTURERS OF Howe Improved Force Pumps, I Horse-Power Fire Engines, i Wind Mills; Pipe-Cutting Tools, Fixtures Etc, Etc. Send for Illustrated Circular, or call. I. T. Thornton, president; E. A. Sheldon, vW president; L. M. Howe, secretary; G. E, Thornton, treasurer; B. J. C Howe, manager. SINKER, DAVIS & CO., Roller Flour Mills, Band, Log Mills, : Kngines a. nil Uoilers. South Pennsylvania Street. WHITING MACHINE The Latest Improved and Best. Second-hand Type-writers bought, sold and changed. Full stock Calieraph and Type-writer Sup plies, Papers, etc. H. T. CONDE, Gen'l Ag'l, 76 and 73 West Washington street, Branch Office 72 Eat Market street, Indianapoki. SAWS BELTING And EMERY WHEELS - W. B. BARRY SAW AND SUPPLY C0 132 and 131 South Pennsylvania Street. All kinds of Saws repaired. PIONEER BRASS WORKS, 110 and 112 South Pennsylvania Street. Heavy and Light Castines, Kailroad Castiiics an! Car-Bearings a specialty. All kinds of Job Work. J. II. BRIN'KMEYEK. Sept o.it. oh.se: :sr, ii ill 1UU No. 10 Garden Street. T ir T X y Q E. a & CO.. Manufacturer 1 IV 1 1 O and Eepairers of CIKCUIAS. CROSS-( ROSS-COT, BAND and all other Q 4 fQ duds of Oi 0 kinds Illinois street, one sauare south of Union Depot Chandler & Taylor's Self-contained Steam ElSTGrHSTES Are strong, well built and serviceable, and cost n more tnan ordinary engines. COMSTOCK & COOM 197&199& Merid.St WOOD. CHAIN & WOODEN FORCE PUilPS; dealers in Iron Pipe, Driven well Points and all Driven -well Supplies. IXDIANAPOLIS Manufacturers' anj. Lumber. Doors. Saw. Blinds. 33 to 40 S. New 3srrCoburn & Jones, LUMBER Manufacturers of Window & Door FiM H DOOES and BLI'DS. Yard and Planing-miU, PETIK , A M. , nm n. unuiiu W V.""-. . argils. Imon Lepou, mi. r S250 S!HCLErS330 Doucle; 2Tiafes22 s3,s tone ! 'iSS 180 to 180 6. reasiiraatt su11""""

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