Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 August 1887 — Page 2

TELE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SDNDAY, ACTG-ITST 7 1887 TWELVE PAGES

rrfnted by Special Arrangement with Author Copyrighted br Associated Literary Press. TEXA'R'STEVENGE BY JULES VERNE. A Story of the American Civil War.

CHAPTER IX. THE MORNING OF. THE 2D OT MARCH. Many times did James Borbank and bis friends ffo oat to see that tbeir orders bad been attended to. When the sun rose nothing bad happened. The night bad passed without incident. Next day, March 2d, James Burbank bad news py one of his assistant overseers, who had crossed the river and returned to Jacksonville without awakening suspicion. The news was undoubtedly correct and it was important Commodore Dupont had anchored at daybreak iu St. Andrew's Bay, on the coast of Georgia. The Wabash, on which he had hoisted his flap, was at the head of a squadron of twenty-six vessels, of which eighteen were gun boats, one a cotter, one an armed transport, and six were ordinary transports with Wright's brigade on board. And, as Gilbert had said in his last letter. General Sherman accompanied the expedition. Commodore Dupont. whom the bad weather had kept back, had at once set to work to take possession of the passes of the St. Mary's. These channels, difficult enough of access, open off the mouth of the river of the same name to the north of Amelia Inland on the frontier of Georgia and Florida. Fernandina, the principal position of the island, was protected by Fort Clinch with a garrison of fifteen hundred men behind its thick stone walls. Would the Southerners hold out against the federals iu this fortress, wherein they might make a lengthened defense? It would be thought so. Nothing of the kind was done. According to the assistant-overseer's report, a rumor bad reached Jacksonville that the confederates bad evacuated Fort Clinch a3 soon as the squadron appeared in St. Mary's Bay: and not only had they abandoned Fort Clinch, but they had cleared out of Fernandina, Cumberland Island, and all that part of the Florida coast t This was all the news th&S reached Castle House, but there is no need to dwell on its lmportance with regard to the position at Camdless Bay. Now that the federals had at last landed in Florida, the whole State would soon be in their power. Obviously a few days would elapse before the gunboats crossed the bar of the St John's. But their presence would have its effect od the new authorities at Jacksonville, and there was room to hope that, in fear of reprisals, Texar and his supporters would not dare to take action against the plantation of so prominent a Northerner as James Burbank. This was reassuring for the family, whose fear was suddenly changed to hope. And Alice Stannard and Mrs. Burbank ceased to tremble for Gilbert's safoty, with the certainty that he was not far off, and the assurance that he would soon return. The young lieutenant at St. Andrew's was within thirty miles of Camdless bay. lie was on board the gunboat Ottawa, which had just been distinguished by a feat of arms unexcelled in naval annals. What had happened on the morning of the 2d of March was this. The assistant overseer bad not ascertained these details during his Tisit to Jacksonville, but it is important that they should be known on account of the events that followed. As soon as Commodore Dupont discovered that Fort Clinch had been evacuted by the confederate garrison, he sent a few ressels of light draught across St Mary's channel. Already the white population had retired into the interior of the country with the bouthern troops, abandoning the towns, villages, and plantations on the coast There was a regular panic, due to the fear of the reprisals which, the Secessionists falsely stated, were intended by the federal chief. Not only in Florida, but along the Georgian frontier, along the whole extent of country between the bays of Ossabaw and St Mary's, the people beat a precipitate retreat so as to escape from the troops landed by General Wright Under these circumstances Commo dore Dupont did not have to fire a shot to get possession of Fort Clinch and Fernandina. The gunboat Ottawa, on which was Gilbert, accompanied by the Mars, acted a second, and had to use its guns in the manner following. The twn of Fernandina is connected with the west coast of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico by a branch railway which runs to Cedar Keys. The railway runs along the coast of Amelia island; then before it reaches the mainland it crosses Nassau creek on a long bridge of piles. When the Ottawa reached the center of the creek a train was on tho bridge. Tee garrison of Fernandina waain flight, taking its provisions with it, and followed by many of the more or less important people of the town. Immediately the gunboat started at full speed toward the bridge and fired her bow-chasers at the piles and the train. Gilbert was in charge of the firing, and many good shots were made; among them a shell struck the last carriage of the train and broke the axle fnd the coupling. The train did not stop for an instant to do so would have been dangerous and leaving the carriage to look after itself, steamed off full speed to the southwest A detachment of federal troops landed at Fernandina appeared at this moment and rushed on the bridge. The carriage was captured with the fugitives it contained, who were chiefly civilians. The prisoners were taken to the superior officer. Colonel Gardner, iu command at Fernandina, who took their names, kept them for twenty-four hours on one of the vessels of the squadron, as an example, and then released them. When the train had run out of sight, the Ottawa went off to attack and seize a vessel laden with war material, which had taken refnge in the bay. These events were calculated to spread discouragement among the confederate troops and the people of the Floridan towns; and this was particularly the case at Jacksonville. The estuary of the St John's would be forced as easily as had been that of the St Mary'6; that was very evident, and probably the unionists would meet with no more resistance at Jacksonville than at St Augustine and the other coast towns. This was good news for James Burbank. Be might well believe that Tcxar dared not now give effect to bis plans. He and his partisans would be superseded, and in due course the nonest folks would resume the power of which an outbreak of the mob had deprived them. There was every reason to think in this way and to hope; and as soon as the staff at Camdless Bay heard the important cows, which was soon known at Jacksonville, their joy showed itself in noisy cheering, in which Pygmalion took a prominent part Nevertheless, it would not do to abandon the precautions which had been taken to secure the safety of the estate, at least until the gunboats appeared in the river. Unfortunately and this James Burbank could neither imagine nor suppose a whole week was to elapse before the Federals were ready to enter the St John's. And during that time what dangers were to threaten Camdless Bay! Commodore Dupont's plan was to show the Federal flag at every point where vessels could go. lie split up his squadron into detachments, One gunboat was sent ut the St Mary's river to occupy the little town of that name, and advance some sixty miles up the country. To the south were sent three other gunboats, commanded by Captain Godon, to explore the bays, seize

Jekyll and St. Simon's Islands, and take possession of the small towns of.Brunswick and Dariens which had been partly abandoned by their inhabitants. Six steamers of light draught were destined, under the orders of Commandant Stevens, to enter the St John's and reduce Jack

sonville. The rest of the squadron, under Dupont, was to take care of St Augustine and blockade the coast down to Mosquito Inlet, the passes of which would be then closed against contraband of war. But this series of operations could not be accomplished in twenty-four hours, and twentyfour hours would be enough for the devastation of the country by the Southerners. About three o'clock in the afternoon James Burbank had his first suspicions of what was being devised against him. Mr. Perry, after a round of inspection on the frontier of the plantation, came hurriedly into Castle House and said, "Mr. Burbank, they have reported that some suspicious vagabonds are on their way to Camdless Bay." "From the North?" "From the North." Almost at the same moment Zermah, returning from the landing-place, told her master that thero was a lot of boats crossing the river and approaching the right bank. "They are coming from Jacksonville'' "Certainly." "Go into the house," said Burbank, "and don't go out again Zermah, on any pretence." "No. master.'' Burbank went off to reconnoitre. When he returned, he could not but tell his friends that matters looked threatening. An attack seemed al moat certain, and it was better that all should be forewarned. "And so," said Mr. Stannard, "these scoundrels, on the eve of being curbed by the federals, dare " "Yes," said Burbank, coldly. "Texar could not miss sueh an opportunity of being revenged when he is free to disappear as soon as his vengeance is satisfied." Then with more animation, he resumed, "But will this man's crimes always remain unpunished? Will he always get away? In truth after doubting the justice of heaven " "James," said Mrs. Burbank, "at a time when we may only have the help of God to trust to do not reproach Him " "And let us put ourselves under His care," said Alice Stannard. James Burbank recovering his coolness, set about giving his orders for the defense of the house. "Have the blacks been told?" asked Edward Carrol. "They will be," said Burbank. "My idea is to defend the palisades. We cannot think of defending the whole boundary of Camdless Bay against an armed mob, for it is likely that the assailants will be in large numbers. We must get ail the defenders into the inner ring. If, unfortunately, the palisade is forced, Castle House, which once defied the Seminoles, may perhaps be held against Texar's bandits. My wife, Alice, and Dy and Zermah, to whom I entrust them, must not leave the house without my order. If matters become serious, everything is prepared for them to save themselves by the tunnel which communicates with the little Marine Creek of the St John's; there a boat will be found in charge of two of our men. It is hidden in the bushes; and, Zermah, yon must go in it up the river to Cedar Rock.'' "But you, James?" "And you, father?" Sirs. Burbank bad seized the planter by the arm, and Alice had caughthold of Mr. Stannard, as if the time had come for them to escape from Castle House. "We will do all we can to rejoin you," said Burbank, "when the position is no longer tenable. But you must promise, if the danger becomes too great, to get away to safety at Cedar Rock. We shall want all we have of courage and audacity to keep back the scoundrels, and resist them till our ammunition fails." Evidently this is what would have to be done if the as3ailants were too numerous and succeeded in forcing the palisades and invading the park so as to make a direct attack on Castle House. James Burbank then called together his men, and Perry and his assistants ran off to the barracoons with his orders. In less than an hour the blacks in fighting trim, were drawn up near the gate in the palisades: Their wives and children had gone off to seek safety in the woods round Camdless Bay. Unfortunately, the means of organizing a serious defense were limited. Since the beginning of the war it had been almost impossible to procure arms and ammunition in sufficient quantity. Burbank had in vain tried to buy them at Jacksonville; and he had to be content with what remained in the house after the last siege by the Seminoles. His plan was to preserve Castle House from being burnt or stormed. He could not dream of protecting the estate, saving the work-shops, stores, factories, or barracoons, or preventing the plantation from being devastated. He had hardly four hundred negroes in a state to oppose the assailants, and these were insufficiently armed. A few dozen muskets were distributed to the best men, while the arms of precision were kept in reserve for James Ba rbank, his friends, Perry, and the assistant overseers. The whole force was drawn up at the gate in sacL a manner as to repulse the threatened assault on the palisades, which were also defended by the creek that ran round them. Amid the confusion Pygmalion was very busy and excited, bustling hither and thither and doing nothing. He was like one of those circus clowns who pretend to do everything and do nothing, much to the amusement of the audience. Pyg. considering hi mself as belonging especially to the defenders of the bouse, did not dream of associating with his comrades outside. Never had he felt himself so devoted to James Burbank. . . , . . All was ready in the garrison. On what side was the attack to cornel If the assailants appeared on the northern side the defense could be most ea3ily conducted. If on the contrary, they attacked on the river-front the defense would be more difficult owing to Camdless Bay being open on that side. A landing is always a difficult operation, it i true, and, under any circumstances, it would require a gooa many boats to transport an armed band from one bank of the St John's to the other. Thus said Burbank, Carrol, and Stannard as they watched the return of the scouts who had been sent to the boundary of the plantation. It would not do to be in the dark as to the manner of attack. About 4:30 in the evening the scouts returned from the northern side of the estate and made their report. . . . column of armed men were advancing in that direction. Was this the detachment of the countv militia or only a division of the mob. attracted by the hope of pillage, and charged with the execution of Texar's decree concerning the freed slaves! In any case, the column wa a thousand strong, and nothing could be done against it with .the force on the plantation. It might perhaps be hoped that if the palisades were carried by assault. Castle House would offer a longer and more serious resistance. It was evident that the column had avoided a landing under difficulties in the little harbor of Camdless Bav. and had crossed the river below Jacksonville in some fifty boats, three or four journevs being sufficient to ferry it over. And Burbank's precaution of collecting his men within the ralisades had been a wise one. for it would have been impossible for biin to defend his frontier against such an army. Who was at the head of the assailants lexar

in person? Probably not At the time when the approach of the federals was threatened the Spaniard might consider it too risky to place himself at the head of his men. If he had done so it would be because when his work of

vengeance was accomplished the plantation devastated, the Burbank massacred or fallen into his band3, he had made up his mind to es cape to the fcoutn. pernaps even to trie Everglades (the backwoods of Southern Flondal - i a t J : az u - wnere it wouiu ue uiuicuit iu gut at mm. This was the most serious of the possibilities, and Burbank had given it anxious thought! Hence it was that he bad decided to nut in saf etv his wife and cmld. ana Alice btannard, intrusted to the devotion ot Zermah, at Cedar Rock, which was about a mile above Camdless Bay. If they naa to auanaon iasue nouse to trie assailants, be and his friends could there rejoin the familv! and wait till safety was assured to the honest people of b lorida under the protection of the federal army. And so a boat bad been hidden in the reeda of the St John's, and left to the keeping of two negroes at the end of the tunnel which led from the bonse to Marine Creefc. But before the parting took place, it would be necessary to de fend the house for a few hours at least until nightfall, when in the darkness, the boat could go up the river in secret, without risk of pursuit from the suspicious-loosing canoes that were prowling about in such numbers. CHAPTER X. THE EVENING OP THE 2d OF MARCH. James Burbank, with his companions and most of the blacks, were ready for the fight He had now nothing to do but wait His arrangements were to make his first stand at the palisades round the private park, and then, if driven back, to make another stand behind the walls of Castle House. About 5 o'clock the increasing tumult showed that the assailants were not far off. From the shooting it was only too easy to understand that they were in possession of the northern part of the estate. On the right, thick columns of smoke began to rise above the trees,. The sawmills had been set on fire, and the barracoons, after being pillaged, were in flames. The poor people had not had time to put in safety the few things that tbe act of liberation bad made their own the evening before, and loud were the cries cf despair and anger that answered the shouts of the marauders. Gradually the shouters approached Castle House. A strange light appeared in the northern horizon, as if the sun was setting in that direction. Occasional puffs of warm, smoky air swept up against the bouse. Violent detonations produced by the burning of the dry wood in tne work-shops were heard every now and then. Once a louder explosion than the rest showed that the boiler at one of the saw mills had been blown up. Devastation in all its horrors was evidently in progress. Burbank, Carroll and Stannard were at the gate in the palisades. There they received and disposed of the last detachment of negroes that were gradua"y coming in. The assailant might appear at any moment The increasing crackle of the musketry showed that they could not be far from the ring, which was easy of assault, for the nearest trees were not fifty yards away. The confederates could keep in cover to the last moment, and the bullets began to rain on the palisades, while the rifles remained invisible. After consideration it was thought best to withdraw all the men within the fortress. There the armed negroes would be less exposed, as they could fire between the angles at the top of the timbers; and when the assailants tried to cross the stream and carry the stronghold by storm, they might manage to repulse them. Tbe negroes were all withdrawn, and the gate was about to be shut when James Burbank, throwing a last glance around without, caught sight of a man at full run towards him, as if seeking safety among the defenders of Castle House. A few shots were aimed at him from the woods close oy, but did not hit him. With a bound be jumped on the drawbridge and was in safety within the palisades. The gate was immediately 6but and firmly fastened. "Who are you?" asked Jame6 Burbank. "One of tbe servants of Mr. Harvey, your correspondent at Jacksonville." "Did Mr. Harvey send you here with a mes sage?" "Yes. and as the river was guarded, 1 could not cross it hereabouts." "And yon came with the militia without being suspected?" "Yes. They are followed by a mob of looters. I came with them, as soon as I was within range, I ran and risked a few shots." "Good, my friend! Thanks! louhaveMr. Harvev's message?" "Yes, Mr. Burbank. Here it is." Burbank took the letter and read it Mr. Har vey said he might put implicit confidence in hiJ messenger, John Bruce, of whoco sincerity ther. could be no doubt After hearing the news he brought, Mr. Burbank would see what was best to be done. At this instant a volley was heard from with out There was not a moment to lose. "What would Mr. Harvey have me under stand?" asked Burbank. "That in the first place " said Bruce, "the armed mob which is attacking Camdless Bay is from fourteen to fifteen hundred strone." "I did not reckon them at less. What next? Is Texar at their head?" "Mr. Harvey found it impossible to ascertain. One thing is certain, and that is that Texar has not been at Jacksonville for the last four-and-twenty-hours! "That ought to indicate some new scneme 01 the scoundrel's," said Burbank. "Yes," answered Bruce. "That is what 3Ir, Harvey thinks. Besides, Texar need not be there to execute the order as to setting adrift the freed slaves" "Setting them adrift! exclaimed Burbank. "Setting them adrift and helping them in in cendiarism and robbery "And Mr. Harvey thinks that while there is time, you would do well to put your family in safety by sending them away at once from Castle House. "Castle House, said Burbank, "can be de fended, and we will only leave it when it is untenable. Is there any fresh news from Jack sonville?" "None." "Have not the Federal troops made any move ment into Florida?" "None since they occupied ernandma and the Bay of St Mary's." "And what is the chief reason of your being sent?" "To tell you that the dispersal of the slaves was onlv a pretext got up by Texar to enable him to lay waste the plantation, and make you his prisoner." "You do not know if Texar is at tne neaa of these rascals?" "No, Mr. Burbank. Mr. Harvey tried to find out, but could not And I have tried since I left Jacksonville, but without success." "Are there many of the militia with this mob?" "A hundred, at the out3ide," replied Bruce, "but the mob is composed of the very worst characters. Texar had them supplied with weapons, and they will not stop at any excess. I repeat, Mr. Burbank, Mr. Harvey's opinion is that you should abandon Castle House at once. He ordered me to invite you to his cottage at Hampton Rad. It is about a dozen miles up stream on tbe right bank, and there you would be safe for some days " "Yes, l know." "I could take you and your family there without risk of discovery, if you will go at once, before retreat is impossible." "I thank Mr. Harvey, and you too, my friend," said Burbank, "but we have not yet come to that" "As you wish, Mr. Burbank," answered Bruce. "I shall none the less remain until you require my services." The attack which now began required all James Burbank's attention. A violent fusilade burst out, although the assailants could not be seen owing to the shelter of the trees. Tbe bullets rained on the pallisades. but did little damage. Unfortunately, Burbank and his companions could only reply feebly, having only forty guns amongst them. Being stationed in the best positions for firing effectively, their shots did more execution than those of the militiamen at the head of the column, a few of whom were hit, though hidden in the wood. This long-range fight lasted for about half an hour rather to the advantage of the defenders. Then the assailants rushed at the palisades to storm them. As the attack was to be delivered on several sides at once, they bronght with them planks and beams from the workbhops, now in flames. In twenty places these beams were thrown across the stream, and over them rusaed the Spaniard's men to the foot of the palisades, losing several of their number in killed and wounded. And then they climbed up the planks and hoisted one another up; but they dii not succeed in getting over. Tbe negroes, infnriated against the incendiaries, repulsed them with great bravery. But it was evident that the defenders of Camdless Bay could not for long hold out at all points, against the murderous foe. Until nightfall they might keep them at bay, provided they were not seriously wounded. Burbank and Stannard had, however, not been touched. Carroll alone, bad been hit, by a ball that tore open his shoulder. He had to retire to the hall where Mrs. Burbank, Alice, and Zermah gave him every attention. But night was coming to the he!f the beseigers. Under cover of the darkness some fifty of the most determined amongst them ran up to the gate, axe in hand. Probablr they wonld not have been able to force it had not a breach been opened bj a daring manoeuvre. A part of tbe outbuildings suddenly took fire, and the flames, fed by the dry wood, seized on the palisades agamot which tho buildingteaat

Burbank rushed towards the fire, if not to put

it out at least to defend tneDreacn. By the light of tbe names be saw a man run through the smoke, climb the palisades, and escape over the planks across the stream. It was one of the assailants, who had pene trated into the park on tbe ot Jobns side from among the reeds. Unseea, he bad entered the stahles, and at the risk of perishing in the flames, bad set fire to some trusses of straw. A breach was thus opened. In vain Burbank and his companions endeavored to bar the way. A mass of assailants threw themselves into it. and the park was invaded by several hundred men. Many fell in the hand-to-hand fight The noise of the firing was heard on all sides. Soon Castle House was entirely surrounded, while the negroes, overwhelmed by the numbers, were forced out or tne parK to tate night in the woods of Camdless Bay. They had foueht as long as they could, with courage and devotion; but if they bad resisted longer they would have been massacred to the last man. Burbank, Stannard, Perry, the assistantoverseer. John Bruce, who bad fought bravely. and a few blacks had to take refuge in Castle House. It was then neariy 8 o'clock in the evening. The night was dark in the west In the north the sky was ablaze with the blaze of the conflagration. Burbank and Stannard came hurriedly into the house. "You must escape," said Burbank. "You must go at once. Whether the thieves force tneir way in, or are Kept outside until we are forced to surrender, there is danger in your re maining, lbe boat is ready. It is time to part My wife, Alice. I implore you to follow Zermah witn uy to (jeuar rocs, mere you win be in safety, arid if we are compelled to escape in our turn, we will find you there, we will join you." "My father," said Alice, "come with us, and yon. too, Mr. .Burbank. ' "Yes, James! Yes! Come!" said Mrs. Burbank. "I!" answered Burbank. "I abandon Castle House to these scoundrels! Neuer, while resistance is possible! We can hold for some time yet And when you are in safty we shall be stronger to defend ourselves!" "James!" "It is necessary!" A terrible tumult was heard an he spoke. The door resounded with the blows dealt on it by the assailants, who were attacking the principal or river front of the house. "Go!" exclaimed Burbank. "The night is already dark; they will not see you in the shadow! Go! you are only paralyzing us by remaining here! For God's sake, go!" Zermah went first, holding little Dy. by the hand. Mrs. Burbank tore herself from her husband's arms, Alice left her father's. They dis appeared down the staircase, which led below tbe ground into the tunnel to Marine ere etc. "And now," said Burbank. addressing himself to Perry, the assistant overseers, and the few negroes remaining, "now, my friends, we must resist to the death." Then they all ascended tbe grand staircase from the hall, and took up their positions at tbe windows on the first floor. There, to the hundreds of bullets that honeycombed the front of the house, they answered by fewer, but more effective discharges, firine. as they did, into the mass of the assailants, who came on to force their way through the door either by axe or flame. There was no one this time to open a breach into the house. Such an attempt as that against the wooden palisades would have been useless against stone walls. Nevertheless, a score of men. stealing along in the darkness, which was now profound, gathered on the steps. The door was then attacked furiously. It needed all its solidity to withstand the blows of the picks and axes. The attempt cost many of the assailants their livas. for tbe position of the loop-holes admitted of a cro38-fire on to the step. And now something happened to make mat ters worse. Ammunition began to fail. Bur bank, bis friends and overseers, and tbe blacks. armed with gnns, bad used the greater part dur ing the three hours the assault had lasted. If they had to hold out much longer, how could they ro it after the last cartridges had gone? Would they have to abandon Castle House to the mob, who would leave nothing of it but ruins? And this would certainly have to be done if the assailants broke in the door, which had already begun to shake. Burbank saw this, but he resolved to wait till the last At any moment might not a diversion take place? There was nothing to fear for Mrs. Burbank, his daughter, nor Alice Stannard. And as men they could fight to the end against this rabble of murder ers, incendiaries and thieves. "We have still ammunition for an hour." said Burbank. "Use it all, my friends, and don't let us give up Castle House." Ha bad hardly finished epokkirtg when a loud report was heard in the distance. " r "A cannon-shot!" he exclaimed. Another report was heard to the westward, on tbe other side of the river. "A second shot!" said Stannard. "Listen!" said Burbank. A third report was heard, the wind bringing it more distinctly to Castle House. "Is that a signal to recall the assailants to the right bank?" as ted Stannard. "Perhaps," said Bruce. "It is possible that there has been an alarm over there." "Yes," said the overseer; "and if these cannonshots have not been fired from Jacksonville ' "They have been fired from the federal fleet!" said Burbank. "Has the flotilla forced the entrance of the St John's and mounted the river?" And there was nothing impossible in Commodore Dupont's being master of the river, at least in the lower part of its course. But it was not so. The three gunshots had been fired from tbe battery At Jacksonville; that was quite evident, as no more firing was heard. There had been no engagement between the Northerners and Confederates on the St John's or in the plains of Duval county. And there could be no doubt that this had been the signal of recall to the commander of the militia when Perry, who was stationed at one of the side loopholes, exclaimed, "They are retiring ! They are retiring ! Burbank and bis companions hurried to the central window, which they opened. The sounds of the axe were no longer heard against tbe door. Not one of the assailants was in sight If their shouts and yells were still heard in the air, they were heard further and further away. Evidently something had happened to oblige tbe authorities at Jacksonville to recall this mob to the other bank of the St John's. Doubtless it bad been agreed that the three gunshots should be fired in case any movement of the squadron should threaten the confederate position. So the assailants had apruptly abandoned their final assault, and across the devastated fields of tbe estate had taken their way, lighted by the fires they dad kindled. An hour later they recrossed the river two miles below Camdless Bay, where the boats were waiting for them. Soon their shouts died away in the distance. To the uproar succeeded absolute silence. It was the silence of death over the plantation. It was then half-past nine o'clock. Burbank and his companions went down stairs to the hall. There lay Edward Carrol, stretched on the sofa, slightly wounded, and somewhat weakened by the loss of blood. They told him what had happened since the signal from Jacksonville. For the moment at least, Castle House had nothing to fear from Texar's gang. "Yes," said James Burbank. "But the scoundrel wisbel to disperse my liberated slaves, and they are dispersed! He wished to lay waste the plantation in revenge, and only its ruins are left!" "James." said Walter Stannard, "worse misfortunes might still happen to ns. None of iss fell in defending Castle House; but your wife your daughter and my daughter might have passed into tbe hands of these rascals, and they are safe." You are right, Stannard. and God be praised for it! What has been done by Texar's orders shall not go unpunished, and I will have justice to the last drop of his blood." "It is a pity." said Carrol, "that Mrs. Burbank, Alice, Dy and Zermah left us! I know we seemed to be in gieat danger then; but I would rather know they were here." Before the morning," said Burbank. "I will rejoin them. They will be dreadfully anxious, and we must set tbeir minds at rest I will then see if we can bring them back to Camdless Bay. or leave them for a day or two at Cedar Rock." . "Yes," said Stannard. "We must not be hasty. All may not be over; and as long as Jacksonville is under Texar's control we have something to fear." "That is why I will act prudently." answered Burbank. "Perry, you will see that a boat is ready a little before daybreak. I shall only want one man to go with me " A cry of grief, a shout of despair, suddenly interrupted him. The cry came from that part of the park where tbe lawn lay on front of the house. It was immediately followed by the words "Father! Fatherl" "My daughter's voice !" exclaimed Mrs. Stannard. . "What new misfortune ?" asked Burbank. And opening the door they rushed out Alice was statding a few yards away, and at her feot lay Mrs. Burbank. Neither Dv nor Zermah were with them. "My child !" exclaimed Burbank. At tbe sound of his voice his wife arose. She coold not speak. . She stretched out her arms to the river. "Carried off ? Carried off ?" "Yes ! by Texar !" said Alice. And then she fell senseless by Mrs. Burbank's side. , TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY. J

OP INTEREST TO WOMEN.

Agriculture as a Feminine Pursuit Another Dress Reformer in the Field. Women Who Farm. Special to the IndianaDoUs Journal. New York, Aug. 6. I once knew a girl of pleasing and refined manner and rather delicate physique, a retiring and ladylike creature. whom one would have expected to turn out a school-mistress. I heard the other day that in the years since our paths parted and I lost sight of her she has become a successful farmer. She was her father's pride, and very possibly he may have pinched himself when be sent her to col lege. At any rate, when he died, soon after her graduation, he left a large farm considerably in cumbered and one son too young to take his place as its manager. She was equal to the emergency, and has been running things ever since with eminent success. She raises a good many bops and has to deal with a pretty rough lot of people at picking time, but manages them famously. It is a curious instance of the sur vival of ancient superstitions that the neighbors, who like and respect her, generally think it a little too bad of her that she doesn't send her brother, now grown quite a big boy, to pay the taxes, but goes herself "just like a man." A somewhat similar case is that of a young woman of Nyack, N. Y.t whose father died, leaving to her about a hundred acres of rough, hilly land. Her neighbors advised her to sell it for a song and live on the proceeds while she learned type-writing or ac quired some distinctively feminine means of support. Instead, she stayed at home and planted blackberries. As soon as the bushes got big enough to bear she began making money, and has continued thus pleasantly engaged ever since. She has added strawberries and currants to her blackberries, and they do equally well. Mrs. M. Liouise Thomas, President of Sorosis, herself a successful farmer at one time, once told me about two Philadelphia teachers. who, after teaching a dozen years or so, resolved to break the chains of their thralldom and with tbeir small savings purchased a farm and went to raising hens. They are doing nicely and making plenty of money. Instance! like these in all parts of the country seem to indicate that women are invading agriculture as they have invaded nearly all other Imaginable professions. Of course women have always worked upon the farm, getting np at 4 o'clock in the morning to cook breakfast before the men are up, doing the breakfast dishes, cooking dinner, doing the dinner dishes, ironing or sweeping, cooking supper, doing tho supper dishes, and sitting up till midnight to wrestle with the heaped up mending basket all this women have bees doing on the farm right along and no one has denied them the right But here's an alarming innovation, for women are now becoming in large numbers farm managers and owners, and doing precisely as well in this most ambitious undertaking as the men. There is always this difference between a working woman and a working man as things go now. if the woman works for wages she will get less than the man for the some service. If she is her own boss she is subject only to the natural restrictions of competition, and can do, with equal ability and capital, precisely as well as the man. One of tbe biggest retail clothing stores about New York is owned and run to advantage by a woman. If she were a working tailor and made men's coats she would barely escape starvation. It's a very good thing, then, for a woman to manage her own business and stand an equal cnance in the worms competition instead of taking wages. Aud agriculture is a profession in some one of whose many branches it is very easy for a woman to manage a business of her owu. It is in the West that cases of this sort are most frequent The woman farmers of Nebras ka planted 50,000 trees last year. Women ranchers are numerous enough ifTalr the newer I States and Territories. In California the Pacific coast branch of the Collegiate Alumnae Association, intent on exact figures as usual, has collected some statistics of woman's work in agriculture. The results are remarkable, and a paper partially embracing them has been printed in the Overland Monthly, and attracted there much attention. In the Golden State the average size of all farms is 462 acres; tbe average size of the farms managed by women is 489 acres. A great many ot these farms are owned by widows, continuing their husbands' business, but many more, perhaps a half, were purchased or pre-empted. The women farmers of Cali fornia seem to havo turned their attention es pecially to the production of fruit, silk honey, flowers and poultry. One women hired Chinamen to pick the fruit from a small farm and made money, one year $4,000, one year $2,400; usually about $3,000. Another borrowed money at 10 per cent (!) to buy her farm, paid for it and won back her shattered health besides. Another advises co-operation, thinking that two or three women can do better by combining their heads, bands and money than by working alone. One farm of 5,000 acres is run by a woman. She inherited a half section, 320 acres, and has bought all the rest at various times. On the other hand, many of the most successful financially have less than 40 acres of land. But the successful women farmers do not all live west of the Mississippi. Some live along its lower banks, like the silkworm growers of the Gulf States, who have formed an association officered entirely by women and doing good work in the building up of a comparatively new industry, or like that woman who was made a member of the Sugar Planters' Association tbe other dav. with many compliments for her ex periments and researches, or like Mrs. Sailie D. Echols, of Jackson, riiss,, wno bas one or tne finest herds ot Jerseys in the South, or, like the hundreds and thousands of women throughout tbe South who have turned fingers unused to work and brains which never needed to consider economy to the hard tasks and harder problems which dropped from the shoulders of husbands and fathers killed in the war, upon tneirs. A good many of them live in tbe East, too. I know one woman who is one of the most successful florists in the suburbs of Boston and has great skill in coaxing fruit to grow in winter to sell for fabulous prices. feince the establishment of her greenhouses three men have undertaken to comnete with her. but they do not, all together. do a business anywhre near equaling hers, because they lack the .'Oman's taste in flowers. Another Massachusetts woman farmer of note is Miss Floretta Yining, of Hull, the largest tax payer and best farmer in tbe town. One of the biggest farms in JNew York is that of Mrs. Barnum, at Hempstead, Long Island. Mrs. Barnum hires about hf ty men most of the year, fane nas some i.ouu acres, i believe, or more than two square miles, of land. There are hun dreds of cattle upon it and many fine horses. Sne keeps a carpenter and a blacksmith on the farm to attend to its tinkering. She supervises every thing that is done on her premises, and does it well. Of course, too, there are plenty of women who farm for tbe fun of it, like Rose Coghlan at Yonkers, or like Mrs. Whitney, the fame of whose success as a poultry-raiser at Grasslands has become national. But there are plenty of women farmers dependent upon the land for a livelihood without referring to such fortune's favorites as these. Most of them, too, being women of unusual intelligence else would they, perhaps, be starving on the slim proceeds of fancy" work, with no fancy in it, or trying to walk in some of the well trodden con ventional ruts in which women travelers form such a packed procession that, poor creatures. they don't give one another room to standmost of them having had the good sense to think for themselves are as much at home in the drawing-room as planning the week's work for the hired men. The Kibbon Craze. Ccecial to the Indianapolis Journal. New York, Aug. G. Manufacturers of rib bons ought by this time to be retiring with large fortunes, far never in the history of mankind have ribbons been put to more varied uses. Not only is every available object in the bouse tied up with bows, but a gown or hat nowadays is of no conseauence unless adorned with innumerable loops and ends. I saw a summer costume the other day that was decorated with no less than ten pieces of ribbon, each piece containing ten yards. Velvet ribbon are used almost exclusively on thin white dresses and the effect is remarkably pretty. But great care should be used in selecting the shades. Many women think that because a certain tint is new or fash ionable it must necessarily be purchased and worn. Perhaps there have seldom been so many novel colors employed as now, but nearly all of them nre hideons beyond discription. Modern ingenuity can do very little to improve upon the old familiar shades, and if these flame colors,

impossible heliotropes, glaring pinks, bilious yellows and parrot greens are really to be adopted. then the women who wear them would do well to have their complexions done over to match since there is no facial coloring in nature that harmonizes with these dyes. Then a word as to sashes. No doubt sashes are fashionable, since nine women out of ten have them on. But the rule that regulates their use is the same that applies to leg-of-mutton sleeves and sailor ha's. They are becoming only to slim, youthful figures. Fashion does not exist, or at all events never was intend ed, for adipose tissue or the other extreme, bones. Very fat women and very thin women have nothing to do with.fashiona. Thev roust find a style of dress that suits them and stick to it. Perhaps the thin woman has a slight advantage ovSr her opposite. She, at all events, can put on puffed sleeves and that abominable invention called a bustle. But her stout sister had better leave such vanities alone. Nevertheless, she it is generally who sports the sailor hat, the ulster and the infant's sash, and danbtless she will always be the first to adopt a fashion, especially if it happen to be a conspicuous one. Clara Lanza. Women's Doings. Special to the IndianaDolis Journal. New York, Aug. 6. Breadths of carpet actually woven from designs made by the pupils, specimens of oil-cloth in shape for the floor and of wall paper ready to hang on the walls formed part of the exhibit sent from the New York School of Industrial Art for Women to the Industrial Exposition in Minneapolis this week.

It is only by giving industrial teaching such practical shape that it is of any value. Mis cellaneous bric-a-bric is often very pretty in its way, but for a steady living one must learn to produce in good shape something for which there is steady demand. Margaret Dale Owen, granddaughter of the famous Englishman whom the early communists gave such a warm welcome in this country, is writing and speaking in favor of an original dress-reform garb which is called the Dale-Owen robe. She has found hearers at parlor meetings in New York and may prove a rival to Mrs. Jenness Miller. The only time I ever met Miss Jennie Col lins, who labored at Boffin's Bower so many years among the working girls of Boston, and whose death has been severely felt in philanthropic circles, she told me that within one year five young women in whom sne bad been specially interested bad died of consumption. and three had drowned themselves because they were earning $3 a week and it was impossible for them to get twenty-one of the plainest meals for Jess tban that sum. To pay their rent and bnr clothing they had to live on a meal and a half a day. Miss Olga Neymann. a daughter of the wellknown lecturer, Mrs. Clara Neymann, and New York's one woman dentist, declares that she ia treated with the utmost courtesy by the masculine members of the profession, who welcome, her very cordially to their ranks and make her feel at home in a business in which she thinks a woman's delicacy of touch and care for details of special value. .Next to the pond lily, this summer's favorita flower is the pansy. A pretty toilet is of ecru linen embroidered with pansies and relieved bv collar, close cuffs below tbe nuffed sleeves, belt and panel of pansy-purple velvet The black straw hat is trimmed with purple ribbons and yellow wheat ears. The parasol is of the dress material trimmed with velvet bows. Miss Maria Parloa says that tbe child that has made mud-pies scientifically has acquired the exact turn of hand necessary to make a fish-ball or a Parker House roll scientifically. The moral is obvious: Let the mud-pies be made at the small cook's sweet wiil. Tbe usual exhilarating spectacle is presented at many of the watering-places of women waltz ing together in default of masculine partners. V ell, waltzing is pleasant exercise when it is not too hot E. P. Heaton. SOMETHING UNIQUE IN "WARFARE. A Bloody Straggle In Which the Old Were Pitted Against the Young Men. New York Sun. Dr. Wolf, the explorer of the Sankuru river. has just told some curious facts about the Baluba tribe, who are becoming distinguished among all the millions of tbe Congo basin for their eagerness to accept from the whites all the ways of living and the information that they think will benefit or improve them. Lone befora the whites knew them they were regarded by the neighboring tribes as a most remarkable people, and they are keeping up their refuta tion. . Until within the oast fifteen Years the Balnbj. keit themselves etrictlv senarate from theie neighbor. They bad no intercourse whatever with any other tribe. This is very unusual, for tne tribes tnroueboat Africa, if not quarreling with their neighbors, generally have many commercial dealings with them, and even In time of war the women of the hostile tribes sometimes mingle in perfect unity, exchanging their com modities. The young men among the Baluba finally decided that it would be better for tbeir tribe to cultivate relations with their neighbors and open tbe country to traders with other tribes. They had the support of their chief, but the old men and gray beards of the tribe set their faces sternly against the innovation. With the conservatism of old age they declared that such a step would ruin tbe tribe. As long as they lived, they said, they would never conseut that the Baluba should mix with other peoples. Each side was determined to have its way, and the quarrel grew more aud more bitter, until ic finally resulted in civil war. It was one of the most remarkable wars ever waged, for on one side were ranged tbe old men, the fathers and counselors of the tribe, while on the other side fought the youth and Insty strength of the Balub .. The sons were pitted against their elders, but in this case as in others that might be mentioned, conservatism was simply unprogressive narrowmindedness, and wisdom was with the younger party. The struggle was short and furious. It resulted in the complete overthrow of the Old men. The hatred engendered by this unnatnral war was so intense that the vanquished were nearly exterminated. Almost all tbe old men were killed or were thrown with their women into tbe Lulua. Then the young men opened tbeir doors to commerce. The Sun has recently told how many of these Baluba are adopting the dress of the whites and are fashioning their buildings on the model of those at Luluaburg Station. Dr. Wolf says tbey possess qualities that render them adept pupils in learning the arts of civilization. It is these people who decided a few years ago- that drunkenness was a crime and a disgrace, and who at once adopted the most energetic prohibitory measures. The stimulant used by the bibulous members of the tribe was palm wine. The tribe attacked the evil at its roots by cut ting down all the palm trees in the country, and the Baluba are to-day remarkable for their temperate habits. " Georgia Colonels and Sentiment Atlanta Constitution. "The second childhood of sentiment begins when a man has reached the age of thirty," feelingly remarked Colonel Glenn, as he whiffed the perfume from a real Havana cigar yesterday; "the most sentimental man is the man of thirty who bad no love affair when he was younger, but who has saved and reserved what might be called the 'sentimental force' until that age, and then turns it toward some devoted object It has the air and freshness of youth, with the strength and vigor of manhood. There is more ideality and less selfishness in it than there is in a younger man. and tbe influence of it upon the life of a man of that age can not be over-estimated." "I would give everything in the world that I have if I could get back to that puppy-dog love of my younger days," said a well known bachelor of the Senate, and the two, Glenn and the Senator, allowed tbeir minds to go back to the memories of other days. The conversation was long aud sweet, and about three hours afterwards when the reporter met Colonel Glenn, ha wiped away a tear, and with infinite sweetness and pathos quoted: It is better to have loved and lost ; Than never to have loved at all." The Austrian Empress at Cromer. Fail Mall Gazette. . - The Empress of Austria, who is staying at Cromer, is, we hear from a correspondent at that watering place, every day mobbed in a most disgraceful fashion. Whenever she appears on the sauds or cliff an ill-mannered crowd hems her in, and stares at ber as if she were a chimpanzee or an Irish giant, besides making offensive remarks which cennot fail to reach ber ears. What appears most to astonish the mob, who probably expected her to parade the beach for their amusement in imperial crown and purple, is tfcs feet that the Empress dresnes very plainly and evidently wishes to enjoy herself quietly and to avoid a fuss. The Cromer fishermen, who are an honest plain-spoken tribe, openly express disgust at the conduct or the visitors and wonder why the Empress, who has already made herself very popular amoug the beaehmen, cannot take a bathe or go for a. sail "without all them fuses a-garpin at her." Prices in Cromer. by the way, have been doubled in consequence of the visit cf the j Empress, and lodgings, for which there is an enormous demand, are letting at unheard ef : prices. j