Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1886 — Page 3

GREAT GUNS.

Soldiers' Stirring Stories of Solid Shot, Screaming Shells, Big Battles, Bursting Bombs, Buzzing Bullets, and Bright 1 A Yankee Trick. If in order I want to tell another old'bat good story on Donovan, of the “Dully Company —, last in the field and first out. ” Prior to Company H, Thirteenth Vermont, going to Camp Carusi they were encamped at Wolr Ituu Shoals, Virginia. The weather was cold, the ground frozen and covered with suow. Many of the boys became sick and many died in spite of the comforts and care we gave to them. We soon became accustomed to death, but not, as some writers say, indifferent. Among the sick was old Sam 0— —. He ! was a very peculiar man. He had a combinittion of the funny qualities of Mark Twain’s characters,“Jim Blain and Scotty.” In' telling a story he “discounted with big odds” nil dictionaries known. He was not at a loss for big words in any language, original or manufactured, for the occasion. His conversation was a mixed up lot of nonsense composed of railroad switches, hardware stores, card-playing terms, and border slang, as “you bet,” “now you are a wolf.” and “now you are bowling,” etc. Often be was very high-tondd and used the most absurd and laughable Boston English. At the time of which I write Sam was, as he said, “on level grade and trying to make a flying switch, and would get there on time howling, if the track wasn't greased.” He meant that he was convalescent, and would soon be out. Donovan, who had waited on him through his illness, had just come in, and overhearing Sam's talk, exclaimed: “Howly Moses, Sam! Yez ate enough fer two men, and I’ll have ye in the boneyard beyant before yez get forninst the switch, so ” "Hush! St. Paddy, enumerate not your adolescent rooster ere he ceases to be oviform,” replied Sam, with a comical gravity. “Poruk and beans! poruk and Bostin,” yelled Pat, “and what does ye say?” “I said I would show you a Yankee trick when I got w ell which you could play on the greenhorns.” “Now, Sammy, I’ll bet yez fifty cints ye don't, ” and with a lot of chaffing at each other the matter dropped for two days,Then the wily Sam, who had been closely eying Donovan, saw that he had been drinking freely, took out a two-dollar bill and smoothed it carefully for a long time, till the watchful and half-intoxicated Donovan exclaimed: “An who yez been robbin’, Sam? Give me that.” “What! gif yon zwei tollar! Not much, Mickey, me jack pot of Emerald Isle. I’ll go you one better, and bet you can't stand there by the bunk and hit my hand on the wall. Is it a go, Shamrock?” “An’ the ten shilling is mine at onc.et?" said Donovan. “Yes, if you can hit my flipper. If you don’t, you owe me a tvvo-dollar William.” “Done!” said Pat, putting up the money. "Sam rolled over to the wall and put his big hand up, spreading out his fingers. Pat squared off at the front side of the bunk (which was a wide one and he could just reach the wall); he took careful aim, and let fly a tremendous blow at Sam’s hand. Sam quickly dropped his hand, and Donovan’s fist hit the rough board a blow that split it and caused tin cups and bottles to jingle and fall to the floor. “Poruk and banes! Bostin banes!” yelled Sam, with a roar of laughter. “Bad luck to ye!” groaned Donovan, shaking his bleeding fist. “It's a Yankee trick sure! Hush! Here comes the man yon licked the other day. Play the trick on him like this. Bet him a dollar he can’t hit your hand, and ” Before Sam could further explain, Joe, of Company B, came in, and Sam began a lo’ of his nonsense, but managed to get Pat and Joe to betting on man}' things, and first winking slyly at Joe, then at Pat, and had the two all mixed up, and hot at each other. Just os five of us came in, Joe, who was always polite, took off his hat, bowed, and started for the door, to leave us. This made Tat mad, and he'called out. “Bad cess to ye, me hop o’ me thumb! f~~bct ~ytr ten hhilling- yez oant> hit .tag hand, ye Bostin Yank, so I will.” Joe look id -at-us, and than at Sain, who winked and said something about a flying switch and exhaust pipe too full, etc. Joe borrowed Sam's two dollars, and said: “Well, Pat, put up your Laud. I’ll try it, but I don't catch on to your game.” “Put up your duke, Pat,” said Sam, who had his hand over his nose. And to our surprise Pat put his hand ov%r his nose, and said, with great emphasis and confidence: “Ten shilling yez can’t hit me hand!” ! Quick as a cat. Joe struck from his shoulder at Pat’s hand. Quick as he was, Pat was quicker. He pulled away his hand, and consequently received Joe’s blow upon his nose, and instantly measured his length on the floor, with blood streaming profusely from his nose and mouth, and eyes rabidly swelling. Joe bounded like a deer ont of the door.' We stood dumfound-" ed. Sam’s low voice and words, “Disasters will eventuate even in hospital of supremest integrity,” brought us to ourselves, aud we roared and veiled with laughter; and Sam was the lon lest and most boisterous. Pat bounded to his feet, and yelled: “Give me the twenty shilling! He hit not me hand, but moi-nose. He’s lost the" bet> ” Again we yelled till our sides ached, and had to lean on the chairs for support. After a little we became cooler, our laughter subsided, and turned to Sain for the money. He lay on his back, his eyes distended and dilated, a grin stretched I is big mouth almost from ear to ear. out of which oozed a stream of blood. The surgeon hastened to raise his head, and asked how he felt. Sam feebly rais *d Ms h ind, and in reply to Pat’s intimation that it was another Yankee trick, faintly—said; “A greased track, pard. Switch turned!” and died.— Chicago Ledger, > Is That Grist-Mill Still Standing? While on a raid under General Stoneman, near the close of the war, passing through a wild ancTbarren regibivwe found ourselves short of rations for both men and horses. Although foraging at that time in tfyat section of oountry was considered rather dangerous, I, for one, resolved to run the risk; and agreed with a comrade to leave the command at the first diverging road we came to, and see what we could see. The road proved to be but little traveled, find for about trmiie seemed-ter -gradually -de--scend down, down, until we discovered a stream of water, and, to onr surprise and delight, something resembling a grist-mill. But was tltat all we discovered? Oh, no! There were four horses hitched near the mill, and their four riders seemed to be intently busy in and about the mill. Who and what are they? Johnnies? was the allabsorbing question in onr minds as we cautiously approached them. But we soon recognized them as belonging to onr

own command—boys of the Twelftg Ohio and Eleventh Michigan Cavalry. Hastily dismounting, we hitched our horses and entered the mill, saluting them with: “Hello, boys! What are yon doing here?” “Why, we are hying to get tips confounded thing started. Do you fellows know anything abont a water-mill—how to start it or manage it?” ! “Ob, yes! Just turn on the water and let her go.” “Well, the water is on, but the provoking thing won’t start.” “But she’i got to, that’s all.” ’ Sure enough, in a few minutes away she went. The hopper was filled up witn com we found in the mill; und, although we did not obtain a very tine grind, we each supplied ourselves with about a gallon of the precious yellow dust, more precious just then than the gold dust of California. And mounting our horses we hastened to rejoin tfie command, leaving the old grist mill to stop when she got ready, for it is one thing to start a mill, but another... to. stop it. Joseph Banks, ''Company B, Twelfth#. V. C. Vanderbilt, Michigan. A Close Call. Some time in the month of February, 18(12, our regiment, the First New York, was stationed at Camp Bfitler, Newport News, Va. One morning a squad of twelve men was sent ont, under Lieutenant Melville, on a reconuoitering expedition, to spy put the laud. We started in the morning, very early, and at about nine o’clock were in the neighborhood of Little Bethel. Being hungry, we went to a log house of good size anil appearance. We asked for break;ast. They said it would be a pleasure for them to get us something to eat, as they were good Union people. While breakfast was being prepared I engaged the owner of the farm in conversation. I asked him how far it was to the Confederate lines. He said a regiment of cavalry was stationed in a piece of .woods about three-quarters of a mile away, pointing out the wood. After a while-the old man was gone. I looked, and saw him go behind the barn, and, by some means, I saw him beyond the barn, making for the woods before. poinled-Qut. I. told Lieutenant Melville something was wrong, and that we had better get out. He rather thought not, but, having iny suspicions aroused, I was on the lookout. Soon I saw about fifty cavalry coming at full speed, and perhaps as many more infantry. I gave the alarm and the men made for a swamp, a few rods from the house, in the direction we had come. As we reached the swamp an old darky Woman I had seen there was waving a handkerchief at us and making motions for us to take to the swamp instead of crossing the corduroy road. The cavalry came up to the swamp, but could not follow us. There were a few random shots fired, but without effect. We got out of the swamp near our lines about one o’clock, wet, muddy and hungry. Two weeks after we again visited the same locality. The old darky woman came into camp with us, and was there when our regiment left. When questioned about tj e matter she said,“ Why, bress you, homes, if yon had not took to de swamp dey would have had you, suah. ” Übiaij Atwood-,-™*-Company G, First New York Infantry. TnoupsnuuoH, Now York. Unknown. 'lt was all over at last, and the poor, weary soldier slept. For days he had moaned and struggled with fever. When the surgeon came on his morning round John Bryant lay very still and white, his ashen lips wearing a smile which had been caught and frozen by the angel Death. Just who he, was no one could tell; he had been brought into the hospital very sick, and continued delirious. His name on the register was John Bryant; that was all they knew of him. He was a man of medium proportions, with an open, intelligent face. The dear, kind nurse, as she soothed him, had heard him murmur “Darling Mary,” “Precious children,” something of a prayer, and of a long, long, weary journey. His body was carefully buried, but the inquiries made concerning him proved useless. No one came to bewail John Bryant’s death or to claim his effects, the soiled clothing he wore when brought to the hospital. Before the latter was disposed of, however, according to hospital rules, it was carefully searched. The pockets contained nothing; but in the inside of tlie jacket, under a strong patch, evidently stitched on phawwl-oioso.against the, place where his strong, manly heart beat—lay a picture^,- .. . There was the “darling Mary.” the young, sweet wife, her delicate lips parted with a loving smile, above which softly gazed her hazel eyes. Sitting on her lap, with one dimpled hand clasping a long brown curl which had strayed over her shoulder, was the baby, a wee, fair thing. There, too, clinging to either side, were the “precious children,” the little girl and boy. Ah! ’twas these who must make the “long, long, weary journey” of life ere they all meet again. These lustrous eyes grew dim and weary, and yet no tidings. Their souls grew faint and sick with waiting. John Bryant was at rest. * The Saving Power of Whisky. General Steedman was fond, of telling the following instance of what liquor would sometimes do: The night after the battle of Chickarnauga, Hteedman was riding past a cabin bythe roadside. A woman at the fence said to him: “There is a dead Union officer in niv house.” Kteedman dismounted and went in to see the dead man. He found him lying in a corner, covered with a blanket, where the surgeon had- abandoned .him,He pulled the covering off, stooped down, and, by the"light of a candle, recognized his old friend, Colonel Durbin Ward. He was cold and apparently lifeless. Steedman felt his pulse, and found a slight fluttering. Calling for his orderly, who carried a canteen of whisky, he raised the dying man, and, putting the canteen to his month, poured a liberal quantity of the reviving fluid down his throat. The reaction came, the surgeons were sent lor, and Durbin Ward was saved. He never got done thanking Steedman, and ha never could listen with pa-, tienee to a temperance orator decrying spirits thereafter. “I am a living example,” he used to say, “of the saving power of even commissary whisky.” —Chicago Ledger. First Regiment in Fort Wagner. Having had experience at the front from the very I write it Our regiment was at the battle of Winchester. Went to release McClellan on the peninsula. We were all through the siege of Folly anti Morris Islands; were thefirst regiment in Fort Wagner. Our flag was first planted. We helped to mount that historic gun, the*“Swamp Angel.” I draw a pension for injnries received while building a two-hundred-p und battery on Morris Island from a SLell thrown from Sumter. We were also with General Grant on the James, and at Duvall’s Bluff our company lost twenty-seven men in an hour and j a half. One dav when we were on .picket duty j

Colonel Hamel, of the Fifth Pennsylvania, came along and said, “Boys, do you see any Johnnies about here?*’ We replied, “There’s enough of them here, but they do not show themselves.” He replied, “I will find them—make them show themselves— : you shoot them.” He climbed a big stump, and there he stood to draw their tire, which he did right soon, and standing there as a target, pointed out to us, fThere, behind yon stump—von brush-pile—see—glW it to “them, boys,” and “bang,” “bang” west our shaipsbooters at where the smoke shoamd the enemy was firing at Colonel HamelV He was a brave officer. \ He was in command of our brignde at New Bottom Church. We drove the enemy there, then fell back tq our lines, when we were followed by one of their officers, who rode up and exhorted us to hold that position at all hazards. We told him we guessed ho was out of his jurisdiction, when he wheeled and tried to escape, but a volley brought down his horse, wounding him. When, he found himself a prisoner he became very anxirius for our safety, saying, “Tnke me to the rear, so my men may not find out my fate, or they will massacre the whole of you.” He was General Walker. Our Captain replied that wo were able to take care of ourselves. After a while they sent a flag of truce to learn what had become of him. During the nionotouy of picket duty, when our lines were close together, we used to converse and thide with the. Johnnies. One day Captain Williams was officer of thd day, and gave strict orders that there should be no trading. But along in the afternoon he gave a soldier a fine pocketknife with a note attached, asking for its worth in tobacco, and told him to throw it over. The knife was thrown over, but no tobacco ever came back for it. He violated his own order, and lost bis knife. v , F. M. Holloway. Farmer City, 111. Southern Wit. Officers of both sides, the blue and the gray, were sometimes thrown together to negotiate affairs, and frequently became quite friendly. Such was the state of things between General Ould, Commissioner of Exchange, and Colonel Schaffer, chief of staff to General Butler, who at the time of this narrative was in charge at New Orleans. They had occasion to meet very often, their bearing toward each other was/ most kindly; ana they personally became great friends. gj> They were, one day, together looking over the map of the State of Virginia. It will.be necessary here to recall the fact that Richmond was at that time still “holding out.” It occurred to Colonel Schaffer that City Point was geographically situated to become a great commercial and commanding city. Said he: “I am amazed that it had not become one before the war, and,” enthusiastically continuing, “if I had the capital I would invest it on its site. I would be willing to invest my all. It is bound to be a great city. ” Quid, with suppressed merriment and a twinkle in his eye, interrupted him with: “It seems to me, Colonel, if I may venture an opinion, that it would be better just at present to take a city already built;” The hint was broad enough, and goodnaturedly taken. A Fallen Foe. After the battle was oyer at Shiloh, on Tuesday, I was detailed for picket duty. I, with two of iny comrades, was sent to the right of the Purdy road, on the brow of a hill near where the reserve was stationed. The night was one of unusually black darkness, aud we had orders to shoot on sight. I was slightly in advance of my two comrades, and in a most solitary spot. Along about four o’clock I heard some one coming through the brush. I had no time to consult my comrades, for on he came. I shouted “Halt!” My foe stopped. “Who comes there?” No reply, but on he came. I called again and then fired. I was frightened, and my heart was in my mouth. I heard something drop heavily to the ground, accompanied by a groan equal to the signal of a fog-horn. My shot brought Lieutenant Green, of my company, to the post. He with my comrades wanted to know what the shot meant. I said, “I have shot some one in that thicket, for I heard him groan.” With the aid of a lantern which the Lieutenant had brought, we proceeded to carefully investigate. We had not far to go until we came upon a dead mule, shot as fairly between the eyes as you please. If any of my comrades see this I should he glad to hear from them. _ William Pkott. Mt. Vernon, Ohio. ’ V~ ' Bridge Lumber. • j r, —— The writer was at Green Bay, Wis., one day during the second year of the war, when an order was received for certain specified sticks of square timber. The logs to make them were not in the pond. When the case was laid before him he at once thought of a clump of pines standing near the Fox River, a few miles above, and visited the old French half-breed who owned them, and at once bargained for and purchased them. It was summer, and warm work, but in a few days those trees were in the river at the mill, and in a few “Hours more were sawn 1 into square" timber for bridges. These pieces were at once loaded unon the cars and expressed from Fort Howard to some point in Tennessee,' for rebuilding destroyed railrofid bridges. I was afterward informed that Within teg days from the cutting of those trees in Northern Wisconsin they were standing in Teunessee. bridges and doing duty in the work of forwarding men and supplies to the front. An old French half-breed who stood by when this fact was being stated remarked: “Dreadful poor pine. Those timbers all rot in four year.” “That’s long enoughin four years the United States will have no need for those bridges.” This little fact shows the remarkable facility with which freights were handled lona distances in war times.— Chicago Ledger. It Was a Good Job. The following good one on General Doubleday is told hv Colonel W. A. James: When we were in the defenses before Washington, in 1861, General Double,day, a rigid martinet, was in command of the brigade, which was made up almost entirely pf young and untrained soldiers. One of them, a tank and overgrown Westerner, was doing picket duty one day when Doubleday, glorious in gilt and brass, rode by on his charger, accompanied by his entire staff. As they passed the big Westerner stared at them with open-mouthed wonder, and neglected to salute. The General noticed the error, and rode ba k with fire in his eye, -———i TiliK “What is your name?” he asked the picket. “v" ™-==— —j The picket fold him. "Well, Lain General Donldeday, commanding the defenses of Washington.” “Are ye, indeed?” said the soldier, nonchalantly. “Waal, ye hev a gosh-firtd fine j job, and I hope ye can ihold it.” The General galloped off again without a 1 word.

RELIGIOUS BENEFITS OF SUPERSTITION.

How It Hiw Helped Out Religious Sentlment In the Past. j v ‘“ • [Atlantia Monthly, j But superstition, it is claimed, begets cruelty, and cruelty is a vice now most rigorously frowned down bv polite society. Daring spirits like Mr. Besant may still urge its claims upon our reluctant consideration. Mr. Andrew Lang may pronounce it an essential element of humor, or a purely speculative genius like Mr. Pater, may venture to show how adroitly it eau he used as a help to religious sentiment; but every age has vet vices of its own, and, being singularly intolerant of those it has discarded, is not inclined to listen to any arguments in thoir favor. Superstition burned old women for witches, dotards for warlocks, and idiots for werewolves; hut in its gentle aspect, it often threw a vail of charity over man and beast. The Greek rustic, who found a water newt wriggling in his gourd, tossed the little creature hack into the stream, remembering that it was the unfortunate Asealapius, wliom the wrath of Demeter hath consigned to this loathsome doom. The mediaeval housewife, when startled by a gaunt wolf gazing through her kitchen window, bethought her that this might be her lost husband, roaming helpless and bewitched, and so gave the starving creature food. O was it war wolf in the wood? Or was it mermaid in the sea? Or was it man, or vile woman? Mj ain true love, that misshaped thee? The West Indian negress still bestows chicken soup instead of scalding water on the invading army of black ants, believing that if kindly treated they will show their gratitude in the only way that ants can manifest it —by taking their departure. Granted that in these acts of gentleness there are traces of fear and selfconsideration ; but who shall say that all our good deeds are not built upon some such trestle work of foibles ? “La virlu n’iroitpas si loin, si la vanite ne luitenoitpas compagnie.” And what universal politeness has been fostered by the terror that superstition breeds, what delicate euphemisms containing the very soul of courtesy! Consider the Greeks, who christened the dread furies “Eumenides,”or “gracious ones ;”' the Scotch who warily spoke of the devil as the “good man,” lest his sharp ears should catch a more unflattering title; the Dvak, who respectfully mentions the small-pox as “the chief;” the East Indian who calls the tiger “lord” or “grandfather;” and the Laplander, who gracefully alludes to the white bear as “the fur-clad one,” arid then realize what perfection of breeding was involved in what we are wont to call ignorant credulity. Again, in the stress of Modern life, how little room is lsft for that most comfortable vanity which whispers in our ears that failures are not faults! Now we are taught from infancy that yce must rise or fall upon our own merits; that vigilance wins success, and incapacity means ruin. But before the world had grown so pitilessly logical there was no lack of excuses for the defeated, and of unflattering comments for the strong. Did some shrewd Cornish miner open a rich vein of ore; then it was apparent to his fellow toilers that the knackers had been at work, leading him on by their mysterious tapping to this more fruitful field. But let him proceed warily, for the knacker, like its German brother, the kobold, is but a capricious sprite, and some day may beguile him into a mysterious passage or long forgotten chairiber in the mine, whence he shall never more return. His bones will whiten in their prison, while his spirit, wandering restlessly among the subterranean corridors, will be heard on Christmas eve, hammering wearily away till the gray dawn brightens in the east. Or did some prosperous farmer save his crop while his neighbor’s corn was blighted, and raise upon liis small estate more than their broader was no opportunity afforded him for pride or self-congratulation. Only the witch’s art could bring about such strange results, and the same sorceries that jhad aided him had, doubtless, been the ruin of his friends. He was a lucky man if their indignation went no further than muttered phrases and averted heads. Does not Pliny tell us the story of Cuius Furius Cresius, whoseheavy crops awoke such mingled anger and suspicion in his neighbors’ hearts that he was accused in the courts of conjuring their grain and fruit into his own scanty ground? If a woman aspired to be neater than her gossips, or to spin more wool than they were able to display, it was only because the pixies labored for her, at night; turning her wheel briskly in the moonlight, splitting the wood and drawing the water, while she drowsed idly in her bed. - / *■’■ •- V’ Anl every night the pixieo good Drive round the wheel%ith sound subduel, And leave—in thfs they never fail—- _ A silver penny in the pail. Even to the clergy this engaging theory brought -its consolations. When tl/e Reverend Lucas Jacobson Debes, pastor of Thorsliaven in 1670, found that liis congregation was growing slim, ha was not forced, in bitterness of spirit, to ask himself were his sermons dull, but promptly laid all the blame upon the biergentrold, the specters of the mountains, whom he angrily accused in a lengthy homily, of disturbing his flock, and even pushing their discourtesy so far as to carry them off bodily before bis discourse was completed.

Frontier Discipline.

The Argentine Republic employs a corps of frontier guards, largely recruited from the roving tribes of the pampas, but controlled by SpanishAmerican officers, who seem to enforce subordination by rather peculiar methods. Two or three representative warriors of each tribe are kept under the surveillance of a squad of trusty veterans, and at the first symptom of mutiny these hostages are cornered and - watched at the muzzle of a cocked revolver, while the officer negotiates with tlie Convicted mutineers, however, are no longer flogged, a disrate which their kin nneu would avenge :d_all risks, but either shot outright or or lered to run for their lives, followed after a quarter of a minute by a longrange volley of musket-balls.

POPULAR SCIENCE.

. r Db. E. Pabmly Brown declares that the excessive use of salt is one of the main factors in the destruction of hu-,, man teeth. - l ' Sib Henry Thompson holds that ar tificial teeth are an evil in those of advanced years, because they enable such persons to masticate flesh. When the teeth fail naturally, it is nature’s design that the individual should subsist on vegetable diet. The earthquakes recorded in 1885, according to Monsier 0. Detaille, numbered 246, of which only six were felt in North America. January, with fortynine earthquakes, had the greatest number for any month, and October, with eleven, the smallest. Instantaneous photographs of the hearts and intestines of various animals have enabled Dr. W. G. Thompson to determine the action of the organs more dearly and accurately than is possible by other methods. Such photographs may prove of great value in showing changes effected by drugs, as well as in their physiological teachings. The glaciers of the Alps have been found by Forel to change in size quite regularly—a period of growth of fifteen to thirty years being followed by a corresponding period of diminution. The increase seems to coincide with periods of cold and wet yeiirs, and the decrease with periods of warm and dry seasons. Since 1875 the glaciers have been growing. Prof. Dewar, of London, has succeeded in solidifying oxygen by means of the intense cold which results when liquid oxygen is allowed to expand in a partial vacuum. The frozen oxygen resembles snow, and has a. temperature of about 330 degrees below zero. These experiments are expected to throw some light on what is called the absolute zero of temperature. _ The active principle of cod liver oil, of which it forms from one and a half to six per cent., lias been Obtained by Mr. Lafarge, of Paris, and is said to have given excellent results when used in place of the crude oil. The shbstance is called morrhuol, and contains twelve times as much iodine, bromine, and phosphorus as the origirial oil, with none of the fat. The deepest boring yet made is said to be at Schladebach, near the line between Leipsic and Corbetha. It has been made by the Prussian Government for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of coal, and was bored with diamond drills. Its depths is 1390 meters, or 4,560 feet, its breadth at the bottom two inches, and at the top eleven inches. The temperature at the bottom indicates 118 degrees F. Chronic tea-poisoning, according to Dr. W. N. Bullard, is a frequent affection, the most common symptoms of which are loss of appetite, dyspepsia, palpitation, headache, vomiting and nausea, combined with nervousness and hysterical and neuralgic affections, frequently accompanied by constipation and pain about the heart. Among adult women the average amount needed to cause poisonous symptoms is a little less than five cups daily, but the young and weak are more gpsily affected.

Skipper Tom’s Snappers.

Capt. Tom Kelly, now dead, was one of the pioneers in the Riqtrade and a man full of Irish wit, says the Baltimore Herald. The last boat he commanded was the brig Lapwing. The captains of other vessels used to call her Tom Kelley’s wooden shoe. Capt. Kelly got into a little difficulty with the custom-house officials in Rio at one time. He was hauled up for trial and accused as a Frenchman for violating the customs rules of Brazil. “A Frenchman, did ye soy?” said Capt. Kelley. “Be jabers, did ye iver see a Frenchman with as big a foot as that?” and he held up his big feet. The court of inquiry laughed and let Capt. Tom go. old pioneers were, by the Rio customhouse officers, wbo in the old daysr -persisted in even searching a man’s pocket when he landed there. While the Captain was loading in Baltimore for Rio one day a. colored man with tw o snapping turtles about a third grown boarded his brig and offered the turtles for sale. “Phat ye want for ’em!” asked the captain. “Quarter-dollar apiece.” “How long will they live?” “Live till dey die, boss, ’en sometimes longer. Doan want ter feed, ’em, nuther.” “I’ll take ’em,” says the captain. Hiuput the t snappers in a box and placed them in the cabin. He nursed them carefully and watched them closely until he got back to Rio. coat, although it was warm, and put a snapper in each pocket. He landed at the Palais steps and started up to the custom house. Ah officer got on each side of him, bowing and saying “Bono capitono, bono Americano,’’ and each one thrust a hand in Capt. Kelley’s overcoat pocket. The snappers grabbed a finger of each of the hands and tlie air was blue with Brazilian oaths, but the turtles wouldn’t let go. The officials begged the captain to stop and release them, but he pretended not to know what was the matter, and, telling them that he was in a hurry, dragged them along to the custom house. When he got there the men’s hands were taken from liis pockets with a snapper clinging to each, and the turtles’ heads had to be cut off before they would release their hold. The chief of the custom house was angry, and was about to reprimand Cajjt. Kelly when he told him that lie hail; brought the turtles as a present to him, j and lie had no idea that his subordinates would attempt td rob him on the way. Capt. Kelley’s * pockets were never searched after that.

A Good Book-Keeper.

Smith—Say, didn’t you tell me that young Jones was a good book-keeper ? Fogg—Why, yes, I believe I did. Smith—Well, he aint;he can’t tell an inventory from a flexible roller. Fogg—All I know is, that I loaned him about half of my library and he has never returned them, so I supposed he was a good book-keeper. —Detroit Free Press. : “ W here do yon find the funny-bone ?” asked a professor of anatomy. “In the humor-wrist," answered a student.

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—Secretary Metcalf, of the ,State Board of' Health, has returned from Clinton County, where the members of the Board ' have jfieen looking after the plenro-pneu-monia. The farmers throughout that section of the State, ho reports, are badly frightened over the existence of the disease, nnd nothing the Board can do seems to pacify them. All the iitiported cattle were killed, except- nineteen head tielonging to a Mr. Snider, who refused to kill his. The farmers killed the cattle themselves, on the advice of the Board, and will petition the coming Legislature for relief from their loss. The County of Clinton was quarantined for ninety days, and orders were left to see that the quarantine was rigidly enforced. Gov. Gray has telegraphed the Commissioner of Agriculture at 'Washington to send immediately a competent veterinary snrgeon to treat the disease. There are four cases ;pT~ lEe”'diSease in Jasper County, bnt the State Board has ao fear of its spreading there, as the farms have been under quarantine for some time. The cattle, Secretary Metcalf nays, did not conie "“direct?}’ from Ohio to this State, as has been reported, but were shipped irom Sherman, N. Y., to Steiner Brothers, of Bluffton, Ohio, where they were no.t unloaded, but were sent on into this State and Illinois. —An accident occurred at Columbus that will likely cost two men their lives and injured three others. A gang of men were erecting a water tank for the railroad, anil hail a guy rope stretched across the track to support a derrick. The rope was too low, and the smoke-stack of an incoming train struck and broke it while the men were raising a heavy piece of timber, aud the derrick fell, prostrating every one of tlie men. Milton Robinson, the foreman, an old mnn, was injured* in the chest, shoulder, unil head; he hns since been unconscious, and will scarcely recover. Jacob Weaver was struck on the head, and was supposed to be dead, but revived anil may possibly live. William Fennison had a shoulder dislocated, and William Elliott and Charles Whipker were knocked down, but not seriously injured. —Hon. John W. Holcombo, Superintendent of Public Instruction, is at work upon his thirteenth biennail report, and nearly 200 pages are now in type. The volume will be an unusually interesting one, prosy statistics being eliminated as far as possible. The report shows a steady improvement in school matters during the pa#t two years. Nearly four millions of the common school fund is invested in 6 per cent, bonds. The total amount of the fund is $9,455,085, and a portion is loaned at 8 per cent, interest, with real-estate security. The several colleges of Indiana are shown to be in a prosperous condition. The high standard of excellence attained by Indiana’s schools is recognized by many older states, —Martha Duncan is an old colored woman who lives near the government depot in Jeffersonville. The other day she fonnd a bottle containing what she supposed to be medicine for rheumatism. In fact, it was labeled as such. Being a sufferer from that disease, she applied the contents of the bottle, which proved to be nitrate of silver. Blood-poisoning set in, and she cannot possibly recover. The flesh is almost burned off her lower limbs, and she will live but a few days at the farthest.', v -?:- —The gas well at Fort Wayne still continues to keep its regular flow, and arrangements are now completed by which the gas is prevented from escaping. The projectors believe that they are on the edge of a gas belt, and are now making experiments for the purpose of sinking another welL The new well will probably be sunk ai some distance from the present one, and the company are confident they will yet strike a bonanza. —. —Michael Cauiff, a Lafayette laborer, attempted To crawl'under a freight train that bkreked-his pathway. The train started up suddenly, and Caniff, unable to get through, lost his presence of mind, was thrown down, the train running over and crushing one of his legs to a jelly. The injured man was taken to the St. Elizabeth Hospital, where, upon examination, an amputation was performed, but the man sank and died. —The surviving members of the Twelfth Indian Infantry Volunteers will hold their first reunion since the war in Warsaw, on Thursday, Nov. 25—the anniversary of the battle of Missionary Ridge. M. D. Gage, the beloved chaplain of the Regiment, will be present at the reunion, he now being in the State on a visit from hie home in California. Every officer and enlisted man of the “old command” is urged and expected to nttcud. In the State Reform Scfcpol for boys there are 516 inmates, being much the largest number ever in the institution. During the year 211 were released on tickets. Since the opening in 1868 then ’ have been admitted nearly 5,500. They have made 350,000 bricks daring the past summer and added a great many improvements about the, building, —ln transferring the remains of a child of Rev. A. Marine, buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, at Richmond, twenty-six years ago, to Earlham Cemetery, it was discovered that the features were still plainly recognizable, and* the little lace collar about its neck was seemingly as perfect as ever. Morgan, who was stabbed by John Opp during a call upon the latter’s daughter, near Lafayette, has fled on learning of the death of Miss Opp, to whom he had been paying attentions while he had a wile and family in Maryland. —Minnie Helyie, aged 6 years, only daughter of Sanjuel Helvie, a leading citizen of. Anoka, Cass County, was burned to death. She was playing around the fire, when her clothes canght, and before assistance arrived she was horribly burned, and. died soon after. —The voters of Knightstown have decided to erect a public building for town purposes, and its coustruciion will be undertaken at once. —One-balf of the town of Wolcott, including Peck’s Hole) and the Christian Church, was destroyed by tire.