Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1879 — Page 1

MB Lt ABLY ttBEUBLiCBM. __Published Evert Saturday.— —KT—MERVIN O. CIBBEL. t asm ax s: Om* copy, one Y««r.._, * •* 39 six monthly - • j*j • tLire* month* • w urric*:- In T*opol<i'» BnlUling, \ip rear Room.

MF.ZZOTTKT POETR V. The lartlmdream In the pataelMj *>•>'• TheVrtrteet.- creek In the prickful betige, Ttie bootn in the podding -edge. And the wh.-.poe whoop. 1U veepeTKy. Awity - Ibthe twilight m»n and grmy. Two lover, .troll In “*ejdlnUng gloomMis hand in her’n and ber’n in hl», She l.lu.he. deep- he U talking hi*. Tiiev bun* wid pop m they llatle* mnm - They room*Tl» late When they get back borne. ’’("ln where*the crwpfol ley *row*, {town where the »wejet MMtartiani blow., A Uix-toed pttrentllM in w^t— In waft— Kor the maiden and her mate. the cricket* creak and the bullfrog* The w?mm>poc wall In the dlatant dell— Their tearfuithrobn tail ne erdlapel The planted pstn and the rooted gloom , The gloom , Of. he lover*, dlamal ‘' oo ™ l>>ndon F|garo .

A COURIER’S STORY.

Htfper’n.Weckly. My name i* Carl Johann lUxfckel. By birtli ami nationality I an» a But cosmopolitan in every taste and habit. In my early days I regularly followed the profession of as I do now occasionally when any of my old natrousor their friends require such services, which la rather infrequent, the taste of the traveling public having degenerated into hasty journeys by express trains, which the consequent loss .ot all enjoyment of the different phases of scenery through which the travelers are passing. In the course 1 of my many years’ experience I have been witness to many strange occurrences, have assisted in manv a secret and adventurous undertaking, and have been subject to many perils. From among such varied experiences I give tlie following strange story, suppressing tor obvious reasons the real names of those interested: Many years ago I was engaged as «*ourier U> liis Excellency the Honorable Frederick Eslington, KiutMHsador Extraordinary, of 111-. Britannic Majesty King George, on a special secret mission to one of the greut t’outineutal p iwera. Having finished hisduties and successfully at tallied the oqject of bis mission, we started on our homeward journey in the summer of 18—. The period was one to be long remembered, from the political excitement which existed throughout all Europe, almost every government having unsheathed the sword. We had traveled a considerable part of the first stage of our return journey, when his Excellency, who was feeding the fatigues of the incessant traveling in the heavy, rumbling carriage, said he should ship at the next town we arrived at and take rest ami refreshment, both of which he was in meed of, besides having important state docuineuts to transcribe. In due course we arrived at the small town of 8 , *ou the confines of Germany, where we put up. We staid a day and a half there; and I wap then instructed to have the carriage and horses in ieadiue?« to continue aur journey. His Excellency meanwhile had completed hi» writings, to which he had assiduously applied himself; and told me, ds it was a fine afternoon, he would take a short walk, and on his return resume his journey at once, and I must therefore make all necessary preparations. He accordingly left the hotel. But he was never seen afte»ward. nor was anything known of his fate. I waited for upward an hour auxiously, and then made a close search for him, which I continued for several days, but not a trace could I discover of jmy master. A villager, however, living outside of town, brought to me at the hotel a pair of Overalls, which he stated he had found in a neighboring copse. I recognized the garment as belonging to his excellency, and at once rei»aired with the villager to the copse, and closely examined the spot, hut found too tnwe or sign of any strug-

gte. t - Finding it useless to prosecute the search, I at once returned to London with his Excellency’s traveling gear, which I handed to his family. The British Government at once instituted inquiries, also did his Excellency’s family, and large rewards were offered by both, advertisements were widely disseminated for any information respecting the missing Embassador; • but they failed one and all to gain any information of or the slightest clew : to bis fate. A certain amount of suspicion attached to*ne, but it was only momentary, and lat once cleared myself of it, and assisted the distracted wife aud her missing ftusbaud’s family as much as lay In my power. Well I remembered the agonies of anxiety and suspense caused bo the Embassador’s wife and family by the distressing calamity. Magisterial investigation was made, experts were employed, and every endeavor made to penetrate the dark veil of mystery surrounding the event; bat aU efforts were unsuccessful. One of his Majesty’s Embassadors bad completely and mysteriously disappeared, without leaving a clew to light up the awful obscurity which enveloped the

tragic occurrence. . Several years bad elapsed since the distressing event, and the memory, the painful memory, of it was beginning to fade from my mind, when I happened to be in Antwerp on a short tour through Belgium with patrons. And while listlessly strolling by myself on the quay one summer’s evening, watching the passengers disembarking from the newly arrived steamer, I was accosted by a mean, haggard-looking little man of beggardly appearance, who spoke to me in flemish “Are you not Herr Koekel, the courier?” he said. - “Yea,” replied I. “What do you want with me me? Who are you?” “I suppose you have quite forgotten mes saul he.

I stared at him keenly. The man’s features were somewhat familiar to me, 'yet; I was confused in my remembrance of how and where I had seen him. “x do not know you,” said I. “Yes, you do, aud very well,” re- * plied he. “My name is Ludwig Kuhl, and I have frequently driven you the first state out of Vienna. I did so 1 | when you were courier to his Excellency, the honorable Eslington, in the jammer ofthe year Ilf—.” _ (The courier is remembered even when the patron is forgotten, fur it is to us that landlords aud their servants look for their gratuities.) <, , j I stared at him, and then recognised the haggard looks. “True,” said I; “I remember you uow well, How goes it

THE RENSSELAER STANDARD.

VOL. I.

with you? What do you hear in Antwerp? The old trade, eh?” “Ah, no!” he replied, with a .deeply drawn sigh. “It’s a long story, and! can’t tell it to you here in all this noise and bustle. Let us go to a quiet cabaret.” _ . t .. _ I agreed; and In our Snort walk I revplved in my mind all those circumstances, so dark and impenetrable in their profound mystery, which had happened year* before. And I remembered how our postilion, Ludwig Kuhl, had assisted meji n the unavailing search for his Excellency. Hoon we reached a little cabaret —their name Is legion in Antwerp—in one of the back streets near the cathedral; and with a gla«i of his favorite Boonjekamp in front of him, he seated himself, and tola me the following sequel to the mysterious disappearance: “You must remember me, friend,” be began, “when 1 was in a better condition than you now see me;” and he scanned his wretched garments,shrugging his shoulders with an impatient air. I nodded acquiescence.

‘ Well,” said he, “you must also know in your long experience of travel that all classes of society on the Continent, and jwtrtieularly in Vienna, have their secret club. The postilliaus had theirs; hut it was subject to the rule of the Chief Secret Society. Ito mv younger days, friend, I was induced, in an unlucky moment, to enroll myself us a member, aud take the oaths of the Secret Society of Postilions. Bitterly have I rejiented since, for it is to that circumstance l owe my present deplorable state of mind and position. “But what has that to do with the mysterious case of his Excellency?” I asked of him, somewhat impatiently. “Much more than you imagine or can ever know, friend,” replied he, sententiously wagging his head. He paused for a moment. “Weil, I will tell you,” continued he, “though you must not break my Story with your inquiring comments. Firstly, then, you must know that I was on tue establishment of Herr Spultzeu, the carriage master and stable keeper from whom his Excellency' the Hon. Edington hired his traveling carriage and horses for his return journey. It was known to the Chief Secret Society that his Excellency was In possession of important papers, aud ft was also known that lie was on the point of starting with them for England. The Chief Commander had important reasons for obtaining these papers, or copies of them, and of one in particular above all others, by fair means or foul; aud what the Chief says Is to lie done, is done invariably at any cost. The committee had balloted for the person who must execute their orders, and their choice hail fallen on me as postilion, and more likely to effect a successful result. By Virtue of my oath I was hound to obey, or I should have suffered a secretdeath, by assassination, probably. I need not tell you my instructions; but a dreadful fate awaited you in the event of you or his Excellency obstructing our wishes. In every town through which we passed there were emissaries of the Chief .Society - to assist me, so great is its organization; and when I received -your instructions to pull up at the next town, which, if you remember, was 8 , I knew the wishes of the Chief Commander would be effectually carried out. -The landlord of the hotel you staid at and the head hostler were Known to me as members of the Chief Society, and there were other residents in the town also members, whom I did not know. So you see, my friend, how his Excellency and you were enoomliassed in a net from which there was no escape;” and he chuckled to himself as he said it. “Now, you remember how his Excellency was was always engaged in writing his dispatches and documents. Well, there was consequently great difficulty in getting a view of the papers without adopting foul means, aud time was of great importance to the Chief Commander.”

“What!” I exclaimed, in great astonishment. my hair almost on end with the suddeuness of the confession: “what? Do you mean to tell me, Carl Johann Roeckel, that you murdered his Excellency in cold blood?” “Not exactly that, friend,” he quietly replied. “When his Excellency weut for the short walk, the head hostler also went for a stroll in the same direction. A short distance from the town the hostler met a friend, also a member, aud they quickly bound and gagged his Excellency, and carried him to the cellar of the laUer’s bouse, where they kept him secretly until after the excitement of the appearance and search had subsided, when he was taken to Vienna in the involuntary disguise of a dangerous luuatic peasant, and afterward—” And he made a significant sign of strangulation. “The papers were abstracted by the landlord, and handed to me. aud I in turn delivered them to the Chief Commander personally. Nothing was .ever said about the missing documents, if you recollect, because only one other person besides his Excellency and the Chief Commander knew of them, and he dared not say what they were.” “But how,’* asked I, “was everything kept so quietly as the British Government made a great stir over the matter, and large rewards were offered?”

“Well, 1 ’ replied he, “those to whom the matter was referred were mostly members of the Chief Society, which, you must remember, numbered limits roll members of all ranks and stations. The pair of overalls fouud in the copse some days after the disappearance were purposely placed there to lead and encourage the belief that his Excellency had been robbed and then murdered.” “But you do not account for your being here in Antwerp now,” said I. “Well, friend,”continued he, and he drew himself closer to me and spoke in a very low tone—“well, the Chief Commander, in consequence of the stir made by both the British and our Gov-

ernment, and fearing disclosure on account of the large rewards offered, took effective steps to prevent it by ordering the deaths of those concerned in the tragedy. The landlord of the hotel, however, suddenly decamped to America—where he will be tracked, never fe&r—after hearing of the deaths of the hostler and his friend, who were found stabbed in their beds; and I escaped here, bp circuitous roates, and I have remained in hiding ever since. But I am already known and discovered,and Igo daily in fear of my life. The sign of the Black Dagger here”—and he tore open his vest and shirt, disclosing the print of a dagger on his breast—“is ' known to all the members of the Se-

RENSSELAER, INDIANA SATURDAY., OCTOBER, U. 1879.

cret Society. My death warrant has long ago been signed, and I am studiously watched, I feel certain. Even now—” and he suddenly stopped, casting a cautious glance around the room, and pointed to a stranger who was silently smoking and drinking, to all appearance engrossed in their enjoyment. “I must leave you.” he said, In a hurried hoarse whisper. “Good-by, friend;” and he crept out of the eabarefcquickly. The next m irnlng Ludwig Kurn's body was found floating in the canal, near Its entrance to the Scheldt, pierced in the breast by a short dagger, wilh the device in German on its flat black handle, “We wait” ,

A Talk With Artemus Ward.

Detroit Kree Pres*. I met Artemus Ward but once. I was quite young at the time and was acting as city editor of the Star, published at Schenectady, N. Y. While I wus city editor of that sheet, I mat Artemus. He had come among us to deliver his famous lecture, anil the whole place turned out to hear him. Strange as it may appear, I didn’t go. You see, I was fathoms deep in love with a girl at the time, and had a rival. This rival, who had recently blazed out in a new suit of clothes, was at the lecture, and, sitting by his side, as happy as a kitten with a gill of sweet milk concealed about its person, was the idol of my heartr- the, alas! fickle queen of my young affections. This is the reason that an hour after the lecture was over I happened to be standing on a canal bridge, looking sadly down into the water. Although I heard no footsteps, I suddenly became conscious of a presence. Looking up, I saw standing beside me a slender form, whose face in the dim starlight seemed to be an unusually sad one. ‘ Pardon me,” he said; “I saw you looking dreamily into the water, as if you might be a poet, or perhaps a coroner, ana was attracted gto vour side. Has misfortune overtaken thee, or art thou thinking of a lost one—or two, or a nearer one yet, and a dearer one still, In the shape of a V?” I explained that I had lost no money, ana during the course of the conversation revealed the fact that I was a local editor. “It must be a terrible strain on the intellect to attend to the duties of a local editor.” he remarked, tenderly. “Long, long time ago I had a relative —it is a family tradition—who was a local editor. He succumbed to his tremendous intellectual exertion at an early age. Noble soul, he died in the harness—at all events, a stub lead-pen-cil and an old note-book were found in his coat tail pocket after his demise. His last words were, ‘Set ’em up iigain.’ alluding you understaud, to the type.” I was about to say something in regard to my heavy editorial responsibility, but Ward checked me by asking: ‘What creek is this?” “Creek!” I exclaimed, “why this is the Erie Canal.” *

“How far is it navigable?” “Why, of course it is navigable from one end to the other,” was my surprised reply. “Well,’* solemnly replied Ward, “that beats all the streams I ever heard of. JJy the way, I think I can make out some large boats anchored up the stream there—what are they, profilers or side-wheelers?” I replied that they were merely canal boats, and were moved by horse power. ‘•Ah! I didn’t think the stream was as shallow as that,” said Artemus. .“As shallow as what?” “Why, you say that those boats are pulled along by horses. Now, of course, they must walk along in front of the boat, mus;n’t they? I used to run a stone boat on my lamented Uncle John’s farm, and I distinctly rtmember that the horses walked along in front.” I mentally declared that I had never before met with such ignorance. I spent some time in explaining the peculiarities of the big ditch, aud just as I had begun to think that at last I had set the stranger right on the subject he knocked my hopes into kindling wood hy remarking: “I suppose that when the stream dries up in the summer they put boats on wheels, dont they?” Then I began again, and explained every feature in the canal, from New York to Erie. How attentively he listened to my words! 1 can still see that melancholy face, lit by the sad light of the stars, and those mournful eyes looking into mine so earnestly: and again f hear, as I did then, after 1 had talked for nearly half an hour, going fully in the details of boating, the low, pathetic drawl: “Any saw mills on this stream that you know of?” Shortly after some gentlemen came along, who seemed to be acquainted with my obtuse friend. Presently one called him Artemus, and then I commenced to reflect. I always reflect best wben I am hid away somewhere, so I went and hid myself.

Wealth Under Water.

In 1815, when Spain was exerting all her ©were to suppress the revolution in Venezuela, the 1,000-ton line-of-bat-tle ship San Pedro Alcantara was dispatched from the mother country, laden with ammunition of war ana treasure to pay the army in Venezuela and the navy on the Spanish main. She had on board, as proved by the records preserved in the State archives in Madrid, $2,000,000 in gold coin packed in iron chests, and $3,000,000 in silver packed in wooden chests. When the vessel arrived off La Guayra the insurgent forces were threatening Caraccas, and the frightened merchants and clergy, fearing a sack of the city, hastened to place their wealth in the treasure-hold of the San Pedro Alcan-

tara for safe keeping. Bullion, gems, church ornaments and jewels, roughly estimated at $1,000,000, were thus added to the riehes already aboard. The San Pedro Alcantara sailed from La Guayra to off the southern coast of the Island of Margarita, where she anchored between Cache and Cubagua, small islands to the south of Margarita. During a revel among the sailors a fire was started by the upturning of a bowl of blazing punch, the flames communicating with a barrel of brandy. It issaid the dry wooden vessel was speedily enveloped, and the Are soon became uncontrollable, until it reached the powder magazine, when a terrible explosion took place, shattering to fragments the after half of the vessel, scattering far and wide over the watera the wealth of her treasure-hold and sacrificing the lives of 700 out of 1,000 men. AU the

foregoing is a matter of history, established by undoubted authority; that remaining to be stated is a matter of knowledge toliving witnesses. In 1864 a company in Baltimore undertook to reoaver the treasure. They worked three months on the wreck of the forward half of the vessel, and" recovered about $2,00u in coin; the coin found there was only scattered silver dollars, stuck into the wood-work by the force of the explosion. Owing to the slow progress in recoveringany of the treasure, many concerned in the expedition became dissatisfied with the way by which the wreck was worked. Thomas H. Follingsby, one of the divers, advanced a theory to the Superintendent that the force of the explosion had thrown almost everything on the vessel aft; other divers coincided with him in his opinion. After changing the location on the schooner from which they worked a diving-bell to the place indicated FaJUngshy, tbev succeeded, after six mouths’ work, in recovering about $900,000 in silver coin. Howe er, much more was recovered, as the divers secreted about themselves large sums of money. They also found jewels mi which they rendered no account. One 4»an, in particular, picked up a diamond cross, which was subsequently sold in New York for $13,000. Several of the divers flnaJJhr stole the longboat and fled to La Guayra; they were, however, pursued and arrested, but as they had counter-claims for percentage, and the manager of the expedition quite unpopular, the affair was compromised ana they were set free, the expedition returning to B&ltimoi e to refit and set out the second time. Owing, again, to difficulties between the Superintendent and his divers the expedition vas compelled to return to Baltimore the second time and again refit. The third expedition was equally unsuccessful. Owing to a change in the Venecuelan Government a suspicion of pretended distrust and deception in the matter of royalty were taken advantage of to annul the grant. An expedition from Providence took some $30,000. but was believed to be dishonestly managed and brought up in a row. Another small expedition got Several attempts have been made since by incompetent aud inefficient expeditions, all of which have got money; but, owing to various circumstances, have only been measurably successful, having been stopped by incompetency or avaricious dishonesty. * The latest was sent out by a wellknown New York capitalist in 1878. It failed, however, through the incompeteucy of the Captain. The grant for exclusive working of the ground for a term of six years is now neld by Mr. Follingsby, the diver before mentioned as directing the movement in 1846, which led to the recovery of $300,000. The ground to be worked Is about two and one-half miles from shore, in an almost land-locked roadstead: the water is from fifty to sixty feet deep; the bottom is sand fourteen to thirty inches deep; at both ends of the roadstead there is very deep water, preventing, therefore, any accumalation of sand in the roadstead. The current is never more than two knots, which renders it an easy matter to work at the wreck the whole year. It is proposed to dredge the entire bottom for a sufficient radius to take up everything thrown out by the explosion. Dredges taking twenty-four square feet at each dip have been tried, and work well. Experts joutend that the iron chests containing the gold have afforded a solid break by the explosion force, and have consequently been thrown far oft; while the silver hurled from the burst boxes came down in a shower within a narrow radius, which accounts for the fact that only silver lias been recovered. The last expedition under Captain Post, of the brig Gypsy, was compelled to return to the United States, as all on board suffered from the heat and bad drinking water taken on board at the island of Margarita, so that work was impossible, and it may be said that the Captain was the only one who escaped any Illness.

Killed by Scandal.

Cleveland Herald. Borne statements have been made in regard to the young man George Clark, who recently killed himself in this city at the Keunard House, which may serv-s as a warning. He had had a difficulty with his wire, and been guilty of improper conduct as a husband. Wben he saw the wretched details spread out in the columns of the newspapers, the disgrace and exposure of nis private affairs drove him to desperation. He thought the eyes of everybody were upon him, that lie was branded forever as a criminal before mankind, and that death was the surest and only source of relief. He had not the courage to live, and so died by his own hand. We do not learn that this young man was a candidate for office; that any divorce suit or charge was pending against him in thecourts; that ne was in any sense a public man, or that the newspapers had any business with his private affairs whatever. That he had sinned, and was guilty of great wroftg to his family and himself, seems quite true, but that his offenses should nave been published, blazoned to the world with all the glaring headlines, that sensation ana ingenuity could invent, seems a needless and wanton outrage, a violation of public decency and the liberty of the ‘press. His private affairs were his private affairs, and the public had no business with them. Their exposure could do nobody any good, were in no sense news to which the public was entitled, and such publications should be made punishable like the vilest libels on private character.

Such garbage may make newspapers sell. It is eagerly sought by the bad and the thoughtless. But such invasion of the private affairs of a private citizen by a newspaper is a degradation of the press and a monstrous abuse of its rights. If persisted in by papers claiming to be respectable, journalism as a profession will sink below contempt, aud the time will come when, if editors are beaten or killed, the community will say it served them right. Young Clark killed himself rather than meet the shame he felt awaiting him. But if his death calls public attention to a growing evil in our country now recklessly indulged in by a portion of the press, he may not have died in ▼ain. In the United States frilly two-thirds of the people are directly dependent on he soil for support, ana of the 9.000,00 who are ©imaged in productive inustries over *,©60,000 are farmers.

A SUCKER GIANT.

Tho Wonderful Feats of Strength of Col. John Redman. i* 4 Buffalo Express. Col. John Redman is a character well known to the drovers aud stock dealers all over the country, and to many other people as well. He does not visit Buffalo very often in these later years, but a few days ago he struck the town and made his quarters at the American Hotel, where an Express reporter communed with him a little while last evening. He had many callers and a very attentive crowd gathered closely about him, for Colonel John is a famous story teller. His experiences have been varied and interesting, and he mpy he ' said to be the father of the cattle shipping trade of America; but it is bis tremendous strength that has made him a celebrity. Six feet and two and a half inches tall, and proportionately broad, he has an open, pleasant face, and like the majority of strong men he is a pattern of good nature. Marvelous stories are related of his strength. Thev may be believed after seeing him. His muscular arm, as hard as iron, la as thick almost as an ordinarv man’s waist, and his leg pretty nearly as large around as a barrel of flour.

Redman is a native of Virginia, but has fo>* many years resided in Illinois. He was a mightly hunter in his younger days, and no slouch of one now, it is said, but horned cattle have principally engaged his business attention from his boyhood. He is now fortynine years of age. The first lot of cattle ever shipped by rail were shipped by him from Patterson Creek, Hampshire county, Virginia, over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The vast proportions which * the business of transporting cattle by rail has since then assumed are familiar to even*body. Before there were any railroads to ship by between the East and West, it is said, he drove thirty-two different lots clear through from Missouri to New York. The Colonel has the reputation of being an honest, faithful, and capable man. He is now operating in the interest of Eastman, bf Christian county, Illinois, the greatest shipper of cattle in the world.

A good many amusing and wonderful incidents in Col. Redman’s career have been related, and about as many of the remarkable man. Turtle Dove, which, next to his wife, was his joy and pride for thirty years. This aged beast was gathered to her fathers about seven years ago, and it is stated that quite a considerable fund has nearly been filled for the erection of a monument over the grave at Chillicothe. A fast trotter and runner, Turtle Dove was possessed of almost human intelligence. She was as handy as a man about the stock-farm, with bucket in her mouth at the regular hours daily bringing from the spring all the water required for the cattle to drink. But to get back to the subject of more general and principal interest, Colonel John’s personal strength, it will best serve to relate some examples of it. These do not come from the Colonel himself, for he is not a man to brag of his own exploits, but they are vouched for by responsible parties who were witnesses. It should be stated that Colonel Redman’s proclivities are peaceful, although he wears the military title. He has seldom, if ever, l>een engaged in personal encounters. Still we are rather inclined to the belief, that he wouldn’t at all dislike a trial with McLaughlin, or any other of the gladiatorial athletes. Once he did engage in a wrestling match. It was In Ohio. They had a pretty good man there, but of course he was not considered as having any business wilh the Colonel. To give this wrestler a reputation, Rednian was offered SI,OOO to allow him to throw him. The moment came, but quickly Coloner John forgot all about the bargain and all about nis strength as soon as they clinched, and landed his opponent in the top of a tall tree. Once the Colonel was passing along a road, when a horse, standing by the wayside, hitched to a fencestake, let fly a hoof, which grazed the strong man’s shin. Somewhat iritated he threw the horse over the fence.

The owner came along by-and-by, and indignantly wanted to find the party who had played such a trick as to lead his horse to the opposite side of the fence and tie it there. Redman’s strength has frequently been handy in his business. When cattle are being loaded a jam often occurs in the gano, way. In such case the Colonel climgover their back to the car-door, anbs seizing the offending bullock, haud, him bodily on board. Here in Buff alls he has been Seen by Mr. I. P. Bowen of the American House, to lift a horse weighing 1,200 pounds over the partition, from one stall to another. Mr. Bower declares that a negro and an

Irish women who witnessed this performance, were so astonished and frightened that they feinted away. Some years ago the late Mr. Crocker* father of Mr. L. L. Crocker,, had a barn-raising on the Tifft farm. The structure accidentally fell, with one of the carpenters under it,and the unlucky artisan was in immediate danger of having the life crushed out of him. It is said that twenty men endeavored to liberate him, but their divided strength could not avail. Redman chanced to be on the farm with some cattle. He came down to the scene of the trouble, calmy took hold of the corner of the bam, and by sheer strength raised and held the structure until the carpenter was rescued. And the chapter of Colonel Redman’s feats of bodily strength might be extended indefinitely.

How a Girl Captured a Monster Rattlesnake.

Helena (Montana) Herald: Zoe Merceau is a girl of 17, of mixed Mood, beautiful and bold. Her mother now dead, was the daughter of a Sioux chief; her lather is a French Canadian. The family habitation, until recently, has been north of the Now it is located in the northern-part of Lewis and Clarke county on a tributary, part of Sun river. Zoe has both a fine form and a lovely face, and her glossy black braids swept down to the very hem of her garments. It isn’t romancing a bit co say that this girl is quite the rage in *4hat region. The cow boys are smitten with her charms. As one of them remarks, “We have

gone mad, to the last one of us, over toe dark eyed beauty.” Zoe is a daring rider. On her favorite beast, bare back, she outs trine every competitor with the greatest ease. All this is told us on the side. On Tuesday of last week Zoe had a remarkable exploit. While out looking up some of her father’s missing ponies she encountered a monster rattlesnake, a warning from which caused her horse suddenly to shy, nearly dismounting her. Getting command of her animal, she reined up a short distance from the reptile, which, angered at the intrusion, coiled itself ready for the gage of battle. Cool and collected, the girl, swinging her lariet, hit it a sharp blow. Maddened, the snake several times struck at her. Dexterously swinging her supple cord again, she “noosed” toe reared head of the snake, and, wheeling about, bore rapidly off for home, dragging her Srize after her. It was undoubtedly le liveliest snaking ever done in Montana. Arriving at the house, her father and several cow boys stepped out to greet her, and to them she promptly exhibited the monster, its life now extinct. One of the suitors sprang forward to get dimensions, its length, by actual measurement, was ascertained to be seven fefit and eight inches, and its ginh, at the largest part, sixteen inches. Another suitor whipped out a buffalo knife and severed the rattles—a string numbering twenty-nine complete ones and a “button.” This string of rattles was sent into Helena, and in compliance with an order accompanying it, Mr. Oppe, the expert jeweler, has for several days beln employed in forming the most unique necklace probably ever made in this or any other country. It is intended as a present to Zoe Merceau, and after this any one visiting her home will doubtless see it adorning her graceful neck.

Cotton in Texas.

Harper’* Magazine.] Texans seem to have learned the lesson which the Georgians and other people of the older cotton States have just now comprehended, namely, that it “pays” to alternate crops, and that no fasting prosperity can be reared upon a single and exclusive staple. Cotton will always hold a chief place in the agriculturist’s affections, because it is the only product which will command ready cash at its market value in the nearest town. The stranger who has crossed the large open square, or plaza, which is found in every Texan town, at an early hour in the aay, will marvel at the change of a few hours. Before midday the cotton teams have arrived from the surrounding country, clustering upon every available space in the square and along the adjacent streets. It would be impossible to portray a more animated or varied scene. Clumsy wagons, drawn by little compact oxen, or possibly by an ox and a mule, are constantly arriving—the men, women, and children mounted high upon the roughly bound cotton bales; the expert in cotton staple, who jumps nimbly, note book m hand, from wagon to wagon, buying here, rejecting there, and bartering everywhere; the itinerant Hebrews, who press their cheap but showy goods upon the rustics—these and hundreds who have each his own little bargain to drive—and, above all, the great Babel of purchase and sale. The journey to town on market-day is an event in the monotone of life with most of these cotton growers. They throng the stores, the walks, and patronize tl e grotesque fakirs, the side shows, and all the wandering brotherhood of minstrelsy, sure to be there when trade is lively.

A Petrified Body.

Albany Knickerbocker. Yesterday afternoon the body of Mrs. O'Neill, who died nineteen years ago of paralysis of the throat, was disinterred in the old St. John’s buryingground, with the view of reinterring it in* Calvary Cemetery, at Babcock’s Corners. The work of opening the grave was done under the direction of the dead woman’s daughters, who employed Mr. J. Sullivan, the keeper of the old cemetery, to clear away the earth. When the coffin was reached it was found to be very heavy, and required the united strength of .three men to raise it. Upon opening the casket a strange sight presented itself. The body, from the knees to the neck, was as white as marble and of about the consistency of chalk, possibly a trifle harder. From the knees down the limbs had entirely decayed, leaving nothing but the dry bones. The head had also entirely decayed, leaving only the skull. The burial garments had almost entirely disappeared, leaving the body considerably exposed. There was a deal ol excitement at the discovery, and Father Walsh, of 8t John’s Church, was hastily summoned, and he sent for Professor Hall, of the Geological Institute, who thoroughly examined the body, scraping it with a a knife to ascertain if it was really petrified. He reported that it was a case of petrifaction such as is rarely seen. He was ot the opinion that in a few more years the body will be as solid and as hard as] marble.

The Last Prince of Wales Scandal.

Apropos of a silly and scandalous story as to the imminence of a lawsuit in which the Prince of Wales is to appear as a correspondent with the reignng beauty of London, the Geneva Continent sagely observes: “It is well known that when a prince of the blood calls at a private house, etiquette requires that all other callers should be refused, unless the prince especially desires it otherwise. And this rule'ls a just one, calculated to secure him from being unduly hunted about and to insure his having a quiet conversation with those he has comek© see. Bat in the case of a handsome woman, whose husband chances to be out at the time

cf the call, this very rule of etiquette tends to create a highly unjust and cruel suspicion. This being so, I Jeem it to have been a matter or regret that in Lady Mordaunt’s case the Prince of Wales should have set a precedent, which, if it be not followed up in every other case that may arise, justly or unjustly, will certainly cause an undesirable inference to be drawn. There was no need of him to go to eourt (his private word of honor passed to Sir Charles would have been sufficient), and his doing so, and his having done so. may prove decidedly awkward in the ftiture.”

In the English cheese factory management, the value of the whey for feeding to young store pigs to esti- , mated at sls per cow annually.

* UMSIUJV, X». BAXBB OF ADVERTISING: Oneoolomn, one jresr..._. — tN M Half adman, one year.. , « M Quarter column, one year.. » » OS Eighth column, one year J. am Bustssmi Canns jfc«o a year. Kmavnra mnea 6 cents a line. JOB PftlNTlNfi jf f Of all ktaAe neavly and cheaply executed Kate* on application, j

NO. 17.

Faults are tjie only things in some people that are not false. The first fruits of marriage Is the apple of its parents’ eyes, when it isn't a pear of twins. “How dare you swear before me?” asked a man of his son recently. “How did I know you wanted to swear first,” said the spoiled urchin. How doth the little busy bee? Oh, as well as can be expected under the circumstances. We've just mashed him for unfolding his interest-sting tail, ding bat him.

The bell-punch is generally supposed to be a modern invention, but it was evidently in use in Mackbeth’s time, from the fact that he says: “Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, she strike upon the hell.” ‘‘lf Lincoln had not died,” exclaimed apolitical orator, “what would he have been to-day?” “Alive,” sadly.' ventured a timid-looking man on a back seat, and the tide of eloquence was momentarily checked. Miss An&linede Fulkey, at Saratoga —“Chawles, why don’t you take a glass of Congress?” Chawles—“l don’t like mineral water.” Miss de Fulkey —“And if your breath is any criterion, you don’t like the other kind either.” r A man who has the cheek to put up “bitters” containing ninety partscheap whisky and the remainder dog button and then advertise the staff as “a friend of temperance,” would think nothing of steading a red-hot lim6 kiln. Two Meriden men are in trouble over the ownershsp of a ladder, and are taking steps for a lawsuit. The result of this will be that one lawyer will get the sides and the other lawyer will get the rounds, leaving the holes to the litigants. He had an auburn-haired girl, and promised to take her out riding. She met him at the door wheu he drove up, and he exclaimed, “Hello! rshdy?” She misunderstood him, and they don’t speak now. Th us slang makes an other slap at love’s young dream. Now comes Johnny from 'school, with “I’ve gut to have a new slate and a pencil, and a sponge and a second reader, and teacher want me to study geography, and I’ll have to have an atlas, and the new boy got a licking, and say ms; won’t you ask pa to buy the books this noon, because I’m in a hurry, and all the rest of the boys have got their’n.”

“Doctor,” sobbed a Louisville woman at the bedside of her husband, “is there no hope? How long can helive?’ The medicine man shook his head sadly, “Possibly three hours; not longer than six.” She left the room, and a few minutes later a pistol shot rang out from another part of the house. The woman was found dead, shot through the brain, with a note pinned on her bosom: “The curious may know that I die willingly and by my own hand. The doctor has told me that my husband can not live. I feel that I must be in the other world to receive him when he reaches it; there is no telling what might happen if his first wife were to get hold of him before I did.” But the most singular feature of this Sueer case was. that the husband accientally heard of his wife’s death and got well.

Medical Visits in the Olden Times.

The early doctors, as a few of the old" er people well remember, were accustomed to make their daily tours through the village on horseback. They were generally recognizable by certain peculiarities of dress and saddle appurteances. To protect their pantaloons from mud and from being rubbed by the saddle, thevgenerally inclosed their legs in leather or felt leggins which, wneu the doctors were out of saddle and wiibimdoors, had much attention given them by the smaller children of the families visited* There also were their saddle-bags, which, when opened at the bedside of the sick, revealed filled phials aud curious instruments that 16ft a wonderful impression of their im- . portance as professional persons upon those who watched the composition of the medicines to be taken. Those who were ordered, to call at their offices often felt that they were then admittedto mysteries of compounding medicines and the preparation of ointments and plasters/too sacred to be mentioned. The doctors’ offices , in those days were minature apothecary shops. The young medical student who was reading with a doctor found himself often kept pretty busy with the “rudiments”—the pestle and mortar, and soon lost all sense of the romantic which had early filled his mind respecting the profession. The student’s first lessons in tooth drawing were given him over the massive jaws of certain toothache stricken Africans, and his first essay on blood letting on the bared arm of some poorhouse pauper. The Latin of the abbreviated terms on the gallipots, jars and bottles, which filled the shelves of the office, were to those waiting for prescriptions as cabalistic as words of magical import.

Philadelphia Press: A Recently Charley Cochrane, who for many years was Goldsmith Maid’s groom, arrived from California, and wishing to see the grand old trotting mare and her colt called on Mr. Smith, her owner, to obtain his permission to visit Fashion Stud Farm inTlew Jersey. Mr. Smith accompanied Charley to the farm, and on arriving th«re, remarked : “Charley the Maid to very , ealous of her colt, is very cross, and will permit no one to approach it” Cochrane arranged that Goldsmith Maid should hear bis voice before sh© saw him, and although they had not seen each other for two years, a loud whinny presently assured the visitors that the mare had recognized the nfen’s voice. Cochrane next showed himself, when a touching scene occurred. The old queen of the turf, who for months would not allow any one to approach her, making use of both heels and teeth if it was attempted, rushed with

a bound to her old friend, forgetting even her colt, and rubbed her head upon his shoulder, her nose in his few* played with his whiskers and showed by her every action that her heart was full of joy to see him. Directly the colt came up to them and the ola mare was delighted when Charley placed his hand on the little fellow, when Cochrane left the place the mare followed him to the gate, whinnying for him even alter he had passed out of her right*

CONDIMENTS.

A Touching Story.