Evening Star Newspaper, August 10, 1889, Page 6

A VERITABLE DEATH TRAP. The Dangerous and Unhealthy of the Government Printing Office. (TBE NEED OF MORE ROOM AND BETTER FACILITIES —OVERCROWDED AND POORLY VENTILATED ROOMS—WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO PROVIDE AGAINST ACCIDENTS—THE DANGER FROM FIRE. When Cornelius Wendell erected what is now known as the main building of the government printing office there were people who did not hesitate to say that the structure was much too large for a printing office. In this opinion Mr. Wendell evidently concurred to a greater or less extent, for he so arranged the plant that with but little additional expense he could trausform the structure into a row of dwelling houses. For years previous to 1861, when the general government purchased Mr. Wendell’s building, such a structure had been really necessary. The printing had been done in half adozen different places, and asa natural re- it there were many radical- differences in the “stvle” of work, which should have been sim- ilar in material and execution. On March 23, 1861, John D. Defrees, who had just been ap- inted superintendent of public printing by President Lincoln, took charge of the new building and commenced the task of system- atizing the office work. He had ample room— more, be supposed, than any public printer would need fer fifty years to come—for there were only 300 employes upon the rolls when the war of the rebellion broke out. Today there are nearly 2.200 people employed in the government printing office. the great majority Of them occupying the building which Cornelius Wendell put up thirty years ago to accommo- date less than one-fourth as many artisans. IT NEVER WAS SUITABLE FOR THE PURPOSE. Gauged by the enlightened standards of to- day the building never was a proper one for the purpose. There was too much combustible material used ix its construction, its floors were too light to carry the enormous weights, and but little attention was paid to the im- portant questions of lighting and ventilation. As the office became more crowded these ques- tions began to force themselves upon the at- tention of a succession of public printers and up to the time when the present head—Gen. ank W. Palmer—took charge there was al- ways more or less theorizing as to what onght or ought not to be done to make the building more secure and to give the employes a chance to escape if it should be on fire No one but an employe or an expert who has examined the condition of the office very closely can realize how near to destruction that printing office has been every day for the pastten years. When Mr. Palmer entered upon his duties as public printer the floors of the old building had sagged toa degree that was continuously dan- gerous, although previous administrations had removed much of the weighty material that naturally accumulates in such an estab- lishment. Store houses had been rented im various parts of the city and in them machinery and printed paper were stowed away—thousands of tons—and yet the narrow beams were overstrained and the worn floors warped. More than three hundred com- itors and floor hands occupied the second or bo ment-room floor, with all the immense accompanying weight of Lie and imposing stones and proof presses, while in the room beneath 300 feet of shafting and nearly as much of counter shafting was conveying motive power to 64 presses and dragging continuously on the floor of the document room. How the floor stood it can never be explained. In the center of the press room and about midway the length of the H-street building is the 24- inch pulley which carries the belt that moves all the machinery in the building; that pulley, like the others. depends from the ceiling, an: until lately it had no more support than that afforded by the bolts which fastened it to the boards on which the compositors in the docu- ment room were standing. In many places there are as many as six pulleys within pre space of 10 feet. THE DANGEROUS BELATIONS which existed between the press room and the document room were almost paralleled by the bindery and the folding room. Wherever avail- able space could be found in the bindery some piece of necessary machinery was put in posi- tion and set to work. It hadto be, for Con- = the departments called loudly for ‘ir publications and their blanks. The same arrangement of pulleys as that in vogue in the press room was continued here and there was the same startling absence of proper support for the floor above, where a couple of hundred women were at work. and where documents were piled up until they of themselves made more of a load than the floor could have been expected to stand. PUBLIC PRINTER PALMER REALIZES THE DANGER. As soon as Public Printer Palmer took charge of the establishment Capt. Brian, who had long been seriously alarmed at the condition of the structure, called his attention to its frailty and to the lack of proper preparation and means to cope with a conflagration. Mr. Palmer at once saw the necessity for action, and in company with Architect Clark of the capitol and Capt. Brian made a thorough inspection of the place. The result of the investigatory tour showed that there was imminent danger of a catastrophe. Work was at once commenced on the strengthening of the building and is now almost finished. As an employe of the building said, “The administration of the office is bet- ter posted than the previous one, because there are more posts in the building.” The docu- — room floor was the first to be propped up. ‘bree rows of 12-inch posts, about 10 feet apart. were run down the entire length of the room and so arranged as to give all the necessary sup- jort to the long lines of heavy shafting. The posts are set down solidly into the floor, and at the upper ends are braced very strongly to the heavy girders which have also been put in position recently, The same thing was done in the document room, except that the posts used were but 8 inches square. This made it possible for a compositor to lay “stick” down on acase without having the justified” lines shaken out by the vibrations of the floor. Posts were also set up in the bindery and the result is the building is at least temporarily safe from threatened collapse. But these improvements, valuable as they un- doubtedly are, can only be regarded as make- shifts. There is no louger any immediate dan- ger of the floors falling through, but the num- erous uprights and braces have done much to cut off the rather scanty supply of daylight, and they are forever stumbling-blocks to some- body or something. Economy of space is almost impossible with three rows of wooden posts and two rows of iron pillars down the entire length of the main rooms. For a time the building is safe, but every day of its continuance in service a the government printing office demonstrates its antiquity and general unfitness as such. THE INFERNO OF THE STRUCTURE, whether in winter or summer. has always been the stereotype room. Here, for at least eight hours a day and six days a week, men work ina superheated atmosphere which is redolent With the fumes of molten metal. Noisy ma- chinery, constant occupation and the extreme warmth combine to make a situation in that de- tee most undesirable. Not that it has 2 or isso much more sultry or noisy than any other large stereotyping establishment, but the temperature is so much higher than it ought to be in any room where there is the slightest attempt at ventilation. The stereotypers and the electrotypers and every- body else in Foreman Elliott's department will Rot, however, have to suffer much longer in their present restricted quarters. In a little while they will move up to the upper floor of the south center wing, where @ very fine room has been constructed for their exclusive use. Here—one story higher than any other part of the great building—they will have at least 1,000 feet more of floor space than is now allotted to them, and the ventilation will be all right. A BUILDING WITHOUT VENTILATION. If there is anywhere a building without venti- Istiou it is the printing office. All the fresh sir that enters the place comes in either through the doorways or above or beneath the window sashes. In summer time the intro- duction of oxygen is objected to only in a few instances and generally by some peculiar peopis who have all their lives been full of the that breath of fresh air means sudden death if it catches them without their overcoats on. The real trouble, however, is when the winter comes; when the building 1s steam-heated and when the employes often have to work twelve hours a day to keep pace with the demands Congress is making for its work. An open window then means a cold for the majority of those on whom the current of frosty air falls. Closed windows all around are certain premonitors of pneumonia and other lung troubles. The conditions can hardly be im the present structure; expen- sive ameliorations might be found which would ive some relief, but ee but @ new build- by ® thoroughly practical archi- thought of by the committees In one or two rooms on the bind- ery floor, where the summer heat is crpresive because the nature of the work forbids the ‘opening of windows, steam fans bave been in- troduced, but afteran hour or two they have used up all the pure air and for the remainder of the day pump impurities into those whose necessity com| tect, ought to in them to work there. IX THE SEWING ROOM. Especially open to condemnation is the sew- ing room, which is in the south center of the building. About‘balf of the apartment is oc. THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. cupied by the tables at which women sit and sew books. The women themsélves are mere incidentals and crowd in as they can. The other half of the room is used by case makers, and, as @ consequence, whatever atmosphere gets = + the ae. = ats o'clock is pretty thoroughly r4 fore the whistle blows at 1 o’e! with the odor of glue and with the choking smell of the stamping presses—heated by steam con- tinuously. Fans have been placed in here and they make an equable distribution of all the sweet smells which belong peculiarly to the sewing room. If mem! of C — wants to be convinced of the necessity fora new building for the use of Public Printer Palmer and his successors let him go into that sewing room and remain there for an hour or two. His eloquence will fail him if he attempts to describe what he saw and suffered. ABOUT THE ONLY VENTILATED ROOM in the building is that now known as the speci- fication room. It is partially lighted and wholly ventilated from the roof and would be a very pleasant room to work in were it not for the overcrowding. In the three divisions of the document room and in the job room each compositor has what is technically known as a dcuble frame. This gives him elbow room and he can set type out of one pair of cases, while on the other frame he may keep a galley on which to empty his stick. In the specification room there is no such luxury as a double frame and the compositors are packed in the “alleys” £0 closely that it is but a slight a of the fact to say that their condition resembles that of sardines ina box. When one of the men desires to empty his stick he has to do so on a galley which is beneath his single frame, and while he is performing this necessary oper- ion he obstructs the narrow passageway through which the men in his alley have in- gress and egress. In this room there are 151 men. The room is large enough to Properly accommodate about 75. The ventilation is the only redeeming feature. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. The present administration of the office has done and is doing all in its power to find more suitable quarters for these crowded people, but it can do nothing; the building is too small. Additional structures may relieve but they will never make the old building more comfortable or less unhealthy. Increased cleanliness has done much to make the interior air more nearly pure than it used to be. Where once there was filth now everything isclean. There is an abundance of whitewash wherever white- wash is necessary, and dirt is no longer allowed to accumulate beneath frames or in out-of-the- way corners; even the type which is stacked up—three, four, or five tons on a table—is not allowed to rest beneath loads of dust. This is a great step forward inasanitary point of view, for but few things do more damage to the buman throat and lungs than type dust; raw antimony is not conducive to health, DREAD OF FIRE. But, while satisfied that he has done as much to make the shell safe as is possible, Publio Printer Palmer still dreads one contingency, and thatis fire. Herealizesthata conflagration when every one is at work in the office may result in @ horror that might secure more victims than any catastrophe in American history, Johns- town alone excepted. The amateur fire de- partment of the office has been reorganized and rejuvenated; it is ready for business at any time. In the days of “auld lang syne” the standpipe keys rusted in their places while the antique rubber hose dried up and cracked in its appointed corner. Now, the hose—new and strong—is always connected with the sources of water supply, and a score of streams can be turned on im haifaminute. Twenty connec- tions—four on each floor—have been made with pipes through which the water is forced by a powerful steam pump. This steam pump is ready _ for action at any minute in the twenty-four hours to respond to the alarm which may be turned in from any of the crimson electric automatic sigual boxes which dot the whitewashed walls; just break the glass and then the big gong strikes on each floor.denoting by the number of its strokes the location of the blaze. In addi- tion to the twenty steam connections there are four large connections—one on each floor—with huge standpipes always full of Potomac water. ‘The natura! pressure in this part of the city is considerable and the hose throws a heavy stream. Each of these connections is assigned to certain designated men and they are drilled to act promptly. FIRE ESCAPES. Immediate exterior communication between the roof and street is had by five iron ladders and three broad, easy-stepped, iron stairways, The ladders are for the use of firemen who want to climb up; the stairs are for the use of the employes who are anxious to get down. Isolated cases, where one or two persons might be cut off from the stairways, can be attended to by a metal basket escape which can be run around the north and east fronts over a species of elevated railroad. In the press room area few lines of iron pipe which are called auto- matic sprinklers. A fusible plug is the main feature of this invention which could throw but little water on a fire. PROXIMITY OF BOILERS, One of the great but, under the circumstances, unavoidable mistakes is the placing so near the building of the huge boilers which run the ma- chinery of the building. They ought to be as far away as possible. An explosion would wreck the entire structure and kill a couple of thousand people, for the boiler house is in the court yard,with the main building all around it. More room is evidently needed in the yard. So many additions and sheds and temporary smokestacks have been put up that it is now barely possible to turn a wagon around inside the gateway. The new Sullivan & Ehler 200- horse-power engine is now being put in place and in about two weeks will be at work. It will displace an engine which has been running day and might for seventeen years without losin; half a day in all that time. The old engine will be overhauled and will be held in reserve to be used in case of accident to its successor. If the engine broke down now not a single piece of machinery in the building could be run until it was repaired or displaced by another. WHAT IS REQUIRED, Public Printer Palmer is going todo everything possible to convince Congress that more room and better buildings are absolutely necessary. He will formulate two plans and place them in his report; one will ask for an entirely new building in another location and the other will request Congress to purchase the necessary ground on the same square as that now par- tially occupied by the office and to ercct thereon the buildings which are requisite. The Senate has twice passed the bill to purchase 288 additional front feeton H street and 594 feet of front by 175 feet deep on G street, but the House has done nothing in the matter. There will be a big fire or a great collapse in the present building some day and then Con- gress, after gazing mournfully upon the smok- ing ruins and the hundreds of murdered peo- ple, will appropriate a large sum of money with which to erect a fire-proof building in which human beings can live without endangering their health, —o Bound to Know How it Worked. From the Philadelphia Inquirer. Aman created a sensation on a Delaware ferry boat yesterday by reaching under the seats of the cabin, taking out one of tue hun- dreds of life preservers there and proceeding with the utmost deliberation to put it on. “What's the matter?” asked one excited man. “Is the boat sinking?” Dozens looked around, saw the man make preparations to save himself and were thrown into a fever of excitement, There had been no alarm, so they then cooled in and began to think the man insane. But “he was perfectly cool and apparently sane enough. He went right on without the slightest attention to suybodys questions or excitement to fasten the life preserver on. When he got it on he looked at it, seemed sat- istied with his survey of himself and then just as deliberately took it off, put it in its former [eon and sat down again. He had made every- ody around perspire, though he looked as cool as a cucumber. An old. honest-looking gentleman, who hap- | erate to be sitting near, gave him a quizzical ook which provoked him to sa: ‘ou think fam afool? Well, [hadnever puton a life pre- server until that minute and never knew how. Every time I boarded a boat I felt ashamed of my ignorance, which might some day cost me my life. I just made up my mind to try one. There isa stock of life preservers. There are fifty people on the boat. I'll bet my hat (here he gan to increase his tone until the whole cabin could hear) that not five in the fifty know how to put one on.” He cei and looked around. Noone took himup. He resumed ing his paper. ———+e7+______ Charged with Embezzlement. THE ART PRESERVATIVE. How Practical Housekeepers Will Make Use of it in August. ‘THE LEADING MONTH OF THE YEAR IN PUTTING UP FRUITS AND VEGETABLES—SOMETHING ABOUT PRESERVING AND CANNING—PRACTICAL RECIPES WORTH TRYING AND WORTH KEEPING, August, more largely perhaps,than any other one month of the year, caters to the luxuries of the winter table. And scarcely more in the line of luxuries, may be added, than in the matter of necessities, for many of the various assortments of fruits and vegetables of August stored away under numerous preservative methods for future use have by common usage become absolute necessities of life. Canned tomatoes, canned corn, beans, &c., cheap and wholsome, plainly served, for a greater part of the year form no unimportant part of the frugal meals of the humbler classes, to say nothing of the resources they offer for the con- coction of palatable and even dainty dishes ac- credited to the pantries and chefs of the more prosperous in the world’s affairs. Peaches, of which August is the most notable contributor, find their way in some shape into almost ever; household and maintain steadily their rai asthe most popular of all fruits asa winter delicacy. Happy, or rather, fortunate, is the house- keeper with whom it is possible to do her own preserving and canning. Where this is the case it is far more satisfactory, both to those who do the work and those who reap the fruits of her labors, There is a peculiar pleasure de- rived from eating home-made preserves not to be extracted from the machine-made material, though one may be as tasteful as the other. They impart a confidence free from mental in- terogations and sneaking suspicions that all things are not what they seem. THE PRESENT SEASON, The season thus far has not been altogether propitious for putting up berriesand the smaller Products of tree and vine, therefore many housekeepers have a good deal ahead of them yet in order to make amends in other directions, and for the next four or five weeks they will be as busy as so many bees filling their pantries for the coming winter. Just at this time neither fruits nor vegetables are in a very promising condition, but should the latter hate of the month prove fair, and better weather prevail tolerably good material may be obtained an much accomplished toward securing a good supply. THE ART OF PRESERVING, The housekeeper who congratulates herself upon being able to preserve anything and every- thing that comes to hand makes a mistake, which hideous demons in frightful nightmares or alarming cases of colic among the juvenile corps too often attest. In preserving any kind of fruit the best flavored and most perfect only should be se- lected. And it is not a good plan to attempt to handle too large a quantity at one time, as it is difficult to watoh, prevent burning or boiling over. Manyhousekeepers, amateurs especially, disregard this important point in the teres to do as much as possible in a short time and get rid of the heat and steam of the kitchen—and then wonder why their efforts were a failure and those of their neighbors’ successful. Poor Benedict has to eat them all the same, and if = make him sick, something he ate at the club, that glass of beer or the ice cream he quietly took down town has the blame to carry. It is a good rule when preserves are not to be sealed to use one pound of sugar to every pound of fruit; if to be sealed less sugar will answer. However, that is often determined by the acidity of the fruit. Haste is of great importance in preparing for preserving, as the natural flavor is thus more readily saved—yet the preserves should be allowed to boil slowly. Avoid using brass kettles—porcelain is far bet- ter. If necessary to use brass very great care should be taken to have them scoured bright and perfectly clean. Loaf sugar is best, though granulated may be used. Canning and preserving establishments use granulated sugar altogether—hence the superiority of home- made goods, SOME USEFUL RECIPES. For peach preserves select good fruit care- fully and remove the seeds. Make @ sirup of as many pounds of sugar as fruit, in which boil the seeds after cracking them. When clear add the peaches, cook gently for twenty minutes, then skim out the fruit and lay them to cool over night; next morning return to the fire and boil a few minutes. Repeat the process four mornings in succession and put in glass jars, Another way is to pare the peaches and add to every pound of fruit one pound and a quar- ter of white sugar. Put in a porcelain kettle and boil five minutes, Turn out in a large bowl, cover with a thin cloth, set in the sun and stir every day until perfectly transparent. Put inf and cover with thick paper. A delicious apple preserve may be made by making a sirup of three-quarters of a pound of sugar to each (eet of apples, add a sliced lemon, put in the apples, bo.l until transparent and place in a jar. Boil the sirup until very thick and pour over them. The quince makes a delightful preserve, Pare andcore the fruit, boil in clear water until tender; make a sirup with a pound of sugar for each pound of fruit, and boil the guinces in it slowly for half an hour. To preserve pears peel, cut in halves, core and weigh, allow three-quarter's of # pound of sugar toa pound of fruit, Make sirup and add to the fruit. When done take up and place in glass Jars. Boil the sirup low and pour over and seal Preserved crab gag have a peculiarly pi- quant flavor. Put them in a kettle and keep scalding hot for an hour; add a small lump of alum. Take the fruit up and skin, leaving on the stems. Addas many pos of sugar as fruit to the water and boil to sirup. Siberian crab apples do not require to be peeled, but the skin should be punctured, Cut watermelon into fancy mere and put in strong brine; cover with grape leaves and set away. When ready to preserve souk in fresh water. Dissolve four tablespoonfuls of alum to every gallon of water; put in the rind; sim- mer until green; then soak out the alum by put- ting the rind into cold water. Pour boiling water on half a pound of ginger and let it stand; boil and add three ounces of mace and sugar to make a sirup; put in the rind and boil quietly; let it cool over night; then boil as before, adding a pound of cut sugar to every ound of rind; take up the rind and put ina jar; boil the sirup until very thick and pour over it, This makes a particularly nice pre- serve. There is a great difference of opinion as to which is preferable in canning fruits and vege- tables—tin, glass or stone. Tin is more largely used, especially by canning establishments, Whichever is used every kitchen should be pro- vided with a wide-mouth funnel to set in cans or jars through which to pour the material. This should be doue quickly and the top ad- justed at once. In point of consumption tomatoes lead by long odds all other kinds of canned goods; tie quantity used during the past five years being estimated at over fifty million cans a year, which demonstrates the good judgment of American housewives in using vegetables so freely. The canned vegetable coneumed next to to- matoes is corn, a specfal varicty called sugar corn being mostly used for that purpose. ‘The Maryland canned corn is more in demand than any other and the most extensive canning es- tablishments are in that state. Maine corn is said to be the finest, but the supply is unequal to the demand and prices are much higher. Canned peas are coming into use more freely. At one time they appeared only oc- casionally, but now are used rogularly in many households, The industry of canning ee has grown to an enormous extent in this country. Balti- more is the chief packing center. but many canneries are distributed through and spring- ing up in nearly every fruit growing section. They commence operations about the 10th of August. Granulated is the only quality of sugar used and the quantity varies from one to five pounds per dozen cans; those for cooking are allowed one to two pounds per dozen cans; those for table use three to five pounds. GENERAL SUGGESTIONS, When one is ready to begin canning the cans should be put in a large pan of warm water and set on the back of the stove. Pre- pare the sirup, add the fruit, and by the time this is done the cans will be ready for use. Fill as full as possible and set aside where no cur- rent of air will strike them. Light injures all fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes, and the place where canned fruit is kept should be dark, cool and dry. Select perfect fruit; peel carefully; {ely in cold water to prevent’ color; lay the fruit in the can, ur boiling sirup over it, set in Ghincee— 98 nen, 10 ounces” "Tometoos Of course some must be exercised according to the quality and class of ‘TWO OTHER NICE RECEIPTS. ‘Tomato mustard is one of the very nicest recipes and one seldom seen in print. It calis for one peck of green tomatoes sliced very thin and thickly with salt, Let them stand all night. In the morning squeeze them prec ily oor ia ol ne of onions, 1a; them in a porcelain-li kettle, tomatoes an: onions alternately; add one pound of the best ellow mustard and cover them with vinegar. Boil steadily one hour and pack it away in ““Tontato soy is delightful relish, and ‘omato soy is a delig! relish, an res one peck of green tomatoes and robe esa white onions. Slice thin and lay them on @hes in alternate layers, spi inkling a little salt on each layer. Letthem id twenty-four hours; drain and put them in a kettle with the Peper Some scattered through: One ounce each of black pepper, mace, allspice, cloves, mustard, celery seed sSopkecrigr 6 three pods of red Pepper, sliced thin, and tablespoon- fuls of brown re. Cover the whole with vine; and boil slowly until clear. Pack away ina stone or and pour over the whole bernie t each of the best olive oil and brandy mize FIRE IN THE BOWSER MANSION. Mr. B. Does All the Yelling, While His Wife Puts It Out. From the Detroit Free Press. “Mrs. Bowser, it is possible that this house may take fire some time,” observed Mr. Bowser as he laid aside his paper the other evening. “Yes,” “If it takes fire while I am home all I expect of you is to take the child and get out doors. Ishall peril my life to subdue the conflagra- tion, and if I find it cannot be done I shall save all the valuables.” “Perhaps I could help you.” “And perhaps you couldn’t. You'd do more damage than good if you tried to. I want you to remember and get right out and stay out.” “I have been told that I had great presence of mind, Mr. Bowser.” “Yes, and you may have been told that you were the empress of Russia, Presence of mind! There isn’t a woman on earth who'd have pres- ence of mind enough in case ofa fire to save her own shoes! All I want of you is to follow my directions.” It was singular that the test should come so soon. In lighting tho gas in the hall upstairs Mr. Bowser must have dropped the match upon a rug lying near. We were hardly in bed before I smelled smoke, but when I mentioned the fact Mr. Bowser growled: “Nonse ‘The cook probably threw some eggshells into the range wine she was clearing up her supper dishes. Your nose is always melling fire or burglars or sewer gas, and it is always wrong.” He went to sleep and I continued to sniff that odor, Ten minutes after Mr. Bowser had ut- tered his first snore a thick cloud of smoke poured into our bed room all of a sudden, and at the same moment the darkness was lighted up by a flickering flame. The house was cer- | tainly on fire, aud I shook Mr. Bowser and in- formed him of the fact. Re is it?” he gasped, as he sat up in “The house is on fire! Can't you see the smoke and the blaze?” I was out on the floor and dressing me when he rolled out of bed. sprang to the door and shouted at the top of his voice: “Murder! Police! Fire! We are all on fire up here!” “Well, slip on your clothes and see if you can’t putit out. It must be in the back hall.” “Fire! Fire! Fire!” he yelled, as he sought to pull on his pants. ‘Our house ison fire. We shall be burned alive.” In spite of the peril of the situation I had to laugh at Mr. Bowser’s antics. He first got the left leg in the right leg of the pants. Then he fell over in getting out of them; got up and drew them on hind side before, and he was sprawled out on the bed and kicking them off when I was all dressed and ready to leave the room. I was determined to see where the fire was before I took the baby and went down stairs. The smoke was very thick, but the tongue of flame guided me down the hall, and I found the rug and baseboard and a door cas- ing ablaze. ire! Fire! Fire!” Soest Mr. Bowser at this moment as he dashed into the hall. “Come and help me put it out!” I called to him, but he was already on his way down stairs to the telephone. Covering my meuth and nose as well asI could I felt my way to the lavatory. There was nothing but a tumbler at hand, but after I had filled it several times and dashed its con- tents along the base I saw that I had the best of the blaze. After opening a window to let the smoke drive out I brought some more water and extinguished the last of the fire. Moan- while Icould not help but hear Mr, Bowser. He rushed to the telephone and rang it contin- uously for twenty seconds. and then yelled: “Hello, central! Hello central! Fire! Fire! Fire! My house is on fire! Send up the police and three engines right away!” He couldn't wait for an answer, but took three or four circuits around the sitting room, made a dish into the parlor and out by the front hall, all the time yelling “tire!” ‘at the top of his voice, and then it occurred to him to go to the fire-alarm box down on the corner, Out he rushed, barefooted and bare- headed, and after tryin for half a minute to pull the box off the post he ran to the resi- dence where the key was kept, His shouts and yells had aroused evervbody within half a mile, aud the possessor of the key threw up his window and calle: “Is that you, Bowser? “Yes, its me! My house is on fire!” “Sure? I didn’t see any light over there,” “It's on fire from cellar to garret, and I ex- pte my wife and child have perished in the a mes!" «That's awful! Here's the key.” Mr. Bowser not only turned in one alarm, but he kept om sending them in until the first steamer arrived. and the driver of it ordered him away from the box and called him a blank fool. Five engines came rushing up, and I had got the smoke out of the hall und was down stairs when a dozen firemen dashed up the steps to fight the conflagration. I showed them 74 stairs to investigate. Mr. Bowser went with them. After they got through laughing they turned on Mr. Bowser. They catled him by 150 different tities, be- sides advising him to go and sandpaper and soak his head. They sneered at his excuses and laughed at his éxplanations, and as they retired one of them remarked: “It's a good thing for you, old bowlegs, that you have got a guardian!” When they had gone and we were left to our- selves Mr. Bowser looked very important and observed: eee I made mighty short work of that “You! What did you do?” I asked. “What did I do? Mrs. Bows.r, do you in- tend to claim any credit for extinguishing that blaze?” “Ido. But for me the house would have gone. Mr. Bowser, you were uo rattled that you acted like a crazy man.” “What! You put out the fire! I rattled! Mrs. Bowser, this is too much. I see throush the conspiracy. On several occasions you have driven me to the limit. This is beyond the limit, Ishallsee my lawyer in the morn- ing.” Bat when morning came he forgot all about it. He was too busy bringing the neighbors in to show what a narrow escape he had and how his presence of mind saved the house. 200. Pioneer Justice. From the Detroit Tribune. Astory that Judge Reilly occasionally repeats when the subject of Michigan justice is up for discussion runs substantially as follows: When Gratiot county, Mich., first began to be disturbed by pioneers, and after it had its first justice of the peace, a farmer named Davi- son walked three miles to secure a warrant for the arrest of his neighbor named Meacham for assault and battery. To save the constable a six-mile trip the defendant walked with the laiutiff. They encountered his honor just leaving his house with his gun on his shoulder, and Davison halted him with: “Squire, I want a warrant for this man for seme wful hurry,” said the ‘squire, Im an ay " “Come tomorrow.” i it: “So'm Fin a hurry, and I'm going to havea | struck orrow.” raising tom A “Meacham, did you hit him?” asked the “Davison, did you strike first.” “No.” HIS LOT NOT AN *APPY ONE. An Old Policeman in a Reminiscent Mood. MARDSHIPS OF THE FORCE—NOT LIER IT was IN “THE GOOD OLD Days”—HOW TEE CITY was GUARDED IN MAYOR MAGRUDER’S TIME—SEVEX SOUND SLEEPERS—BUT THEY CAN'T DO 80 Now. | “Four more hours and there'll be some rest for the weary.” It was 2 o'clock in the morning and the Policeman who made the remark quoted was holding up a corner lamp post, The light had attracted a swarm of mosquitoes and the blue- coated guardian of the public peace was having the fun all to himself. His partner (policemen generally patrol in pairs) was not visible. “Who says we don’t have to work?” continued the speaker as he slapped at the mosquito. “There are in the community,” he went on to remark, ance oe 8 Probably thousands, of rgons who think that all a policeman has to is to walk the streets day and night. Well, that might be an easy task to think of, but the DOING OF IT 18 QUITE ANOTHER THING. It’s well enough for a man who is confined in an office or a shop to take along stroll. The exercise does him good, for he really needs it and to breathe the fresh air, but with police- men it is different. They take the fresh air and exercise because they can't help them- selves, which is quite a different thing from doing it for pleasure. When a person of for a walk for recreation he can select his own route, He can goalong the river shore and enjoy the soenery, or over the hilltops under the shade trees, seeking cool spots, or along streets where there is something to be seen besides closed houses and hot pavements. Not so the high private in the metropolitan police force, who is paid to walk, He is confined within a Wey, ori small area, and no mat- ter whether there are hot concrete pavements, dusty are muddy streets, rain or shine over- head, sleet or slush under foot, he rag Often a storm is raging when he leaves the station, but that makes no difference. He has to go all the same. “But going out in sorts of weather and walking the streets,” he continued, ‘is not all that policemen have to do. There is a duty to be performed, and the chances are that if you don’t perform it properly you will be suc- ceeded by another man who willbe given a fair trial to doso, He may not succeed, but then you will not be given another chance. Police duty now is not what it was years = When Capt. Goddard was chief of police officers had acomparatively easy time of it. HOW IT WAS IN MAYOR MAGRUDER’S TIME. “As an illustration of how the city was guarded then, I recall an incident which was printed in Tae Star at that time. There were some iting councilmen here from some other city—I think New York—and Mayor Magruder undertook the task of showing them the sights, It was late at night when be boasted of the eficiency of the police force and the visitors were to be shown how prompt they were to answer a summons. Instead of using whistles the police used rattles similar to those now used as a toy by children, only they were made of hard wood and made a sound that could be heard many squares distant. The old central uard house on Louisiana avenue was then the eadquarters of the police department. There were two stations-—one was situated on B street southeast between Ist and 2d streets, and there was a lockup at the old Western market, corner of Pennsylvania avenue and 20th street, THE MAYOR SHOWING OFF HIS FORCE. “With his visitors in a carriage Mayor Ma- gruder started out to make a sort of inspection of the police department, The central guard house was first visited. Capt. Goddard and others were found there on duty. The guard house was not a very attractive Pisce, but then the mayor had not boasted of the buildings; it was the men that he expected to show off to advantage. After leaving Capt. Goddard the rattle was used and the ofiicers answered promptly. That was down town, The mayor was delighted with the —— manner in which he was answered by the bluecoats, and he then started uptown to show what the west- ern squad could do. When the corner of Penn- sylvania avenue and 17th street was the carriage was stopped and THE MAYOR SOUNDED HIS RATTLE. He told his guests to listen and they would hear his call answered. He rattled away, but in vain, for no response was heard. Again the sound of the mayor's rattle was heard and still no response. Tne mayor felt uneasy and ex- lained that the officers were probably some Bistance off and suggested that the party give the test call further on, The Washington cir- cle (then the Round Tops) was passed and the western guard house or lockup was bebind them. When the carriage arrived at the other side of the circle another effort was made to arouse some member of the western squad, but with the same result. The mayor was puzzled, but to clear EP, the mystery the driver was in- structed to take them to the western lockup, where they arrived in a few minutes, THE SEVEN SOUND SLEEPERS. “They stepped from the vehicle to the side- where unmistakable snoring in chorus was hear. Aun investigation was made. The visitors walked to the door of the lockup and there the sleepers were found—seven in num- ber—almost the entire squad of the western section, peacefully reposing on the benches. To say the mayor was disgusted is putting it mildly. Again the rattle was used, and this time had the desired effect, for the seven blue coats arose and bashfully confronted the mayor and his visitors. Then there was @ surprise party and the seven sound sleepers were suspended.” IT WOULD NOT Do Now, “Such duty as that weuld not goin these times,” the officer continued, “Suspended? (scornfully) why the whele crowd would be dismissed after a very short hearing. It’s true that there is no mayor to show visitors about now, but then the force is not conducted for the benefit of strangers. In former days the men were not looked after so closely as they are now. ‘They went out on their beats and would probably not see a sergeant until they returned to the station after their tour of duty. Then they could ‘hoodie,’ as the officers call loafing. Some would go home, while others would see! sleeping places elsewhere. The newspaper offices used to be favorite places for the olficers to spend a large part of their time, especially onrainy or cold, snowy nights. The officers were generally on good terms with the em- loyes of the newspapers and were never at a lows to finda soft bed of waste paper where they could rest themselves. Should the ser- geant happen to come in the vicinity some one would arouse the slumbering policeman and hurry him out to answer the sergeant’s call. If officers should attempt such tricks now it would be ouly a short time before they would be sum- mone: BEFORE THE POLICE TRIAL BOARD. When asked the question. “Guilty or not guilty?” the private may just as well answer ‘guilty,’ for the sergeant’s word usually ‘goes.’ When an officer goes on duty now he has to be ou ‘he alert if he wants to keep his place. The patrol box has to be visited every hour. The sergeant is on the beat and perhaps the lieu- tenant and the night inspector are about, so that the man who does not want to do straight duty had better not make application for mem- ship on the police force. The saloon and gambling eler its are not strong enough now to save an r’s scalp and there is conse- quently no inducement for poticemen to ‘stand in’ with these classes. The men have to look sharply after both gambling and drinking houses and there have been so many saloon keepers dealt with in the courts during the w years that the proprietors as a class wa on’ the police, AN ARTFUL DODGER. “Some years ago,” said the policeman, “there was a police trial here that was quite interest- ing, but somehow or another it never got into riut, A policeman was sleeping in a business ouse in the central part of the city, when the sergeant or mght inspector came along and whistied for him. He whistled several times, but the ofticer was tired and was sleeping so soundly that the blare of a trumpet would not bave aroused him. Oue of the men employed in the place, who had heard, the used hi hile ashe going todo?’ he asked the “ Wait a geese the weeppricyings He ae ilding. instant later of ew ee ‘The policeman had adjoining yard and bik 4 if E i A FATAL PRESCRIPTION. Mistake of a Physician Causes the Death of His Patient. The says that Dr. Jeannotte, a prominent physician there, by a mistake in writing a prescription has been the indirect cause of a child’s death, while another lies at death's door, poisoned by partaking of the same medicine. The unfortu- nate parents are half crazed with grief, and Dr. Jeannotte will probably have to fight a big legal battle if he escapes criminal prosecution. Being particularly skilled in children’s dis- eases, the doctor was cailed ina few days ago to attend a child of Mrs. Conillard, who was suffering with whooping cough. He prescribed for the sufferer. He intended to order bisul- phate of quinine im the form of quarter grain powders, but by mistake he wrote morphine instead of quinine. The prescription was taken to a druggist and handed to the clerk in charge. He was surprised to see bisulphate of morphine, there being nosuch preparation, and thinking the error was in the word bisulphate he dispensed with the prescription, using sul- phate of morphine. A quarter of agrain of morphine is not a very large dose for ap adult, but it is death to m child, and the little one mever awoke after the second The parents were even then unaware of the fatal nature of the medicine and gave some to another sick child) This child grew rapidly worse and the medicine was then blamed. The doctor was sent for, but he claimed the med- icine was all right, and was only convinced to the contrary whem confronted with the fatal —-. Then he acknowledged his mis- ke, but laid the whole blame on the draggist for compounding medicine which he knew must be wrong. When Mr. Conillard was made aware of the terrible loss he had sustained through the mistake of the man he had called in to save his children, his rage was unbounded, and it is alleged that it was with the greatest difficulty he was prevented from having sum- Vengeance onthe physician, A triangular battle in the courts will likely follow between Conillard, the doctor and the druggist, the druggist blaming the doctor, the doctor the druggist, and the real sufferer, the bereaved father, blaming both, FINDING BODIES AT JOHNSTOWN. Yet the State Will Abandon the Work of Clearing Up the Ruins. Two more bodies were taken out of the sand at Johnstown, Pa., yesterday. One was identi- fied as that of Alex. Hamilton, jr., a prominent resident of the town. It is very evident that there are yet a great many bodies to be found in the cellars and other places where there are piles of dirt. Notwithstanding this condition, it is likely that the force of workmen employed by the state will soon be withdrawn, and if that is done there will be many bodies that are now only a few feet under the sand that will lie there until their bones are exposed by accident, Under orders from the governor the em- ployes, to the number of about eighty, who were under the immediate direction of the sanitary corps will all be dismissed today, and only three or four men will be ieft on duty in the office of the state board of health. ‘This turn of affairs is discouraging to Johnstown people. who had hoped to see enough men put to work toclean out all the cellars and take away the foul-smelling rubbish everywhere, A large traveling satchel packed with a woman's clothing was brought to the room where valuables are stored yesterday. There was a Pennsylvania railroad check (No. 369), from Pittsburg to Philadelphia on it, and the name Elizabeth M. Bryan was stamped on an em- broidered linen handkerchief. eee Gen. Boulanger’s Trial. At the trial of Gen. Boulanger before the high court of the French senate yesterday the Procureur general, continuing his address, charged that jGen. Boulanger had held a veritable political court at Clermont-Ferrand when he was in command of the troops there. He had originated secret intrigues, electoral agitation and a system for corrupting officials, Notwithstanding these acts he bad written to the war office disclaiming any connection with what had been done in his name. Here there were protests from the senators belonging to the party of the right. The procureur general declare: which clearly marked the downward path of Gen. Boulanger from insubordination to in- trigue, falsehood and conspiracy. The gov- ernment also had evidence to show that Gen. Boulanger had tried to have conveyed to Prince Bismarck the information that he (Boulanger) only desired to be appointed con- sul for hfe, The procureur general described the proceedings of the league of patriots at Rochefort and the initial steps of the attempt against the state, which commenced with the scene at the Lyons depot, when Boulanger started for Clermont-Ferrand, and continued until the Long Champs review, when Bon- langer was hiding in Paris awaiting the result of bis manifesto. The procurcur’s speech was received with many impatient cries of “Adjourn, adjourn.” The trial was tinally ‘adjourned. Five Girls, All in Red. From the Minneapolis Journal There are some hundreds, more or less, of smart young men in town, who are impressed with the idea that there is nothing that the hard worked and obliging young ladies at the telephone exchange like so well as flirting with idiots at the other end of the wire, The crush- ing rebukes at times administered to the con- ceited simpletons is as the flame of the candle to the moth, and they only live to tempt tate again. Some time ago there was one of those nice boys who worked in a fruit store across the street from the telephone exchange, He conceived a kind of long distance mfatuation for the young lady who answered the ‘phone in the store and poured a stream of silly nothings into her unwilling ear at every opportunity. Finally she resolved to teach him a lesson, One day the young man was t and expressed a violent much assumed coyness she at length told him she would grant his request. She said if he would = at a certain window of the exchange at the hour of high noon she would appear. He would recognize her from the fact that she wore a red dress, The appointed time came and the smitien youch planted himself in front of the store and gazed with all his eyes and soul at the window of the telephone exchange, Horrors! Instead of one there were five girls in red dresses smiling down upon him. It was too much and he fled. It was reported on good authority that the girk who put up the job was not one of the fiv ————+e«_____ The Pueblo Indians. Correspondence Boston Transcript. There are in existence nineteen “tribes” of Pueblo Indians, and all live in the northern half of New Mexico except the Moquis, who are just over the line in northeast Arizona—400 miles east of Fort Yuma. Pueblo is a tribe name as much as Ute, and is never applied to any other tribe. There is not in the whole southwest au ignoramus so monumental as to class Navajocs, Apaches, or Yumas as of the Pueblos. No Pueblo ever dwelt in a wooden hut or “‘tepee.” They dwell in adobe or stone | houses, and very neat, wholesome, and com- fortable ones. They are the only Indians in the country who do. They have not abandoned any social laws. No American community in existence is so well governed as a Pueblo town. There is no such thing among them—nor ever has beeu—as a chief, They elect their officers by ballot yearly. The Pueblos are not paupers in a land of wealth, but are invariably in comiort- able circumstances. villages raus trom 100 to 1.500 and cach vi owns from 15,000 to 150.009 acres of land, arable part being held in severalty, Under the sacred pledges of the treaty of Guadal Hidalgo these people are entitled to fall che are short. as a rule, but the territory. The’ Scape sique, and, as almos: invariably o for braius, the average certainly does not oversize them. ey are always modestly modest and pictarssquely clothed and a more race not dwell inthe two Americas, scarier mes eth < The Baron Says He Was Robbed. At Long Brauch, N. J., Baron de Pardonnet yesterday filed a complaint to Mayor Brown there were documents before the court | The population of the | zeuship, They are the best class of people in | W°uUx Ded. Twas wounded in the battle of River’ Jee at the ‘Stone took ‘of my blood and ensbied me to feel again. 8 8. 8 ts the remedy for blood poison. JOHN CONWAY, London, 0, : me in the cure of # malignant cancer. which was so bad as to be considered incurable by the physicians im Chicago, where I weut to be treated. The ho«pital Surgeons gave me Up. saving they could do nothing | forme. One of my neighbors sent me a copy of an ed- | Vertisement cut from a paper in reganl to SWIFT'S | SPECIFIC, and I began taking it. I got relief from | the Giret few doses; the poison was gradually forced out of my aystem and I was soon cured sound and well, | It is now ten mouths since I quit taking S. 8.8, and J have bad no sign of return of the dread(Gl disease. MAS. ANN BOTHWELL Au Sable, Mich. Treatise on Blood and Skin Diseases mailed free. THE SWIFT SPECIFIC 00, _Drawer 3, Atlanta, Ga, Unsere epexten Arrrracriox: vVER A MILLION DISTRIBUTER LOUISIANA STATE LOTTERY COMPANY. an6-0o30t-3 Tncorrorated by the Legislature for Bau and Charitable purposes, and its franchise made s. Part of the present State Constitution in 187 by am overwhelning popular vote, It MAMMOTH DRAWINGS take place q Annually (June and December), and ite GRAND | BINGLE NUMBEK DRAWINGS take place in each of the other ten months oi the year, and ore all drawn im public st the Acadeng of Music, New Orleans, La FAMED FOR TWENTY YEARS POR INTEGRITY OF 178 DRAWINGS. AND PROMPT bake MENT OF PRIZES, Attosted as follows “We do hereby certi’y thet wr wuperviae the Menta for ail the monthiy and Sem: my, and Drurcince themacives, and ( same are conducted with honesty, iavrnes. and @ goed Faith toward al partis, and we authorize the Crm PaNy to use thas eevtyicaie. with fac-wmides @f Ow He mente.” t Ratutrea aiaciued, tn te ace) ce Commissioners, we all Lottersas whack ‘We. the vd Rank and Bankers may be presented a! our counters, K M. WALMSLEY, Pres. Lowiriana National Bank. LARP LANA ti UX, Pres. State National Bank. A. BALDWIN, Pres. New Orleans National Mani, CARL KOBN, Pres. Cuson Neuoual Bauk GRAND MONTHLY DRAWING AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC, NEW ORLEANS TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1888, CAPITAL PRIZE, €300,000. 100,000 Tickets at Twenty Dollars each: €10; Quarters, ¢5; Tenths, 2, Twentieths, @1. LIST OF PRIZES Ai 100 Prizes ot ; 100 Prizes of 3 08 vu Prizes of 200 are 24,000 TORMINAL PRIZES. 999 Prizes of $100 are. ‘you Prizes of 100 are, 3134 Prizes, amounting to... Nore —lickets drawing Capital Priges are not en- tied to Termiual Prizes. AGENTS WANTED. 8? For Cice Kates, or iurther information desired, write legibly undersigned, clear! satiny Your remadence, with Slate, County, Sirest: Dumber, More rapid rerun taal dclivery will bees by JUUF ImclUsiLy a Luvelope bearuug your fulb — IMPORTANT. Address M.A DAUPHIN, ew Uriesna, La | , Be ordinary letter, containi: | by ail Fas ress Companies, New oF Postal Note. Money Order away | Address Registered Letters containing Curreney NEW ORLEANS NATIONAL BANK New Urieans, La “REMEMBER thet the payment of prizes te GUARANTEED BY FOUR NATIONAL BANKS of New the Uckets are signed by the Pre@ident of ONE DOL: or fraction of ius. Any De ider in iT a | Coxrxvatios i. Or . A. SELIGSON'S 20 PEK CENT KEMOVAL SALE ot PURE WINES AND LIQUORS Iu Bottles and Demijubus at 526 12TH ST. NW. NEAR F. Before I rewove to my Lew buiiding on the corner of } 12ch and Pennsylvania ave. u.w., ob oF about October want to reduce yy iuutwetine stork of Foren ad a Aquore, Low stored in four ware Lounes 1m this city and ove i Baitimore, to the very lowes: uuinimum, PLLASE COMPARE MY PiICES WITH THOSE OF OTHLKS. | CALIFORNIA WINES. ber Gal Claret, extra quality. sO sO Burruity < 3 28 Bheriy (Go! a | Bherry oo Bo 320 00 500 ‘ $60 & 10 40 | WINES, | Virguaa T=: hoses, eoeee vd sO Wag cnc vec tc 320 | Gewuss ] Bou 230 joe Swe Malaga 18 Fy rs 3 | Fort—ounruudy Port—ulu Lowdva Dock. 3 Buerry oo ning Sherry —Goud Tabbe oo 3% Bberry—Dul Gord. 00 a $ Bherry —Alwon Uliado. 750 6 Bewuite Bay Kuti, o 4% $0 bo = ¢ soo 4 500 « éo 4 350 280 500 = 400 600 S80 600 th soo ¢ m1 | Sevsels Whhbal sy 3 Bootes Whisky, very oid. 50 Bootes Wutaky, very.very uid... «1000 & Trish Whinicy, old $00 ¢ Insane W biscy, very 7 oO $ Iria Whisky, very, ve 19 90 | Gouna wo ¢€ | ALSO. THE FULLOWING bO- MEsi:C Wiichias: ‘Trimbie Pure Ry Monuceiio Pure ii tection Pure 4. | ow i Per Dow. Bitters—W id Cherry—Harterw’, o> ey 00 Vermouta : 8 Se | Angvelure, - 200 « Per Boitie. Per Bottle, (Chartreter—devow cuart., - e300 UTven—qua t.. s00 erha < 22 rey oe 2 25 Absi: ihe. 225 Cutan va—tied « 390 ¢ # 00 wert) belt 8 Dos. ms - SS szes. Fgercees Bek ol arid FrBsBeFses! HeEEz Shsbite 388¢: