Evening Star Newspaper, September 19, 1891, Page 10

10 THE BIRDS OF WISDOM The Various Species of Owls to Be Found in the District. HOW TO CAPTURE THEM. Nocturnal Birds of Prey—Where They May Be Found—Their Habits, Looks and Calls— ‘The Familiar Owls That aise Their Young Within Sight of the Capitol. ‘Written for The Evenine Star. UNIVERSAL INTEREST THAT HAS everywhere attached itself to nocturnal birds of proy, making them at once objects of curiosity a8 well asan acquisition tohome decora- tions, is the excuse for = short description of ‘the species of owls found within the District. Of the many different kinds of owls inhabit- fing the United States eight are found at varions sensonsof the year within the District of Co- lumbia. These are the Screech, the Long and Short-eared, the Barred. Great Horned, Darn, Acadian and Snowy, named in the order of their felative abundance. Five of these are perma- nant residents, aud rear their young within sight of the dome of the Capitol: the remaining | fhree are with us only during the winter months, one of which, the Snowy, visits us but seldom, although numbers bave been taken. Lite most birds, exch species hae » particule: | Bind of country which it loves to frequent. and | alittle insight into the genetal habits of the | birds, and of each in particular, will enable | nearly any one to discover one or more species | fea day's tramp. | NOT AS BLIND 48 SUPPOSED. To begin with, the universal opinion that owls cannot see in the daytime is entirely er- Foneous. I admit that they can seo best at night, but to test their powers of vision in the face of Old Sol’s rays one has but to atte; tosecure a Great Horned owl by even the stealth- fest stalking or to creep within gunslot of the Snowy owl perched on a fence post in the mid- die of some ficld to become. thoroughly con- vinced that owls are not as blinded by the light es they are generally portrayed. ‘TRE LITTLE SCREECH OWT. ‘The little Screech or Mottied ow! ix, perhaps, the most pleasing of all to search for, inasmuch ae a trip leads one over the pleasantest country, [illo the reasonable sesurance of succes at- the day's outing.lends a zest no wine tele BOW To BUNT A SCRERCH OWL. Lat us suppose that you are anxious to secure one of these little bits of feathered wisdom for to start out in search of him. A half walk the city in nearly any tion will place you in the ity — = ‘ldereaard, one whose trees are gnarly an the branches of which are a with being the only ones it wil y to ie Sarecal oul ahneut ivealably day in the hollow of come tree, and rds contain plenty of such’ and easy to climb the capture of a is but the question of a careful search. first orebard prove unproductive, jansthar, teeqecntty 0 bird openio one day ‘and the following in the one adjoining. generally tell whether an orchard ‘or not by pulling up a handful of ‘at the bottom of the hollows into thrust fur mixe: there ‘of bie itl a t i i tf i : i while their comparative will indicate about how recently the paid. From October to April one may capture screech owls in this manner, but through the wammer months they seldom cuter the holesas ‘they are busy with their young and pass the day | IN TER sUuxER. TUE NEST. chips or tn @ coarsely constructed nest of Grass and leaves the female deposits from four Ww six pure white eggs. ‘THE RED AND THE ory. A peeniiar fact connected with this species and ore worthy of notice is the two distinct phases of plumage presented, the red and the Grey, and which are entirely independent of Age, sex or season. In this vicinity the grays | are exceedingly rare. Out of over 300 speci- mens that have come under the writer's notice Dut four were of this color, while in other lo~ ealities the reverse is often the case. Various * ions of this remarkable characteristic Dave been advanced. but certain investigations now being connected at the Smithsonian Insti- tution promise at least » partial solution of the mystery. ‘THE LONG-RaneD owt. Aseareh for the Long-eared owl, however, iaan- ber matter. Nothing short of the shotgun will place him in your possession. while to find him You must search the densest and thickest pines. One of the best places is the vicinity of Ball's crose-roads in Virginia: here the woos are ex- ceptionally dense aud appear to be but little disturbed. In the spring of '89I found a nest lo- ated on the very outskirts of a patch of pines ead piosaly visible from the dels a quarter of e mile distant. It was anold crows nest. which bad undergone some slight repairsand contained gix young owls of various ages. Other nests have been taken in the same iocality.and it can be as the place most promising of success within a short distance from the city. & RONT POR THE smoRT-ranED owr. Hf one wishes to secure the last mentioned bird's cousin, the Short-eared owl, an entirely different sort of cou: Degia with, this is one of the species that visits ‘We only in the winter and is in all respects, both summer and winter. « marsh owl; one must go Prepared to swamp it over some of the worst | ground imagin half frozen mud trench ‘usly gives war beneath your feet; ground that solid enough may at any moment plunge You up to your knees in icy slime and water, to crown all, just when you are about to up the hunt in disgust and are only seek- to terra firma again, the bird you and which is the eral } ‘that clump of dried grass just ahead, springs | from its center, flies swiftly wcross the swam into s thick clamp of iF pursuit of him and saile | possibly to alight in the which you Just started ring the Potomac are bers of the birds every i i color a | baci direetion he shall launch forth in quest of hie evening's meal. With possibly on2 or tv ceptions he is the mest powerful of our eestern birds of prey, and woe betide the chicken of THE ORFAT RORNED Ow! rabbit that falls within his clutches—a squeal, | wriggle and all ix over. Nor is agrip from this bird tobe by any means despised. The writer has acompanion’s band so badl: lacerated by a wound:d specimen that it took weeks to heal. while the marks of the encounter will go with him to his grave. HOW To CAPTURE m3. There is no certain method of capturing these fellows, unless one finds a nest, which may be either in the hollow of some tree or in the de- serted nest of some crow or hawk in the dark- est pert of the forest. and awaits their coming d going. Possibly as good a way asany is to # pole near some hen roost which they are accustomed to visit and fasten a steel trap on th ‘The owl pays his usual cnll, sees & pole standing conveniently for making ob- servations, alizhts on the trap and in the morn- | on ean introduce Yourself to your can’ The birds are quite common in the vieinit tl itei, and sev ar and broug! ity of | are caught in this way ht to the city THE BARRED OWL. In driving in a northerly direction from Brightwood some may have noticed in the val- ley to the left of the road an extensive tract of pines. continuing unbroken in every direction i le distance. Tiiis is a favorite resort of the Barred owl, not only as a roosting place during the day, but asa breeding ground well, the Ww in one g apparently been used for years. one cau frequently hear them calling wnd an- ewering each other at intervals, witile at night, if one chances to be in the immediate vicinity, the din is alr unbearab! In the dense swampa bordering the Ockla- wahn river in Florida they are more numer- oug than [have ever found them elsewhere, and one night in particular when I was gently floating on its surface in my boat it seemed as though the very fiends incarnate were abroad and Were endeavoring to ont scream each other. Hundreds of these birds were shriek- ing im as many directions, while the faint moonlight that found its way through the over- hanging branches and thick clusters of Span- ish moss made the most wildly picturesque scene imaginable. NEAR HYATTSVILLE. A swampy piece of woods back of Hyattsville offers another inviting retreat for this species, and here in the spring of 83 a friend and my- self took a pair of young ones just from the nest. This last was in the decayed horizontal stub of an immense poplar, and was literal filled with mice bones, skulis, fish bones, scal and even the remains of fish recently eaptured, showing that while their diet may not be of the daintiest it is at least varied. THE BARN OWT. Perhaps the bird that will prove of the most interest isthe Barn owl, or as he is often called the Monkey-faced owl, considered by many as quite rare, and over whose capture a| big fuss is made every little while. In point of fact they are rather common, breeding regu- larly in the north tower of the Smi stitution and over the District jail, Oc ally one is killed on the flats, and rarely, very rarely, one is taken in the woods. If one could gain access to either of the above mentioned Places he would be pretts certain of securing a specimen. On the Brazos river in Texas, a few miles above Waco. these birds are numerous, living in the crevasses and burrows along t! banks and called white owls. This is very vague and misleading until oue sees what is really meant. THE SXOWY OWL. The rarest and handsomest of all is the big Snowy or Arctic owl, whose true home is in the most northern latitudes of our continent, and only during the severest winters when food is searce does he come southward, and then in immense numbers. Every two or three winters one reads of the large number of these birds are wen throughout the northern states, and some years ago over dozen were seen here in one winter. since which none, I think. ate known to have been seen. THE SAW-WHET own. . Lost and least of all is the little Acadian or Saw-whet owl, next to the Snowy both in variety and in beauty. One cannot fail to admire this diminutive specimen of feathered wisdom or to uestion what benefit they can possibly confer upon mankind. Their food consists almost ex- clusively of mice, and in regions where they are abundant they com- mit great havoc amon, this class of rodents an: confer an inestimable beuelit upon the farmer. I have never heard their note. but it ie azid to resemble the noise made in filing a large WHET OWL, saW, hence the name whet. Up to last winter but five specimens were recorded from the capital. In February one was taken at Brookland. which served as » stimulus to close search, and « few weeks later a friend and myself captured three within twenty minutes in one little patch of pines ‘kof Anacostia. Shortly aiterward a fifth specimen flew into the Smithsonian build: and was captured, making as many for the winter as vious records put together. They are such diminutive little creatures that one cannot help ing that they are more THEATRICAL GOSSIP. 3 Front of the Pootlighta THE STAGE AND REAL LIFE. How an Indignant Actress Was Hoodwinked~ A Bright Stage Hand—Abolishing Hideous Drop Curtains—Strange Scene ina Prosee- nium Box~They Had Met at the Seashore, Special Correspondénce of The Evening Star. . New Youx, September 19, 1691. talk of thé theatrical town is the gift of house by MillionaireChesebrough toActress Eytinge. Much has already been published relevant thereto, but one peculiar considera- tion has been Pearl Eytinge wasa great beauty and a clever actress fifteen years ago, but when, Inst winter, she committed the offense of reappearing on the stage in the guise of an artist's model in Dumas’ “The Clemen- ceau Case” she bad grown éoarse and fat and she was literally driven out of sight with ridi- cule. The occupants of the upper parts of the theater guyed her unmercifully. That ie to say, the gallery boy scorned her. Now we find that o millionaire adores ber. ON THE STAGE AND IX REAL LIFE. ‘Mise Eytinge ix « bright woman. The Isst time I heard her chat she talked like this, as nearly as Tean qttotefrom memory: “Even in these times of realism on the stage the mimic doings differ from the genuine. ‘The beautiful sm of a girl who plays the ‘sad heroine in play and who goes over to the piano when ti the dusk comes and the calsium man pute the moonlight on and who plays a sweet soft melody dees not always play it. She sits w hend, ow and runs her fingers around. but often as not the gir] who ix muce up for the hag who stole the Peantifel drecm of a girlin her infancy is the one who is playing the ewect oft melody just behind the scenes. But the fewer of these things the public knows the _bet- ter. How different stage lite is from the real life it is supposed to dopict. The moon comes up and slow music murmurs when the leading man tells the leading lady that he has to go away, far, far away fora long. long time. In real life the giri gets a telegram orders to jump to Chicago—good-bye, eives it just when her pet enemy is watching her, or when her dressmaker is kick- ing about her bill,or when she is warming canned soup because the cook has quit. On the stage the heroine [eng the back of a chair, aud sas jo—only the heat of the room,’ when she is told all of a sudden that her best company has gone and married ber rival. In real life she says cheerily: ‘Has he? Do you know Talwayshad an idea they would make a maich of it—he was so fond of her,’ and she doesn't move an eyelash.” NEARLY A TRAGEDY. There was nearly a tragedy on the first night of a new play at one of the Broadway play houses this week, It happens to bea rule at this theater that no flowers can be passed to performers across the footlights, therefore the manager was somewhat surprised aud an- noyed when « messenger arrived at the front of the theater a little before 8 with «# hage basket of roses directed to a subordinate mem- ber of the cast. He hastened round to the stage and found the yonng lady and asked her if she expected the basket passed over the fovtlights to ber. “Why, to be sure,” she replied. ‘The manager ined in rather cutting tones that acertain class of adolescent performers fatigued Lim exceedingly. “Do you have any objection to my receiving the flowers on the «tage? asked the young lady. “Don't ask footish questions,” responded manager. ‘No tlowers are ever passed up in this theater. ‘The actress set her lips and a dangerous light came into her eyes. There was going to Le « sceus before the curtain wont up. “That basket of flowers,” stid she in firm tones, “will either be passéd to ime on the wiage or I will not go on in my part. I do not intend to disappoint the sender af those roses.” “Young woman,” exclaimed the manager.now thoroughly angry, “you will, go onand play stand those flowets will not be pussed up to you. We will not waste any more words about it.” ‘MAD CLEAR THROUGB. The actress stood still, with blazing eyes and heaving chest. fairly scorching the manager with the intensity of ber omotion. She ought to have Leen dressing at that moment, for her entrance was immediately after the first cur- tain, Beginning to rub her gloves on with ter- rible deliberateness sho tapped her foot ner vousiy and panted andibly. 4 will sever my engagement with you now,” said she in cold. quivering tones. “I should consider it a disgrace to play ine thenter over which you had control.” “But you will play your part tonight,” lated the manager excitedly. * replied the in- “| most certainly shall not dignaut actress. “Lown sue you and obtain damages,” shouted the manager. responded the actress. r had never been in Just such a predicament before. There was no understudy ready for the fair rantineer's part, ant the play could not proceed without one. He would have liked to kill the inad@ening woman on the spot, but that would have done no good. ‘furning to a» bright-eyed young stage hand who had been listening to the conflict between himself and the actress he told him to go out to the lobby, get the basket of flowers and bring it on to the tage. Then addressing the actress he said: ‘Madam, I shall deliver those flowers to you here. If you persist in not doing yonr part I will have some young lady go on and read it. 1 do not intend to be overridden in this mat- te r. The young stage hand returned presently with the big basket of roses and deposited it on the stage. The rebellious actress approuched it, lifted the card attached to it and immedi- ately started back in w — This is jet of flowers,” she ex- claimed. for Miss Blank. Where is my basket?” “That was the only basket in the lobby.” ex- plained the stage Land. “Why those are your flowers,” pat in the manager, stopping fo¥ward ‘a8 he spoke and looking at the card. Ashe read the name he also started in surprise. “Why,” he cried, “I made a mistake. I read your name before instead of Miss Blank's. "There are evidently no flowers for you. Of course now you will have no ubjection to play- ing your part. Weno longer havea dispute, oes y The actress did not speak # word, but, turn- ing on her heel, made for her dressing room. ‘The manager looked bard at the stage band, who smiled back knowingly at him and seemed much pleased. ae wi “You young rascal,’ @ manager a moment, “low did you get so bright?" “Born that way, sir,” replied the stage hand. And when the young man was paid at the end of the week he found an extra ¢10 bill in his envelope. Through his sagacions trickery the regulations of that theater remained unbroken and the pagers tages arpa fence ao} her part in total \OFANCe of bad beed hoodwinked. ae A WELCOME CHANaR. It should be considered good news that three of our theaters took down their hideously painted drop curtains this week and put up in- stead a more will follow now that the good example hing been set. Soit is likely that the crudely drawn and badly colored picture which used to pain our eyes betweeh acts in every theater will soon disappear from view altogether. SCENE IX A PROSCENIUM. Perhaps the next thitig tobe abolished will be the proscenium bor, with its often obtrusive numerous than they appear, but owing to their mal ize they easly encepe detection, . Fash terror, ties being apparently ve Long bridge on the Vir- i if t his "This would cure his whooping cough. ‘Not long after Jonnnie’s mother, was « Say day fot Jonnie “ < jo ‘When tie mercury went down.” & Game With a Linit. ‘From Jadge. Wife—“Charley, why is that train called the ‘limited?’ rivalry of the adjacent stage in the attenticn of the audience. Cértain sitting in a per- ticularly one of the theaters thie What is GelngOn Behind and in| re alot splaining matters to his busy ex; inion. “Whee I met ‘emin the water down at the Branch, mash Fl) if I don't. ft quaintances to way, jure enough. ing with the gai and generally i town was very ently i thier frien and he, good n: panion one eve be. “The trou! show too much admire her. ¥. pliments, send supper with yo generally. to work a goo always — witho liking my off-b: for ber to meet that there are more, traveled food = mimic. levoted; I am Tam becoming admiration ot manner. that she looked Luxembourg. as often ns I lik with your as I hiked. I got throngh. bo, hi different act an pays, I give yo: SOME INTEREST NVHE STAR & ited Sta engaged at this parts the ¢ ¢, or rathe lachua laki oR wor Mr. in no was formerly prairie before ti day. ‘The purpose and f The prairie lan ered by the miler, emptying “The overflo Vii able cause of #1 small steamers freight traftic, the mouth of sto formi lake ofa is get back to town. to in August Pil Jimmie, I'v “Indifference, my boy, indifferen ap a rattling interest in the besities. compliments. know more than you fellows scions that she woutd be glad to meet nie agai And she was. In fact she was glad to meet lookers had to retreat from the fie Girls use you, they don t love you count of the disappe: ida, alzke that was so wellestablish that a steamboxt line was maintained on ft. It has since been uamed Payne's King Pasne, an old Semi: carrying shipments of wharf on Chaculn pond across Alachua lake to Gain it north. name United States on Alachua lake is eight miles fon, and in one place four miles in m every day for three “We was introdaced by the 80 it wasn't a case of even with the old mas, you rt little one's gone on me, and if can’t speak to ber in public,why, she'll meet me on the quiet, see? Ton’ allow my seaside ac-.| give me ti If I'm g jo all winter, ot ¢ girl mbler. ‘by when ak INDIFFERENCE TRE SECRE?. It had been noted that short, ugly faced | insignificant young man about successful with the Indies. The most beantiful sonbrette in the city was appar- love with him. His handsome and ds wondered how it was done aturedly, explained it toa com- ning. anid ble with you fellows is that you attention to girl when you fou pay her all your stock com- flowers to her, beg her to go to and muke slaves of yourself Now, that sort of thing in me Would be obnoxious to w woman. good looking and a compliment from me wouldn't sound well if} me would not I'm not A bunch of roses from evoke sentimental reflections. What is there for me to do? Why, I go to interest a girl by being un- like other men. tell "a smart piece of d story, hum a new song, iight entertainment, showing any irl herecl, Sho bd and, careless. manner. ut ins by it's new a man that doesn't look into | her eves like a languishing ninny, and she finds 4 lot of good things to hear ‘The thin, 0, I've read more, have more tulent. I'can play a little on the piano and banjo and am a| As a lover you are dull aud clover and indifferent. Your good looks give yon a big start ahead of me, | but by the time you ure growing monotonous fascinating. 1 once meta very beautiful young lady and fell in love with her | at sight. “There was a regiment of men at her heels, and 1 appareutly liad no chance at all. When I was led up to her { expressed no her whatever. 1 could see wus greatly surprised at my indifferent Ina moment Ugot @ chance to say something bright. She Inughed und said whe | liked me. T thunked Ler auc started of on a | chat about pictares by carelessly remarking | like a Wattewu [ bad seen in the I left that girl that evening con- ed and the regiment of good vhy, my face and my tact Tcould Ay I would win a princess befor But you grovel too ute Bry the fi id stop mashing for a while. my word.” it ING PARTICULARS ABOUT ALACHUA LAKE FROM A MEDBER OF A OLOLOGICAL SURVET PARTY—JOW THE INTO A SUGTERRANE AK® WAS FORMED. % STREAM. DRAINED ED AN AC- of Alachaa lake A ological snrvey party hus been k in that region, A member of Hersey Munroe, whi is now m the ex-1 "avid Mr. Munroe, “is situated hh Latituds 29° 35’ w 20° in Alachua eounty south of Gainesville, the cour ® prairie, kn ue Seminole war during reir le chief of nn early or tillage by the whites, come fine crops of corn and cotton boing grown. ls are immense meadows, cov- finest grass, interapersed with clumps of beautifn) onk trees and palmettoes. ‘These lands are subject to innnd the summer season. miles north of Gainesville direction of the compans for & distance of ten lation durii rises theee nd flows in every Hatehet ci im into Newnan’s lake, a beauti- fal sheet of water covering ton square miles. HOW THE LAKE WAS FORMED. w from Newnan’s lake forms a large creek named Prairie creek, which wended ite way through Payne's prairie to Alachua sink, one of the curiosities of the state. There the waters found their way int subterranean tors, to havo their curiosity atter | Ratified by seeing what tho effect would be to have logs thrown in the sink. th overtion of Poyn The loge would float out to the ce sink, whirl eround in a circle ‘ Aisa; ‘This choking of the outlet to the waters of Prairie creek caused the overflow and made a sheet of water sufficient to float nd sudden! and other craft. “One steamer in particular bad a splondid during the vegetable season bles from ite ecviler tho. principal place Jor ne ‘Attor the overfow ana. the lake it wan christened Alachua is been decided upon by the board names. east and west, 1th north and acres, and the average south, covers 16,000 depth is frouytwo to fourteen feet deep. LOWERING For 81 ERAL YEARS, “For several years the lake bas been grad- ually lowering. The elevation of the water above sea level as given by the Savannah, Flo- teen fost. By te G accurat of the ‘topographical ie | Serva nace some years is ye run =p one of the Thkvsootion during the wis- elevation of the water feet, th page ly a tealily the lake hae of it is I) | Gave an interesting account of the | e, toa Sran reporter. | the waves breaking own as Alathua | | mizneulous th: ! rie was a great grazing spot for | cuttle and later wax used for a li Y | him IM A WILD STORM AT SEA. % | apertonce of a Washingtonian Who jae Abeard the Dubbiedam. AMIDE? MOUNTAINOUS WAVES WITHOUT 4 atD- DER—A LANDSMAK'S FIRST EBCOUNTER WITH ‘A TERRIFIC STORM—7ER HORRORS OF THE STEERAQE—4 GHIPLOAD OF PASSEXGEAS WalT- IN@ FoR DESTRUCTION. A oes LETTER FROM MR. E. Q Smith, one of the passengers on the new steamer Dubbiedam from Awsterdam to New York, gives the experience of the vessel in the Gale of August 28. The Dubbiedam was built in Rotterdam, the newest of the Netherlande- American line and supposed to be the best, this being ber first trip. As will be seen, she lost her steering gear in the gale and put back to Plymouth, England, for repairs, from which port she again sailed for New York on the 10th instant, Under date of September 3 Mr. Smith says: AsT wrote you, on landing at Boulogne, we | i. are now sbosrd the “Dubbledam,” rightly so called. When we left Amsterdam the see was pretty high and sailing rather rough. After leaving Boulogne Thursday morning it was worse. I was sick and everybody on board. Saturday morning I ind about recovered. All the time the soa had been getting rougher. Sunday the weather was awful and rain all day Sunday night the rain cloared up and the sta came out, but the wind set in to blow a gale, inerensing in violence every minute. We went to bed and I slept most of the night, but not comfortably. About 2 o'clock im the morning the weather was something that one who has not gone through it can hardly imagine. At 2 o'clock, though the waves had been breaking over the ship all the time, a monster came over tho bow Just at the bridge and tore things up considerably, among other thivgs emashi into cow house and killing the animal therein contained. beating hor to o jelly, but doing the almost irreparable damage of bronk- ing our steering apparatus, The captain and crew at once storte to rig up some sort of steering gear, but to no purpose, as everything snapped us fast ns they fixed it up. ALL PASSENOKRS TURY OUT. About 8:30 o'clock a.m. we all got up and came up into the upper saloon and there the Indies stayed for the next two days and nigitte. Personal | You can try and imagine the situation, the wind dlowing a galo, whistling and moaning through the musta, the sea so high that [do not think you could guess bow it looked unless seen it. I know I had mo idea th be 80 high—-tie steering gear bi ship drifting at the mercy of the winds and fraves and tossin ible for even the sniiors to stand upright. was bad enough during the day, but when the next night came it was awful. Of course everr- body hoped for safety, but it seemed hardly possible that the ship could live through the night, and the rolling pitching continued wo badly that the sick @ frequently thrown out of t berths, deapite ali effort to hold on. 1 sin the upper saloon barricaded selves on the lourges with tables and did their best to hold on, but were alse frequently thrown to the floor.” No one slept for two days und thrve nights except by snatches. AWOLE IX TRE BOAT. About 1 o'clock that night we had a hole stove in the bow and the two aft life buats smashed and, brealting loose from their davite, they pounded the deck and aft cabin so that had the sailors not been able to secnre them within tive minutes longer we should have bed the upper deck swept of everything. Our exptain has the greatest admiration for everybody on board. ut for bis skill and pereererance we should never buve renched the next morning, althongh every pailey he rigged for the fi tweaty-foar hours was wnapped. He still con- tinued to work until he arranged an attnch- mont which was no use for ordinary steering, but which managed to keep up iu the troug! of the soa and muted the vessel. He said our nico of riding out the gule was to keep we were until the sea went down, and there stayed for two dave and two nights, all the time. as I said, pitcbing about so that it was dangerotts to m: m x position where one conid holt on, or covking was, of cottree, out of the question, excent that bread and a little cold ment war posed around and once or twice the cooks managed to get tp alittle bouillon, but inthe danger we were in few thought of eating much. HORRORS OF THE STEERAGE. The steerage passengers (450 of them) were vorst fix. They were locked down in the all the time end nothing of. what was going on ex-| that constantly they could hear over their heais and thumping as if the ship must go to pieces over miunte. “During that time it was only possibl to reach them once, and then they were pro- vided with alittle bread and a drink called cof- Several of the steerage p: become idiots from the The captain consi none of the sailors w maimed. To add to the other horrors the ole in the bow let in so much water that the low rooms in which the steerage confined were filled with wate to the te the vessel they were almost drowned. When we came on board Katie and I were disap- | pointed m having an inside room, bi have Leen very thankful, as every room in the boat was filled with water varying from one to five inches deep, and their cloiues | were nearly ruined by suaking in snlt water for so long a time. Ttatuk that every inside room, except ours, also was wet slightly, bat ours bela, the center of the boat, a@d just at the saloon stairs, was persertly a time. Things are at this time in suc fused state and 30 much going on that I cannot tell th y correctly and Tam afraid ter is somewhat incoherent, butit will give you the main pointe and [will tell you the details later. in overboard. STRERING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. ‘The sea gradually calmed and the captain arranged the most ingenious contrivance for steering ever saw. He has a pulley arranged for each side of the rudder, the ropes of which are fastened to two donkey engines (the ones usually used for lifting out the heavy cargo) close by the bridge. When he gives an order the sailor on one side lets his rope slip and the tailor running the other rope puts on steam and pulls his ond of the rudder round, and when they want to go in the direction the operation is rev: Br course, it fs. very primitive way of steering: very troublesome, ns it takes so many hands night and day torun it; ratherexpensive, as it uses up the ropes wire, of course, ) pretty 10 ropes ti ve being able to stand in more than 4 few hours, and more or Jobs daugerous, as each time the rope breaks we are again at tho mercy of the waves until a new pulley is rigged, which is doing the busi- ness ua; and if we have ii weather now for a few days we shall reach England. September 3.—I forgot to say that as soon as the weather moderated, as the English coast whs found to be only 680 miles away, the e: tain decide) to put in pamamaeee portFal- mouth or Plymouth—or y fo to Queens- town, Whiobeves the weather wood best allew to Ot course everybody to go back and to think of the new vovage still abend of us before reaching home, butit would be madness to try to rach America in our resent condition. We shall probably resoh Engiana Betardey, to tuako ocrahort a distonoe*but at frst we wore ae y be given full this time of year. We may be furnished with another vessel owned by the company, and we may have to walt ant this vessel is re- paired an on 1 con- oy wear doomed toa stay and cannet tell you It is a bad fix, but we are thankful to be alive. Hany lulicroes ‘things have bap; bowed ge ppaineletmeg one f Meg oo the humot to appreciate them. instance, at the first Seaseey and gold on our hall steamer continues to hover adoat us, hoping return ané@ place tn our front fore the grate this winter. FROM OLD NANTUCKET. Shari Paddack's Advice to His Newly Mar- ted Son. APTER FORTY YRARS—A LETTER FOUND I¥ AN OLD CERST—To sath AS A CATAMARAN INSTEAD OF CAT BOATS—TEE DANOEB OF CUTTING THE er a Dita Rave ber near, oven if abe ta supposed to wish | “grgcotmmce ®t The Rrvuing Bat. Sccaede bona Bes bebkanin ae ned ey g September 6, i861. y us, ing from New York to Hall. On our QOS 7Hl8 WLAND ONE CAN ALWAYS oe The legiee on board behaved and there was alm hysterics, are ‘Rot much bandsomer, but ure richer in ex+ perience than we were a month certainly had a terrible time, ined « ki of ge mal nowledge of the The captain sa} storm in his life, th: lest longer and consequently ous. I don’t know how pression of the wore in the trough of one could see nothing of water higher twice over th tapes over than the i € é id al Vessel slid from the top over on her side into the ab Side—it seemed as if no wor stand such a strain—and yet ee it oes 8 leak it bow. ‘he stain that saved ue was the oil From ‘breaking. down close to us, water fyi 4 Niagara Falls, any one of of water would” ha kindling wood, and yet wh Oil they would smooth sometimes without wetti: Ject of the oil is simply to keep Dreaking, as of couree it would have just learned the re- noonda: find that we ‘shall “provabl he has seid “thet was twas yured upon the water and that kept the waves ‘They would come, rushing ing from thé top like smashed the ship en they struck iv Vy reach the Sent Islands between Band # o'clock tonight dand ot Plymouth tomorrow mornh One is tilled with a great relief to th no We oGean in its fury one of caf Aa Ef FF excep’ constantly which with its tons into our ad the deck. the waves from not reduce the observation and Every strik- ing land again, bat it is terribly disappoint to think that the land is Engiand imsterd America. I trust the home voyage will be lees eventful than the present ono. Saturday, September 6.—We have just ar- rived at #iymouth—9 a.m. wels are in the barvor in distrens. Just about to be sent ashore. I will cable as soon 4s possible and write again Several other ves- ‘The matt is ‘a8 soon at I know thing. at the wharf with 3,000 Tf you and Marier do as you ought to, you wili have the same story to tell. I don't see why ty ahorten sail an. now and then runnin find the old. There be old men, old women, FROM FATHER To 80%. old houses, old furniture, old crockery. old utensils, old cat boats, old dories, old stories, old papers and old manuscripts. Last week I Dotight at suction an old sailor's chest. In it were old things, There were old letters writes to Capt. Zimri Paddack, who died in this place two years agoin the beyday of second child- hood eighty-two years old.@1t was for his heirs the chest and its contents were sold. One thing Tfound in it wasa letter written by his father 0n the occasion of Zimri's marriage to Maria Asubs Swain some forty years ago. It was full of fatherly advice befitting the event. It was written in language that any boy born on Nan- tucket could understand. It read as follows: “My Dear Son: You have cut loose from and are row sailing on the sea It turned out a home | of married life. At your age Idid the same | ——) I landed is of happiness. shouldn't. Sheis a good girl and you ¥e always been @ good boy. “Married life is « cruise on. a catamaran. Man end wife make the craft. “It is all the | more staunch for being built that way. It gives you more beam and youcan carry full sailin& heavy wind. Unless it blows « gale it will not eel over to leeward #0 asto show your Reels. Watch the barometer and take Yations when you can. If the weather ia thick obser- Sry to get your position by star lunar. are near sou: stand off. IT's DIFFEAEXT Xow. If you can’t make out where you ate, do the best you can by dead reckoning. If you think li it blows heave to, When the sea quiets alittle make fora harbor if meces- wary. “You and Marier have not sailed together ns one craft vet. You have been a couple of cat boats liking to be in each other's company, but foul of one another. Then one of you would sheer off and leave the Other. Youfound it kind of lonesome to be wayiung detiuite, Hope everything is 0. K. at | gePbened more = aet kep ae 4 matter what "To cut the Iasuings will paoar: Ee bappens. . bring trouble. time will come when you BE WAS A CLEVER TSIEF. will be towing a yawi that you have built. To An Exhibition of Skill Given to = Famous Bedoutn Chief. From the Philadelphia Times. The present age is not uniqne in ite exhibit of skillful thieves and thieving. Professors of this taking trait of charncter have been ram- The principles are eternally the form changes. Its « long distance from Philadelphia to Arabia, butin the latter country, as an old pant always, same; ovly th y relates, lived a fame Sal-Ammonyac. He wasa ite higher shapes. Once they brought to him prisoner of war. will give vou yoor liberty,” sa “iLyou deserve it. an artiste” “No poet, painter, music youth's repiy. “I have steal the she rAh. hal ban, What e: “B fe‘cont! “pet w menw. it, no matter what its kin Bim-bam_ rete proponniled his plan. “You have just presented. less diamond to your beawziful fa’ Borrow it from her m faithiul followers. Give it Promise them that if for three nights they wac- eserve it from the akill cessfully watch and p: of this youth you will mal your force. mbition on: ood,” was the chief's stone. stolen That functionary had no. : ho venticed at last, “the guards know not how costiy was tho jewel they, watched. i ik. Tonight, then, guard it You do, ol ice is stronger returned his itched boside the diumond himself. before. In the brought Ast din the royal e bain was to agnin lich sun of his intelle: npon another stizgestion. vou were not thie best guard. Stone was not yours, but the Let her watel tonight ‘ophet auning youth at last.”” who really was worried over the pos- sible loss of her rin, undertake its protection, sturted in on the vigil. Early the next morning Bim-bam rushed into the tent. WV “The diamond ed.” “Stolen—gone?” almost bus “exclaimed the chieftain. ined, tarni p some job to try this We must reward merit where we see a. ke two of your most It will rouse their ambition, and one of the most powerful of the be. That night the soldiers guarded the The next worning the youth bronght | to the prosence of the sheik, ‘ow do you explain it, wisest Bim-bam?” the fatter inquired of the vizier. Hiiched aguin, into his presence. ment was no nawe for the ten the situation with the fter all, ob, Possessor of Countiess Camels, She is bound to guard for both atabition and stolen and the youth disap- ‘ing. mot ous Bedonin ehief, patron of art in all and 8 handsome yoang. the shiek, n you do? Are you ioe nam 1,” wee the bad viaier, i to bis atl attains rite, Fatima. into their hands. them captains of | jw | clot reply. “So let it lous | ant answer ready. “It Lea your- than ambition.” ma and that morning the youth lishinent Bim- Kemember the | beantifn! Fatima’s. varice cried the chief- the Be ore than willing to Acpordingly she we a company then would Hin Taw af fF right, “Tou will both make some mistakes. Very soon after Iwas married your mother made one. Atthat time T bad four shirts in my chest. Soon after three of them were hanging op the clothes line to dry after Monday's wash- your grand the house for something and one of the neighbors came there with your grandmother. The old woman didn’t attend to matters as she ther bile waving a Dutton hole had bee I put them on and San Xie chas moeenoman ta eae aoe | visitors at least siould they make their ap- monke it. They were #0 tight behind | Peer: that the bi a coatan'e irenlate there. made it aft and round. heavenly grace I was would sing out « meetipg house an je didi through Folger scraped all coolctens pn t trousers. kind of a lie. TROUBLE ADOUT TRE SmIRTS Your mother was helping i She went into got to gnmming ht to. ‘There was a stiff wind blowi i parted the clothes tno aud tay Ores worse. Bat don't raid that you won't got along all and inte adrift and were carried into the fire under try pot in which the ¢ of the shirte. the fourth one on. al of distress. AND THE TROTSERS. day she went to the h. Twas pl pressed nice, wud every ream done tdown 4 thought I should bast I look back on “Then she thought she would do something more. There was where her mistake came in. ‘She saw that my tronsers wouldn't last much She had saved upa little money and ore and bonght some With an old pair for a pattern ahe cut the cloth for & mew one. She sewed the pieces | together. The next Sunday morning she pulled them out of the chest of druwers and handed them over. ud by her own je went to meeting to- have such an a’ was biling. Whon mother came out she palled out what was One hadn't an: another hadn't any” bac| arma, ithe third bada’t ‘hen I pulled it off that night it looked to vour mother as if I was 1 did feel that way, bat I didn’t want her to see it. She didn't mean to have me with only one shirt if ebe its kine could help it. he got some new flannel and dm few momenta and then | poiiced ont the other three. She mide s good , oh, sheik. « price- | J9b of it, too. ‘They were sewed every bands. When I did some inside cussing, if it was in ho got to e doctrine of inwtion se conned to gon oll Lord, how I did suf bear it, When we got meeting. When the preacher was praying for raving that somebody oa the bar, to clear the 1d give me a chance to get home. He never preached short sermons any- way, but this morn xpounding i and election. | come to “lastly” until he bad pints. Zhen the the bess vio! string? ike e strings like made the rousic worse. I told ther the biggest Tasid toy were jast «plencia, but asshe hadn't learned the tailoress trade shrieked the old ul my orig Jerse say?” think you need thinks,” remarked she has gone along with the keep the diamond compan Philadelphia Times. From the “We'll part no more, The reason was that he Already had parted forever. ME aT SE How Boliar Was Lost, From the Banyor Commercial. compani that that horse now golt first in this heat!” is terribly disappointed eee , @ very long time | that EERIE BERT: OLE, A Final Parting. ” the old bean 22:0, ‘is more than hard to sever.” ther, oh, Bim-bam dtily, “a6 youth, probably to and his bair grEs E 5 - i BEE i ff there were some little things that were a pint oF two off courte and I would have ‘the tailor ! t Hi i =3 ‘t on the calamity. Her face was as | She picked up the bute and went home. No- body but her and myself know what happened when we met that night. She never told the I particulars. I didn't sce any reason why I should. we did have an argument. At be Bi the end of it if anybody had could have could say it was not *o, but the men hinted that I must have been drunk. I didn't deny it. Idid think that your mother was e little severe in the way she pushed matters im that debate, but I didn’t think it safe to bring up the subject again. She kept on the bastle till they went out of fashion. I dida't object. LEARN PY RXPRRIRNCE. |. “Tcan’t give you advice in all matters in life Many things will come up which you must reg- ulate by experience. No two men or two Women are made alike,and no two married couples are matched in the «amo way. You must give and take. Sometimes Marier will Gets little cross. You mmnstn't be ugly If she Talk kind to her and when it is safe to #0 #0 within reasonable bounds make love to If abe stands it weil 0 for her still stronger carry you int you i »ut on more sail end his will be eure to oth water. When she finas the same way sho will pay you up with yand interest. A woman can love str: man even at his best. She is nothing Unless she isloving and being loved. It must bea very unreasonable woman that ean't be Managed in this way. But stand by in case of squalls. Have vour sheets, hailiards and clew Lines all ready for running “Your father, Suveart Pappac.” The letter must have had a good influence. Capt. Zimri long since retired from active service at sea. except that he kept his mind em- ployed in fall and spring fisting for cod of Sitsconset bank until a year or two of his death, and bis good wife outlived him only couple of months. Epwanp F. Uxpexnm. onion TWO PRAGONS OF FRESNO. ‘Winged Monsters That Devour Fowls With ‘Three Snaps of Their Jaws. From the St. Louis Republic. A number of persons living in the vicinity of ¥, Fresno county, Cal, all reputable citizens, too, swear that they have seen and hunted two dragons with wings fifteen feet long, bohies without covering of bair or feath- ers, heads broad, bills long and wide, eyes not less than four inches in diameter, and with feet like those of an alligator somewhat, though more circular in form. They have five toes on each foot, with a strong claw on each, and its track is eleven inches wide and nine- teen inches long. These strange creatares Were first seen southeast ofSelmaon the pight of July 11, and their peculiar er d the rash- ing of their mammoth wings were beard ax late as 10 o'clock. when all became #till. The dragon were Inst heard that night crying in the diree- tion of King’s river. Two nights later AX. Simmons’ poultry -d was visited by ths monsters, many of the being bitten in two and lett partly de- ured. ‘Those who examined we dead chick~ cons say the teeth marks ou them resemble those made by « very large dog. On July 1% « car- riage loaded with picnickers Was returning frou, splenic at Chirk s bridge, and in the clear moonlight saw the mousters plainly circling im the airand heard the rusb of the snapping of their Jaws and fearful ¢ a. On Monday, July 21, Har and Maj. Henry Haight, who live of Selma, going after their Logs, who fed on ¥ ha ould | He tues, beard a strangling nowe in the deep roe elfen gs ep tes Gey prale under « bridge, stilt a moment, with « oak ; : ¥ flapping of wings. the queer creatures rose slowiy from the water, flying so close te ‘the wen that the wind from their trem wings was plainly felt 4 description of the mousters tailies with that of the persons Who waw them on the 13th and 1th. J. D. Daxiels of Sanger heard of the mutter and joined « party of tive that were going out to capture or kill the dragous, aud be telix the y. ailer reporGug that their first | night's watch was a disappointment About 10 o'clock that duy (Thursday) monsters had evidently been am Horn valley, about four miles above, the might before. They bad billed a mber of dus bavee | of the pond were strewn with foathers, We had 0 InienVon Of giving Over the plan of capture | ing the dragons, and Thursday night two of {us returned to watch, Mr. Templeton and myself. We secreted im the holes which we had made the night before and waited patiently with our gums, de- termined to secure one of the strange ce. About II o'ck | heard in the direction of Ki | ing two or three miles away the cries were ¢neam. toad of | Yelsdrew nearer, und in a few moments we Putting the opening now 5 catak tamead of | [iaed the rech ant rear of wings, co Biasmn then sewed up the seams. So ee a ee eee eens Oe | and and somed te had the pocket on one side three inches | *Feaming bideously all the wile, lower than on the other. The waist was 69d view of them while within six inches of my arm pite and the bottoms of the legs were way up from my buot thet our hair almost stood on end. The two Aragous came swooping down and circled pond in rapid whirls, ving. “They passed within a f their eyes were plainly visible. wee that inet of bills like birds they bad snouts resembling that of the alligator, and their teeth could be seen as they snapped their | jaws while passing. Evideutly dragons were trring to decide whether no they should come down tu the pond. ‘They were probably examining if any tood was to be had, such as ducks, hens and fish. At length they came down with a fearful plange into the pond and the mud and water tlew as though @ tree had talie: ‘They dived around in thing over through the water they gui gigantic frogs. Their wings were folded an ap like large knovs on their bucks, ‘Ineir eyes were the most visible parts and seemed all the time wide open and staring. ‘They were very active and darted about among. the tules and rushes catching mud bens. One of the fowls was devoured at two or three champs of the jaws. “As soon as We Sawn good nity we levelled our guns at the one nearest ma and fired. One rose in the air, way. Every stroke of the wi strength. ‘Ihe other flounder water untilit reached the edge of the pond, when it crawled out, dragging along it wounded wing after it, and started across the plain. We loaded our guns and gave chase. Wesoon lost sight of it, for it went much faster than we could. However, we were able to follow by its dismal cries in’ the distance. We followed it half a mile, when it passed out of our bearing. The next day a company went in pursuit and trailed it by the blood on the It was followed three miles to Jumper jh, which it entered, and all trace of 8 Where it passed down the bank & val well formed tracks in the of Selma. in egpemvetes boreibdlis, os ammal there chickens and other domestic fowl—not. kills and ents them, but crushes and addition to this mute testimony,s number ‘witnesses, reputabie, j 5 i : i I i § i i i E : £ i i BF ; t f i eS li ny lf i t F i e H ii ft 4 Me i f | i | { g =: ff i i i . : i i { tee HH U Hi i t i i