Evening Star Newspaper, February 27, 1892, Page 13

THE HUALPAIS. How These Indians in Arizona Were Fed and Supervised. CHICHA-PIMA. CHERUM AND A Romance of Crime, Divorce and Feminine Fiekleness—Mrs. Kobinson and Her Far- alytic Husband, and How He Was Finally Put to Kest and She Wedded Another. or The Evening Star. OME TEN YEARS AGO it was among the duties of the officers stationed at Whipple barracks, Ariz..to oversee the fort- nightly issue of govern- ment rations to the Hualpai Indians. The august presence of @ second lieutenant was necessary as asafeguard against dishonesty on the part of the contrac- tor and Indian agent, as t apon the Indians in case of internecine disagreements over the distribution of the smoking entrails and other choice tid-bits feom the slaughter pen. It was therefore con- sidered necessary for an officer to travel 150 miles over a very bad road once in every two weeks to attend to the meeting out of justice and beef. This was known among usas feeding the Hualpais. We at Whipple barracks bad been somewhat amused at the civil and religious powers with which an irreverent youngster not six months from the Military Academy had been invested by the simple Hualpai. He bronght from Hackberry, the Hualpai agency, a thrilling tale of love, crime, constancy, punishment, more crime of another variety, divorce, despair and rsecuted beauty. Gur young friend bad n playing providence with a vengeance. The lady was called Chacha-pima. She was wedded to a brave whose name is quite un- speliable, but which, being interpreted, means Little Captain. LITTLE CAPTAIN'S CRIME. Little Captain was en enterprising young man and the old methods of murder as prac- ticed by his tribe had palled upon him. The conservative tomahawk and the simple scalping since bis contact with bougnt a large quantity of distributed it among his friends in presents of venison. The result was all that he could wish A large portion of the Hualpai nation was bean- tifully painted in mourning stripes for months thereatter. Unfortunately, however, for the success of Little Captain's career, he selected Charlie Smith, the agent, as one of those upon whom to try this playful experiment. Charlie, living in the seclusion of Hackberry, where a lady's color is of no social consequence, had taken unto himself a squaw bride, and, having Teason to suspect the purity of Little Captain's motives. he cannily and gallantly helped the lady dirst to the venison. The result was painful but not fatal to Mrs Smith, and Smith sent affair to the authorities Little Captai Several days before his arrest, feeting irritable because of the par- tial failure of ais plans, he gave expression to hue ill temper by blowing off the head of his year-old son with a musket while the child lay sleeping on its mother’s knee. He had been in the habit, when out of spirits, of beating Chacha-pima, so she was naturally much at- tached to him. But this last vindication of his claim to be considered a model husband and father still more completely endeared him to her. So when the soidiers carried him, bound, in a wagon to Prescott she followed all that weary distance on foot, carrying a surviving baby. While he lay captive in the Whipple guard house she slept on the floor outside his cell and refused to be comforted when he was taken to prison at Yuma. However, she was finally taken back to her people, and thea be- gan the little drama. She was without means of support, and chivalry not being among the aboriginal virtues, she had some difficulty in keeping her faithful soul in her poor litile starved body. DIVORCED BY A LIEUTENANT. It was when matters had reached this stage that she found favor in the eyes of Cherum, the head chief of the tribe. Cherum discerned in her a capacity for hard work and endurance, whieh considerably raised his standard of femi- nine excellence. Then it was that our young friend, the lieutenant, on the usual errand of overseeing the‘issue of rations, having had the case forcibly presented to him by Cherum, saw fit to decree a divorce between the absent hus- band and Chachs-pima and bestow his blessing on Cherum as a suitor. He did not take iuto account the vagaries of the female heart. Chacha-pima refused to be wooed—soweg never tobe won. Cherum bribed and commanded im vain. ie laid bis piteous lover's tale before thenext officer who Visited the agency. This one, not wishing to be outdone by bis predeces- sor, ugreed to marry the old chief to his un- willing bride, not having fully comprehended the lacy’s reluctance. She was dragged, pro- testing, to the agency store house and united to Cherom with appropriate ceremonial. Bat no svoner did they “rise up as one” than she took sanctuary in the house of Charlie Smith, whose squaw was‘s relative of hers. Charlie had been a passive spectator at her sacrifice, but Mrs. Smith epparentiy had sufficient in- fuence with her lord to induce him to extend the of his protection to the persecuted bride, and when we arrived on the scene Charlie Smith's house was in a state of siege. The brideggoom, wn elderly person of severe dignity of manner, squatted ailday long before the door, surrounded by # satellites, who were Teady to aid Lim in case he should decide to do anything in the young Lochinvar tine. further than th id not differ greatly in man- mers or eG acon from the Hualpais them. selvex His doorsteps were surrounded by « mob of little nearly naked balf-breeds. But to the Indians he was clothed in the dignity of office. Aan ambulance journey through the moun- tains of northern Arizona in February is some- ‘thing to be remembered. The weatlier was at its best the morning we left Prescott for Hack- berry. ‘Tbe road was rough and the ride was firesome, put we finally drew upatold Fort Hualpai, where we were to pass the first night. Several previous experiences had tanght us the unwisdom of trusting entirely to the hospi- tality of stage stations. We always carried our own bedding, only hoping for some shelter under whicb to place it, and not being greatly concerned even when this was not possible. Some knowledge of the type of temaie whose presence may be expected to brighten these places bad taught us to look with suspicion at one whose children were to be seen playing about the door. So when our arrival at old Fort Hualpai was hailed by the delighted yells of four little tow heads I bade farewell to a hopes I might have entertained of bachel cleanbness. I was all the more surprised, then, at being greeted politely by a neat-look- ing, fair-haired mother who hospitably hurried Us into the house where she was cooking This was not a place where the oti stopped, preferring to go ten miles further aud shorten the trip bya day, so we had not heard of Mrs. Robinson. MBS. ROBINSON AND BER HUSBAND. ‘We were very hungry, in spite of a good many fndwiches casually consumed if the course of the day, and were pleased that Mra. Kobinson’s eppearance gave us some hope of being able to ‘4: her supper. The room into which she in- troduced “me at first seemed dark afver the broad glare of the low sun, and my attention Was not particularly drawn’ to » shapeless fig- ure in one corner. My hostess left me at once to return to her duties in the adjoining kitchen. The room was very large and low, the canvas ceiling being but a few inches aboye my bead. At one end was a huge chimney/where an open tire of logs was burning. I pad fust sat down, And as my eyes grew accustomed to tie dim- ness, I began to examine my surroundings, detailed account of the Whipple, requesting learned the leading points in the family history of the Robinsons from the driver, who was an old friend of Robinson. It was sad enough in ite of the woman's philosophical bearing. ‘obinson had been a successful man in smali way. He had owned a small cattle range, which, together with the profits of the stage station, gave him « comfortable income. He had been sober and industrious and this awful affliction had not been the wages of sin. His wife had been bie hard-worki: in tionate. His children were healthy and hand- some. The last poor little toddler was born after its father had, all ina day, become the repulsive wreck we saw. But to me the most interesting feature in the story was the fact, related in an absurdly matier-of-course way by the driver, that to marry Mrs. Robin- son was the heart's desire of every eligible man throughout a large neighborhood. She was ernel enough fo refuse to contract another alliance while hér lord continued to breathe. Considering her comparative refinement, I was sufficiently shocked that she could even be approached on such a subject, bat the driver told us that she was distinctly promised to a neighboring ranchman named Brown when she should actually be set free by complete death. The driver evidently considered her coyness a mistake, and explained to me that any one of her suiters would have been quite willing to ac- cept the care of his predecessor. Also that wo- men were scarce hereabout and men ata dis- count. But Penelope was firm. She talked of her husband’s affliction in his presence with biand brutality, her remarks punctuated by his cries, and I made some excuse for refusing the hospitality of Mrs. Kobinson’s spare chamber, and shivered under the stars all night, out of hearing of the master of the house. I was forced to self-abasement and prevarication the next morning to soothe the injured feelings of our hostess, AT THE WILLOWS. ‘The second day of travel did not improve my temper, so that when we reached The Willows, our next stopping place, I was not prepared to be polite over anything less than the best ac- commodations and the most enthusiastic wel- come. Any umbrageous vision which I may have called up of The Willows was dispelled when I saw the usual long, one-story adobe house, not shadowed bya solitary mangy cotton- wood. Here, too, ire presence of gentle woman was bespoken by a horde of children, too numerous to be attributed to one mother, and much jess clean than the offspring of the fascinating Mrs. Robinson. The lady of The Willows was large, rosy, robust and ineffably dirty. She was standing in the doorway with a baby on her arm as we drew up, and invited me into her house with a hearty welcome. She considered my arrival peculiarly fortunate from @ social standpoint, as she bad, she said, an- other lady visitor, and khe introduced me at once to Mrs. Jones, who had come with six children to spend a week. They were cousins. Hospitality was pressed upon me in the form of something known as coffee and soda biscuit of an awful yellow. It being the end of the month all the herders and cow boys in the neighborhood had just re- ceived their pay and were on their way to Prescott to spend it in riotous living. The ac- commodations of The Willows had been stretched to the utmost to entertain these “transients” and 1t was a very gay season. But in my favor they gallantly vacated the room they had expected to occupy before our de- scent. It was a huge, barn-like place, built of adobe, with many board bunks against the walls. One small window dimly lighted it by day, but by night it was gloriously illuminated from a fireplace of even more magnificent pro- portions than Mrs. Robinson's. FED THE BISCUITS To A MULE. The lady of The Willows was considerate enongh to allow me to withdraw to our own quarters before the evening meal in that mis- cellaneous apartment of hers. But while we were preparing to pic-nic out of our lunch basket she brought a contribution to our sup- per of a dozen new-laid eggs and a pan of soda iscuit of so jaundiced a complexion that, with the politest intentions and the best possible digestions, we could not make up our minds to attack them. She lingered, urging us to eat them while they were hot, but her duties finally called her away, and, fearing that they would have a discouraging ‘effect even on the fire, we took them out and fed them to one of the ambulance mules. I have been touched with remorse every time a mule has looked me in the face eince. The eggs, however, were above suspicion. Weroasted them in the ashes and they were indescribably delicious, though a good part of the egg was lost in the cooking. We then decided that in future no meal should be considered complete without roasted eggs, and we have never tried them since. We reached the end of our journey about sunset the nextday. Hackberry consisted of a large adobe store house, a rinall frame build- ing. containing the offices of the agent and the quartermaster's agent, Charlie Smith’s house and half adozen wicky-ups senttered about. Most of the Indians lived at some little dis- tance from the agency. (I speak of it in the past, for that was ten years ago, and at the ordinary rate of Arizona progress a city may have nsen up, flourished, declined and died in that decade, for aught that I know.) THE AGED SUITOR CHERUM. I was curious to meet the ardent Cherum, and after being Inxuriously settled in the office of the quartermaster’s agent, I went forth to see what an Indian agency was like. { had met no Indians before, except a few who haunted the railway station at Yuma, clad principally in a postage stamp each.” The Hualpais had accumulated ali the clothing pos- mble from soldiers’ dilapidated dress hats to flour sacks and an occasional white cotton glove, and though there was usually some por- tion or another of the person which seemed to have been unkindly discriminated against there wes an unmistakable effort to appear warmly and hendsomely attired. They were generally men and women, far from good look- ing, and all seemed to be affficted with colds in their heads. However, the next morning, when I was watching the issue of flour from the store house, 1 was struck by the picturesque beauty of many of the boys of about fourteen or fifteen years old. ‘There were faces which reminded one of the familiar Neapolitan boy, and the grace and muscular perfection of their bodies were admirable. _ Cherum rose from the ground to undergo an introduction to me, shook me tenderly by the hand and gave me the benefit of his limited English vocabulary, As he gesticulated iu the direction of Charlie Smith’s house, I under- stood him to be asking my good offices with his ride, but I refused to commit myself. My slight acquaintance with Indians had not quite eradicated the hope that there might be a beau- tiful squaw, and 1 was very anxious to meet Chacha-pima, whose hand had been in such de- mand. Iexperienced one briet shock of dis- appointment when I found her to be the same lean, withered, filthy little creature who is the typical squaw at the age of twenty-five. She grinned deprecatingly and chattered much, producing « perfectly naked baby for my int spection and admiration. ‘My companion unhesitatingly decreed a yorce between Cherum and Chacha-pima. He told Cherum to get up and stop making an old fool of himself—tbat there were as good fish in the sea us ever came out of it, with other con- solatory reflections invented’ for unlucky lov- ers. Probabiy Cherum putas much faith in these utterances as would a white man in simi- lar circumstances, but at all events the siege was raised. Chacha-pima emerged from her retirement and was present at the issue of ra- tions. She was assigned to the care of a dis- tant relative, who was charged with her support in spite of his voluble remonstrances. CHACHA-PIMA'S FICKLENESS. I left Hackberry in a very satisfied frame of mind. Ifelt that I had assisted in satisfying the claims of poetic justice. Such constancy as Chacha-pima’s should be recognized and re- warded, even though the object of it were un- worthy. Perhaps after Little Captain had ex pinted his crimes by» sufficient term of im- prisoument and bad returned to his tribe the faithfulness of his wife would move him to bi better man. Alss for my faith! I must teli the deno; ment of this romance right here. We had hardly left Hackberry behind us when Cheram, whether by some hitherto undis- played fascination or by inducing Chacha- ima’s relative to make life intolerable to Lecter bas protection, persuaded the lady practically to annul thedivorce. The next off cer who fed the Husipats found these two liv- ing happily together. And further, when Little Captain, having made it impossible for the au. thorities at Yuma to keep him any longer and thus in having @ large part of his when suddenly. from the huddied figure in the corner, lnsued iiret « low cry, followed by « wild shriek. I started up. and’ was about to flee ignominiously, without seeking to inform my- self further about the author of those hideous sounds, when my hostess watked in from the a Riscilly and withoat baste, and ap) ereature in the corner with a few soothing words and an apology for her husband, and. then ! looked at him, clad body was perfectly ri ‘The fect were stuck stiffly oat in front of hit, resting on another chair. Bat his neck had ceased to supgprt his head, which rolied painfully abouton his dhould- ers. Tbe mouth bung open, the eyes refused to close and all the features were drawn to one Side. Notaserse remained to him. He was blind, deaf end dumb, and he had been in pre- cisely the same condition for three years. TUE STORY OF THE PaRALYTic. sentence remitted, returned to berry he resumed of his wife and there was no biood shed between the rival husbands. All the romances in real life in which I have ever interested myself have come to some such lame and impotent conclusion. ‘We wero stationed at another postin remote part of the ter- ritory, we received « visit from the officer who had first attempted to adjust the matrimonial affairs of the Huai) After at ‘And how are the sons?" Jooked a little embarrassed. Mizx Robinson has married again,” he answered. must be dead?" “Then Robinson “Yes, Robinson's che seoms very hurriedly. Hack- Bobin- ied to?" “Yer; the sme one—and happy.” be continned rather , > tell me about it How did it ty = Fou think anything can be said to happen in a case like Robinson's?” said my friend, with an evident desire to be aimlessly argumentative. aige'’ YOR know what I mean! How did he 0? “Well, Tl tell you all about it,” he claimed, in a burst of confidence. “I was stopping there for the night a couple of months ago, marching with my Indian com- my to Mojave. Robinson was awfully bad. ‘owling so you could hear him half a mile away. Mrs. Robinson was about played out with it. One of the children bad a fever, and Robinson kept it awake. She got mo to give the child something to make it sleep out oS my medicine chest. You know I always carried # lot of those things when I was out with the scouts away froma adoctor. Then she asked ma to give Robinson something to keep him quiet. He was worse—really seemed to be able to suffer, poor devil! Mra, Robinson said she didn't think Brown would wait much longer. “Horrid woman!” Texclaimed. “Well?” ‘Well, 1 was awfully sorry for her. Brown Was such ® good fellow, too. Did you ever see Brown? He had that rench—” “Don’t divert me @rom the subject! You know that Inever saw Brown. What I want to know is: What did you do to Robinson?” ‘Well, I put Kobinson to sleep that night.” He paused again. And the next morning?” I asked. pulled out the next morning before the Robinsons were up.” nd after war: ‘Afterward? Well, I passed the place a fow weeks later and she and Brown entertained me handsomely.” Jase Fixpiar Evaxs. ——— NUGGETS ON THE ALTAR. One of the Stories Told of the Long-lost Mines of Arizona. From the Arizona Enterprise. ‘The legends of lost mines of fabulous wealth in Pima county are almost numberless, and, it might be truthfully added, generally mythi- cal. The old-timers can tell of them by the hour, anda few have been shown glittering evidences in confirmation of the wonderful tales reluctantly recited with superstitious read of the consequences ‘of their perfidy by almost superannuated Indians and Me: cans. That the precious metals were mined ona gigantic scale in the dim past the many re- maining evidences already discovered fully verify, yet the investigation of those that chance has revealed has seldom proved finan- cially successful. Old arrastras, covered with the decay of centuries, and crude smelting fur- naces that have almost returned to the dusty destiny of all matter, speak of industries once in active operation that history and even abor- iginal tradition fails to mention. Some of the traditions told sound like fairy tales, and one, however skeptical, eannot but become deeply interested in their recital. As a sample of the highly plausible, well-authe: ticated and extremely seductive narratives, one related by Charles O. Brown of this city may be received with interest. “Speaking of old mines,” said Mr. Brown, “J have spent a great deal of time and money in hunting up clues, and one of them was tually found, and Ican go to it at any time. Out in the Silver Bell country I can take you to ® mountain so full of tunnels and shafts that, if they were in good and safe condition, you could travel through all day long and ‘not reach the end. Antmber of old-timers have Visited it, and, judging from the vast work done there so long ago, they concluded that a great mine of some kind had existed there, which had likely been worked out. Many times has it been located, and though its walls, roof and floor were carefally scanned and eampled, the result, while showing some gold, was. dis- couraging, assays showing froma trace up to several dollars per ton. “Many years ago I talked with an old Papago Indian, with whom I was on very friendly terms, having often extended him little favors about the gold and silver mines. In a burst of confidence he told me that a great many years ago, when he was a very small boy, the Indians Xavier del Bac made weekly trips to averyrich gold mine. On Saturday night they returned with the product of their toi The priest in charge of the mission kept a small table in front of the altar covered with a white cloth, upon which the pious toilers placed their metallic offerings to the church. ‘This table was often covered with golden nuggets, varying in from a pea to one’s fist, and it was a rich sight. After the usual service the priest would descend, and as he picked up each precious piece he would, proclaim the name of the donor and after- ward would ll them forward to receive ‘the special blessing of heaven. On the following Monday they would again take up their march in a northwesterly direction for the mines, and for a very long time this was repeated, until the priests were driven out of the country, when they abandoned mining entirel; “The old Indian had at one time gone with the miners, who followed a well-beaten trail toward the Silver Bell country, and he saw them take out the gold. He agreed to show me the place, and out of curiosity I sent a man with him one day. They went out to the old mine I have spoken of in the Silver Bell coun- try, and when they reached a certain gulch the Indian pointed to the top of the mountain and said he wouid find a shaft there, covered with cat-claw bushes, out of which the most gold was taken. The man found everything just as the oid Indian told him, but long disuse had filled up the shaft untilit was nearly fuil. == "'0n returning the old Indian could not be found. He had gone ahead and was not met for several days. He then said he did not dare to show the mine to the white people and _pro- tested that he did not show it for feat the Great Spirit would take his life. He said the white man had found it, but he did not show “I visited the mine afterward, but the wo: necessary to clean out the shaft was too great and too expensive to undertake, and it has never been jpuched. “The formation is a singular one, and sam- ples of the white rock sent to California were ronounced an exceedingly fine quality of Exotin, such an fine porcelain ware is'mads of. ‘Through it were streaks of iron rust, and it is likely the gold was found in them. Whether it will ever pay for the necessarily expensive ex- oration and prospecting 1s quite doubtful, ut there is gold to be found there.” ——_—_eo —____ The Indecorous Things. From the Pittsburg Bulletin. Robert—“Heayens, Miranda, why are you wearing green goggles?” Miss Prim—‘To avoid seeing the dreadful things in the evening sky.” Robert—“What on earth do you mea; Miss Prim—"Do you pretend not that Jupiter and Venus are reprehensibly to each other every evening?” know close A Practical Tustration. Mr. Starzenstripe (to English friend)—‘T tell you, my boy, we Americans are a proud, free race of people—no servile submissivences, no bowing down and cringing here!" WAR IN ALASKA. A Game of Brag That Ended in Ac- cidental Death. HOSTILITIES THREATENED. The Hoonah Fleet Goes to Payment for the Killing of the Young Brave—A Game of Bluff Which is Promptly Called Down. - { ‘Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. SrrKa, Januaryg4, 1892. T IS EVIDENT THAT the Indian tyees (big chiefs) along the Alas- kan coast will not per- mit Blaine and -Salis- bury to have all the fen of exerting their Tallyrandic powersover this grand territo It happened this A young Sitka Indian of the Crow family went hunting with a juvenile scion of the Eagle fam- ily of Hoonah, « division of the Thlinkets living on Chicag off Island. Now, these young gentlemen bragged about their parents. Young-man-with-e-carved-pad- dle casually remarked to Young-man-big-fish- story that bis pa had read more Browning than had’ his Th ‘a very delicate ‘point among. the. ‘Thilshets. Youne-man-bigedah- story allowed that although that might be so he would wager his fanciest halibut hook against around pebble that hie ma had the deepest understanding of Richard Wagner's surf-shore- in-a-storm music of any lady in the land. From this the young men compared their respective merits in other directions. They spoke of their ability at paddling and cance building-with words of unmistakable approba- tion and yet with that courtly old-style modesty and reservation so common among Indians. A Fatat, acctDexr. They compared bunting weapons. Young- man-with-a-carved-paddle brought his gun down from his shoulder in order to exhibit its technical beauties. In this act lay the pabulum of a series of Indian negotiations rivaling the white man’s Bering sea controversies. For purely by accident this young man discharged his weapon at his companion and brought him back tocamp with » hole in his heart. The bullet had not stopped to argue by the wayside, buthad passed qnite through in @ burried, im: petuous fashion, and the young man with a musical mamma was dead. The explanations were satisfactory enough oa foorahs cleared the young man of any intent to kill. But that did not change the damage done the tribe in general. ‘They had lost ® promising braggart, who bid fair to out- class the whole archipelago on Sah Whoppers So a demand was sent down to the Sitka - kets for some substantial reparation. This was not immediately forthcoming. The Sitkas were in doubt about it. They consulted District At- torney Johnston with such persistency that the good-natured official had to air out his office two and three times a day. However, his opinion declared So ‘due the Hoorahs according to the ancient code of custom. Time passed and nothing was done. The Hoorahs waited in their northern home. Then they waited some more. The big tyee used to sit up nighta waiting, and yet ne paddles of a Sitka embassy amote the silver sheen of Hoonah bay. Finally seven war canoes shoved off from Hoorah laden with » choice selection of fight- ing bucks, yelping dogs and dried herring. They were bound for Sitka after 100 blankets or a few pounds of choice Sitka flesh in liew thereof. ‘Ihey decided to declare these alter- natives with perfect indifference. Before they reached Sitka sound the Indians thereabout had scented their approsch and donned their war paint and weapons, One brave had an old Russian swordand belt. Bis trousers were light colored and had enough checks to fit out a dozen chess boards. His headgear was the decided English of » double vizered traveling cap. He was trying to be the most crusty and noisome rust onthe gang, but a certain old fellow with iron gray was surely the leader against all comers. His name was Father-of-the-mink. His hat was a mammoth watershed of pyramid shape. His dress was long robe of squirrel skins with the tails hung along the bottom for trimming. He held a wand in his hand with which he em- Phasized his remarks on the head of any young ‘hlinket who was trying to get into politics be- fore his time. Such was the motley The leadersbud approved all this pom, in consid- eration of its pomibie, gece cht beat. down the visitors a few blankets less than they should demand. THE HOOSAH FLEET ARRIVES. The sun was high in the heavens when the Hoonah fleet moved down the sound and came abreast the buts of the Sitkes. Slowly and majesticaily the little os made ite half turn and bore down on the beach. can flag floated from the middle canoe and the sun shot a thousand diamond lights from wet paddles. Then came the fun, game of bluff, aiso #01 Both sides rolled ou! torical thunder. ‘Was as yet too far off to be articulate to eithe 1 distance lessened and quict possessed every one. It wase large, un- certain, staggering, conical-shaped quiet, like the church steeple when the chimes tried to play Annie Roone; When it became evident that the Hoonahs were going to try to land some excited Thlinkt raised a grunt out of his chest and grabbed a fending pole. Ina minute the air was full of fending poles, Indians and large mouthfuls of guttural sounds. ‘The fleet stopped. In fact there was nothing to do but stop when a barricade of pole heads stretched out yearningly toward them across the cool water. Father-of-the-mink then appeared on the threshold and stood until his dignity should get the tribute of a good square silence. He had previously smiled with his inner man over a nip of hoochinoo and was in a fine ora- torical humor. His first remarks were a tinged with sarcasm. He reminded the Hoonahs that this was not his day at home and he was extremely averse to receiving on any other. He believed the white inhabitants of Sitka charitable to tramp Thlinkets and shiftless Siwash and ad- vised them to seek such alms. Whereupon the Hoonah chief stood up in hi oe and requested the favor of a little wab- (talk or bickering). Father-of-the-mink yelled back that it was scarcely in his line to wak-wab. He was emi- nently 8 man of dction rather than wah-wah. In his younger days, he continued, he had been aman of unequaied endurance at paddling. All the oung lady Thiinkets used to stare as he paddiea by and each feminine nose held its largest brass ring when he called. But he would not dwell upon personal matters. babraget teat him when circumstances made such necessary. — THE STORY OF THE CALAMITY. ‘Then up rose the spokesman of the fleet. He cleared his vocal deck for action and asked the stroke paddler to punch him if he slipped up “there bed cox his people, he'ssia, © come u| great distseen, ‘The moet promising young man of their number had gone where the halibut are —S the salmon swim up and jump into it. Then followed a e blankets for the a Oh, no! Ho wns warm enough wilhout them, He gone where the sheep carry shears and blankets are thicker than in Swit d. chant varying scarcely « half-tone. It seemed to have small effect with the auditors on shore. But it did. They were only hiding their true feclinge under a mantleof crafty fox skin,as it were. Were the lordly crow family Katlshwans going to’ ibious web-footed apol: fies, come. Sowa from Cicagedl inna ed ria dues Cut of one hundred and fifty Well, he gussea not ‘The other braves didn't reckon 80, and held to make it interesting for - Phibians if occasion offered. ‘And was ® people so eminently favored by ~~ > by a tribe to whom They remind one of « struck by lightning. ‘Thiseally was received with The younger men begai “preg too funny for such a solemn gemsicn Tt they didn’t say so. | "Twere better thus ‘Then Father-of-the-mink Waxed eloquent. He reviewed the case from every standpoins, ox. cept the Hoonahs, At last be tried Kis hand, or rather his feet, at a little double shume, act companied with a few grunte. The Alaskan Indians have not war cries sim- ilar to their brethren on the American pining, but they get just the same by means of ¢ succession of staccato grunts and gutterals, it isa terrible thing. After hearing it s few times one a often on in the night hay. heard it just a peta vactea iy this, wat ory the Crow fam- ily rushed from the building on a scientific ex- dition to discover the circulation of the joonah blood. 4 GAME OF BLUFF. But did Father-of-the-mink intend to let his nice, oily boys get into s fight? Oh, no; just outside was stationed the ehief of afriendly clan. When the on-rushing warriors got in plain sight of the fleet this old chief stood straight in their path a1 f-the-mink cried out for him to stand aside and let hum get at those cheap Hoonahs. But several significant glances between the two old fellows told the close observer that the whole thing was only part of @ strong bluff for the benefit of the fleet. And the bluff was called down. The little Squadron treated the whole display with an in- difference betokening a tired feeling. And this it was that nearly broke the heart of Father-of-the-mink. It wasas if a large wet blanket had been spread over nature,'as it were. He sadly called his supes back to the war hall and told them that it was no use fighting such tame gameas those Hoonahs. It was too much ofa snap for # really truly aport like himself. Again, it was evident that if they fought the loonahs they would have to fight the clan whose chief had prevented their passage. All things considered, the best thing to do was to take the visitors ashore and treat them as guests should be treated—to the best. This was quickly communicated to the fleet and a cance bearing the chief pushed toward the land. Then some youth in search of damp glory leaped into the water and bore the chief to dry land perched on strong young Thlinke! shoulders. One by one the reinaining eances drove up to shore and were unloaded. Te took the Hoonah braves. longer than the itkas to get over their warlike feelings. Perhaps they thought the atmospheric change a little too sudden to be permanent. At any. rate, when they landed they formed in single file and held their weapons ready for instant use. They were waiting until their chief should return from the council house, whence he had for wah-wah. This conservatism had its effect on the Si especially the i the Ho K In the way of compliments passed sotto voce to companio but loud enough to be heard by the Hoonahe, they made delicate advances. ‘The only recog? nition they received was a slight elevation of the nostril. THE SQUAWS SMILE ON THE INVADERS. ‘Then the young squaws tried their hand and they succeeded. The Hoonah braves feared no foe in shining oilskin armor, though his salmon spear be swift and keen, but they feared and loved the glamour through drooping lashes seen Just like the sontinel that, white people sing about. They couldn't stand the maidenly interest bestowed on them by the fair girls of the Crow family, so they did the most natural thing in the world. They smiled, Then the girls smiled back. Then the braves returned the smile. Then the girls smiled at the retarn- ing of their smile. ‘Then the braves smiled at the smile at the returning of their smile. The Thlinket cheek muscles were becoming permanently displaced when word came that everything was fixed up peacefully and two official hops had been ordered—one to be dauced by the Sitkas on the next afternoonand another by the Hoonahs the next evening. ‘The costumes for these dances and the sing- ing and dancing which accompany them need to be seen to be known. The squaws and chil- dren first enter the building. juaws seat themeelves directly in front of the space re- served for the daucers. ‘The children huddle together at one side, and, together with the squaws, furnish the orchestra. Upon entry of the masquers the music be- gins. The children hold one note at about F licious grins, id beckoned them back. Father- | later: ‘The Lady for Whom Mr. Dougises Secured s Government Appointment. Recently there has been extensively pub- lished an account of ex-Minister Frederick Douglass’ mediation to secure a government appointment for a member of the family in which he was once owned asa slave. There Were some inaccuracies in the statement which has induced a lady acquainted with the facts to send to the Stan the following: Thinking ® correct account of the affair might not be uninteresting to the readers of ‘Tax Star, as well as serving to heighten the re- gard in which Mr. Douglass is held by both races, I would state that learning of the impov- ished circumstances of a branch of his old mas- ster’s family, that a niece was in Washington city endeavoring to obtain government employ, Mr. Dougiass offered to use his influence in the young lady's behalf. Accompanied by her and the writer, a cousin of the lady, Mr. Donglass called upon Secre- tary Rusk,’ making known the object of his visit in the following feeling and expressive v. Rusk, the time bas come when the Sreat happiness is permitted me to be of some mall service toa member of my old master's =. a lady in whose veins flows the best blood of Maryland. Allow me to introduce to i Miss B——, who seeks employinent in your 0. As ‘might naturally be expected, Mr. Rusk Promptly and kindly responded in the afirma- Suggesting that the request for a position might be sent in the form of @ letter to his office. The result was the following, placed on filo in the Agricultural Department a few days Oxpar Hix, Axacosrs,D. C., November 26, 1891. Hon. J. M. Rusk, Sectetary of Agricultui Sir: I have the honor to remind you, es re- qu ted, of the case of Miss ,@ member of the family in which I was formerly: « slave. Circumstances have reduced the fortune of that branch of the family to which Miss belongs, and she seeks through my inter- cession some employment by wich she may assist herself and family in this their hour of need. It is a strange reversal of human rela- tions that brings m the slave, and this lady, brought up in of luxury and case, now to seek the humble employment I ask for her. Miss will, I am sure, if given the place she seeks, prove herself a useful member of the agricultural service and grateful for the *ppointment. loping that no obstacle will be found to her getting the place she seeks, I am, sir, Very truly your obedient servant, @igned) Freprnick Dovozass. It is safe to say no archive of the govern- ment holds in its recesses today stronger evi- dence of the tenderness and magnanimity of a human soul than these pathetic lines of th minister's. On taking leaveof the Secretary Mr. Douglass referred to his old master “‘as having deena good man in ," and baving always treated him (Mr. . ness, although, laughingly continued the e: minister, “I scored him roundly at the time. beneficiary of Mr. Douglass’ kindness feels quite at home in the seed department of the Agricultural De} it, being @ farmer's daughter, and while conscientiously endeavor- ing to earn the salary drawn from the govern- ment, bears grateful witness to the large heartedness of the man who owes no grudge, but, on the contrary, feels the tenderest senti- ments toward the family who once “they owned Fred. Douglass.” EA. EE GREAT FORCE IN A NUTSHELL Astonishing Results Said to Be Obtained From a Tiny Electric Generator. From the San Francisco Examiner. A procession of row boats moving rapidly about Lake Merritt, Oakland, © few weeks ago was observed with intense interest by few people who had watched with eagerness the movements of one ef the men in the leading boat. This boat was fitted with paddles, the rapid rotation of which urged the boat rapidly throngh the ripples and drew swiftly the seven other boats in tow. The boatingexcursion was no pleasure party, but a private exhibition of a motor which, if able to accomplish one-tenth of what is said of it, is the most powerful ap- plication of electrical energy devised. Charles Sellender is the man who directed ‘the movements of the leader boat and he is the discoverer of the chemical combination that produces marvelous result, The process, the materials, the manner of combination are secrets closely held, for no patent bas been issued, Toa very few people has any informa- tion of the discovery or invention been com- municated, and these people must be losing natural on the fifth line of the treble. The squaws take a kind of alto at about the D flat, two tones below. The masquers range up and down the gamut in the varying excitement of the dance, but never scem to discord. Nor do the differing notes taken by all the singers ever seem to form a major chord. It is all minor, and at times ite changes are of startling sublimity—like some old church choral. SOME INTERESTING cosTUMES. Among the interesting costumes in the after- noon dance was that of the young Sitka who had killed the Hoonah. as draped in the stars and stripes, as if sheltering there for Justice. His head was bound in white bandages, as if the Hoonabs had been trying to take out alittle preliminary revenge before the legal settlement. As a matter of fact this was a matter of fiction, but the possibility of their having done something was too fine a subject fora masque tobe neglected. The Hoonah spectators themselves smiled a bland approval of the young man's original get-up. In the evening the dance was given by the Hoonahs. Not to be outdone they had a repre- sentation of the unfortunate youth who was killed. In @ plaintive chant they rang the changes on tho grief of the parents, and the Eagle family at Hoonah in general, that solusty a young buck had gone to the happy hunting grounds before his time. In ending, however, they admitted that perhaps 150 blankets might soothe the injury. At least such a recompense would bring on @ temporary forgetfulness that might be lulled into permanence by the con- tinuance of friendly relations. And 60 the family of the Crow and the fam- ily of the Eagle retired to rest that night with sweet consciousness of well-earned repose. The full moon of aclear winter night pond down on that long line of Indian shanties bi onthe rocky shore. Nota sound broke the stillness save the long-drawn sigh of a Sitka dog, whose attentions had been jilted by an aristocratic cur from Hoonah. Ruteor. Fun That Didn’t Pan Out. From the San Francisco Examiner. “The other day a real smart young man came aboard,” said Capt. Leale of the El Capitan, ‘and he came upto chat with myself and two young ladies before the boat started. Next tothe ladies sat a Chinaman. ‘The smart young man began to nod toward the blue-bloused heathen d make allsorts of grimaces, He kept up his pantomime for some.time, showing off be. fore those girls in the endeavor to establish a reputation for dare-devil fun. ‘Tne Chinaman eyed him with that stolidity which the race has accumulated through generations of starva- tion. Finally my o’er-bright friend tired of “Oh, no; you'll not have any fun with me,’ answered the brown man in English. “AU the smartness left that bright youth. He was the cheapest buy on the human mar- ket, It was the first time I had over seen him done up. He reddened, became all hands and feet and silently stole away, stepping on him- self as he went. ‘I think I had more fun with bim than he hed with me,’ remarked the Chi ather a treeome don't you & a young man, you think?” % —-o+_____ as ‘Anything to Obliga, sleep contemplating the qnarvels which the young inventor claims far “his motive power. Sellander is a modest mechanic, quiet and i dustrious, who is employed by the Southern Pacific Company as an extra engineer of loco- motive engines. He lives on Fourth avenue, East Oakland, and bears an excellent reputa- tion among ail who know him. The outward appearance of his apparatus is simple. His chemical compound is incased in air-tight copper vacuum bulbs, for it explodes ‘on exposure to the atmosphere. Attached to the copper receptacles are wires through which the electricity is fed as on supply wires of other electrical systems. The discovery is the generating materials and their imprisonment. ‘One of these vacuum b no larger than & walnut. Yet with this infinitesimally small generator he is said to have sent the iight row boats dancing over the surface of Lake Merritt as though they were shells moved by a Cam- bridge crew. ‘The inventor recently told « friend that for three weeks he had supplied constant power from his tiny generator to move a toy boat in a pond in his back yardand the battery showed no signs of weakening. To the same friend said that be ‘Togards bis invention or discovery asthe nearest approach to perpetual motion yet attained. If the young man isa pretender he has snc- ceeded at the beginning in gulling some very hard-beaded business men, who are not in- clined to ewallow the idle tales of a fabricator of romance. First, there is P. M. Smith, cammonly known as the borax king of this coast, from his busi- ness. Mr. Smith is ready to back the inventor with money. To an Examiner man Mr. Smith would say but little, but he referred with enthusiasm to the discovery or invention. He says that he has not been taken into Sel- it | lander’s confidence, and therefore knows noth- ing about the materials in the little battery by which the marvelous electrical force is gen- crated. Yet he is satisfied that the device ‘will bea great success. He says that the light pro- duced by the Sellander system is as superior to the ordinary electric lights as gaslight is supe- rior to kerosene lamplight. Rs ("Lucky” Baldwin of San Francisco) is said also to be willing to supply money to the inventor. Another report is that the battery was tried for lights at the Baldwin Theater and Hotel in San Francisco with com- plete success. George M. Pullman of Hlinois, the great car builder, is another who is said to have seen the Sellander battery and to be convinced that it is what it is said to be. ——____+e+_______ Electric Fans and Big Guns. From Electricity. The little electric motor and the ewiftly re- than the turrets of the powerful iron Misnton- omoh, where the Crocker-W! has just placed four of its Thode are not, as might be = w away ‘the guns. electric fan. an ri : MAKING ODD COKNERS BEAUTIFUL. NOVELTIES IN CoLoRS AND MATERIALS—BLUE used during the coming spring and snmmer, and the paradox is obvious when we explain that most of the goods are in browns or any and every color excepting blues. Denim i contraction of the words de where the goods were originally made, but ar the sunflower was lifted from gutter to ‘parlor. 80 the fabric of Mike's overalls is now redolent With the perfume of madame's bondoir. Decorations. JEANS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER—ANTIQUITIES ‘MADE OF PAPIER MacHE—NEW DRAPERIES, NEW FURNITURE AXD NEW RFFRCTO—WALL ORNA- wEXTS. From the Upholsterer. We can ail of us remember the orange-colored sheepskin mat which used to stand outin front of every well-regulated parior and was frowned on for ite giddiness by the haircloth sofa and its macrame tidies. now no longer to be foun we are shown mats in tints which run the full gamut of thecolor scale. We saw of sheepskin mats in over fifty-five diteront colorings. orange-colored mat is at in place of it tely a line There will be lote of blue joans or denims a jismes of France, It 18 becoming more and more the fad for to have their curtains made to order People many folks will not use a curtain that is made one loom for fear that their butcher or beker may have the same curtain with git embroidery. being made in this country of a piain net with designs nal. ig, but they get their fabric in plain goods and decorate it imps, cords and tassels or appliques of Indeed, lace curtains are now in styles exclusive and origi- In a New York shop an old-timeax was dis- played a short time ago, apparently suspended bya slender wire tied about the ax handle about eight inches from its end; no other eup- port was visible, how in the world that thing hung there with seven-eighths of its on one side of the suspension cord and only one-eighth on the other was the ques- tion that puzzled the observer. As # matter of fact the ax was papier mache for seven- eighths of its length and the other eighth was loaded with lead. See? It is becoming business of one firm in this make these papier mache articles, and we can now get for our homes for corner decoration, for cabinets, for side walle or over doorways ‘all sorts of arimor made of paper, but in absolute fac-simile of the genuine article. a os war club of the fifth century,copied from the original in the museum of Rome, here is the dagger of Brutus, « six- bladed ax, a hemlet of the sixteenth conturs, the key of the Bastile and a Turkish saber, aud the marks of age, even to the verdigris and rust, are produced with startling realism The old-fashioned brass cornices are coming back into style, and the reign of the curtain pole is drawing rapidly to a close. In fiv years more we will find that no curtain pole will be used over windows. Picture wires are now made in colors to match the wall psper. Pillows made of sheepskin, pigskin and goatskin area Chinese oddity.’ The ends are of wood, cut almost square, with the side slightly ‘holiowed out. They are joined by three or more bamboorods. Theskin is drawn over the affair, fastened at both ends and i then carefally dried. It is then colored, orna- mented and varnished. lows vary in size from 8x3x12_ to Gx6x18 inches After you have used them eral times they are very easy and comfortable. As they are hollow the air chamber keeps them much cooler than are pillows made of feathers, down or seaweed, They have another peculiarity. The high tension of the skin converts them into sounding boards and enables a person lying upon one of them to hear sounds otherwise in- audible. One ofa vers high tension and fine quality of skin enabled the ordinary man to hear the ticking of a watch at five feet and to understand a conversation carried on in whispers at the other end of a room, six yards SOMEWHAT OF A NOVELTY. Aknowledge of arrangement is needed in the average home more than new drapcries, new furniture or new effects. Many # room is posressed of a wealth of contents which are absolutely lost and obscured by an inartistic disposition. There ways and means whereby one can dress @ room tastefully, not- withstanding that the furniture and decora- tions are not of, the same pai and color. Symmetry of decoration does not depen similarity of pattern or col- is condition is seen in the expressions of the human face, or in the beauty of the human form, esexemplified by a graceful attitude. SS jbept A SIMPLE ARRANGEMENT OF A DOORWAY. © private house one does not live ig cas some and that many a good job bas bee ‘ome distasteful from the objectionable cone trast it presente to one whe enters it from series of apartments of a character in po related to it. —_- PRETTY, RUT A ROGUE. A Cavadian Girt, skitfal Work in Making Iiegal Mone; From the Toronto Giabe, For nearly nine months the pablie has bees systematically defraudes by the skillfal connite ance of an adept at altering bank notes. Tbe ™an or woman who conceived the idea and operated the «ystem must have had eonfeder- ates, as the work was carrie’ on somewhat ex- tensively. The complaint first came from the Dominiom Bauk officials. One of their experts found among the bills one day a @2 note which wae about three-cighths of Usual length, He examined the | more minutely and discovered that a small pisos was missing from @ place almost in the contet ofthe note. Thinking that this ut have been torn out accidentally nothing more was thought of the urrence until & few days inter another bili of th same denomination turned up, short length to the same extent as the frst piece missing from this bill, however, it wos noticed, was from Suspicion was arouse of the bill made, wher the work had been d rately that no p would no y The detecti riment was communis cated with and the short bolls wi: to come in were handed © several m: 8 befowe they stand how the perpetrators be benefited. At last they had short bills, 4 on analyais the cutting ope rformed solved for them the problem. Th d been enough paper taken from bills to make, if prope nove, almost as long as was put on the case eepecialy Several weeks ago 7 was @ woman, aud close watch was her. esterday « warrant was «worn out accusing 4 pretty young woman named Catharine Rhod operator 1 eighteen y « of age + father, Robert Kisode t.” tis understood that the wuoover they are, have Leen making “same Manner out of bills anadian banks. ‘The cui wutly done with a razor by 4 cunning hand. so ~ TO LIBEKATE CUBA. Another Revolution Said to Be in Prepara- thon. The New York World yesterday published an article declaring tha foot to liberate Cuba. Propar ySerein active progress in this and osher citics as well as upon the island itself, When it will breaks forth is as yet unknown, but from all indica tions all the plans of the leaders are now nearly ripe. The first blow may be struck within afew days. ous, it The movement is stated upon good authority to be the largest and most completely organ- ized ever inaugurated for Cuban independence, There are said to be 8,000 Cuban patriots in this country ready to join in the war. In Cubs the revolutionist party is also actively pre- paring for the outbreak, and when the word is given the forces on Spanish and United States soil will act im conjunction for the overthrow of the Bpanish yoke. The plans bave been in for several morths, New York has beon made the head quarters, but #0 much secrecy hes been mai tained that the news of the coutemplated up- rising leaked out ouly yesterday. Then it became known that for several monthe past meetings of Cubans have been held in Tampa and Key West, Fia., and during the past six weeks in New York, for the purpose of organizing an army avd raising funds to assix$ the residents of Cala who are dissatisfied with the Spanish government. In New York three revolutionist clubs have been formed. Another club will be organized next Sunday. The names of the clubs are the Los Independentes.the Jose Marti Club, named in honor of its promoter, Senor Jose Mert the Uruguayan Consul Penos Neuvo. Ne Sunday the Porto Ricans of New York will form a revolutionary association. A Cuban now in New York city, who is oneot the most prominent im the movement, says the peopie of Cuba are dissatisfied because the Spanish goverument did pot carry out the ree forms which it promised after the late revolue tion. clubs in this country, he said, have been thoroughly orguuized and ther plane have been mapped out in good shape. The revoiution, he added, would come very ‘Two cossting venscle icit a fow weeks ogo, end at was reported that each one carried a cargoof arms for Venczuclan insurrectionists, but was said in Spanish circles a few days ago that the arms were landed at Key West and were destined for use in Cuba. R.A. C. Smith, the Wall street broker, bas immense interests in Cubs. He recently ree turned to the United States from an extensive trip in the West Indies. When spoken to yes- terday regarding the probable revolution he scouted the idea und said the inland was never in a more prosperous condition. The he said, were investing their money at ‘and that fact demonstrated to bir that have no idea of revolution. ———————— ANASTEY SENTENCED TO DEATH. End of the Sensational Dellard Marder Case in Paris. In Paris Louis Anastey has been found guilty of the murder of Baroness Dellard amd had H i i f i li f f oF ’ Lt ‘i | if