Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1896, Page 21

A GREAT GAME OF CHECKERS BY G. W. ROSE (Copyright, 1896, by G. W. Rose.) “Play checkers, schoolmaster?” “Oh, yes; I play checkers.” The tone betrayed the rash confidence of youth, but the old farmer met it with a serene smile, born of the memory of many victories. “Hattie, bring that checker board. What kind of a game do you play, teacher, side or center?” “I don’t understand your terms,” replied the schoolmaster, “but I play the regular openings, and then gauge my play accord- ing to my opponent's play. “Well, I'll be switched!” exclaimed the farmer. “I always thought checkers was checkers the world over, but I never heard of openings, nor gauges nuther.” x “I see your board is not numbered,” said the teacher. “Do you object to my mark- ing the numbers with a pencil?” “Mark all you want to, schoolmaster,” replied the hilarious farmer. ,“Put a sum in mental 'rithmetic in the middie, an’ al- gebra ‘round the edges. Turn the board over, an’ write out seme examples in bot’ny an’ hist’ry on the back of ‘er! Can't hurt the board any! Ernest, git some of that cider.” After the farmer had won four games in succession, he said to his son: ‘Here, ‘Ernest, you come an’ play with the school- master. This ain't exciting enough for me. I'll go an’ set by the fire an’ think!’ Ten minutes later Ernest said: “Well, father, this may be fun for you, but it’s rather monotonoug for me. You'd better play with Hattie, ‘schoolmaster. You may get a game occasionally, if she’s good natured.” So the teacher and his oldest pupil played together. But the memory of certain ‘The: wocke_axiel “fate Sat eee farmer returned to home. = “He's coming again Christmas,” Edna said to the schoolmaster. ee: = with stiff dignity: “T am retain some interest in your ‘There was no.answer. “I fail to see,” persisted the teacher, ‘what there is so remarkable in that young fellow that he shoul@ take up all your time.” : Still no answer. “Come, tell me, Miss Bates, what on earth he is noted for.” She looked up sideways into his face. “Pa says,” she answered gravely, “that he is the best checker player in the county!” “Can he beat me?” The question neant a good deal. With a reckless flash of her great gray eyes, and cropping into the Michigan country dialect, which the schoolmaster had labored months to eradicate, she answered: “Um-huh! Beat the boots off’n you!” the checker board and flung it into the stove. The books were about to follow, when he felt a little hand laid on his arm, aud turning, saw Hattie, with tears in her eyes. ‘Don’t!’ she said. “TI should be lone- some without—without the books!” The schoolmaster dropped the books and kissed his pupil. ‘Then the little hypocrite assumed an air of mighty dignity, and said: “‘The school laws don’t allow that form of punishment!” “Are you going to marry that fellow?” he asked peremptorily. “I don’t know.” % “Will you marry me?" , With a droll! httle smile she replied: If you please, Mr. Field, that isn’t in today’s lesson.”” As that was all the satisfaction he could get, he went to consult with her father. “Well, schoolmaster,” said the old gen- tleman finally, “Hattie has explained the hull thing to me. When Bill is here she thinks she likes him best, and when you're here she sort 0’ cottons to you most. Now, why don’t you and him play a game of checkers to decide it—winner take the girl— Pee agree to that,” replied the teacher. caustic remarks anent the afternoon’s gebra recitation rankled I the young girl's besom, and she showed him no mercy. She forced his pieces into unprofitable corners; she coaxed him after apparently unpro- tected “single men,” only to slaughter the pursuer, and at last In completing an in- nocent ‘looking combination, swept the board time and again. Looking up in the midst of the fifth game he became conscious that their normal con- ditions were reversed. He knew that his face was flushed, and his brows in a tangle, while she was watching him with a cool, amused smile. “What are you thinking of?’ he asked suddenly. “I am thinking of algebre,” she answer- ed demurely. “It does seem”—she gave him a “men”—‘as though checkers”—she gave him two more—‘‘was so much easier,” and she swept the board. When the teacher retired that night he registered a vow that he would best that girl at checkers, even if he had to give up his school and devote his whole time to studying the same. He lay awake a long time, gazing at the bare rafters above his bed, silver gray in the moonlight that streamed through his uncurtained window, and thinking of this remarkable checker- playing family. He remembered the jovial old man’s way of pretending to be in ex- treme fear, and how he would ejaculate: “Ah! now yeu've got me!” “Look at that, now! I never expected that.” “Now, you have got me,” ete., and the way his knotty hand hover over the board in sinmu- lated uncertainty. He remembered Ernest keeping up a Jaughing conversation with his mother, and apparently not paying any attention to the game. He remembered Hattie, always watching him with that keen, amused smile, and moving her pieces with swift, sliding touch of a slim, white hand. Then he wondered why he had never noticed her ds before. Also, he remembered a cer- tain vivid color in her cheeks, and won, dered if it showed the same by daylight. It may have been a week after this even- ing that Edna Bristol, Hattie’s pretty but dull seatmate, found the day too short for her lessons, and had to “stay after school.’ Hattie obtained permission to wait for hher, and after every one else ‘was gone she gaid to the teachet “[ think you have a checker board here, Mr. Field. Won't you show me how to lay by numbers?” P ithe schoolmaster rather shamefacediy got out his board and bis books: “Rudiments of Draights,” “Spayth” and “Robertson,” and they played games and variations by the dozen. And pretty Edna seemed to find the atmosphere conducive to study, for she mastered the refractory grammar les- son thoroughly. The next day Edna said: “Teacher, I can study after school bet- ter than any other time. May I stay to- night?" And so the program was indefinte- ly extended. Now, a@ young man cannot play check- ers’ with a pretty girl night after night without coming to give fully as much at- tention to her as to the game; consequent- ly the schoolmaster felt as though,a great Diank spot had moved into his life’ one af- ternoon when Hattie, without looking at im, left the house immediately at the close of school. The following afternoon a big, fresh- faced young fellew, whom the schoolmas- ter had never before seen, called for Hattie and took her driving fm a very dashing ' equipage. Edna volunteered an explana- tion after school. “That's Bill Keeler,” she said. “He’s Hattie’s beau, and he wants her to get married. His mother has promis- ed to give him the farm if he'll get a wife before Christmas.” This news threw the schoolmaster into ; the sulks. The young farmer visited the school, being received with bashful cordial- | ity by the “big boys and girls,” and with } eold civility by the teacher. | to the Thursda: He took Hattie y evening singing school, and was driving with her and Edna every | day. | This week was one of misery for the ; Schoolmaster, though his checker board was some consolation. But sitting alone in the @arkening school room while the snow whirled high around the windows he would imagine that vivid face, lit by great Ium- | dmous eyes, opposite him. Or, as he looked —— to board, he would see the swift sh of a slim, white hand above his own. The proposition was submitted to Hattie, and she, after some consideration, accepted it. “Now, you mustn’t take no advantage of Bill,” said the farmer. ‘He’s comin’ Chris! mas eve, an’ we'll have the game then, an’ the weddin’ afterward. You mustn’t keep Hattie after school, nor come here to see her iill then.” = The schoolmaster got a new checker board that night, and every evening ‘ie studied alone, carefully noting the ‘moves vof the great games in his books. “Seience will tell,” he said to himself. “These games were played by champions, and the results are certain as fate.” At last the eventful day came, and at five o'clock the schoolmaster went to the Bates residence. There was a jolly crowd of neighbors present. The old house was overflowing. Mighty preparations were going on in the kitchen, and the smell of roast turkey and coffee was everywhere. The minister was there—a nervous little man im an yncormfortable black suit. The teacher's rival came a few minutes later. Then Farmer Bates took the floo! “Neighbors an’ friends,” he began orato! cally, “I-s'pose you know that the school- master and Bill Keeler here are goin’ to play a game of checkers for my girl Hattie. Now, Fil ‘point Dave Nash an’ Uncle Tom- my Biik to be empires, an" you all under- stand that if any one makes any suggestion on the game it'll all have to be played over. The weddin’ll be right after the game, an’ then we'll have supper. Place your men, empires!” ‘The rivals were seated, and the board placed between them. “Here, Hattie,” the farmer called, “you set here where they can both see you, an’ then they'll know what they’re playin’ for.”* Hattie gave a timid greeting to the two young men, and took the seat indicated. Then the great game began. The schoolmaster played slowly, relatin; every move to some 3ame played by the obi champions. Bill Keeisr played with a dash that had carried him off victor in countless ao The spectators crowded around them, breathless at first, then as the game slowly progressed making whispered comments. One of the older women sang a little, soft- ly, and some one in the background whis- tied part of a popular air. The “é watched the board closely. It was a great game, and it is a pity that @ record of the moves was not kept. When the thirtieth move was made, the old farm- er blurted out: “By sum! ’t’ll be a draw!” Now,. the schoolmaster, who was playing the black, was preparing to move 1—3, for his thirty-first move. His hand hovered over the piece, but still he hesitated. Just then Hattie began wi tune. Much surprised, the schoo! “Well, Hattie, that is ever heard,” said her fa’ “That is a tune,” T paused. ther. The schoolmaster was furious. He took | the dumdest tune I | time was it when you were held up?” Teplied Hattie, slowly | clieat. He you whistlin’?"” < “I was whistling the fofirteenth varia- tion,” she answered. The strong color surged up over the schoolmaster’s pale face, ‘The ‘Laird and Lady” had fifty-nine variations given in his book, and there on the board before him was the identical situation that he and Hat- tie had noticed and studied in the four- teenth variation. Now he remembered Wyllie’s Play of 16—20, and black to win. Holding his breath, he made the move. “Lost the game, schoolmaster!” shouted the old farmer, but the schoolmaster con- trolled the moves. Again 14—23, and every checker player stared in amazement. Again 20—27, and then it slowly dawned on them that the teacher had won the game by a series of remarkable moves. One more move, and then the piece.on 2 went the. “long jump,” removing three Pieces and winning the game. The players rose, and the people crowded around the successful one, with hearty con- gratulations, Bill Keeler slipped into the hall unob- served, and after putting on his great over- coat, cap and huge lambskin mittens, made his way out and started for the stables. As he passed the kitchen door Edna came out and stopped him. : “Are you going home, Mr. Keeler?” she ked. as “Yes; I haven’t anything to stay for,” he answered. ° “You'll be lonesome drivin’ that twelve miles, all alone,” said Edna, sympathetical- ly. “Yes,” he answered, “‘considerin’ that I éxpected to take some one with me, it'll be dum’ lonesome!” - The contrast between that moonlit drive, as he had pictured it to himself, and as it would now be, struck him with full force. He pulled his cap over his eyes. His vocab- ulary was not extensive: “Dum’ it!” he said; and it is doubtful if any fate could have got more than that from him. “I'm awful sorry for you, Billy,” said Ed- na, softly, and then he saw that the pretty, foolish creature was crying. She had thrown a white woolen “dia- mcend-dusted” thing over her head, and her blond hair blew around her face. The spar- Kling moonlight fell on snow crystals, dia- mond dust and tears, making dazzling bril- Hants of all. Bill Keeler’s mind moved slowly, but when she repeated “I’m awful sorry,” he realized that sympathy is a blessed thing. He took her hand—she slipped into his arms. The small boy who saw this scene from a “proscenium bo: behind the rain barrel, could never go on from here in his report. “They stood close together,” he said after- ward, ‘“‘an’ they jest whispered.” “Where on earth is Bill Keeler?” asked Farmer Bates.) “Guess he’s gone home,” suggested Uncle Tommy. “Don’t let him go!" exclaimed the hos- pitable farmer. “Here, Ernest, you run an’——" the kitchen door opened, and there im the doorway stood Bill Keeler with his arm around blushing Edna. “I come for a wife, an’ by jing! I guess I got one,’” was all he said. There was a double wedding and a supper to be remembered. Sometimes, in these later days, when Prof. Field finds his wife’s country wit too sharp for him, he says: “Yau know you really proposed to me, for if you hadn’t helped me to win that game you would have married Billy.” To which she replies, sedately: “It was purely my interest in checkers, dear. I conan Soe £0 see a good game lost by a foolish ———__ EASY WHEN YOU KNOW HOW. ‘The Proper Way to Blow Into a Pen- ny-in-the-Slot Machine. From the New York Tribune. The two men stood in front of the penny- in-the-slot weighing machine, looking red in the face, as though from some immense muscular exertion. “Now, let me see if I read the directions right,” sald one, taking another look at the Paragraph in a newspaper. “Yes, we tried it right. This is what,it says: ; “All that is necessary if you wish to be weighed on a penny-in-the-slot machine, and haven't got the penny, is to apply your lips to the slot and blow hard. The air cannot escape, and the pressure will set the machine in operation at once. “Well, Fl be blowed if I can do it,” said he. “You try it once. Maybe your Jungs are stronger than mine.” ‘ As the other man stepped on the plat- form to take a try at it, several passers- by, attracted by the odd sight, stopped to see the operation. Soon a party wag gather- ed around the machine. in did the man puff and blow till ost burst the buttons from his waist- coal “I give It up,” safd he, casting a sheepish look at the crowd that gave him the laugh. Just then a bootblack, with grimy face, but bright eyes, wiggled through the crowd. “Aw, dat’s dead easy,” sald he. “Just let me show de mug how ter do it,” and then he climbed on the platform, put his lips to the slot and blew. Not so very hard, either, but a click was heard, the pointer flew around and told the wondering crowd that the “kid? weighed ninety-four pounds. “It's a cinch,” was the contemptuous re- mark of the urchin. “Try it again.” Another man tried it, and again was the Proverb verified about the battle not al- ways being to the strong. he crowd wondered. jow do you do it, * said one. ‘Humph, dat’s tellin’,” he replied, “I win more money at dat game dan I kin lose shcoting de cubes.” “Give you a quarter to tell.” “It’s a go, boss. Now, watch me,” and the urchin climbed on the machine again. “Gi’ me a,cent?” said he. = “What for?” asked the man. “What fur? Why, to stick in me mug; den I puts me mout’ on de slot and pokes in de cent wid me tongue, see? Dat’s what fur? It’s dead easy when yer on. Sayvy?” The crowd savvied. ———__+e+____ Written for The Evening Star. ‘The Lone Star of Cuba, Strike for your altars Lit by the Lone Star, 7 Triwnph ne'er falters From heroes afart Cuba, your valor _Illumines your face, Flushes its pallor, | Upraising your racet ts shall never your fair fame Precdom forcver~ Encircles your namot Cuba, bright Queen = Of the Antilles isles, Brilliant your sheen As resplendent your smiles ‘Cubans, arise, For the battle fierce roarey Gain the grand prize Kept by Spain from your shorest Win as the seaman With occan in fight All that the freeman Attains by the right! Cubans, the God ‘Who gives strength to the brave Bares the sharp sword Your dear country to saves + Fills you again With the: patriot power Despots of Spain To withstand as a towert Cubans, awake, . From the slumber of night, Tyranny shake =~ From your island of light! Wheel into Tine. * * _ With the great and the free, Strive ye in battle As heroes have striven, Men ara not cattle Like brates to be drivent Never lay by . _ Your ‘good weapons of war ‘TM Liberty's sky Beams with Caba’s Lone Star! DAVID GRAHAM ADER See Serie Im Chicago. @ queer Httle | From the Chicago Tribune. Attorney for the Defense—“No' what “I don’t know. Ask your took my watch.” AN ALLBGED TRIBE OF CANIBALS wonderful | Fifty-Five Miles ‘ih Twenty Hours Without Feed or Water. See See ee Tis PROFESSOR M’GEE’S ACCOUNT SS ROF. W. J. McGEE of the buregu of eth- nology, who has just returned to this city from an interesting trip to. Tiburon Island, home of the Serls, the alleged cannibal Indians of the Gulf of Califor- nia, has brought with him an elabor- ate collection of specimens, and an : 7 enlarged stock of knowledge concerning this island habita- tion, never before visited by ethnologists. Prof. McGee, it will be remembered, left Washirgton early in November, accompa- nied by three assistants, bound for the west coast of Mexico. Here he made sev- eral valuable surveys, crossing later to the island. His trip was looked upon as an ex- ceedingly perilcus oné at the time of his departure, because of the murder by the Seris, in March, 1894, of Robinson and Lo- gan, who visited Tiburon Island on behalf of a San Francisco paper, gs well as on ac- count of the general cannibalistic reputa- tion of these savages. Of all the Indians of this cont:nent, or nearby, the Seris are the least known to ethnologists. Prof. Mc- Gee finds fresh evidence that they are like- wise the most primitive of all tribes to the south. They were first seen by white men in 1540, when Coronado, the great Spanish pioneer, discovered the interior of Mexico, and since then there have doubtless been no improvements in their modes of life. Their villages are scattered along the Mexican coast, adjacent to Tiburon Island, but the greater part of their population occupies the island proper. Prof. McGee last year explored portions of this main- land settlement and studied the people. In an interview with a Star writer, the pro- fessor gave the following account of his adventures: “We outfitted in Tucson, Ariz.,. November 9, taking with us a four-horse wagon, two saddle horses and five men, all told. Pro- ceeding with rapicity into Mexico, crossing the frontier at Sasabe, we journeyed on to Caborca, where we made surveys of seven intrenched mountains. Thence we went east to San Rapheel-d'Alamito, where we made surveys and photographs of a re- markable series of intrenched buttes. After several days spent in this locality we pro- ceeded across an interesting country by way of Bacuachi, on the borderland of the Seri country. Going again south, we reached the “Rancho San Francisco de Costa Rica,” a ranch oy the Guif of Cali- fornia, belonging to a M®xican named Pas- cual Enctarias, which to be our gup- ply station. Cowboys in Pursuit. “Before embarking we made a preliminary trip into the main of the Seri coun- try, by wagon, clim! tains of the Seri rang cal surveys and sear ig for the Indian habitations on the land. In spite’ of our efforts-we falled™té find. a single Ser, but learned of an incident which had a great bearing upon the future of the expedition. It appeared that upon thé third day before our arrival the Seris had stolen four of the cattle belonging to a Mexfean rancher, and that a bard of cowboys haf fallen upon the saveges while they were engaged'in cutting up the animals. So unexpected was the assault that the Indians fled in grat haste, Jeaving their weapdns behind the Among these we foumd an oli army musket and many bows and arrows. The robbers, hew- ever, made good their escape and warned all of the remainder of their tribe that the Spaniards were in pursuit. When we arrived we, of course, found the whole territory evacuated, and we did not see a single Seri on the mainland all the time we were there. “On returning to our ranch we got lumber, previously ordered, and brought direction of our friend Pascual, the Mexican rancher. Of this we huilt a simple, flat-bot- tomed boat, which we christened the ‘Anita.’ When completed we put this boat into a wagon, drawn by eight or ten horses, and hauled it down to the shore of King bay, part of the Gulf of California. Launching our craft, and after some preliminary navi- gation of the bay, we went up the coast for twenty-five miles, to the strait called El In- fiernillo. or Little Infernal, which flows be- tween Tiburon Island and the mainland. Navigating along the coast of Mexico,touch- ing upon the Seri country all the way after leaving the ranch,- we found many shell heaps, accumulated by the Indians. Many of these were of considerable size, often as much as forty or fifty feet high. Moends of Clam Shells. “The small villages of the Seris are lo- cated along the shore in spots most favor- able for finding tlams. After eating the clams they throw away the shells, and thus for centuries this refuse had collected in such high heaps, as described, that they are found useful for foundations of settlements. Some of these shell mounds I found to cover am area of several acres. All of the settle- ments of this kind which I visited were de- serted by t former inhabitants. The Seris wander from place to place, occupying villages for only a few weeks at a time, when they become restless and seek other scenes. Often they return again to the old settlement, using it as a regular residence during the fishing season, while another more favorable for the finding of game is the regular abode for the hunting season. We followed the trail of what appeared to be five Indians, who, from the appearance of their footprints, could not have gone be- fore us more than a few hours. “In one place we came across a fire which they had left burning. Beside it was a stick, which had been the only means by which their fire had been kindled. This was a simple rod of wood td be revolved between the hands and held against a piéte of dry board until the friction developed a flame. Beside the fire we found the remains of a large turtle, which had been eaten. We tracked the band as far as San Maguiel Point, at the terminus of the strait proper. Here, where the channel, reaching to the island, was but one milé and a quarter wide, they had crossed to Tibpron in-their canoes, and consequently wex them. “The northerly gal severe in these parts in the late ai had now begun and the sea was to yh for us to cross with our little boat. sequence of this King topographi- we were compelled tgtepain at this point, on shore, for sever: waiting for the sea to abate. By th@®tifge we ran entirely out of water, and j of dispatching a’ party @ix or, seven miles into the mainland, tif§ fortunately fell and we decided to cross to the island in two detachments. Our ‘ty now consisted of twelve, altogether, including four white men, two Mexicans, five, Papago and one Yoki Indian. The white'men, besides my- self, were Mr. Willard Johnson of the geo- logical survey, Mr. J, W. Mitchell and Mr, Cc. D. Millard, interpreter. Nine of us crossed on the first trip, and after landing on the island seven, ingluding myself, there rémained, two returnipg to the mainland for the other three men, whom we had left behind with the baggage and provisions. Search for Water. “Just now we were to meet our first serious misfortune.¢ Soon after the depart- ure of the two who had gone back to bring those remaining, five of us who had landed penetrated into the interiar of the island in search for water. Having gone seven miles we located a spring and returned to camp, arriving there about10 o’clock at night The boat had not yet returned, and we re- tired at a loss to krow what had become of our companions. We waited anxiously the next morning and stilf there was no ben est aac thts pirite F told “To up te id my com- panions that the party had:no doubt been compelled to go for,fresh water, and that we need not be su if-they did not ap- pear within a day or two. We thén pro- ceeded to carry water from the spring. I was in the act the highest moun- | to cut some additional poles when I caught sight of the Anita crossing the channel. It appeared that after leaving the island would undoubtedly have starved to death. Lest it be washed out to sea by the rising tide they sunk it near the shore. The Party Reunited. “In the morning when they awoke it was filled completely with sand and stood erect upon the beach. The caulking had been beaten out, and the next morning the two men were employed until noon in shoveling away the sand. After three more hours spent in recaulking they at iast pushed off dnd sailed around in sight of the camp, where the remainder of the party were waiting on the mainland. By this time they were almost starved and fam- ished, but they found those in vamp faring little better than themselves. While wait- ing for the boat to return the Jatter had run out of water, but fortunately had found some bisnago, a water-bearing cac- tus, which quenched thtir thirst. The plant is much like the watermelon in text- ure, but the water is very insipid, though wholesome. » “Though our companions were weak from hunger and thirst on reaching the island, they were soon revived and we had a very happy reunion in camp that night. Next day ten of us went to the spring and brought back a supply of water, examining on our way many dweilings deserted by the Seris, who had all this time avo'ded us. The next day, which was Christmas, we walked fifteen miles, exploring our island and returnirg by the spring, from which we carried back fourteen gallons of water to camp. ‘his was enough to last for two days more, so we were able to make a long journey into the interior. But still the na- tives avoided us. “We were unable to see a single one of them, but that they were often near to us was made evident by the fact that in their huts we often found the fires still burning. gin one instance where we passed one of their settlements twice within a few days we fovnd that they had returned and gone away again in the meantime. One night we also sew their fires not far distant. We made every possible effort to find them, but always without avail. This is for the rea- son that the Mexicans have waged war upon them for the past twenty-five years, end they are now afraid of a white man. This was especially so after they’ had learned from those who crossed before us that the cowboys were in pursuit. In Regard to Cannibalism. “The island has an area of about 500 Square miles and we reconnoitered almost the whole cf the eastern section. In this examination we came across altogether about twenty-five villages} of from one to twenty houses each. The whole tribe num- bers from 350 to 400 men, women and chil- @ren. The houses are ail very much alike, being made of limber sticks bent in semi- circular bows, five or six in a row, each end stuck into the ground. These are covered with brushes. Green turtle shells, averag- ing about two and a half feet long, are set up along the side and often on the roof for wind-breaks. “I saw nothing which might indicate that the Seris are cannibals, and I doubt very much if there is any truth in the assertion that they are. Last year, when I studied them on the mainland, I gave this matter considerable attention. In my conversa- tions with them I often referred to the sub- ject incidentally, but was always assured that they never ate human flesh. Of the specimens which I have broyght back with me doubtless the most interesting and val- uable are four of their reed canoes, which I appropriated after they deserted. These are each made of three sheaves of reeds laid together in careful and artistic fashion and bound with cords of mesquite root. At each end,the extremities of the sheaves taper into long and graceful curves. The remainder of the relics are stone imple- ments, mostly very crude, since these peo- ple depend for the most part upon nature for the shaping of their tools. After making this extensive expedition inland we began to run out of our supplies, which had been prepared in contemplation of a sojourn of only a week on the island. But again we found ourselves delayed by the heavy gales. We caught a few oysters and other sea food, which appeased our ap- petites until the wind abated. We then re- turned to the mainiand ten days after ar- riving on the island. A Long Tramp. “On reaching shore we were without food or water and twenty-five miles from sup- plies. It being necessary to make im- mediate provision for getting supplies I set out on foot, leaving my companions be- hind, and followed the rocky coast, which I assure you was exceedingly rough walk- ing, to the site of the supply camp. Here I had expected to find a team, but to my great disappointment I found that it had gone. I now had before me the task of pushing further to the ranch, which lay thirty miles ahead. I reached it at last, having walked fifty-five miles in twenty consecutive hours, without food or water. “Having only in mind my companions I immediately packed up as much supplies as I could carry and returned to them hastily on horseback, having experienced forty-three hours of activity without once closing my eyes. Every one in the party was exceedingly weak from thirst, but I had brought enough water to revive them. This, the day of my reaching them, was at 10 o'clock the ‘morning of the 30th of December. We now were able to move without difficulty to the ranch, and on our way met a rescue party sent to meet us, and who had heard reports that several of us were killed by the Indians and another drowned. “Although our inability to meet with any of the people of the island was a source of disappointment, by doing so I should have learned but little mere than I already know ‘of their personalities. I met a great number of the inhabitants of the island when I visited the mainland a year ago. My main ambition on this trip was to study the modes of life on the tsland, and this I was able to do from the objects I found, although the people themselves were ab- sent. I have therefore had advantages of studying in detail their habits, and have learned that there is nothing prehistoric antedating their works — which indicates that they have occupied this territory con- tinuously. We now have as much informa- tion as’ we need, except as to their my- thology and social institutions.” 1. “United we stand— 2. “Divided we fallL"—St. Paul's, “Hungry? Why, colonel, when they found him he was sitting on the edge of his raft and was dangling one of his feet in the The colonel blew a long puff. “That,” said he, “isn’t a circumstance to a horrible case that I remember in 1877. There was a young fellow named Jackson, who went on @ trading schooner to the West Indies. The ship was wrecked on a coral key, and he managed to climb ashore on the edge of the reef. Well, sir, he sat on that. coral reef for forty-four days without a bite to eat. There was a spring of fresh water on the reef and he did not suffer from thirst, but he was, very naturally, starving. On the evening of the forty-seconl day he made up his mind to suffer-no longer. In his pocket was a burning glass. On the reef wus plenty of wood from the wreck cf the schooner. He took some wood and built a very neat little pyramid of it. Then he turned his burning glass on the wood and had a roaring fire going. Then he drew his long sailor’s knife, and with one blow chopped off his left hand. This he held over the blaze till it was throughly frica- seed. Then he ate it. “The young man had a large hand—he Was one of those generous fellows—and Was saving and economical with his rations. So the hsnd lasted him for a week, after which he withstcod the pangs of hunger for ten days. Then, growing desperate again, he cut off his right foot and lived on that. Eight days went by while he was eating the foot, and then, just as he was meditating dining off an ear, a vessel hove in sight. He lives over on the west side now, and the bones of his hand and foot, mounted and polished, serve as paper weights upon his desk.” ————_ + e+-_____ AUDIBLE BLOCK. SYSTEMS. This is What the Railroads Are Striv- ing for, but Have Not Attained. From the Railroad Gazette. =~ An audible block signal, according to the opinion of a superintendent who spoke in a recent discussion before the Buffalo Asso- ciation of Railroad Superintendents, “is a good thing,” and, adopting the logic now prevalent in the slang of the street, it is every one’s duty to “push it along”—to pro- mote its adoption. But practical raftroad men have hitherto pushed that class of signals away from them with persistent unanimity, and it is therefore of consider- able interest to know what kind of a de- vice the Buffalo gentleman refers to. All of the audible signals that we have ever seen have been subject to the one great drawback, that the engineman’s sig- nal to proceed was the absence of sound. So long as this is so the apparatus violates the principle, fundamental in block signal- ing, that any failure of men or of appara- tus shall reveal itself by giving a stop sig- nal, or at least reveal itself in some way. We have encouresed inventorg of avdible sig- nals as far as seemed prudent, and they have made many ingenious applications of electrical and mechanical principles, but we have yet to see a business-like 1d sub- stantial application that conforms to cor- rect principles. We do not believe it im- possible to solve the problem in the right way, and that is the reason we have en- couraged inventors. As the frequency of trains on busy lines increases, something other than the or- dinary visual signal becomes not merely desirable, but & pressing necessity. This is sufficiently evidenced by the experience and the practice of railroads in and around London, which have elaborate and expen- sive arrangements for the use of audible signals during the prevalence of their in- ciedibly black fogs. The English method of torpedo signaling partially or wholly complies with the principle we have just mentioned, that the engineman must have some positive assurance that the road is clear, so that he shall not be compelled to run mile after mile haunted by a suspicion that possibly some signal set to stop him did not properly act, or that some signal actually given may have escaped his at- tention. When American inventors devise an auto- matic apparatus which shall satisfy the engineman as well as the shouting fog- man satisfies the English runners, they will have made a great advance on all the “patents”, now before the ratlroad public. One trouble with an audible signal is that noise will diffuse itself about as it Pleases, and the effort to devise a thor- oughly safe signal to use in dark tunnels (after the 4th avenue collision in 1891) led toa sudden shifting of the problem, and audible devices gave way to electric lights. The lights were never put up in the 4th avenue tunnel, but an experimental plant was tried in the Weehawken tunnel. = es It Was in His Line. From the Caicago Tribune. The dramatic critic of “The Daily Bread,” @ gentleman of a serious and intellectual cast of countenance, with rooms on the second floor of an elegant and commodious flat m a neighborhood of high respecta- bility, heard a loud noise in the hall be- low and stepped to the door to investigate. Three or four men in working garb had unloaded a piano, and were preparing to take it up the stairway. “It’s for somebody on the floor above,” he said to himself as he went back to his study. “And it’s a good piano. I saw the name of the maker on the box. If the per- son who is going to evolve harmony from it in the room overhead”—and he shud- dered slightly—“‘doesn’t make good music it_won’t be the fault of the instrument.” Half an hour later, while deeply engaged in writing an elaborate criticism on the German opera that had been performed the evening before, he heard a knock at the door, followed by this conversation: “The man ‘at lives here is in the music business, ain’t he?” “Why, yes, in one sense he may be said to be engaged in—in the—” + “That's w'at I told ‘em. Say, we've got a piannah out yere half way up this next flight o’ stairs, an’ we're stuck. Tell ‘im to ‘come an’ give us a lift, will yuh?” —s0e* “Widows’ Row” in Philadelphia. From the Philadelphia Record. The half square on Berks street between 20th and Woodstock streets is known to all who are acquainted with the neighborhood as the “Widows’ Row.” This is due to the fact that no less than seventeen be- reaved wives reside within its confines. All of these are said to be handsome and thrifty; five of them are engaged in busi- ness for themselves and eleven have very comfortable incomes. Two years ago there were twenty-three widows in the “row,” bu® fou® have made new ventures on the matri- monial sea since that time and two have joined their husbands in another land. It would be a breach of confidence to mention the number who will be remarried before the close of the year, but it is safe t6 say that the ‘Widows’ Row” will lose its pres- tige as the abode of lonely females unless several engagements are broken off. —s0e Better Than a Soft Answer. ¥rom the Chicago Times-Heraid. The hotel clerk can always be depended upon to retain his self-possession under the most trying circumstances. It is related that a certain lady in the dramatic profes- sion, who is always trying to appear young, albeit she is “more than seven,” and looks it, was on the road last year with a tray- eling comedy company. The troupe got into town late one Sunday evening, and on reaching a hotel she was shown up five flights of stairs to an apartment numbered 20, almost under the tiles. Enraged, she flew down and ghrieked at the young man behiad the counter: “I am placed in No. 20!" “Yes,” was the answer, “we give every lady an apartment, if possible, correspond- ing with her age. Mrs. —, the old woman of your company, is in 62, and Miss —, the juvenile actress, is in 44, and that is why T put you in 20.” The lady smiled serenely, thanked the at- tendant most kindly, and, without a mur- mur, returned to the garret. oe Dog Seems Grateful. From the Indianapolis Journal. “Bobbettson, the money you spend in feeding that dog of yours would assist ma- terlally tf keeping some pcor man out of the almshouse.” “I suppose It would, but the dog seems really grateful.” Bt. Car to = Fy Haris Parlor and Dining Cars, Har risburg to, Piceabung. 3:40 P. CHICA toy Ay! Lous Pullman Buffet Parlor w ee: Sie eae emis 7:10 P.M.’ WESTERN —Patinan Sleep Car A hicago, and Harrisburg to Clev Stace Suara ims to St. ing Hi 4 to th 10:4) PM. PACIFIC —Pullman Steep- Car to Pittsburg. 7:50 A.M. for Kane, Rochester and 10:30 tae ‘intra aoe tor ‘Sunda; For Wi Niagara Falls allye excep ing Car Washington 0. 7:10 P.. ‘8h ington to Elmira. FOR PHILADELPH! days, 2:01 and Week days, and 3-15 PM. daily Bor Baltimore, 6:25, 7:05, " i 10:05, 10:30, 11:00 daily, except Sunda: For Annapolis, 7:20, 9:00 A.M, PM ily, except Suaday. Su and P.M. Atlantic Coast Line. “Florida Special” for Jack- sonville and St. Augustine, 10:45 P.M. week days. Express for Richmond, ints on Atlantic Coast Line, 4:30 A.M. 8:46 PAM. daily. Itichmond L ily. Richmond only, 10:57 12:15 and 4:20 indays, 9200 A.M. Accommodation for Quantico, 7:45 A.M. daily, and 4:25 P.M. weer days. For Alexandrit, 4:30, 6:35, 7:48, 8:40, 9:45, 10:57, 11:50 A.M., 12:50, 1:49, 3 . 5:00, 5 202, "10:10 and 1 P.M. Gn Sunday at 30, 7:45, 9:45 AM., 2:49, 6:15, S202 and 10:10 Leave Alexandria for Washington, 6:05, 6:43, 6.00, 8:10. 1015, 10-28 AM 32 00, i 6:48, 9:16, -M., » , 7:00, 728, 9:20 and 10:52 Ticket offices. corier 15th and G sts. and station, Sth and B éts., where orders can be lett fer the ‘king of baggage to destination trom hotels and residences, v" J. RB. Woop, 8. M. PREVOST, — Manager. © General Passenger Agent. SOUTHERN RAILWAY. (Piedmont Air Line.) Schedule in effect January 6, 1896. All trains arrive snd leave st Pennsylvania Pusvenger Station. 8:00 A.M.—Daily—Local for Danv'ile. Conneets at Manassas for Strasburg, daily, except Sunday, at Lynchbarg with the Norfolk and Western . and with C. & Q. dally for Natural Bridge and Clifton, Forse. 11-15 A.M.—Daily—The UNITED STATES FAST MAIL carries Pullman Buffet Sleepers New York and Washington to Jacksonville, uniting at Char- lotte with Pullman Sleeper for Augusta; also Puil- man Sleeper New York to New Orleans via Mont- Somers. | connecting at Atianta with Pullman Sleeper’ for Birm! am, Mempbi. .nd St. Lewis. 401 2M for Strasburg, daily, except Sunday. M Shae a a P.M.—Duily—New York and Florida Short Line, Limited, Pullman Compartment and Ohserva- tion Sleeping Cars, New York to St. Augustine; Pullman Drawing 'Room Tampa and Augusta: Vestil ington to St. Augustine, and tim pers, New York to Hed Day Coach, Wash- Dining Car, Solistury VYASHINXGTON AND SOUTH- WESTERN V LED . composed of Pullman Vestibuled Sleepers, Dining’Cars and Day Pullman Sleepers New York to Ashevilte Springs, N.C.; Ne Birmingham, Sew York lanta and ‘Montgomery. a ESTIB: to New Vestibulea Day Coach Washington to Atlanta. Southern Railway Dwirg Car Greetsbore® to. 3 2 MM. for ‘32 P.M. daily, excey eg. and 6:25 P.M, daily, for Returning arrive at Washington "8:26 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. daily from Round Hill, 7:06 S i AM. daily, except Sunday, from Herndon, and 8:34 AM. Gaily, except Sunday, rrom “ ‘Through trains from the'south arrive at Wasbing- ton 6:42 AM., AM., 2:20 P.M. ai * Manassas Division, 10:00 A.M. daily, nd 8:40 AM. dally from Char ‘Tickets, Car reservation and information furnished at offices, 511 and 1300 Pennsylvania uve- pue, and at Pennsylvania Passepger Sta- W. H. GREEN, General S: itendent. 5. Mt. GULP. Teame Manager WA. TURK, Genera. Agent. jaT L. S BROWN, Gen Agt. Pass. Dept. BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD. Schedule in effet December 1, 1895. Leave Washington from station corner of New Jersey avenue and C st. m. and Indianapolis, Vesti- in, Express 12:01 might. For Pittsburg acd Clevelaud, Express daily 11:30 a.m. and 8:40 p.m. For Lexiugton and Stauntcn, 11:30 a.m. Fer Winchester and For Chat ‘Faz stations, “5.50 p.m. Luray, Natural. Bridge, Resncin, Kncerie, ‘tanooza, Memphis and New Orieams, 9:1 jing Cars through. 5, 200, 4 35, x6:20, 6:30, 11:50 p.m. and £12: ‘s:36, x9 :00, 3:00, 3:25, 10, 6: 58:00. 00, 10:00, 12:01 night For Annapolis, 7:10 and 8:30 a.m., 12:15 and 4:28 Sundays, 8:30 a.m., p.m. 4:32 P= For Frederick, 19:00, *9:80, 11:30 a.m., 1:25, 94:20, °5:30 p.m. For’ Hagerstown, °11:30 a.m. and °5:30 p.m. For Bord and way points, °):40, 120-23 b Ce ee eee and way points, 19: p.m. Express trains, stopping aly, “4:30, 76:20 p.m. LINE FOR’ NEW YORK AND PHILADELPH. a.m, Borat , 11:15 stations BLUB TA. All trains Wlominated with pintsch Nght. ew For Philadelphia, Boston and the East. 200 10:00 ‘Sleeping Ca open Buffet Parlor Cars For Atla@tic City, 10:00 p.m,_ Sundays, 4:50’ a.m. *Bxcept Sunday. uly. xExpress trai Baggage called for end checked from hotels and residences by Union ‘Transfer Co. on orders left at ticket offices, 619 Pennsylvania avenue northwest, New York avenue and bth street, and at depot, B B. CAMPBELL, ‘CHAS. 0. Manager. Gen. Pass. Agt. passengers on all day trains, and 11:30 a.m, CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILWAY. Schedule in effect November 17, 1895. Treins jeave daily from Union Station (B. ané P.), 6th and B sts. ‘Through the grandest in America, with the he: jest and most co! solid train serv ice west from Wash'ngton. 2:25 P.M. DAILY.—“Cin-innati and St. Louis tric-lighted, St ted’ Train. Pullman's finest ping cars Washington to Cincinnati, St. Louis daily. Dining Gar from Washit Arrive Cinciunatl. 6:00 a Lexington, 3110 am. Louisville, 11:60 am. (vis inna. 11:10 P-M. DATLY.—The famous “F. F. V. Lim- ited." A solid Vestibuled train, with Dining Car gnd Pullman Secpers for Cincinsetl. Lexington and 1:30 —Express for Gordonsville, ‘nesboro’, Staunton and points, daily; for Richmond, 4 Saliman lovations rnd tickets at company’s of fices, 513 and *421 Pennsylvania avenue. pols MEDICAL. DISEASES OF THE THROAT, LUNGS, — ach, kidneys ond nervous system scientificall a ences furnished, aw. MANLY VIGOR AND NERVE POWEK RESTORE" using a bottle or two ef Dr. Brothers’ tu- ¥ = oe, ‘There is no remedy equal to this. Used 60 years in this city. 906 B s,w.n30-~ NO FEE UNTIL CURED, Dr. Leatherman, 02 F st. nw., im ‘the treatment and cure ‘of all forms of PRIVATE DISEA\ MYDROCKLK, VARICOCELE, STRI &e., Vitalit tation free. Hours, © ity restored. to 12 am., 2 to 5 iE 311 pit’ im?