Evening Star Newspaper, June 4, 1898, Page 20

pyright, 1898, by Wil relentless day in far down in the southwest corner It was almost hot enough to dry marrow in the protuberant bones of blazing. cook eggs in the sim- nds of the coast strip that ! n. Out on the Arabian of the ping hung motion- shi nd mn was melting the paint off the fu of the few steamers that lay at anchcerege. 1 population Was weather-pr and they lolled put much al. But the for . with one exception, could n fo d by the ce That except rayed in white li e mn sat out In the European quarte windows behind him were and ng serv constantly er on the screens of ri nside the drowsy punkawallahs | the fan strings. But Quin looked | . cool and comfortable as he pulled short pipe and eyed the dusty road. | An awning stretched over Ris head, and | bamboo table at his elbow rested a | glass that oozed icy dew. His business in | mished as well as he could | he had just shipped three | to London by a steamship | and on the morrow he | oing up the coast to Beypoor, | take rail across country to Mad- | “ and supper time, when the frizzling heat had begun to moderate | a little, a shadow stalked swiftly to the awning and fad ay as its owner ap- | proached. A thinly clad Englishman, big. | bearded and perspiring, dropped into a t one side of the table. He nodded ! arly to Quin, shouted for an iced | rink and lit a cheroot. : Here again, you?” he said genially. | iere again, Fanshawe,” the little man | replied. “I thought you were off on leave?” | was—just got back. Beastly warm, isn’t it? Wish I'd stayed in the hil The drink arriving, Cap’ F. took a copious draft of ft s a thor- | 90 good to be stowed service at the dull | and wearisome cantonments adjacent to Cochin. He had known Quin for some years, and the two had met strangely at Givers places. They smoked and chatted for a while, and, as Quin was comparatively | fresh from England, his companion plied him with questions. “I've been doing‘ some hunting down in Travancore,” the captain said, after a “Did pretty well—bagged two tigers ypard. I'd go dotty if it wasn’t for that sort of thing. By the by, I've got a piece of news that’s right in your line, I fancy. I was dined and wined by the Rajah of Travancore, Jewan Khan, a_ splendid chap in his way, and he tells me he wants to sell his menagerie.” “Yes," said Quin. “I've heard Rather a fine lot, I believe?” “A regular zoo,” repited the captain. “By Jove! man, I wouldn't be afraid to bet that the collection represents the natural his- tery of India. I don't blame the rajah for Wanting to get rid of them, after hearing the row the brutes keep up day and night.* ly the queer sparkle of Quin’s ey: showed how deeply he was interested. “Is that his reason for selling?” he asked quietly “Partly,” said Fanshawe; “and partly be- cause the creatures hav2 awful tempers, and he's afrail some of them will break oughly good fellow— away on her m of it. * you certain he’s wiiling to sell?” in that mood four days ago. I - he would have taken a mere song And he didn’t strike me as a keps his menagerie and 1 barbaric state. It’s hard to reach, nglishman can’t go there to visit him thout an i ation and a permit.” “I know that,” Quin sald, thoughtfully. | For half an hour longer and by adroit qu & he drew from ytain Fan- | Bhav 1 the particulars of visit to the | Yajah of Travancore lec ad of the latter's col- Then the cool air of other Englishmen to utside of the cafe, and ed quietly awa: of the interview — the m and action that followed— Were characteristic of the little man. F abandoned his trip to Madra: nd early the next morning he cabled a brief message to his employers in London, Karl Hamrach & Co. An hour later he left Cochin with | four of his native assistants, despite the in- tense heat, and by evening he was quarter- ed in a jungle vi e well over the borders of the state of Travancore Before he turn- ed in for the night he had dispatched a le ter to Rajah Jewan Kahn, and he hoped that the bearer would bring a favorable an- swer back within three days at most. Long experience had taught him the value of haste in his line of business—the risk of delay: and as !t was, he feared that some one else might be on the ground first. He knew that Moss & Crawley, a rival firm of Liverpool and New York, had an agent In India at the time. It was not a pleasant place to spend the interval of waiting, but Quin made the best of it. On the afternoon of the third day the messenger returned and with him came four coolies and a palki. They brought a letter from the rajah, inviting the English- man to be his guest, and informing him politely, but firmly, that he must core a Quin sent his own men back to Co- chin, and early the following morning he started off, borne in the paiki on the shoul- ders of the coolles. Tt was a long journey, through wild and country. entailing one night in the | oward evening of the next day he ached the stocakade that inclosed the ra- jah’s summer palace, and leaving the palki d through the gate, escorted by e-looking Hindoos who had .een deputed to meet him. The grounds, on a gentle slope at the base of the Cardamum mountains, were extensive and fin Quin sli Dre The prompt « quen ly laid out with trees and shrubbery. On a ridge fm the distance loomed the palace—a ram- and pretentious structure of reddish sto with tiers of shaded balconies, and innumerable minarets glittering in the light of the sinking sun. When about halfway up the slope a sin- sie piercing scream rang from close on the Tight of the path. = was through the intervening thicket like a flash, and within six feet of him, standing in a grassy glade, he saw a native woman—e girl, rather, for she could have been no more than nineteen. She was richly dressed, and on her bare arms and ankles were a profusion of ban- gies. Her face was remarkably beautiful, though now it wore a look of frozen horror —of dazed and helpless enchantment. For close to her feet, between her and the Eng- lishman, a huge cobra was reared above the grass; the hood of the yenomous reptile Was distended angrily, and sparkled like a thousand jewels. The eirl was charmed, incapable of sount or movement; she stood waiting for the @arting fangs to sink into her flesh, and that was on the point of happening now. Quin saw that there was not a second to loeo. His revolver was tn his hand, but the Ro ition of the girl forbade shooting. He feversed the weapon, and, making a quick Stride nearer, fearless for himself. truck unerringly. Its head crushed by the heavy metaled stock, the cobra dropped bleeding and writhing into the grass. The scene thgt followed was embarrass- ing to Quin; hé was indifferent to female beauty, and had but @ poor opinion of the ex. fore he could withdraw the gtri threw herself at his feet, weeping hysteric- ally. She kissed his hands, called him her préserver and sobbed fervent words of Sates in Hindostanee, which tongue juin knew fluently. “Come, come, my good woman!” he said. “Z am the sahib’s slave,” she went on. he WILB- BEAST AGE jhe drew LEAves From bug NSTES Bok The Rajah Vancore’s Menagerie. fam Murray Graydon.) “My life is his. May Brahma grant him every prosperity and happiness.” At this point the two Hindoos interfered with frowns and gestures. The girl rose as though frightened, muttered a few in- audible words, and quickly ished in the ; shrubbery. Much relieved, Quin returned to the path with his companions, and a few moment. later he had reached the palac scending the broad stone ste] d not see his host at once. He was shown first t ichly furnished hed cham- ber containi ing tank full of water and, a i refreshing dip and utting on clean linen, he was summoned to the audience room, where oriental car- “Back Mogul!’ She Cried. pets and hangings vied with English clocks nd paintings and articles of vertu from Paris and Vienna. His highness Jewan Khan immediately appeared—a polished, highly educated man, jlow-skinned and black-bearded, attired in European style, save for his white cum- merbund and jewel-studded turban. He greeted Quin with some slight havtcur, and in perfect English, then refreshments were served, and, seating themselves, the two conversed indifferently for a few moments. Neither meentioned the affair of the girl and it was evident that the jah had not been informed of it. Though Quin’s bearing was cool, and he seemed quite at his ease, he was not a lit- tle perturbed in mind. At the first sight mantiGe chai | of his host he had scented possible danger. ice Gait Bute |'fwo years previous, while hurrying at Tonk dt. Ale Cae | night through the native bazars of Bombay That's his hot-weather to Keep an appointment, he had been im- d by a jestling crowd. Like most shmen, he held the generality of na- tives in supreme ccntempt, and to clear e Ww ruck out thoughtléssly with light bamboo stick. A man thus rap- mart!y across the shoulders wheeled and disclosed the dress and fe: tures of a Hindoo of high rank, who had evidently been making purch at the stalls; with flashing e nd a cry of rage, his sword. Quin regretted his S$ act, but he knew the futility of . His life was in danger, and he wisely chose the better part of valor and ok to instant flight. The darkness a him, and, though hotly pursued by a howling mob, he ultimately got safely away. He heard no more of the affair, The Girl Was Charmed. but from that day to this he had kept in memory the face of the man he struck. And it was the face of the Rajah Jewan Khan. Was the recognition mutual? Quin thought not, and the hope gradually be- came a conviction. While he talked he furtively watched his host's face, as though he would read his inmost reflec- tions. But he failed to find the least ground for apprehension. The rajah’s re- serve melted a little; he became less dig- nified; he spoke with pleasure of a visit he had made to Europe. Yes, it was cer- tain that he did not suspect his guest’s identity—did not cream that he was the man who had struck and debased him publicly in the bazars of Bombay, whom he would have slain at the moment in a fit of fury. And it was only natura that he should not have closely observed the Englishman's features at the time. Quin did not allow his business to be kept long in the background. His fears dismissed, he ied up cleverly to the ob- ject of his visit. He still had a lurking doubt as to the accuracy of Capt. Fan- shawe’s statement, but it vanished when the rajah came straight to the point. “Yes, it is true that I wish to dispose of my meragerie,” he said. grown tired of it. ‘The creatures are say- age and ill-tempered, and my servants are | Shade of the tre THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1898—24 PAGES. careless feeding them. A month ago a anther Broke loose and ¢scaped to the jive ie, Last week one of niy leopards got ut of his cage and killed a child. I believe you represent a leading firm of wild ani- ™mal dealera in London?” “Yes; Karl Hamrach & Co.,” replied Quin. He wént on to explain his authority and the means at his command for trans- porting the menagerie to the coast. “All this will be costly,” he added, “but my peo- ple will pay a liberal price under the cir- cumstances.” “That is no object to me,” the rajah an- swered, haughtily, as he stirred his iced drink. “I wish to get rid of the brutes, and you shall have them at your own offe: “Ts it a large * Quin usked. “The finest !n india,” was the reply. come; you shall see for vourse'f.” The rajah led his comaton on of the palace, passing throus courts and stopped at a heavy was opened for them by a servan they entered the square inclosure in which the menagerie was kept. It was a vas court, bounded in the rear and on one side by the towering walls of the pals But he rear a high wall of stone followed the Only two modes of ible—the above men- A the other two sid exit or egress were v: tioned gate and a small wall cn the left. number ef windows overlooked from th side and from the rear, but none were ve! close to the ground. In the middle of the court was a tank shaded by a few tre nd to the right of this the rajah’s collection was mostly ranged. It Was indeed a fine one, and Quin secretly exulted. Strong-barred cages held three splendid Bengal tigers, four leopard: two panthers, a pair of Himala a rhinoceros and some smaile A iot of serpents were coiled asleep under ss, and a young tiger was chained in the At the rear of the in- closure were shackled five huge elephants and two Thibetan yaks. “Shall I make your highness an offe: 1 Quin, when he had finished a careful inspection of the menagerie. Wait until you have see rajah replied. “That is the tiger larger than any of these. He is a savage and intractable brute and is at present confined in a safer place. In the morning, when he has been fed and is in a better temper, I will have him brought here.” Quin assented to the proposition, and they returned to the palace. The evening passed pleasantly. The dinner was perfect, as were the wines and cigars. The rajah unbent to his guest, and showed brilliant conversational powers. At a e hour Quin retired, and as he was satisfied that his connection with the affair at Bombay had not been even suspected, he slept soundly and p fully until morning. The rajah did not appear at breakfast, on the plea of a slight indisposition. Quin made a hearty meal in state, with three servants hovering about him obsequiously. Having finished, he was waited upon by a handsome but evil-faced Hindoo, from ais gorgeous attire probably an officer of the Trajah’s irregular soldiers. “Greeting to the sahib! low. Mogul,” the name of a he said, bowing “His highness will receive him at the hour of noon. And meanwhile the tiger Mogul is in the outer court. Is it the 5g it him?” y what Quin wished to st scarcely spirits he follow serving the dus! peered ngely at him from curtained doory from tke balconies overhead. Arrived at the massive gate, the Hindoo unbarred and opened it. “Enter, sahib!" he said curtly. ed unsuspiciously into the court. He advanced a few feet, noting at a swift glance that the elephants and the Thibetan yaks had been taken aw: Then his purht and found new tiger. eager eyes § It was a superb ercature, enormous of siz and magnificenuy striped. Its cage w Just in frent of the other cages ran along the right-hand wall. At that instant Quin heard the dull rat- tle of a bar dropped into its socket, and, turning to look bet ind him, he was startled to discover that he wes alone; the Hindoo ad closed and fastened the gate. Con- vinced of premeditated treachery, he next wondered what form it would take, and as quickly the awful truth w: revealed to him. With a roar the great tiger Mogul bounded against the bars of his cage, and the door, which had, no doubt, been left unbolted purposely, swung open on its hinges. and fears ae. i ope. ave pee ore him. I will qrt back to his 2 Quin looked hetplessly, doubtful of the result. And firt, indeed, it seemed that the tiger, ravgnous with hunger, would not yield tb thélaccustomed sway of his mistress. He cromched obstimately on the ground, roarimg and snarling with pas- sion; but finally, by gepeated cracking of her whip, by a stsady fire of commands and threats, pleading, and’ coaxing, the brave little woman conguered. Sullenly and with much whimpering the great brute crawled back to its cage ang slunk within. The girl flung the door sh@t and bolted it. Then she turned to the,Englishman, flushed with triumph, and yet-withya strained and anx- fous look in her tace.2 “You have saved my life,” hoarsely; “‘at- least fer the present. you help me further? “I will save you if I can,!’ the girl re- plied, quickly, as her eyes roved from one to another of the windows overlooking the court. “I am Zora, the slave of Jewan Khan. I once loved him, but now I hate him. He treats me crueily. And you saved me from the bite of the cobra. I was grate- and so I did this thing for you. Be- you struck him once the rajah plai that Mogul should kill you, and Quin said, Can ned would have watched your death from yon- he der window. But 1 put drugs in his sher- bet and he now lies in a stupor. Come, sahib, while there is time. I know the way =the secret way under the palace to the river that flows swiftly to the coast. Come!” Quin needed no urging. He hopefully followed his fleet-footed guide, who led him through the little door, and thence a desserted part af the palace that se to him, pauel in the wail yung open at the winding s the two girl's touch. i » was Gisclosed. Down this . drawing the panel shut be- hind them, the Lettom w and narrow subierranean passage. e was not a giimmer of light, but Zora took Quin’s hand and guided him hurviediy alon: fle they groped their then suddenly emerg- ed on the bank of wift stre in the heart of the jung! lose to Where a rude boat was mocred. A distant clamer voices toll t the flight that pursuers were on thi was not an inst to lo, escape the vengeance of the. entered the boat and east cf, Zora ply the paddle with skill. Quin heard the s the ha thi fade And wi shouting in th miles ping its pe of rock ives left the boat and star ard the coast in a northwes' took the part of guide, mitnight she brought the Englis! to a jungle villas me of er own people live ived a hearty welcome, 1 were assured that they were out of reach of the rajah’s ven- geance. A new peril—for he considered it little less—now confronted Quin. The fafr Hit deo maid had transferred to him the heart and affections that had so y been Jewan Khan's. She was not to tell him as much, and, in short, she intimated unmisiakably that she wished to be his lifelong companion. ‘There was only one thing to do, and Quin did it rly dawn he from the ay ing a gift of money behind, ty- four hours later he ¥ afely back in Cochin. Havi no adequate proof, and knowing the almost i table’ ditli- culties in the way of ig the rajah to just no. but ii some cor that Jewan Khan menagerie, and that ly made overtures for i heard ne more wf thought of the grateful that her brave act ter upon her, And future, though he still avoided these > regarded women in a new and moge favorable light. oa IN A HURRY. 1 agent purchas . but he girl, and Quin often hoped had brought no disas- in SHIPS Incredible Spe¢d in Construction Due to the Klondike Boom. From the San Francisco Call, A steamship, finished complete, from keel to smokestack, in six weeks. Surely that is crowding things, little, but the Ale sa boom has made, such work necessary. That is the reason it!'is being done these days. Never in the history of shipbuilding in California has there been such activity in the business. Every ship yard about the bay is working overtime, and in some in- stances day and night, so great is the de- mand for vessels to send to the arctic. Of course, there is a great deal of repairing and overhauling being done, but new v are being completed every few day: Over ut the Oakland shipyard one day |: veek there were five new ships on the wa : sume time. It is safe to say that never happened before in this part of the world. At the big foundries, where iron ships are built, work is pushed as a ble, but iron s do not get together as rapid~ ly as wooden ones, so that it is tediou: work watching their growth. Wooden vi sels come into existence almost mag are nearly ready for sez s they are lauched. It is to this cla the greater number of Klondike lon One steamer, the Virago, that sailed for Alaska a few days ago, Was not in exis ence at all on the first of last February. fa keel was not laid and it is barely possible the plans for her were not drawn. But things went along smoothly from the When she got into the water she leak a drop nor vibrate with the mo- the engine. Before this vessel had her trial tip she w king passengers and loading ht. Scores of men were at work on her rushing things along. This steamer had her trial trip on Monday the J4th ultimo, and two days later she sailed for the north loaded down with freight and gold seek, But she acted like a ¢. Surprised by such an unexpected thing, the brute did not at once take advantage of his freedom, and this gave Quin a mo- ment to reflect. He stood as though carved from stone, and it is little wonder that the horror of his position seemed to turn his blood to ice. Never had he been in such frightful peril! He was at no loss to understand the dastardly trap laid for him —planned to compass his death! It was an act of revenge! The rajah had recognized him from the first, and with cold-blooded ingenuity worthy of a-Nero he had chosen this method of repaying the insult offered his rank and castle in the bazars of Bom- bay two years before! Doubtless, from one of the curtained windows high up on the palace wall, Jewan Khan was now watch- ing with fiendish pleasure. And there seemed no escape for the victim: it was impossible to scale the walls, and the puny trees by the tank offered no shelter. All this flashed through Quinn's mind in far less time than it takes to tell. He believed himself lost, but there was still a slim chance of saving himself at least from the tiger. A loaded revolver was on his person—he always carried one—and he whipped it out. As he did so the brute came slinking from the cage. Evidently it had not been fed, and was now actuated more by hunger than rage. It kept up a low and incessant snarling as it approached with soft and stealthy steps, its eyes fixed greedily on the Engiishman’s erect form. When within twenty feet it suddenly stop- ped, roared tremendously and crouched flat. It was preparing for a spring. Quin leveled his revolver, aimed and pulled the trigger. Only a sharp snap fol- lowed, and he knew what it meant. The being and S as dignifiedly as a man-of-war that had bi ive y in course of construction instead of five weeks. Old salts said she was sel of her class as was ever built, nothwithstanding the short time spent in putting her together. To see one of these Alaska vessels come into being is like watching the work of a magician. The person who orders the ves- sel or what her name is to be is of no im- portance to the shipbuilder. He simply gets word to build a vessel according to certain drawings and_ specifications and puts it down in his book as a certain num- ber. If the vessel {s ordered to be pushed through in a hurry he starts work tm- mediately, and within a few hours men are building the ways on which the vessel is to be constructed. Inside of twenty-four hours the keel will be laid and the stern post ready to be placed in position. At this time there is not much to be seen, only three lines of timber lying on the ground. But this is the start. A week later this same spot will have a good part of a ship on it. Scores of men will be at work, and the sound of saw and hammer can be heard for a mile. Nearly all the ribs of the ves- sel will be in position, and she will be ready for the planking. A week later a goodly portion of this will be done. The entire lower portion will be covered and only ,the tips of the ribs will show over the side o& the hull. At this time the machingry js being put in and more and more men @re finding work on her every day. At the end of the third week the hull ts practically finished, and in another week the @eck will be on, and she will be ready for taunching. Now men fairly swarm over her. At the end of tho fifth week masts are ‘in, rigging set and weapon had been tampered with during the night and the cartridges extracted. He dropped it at once, put both hands to his mouth and shouted with all his might. This attempt at intimidation partly suc- ceeded. The sound of the human voice ringing above the excited clamor of th beasts In the various cages seemed to awe the tiger. He turned tail and fled several yards. But it was only an instant’s re+ prieve. Quickly the brute wheeled about and came creeping on again, roari with fury, its great eyes like living coals, its teeth grinning from open jaws, its’ tail Sweeping and beating the ground. ~ Quin stood still, his heart beating fast. He knew that he was face to face with death—that in a moment more the huge teeth and jaws would be mangling his limbs. And as he shuddered, trying to mut- ter a prayer, an unexpected thing hap- pened. He heard a creaking noise, ahd saw the little iron door over in the palace wall at the left fly open. As quickly ere gartee = ie neve girl whom he had sav rom the cobra, ct ing a t whip in one hand. ee aos “Back, Mogul, back!” she cried, in a ioe pane ee e er, in the very act of springing, seemed to hesitate, as though quite aware that it had been baffled of its prey. And this gave the plucky, lithe-limbed girl time to thrust herself between the brute and the man. “I will save you, sahib!” she shouted, without glancing at him. “Mogul knows sails bent, and the gteater portion of her painted. It onl¥ remains to put on the finishing touches in the cabins, see that the engines are O. K.’and’have a trial trip. Smoking Out an Owl. Brom the Portland Qregonjan. . City Treasurer Hechbney ts one of those old-fashioned mei} who get up first in the morning, bulld fires abd make some coffee for the refreshmgnt of himself and the others as they turn out. Monday evening he laid the fire Mm the kitchen stove as usual before going to bed. Yesterday morning when he opened the stove door to apply a match to the kindling he was startled by a vicious snapping and tho sight of some hideous, sooty-looking goblin, with huge eyes and ears, which caused him to jump half way aéress the kitchen and imagine the devil or one of his imps had taken possession of the stove. On recoyer- ing his equanimity he made an investiga- ion and found that a gray owl had made its way do the chimney, through the stovepipe and draught, into the stove. Mr. Hachéney could hardly believe his senses, and at first imagined that some one had laying a belated April fool trick on Bue the disclgimers of all the family ie fact thet the owl was liberally covered with soot and that the bird had come es convinced him wn the chimney. AROUND THE COUNTRY Joseph Sierer, who is making a tour of the border line of the United States on a bicycle, arrived in the city Tuesday after- noon, and left yesterday for Baltimore. He started out on ‘his trip June 24 of 1897, from New York city, and, according to the present schedule, will complete the journey by June 11, after being out on the road for eleven months and eighteen days. In ac- complishing this he will break the record established by Tom Winder in 1895-'96, who cempleted the journey in eleven months and twenty days. The total distance is 43 miles, and up to the time this city was reached the rider had covered 16,068 miles, having something like fourteen days in which to ride the 375 miles between this city and New York, where the long journey will end. The trip could be completed in much less time, but the rider contemplates spending a day at Baitimore, and four or five days Philadelphia, where he will give exhibi- ticns. He started from New York last year without a cent in his pocket, an made the expenses of the ride by giving € hibitions on home trainers at the different towns through which he passed. Sierer started from New York city, and went Jos. Sierer. through the northwest country while win- vas raging. On the other hand r made his start from N: comparaiive good w who was in this city during the y continuous race as a trainer for ank Albert, is al member of the hn Cycle Ciub of New York city, the Newport Club, at Rochester, N. Green- cording to his plan when he left the city yesterday, he spends today at imore, and temorrow will_ride to Philadelphia, where he will remain for four o On the last day of his ride he century, covering 106 miles, city, ending his journey. five days. ummary of his experience is extreme- ly interesting. Out of 325°days on the road, up to eighty-five days were used in laying ever at different places, leaving 2 ig days. During the journey he rede through t eight rain storms, which soaked every stitch of clothing. He also went thri fifteen snow storms. Not counting the spent at hotels en y-eight nights in barns ht nights in tents and ber of nights in even nights were spent sleep- ing on the floor in section houscs, and seven more on the floor in telegraph siatior Four nights during the journey w forced to Three nights were spent in fair grounds aad stalls, and the same number in log cabins and timbers, and also three nigh outs on the prairies. Two nights were spent in a jail at Harrisburg, Ore., and one night at a lumber camp, and another night in a grain elevator. During the journey Sierer used six pairs of bicycle trousers, one leather and one n coat. He also used three pairs of and thirty-eight pairs of stockings. The only garment he now has on that he he eep on the ground in open air. wore when he started is the sweater, which, while badly faded from repexted washings, is quite serviceable. He r- ried with him a blanket, which was strap- ped to his w } a canteen and a pair of revolvers. The wheel and luggage never weighed less than and two pound often as high as eighty-five pounds. His riding is as follow: From June 2 three riding di age of fifty-six mile: July $ to Augus n riding 2 of sixty- twenty one riding da: ty-nine miles per October 23 to N riding days, 1,515 miles, a daily sixty mil November 23 to December ighteen riding days, 1,138 mil rage of tif- ty-three miles per day. December 23 to Januar six riding di seventy-cight m! , 1898, tw onty-three an average of six- 1,224 mile: per day. April 2% to May 23, twenty r! 1,360 miles, an average of si per day. During the eighty-five days in which the Sder stopped over at places he rode some- thing like 6,228 miles on home trainers in show windows, signing contracts to ride 100 miles in four hours or less, and always fulfilling the sam2. In riding the home trainer the cyclometer would be placed on the rear wheel so that the rogistering would be correct. Taking all of the above figures together, it is seen that in the 23% actual riding days the wheelman covered on an average of seventy-two miles a day; a fine showing. The four destination points and the time reached were as follows: Bangor, Me., northeast corner, July 1597; Seattle, Wash., northwest corner, No- vember 10, 1897; San Diego, Cal., southwest corner, January 6, 1898; Augustine, Fla., southeast corner, April 19, 1898. Dur- ing the journey the rider was three times laid up with sickness. At Milwaukee, Wis., he lost three days, through an attack of stomach trouble. At Tucson, Ariz., he was for thirteen days under the doctor's care, suffering fron: fever, caused by drinking too much water in crossing the des At Mo- bile, Ala., he lost five days more, through an attack of the chills and fever. During the ride Sierer gained and lost flesh. At New York city, on the start, bo weighed 144 pounds, but when Chicago was reached his weight was only 132 pounds. At Seat- tle, Wash., he increased to 148 pounds, end at San Francisco he tipped tha scales at 148 pounds. He was twice successfully held up by highwaymen. Once on the road near Cleve- land two men held him up and relieved him of $17.40. He was riding a stripp2d wheel and had no arms. At Kalamazoo, Mich., he was again held up and ropbed of $4.20. After he secured a pair of revolvers he teok no chances, and four times frustrated attempts of robbers. At Hope, Idaho, scme thieves stole one revolver anid two gold club pins, which were on his bicycle lug- gage. The other revolver he carried with him, and still has it in his possession. After leaving Seattle, Wash., November 13, for Takoma, he rode forty-eight miles through a drenching rain storm. For sev- enteen days following he rode almost con- tinuously in the rain, never having a dry stitch of clothing on nis body, covering during the time 541 miles. The biggest mileage of the trip was on the run from Weber, Minn., to Jamestown, N. D., a dis- tance of 181 miles, which he covered in fourteen hours. The day before he rode 108 miles, and the day following he made 125 miles. The roads were excellent. The first snow storm was struck at Sentinel Butte, N. D., October 10. At Custer station, Mont., he was unable to find any sleeping accomodations. Spy- ing a lone cowboy he was directed to a dug- out, the access to which was gained by lifting a heavy door lying flat on the ground. Storing the wheel inside, and opening his blanket, he shoved the door back in place, and spent a quiet night. In the morning, when the door was shoved from plece, after a good deal of exertion, a big pile of snow fell inside, the storm hav- ing come up during the hight. Having an average of nty-one ing: ty-tive n nothing to eat the rider killed two jack- rabbits and a prairie chicken which he cooked on a fire, after clearing the snow away. In the bad lands of North Dakota, ‘ consiable about riding on the north si point, and tried another. He kept riding until 10 o'clock at night, witheut being suc- cessful. Sleeping out in’the open air during the night, the next morning he continued his search. Later in the afternoon he dis- covered a small ranch, which was fully five miles distant, and it was 5 o'clock when he reached it and secured something to eat. He was out on the road for twenty-six hours, during which time he had nothing to eat or drink. New Year day he made a century run from King City to St. Louts Obispo, ford- ing the San Antone river three times, and crossing two ranges of mountains the last range being the St. Louis Obispo moun- tains, the latter part of the journey afford- ing fourteen miles of coasting. One pecu- liarity in California, Sicrer st was the lack of bridges, compelling parties to ford all streams encountered. At Tehama, Cal., he rode sixty-eight miles in vain, losing his way, and finally drifting back to the start- ing point. At Harrisburg, Ore., he was arrested for riding on the sidewalks, the roads being al- n.ost impassable. The mayor imposed a fine of $ and $% costs. The rider refused to pay it, being willing to spend his time in jail for five days, the penalty in default of the fine. The third day the mayor reieased him. At Eugene, Ore., he was notified by a Walk. The south and west sidewalks of the town, the constable said, could be ridden by bicyclists, but the rorth and east side: were reserved for pedestrians. The only place where he carried food and drink was in crossing the souther: desert in California, which is 2) mile: across, and which took days to make the passage. The desert contains nothing ut sage brush,cactus and mesquite bush: The temperature during the day runs up to 110 degrees, and at night drops to 40 de- grees. On the way over he flagged trains for water, the siate law compelling trains to stop to furnish travelers with water, and if aid is needed, to carry the people to the nearest place where water can ob- ined, free of any transportation charge. ierer flagged the et Limited” train, and out of five trains stepped during the journey, only one engineer, and he in charge of a freight train, made any objec- ticn. One night, in an effort to keep warm, ite Wheelman burned fifty-two railroad ies. The nearest he came to killing any one tong the railroad track between acksonville and Lake Charles, La, A ‘burly negro lay in wait for him with club. He pulled out his revolver and ord ed the negro away, and instead of obeying the darkey came threateningly toward him. He pressed the trigger, but the gun failed to go off. The sharp click frightened the ilant, who threw away his club and begged that his life be spared. The closest shave of his life on the journey was in ing a trestle over the Pedee river, near » N. C., a quarter of a mil2 long. half way over he sighted a train, nee was too great on either s to jump, he ran ahead, clearing from four to six ties at a jump. Just as he reach2d the end and jumped off the engine struck the rear wheei of his bieycle. A sin- gle misstep in crossing the tresue would have resulted in his death, as the engineer made no 2ffort to stop the train, _ LOCAL RACING MEN. A rider of local prominence, who bids fair to stand among the top-notch men in the teur ranks at the close of the racing son, if Lee Counseiman of the Century Cycle Club. His work on the track this ason has attracted widespread attention, and he has established several records, which are likely to stand for some time. Counselman is a young man, twenty years old, rather tall and of handsome physique. He is the champion long-distance rider of the Century Cycle Club, a member of the Columbia Athletic and the Altair Cycle Club ef Georgetown. June 29, Counselman won the road race to River View in forty-five minutes. ‘There were eleven starters, which was from the foot of the St. Elizabeth Asylum hill to River View. The start was made at 3:46, and forty-six minutes from that time Counselman spurte into River View, the winner by thirty seconds. This record still stands. Counselman bad thirty seconds handicap, while the limit men had 2% min- utes handicap. This was his first attempt ng in any form, and from that time on he has been in several road races. His next race was November 8, 1897, when he secured fourth place in the twenty-mile road race on the Conduit road. He secured second time prize, with A. C. Moran a close second. The race was started at 4:30 in a rain storm, and his time was 1. In the 100-mile match race between the Century Cycle Club and the Arlington Wheelmen on November 20, 1897, Counsel- man was the first t the tape. He s in the best of condition, far better than any of the riders. The roads at that time were in a rather bad condition, and has time bes of 7. 6 for the distance n_ lowered. of the Mount Ples ne of the most intere middle distance raccs ever held in this Lee Counselman. tion of the countr: The event was the first of its kind ever held in this city, and the distance was for twenty-five miles. The time was 52.31, which has been accepted, and now stands a wo record. It aver- ages 2.06 for each of the twenty-five miles. The twentieth mile was made in 41 minutes and a fraction, which makes the last five miles of the ride completed in about 11 minutes. Shortly after this event he went south to participate in the races at Yorkville, N. C., and Charlotte, N. C. On this occasion, at the former place, he won the two-mile handicap from yards in 4.84. In the amateur pursuit race the team representing Georgetown College, of which he was a member, succeeded in overtaking their op- ponents, and finished in the time of 7.21. At Charlotte on May 20 Counselman rode an exhibition mile, paced by a triplet, in 1.52%. It is his intention to continue at middle distance racing during the coming season. His wonderful ride last Saturday, covering ten miles in 20.21, will probably not be equaled this season in this city. —— ing go together. At a recent race meet the clerk of se course informed the “kid,” as Coggswell is more widely known, that Mr. Mott had prohibited him doing trick riding at all, while participating in race meets, under pain of being thrown into profession- al ranks. Coggswell was nonplussed for a moment, and then, looking up, said “Who in the mischief is Mott, anyway?” He wondered why his remark was greeted with a round of laughter. Butts of Charlotte, N to this city about the s an’s who came up ticipan Counselman. Both were | for two and a half 1 lead, setting the pace following. Half way und the last lap Pittman made a sprint and shot the southern with Haist ehind Pittman. ‘The two went by P k of lightning, and confused Butts, At the end of the race he remarked: “I ; & around the track at a pretty lively rate, and the first thing I knew the vent by me like a tr He thought bh would race almost within his grasp, pr ly never thinking that any one sprint ahend of him. STANDING OF RACERS The race meets of Saturday and Decora- tion day caused a change in the first bie published in The Star, May By winning two events, Wilson goes to the top, Schade taking second place. Moran moved up only one’ point, while Halstead, in winning an event, is even with him. Counsel: a Smith also come in the Schade v unable to table atten: this meet Saturday, on account of the fact that he was in New York city, at the race meet at Berkeley Oval, giving Wilson ap oppor- tunity to ride in one more meet than Up to the present time»Moran seems t be ting in poor form, but his friends expect a change In his riding abit bring him up in the front tabulated score is as follow as to The Rank. Name. Ist. 24. 1 E. L. Wilkon s = s 2 FA. L. Sehade.! s @ 3 Ray it. Coxgswell : * Grimith Halstead. ic > 2 8 A a eee ae ee oer ce ee Oe oe) fs GR tee eee 5 2 oS Lee Gounselman. 1° a? © = nemiller. ik 2 8 ae te ee 2 4. 8 2 ene 2 Se Ue Pittman. . & 2 Bt rge EF. Smith. > & 6 ® 6 Henry Smith.. oh Soe eee. | For the professionals the table is quit small, only four men getiing placed, as follows: Rank. Name. 24. 2d. Tls.! 1 W. F. Sims 1 0) 10 2 Bille Sims 2s 8 } 3 T. N. Mudd, jr... a ee 4 George S. Ball... 2. 0 1 a} In the amount of cash prizes Fred Sims also leads, with his b od seconds} The other purses , as will be seen: Rk. Name Total cash prizes.$180 The amateur riders are making a better showing, due to two things. Proportion- ately the prizes are higher valued and because more amateur than professional reces have been run off. The standing is as follows: * H 0. ne H. Farrington 20 4A. C) Moran : 45.8 W. A: Bolden 15 5 Ray R. Coggewell. 35, L. B. Dannemiller 15 Gritth Halstead. 25) Barry Z. Greer... 15 C. J, Mueller..... 23) ©. Gladman....:. 15 B. T. Wrenn W. W. Pittman. 16 George E. Smith. 15 For the four race meets this makes a tetal aggregate of $700 in prizes for am. teur events, whether open or match af- fairs. If to this be added the cash purse for the professional events, the total will be $880, or an average of $220 in prizes for each meet. ———— LEVANT CENTURY. The Levant Wheelmen are actively en- gaged in making arrangements for their mammoth century run, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow. The route will be ever the Washington-Frederick course and the time limit is fourten hours. The roads are in a good condition, The time schedule for the century is as follows: Start, Washington, 13th and K streets northwest, at 6 a.m. SOME CYCLE CHAT The condition of Fred. Sims this year seems to be better than ever, and his good riding is noticeable. On the sprint he appears to be particularly good and gen- erally manages to shake all but his brother on the home stretch. At all of the professional meets held so far in this city the Sims boys have carried off the first and second honors. Saturday, May 21, they went up to Philadelphia, and man- aged to get a show in all of the races, coming off something like $140 ahead of the game. Not only is Fred. good in sin- gle riding, but on a tandem with his brother he is doing well, so well, in fact, that the veteran trainer, Tom Eck, who is managing the Woodside track at Phila- delphia, has made arrangements for a match taidem race of one mile between the Sims brothers and Boulay and Caval- ley, ths French team. The race comes off this afterncon, and the purse is $150. If the boys make a success of this race 3 is likely that they will ride tandem for longer distances. The name of the chairman of the racing board of the League of American Wheel- men is such a bugbear to all of the racing men who have been on the track for any length of time that it is refreshing now and then to come across some one to whom. the name of Albert Mott is unfamiliar. Such an instance happened in this city. he started gt 1 o'clock in the afternoon | Young Coggswell, who is riding in such from Brookfield for Madura, twenty-two | good form, is the one who created the miles di: it. At one int the trail |laugh. He is quite a trick rider, switched off In five different directions, and | performing a number of cult feats. after along one route for nearly | Somehow other, Chairman Mott does twenty és he returned to the starting | not like to have track riding and trick rid- Olney, 192 miles—Leave 8:15 a.m. Damascus, 14 miles—Leave 9:45 a.m. New Marke Stg miles—Leave 10:45 a.m. Frederick, miles—Arrive 11:45 a.m. Stop for dinner at Frederick from 11:43 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Frederick— New Marke Damascus— Oln Washington, 7:30 p.m. The checking stations at the start will be open from 6 to 8 a.m.; at Olney from 8 to iL .m.; at New Market, from 16 am. to m.; at Frederick from 1 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. At Frederick two rece tacles will be used for checking purposes, one on arriving and one on ieaving. The rider on leaving Frederick cannot deposit a check in the second receptacle until 1 p.m., when the pacemakers will start the return trip. No tag can be deposited at Frederick later than 3:30 p. At New Market the checking station will be open on return trip from > p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Olney, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., and at fin- ish, 13th and K streets northwest, from 7 to 8 p.m. p.m. h and K streets—Arrive 1 on aS Nomenclature of Gans. From the Pittsburg Press, To the average citizen there is some- thing very puzzling about the momen ture of the guns in use in the United States navy. This 1s very easily ex- plained. The 4-inch breech-loading rifles weigh 1.5 tons, are 18.7 feet long, use a powder charge of from 12 to 14 pounds and fire a projectile weighing 33 pgunds. A 5-inch rifle weighs 2.8 tons, is 13.5 f long, uses 26 to 29 pounds of powder, and its projectile welghs 60 pounds. A 5-inch rapid-fire rifle weighs 3.1 tons, 1s 17.4 feet long and uses 28 pounds of powder to fire a 50-pound shot. A_@-inch breech-loader weighs 4.8 tons, is 15 feet long and fires a 100-pound shot with 50 pounds of powder. An S-inch breech-loader is 21.5 feet long. weighs tons and fires a 250-pound shot with 150 pounds of powder. A 10-inch gun is 27.4 feet long, weighs 25.7 tons, its pow- der charge 1s 240 pounds and ‘fits shot weighs 500 pounds. A 12-inch rifle weigh- ing 45.2 tons, 36.8 feet long fires a S50- pound shot with 425 pounds of powder. ‘The largest guns in the navy are the 13- inch guns, which weigh 60.5 tons, are 40 feet long, and throw a shot weighing 1,100 pounds with 550 pounds of powder. Chemist (to battered female, who is cov- ered with scratches)—“The cat, I suppose?” Battered Female—“No. Another lydy!"~