Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 23, 1889, Page 12

SAVED FRO We Can't keep this Stock much longer for the people want and the people will get it. First Ol POLACK CLOTE POLACK CLOTHING COMPANY 1316 FARNAM STREET, OMAHA. We have thousands of nof damaghd suifs prices on them that sell them at sight. ST S A TR P CRRSTIE left from our immense Stock mr—' Men, Boys and Children, and we have put YOU NEVER SAW SUCH BARGAINS BEFORE THE FLAMES away in great loads every day, and if you want a good in the Least ass Suif You will never have a better chance to get it for almost nothing. and if you want it you must come early, or you wont get it. We quote no prices here. can do that when you come to the 1316 Farnam Street, Omaha. TRAGEDY OF THE NEMAHA, Terrible Fate of Two Nebraska Pioneer Femalos. FIEND!SH WORK OF REDSKINS Bummary Vengeance Meted Out to the Perpetrators—Perilous Jour- mey Across the Flood—Murder- ered Dby the Indians, An Early Tragedy. I11 cross the stream to yonder cubin though it costs my life.” The firmly compressed lips of the speaker indicated that he meant just what he said. Imagine for a moment a sheet of water covering a valley more than two miles in width, from two to thirty fect in depth, rushing, surging and roaring as thoughthe imps of hades were battling for their kingdom, the rain falling in torrents, and nothing at hand but a **dug out” skiff and an ordi- nary hand paddle to battle with the current that carried trees and logs and- debris on to the great gulf of the south, any of which would have borne a dozen men without sinking them out of sight, and one gathers the hazard attaching to the venture as well as the idea that a motive stronger than life impelled it. During the fall of 1862 a half dozen families sought homes in southern Otoe, In the country skirting the Little Nemaha river, a mile or so to the west of what is now the thriving little city of Talmage. Robert Gest, the head of one of the families, selected the sito for his home upon the river banks, in one of tho beautiful native groves for which the Newaha is famous. The knoll ugon which he built his house was above high water mark, Indeed, at the time my story opens the logs of the cabin were untouched by the tur- bulent waters, But they could not re- main 80 long and the river rising every moment. The situation was truly appalling, Something must be done or @ trust reposed would be betrayed. So reasoned Joo Downes as he and a brother of Robert Gest’s looked upon scene, and discerned the faintly eurling smoke msing from the chimney of the house,giving evidence that there were loved ones within, possibly fright- ened outof their wits by the terrible fate that scemed to be in store for them. By accident Joe and his comrade tum- ble upon the skiff referred 1o before, a mile or so down the river. It had evidently become loosened from its moorings from some point above and wushed ashore. As though prompted by intuition the, towed the burk along until they runchug & point opposite and the little cabin they s0 much desired to reach. Here they held a brief consultation, It was decided that Joo should male the ven- ture alone, and in the event of disaster, which meant certain death, the other would bo able to return to Brownville, from whence they came, and bear the #ad news to his brother and other friends. Now, with the obser- (ation that the cabin was ou the north ok of the river, and Dowuer and his comrade on the table-land skirting the valley to the south and west, a clear Eflumlou can be had of the peril in e undertaking the brave men con- templated, But a word in explanation of why ese meu were there under such dis- ug oircumstances, Like all early sottlers in Nobraska, thoy were poor. and occasionally fortune compelled them to seek tho river towns for work, that they might be able to provide bread and butter for themselves and families. Downer and Gest were insep- arable friends. A week or so prior to the breaking up of winter and the freshet that made the Nemaha a great lake of water, accompanied by a neigh- bor and a brother of the latter, they went _to Brownville to get out *‘cord woud” and work ina saw mill. The rain fall had been such as to alarm Gest, who had left his wife and daughter, a young girl approaching womanhood, to ook after the home property he had athered together. They were brave ittle souls, knew no fear and did the work left them todo faithfully and well. Owing to the location of his house, however, and the madly overflowing streams, he stated his fears and persuaded Downer and his brother to return home, knowing that they cared nothing for a walk of thirty miles across the prairie; so, just as the sun was disappearing behind the western hills, in the early spring time, they started on the homeward journey, ar- riving at the place described at an early hour the following morning. The scene was enough to strike terror to the hearts of the bravest. A sheet of water nearly or quite a mile in width, hissing and surging, separated him from his friend’s loved ones. He had given his word that he would care for them if he found them in need or danger, and the sequel will show that he kept it to the lotter Selzin% the paddle the skiff was pushed from the shore, and Downes commenced the most perilous venture of his life, It is uscless to attempt to describe his battle with the driving current and surging waves. At times it seemed that mortal could not control the frail bark, but for all that he did, and in due time landed at the door of the eabin. In Joe’s language, as he told the story in after years, he was more scared as he knocked at the door than when in the boat, battling with the terrible current, but on® reaching the cabin, “I felt,” he said, ‘‘as though I was to see somethin awful, It was a presentment, an it came upon me all at once. I called to ILizzie, Bob’s wife, but got no answer, and 1 didn’t wait longer on ceremoney. I surged on the door and it went in with a baug. Talk about horrors, boys, there lay Liz- z10 and Ruth in the middle of the floor, as cold as marble, and I thought 1'd faint. It was an awful sight. It didn’t take me long to see that they had been murdered by Indians. Yes, they had been sculped, and 1 swore to hunt their murderers down if ittook me a life time. Fortunately they had overlooked Bob's rifle, and I collected together what lit- tle ammunition I could find, fixed upa bite toeat and propared to return to where I had left Bob’s brother. There was an old-fashioned fire place in the nouse, and the “great log” still furnished a little fire. T knocked it to pieces and soon had a refreshing blaze, But I didn’t tarry long to enjoy its comforts. I was heart-sick and wanted to get away. I laid Lizzie's and Ruth’s bodies in a cor- ner of the room and covered them up us snugly as though I was putting children to bed. I think they must have been dead fully aday. 1 have wondered o thousand times since why the red devils did npot burn the ‘house. I had no trouble in reachin the shore on my return trip, for I slm{‘)ly helped the current after clear- ing the channel of the river, and landed nearly three miles below the house. Charley met me as 1 stepped upon the shore. He intuitively divined that somuthing was wrong, sud his face in death can never Le whiter than it was then. “For heaven's snke, Joe, what's the matter,” he exclaimed. “‘Matter enough,” I replied; ‘“‘Lizzie and Ruth are dead!” “Dead?” “Yes, dead! murdered! and by In- dians.” - “Good God, you can’t mean it.” “Too true, my boy, too true. Browaville and tell Bob as- quickly as youcan. I shall take the trail and never leave it until T have avenged their terrible death. I did not even particularize to Charlie, but took him hurridly by the hand, pressed ft good bye and bent my ‘steps toward the Big Blue to the south and west. By this iime the sun was high in the heavens. The rain had ceased to fall, and the chirping robin and sprouting grass would have lightened my heart under ordinary circumstanc: As it was, I was bitter and longed for re- venge. My time came much more quickly than I expected. I had walked rapidly, and as the sun was disappe: ing for the day, my eye caught unmis- takable evidences of a trail, and before darkness mantled the earth I spied a purty of five Indians in bivounc, on the Big Nemaha, not far from the present site of Tecumseh. I dropped to the ground undiscovered and laid there un- til long into the night, but I never lost sight of & movement. I was so sure that I had struck the right party that I did not consider uncertainty a ‘single moment. Well, I did the work, no matter how, and before the dawn of day I had scalped my first Indian, not only one, but five of them, and was ready to meet Bob at his desolute home. Nodoubt at all boys, but what I had struck the right party, and I tore their reeking scalps from their heads because Ifound Lizzie’s and Ruth’s, and 1 did not think of barbarism even once. Oh, well, if you must know, I did the work with my hunting knife, and did not have to call my trusty rifle iuto play. The *‘red devils” did not sleep very close together, and I found speedy ré- venge easy work. Long in the after- noou, the following day, I sighted Bob’s cabin, now known as the old Me- Cann place, but he was there before me. Our meeting was touchingly sad. The overflow of the river had greatly sub- sided,and the south bank of the river could be reached by wading here and there. Together we performed the last sad rites for the dead, but we separated within a month and I have never met him since.” This, ina word, is the story of the most memorable event of a remark- able man’s life, Soon after, Downes answered his country’s call, and enlisted in the First Nebraska for three years, or during the war. At the close of his service, distinguished for its valor, he returned to Nebraska City, and often made *‘the trip of the plains” as guide or scout for some freighters, His bouts with border ruffians and Indians, of whom he was an implacable enemy, would fill a volume as wierdly interest- ing us the life of Boone and Carson, He kuew no fear and considered no com- promise with what he believed to be wrong. In 78 or 74 he returned to friends who still live in the vicinity of Talmage, and continued with them until his death, which oc- ocurred about three months ago. He lived to be over sixty years of age. During the winter months he would trx:g) along the *‘Little Nemaha,” and would occasionally wake a trip into the mountains, where he would remain for several moaths at a time. He found a congenial spirit in Uucle Fred Deutsoh, who also died within the past year, and they often joined in hunting and trappiug expeditions. Uncle Go to Deutsch p: d away a few months be- fore Joe was called, and his friends ex- press the opinion that tho death of his comrade hastened his end. Be that as it muy, Joe Downer found watchiul friends in Lune Osborn and John Walleer, who never lost an opportunity to do him a kindness, and they saw that his remains were tenderly rest. S PEPPERMINT DROPS, A man ina peck of trouble 18 1n a measreu to be pitied. Well, I'm chairn:an, but where's the party? —[Cal Brice. Every man is sometimes a bait on some other man’s hook. The parcel clerk gives wrapped attention. The man who registers at a hotel at night can be said to be on the *‘retired list.” It is getting so now that a weather prophet. can’t even predict a storm of indignation. A spirit medium’s business is naturally dull in summer, there is o little demand for wraps, irit makes the man and want of it the chump; the men who win lay hold, hang on, and hump. Massachusetts comes nobly to the front with a law to dock every one who docks a horse’s tail. Now that a castor foil trust has been formed, the wheels of commerce can be said to be well greased. The oldest twins we know of are Wicked- ness and Want, and they will probably sur- vive till doomsday. The white horse is about the only thing connected with the Cronin business which displays equine-imity, The wife who can rotain a sure hold upon her husband’s heart will never have occasion 1o take a grip on his hair, There is one thing tnat’the invincible waestern cyclone has never succeeded in lift- ing, and that is a mortgage. It is easier for New York people to select the site for a monument than to secure a sight of 8 monument itself. Almost everybody will agree that the American flag is a daisy. If so, then we al- roady have a national flower. “How long do mosquitoes live'? asks a correspondent. 'That depends a good deal on the kind of a fellow they light on, ‘The ethics of forgery are hard to recon- cile. When a man forges a hand it is a crime, but when he forges ahead it is a credit, The inconsistency of our war department is seen in allowing a Colonel Walker to be in the cavalry and’ Captain Rider in the in- fantry, ‘The widow is 1¢ss selfish than the maiden, for while the lattcr is always looking out for En. ithe former is satistied in watchiong for By the way, Farepaugh, 1 wish you would take off my hands 8 fow of these invitations to make Fourth of July speeches this year.— Depew. William Doean Howells is writing some dia- lect in Harper's: Magazine. Itis a kind of succotash of Bostpnese patois and Louisana rice field lingo. ' Monopoly, having shied its castor oil trust into the ring, will now have to take & o few knock-downs from the infant indus- tries of this country. , They have an American elevator in the Eiffel Tower, butiit 18 not really American unless it is run by a swall boy whistles and swmokes cigarettes. Paradoxical as iv may scem a Kentucky man last Thursday died of water on the brain, We impiore Colonel Watterson to never let it occur again, ‘“Wives should never conceal anything from their husbauds,’ says & writer, this advice was carried out it would create & revolution in feminine pockets. Sitting Bull, who has been seriously ill of meumonia, is reported “much improved.” e can now be regarded as a member of the Lmproved Order of Red Men—but at the samo time he is not. the business but & woman " 8 flenjmln Frank- erstand how Benjamin ned to get 8o deeply interested in the ical phenomena. It is being Garried We are selling this clothing You G COMPANY | THE CASTLE OF CHAPULTEPEC It Ouce More Becomes the White House of Mexico. A MAGNIFICENT MARBLE PILE The Wonderful Jjouble Staircase— Popocatapetl and lztaccihautl and the Curious Legend Con- nected With Them, Where Maximillian Lived. xico CITy, June 10.—[Special to 21, ]—President Diaz has moved ial residence out to the Castle of Chapultepee, which becomes once more—for the first time since the un- lucky Maximil and his charming wife lived there—the “‘white house” of Mexico. Chapultepec is one of the loveliest spots imaginable. It is unique in itself as well as in its name, which signifies “The Hill of the Grasshop- per!? Montezuma made his summer house here, and an underground passage, still in existence, was made by his direction, to a point in the valley below, so that the Aztec chieftain could go and come as he pleased. Under the old cypress trees in the park, the Conqueror Cortez vitched his tent, after the celebrated **Noche Triste,” or nightof sorrow, when the Aztecs fell upon the Span- iards and massacreed them. Here Max~ imillian and the unfortunate Carlotta made love as they promenaded THE MAGNIFIC MARBLE TERRACES which were built by order of the **Aus- trian Grand Duke.” Here the Ameri- can army fought a bloody but decisive battle—one which has made " the queer word Chapultepee familiar: to American ears. One might narrate numberless historical incidents con- nected with the spot, which abounds in memories, if space permitted, but the place itself demands some description. Imagine a park of 1,000 neres, covered with adense growth of cypress, many 6f the trees 500 or 600 years old. The grey Spanish moss festooned from limb to limb adds to the picturesqencss of the scene. In the center of this park— which is surrounded by massive walls on three sides, the old agueduct form- ing the barrier on the fourth,rises a pre- cipitous mound, if such a term will ex- press the idea, This mound is com- posed principally of rock and is prob- ably 200 feet in” height, There is but one road to the top, the summit being inaccessible except by this single route, Upon the very apex STANDS THE CASTLE, completely covering the space, so that no matter from which direction you look there is a sheer descent of nearly one hundred feet. The castle was built in sections and presents no singlar fea- ture of architecture except a peculiar double staircase that seems to have no supports. ‘When Maximillian first sew this stair- case he remarked to the architect that he would not trust his own weight upon it, whereupon the designer, with his majesty’s permission, brovght a regi- ment of soldiers gnd marched them up and down the stairway ten abreast, thus demonstrating its strength. This stair. case is the only one of its kind in exist- ence, and is built of white marble and brass. The terraces at Chapultepec are one of the sights of Mexico. floored with white with brass balustrades, aud lighted by clectricity The upper terrace extends the entire distance around the castle and is twenty-four feet broad. Lovely little flower gardens are located at frequent intervals and here are blooming geraniums, fuchias, helio- trope and mignonette, making the air rich with perfume and adding to the brightness and BEAUTY OF THE SCENE. The great observatory of the National Astronomical society, which rises from the center of the building, always casts upon some part of the terrace a grate- ful shade, while adjustible awnings can be brought into use when neces- sary. The view from Chapultepec! Who can describe it?Y What the Yosemite is to California; what Niagara is to New York; what the Yellowstone is to ‘Wyoming—this is what Chapultevec is to Mexico. To the extreme right,as we look down the Paso de la Reforma, rises Popocatapetl, grand beyond description, his snowy summit dotted with soft, white clouds, To the west of Popo- catapetl is Iztauccihuatl, called “La Mujer Blanca”—the white woman—by iho nati This peculiarly shaped mountain is really wonderfully suggest- ive, by ape, of a woman in a white shroud prepared for burial. The dead face, us seen from Chapultepec, is sim- ply perfect in outline, and her hair seems to stream in silvery locks from the marble-like forehead down over the bier. Of course there isa legend con- nected with the White Woman. Ac- cording to the Indians, the two vole: noes were once human beings, a giant and a giantess. One day they offended their Creator, who struck the giantess dead, turned them both into mountains and chained Popocatapetl, where he MUST GAZE PERPETULLY into the face of his dead wife. He occasionally expressed his grief by floods of fiery lava toars, and in nis agony would the very earth to tremble his weithings. So runs this y interesting tradition. Beyond Iztaccihuatl, extending as far as the eye can see, the beautiful val- ley, with Lake Texcocco—called Testi- co-co—nestling in its bosom hke a great silvery pearl imbedded in emerald set- ting. - Lake Chalco, a turquoise among the saphive hills, next comes into view, with along,long stretch of the love- liest meadow lying between. in which the cattle are very conmntedl{ brows- ing. Then comes the great city, with its cathedral spires, the dome of St. Brigita (Mexican for Bridget, and the “*swell” church of Mexico) and its hun- dreds of smaller towers shining clear against the blue sky, The great Span- ish bull ring is in the foreground; to one’s left the tree of Noche Triste, under which Cortez shed tears over the massacre of his soldiers. Beyond, the old Aztec causeway stretched away to Guadaloupe, the *‘holiest shrine in all Mex ”" The Paseo, or principal boulevard of the city, runs straight as an arrow from our very feet to the foot of the celebrated statue of Charles IV, THIE MOST COLOSSAL BRONZE in the world, Over all this lovely scene is the most perfect atmosphere in the world; clear as the air of Denver, but not 80 cold; balmy us the breezes of ‘r'homusville, but not so heavy in gual- ity; light and ozonic as the New Mex- ico plateaux, without their discomforts; o paradise of lowers and perfume and ozone and health-giving air--Chapul- tepee stands alone, unrivalled, »The furnishing of the castle for the raception of President Diaz hus been very elaborate, The private apart- ments are in the northwest wing; the They are marble, public rooms face the court yard, and the entire remainder of the building is filled with the soldiers and militar; cadets, among whom is general Diaz’s only son. The chapultepec cadets are HOWLING SWELLS, and of a Sunday on thePaseo they smite the heart of many a dark-eyed youn; senorita who, like her sex the worl over, will always take to brass buttons in preference to the civilian garb. Each room in the president’s private apartments is frescoed appropriately. The chess room has a chess board in the center of the ceiling, with the bish- ops, kings and quecns in a merry dance about it, the pawns furnish- ing appropriate music from the four corners of the room. The private re- ception parlor of the president’s wife is ‘‘done up” in pink eifk with plush and brocade hanging to match, Every wall in the entire suit of rooms is covered with silk brocade instead of paper. The bed room occupied by the president and his wife was decorated and furnished at an expense of $30,000. 'The dining room has a seating capacity that is lim= ited to thirty perso The magnificent solid silver that once belonged to the Emperor Maximillian is to be used, but the china and glassware are not in keep= ing with the royal magnificence of the silver; one of the soup tureens requires four men to carry it, when filled. President Diaz is greatly loved by his followers, and he will doubtless make the castle of Chapultepec quite as bril- liunt as it was in the days when the Austrian and Empress Carlotta drove their eight grey horsesand golden state chariot up the hill, and made the castle ring, from alcove and gallery, from gar- rison to the entrance grates, with gays« ety. Mme. Diaz is A MOST BRILLTANT WOMAN, and can entertain, royally, should she take the notion. All Mexico has its eyes upon her, and it remains with her to add immeasurably to the social gaie- ties of the capital, CuarLes H. WELLS, i e, A Seasonable Proposal. Auatine Anderson in Judge. She was enthusiastic about the National ame, Anuglgw put it mildly-—-was somewhat of the same, S0 08 o watched the home club, one sultry summer day, My love grow ever warmer till it had to “say its say.” But 'twixt my heart's two throbbings (fo her and for the game) My words got sort of twisted, though they were scarcoly tame, ‘Now, darling, 1f you'll listen"--You're = 3ky-soraper, Stove" — “21 telll you how I love you' ——*'That score 'd scarce believe.” ‘I've never loved anothor so woll 8s"—— “Rats! Struck out!” “Say yos, and I'm a8 happy 88 you are'.—— 13480 1'——a pout. ‘'l own I've made sowe errors,and pitched a little wild, But this same ball I'm playing—I love you.” Then she smiled, “You'll not be lefu on bases, your double plays count more, 1, umpire, call the game, dear, and we will— tio the score.” e — Died at Prayer. Mrs. Andrew Harty, wife of a well known citizen of St. Louis, died sud- denly the other night while kneeling at her bedside in prayer. She had been in perfect health and in good spirits half an hour before her death. The de- ceased was a devout Catholie, and one of her sons is Father Harty, rector of St. Leo's church, Heart disease is sup- posed to be the cause of her death,