Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 21, 1894, Page 6

’ Remarkable Incident Leading to a Lively Border Fair, CATTLE DYING IN COUNTLESS NUMBERS Free Carensses Produce I'r Grand Jamboree In with Ball Fights Lotteries perity and persed and follow %0 over- Southwestern Texas In the years ing the close of our eivil war wa run with cattle and their market ®o small that immense numbers were ginughtered annually for nothing but their hides and tallow h was the region that was suffering during the summer and fall months in the year 1872 from a long and value was | Mexica: protracted drouth, Crecks became vold of water, their bottoms belng converted into highways by liv stock. Prominent lakes and “water holes” became as dry as powder houscs, bleaching skeletons of cow or horse marking their former loc tlon. Great seams opened in the parched, black earth, and half-grown chickeny around the settlements in eager pursuit of gome cholee insect, would suddenly dlappear within their unexplored depths, to be scen nor heard no more. Al kind of live stock had to make long journeys from their feed- ing grounds to the principal water cours; to satisfy their thirst. Time wore on, the flerce rays from a tropical sun burnt to a crisp the grasses, the trampling feet of thousands of live stock ground it to powder, fall winds came and blew it into the Mexican gulf, leaving the prairies as barren of vege- tation as the desert It was in the beginning of the antumnal days of that year that vast hordes of half wild, half-starved cattle and horses, mules and burros, whose number might be estimated but not counted, driven by hunger from the open country, invaded the ‘brush’ unob- structed In their progress by wire or rail The tender twigs and leaves, vines and un- @erbrush vanished b that devouring army. WIild horses and cattle surprised in their secret haunts helped to swell the num- bers of that living, moving host of the brute creation. Early winter was her alded in by cold “northers,” but sprung from a tough, hearty stock the cattle hung onto life tenaciously; bravely they attacked the prickly pear, with its palmlike leaves, pro- tect by nature with thousands of tiny elastic needles, which pierced their mouths, lacerated thelr tongues and stuck by hun- dreds in their throats. Still with slobbering mouths, festering tongues and swollen throats they fought off the grim tyrant Death—they fought off starvation and thirst by continu- ing to eat the cactus. A GLITTERING LANDSCAPE. The appearance of the new year, 1873, only added to their distress. Terrific winds from the north swept down upon them, bearing in their wake rain, hail, sleet and fce. Ice covered the hills and valleys. The trees were incrusted with it, both trunk and limb, while silvery icicles sparkled pendant from the branches, Nature seemed 10 have been in a strange mood, for a warm, genfal, sunny land had been sud Zenly converted into a cold, bleak, inhospit- able region. It was at that time that great herds of miserable, famishing cattle came trooping Into the Lower Nuecess country from the north and east, seeking to es- cape the tortures of cold and hunge Thousands_exhausted and benumbed fell in their tracks, other thousands, with more vitality, sought sheltered spots behind bluffs or brush to rest or protect their emaciated Jimbs from the biting blasts, only to at Jast succumb to the storm. The maln army, Impelled by the fury of the blizzard, tottered onward until checked by the pre- cipitous banks of the Nueces river. There, blinded by the elements and the pressure of united numbers in their rear, thousands fell headlong into the stinking quagmire he- neath, with sad, appealing eyes, to meet a lingering death. The cattle owners, recog- nizing, In an area of country of so large an extent, and so sparingly scttled, their inability fo save the pelts, with a mag- nanimity worthy of praise, gave free to ali classes of the inhabitants whatever pelts they could save. When it will be remembered that, at that period, hides were worth from $3 to $6 each, according to welght and clagsage, that one vast bovine graveyard covered the land walting for the scalping knife, some idea may be gleaned of the golden opportunity to make money, which had so suddenly presented itself to the people, es- peclally the poorer class. They were not slow in realizing the good luck that had befallen them, and with vigor and energy eprung to the work. Camps were hastily established in favorite localities, far from habitation, near lake, river or woodland, where death had been busy. Some ‘‘peel ers” lounged at home at night, but searched the country on horse back by day. All classes engaged In the work. Horsemen searched high land and low land, hills and valley, prairie and brush in all directions. Thousands of hides were reclaimed, while hundreds perished through decomposition. There was much speculation In the purchase of hides. Some peelers made as much as $75 per day on favorite days, and there are men living today who laid the foundation to ample fortunes from that ghoulish work, In three weeks time the principal harvest had been gathered and housed. The terrible sacrifice of brute life to the elements and the financial wreckage of many cattle owners had been the peculiar means through which were distributed thousands of goiden dollars among the peo- ple. The country secmed to groan under the weight of gold and silver. The most humble huts, as well as the more pretentious buildings, were alike storehouses for from $200 to $2,000 in coin. TOO MUCH PROSPERITY. It was® at that favorable time that the American and Mexican gentlemen of the “green cloth” met upon a common level to devise means to flecce the people of their treasures. Out of their evil consultations enamated and was at the proper moment born into life a Mexican fair. The time was opportune, gold had made the people restless and they craved for xcitement, The nature of their lives upon an exposed frontier sparsely settled in protecting them- selves and property from marauding bands of outlaws or from the raids of both Mexi- can and Indian robbers made their ideas of pleasure and enjoyment both rude and uncouth, It made possible in what was called & law abiding community of immun- ity from arrest of desperate characters and the open and flagrant violation of both moral and civil law. It accounted in a great measure for the leniency with which the better part of the people viewed and patronized such festivitles, as 1 shall at- tempt to de:cribe, It was announced that held on the west side of the Nueces at a well known place called Rancho Grande, at a glven date, commencing with a buli fight. ~ This news, being circulated broad- cast over the land by wandering horsemen, was received with favor by the inhabitants. The writer, just reaching manhood, unso- phisticated In"the amusements of border life, with a well filled purse made from the pelt bus.ne's, curlously enough, was as impatient for the “circus” to commence as any free- booter abroad. I shall never forget the impressions made upon my mind when, after a hard day's ride through brush and “pear,” wmy companion, a native Texan, 4 year or two my senior, and myself in the middle of the afternoon of the second day, pulled up our game lit- tle mustangs at Rancho Grande and lifted from their sweat covered back» and panting sides our heavy saddles. With now twenty odd years of life passed upon the frontier 1 cannot recall of ever looking upon its like before or since. It was a strange, wild, wierd, but in some re- spects p'cturesque scene that unfolded it- selt before my vision. Mesquite, chapparel and pear partially obscured the view, but as far as the eye conld reach men and horses covered the ground. Swarthy skinned Mexicans and sunburnt Texans moved here and there by foot or horse: Half-breed and American, Castillan and negro, jostled against each other good naturedly In the moving crowd. The shrill nelgh of the mustang staked with larlat for his evening meal was answered back from the four polnts of the compass by hundreds of his kind, Shriveled and wrinkled old the fair would be Moxican women and men, decrepit with age. frequently assisted by half-grown, half-clad children, tood hehind tables Aishing out to the hungry at remunerative prices ¢ frigales, chila con carne, tomales and othier dishes, Peon and halry-coated ca- nines stood around alert to cateh the crumbs that fell from the tables or with watehful eye to steal from the vessels seattered around whenever the old hags' vigilance relaxed for a moment, Whisky dlers plied thelr vo ation and that miserable compound called mescale was hawked around to its numerous admirers ertheless the multitude was comparatively temperate. Death was lurk- ing too near in many hiding places for men to lose their heads over drinks A BORDER DANC The soft, sweet r;qu\ of a tz from an imported Mexican hand rose above the mofs of many tongues from a stage erected under the broad spreading branches of majestic water oaks Through the heavy verdant follage the blazi rays of an afternoon’s sun hardly penetrate Nut-brown daughters of our sister republie, With raven tresses laughing black eyes and coquettish smiles that disclosed ivory colored teeth, floated gracefully here and there, keeping time to the inspiring notes with small, well sh ped feet, their uppe Himbs indolently reclining in the strong arms of some gallant knight whether he be Mexican or American, greaser or negro. T discerning eye of the student of human natu could easily distinguish in that hef rogeneous gathering the frontier gambler, with silk sash around the walst (used inste of suspenders), jeweled and _ruff shirt front, his face expre s, his ey sinister; the Mexican ranchero on whose head rests the wide-brimmed sombrero, gorgeously trimmed with gold and silver o, around whose shoulders is wrapped a beautiful handwoven blanket of many tints, and under the lovely folds lurking one or possibly two long. bladed, murderous-looking Knives; the gray-haired Texan with com- pressed lips and eagle eye that time has not dimmed, in whose scarred and weather- beaten face and determined looks could be read past exploits and adventure where nerve and courage won; the big-hearted but wild and reckless cowboy, over whose lower limbs were worn leather leggings o protect them from thorn or rain, feet encased in hoots from those long and narrow heels hung hug gpurs, the chaing and bells clanking and rattling as he walked, around his neck loosely tied a gaudy silk handkerchief, upon his hands buckskin gauntlets reaching half-way to his elbows; the border desperado and man- Killer with his swaggering walk, bold, defant face, evil eve and restless spirit, armed with peari-handled pistols and ivory-handled howie knives; the outlaw with his bearded fa un- Kempt hair, hunted looks and bloodshot, un- casy eye; the murderer with his scowling, hang-dog, suspicious face, villalnous, lower ing eyes and hesitating step; the half-breed Mexican negro with straight, black hair, n hogany skin and pouting lips, and last, the rabble, unworthy of description here, as they were (here lacking in manhood and respect Each man wore a six-shooter, sometimes two, and howie knife handles were plainly visible from their resting places in bootlegs, belt or sash. Rifles hung from saddle horns in leather scabbards, rifles were stacked In convenient places in brush or house, rifles were ever present in hands accustomed to use them. The multitude swayed here and there in search of pleasure. Horse racing capti- vated many a fleet-footed Texan and wiry- limbed Mexican mustangs were matched against each other; betting ran high; sober judgment was lost sight of in the rivalry that existed, it being Mexican against Texan, and Texan agalnst Mexican, Cock fighting had its numerous votaries, game birds with blood red eyes, heeled with slashers, those cruel, double-edged knives, were tossed into Dits with challenges issuing from their throats, these gamely meeting death before defeat, Foot races were inaugurated between Mex- jcans and half-breeds, and many good dol- lars changed hands over the results, En- ticing and facinating games of cards were introduced and played upon spread blanket under inviting shade, Large sums of money were either won or lost with a coolness and abandon that was truly wonderful and sur- prising to the uninitiated beholders. — Card sharps or their emissaries could be seen everywhere, some easily detected through flimsy disguises. A GAMBLING CARNIVAL. At the end of a week the crowd with their appetites temporarily satiated for gambling, their systems worn out from continued ex- citement and various excesses, their brains sluggish for want of sleep and the majority With empty purses, were in the proper hu mor to take a much needed rest. So the festivities were wisely brought to a close by the managers. Strange, almost marvelous to relate, there had been no fighting, no Kkilling. A small black cloud showed its threatening head above the blue horizon once—only for an instant—then to disap- pear to return no more. Over the possession of the olive hand of a senorita in the dance a desperate smug gler from the Rio Grande and a devil-may- care cowboy came to angry words, to be quieted with great difficulty by the combined efforts of mutual friends ~ Hatred and jeal- ousy existed then as now hetween Texan and Mexican, The crowd seemed, about evenly divided as to nationality and & pistol shot, even a blow, would have precipitated one of those short, decisive, bloody border fights that has so often disgraced Texas history. All other amusements were tame compared to gambling. Fortune ruled supreme over those wild, reckless and restless spirits; she was their queen and they her loyal subjects; she was their goddess, whom all worshipped and the proudest bent'the knee. The ranch buildings had been confiscated for the use of “banking games"—faro and Mexican monte. Upon the tables where these games were dealt were stacked in rows ten and twenty dollar gold coins, representing thousands of dollars. Day and night the games went on, day and night the rooms were jammed wil players. Monte was by far the favorite. Crowds of men stood around the tables plac- ing their bets, the human mass swearing and pushig for standing room; feverish hands were thrust forth over men’s heads and shoulders with money to be staked on a card. Many who could not reach the tables handed in their bets to be placed upon their card by the dealer or some accommodating player. The Mexican dealer vied with his Ameri- can brother in the smoothness and deftness of manner in which they manipulated the cards; vied with him in suavity of politeness of manners in which they treated the ex- cfted but apparently calm players. In the opinions of the gentlemen of the “green cloth,” financlally the “affair” had been a_complete success from start to finish from the old tomale woman to the gentle- man with the diamond studs. “The sport- ing gentlemen,” as they were proud to desig nate themeselves, filled shotbags with coin preparatory to leaving and with many fond adelus at parting, but keeping close company with thelr money-bags, hied themselyes to new flelds of labor. The band, with most of the senorit quietly returned to Mexico. The cowboys rode back to the ranches with a vague feel- ing that they had made fools of themselves, but consoled for empty pocketbooks by the proud knowledge that they had had a rip- roaring good time. The Mexicans returned good naturedly to their “‘jackals” of thatched roofs and dirt floors, without a peso, there, revived on goat's milk and red pepper, to relate with many a gesticulation and evident relish to their wondering household the great things seen at the fair, There was a precipitous home seeking among all classes. The fair was now num- bered with the events of the pdst. It had been welcomed and heralded into existence by a happy people with fat purses, the just roward of faithful labor performed’ with ‘the skinning knife. It disappeared like a thief in the dark, leaving the country as depleted of money as it had been before the great cattle die up. LEE BETHUNE. Reason Enou, A woman told the following little incident the other day: I was at a woman suffrage parlor meeting,” she sald, “and I saw one of the most charming soclety women in town among the guests. She always seemed to me as If she ought to be kept in a glass case, she was 80 exquisite and refined. After the meeting was over I sald to h How do you happen to be bere? ‘Well' she sald, ‘I'll tell you. Last fall I talked with fifteen men of my acquaintance, urging them 1o stay In town to vote at the election. Not one of them did, and I came to the con- clusion that if the respectable men wouldn't vote the respectable women ought to,' —-— S‘Mk‘fl breath, sweet stomach, sweet tem: pert Then use DeWitt's Little Barly Risers THE ANNIHILATION OF DISTANCE The Principles of Sound Transmission Ap- plied to Vision, FACES REFLECTED AT LONG RANGE Methods of the Electric Tn- t Car Developments in trical Field. Multifarious cendinry 1 ropulsion the E pprovements in Stre to great dis- was such a shall we say iple to vision It communication by sound tances by electrical messages wonderful achievement, what to the application of this pri Many will say this is impossible, and there is in Pittsburg inventor who has not only conceived an instrument that will enable one to this manner, but, the Pittsburg Dispatch asserts, has so far per- fectad it that it may be said to have passed beyond the range of possibilities, and is among those things that are achieved. Mr. Leon La Pontols has been working on this invention for a number of years, but he has recently made great improve- ments in the apparatus. The object of the Invention is to do for the eye what the telephone does for the ear. That is, one can have this apparatus attached to his_telephone, by which he will be able to €ee the person speaking at the other end, or any object that may be presented before the transmitting apparatus. This invention is different from the Edi- son kinetograph, which is designed for the purpose of reproducing pictures of objects, representing them in movement. By this invention a succession of instantaneous pho- tographs Is taken, which, when placed - in the apparatus and rotated, produces an effect on the eye similar to the original movement, as, for instance, a horse in motio But entirely Ject or scene ting_apparatus, or Chicago and wire may be seen in Pittsburg. In fact, it is to do for the eye exactly what the telephone does for the ear, and the same wire may be used for both instru- ments, 5o that one can use a long distance telephone wire to talk with, and at the same time see a correspondent in a distant city. The telectroscope, as originally designed by Mr. Pontois, consisted of a transmitting apparatus which consisted of a dark box provided with lenses like a camera, At the focus where the sensitive plate is ordinarily exposed to the action of light is placed an open disc made of very thin and light material mounted on a shaft. Pin holes about 1-100 of an inch In diameter are perforated near the periphery on con- centric arcs of circles, the difference be- tween the radius of two successive ar being 1-100 of an inch, while the distance between two holes is equal to the width of the image painted by the rays of light on the superior part of the disc The number of the perforations is such that the total of their diameter is equal to the height of the image. The holes being thus dispersed on the surface of the disc, and the disc revolving, the perforations traverse the surface of the picture or object to be transmitted according to different concentric lines, and the rays of light pass successively through the disc when the per- forations are moving past them. From this it will be seen that the rays of light from all parts of the object pass through the perforations in the disc In one revolution on its axis. The object of this is that instead of all the rays falling upon the transmitter at once they can be divided up and transmitted successively. CONVERSION OF LIGHT RAYS. The conversion of the rays of light into electrical currents of proportional intensity is effected by a special sclenium cell of an extreme sensitiveness acting by the influenca of the heated light. The selenium has this remarkable property, that its resistance to currents of electricity is varied by light falling on it, especially heated light, so that the greater the difference between the tem- perature of the beam of light and the selenium itself the more sensitive will it be to the variotions of intensity in the light, and therefore the more will it vary the electrical current passing through ft. These currents act at the receiving ap- paratus upon a microphonic relay acting on the telephone receiver, modified by the ad- dition of a narrow chamber placed between the disc and a cover hermetically closing the telephone. One of the covers is full of oxygen, brought in by a pipe, and the other is full of hydrogen. On the top of the covers is tubing properly adjusted and provided with regulating valves. The two gases are brought under pressure near the surface of a cylinder of carbonate of calcium, The variations In the strength current of the microphonic relay cause pulsations of the diaphragms. But these pulsations, even if they are of a molecular nature, impart to the molecules of gas an excess of speed, causing proportional varia- ;‘lnns in the intensity of the oxyhydrogen ght. A lens and a reflector concentrate the light on a ground glass or screen after having previously passed through one of the perforations of a disc absolutély similar to the disc placed in the transmitting ap- paratus. Then, according to the position occupied by the perforation on the surface of the disc, the beam of light passing by this point makes a more or less luminous point on the screen, The two discs at each end of the line are revolved synchronously. At each end of the line, therefore, the dises rotate in absolute accord. When the light passes through a hole in one disc the light is transmitted through the corresponding one at the other end at the same instant. When the discs revolve at a high rate of speed the points of light pass with such rapid succession that on account of the per- sistence of vision the retina is not affected by the successive disappearance of the points, which, taken together, reproduce exactly the object placed before the trans- mitter. see in the telectroscope of Mr. Pontols Is different. By this a person, ob- placed” before the transmit- for instance, in New York attached to a telephone of the BELECTRIC INCENDIARY. Tho turning adrift of the electric current, after having served the purpose of the elec: tric railway car, has not only been found to play havoc with the water and gas pipes along its course, but, as H. C. Cushing, jr., now shows, is responsible for & more or fess large proportion of fires from ‘‘unknown’ causes. In the city of Baston there were during the year 1893 1,233 fires, with a loss of $5,024,765. Twenty per cent of these fires were from unknown causes. Mr. Cushing suggests that the loss of §1,004,955 ought to be effectual In spurring on property owners and {nsurance companies to make some sys tematio Investigations into the cause thereof, instead of resting content with blaming in- candescent or arc light wires or any other wires which enter a building, and proceeds to show from his own experience what in- structive facts such investigation would de- velop. Gas and water pipe were found to be completely eaten through by electrolytic action in three months after having been placed in the ground near street railway re- turns. 1In the cellars and basements of many houses there was a large difference of elec- trical pressure between two pipes entering within one foot of each other, and in one in- stance it was a very easy matter to take a plece of hoop _lron and draw an eley arc sufficient to ignite a plece of waste held near It, and by connect- ing these pipes together with a plece of cop- per wire the current passing made it so hot that the hand could not be borne upon it. In one case two pipes were 5o close together that the vibrations of an elevator engine caused them to knock together, and an arc was created every time a contact was made and broken. This had been going on so long that the gas pipe was almost eaten through. Had this not been discovered the pipe would have been ignited by the electric spark as soon as the first small hole appeared, and probably another firo—‘cause unknown''— would have followed. The power for good or evil which this electricity lying around loose possesses s further shown by the fact that one man ran small motors and incandescent lamps, as well as all the electric bells in his bullding, by simply twisting his wires around two different water plpes which entered the bullding. So well do people now recognize that this vagabond current from the railway clrouits la lurking around ready for astivity [ OMAHA DAILY BEE common in ordinary in any shape, that It is quite some cities to enygsly discard the electric befl batt and to connect the water pipes, whieh-furnish an inexhausti ble supply of electrlelty strong enough to run any number of bel gas lighting appara tus. These are o ions which must in evitably lead to s risk of fire. There is only one way minating this rapidly increasing danger, that Is to compel the electric street raifflvay companies to insulate from the ground fheir entire clectrical efr cuit. Mr. Cushing holds tiat the sooner a suit for damages | aght by the water and gas companies for W#tkms of pipes destroyed by electrolysis the-sooner will the rallway companies put the remedy, which they are already well cognizhntlof, into operation. A NEW STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM Street rallway companies are eagerly dis- cussing the newest sygtem of car propulsion on the market, and many are sanguine that the method of operating ety lines that they have been hoping and waiting for has at last arrived. Useful as the trolley has been as a temporary improvement on horse traction, it i open to many objections, and its radical defects have prevented its general acceptance as a permanent and desirable method of af fording rapid transit In city streets. The cable service is equally ont of court. Its un certainty of operation fs well known. If the least thing goes wrong at any point on the line, the whole servico is paralyzed, and the public has become accustomed to the sight of a runaway cable car spreading disaster along a crowded street, and absolutely beyond con- trol until the power house can be notified to shut down. In these days make shifts will not satisfy the public, who, during the last few years, have made great strides in the ap- preciation of the possibilities of safety, com- fort, and rapidity in traveling, and both the troliey and the cable have been barely tol- erated pending the advent of a still better system. ‘Such a system s apparently now presented to the public, after having been severely tested through the winter in New York. In devising this system, the inventors, Messrs, Johnson and Lundell, sought to em- body the following salient features: (1) To dispense with all the overhead wires, (2) To replace the trolley by a system of wiring which should essentially duplicate or imitate that of the former trolley lines, but should be out of the way and out of sight under the street paving. (3) To give the car all the ad- vantages of a_self-moving vehicle, in case current from the distant power house should be shut off temporarily from any cause, or located at any point. (4) To enable the car to be always urider the highest possible de- gree of control. These exacting conditions appear to have been met. In effect, the new system Is a very ingenious combination of the great advantages of both the closed and con- duit method and the storage battery car, and it abolisles at one stroke all the evils of the overhead wire. The current is taken from the conduit by a “pick-up rubbing brush,” which fulfills” the function of the trolley wheel. In fact, as a prominent electrical journal expressively puts it, “If a man were to stand on his head, and if paving stones were made of glass, he would see underneath a literal counterpart or reproduction of the trolley system, so far as the track itself goes.” There is one great point of differ- ence, however. Whereas the trolley system is alive throughout, the new system is not alive anywhere except at the point over which the car Is passing, hence there is no danger to horse or passer-by. But the car is not dependent merely upon the supply of live current. Under the seats are storage batteries, which, while practically requiring no attention, are ready at a moment’s notice to carry the car through any emergencies. They will, it necassary, keep it going for several miles, or even enable it to be workel on a line that fs without clectric current. The controlling devices.are the most eflicient that have yet appeared; there is none of the usual jerking or jolting, and the car is oper- ated with the utmost, precision and smooth- ness. TROLLEY LINE INFRINGEMENTS, JudgeWilliam Kz Townsend of the United States circuit court of ‘Connecticut rendered an important decision’ in the case of the Blectric Railway Company of the United States against the Jamalca and Brooklyn Railroad company. It'is in favor of the General Electric company. The decision s on a final rehearing on a bill in equity, al- leging infringement of letters patent granted to Stephen D. Field, July 16, 1889, for im- provements on electric railways and as signed to the complainant. The evidence of 4nfringement, as stated in the decision, applies to the combination of a stationary dynamo-electric generator driven by a suitable motor and circuit of motors, composed in part of an insulated or detached section of the line of ralls of the railway track and the electro-magnetic motor mounted on a wheeled vehicle and used for propelling the same, and included in a cir- cuit of conductors, also a current controlling device placed upon such vehicle. The de- fence was a denial of Infringement, antici- pation by prior patents, publication and prior inventions. Judge Townsend states that the complaint admits that every element in the invention existed in art before the combination was made, and he finds that there was-a ques- tion in the patent office in 1870 as to whether patents could be granted to Field because of a prior patent known as the Clark, which embodied the same principle. The suit is said to have been the most im- portant that has yet been tried in any court, as it involves the entire electric rail- road systems of the country, and the patent is on the first principle. The plaintifts, who represcnt the Field interests, have been nonsuited, and Judge Townsend has or- dered a decree dismissing the bill. While the defendants are nominally the Brooklyn company, the case was defended by the General Blectric company. Had the decision been in favor of the plaintiff they would have controlled the entire electric railroad interests of the United States. ELECTRICAL NOTES. The electrical extraction of iron from the ore by the De Laval process is being tried on a large rcale at Trollhattan, Sweden, and is even expected to revolutionize the Swedlsh iron industry. The well known attraction which light has for fish has induced ingenious fishermen to utilize the electric light as a bait and it is said that this never fails to bring together large shoals of fish, which swim round the illuminated globe and are easily caught, In France the De Meritens system of treating wines by passing currents of elec- tricity through them has been officially tested and reported on favorably. This treatment is found to mellow and preserve healthy wines, and to arrest deterioration in those beginning to glve way. An inventor has brought out a rocking chair actuated by electricily. The sitter can at the same time recelve gentle currents by grasping metal handles or by resting the bare feet on metal pedals. In Russia a lady was saved from pre- mature burial by means of a microphone placed over her heart, which enabled a medical man to detect a faint beat, which had escaped the ordinary tests, A New York lady has so contrived matters that she can, before getting out of bed, start a fire in the kitchen by turning on the current and when she comes down stairs finds the kettle boiling and) the place comfortably warmed. The electric light lends itself admirably to household decoration,, Among other curlous ways Is a table dacaration In which jelly is illuminated by a URNL shining through the mass from the cepfer, When the dish, at first hidden by a silver cover and a mass of flowers, Is suddenly, uncovered the effect is very striking. ery T SN P World's Columbian Exposition Wl be of value to the world by illustrating the improvements, if the mechanical arts and eminent physicians will tell you that the progress in medicinal agents has been of equal importance, and as a strengthen- ing laxative that Syrup of Figs is far In advance of all others. The tallest standing tree is in Tasmanla, 860 feet high, but the “Mammoth' of Cali- fornla, which has now fallen, was 100 fq taller. Though California grows the largest fruit and flowers, the most enormous flower is a native of Sumatra. It was discovered by the suite of Sir Stamford Rafes and named Rafflesia in his honor. When the bud, which Is lke a monstrous cabbage, unfolds it shows five petals, flesh colored and marked with yellowish-white protubers ances, surrounding & cup of an intense purplé that will hold a gallon and a half of liquid. The flower I8 nine feet in circum- ference and gives out a most repulsive odor like tainted meat, which is, however, at- tractive to insects. i DeWitt's Little Barly Risers, sate plils, best pllls, Small pills, MONDAY, wires to | MAY 21, | OMANA LIVE STOCK MARKETS 1891, Receipts for the Week Much Heavier Than One or Two Years Ago, LITTLE CHANGE IN THE CATTLE TRADE Sag of Thursday and Prices In Last Sat Hogs Coming in 1 ing Briskly at w Decline SATURDAY cattle and than last, but heavier than for the corresponding week one and two years ago. In hogs there has been a Big incroase, the supply nearly 16,000 May 19, this week somewhat Recelpts of have been lighter being aga and not far from during the cor The head heavier than a wee double the number re responding week in 1s follows 1893, Cattle Receipts this week. . 14,045 Recelpts last week.. ... 16,1 me week last year... 10,0: Same week 1802 2, There has been no radical change values all week. During Monday and Wednesday about the onl in the market from day to gradual firming up of values for the lighter grades and a weakening In prices paid for the heavier. On Thursday, In sympathy with bad reports from other markets, trad here was very dull and prices 10¢ to 15 lower all around. With comparatively lght supplies both Friday and today this decline was practically all regained, and the close of the week finds most grades of beef cattle selling about In last Saturday notches. Hot weather and a bad market on the other side of the water have made this a dull week for heavy cat- tle and prices for the ordinary run of steers welghing from 1,200 lbs. up are about as low as they have been at any time for the past five years. There is not a very vigorous demand for a class of cattle, but the lighter grades are wanted the most and as most of the cattle coming now hay been on feed for some time buyers have some difficulty in filling their ord In general there has been no fmprovement in the situation either here or elsewhere. WEEK CLOSES DULL. Recelpts for the past three days have been comparatively light and even. Today's sup- ply fell nearly 1,200 short of last Saturday's run, but there were plenty of cattle here for ‘the demand. Trade was dull, and while the good light and medium weight steers sold the same as on Friday the heavier grades were slow and dull, with a rather lower tendency. Dressed beef men were tol- erably free buyers, but shippers and ex- porters were not at all anxious to trade un- less lower prices were held ont an in- ducement. The result was a rather drag- ging market, but as Saturday is a poor day to hold cattle nearly everything had left first hands by noon. The cow market was very poorly supplied and there was no noticeable change in price During the entire week there have not been fAfty loads on sale, and today there were not over three straight loads in the yards, although there were a few odds and ends and mixed lots. In fact, supplies of this class of stock have been so limited that prices have been firmly held all week, with scarcely any fiuctuation. There has been and continues to be a better demand for calves and at firmer figures. The market for bulls, oxen and stags has-been indiffer- ently supplied.” Fat stock has sold a shade stronger than last week, but the ordinary and inferior grades have not shown any improvement. In stockers and feeders there has been a fair amount of business transacted and prices have ruled strong most of the time. Country buyers have been more numerous and have taken hold more freely, the result being a cleaning up of speculators’ supplies and the close of the week finds very few stale cattle in the yards. Naturally prices have improved a trifle and all grades are selling at substantially better prices than prevailed the latter part of the week. Good to choice feeders are quoted at $3.20@3.75; fair to good, $3.00@3.15, and the commoner grades at from $3 down. HARD WEEK ON HOG RAISERS. This has been a bad week In the hog market. Recelpts have been unusually heavy, showing a marked increase over last week and one and two years ago. Prices have felt the increase in supplies, and the decline during the week amounts to all of 35c on all grades. There has been a fair shipping demand, but packers have been ex- tremely bearish on account of the neavy supplies. The quality continues good, and from this fact packers argue that supplies this summer will be ample, if not heavy. A buyer for a prominent packer says that unless he wanted welght he could go into the yards blindfolded and get as good a drove as he could with his eyes open, the logs run so even. The big decline this week brings hog prices more in line with provision prices than they have been at any time during the past six months, but any- thing like a steady market need not be ex- pected until packers can dispose of the pro- duct on the same basis that they buy the hogs. The week closes with the heaviest run in over a month, the supply being considerably heavier than at Kansas City, nd nearly as as at Chicago. In quality the offer- averaged up better than they have on any day of the week, although the propor- tion of heavy weights wa comparatively small. In opening the market was slow and rather uneven. There was not a very active shipping demand, and the amjple sup- plies made all the packers bearish. Bids and sales were at $4.65 to $4.70 for fair to good hogs of all welghts, or steady to a shade casier than Friday, Later good shipping orders infused new life and strength into the business, and late trading wa mostly at $4.70, or full Friday's figures The top was $4.75 for three choice loads and the extreme low mark $4 for a load of rough, skippy stuff. Everything changed hands in good season, the bulk going at $1.65 and $4.70, as against $4.70 Friday, and $5 to $5.05 on last Saturda SHEEP IN GOOD DEMAND. has been another week of supplies, and prices have developed some strength, The demand for muttons and lambs is greater than the supply, and any- thing at all useful finds a ready sale at strong prices. The offerings today were very common odds and ends. Fair to good natives are quotable at $3.50@4.35; fair to good westerns, $3.20@4.15; common and stock sheep, $2.50@3.26; good to choice 40 to 100-1b. lambs, $3.50@4.60. MARK 1esday difference day was & This light CHIC RA Features of tho Fluctuation and Closing Prices for Saturd; CHICAGO, May 19.—Wheat shot skyward today, advancing 1%¢ and closing 1c higher. Trading was heavy and excited, shorts rush- Ing frantically to cover, scared by frosts, higher cables and the bulge in outside mar- kets. Reallzing caused a reaction from the top figures, but the market closed firm Corn closed ¢ higher, July oats %c higher and provisions at a slight decline, The opening In wheat was excited, with the buying general and the selling led by Pardridge. The principal cause for the sud- den change in the course of the market was the weather, the surprising strength in cables and the bulge in the side markets. The strength In foreign markets was un- expected and was one of the main factors in creating the demand. After the rush up, there was a reaction caused by holders taking profits, Pardridge was reported as covering shorts and the market firmed up at the close. The opening trades were at S @1c advance, sold up %@1%e, worked back % @%e, changed some, rul steady and closed as stated Corn was active and stead covering a range of Y@dc. The strength came from the weather and shorts hastened to cover. Opening trades were %@ '%c ad- vance, sold up Y%@5%e, reacted %@%c on local realizing, ruled steady and closed bigher. Oats were active and stronger, for July and September, which @%c and closed steady Provisions opened quiet and slightly higher | on the strength in wheat. Later heaviness | wet in, values declining moderately for lack . fluctuations especlally advanced Your and her tin you save, Laundress’ Back, 1e, are not the only things that if she uses Pearline. You'll get your clothes washed without that ruin- ous rub, rub, rub quickly. ? . gain / ! i just )\ the mor But see for yourself that what that wears them out It's a gain for her and a for you, and the washed fely as they could be with l)('st ,‘-(IJIII - ()n‘y a gl at (l(‘:\l e easily. she uses is Pearline—the original washing-compound; the best; the one proved to be washing-powders that you're tations of Pearline. [ serfectly harmless. All these warned against are only imi- JAMES PYLE, New York 8 222222222992 2%2%%7 ALWAYS THE CHEAPEST Ingrain Carpets... Brussels Carpets. Mattings - Dinner Sets....... Toilet Sets........ Cook Stoves....... Wardrobes. .- .. Book Cases- Lounges. ... Rockers. ... Mattresses. Springs.. ... Ice Boxes. .- - Gasoline Stoves.. Baby Carriages. .. Chamber Suits-- - Folding Beds.---.. Extension Tables. Sideboards. - ... Parlor Suits Parlor Rockers. Center Tables. .- Bedsteads....--.. Lace Curtains... Terms Cash or ) Formerly Peaple's Mam z § é 5 § PRESENTS TO ALL PURCHASERS, Send 10¢ for postage on biy *94 catalogus. Close at 6:30 evenings, except Monday and Saturday. NOwW $ .28 .46 A1 7.34 1.62 520 5.83 6.15 4.40 1.14 1.87 90 8.48 2.48 4.68 12.65 7.68 4.45 13.50 28.95 2.67 1.40 1.49 97 WORT 1 40 1.00 .35 15.00 3.60 10.00 12.00 13.560 9.560 3.00 3.50 2.00 6.50 5.00 8.50 22.50 15.00 8.50 24.00 45.00 6.50 3.50 2.00 v $ Basy Payments. mo 3 L.KE A GOOD TEMPER SHEDS A . BRIGHTNESS of support. sion the During the balance of the ses- market was narrow, advancing slightly and closing steady for pork and ribs and firm for lard. "Compared with last night, July pork is 2l4e higher, July lard unchanged and July ribs 2%c low astimated receipts for Monday: Wheat, 130 cars; corn, 560 cars; oats, 250 cars; hogs, 25,000 head. The leading futures ranged as follows: “Articles, | Open. | Low. T High, | [ Close. T b o8 3@ | Bboen a1 iitia| Pork per bbl | July; Lard. 100 1hs’ M, . Jul short Ribs. Ma 4 Sent Cash_quotations were s FLOUR—Eausy; winter stralghts, 32456 winter patents, $2.80G3.00; spring straights, @200, WHIEAT-No. 2 spring, No. 8 spring, no v, 2" white, 360 nominal; No. 3, 52G86c; No. 4, 3 2 TIMOTHY 1,10 PROVISIC Mona pork, e 1855 Jard, per Tbs., $7.15G7.17% shdes ) $0.1705G7.20; dry salted $5,15006.00; short clear s 621407.121 WHISKY - Distillers’ finished goods, per gal., bbl., $11.820@ hort 1 hould 1,15, ‘e following Were the receipis ana snipments ——[CeceiHn [l 11000 ihi000 161.000 165000 10.000 10,000 102000 245,000 4,000 12.000] today the butter Oats, b Rye. bu Birley, b On the Produce exchang ket was quiet and unchan dairy. K@lde =~ Eggs, qulet sirictly fresh, 9k CHICAGO LIVE STOCK MARKET, With Ouly Eight ndred Cattle Offered here Was Little Activity, CHICAGO, May 19.-The cattle market fiem at Friduy's quotations. It was not active because of the fuct that only about 800 head were offerwd. They were all picked up in good is of from $1.00 to $8.90 for in cows and heifers from " o fancy steers. Re colpts were estimated at $00 head, making 59,065 head for the week, ngainst ) head last wee 44,301 head a e 2,002 In About 12,000 1 head for this w last. week, 41,0 week last’yeur The demand pald. There season on i b ferlor 840 to W extra and at ugo and 1392, w arrived today, muking 134,000 , ‘or 28,000 head more than for than for the sme W than in 159 yenterday's Ivance from EVERYWHERE. WM. LOUDON, Commission Merchant CRAIN AND PROVISIONS: Private wires to Chicago and New York. All 5 orders placed on Chicago Board of o solicited, ym 4, New York Life Dullling 1308, market Is still % lower than at the close of I week. s wero I W from $1.90 though o numl ted at $5.0 st one at § on’ sale, nearly the middle of head, i the forenocn sheep W King 5 For lust week 1 and for the correspon head. There was a0 ) to 350 o f i 10 $4.70 for ye at ring lambs, Citte, S0 head: calves, 2 ) head: Saecp, 1,60 head, Journal reports Weceipts, 1,000 head; shipments, 1,000 stendy; extrn native others, from # heiwd ; prime to m, §0.95604.16; head: shipments, 6,00 nd stronic; all sold; "rough 1 mixed, $4.70601.85; welghts, $LEMA45; market active $4.25004.50; packers i heavy and butcher rred light, $4.8004.90 TP AND LAMIS-Recelpts, 1,500 Neads ket unchanged ! quotations for " clipp e, #4250 4.50; top Tambs, $1.7660.00, Recolpts wnid Disposition of Stock Official racoipts aud diapo3ition Of 10344910 ¥ 1 byt ook of the Union Sk Yards conn iz £or the twenty-four hours endlng at 3 o'clock b.m', 19, 1504 ek TCATTLR. THOGH. Cars. Hewd | Cars | H 2i2 DISFOSITION T [OATTLE, | HOGR, |WILRKF. | Stock in Sight. Record of recelpts of live slock prineival yirds for Saturdny. My 14 Cattle, 2,140 b 1000 100 Cudaly Brow. Cloveland Shippers and feeders, Totals 2,108] at the four Houn, .0 2,000 0500 1100 South Omaha Chicago Kiunis Clty St Louls 1,600 200 Totuly RE (W Ol Markots. CITY, Pa, May 19.-Notional Transit Lo opened it Nivge; ighost, dave: lowest, atew. 1,000 bln.© whipments, 94,355 bbiN.} 0,170 hbx "G Pa Jnened nt S b e, - Little pills for great iie; 28,095 Transit May 19, Nation ighest, certifieates closed at B Bic; lowent, b DeWitt's Little prices of from & the Jowest piices the {o 100 abd uf Thursdey et | ey wisern, ! é S | $ s £ | e . :