The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 15, 1895, Page 24

{ ] 3 . : THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1895. BERKELEY IN FEBRUARY. Season of frost and sunsbine, of chill | rains and budding trees, of California’s | mild winter, mingling with the tempered air of spring—fair season of change and prophecy, when the grass grows fresh upon the hillside and the birds are once more inspired to song—I salute thee with reverence and delight! 1n February the air is full of expectancy, and nature seems busy with mighty prep- arations for a new year of toil. The spiders come forth from their hiding places and run nimbly over the land. The field mice | and wood rats are at work in their run- ways amid the grassy hillsides or the | underbrush of the canyons. The ground squirrels emerge from their hollow re- treats to sport in the open fields. Earth | and air are pregnant with new life, soon to | American Pipit. be born in all the glory and splendor cf spring. It is at such times that we are most for- reminded of the unceasing cbange that is ever in progress in nature. Each day brings forth something new, year in and year out. At timesit is more or less rapid or conspicuous, but it never ceases. Like the waters of the ocean with their perpetual ebb and flow so all that lives has its periods of rise and fall, and February marks the incoming tide of life. In February the birds of winter are still with us—the robins, the golden-crowned sparrows, the Oregon juncoes, the kinglets and many others whose acquaintance we have still’ to make. So also are the resi- dent species which were so abundant in January—the California brown towhee (or bunting, as it is popularly called), the white-crowned sparrow, Apna’s hummer and the wrentit. In the meadows are large flocks of American pipits, the goldtinches throng the roadside, the California_jays are equawking in the underbrush, and the plain-crested titmouse makes merry in the live oaks. The pipit or titlark, as it is also called, is a wanderer from the far north--a plainly clad bird of the size of a sparrow, eccentric in its motions, with the body teetering back and forth every and now then as the bird runs about on the ground | in search of food. The plumage has every- where something of a streaked effect, this Green-Backed Goldfinch. being most marked on the under sides of the body. The back is a dull dark brown, and the breast nale buffy. Flocks of these birds may be seen in open meadows all winter long uttering their restless titter of 8 note as they run about on the ground. At the advent of si)riug they are off in search of fresh fields and pastures new, nesting in the high mountains and the far north. Among our reliable birds who never de- sert us the year around, the little green- back goldfinch has a tender place in memory. It isa sociable domestic body, frequenting the gardens and roadsides, now among the lofty tops of the eucalyp- tus trees, and again busily feeding amid the weeds or upon the ground. A member of the great sparrow family with the char- acteristic thickened beak of the group, it is nevertheiess quite unlike the birds wEich opularly go under the name of sparrows. fn the first place it is decidedly smaller than its more familiar relatives. More- pver, its plumage is of rather unusual toloration for this family, olive green on of the most abundant of Eastern birds I know it here only as an occasional visitor, especially in the winter months. It is somewhat larger than the green-backed goldfinch, always in flocks and habitually uttering its plaintive note, which has given it the Latin name Spinus tristis. In summer its plumage is all golden except the head, wings and tail, which are black, but at this season the colors are changed to brown upon the back and dull whitish on the breast. Especially interesting to me are the tlocks of pine finches which are now and then with us in the winter season. They are a northern bird, nesting in the mount- ains of the United States and in British Columbia, and their visits in this vicinity are very erratic. I have generally found them 1n the tops of the alder trees in tie canyons, chattering in a sprightly fashion, full’'of animation in their manners, and in general doing all in their power to atone for an exceptionally plain garb. Above | and below they are streaked with white and brownish, varied with a touch of pale yellow on the edge of the wings, and some- times a patch of the same on the upper tail coverts. There is a strange suggest- iveness of far-away regions in the manners of these wanderers from the north, and I never see them without thinking of some remote pine forest, perchance in Alaska, where they may have been cradled, al- most on the verge of the Arctic snow. Upon some mild day in February, when the willows are blossoming by the streams and the linnet has commenced his joyous song in anticipation of the lovemaking which the genial day sugseests, let us walk over the hills and see what life is abroad. The wild gooseberry has already hung its aromatic pink clusters of bloom where the spring breezes may sway them, and the rufous hummer, that tiny rover who left for the tropics in the antumn, has found them out. I hear his fine, high penetrat- ing insect-like buzz of a note, so different Pine Finch. from the familiar squeaking sound of Arna’s hummer, which has been with us all winter. Looking among the blos- soms I see this smallest of our birds busily at work, hovering over one blossom after another in its search for honey and insect life. It may be easily distinguished from its resident cousin by its smaller size and by the general rufous coloring, both on the back and the side of the breast. The male bird has a throat patch of cop- pery red, while the throat of Anna’s hum- mer is of an amethyst hue. As we pass the live oaks a party of Cali- fornia jays salute us with their merry squawking call, the biithesome Audubon’s warbler, ever in motion and ceaselessly uttering its short tsi% ip, flits from spray o spray, and the big red-winged flicker flies hastily away at our approach.. The shy, dwarf, hermit thrush, in its hues of brown, shrinks into the bushes with an occasional chuck, chuck, which gives no intimation of the glories of its summer song. CHARLES A. KEELER. McTIER WAS TRAPPED. Arrest of the Colored Vendor of Charms for Unlawfully Using the Mails, ‘“Professor” J. B. McTier, as he calls himself, a burley negro, who advertised as “The Colored Medicine Man,” 1 Eddy street, and who last October informed the world of his ability to supply wonderful “Japanese mind-reading stones,”’ was ar- rested yesterday by the postal authorities for sending improper matter through the mails. His offense is similar to that frequently committed by male and female quacks who pretend to be doctors. United States Com- missioner Heacock held him to answer un- der $2500 bail. 2 McTier keeps up his record as a vendor of articles of marvelous virtue. His Japanese mind-reading stone, accordin, to his claims, would do most anything. It would even get a man out of jail, or it would enabje one to win an’ythin_x from a jack-pot to another man’s wife. If a ‘woman paid $10 for one, she would at once secure a divorce. They were nothing but conical pieces of Chinese punk. Recently McTier has had circulars dis- tributed telling the public of some ‘love- beans” he had from South Africa. Here is & copy, unique as reading matter: Ihave some curious beans which I brought from Bouth Africa. Itissaid that these beans will eomgcl any one to love you. The one that & lady has to heve will swim when putin water. The one for a man will sink. Rub them in your hands, and if you can touch the hand of the one you want'to love you he or she will fall deadly in love with you. Itis said they will restore affection with married people where there is not happiness. It is also said if you let one stay in water three days and wash your face in'the water and be the first to meet any one wishing to employ Dwarf Hermit Thrush. the back and golden yellow upon the oreast, with a black cap to give it a more jaunty appearance. At this season it isnot_in full plumage, the coloration being considerably subdued, in the female especially, 1o an olive brown- ish, with but a suggestion of its gaudy summer attire. When in full plumage the wings and tail are black with conspicuous patches of white upon . them, but we shall meet this little fellow again in the sum- mer-time, when the air is mild and his throat is bubbling over with song. At present he is not Interested in love-mak- mgor anything else more romantic than getting a good living of dried seeds, and ais note is only s high, plaintive titter, if ibe paradox will be permitted. ile the green-backed $ldfinch is con- ined exclusively to the Western States, irom the Rocky Mountains to the coast, it 2as two near relatives also with us durin, ‘the winter-time which are of more uni- rersal distribution—the American gold- jnch and the pine finch. The former, as ts name implies, is found over the greater vart of North America, but while 1t is one some one they will surely give you the po- sition. The price he asked for them was 50 cents each at his office and $1 25 by mail. It was a much graver offense than the perpetration of this circular for which he was put behind the bars yesterday, how- ever. Inspector Irwin decoyed him with a letter purporting to be from a young woman interested in his medicine. He fell into the trap. —————— SUING FOR THE PROFITS, J. W. Farrington Wants a Share of the Potrero Compromise Funds. J. W. Farrington has begun suit against C. C. Tripp and A. E. Ball, his partners in the Pacific Land Association, for an ac- counting, and he claims that he has been defrauded out of $10,000. The association was formed several years ago and begun suit'to quiet title to a big tract of land in the Potrero. It was held that the plaintiff had no claim whatever to the property and that the suit was a gross outrage, but manyof the defendants compromised for small amounts rather than become mixed up in the litigation. Those who did defend themselves won their case without any dif- ficulty and the plaintiffs were criticized by Judge Hunt for bringing the suit. Farrington now alleges that $30,000 was received from the property-owners who compromised and he wants his share of the money. NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS. ONLY THE SMALLEST OF PROFIT. A Week with the New Fall Dress Goods. It’s masterful merchandising that brings you such values. FANCY MOHAIR SUITINGS, 37 inches wide, several lines mn retty patterns and colorings. $3s° See Show Window.... ..... Sult SILK AND WOOL STRIPE, 58 7525 inchies wide, new color effects. ¢PO— See Show Window 3 Sult TUFTED SCOTCH CHEVIOT, 38 inches wide, fancy mixtures for $6.30 stylish street wear. See Show S—!;?: ‘Window BOUCLE POPLIN, 44 inches wide, all wool, the latest color combin- @ 17.00 ations. tasty dress fabric. >e — Show Window e Suit $72° Suit STRIPE NIGGERHEAD,46inches wide, new effects in rouch suit- ing stripes of curly mobair on colored grounds. . ee Show Window.... SATIN FINISH COVERT, 43 inches wide, black stripe on colored _grounds, dainty silk $870 Sult dots scattered througa the pat- tern. BOUCLE WORSTEDS, 6 new and stylish color combinations, 46$10.50 See e see Show Window.. inches wide. Show ‘Window.. SILK MIXTURES, 38 inches wide, serpentine effects in gold silk on aifferent colored grounds, a new$ 10:5° lot just here. See Show — Window.. PEARL BOUCLE FRENCH SUIT- ING, high art novelty, color combinations include pearl, pink, green and black boucieu$10.50 on coored ground. See Show — ‘Window.... Sult Suit Sult HEAVY BOUCLE NOVELTY, 42 inches wide, the swellest fabric e of the nes seagon, elegan: color g soe 142 combinations. Show ‘Window.. . Sult You do yourself an injustice if you miss this Special Dress Goods sell- ing time. 937,939, 941 MARKET STREE?. San Francisco. Black_Silks. Extraordinary Special Induce- ments for Your Trade This Week. BLACK FIGURED TAFFETA SILK, 50 :'(yleu. all new patterns, wide. 21 in, We have never v. This 75° Yard BLACK ALLSILK GROS GRAIN, 20 in. wide, heavy, just right for skirts or lining, worth 90c, spe- [ s S ik BLACK FRENCH GROS GRAIN, all silk, 23 in. wide, an excellent 1k, worth $1 a yard, this 69° Yard 75° Yard BLACK GROS-GRAIN SILK, 23 in. Tide, extra heavy, anelegint tab @ 1:50 ric for a stylish and serviceabiedD L — dress, worth §2 yard, this week.. Yard BLACK FAILLE, 24 in, all ullk,$l.00 heavy quality. — Yard There’s a Pressure of Special Prices on the Black Silks THIS WEEK, BLACK SATIN BROCADES AND GROSGRAIN BROCADES, 23(].00 hew, staple and swell ) L/— ai BLACK ARMURE, 20 in. wide, all - (3()C silk, the finest of value. i Yard BLACK DUCHESS SATIN, 26 In., extra heavy. 1t we bad (0 buy it @ 0.00 now it would cost you nearlytD&— double this price. .. Yard BLACK DUCHESS SATIN, 27 in. wide, worth $2, ial pri sis BLACK LUXOR, 24 in. wide, exlrn$] 50 heavy and extra vaiue, it’s worth — $2, this week. . Yard BLACK LUXOR, 22 In. versible, the $1 75 q heavy re- «25 ality, mr”$11._r; BLACK LUXOR, 21 in. wide, nvsn-$ 1.00 ibl, b $1 25, 1 — Yard This Week We Have More of Silk Interest Than You’'ll Have Time to Enjoy. —— ; SEE SHOW=-WINDOWS. [INCORPORATED] 987,939, 941 MARKET STREET, San Franecisco. Special Low Prices FROM WEAVER TO WEARER! Extraordinary Selling This Week of Dress Goods and Black Silk The Loom Wit of the World, Our Latest Choosings, All Into the Whirlpool of Go. Blafl(ets. A perfect stock 8 here for you. Only room for two hints. ' WHITE BLANKETS, 66x80 in., $4:50 heavy quality, 5 Ibs., full weight. DX — Pair WHITE BLANKETS, every thread (2 /7.00 pure wool, actual weight 7 ibs. Pair The largest, finest and lowest-priced stock of EIDER DOWN FLANNELS on the coast. See them. CREAM TABLE DAMASK, 84 in. 950 wide. ) . Yard TURKEY RED DAMASK, 56 in. OBC wide. 3 0 Yera 50° Each 75° Each ribbed, fancy fron ity, fleeced. ....... LADIES' WHITE WOOL MIXED VESTS, high neck, long sleeves, Jersey ribbed, fancy silk front... ress Trimmings. If you propose to be at the head of the procession or near it, it will be quite necessary for you to see our new lines. JET POINTS, the very newest of styl- 1 /.00 1k beimrnloas 1 1 0 30 1 i L O prices from $1 t Yard PEARL EDGING, a_handsome line’ 75° and correct to date, prices from 20c to.. Yard YOKES AND GARNITURE in T @g.50 styles, all new and lovely, pricesDO — range from $1 25 L Each SPANGLED AND BLACK NET, ] 5.00 also Jet, for yokes, 27 in. wide, LO'— prices from 83 to.. Yard Everything that fashion demands in trimmings is here and without ex- travagance. To Our Friends Abroad. Our new Catalogue is ready. Just a postal notice and it is yours. None distributed in the city. ~ - O% (INCORPORATED) 937, 939, 941 MARKET STREET, San Francisco. A Brilliant Batch of SPECIALS! To make business hum this week, be it wet or dry. NAVY-BLUE DUCK, in dots and stri] he regular 12 lity, (£ for. Yard CHECK GINGHAMS, staple as 410 sugar in a grocery-store.. S UNION HUCK TOWELS, size 19x 86 inches, good heavy quality. $12 Dozen HEMMED SHEETS, finished per- fectly, at about thie price of the raw muslin, size 72x%0 inch 50c: 81x90 'inches, boc: 90: 60° Each TURKISH TOWELS, a job lot, at 5c¢ prices to speedily close out. to 7 o Each BATH SHEETS, size 74x100 inches, 0.00 slightly damaged, worth $4 each, Q) &— special Each FANOY WRAPPER FLANNELS, 9010 27 inches wide, all wool, new de: &2 signs and colorings. . Yard CURTAIN SWISS, 86 inches wide, ] Q10 dots and stripes, special value.... &2 ECRU IRISH POINT CURTAINS, ing means bu; $25 Pair CHENILLE COVERS, 6-4 size, ar- %1.00 tistic patterns. ol — Each NOTTINGHAM LACE CURTAINS, $1.60 white and ecru, 3% yards by 50 — inches. Pair WHITE CROCHET BEDSPREADS, hemmed, a new idea, size 78x81 95° inches, equal to BEates’ $1 25 ¢ spread, price... oes Each #f(mcom’om'rsu). 937, 939, 941 NARKET STREET, SAN FRANCISCO. All Trade-=Teasers! Just see how they strike you. An- other surprise party for our patrons this week. . dark and light patterns, | 910 from 23%4c to 2 Yard WINDSOR TIES, all-silk polka-dot 10(.‘ Each GENTS’ TECK TI light colors, 50 fancy silk, slight! — GENTS' NATURAL GRAY AND WHITE ALL-WOOL DRAW- ERS, heavy quality Medlicott make, full "finished, odd sizes; 75° worth $5 pair, close’em out at.... Pair " GENTS NATURALGRAY WOOL- 50 MIXED SHIRTS AXD DRAW- EXS, all large sizes, to close at.. Each GENTS' WOOL UNDERWEAR, T5C natural, gray and camel’s hair, heavy quality, well finished...... Each KIRK'S SOAP, YALE BOUQUET, 10° N N w HARVARD BOUQUET, 8 cake$ in DOX; PiCe.....cvece. BOX ACME SHELF PAPER, 10 yards c in piece. b SATIN AND LINEN FINISHED 90 NOTE PAPER. 25 envelopes &nd 26 sheets paper in box........ Box HALE'S ALARM CLOCKS: they (PG are good timekeepers, but not guaranteed. Each TORCHON LACE, 8 Inches wid 5O 3 Yard HANDKERCHIEFS, colored bor 35° der, hemstltched, narrow hem... KID GLOVES, Foster § hooks, tn 750 tans, browns and black; brand new'goods: value $1, price Palr EMBROIDERY, edgo colored and £O white, pretty line to clos % Yard Sl B [INCORPORATED] 987,939, 941 MARKET STREET, San Francisco. A BLOOMER SYMPOSIUM. Opinions of Dr. Mackenzie, Dr. W. D. Williams and Rev. E. J. Lion. MUST THE NEW GIRL GO? The Scriptures Forbld Men to Use Garments Half Cotton and Half Wool. Must the bloomer go? Various are the answers in tone and temper. There are occasional radical re- marks on both sides of the mooted ques- tion of the propriety of the divided gar- ments in their present conspicuousaess as the attire of women, young and old. The persons holding such views are “no com- promise” men and women and will proba- bly wage the war for or against the inven- tion of Amelia Bloomer during the re- mainder of their natural lives. But there is a large “ana growing” class of people who believe that any interference with the prevailing costume would be an infringe- ment of the rights of citizens. Such a one is Mrs. A. A. Sargent, presi- dent of the State Woman Suffrage Associ- ation. *It seems to me,” she said, “that the wearing of bloomers is a question that will adjust itself to the needs of advancing civilization. If it prove a useful garment it is likely to be generally adopted for all occasions where it would be safer or more convenient than a skirt.”” “I would certainly not pronounce them a ‘thing of beauty, norljof forever,’ ” said Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, well known through her identification with kindergarten,church and woman suffrage work. ‘A woman never looks her best in such a costume. Every one knows that the flowing dra- peries are the most graceful garments for women. There are times and places for the much-talked-of and sometimes re- viled garb. Its usefulness in mountain climbing and in strolling through the woods no one can question. When- ever it becomes necessary to wear it for utility in one’s work I think it should be done. No, I would not class bicycling as one of the necessities for the donning of bloomers. I have seen ladies in skirts and those wearing bloomers rid- ing side by side, and the skirts certainly had the advantage in grace. Bicycling i3 good exercise if not overdone, but I%elr the abuse of the exercise will lead toa generation of narrow-chested men and women.” 2 The special instructor in drawing in the public schools, Miss Kate Bell, said: “Ap- prove of bioomers? Of course I do. understand it is said that the Scriptures are construed to put them under a ban, but the same might be said of big sleeves, for I believe it is in Ezekiel we are told that girls should not wear pillows in their sleeves.” Dr. Robert Mackenzie of the First Pres- byterian Church said: “I read the state- ment of some fool preacher in town that the wearing of bloomers is con- trary to the riptures. He quoted the " so-called condemnatory puu:ge correctly, but neglected to state that in the same chapter and only removed from that passage a few verses is a prohibition of men wearing garments half of wool and half of cotton. Much that is in the Bible is symbolic, and should be so construed. If girls want to wear bloomers I have no objection. It is a question of convention- ality and convenience. Morality does not enter into it. The only immoral phasze of it is the fault-finding of masculine critics. A greater breadth of mental view would do away largely with such criticisms. This isbut a section of the world. The vast number of Turkish and Mohammedan women wear garments similar to_if not not quite the same as bloomers. Famili- arity with the garb of the women of other nations would do much to remove the prejudice against the bicycle costume.” Dr. W. D. Williams, pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church, said: “The spirit, if not the letter, of the Bible is opposed to women and men arraying themselves in similar attire. The Iowa brother was right in his quotation. I have no objection to bloomers with skirts, but I am op- posed to discarding the skirt. There i1s no reason why the skirt should not be shoriened ‘six inches. Such a length would be more hygienic than the present form. Caucasian ladies may leam some lessons in dressing from their Mon- golian sisters. There are specific reasons why the bloomer costume has the effect of | encouraging immorality.” Returning to the subject of scriptural injunctions, he said: ‘“‘The Bible is pre-eminently a re- fined book, and it militates for refinement of thought and manner and life. There- fore it teaches, even if indirectly, that men and women should wear distinctive gar- ments. Ihave neverstudied it with the end or criticizing bloomers in view. That seers to me like the labor of picking up pins. Still I neveranticipated that women would go to such lengths in thisfad. I believe in being liberal but not lax. would certainly not want my wife to wear bloomers.” 3 The pastor of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Rev. E.J. Lion, said laughingly that he did not care whether the *‘bloomer irl” went or stayed, and added that e had no particular interest in her. He said he did not consider the question of the style of raiment in vogue among bicyclists a serious one, but he spoke seriously of it before the close of the interview. “It is a subject I would not think of sufficient dignity to preach upon,” said he. “Ina general way it is true that 1do not care about it. Yet I would not be willing to see my little daughter so clad, and confess that it is a shock to my 1deas o:fifloo,t_i taste to see ladies dressed in such attire. ; 0TTO DUNKER'S LUCK. He Is Badly Shaken Up in » Runaway. How His Leg Came to Be Broken. Otto Dunker, brother of the Supervisor, narrowly escaped being killed a few days ago. He slipped on a piece of banana peel and fell, breaking his leg. A coupe was called and a start was made for his home at 2710 Bush street. When within half a dozen blocks of the house the horses ran away and before the driver could get them under control they crashed into a. telegraph pole and one of the animals was instanty killed. The force of the concussion broke its neck. Mr. Dunker was thrown from the seat and saffered terrible agony until a police- manand a couple of passers-by got him into a comfortable position again. The other horse was taken from the wrecked coupe and the men who gathered arcund the scene pulled and pushed the vehicle to Mr. Dunker's home a block away. The driver was thrown from his_seat, but escaped with a few bruises. He was the most surprised man in the world over the rumwz{, as he had long ago arrived at the conclusion that there was not a galiop left in his pair of nags. Otto is doing as well as can be expected in the circumstances, but it will be several weeks before he is able to be out and about again. —————— That M. In tion Order. Acting Collector of Customs Jerome received & telegram from the Secretary of Agriculture yesterday, modifying the order recently issued relative to export meats, 80 as to make it effect- ive on October 16 instead of September 16. The inference from this is that there has not yet been any inspector appointed for this dis- trict by the Agricultural partment tooorfl‘lfi to the meats, and a month’s more tfme Wi allow for such an appointment to be made. —————————— The Broad River in South Carolina was :'o ‘:néles by fina ;g;ue. ’l‘h% {n?‘ifi]\: nln‘ma as Eswan Hu ay, or “‘Divi ine River,” because it wes the boundx‘rv be- tween the Oherokees and the Catawbas. JURKSTS RIDE THE BIKE, Many Judges and Attorneys Are Experts on the Silent Steed. The Sport Is Also Growlng With Great Rapidity In the Police Department. The bicycle fever has at last reached the new City Hall and is quickly spreading therein. All the departments are suffer- ing from this most contagious of maladies, and sprained arms and bruised facesare s0 common as to be almost unnoticed. Courts are adjourned early, cases post- through the streets to adswntown cyclery. Scotty no longer believes in woman’s rights. THE WINCHESTER CASE. Some Doubt as to the Ability of the Government to Confiscate Her. Among the Federal officials thereissome doubt as to the probable success of the confiscation proceedings just begun by United States District Attorney Foote against the seaiing schooner Winchester. There is quite a difference between the case against her and that against the Sophie Sutherland. The latter was charged with sealing in prohibited waters during the close season. The Winchester, on the other hand, shows by her record that when she was catching seals in pro- hibited waters it was during January and THE PACE THAT KILLS. [Sketched by an amateur.] 1—-JUDGE CAMPBELL. 2—JUDGE MURPHY. 5—GARRET McENERNEY. 3—EX-JUDGE FERRAL. ,k—JUDGE BAHRS. 6—COLONEL KOWALSKY. poned and business arranged so as to per- mit Judges and lawyers to_take their afternoon spins-in the park. In fact;the sport has become so popular that there is a movement on foot to organize a cycling club from the ranks of the legal fraternity of the City. Among the Judges and lawyers who ride the “bike’’ the following names are men- tioned: Judges Bahrs, Murphy, Camp- bell, Troutt and Garoutte; Attorneys Robert Ferral, G. H. Knigh$, G. McEn- erney, H. Kowalsky, T. BB Graham, F. McGreggor, L. R. E A.P. Black. John A. Hosmer, Thomas F. Dunne, W. H. Murphy, William H. Barnes and Edgar Mizner. In the Police Department the new sport is rapidly gaining in favor. SergeantJohn Martin rides, as does also Sergeant Charles Reynolds. About fifty of the police force have become experts on the silent steed. “Scotty Campbell,” one of theis number, on arecent spin in the park came in col- lision with a stout lady on a wheel. The result was Scotty’s wheel was a wreck and he was obliged to carry it from the park s February, and that she was past the 180th meridian during May, June and July. Before passing the 180th meridian she took in 232 sealskins. Matters are also some- what complicated by her having trans- ferred 170 skins to the tug Hercules. At the Custom-house it was learned that before starting out last December Captain Frank Johnson asked for a special license, g:& was informed there was none to be Only two out of fifteen sealers took out the required licenses, viz., the Emma and Louisa and the Rattler. The thirteen which did not were the Winchester, Bow- head, Alton, J. Eppinger, George Peabody, Rose Sparks, Theresa, Jane Gray, Kate and Anna, Sophie Sutherland, Herman, Bonanza and the E. E. Webster. Marshal Baldwin took the Winchester into his care yesterd: 3 ————— The Wisconsin River was first called the Masconsin, “wild, rushing channel.” In the books of the early explorers the name appears as the Ouisconsin, Masconsan, e, Mesconsing and Missouissing. THE MINERS' CONVENTION Railroad Influence Sald to Be Actively at Work Among Delegates. Much Mineral Land to Be Acquired Under the Pretense of Agri- cultural Patents. “The coming convention of miners to meet in San Francisco is of greater import to the mining industry of California than any gathering ever held in the State,” said Thornton Wilcomb, the veteran miner of Nevada County, at the Lick House yester- day. ‘A question of great moment is to be settled—the question whether the South- ern Pacific Company, through Land Agent Mills and Lawyer Herrin, will be allowed to monopolize the mineral lands of the State, dealing the same out to individuals or companies at a price fixed by the cor- poration under a defective title. If these men carry out their threat to pack the convention and retain control of a vast area of land belonging to the Government then the rainers ought to be warned of the fact that not only are these lands acquired under false pretenses, but any title given by the company must be aefective and liable to invalidation by the Government. No company or individual has the right to acquire mineral claims under agricultural patents, and land so acquired and disposed of to a second party must go under a faulty title for six years, reverting in the end to the Government. . “Suppose, for instance, that the applica- tions for patents on something like 19,000,~ 000 acres by the Southern Pacific, s pending, is granted. Agricultural patents, mind you, though as a matter of fact over half of this is excellent mineral land. Sup- pose the patents are granted by the Gov- ernment. What will be the result? The land will be sold—cut up_into small hold- ings. The buyer will wait six years before he can get a perfect title from the Govern- ment. Now suppose again—and the sup- position is quite reasonable; yes, more, it 1s highly probable—that the Government in the meantime should order an investi- gation of the dealings of the Southern Pa- cific with its Land Office at Washington. There could be but one result. Every title granted by the railroad would be declared void. These are facts. Mr. Mills may preach through the columns of his Sacra- mento organ, and Mr. Herrin may utilize his political ward knowledge in g_nckm_z conventions, but the miners of California have been fooled too often by Mr. Hun- tington’s agents to put their fingers into the trap set for them. “Qf one thing Mr. Mills may be sure, he will not be able to handle ‘the Nevada County delegation to this convention. The railroad has a good; though not a very brilliant ~adberent 1in Assemblyman Thomas of Nevada City, whose claumsy at- tempt to serve the corporation at a meet- ing of the mineral lands committee in the Palace Hotel some weeks ago is well known. Mr. Thomas, however, will not play an important part in the coming con- vention. The miners of Nevada County have lost confidence in him. Should the Southern_Pacific succeed 1n getting con- trol of this convention, as openly thre: ened by its agents, it would be a serious blow to the mmxnfi industry, which within the past few months has experienced a re- vival al! over the State. The various dele- gations are now being made up, and emis- saries of the corporation are active in an attempt to secure control. There is no secrecy about 1t, and they are openly boasting in some of the northern counties of having the thing already fixed.” During the middle ages reprisals were common. The vengeance taken for a brave defense of a town or castle was gen- erally the hanging of the most prominent officers and men among the defenders,