THE TROLLEY RABBIT AN EPISODE : IN WOODS j ; AND WATER i | EXPLOITS : ► ______ < ► By < ; Eraest McGaffey J J Author of formj o_f J , Can and "Rod. Etc. < > < more than a dozen ways of shooting rabbits, but the boys gen erally wait until there's snow on the ground. Of course a man runs across rabbits when he's quail shooting, hunt ing for ruffed grouse and prairie chickens, but the real time to shoot them is along about from November until say the middle of December. Then they are foraging around among the corn shocks and fattening up on different stuff, and the fat just lays In wads all up and down their backs, and their kidneys are simply smoth erod In tallow. Fact! You tako a «orn-fed rabbit la the middle of No vember, and he's as fat as a seal, and tender as chicken. But that Isn't what I started to tell about The Nlmrod Gun and Rod club was composed of about as crafty a bunch of jokers as ever sat up nights trying to"put It over" some onsuspectlng devotee of the rod and gun. It was about an even bet that they would rather fool some fellow Into doing something ridiculous than to make the record "bag" for ducks along the lakes. "Big .lack'' Mullan pby was willing at any time to spend WHY DON'T YOU FIR* |SO for something that could take in a veteran "sport." And so this particular winter "Jack" had fixed up th© slickest, scheme you ever heard of. The club's headquar ters were at a farmhouse about a quarter of a mile from the lake, and we used togo out there as soon as there was a good snow on the ground and take some beagles along and shake the country up for rabbits. "Big Jack," who was a clever me chanic, and an electrician besides, went out. there and built a little trolley track in the orchard that ran up and down hill and around among the trees, and that worked as slick as one of these little tracks that they use to send cash back and forth on in the big stores. Well, sir, he next shot a rabbit and got it mounted all stretched out, and then he fixes the rabbit on the track and gets the wires and pul leys arranged so that he could keep the rabbit on a steady swing around this track, up and down, in and out, by sitting under the kitchen and work ing the dingus from down there. Well, say, now! Didn't that tame some of the real "wise" boys? I guess yes! Every Saturday night when we'd go out to the lake we'd take some hunter along, and after the boys would get to playing "cinch" in the sitting-room, some fellow would come In sort of excited and say: "Where's my gun?" and commence to fumble around the gun rack. The fellows who were in the deal would say: "What do you want with your gun?" Then the Nimrod would say: "There's a rabbit out in the orchard." By a little smooth work we could generally get the new arrival to dig out. into the night with the fell intent of destroying the rabbit; and if he was a real hunter, even he would usu ally take a couple of shots at the trolley rabbit before he would "catch on"to the Joke. But if he was a green hand he would stand there and bang away for a dozen shots. The boys always went along and fed shells to him and encouraged him to shoot, and after ho had finally "tumbled" to the hoax, it was worth a supper next week lu town. One time we got word from "Jack" that be had a fresh victim la tow who would be on band tSo next Sat urday night at the depot, and for as all to bo sure to come down and meet Wilbur. This Wilbur was simply sag ging In his side-pockets with money, and it was figured that he would do the handsome thing by the boys whea we gave him an interview with our rabbit All the way out we sat la the "smoker," and this Wilbur wcro about a dollar and 80 cents playing "cinch" with three of us. He was green enough hunting, hut he seemed to know how to play "cinch" all right. We talked a lot about the rabbit shoot ing around the lake, but we didn't tip off our game by any remarks about rabbits in the orchard. Then "Big Jack says: "We'll make up a purse of five dollars for the fellow that gets the first rabbit," and everyone agreed to it and chipped in 50 cents apiece. When we got to the station Old Man Carmody met us, and when we e*ked him about rabbits the old man says: "Slathers of 'em. I see 'em playin' 'round the yard on moonlight nights, and they're gnawln' at the old cab bages left in the garden an' chasin* each other in the orchard. You'll have fine sport to-morrow; thers hasn't been a gun fired at 'em yet" Well, of course this was a grand "steer" for Wilbur, and gave him an idea that there were rabbits by the million In the country, and he wanted io get hie gun out of the case and stick in a couple of shells in case we saw any rabbits on the way over. But Old Man Carmody put a stopper on that by declaring that the team wouldn't stand for shooting from the wagon, and so wo coaxed Wilbur to keep his artillery under cove* until later. We arrived at the house snd Wilbur was Introduced all around and we had an elegant supper waiting for us. We showed our prospective member the gun-racks, the mounted ducks, jackr snipe, woodcock, ruffed grouse, prairie chickens and other specimens In the front room, which was our "show room," and then we got together In the sitting-room for another session of "cinch." Well, sir, this here Wilbur was a lucky devil at "cinch." Seems as if he got the cards, and he knew how to play 'em. He kept winning steady, and by and by after he was about three dollar* ahead "Buck" Swearingen went out doors and after paddJipj? around in the light snow that lay on the ground, he comes in kind of sly and says: "Where'd I put my gun?" This Wilbur fellow he'd Just won a game, and "Big Jack" was shuffling the cards, and "Jack" Bpeaks up and says: "What's up; is that old owl out there, 'Buck?'" "No," says "Buck," "but I saw a rabbit running around In the orchard, and I thought I'd run in and nail him. I win the five If I get him, don't I?" "Oh, no!" says "Big Jack;" "that's for a fair start in the morning, every fellow in the timber and the dogs loose. Go ahead and get him, though. Hold on, though," says "Jack," as a thought seemed to strike him, "what's the matter with our new member tak ing first crack at him?" "All right," says "Buck," "we'll both go/' So "Buck" and this Wilbur boy they snakes their breech-loaders out of the cases and out they put for the rabbit. "Big Jack" ducks out of the side door and In under the kitchen and away goes the rabbit. "There he goes," whispers "Buck," as the rabbit sails away as sliok as a cash basket, and goes down the hill. "Give it to him, soak him." So this Wilbur fellow ups with his gun and aims for the rabbit, and then he drops his gun and takes a peek, and then he raises his gun, and still he don't shoot. "Shoot, shoot," says "Buck;" "he'll get clear away if you don't hurry. What ye waitin' for?" says "Buck." "I'm waitin' for some one to turn the power off," says this hero Wilbur fellow. "I ain't shootin' any mechan ical rabbits unless I get a crack at 'em eettin'." Big Jack" p tvj tbat suppojr. I CAMERON COUNTY RRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1008. LAKE ERIE TO PITTSBURG. Proposed Ship Canal Connecting the Two Points. Charters for the proposed ship canal from Lake Erie to Pittsburg have been received by the Lake Erie & Ohio Ship Canal Company from Ohio, Penn sylvania and the national government. The work of construction is expect ed to commence in the next year and it is estimated that the canal can be completed by 1913-14. The cost of construction is estimated at $53,000,- 000. According to the plans the Lake Erie terminus will be at the mouth of Indian Creek, just west of Ashta bula. The natural waterways along the route are to be utilized, the first division, a distance of 20 miles, being formed by the Beaver river. The Ma honing rover, for a length of 30 miles, will constitute the second division. The total rise for these divisions will be 177 feet, requiring 12 locks. The actual canal is to begin at Niles and pursue a route due north to Lake Erie. The approach along the Mos quito valley will require three locks. In the plans provision is made for the construction of a lake nine miles long •t the southern end of the summit. This lake will act as an auxiliary reservoir and provide excellent har bor. The summit is 31 miles long and terminates 13 miles south of Lake Erie. On this descent to the mouth of Indian Creek, Lake Erie, 18 locks must be constructed with a total drop of 327 feet. NEXT THING TO TURBINE. Direct-Coupled Rotary Steam Engine Which Does Good Work. This rotary steam engine, direct coupled to a 15 horsepower dynamo, is New Steam Rotary. the next thing to a turbine, with the added advantage that it is reversible and has not one piyice of back pres sure. The assembling of its parts is such that it has no dead center and will start at any point in either direc tion. It will operate with steam from one pound up to as high a pres sure as a modern boiler can stand. On vessels, says Popular Mechanics, it can be used for many purposes, such as operating steam steering gear, steam capstans, windlasses, hoisting machines, dynamos for electric light ing, ventilating fans, circulating pumps, bilge pumps, etc. HOME-MADE WASHING MACHINE. Made Out of a Water-Tight Cask and Two Rockers. Secure a good water-tight cask, thor oughly cleanse it and cut a hole for for a lid. The cask ■— should then be mounted on two good rockers gg. whose arc is fffH? small enough to give the machine 'fH ' flilL ft good tip down- SjSgjgPW ward, says the Pathfinder. A —— 1 handle is nailed to one rocker and the machine is ready. Put into the cask the warm washing solution and then follow with the laundry; clap the lid on tight, and begin to rock the machine. The cleansing is accom plished simply by the shock of the laundry and water against the ends of the cask as it tilts back and forth. Preserving the Buffalo. The New York Zoological park has presented to the national government a herd of 15 fine buffalo, which have been turned lOose on a range of 7,680 acres, prepared for them in the Wich ita Game Reserve in southwestern Ok lahoma. The director of the Zoolog ical park believes that the only way in which the buffalo call be preserved in full vigor for a couple of centuries to come Is by establishing herds, un der state or national ownership, on ranges so large that the animals will enjoy a wild, free life. When confined too long, even in so large a park as that of the New York Zoological so ciety, they suffer from the effects of inbreeding. The New Vesuvius. In consequence of the great changes In the shape or Vesuvius, caused by the eruption of 1906, the Italian Mill tary Geographical institute has made a new survey of the famous volcano. The extreme height of the mountain is now 1,223 meters, instead of 1,335 meters. The crater rim has become more irregular, with a diameter of 725 meters from north-northeast to south-southwest, and 645 meters from northwest to southeast. At lower levels ail the contours have been en larged, and the depression between the Atrio del Cavallo and the Valle dell' Inferno has been filled up to the extent of from 5 to 50 meters. TRANSPORTING GIANT PALM. Largest Growing Plant Ever Moved— It Weighed Forty Tone. At the cost of a small fortune a giant palm, 50 feet high when in the ground, 20 feet in circumference at the base, and weighing 40 tons in its case, has been moved from the W. J. Dingee estate at Redwood City, Cal., to Santa Cruz. The palm was first cut out of the earth without disturb ing the dirt around the roots more than absolutely necessary, as a large frame, or box, resembling the uncom pleted first story of a large from® house, was built around dirt, roots Crating the Big Palm. and trunk. The palm was slowly moved to the railroad tracks as a house is moved, on rollers, and lifted to the flat cars with powerful derricks. LOCK FOR THE WINDOW. A Sm*!l, Plain Hinge Is All That Is Needed. Secure a small plain hinge about 1% inches long and one inch wide when closed. - 111 SSI I*l l Place tho hinge ' l'illll'l U l on lhe lower 'i||ij;,y B right-hand corner H of the upper win (IBS H shown, and fasten Vil Ml'ilMI 4 jfj one side to the sash with screws. This will leave the other side of the hinge to turn. To lock the window, turn the free side of the hinge as far back as possible, which brings it oyer the lower sash. The hinge will not be noticed from tho outside, but will prevent the lower sash from being raised or the upper one lowered. When the hinge is closed it will not be in the way of raising the window. Electric Power in Chile. Many projects are now under way, or under consideration, for the utiliza tion of the numerous sources of elec tric power that are furnished by tho streams descending from the Andes in Chile. Everywhere in that coun try there is an abundance of water, sufficiently constant in volume, and presenting almost any desired amount of fall. The city of Santiago is de veloping a scheme for supplying 20,- 000 horsepower from a plant located between 16 and 17 miles from the town. Engineers have recently re ported in favor of the electrification, of the new railroad which the Chilean and Bolivian governments have under taken to construct between Arica and La Paz, and which passes through tha Andes. There is something stimulat ing to (he imagination in the thought of those mighty mountains lending a a hand to help man surmount their slopes. i Rusting of Iron. "It. is a general idea," says Mining Science (Denver), "that the rusting of iron is due to the action of moisture and other atmospheric agencies alone. These agencies do cause the iron to rust, but electrolysis, caused by con tact of substances electronegative to iron, great increases the rapidity o£ this action. Lead and copper have this action, and, inasmuch as these metals are frequently used together, more regard should be paid to the manner of using them. The use of red lead for protecting iron from rust is based on a wrong understanding of its action. Red lead is more electronega tive than either metallic lead or cop per, and iron in contact with it will rust more rapidly than when in con tact with lead or copper. Wonders with Radio-Telegraphy. The report comes from Paris of a device which will enable an operator in a distant station to control with radio-telegraphy the explosion of mines, firing of rockets, steering of torpedoes and other military opera tions. The principal feature of the reported contrivance is what is called an automatic telegraph. Over it comes a radio-telegram from the ob ject being operated upon, which noti fies the operator whether or not he ha? succeeded in setting the mechan ism running. The radio-telegram is received on a band of paper through a Morse receiver. How to Remove Old Putty. Remove the window sash and lay It flat on a table with the putty side up. Take a common spring-boftom oiler filled with gasoline and squirt a small quan/ity of gasoline on the putty all around the sash. Apply a match and the heat of the burning gasoline will soften the old hard putty so that it ran be removed with a putty knife without cutting or defacing the sash. If the putty is very hard a second application of the gasoline may be necessary. Paper Making in Japan. Paper making in Japan has been very active for the past year or so. New companies have been formed, and old ones enlarged. Most Japanese jnills use steam for motive power, and nearly all the machinery used is of American make. India Rubber from South America. It is estimated that South America furnishes about 63 per cent, of the world's supply of India rubber. JPORTSM Gossim Garry Herrmann has decided that every manager in the National league is trying to gold brick him. The Cin cinnati mogul has decided that he must look like a big rube to the other supposed wise guys of the older or ganization. Herrmann is still sore over the deal handed him by Barney Dreyfuss. "These tales about base ball magnates being willing to help strengthen the weaker teams are enough to make a horse laugh. After this, every time 1 hear one of my mag nate friends make an offer, I'm going to look around for the gold brick I ex pect him to toss at my head. Charley Murphy, in the role of a philanthro pist, said he was willing to help out the Reds- All he wanted was $5,000 besides Kane and Pearce for Howard and Zimmerman. Why, those two players put together are not worth $5,000 alone. And then there was Barney Dreyfuss. Barney feigned pity for my poor Reds. He could let me have Tommy if a deal satis factory to both teams could be ar ranged. I thought I saw a real chunlt of gold coming my way. Then Barney hit me on the head with a club, at least it felt that way, when he asked me for about $25,000 worth of good baseball material for the little fellow. Aye, that was a fine offer Barney made. I'll never get over his gen erosity." Unless Manager McGraw is mis taken in his estimate of a ball player the Giants will have a grand stort stop next season in Albert H. Brid well, who was one of the men procured in the big deal w'.th Boston. Bridwell always has been rated as a clever fielder, but fans belittled his abilities because he did not knock down fences when he swung at the ball. At that, Bridwell last year hit 11 points better than the man he succeeds—Dahlen— having a stick credit of .218. McGraw thinks Bridwell will be a .275 whaler with the Giants, and considers the for mer Bcstonian one of the most prom ising players in the business. Brid well is an Ohio boy, his home being in Portsmouth. He has been in the Na tional league three seasons. In Cin cinnati in 1905 he played all the in field positions and two outfield places for the Reds, making a splendid show ing. Hanlon wanted hitters and traded Bridwell to Boston for Jim Delalianty. In Boston, Bridwell was the team's regular shortstop and showed wonder ful form. He is a young player, hav ing been connected with baseball only since 1303. In that year he was with Atlanta of the Southern league, ad vancing the next season to the Co lumbus club of the American associa tion. He is an amateur boxer of note and is one of those keen-witted play ers who become popular with the fans. Pitchers say he is one of the hardest men in the league to pitch to, refusing to bite at bad balls and getting many passes in consequence. President Woodrow Wilson of Princeton advocates in the Yale News fewer intercollegiate contests and the limiting of college athletics to one or, at most, two branches of sport. He says:"ln regard to athletics, my view is there are far too many activities en gaged in by undergraduates. For merly there were two seasons of sport, fall and spring, but now when men take part in basket ball and hockey during the winter months there is practically no cessation of athletics for some men. A good plan would be to limit a man to participation in one or two branches of athletics. This is the general sentiment of the Prince ton faculty, but carrying out any such plan is the difficult part." At the request of Coach Angell of Wisconsin Coach Jamison of the Pur due university basket ball team has sent to the former the names of five men who he thinks should comprise the all western team of the present year. The men are: Lewis, Purdue, and Falls. Chicago, forwards; Schommer (captain), Chicago, center; Linder man, Wisconsin, and Cahaley, Min nesota, guards. Coach Jamison gives Page of Chicago credit for playing a star game, but did not select him owing to his tendency to rough play and his height. For utility man he chose Rogers and Deerlng. Jamison in his letter to Angell says with the seven men he lias selected he would not be afraid to play any team in America. CHANGE OF SCENE HELPS PLAYERS MEN WHO HAVE FAILED IN ONE: CITY HAVE OFTEN SHONE IN ANOTHER. I MORGAN'S CASE AN EXAMPLEI Unable to Win Games with St. Louis, the Pitcher Made Good with a Ven geance in Boston—Stone, One of the Best in American League, Turned Down by Jimmie Collins. A change of scenery often works wonders with a ball player's showing. Quite often a ball player appears as If be Is all in white playing for a certain team. The manager realizes that he is of little worth to him and hands him a transfer to some other burg and at once be looms up as a star. Often a player gets away with a bad start, makes a poor impression on the fans and incurs their knocks. The bleacherites get after him almost aB soon as he leaves the bench. The player loses heart, doesn't care what kind of ball he plays, and the man ager is forced to release or sell him. The same player will goto some other league, receivo the encouragement of the fans and make good. The best example of this kind in the American league is the cauo of Cy Morgan. While with St. Louis be was unable to prove a winner, al though he seemed to have everything. The fans didn't like him and just as soon as he would start for the pitch er's box the fans would yell for the hook, the derrick or any of the other twirlers. McAleer realized that he had a good man in Morgan and carried him for three years hoping that the Mound City fans would finally take a liking to him, but it was all in vain. Morgan began to hate the burg as much as it hated him, and he once asked Mc- Aleer to build a subway from the dressing room to the bench so (hat no one could see him make hfs appear ance. Morgan was sold to Boston and he made good with a vengeance. 1-ie was one of the best pitchers on the staff and Jim McGuire looks for him to prove a consistent winner. Morgan got sweet revenge on the St. Louis fans by shutting out the Browns and allowing only two hits in the firs!; game he worked there for Boston. Jack Beckley was unable to hit 200 with the St. Louis Cardinals last year and was sold to Kansas City. In 100 games in the fast American associa tion he batted over 300 ami led the league. Pitcher Overall was a dub at Cin cinnati, but the big show with Chi cago. Many critics rated him as the best pitcher in the National league last year, and his work certainly helped the Cubs to the honors they won. Jiggs Donahue was a shine as a catcher with the St. Louis Browns, but now is rated is one of the best first basemen in the American league. Jimmy Collins didn't think enough of George Stone to give him a chance In fast company, yet Stone is regarded as one of the most valuable men in the American league, and is a tower of strength to the Browns. Claude Rossman didn't set League park on fire in Cleveland and was sent, to Detroit, where his work helped the Tigers to win the American league pennant. Ed Seivers has been with many teams in the majors and minors, but his good work for Detroit last year helped along the cause of Jennings. Jim Delahanty didn't make much of a hit with the fans at St. Louis, but Joe Cantillon thinks mighty well of him, and his excellent work at the bat has made him solid with the fans. Clarke Griffith turned Pat Dougher ty and Eddie Halin loose in 1906, and Fielder Jones picked up both men. These two outfielders helped Chicago win the pennant and world series. These are a few of the many play ers who, after being practically count ed out, have made good in sensational style in other cities. MINOR LEAGUE NOTES Charley Irwin and not "Sandow" Mertes will manage Denver. Johnny Farrell, an ex-Cardinal, will manage the Altoona Tri-Staters. Old George Van Haltren remains in the game. The old boy is with the Oakland (Cal.) team. Howard Wakefield, the former Cleveland catcher, has at last signed his Toledo contract. Lew Wiltse, the pitcher recently reinstated by the national commission, has been signed by Manager Joe Dean for the Jersey City team. Billy Schwartz, the former Nap, will play first, for Akron again this season. Peoria dropped him, but Akron bought him back. Akron is rejoicing. Umpire "Two-Bits" Bierholter, who will perform in tlve American asso ciation this year, will officiate in all of the exhibition games to be played in Columbus this spring. Fred Odwell, secured from Cincin nati last season, has signed his con tract with the Columbus club. There was some slight difference in salary which caused him to hesitate for sev eral weeks. Pitcher Louis Manske, the Milwau kee boy, has signed his contract to twirl for the Brewers in 1908. Manske has previously signed a Minneapolis contract, but as he belonged to the Milwaukee magnate, Mike Cantillon gav« him uy. 13
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers