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THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, SATTJBDAY,
juiiTao;
,1889?
r
IRISHSUPERSTITMS.
Aland Whose Peasantry Have In
' nnmerable Signs and Portents.
EXCLUSIYENESS OF THE BANSHEE.
Long List of the Weirdest Kinds of Fancies
Concerning tbo Dead.
EVEN MORE BELATIKd TO BIRDS
ITROU OUS TBAVELINO COMMISSIONEB.1
Cashel, Ieeland, July 8. The super
stitions of the peasant folk of any country
are not only interesting with thought, feel;
in; and belief, hut through them much of
the inner history of a people can often be
traced. Ii eland is peculiarly rich in these
forgivable vagaries. A. profound book
might be written upon them. Such a book
would have much ethnological and socio
logical Talue. In a single article the
merest reference to the quaint things dis
coverable on this line of study among the
Irish people cau only be made.
The single superstition of which everyone
lias heard, and which is almost universal in
Ireland, is of the banshee. Bean-sidhe is
the Irish name for this wonderful creature,
aud it literally means "the woman of the
fairy mansions." Her office is to announce
a coming death. For several nights she ap
pears, sometimes as a radiant maiden, some
times a decrepit old woman with long flow
ing hair, and wails her plaintive lamenta
tions iorthe approacning acatn. it me ae-mis-
is to occur by natural ailment, the
"keening" of the banshee is simply meas
ured aud pathetic; but if accident and un
toward calamity are to be associated with it,
then her lamentations are loud and clamor
ous. But the is easily disturbed and vexed,
and if Inghtened away, will never return
during the same generation. This would be
a calamity; tor while the Irish banshee far
Tors no particular clas. caste or religion,
she only comes to families of long and re
spectable line. Many truly believe the
harshee to be the spirit ot some former mem
ber or the family. In Munster there is a
powerful queen of the banshee. Her name
is Cliodbna or Cleena, and her powerful
spells are well known to -the peasantry of
the South.
The coach-a-bower or "death coach"
seems to stand in something of the same rela
tion to the peasantry as the banshee This
is a black hearse with white plumes of hu
man hair, and it is always drawn by the
skeletons of departed friends. It passes the
houte oy nicht; in some instances thrice en
circles it; and the creaking of its wheels may
be plainly heard. This is a certain token
oi impending death.
SOME OF THE TVEIEDEST.
The weird superstitions concerning the
dead are very many. Every twelfth night
the dead walk. They sit, too, upon every
tile of the house waiting to be freed from
purjratory by prayer. The most potent
chaim known to those given over body and
soul to supersftition, is the hand of an un
baptized babe, taken from the grave in the
same of the evil one. The hand
of a murderer so taken is also
very powerlul. The magic or charm
of these arc in the uncanniest direc
tions. A lighted candle or "splinter" can
never be extinguished in such a hand; and
wherever it is placed at night, all near it
must sleep the sleep of the dead until it is
taken away. Garments and other articles
which have come in contact with the dead
are very efficacious in disease. Candle ends
used at wakes are highly prized for scalds
and burns. Over in Connemara to this day
a funeral procession on its way to church
will halt at some distance away and cast
together a huge pile of stones. This is a
trick on the evil one. The latter on his way
after the soul stops at the neap and rum
mages within it searching long and care
fully; and the-deceased has been in this way
given a little advantage in the race in the
territory of the "Bcyanf"," The last one
buried in a churchyard is believed to do all
manner of menial service for those having
been previously buried. This accounts for
the otherwise inexplicable bloody fights,
when two funerals happen to come in the
burial place at the same time. An amicable
adjustment of such a difficulty is to have
every spadeful of earth turned at the same
instant and the bodies simultaneously in
terred. The dead are believed to have the
bitterest experiences if buried at any dis
tance from their homes while living; and
this belief is so fixed that the keen anguish
of the aged in leaving their neighborhoods
is largely accounted for. "yien abroad at
night one never turns at the sound of foot
steps behind. For these are often those of
the dead hungering for human companion
ship, and their glance is fatal. 'When the
dead are sent back to the earth with mes
sages announcing other deaths, they are
themselves thus released from purgatory.
"When a corpse retains animal heat over
long, another member of the family is to
die within a year.
DEATH OMENS
of a minor character, such as the howlrng
of a dog with his head toward the house for
a near, and away from the house for a dis
tant, relative, the croaking of ravens, ring
ing in the ears, March roosters crowing be
fore midnight, flies alighting on a sick per-
son, butterflies flying about, and the like,
are countless.
Any three idle strokes of a stick in the
ashes, or of a spade or other farm tool in the
Roil, making a figure resembling a coffin, is
certain to portend death in one's family.
Any child born on Whitsunday, or the day
after, is doomed to an unnatural death, and
it is invariably named after some' particu
lar saint to ward off the curse. Every don
key in Ireland is supposed to fall on its
knees at midnight of Christmas eve, and
bray three times in honor of its ancient
noble use. If a hare be met on a Hay
morning the milk is likely to be charmed
from the cows. The tongue of one who has
licked a lizard ever after has the power to
extract the sting from scalds and burns. It
is verv unlucky to meet ia the early morn
ing a barking dog or a barefooted woman;
and a cat is never taken from
one house to another, when removing;
but the fishermen of the west coast
make good use of the cat. They secure
favoring winds by burying it in the sands of
1 the seashore, with its head opposite the de
sired direction. Persons who enter into a
compact with Satan can raise wind and
storms by calling him up, and these disturb
ances cannot be stilled save by the death of
a black rooster, a black dog, or an unchris
tened child. In some parts of the country
crickets are regarded as possessing vindic
tive powers, and all manner of devices are
resorted to for their conciliation. But one
of the oddest of all Irish superstitions is the
belief that if you chase and catch a butter
fly you imprison the wandering soul of your
grandmother!
' QUEEB OMENS OF BIKDS.
I have never seen printed any reference
to Irish superstitions, signs and portents re
garding bijds. Tbey-are innumerable. Here
are a lew out of several hnndred scattered
tbrouch my note books: If an osprey be
shot along any coast, all the herring and
mackerel will immediately disappear. If
the hen harrier, which only hnnts in the
same winged circles above "the fallows each
evening, is missed from its accustomed
raptorial haunt, some evil spirit is' said to
be hovering about the locality. "When
water ousels appear in the spring time in
nausual numbers in any unfrequented lo
cality! that is a sien of abundance of fresh
water fish, but also a token of the approach
of malignant disease. On the west coast in
early spring the poor fisherman watches
early and late for the gannst, the solan, or
swift-flying goose. If it does not come his
heart sinks, for there will be no luck .at fish
ing; but it great numbers wheel about the
headlands of the coast, plenty will smile in
his cabin-home that year. .Great num
bers of jays or missel-tbrusbes feed
ing upon the berries ' of the
hawthorn betoken the approach of a very
cold winter. The crane is believed by the
peasantry to have disappeared from Erin
during bloody Cromwell's career of rapine
.and pillage; It Is firmly believed that its
reappearance will harbinger the freedom of
Ireland; while "as I long for sight'of the
crane" becomes a tender and pathetic ex
pression! indicative of a universal heart
hunger iorliberty. If the stacks are not
circled each night by the noiseless barn
owl, a blight will fall upon next season's
crops; and if k the long-eared owl, resting
upon gate-post or thatch before gliding into
its feeding ground upon the meadows, utters
three prolonged hoots (popularly believed
to be a cry to the power of the trinity) a
death will soon occur in the family occupy
ing that holding; while if the snowy owl, a
weird and dashing fellow indeed, be allowed
to descend from his lookout and carry away
another bird winged by shot of sportsman's
gun, some great ill is certain to befall that
hunter.
TEOUBLE AMONG THE FAIRIES.
"When the nest of the thrush or mavis is
built unusually high in the thorn-bush, this
betokens a great calamity to a neighbor
hood, for some distressing dfsturbance is un
der way among the fairies, who in happy or
friendly mood always see to it that these
nests are built near their haunts in the
grasses, Ihat they may more readily enjoy
the'musicof the thrush's songs. The crops
of sw, eet singing blackbirds are supposed to
hold the souls of those in purgatory, espe
cially those exposed to petitionary fires
until the judgment day; and whenever the
blackbird's notes are particularly shrill,
these parched and burning souls are im
ploring for rain, which never fails of com
ing in response to the bird cries for
their relief. The Wicklow mount
ains are notably the haunts of the
ring ousel or mountain stare. "Whenever
after singing his -fine, deep song he hesi
tates for a time and then is heard to utter a
loud, shrill and prolonged whistle, that
night every human that has heard it will
remain behind barred doors; for that is a
true fairy call and the "wee folk of Wick
low" are sure to congregate in the moonlit
mountain hollows and "dance rings round
their swate selves" until dawn. Both the
robin and the wren compel a superstitious
reverence and love in the Irish peasant
heart, and there is not a soul in Ireland
when asked concerning the cause of it who
will not instantly quote the couplet,
"The robin and tbo wren
Are God's two holy men."
It is also a strange superstition in some
parts of Ireland that any old graveyard
where the robin is not found to sing its
requiem songs, indubitably possesses some
curse. The wheatear or stonechat, haunt
ing low and rocky reaches of seashore, is
called in Irish the "custeen fayclough," or
the "cunning old man under the tone."
His call of "lXleet! kleekl" resembles the
ringing striking together of small stones,
and when heard bv coastwise folk is re
garded with the utmost trepidation as calls
of the most portentous character to the
"Ould One" himself. The winchat, with
its hysteric flutterings and its cry ot
"TJ-teekl n-teekl" in its attempts to decoy
the intruder from the locality of its nest, fs
regarded with the same grewsome appre
hension. Nothing can prevent any Irish
lad when once tempted to disturb the nest
ot the golden wren from irrevocably be
coming a village shaughran or vagrant of
the worst description. The sedgewarbler,
known more popularly as the "Irish
nightingale," is the object of
A. MOST TENDEB SOTEESTITION.
"When it sings at night, and. particularly
at the exact hour of midnight, its plaintive
and tender notes are no less than the voices
of babes that thus return from the spirit land
to soothe their poor, heart-aching mothers
for the great loss of their darlings. The
hapless little hedge sparrow has great
trouble in raising any young at all, as its
beautiful bluish-green eggs when strung
above the hob, are in certain localities re
garded as potent charms against divers
witch spells, especially those which gain an
entrance to the cabin through the wide
chimney. On the contrary, the grayish
white and brown-mottled eggs of tne wag
tail are never molested, as the grotesque
motion of the tail of this tiny attendant of
the herds has gained for it the uncanny repu
tation and name of devil's bird.
When the starling does not follow the
grazing cattle some witch charm has been
put upon them- The magpie, as with the
ancient Greeks, is the repository of the soul
of an evil-minded and gossiping woman. A
round tower or castle ruin unfrequented by
jackdaws is certainly haunted. The "curse
of the crows" is quite as malevolent as the
'curse of Cromwell." When a "praheen
cark" or hen crow is found in the solitudes
ot mountain glens away from human habita
tions it assuredly possesses the wandering
soul of anjlmpenitent sinner. If a raven
hover neascl herd of cattle or sheep, a with
ering blight has already been set upon the
animals, hence the song of the bard Benean
regarding the rights-of the kings of Cashel
1,400 years ago that a certain tributary
province should present the King yearly "a
thousand goodly cows, not the cows of
ravens." The waxwing, whose breeding
haunts have never yet been discovered by
man, are the torches ot the bean-sidhe, or
banshees.
THE CUCKOO'S FIEST SONG.
When the cuckoo utters her first note in
the spring, if you chance to hear it, you will
find under your right fpot a white hair; and
if you keep this about your person the first
name you thereafter hear will be that of
your luture husband. Four other birds
provide extremely mournful and pathetic
superstitions. The linnet pours forth the
most melancholy song ot all Irish birds, and
I have seen honest hearted peasants affected
by it to tears. On inquiry I found the
secret cause to be the belief that its notes
voiced the plaints of some unhappy soul in
the spirit land. The changeless and inter
minable chaut of the yellow bunting is the
subject of a very singular superstition. Its
notes, begun each afternoon at the precise
hour ot 3, are regarded as summons to prayer
for souls not yet relieved from purgatorial
penance. A variety of finch has notes
which resemble what is called the "Bride
groom's Song" of unutterable dolor for a
lost bride-a legend ot superstition easily
traceable to the German Hartz mountain
peasantry; while in the solemn intensity of
the bittern's sad and plaintive boom, still a
universally received token ot spirit warning,
can be recognized the origin ot themournlul
cries of the wailing banshee.
EDGAB'Ii. Wakeman.
A Reservation Made Public Property.
Washington, July 19. Secretary
Proctor, having recommended that the
reservation of Ft. HcDermitt, Key., be re
stored to the pnblic domain, being no longer
required for military purposes, President
Harrison has issued a proclamation carry
ing into effect Secretary Proctor's recom
mendation. When distressed and out of sorts, with a
low vitality and moody spirits.a good tonic,
such as Dr. Jayne's Tonic Vermifuge, will
often set the system in order, and assist
nature in maintaining normal strength. It
is the best medicine in the world for curing
worms in children,. ridding their bodies of
pests which sap their constitutions, and
which, if unattended to, render their lives
miserable by their distressing symptoms.
When used as a tonic, the larger sized
bottles are cheapest.
California Wines.
Old Sherry, full quarts 50c
Extra Old Sherry, fulf quarts 75c
Old Port, full quart 60c
Extra Old Port, tui; quarts '. 75c
Biesling, full quarts 40c
Angelica, full quarts ,50c
Muscalel, full quarts. , ...50c
Tokay, full quarts 50c
For sale by G. W. Schmidt, "Nos. 95 and
97 Fifth ave.
In Arraaclna for Toar Picnic,
Don't forget to put in your lunch basket an
airtight family package of Marvin's superior
ginger .snaps. They are the most delightful
things imaginable. TTSSu
See our line of (summer nerKwear.
James H. Aiken & Co., 100 Fifth ave.
TUT 176 VPDWD tcrilcs for tomorrow'
iJUIjEuj I finiUb dispatch anAmertcan
novel, entitled "A Journey Off the Track."
ThU story it published complete, and l full of
life and interaU
AN ISSUE OF BONDS.
Money Will Now" Be Kaised to Com-!,
plete the New Exposition.
BUT SLIGHT OBJECTION OFFERED.
Hugh Bole Fears a .Railroad Hay. Gobble J
the Building.
WHI
THAT IS AN IMPOSSIBILITI.
There was a largely attended meeting of
the life managers of the Exposition Society
yesterday 4n the art room of the Hamilton
building for the purpose of consid
ering the question of issuing $200,000 In first
mortgage bonds to raise sufficient money to
complete the new Exposition buildings.
President 8. S. Marvin occupied the chair.
Mr. Bindley read the following resolu
tion, which had been adopted at the last
meeting of the Board of Managers, and
moved that the action be ratified:
Resolved, That bonds he issued of the dato
of October 1, 1889, to the amount of J200.000 In
denominations of J100, S500 and 11.000, bearing
interest at 0 per cent per annum, payable semi
annually. Resolved, That a mortgage be executed, to a
trusted to be selected by the board to secure
the payment of said bonds and coupons, said
mortgage to coverall land, real estate, build
ings, macWnery, and franchise of the associa
tion. " "
Resolved, That the proper officers be author
ized to take all steps necessary to make and
Issue said bonds and mortgages as required by
law.
' .Mr. Keating seconded Mr. Bindley's
motion. Mr. Bole wanted to know if the
ground on which the buildines stood was the
property of the society, and if so, was it
paid for and where did the money come
from.
WKT IT IS NECESSABY.
Mhr. Marvin replied that the propertywas
simply leased, and in mortgaging the prop
erty, the society simply mortgages the lease.
But to make the action legal it was thought
best to have the sanction of the life managers.
An effort had been made to raise all the
moni.y necessary without mortgaging the
property, but the Johnstown disaster, which
had not only been a drain on the charity of
Pittsburg, but of the entire world, had put
a damper on the subscriptions and made it
utterly impossible for the society to raise
the a mount necessary to enable them to
keep their word with the contractors and
the pnblic and have the Exposition open
this fall.
H. W. McKee raised the point that it
was unfair to those who had made'loans to
the society, to issue bonds. The bond
holders would have the first lien on the
property and those who had made the loans
would be shut out
Mr. Marvin replied that the society did
not anticipate that the buildings would ever
be isold from them. St Louis had made
5200,000 in five years, Pittsburg ought to
make that much in ten years.
Mr. Bindley said the proposition to issue
the bonds was a safeguard to those who had
loaned their money. Their investment
could not be made of value to them unless
the Exposition was a success; the Exposi
tion could not be made a success unless the
bonds -were issued.
A EAILEOAD SCARE.
Mr. McKee withdrew his objections to the
scheme Mr. Bole asked where the hand
some donations were that had been prpm
ised by the railroad companies. Mr. Mar
vin said he could not answer that, but
added that his experience with the railroads
had been that their promises never fall short
in the end.
Mr. .Bole said he had had a fear ail along
that trie Exposition would be gobbled up
by some railroad company, and now he was
sure that such would be its ultimate fate.
Mr. Marvin explained that unless (the Ex
position Society failed to comply with the
terms of the bond, no railroad company or
any other corporation could eet control of
the Exposition.
mi. ideating remarcea ne naa no tear ot
any vailroad in. the United States wanting
the buildings. But Mr. Bole still differed,
and said the best way to raise the money
would be for each member of the society who
had given any money to double his amount,
and all the money necessary would be
raised. It is anything but wisdom for the
society to mortgage its property, for it is
sure to go to some railroad company.
ITS PEEPETTAIi SAFETT.
Mr. Burchfisld said the act under which
the society obtained the property compels
them to use it for Exposition purposes. And
acco ruing to the arrangements made with
the city an Exposition must be held every
twoy(-ars. If a railroad company did get
control of the buildings they would be
compelled to hold the expositions just the
same. Mr. Keating, however, thought that
all tho bonds should be taken by members
of tho society and others who had given
money. If they would double their amounts
they lvould get a 3 per cent interest on their
entire investment.
The question on the motion was called
for. .President Marvin decided that the
vote should be taken bv ballot, and ap
pointed S. Hamilton, W. j. Gill and H. K.
Remington as judges. The vote wasaken,
and re suited in 341 for.and 3 against, issuing
the bo uds. Quite a number of the votes
were t ent in by proxy. Those who voted in
the n-egative were L. Bced, Hugh M. Bole
and II. Sutmyer. Arrangements will be
made at the next meeting of the managers
for iss uing the bonds.
LOCAL ITEMS, LIMITED.
Incident! of a Day In Two ClUee Condensed
for Ready Ucadins.
Dr. 32. A. Wood, of the Southside, is now
considered out of danger. His sickness Is the
result of a recent injury received in a runaway
accident.
A cum) was born In the Central police
station yesterday morning. Its mother was
Kate aiurphy, who was incarcerated thero as a
vagrant bhe says she belongs to Salem, O.
Two children named. McKee and Seymour
were bitten by a dog yesterday morning at the
cornex of Penn avenue and Twenty-second
street. Tho men of Engine Company No. 7
killed, the animal.
AiJj members of the Eighteenth Regiment
who djesire to join the command In camp will
be furnished transportation by reporting to
Major Wiley at the Union depot at 4 o'clock,
sharp this afternoon.
8. A. McCftfNa and William Scott, of this
city.are enjoying a horseback ride in the. North.
Thus far they have ridden from Pittsburg to
Cleveland, and are now on the road to Buffalo.
They win remain In the saddle a month.
An application was filed yesterday for a
charter for the Mt CarmeVCatholic Cemetery.
The trustees are RL Rev. Bishop Phelan, Rev.
Bernard Fink, Rev. Ferdinand Vander Staag,
Leonard Weaver and Bernard EichenUub.
Tnn Prohibition Convention is contemplating
holding Its State Convention in this city, and
the rumor.la emphasized by the tact that the
Baltimore and Ohio Company have offered
some substantial Inducements to the commit
tee which, it is thought, will be accepted.
AlVABRAXT has been issued by Alderman
Foley, of Woods' Run, for the arrest of E. V.
Berdell on a charge of aggravated assanlt and
battery. John veitz preferred the charge,
alleging that at a picnic, held July i, Berdell
struck him with a brick, inflicting a scalp
wound. The prosecutor gives a reason for the
attack by stating that the defendant became
angry because be vltaskod to pay the affiant
a little debt.
John A. Martiw yesterday entered suit
befork Alderman Mc Masters against a man
roamed E. A. Smith, charging hKn with false
pretenses. 'Mr. Martin allecres that the de
fendant secured goods from him amounting to
KE1 by representing that be had money in the
CItizens'.Natlonal Bank-, and that be gave him
a check, on tbat bank which proved to be
worthless, as there was no money on deposit
there. 8mlth was arrested and furnished bail
tor a hearing next Thursday.
For a disordered liver try Bcecham'g Tills.
PiAX3' BoapJJie purest and best ever made.
A GREAT QWit&8x?Ie5,
Off the Track," vrtll be publUhed compute in
tmorrov? Dispatch.
THE ADDITIONAL- EEL1EP.
BTore
DIoher Received for Johnstown
Finishing Dp the Business.
The fund for the relief of the Johnstown
sufferers amounts to $765,622 to date. The
sum of ?804 has been received since the last
report The following are the contributors:
Joslah Pore, West Newton, $5; citizens of
Wenoua, I1U 152 25: German Lutheran Church,
Allegheny, EM 75: Central Presbyterian Church,
Allegheny, (additional) $7 10; Lutheran Church,
Hornevilfe. O.. J8 25: Henry Wittmer. Horfce
vllle, OmCO; J.P.Heine. Horneville, O., 5;
Henry Donaldson, Horneville, U., flu; uumoer
land Presbyterian Church. Princeton, Ind.,
J16 80; citizens, Belpore, O, J30 85; citizens.
Cherry Grove, Pa., J15 25; citizens. Abilene,
Kan., f35S 82; citizen;, Grand Rapids. Mich..
$75; W. T. Cobcr, Gait. Ont.. S3; Methodlsf
Bnnday school, GueJph, On t, S7; churches of
Tilsonburg, Ont., $63 75; cash, Toronto, Ont, tL
The final report of the work done at
Johnstown by the Americus Republican
Club was received yesterday by the Chair
man of the Executive Committee, from Mr.
Alexander Wilson, who in connection with
a special committee from the club, has
been hard at work seeking those worthy of
help. The subscriptions to the relief fund
by the club was about $1,700, and of this
sum about one-half was spent for the neces
sarierof life on the day following the flood
and taken on the first relief train
tbat entered Johnstown, and dis
tributed by the club members.
There being a handsome balance, a special
meeting of the club was called, and it was
decided to send a special committee for the
purpose of finding those without homes and
securing them quarters, and getting neces
sary household goods. They secured the
aid of Mr. Alexander Wilson, a leading
citizen of Morrellville, and the report just
handed in is complete, showing that 57
families nave received household goods suf
ficient to give them a start.
The following letter from Mr.' Wilson ac
companies the final report, and should cer
tainly make the members of the clnb feel
that their generosity is fully appreciated:
Mobkzixviixz, Pa., Jnly lit, 1889.
To the Memoers of the Americas Eepnbllcau
Club, Flttaburt, Pa.:
Gentlemen The household goods sent by
you have been received and distributed to the
flood refugees at this place, as you will find In
detailed report herewith. The goods were re
ceived by the people with thankful hearts and
with such exoresslons as "God bless the Ameri
cus Club of Pittsburg," and some even wept
with joy when the goods were delivered at
their new homes.
I feel confident tbat these special gifts have
been distributed among the most destitute and
most deserving people who have suffered by
the flood, and I especially will ever remember
the kindness and the many noble acts of the
club toward the flood sufferers in this district.
Yours very respectfully,
ALXX WlLSOiT.
The Ladies' Eclief Committee yesterday
donated 1,035 pieces ol clothing to Johns
town refugees
NOT A PBAOTI0AL PLAN.
Prof. Tory's DlasnoiU of the Latest Air
Skip Scheme. '
Prof. Very, of Allegheny Observatory,
said yesterday that the air Bhip scheme
of Dr. A, DeBaussett, of Boston, was not
practical. The latter proposes to construct
an air ship of thin steel plates from the
Crescent Steel Works, of Pittsburg, thor
oughly braced inside by a new development
in mechanics to resist the stress of the
pressure of the atmosphere -when a partial
vacuum is obtained. It is expected to lift
200 passengers and 60 tons of mail or other
matter, and also to carry all the machinery
and apparatus, with electrical power suffi
cient to give a speed to the ship of at least
70 miles an hour. Br. DeBaussett has ap
plied for permission to build the ship at the
Charlestown Navy Yard. The cost is ex
pected to be $250,000.
Prof. Very says that this would require
very strong plates to withstand the pressure
of the atmosphere, and that making a vacu
um would not give the raising power and
would only make up for the displacement
of the vacuum space. He then went into
details, but would not allow the reporter to
take notes, as he said he did not want to
rush into print on the subject of air ships.
COMMANDEli WARNER'S CALL
Be Aka the G. A. B. to Send Big Delega
tion! to tbe Slllvrnnkee Meeting. ,
Kansas Cur, July 19. Major Warner,
Commander in Chief- of the G. A. E., yes
terday issued general order Ho. 10, in
which he urges all the O. A. E. posts of the
country to send as large delegations as
possible to the National Encampment at
Milwaukee. The tender of seryices by the
Missouri Department as escort for the Com
mander in Chief u accepted. The day for
the parade is set for August 27, and the an
nouncement is made that no one will be
allowed to participate except members of
the G. A. E. and Sons of Veterans. De-
Eartment Commanders are urged to inform
eadquarters of the number of men who
will attend from each department, so that
suitable provision may be made for all.
Appointments to the staff ot the Commander
in Chief are also announced. They include
veterans from the posts of California,
Colorado, Illinois; Kansas, Missouri. Hew
York, Ohio, Washington Territory and Wis
consin. PROTECTING NAVIGATION.
How
the Secretary of War Will Stop tho
Ulver ObstrnctlonUts.
James A. Henderson, of the Pittsburg
and Cincinnati packet line, who has been
in Washington in the interests of his com
pany, returned home yesterday. He had an
extended interview with the Secretary ot
War and General Casey, Chief of the
United States Engineer Corps, in regard to
the closing of the channel by the railroad
companies at the Stubenville and Phillips
bure bridges.
It had been proposed to drive a double
row of spiles across the channel at the for
mer structure, which would have com
pletely closed the river to travel, but tbe
Chiet Engineer assured Mr. Henderson that
navigation should not be obstructed, and
that the Government would locate an engi
neer at the works to protect the interests of
the river men. Mr. Henderson received a
dispatch from Engineer Tuttle at noon to
the effect that the channels would be
dredged inside spans.
SUNDAY'S PARADE.
Konte of the Catholic Societies
tbe Point.
The laying of the corner stone of the new
parochial school at the Point will be tfaa
aged next Sunday by Bishop Phelan, who
will be assisted by many Catholic ifergy
men. The address of the occasion trill be
delivered bvTiev. J. Bices Canev
Colonel George Kunkle, -who tcAs elected
Chief Marshal of the parade, ljas received
notification from over 100 sociees and or
ganizations that intend to take I part in the
celebration. Besides these there will be a
large turnout of Catholics whrdonot belong
to any organization. i
The route of the parade Aill be down
Filth avenue to Market jstreet, to Sixth
street, to Penn avenue, to '.vater street, to
Liberty street, to Third stret, to buildintr.
P. W. Joyce has been appointed Adjutant
General and Major Frank Klein Chief of
Staff.
California , Claret.
Coleman's EJag rrnd, G. W. S. Flag
Brand, ZLnfandel Claret, By lbs case or bottle.'
.G. W. Schmidt,
05 and fJJTifth avenue, city.
A Dollai for a Cent.
The greatest Ihiug out, Marvin's dollar
cakes, a cent each. ;' All grocers keep them,
and they are jujtfwliat the children have
been crying for all summer. Don't let the
little darlings suflter any longer. ttssu
PlrrUbnrir Beer.
In using this excellent brew of Erauen
heim & Vilsack bou will be encouraging a
home industry. Call for It ttssu
Silk dress shi.rts.
J Ames "H. Aiken & Co., 100 Filth are.
Otffi SODA .P0VEKTT,
A Pittsburg WorkinRmaii Tells Somo
Most Interesting. Facts.
A GREAT INDUSTRY IS POSSIBLE,
Especially as Yost Soda Deposits Are De
veloped in Wyoming.
SOAP AND GLASS WILL BE BENEFITED
Patiiek Kelly, of Fifty-fourth street, says
he knows of one koap factory in Pittsburg
which usee 4G.000 tons of caustic soda every
year. They buy every ounce of it in En
gland, sending nearly $3,000,000 over tbee
annually. ,
"There are over 15,000 soax factories in
the United States," says Mr. Kelly, "and
the entire tonnage of caustic soda consumed
by them has to be purchased in England.
These so3p factories are supported by
Americans alone, but the money they pay
for their soap goes over the ocean. How
why can't that money be kept at home?
Why can we not make our owu caustic soda?
Why can 'we not by starting such an
industry give employment to thou
sands of American workmen? The lack
of tariff protection is the reason
why we cannot. That it should be made in
this country every soap maker, glass manu
facturer, paper producer and oil refiner will
tell you. All of these capitalists are in the
same boat Each must pay tribute to Queea
Victoria with their ducats, because Uncle
Sam is not self-reliant enough yet All of
these industries buy the different products
of soda necessary in their business from,
England,
CAN BE MADE HEBE.
"That caustic soda can be made in the
United States I will vouch for," continues
Mr. Kelly, "but not without proper protec
tion in the tariff. We have the material,
the money and the skill right among us
iu any part of the country and with a prac
tical knowledge of the business in 30 years'
connection with it, I could direct the mak
ing of caustic sod, or soda ash, from
the brick to the market If
would give employment to 1,000,000'
people, it would be the best investment
capitalists could go into,, for as long as the
people need soap, glass, paper, etc, there is
a vast market for caustic soda and soda ash.
Soap packers and brokers are onposed to
any move of this kind in America. I have
spoken to business men on this subject, and
the answer was that the tariff would soon be
taken off it, so that it would come to us for
little or nothing. It is really a shame to
see the docks in Hew York, Boston, Phila
delphia and Baltimore covered with this
caustic soda, as it is brought there almost as
ballast in order to get cargoes of provisions
back in those English ships."
The Dispatch nd3 that the class
manufacturers of Pittsburg and vicinity
are deeply interested in the recently dig
covered soda deposits of Wyoming,
because they promise our great in
dustries immunity from just such
English monopoly in soda ash as Mr.
Kelley complains of in caustic soda. In
Wyoming the Sweetwater Valley contains
four of these lakes (as they, are called),
with a surface of 460 acres. They
are held under United States
patents, in the name ot L. Duponr, by
FIVE EASTERN COMPANIES-
The first claim covers 20,000 acres, of
which 5 acres contain carbonate and sul
phate of soda( averaging 6 feet deep. The
second claim is about one mile west of the
first; the soda is in solution. The third
claim (Wilmington) is one-fourth mile
farther west aud includes 16 acres of soda in
solution, the depth of which has not been
reached. It has been sounded 40 feet with
out" touching bottom. The solution eon
tains 2,343 grains pet gallon. Tbe fourth
(Hew xork) aud fifth (Philadelphia) claims
are 4 miles west of tbe Wilmington on the
same lake of solid soda. The depth 50 feet
from shore is 4 feet of solid soda.
Two hundred and fifty feet from
shore showed 14 feet of solid
soda witbotit touching bottom. One
mile from Saratoga is a large deposit of
biborate of soda (borax). On the margin of
the lake it is lour feet thick of pure borax,
equal to that of the East Indies, where it is
also found at the margin and bottom of
lakes. On the east line of Carbon county
and beyond it, near Eock Creek station, of
tbe Union Pacific Railway, is an area of 20
or more square miles, containing sulphate
of soda. .,
FOR HOME MANTTFACTUBEES.
Last year's report of the Territorial
Geologis't says the deposits of soda in Wy
oming will measure 52,000,000 tons, and all
that has to be done is to dig it out and dry
it and it is the salt cake of commerce await
ing transportation, or use in home manu
factures. The same authority, in his report
for 1887, says of these deposits: "It is now
quite generally kuown within the Territory,
and is becoming known without, that
Wyoming has, at various places within
her borders, large and inexhaustible bodies
ot very pure soda. This soda is found as
heavy'deposits iu the beds of lakes which
vary from 4 to over 200 acres in .area, and
are always situated iu basins which have no
outlet. The deposits of the sulphate aud of
the mixture of the sulphate and carbonate
of sodium in Wyoming are of great inter
est and importance on account of the im
mense imounts in which they occur, their
purity, and the fact that there is a large
market for such material when facilities for
placing it upon the market namely, cheap
transportation, aud the. erection of manu
factories for the using of soda at home, and
making products that will permit transpor
tation to a large market are available.
Already there are important beginnings in
the latter direction, and there can scarcely
be a doubt that there will be. henceforth, a
continuous and constantly growing demand
for.'and a consequent production of, these
ESOJjJJSD'3 COMING BI7AL.
All that has to be dono io the Wyoming
ioda is to die it out and dry it. and it is
then the salt cake of commerce. Salt cake
is produced in the Eastern States at a few
places where calt is cheap and sulphuric
acid can be produced as a by-product But
the larger amount is imported from En
gland, where it is manufactured from com
mon salt by treating it with sulphuric acid
in a-prdper furnace and afterward roasting
it in other parts of the same furnace. The
common salt used is most invariably ob
tained by evaporating brine, and the latter
substance should, therefore, cost as much as
the dried soda at tbe deposit in
Wyoming. The average price paid
for salt cake in 1885 at the glass
works throughout the United States was
$16 95 per long ton, and since it is imported
for the most part, the glass works in Illinois
and the West generally must have paid
more than this by several dollars, probably
over $20 per ton. When it is remembered
that the Eock Springs coal is mined, the
"freight paid to Omaha, sold and retailed at
$6 50 per ton, and that profits are made pre
sumably upon all these transactions, it cer
tainly seems probable that a profit could be
made by the railroads by shipping the salt
Leake of Laramie City to the Mississippi, a
ui5iauce uob uiucn greater, arm uuuhiuk i.
vto be sold at prices which would yield a lair
profit to the owners aud yet compete with
the Eastern market
Unsettled by nil Incline.
Thomas H. Davis, Esq., has prepared the
papers in a suit for damages in Common
rleas Court No. 2, on behalf of James
Qualich, aicainlt Jollv Bros., contractors,
and" Jit. Oliver Inclined Plane Company..
Qualich lives on Bedford street, Southside,
ant he sues to receive tbe value of hi3
house, which is alleged to be utterly de
stroyed by the giving away of the earth.
Said yielding drains to an excavation made
bv defendants.
DUMBDiJ! EfcECTRICIIY.
Peculiar Fnctii nrjittz&l Ont by tho Testi
mony of Electrician,
to the Editor of TheflMsDitcu:
A queer lot ot.'1 testimony is now being
taken in New York In the effort to establish
the idea that electricity will not kill; that a
stroke oi lightning will sometimes kill and
at other times leftist to do so; that 3,000
volts of electricity could not bs-j-elied on
to kill a man; tbsit it was very uncertain in
its effects on mankind, although it would
kill frogs, dogs, and hogs; that one man
might have the whole force o a 3,000-volt
dynamo pass through him while he placidly
smiled at the futile . efforts to destroy
him, while it might carbonize an
other Man's Mood arid perhaps cal
cine his bones but as to destroying his
life why that was quite another thing,
which none of the wise witnesses had ever
seen done. Further, if anything of the kind
had ever occuired, none of these expert
witnesses had bt-en around at the time and
therefore did not believe it could be done.
Some witnesses, as -all lawyers know, are
ion glib and roine are too glum. These are
fresh. Here are all ofourprecojceiTed notions
of the power of electricity knocked in the
heid by a tew young men whose electric
knowledge is certainly wonderful. Why,
if we can believe them, many men cau grasp
the lightning, with both hauds, like
Ajax, and hurl it far and wide with great
destruction to everybody but themselves.
Linemen can handle the wires with a fnll
force on without gloves. Men can stand on
iron plates or wet ground and place their
hands on the generator of the dynamo with
out other danger than possibly of carbon
izing their blood. Men can lean against an
awning post charged with the subtle fluid
by accident and be safe. Horses and drivers
can, with impunity, wrap themselves up in
loose arc-light wires; and a prisoner bound
to a prepared chair misht have a full 3,000
volt charge sent through him with a possi-
nld nlianna ft rt . ltr.ltiW Ann !!. Af f.t.1.
while the other-side would laugh at the ex
perimenter. And thus we come up to the
frightful idea tbat all of the men hitherto
reported killed by electricity were
not killed at all, but th.it they were
simple cases of suspended animation; that
if they had been burled to their necks in
damp earth (according to one witness) they
would have become demagnetized, anil
would have recovered, and conequently that
they were prematurely buried.
We are being led to believe that we have
heretofore been listening to and hearing
moonsbine madness at the feet of electric
Gamaliels; that electricity will kill only in
uncertain cases, and that it is a crime to
kill a brutal murderer by electricity be
cause it cannot be told when he is dead.
Then it is asserted that death sometimes
does occur, but that it is a horribly- painfnl
death.
Either we have been grossly deceived
heretofore, or these witnesses err in judg
ment through ignorance or design. Per
haps some disinterested electricians will
give us some homely testimony on whether
or not electricity in an arc light circuit will
kill all of those Hew York witnesses in a
row, without a chance of resuscitation by
burying them in damp earth.
BtTMBAIaO.
Pittsbtjbo, July 19, 1889.
CROPS BURNED AND WASHED.
First the San Scorches Them ana Halo Then
Floods Them to Excess.
Gband Fobks, Dak., July 19. The
past ttyr days have been extremely hot
People have sweltered and suffered under
tile penetrating rays of old Sol. The efltot
of tne weather upon the crops has not beeu
of the most beneficial kind. Tuesday night
theg: was one of the heaviest rainfalls that
ever visited this section. The great feature
of the rain was the extended area of terri
tory that it covered. The counties of Bot
tinea'u, Eolette, Eamsev, Helson and Traill
all needed the Tain, and they got it in pro
fuse quantities. Cass county failed to get a
dipperful. Yesterday the rain fairly boiled
over everything, and now it is feared
damage has been done to tbe crops in Grand
Forks, Walsh and Pembina counties.
There is much depending on the condition
of the weather during the next three weeks.
DROWNED WniLE ON A TEAE.
A Drunken Street Car Conductor Drives
His Horse Into the Lake and Dies.
Chicago, July 19. D. A. Boran was a
street car conductor on a "tear." He hired
a horse and buggy and made atrip to Wash
ington Park. Arrived there, he declined
to be hampered by the regular roadways,
but drove' about promiscuously oyer the
lawns and shrubbery, and finally into the
Like, where his exhausted horse fell. See
ing that tbe animal was drowning, Boran
plunged into the water to rescue the animal,
and was himself drowned.
Hotter
?the fact
Va jilts'
mi. xsv & .1
?AYS&
harmless to the most delicate skin. Especially during
the hot weather it is to your advantage to use PEARL
INE ")Sid only humane to supply your servants with
it, and thus lighten their labors ; besides you insure much
better results. Beware of imitations, james pyt.r. y vnrv.
oapona
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KIDNEYS, UVER AND BOWELS.
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CLEANSE THE SYSTEM EFFECTUALLY
When one is Bilious or Constipated
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Every one is using it and all are
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ASK YOUR DRUGGIST FOR
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FOB RAILROAD USE.
Italian and American Hemp Packing;
Clothes Lines. Twines. IWI Cord, Fish Lines,
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OFFICE AND SALEdUOOJl-ai Water St.
ttsburc. Telephone No. 1370.
my3-xws
BaEZ
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OF ALL DRUCCISTS.
UKATU OL-COMi' OttlWu.
EPPS'S COCOA '
BREAKFAST.
Bya thorough knowledge of the natural lat
which govern the operations of digestion ant.
nutritlon.and and by a careful application of the
fine properties of well selected Cocoa, Mr. Epps
has prodded ourbreakfast tables with a dell,
cutely flavored beverage which may save us
many heavy doctors bills. Itisbythe judicious
use of such articles of diet that a constitution
may be gradually built up until strong enough
to resist every tendency to disease. Hundreds
of subtle maladies are floating around us ready
to attack wherever there if) a weak point. Wa
may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping our
selves well fortified with pure blood and a prop
erly nourished frame." Cirtl Service Gazette.
Made simply with boiliugwaterormllk. Hold
only in half pound tins by Grocers, labeled thus:
Jas.Epps&Co. "iSSolSSk
no3-h-90rus
P
.A. 07 IE ITTS.
O. D. LEVIS. Solicitor of Patents.
131 Fifth avenue.above SmithfieId,nextLeada
office, (iso ueiayj, vMiauLLsneij s years.
se-U-hlu !
. Weather
Bigger the Eroo
As the weather grows warm, the sale
of James Pyle's Pearline Washing
Compound rapidly increases. This
proves that many women recognize
that HAKi,lJM. makes
washing and cleaning very much,
easier than when done with the ordin
ary .means. Proves also that summer
clothing, being of delicate texture
and color, will not stand the rough
usage necessary when washed with
soap, and establishes the fact that
PEARLINE, in doing away with
the rubbing, lessens the wear and
tear and fills a very important,place,
Delightful 'for bathing m fresh orsalt
water. Its ingredients render it
SIMD BEs soak-:
mini 2
-TtTATX