Pittsburg dispatch. (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, May 03, 1890, SECOND PART, Page 9, Image 9

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH.
- J
SECOND PART.
."."-" PAGES9T0I2. :
-t r
Vr
if
ft PUBLIC
NUISANCE
The Antiquated Toil-Gate a Bar
to Progress on Some
Country Roads.
A BADLY KEPT HIGHWAY
Whose Guardians Exact Tribute
From Every Passer-By.
'A PENNILESS MAN ENTEAPrED.
Enable to Advance or Eecede Except From
One Bar to the Other.
TIMIDITY PRETEXTS AN IMPnOTEMEXT
rFBOM OUB SPECIAL CO1MISSI0NEE.
The Pittsbukg Disrvrca )
COTJMKY KOAD ExrEDITIOX.
Brookville, May 2.
We have been entrapped. Every person
who drives from Clarion to Brookville gets
into a trap, or worse yet, into three traps.
It is the most diabolical system of traps
that exists in Pennsylvania to-day.
I have read in such romances as Mrs.
Southworth's of the eloping lovers, who
found tneir mad midnight ride suddenly
arrested by the long pole which stretched
across the mountain turnpike from some
toll-gate. The brigands ofltalian forests
used to chop away the toll-gate poles with
their sabers and axes, and our pilot, who
has been in tbe far West, tells me that the
American cowboys, with a whoop and a
yell, sends his bucking broncho over the
pole at one leap in the air, leaving the de-
Ww$$Ma
'Ofer
ma- szgsstf'ii
AS INTEItKUPTED SOLO.
frauded toll-collector rapidly in the rear, to
sneeze away the smoky salute of a frontier
pistol.
TUc Toll-Gate Knlaance.
In our own fair Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, where every man is not taken for
a knave, the toll-gate pole has been practi
cally discarded for half a century. Its
disuse bas become symbolical. There it
hangs in the air, the loaded box at one end
lying on the ground all grown over with
weeds, the other end pointing skywards far
above the road, the whole simply serving to
notify the public that here is a toll-gate.
But it is a toll-gate without a gate a com
pliment to your honesty and where is the
American citi7en who would whip up his
horses and dash past the toll-taker merely
to escape paying a 'ew cents. At least these
are the kind of toll-gates I have been fa
miliar with in the past 15 years in the
neighborhood of Pittsburg.
Imagine, if you can, the iron gates of the
Sixth street suspension bridge really closed
against each wagon, carriage or horse car,
and not opened lor them until the necessary
10 or 15 centt toll is paid. What a spec
tacle! Tbe Roadway Barred Up.
Yet that is exactly like what you may see
on the public turnpike between Clarion and
Brookville. The bridge that crosses the
Clarion river just below the town is closed
by a Dole chained to its post, and not re
moved until you pay. Continue your jour
ney eastward toward Jefferson county, and
a mile beyond Clarion, your horses bring
their noses clump against the heavy pole of
a toll-gate, a pole actually strapped down to
its posts, and not allotm! to be removed by
any hands except those "of the keeper uniil
he has your 15 cents safe in his palm.
Just as your wagon passes beyond the
dead line down comes the pole behind you,
no matter it a rig stands waiting for you to
go ahead. That rig must take its turn.
So l'nv. No TuoroncuXatr.
Now you are in the trap. Six miles
beyond is aaotner toll-gate with another pole
stretched across the road, and tied so well
that a padlock might as well clink there.
That six miles of turnpike is completely
closed in "cut ofi from the outside world,"
as they write when we have Charleston
earthquakes, Johnstown floods or Mississippi
disasters.
Ii you happen to get in you must sink or
swim, survive or perisn, lick or get licked.
Money will get you out, but ii your purse
is empty, God help you. You may continue
east, hut if vou can't produce 12 cents there
the pole will not be swung iree. You may
turn back ir you want, but again you are
caught. The gate back of you will not
open without the magic sesame of an addi
tional 15 cents. You can't get out at either
end. You are hemmed in. Yon are help
less you are lost.
I.Ike n Itnt In n Trap.
Yesterday we met one poor fellow in this
abject condition. He would drive first six
miles one way, then six miles the other way,
then reverse the order of his going and try
it again. He was desperate. So was the
horse. It reminded me o the phrase dram
atists use when they get their hero in a
prison cell or an underground dungeon
"be beat his head against the two stone
walls and wailed." It was just the same
yesttrday, only this lellow on the Clarion
pike swore.
This sort of thingwas all so new to us,
and we took it as such a reflection ou our
honesty, that three sets o feelings in The
Dispatch wagou ielt keenly hurt, and
three hearts beat with indignation. Being
untitled belorebund oi nhat awaited us, one
of our partv was Appointed as a committee
t? act us spokesu an, and "get even." For
each toll-gate .i separate speech was pre
pared anioratioi mj ull of mrcible invec
tive and logical reasoning tlut it was iliffi-
cnlt to decide which should be. enunciated
first.
A Defiant Gate Keeper.
We were anxious to make an impression.
Each individual toll-keeper we desired to
compress into so small a size that he would
unmistakably realize his littleness. It was
therefore wisdom to fire our nest and heavi
est shot first, and let it reverberate all along
the line ol toll sates, from the Clarion
bridge to Brookville, and then echo back
from Brookville to Clarion bridge. I de
cided to be a perfect gentleman throughout
the ordeal, to do the toll-keepers up in a
dignified manner. So, in order to secure a
regular introduction to the person who un
.chains the pole at Clarion pike bridge, I had
a well known business man of Clarion to ac
company me there.
I was completely disconcerted. Tbe toll
keeper was a woman, Mrs. McGovern. She
was large, she was stern. Her na
tive Irish wit, her decided way, and
her menacing attitude made me
slightly backward. A suit which the
Board "of Trade of Clarion has entered
against the turnpike company to secure the
freedom of. this bridge and the toll gates bad
goaded Mrs. McGovern for a week to such a
point that she is quite defiant in the dis
charge of her duties.
Dilleent In Her Business.
"No, you're just right," she declared to
my escort. ".Nobody ever got across this
bridge without first paying their toll, 'hat I
knows o ; ana what's more, nobody will. A
long time ago my ole man and I kept toll
gate in Blair county, on the road from
Tyrone to Glenhope. In six years only one
man a traveling drummer got past us
without paving toll, and Fat followed him
up to midnight in Altoona, where he took
him before u justice and tbe fellow had to
pay $10 costs as well as toll. That's the
only lellow who eer escaped me, and he
didn't escape, eituer."
I postponed my speech to the bridge mo
nopolists until some other DisrATCH expe
dition brings me up the Clarion Valley
again. At tollgate No. 1, east of Clarion, a
pretty maiden came tripping out of the
bouse for our toll. She blushed so charm
ingly as the photographer begged her to
"stand still, right there, for a moment,
please," while he "photographed the horses
at the tollgate," that I bad not the heart to
deliver my second prepared oration on the
injustice of tolls on a bad road. She was
scaicely yet 16. Why waste our oratorical
sweetness on the desert air?
Evidence of a Conspiracy.
Toll-gate Xo. 2 is attended by a decrepit
old lady who lives all by hersell. I was dis
appointed. I would rather talk cross to a
man. So we passed on. But the last toll-
gate before entering Brookville was a
greater disappointment than all. It was our
last chance lor revenge, and here again a
defenseless woman came forth to receive 15
cents. From the condition of that tnrnpike
I can't help but suspect a cool conspiracy to
have none but women at the toll-gate. It
makes teamsters swallow their wrath, where
manv a male toll collector would be drawn
into a dozen fist fights per day.
Of all wretched, ontrageous, scrubby,
despicable and disgraceful public roads, we
have seen in our rambles, this stretch o:
turnpike from the Clarion river to Brook
ville is one of the worst It is horribly cut
up. It is worse than the average township
thoroughfare. All clay, it is ill-graded,
not drained at all in some spots, and gener
ally allowed to go to the dogs The pull of
merely 17 miles from Clarion to Brookville
was one of the worst our horses have yet
had. The rain bad left the mnd deep and
thick. Bucephalus, poor lellow, felt the
hard work as we did the injustice of paying
tolls lor riding on such a miserable high
way. The Worm Bond Yer.
This Clarion pike is a part ot the sameold
time Wnterford and Susquehanna turnniLe.
which we traversed in Venango and Craw
ford counties. In each of those counties it
was in very good condition. In each ol
those counties the charging of toll had been
abolished years ago. On other sections 0!
it, east of Brookville, no toll is charged.
Only on the division of 17 miles from the
east side o Clarion river to Brookville are
tolls still charged. Those tolls go to keep
ing the road iu repair, and yet how remark
able is the fact that the first road ou which
we have had to pay tolls in Northern or
Central Pennsylvania is the very worst road
we have vet struck. The free divisions of
this old clay pike are well kept. Taxes do
it Are not lolls a failure these days in
every sense of the word?
And in Jefferson county I find the roads
are all bad. The streets in the county seat
here are veritable mud puddles. Farmers
or townspeople make no attempt to repair
or build roads scientifically.
Incmprtcnt Supervisors.
In the rural districts men areoften elected
road Supervisors who know nothing more
about scientific road building than children.
They seek and accept the offices as political
stepping stones to something higher. Many
of the farmers express themselves as sati-
bed with good dirt roads in the summer
time, take bad highways in the winter as
a matter o course, and hold up their hands
in holy horror at the idea of a $2,000,000 ap
propriation annually by the State Legisla
ture tor macadamizing principal highways.
"That tax mu-t come off land largely."
said one individual in Union township to
me, "and I will not live long enough to
sh ire in the benefits."
He objected to paying the fiddler for the
dances of future generations. Would we
have had a Pennsylvania Railroad if J.
Edgar Thomson bad felt the same way? or
would the coal interests of the Mononga
hela Valley be what they are to-dayi' the
originators of the Monon'gahela Navigation
Company had abandoned their improve
ments because the stock would not pay divi
dends the first decade of the enterprise?
Time to Begin Now.
"There must be a start sometime," said
Judge Henry Truman, of Brookville. to me
last night in the iobby of the Commercial
Hotel. "I traversed many of the stately
roads of England last summer, and I was
impressed with the lact that old us they are
nicj cicuui'c uuiii. Anu to nave good
permanent roads here we must make a start
The fanners ought to understand it is not
only lor their present good. That idea is
un-American. The start may possibly take
10 or 15 years, but what of that? Future
generations the sons of the farmers of to
daywill reap the benefit, and Pennsviva-
nia w ill be ail the greater for the improve
ment" There is a little limestone in the southern
part of Jefferson county, but the limestone
iedges o " Clarion county are so close at hand
that Jefferson would be well supplied in
case limestone macadam should ever be.
l.aok'.ua fur I., eialmi n.
Mr. J. B. Patrick, editor of thn Clarion
- 's5- s0
Gazette, told me a significant thing iust as I
left Clarion. In Porter township the farm
ers voted at the spring elections on a propo
sition to buy a road-buildinc machine. It
wis defeated by a vote or 120 to 33. The
reason assigned was that the farmers feel
some general legislation will be adopted by
the coming State Assembly, and to buy ma
chinery now might be to throw money away.
They desire to wait and see what this agita
tion will bring forth.
Our photographer bas a fondness for sit
ting in tbe back of the wagon, letting his
legs dangle out over the end gate and play,
ing, "Home, Sweet Home," on a mouth
organ wbicb we rescued irom
wreck in Butler county.
a wagon
A Doc Siopi the Mnalc.
As we jogged idly along tbe other after
noon, the dreamy music made us all drowsy,
photographer and all. A big dog in a
barnyard barked furiously at our outfit.
A
A Bar to Progreat.
We mid no attention to him. Dogs are so
familiar to us now, after three weeks' outing
among Pennsylvania farmers, that we scarce
ly notice barking. It is harmless. But we
were compelled to notice this canine pres
ently. He leaped the fenee and made a
hound for the photographer's legs. The legs
flew back in the wagon very suddenly as the
music ceased with a wild bazoo groan. The
dog would have followed had we not stirred
up the horses. A sketch from memory will
aid the reader to size up the tragic episode.
My next letter will embrace Clearfield
county, and after that our wagon will visit
Kittanning, Armstrong county.
L. E. Stofiel.
DIED OP HIS INJURIES.
Thomas Bonl Unable to Krcover From the
Accident nt Brintoo Electric Llgliti
Working Well Oilier Kewi and Note
From WllklnKbnrr.
The young man Thomas Boal, who was
injured by the cars at Brinton, us detailed
in yesterday's Dispatch, died at the West
Penn Hospital, after the ampntatiou of his
leg, yesterday. The funeral will take place
from the residence of his mother on Biddle
avenue at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The de
ceased was a member of Colonel E. J. Allen
Camp Ko, 66, Sons ot Veterans, and the
camp will attend the funeral in a body.
The remains will be interred in Homewood
Cemetery.
Some of the business men on Wood street
are disposed to take exception to the vote of
10 to 1 in favor of keeping tbe postoffice in
its present location on Penn avenue. Said
a Wood street merchant to a Dispatch re
porter last evening: "We would like to have
a vote on that issue, and I will wager a new
hat the result would go the other wav al
most 10 to 1."
The children of the public schools cele
brated the closing of the term by a picnic
yesterday afternoon in the woods ot Squirrel
Hill.
Tbe Wilkinsburg Electric Light Com
pany has its new plant in order, and the
streets are better lighted than they ever were
before in the history or tbe borough.
The entertainment of the Wilkinsburg
Master Masons' Association, last evening,
was well attended and very enjoyable. Mr.
Erasmus Wilson delivered un address ou
"Building." Mr. Wilson said that build
ing was the most ancient, as well as the most
useful of all occupations. From this he de
duced a number of lessons, all expounded
in the speaker's quaintly way. A good
musical programme was rendered under tbe
direction of Mr. Balph.
HUNTING THE MAT0B.
Lively Scrnri in Municipal Hall While tbe
OOIcei Arc Beirut Moved.
City Hall and chaos are synonymous
terms just now. Nearly all the offices have
been or are being changed, and the stranger
in search of an official has a hard time,
while the officials themselves wander about
disconsolately in a labyrinth of painters'
ladders, kalsomlne brushes and buckets and
bricks or mortar. No one is perfectly sure
where anvone else is to be found, but every
body is willing to turnish information.
A gentlehian of modest mien wandered
into the City Controller's office yesterday
afternoon and asked where the Mavor was
to be found. Of course everyone in the
office knew, and thev all replied at once:
"Next door to the left," "On the second
floor," "Go up to the third floor," "Bear
office on fourth floor."
The gentleman became a little confused,
and mildlv asked of the nearest person,
"Where did you say?" Everyone answered
again, this time in such a loud and angry
tone of voice that the gentleman fled, while
the dispute over the Mayor's location con
tinued. CHICAGO ELECTIOff THIAIS.
The Aldermnnlc Mndille Threaten! to Tear
np t'ook County.
Chicago, May 2. The election com
missioners met this a'ternoon for the pur
pose of investigating the charges against
some of the officials of the Pullman Palace
Car Company of violating the election law,
at the recent aldermanic election iu the
Thirtv-lourth ward.
G. Brown, a time-keeper, recently made
charges that he hid been discharged from
the Pullman Car Company for voting for
Mr. Quin, for Alderman, instead
of Mr. Chasey, and charged Mr. Sessions,
the general superintendent, with having ap
proached him.
Chief Clerk Tvroling, of the election
board, said to-dav that General Manager
Brown was more deeply implicated in the
m..fter than Mr. Sessions. Mr. Sessions had
only one interview with Time-keeper Brown,
and made no threats to him, but seems to
have reported his action to General Mana
ger Brown, who in the evening saw the
time-keeper and told him he must vote tor
Chasey or not at all.
HELOOKED PEETTY BEAVE.
A Han Who Tlionslu a Picture Was Badly
Dllinnmrd.
In a picture store window downtown there
is a large engraving showing a French citi
zen kneeling alone in the center of a street,
firing at a body of German soldiers who are
approaching in the distance. The title of
the picture is "Un Brave," meaning "A
brave man,"
Yesterday two Saxons xceie gazing at the
work of art when one of them said to the
other: "Unbrave, unbrave; I don't under
stand that. It Jooks to me as if he was
pretty brave."
For old and
day Dispatch.
young see page 14, Sun-
SPEdAL prices on short lengths of table
linens for our Friday bargain sale.
TTSSU HUGUS & HACKE.
Go to llamlhon'a
Music store for bargains in pianos and or
gans. We always lead
14, Sunday Disnatch.
never follow. Page
rSylfcifiSSl
1Jtl o
PITTSBURG, SATURDAY, MAT 3, 1890.
ONE PACIFIC PEARL.
The Isle of Santa Catalina Rich
Belies of the Past.
in
ONCE THE H0ME.0P GREAT GIANTS
Who Were Baled by Handsome Women Who
Could Keep House.
A WESTERN E1TAL OP THE BEEHUDAS
rcOEKISPONDKSCE OF THE DISPATCH.!
Los Angeles, Cal., April 25. About
20 miles southwest from San Pedro lies the
island of Santa Catalina a tract of land
which is at present an object ol deep inter
est to the tourists and tbe valetudinarian.
The island is about 22 miles in length and
averages four in width. It is a beautiful
spot at once wild and picturesque the soft
breezes which sweep upward from the sea
bear "healing in their wings." A steamer
plys daily between Los Angeles and the
various coast towns of California and this
island, the chief landing place being- at
Timni's Cove, one of the wildest spots on
the island as far as ocean breakers and lux
uriance of mountain scenery are concerded.
Now, to the reader of these lines, I would
say that is, if you have never been to Santa
Catalina when next you come to California
come to Los Angeles, and there take
that captivating little steamer "The
Queen" and ride out over the
foamy waves to the island. It
will be the prettiest little ocean voyage you
will ever take I feel safe to say. The Pa
cific is wonderfully kind in his treatment
of you, in this brief journey. To be sure
old ocean loves to thunder and show his
powers a little, but here he only plays at
violence and you would be a coward indeed
to show the white feather just because he
chooses to be a little tantalizing and wants
to see how much steel threads your nerves.
Ohl how indescribably delightful is the
voyage. To sit on the upper deck of the
vessel and watch tbe sunbeams dance across
the glaucous waves to look up into the
even blue of the serene skies to feel at
peace with everybody and especially de
lighted with yoursel: that is what a pleas
ant ocean voyage means. Perhaps I am a
sort of fantorto nature but I love her joco
serious moods and I can assure you that this
little voyage, in which shadow is blent with
shine, is quite enchanting.
Alt INTEEESTING LANDING PLACE.
Now, if we start on this trip in the morn
ing, our worthy timoneer will land us about
noonday at Timm's Cove. I could not find
out definitely the origin of this very com
monplace name, so concluded some heroic
fisherman thus christened, once dwelt here.
Many a time no doubt has poor Tim dried
his nets upon the gigantic rocks and thrown
bait to the wily residents o: the deep, be
fore you or I came on this globe. Timm's
Cove is very, very old. Tim must have
lived on fish. The rocks at the landing
seem to be built of scales, piled high.
These fossils are a curious and interesting
study. Volcanic rocks and choice speci
mens of minerals are here in prolusion.
Sea shells, of irridescent splendor and
nacreous hue, are found in every corner of
the coast. The water of the Pacific having
lashed the coast for ages have Atom into the
margin, pretty beaches of circuitous curve
and the softer portions ot the land beiug
worn away have leit rugged promontories,
bare and precipitous cliffs, pinnacled rocks
and indented caves. Over these the sea
gulls hover with many a loud cry and
graceiul sweep. Hear the sealions come on
a pleasant day and sun themselves upon the
rocks the lat little seals also. The baby
sealions are very cunning, and if vou can
pick up one while its mother is iu the sea,'
you can tame it ana nave a nousehold pet
ever after.
They are affectionate animals. Do not
let the mother be near, if you steal one of
her darlings, however, for her Vengeance is
terrible as well as her grief. Her loud cries
will ring in your ears lor years, unless vou
let your heart become a fossil; and it she 13
in a position to rob you of a hand or foot
one snap of her jaws and you carry live toes
or fingers less. In some localities on the
island there are indications of mighty up
heavals o nature. Delicate sea-musses are
found on all the beaches, and their blender
tendrils form a rich drapery to the jutting
rocks. They typify beauty embellishing
strength.
CURIOUS FIHST INHABITANTS.
The Island ol Santa Catalina was proba
bly first discovered by Captain Van Couver.
History tells us how in his course he lauded
at numerous islands in the Pacific, of which
he has left graphic descriptions. The Cap
tain earn en a cargo oi goats and at every
island be turned a number ol them out to
pasture leaving them to run wild and feed
upon the mountain herbage. He considered
this an excellant plau, and in rase ot ship
wreck succeeding ears would furnish
plenty oi flesh lor any unfortunate Crusoe
who might be here domiciled. Iu 30 years
tbe island became so over run by these'wild
creatures that a general slaughter became
imperative and many thousand were killed.
The goats had eaten all the herbage, so lit
tle was left lor them to live upon.
Abont the time Captain Van Couver
landed at Santa Catalina, the island was in
habited, so he informs us, by a curious race
oi men. Both men aud women were six
leet tall and broad in proportion. Their
hair was bright as sunshine and curled like
wool. Their laees were ruddy and sKins
very white. They laughed a great deal and
seemed generous, open-hearted people. The
Captain thought them Indians of a peculiar
sort, but it is now generally believed bv
California people that they were ol Spanish
extraction. They regarded the goats with
great respect, and would not injure them,
as iney regarueu evidently a present as.
someihiug sacred. There are none of this
sort ot people on the island at present, but
uere vug can unu
MANY CURIOUS THINGS
relating to their mode 0' life. Portions o
their houses are still standing. Tney were
nl Moorish architecture, and as picturesque
as were their natural surroundings Their
residences were modeled on' a spacious
scale, with large corridors tand courts and
quaint windows and turrets. This people
was rather averse to the light, we are told.
Their eyes were weak and they kept them
shaded as much as possible and remained in
doors or under the shaded t.ees whenever
practicable. For food, they lived upon fisn
and fowls und ate a peculiar moss which was
gathered from the rocks. They were, how
ever, fond of costly clothing, and Captain
Van Couver assures us that their every-day
garments were rich and elegant. As they
tpoke in a foreign tongne the Captain could
make but little beadwtyiu his inquiries.
So, after a stay of several hours, be again
set sail and departed. Belies of arrows are
now and then ouud on the shore, which fact
seems to confirm the Captain's belief that
the people were Indians. Santa Catalina
seems to be especially rich in prehistoric
remains. If one rides over the island he
will find Urge-mounds of black soil
showing signs of fire. These monnds
nie burving places of the extinct race.
Bare Indian relics can Le found by digging
into these mounds curiously wrought and
carved shells, vessels of various kinds and
stone implements, pipes, pestles and mor
tars lor cleansing andagrinding acorns and
wheat, and also great quantities of shells
strung together in links or chains. These
shells were the circulating medium of the
Indians of the whole southern coast and
Santa Catalina seems to have been the treas
ury department the general mint where
the coin of all that region was gatlieied.
When tbe whites first came among these
Indians they found that this shell money
represented a certain and fixed value. A
chain of this wampum winding twice and a
half around the hand represented a real and
eight oi of these strings a silver dollar.
ONCE MAN'S PABADI3E.
It is surprising to see how intellectually
and morally superior these people were
universally accorded to be by all explorers.
Salineron and Forquemado relate in their
histories of travel that the women were both
beautiful and virtuous and excellent house
keepers. The name originally oi this tribe
was Pineugnas. Hugo Beid, Farnhum and
other writers claim that they were regarded
bv the inland tribes with great respect akin
to reverence, owing to their physical as well
as intellectual strength. They were skilled
iu the art ol shipbuilding and their knowl
edge! of arts and manufactures was excellent.
Viscaino in'orms us that their boats were
like little barko. Following their Indian
tastes they modeled their ships alter canoes.
They were made of planks and filled in with
pitch. Their size and velocity were said to
be great. Each ship was propelled by
20 men, bearing huge paddles.
Father Caspi, who knew much about
these people, assures m in his
writings that they were a wonderful race
and very fleet-footed. When this tribe was
in its glory, which was about 1600, this isl
and, no doubt, formed a part of tbe main
land a long point of land extending from
Point Conception to the Coronado islands,
off the coast ol Mexico the coast line and
peninsula inclosing a bay of placid water,
upon which the Pineugnas trafficked with
other tribes or met them in combat. This
inland, it is supposed, was discovered abont
1542. Nearly 40 years ago the United States
Government gave a patent grant to the Isl
and to Don Jose Maria Covarruhias, a
wealthy Castilian. He retained it tor about
20 years, when it was bonded to James Lfck,
the deceased millionaire, for about 1,500,
000. Since the death of Mr. Lick the
island has been bought by Mr. Shatts, a
wealthy resident of San Francisco.
A COLD SLOPE RESORT.
It is only of late years that the idea of
making of Santa Catalina a health resort has
been adopted. Several magnificent hotels
have been erected, and many steamers at
present run from all directions into Timm's
Cove. A number of medical springs have
been discovered and are being thoroughly
developed. The wildness of the scenery
does much to draw the city recluse. Here
arc mountain peaks rising in some places
2,000 feet in the air. The ocean on the lee
side o: the island is so clear that objects may
be seen a depth of six or eight latboms. At
times the whole island coast will be reflect
ed, even to flower and frond, upon this sea
of glass that mingles with fire. Yachting is
here a sport comparatively safe, for the high
mountains cut off violent winds. The wild
mountain goat, in spite of slaughter, still
defies the hunter with his numbers. Game
abounds in profusion.
Santa Catalina, the historical land of the
Pineugnas, may well be considered a rival
to the Bermudas. H. M. Spalding.
ENOUGH TO PDZZLE SOLOMON.
A Qneer Case of Authority Over a Child
Conflict Between Rival Protection So
cieties A Note That Caused the .Loss of
a Lllil- Girl.
Mrs. DeHaven, who is a member of the
board of managers oi tbe Colored Orphan
Asylnm, and corresponding secretary of
that institution, is much worried about the
talcing away of a little colored girl who had
been in the asylum only three mouths. 8he
made complaint yesterday at the office of
the Humane Society of the manner in which
the child had been secured, and severely
criticised the conduct of Superintendent
Dean, of the Anti-Cruelty Society.
On January 30, Assist int Agent Berry
man wis told, at the office of Alderman
Bell, that Mrs. Lizzie Most, a colored wo
man living on Soho street, was abusing her
nuie gin. .Mr. iserryman lound the little
girl, who was called Bessie Freeman,
covered with sores which had been inflicted
by a piece of clothes line tied with knots.
Mrs. Moss finally admitted that she had
beaten the child with that knotted cord.
Neighbors said that Mrs. Moss had insured
the child's lile, and that she had threatened
to knock the insurance out of it. The
woman was fined $10 and costs, aud the
child was placed, bv Agent O'Brien and
Mrs. DeHaven, in the asylum in Allegheny.
Tbe girl is about 7 years old, and a bright
child.
Mrs. DeHaven yesterday told the follow
ing story to a reporter for The Dispatch:
Last Tuesday she was visited by a colored
woman who gave her name as Mrs. Brown,
and said that she was the real mother ol
Bessie Freeman. She said that she had
been unable to care for the child, as she had
to work out, and had placed the little one in
Mrs. Moss' care. She hud now married
again, had a good home and wanted to get
her dinghterout ot the asylum. Mrs. De
Haven told the woman that it she would get
from the Hnmane Society a note that she
was all right, she would give her a permit
to get ner cnno. one uirecieo tne woman
to the office of the Humane Society, on
Sixth avenue.
The colored woman returned in about an
hour with a note signed by M. J. Dean, the
Superintendent of the Anti-Cruelty Society.
Mr. Dean said: "Mrs. Brown, the mother
oi liessie freeman, wants her child, and I
think she will take good care of her." He
recommended that the child be given to
Mrs. Brown. Mrs. DeHaven knew that
Mr. Dean had formerly been connected
with the Humane Society and did not at the
lime think that he was now with a rival in
stitution. She gave the woman a permit to
take her child out of the asylum and Mrs
Drown lost no time in going to Allegheny
and taking Bessie Freemin away with ner.
The colored woman told Mrs. DeHaven
that she and her hubband worked lor Judge
Nathaniel Ewing at Uniontown. Mrs.
DeHaven wrote to Judge Ewing, and on
Thursday received from him a reply that no
such persons were employed by him or
known to him or to any member oi his fam
ily. Mrs. DeHaven then went out to in
vestigate, and discovered that Mr. Dean was
not connected with the Humane Society.
Moreover, she beliecs, she says, that Mr.
Brown is nut tne mother of the child.
Agent O'Brien was somewhat wroth when
he learned of the affair yesterday, and will
make an inquiry.
Superintendent Dean said last evening
that Mrs. Brown had come to him with a
request irotn Mrs. DeHaven that he five his
consent to the removal ol the child. He said
bis note contained these words: "If Mrs.
Brown is the mother ol the girl she is able
to take care ol her." His letter was written
on a regularly printed letter-head sheet of
the Allegheny County Society lor the Pre
vention oi Cruelty to Children and Aged
Persons, and (here was no intention to de
ceive. Babiea' Clonki.
We show the largest line in the city. Also
capes, shirts, booties and slips, at the very
lowest prices. Examine and judge for
yoursel I. BOSENBAUM & Co.
WThSSU
High, dry and healthy.
Sunday Dispatch.
See page 14,
Do You Know?
The largest stock of kid, dongola and tan
colored Oxiord ties mr children, misses and
ladies are lound at G. D. Sinien's, 78 Ohio
street, Allegheny, Pa. ws
Safe, sure and profitable. See page 14.
Sunday Dispatch. '
Novelty Club-MlcU Pnrnsola at 83 tn $10
In all choice colorings.
Also complete line of the telescope sun
shades. JOS. HORNE & CO.'S
Penn Avenue Stores.
Noyfltibs in men's fine neckwear nt
James H. Aiken & Co.'s, 100 Filth avenue.
A CHEERFUL OUTLOOK
linsiness Generally in a Better Con
dition Than Last Yean
STEIKES ARE NOT A FACTOR
In Depressing the General Business of the
Entire Country.
SILTBR LEGISLATION IGNORED
ISrZCIAX. TZLKOUAU TO TOT! D1S?ATCII.1
New York, May 2. Special telegrams
to Bradstreets' indicate much tbe same con
dition of affairs in general trade distributive
circles as existed a week ago. There is some
improvement in the outlook, and, therefore,
in the feeling. Throughout tbe flooded dis
tricts In the lower Mississipni river valley,
though the damage done and losses sus
tained there have been enormous. Bail
roads expect to be able to run trains regu
larly in a short time, which stimulates a
better feeling at New Orleans. In the
central West rain and cold have
delayed Bpring traffic and farmers'
work.bnt an early improvement is promised.
At most other business centers demand has
been fairly active. Leather continues to
show an upward tendency, and lumber and
other building miterials are firm with a
good demand. Tbe movement of drygoods,
hardware and boots and shoes is full, and
that of wheat and corn eastward is very
heavy, and Iowa farmers are in much better
spirits now they are getting 22c per bushel
for Indian corn. Cattle have advanced in
price at Western centers, some 20c per cwt,
while hogs have declined half as much.
THE STRIKE SITUATION.
Special reports to Sradttreet'i from 110
cities show that on May 1 there were CI
strikes at 46 cities, involving 12,989 em
ployes, most of which were for fewer hours
of work daily. At 63 cities strikes were ex
pected, but 'did not take place. Strikes
during April numbered 160, involving 33,
030 men against 61 strikes and 12,193 men
in April last year. For the first lour months
oi 1890 the strikes reported number 337, in
volving 68,947 employes, against 221 strikes
and 48,924 employes involved in 1889.
Bank nlearings in April showed a larger
gain over the Tike month in the preceding
year (when clearings declined) than for any
previous month since November. The total
clearings for April at 52 cities aggregated
84,723,000.000, or a gain over a year ago ot
10 per cent, and over March, this year, of 4
per cent. There were two more business
days in April this year than last, owing to
the centennial celebration. The gain over
March this year is credited to improved
speculation and freer collections. For the
four months bank clearings exceeded last
vear bv 7 per cent, which in turn exceeded
1888 by 14.7 per cent
ACTrvrrriN stocks.
The New York stock market shows in
creasing activity and advancing prices.
The speculation is assuming a wider form
than has been seen for some years, and the
prospective legislation from which it orig
inated is partially lost sight of.
There is no actual or widespread gain in
the iron or coal trades either as to demand
or prices, although at the West a more ac
tive demand has existed ti m is felt else
where. Production of crude iron remains
very heavjr jind buyers know it. This is an
element ot'-'weakness in prices of northern
pig iron. There is less uniformity of belief
as to whether stocks ol pig iron are accumu
lating or not.
Drygoods at the East are in fair demand
for the season. Bequest for staple cottons is
good and prices, aided by tbe recentadvance
in raw material, are strong, with an upward
tendency.
WHEAT ADVANCED.
Unfavorable weather, reports of damage
to the crops, backed by rather more encour
aging cable advices, pushed wheat prices up
34c this week. Stocks here are decreasing
rapidly, notwithstanding iree sales by arm
ers and movement eastward. Exports this
week, both coists, counting flour as whext.
equal 2,747,048 bnsbels, against 892,938
bushels in the like week last vear, and
2,259,530 bushels last week.
The total exported Julv 1 to date is 90,
452,618 bushels, against 74,084,033 bushels
in a like portion ol '88-89. Tbe decrease of
available stocks of wheat, east of the Bocky
Mountains, in the United States and Canada
amounted to 1,400,000 bushels last week,
and the outlook now is lor a smaller aggre
gate available May 1 than was reported a
year ago.
DUN & CO.'S REVIEW.
B. G. Dun & Co.'s report states:
The outlook for industries and legitimate
trade is distinctly less favorable, owing to dam
age to wheat and cotton and labor disturbances.
A special cotton report from Memnbls indi
cates planting Z! per cent, against 82 per cent
at this time last year; unfavorable weather in
503 out of 603 returns, material Injury f ruin too
much ram and extensive loss from floods.
Galveston crop reports are also gloomy, be-cau-e
of rain, and Bt. Louis reports unfavora
ble weather, while the markets at Chicago
have been much influenced by information of
Ininry to wbr.it.
From St. Paul, Omaha and Milwaukee re
pirts of the outlook are more favorable, but
&uort crops of winter wheat and or cotton
u ould be e -tting all trades next tall. It Is most
encouraging that the labor demonstration? thus
fir havo led to no violence, and in a number of
citi tlio -leairi f tne employers to avoid
s.iikes bas caused full or partial concessions.
PRICES A LITTLE LOWER.
The general average of prices Is nearly 1 per
cent lower than a week ago, notwithstanding a
rise of 3 cents in wheat, doe to reports of in
jury. The exports both of wheat and flour
continue large. Corn made no advances dur
ing tbe week and oats declined a quarter.
Pork and lard advanced a little by speiul it ion
and oil rose 3 cents. Cotton rose tbrei -sixteenth".
Coffee was unchanged. Raw sunar
did not change, but crashed was advanced an
eighth.
Iron was lower at Pittsburg, but with more
sales, and not changed at Philadelphia, but
Houtberu blocks were sold here r 10 75 for
No. 1. Steel rails are quoted at iSs. buyers
claiming further ronceMoiis. The market for
bar iron is languid, for plates only fair, and for
structural not up to expectations. A sale of
8,000,000 jiounds if lake copp- r to containers
has stiffened the price to 14c, and tin is
stronger on foreign speculation, anil lead on
tbe uro-pect ot legislation. The reports mm
other cities are generally favorable s to the
volume of business, and bauU dealings show
au increase over last j ear of 10 per cent.
At Boston wool is stronger on some grades
that are suarcr, and a better demand is seen,
sales reaching 2,900,000 uounils, and yet no im
provement wuatever is detected in the uarkLt
for goods.
BUSINESS FAILURES DECREASING.
Money has not been disturbed this week.
There is much less complaint of slow collec
tions throughout the Northwest, but consider
able in some lines at Philadelphia, Boston and
New York. Good crops and large sales of farm
products have made tuiffgs comparatively easy
In the West, but tbe effects of two successive
open winters are felt In Eastern markets. Bn
exports of all product from New York are IS
per cent below last year's tor A pril, while im
ports have shown an increase of 18 per rent,
fai.ts which indicate a heavy excess of imports
over exports for the month.
Business failures occurring ihroughont the
country during thttlast sevrn das are 211 as
compared with U18 last week. For tbe corre
sp6nding week of last year the figures were 214.
Do not fail to set page 14. Sunday Dis
patch. Novelties in men's fine neckwear at
James H. Aiken & Co.'s, 100 Fifth avenue.
Go to Hamilton'
Music store for bargain! in pianos and or
gans. It may beyour last chance. See page 14,
Suoday Dispatch.
iiiiiTitliSfiWffiBiVlhrif rmAfm- .; . try'--
WM c(cmd
Let it be clearly understood that the Rus
sian is a delightful person till he tucks in
his shirt. As an Oriental be is charming.
It is only when he insists upon being treated
as the most easterly ol Western peoples in
stead of tbe most westerly of Easterns that
he becomes a radical anomaly xtremely
difficult to handle. The host never knows
which side of his nature is going to turn up
next.
Dirkovitch was a Bussian a Bussian of
the Russians who appeared to get his bread
by serving the Czar as ar. officer in the Cos
sack regiment and corresponding for a Bus
jiau newspaper with a name that was never
twice alike. He was a handsome young
Oriental, fond of wandering through unex
plored portions of the earth, and he arrived
in India from nowhere in particular. At
least no living man could ascertain whether
it was by way ot Balkh, Badakshao, Cbit
ral, Beluchistan or Nepaul, or anywhere
else. The Indian Government being in an
unusually affable mood gave orders that he
was to be civilly treated and shown every
thing that was to be seen. So he drifted,
talking bad English and worse French, from
one city to another till he foregathered with
Her Majestv'sWhite Hussars iu the city of
Peshawur, which stands at the mouth of
that narrow swordcut in the hills that men
call the Khyber Pass. He was nudoubtedly
an officer, and he was decorated after the
manner of the Russians with little enameled
crosses, and he could talk, and (though this
has nothing to do with is merits) he had
been given up as a hopeless task, or cask,
by the Black Tyrone, who individually and
collectively with hot whisky and honey,
mulled brandy and mixed spirits of every
kind, had striven in all hospitality to make
him druuk. And when the Black Tyrone,
who are exclusively Irish, fail to disturb
the peace of head of a foreigner, that for
eigner is certain to be a superior man.
The White Hmsarg were as conscientious
in choosing their wine as in charging the
enemy. All that they possessed, including
some wondrous iiMiidy, was nlaeed at tne
absolute disposition of Dirkovitch, and he
enjoyed himself hugely .veu more than
among the Black Tyrones.
But he remained distressingly European
through It all. The White Hussars were
"My dear true friends," "Fellow-soldiers
glorious," and '"Brothers inseparable." He
would unburden himseii by the hour on the
glorious uture that awaited the combined
arms of England and Bnssia when their
hearts and their territories should run side
by side und the great mission of civilizing
Asia should begin. That wasunsatisfi-trr,
because Asia is not going to be civilized
alter the methods of the West. Tnere is too
much Asia and she is too old. You cannot
reform a lady o many lovers, and Asia has
l een insitiihle in her flirtations a oretlme.
She will never attend Sunday school or
learn to vote siv with swords for tickets.
Dirkovitch knew this as well as anvone
else, but it suited him to talk special-cor-repoudently
and to m ike himself as genial
us he could. Now aud then he volunteered
a little, a very little inform ition ahoct his
own sotni.i o Cns-acks, le.t apmrentlv to
look alter themselves somewnereat the bck
n beyond, lie had done rouh wore in
Central Asia, and h id seen rather more
helii-yourelf fighting than most men of his
yeirs. But he was care ui never to betray
his superiority, and more than careiui to
praise on ull occasions the jppenraiice,Jrill,
uni orni and organization of Her Majesty's
White Hussars. And indeed they were a
regiment to be admired. Wheu Mrs. Dur
gnti, widow o the late Sir John Durgati, ar
rived in their station, and after a short
time had been proposed to bv every single
man ut mess, she put the public sentiment
very neatly when she explained that they
were all -o nice that unless she could marry
them all, including the Colouel and some
majors already m irried, she w is not going
to content nersei wun uuc uusajr. i nerc
fore she we bled a little man iu a rid- regi
ment, being by nature contradictious; and
the White Hussars were going to wear
crape on their arms, out compromiseu oy
attending the wedding in ull force, aud
lining the aisle with unutterable renroacn.
She had jilted them all irom Basset-Hol-mer,
the senior ci plain, to little Mildred,
the junior subaltern, who could have given
her 4,000 a year and a title.
The only persons who did not share the
general reg ird or the White Huss irs were a
lew thou and gentlemen of Jewish ex
traction, who lived across the border, and
answered to the nameof Pathan. They hid
once met the regiment officially, and for
something less than 20 miiititt , but he
interview, which was complicated with m iny
casualties, had filled them with prejudice.
They even called the White Huisars chil
dren o the devil, and sons of persons whom
it would be perfectly impossible to meet in
decent soeiety. Yet they were not above
nuking their aversion fill theirmnney belts.
The regiment possessed carbines beanti ul
Martin l-Henri carbines that wonlii lob a
tin let into an enemy's camp at 1,000 yards,
aud were even handier than tbe long rifle.
Therefore they were coveted all along the
border, and since demand inevitably breeds
supply they were supplied at the risk of li e
anu limb lor exactly their weight in coined
silver seven and one-half pounds weight
i& Itk
Z&
of rupees, or 16 pounds sterling reckoning
the rupee at par. They were stolen
at night by snaky-haired thieves, who
crawled on their stomachs unaer the
nosi! of tne sentries; they disap
peared mysteriously from locked arm
racks, and in the hot weather, when all tbe
barrack doors and windows were op:n, tbey
vanished like puffs ol their own smoke. The
border people desired them for family ven
dettas and contingencies. Bnt in the lonz
cold nighls of the northern Indian winter
thev were stolen most extensively. The
traffic of murder was liveliest among tho
hills at that season, and prices ruled high.
The regimental guards were first doubled
and then trebled. A trooper does not much
care if he loses a weapon Government must
make it good but he deeply resents the losa
of his sleep. The regiment grew very angry,
and one rifle-thlel bears the visible marK of
thejr anger upon him to this hour. That
incident stopped the burglaries for a time,
and the guards were reduced accordingly,
and the regiment devoted itself to polo with
unexpected results; for it beat by two goals
to one that very terrible polo corps, tb
Lushkar Light Horse, though the latter had
four ponies apiece 'or a short hour's fight, at
well a3 a native officer, who played like a
lambent flame across the ground."
They gave a dinner to celebrate the event.
Tbe Lushkar team came, and Dirkovitch
came, in the fullest lull uniform o a Cos
sack officer, wbicb is as full as a dressing
gown, and was introduced to the Lushknrs,
and opened his eves as he regarded. They
were lighter men than the Hussais and they
carried themselves with the swing that if
the peculiar right of tbe Punjab Frontier
Force, nndall Irregular Horse. Like every
thing else in the service.it has to be learned,
but, unlike many things, it is never for
gotten, and remains on the body till death.
The great beam-roofed messroom of the
White Hussars was a sight to be remem
bered. All tbe mess plate was ont on the
long table the same tablehat had served
up tbe b dies o five officers after a forgotten
filit, long and lone ago the dingy, bat
tered standards faced the door of entrance,
clumps of winter roses lay between tbe sil
ver c indlesticks and the portraits ol eminent
officers deceased looked down on their uc
cevsors tr m between tbe heads of ssmbhur
uilgh ii, maikhor and, pride of all the mess,
two grinning snow Ieopirds that bad cost
Basset-Hoitner four months' leave that he
might have spent in Eug.'and, instead of on
the road to Thibet, and th- daily risk of hia
life by ledge, arrow-slide and grassy slope.
The servants, in spotless white muslin
and the crest of their regiments on tbe btow
o their turbans, waited behind their masters,
who were clad in the scarlet and gold of
the White Hussirs and the cream and silver
of the Lushkar Light Horse. Dirkovitch'a
dull green uni oriu was tne only dark spot
at the board, but his big unvx eyes made up
for it. He was r.iteru z.ng effusively with
the captain ol the Lushkar team, wlio wis
wondering how many ol Dirknvitch's Cos
sirks his own long, lathy dowi-couutrman
could account or ill a fair charge. But one
does not spe ik o these things openly.
The talk rose higher and higher, and the
regimental band played between the courses,
as is tho lmuiemor at custom, till all touguea
ceased fir a moment w th the removal of the
dinner slips and the first toast of obligation,
when (he Colonel, rising, said: "Mr. Vice,
the Queen," and little Mildred, from the
bottom ot the table answered: "The Queen,
God bless her," and tbe bl spurs clanked
as the big men heaved themselves up and
drariK tne Queen, upon whus pay they were
f iNely supiiosed to settle their mess bills.
T-i sairament o the mess never grows
d, and never ceises to bring a
mj into tbe throat of the list
e , wherever he be, by ea or
by land. Dir! vitch rcse with his
"brothers glnriou," bat he could not un
derstand. No one but an officer can tell
what the toast means, aud the bulk have
more sentiment than comprehension. Im
mediately alter the little silence that lollows
on the ceremony there entered the native
officer who played for the Lushkar team.
He could not, o course, eat with the mess,
but became in at dessert, all six feet of him,
with the blue and silver turban atop, and
the big black boots below. The mess rose
joyously as lie thrust lorward tbe hilt of hia
isaber in totcrn ot iealty or the Colonel of
the White Hussars to touch, and dropped
into u vacant chair amid shouts of "Bung,
ho" Uira Siughl" (which, being translated,
means, "Go in and win.") "Did I whack
you over the knee, old man?" "Ressaidar
Sahib, what the devil made you plar that
kicking pig of a pony in the las: ten" min
utes.?" "Shabash, Itrssardar S .hibl" Then
the voice of the Colonel, "The health of
Res-atdar Hira Sin iit"
After the shouting had died away, Hira
Sini-h rose t.i reply, for he was the cadet of
a royal house, the son of a kind's son, and
knew what was due on these occasion.
Thus he spoke iu the vernacular: "Colonel
Sahib and officers of this regiment. Much
honor b tve you done me. Tins will I re
member. Vc came down iroui afar to play
you. But we were beatci.." (No fault o'f
ynnrs, Rrs3 lider Sahib. Played on our own
ground, y' know. Ynurpouies wcrecramprd
irom the railway. Don't apologtz-,")
"There. ore'p-rhaps, we will come again If
it b--so ordained." ("Hear I hear! hear,
indeed I bravo! h'sh 1") 'Then vie will
play you afresn" "Huppy to meet vou."
"till there are lett no .cet upou our' pontes.
tttffl
i
4
i
r
yyfti'Wy utijajrirt