westzssa
rir&nr
THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1891.
15
MEXICQ'SRAILROADS
Two Hundred and Fifty Mill
ions of American Capi
tal InTested Tliero.
ENGLA2CT) A COMPETITOR
Vast Resources That Are Opened-Up
by the Strings of Steel.
TIES MADE OP STEEL AND EBOiT.
Ccst of ConstructWi Often Enormous, ont
the Profits Warrant It
COAL PEOBLE1I IIEELI TO BE'SETTLED
.Joy
fTSsIn
-at r wxfj i
111
tCOBKESrOSDEXCE OT THB DISPATCH.
Mexico Cut, July SO.
HE United States
has abont 5250,000,.
COO worth of capital
in Mexican rail
loads. "Wo prac
tically control the
railway systems of
the country, and
our only competitor
is England, whose
investments amount
to little more than
one-fourth as much
as ours. These rail
ways are already
paying and Mexico promises to he one of
the most profitable railway countries of the
future.
A great railroad development Is going on
In the country, and about 2,000 miles of new
roads are now under construction. The
country has now over o,000 miles of road in
active operation, and during my stay here
I have traveled over roads which have been
opened only a few weoks, and I have pen
etrated country into which the iron horse
seemed to plow its way through the wilder
ness. In going over the Inter-Oceanlo
Railroad, which is a narrow gauge running
from here to "Vera Cruz, I passed through a
rich agricultural region and found vast
areas of rioh, but as yet untilled land.
tol rmoasH coffee ros the woexis.
These lands were at the same altitude and
in the same climate as that cf thi best coffee-growing
districts of Mexico, and the
rrvad will develop many new coffee estates.
At this writing it is only completed for a
little over 200 miles, running from Mexico
to the great town of Pueblo and thence on
to the mountain city of Jalapa, but within
a month it wUl be opened for traffic clear to
Tcra Cruz, and within a short time it will
have a line completed from Mexico city
west to the Pacifio Slope. Its managers tell
me that its income is already large. It con
nects with the Mexican narrow gauge sys
tem which qoes from Loredo, Texas, to the
Citv of Mexico, and it carries cars right
through to Vera Cruz. There is no doubt
that it will pay. It is managed by Mexi
cans, but it is largely owned by English
capitalists.
The Mexican Southern Railroad which
Grant proposed has been taken up and is
bein? tu.st pushed down to tne aiate oi iax
eea to Tehuantepoc, and this will give Mex
ico another connection with the Pacific.
The Mexican Central has its surveyor at
wcrk laving n route frcm the great city of
Guadaln;ara to the Pacific, and I expect to
tote a trip withia a few days from Agnus
Calientes right across the eastern part of
Mexico to Tampioo. This road has just got
Into running order and it promises to be one
of the great railroads of the future.
Tim IHSEEXSE TRAITM LAST XEAE.
Then American capital is building a road
from Monterey to Tampico and Mormon
capital is building another road down
through Chihuahua from New Mexico, and
this will also tap the Pacifio and the great
dining regions of the West. Du-Aug the
past two years 20 concessions for new roads
or for the c.riaA'a of old roads have been
granted, aal Miico was never more awake
to the atl-vjiages of sti-am communication.
Last yew more more tnan 13,000,000 passen
gers pAlNMiiarfd the railroads and nearly
1,000,000 tens of goods were carried in the
freight cars.
This raihoad development of Mcxieo
really bean about the time of the panic of
J67S,"when the old English lino which runs
from Vera Cruz up the mountains to Mexico
C.rv was completed. It had been building
off and on for 15 vcars and the Government
helped it along" with 312,000,000 and sub
tidies. It was one of the most expensive
its railroads that von will find anywhere in
the world. The Mexican Southern, which
Is being built toward Tchuantepec uses no
other kind than steel, and the Tampico di
vision of the Mexican Central has ties of
ebony and mahogany. The chief objection
to tne ebony ties is that it is so hard to
drive the spikes into them, and it is almost
impossible to get them out when they want
to change the rails. The steel ties are not
so expensive as it would seem. They cost
from 90 cents to ?1, Mexican, when laid
down here, and this Is from 70 to 80 cents
American.
Rttattj. OF THB at'i-mf. UBS.
They are hollow plates of steel about
three-eighths of an inch thick, the length
of an ordinary tie and about four inches
wide. "When turned upsifie down they look
like a trough, and the earth is packed in
and around them. They seem to make a
very firm tie and hold the rails perfeotly.
Oak ties cost from 83 cents to SI in Mexico.
Cedar ties cost SI 15, and almost any
kind of a tie is worth 60 cents. Thelnter
Oceanio uses steel disks with a cross piece
of iron, but these do not seem to work as
well as the all steel ties. The Mexican Cen
tral, which has a fine roadbed, uses wooden
ties, and the same is the case with the Mex- I
by the lack of coaL -The country has had to
import all the coal used in manufacturing,
and coal has ranged in price from 513 to 26
a ton. A great deal of that now used comes
from Indian Territoty, but the International
road, which runs from Eagle Pass on the
Texas frontier to Torreon, where it con
nects with the Mexican Central, opens up
quite an extensive coal field, and I am told
that large coal fields have been discovered
near the Tampico land. The Mexican
Southern will open up both coal and iron
mines, and there are bright prospects that
Mexico will soon be able to do a great part
of her own manufacturing.
ENTEEPBISE OF TUB MOBSIONS.
The immense area of new country anoT
new resources opened up by these roads
cannot be appreciated. The Mexican South
ern will tap some of the richest mining re
gions of the country, and it will pass
through agricultural lands which are now
worth but a few cents an acre, but which
will soon be extremely valuable. The same
is, true with the Mormon road, which,
though not under the Mormon Church, is
operated and being built by capitalists who
are Mormons, and at the head of whom is
Mr. Young, tha son of the prophet, Brigham
Young. This road will go through the
I'M II THE COTHiT.
Scene Before a Picturesque Judge in
Richmond's Black District.
THE D1GKITY OP A FAISTAFF.
Forensic. Displays Interrupted by
WhoWasFlea-Bitten.
a Dog
A FAIR PRISONER "WIELDED A RAZOR
JL-6IA3EESE twist engine.
icon National, or American narrow gauge
through line.
Speaking of Mexican Central ties reminds
me of what one of the engineers of the road
told me as to Mexican contracts. Said he:
"The average haciendado, or farmer of
Mexico, has curious ideas of profit and
work. Along the line of the Mexican Cen
tral there was a man who owned a strip of
forest which was filled with good tie timber.
I asked him if he could furnish me 5,000
ties and what they would cost me. He re-
Elied that ho conld, and he would let me
ave the 6,000 for 50 cents apiece.
BATES HliJIT UP 'WITH QUAHTITS.
"But supposelwar.t 50,000," said L "'Oh,
then," replied tho Mexican, "I will have to
charge you more, and I couldn't let you
have them for less than 75 cents apiece.
"And if I want 100,000?" I went on.
"Well," said the surprised farmer, "100,
000 would be a great deal of trouble, and I
couldn't think of undertaking such a job as
that for less than SI 50 apiece."
The roads have to be built by peons and
Third Clou Pastenger.
if i Wy
A. Sailroad Ccmn,
md'icvnr bailt and it cost about 530,000 -COO
to construct the 300 miles whioh con
stitute the main lino and two short branches.
The peons and tho IndVins objected to it
and ail its material had to be brf aght from
England, and in crder to pacifv the people,
tbcbuilJing was begun at both ends and
more than half the ties an4 rails had to be
carried up the mountains and on to Mexico
City.
HAD TO TICKLE THE TEA2ISXEE3.
It cost 5 a rail to bring them
from Vera C-uz to the capital, and this was
for the benefit of the teamsters. This same
provision was adopted in the building of
the Mexican Central Railroad, that great
trunk Una which now runs from El Paso
oer 3.2AJ miles south to Mexico
Citv. The building of it had to be begun at
both endk, and the material used from the
Mexico Citv cai was shipped to Tcra Cruz,
end at high freight rates sent across this
Mexican road to tha capital. It shipped its
rails and its iron from England, but its roll
ing stock came fioin the United States.
The old Mexl-an road is entirely English
though the chief, director and president,
Mr. Tlitmas B"-s.tuff, was born on Statcn
Island cf Sjotch-Irish parents.
'ifco road is a troaa gauge, and it is splen
didly ballasted and well-constructed. It
J-.S.1 Borne cf tho steepest grades on record
Ed in goinfrom the coast to Mexico City,
it rises 6,003 feet. It had for a time a mo
aopoly, anu it charged just what prices it
ylfcaisd.
SIVXDENDS ON rOBXT MILLIONS.
Its first-class freight rates were at the
rtart 518, and when the freight was carried
by passenger trains the rates were S97 a ton.
Sax a long time it charged over 10 cents a
wile for passenger fares, and it now charges
lucre than 5. It is capitalized at S40.000,
G90, and I undrstand that it pays dividends
on this capitalization. It has reduced its
rates since the organization of the Mexican
Ctatrnl, and now that the Intcr-Occanic is
completed, it will have to make still fur
ther reductions.
TL1 Mexican railroad has steel ties, and
Mixc3 has perhaps the most costlytses in j
it costs about as much to construct them,
aotwithstiuding the cheap labor, as it does
in America. I have talked with a great
many men engaged in the railroad business
and they tell me that the Mexican wiU not
do one-fourth the amount the American
workman does, and only the muscle work is
done by the Mexicans. Indians who work
on the road get from 50 to 75 cents a day,
and this is more than the average wages
paid them elsewhere. The railroads have,
in fact, increased the prices of labor along
the lines of the railroads, but they do not
work much better for an increase of salary.
One contractor who offered double wages
for extra work tells me they did very well
for the first two weeks, and then they laid
off until they ate up their surplus.
A3IEEICANS BUN THE TEAINS.
There are some Mexican brakemen em
ployed on tho railroads, but, as a rule, the
men who are engaged in running the Mexi
can trains are Americans, with a few En
glishmen on the old line from Vera Cruz to
Mexico. The wages of Americans on the
Mexican roads are fairly good. Fassencer
conductors on the Mexican Central get 5105
a mo-th, and I think they get a vacation of
a month every. Engineers are paid by the
kilomctc, or the distance traveled, and
they make from S200 to S2o0 a month. On
the'lnter-Oceauio narrow gauge, engineers
get salaries of 150 a month, and salaries of
passenger conductors are S100, and those of
engineers S200 on the Yera Cruz road.
Among the Americans engaged on the rail
w avs I did not find one who was d:ssatis
sieL They all appeared to like the climate,
the people and their work, and not a few of
them had married Mexican girls, or better,
had brought American wivei to Mexico.
The biggest r.ulway system in Mexico is
that of the Mexican Central. It is owned
principally bv Boston capitalists, and it
runs from'El Paso
ALONG THB BACKBONE OF MEXICO
for 1,225 milea to Mexico City. It has two
branches, one of which reaches out to Tam
pico on the Galf, and the other of which
will extend to the Pacific It is a broad
gauge, it is well ballasted, and it has Amer
ican cars and through carriages from New
York and Chicago to the City of Mexico. It
is connected with the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Bailway, and it is one of the great
trunk lines of the world. It taps a popula
tion of about 4,000,000 people, and there are
20 cities along its route, the inhabitants of
which would aggregate 1,000,000.
Cutting across the great desert of Chi
huahua, it strikes into the garden of Mexico
at Aguas Calientes, and from there on the
ride lor hundreds of miles to Mexico is
through perpetual green. Soma of the
grades of the route are very steep, bnt it
has not the picturesqueness of the Vera
Cruz line, whioh is one of the most pictur
esque railways of the world. This Vera
Cruz line has some grades so steep that a
sort of a Siamese-twm engine has been con
structed to mount them, and thi3 engine has
two heads and two boilers in the center
with two sets of driving machinery to make
it go. With it the train climbs 2,500 feet
upward in 12 miles, and over 4,000 feet in 25
miles, and you go from the tropics to the
temperate zone in the ascent.
SCENEEY THE BEST KNOWX
The branches of the Mexican Central
promise to be very profitable. The scenery
of the new Tampico branch surpasses in
wildness and picturesqueness that of tha
Denver and Bio Grande, and it is said there
is no read on the American continent that
will compare with it It will be the same
with the road running from Irapuato to the
Pacific, some of the gorges of whioh are
said to bo 3,000 feet deep, and the walls of
these gorges are perpendicular. A short
strip ot the Tampico road cost 510,000,000
for conttruction, and the Pacifio branch
promises to be equally expensive.
So far Mexico has been greatly retarded
Sierra Msdre Mountains, and will tap some
of the richest mining countries of the world.
It wUl open up rich valleys, and will prob
ably be populated by the more enterprising
people of Utah.
It is said that the Mormon colonies now
in Mexico can afford to carry their products
in the shape of butter and potatoes for 200
miles in wagons and sell them in competi
tion with the butter and potatoes shipped
by the United States by rail. When this
road gives them better facilities they may
be supplying the greater part of Mexico
with their products. As it is now, there is
a big margin for the sale of aU kinds of ag
ricultural products. American butter
brines 75 cents and SI a pound here, and
cheese is proportionately high.
OUB 2TABBOV7 GAUGE THBOUCH U3TE.
The Mexican National Road is the name
of the narrow gauge line which runs from
Mexico City to Laredo, Texas. This is
also owned by the United States, and it is
the shortest line from New York to Mexico.
You can get into the cars in Mexico City on
Monday, and Saturday morning you will
find yourself in New York. The road is
now on a paying basis and it is becoming
more and more profitable. It passes
through some of the best parts of Mexico
aftl a ride on it from Mexico City to
Celaya is like going through a part of
Switzerland married to the most pictures
que regions of the Himalaya Mountains.
The road winds in and out through the
beautiful valley of Mexico passing the
great castle of Chapultepec as it leaves the
capital and dashing out of the lakes into
the mountains at a few miles distant. The
mountains come upon you abruptly, and
you plow your way right into them.
You skirt wide gorges, wind along rocky
defiles with rushing streams cutting the
earth below you. You shoot out of the
rough hills into smaller hiUs covered with
green, and a second valley gives you pic
tures that make you think of Italy. You
foby a rose-colored church which was
uilt hundreds of years aco upon a hill.
arid down in a valley below it you see a
village, that makes you think of Austria.
SCENES EST THE TH.1AGES.
You whizz through the viUages. Bare
headed women with frowsy-headed babies
on their backs stare at you. Little girls clad
only in blankets wave their hands and a
peon porter, who is carrying a great bundle
on his back, scowls at the train as we dash
through. You notice that this part of the
country is weU cultivated. The valleys are
patchworks of crops, and the little old-fashioned
towns seem to be filled with workers.
What queer towns they are, and how curi
ous the houses I They nre more like huts
than homes, and their low ridge roofs of
boards are tied on with ropes and kept
steady with great rocks placed here and
there upon them. There are few windows
and no cnimneys, the doors are low, and the
people, as a rule, are dressed in cotton.
Now you go up the mountain. The road
winds about in horseshoe curves and loops,
and an hour later you are looking down
thousands of feet upon the village yon have
7 ivfcrN nA!Vr
tCOREESrCCTDENCE 01" THX DISPATCH.
Richmond, Va., July 8L There is one
interesting curiosity in Richmond whioh the
sightseer, ever on the lookout for relics of
tho Rebellion, never sees and that is too
familiar to the native to bo appreciated.
It is the City Court. Here criminal cases
are tried and all the humorous characters of
the city figure. The colored cicerone does
not see the points of the attraction, how
ever, for he dreads the place as the local
judgment seat for the colored sinners.
The building is a long, raking shanty
erected to take the place of the old classio
City Hall torn down to make way for the
new granite palace contrived by the Knights
of Labor some years ago and now nearly
completed. The Judge of the Hustings
court is a Napoleonic-looking person of
ITalstaffan proportions, festive withal, and
"one of the boys" whom men of high and
low degree call "Sam"untilhe gets into the
court house and then it is "Judge," even
from his most intimate friend of the
"wards." The Commonwealth's attorney
is also "one of the boys," and the same ap
plies to the sergeant and the clerk and the
constable.
TWO AXrOENEYS OF CCCLOB.
The lawvers varv in rank from the first-
class practitioner to the police court shys
ter, young aspiring barristers and colored
lawyers. Among the latter is the famous
counselor, Giles Jackson,a coal black, bald
headed old darky, an ex-slave and a
prophet among his people. The other col
ored lawyer is of the new regime, Henry
Crutchfield. When they are pitted against
each other it is a drawing card, and "Old
Sam's Matinee," as they call it, is crowded
with a mottled andience who often get re
buked by the Court when they applaud a
fine point, and not unfrequently go to the
dungeon cell for contempt. When one
strolls into the matinee at the height of the
season, at the time when vagrants seek or
are brought to justice, he beholds the omi
nous sign "City Taxes," and opposite to it
"Treasurer's Office" and "Gas Inspector's
Office" and the legend, "Bills paid next
door."
Counselor Jackson had been examining a
colored witness and presently the younger
colored lawyer tried to put the thumb
screws to an aristocratic darky who was
called for the other side. The elderly aris
tocrat stood it for a while, then he growled
out, rolling his eyes at the rising young bar
rister. BEBELTJOIT IN THB BOX.
"Look a heah, boy, you know who yo'
talking to? You sass me one bit more I
mash yo' mouf for you, shore, you nigger,
you, mine ef I don'tl"
"I'll put you in jail for contempt of
court," says the Judge sternly.
"Judee. I bees vona'don. I didn't mean
no offeniousness to the Cote, sah, excusin'
that low down nigger's owdacious jaw. As
I were remarkin', gentlemen, dis heah gal,
de prisoner, were sparkin' wid de boys right
dere on Bird streot, an' one of 'em took an'
insulted her like, an' she jist took de razor
an maKe a siipe at one or 'em s jaws.
"That's enough; stand aside," said the
Commonwealth's attorney.
Counselor Jackson WeU, now, genie
men, we admit de razor, but jiss study on
de provocation. Heah, sah, is a yonng
lady in de bloom ob your an health, unfur
seen like insulted by dis yere owdaoious
little black nigger and vaganpunt. What
could she do to vindicate her honah, sah?
Was she to took it iis so like a brazen
cipirony? Or a Babalony scarlet female?
She couldn't blush fur shame cuz she war
black, so she jis ont wid de razor natural
like an took a slips out ob de defamer's
jaw.
HAD THE BAZOB PB0an5CU0US-Z.IKE.
A juror Did she have that razor with
malice aforethought?
"The witness say he dunno. She "peared
to have it promiscuous-like air lis reached
out at de boy what insulted her."
"What had he said to insult her?"
"He say he lowed she had de measle."
At this stage a dog that had been taking
a great deal of interest in the proceeding
was diverted from the case by the insidious
attack of a flea and went for the fugacious
insect with such spirit as to attract the at
tention of the Court, jury and audience.
"Remove that dog." says the Judge.
But the canine, being a "favorite Bohemian
of the city, encouraged by the presence of
numerous friends, would not recognize the
sanctity of the place or the authority of the
law. He vociferously protested against ar
rest, and as the sergeant attempted to flank
him he seized the minion of the law by the
leg. The constable seized the dog by tho
tail, and even the "tender youn lady at the
bar," as" the oounselor termed the prisoner,
was obliged to show her ivories in mockery
oi iiis uuiress.
I stay there a week. Then they sent for a
f oi cards ana in tne meantime mo
humorous juror regaled his companions wjth
a yam which caused them to roar with
laughter. Then tho stern sergeant poked
his head in at the door and remarked offici
ally that the jail was not "fur off" and the
iudge had sent the last jury there for a simi
lar breach of decorum.
"Boys, Iaintcarin," says the humorist,
"we 11 make a dinner out of tho Common
wealth, anyhow."
"No, you won't," said another. "They've
changed that, because the judge found out
that every jury would be huncr if he fur
nished dinner in addition to a dollar a day.
STABVATION AND QUICK VEBDICT3.
This lugubrious prospect of starvation
moved even the kicker. They at once
agreed to acquit the prisoner and promiscu
ous "sliper."' When all the cases on the
docket had been disposed of the Judge an
nounced to the jury that he would now dis
charge them for the term with thanks for
their efficient and able services, and the
twelve thirsty but intelligent citizens filed
""k, exchanging invitations in wnispers to
go around the corner to old Ned Cum
min's place."
But the humorous juror paused as they
I"" me juaqe ana,gravety addressing tne
court, said: "We, the jury.appreclate Your
Honor's compliment highly, as also the
many assurances of admiration that we have
received from Counselor Jackson, and we
hope that should vou ever get us in a box
again it will be Hie same one and not that
from which we have just rescued the
prisoner." J. 6. K.
A LITTLE KEBELLM.
Amusing Attempt to Change the Elec
tion Results at Para.
TWO HUNDRED MEN CONSPIRED,
Hypnotized the Police, Paraded "ff ita a Bani
and Then Fled,
BOJIE SHOOTItfG OUT IN A JD5GIA
H0BB0BS OP WAB IH CHILE.
An Enjllsh Account of a Eecont Execution
and Balmaceda'a Policy.
The following from Pall Mali Budget is an
account of the ihooting of tho officers and
crew of the Government torpedo launch
Giraldo, at Santiago, by order of President
Balmaceda, which differs very materiaUy
from that sent The Dispatch by J?annie
B. Ward: On the night of May 29 those who
desired to confess did so, a table being furn
ished upon which stood a silver crucifix be
tween two candles. The broken sobs of the
prisoners mingled with the low tones of the
priest who, upon bended knees, exhorted
the condemned to repentance. Even the
soldiers of President Balmaceda on guard
over the condemned men were unable to re
press their tears as they witnessed the pain
ful scene.
Nearly all the night through the solemn
ceremony of prayer continued, but it was
scarcely daybreak when the shrill notes of
the bugle were heard. Six companies of
infantry were drawn up in line in the
prison yard, and a moment after the notes
of the bugle died away an officer ascended
the gaol steps to the Capella, as
the room where the prisoners were confined
is called, and handed to the officer on
guard the sentence upon the accused and
the order of execution, which was forth
with read. The funeral procession was
then formed, and the prisoners were
brought out, each being placed between
two soldiers. There was not a soul in the
streets as the mournful body marched to the
Plaza selected for the final death scene.
Arriving there, the troops formed a hollow
square, a company of sharpshooters being
placed in a position facing the con
demned. After the prisoners had kiss
ed the crucifix their hands were tied
behind them, and they stood ready for
death. The hollow square opened out, and
the commander of the troops gave the order
to aim, then to fire a close volley. There
were thirty puffs of smoke, a sharp rattle of
musketry, and the 12 unfortunato sailors
lay in a heap upon the stones of the Plaza
dead.
The butchery caused the deepest indigna
tion. But death was the least of the pun
ishments inflicted upon these unfortunate
men. When brought to Santiago they were
tortured one by one, and kept without food
or water for two or three days at a
time. The cells they slept in at
night reeked with filth and ver
min, and on the day they were
executed the condemned men were so weak
that they had to be assisted to the place of
execution, or tney would nave lallen. In
describable sufferings are inflicted upon
prisoners daUy. If a citizen dares to pub
licly express an opinion against the
President he is certain to be arrested,
as the Government spies haunt every cafe
and public resort. Prominence has been
given to the case of Julio Toro, who was
virtually whipped to death. In the mean
time his wife and daughter, nearly crazed
with grief, came to the gaol to ask for infor
mation, and were assaulted by the half
drunken guard and kicked in the street. A
passer-by, believed to be an English officer,
took the part of the women, and a fight
ensued, in which the two guards were seri
ously hurt.
FLEEING EB0H HIS MAJESTY.
Been Alonj the Road.
just passed through. You stop at Toluca,
one of the cleanest, prettiest little cities in
Mexicofcand then go on through a rich farm
ing country tiU you come to Celaya.
THE BOADS ABE WELL MANAGED.
The road from here to San Luis Potosl is
less interesting, but at this city you find a
great future trading center of the Republic,
and you go on northward to Monterey,
which is a Mexican town in the mountains,
now much boomed by Americans, and a day
later you find yourself in Texas and on your
way to New York.
Every railway I have passed over In
Mexico'lhave lound well-built and well
managed. The cars run slower than ours
do, but the roads are well ballasted and the
sleeping cars and passenger coaches are
good. All the roaus have second and third
class carriages and tho last are patronized
by the Mexicans only. They are the same
size as the ordinary passengcrcoach,savethat
they have long uncushioned benches running
throngh them just under tha windows and
another long bench with two seats and one
back runs lengthwise through the center of
the car from one end to the otber.
All of the men wear big hats and all of
the women and girls have shawls of cotton
or silk about their heads. They are by all
odds the most picturesque travelers you see
in Mexico and the only travelers who
represent the Mexican people.
Peank G. Oabpektee.
South Dakota has the largest artesian
well in tho world. It-shoots water 110 feet
above the surface.
PUTTING nr-THE PATHOS.
The dog being finallv arrested and re
moved, the case proceeded. It looked as if
the young and tender handler of the vicious
razor would get at least a year in the peni
tentiary untu it came to the counselor's
turn to put in the pathos, which he did
somewhat as follows, with a thrilling voice
that took the entire gamut of tragic ex
pression:
"Gentlemen," said the colored orator
after a dramatic pause to suppress his emo
tion, "we are fortunate to be in de hands of
such a jury, composed of do wealth and in
telligence of de city and fathers of families
commensurable to jedge of and set on the
heart reaving case of dis tender ohild."
This being the cue for pathos, the mother
of the prisoner at onoe drew a red cotton
handkerchief, and with a premonitory hys
teric went into a flood of tears, accompanied
by moans, practiced at colored revivals.
The jury, who in the aggregate were worth
about S50, and most of them bachelors,
wilted under the combined efforts of tha
oratory and the character, and showed their
emotion by nervously mopping the perspira
tion or tears from contorted visages.
A PLEA THAT WAS SAVING.
"Now,gentlemcn," continued the speaker,
"what had de prisoner done? I propound
dat question. What would you expeo your
daughter to do under presupposing similar
ity of circumstances? One of the witnesses
hab averbcrated dat de voun ladv held dat
razer promiscuous like an' not by malice
aforethought. What does dat mean? Don't
it mean dat she don t kayar a weepin' habit
ual? De owdacious insultcr ax her ef she
had de measle, an' she say she 'aint no sech
thing,' an' den he say 'you is had de measle.'
So what does she do? She were owdaeiously
insulted an' natural like give him a slipo
wid de razor,not of malice aforethought,but
only promiscuous like. Now, gentlemen, we
cum humbly pleading for mercy. Don' send
dis tender young creature to a vile prison
to be contaminated by de vicious an' sinful.
Don' ruin a pure young soul dat may be
saved far de Lord. But let her go home sad
an' repentant to profit by dis sould heaving
lesson. Acquit de poor littlo prisoner,
tentlemen, acquit her, an' I am confident
at you will.'?
HILABirr PEO JI THE JUBY BOOM,
When the jury had retired and. were
locked up by the Btern sergeant who had
triumphed over the obstreperous dog, the
chromo kicker hastened to announce an
opinion that nobody else could possibly
agree with, and when an elderly juror dis
sented the positive young man took his
seat at the window, cocked his feet upon
the table and armed with a palm leaf ian
proceeded to . fix himself for tho dav.
saying with a sardonic smile that business
Sow the Chinese Fool tho Devil When
Carrjing Corpses to the Grave,
A Chinese funeral never goes straight to
the cemetery, but, in a trot, hurries up the
street and then makes a short turn into a
side street, trots up that and then turns
again, says a Chinaman in the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat. Haifa dozen times in the
course of the march to the grave the bearers
of the body make these short turns and, oc
casionally, after turning, will suddenly halt
and wait for several minutes.
The purpose of these sudden turns and
unexpected halts is to deceive the devil.
The Chinese devil is a very great fool, and
can always be outwitted if you know how
to go about it. He is always waiting at the
door of a house where one has died, but is
not allowed to stand directly in front and
watch, but must take up a position a little
to one side. He is short-sighted, very
lame and has no joints in his legs to enable
him to turn a corner quickly. When he
wants to go round a corner he must stop,
back in a half circle till ho gets his face in
the proper direction, when he can go
ahead.
AU these facts are well known to the
pallbearer , so when they come out of a
aouse oi mourning tney come in a run, so
as to get a good start of the devil. Whilo
they are making the start bunches of fire
crackers are set off, in order to distract the
devil's attention, and the common impres
sion is that if enough crackers and powder
are used right at the start the bearers can
get away with the body before the devil can
clear the smoke out of his eves and see
which way they have gone. But, lest he
should have pursued them without their
knowing it, they run awhile, then turn,
and as it the devil has been following them,
he shoots on by, and before he can turn
back they have gone round the next corner.
The great point is to throw him off the
track, so fiiecrackers are set off whenever a
turn is made, in the hope of scaring him
away or putting him on the wrong road.
rcOEEESPCCTDIXCS 07 TITS DISPATCH.
Paba, Brazil, July 5. An American
visitor who may undertake to gain informa
tion from an intelligent Brazilero on tha
politics of the country wiU be apt to con
clude that the affairs oi State are stiU very
much mixed, and the farther he pursues his
investigation the more fully convinced hs
wiU become that the masses of the people
have no proper conception of tho import
ance to each citizen of the change from an
Empire to a Republican form of Govern
ment The usual comment of strangers is
that the native population are habitually
"indifferent" to all such matters. My per
sonal observation leads me to the opinion
that it is not so much a question of "in
difference" as it is of arrant stupidity.
It is a remarkable truth that although a
Catholio country but few of the voters (who
admit their Catholicism) are friendly to the
Church party. That part of the Republican
Constitution which separates the Church and
State is the most popular with the people.
It would be safe to say that the party at
present in power are altogether Catholics,
and those of the opposition are of the same
creed. Therefore, there being no question
of tariff, oivil service reform, etc., it re
solves itself to tho single issue of "Ins"
and "Outs." The party cry of the "Outs"
is that the "Ins" are robbers, and they
want to get in that they may have the same
chanoe.
It is weU known that tha "revolution"
which overthrew Dom Pedro II. did not
come from or through the people, bnt was
conceived and executed bv the army, the
populace, fully giving its adherence to the
new order of things. This placed General
Deodora Ponseca, of the Brazilian Army, at
the head of the new Government as Mili
tary Dictator, for a probationary period of
one year, during wnlch time elections wore
ordered, and all the preliminary formulas
promulgated, constitutions adopted and
otber necessary steps taken to put the new
Republic, on a solid basis. General Fonseca
was elected President, not by the people,
but Dy the newly organized Congress at
Para. The Governors of the different States
were likewise ahosen by the various State
Legislatures, which were elected by the peo
ple. It will be seen that their constitution
Is not modeled after our own, as has been
generally represented. It is olalmed, how
ever, that subsequent elections for the ex
ecutive officials will be by tho vote of tho
people.
YICTOBY FOB THE IN3 AT PABA.
The election whioh was held In the State
of Para In April resulted In the choice of all
the candidates of tha "Ins." The "Outs"
loudly charged that the election was wholly
fraudulent, and at the time there was con
siderable excitement In and about the city
of Para. It is conceded by tho "Ins," or
Republicans, that the now eleotion laws
practically gave them the power to "con
trol" the vote.
An ominous aulet prevailed durlmrtha
few weeks subsequent to the election, but it
appears that an extensive and widespread
revolutionary conspiracy had been secretly
organized by the opposition party, the ob
ject of which was to prevent by violence
the seating ot tho so-called "fraudulently
elected" delegates, and seat instead the de
feated candidates. The avowed purpose
was to thus organize the first Republican
Legislature of the State of Para, which
would Immediately eleot their leader Mi
randa as the Governor and then claim re
cognition by the general Government at
Bio. In expecting the Bio Government to
"recognize" and thus encourage revolution,
thev confirm my opinion, that they do not
understand the first principles of Republi
canism. We are taught that every man's
liberty rnds at that point where It begins to
connict"lu,,io liberty or rlshtsof hlsfal-
low-mf , j the gennine Brazilian has no
proper u5n caption of fair play.
SUEBBNDEB OP THB POLICE BABBACHS.
The new State Assembly was to be organ
ized at the Government palace June 1L On
the night preceding, about 3 o'clock in the
morning, a body of some !00 men moved
silently through tho narrow, dark and
AN AMERICAN SERIAL STORY.
WBITTEN TOE THE DISPATCH
B"3T CTTTIiIES "VZEZRHSTIE.
CHAPTER XIV.
X OE5IETEET ON A STONT ISLAND.
As they were not visible to anyone on
deck, Zach French sprang up into tha
shrouds to take a look at tho lay of the
reefs himself. When in a position to
verify the report of the man at the mast
head, French discovered that there was a
low line of rocky formation about six miles
ahead on the port quarter. It was strictly
speaking neither a rock nor a shoal, but an
islet with a shelving ridge which had been
sighted to the northwest Considering tha
distance, it was safe to assume that this was
an isle of some extent if the visible line was
that of its width.
In a few moments Zach French returned
and made his report to Captain WiUis, who
gave the order to change the steamer's
course so as to bring her nearer this island.
Upon taking the midday observation, Cap
tain WiUis found the position of his vessel
to be 14 07' south latitude and 133 13
longitude cast from Greenwich, which was
duly entered in the log. This point having
been fixed upon the ship's chart, it was
found to coincide with the location of an
island designated by modern geographers
as Browse Island and situated about 250
firecipitons shore line, a sort of cutto
owed out of tha main body of the island,
through which a creek reached the sea.
After taking a look at tha place himself,
Zach French ventured the opinion that ha
could make a landing there. The coast
seemed to be less precipitous and its outline
was broken at rather a sharp angle. There
was also a narrow opening in tha line of
reefs evidenced by the absence of breakers.
In a short half hour the steam launch was
lowered away, Captain Willis himself being
in command of it With him were Zaca
French and others necessary to man tha
launch. Out of caution, two rifles, two
hatchets and several revolvers were taken
along. During the Captain's absenca tha
mate was to keep the Molly's Hope in posi
tion in tha openroadstead and reply to any.
signals which might be made.
At W0 the steam launch put off and
headed for tha shore, distant about a mile.
As she entered the narrow passage count
less seafowls fiUed the air with shrill cries.
In a few minntea the launch struck gently
on a sandy beach pierced here and thera
with pointed rocks. Captain Willis, with
Zach and the two seamen, landed at once,
leaving the boat in charge of the engineer
and fireman, with orders to keep steam up
Passing through the gorge down which tha
stream reached the sea, the four men soon
found themselves upon the island ledge.
Some hundred or mora yards away there
could take care cf itself and he was ready to lpiration.
PARXIHG ON THB LEFT SIDE,
An Explanation of the Almost Universal
Method of Qalrdresaing.
I have seen hundreds of barbers' trade
secrets exposed, but I have never seen a
reason given in print for men parting their
hair on the left side in more than nine cases
out tf ten, says a barber in the St Louis
Globe-Democrat. I talked the matter oer
with a physician once, and he said it might
be only a coincidence, but that at least nine
men out of ten sleep on their right side be
cause by so doing digestion is aided and the
action of the heart is left undisturbed.
That, I think, accounts for the hair part
ing, because the warmth of the side of the
head pressed into the pillow greatly aids
tho growth of the hair, and a man naturally
parts his hair so as to brush it in the di
rection oi the greatest growth. This also
accounts for what almost everyone who has
tried to keep his mustache and beard evenly
trimmed must have noticed that he has to
trim the right side more frquently than the
left. Warmth is the best hair tonic and in
vicorator discovered, psneeinllv a moist
heat.such as is produced Ty confined pers-
crooked streets of Para toward the police
barracks. The State Government depended
largely on their police force. They wera
under the leadership of a hot-headed young
man, whom, it Rppears by the subsequent
testimony, precipitated, and probably by his
Impulsive movement prevented greater suc
ocss. Instead of boldly assaulting the bar
raoks, the leader alone approached tho
sentry who was on guard at the gates. Ha
was evidently an expected visitor, and ho
was cordially received by tho sergeant of
the police guard.
After a short conference between these
two worthies, the leader signaled for his SCO
men to advance,and while the sergeant took
the sentry off bis guard, the 200 men rushed
Into the barracks, disarmed the remaining
guards and seized aU the arms and ammu
nition that had been so carefully housed
there to bo used against just such an ex
pected attaok. The disgraceful leature of
tho affair is that nearly all these loyal police
soldiers immediately Joined the rebels, ener
getically aiding the enemy in their seizure
of the carrison. Tho officers of tho nnllni
battalion behaved In a most cowardly man
ner, ooncealing themselves undor their bed
clothing In their rooms on the corridors
above, from which they safely witnessed the
entiro proceeding without offering any re
sistance. A BEASS BAND POE A C0NSPE5ACT.
Thus strongly reinforced by tho uni
formed and drilled police, tho revolutionary
army, well equipped for dangerous rioting,
marohed out, after first pressing Into
their service the brass band that i3 attaohed
to this battalion. This was only one of the
many silly mistakes made in consequence of
tho want of proper leadership. Instead of
going quietly about to add to their strength
the recruits that are always ready for suoh
occasions, tho revolutionists paraded the
streetB of the city, acoompanying tbemnslo
of the band by shouting and threatening
language, and thereby created a feeling of
horror toward them instead of enlisting en
couragement. Tho home of their loader and lntendnd
Governor was visited; tho hand serenaded,
while the expectant crowd waited to wel
come tnoir new uovernorj out tho "Gov
ernor" was not equal to the emergency, or
else disapproved of tho movement, for ho
declined to make an appearance. The mob
was being largely Increased by the half
Indian and negro populace that had been
aroused by tho confusion in the streets, but
alasl they had no leader, and, as is usual In
such cases, thcywlthdrewin eomo confusion
and disorder from the city streets, and en
tered a thicket or Jungle in a swampy
suburb, from which thoy wero subsequently
hunted down by the military, after quite a
spirited resistance, during which live of the
regular soldiers wero wounded. Though
somewhat exaggerated stories are related
as to the large casualties of the rebels, it is
not officially known what number were
killed or injured.
THE 'R'PraKT-? IN M'H II! WOODS.
From their well covered retreat it Is prob
able the fatalities were loss than that of the
Boldlere, who occupied more exposed places,
thought at a very safe distance. So attempts
were made at a charge or rout of tha rebels.
In the meantime, while this idle skirmish
ing was being kept up in the outskirts, the
roccntly elected Republican Assemblymen
(or as they torm themselves hero Congress
men) wero brought together at the palace,
and at 9 o'cleolc of that day, in sllenoe, and
with many of their bronzed faces blanched
with terror, they assembled In their hall and
wero hurriedly sworn iu. This was tho first
Republican Congress of Para organized
under tho protection of numerous cannon
that had been placed In the largo, or square,
surrounding the Government buildings.
One of the most popular as well as brilliant
gentleman of this place is Colonel Tbesdosio
L. Chermont, a Brazilian-American who was
educated at Cornell University. Though
not an American citizen, he was by special
frovieo made the Vice Consul of the United
tatss at this point. This gentleman early
in the frav interested himself as a peace
maker, and became the Commissioner or
Ambassador between tho Governor In the
palace and tho rebels In the wood, and
through his taot and diplomatic manage
ment peace was restored,u number of arrests
made and the balance of tho Insurgents dis
appeared, but their ghosts still haunt the
people-of Para. J. O. Kebbev.
r , fir rf Jj V'
THE BELX, TOLD-TUB 8X03
was a rocky elevation commanding a view
of the beach.
Willis and his men at once set out for thhl
point and having scaled it with some diffi
culty wera thus enabled to get a complete
, view of the island. In conformation it re
sembled the shell of a huge tortoise, tha
jutting point representing the animal's toil.
In spots there were slight layers of soil
oovenng this body of the island. From tha
top of this high point Captain Willisana!
his men bent their gaze in every direction.
No smoka went curling upward, no human
being showed himself. Tho conclusion was
that if Browse Island had been in
habited and there could bo no doubt of
that, it was very unlikely that it continued
to be so.
"This is a sorry place for castaways." re
marked Willis, "if they wera forced to stay
here for any length ot time tha mystery is
what they lived on."
"Yes," answered French, "its nothing
but a baro table of rock, with a small clump
of trees here and there, and only a thin
layer of soil in places. But after all cast
aways have no right to ba hard to please.
A bit of ground under your feet is better
than a hole in tha deep sea."
"At the start, yes,rt replied Willis, "but
later on "
"Besides," added Zack. "its quite possi
ble that tha castaways who sought refuge
on this island were promptly taken off by
some passing vessel.
"As it is also quite possible that thoy all
perished from hunger and exposure."
"What makes you think so, Captain?"
"Because when they discovered that it
was in their power to get away from this
island they would have taken down that sig
nal. It looks to me as if these unfortunates
must have died before relief came. Anyway,
let us go and examine that signal,it'a barely
possible that wa may come upon some evi
dence of the nationality of the ship which
went ashore here."
Captain Willis and his men mads their
way down from the elevation, and set out
for the promontory whioh intted out from
the northward. But hardly had they taken
half a dozen steps when ono of the men
stooped to pick up -something which had
struck against his foot
-HoId on, what's this?" said he.
"Let's seel" replied French.
It was the blade of a knife, such as sailors
carry in their belts in a leather sheath.
Broken off even with tha handle and full of.
nicks, the blade had doubtless been thrown
away as useless.
"Well, Zach? asked Willis.
'I'm looking for some mark to show whero
it was manufactured." answered the boats
wain.
It was natural to suppose that it would
bear some maker's mark, bnt it had become
so rusted that until somewhat cleaned off
nothing could be discerned. Having dona
this, French succeeded in deciphering tha
words stamped npon the blade. They were:
"Sheffield, England." Captain Willis and
his companions continued their way toward
the promontory. It was a hard tramp
through this wild region. Admitting that
it had ever been visited by man, consider
able time must have elapsed since then, as
it was impossible to discover any traces of
footprints. After they had proceeded for
about two miles Captain Willis halted near
a clump of cocoa trees, stunted and scrubbv.
tne nuts of which, long since fallen to the
ground, were completely decayed.
TJp to this moment the party had coma
upon no additional evidence, but at the few
feet from this clump of trees, on the slope of
a slight hollow, there were undoubted traces
of planting in the upturned soil now thinly
overgrown with underbrush. The vines of
sweet potatoes and yams run wild were
recognized. By merest chance one of tha
seamen came npon a pick hidden under
briars. The tool hod been deeply corroded
by rust, but from the manner in which tho
handle was fitted to it there was no doubt of
its being American make.
"What do yon think of it, Captain?"
asked French.
"I don't think we're called upon to pass
judgment now," answered Willis.
"Then let's push on ahead," said French,
as he motioned to the seamen to follow him.
Having made their way down the sloping
sides of the main ledge, they reached a fevel
soot from which the rockv headland intted
'boldly out to the northward. At this point
they came upon a narrow cleft in the rocs
miles from York Sound on the Australian
coast As this island lay very little out of
his course, Captain Willis determined to
coast around it, but without any intention
of making a stop. An hour later the
Molly's Hope had run up to within a mile
of Browse Island. .,
There was rather a heavy sea running and
dashing noisily against the northeast point
of the island, which it kept enveloped in
the midst of the breakers. Nor was it pos
sible to form a close estimate of the size of
the island, as Captain Willis had not come
full upon it, but enough could be seen of its
conformation to show it to be an undulating
plateau without any considerable rise of
ground. Bnt as he 'had no time to lose
Captain Willis was about to give tho order
to eo ahead asrain full speed, which had
been somewhat slackened down, when Zach
French called his attention to something on
the point of the island.
"Look, captain," said he, lsn'fc that a
mast standing on that point?"
The boatswain indicated the direction of
the cape which jutted out to the northeast
and terminated in a rocky crest with a per
pendicular face.
"A mast?" Noj it only seems to me
to be the trunk of a tree," answeTed
Willis, and then reaching for his glass ha
took a closer look at the object designated
by French,
"You're right, Zach, it is a mast end I
think I can see a scrap of flag torn by the
wind. Yes, "it must be a signal."
'In that case we would do well to-Bear is
with the point."
"I think so, too," replied Captain Willis,
and he gave the order to bear for the island
at half speed. This was done at once and
the Molly's Hope began to approach the
reefs, which encircled the island about 300
feet out A violent sea was beating against
them, caused not only by the high wind
blowing, but also by the force of the current
which was driving the swell in that direc
tion. The character of the coast soon becamo
plainly visible. It was wild, barren and
desolate, with no trace of verdure. On this
side of the island, however, there were nc
signs of pieces of a wrecked vessel, no
shreds of rigging, no fragments of the hull.
The staff erected on the extreme end of the
promontory might be made of a piece of a
bowsprit. As to the shreds of bunting
which the wind was Olowing out, it was
impossible to discern their color.
"There are castaways therel" cried Zach,
French.
"Or there have been!" replied the mate.
"There is no doubt that some vessel has
run on this island," said Captain Willis.
"Yes," added the mate, "and that the
crew of some wrecked vessel have taken
refuge there, as testified by that signal yon
der. And it may be they have not been
able to get away, for it's rare that vessels
bound for Australia or for the Indies pass
within sight of Browse Island.
"I suppose you intend to go ashore, Cap
tain," asked Zach French.
"Certainly, Zach," replied Willis, "but
up to this moment I haven't observed any
point where a landing would be possible.
Let us coast around before we decide. If
the island contains any castaways they will
be sure to see us and hoist signals."
"And if you don t see anyone, astea
Zach, "what will you do then?"
"Wo shall attempt to make a lauding as
quickly as possible," replied Willis, "even
if it turns out to be a desert island, yet we
may find some evidence of a wrock and
that's a very important matter for ns."
"And who knows but " began Zach.
"You mean, Zach, that it's possible that
the Dreadnaught may have run upon this
island, quite off the route which she was to
follow?'1
I'Whv not, Captain?"
"While its extremely improbable," an
swered Captain Willis, "that's no reason
why we should not try to make a landing
and get at the truth of the matter."
Browse Island is about six or seven miles
in circumference, as was shown when the
Molly's Hope made the tour of it, but at no
point on its shores was there anything like
a harbor or even an inlet in which the
steamer could take shelter a few hours. It
was soon discovered that it would be neces
sary to lower away some of tho steamer's
boats, and even then they had not as yet
come upon any sate landing place. t
While searching the beach with his glass through which they were enabled without
Captain Willis dtscovered a break in thisj any difficulty "to reach stretch of sandy
4 '