2
ljc imcs, New Bloomfieft, JjJa.
THE CONDUCTOR'S STORY.
WHEN I was on the old W. and V.
lino in Missouri, I ran what was
known . as tha Drovers Express, going
West, but which had tho name, I suppose,
in contradiction to that title of tho
gentleman's wagon, coming East. The
drovers, whon coming to market with
their cattle, always went with tho boasts
on tho freight train, but going homo
westward they went with me. .
One night I had tin unusually rough
crowd aboard. They " were generally
rongh enough, but this time they were
worso than usnal. I had thoir car (for
I kept thera to themselves) placed in the
rear of the train, and to prevent their
trespassing into tho other car3 of my
train, or stepping off tho platforms, I had
them locked in.
Wo started about 9 o'clock in tho
night, and as I went through the drovers'
car for my tickets, I found mischief
brewing already. Each man had provided
himself with a bottle or two of whisky,
and the carousal had begun in real
earnest, but few if any of the drovers
being sober.
Ono or two small fights had been
begun, ono in particular between a tall
Kentuckiun and a short, thick-set Mis
sourian, having threatened to lead to
serious conscqueuces, both men having
drawn their knives. Their friends had,
however, separated thera, and had placed
them in different parts of tho car, the
Kentuckian sitting in tho first seat near
the door, in the front of the car, and tho
Missourian far back in the rear. The
latter, when they wero being parted, had
vowed that he would yet kill tho former,
but as both were in hot blood, the words
were not much thought of, though they
helped to sentence him to be hung after
ward. As I took up the Missourian's ticket,
ha repeated to mo his threats against tho
life of his opponent, and proposed a duel
with bowics in tho baggage-car. I man
aged, however, to silence the half-maddened
man, and a friend sitting in the
scat with him, and nearest the aisle of
the car, promised to see that he should
not leave his seat and attack the Ken
tuckian. I looked in upon them about 2
o'clock, A. M., and found them all asleep
in drunken slumber. Tho Kentuckian
sat in the front seat as I had left him,
and the Missourian away in the rear, and
also in his previous position.
Thero boing no more stops to make, I
curled myself up in a chair in the bag
gage car for a nap and dozed comforta
bly till awakened by the rattle of the bell
rope overhead, and tho whistle of the en
gine calling for the brakes to bo put
down. Catching up my lantern I opened
the car door and looked out, but found
nothing but darkness the most intense.
The train having stopped I got off and
ran to the engine, asking tho engineer in
a half-asleep manner where wo wero and
why ho had stopped ? " We're in tho
Orover Tunnel," he replied, "and I
stopped because the bell-rope was pulled."
Tho G rover Tunnel was about . a mile
in length, through, which we passed
nearly all the way on half-speed and
with the steam shut off from the cylinders,
thero being a down-grade at the entrance,
which was sufficient to nearly give us
headway to carry us through. When the
engineer saw the light at the other end
of the funnel, however he was accustomed
to put on steam, and it waa just -at that
timo, he told me the bell . was pulled,
being the signal for hint to stop. ' i
Uy the time my brakesman had - been
arouud thoouteide of the train, and finding
all thecouplingsright, ond not discovering
anything wrong externally, I gave the
signal to go ahead, as it waa dangoroua
to Btay in the tunnel. As we cauuj out
the daylight wai just breaking, aud, with
a brakesman, I started through the truiu
to find out if possible, who pulled the
bell-rope. ),.,, ,:; .i. .,.,! i : ,.
Most of the passengers were asleep
in the forward cars aa wo passed through,
but some few were awake, who told me that
the pulling of tho bell came from behind,
from some of tho rear cars, ' I made the
trip through the entiro trajn with the ex
ception ot thq drovers car, auo. yci me
account said tha bell was pulled from
still further in the rear. It was day-
light as the brakesman and myself crossed
on to tho platform of the last car.'" 'After
unlocking the door, we essayed to push it
open, but some weight against it pre
vented us. With ' our united strength,
however,1 we pushed It open, and found
the cause of the obstruction. '
Against the bottom of the door lay t ho
Kentuckian, his body twisted ana Tolled
ud into a distorted heap, as if he had been
overtaken by a fit. Supposing him to be
in a drunken stupor, I raised him to; his
seat,' and then began to loose his collar
and neck-tie. ' As I did so I noticed a
livid blue line running exactly around his
throat, and cutting deeply into the flesh j
bis race also waa or a deadly hue: ana
frightened at I knew not what, I sent the
brakesman for a phyticiau whom 1 knew
was on the train. . As soon as he came
aud had handled the Kentuckian, he ex
claimed, "tne ' man i dead his neck u
broken the man has been murdered I".
Immediately I rememhored. the Gght
of the. preceding evening between the
now dead man and the .Jlissouriuo, aud
telling the doctor of uiy fears that ' the
latter hud kept his word and murdered
tho Kentuckian, wo agreed to make somo
movement toward tho detention of the
murderer. Going to the rear, we found
tho Missourian curled up in his Heat, his
friend also being in the outside seat, and
both being appnrcntly asleep.
As we looked upon tho Missourian wo
heard him mutter, " I'll kill him, I'll kill
him," as if half asleep and awake. Wo
were turning away when tho doctor's
quick eye caught a glimpso of something
tho man had in his hand, and reaching
over gently drew it from ' his lingers ex
claiming, and this is what tho deed was
dono with." holding up to mo a thin
leather string, about tho size of a small
whip-lash, and nsed by drovers as- n belt
around their waist, and also to hopple au
unruly ox, or to tic the legs of a calf.
As vc left the drunken man, the doctor
said, " That brute has crept up behind
the Kentuckian, when in the darkness of
tho tunnel, and throwing his strap around
his throat, has jerked his head back and
broken his neck at once. The body had
then fallen forward against the door
while tho murderer had groped his way
back to his scat, and bad accidentally
caught tho bell-rope in his drunken grasp
and sc pulled it."
As wo passed tho next station, I threw
off a telegram to our headquarters, asking
for somo polico to bo on hand on my ar
rival, and as wo camo into tho depot, a
force of men surrounded tho cars, whilo
we Went into it and mado tho arrest.
The drovers were still sleeping their or
gies off when we entered, the dead Ken
tuckian lying in the corner just as we had
left him. Wo arrested the Missourian
on achargo of murder, and also his friend
who sat by him, as an accomplice, as it
did not soeni probable that tho drunken
fellow could have passed out of his seat
and into it a:nin without awakening his
companion.
Tho rest of tho drovers wero examined
and testified strongly against the prisoner
as to the quarrel and the threats ho had
used, and tho doctor swore that the neck
of the murdered man had been broken by
a sudden jerk, and tho mark mado on his
throat by just such a strap or thong as
was found in tho grasp of tho Missourian.
The prisoner produced good testimony
as to his character, and his counsel fought
bravely for him. lie showed that the
thong was in use by every drover, and
that each man in tho car had ono or more
on his person. The words we heard," I'll
kill him, from the murderer ho argued,
meant what he would do and not what he
had done. Ho showed the Missourian to
be wealthy, of good character and of a
peaceable disposition except when in his
cups, but it was of no avail, and tho
wretched man was sentenced to be hung
in six weeks from tho timo of his trial.
I went to visit him several times in his
condemned cell, and somehow or another
the declaration of innocenco the fellow
made to me shook my belief in his
guilt, although I had witnessed strongly
against him in his trial, and at last I
found myself fully confirmed in my new
belief of his entire innocence. I could
see no way to savo him however, and five
weeks of his time on earth had rolled by,
and yet the mystery was us great a one
as ever. , i , .
One morning about that time I was
running the same train, only as it hap
pened, we had no particular drovers' car.
In the last car was our superintendent,
a tall, lean Yankee, fully six feet two
inches in height, and of about tho same
height as the murdered Kentuckian. ,
' It so happened that ha occupied (,hc
same scat as tho Kentuckian had done,
and I was also in my old place in the baggage-car.
When exactly in the samo
place in the tunnel, just when tho engi
neer had put on steam to carry us through,
the bell-rope again rattled, and tho engi
neer whistlod for the brakes. ' Springing
to my feet I ran to the rear oar, firmly
persuaded that now I could solve this
mystery. - ltcaching it I found the super-
intondcut fitting back in his seat, and
holding his hand to his throat while he
gasped for breath. , Cue or two passeu-j
gers were attempting to be of som use
to him ; but he could only moau aud hold
tightly to hut throat- ; ,....
At last he reoovorcd sufficiently to take
hia hand away, and then I saw the slight, 1
livid blue mark which J had seen bel'oro,
in a most exact similar position on the
neck of the Kentuckiun. . As the superin
tendent got over the shock, be proceeded
to tell us how he received the, mark
and its foarful effects. He had been asleep,
and wag awakened by the train entering
tho.' tunnel. Half asleep ' ho' stepped
to the car door and stood looking,
or trying to look through tho door win
dow.' '" " ; "" ;
Suddenly, and without any warning, lie
felt a ropo slipped under his throat, and
at that moment the engine giving a jerk,
he was thrown violently into a corner of
tho car.' " ' : " " " ""'' '
The mystery was solved at last. ' The
train, as I have said, entered the' tuunel
at a slowrate of speed end without the
1 use of steum, the grade at' the entranee
foroiug the cars together and giving thoin
sufficient headway. . At this time the bell
rope, which of course has to be much
longer thuu the length of the train whon
the cars are close together, , to pllow of
sufficient length, y, hen they are diuwn out
to the full extent of the , car-couplings,
hung loosely and in festoons through the
car, and both the Kertuckiun and our
superintendent being a tall mon and stand
ing just where tho longest festoon would
be, near tho forward door,tho ropo slipped
under their chins, and the engineer sud
denly putting on steam, the jerk threw
them from thoir feet, and as in tho case
of the drunken Kentuckian, who must in
his drunkenness have gono to tho door
for Bomo purposo, was sufficient to break
his neck and causo death.
I carried myself to tho doomed Mis
sourian tho news of his pardon for a
crituo, by tho way ho had nfcvci com
mitted. Hut such is tho justice of our
laws, and ho joyfully accepted that so
lution of the mystory. ,
Each Christmas I received from' him
tho best and fattest of his drove, and he
writes mo frequently congratulating him
self on bis escape from the gallows. .
Reminiscences of Old Bob Carson.
rilllE celebrated mountaineer and trap
I per yet lives on tho Missouri river,
near the town of Arrow Rock : is hale,
stout and hearty, able and willing to mako
many more like trips. 'He is full of an
ecdotes, and gives us many hair-breadth
escapes from mountain storms and Indian
fights. ' . "
He says tho last tight place he got into
was in the year 184G, during the Mexican
war. Tho Mexicans wero committing
depredations of all kinds, and had stolen
some of tho government horses and mules.
Captain Price afterwards Captain Sterl
ing Trice was in command of a company
of United States volunteers, who were
ever ready for a scout or a fight. He was
ordered to mako a detail of twelve of his
best men, and send them in search of the
stolen property. Twelve choice well-tried
men wero choscu. Then camo the query,
who is able and willing to take command
of this squad ? It must bo some mun who
can talk with the different Indian tribes
through which they may have to pass in
pursuit of the Mexicans.
Luckily for tho squad, at this moment
Bob Carson rodo up, well mounted on his
favorite hunting horse Leo. A shout
frojn tho twelve brave men bid him wel
come ; their object stated, and requested
him to tako command. Nothing suited
Carson better than this.
Ho told Captain Price that ho could
follow a coal train as fast as any living
man could, and to give him self no un
easiness, that ho would bring his twelve
men back and not lose a scalp.
The sequel shows how ho succeeded.
Tho second day out they struck the
trail ; lato in the evening they saw in tho
distance a largo party of Indians, and as
they were on friendly terms with the
dfferent tribes, Carson and his band hur
ried to overtake them, hoping to gain
some information concerning the stock.
The Indians saw them approaching,
and halting for them to come up. As
Carson and bis men camo nigher, his
keen eyo discovered that they wero on
tho war-path, knowing no fear, he rodo
up, and the Indians, 1,400 strong, closed
wings and completely surrounded them.
Sandivere, tho chief, rode up to Ciirsou,
exclaiming : " Pcds tcdoly you are my
prisoner!" . . ;
Carson alter questioning tho chief a
short time, found that they were also in
pursuits of lost stock, stolen, as thoy con
sidered, by United, States troops. ,,. ,
The Mexicans had told him this talu
to screen themselves. But all hia intrigue
could not induce Sumlivcre to roloase him
and his twelve mon.-,.' i- . , , , .
The next morning, tho old chief com
menccd making preparations to shoot and
sealp his prisoners. Carson called him
aside for a talk, and finally persuaded him
to send one of his best runners to Cap
tain Price's cuuip, and if things wero not
found just as represented,' that on the
fourth day from the 'departure of : said
runnpTj at twelve, o'clock, bo might do
w'th his prisoners us he plewwd, The
runner, started. Carson , and his men,
sanguine that everything would prove
satisfactory to the phicF, remained their,
prisoners, cheerful and happy.. . , ' .;
On the morning of tho fourth day all
were momentarily expecting the runner to
appear. Ten o'clock camo, and no runner
insight; 11,' and no runner in sight.
Everything in camp was excitement and
commotion. Sendivere was certain his
runner had been foully. deult with, and
in his auger mado preparations fur sum
mary veugeunce. Twelve o'clock and no
runner in sight as far as tho eye could
reuch. v ' .-.) :'. ' i t 3
Carson thought his: hour had como, as
I (reparations were being made; and, well
mowing the terms would . bo complied
with, he culled Suudivcro and told , him
that ha would like to have a talk with
him. before lie and his men were shot.
Carsoo in the meantime walking .slowly
and leisurely from the cauip, telling the
chief that tho hoists, . saddles, bluuketsk
etc.wcro all donated or willed to him,
tho great thief, and that hp was not com
pelled, on account of this donation, to
divide theni among his warriors. ' ' 1
The' chief was much ' interested and
pleased with this donation, and by this
time they were eighty to one hundred
yard from the Indian camp, when Curson,
with the dexterity of an old monntuinoor,
pulled from his- boot-leg an ugly-looking
holster pistol, cocked and presented di
rectly in tho fuae of tho old chief, exclaim
ing : ..... ....,
Stund sir I you are my prisoner." , .
"What do you moan ?" asked 1 Suudi
vcro. .. , , j 1
" I moan just what t say -if you move
ono iuch you are a doad man." ,
Tho Indians, seeing their chief in
danger, started to his rescuo, but Carson
told him to motion his men back, or he
would shoot him on tho spot. Tho old
chief, well knowing tho man ho had to
deal with, instantly complied aud motion
ed his men back. Carson then told him
to order -up his twelve men with thoir
horses jdst as ho had reocived them, and
Leo with them. This was instantly com
plied with.
Carson then mounted the old chief
behind ono of his men and started for
Capt. Price's camp, where Sandivere
found things as represented by Carson.
Tho runner had been thero, but had lost
tho trail, which had caused tho delay.
Capt. Price gavo the chief may presonts,
and escorted him to his tribe. Ho evor
aftrwards was atruo friend to the whites,
and in many instaces did very valuable
service. Thus, by tho coolness, cunning
and downright bravery of Bob Carson,
this devoted band of twelvo bravo men
wore rescued from ccrtuin death. Parties
who wero with Carson at that time can
vouch for tho truth of tho above statement
A Jumping Match.
A young man who relates tho story
himself who fought but did not die, at
both Antietam and Gettysburg, went into
Providonce on foot, with some small ar
ticles for sale. Ono night, just beforo
tho sablo curtains of evening were being
lowered upon him, ho applied at a very
respectable looking houso for entertain
ment. He was very kindly received by
a young lady, who happened to be the
only ono of tho family at home, with
whom ho partook of tho evening meal,
and to our hero everything seemed to be
going "merry as a marriage bell." It
seems however, that the young lady began
to suspect that in " entertaining a strang
er," she had not entertained " an ungel."
But how to get rid of him was the trouble!
At length sho asked him if ho could
jump wcll,saying she could jump further
than any Yankee living.
This was a " stump " which the hero of
a dozen uattle fields was not disposed to
take, and they arrayed for a trial of leap
frog. The young lady placing herself
against tho wall, at three jumps reached
tbe door. Our Yankee then took his
station for trial. At two bounds he near
ly reached the door, when Miss Blucnose,
with all feminine fascination imaginable,
said sho would open tho door for him, so
that he wight havo a chanco to see how
much ho excelled her, and took tho third
leap which landed him outsido of the
house.
Tho young lady instantly closed and
fastened tho door, took hat, mittens, over
coat and valcis of merchandise into tho
chamber, threw them out of the window
to him, and told him there was a tavern
about seven miles below, whore, no donbt,
he could be entertained. Ho went on his
way meditating on the mysteries of
woman. . '
'. A (Question.
. . , ', ' .
A teacher in a . western county in
Canada, while, making his first visit to
his " constituents," camo in for conversa
tion with an eminent Vermont lady, who
had token up her residence in tho " back
woods." Of course the school and for
mer teacher cumo up for criticism, and
the old lady, in speaking of his predeces
sor, asked : '' ' ' ' ' ' : ' 1
" Wa'ul master, what do you think he
learned the scholars ?" '
" I could'nt Bay, ma'am. Pray what
did he teach ?"
Wa'ul, hn told Vm' this ere arth
was round ; what do you think of such
ituffr" ' . . , ; .
'! I'nwilling to oouie under tho category
of tho ignorami, tho teacher evasively re
marked : ....
" It docs seem btrangc, but still there
aro many learned men . who, teach these
things." .
MVYal,"., says she, . " if the arth is
round, and goes round, what holds it
p!"'' :' . .' .
" O, these learned men say that it goes
round the sun, and the sun holds it up
by virtue of attraction." . . . ,
Tho old lady lowered her specs, and
by wuy of climax responded ;
44 Wa'al, if thcue high-Unit men so
the sun holds up the arth, I should like
to know what holds tho earth up when
tho sun goes down 1" ,
iircclv on Cattle.
An Ehuira farmer wrote to Mr.' Grecly
for his advice us to the relative merits of
longhorn or short horn cattle, for the
farm. Horace said that his experience
convinced him thut tho short-homed cut
do were the best, as he had a cow that
had both horns broken off jumping a rail
fence, and since that time she hud given
more milk und cheese ; than two yoke of
long-homed oxen, and ou the samo feed
too, . 'Hi at in mr deluded Eliniiu farmer
has gone to kuocking the hoius off of
all his cattle,; . ... ,
J'KUKINS & HOUSE'S TATENT
NON EXPLOSIVE
METALLIC EEH0SENE LAMP.
Is Alisoi.fTEl.r BAKU from explosion or breaking
burns uny Coal (HI, good or bad ; given moms light'
no odor, and uses less oil.
"It Is ivrrrriitt nnn-'nptontiv'. The 'light' Is' bet
tor than Is produced by any other lamp." II'. N.
dcH; J'mtt'knt of Massachusetts Wlcultural
Vulhyc.
"It Is perfectly non-explnslve, gives a better
light and Is more cennmnicul Ihiin any other lamp
In use." ir. ir. Wells, lulc .IMiitrinlemlent of
ramie Schools, Clilcoio.
The npnlllnn deaths and tires from glass lamps
exploding and breaking create a great demand for
this lamp. It Prqi' to sell It. Sold hit Ovicassers;
Aoknts wArrn EvruYTVitr.im. send for a circu
lar and terms to ifunltoniery iS tt., Cleveland, O.
2 Han-lay Street, New York.
BANKING HOUSE
'
Jay Cooko & Co.,
112 AND 114 60UTII THIRD STREET,
Philadelphia, V
HEAI.EI19 IX Ahh
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
Old 5-20 Wanted
IN EXCHANGE FOR NEW.
A LIBERAL DIFFERENCE ALLOWED.
Compound Interest Notes Wanted.
INTEREST ALLOWED ON DEPOSITS.
t-COLECTION8 made ( STOCKS bought
and sold ou Commission.
tT SPECIAL business accommodations re
served for LADIES. U101
$11in IlowT made It In 0 mos. with Stencils.
PXJ.1V Kamples mailed free. A.J.Fullam.N. Y.6m
A GREAT OFFER.
HORACE WATERS,
Ao. 481 Jiroudway, New York
W7"I'J,',,lsl,ose of ()NB IIundurd Pianos, MU
TT lxiDKONS and Ouiians, of six llrst class ma
kers, iiieliidiiiK CliivkeriiiR & Hons, at extuemki.y
UlVt I'KICKS FOU CASH, DI KING THIS MONTH, or Will
take from to to 83 monthly until paid. 4 17 ly a
HOMES FOR ALL,
IN TUB
Land of Flowers and Terpctiinl Growth.
FLORIDA.
Tlio Italy of Amovifii.
IT IS not exeelleil In Climate by any of tlio
United States, unil it may be doubted whether
It ean be equaled In the world.
liOcated on the very borders of tho Torrid Zone,
still her situation between the Ouif of Mexico and
the Atlantic Oeean Is sueh that she Is swept alter
nately by the winds of the Kuktern and Western
seas, and relieved from the burning heats which
prevails in other Southern States; and thus It
happens that by the Joint Intlueiico of latitude
and peculiar location, she. Is relieved, on the one
hund, from the rigors of the Winter vlimatu of the
Northern and JMiddlo Stales, and ou the other,
from tho extreme heat with which not only the
Southern States, but In the Hummer tiliiu the
Northern States are characterized.
bottlers have not the hardship to undergo that
have been tlielotofthn pioneers who opened up
and (btveloiel our harsh Morthern latitudes. The
entire uear is n lierin tuul season qi iroicth, able
io priHiuee nun seim 10 inui'Kcc au tne uroiliicnous
of the Tropical anil 'Jvni iterate Zone weekt and
month in advance of mid other loculltii.anU at a
eamn tehen all moh jirorim thm, are luturlout,
uml vommand Uw very highest prions ; , ,
. The Florida Improvement Company,
under the flti;iiccno the State of Florida, proviso
to furnish lauds otunilorm iimid nuality. and upon
which oan bo ralxel Veiietuhlen, b'rull, etc., com
mon to the more Northern clinmtes, und all tlio
OitArNS, Kmnrsand VkoktaiilkhoI the Titoi'irs.
Such mleetrit lands. In til IlKAJflilBST unit ot
the Statu, und of the best quality.
Tha Company have. burned a pamphlet' Of 128
piiKes eonuiiuiiitt full und reliable liifiumatioii
concerning Ki.oitiTA its climate. Son., und 1'ho
jiuotionh, with a sketch of ill IIimtokv which Hie
Company will forward free of postage, ou receipt
of U ceuta. i i .....( '
l''oi-.otluir, Information or circular) address ot'
applyto ' '
Tlio Florida ' Improvement!" Co
: s i t it 1 1 o w, n . y. , ;
NKW Yolttf AND FLORIDA 'COLONY.
Partially organised, For full Information cir
culars, etc., uddresH KDWAHD lHI,OUKST, 8J
Nassau street. New York City. P. O. Box fi&tig
bli a ... , . ,; .. , , .
,,,.TIIE NEW, . ' "': ',
xttmuy ouwjuig - iiiauiiiurj,
liowKHY, JIVXA MliJituowJinY.
The e.xtraordluary success of their new and hn
proved iiiMiuiucturinK AUchiueo tor light or heavy
work, has induced tho , - ,
EMPIRE SEWING MACHINE CO.
to manufacture a NKW 1'AMILY MACHINE of
the snme style und construction, with additional
oriiuiiieulatUin, making It equal in beauty and
nnish witli other Family Machines, whereas In
UHefulueHit It fur ' 1 N.
OUTSTKIPS ALL. COMrKTt'l'OlW?',
The price of this now acknowledged necessary
article comes within reach of every class, und tho
enllliuniu U ,,K.i.i..u.l I.. ..H... lllu..'..l la.
Y".'..J in p.. i ttlltl tB I1IW. llin.HM III.
ducemeiits to buyers, dealers uud ugciits.
Lverv
Machine warranted.
Apply for circulars and samples to
KMPIltHHliWINU MACHINE COMPANY,
5 8 3m a No. 2M llowery, New York.
. LONGEST ROOF
In the United Stules Is on Muck's Hons' Faotory
Kaston, l'a., one third of u mile long, and Is cov
ered with
READY ROOFING,
CHKAP, Dl'ltAllI.H and easily applied. Hend for
circular uud samples to the manufacturers.
11EADV KOOFINU CO.,
4 28 lya ' Now4 Courtland St. New York. '
UNCAN BHERMAN A CO,,
, JIAPN'liKltN. . ,
V.. 1 1 X.. ...... .. Q,.AU(
NEW YORK, i. i - v , ...
Issue circular Notes and circular Letters ul
credit available In any part of the world.
Current ucconnts received on such terms
as may be agreed upon. ttylttf