The Elk County advocate. (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, February 08, 1872, Image 1

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HENRY A. TAESONS, Jr., Editor axd Publisher.
TWO D0tLAR3 tER ASXUSI.
VOL. I.
RIDGWAY, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1872.
NO. 49.
1' -
MM
F OFT 11 Y.
UAIiTII AXTJ HEAVES.
1 wandered long boido tlie alien watcro.
For cumtncr nm wore Warm, aud winds were dead
Fields fair a hope were strotchlng on bcforo mo,
Forbidden path were ploasant to my tread.
From boughi that hung between mo and the heavont
I gathered rommor fruitage red and gold
For mo the idle" fingers sang of plcaanro i
Sly days'wont by like stories that ore told.
On my rose-troe grew roses for my plucking, '
As red as love, or pale as tender pain
I fonnd no thorns to vex me in my garlands ;
Each day was good, and nothing bloomed in vain.
Sometimes I danced, as in a dream, to music,
And kept quick time with many flying feet,
And pome one praised me in the music's pansps.
And very young wa life, and lovo was sweet.
How conld I listen to the low voice calling
Come hither, leave thy munie and thy mirth ?"
0nw could I stop to hear of far-ofT heaven r
1 lived, ami loved, and was a child of earth.
Then came a nand tm took away my treasure,
Diramod my fine gold, and cut my rose-tree down.
Changed my danoe-muic Into mournful measures,
Quenched the bright day, and turned my green Holds
brown,
Tilt walking lonely through tho empty places
Where love and I no mon kept holiday.
My sad eyes growing wonted to the darknoss,
Di'held a nejir light shining far away.
And I could boar my hopes should He around me
Dead like my flowers, fallen before their Hmo.
For well I knew somo tonder spring would raie them
I o ungu.or nostomo in that fur-olf clime.
Where shines the light of an unending morning,
Where fair things bloom, but never any die ;
And the glad roe of a celotial dawning
Klu-hcs the heavenly heights, eternally.
TUB S TO Ji Y- TEL L Bit.
DRIPPER'S MISTAKE.
On? of tho firct settlors in the Wild
Itiver region was David Soinerbv. Ho
was a quiet, well-meaning man, contont
to live upon tho results of honest toil,
nnd nnxious to rendor nnto every man
his duo. Ho bought his bind when it
was cheap, in fact when tho prico had
boon merely nominal ; nnd, what, with
hunting and fishing, and cultivating
such land us ho was inclined to clear, he
managed to live verv comtortablv.
Another of tho early settlers was .Tas
tier Gripper. Hut Gripper was a differ
ent sort ot a man horn Sonierby. Ho
was closo and trickv, and could boar
down hard upon his neighbors in pursu
ing his own interests. Ho boasted to his
friends that no man should overreach
him.
Aye, Jasper Gripper, thou may over
reach thyself. We shall see.
Time passed on, and it became known
to lumbermen of the Mussuquoit that
the host pino in tho country camo from
the Wild Itiver region One day in ear
ly spring a gentleman came up from the
distant city und looked up aud down tho
river on Jasper Gripper's land ; and on
the following day ho was joined by two
other gentlemen. Uripper had otten
thought what a splendid place that
would bo for a dam und mill. AVith a
firm dam tho power would be enormous.
There was only ono trouble ; tho ex
treme freshets to which the river was
subject in tho spring and autumn would
render it ditKcHlt to fix the dam. Hut
then there were engineers who could
overcome all such difficulties.
Finally tho gentleman who had first
visited tho tall introduced himselt to Mr.
Gripper as Mr. James Hates, and frank
ly stated that ho had been commissioned
to examine the fall, and if he thought
proper to purchase it. Jasper Gripper
was keenly and sharply alive. Jiis
eye-teeth were cut. Ho knew for sever
al years the attention of lumbermen had
been directed to tho Wild Itiver pines,
und that lately people hud discovered
that the land was of tho very best quul
ity. And, moreover, ho knew that tho
tall upon his land was tho only sito up
on the river, anywhere in that region,
where tho dam could bo safely erected.
There was another fall six miles below,
upon David Soinerby's estate, but it was
of a wild, roaring, turbulent character,
looked in tho jaws of towering granite,
where no mills could bo possibly built.
" Of course," said Mr. Bates, " we can
not think of paying much for tho water
privilege, nnd but very little for tho
land which would bo required for our
buildings. The expenses of erecting a
suitable dam will be very great, nnd at
best we run great risk. You will bo the
gainer in every way. , Not only will it
open a ready market for your lumber, but
the valuo of all your surrounding land
will bo enhanced."
Mr. Gripper winked nnd nodded. He
had his own interests to look after. If
lie did not look after them hu was sure
nobody else would. After a deal of
thinking he said he would sell the water
u-ivilegi', together with ten ncres of
and adjacent, for two thousand dollars.
The ngout was astonished. Ho con
sidered the price ridiculous.
" Why," said he, " you did not pay so
much for your whole territory."
It inado no odds what ho (Gripper)
had paid. His prico. had beeu named,
and tho company could take it, or let it
be.
Mr. Bates was not authorized to nc
ccjit such terms, ne must confer with
his principals. And he went away.
In a few days he camo again, this
time in company with three others.
They went up and examined the water
privilege, and then camo back to Mr.
Grippcr's house, whero they informed
that individual that if he would throw
in ten more acres of land they would
neeopt his oft'er.
Gripper thought he had them. Ho
had thoroughly digested the matter, nnd
hud come to tho conclusion that the
water power would be of inestimable
valuo to tho company to improve it and
that they were bound to have it.
" Gentlemen," said ho, " my offer of
two thousand dollars was made for your
acceptance several days ago. I did not
leave it pun to your pleasure. I have
since been examining the property thor-
oughly, and have concluded not to sell
for less than three thousand."
" Why, bless your soul, man !" cried
one of tho company, " do you realize
how our mills, erected upon that site,
would benefit you ? The value of all
the rest of your property would bo
doubled aye, .quadrupled tho, moment
our wheels were set in motion. Wo had
supposed you would freely givo tho
water power to "a responsible company
who would improve it."
Mr. Gripper lnuglied scornfully Ho
know his own interests better than that;
they could lake- Hp with his offer, or
they could leave it, as they pleased.
After much discussion, Mr. Bates spoke
thus :
" Mr. Gripper, wo would like your
final offer .to remain open to our. neeept
nnco three days, nt tho end' bf which
time you shall have our nnswer. Will
you necommodnto us':"
" When I said three thousand dollars,"
replied Mr. Gripper, " I meant to in
clude only ten. ncres of land. If you
want ten acres more I must call it thir-ty-fivo
hundred."
And with this monstrous proposition,
which was to bo open threo days, tho
parties separated.
Ono of tho gentlemen of Mr. Bates's
party was Benton Mcintosh, the mo.4
accomplished engineer of tV j day.
"You spoke of nnoU'cr full below
here," ho said, after they had left Grip
per's residence.
" Yes," answered Bates ; " but you
will find it utterly impracticable."
!Still Mcintosh wished to look at it,
nnd thither tho party bent their steps.
Tho fall was found to be a tumbling,
dashing Hood, pouring down a declivity
of at least seventy feet in a distance of
twenty rods, leaping nnd surging over
jagged shelves of rocks into a boiling
chasm below, whilo on both hands arose
perpendicular wnlls of solid granite,
showing that nt some period far remote
tho mountain torrent had literally cut.
its way through tho adamantine ledge.
Mcintosh examined tho lay of the
land below the fall, and at a point not
far distant in that direction he found a
shallow swell or gully, overgrown with
grass und shrubbery, but with a deposit
of river snnd upon its bottom. The np
penrauce of the place attracted his at
tention. "Probably," said Mr. Bates, "it is
where tho melted snow and heavy rain
finds its course from the hills."
" I think not," said Mcintosh. " This
sand is from the river not from tho
hills and you will observe that it culd
not have been backed up by any rise of
the water below. Let us follow it."
And they struck out into tho water
path, and followed it up around the
ledge, by an easy and gradual ascent,
until it led them out upon the; river's
bank, acarlv a quarter of a mile from
the fall.
" Eureka !" cried Mcintosh, clapping
his hands cxultingly. " Hero we have a
water course, marked out nnd graded by
Nature herself, which will yield a power
immeasurably superior to the one above.
And moreover all danger from floods is
debarred."
Tho others quickly comprehended the
value of the discovery. They saw that
by cutting a canal along the old water
course a course over which the river
had poured a stream at its highest floods
they would bo able to control the water
and to use it over again for the consump
tion by mills, set one below the other
along the gracefully curved track. And
two things more: The sites were moro
favorable for building hero than wore
thoso above, with better timber land sur
rounding ; and tho furious cataract
would not be between thoir mills and
the market.
The next question was, who owned
the newly-discovered privilege 'r It be
longed to Mr. Somcrby. They visited
him aud carefully opened their busi
ness. " Look here, gentlemen," he said, af
ter they had beaten the bush awhile
their experience with Gripper had made
them cautious "let us understand each
other. Tell me plainly what you want,
uuu 1 will tell you us plainly what l will
do on my part."
Mr. Bates mado up his mind that he
hail an honest, straightforward man to
deal with, aud ho stated his case plainly
and frankly. He not only told how the
company would develop tho water-power
and erect their mills, but he went on to
point out the advantages which would
result to the adjoining land, both in en
hancing tho value of tho land itself,
aud ulso of the magnificent pine nnd
spruce timber which covered it.
Mr. Somorby listened attentively, and
at length told them to call upon hiin on
the next morning. He wanted to sleep
upon it.
That evening Jasper Gripper called
down to see his friend Somerby. He
wanted to purchase five hundred acres,
moro or less, of tho pine intervale and
spruco upland adjoining his land. Grip
per fought shy nnd hung on, und Som
erby only got rid of him by ussuring
hiin that ho was nt present not at liberty
to sell.
' Aha !" clucked Gripper. " Them mill
folks have been here. They want tho
land. Well, let 'em buy it. I shall own
nil tho land between it and their mills,
and they'll find it hard work to get their
logs up without my consent."
Aud Gripper returned to his homo
firmly persuaded that tho company had
resolved to purchaso his water privilege.
Oh ! why had ho not asked them live
thousand for it 'r
Ou tho following morning Mr. Bates
and hiy friends wore punctual, and when
Mr. Somorby had been asked what con
clusion ho had arrived at, ho spoke as
follows :
" Gentlemen, I have thought tho mat
ter nil over, and have mado up my mind.
I have two propositions to make, and
you can accept which you chfoso. All
told, I own about fifteen hundred acres
of land in this section, and the river cuts
it nearly in halves. Full half of it is
rich intervale, covered with pine, and
tho rest is upland and hill, with spruce,
hemlock und oak. First. I will givo you
the land for vour course, aud deed to
you tho power, and also give all tho land
necessary for your mill buildings, pro
vided that you, on your part, set at onco
about developing and improving the
power and putting up the mills. Or I
will turu all my laud into the stock of
the company, at a fair apprisal, and be
oome one of you."
Jlr. Bates was authorized to acocpt
tho first offer on the spot, and to give
bonds, if necessary, for tho performance
of tho company's part of. thd contract.
But ho liked the second offer best, though
before accepting it ho mut confer' at
headquarters. ,
Mr. Somcrby informed' hiin tluit tho
offer was open to him as. long ps he. de
sired. '
On their way back Mr. Bates rind his
companions called upon Jasper Gripper.
" Gentlemen,".' said Mr. Gripper, ins
soon as mutual salutations had been ex
changed, "you. will understand that
when I offered the twenty acres of land
I did not intend, for tho prico named, to
include' the timber standing thereon." .
" It mnkes no difference," returned Mr.
Bates, with a smile. " Wo have con
cluded not to purchase your water privi
lege." "How? not purchase ':" gasped Grip
per. " No ; .we do not want it." Mr. Bates
did not think it necessary to tell him of
tho better power which they had dis
covered. "But, gentlemen, thero must be some
mistake."
They assured him there was no mis
take ut all. '
Mr. Gripper was in agony, He would
take two thousand dollars. Ho would
take fifteen hundred. Ho would take
whatever they were willing to pay. He
would give them tho water nnd the land
if they would put up their mills thereon.
But they would not do it. ne had
pushed them gust ono step too far. In
seeking to overreach them he had over
reached himself. And they left him a
prey to remorse und bitterness of spirit.
Tho company before whom Mcintosh
laid their report appointed a commission,
with full power to decide and negotiato ;
nnd upon .visiting David Soinerby's sec
tion, and carefully surveying his terri
tory, they concluded to accept his second
proposition. So he surrendered his land
into tho stock of flic company, nnd be
came one of them, and we -may here re
mark that six months later ho .wns not a
littlo surprised upon being . appointed
superintendent of tho lumbering gangs,
with a salary such as his wildest dreams
of wealth had never grasped.
Tho. water-power was developed under
the engineering of Benton Mcintosh,
and improved even greater than he had
anticipated. The mill's were erected
first, mills for sawing' lumber, and then
mills for - grinding groin; nnd in time
other mills for making cloth, nud for
fabricating various other articles neces
sary to tho comfort of man.
The. land of Jasper Gripper was of
course raised m value, but it availed him
not. Tho sight of David Sonierby, rich
nnd respected, and honored with offices
of profit and trust, whilehe was shunned
nnd shut out from the public confidence,
filled hiin with wrathful suffering. Veri
ly ho had overroachod himself in his nar
rowness und selfishness of spirit. To
day a flourishing town is upon tho site
of David Somerby 's section, nnd; the
hum of thousands of busy spindles
makes cheerful music for tho prosperous
and happy operatives ; and from its tire
less looms nnd clanging forges flows out
wealth to tho nation.
Mixed " Humans " vs. Pure Outs.
In a late lecture at the Museum of tho
Garden- of Plants, .M. tiuatrefages quoted
somo curious figures regarding the pro
portion .of mixed human, races to the
puro ones. The aggregate of the popu
lations of Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia,
La Plata and Brazil, amounts to 16,010,
100, comprising whites, Indians, negroes,
and mulattoes of all descriptions. Tho
number of the latter is 3,330,000, being
one-fifth of the population. Now, ac
cording to M. Omalius's calculations, tho
whole globe is peopled with 1,200 mil
lions of inhabitants : uinong these the
half-breeds number 18 millions, which
fixes their proportion at 1 in GO. Xow,
according to tho Professor, these mixed
racesmay perfectly well form nations by
themselves, thus, the Busters and Gri
quas, resulting from the intercourse be
tween whites and Heittentots, havo mul
tiplied so us to become a serious annoy
ance to the Capo Government. Again,
tho Cafusos, who havo sprung from the
mixture of the negro with the nativo
Indian of Brazil, form a separato raco
in tho wood they havo selected for their
abode.
Another instance quoted is that of
Pitcairu's Island, in tho Pacific, whero
nine English sailors, six Otaheitian men,
and fifteen women of the latter Btock
landed in 1789. In 1793, owing to brawls
among these people tho population was
reduced to four whites and Otaheitian
women. Ultimately only ono white re
mained alive, but a mixed race had
sprung up, which in 182j amounted to
lili individuals. In lSoti it consisted of
189, so that it had almost trebled in 31
years. Tho object of the lecture is to re
fute the partisans of the plurality of hu
man races. M. Do Quatrclugcs ii a sin
cere adherent to biblical traditions, and
wants to prove scientifically that we have
sprung from one common stock.
A Case of Mistaken Identity.
A Meriden man returning from tho
" club" a few nights ago, got into the
wrong house und had just pulled off his
boots preparatory to seeking his little
bed, when tho proprietor appeared, and
with some ditliculty conducted him
home. When they arrived tho inobriuted
individual was still so befogged that he
insisted that his friend (who by tho way
is a strict temperance luan), should be
put to bed ; assured him ho would never
say a word about his being " in-tos-ti-cated;"
pointed oulT to him tho evils of
intemperance j depicted the sorrow of
his wife if sho would ever know of his
condition; begged him never to touch
anotlier drop of liquor, and even went
so fur as to produce a bill for goods
from ono of our merchants, whiuh, he
insisted, was a temperance pledgo, and
with tears urged his friend to sign it,
promising to stand by him through
thick and thin" if he would do so. It
is needless to say that the temperance
man didn't "sign." EjKhanye,
1 A Soudan; Adventure.
Tremioux, a recent French traveller,
who penetrated into Soudan, gives tho
following interesting adventure on tho
Upper Mile.
As tho boats mado their ways slowly
against tho tide, ho landed and walked
on, till feeling tired, ho sat down at tho
foot of a tree, from which his approach
had scared a troop of monkeys.
" Whon they jaw ina seated quietly,
they gradually approached, without
evincing alarm. My riflo lay uselessly
beside me, for I had expended my last
cap, so that had I wished I. could not
have fired at thorn. They squatted down
to exainino mo leisurely, with nil tho
grimaces and pantomimes usual in those
thnt have been domesticated. Occa
sionally they would quarrel and sho
their teeth. Ono crawling up, began to
feel the barrel of my rilie, and finally
grasped the strap to carry it off, but
found it too heavy.'. .Thinking them too
familiar, I throw a stone or two, which
scattered tho tribe, flnd.some fled to tho
branches over my heed, where they be
gan to annoy mo by slinking down dead
boughs.
" They descended' ftgain, but did not
come so near me." I was so nmusod nt
their nntics, that I sat thero without no
ticing tho time, when suddenly from the
forest enme tho long-drawn, sad howl of
the jackal, nnswerod from various quar
ters nnd followed by a period of silenco,
during which the animals assemble,
when a general howl is given, but is not
renewed unless some of tho pack strays
off.
" N ight was on me. From every quar
ter rose howls and cries ; tho boat was
not in sight. I could not remain, and
to reach the boat scorned fearfully dan
gerous, nnd I was unarmed.
" I started up nnd cnutiously treaded
my way through the gathering gloom,
peering into every tuft of bushes, when
suddenly I heard a fearful sigh, a draw
ing in of tho breath, that surpassed any
forge-bellows I ever hoard. I stood par
nlyzed. Again the long breath, and
then came a roar thnt nhook the very
forest. A lion stood right in my path.
" After a few moments, cries and howls
began anew ; and I felt that my only
hope might be in swimming, if 1 could
do so without noi?o. I ndvnnced nlong
the beach with care till I camo to a bit
of woods. This I entered with deep mis
givings, heightened by a hideous laugh,
almost jit my heels, tho cry of the loat h
some hyena. I pushed on, every now
nnd then placing myself close to a tree
to peer around me. At last I reached a
spot on the shore wheuco I could see tho
barque. My heart bounded," but I was
not out of danger., .A dark form was
silhouetted on tho sky just before me.
I slunk back, and the animal vanished,
doubtless a prcv to the lion.
" Then I pushed on eteadily, but how
the time hung ! I seemed to make no
progress, but at last I distinguished tho
men on board, and hailed. Heaven bo
thanked! tho answer came, and they
were bounding forward to help me. It
was well, for my strength was gonfl, so
overwrought had been my whole ner
vous svsfem."
Crocodiles.
Of all wild animals, tho crocidilo
seems to bo the most alarming and de
structive. An Egyptian sportsman,
who supported himself and his family
by tho produce of his gun, about six
years since, with threo of his neighbors,
went to an island called Goizet-il-Arab
a favorite resort of crocodiles to hunt
for their eggs.
As they were going round tho island,
three crocodiles escaped into the river.
On examining the spot, a quantity of
eggs were discovered in the sand. These
they secured, and were proceeding back
to their tent, when a crocodile who had
watched the transaction rushed to the
place of her deposit, and as rapidly re
turned to the river, nud swimming, fol
lowed them opposito to their abode,
whero until nightfall her eyes were seen
above tho water.
The sportsmen feasted sumptuously
upon their spoil ; but as soon as tho lust
embers of their firo had died away, tho
crocodilo charged them furiously, re
peating her attucks several times during
tho night; and it wns only by tho fre
quent dischargo of their firearms that
they kept her off at all. Tho crocodile,
which had hitherto remained harmless,
now became furious, and attuckod all
tho cattle it could catch upon tho river
Bide. Among tho victims was a fino
inure in u neighboring village, who, as
usual, was allowed to graze iu the coarse
abundant pasturage.
One day, whilst drinking, she was
seized in tho back of the neck by the
jaws of tho crocodilo. The mure being
a powerful animal, in an agony of pain,
throw up her head. The crocodilo drop
ped upon her buck, and, with her strango
bunion, tho mure galloped off to her
stable. Tho astonished villagers imme
diately set upon tho crocodilo with their
uaboot, or stout sticks, until sho was in
duced to let go her hold nnd dismount ;
but the niuro died from tho joint effect
of its wounds nnd the fright.
During March, which is the breeding
season, tho crocodiles deposit their eggs
in tho sand on the bunks, or, in prefer
ence, in small sand-bunks or islands on
the stream. The eggs, which arc white
and hard, in sizo resemble those of a do
mestic goose. One found on tho White
Itiver measured exactly threo inches
and a half in length, and five inches and
thirteen-sixtoenths in circumference.
Tho euro and anxiety bestowed by
these ferocious creatures upon their eggs
is astonishing. When about to lay, tho
female crocodilo will dig with her claws
a hole in tho suud, six inches deep, drop
her egg therein, and covor it up. She
will then make several holes around the
first, to mislead those in search of her
treasure. Every day sho will add a
fresh egg to her store, at tho samo time
carefully enlarging the excavation, turn
ing them, nnd re-covering theni with
sand. After they are hutched by the
sun's rays, tho mother will place her
young in the shallow water of a retired
creek, where sho will nourish them
until thoy oro capable of feeding themselves,
Hydrophobia Without a Cause.
IFrom Iht Chicago Timet, January 87.
Within tho past five days a most pe
culiar case of hydrophobia has mado its
appearance in this city peculiar, from
the fact that tho victim, in his sane mo
ments, positively asserts that ho never
has beeu bitten by a dog. Somo of tho
acquaintances of the unfortunate patient
claim that ho was bitten a number of
years ago. Tho name of tho sufferer is
Gcorao lteitor. IIo is a stalwart German
28 years of ago, and has for somo time
been oni ployed as engineer in the pack
ing house of P. J. Bowes, no resides
with his mother and sisters in tho second
house - from the northwest corner of
Greon and Harrison streets. Tho first
symptoms of the terrible disease were ob
served on last Snndny night. George
had been in tho house the greater part
of tho evening, enjoyiHg tho society of
his family. At tho supper tablo nothing
nnusunl developed itself, and for an hour
nnd a hnlf afterwards ho conducted him
self as if in tho possessionof all his men
tal faculties. Suddenly ho wns seized
with terrible spasms. Ho writhed liko
n snake. His face becamo red, purple,
black. His eyes gleamod with tho ter
riblo firo of insanity, nnd protruded from
their sockets. Tho affrighted women
rushed terror-stricken from the house,
and alarmed their neighbors. Somo
men entered tho room whero George was
lying, ard succeeded, with great dangor
to themselves, in securing him. It wus
several minutes before the effects of tho
convulsions passed away, after which he
spoke rationally and inquired whnt he
had been doing ; what great weight had
laid upon him, and similar questions
betraying unconsciousness of the awful
struggle through which he had passed.
When he was informed of tho nature of
tho attack he grow pale and .said :
" Friends, keep away from me. I shall
be seized again, nnd I may hurt you. I
would not do any of you injury for tho
world. Oh, keep a way ' keep away !"
Shortly after this ho was attacked with
moro horrible convulsions than the first.
Four men taxed their utmost strongth to
pin him to the floor, but failed, and ad
ditional help had to be summoned. A
doctor was called. IIo reached the house
just as the effects of tho second attack
were passing away, and tho victim was
lying enfeebled nnd helpless on a couch.
Ho examinod him, prescribed some reme
dies, nnd waited to witness their efficacy.
The instant tho medicino was placed to
the sick men's lips ho was ngiin seized
. ith convulsions, tho attack being much
more severe than the second. He went
out of one spasm into another nil day
Monday, and nobody knew wiat to do
with him except to hold him down and
prevent him. frpm killing himself or
somebody ' else. On Tuesday morning
it wns decidpd to transfer him to tho
Mercy Hospital. Before doing so, how
ever, Dr. Treat was summoned, and he,
together with two other physicians, re
paired to Goorgo's residence. The in
stant Dr. Treat saw him and beheld tho
nature of the convulsive attacks, ho pro
nounced tho disease to be an intensified
case of hydrophobia. Preparations were
made to move tho sufferer to tho hospi
tal us soon us he came back to conscious
ness. Ho was wrapped up as warmly as
possible and borao to a covered carnage.
Dr. Treat and two others rode with him.
When the carriage reached tho vicinity
of tho river it stopped for a few minutes.
Though the streets were screened from
tho view of those in tho vehicle, nnd the
river was nowhere in Bight, tho instant
the curriugo stopped George's eyes grew
wild, and he cried out : " Oh ! don't go
near the river. Wo are neur the water.
Keep away from it ' Don't let mo seo
it !" He immediately went into convul
sions, grew purple in tho face, his lips
became flecked with foam, nnd ho snap
ped, and barked, and ground his teeth
in a manner that struck terror to the
heart of Dr. Treat even, who had wit
nessed many cuses of hydrophobia, but
nono that equalled that under his care.
Th.e river was crossed while the spasm
lusted, nnd the patient became" conscious
before tho hospital was reached. He
was curried into tho building without
any difficulty, and seated in a ohair with
kis legs stretched out and his feot form
ing angles between the floor and wall.
Dr. Treat accidentally placed some white
paper beneath them. Tho siffht of it
threw him into convulsions. Ho threw
his arms out and held them lis rigid as
bars of iron. Dr. Treat, who was sitting
near him, grasped ono arm to hold him
down. Tho instant the patient felt the
touch' ho raised his stiffened arm above
his head, and actually lifted tho doctor
out of his chair and from off the floor.
Dr. Treat staid with him until evening,
and administered such remedies, by the
process of injection, as his knowledge of
the disease indicated. IIo states that
tho patient cannot possibly recover, as
each succeeding convulsion leaves him
weaker. Tho mere mention of the words
" water " or " drinking " is sufficient to
bring on spasms. The physicians con
fess that they aro unublo to do anything
with tho case, moro especially as tho pa
tient claims that he has never been bit
ten. Dr. Treat and other prominent
physicians will visit him this morning,
but the former does not expect to find
him alive.
Whiskey ou the Plains.
Since tho pale-faces introduced
" firewater" among tho red men of tho
West, those supple warriors have enjoy
ed full opportunity for witnessing tho
effects of spirituous libations.
The honest chiefs if any such there
bo insist that all the Indian troubles
arise from whiskey-drinking and cheat
ing, practices in which they havo been
initiated by tho whites.
Whatever may be the cause or result
it is certain that tho Indians long since
attained the felicity of drinking the most
rasping liquor without water.
It is a fact that, notwithstand
ing the strict laws against sellilitr liouor
to the Indians, there aro hundreds of
white traders continually adding fuel to
the fire of discord, by dealing out the
vilest poisons in exchungo for skins and
game.
Tho hiding-place of one of thoso men,
near the Nebraska plains, was recently
discovered by tho United States troops,
and, after arresting tho trader, several
mon were sent out to capture the whiskey.
In the meantime, word had passed from
Indian to Indian, and by the time the
soldiers reached tho spot, a goodly num
ber of "braves" wcro found loitering
nrouna. ino barrels were placed on
mules, and tho soldiers undertook to ro
turn, when tho demonstrations of tho
spectators became so threatening, that
thoy feared they should bo unublo to ac
complish their mission. Having posi
tive orders, however, they concluded
that if they could not bring tho liquor
to camp, they would destroy it, and ac
cordingly they begun knocking in tho
barrel-heads, allowing the contents to
escnpo in streams nnd pools nlong tho
ground.
Then tho excitement commenced. The
Indians raised loud shouts, dismounted
from their saddles, and. throwinar them
selves on tho ground, drank eagerly of
the confiscated liquor. Still tho liquid
flowed, und still tho Indians drank. Now
nnd then ono fell over in a drunken
stupor, and tho soldiers thought their
dangor wns nearly past, vfhon suddenly
a large pnrty of horsemen appenred,gal
loping nt a break-nock speed for tho
grand " treat." Haste was necessary ,for
the liquor wus quickly absorbed by tho
earth ; but tho warriors wcro equal to
the crisis, and by the timo tho soldiers
wero ready to return, thirty-five Indians
were utterly incapable of motion, nnd
almost as many so intoxicated that they
started u furious fight among them
selves. A Year's Ihaln Work.
Over thirty-five hundred new books
appeared in England last year, besides
thirteen hundred new editions the ex
act total of both classes being 4,830
and tho most notable circumstance in
tho literary history of tho twelvemonth
was the decrease in novels from 200 in
1870 to lo," in 1871. Still, lest it might
be inferred that tho English novelists
aro falling into disfavor, the statisticians
aro careful to add the explanation that
tho number of new editions of romances
has largely increased during tho year
which is a tribute to tho older writers.
Works on Political Economy nro rapidly
increasing in numbers 4.3 last year
against 20 in 1870. Theological books
aro in greater demand than formerly
nearly 800 having appeared last year.
Educational books nro also in demand
nearly 700 having been published during
loii. Ino number ot American unpor-
tations into tho English book-market
sensibly diminished last year the fig
ures being 322 in 1871 against 42G in
1870.
Two countries in Europo present a
Earning contrast tho comparatively
new literary life of Russia being repre
sented in in ii uy no less man i,jo
works, published in thirly-ono different
cities ot tho Empire, while Spain makes
a beggarly show, although her civiliza
tion and her literature are four centuries
old. Spanish writers produced 115 new
plays last year, but other contributions
to the literature of the country aro very
inferior to thoso of Kussia, in number as
well as in quality. Of the books of tho
year in Kussia, according to Mr. Eugcno
Schuyler, 153 wero on language, 133 on
jurisprudence, 118 wero historical works,
and 282 wero novels, poems and essays.
Tho most remurkablo feature of tho Rus
sian book returns is the great progress
mado by native writers iu tho produc
tion of political works.
In regard to Germany, Robert Zim
merman writes that it is a significant in
dication of tho present state of philoso
phy that in place of philosophical sys
tems, biographies of philosophers and
their wives nppear. Yarnhagen's " Re
mains " seem to bo inexhaustible ; four
teen volumes of tho "Diaries" having
boen published, a new work follows, un
der the title of " Biographical Portraits,'
A Runaway Pond.
An East nardwick (Yt.) letter to tho
Portland Tress revives tho following
curious bit of local history :
Long Pond, or, as it is better known,
" Runaway Pond," is situated partly in
Glover and partly in Greensboro'. This
pond was ono and a half miles long, and
half a milo wide, and formerly dis
charged its waters southerly into La
moillo River. On the 6th day of Juno,
1810, about fifty persons went to this
pond for tho pui-poso of opening an out
let to tho north into Barton River, that
the mills on that stream might receive
an occasional supply of water. A small
channel was excavated, and the water
commenced running in a northerly di
rection. It happened that tho northern
barrier of the pond consisted entirely of
quicksands, except an encrusting of clay
uext to tho water. The sand was im
mediately rcmovod by the current, and a
largo channel formed, and tho crust of
clay was incapablo of sustaining tho
mass of water und broke, so that the
wholo pond immediately took a north
erly course, and in fifteen minutes' time
the bottom of tho pond was baro I It
was discharged so suddenly that the
country below was instantly inundated.
Tho delugo advanced in a well of waters
sixty or seventy feet high, and twenty
rods wide, leveling forests and hills, and
filling up valleys, sweeping off mills,
houses aud barns, fences and cattlo as it
passed, for a distance of ton miles, and
baroly giving tho inhabitants sufficient
notice to escape. A rock, supposed to
weigh ono hundred tons, was removed
half a milo from its bed. The waters
moved so rapidly that they reached
Lake Memphremagog, twenty-seven
miles distant, in about six hours from
the time they left the pond. Tho dry
bed of tho pond remains, a portion is a
cultivated field, and to-day there are
many stacks of hay there. For the last
forty years the stago road from Mont
pclier to Barton has passed through this
"Dry Pond," and many tourists visit it
as a great curiosity.
A Western editor speaks of his rival
as "mean enough to steal tho swill fiom
a blind hog !" The rival retorts by lay
ing, ne knows he lies ; I never tolo
his swill "'
Facts and Figures.
" Putty-eyed monster" is what appears
in tho papers of a Tennessee oditor who
wrote with respect, " pretty aged minis
ter. 1 he sons ot the minister " inter
viewed" the editor the next morning with
shot-guns.
A negro boy of eight has a picture
primer to teach him his letters. Ono of
tho pictures is that of a bull chasing a
boy, which tho littlo darkey watches from
day to day, gleefully exclaiming, " he
hasn't cotched hiin yet."
A Rochester young lady has sued a
photographer of that city for $8,000 .
damages, because ho displayed ono of
her pictures in front of his place
with this playcnrd attached ; " Ono half
dozen photographs ordered by this very
stylish young lady nnd payment respect
fully nsked and insultingly refused."
Another proof of the exaggerated idea
of tho danger of being bitten by a rat
tlesnake is to be found in the experience
of tho Connecticut colony in Kansas.
Eleven persons havo been bitten Binco
their residence there, nono of tho cases
proving fatal except that of a child. It
must be a good placo for rattlesnakes.
At a Into concert, a testy old fellow,
who had suffered much anuoyanco from
tho incessant coughing of his neighbor
behind him, turned around with, "That's
a very bad cold you've got, sir," which
met with this gentle reply, " I'm sorry
for it, sir, but it is tho best I have."
It will probably surprise a good many
people in this country, and would aston
ish moro in Europo, to learn that boards,
planks and scantling to tho valuo of
G,155,192 were imported into the United
States during tho last year, to say noth
ing of several hundred thousand dollars'
worth of rough timber, nnd over $200,000
worth of fire-wood.
An expedition fitted out more than a
year ago to search for Dr. Ujiji Living
stone, is still on tho march through tho
wilds of Africa. As a loser of himself
Dr. Livingstone is without a parallel in
history. For our part, wo can't boo tho
nsc of spending so much time and money
to find a man who can't be hired to stay
found, and who is never happy except
when he is lost. LonisciHc Cottrkr-Jour-nnl.
Grace Greenwood, in her lecturo on
" The Heroic in Common Life," tells a
story of tho wife of a member of tho
Arizona Legislature, whoso house, whon
her husband was absent on his Legisla
tive duties, was attacked by Indians.
She shot six, and tho next day wroto to
her husband : "Dear John, tho Apachos
attacked tho rancho. I have won the
fight. You need not come yourself, but
send some moro ammunition."
A married woman in Docntur, Ohio,
tho other day, pining for her husband's
society, went with her three littlo chil
dren to tho billiard room nnd took n
scat by his side. " It's disgraceful," said
ho, looking daggers at her. " I know it,"
continued tho injured wife, "aud yon
have borne tho disgraco so long, my
dear, that I nm determined henceforth
to share it with you," nnd sho took out
her knitting-work nnd settled down for
tho evening. IIo went homo much earlier,
nnd it was tho last of him seen in that
billiard room.
There is a very nieo family out in
Kalamazoo county, Michigan. Whiln
tho father and the mother were engaged
in a fight tho other day, a child three
years of was pushed into a tub of hot
water and left thero to soak. A couplo
of days after tho leg of another child
was broken in the daily family fight and
left to heal itself. Tho human beings in
Kalamazoo havo finally taken the mut
ter up, and aro having this family inves
tigated. This is nn era of investigation
and reform, and wo trust they will do
tho business thoroughly.
It has been discovered that smuggling
has been carried on to quito a largo ex
tent at Detroit for somo timo past. Pas
sengers going from one side to tho other
of tho stream that separates tho United
States from Canada carry considerable
amounts of merchandise bock and forth
on tho ferry and elude tho examination
of customs officials. We aro Borry that
tho bulk of this business is done by wo
men, who take advantage of the reluo
tanco of tho officers to search them to
koep up a profitable contraband trado.
Alas ! they will do so.
This is about tho right season of the
year for tho usual crop of items about
the beggar who dies and loaves a fortuno
for previously-unheard-of relatives to
quarrel over. And so we havo the story
from Fort Wayne, Indiana, of a woman
who spent her lifo in gathering rags.and
who recently diod and bequeathed to
her husband the snug littlo sum of
1 4,000. Tho lattor'part of this informa
tion will please tho skeptic, and ho will
reasonably doubt tho truth of the wholo
matter on two distinct grounds. First,
because sho never could havo kept tho
money from her husband during her lifo ;
and, second, because it is contrary to
human nature to suppose that sho would
have left it to her husband.
Tho town of Bristol, in Tennessee and
Yirginia.with a population of throo
thousand, is an anomaly among towns.
Tho place is located in two States, and as
tho State lino passes near tho contro of
the main stroet, the rogues and lawless
know where it is to an inch. This line
used to be deeply venerated, and in for
mer years it would have been considered
a symptom of the decay of the republic
for a Tennessee constable to cross tha
street on tho sidewalk, on tho sacred soil
of Virginia, and arrest a criminal. But
the line is not now regarded with such
tender veneration. Whon a man kills
another aud steps over tho line for pro
tection, the officers step aftor him and
fetch him back ; killing is, consequent
ly, not so popular as formerly. Each
side of the hue has a separate Mayor and
board of Aldermen, and regulates its
own affairs in the sense contejnplated by
tha Constitution. Thore are two papers
published, one ou each side of the Una.
Each side also has its schools and
churclieg, but there is not a dangerous,
number of either of these.