. ; ' ' HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIL DESPEIIANDTJM. Two Dollars per Annum. NO. 22. VOL. VI. RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, JULY 20, 187G. NOT PROVEN. There were few prettier pictures than thaf, disclosed in the old rectory garden 01 tbnt bright winter morning. Tip toe, li.-r arms raised to a branch of glowing hi illy, her golden hair falling from her face over her sealskin jacket, and her violet eyes sparkling, was May West leigb, the rector's daughter ; while within ft few feet of her, watching her efforts with much amusement and a vast amount cf admiration, stood Thomas Mildmay, a handsome young muscular Christian, attired in a tweed Buit and felt hat. Suddenly, the latter burst forth "It is the reotor'e daughter, And she nan grown so dear, bo dear, That I would be the jewel That trembles in her esr." "Don't be absurd, Tom," interrupted the lady. "You are a gallant gentle man, truly, to see a female in distress and not aid her." " Have I not offered six times at least, May, and been refused ? " " And will bo again, sir. This is the most lovely piece of holly I have seen this season, and I am determined that no other fingers than mine shall touch it, until I give it to dear Jack when he cames this evening. They don't grow holly in India, do they, Tom? " "No, I think not." "Thou it will be a welcome offering to an English heart. Oh, how glad, glad, ver? glad, I shall bo to see the dear old follow 1 " "If you speak so enthusiastically, May, 'pon my word, I shall be jealous," remarked the gentleman. " Jealous you ! and of Jack I Non b"urp. Why, Tom, I love him like a brother. We were brought up, you know, as children together." "So ho told me, May, when we met iu India, and ho gave me the letter of introduction to the rector. Indeed," proceeded Thomas Mildmay, still in specting the gathering of the holly, which persistently cluug to its parent stem. " he spoke so incessautly about you that I fancied" I "Proy, what, sir?" " That there existed a deeper affection than a brother's and sister's, May." " Which shows how you were de ceived. Talk of women jumping at hasty conclusions ! Men are a thousand times worse. There, after all, you must lend mo your knife, Tom; the branch will not break, it is so tough." Thomas Mildmay produced it, again offering hia services, which, notwith standing tho obstinacy of the holly, were again rejected. "Cut upwuid, not downward, May," h'i cried, suddenly stepping forwaid; " the knife ia sharp." The warning came too late; the keen blade had Unfilled through the tough libers and penetrated May's white, blen der fiDger. In was not a very serious cut, but siiTiciently so to cause the blood to 1-wp foitu. The cry she uttered was echoed by her companion, whose arm quickly encircled her daiv-ty waist, as he caught, her hand in his. "Ob, dearest 1" he exclaimed, in con cern, " why did you not permit me?" " Beciuse," answered May, a little pale, " I said no one should touch this brauch but myself, Tom, and no one shali. But see I" and, a quaver in her voice, tho held tho holly toward him; " there is blood upon it 1 It is a ba I omen." He glanced at the bough, and truly, fallen on it, as bright as the berries themselves, were a few crimson drops. " J'ad omen, May ?" he laughed, wrapping her wounded finger in his handkerchief; "what childishness! Why, you are absolutely pale I 'Pou my word, your concern for Jack is al ready making me jealous."' " Don't lot'it do that, Tom," she said, gravely. "Why not?" He smiled, amused at her serious tone. "Because, Tom, you are, I believe, tho best tempered mau I ever knew; but" "But?" ho questioned, fondly re garding her. " S :m sure you love me so truly, that were you jealous of any one, I fancy you weild not be' accouutablo for jour action'.' Ho caught her in his arms and pressed a kiss on her smooth cheek. "Myd-rliug, you are right," he re plied, gi-avo in his turn. " If I thought I should lose you, or another was seek ing to win you from me, I think I should either till him or myself." " Now you are talking pure nonsense, Tom, dear. Let us go in," she laughed, as, taking his arm, they moved over the ciip, frosty lawn to the quaint old rec tory, a very Jaak-tn-the-green of ivy, which encircled its highest gables. But even during the embrace, May had kept the holly branch from comiug in contact with Thomas Mildmay, and did so still. Was this an omen, too ? The clear winter's morning had given place to a bleak, wintry night, and the snow dashed faharp and cutting iu the faces of tho rector and his oil pnpil, John Westmacott, as they wulsed along tho drear Scottish road from the railway btatinn to the rectory, "Now, doctor," said Jack, merrily, " let mo take the reius while you tell me all tho news. Itemember tho road ? Aye, every stone of it, as if I had trav eled it but yesterday. How kind it was of you, on such a night, to come your self to meet me ! How jo'ly I feel to see old Caithness again 1 What song is that May used to sing about there being no place like homo ? Neither is there. And how ii May ? bless her heart I Older, of course and prettier, I'd swear." " Well, all the change you will find in her. Jack, is for the better ; and I have one piece of news that will surprise you, perhaps, but I think I'll leave it for May herself to tell or your own eyes to read. Why did John Westmacott start and grow nervously anxious for tnat news, and no other t "Nay, doctor," he remarked, "re member how long I've been away. Don't tantalize me. What is it! Does it con cern concern May?" " Not so muoh, Jack. She ia engaged to be married." "Married !' John Westmacott gripped the reins so sharply that the horse reared. It gave an excuse for his temporary silence; then rather huskily came the interrogation : " To whom, doctor ?" "Your friend, Thomas Mildmay." My f'iendl" muttered the ex-pupil between his teeth, "curse hind" Then aloud "Howlong has shebeen ongaged, doctor?" " Only since you have been on your voyage home, dear boy, or she would have written to tell you. You will have to wish her joy. " " I do, and but this was under his breath "him. Ho has robbed mo of her." It was so. John Westmacott had come back to marry May, theoompanion of his childhood, the love of his youth. In those days he had termed her his little wife; laughingly she had aocepted the title. In nothing had he been more serious. During his absence, all while fighting for that fortune ho had realized, amid care and trouble, one idea had up held him the returning to England and marrying May Westleigh. Ho hud never doubted that sho knew of and recipro cated his affection. He had come back to fiud his happiness scattered to tho winds. How ho went through the evening which ensued he never knew. How he so calmly kissed the cheek Muy, in all her innocence, presented to " her brother;" how quietly he listened to the tho story of the holly bough, and how ho took Thomas Mildmiiy's hand, was a mystery ho never knew. All seemed the act of another person, not himself. He and his secret somehow stood apart. Only when he found hinifelf unexpected ly alone with May, just before leaving, did ho lose self-control. Fliuging out his hands toward her, he cried, bitterly ; " May, why have you thus deceived mo ? You knew I loved you. Why did you not warn me of this ? Why allow mo to be so cruelly disappointed? Why, of all men, did you select Thomai Mild may, who knew my secret ? Ho is a crafty coward to have won you from me; but, by Heaven, he shall ruo his treachery." " Jack ! exclaimed the girl, pale and alarmed, "what do you mean ?" " That I lovo you, May have loved yon, munt love you to my dying hour." Before sho divined his intention, he had taken hir in his arms, pressing a kiss on her forehead, then he had gone, and tho girl, full of grief, dropped werping on a chuir. A voice roused her. Looking up she beheld Thomas Mildmay ly her side. His face was wLitc, his brows contracted, nud his lips compressed. "May," ho asked, hoarsely, "I have h ard every word. I was yonder," poiut irgtotho conservatory. "What is all this f What does he mean by your de ceiving him?" "Tom, I know no more than you ; un less ho haf. taken a childish joke In seri ousness. Papa shall put him right." "No. He has called me coward, and accused me of worse. Tho task must be mine, and the explanation and apology alike must be made to-night." Ho moved away. Sho tried to stay hi:i, but for once he was deaf to her voice. Tho outer door banged, and, striding over tho snow, Thomas Mild may followed John Wrstrcacott, who, with a persi-tency for which his eld tutor could not account, refusing a bed at the rectory, had started for tho village. The snow had ceased, but a terapeiit of wind had arisen ; the leafless trees streamed like wauds before it, and tho waves wero heard breaking iu bursts like thunder upon the shore not a milo dirt act. The sky was leaden and drear, only the earth wis white. A mountain stream, which, when tho rains or snow came s elled into the dimensions of a river, intersected the road loading from the rectory to the village, and on this night it rushed and eddied in whirling toam between its banks and tho sea. Spanuing its flood was a rustio bridge, about which grew a few firs and larches. It was here that Thomas Mildmay over took John WoHtmaoott. What passed between them we need not minutely re count. It was accusation anil refutation at tii st, speedily followed by angry word, blended with threats; then there was a blov, a fcbarp, short struggle, and one man quitted the spot, while tho other lay ou tho river's batik, his face on the snow, motionless aud still, aud by his i:ide a Ppray of tin holly branch May Westleigh that morning had gathered. Not proven. That was tin verdict. John Westniaeott, there was a good reason to believe, had been murdered, and by Thomas Mildmay. Tho two young men had quited the rectory al most together, each bound for the vil lage. Only one, however, Thomas Mild way, had arrived at tho inn, his clothes in disorder, his manner agitated, his t.hirt front blood stained. The next morning, John Westmacott was missing. Search was made, aud not only indica tionsof a fierce struggle were discovered on the left bank of a river, but also the impress of a mau's boily iu tho snow, aud a sprig of holly, a gold seal and eauc, all of which were John Westma entt's property. But the body of John Wo.-tunicutt was mining. Ou being ar rested, Thomas Mildmay confessed that ha and John Westmacott had fought, by tho bridge, upon what matters he re fused to stats. But he declared that the impress ou the snow was his own, that ho had been s.truck down insensible by his opponent; that, on recovering, he had found himself alone, and had, fear ing to alarm tho inmates of tho rectory, gone on to tho inn. Sumo believed the story. May did from tier heart. Novertheleas, circum stantial evidence was against him. On such a night the body of a mau thrown into the river would have been whirled down to aud lost iu the ocean like a whisp of straw. Still, as no body could b. found, and direct proof of murdor w.w wanting, the Sootoh jury brought iu : " Not proven." and with the brand of Clin on his forehead, which only the appearance of John Westmacott could remove, the accused was released, con demned mutely, if not openly, by the public voice. " Then what do you think has be come of him ?" asked the-rector, sadly, after hearing Thomas Mildmay's recital of his quarrel. . " I cannot imagine, sir, unless he has committed suicide," was the rejoinder, " He was mad at the moment. His ac cusation, his language proved it. He " What do you intend to do, my poor boy I" " I shall go aboard," answered the young man, gloomily. " What becomes of me there is oi small consequence. "Save to me, dear Tom," said May, moving to him, and lifting her brave eyes to his. " If you go, it shall not be alone. I do not think you guilty. I believe all you have said. I have prom ised to be your wife, and I will be so now, dear, as ever." For some moments his emotion was too great for speech. Then, embracing her tenderly, ho exclaimed : " Heaven bless you for those comfort ing words, my darling. But, no; you shall not make this sacrifice; you shall not bear a name shadowed by such a verdict, which implies my guilt not suf ficiently proved for the law to punish, but equally guilty. Two years had elapsed, during which no intelligence had been heard of John Westmacott, wero he living, nor lately cf Thomas Mildmay, when, ouo stormy night, the anniversary of John Westma cott's disappearance, the iumates of tho rectory were aroused by the deep, mel ancholy boom of tho minute gun. It was a "sound, unfortunately, too often heard ou that wild, rugged north coast, but it frequently did not deter the in habitants quitting their bods, anxious to reuOer uid." Tho rector was even among the lirst on the spot to encourage and inward. On this night, despite his per suasion, for sho had growu very delicate lately, May, her plaid wrapped around her. accompaniod him. Tho beach, crowded with men, pre sented an animated scene. Beyond tossed tho stormy sea, as black as the sky abovo, except when the white crests of the waves flashed out, before they broke with a deafening roar upon the shore. Among these waves, gored by the hidden reefs, was the ill-tated ship, rolling as in mortal agony, whilo cling ing to the shrouds and rigging were tiny specks, known to bo men, whoso num bers, after each sweeping wave, were mournfully lessened. With difficulty the lifeboat was launched, manned by brave-hearted volunteers, and pulled iu it3 mission of rescue. Twice, successfully, it made the journey, but the third time, caught by a side wave, it and its freight wero hurled pell-mell upon the beach. "The boiifc is dono for," said the rector, regarding it, but praise Heaven, not before all aro saved ! " " No, no 1 Oh, papa, in mercy look ! " cried May, catching his orni. "There is yet one on board who has been left behind." Her words attracted every eye to tho ship, and there, holding to the shrouds, was visible the figure of a man. Tho next instant he had plunged in the boil ing sea. "no would swim it. It is impos sible," ejaculated the rector. "Tho boat is useless. We havo no means to help L im, nuless any here wo. Id risk their own lives to meet him with a rope." There was silence. The ropo was ready the man wanting. They wero not cowards, but few there could swim, and thoso who wero able regarded tho attempt as pure madness. Suddenly, in their midst, stood a man already divested of his coat. " Fasten the ropo round me," he said, quietly. I am a strong swimmer, and perhaps can do it." At the sound of tho voico May sprung forward with a cry, "Tom Tom Mildmay!" she ex claimed. " Oh, no, no not you I" He smiled encouragingly upon her. watching for tho retreating wave, and tho next instant was battling his way through the billows. Iu that stormy sea to follow his course was impossible, They only knew his progress by tho telling ont of the rope. It was a period of terrible suspense, to none so much as to May, who leaned, half fainting, yet too anxious to lose entire conscious ness, upon her lather s arm. A quar ter of an hour, aud tho signal was giveu t i pull in. Rapidly it was obeyed. But each haul found the weight heavier, uutii it was evident tho swimmer or swimmers were no longer able to assist t emselves. So it proved ; by ono more haul they wero laudod. Tha two wero found speechless, clasped iu each other's arms with a grip like death. Anxiously the crowd gathered louuci, and a mur mur of surprise burst from many, us in tho preserver and tha preserved they recognized Thomas Mildmay and tho murdered man, John YV cstnwoott. Little remains to bo told. John West macott, on recovering, heard with con siderable emotion who had been his rescuer, aud eagerly ho explained the mystery of his disappearance on that eventful night. Maddened by pas-don, after striking Thomas Mildmay down, ho had set off to walk to a neighboring seaport, resolving never to placo foot in tho reotory again. A vessel, when ho arrived, was on tho point of starting for Norway a plaoa ho had long desired to visit and he took a passage in her, hoping by travel to And distraction from his misery. In Norway ho had remained until a week back, when chance had thrown into his hands an old newspaper containing Thonia Mildmay's trial. Shocked aiid overwhelmed with remorse, he had lost not a moment iu returning to Scotland in the first ship that sailed, which, by a singular chain of circum stances, happened to be wrecked ou the very portion of the coast he wished to reach. "You have raved my life, Tom," he said, warmly pressing his friend's palm, " and I am here to prove your innocence. Forgive the past, and" taking May's hand, and himself placing it in the other's " I pray you may be happy. If your guilt was not proven, your devotion is, and fully merits tho reward of sweet May Westleigh's love." George Eliot diod at Sheffield lately, aged seventeen. He did not portray character, but ato for dinner a potato fiie, a plum pudding, a sheet of ginger bread, a rioe pudding, five squares of Yorkshire pudding and three basins of soup, washing the meal down with three basins each of beer, water and lemon ade. The coroner's jury returned a ver dict of "Death from gluttony." THE FATAL BATTLE. Henarat Terrj'n Official Report Relntire to the I.ons of Custer and his Command. The following is Gen. Terry's official report of Custer's engagement with the Indians, received at me Headquarters oi Gen. Sheridan. It is datod June 27th: It is rev painful duty to report that on the 25th inst., great disaster overtook Gen. Custer end the troops under his command. At twelve o'clock on the twenty-sc gond he started with his whole regiment and a strong detaohment of scouts and guards from the mouth of the Rosebud. Proceeding up that river about twenty miles ho struck a very heavy Indian trail, which had previous ly been discovered, aud pursuing it found that it led, ns was supposed, to the Little Big Horn river. Here he found a village of almost unexampled extent, and at once attacked it with that portion of his force which was immedi ately ot hand. Major Keno with three companies, A, G, and M, of the regi ment, was sent into tho valley of the stream at the point where the trail struck it. Gen. Custer with five tom pauies, C, E, F, I, and L, attempted to enter it about three miles lower down. Reno forded tho river, charged down its left bank, and dismounted and fought on foot, until finally, completely over whelmed by numbers, he was compelled to mount, rccross the river, and seek a refuge on tho high oiuns which over looked its right bank. Just ay he re crossed, Capt. Benteen, who, with three 1 X TT J T.- A. companies, u. i, uuu x., ma nouie iwu miles to the left of Reno when the ac tion commenced, but who had been or dered by Gen. Ouster to return, came to tho river, and rightly concluding that it would be useless for his force to at tempt to ronew the fight in the valley he joined Reno on the bluffs. Captain JUoDougall with his company, a, was at first at some distance in the rear with a train of pack mules. He also came to lieno soon. This united lorce was near ly surrounded by Indians, many of whom, armed with rifles, occupied po sitions which commanded the ground held by the cavalry ground from which there was no escape. Rifle pits were dug, and the light was maintained through, with heavy loss, from about half-past two o clook oi the twenty-liith, till six o'olock ot the twenty-suth, when the Indiaus withdrew from the valley, taking with them their village. Of the movenionts'ol Uen. Uuster and the live companies under his immediate command scarcely anything is known from those who witnessed them, for no soldier or officer who accompanied him has yej; been found alive. His trail from the point where Reno crossed the stream passes aVg and in the rear of the crest of the bluff's on the right bank for nearly or quite three miles, then it comes down to uio bauK oi ine river, but at once di verges from it, as if he had unsuccess fully attempted to cross ; then turns upon itsell, almost completes a circle, and closes. It is marked by the remains of his officers and men, the bodies of his horses, some of them dropped along tho path, others heaped where halts ap pear to have been made. Thero is abundant evidence that a gallant re sistanco was offered by the troops, but they wero beset on all sides by over whelming numbers. Tho officers known to be killed are Gen. Custer, Capts. Keogh, Yates aud Custer; Lieuts. Cooke, iimitb, Mcin tosh, Calhoun, Porter, Hodgson, Stur gis and Reiily, of tho cavalry; "Lieut, Crittenden, of the Twjutieth infantry, and Acting Assistant Surgeon Do Wolf, Lieut. Harrington, of tho cavalry, and Assistant Surgeon iiord, aro missiug, Captain Benteen aud Lieut. Varnum, of the cavalry, aro slightly wouuciea. Mr. Boston Custer, a brother, aud Mr. Reed, a nephew oi Ueu. Uuster, wero with him and were killed. No other officers than those whom I have named are among tho killed, wounded and missing. It is impossible yet to obtain a reliable list of the enlisted men who wero killed aud wounded, but tho sum ber of killed, including officers, must reach two hundred and fifty. The num ber of wounded is fifty-one. At the mouth or' the Rosebud I informed Gen, Caster that I should take the supply steamer Far West up the Yellowstone to ferry Gen. Gibbons' column over the river; that I should personally accom puny that column, and that I would, in all probability, reach the mouth of the Littlo Big Horn on tho twenty-sixth inst. Tho steamer reached Gn. Gib bons' troops, near tho mouth of the Big Horn, early iu tno morning or tho twenty fourth, and at four o'clock in tho afternoon all his men and animals were across the Yellowstone. At live o'clock the column, consisting of five compauies of tho Seventh in fantry, four companies of the Socond cavalry, and a buttery of Gatling guns, marched out to and across Tullock's creek, starting soon after live o'olock, on tho morning of the 25th. Tho infantry made a march of twenty-two miles over the most diliioult country which I have ever seen, in order that scouts might be sent into the valley cf the Little Big Horn. The cavalry, with the battery, was then pushed ou timteen or fourteen miles further, reaching camp at mid night. The scouts were sent ont ut half past four, on tho morning of tho 26th. The scouts discovered the Indians, who were at first supposed to be Sioux, but whenever taken they proved to be Crows, who had been with Gen. Custer. They brought the first intelligence of the battle. Their story was not credited. It was supposed that some fighting, per haps severe fighting, had taken place, but it was not believed that disaster could have overtaken so large a force as twelve companies of cavalry. The in fantry, which had broken camp very early, soon came up, and the whole col umn entered and moved up the valley of the bittle Uig Horn. During the atternoon etlorts were made to send scouts through to what was supposed to be Gen. Custer a position, aud to obtain information of the condi tion of afl'iirs, but those who were sect out were driven back by parties of In dians who, iu increasing numbers, wero seen hovering m Gen. Uibbons front. At 8:40 o'clock in the evening the in fantiy had marched between twenty- nine and thirty miles, ino men were very weary, and daylight was fading. Thn column was therefore halted for the night at a point about eleven miles in a straight line above the stream. This morning the movement wa resumed, and after a march of nine miles Major Reno's entrenched position was reached. The withdrawal of the Indians from around Reno's command and from the valley was undoubtedly caused by the appearance of Gen. Gibbons' troops. Waior rieno ana uaptain xsenteen, both of whom are officers of great ex perience, accustomed to see large masses of mounted men, estimate the number of men engaged at not less than twenty five hundred. Other officers think that the number was greater than this. The village in the valley was about three miles iu length and a milo in width. Be sides the lodges proper, a great num ber of temporary brushwood shelters wore found in it, indicating that many men besides its proper inhabitants were gathered together there. Major Reno is very confident that there were a number of whito men fighting with the Indians. It ia believed that the loss of tho Indians was large. I havo yet re ceived no official reports in regard to the battle, but what is here stated is gathered from the officers who were in tho ground then and from those who have been over it since. Alfred H. Terbt. Brigadier-General, A Prophetic Letter, The following communication, dated Jnne 23, from r. oung New York gen t'eman in busire33 in Salt Lke City to his sister seems, in view o." ccurences since it was written, to be almost prophet'c : " MY JJeab Jennie : xuis is rauier stirriusr day among the soldiers and officers here at Camp Douglas, aud a sad day for the wives of those who aro un fortunate enough to be married, fir this morning orders came from Gen. Sheri dan to Gen. Smith to start three com panies of tho Fourt?enth for the Black Hills at once. They leave "on the seven o'clock train, and officers pud men have been rushing around town io-day vainly endeavoring to remember everything they need for their benefit. 1'oor toi lows, I'm real sorry for them, for it is more than probable that many of them will lose their scalps before this misera ble war is over. "It is reported that Gen. Crook Is having a big fight with the Sioux, and that his troops have been very severely handlod. I am afraid it is true, too, for the miserable economy of our govern ment only gave Crook 1,500 men to fight 5,000 Sioux, the fiercest warriors on the contiuent. They aro beginning to see the folly of sending such a hand ful into that wild country, and troops are being ordered there from all direc tions. If anybody but Crook had the command, ev.ery, scalp would be raised before the re-enforcements arrived ; f ortuuatoly. however, he is the best In dian fighter in the army, and will proba bly hold his own until moro troops arrive. "Those papers who have been yolhng Reduce, reduce the army ' will have to change their tuno now, for there are hardly men enough in the whole army to whip these Sioux. I suppose that you folks in tho East don't pay much at tention to tho Indian war, but when one sees men leaving their families and start ing out to fight with the Indians, and knows that tho chances are even whether thev ever come back or not, it is almost impossible to keep from worrying about them as much as if they were kiu. Then you see the Black Hills aro only about 500 miles east of this place, and as many Salt Lakers aro up there mining, we are alwavs hearing Irom thein, and conse quently feel interested, and 1 have taken it for cranted that you are too ; but I must, not bore you too much, especially as Gen. Crook s fate will bo decided bo fore this reaches you." Beware of Kerosene I Between 5,000 and 6,000 people per ished in tho United States lust year vic tims of kerosene oil accidents. So said Mr. Rufus S. Merrill, of Boston, iu an address before the American chemical society. Mr. Merrill contended that everv lamp in the land when burning, in a temperature of seventy-fivoor eighty degrees, oil of tho igniting test by law 110 degrees is in an explosive condi tion and needs but ignition in the bowl to produce disaster. Many sciontitic men, tho speaker said, had suppoaod that tho flash point was the point of safety, but ho demonstrated by experi ment to the satisfaction of his audience that thirtv or thirty-five degrees below tho igniting point. Oil, after burning fifteen or twenty minutes, will produce an explosive gas. It was also demon strated that oil with an igniting point of 150 degrees is in au explosive condition when burned inclosed as iu lanterns on shipboard and in railway cars. Naphtha, the speaker claimed to be tho most dan gerous of all preparaiion of petroleum. A sample of it at seve-nty degrees was subjected to the test usually applied by retail dealers to satisfy customers. A lighted match was held to an open ves sel of it without ignition taking place. A small portion was put into a can, shaken up, and a light introduced, when an explosion occurred, showing that the stuff becomes explosive upon mixing with the oxygen of the atmosphere. The speaker claimed that oil should stand a test of 300 degrees in order to be safe, and that no device could be contrived which would render safe the burning of an article inherently dan gerous. Wealth Without Its Anxieties. Tha newsboys who gather about in the afternoon, awaiting the publication hour, either fairly roll in wealth or their conversation is to soni9 extent imagina tive. Said one of them to another : " Billy, did yer buy that 850 plaid summer Buit I seed yer lookin' at in a ,1- Uln..lni All 1 1 1 l MDIUIUUJ I "No, isiinsey, 1 didnt take it in. Ther wns only one watch pocket in the trowsis, an 1 alius carries two tickers, one ter c rect t other by. "But yer ain't goin' ter wear yer army britches all summer, be yer, 'spe cially when yer go drivin' out even iu's?" "No, Blinkey, my dear, I ain't," was Billy's grave replv, "but don't yer worry about me. It's silk undercloz as preserves my precious health. Silk's the thing, Blinkey I" Custer's Yellowstone Victories. The fatal fight on the Little Horn river was in the immediate vicinity of two other noted battles with Iudians, with which the late General Custer's name has been intimately associated. One of these was on the Tongno river, a branoh of the Yellowstone, flowing into it from the south in a direction parallel with the Big Horn, of which the Little Horn is a branch, having its source iu the county between the paralel streams and flowing northerly. The en gagement on the Tongue river took place on August 4, 1873. General Cus ter had proceeded up tho Yellowstone as far as the mouth of Tongue river, with a squadron of ninety men, to ex plore a route over which tho main col umn ot his forces could pass. When waiting at that point for the arrival of the forces of the expedition, and his men being dismounted, six Sioux In diaus ou horseback dashed before them and attempted to stampede their horses. Failing in this, they retired as thongh tempting pursuit, and on seeing that the squadron did not fall into the net they had prepared, with characteristir yelW over 300 mounted warriors dashed in line from the woods and attacked the fcovcrnment soldiers. With the river on one side, they were able to encom pass the squadron by lorming a semi circle on the other. But after a fight of three and one-half hours, the Indians were compelled to take flight, carrying their dead with them, but leaving five ponios on the field, besides throwing away iu their flight breach loading arms, saddle equipments, clothing, and other articles belonging to au Indian's outfit. Among the party were some of the identical warriors who committed the massacre at Fort Phil Kearney. The other battle was fought one week later near the mouth of the Big Horn river. The Indians had boon followed fhoir flight down tho Yellowstone, aud. on receiving additions to their number uutil their force amounted to between 800 and 1,000 men, halted on the banks of tho river as though ready for au attack. Sitting Bull was in com mand, and upon the mounds and high bluila alone tho river were gatnereu large numbers of squaws, old men and children, who had assembled to wituoes what they evidently believed would re sult in tho destruction of Gen. Custer's force of 450 men. After some skirmish ing, (Jen. Uuster pave the order ior an attack, and tho assurance soon gained l y the savages that the charge was made iu earnest lod them to a speedy aud complete flight. The loss of the In dians in these engagements was npwara of forty warriors, together with a large number of ponies,- whilo tho loss oi Gt n. Custer was only four men killed, one wounded, and one officer seriously wonnded. Four horses wero killed and four wounded, one of the killed being Gen. Ouster's, which was shot from under him. His Retainer. Some time ago a young man and his sweetheart straggled into an attorney's office and awkwardly inquired if the just:ce of tho peace was ot home. Tho young limbs of the law were sitting in side reading a newspaper and took in the situation. " Ono of them said: " Yes, sir; what can I do for you 1 " Well, you see, Kmalme and me want to cit married, and " Ah. I see; you wish to get married and you want to be sure the thing is done properly, and everything an siraigur eh ? Is that it ?" " Well. I suppose " " Vervwcll: 85 if you please," said the young man, extending his hand; " S5 is my usual fee." The young man forked over the V, and said: " Now, drive ahead, 'squire." The youthful scion of Blackstono ex cused himself for a few moments, step ped out and hunted np a justice of the poaeo, and taking him one side, said: " My cousin is here from tho country, aud wants to get married. Como up and do the job, will you ?" Together they entered tho office, and while the ceremony was going forward, the lawyer applied himself to the work of transforming a page of legal cap into manuscript. After the holy bonds of wedlock bad been properly welded, and the marriage certificate duly signed aud witnessed, the justice requested the sum of $1.50 as his fee. Tho young mau was astonished. He said: " Why, I thought " ' That s all right, Drone in tne at torney, " that s all right, pay him. " Why, look here; I just gavo you IN) to pay for the business, didn 1 1 ? " That, my dear sir, said tno youm- ful counselor, smiling blandly, and deprecating the young man's ignorance, " that wns a re-tamer; aud nere, sir, is my opinion, written out, guaranteeing the marriage to have been perfectly forni nl'and legal in all respects I" The countryman, m a uazea ana pe- wildered manner, pocketed the opinion, paid the justice his fee, aud went out, seeming ashamed to think he didn't know that a marriage would be utterly void unless supported by au attorney s opinion. Not his Horse. The latest Detroit Free Press story is of a rawboned, spavined, knockkueed old horse that limped along, smelling of hitching posts and nibbling at the street cor track. Three blocks behind him was a man with a rope halter, who was inquiring if anybody had seen a stray horse. The old brute stopped in front of a grocery to snuff at some bar ot soan. The clerk rau ont with a broom stick, and in trying to dodge a blow the horse fell over, struck a bushel basketful of eggs and a great quantity of crockery, and tho crash was terrific. He didn't make an effort to get up, and just as the clerk's veils had gathered a crowd the man with tho rope halter camo up. It was his horse, and $10 wonldn't pay the damage. " Here's the man who owns tho horse 1" shouted the clerk. " No, I don't I" was the calm reply. " Then what are you doing with that halter I " yelled a policeman. " I'm going a fishing?" was the ready answer. The olerk tried to detain him, but ha jumped into a woodyard and escaped, calling out as he went over the fence: "Gen tlemen, these are mighty curious times when a man can't take a halter on his back and go off after a few bass I" The Soul's Hope. Behold I we know not anything i oan but trust that pood shall fall At last far off at last, to all And eety winter change to spring. Bo run my dream bnt what am I ? An tnfanterving in the nieht An Infant cryinR for tho light And with no language but a cry. Items of Interest. Too many friends hurt a man moro than none at all. A common rat has ono hundred and fifty bones under his hide. An old lady of ninety sells newspapers for a living in North Boston. Tt in a blessed thing to liv6 in a land of plenty, if you have plenty of land. When in doubt which way to take, al ways step to the right, and avow ice possibility of getting loft. Every dog should have his day ; but it appears as if the supply of dogs great ly outnumbers the days. A woll known floriculturist says: "Not one violet need in a bushel will grow." Perhaps not, uulcss he puts some eattn in the bushel. "Vnii never RAW mv hands as dirty ns that," said a petulant mother to her little girl. " No, but your ma did, I'll bet, was the reply. "Did any of you ever see an ele phant's skin ?" inquired n teacher ot an infant class. "Yes, sir." "Whero?" 'On au elephant." A Western paper announces the ill ness of its editor, adding: All good pay ing subscribers are requested to mention in tlioir nrnvers. The others need not, as the prayera of the wicked avail nothing. Farmers in some sections of cniiiornia oro making experiments in cultivating the almond, with every prospect of ulti mate success. une man nas almond trees, which are now thrce years old, and blossomed this season. "I make it a principle never to lend money," said a good man to a friend, " but in your case 1 eacnnco pnncipin for interest." And when tho latter found ho had charged twenty per cent, discount, he said he thought he did. "You must cultivate decision of char acter, and learn to say 'no, said a father to his sou. Soon afterword, when tho father told the son to chop wood, the boy said "no, with au emphasis tuai showed a remembrance of the lesson. Whitehall Times: A Bos-ton tailor has had his billheads stumped with a picture of a forgct-me-not. This is all right as long as customers havo anemo ne. Norristown Herald: Yes, but these dandy lions are apt to lilac blazes. Says tho Burington 'Hawhcye : It is tho-blissfnl serenading season, and these bright moonlight nights it is not an un common spectacle to see a young man strutting down some quiet street eand 'wiched in between a fragment of a guitar and a whole dog. The lawyers of Ireland are indignant at a barrister who advertises in the news papers. The ancient etiquette of the legal as of the medical profession is to starve rather than publish one's busi ness in tho same column with announce ments of dry goods and groceries. A fellow was accumulating a fortune iu Amador, Cal., by robbing tho sluice boxes of miners. Every night for years ho worked faithfully, and had stored away nearly enough money to go to his home in the East and live upon the re sult of his enterprise, when ho unfor tunately ran against a cord that was at tached to a gun trap, and was instantly killed. A lady who lived near a church, was sitting near a window listeuing to tho crickets which were loudly chirping, the musio from tho choir rehearsal being faintly audiblo, when a gentleman dropped in familiarly, who had just passed the church and had the mnsio full in his mind. "Whf.t a noise they are making to-night !" said he. "Yes," said the lady, " and it is said they do it with their hind legs!" A ship on tho broad, boisterous and open ocean needeth no pilot. But it dare not venture alone on the placid bo som of a little river, lest it be wreckod by some hidden rock. Thus it is with life. 'Tis not ia our open, exposed deeds that we need the still voice of tha silent monitor, but in the small, secret, every day acts of lifa that couscienco warns us to beware of hidden shoals of what wo deem too common to be dangerous. A Colorado village lately had its first bananas. One young fellow wanted to know if " they growed on the stick ; ' nnother asked i! they were not btaus, and John Chinaman said thoy must have grown at the South, as such big beaus could not grow at the North. A hotel clerk, wheu told they wero good to eat, laughed incredulously. Auotuer uougm one, lust to see a oysiauuer eaii n, nun then trembled with fear lest he had Peon the cause of poisoning a fellow being. A Strange Death. One of tha most shocking accidents which we have ever been called on to record occurred at a mill in St. Paul, savs the Press. David Pascal Spafford, J - . . . . . i i. i one oi tne oiaesi anu uiguiy respeuieu residents, stopped into the mill ou busi ness, and sat down, without thinking of the danger, on the table of one of tho ... . Tl !. -A butting or cut-on saws, it ii proper m state that, owing to tho necessity of economizing space in the mill men tioned, the saw under or in ine rauje upon which Mr. Spafford seated him self is worked by an improved lever which raises half the saw instantaneous ly (if necessary) above tha Biirface of the lupie, tnrowB it mm get"., uuu wuma at the rate of 3,000 revolutions a minute. In a few moments alter he hud seated himself his foot accidently camo iu con tact with the lever, raising the saw, it is presumed, until it touched his person, and then springing forward to escape from the sudden and fearful danger, he rested the entire weight of one foot on the lever, throwing the swiftly re volving saw upward and cutting himself through the back, so that one of his legs and hips was almost severed from the body. Of course, no ourgery could prove effective, and death came to tho unfortunate man's relief in a very few moments after the accident occurred, .
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers