. ; ' '
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, .