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Address BVTI|BR CITIZBH,
BOTLEB. PA.
TRAVELERS' GUIDE.
lUTLIB, URNS OITT AND PARK-IB RAILROAD
(Bntler Time.)
Trains leave Butler for St. Joe, Millerstown
Earns City, Petrolia, Parker, etc., at 7.25 a. m.
and 2.05 and 7.20 p. m. [See below for con
nections with A. V B. B.J
Trains arrive at Butler from the above namec
points at 7.15 a. m.. and 1.55, and 6.55 p. ni
The 1.55 train connects with train on the Weal
Penn road through to Pittsburgh.
SHIKiHOO 4KD ALLJGHIKI *AIIJ»OAD.
Trains leave Hllliard's Mill, Bntler county,
for Harrisville, Greenville, etc., at 7.40 a. m.
and 12.20 and 2.20 p. m.
Stages leave Petroliii at 5.80 i. m. for 7.4 C
train, and at 10.00 a. m. for 12.20 train.
Return stages leave Hilliard on arrival ol
trains at 10.27 a. m. and 1.50 p. m.
Stage leaves Martlnsburg at 9.30 for 12.30
train.
FBNNBYLVA.NIA RAILROAD.
Trains leave Butler (Butler or Pittsbnrgh Time.)
Marktt at 5.08 a. m., goes through to Alle
gheny, arriving at 9.01 s. m. This train con
nects at Free port with Frecport Accommoda
tion, which arrives at Allegheny at ZSO a. m.,
railroad time.
Exprets at 7.21 a. m., connecting at Butler
Junction, without change of ears, at 8.26 with
Expiess west, arriving In Allegheny at 9.5S
a. m., and Express east arriving at Blairsville
a* 11.00 a. m. railroad time.
Mail at 2.36 p. m., connecting at Butler Juno
tionwithont change of cars, with Express west,
arriving In Allegheny at 526 p. m., and Ex
press cast arriving at Blairsville Intersection
at 6.10 p. m. railroad time, which connects w'th
Philadelphia Kxprfss east, when on time.
The 7.21 a. m. train connects at Blairsville
•t 11.05 a. m. with the Mail east, and the 2.86
p.m. train at 6.59 with the Philadelphia Ex
press east. _
Trains arrive at Butler on West Penn B. B. at
9.51 a. m., 5 06 and 7.20 p. m., Bntler time. The
9,51 and 5.06 trains connect with trains on
the Butler A Parker B. B. Snn 'ay train arrives
at Bntler at 11.11 a. m., connecting with train
for Parker.
Main Line.
Through trains leave Pittsburgh tor the En ft
at 2.56 and 8.26 a. m. and 12 51, 4.21 ar.d 8.06 p.
m., arriving at Philadelphia at 8.40 and 7.20
j>. m. and 3.00, 7.0 > and 7.40 a. m.; at Baltimore
about the same time, at New York thrcu hours
later, and at Washington about one and a hall
boon later.
PHYSICIANS.
JOHN E. BYERS,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON,
my'il-ly] BUTLEB, PA.
DENTISTS.
DEITTISTRT.
o|# WALDBON, Graduate of the Pbil
■ adelpbia Dental College, is prepared
• II sto do anything in the line of his
profession in a satisfactory manner.
Office on Main street, Butler, Union Block,
op stairs, apll
BANKS. ~~
THE BOTLEB
SAVINGS BANK
BUTLEB. FA.
NEARLY OPPOSITE I/)WHY HOUSE.
CAPITAL STOCK" 60,000.
Wit. CAKPBXIX, J AS. D. AJIDXBSOH,
President. Vice President
Wk. CAKFBXLL, Jr., Cashier.
DIRKCTORI
William Campbell, J. W. Irwin,
Jaa. D. Anderson, George Weber,
Joseph L. Purvis.
Does a General Banking ft Exchange bnatneaa.
Interest paid on time deposits. Collections made
ahd prompt returns at low rates of Exchange.
Gold Exchange and Government Bonds bought
and sold. Commercial paper, bonds, Judgment
and other securities bought at lair rates. ia2o:ly
LAND FOR SALE.
FOR SALE.
A handsome six-room frame house, located
on Bluff street, northwestern part of Butler.
Lot 50x176. All necessary outbuildings,
TERMS—One-third cash and balance in four
equal annual payments. Inquire- at this office.
janl4tf
For teale.
The well-improved farm of Rev. W. B. Hutch
ison.in the northeast corner of Middleaex town
shin. Butier county, Pa , is now offered for sale,
low. Inquire of W. K. FRISBEE, on the
fobTsalk
$5 will buy a one-half intereet in a good bus
iness in Pittsburgh. One who knows some
thing about farming preferred. An honest man
with the above amount will do well to address
by letter, SMITH JOHNS, care 8. M. James,
93 Liberty street; Pittsburgh, Pa. |au27-ly
INSURANCE.
Incorporated 1819.
/ETNA INSURANCE COMPANY
OP HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.
Aiett »7.078,*24.49.
Losses paid in 61 years, U1,000,000.
j J. T. MCJCNKIN A SON, Agents,
Jan2Bly Jcflerson street, Butler, Pa.
BUTLER COUNTY
Mutual Fire Insurance ' Co.
Office Cor. Main and Cunningham Sts.
©. C. ROESSING, PRISIDINT.
WM. CAMPBELL, TREASURER.
H. O. HEINEMAN, SECRETARY.
.DIRECTORS:
J. L. Purvis, E. A. Helmboldt,
William Campbell, J. W. Burkhart,
A. Trout man, Jacob Schoene,
G. 0. Boessing, John Caldwell,
Dr. W. lrvln, W. W. Dodds,
J. W. Christy H. C. Helneman.
JAS. T. M'JUNKIN. Gen. A*'t-
BUTLER FJL.
" NOTICE to FARMERS.
PHOSPHATE AND FERTILIZERS
FOB SALE BY
JAMES ENGLISH,
marl7-2m POBTEBBVILLE, PA.
HENRT.G. HALE,
mi iiiciiii mioi,
COB. PENN AMD SIXTH STREETS,
Pittsburgh, Pa
13. Roessing,
[Succeeeor to A. C. Boeeaing k Bro.]
DEALER IN
Groceries,
GRAM, FLOUR, FEED, OIL,
—AND—
Anthracite Goal.
THE HIGHEBT MARKET PRICE PAID IN
W-OASH-w
FOB GRAIN OF ALL KINDS.
Hpitf
IhtflCE .iiife tiffed
VOL. XVII.
BOOTS and SHOES
AL,.«IIIFF'S
TJPCIOIX BLOCK,
0 Main Street, - Butler, Pa.
)
I have just received mj entire Spring and Summer stock of BOOTS and
SHOES direct from the manufacturer, and am able to sell them at
J OLD PRICES,
s
e and a great many lines at |fojf~LOWER PRICES THAN EVER.
, Ladies', Misses' and Children's Button, Polish and Side Lace Boots in
' endless variety, and at bottom prices.
Reynolds Brothers' celebrated fine Shoes always in stock, and is the most
j complete I have ever offered. The prices are lower than ever, and styles
. elegant.
Parties wanting BOOTS & SHOES made to order can do no better than
\ by me, as I keep none but the best of workmen in my employ.
1 LEATHER and FINDINGS will be found in my store in superior
1 quality and at lowest market rates.
• g3jgT~All goods warranted as represented. AL. BUFF,
I OPENING DAILY"
A.T
B. L HDSELTOK'S,
THE LARGEST AND BEST ASSORTMENT OF
Boots and Shoes
To be found in any House In Western Pennsylvania, em
bracing all the Newest Spring Styles in the Market.
I am selling all this stock at
|CSp^OLDPKICES.S
Recollect, NO ADVANCE.
Several lines of Boots aDd Shoes at even lower prices than ever. All my
customers have the benefit in buying by getting Boots and Shoes
that come direct from the manufacturer to my house.
No middle profits to divide up that parties
are compelled to pay that buy
from jobbing houses.
This Stock of Boots and Shoes is Very Large in the Following Lines
Ladies' Kid and Pebble Button Boots, - - - - $1.50 and upwards.
" " " " Side Lace Boots, ... 1.25 " "
" Grain, Pebble and Kid Button and Polish, - 1.25 " "
" Polish, - 95 " "
" " Standard, very prime, 1.25 " "
" Serges, in Congress and Polish, .... 75 to sl.
" Calf Peg Shoes, all warranted.
MT STOCK EMBRACES, IN CONNECTION WITH THE ABOVE, A FULL LINE OF ALL
THE FINER GRADES IN WOMEN'S, MISSES' AND CHILDREN'S.
The dents' Department is very complete in every line in Calf
Button, Dom Pedros, Congress and English Walking Shoes, and especially in
Calf Boots, at $2 and upwards,
Brogpns and Plow Shoes, at $1 and upwards,
Fine Buff Alexis and Congress, at $1.25 and upwards,
Low Strap Shoes, in every style, at $1.25 and upwards.
Boys' and Youths' Shoes in same styles as Men's, but lower in price.
Infants' and Children's Shoes, in Colors and Black.
Fancy Slippers and Walking Boots, All Colors.
This stock is the most complete I have ever offered, the prices are lower t
than ever, and the styles are elegant. Ladies' Kid and Pebble Button New-'
ports, good, $1 to $1.25.
LARGE STO.CK OF LEATHER AMP FIKBtHGS
Always in" stock. None but the best brands of Leather kept, and prices guar
anteed at lowest market rates.
|sgT*Qive me a call and I will save you money in your Boots and Shoes.
A careful inspection of this stock will convince you that the above is correct.
No other house can give you lower prices or better goods.
B. C. HUSELTQN,
CARPETS! OIL CLOTHS! MATS! RUGS! STAIR RODS
S NEW STOCK! NEW STOCK! |
s *
d HECK & PATTERSON'S §
I NEW CARPET ROOM i
x NOW OPEN"! £
g ©»• Poop Seuttt of tkair Clothing House, S
Duffy's Block, aeptso-tf Bntler, Pa. S
iSqOHHIVXS iSf)flH iSXVW iSHKnono isxgjavo
Union Woolen Mills.
I would desire to call the attention of the
public to the Union Woolen Mill, Butler, Pa.,
where I have-new and improved machinery (or
the manufacture of
Barred and Gray Flannel*,
Knitting and Weaving Tarns,
and I can recommend them as being very dura
ble, as they are manufactured of pure Butler
oounty wool. They are beautiful in oolor, su
perior in texture, and will be sold at very low
prioea. For samples and prioes. address,
H. FULLERTON,
JulM-TS-ly) Butler. Pa
HT3 ft Q TTQ 18 Bto P"' 8 Bet Beeds, 3 Knee
UilVJt All Jdkfl wells, Stool, Book, only
•87.60. 8 Stop Organ. Stool, Book, only #63.76.
Pianos, Stool, Cover, Book, 9190 to 4)256. Illus
trated catalogue free. Address
I apl4-3m W. 0. BUNNELL, Lewi*towu, Pa.
Stock Speculation and Investment.
Operations on Margin or by Privileges. Spe
cial buainfßß in Mining Stocks. Full particulars
on application. JAMEB BROWN, Dealer in
Stocks and Bonds, 61 4 66 Broadway, New York
mar!7-9m
Stray Horses.
Came to the premises of the subscriber, in
Middleaex township, Butler county, Pa., on the
6th insfc., two stray horses, one a bay and may
be 12 ram old, hipshot and curbed on the left
hind lee; the other a small bay mare with no
particular marks except one ear slightly de
formed. The owner is requested to come for
ward, prove property, pay charges and take
away, otherwise they will be disposed of ac- (
cording to) law. JOHN B. MAHAJF,
May 19, N*>-3t] Glade Mill», P. O. Butler Co.
BUTLER, PA., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1880.
C. WATTLEY&CO
ARE DAILY RECEIVING
Fresh and Seasonable Goods!
SUCH AS
Spring Gloves,
Cotton and Lisle Thread Hose,
Fringes, Trimmings, Buttons,
Ribbons,
Laces, Embroideries,
Ha n dJcerchiefs,
Lace and Embroidered Ties,
Summer Underwear,
Elegant Neckwear for Men,
AND FULL STOCK OF
Ladies and Men's Furnishing Goods.
|9"Our Increased Room enables us to give pur
chasers the very best value for tlielr money.
C. WATTLEY & CO.
109 FEDERAL ST. ALLEGAENY CITY PA.
OPPOSITE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
THE
Pittsburgh. Cincinnati & SI Louis
RAILWAY CO.
IPtW-miIDItBOIITHI
Offers the liest facilities and most comfortable
and expeditious Line for families
moving to points in
KANSAS,
ARKANSAS,
TE X ,
COLOBADO,
UEBRASK A,
CALIFORNIA,
OR ANY OF THE WESTERN STATES AND
TERRITORIES.
THE VERY LOWEST RATES
TO ALL POINTS IN THE
WEST & SOUTH-WKST
CAN ALWAYS BK SECURED VIA THE
OLD RELIABLE
PAN-HANDLB BOUTS.
Tickets Sold and Baggage Checked
THROUGH TO ANY POINT YOU WANT TO GO.
We offer you the Lowest Rates, the Quickest
Time, the Best Facilities and the most Satisfac
tory Route to all points West and South-west.
We run no Emigrant Trains. All classes of
Passengers are carried on regular Express
Trains.
If you are unable to procure Through Tick
ets to points in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Kan
sas, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, lowa, Ne
braska or California, by the direct "PAN-HAN
DLE ROUTE," at your nearest Railroad Sta
tion, please address
o'
Gen'l Passenger Agent, 'Pan-Handle Route,'
COLUMBUS, OHIO.
MIRK TIESE HITS
HOLIOWAY'S FILLS. |
Exercise your judgment.—A newer and better
philosophy.—To pull down all absurd and anti
quated notions of diseases and its cures, and to
establish a rational system on the ruins, has been
the chief endeavor al Dr. Holloway through life.
Hence the origin of his celebratdd Pills and Oint
ment—remedies in keeping with common sense,
because subservient to nature, rather than at
variance with her laws, like those in general use.
To the stomach we trace dyspepsia, lieapache and
general debility ; to the liver, bile, jaundice, aud
yellow fever ; to the bowels, diarrhrea, dysentary.
constipation, piles and nstuly ; to the lungs, con
sumption, etc.; to the blood, scrofula, scurvey,
and all cutaneous eraptions. By keeping these
organs aud vital fluid pure and healthy we may
safely defy the attacks of disease, and no medicine
yet prepared for tills purpose can equal the action
of these Pills and Ointment, as they dive to the
seat of the disorder, and extirpating its cause, de
stroy its effect.
IMPORTANT CAUTION,— None are genuine un
less the signature of J. HAYDOCK, as agent for the
United States, surrounds each box of Pills and
Ointment. Boxes at 25 cents, C 2 cents and Si each.
£sy-There is consideiable saving by taking the
larger sizes. HOLLOWAY & Co., New York. .
HOLLO WAY'S (lINTMENT|
Possessed of this REMEDY, every man may be
his own Doctor. It may be rubbed into the sys
tem. so as to reach any internal complaint; by
these means it cures Sores or Ulcere in the
THROAT, STOMACH, LIVER, SPINE, or other
parts. It is an Infallible Remedy for BAD I.EOS,
BAD BREASTS, Contracted OJ Stiff Joints, GOUT,
RHEUMATISM, and all Skin Diseases.
IMPORTANT CAUTION.— None are genuine un
less the signature of J. HAYDOCK, as agent for the
United States, surrounds each box of Pills and
Oinmieet. Boxes at 25 cents, 02 cents, and $1
ggr-There is considerabld saving by taking the
larger sizes.
HOLLOWAY & Co., New York.
BRENT GOOD & CO.,
Wholesale Agents, NEw YORK.
mayl9-ly
ST. CHARLES HOTEL,
On th.e European IPlan
-54 to 66 North Third Street,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Single Rooms 50c., 75c. and $1 per
day.
O. Schneck, Proprietor.
Excellent Dining room furnished
with the best, and at reasonable rates.
for all Railroad Depots
within a convenient distance.
THE GREAT ENGLISH REMEDYI
GRA rS SPECIFIC MEDICINE
, g '
an mifailint^cure
neßS * Bi> * rmator m
Before Taking Taking.
versal Lassitude, Pain in the back. Dimniness of
Vision. Permature Old age, and mony other dis
eases that lead to Insanity. Consumption and a
Permature Grave all of which as a rule are first
caused by deviating from the path of nature aud
over indulgence. The Specific Medicine is the re
sult of a life study and many years of experience
in treating these special diseases.
Full particulars in our pamphlets which we de
sire to send free by mall to everv one.
The Specific Medicine is sold by all Druggists at
$l per package, or six packages for $5, or will be
sent by mail on receipt of the monev by addressing
THE GRAY MEDICINE CO.,
No. to Mechanic's Block. DETROIT, MICH.
par-Sol (1 in Butler by J. C. REDICK, and by all
Druggists everywhere.
|#-HARRIS& EWINO, Wholesale Agents, Pitts
burgh. inyi2-ly.
Forty Dollars Reward.
HORSE STOLEN.
On Tuesday night, April 27th, there was
stolen from the premises of the subscriber,
living in Penn township, Butler county, Pa., a
dark bay horse, six years old, weighs "between
1,300 and 1,400 pounds, small star on the fore
head, shoulders somewhat sore from the wear
of the collar. A reward of S4O will be paid for
information that will lead to the recovery of
the horse. HARVY 08BORN,
mys-3t. Glade Mills, P. O. Butler Co. Pa.
A CITY OF WILD PIGEONS.
TWENTY SQUARE MILEB OF THE BIRDS
NESTINU IN FOREST COUNTY, PA.
The great pigeon nesting of Forest
county, Pa., covers twenty square
miles. It is in Jenks and Howe town
ships, near the source of streams that
empty into the Allegheny River. It
is sixteen miles south of Sheffield,
twenty miles west of Kane, and a hun
dred miles south of Buffalo in a direct
line. The country is almost an unbro
ken wilderness. Not more than ten
persons live within the boundaries *of
the nesting. There are roads, but they
are as rough as Tammany politicians
and surpass them in bruising power.
They were made by wood-choppers
and bark-peelers. Roots and stones
mount skyward, and ruts and mud
holes sink deep toward the bottomless
pit. The country is neither rocky nor
mountainous. It is a hilly slope, shad
ed with beeches and hemlocks, and a
few cherry, birch and maple trees. The
beeches bear a crop of nuts irregularly
and never two years in succession
The nut is triple-sided and triangular,
and grows within a prickly burr, much
smaller than a chestnut burr. Each
burr contains two nuts. The first frost
cracks the burrs, and the nuts drop to
the ground. Under a covering of snow
they retain their sweetness until spring.
These nuts attract the pigeons. The
condition of the crop is studied by
small scouting parties in the fall, and
in some manner is told to the main ar
my, who advance with the approach
of spring. This year the advance guard
appeared in the latter part of February.
They roosted at the head of Minister
and Porky Creeks, tributaries of the
Tionesta. A light snow fell soon after
their arrival, but did not prevent them
from securing an ample supply of nuts.
They swept downward in groups of
thousands and whipped tbe snow from
the ground with their wings. The con
tinuous flapping sounded like the roar
of a cataract.
Myriads of birds poured into the
roost daily for the next fortnight. They
came in sheets that stretched from hor
izon, and at times obscured the light of
the sun. At night over five square
miles of trees were loaded with roost
ing birds. The noise was deafening.
At times huge branches, broken by the
weight of birds, crashed to the ground,
throwing the vast camp into dire con
fusion. The unfortunate pigeons flut
tered to and fro in the darkness, utter
ing plaintive cries, which were answer
ed by their more fortunate companions
in the trees. A heavy fall of snow or
a gale after dark breaks many over
weighted limbs and spreads dismay
among the flock. The fallen birds
skulk to cover and await the break of
day, filling the darkness with their
cries of terror. Farmers and others
visited the roost after night-fall, and,
by the light of a blazing fire, clubbed
hundreds of birds from the lower
branches of the trees with long poles.
While sojourning at the roost the
birds mate. The torn pigeon coos in
cessantly, swelling his chest and ruf
fling the feathers at his neck. The
mating lasts three or four days. A
thousand millions of birds or more are
courting. The forest resounds with
love-making. Frequently toms court
the same hen, and a battle royal en
sues. Eyes flash fire, beaks are crossed
like rapiers, and the combatants use
their wings as Irishmen use shillelahs
at a country fair. The hens stand by,
coy and modest, and give themselves
to the victor without reserve. Once
mated, the pair is a model of constancy.
The torn is all attention and the hen
all affection. He brings her the choic
est delicacies and she rewards him with
kisses. Woe betide the feathered roue
who tries to loosen the domestic bond.
Respectable married pigeons make
common cause against him, and club
him from the camp in disgrace. The
pair, however, are not mated for life.
A nesting breaks the contract, and ever
after that they treat each other. like
strangers. No torn was ever known
to fight twice for the same hen. If a
hen loses her mate she remains a wid
ow until the next year.
Nesting begins soon after mating.
The birds never nest at a roost. This
year the first corps nested a fortnight
after their arrival. The nests are
mostly made in leafless hard wood
trees, about twenty miles from the
roost. The torn gathers the twigs
and the hen interlaces them. No ar
tistic skill is displayed. The twigs
are woven without regularity, and the
structure resembles an eagle's nest on
a small scale. The interior is thatched
with moss gathered from the bark of
hemlock trees. The torn finds the
moss and the hen does the thatching.
It takes three days to build a nest.
When everything is ready for house
keeping tbe hen lays an egg, and rarely
more than one. During incubation
the torn alternates in household duty.
There are from ten to thirty nests in a
tree. Each family strictly attends to
its own business. The torn feeds his
own wife and no other. The hen re
mains at home and does not gad about
among her neighbors. The golden
rule, however, is not recognized. If a
hen loses her husband she receives no
sympathy. No one offers to assist her
in raising her squab, and while she is
in search of food to keep it alive it
may perish from exposure under the
eyes of scores of unconcerned fathers
and mothers.
The egg hatches within thirteen
days, and the nest is never deserted
until the squab is grown. The parents
take turns in procuring food. The
torn usually shelters the squab from
8 A. M. to 3 P. M., and the hen does
the same during the intervening time.
At night the torn roosts near her. In
cold weather the squabs are fed three
times a day. If Jthe days are warm
they are allowed one or two lunches
in addition to their regular meals. In
Forest county the old birds were fly
ing from thirty to forty miles in search
of food. When nuts are scarce they
journey over a hundred miles. They
fly at the rate of about ninety-five
miles an hour. With distended crops
they wing their way back to their
nests. The action of their wings
churns the food into a curd resembling
boiled rice. This curd gives rise to
the phrase "pigeon's milk," two ex
pressive words frequently used with
out an idea of their meaning. On the
return to tbe nest the squab puts its
head into the parent bird's mouth, and
draws the milk direct from the crop.
For twelve days are they fed on this
substance. They are then as fat as
butter and as listless as toads at noon
day.
On the thirteenth day they receive
their last meal from the bills of the
old birds. Their throats are packed
with beech juts, and they are left to
their own resources. The toins and
hens arise from the tops of the trees
like agreat cloud, and are quickly lost to
sight. The squabs lie blinking in
their nests for hours. On finding
themselves deserted, they toddle to
the rims of their baskets and balance
themselves. After a preliminary flut
ter of the wings they strike out for a
limb, reach it, lose their equilibrium,
and tumble to the ground. They then
wander about like drunken men for
three or four days ere they know
enough to seek food or water. Fully
a week elapses before they are in good
flying condition. When they become
lean they readily take wing, and skir
mish for themselves. Their wing
feathers grow much faster than the
feathers in their tails, and when flying
this gives them a ludicrous appearance.
They resemble boys in monkey jackets
A lack of tail feathers sends them
rudderless through the air. They are
forced to fly in a straight line, swerv
ing gently between the trees. On
alighting they frequently pitch heels
over head, and appear dumfounded.
At first they form small flocks, but as
they grow stronger of wing these
flocks come together, and the downy
brigade pitches for a good feeding
ground. Either inst : "?tor some kind
hearted old bird points the way, for
veteran pigeon hunters say that a flock
of squabs invariably finds the best
feed.
The parent birds nest anew within
a few miles of the old place. If the
beech nuts hold out they nest three
times before summer. After the third
nesting the myriad disbands and is
scattered over the country. In au
tumn they are found in the woods
from Maine to Texas and from Wash
ington Territory to Georgia. A very
few mate and nest in odd places in the
summer. All however, reunite in a
grand army about the beginning of the
new year This flock nested in Forest
county in 1878, 1871 and 1867. Last
year they nested in the Indian Terri
tory, where .there was a superabund
ance of acorns. A great crop of
beech nuts is usually followed by a
large crop of acorns. The two crops
seldom grow in the same year. These
facts are derived from professional
pigeon hunters, who also assert that
three immense flocks of the birds are
now nesting in the United States—
one in Missouri, a second in Michigan,
and a third in Forest county.
The professional pigeon hunter is
keen-eyed, bronze-faced, and hard
handed. He usually chews tobacco,
drinks whisky, and indulges in pro
fanity. He wears a black sombrero, a
cassimer suit, and thick-soled boots.
He is slouchy and reserved, and not
particularly communicative. Once get
on the inside of him, however, and
you will fine him genial and generous.
Sixteen years ago he made from SSOO
to $2,000 net in a nesting season.
Now he finds his receipts cut down
by local catchers—men who were at
first hired to assist him in spreading
nets, but who have learned the calling
and have gone into business on their
own account. Ten years ago there
were from thirty to forty professional
pigeon trappers in the United States.
They did nothing else. The number
has been reduced until it includes
Messrs. Ackerman and Jones at Co
lumbus, Ohio ; Haycock and Cadmus
of Geneva, Ohio ; Paxon of some town
near Buffalo; Custen of Roanoke,
Ohio; Little of Cartersburg, Indiana,
and T. L. Utley of Neenah, Wisconsin.
Mr. Ackerman is the oldest pigeon
catcher in the country. He has been
at the business over forty years.
"I have been in the business for
nearly twenty years," says Mr. Utley.
'•Sixteen years ago I was trapping
birds at this very roost. We trap for
the market, and make more money out
of them when game and poultry are
scarce than at other times. I have fol
lowed this flight of birds for years.
Professional trappers know all the
roosts, and keep each other posted by
telegraph. The birds are hardly set
tled at a roost before the trappers are
after them with a supply of nets.
Their flight is swift. I have known
them to leave Wisconsin in the morn
ing and roost here the same night.
The nesting in Michigan is fully as
large as this one. That in Missouri is
much smaller. In the former they live
on beech nuts, and in the latter on
acorns. From my experience I should
say that there are only two large flocks
in the country. It would be as difficult
to estimate their number as it was to
estimate the number of buffalo in a
herd on the plains fifty years ago.
There are at least 2,000,000,000 in this
flock, and probably many more. Those
trapped and killed are like a pinch of
grain taken from an elevator. When
one of the two great flocks comes from
the northwest it hugs the shores of the
lakes, and then drives in a straight
line for the roost. I have seen solid
sheets of birds, five miles wide and two
hundred and seventy miles long, skirt
ing the shores of Lake Huron and
Michigan. They were three hours in
passing a given point. They will not
cross the lakes if they can avoid it, be
cause they are apt to either lose their
wav in a fog or get bewildered in a
storm. At such times thousands upon
thousands drop in the lake and are
drowned. I have seen the beach for
more than a mile below Traverse City
covered three feet deep with birds. At
times the flock hugs the southern shore
of Lake Superior, crossing the straitß
of Mcakinaw, and following the trend of
Huron and Erie until they are able to
strike out for the east. They stream
over the straits sometimes for days."
Mr. Utley says that the profession
als did not follow the flight of the birds
into Indian Territory last year. The
pigeons nested forty miles from the
railroad, and would have spoiled before
they could have been got to market.
Besides this the Indians objected to
the presence of the trappers. Mr. Ut
ley is now trapping 12,000 live bird* for
the New York State Sportsman's As
sociation. He says that this associa
tion will probably use up 1,200 dozen
at its anuual meeting. Live birds
bring from $1 to $1.25 a dozen, deliver
ed at the depot in Sheffield. Eleven
hundred barrels, containing over half a
million dead birds, and many crates of
live ones were shipped from Sheffield
in 1878. Over $50,000 worth of birds
were sold during the season. This
year the shipments are much larger.
Cooped in large quantities live birds
become diseased and die. When they are
"stall fed," to use a professional term,
they become to fat for trap-shooting
and are killed and sent to market
They are rarely kept more than a
month before they are placed in the
traps, and are compelled to fly a guant
let of crack shots.
The fowlers begin netting the pig
eons when they are forming a roost.
The nets resemble common fish nets,
and are usually sixteen feet wide and
thirty feet long. They are spread in an
open place over which the birds fly
while in search of food. The net is set
near a covert made of thick hemlock
boughs. It is strung on a rope tied at
either end to green hickory saplings
bent parallel to the ground.
Man is not the only agent in destroy
ing these immense flocks of pigeons.
Crows break their eggs and beat out
the brains of their young ; an army of
hawks hang around the nesting like
wolves, and snatch up the unwary
birds; owls prowl among them at night
and destroy untold numbers; twelve
years ago a snap of cold weather froze
millions of squabs in their nests ; vast
numbers are drowned in the lakes, and
gales and snow storms break their
nests and kill thousands at their roosts.
So far as is known, they escape the
ravages of pestilence. They are clean
and trim birds, and are rarely troabled
with vermin. They are strict vegeta
rians, and never devour a worm nor an
insect They are the sheep of the air.
More innocent birds never fluttered a
wing; but, like all innocent breathing
things, they are a prey to the cruel and
the rapacious. Of all their enemies
man is the worst, for the hawk, crow
and owl raid upon them for substenance,
while man too often kills them in wan
ton sport.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
A few weeks ago four prospectors,
bound for the Roaring Forks country,
left Leadville in a sleigh drawn by six
mules. They were Charles Hart, R.
S. Bryan, James Sweeny and Charles
Gallagher, and being in the employ of
a rich company, had everything ne
cessary packed away into convenient
space. Reaching Red Cliff without
trouble they put on their snow shoes
and struck boldly into the mountains.
An the end of the first day they found
that they had climbed only one and a
half miles, and during the next two
days they were unable to put Red
Cliff out of sight. Eight days later
they found that not a man in the party
could tell the time of day, so swollen
had their eyes become. The white
sunlight beat down upon the snow in
a constant glare. All the horrible
symptoms of snow blindness began to
manifest themselves and one dared not
look at another because the redness
about the upper part of the face made
every man look like some wild beast.
Nevertheless the party pushed on.
Bears sniffed the air of the camp every
night, and in the morning huge tracks
could be seen in the snow roundabout.
Once a grizzly sprang upon the party,
but he was beaten off. The fact that
the provisions were fast disappearing
was a new cause for alarm. The four
men drew lots as to who should re
turn to Red Cliff for relief, and the
journey fell on Sweeny's share. He
started at once, and following on the
trail reached the half-way point in three
days. On the fourth day Sweeny
was unable to go forward because of a
blinding snow storm. On the ninth
day he crawled into a dug-out on
Gore creek. He was more dead than
alive, and actually crawled on his
hands and knees the last seven miles.
The Gore men sent a relief party, and
the other parties were rescued.
HUNTING FOR GOLD.
Of thirteen prospectors who left Pine
Springs, Arizona, recently, to visit the
Ava Supias Indian village, on Cataract
creek, three returned rather than at
tempt the trail. At many places this
trail is not wider than twenty inches
It winds around perpendicular walls of
sandstone that loom above for hun
dreds of feet, while on the other side
are the darkest and deepest canyons in
the world. By the exercise of great
care ten of the party reached the vil
lage which is inhabited by two hun
dred Indians, the whole tribe. The
Ava Supias practice polygamy, each
male having three wives, it is under
stood that they know where to find
rich veins of gold, but they cannot be
induced to part with the secret. At one
canyon of the Cataract the Indians ex
plained that no creature but the birds
and no spirit but those of the dead
could make successful passage. Be
lieving that the Indians wished to keep
the prospectors out of that particular
canyon, D. W. Mooney, of Williamson
"Valley, tried to make the descent. He
took a small rope, hardly half an inch
in diameter, tied one end to a bush,
suspended it over the brink, then tak
ing hold of the rope was soon dangling
between the bright heavens and the
dark, dismal gorge below. Suddenly
Mooney gave an unearthly shriek, and
letting go bis hold dropped no one
knows where.
A SAD accident happened to a
mother-in-law down in Texas the other
day. Her son-in-law being about to
shoot his wife, this mother-in-law with
that passion for meddling which is pe
culiar to her species, threw herself be
tween the man and wife, and, as a con
sequence, received the fatal bullet in
her own body. Mothers-in-law should
cut this out and paste it in their hats
as a warning.
ADVERTISING BATES.
One square, one insertion, (1; each subse
quent insertion, 60 cents. Yearly.advertisements
| exceeding one-fourth of a column, 95 per inch.
Figure work double theee met; additional
cliarge« where weekly or monthly change* are
made. Local advertisements 10 centa per Una
for first insertion, and 5 cents per line for each
additional insertion. Marriages and death* pub
lished frre of cli&rge. Obituary notice* charged
x. advertisements, and payable when handed in
Auditors' Notices, t4 ; Executors' and Adminia
trators' Notice*, $3 each; Eatray, Caution an 4
Dissolution Notice*, not exoeeding ten line*,
each.
From the fact that the Omzn is the old**'
established and moat extensively circulated Re
publican newspaper in Butler oounty, (a Repub
lican county) it must be apparent* to boaineea
men that it ia the medium they should use in
advertising their business.
NO. 28,
THE WHIT TAKER CASE.
There was a dramatic scene in the
Whittaker investigation case at West
Point last week. A correspondent des
cribes it by saying: It had been under
stood that to-day was to bring forth a
sensation, consequently everybody ia
West Point attended the sitting of the
court—generals .professors aad cadets.
First Whittaker was subjected to a
long series of questions designed to
show inconsistencies in his defense
against the charges that he inflicted
the injuries on himself, and some of
them were very successful. Then came
the reports of the five experts in hand
writing that had been suppressed. The
entire five agreed that Whittaker had
written the threatening letter. The re
ports were long, but all reached the
same result with positiveness. These
created a great sensation in the court,
and the expressions were freely made
that Whittaker's case was up; but the
crowning sensation was yet to come.
Expert South wort, of Boston, had
made a discovery. A letter which
Whittaker had begun to his mother
was among the papers found in his
room and submitted to the experts
with the anonymous threatening let
ter. Expert Southwort, after satisfy
ing himself that the handwriting was
the same in both letters, discovered
that the threatening note had been
written on a slip of paper torn from
the letter begun to the cadet's mother.
Placing the two side by side the edges
matched perfectly, and where a bit had
been torn from one side the correspond
ing piece that fitted it was on the other.
Where the paper was thin in spots in
one the same thinness matched tho
other. The expert brought the letter
into the court room fastened between
two pieces of window glass in such a
manner as to show conclusively that
the two were from the same original
piece of paper. Everyone in the court
room could see at a glance that it was
so. The court was in an uproar of ex
citement in an instant. Cadet Whitta
ker did not move a muscel or show a
bit of emotion. No one spoke to him.
Whittaker, however, continues to be
have with coolness, and not only de
nies that he sent the note of warning
or that he bound and injured himself,
but his friend, Prof. Greener, insists
that the evidence is all circumstantial,
and there is nothing in it to fasten the
guilt upon Whittaker. His room, he
says, was always unlocked, and it was
an easy matter for whoever wrote the
note of warning to enter his room and
take a piece of paper from his desk. It
was on his desk after he had been ab
sent some time that he found the note.
This would account for the fact that
the sheet on which the note of
warning was written fits the sheet
on which a letter to his
mother was written. But it does not
account for the fact that five experts
agree that Whittaker wrote the note of
warning; still they may be mistaken.
One of them found another lot oT man
uscript, which*he was certain was
written by the writer of the note of
warning, and this was not Whittaker's.
The theory of Whittaker and his
friends is that his hand-writing was
closely imitated, and that the paper on
which the note was written was stolen
from Whittaker's desk.
The investigation is about closed.
Whether or not intentionally so upon
the part of the conductors, it has from
the start seemed like a prosecution of
Whittaker, the burden being put upon
him to show that he did not mutilate
himself. Possibly the last of the case
has not been heard.
BXJRDETTE ON COMMERCIAL
TRA VELERS.
What would I do without the 'boys?'
How often have they been my friends.
Igoto a new town. I don't know one
hotel from another. I don't know
where to go to. The man with the
samples gets off at the same station. I
follow him without a word or a tremor.
He calls to the 'bus driver by name
and orders him to 'get out of this now,'
as soon as we are seated. And when
I follow him I am inevitably certain
to go the best house there is in the
place. He shouts at the clerk by name,
and fires a joke at the landlord as we
go in. He looks over my shoulder as
I register after him, and hands me his
card with a shout of recognition. He
peeps at the register again. 'Ninety
nothing,' he shouts, 'who's in 15?'
The clerk says he is saving 15 for
Judge Dryasdust. 'Well, he be blow
ed,' says my cheery friend, 'give him
the attic and put this gentleman in 15.'
And if the clerk hesitates he seizes the
pen and gives me 15 himself, and then
he calls the porter, orders him to carry
up my baggage and put a fire in 15, and
then, in the same breath, adds: 'What
time will you be down to supper, Mr.
Burdette V and he waits for me, and,
seeing that I am a stranger in the
town, he sees that I am cared for, and
the waiters do not neglect me. He
tells me about the town, the people
and the business ; he is breezy, cheery
and sociable, full of new stories, al
ways good natured; he frisks with
cigars and overflows with thousand
mile tickets, he knows all the best
rooms in all the hotels; he always has
a key for the car seats, and turns a
seat for himself and bis friends without
troubling the brakeman, but he will
ride on the wood-box, or stand outside
to accommodate a lady, or he will give
his seat to an old man. I know him
pretty well. For three years I have
been'traveling with him, from Colorado
to Maine, and I have seen the best and
worst of him, and I know the best far
outweighs the worst I could hardly
get along without him, and I am glad
he is numerous.
—The difference between having a
tooth properly drawn by a deotist, and
having it knocked out by a faTl on the
pavement is only a slight distinction
one is dental and the other is acci
dental.
—Grace (whispering)— "Whatlove«
ly boots your partner's got, Mary I"
Mary (ditto.) "Yes, unfortunately,
he shines at the wrong end."
—A serious drawback—A Mister be*
tween your shoulder.