Caught in an Ice-Floe
, By WILLIAM H STIMPSON.
2tt
Thp fill n thftt wtntor nftnrnnnti Tir o f t. .... - . . . .
. - uu mure lormiaamo than thpy
a.ulte warm, but the north wind, hud seemed to Philip from the deck
blowing down the Ice laden river, cut of the barge, and buffeted about by
like A knlfp Phllln Rom Mnliln nf thn wfnrt onrt ....... ft 41
TT 7 " - u, , u., 1 1 1 1 ) W II
the barge Bessie, standing In the against the sides of the frail craft
hnw rf Tilo filnmav ,-. .1 1 I . . I ...til. - -
" " " uKwuuR. m i "uu unuKHruus iorce. While using
fang of men unloading the atones the oars to ward off the larger cakes
Which romi-rlnpd the mrvrt ahlverprt that fomn i,,,..,...,i t.i..
- - ......... vi uiuj, ne inea at me
as the strong blasts rushed by, and same time to work the boat forward
drawing bis heavy overcoat closer In flrst one direction, then another
fthntlt him tnnfc- rpfiic-o litlilrwl (ho 1, flf(Ann ai.lo.atft . . '
, - .... ..... unuuieH oi wns course
tupporttng mast of the derrick where demonstrated Its futility. Reluctant-
Ilia lirwlv 11' ri a an wvtiinVk aw ,1 I 1 a ...
. ijr ne gave up all hope of regaining
. 21 " "."'I61 Se,fr! 'J1 th! tne barge and directed his energies
tone hod been ra sed nnd landed, and i- . a- -a . - 8 "
Captain Ross blew hi. whistle as a kslde tl.o laraest T, h ,
llgnal that work was over for the "u wI'X? M ? tumbling
day. The teamster unhooked the f,869- husbanding his strength for a
urae oi need.
The floe that held his boat Bwept
along in about the centre of the
was avoided bv the
horses from the derrick tackle; the
laborers gathered mi coats and din
ner pails, and In an Incredibly short along in at
time they were lost to stitht down one channel and
MIUD UC HOIO IUDI UlC. IM UUWU OUO I " J KTU1UCU If JT 11)6
of the city's streets. The two mem- smaller craft plying up and down or
ucia ui 1110 ii on nuu iiii- uuuk uau
been granted nermlnRlnn tn anonn
the evening on shore and left af the
tame time.
When all had gone, Philip walked
to the stern of the barge and stood
looking out over the water. The tide
was ebbing, and the blocks of ice In
the stream were being borne along
toward the bay In heaving masses.
The river, with its shipping, Its mis
cellaneous cargoes and the sugges
tions of new and strange places the
light of Incoming and outgoing ves
sels were always bringing before his
Inind, was dear to the young man,
and he longed for the day when the
Brm by whom he was employed would
end him to sea on one of their ocean
going steamers.
One large cake of Ice directly op
posite him attracted his attention.
He followed it with his eyes as It
went tumbling along on its way to
the sea, and wondered how long a
time would elapse before the action
of the salt water would melt It.
All at once the entire flow seemed
to pause In Its onward progress. At
the same time the deck on which he
tood began to rock like a vessel In
motion. The sensation awoke him
from his reverie, and glancing hur
riedly over his shoulder, Philip saw
that the bow of the barge was swing
ing about, for the bowline, a thick,
oeavy hawser which held the for
ward part of the craft to the dock,
had parted, leaving only the lighter
line at the stern to keep the barge
from drifting away from her moor
ings entirely.
Instantly Ross saw that another
line would have to be run ashore to
take the place of the broken hawser,
and at once, or the barge would be
adrift. The distance between the
barge and the dock was too great to
leap, bo throwing the loop in the end
of a line over a bltt head he dropped
the coll of rope Into the bottom of
the dory fastened to the river side
of the larger craft. Cutting the boat
loose he picked up the oars and be
gan to pull rapidly, following out a
plan he had formulated almost as
Boon as he perceived that the bow
line had parted. This was to pass
around the bow of the barge, reach
the dock, fasten the other end of the
rope to the snubbing post, and thus
hold the unwleldly hulk until he
could get a tug to tow the barge
back to her position.
There were at his disposal only a
few seconds for the accomplishment
of his object, and Philip bent to his
task apd sent the dory out In the
river with strong, swift strokes. Then
turning the boat's head up stream
and shoreward, he put forth all his
strength and skill in his efforts to
make the dock before the barge had
floated the rope's length down the
stream.
But, riverman though he was,
Philip had failed to consider the dif
ficulties of his task. No sooner was
the dory well out from under the lee
of the barge than the floating Ice
Btruck it, effectually stopping its pro
gress. One huge cake caught the
small boat in its embrace, and while
Philip was working around the block
the tide was carrying the ice and
boat down the stream.
By the time he had succeeded in
getting clear of the cake he was so
Jar below the barge that It wan use
less to try and gain the dock In time
to snub her, and Philip realized that
his efforts were to end In failure.
He unwleldly craft bad swung
around and floated down stream as
tar as the stern line would allow
This hawser held her, much to Phil
ip s surprise, but he felt certain the
rope would not stand the strain long
uo tapuun awept the river with
miuent daneer of being sunk by con
tact with a huge block was over.
Encourr.ged by this he placed the
oars In the row-locks and tried again
hta i """" n wuu to row, but tae noating ice was sun
the baree hark -tit -.. .t low too thick to admit of any progress
manyave:seUC?n itfSlSl way, Giving way to his despair
too far away for him tn. r' he crouched as far lorwara in tne
across the river, while the pilots of
ferryboats that came eloae i.
for the young captain to hall did not
seem to think his danger sufficiently
great to warrant their stopping ln
mldstream and taking hiin aboard.
The floe with which his boat was
floating soon abnroachnd tha imn.
end of the city where the untnr woo
more frequently churmed by vessels.
ana i'nillp began to entertain hopes
of sneedv rescue. Put ho won ,i., ....
ed in rti.,J,. V a PassaK ahead toward the tug, but
that cam T in hlB eagerness he bore down too
mat carne anvwhmrn nonr Mo Una .. ... ...
sent .. .. ;;":; v.,'" .;l.neav"y n onfi 01 ttie blades and
very aistlnctly and the pilot hat to
guess his meanlne.
Philip's senses were sham pnmieh
even if his body was numb, and he
took in the significance of several
sharp orders given by the command.
er of the tug during the next sixty
seconds, In answer to which two men
cast off the hawsers leading to the
three barges. Then the man at the
wheel ran,; for half simcd ahead
Philip heard and understood the
signal and was filled with a fear that
the prow of the tug, forcing Its way
through the Ice, would push the big
cakes against his dory and sink It be
fore he could be taken on board.
Some such thought must have flashed
through the pilot's mind at the same
lime, ror he suddenly left the wheel.
and leaning out of the window again
scanned the floating ice that turn
bled about so threateningly between
the two crafts.
"The Ice cakes here are big ones,
and you'll crush my boat if you're not
carerul, Philip called.
The helmsman olmnrvpd the niaan
of floating ice with a critical eye, then
gave another order to the engineer
through the speaking tube, In obedi
ence to which the tug's propeller re
duced Its revolutions until the vessel
had Just headway enough to keep sta
tionary In the current.
Half a dozen men all of the crew
except the engineer, who remained
at his post, and the nllot. in the
wheelhouse crowded to the bow of
the tug, ready to lend a hand If need
ed, for the Ice, Impeded by the larger
craft, was piling around the frail
looking uory, now and then striking
the gunwale with such force that
only the stanchness of the little boat
Kept It from being demolished.
With the oars. PhillD tried to clear
a passage ahead toward the tug, but
The tailor holding ta rope dareo . WFRF1 FS WI1 I
not Dull for fear of tnlnrln., Phlllr. ' 'TlncLC;)J WILL.
In drawing his body through the Ice. PROTECT ENGLAND
For a moment or two there was con- 1 .
sternatlon aboard thp tug. but tho
pilot was equal to the emergency.
Leaping to the deck he selz-i a boat
hook nnd began pushing asldo the
cakes directly over Philip's head,
shouting to one of his men to do the
name.
eni ugly waves toward him ,i
these threw the cakes of ice about so
that several times he fully expected
the planking of his frail craft tn h
crushed. All his attention woo
quired to keep the dory from being
struck a fatal blow, and he had little
opportunity to signal his plight.
massed by again and asraln Phiiir,
grew disheartened after two or three
such experiences, and wan ahm.t tn
sink down on a seat in sheer despair
wiiBii no saw rignt ahead of him the
broke it off short. Throwing the imp
lass piece of wood aside, he picked
up the other aor and went to work
with that, but he was afraid to strain
that one very hard for fear of snap
ping it also, and slowly the ice hem
med him in. Clearly he saw that It
was only a question of time when
the dory would go down and Its sole
occupant be precipitated Into the Icy
water.
All hands realized that this would
occur before the boat could reach the
Hi -b-s-
A Toast to Archibald Deringer.
- .
Here is a toast given by the toastmaster at a dinner
in honor of Archibald Derlnger, which is eminently suited
for any other occasion in honor of a good fellow like
Artie:
"The spirit of Mirth presided at his birth. Wit
was his godfather, Humor his godmother, and they
christened him favorite son of Laughter. He is the hope
of the optimist, the despair of the pessimist, the destroyer
of woe, the purveyor of smiles, the custodian of cheerful
ness. He fosters fun and promotes pleasure. He has a
mortgage on amiability, he Is the majority stockholder
in the sunshine trust, his eye Is a beacon of gaipty his
face is a map of drollery, his mind Is a mirror of merri
ment, his heart is the haunt of happiness. Here's to
our friend Artie Deringer."
1'
lights of a vessel anchored in the riv
er. The ice was bearing down unon
the stationary hulk, and hope rose
high in his heart when a turn in the
current caused the floe to veer, and
he nassed by so far away that his
Shouts were not heard by any one on
board.
Then n little further on a ferrvhnat.
loaded with passengers bound for the
suburbs on the opposite side of the
river, nlowed through the ice not flftv
feet ahead of him, but the pilot's at
tention was on a tug and its tow
crnRRlncr his nnarter. and he did not
see the small boat and its occupant
frantically waving his overcoat. The
passage of the big ferryboat disturbed
the water so much that the blocks
of Ice were thrown about more rough
ly than ever. One huge cake fell di
too late, he thought nt -u -iilk. J bottom of the dory as he could, draw-
that be was S borne down fhe Hi- ln h"1 heavy COat ab0Ut hl" f0rm aS
er toward thu h. .i.u .... . . a orotectlon against the piercing
wind. But the keen blast penetrated
h the thick garment and
numbed his whole body.
Then a change came over him.
Tranquilly he viewed tho situation
and resigned himself to his fate. In
u bul stupor he sank further In-the
Btern as the blood began to move
slugglBhly through his veins.
For fuly fifteen minutes he sat
thus, so oblivious to his surround
ings that he failed to see a tug with
a tow of three barges approaching in
line that, If coutlnued, would have
cut the dory in half, until the hoarse
whistle, warning him to get out of
the way, had sounded twice. The
second blast aroused him. He looked
up dully and saw the lights of the
tug.
In a second he was all animation.
Leaping to his feet he pulled off hla
coat and began waving it around his
head.
The pilot had comprehended the
ltuation when Philip failed to heed
the first warning, and as soon tie the
young man began waving his over
coat, rang for the engineer to stop the
engine. Then openlug the wheel
hout'a window he leaned out, the bet
ter to see through the deepening
gloom.
I'm fast in this Ice-floe and can't
lr,lrafd lhe bRy wltn a tld0 a8a'nt
u uoi easy to pull. How- ""'
ahim h6 hftd 110 rea,ion t0 douut his beneath the
XT ,,3su'n lne nan, and bend
ing to the oars again, pulled his best.
Slowly the boat began forging
ahead against the tide, and pointing
wIshlTi t0,Ward thB ot wh'e he
la". Philip settled hini-
If on his seat for some hard work.
hart i Wrm Bun earller ln the day
had loosened great quantities of ice
and mS "PP6rK branes of the river.
Btrea , . OStS Carrle" down 'ho
extend' rtn f,1? fl068' some of "ch
d i al way across and were
and th a.rly,thlck between thu at
two J?, ank' Ph,llp naa not PUlM
iurroundUJrt3Sbef0re he ,0una
Btroice SUCh stance that his
strokes were of no avail
thePrd0nVr0ke.1 " bU ,allure 06 t""d
a treo y ioward the middle of the
mgnm,The;e h thought the ice
verv w5nda;k and he could ot
stead nf h J? ,ftt0 ha found tnat
1 ,Zt , b.otterln M Position he had
tin. ! ,Knt Jt n ot Urer P'opor
loM han the one ad first
Mia him. Somewhat alurmed at this
discovery he wheeled the dory about
and sought to pull shoreward again,
nut the ice was getting thicker every
minute and ho could make no head
way in that direction either.
, The masses of floating Ice were
cug, and at a suggestion from the
pilot a sailor threw Philip a rope.
"Tie that around your waist, and
when I give the word, jump for the
tug. We'll haul you aboard," he
cried cheerlngly.
Philip did as he was told, and, pre
pared to leap at the signal, stood
watching the distance between him
and safety lessen. One moment it
would seem to the anxious lad as
though the space betwwen the two
craft wbb not diminished an inch;
then the heaving mass of floating ice
would thin out a trifle and the cur
rent would bear the dory forward
perhaps six inches.
With the line securely fastened
about his waist, Philip felt a tem
porary assurance of safety, followed
immediately by an almost overpower
i-iiu-i . - o - - - ; ... v ....... , j Uj uu muiusi overpower-
rn..llv oernoo the hniv nt the Rtnall I inc rteulep in 11 1.1 , A
- " 1 o .u iuiuov miimeii overooaril
hnnf nn1 frir a fan; aafnn rt Phlllll I unit 1 ...... 1 ,,. ,1,., , . .
iw . - " ! I - . i. l iW mo rupe una ine eager
thought the dory was going down crew to haul him upon the deck of
then nnrt there. Hut. the block alld the. tnir Rut i... hm t-. t
- -o iiui lud leiupiauuil
off into the water Anally, and lmme- aside, assured that the older man
.!...... Annrrnw rt I I. I. I '1 IT nina TlOOf I 1 Tl .1 ... Knnl
'11,11 11 II. llll. ' 1 .1 1 Oil. 111., ' " ' I
On swirled the ice floe uninterrup
tedly. It soon reached the point
where the river widened Into the bay.
There were fewer vessels there, and
Philip was forced to the conclusion
that his chance of rescue was ex
tremely slim. But he comforted hlm
oelf with nnn thought. The wider
eipanse of water allowed the Ice
knew best.
Slowly the seconds dragged along,
and foot by foot the little boat and
the tug drew together. The distance
narrowed to twelve feet, and although
the Ice cakes were threatening every
instant to capBlze the diminutive
craft, the dory still held her ovn.
Ten feet was the distance when the
Mill ' l.ll.l. I'.,,. .i ... . I. l 1
j v I'uuov " v. ivitw- O lUI UCUlUlUn WUS 10-
cakes to float further apart, and im-U?elved. With a loud crash a huge
.......... i .1ii. ...i .if I, ..in" olITilr hv i in I 1 1 ! 1 1 I i i i . i .. I n.. a . . .
.. ... uvt., i lb lenows, ana
snapping short the light oar Philip
interposed, hurled Itaelf against the
dory and struck it a glancing blow
that stove in the gunwale. The boat
began to sink slowly, but Philip,
whose control over himself had
grown more rigid as the danger in
creased, beard no order to leap, and
held his position, although it seemed
like courting death to. do so.
When eight feet away the gallant
little craft was bMU above the water
but struggling palnfuly to keep
afloat. Not until the distance to the
tug had narrowed to six feet did the
pilot shout a loud, "Now then!" and
Philip leaped, just as a big wave
washed entirely o'er the boat send
ing It down Instantly. The great Ice
cakes came tumbling together ln the
spot where the dory had been. Philip
found an Instant's footing on one of
tho largest of the blockB, and was
just about to lay hold of the out
stretched hands, when a wave tossed
a big cake- on top of the one giving
him his temporary footing, knocking
his feet out from under him.
Had the man with the rope re
tained his presence of mind and
hauled in on it when Philip leaped,
the latter would have escaped an
other harrowing experience. But the
sailor was slow, and Philip went ln
the Ice laden water, the huge blocks
and smaller pieces jamming together
over the spot wuere he had disap
peared, and when he would have
thrust arms and head above ' water,
be found a barrier over him whlcV be
could not pierce. The Btrong current,
pushing the ice-floe against the hull
of the tug directly in Us path, kept
the cakes wedged together so tightly
The Admiralty Rapidly Extend
ing the Number of the Coatt
Stations. l
NEWS OF PENNSYLVANIA
Not only is the wireless apparatus
being Installed at tho new Admiralty
Quick and strong manipulation of ! Building ln Whitehall, London, for
the poles was all that saved the
young barge captain, for when an
opening large enough for him to
force his head and shoulders through
was made, and Philips white face
arose, he was gasping for breath.
Leaning over the side of the tug the
men seized him and drew him aboard.
Two hours later when he had had
his bruises attended to, had been
rubbed dry by the kind hearted cook
on board the tug, warmed with hot
coffee, and attired in a suit of tho
mate's clothes, Philip hurried ashore
and uptown to where he had left the
barge, and found It tied snugly at
bow and stern.
A passing tug captain, so he learn
ed the next day, seeing the barge
about to break her moorings, had
towed her back and mended the
broken hawser. Young People.
5 THE REAL
8 HUSKING BEE ;
There will be a husking to-night.
The boys have selected about thirty
huge and solid pumpkins for seats,
and the stocks of corn stand twenty
Mat thick, all around outside. Wires ' off" spots are receiving most careful
the purpose of keeping the British
authorities in touch with naval ports
and the home fleet without recourse
to the land wires, but It Is, I under
stand, Intended to add to the number
of wireless stations round the coast.
April 1 saw eleven of these In exist
ence and provision has been made for
the erection of three more during the
current year. So that. Including the
war signal stations, there will soon
be 167 places in the United Kingdom
from which the authorities can com
municate with the land officers of the
fleets or with the commanders of tho
ships.
The functions of the stations are
of course entirely different. At the
wireless telegraphy centres It Is pos
sible to get Into touch with vessels
hundreds of miles away from the
English coast, but the passing and
receiving of signals by semaphore
lamp or bunting is at present the lim
it of usefulness of war signal sta
tions. With the development of wire
less telegraphy It Is, however, expect
ed that their scope will be consider
ably extended'. All these stations
have now been placed under the con
trol of the Admlrat commanding the
coast guard and reserves.
I hear that the probable "Jumping
are fixed, on which to hang the lan
terns of the workers. Inside the
seats, the whole centre of the yard
Is left clear for the clean golden
ears after they are stripped. Joslah
Andrews and Fphralm Foote are the
chief competitors; only old man Den
nlson gives them a close race. It
Is a curious and pretty piece of busi
ness. At 7 o'clock every seat Is occu
pied with laughing, story-telling
farmers, farmers' boys and farm
hands. Grandfather Hull gives the
signal. Lifting a stalk deftly, so as
to bring the ear to the left hand, he
strips the husks down with the right,
and then twists the golden Bpur cun
ningly out of the stalk and the husks
quick as a flash tossing the ear to
the ground. Soon there is a pile,
and each man and boy has his own
heap. Now all are at work. The
jokes grow fewer, the talk lags. Ears
fly thickly through tho air. There
will be one hour's pull, and every
bit of It will be farmer's science. With
all their Inventions they have never
yet got a better corn husker than the
two human hands, with brains run
ning through them. You will easily
see that It Is brains If you watch
the piles. Modern invention has
spoiled mowing and reaping, and
Indoors there Is no more sewing or
knitting or candle making, but corn
husking is, and I think It will long
remain.
The kitchen is lighted with un
usual brilliance, and there Is a hum
of business inside, i'alnt odors of
doughnuts come to the champions.
If you could only look Indoors ydu
would see a long row of pumpkin
pies, and there are seven jars of
honey, for these huskers are hearty
eaters. Parson Chase Is here, and
Deacon Hanford, and they are doing
work neither need bo ashamed of.
After the feasting, when it comes to
the dancing, and the champion lead9
attention, and in thi3 way It Is hoped
to avoid a surprise. The new ar
rangement certainly Is vastly super
ior to the system which held good for
so many years. New York Herald.
We Are Dying Younger.
In view of all that has been said
about the fall ln the death rate It
seems strange to realize, says Health
Culture, that we are not living so
long as our grandfathers and grand
mothers did.
More babies live to grow up now
adays than formerly, but people in
later life die younger. Once arrived
at adult age the average man or wo
man has fewer years of survival to
expect.
This seems on the face of It so sur
prising a statement that in order to
be accepted It should be backed up
by data authentic and indisputable.
Such data are furnished by the fig
ures of tho insurance companies
(which all agree on the point), but
It is easier to refer to the Govern
ment census reports, which tell the
tale in simple and convincing fash
Ion. Even during the last fifteen
years tho death rate among all per
sons over flfty-flve years of age ot
both sections has risen very considerably.
Congressional Finance.
Congress Isn't always as ignorant
of financial matters as some people
pretend. The last Congress at least
knew enough to increase 'the Con
gressional pay. Philadelphia Press.
Flower Kales and tho Weather.
Flower sales, as the street venders
find, are affected by the weather. OI
course, a bad day keeps buyers at
home and the venders indoors. Flow
ers of different colors that are favor
ites on sunny days are not much no
ticed in chill, clouded weather. The
daffodil, most cheerful of blooms, is
the elrl of his choice, the narson I bought with avidity on the darkest
smiles and says genially: "Folks do days. No other bloom can compete
not see things as they used." "Bless with this one at such times. On a
the Lord, no!'' Bays the deacon. ! mlld and sunny day it is superseded
"There's no use maiiufacturlne Sins, i 'ust now carnations, roses, pan-
There's enough of them in the nature i sles and toti for which there is a
of things." steady demand. Sweet peas, arbu-
The hour Is up; yes, a good long : tus an" mignonette, with bunches of
hour and a half. Tho village clock I 111168 01 lne va"ey. sell in great quan-
strlkes U before the huskers shove I
back from the stocks what there is '
left of them. The girls are coming
from the house with arms full. Cider
first a genuine brew. I should like l
to stop right here, to sing the praise ;
of real cider September cider
made half and half of pound sweets t
and gravenstelns. But really If I
were to tell you all that I know, and .
all that I think of this pure brewing
of tho best fruit God ever made, 1
should never get to the end of the
dancing and feasting, and we should !
not get home until midnight. Only
this I say, cider Is fit for mortals onl
when made of sound apples, and
every one washed at tho spring
Coffee comes for those whose blood
goes slow, and are already sleeping
or nodding. This Is one of the fine
things about farm life, that as Boon
as the work Is done the worker
.-1 , , 1.-,. , . .v. ' 1 !' .. .1 n 1 1
Oil UIO. i .''.I, I.U1 11 ,111 1 ' . I
by K. v. Powell, ln the Outing Maga
zine.
WORDS OF WISDOM.
x w .out iu uiio 1V.7-11UC auu (.mi i i lue ittnt) weuguu luigeiiiui so llglliiy
get out," Philip shouted, but bis Hps that to break through tvem beneath
wnrA an pnlrt that tin rtlrt nr.! ...!. I ,. . u n n (,m.uun.iuiv
, w.. " - " .1 WJji 1. I, i.
was an Impossibility.
There Is at least ono redeeming
feature about air castles, and that Is
we do not have to pay taxes on
them.
The kindness of Insincerity Is like
the beauty of artificial roses; we val
ue It for what It is intended to repre
sent. When you are In error never be
ashamed to acknowledge It. It gives
the other fellow no excuse for keep
ing up the argument.
If you want to know how people
speak of you behind your back, lis
ten to the reckless manner ln which
they pilch into others.
The man who is always proclaim
ing that lie 1h ln the right Is intoler
able; the man who admits he has
been ln the wrong is charming.
A couple of Interviewers spent the
night in a cell with a man who wsb
doomed to be hanged, and In the
morning the prisoner was perfectly
willing to die.
Better be defeated in an houest ef
fort than to be discouraged and cease
to mako that effort. Up and at It
should ever be the watchword of the
man who feels that he has right on
his side.
There It always more than enough
brightness In life to offset the gloom,
If we will look for It. And there Is
ttill enough gloom In life to quench
all brightness. If we are determined
to have It that way. From "Nugget
ot Wisdom," in the Be-Uva,
titles, but not so many of them reach
the street market. Philadelphia
Record.
Greatest Need of the Air Ship.
According to A. Mallock, before
heavler-than-alr flying machines can
become popular, some method of au
tomatically balancing them -that Is,
keeping them on an even keel must
be devised. In the few practical
machines now built the balancing ha.s
to be done by the operator, and, while
the ability to do this could probably
be gained by most persons, if they
had opportunity for practice when
young, the great difficulty with such
schooling must always be that an ac
cident usually puts an end to the les
sons by putting an end to the scholar.
Mr. Mallock suggests that an auto
matic balancer might ba devised by
the use of pendulums, one with a very
long and th? other a very short
period.
Legs and Legs.
After the Ways and Means Com
mittee had been compelled to leave
its old quarters and go over to the
new House of Representatives office
building some of his friends were
sympathizing with Champ Clark.
"It might have been worse.
Champ," they said. "Cheer up.
Pretty Boon they will have the elec
tric cars running In the subway and
then you can ride over."
"Yes," replied Clark. "It might
have been worse. Reminds me of an
Irishman I knew down in St. Louis
who had both of his legs cut off by
a railroad train. 'It might have
been worse, Mike,' they said.
"'Sure,' Mike replied; 'suppose I
had been a chorus girl.' " Saturday
Evening Post.
A Sudden Metamorphosis.
"Who," she asked, "is that
scrawny, bow-legged, ridiculous look
ing person talking to Miss Rocking
ham?" "That Is Count Brisczicksnltxel."
"Oh! What an aristocratic, noble
bearing he seems to have, now that
he has shifted his position so that the
light strikes him properly," Chica
go Record-Herald.
' V
The Obliging Butcher.
The parson's wife had sent an or
der for a leg ot mutton, and received
In reply the following note: "Dear
Madam I have not killed myself
this week, but can give yon a leg of
my brother, If that will do. Your
affectionate butcher, John Sirloin."
Philadelphia Inouirar. .
HAD A IBORBT DOOH.
Pittsburg (Special). A aeoret
lanel door leading from his private
office enabled William Montgomery,
cashier of the Allegheny National
Bank, to cover up Mr alleged defal
catlont for many years, according to
William L. Fields, national bank ex
aminer, who has charge of the case.
Mr. Fields declares Montgomery
worked with some employe of an
other bank, presumably Henry Relb
er, the teller of the Farmers' Deposit
.National Bank. Whe n the nrpflpnpp
of the bank examiner would be an
nounced, he saya, Montgomery would
sup out through his panel door, hur
ry to the other and secure a temnor
! "ry loan sufficient to make good the
nencit. 'lhe money would be re
turned after the departure of the
examiner.
The directors of the Allegheny
Bank met and deducted from their
surplus the gum of 1489.000. the
amount Montgomery Is charged with
Kciinin uway wun. it is probable
that an assessment will be made
against the stockholders of the Instt
tution later on. As soon as the bauk
opened a telegram wob sent to the
I seaboard National and the Park Na-
; tlonal Banks, of New York, asking
j them to forward immediately $300,-
t nnn ti,..i k. n,...i . .
vvv ni. mow rtui-fiiirny i-fauunai nas
on deposit. Tho bank also secured
all the cash It could get Us hands on,
and this was piled several feet high
on a big table In the center of tho
banking room. The Immense sum
could be seen from the street, and
was sufficient In ftself to prevent a
run, although a run was at no tlm
threatened,
It Is declared here that Montgora
"ry did not profit to the extent of a
single cent. It Is alleged that many
Pittsburg business houses and man
ufacturers owe their existence to
Montgomery who advanced them
money to keep them alive. When
he attempted to get thin money back,
It Is atsserted, he found that the
people whom he had favored were
unable to give it to him. Today,
when it Is too late. It Is remarked
that friends of Montgomery would
raise. $1,000,000 if necessary to get
him out of his trouble.
Montgomery appeared at a meet
ing of the bank directors. He was
closely questioned but refused to ad
mit that any other person had any
thing to do with tho robbery. In
spite of this statement, however,
there are persistent rumors that sev
eral prominent politicians are im
plicated. Because of the largo number of
peculations ln Pittsburg banks of
ficials of the banks have adopted a
system of shifting their employes.
In a number of the banks a man Is
allowed to remain lu a position for
a few months only, after which ho
Is transferred to some other department.
MAY UK MUURDKR MYSTKRY.
Phoenlxvllle (Special). Searchers
for Thomas Snyder, a resident of
Klmberton, a village near here, who
j disappeared from his home on Mon
day, unearthed another mystery In
the finding of a body of an unknown
man in n dam ln lhe French Creek.
Not one of the hundreds of persons
who viewed the body can give any
clew to his Identity and no papert
were found in hla clothes which
would aid the authorities.
A short distance from the spot
where the body was found the dead
man's hat was discovered on the aldt
of . stwp railroad embankment,
which descend to the water's edge
An investigation by Deputy Cor
oner Howell, of this place, has re
vealed that lhe man's death was nol
duo to drowning. There are no
marks of violence on the body and
nothing Bave a vial containing a few
strychnine tablets was found on the
body.
The dead man was about &5 yeart
of ago, medium size, with light red
hair closely cut. Hla clothes were
those of a worklngman.
OOTOGHXAKIAK DIES.
Coatesvtllo (Special). Richard
Strode, one of the beBt-known busi
ness men In this section, died In his
8 4th year.
He was a descendant of the origin
al Scotch-Irish settlers of Pennsyl
vania, and a brother of the late Rob
ert Wilson Strode, a Philadelphia
contractor, and of James W. Strode,
for many years master mechanic ln
the Elmlra, N. Y., shops of the Penn
sylvanla Railroad.
In 1$49 he bought a larite tract
of land In this place and engaged ln
the lime burning and brick making
business. He served as burgess and
as Councilman at various times and
was the organizer of the branch of
tho Abolition party here.
Killed In Fall Downstairs.
Scranton (Special). Mrs J. V.
Titus, 92 years old, was found dead
when her daughter returned from
church. The aged woman had fallen
downstairs and had her neck broken.
Patrick Finnerty,waa reading a pa
per while sitting on the back Dorch
of his house and lost his balance and
fell down the stairs, a distance of
twelve feet. He died In a few hours.
SLAYER PRAYS CONSTANTLY.
Easton (Special). Robert Bach
man the religious fanatic, who killed
Irene May Smith, his niece, at Naza
reth, gives no attention to anything
except his religious devotions. He
does not take tho exercise In fhe jail
which Is allowed the other prisoners
and spend most of the time lying on
his cell cot praying.
His lawyers have made- several at
tempts to talk with him about the
crime and discuss his defense, but
without success. To one of them
who attempted to bring him to a
realization of his position, he said:
"God will keep me and nothing
mortal man can do will Injure me."
Baehman has made no Inquiries
whatever about nls wire or his rela
fives.
Miner Killed By Fall Of Coal.
Mahanoy City (Special) . Charles
Rollas was killed and Stiney Seykof-
sky, Charles Smith and Charles Zen-
man seriously hurt by the eollaaM
of the roof ln a gangway at Mahanoy
iuy joinery, nonas was burled un
der several hundred tons of earth,
and the body has not yet been reach
ed.
Gets 4,000 For Auto Injuries.
Chambersburg (Special). A jury
gave a verdict of $4,067 to Miss
Marie Kauffman against Thomas M.
Nelson, president of Chambersburg
Trust Company, and three or four
other corporations, the wealthiest
citizen of the town, for damages for
being struck by his automobile a
year ago .b she dismounted from a
trolley car.
GET THEIR DIPLOMAS.
SUns Grove (Special). Tho an
nual commencement exercises of the
Sellns Grove High School were held
in the Opera House. A class of ten
was graduated. MLss Lillian Estet
la Fisher was the salutorian, and
Miss Mary Louise Kelser, valedictor
ian. The Daughters of the American
Revolution prise was won by Miss
Lillian E. Fisher. The W. C. T. U.
prize was awarded to H. Clay Berg
stresser. OratlonB of the class were
lellvered by Ruth Kathryn Crlsslng
sr. Alice Harriet Hower, Homer
Fisher Fetterolf, Ftorence Odesso
Meek, Alice Marguerite Mussulman.
Esther Viola Phillips.
George R. Hendricks, president of
the Board of Education, presented
.he diplomas.
l'OST.M A STE I : AfC fSEIS.
Altoona (Special). An investiga
tion Into charges of pernicious activi
ty ln politics, coercion of Govern
ment employees, Illegal delivery of
mall on Sunday and six kindred
counts, lodged against Postmaster
George Fox by Grant G. Staines, a
letter carrier, who was recently drop
ped from the service, was begun by
Post Office Inspector W. W. Slono,
representing the department, and J.
J. Vogle, of Philadelphia, secretary
of the Third Civil Service District,
representing the Civil Service Com
mission. The charges grew out of the last
municipal campaign, when political
liternture was distributed on Sunday
to relieve tho congested condition of
tho office.
I'.ik knell's Honor Students.
I.iwlsburg (Special). At a meet
ing of the faculty of Buckuell Uni
versity, the following members of the
senior class were appointed as com
mencement speakers: Wlnfleld Scott
Booth, Philadelphia; Ralph Womele
dort Haller, Reading; John Farl
Hummer, Titusvllle; Robert Bruce
Morris, Rebersburg; William Carlo
ton Sprout, Muncy; Robert McCurdy
Steele, Brockwayvllle; John Ray
mond Stratton, BloBsburg; Miss Hel
en Marr Forrest, Lewlsburg; Miss
Margaret Ellen Klap, Mt. Pleasant.
Worked On Railroad 30 Years.
Pottatown (Special). When Jere
miah M. Conrad, the veteran conduc
tor on the Colebrookdale Branch of
the Philadelphia & Reudlng Railway
Company, turned over the Wednes
dajr'a receipts and in , lantern, he
rounded out thirty six years of con
tlnouB service with the company. At
the age of 23 years he entered the
employ of the company as a brake
man on a mixed train. He was pro
moted to the position of conductor
nine years later and for the past
twenty-seven years he haa oocupled
thl position.
"Black Hander" Gets Four Years.
Bloomsburg (Special). Four
years' Imprisonment and a fine of
$200 was the sentence imposed by
Judge Evans on James Pipera, of
Centralia, an alleged member of tho
"Black Hand," who was convicted of
assault with Intent to kill William
Merton, in March, 1907.
Oldest Baptist Preacher Dies.
Indiana (Special). Rev. A. B.
Runyan, aged SO years, died at his
home ln Homer City. He was one
of the oldest Baptist ministers in the
State. His pastorates were in Indi
ana, Lock Haven, Liberty, Milesburg,
Apollo, East Mahoning, Crooked
Creek, Brush Valley and Homer.
His wife and daughter survive.
STATE ITEMS.
Joseph Johannes, of Wayne Coun
ty, has caused the arreBt of his neigh
bor's boy for painting his horse green
and rod. Aside from the unaathetlc
effect the horse suffered much from
the application of turpentine, and
may die.
Salvatorc Magnolta, of Scranton,
has sued John Weisenfluh for $1,
000 damages, because John applied
uncomplimentary epithets to the
plaintiff.
Miss Elizabeth Chelton died at
Blakely, of scarlet fever. She con
tracted the malady from a patient
whom she was nursing. An epidem
ic of the disease prevails ln the bor
ough. John Gotwalts, of Oaks. MontKOm-
ery County, was relieved of aixty-fiv
pigeons uy a tnier.
Tho Zwlnglian Literary Society of
I'rstnus College has awarded the fol
lowiug prizes In the essay contest
for sophomore students: First prlzd
of $10, F. L. Moser, Collegeville;
second prize of $5, E. C. Wanger,
West Chester.
Harry Vessel, a stone and brick
mason, hanged himself In the attic?
at his home in Chambersburg. Mem
bers of the family found the body.
Officials of the American Flint
Glass Workers' Union and represen
tatives of the Glass Manufacturers,
In Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New
York, West Virginia, Ohio and Indi
ana, concluded a two days' confer
ence at PlttBburg by agreeing to dis
continue the usual two months' aum
mer shutdown. Hereafter It will be
optional with glass workers whether
they will close down from July 1 to
September 1.
The Ladles' Auxiliary of the Col
llugdale Fire Company, No. 1, gavs
a musical and vocal entertainment
at the Grace Reformed Episcopal
Church, of that borough for the ben
efit of tho fire company.
H. M. Bretz, of Harrlsburg, was
appointed auditor of the Newcastle
Savings and Trust Company, by the
Court, upon petition of the Attorney
General.
An Adams Express Company horse
turned a complete somersault at Al
toona, when the frog of Its shoe
caught iu the grating over a sewer
Inlet while It was trotting uluug the
street.