A COCK-FIGHT IN ILOILO.
BY FREDERICK
-VOCK-FIQHTrxa is tlio no-'
( lionnl sport of the Filipinos,
rJ ns baseball is in the United
States, cricket in England,
ind Imll-flghting in Spain; it is ln
Sulged in by Uigli and low, in hand
lomoly fitted out pits nnd on the
inndy strotoh in front of tho native
unt. No trne Filipino ia too rich nnd
prond to own it choice assortment of
gsme-cocks, of long pedigree and mnr.
vellons oapooity for fighting and on
Auranoe, aad none is too poor to own
one (or at least a sharo) of more or
toss claim to a fighting strain. In
the Filipino heart, tho order of his
affections is thus: first, his game
cook, noxt, money, then his wifo nnd
family, and in close order a genoral
desire for rest and a taste of tlio fiery
liquor distilled from tho spent storks
of the sugor-catio on tho plantations.
As much cavo nnd money, compara
tively, is spent in tho Filipinos yearly
on the maintenance of gamo fowls
and fighting them as is spent here on
blooded horses ami raco meetings,
and far more is lost in tho conk-pit,
bv thoso. able and nimble to afford it,
than on all tho horse racing in the
United Statos for a whole sensou.
A native will bet everything lie
possesses on a favorite bird, oven to
the olotb.es on his bade, and if ho has
nothing to bet, ho will steal it from
the most convenient sonrco; were
they a raco who took their troubles to
heart, the list of suicides every year
would lo appalling; as it is they
simply shrug tho shoulders and abide
their time until a chance comes their
way, when they have been stripped of
everything in the ups and downs of
cock-fighting. Cock-lights are held
in the largest cities as regularly as
thoatres: Sunday is tho day usually
chosen tor the mains between birds of
pedigroo, though a fight is on somo
where every dav, nnd if tho cocks ad
vertised for that day are of any note,
the seats nronnd tlio pit nre usually
full, and when there is a match be
tween birds representing two cities or
provinces, the capacity of tlio build
ing is taxed to tlio littormost, all
Classes and conditions of men and
women attend, tho dissipation, boing
nnly limited by their pursos. Tlio
mains aro advertisod on tho streets
with Bandy pictorial representations
of the cocks, just ns we advertise tho
coining of roiuo great actor or prima
donna, and foi days before and after a
big fight the conduct of the birds nre
the sole topics of convocation high
and low.
The game cocks are raised and at
tended with the greatest of,carc; every
attention is lavished npon them, and
they are the motive for about the
hardest work a Filipino ever does;
the pedigrees of f ull-bloodod birds is
registered as carefully we register
that of a horse or dog; an association
of breeders attends to this matter and
arbitrates all disputes. To belcng (o
this association is the ulghest honor
to which, a Filipino can aspire, as the
men are usually wealthy and it gives
high sooial standing.
As soon as they aro ablo to walk
around, the cocks are kopt separate
from one another, lost they receivo
injnry by fighting among themselves;
their diet is regulated with the nt
most care, boing one calculated to do-
velop ns little fat as possible and as
mnoh muscle as can bo gained. Red
peppers, opium and raw rum is given
from time to time to make the birds
savage, and they are tautalized with
the sight of other cooks bohind a
soreen and aro taught not to be afraid
of anything. Further instruction is
given by the patient trainers in strik
ing with the gaffs and these are put
Dn every day to accustom the birds of
the feeling of them. Once in a while,
a cook is allowed to fight with a low
bred fowl, to make it more fierce by
the sight of blood and oonfideut from
-the easy viotory obtained.
pfAs consequence of all this, when
bird is fit and ready to go in the pit,
it is a savage in feathers, afraid of
nothing, and will fight as long as
spark of life is in its body, and seems
to rejoioe to boo tho blood spurt from
the body of its foe from the cruel
blows of the gaff.
The cocks aro always kept in con
dition save in the breeding season; as
a matter of precaution, the comb is
slipped close to the head, tUe legs are
pluoked and shaven and tho neck and
wings are trimmed as close as poxsi
ble; all this is to make them less lia
ble to being fonled in an enoouuter
and.makes them lighter aud more ao
tive, nnd gives little hold for the beak
or gaff of an antagonist. The breast
feathers are allowed and aro trained
lo grow as thick as possible, for on
;he breast most of the blows nre re
jeivod, the birds being trained to op
pose this thick cushion to the blows
of a foe.
From long selection nnd breeding,
thero is now a race of game fowls in
tho Philippines which combines all
these points iu a remarkable manner,
and next after courage shown ou the
the field of battle, a bird ia valued by
it adherenoe to the standard. It
bird shows cowardice in its first
light, its ueok is very promptly wrung
as a puuiuhuient for its behavior aud
as a prevention to the perpetuating of
the strain in breeding.
All fights are to the death of one or
both of the combatants, unless one
runs away, aud than it is killed by the
umpire. Every iu-us possible for
making the eocks fight aud keeping
them alive is allowable and is prac
ticed; drugs and ruin are given, the
fowls aro vanned in the breast of the
owner or traiuer, air is forced down
their tliroatt by tubus ud nowadays
T. CORDON.
?iV
even hypodermic lujee-tions of power
ful stimulants are iu iiso. A more
cruel, bloody nnd degrading spectacle
than a cock fight would bo hard to
ll.ul.
Homo yoor ago, when Iloilo was in
its balmy davs and insurrections of
the natives had not begun to trouble
the easy-going life of the Spaniards, I
was there on a visit, aud ai'nnng other
sights of the city attended a cock
fight. Tho pit was a square, sanded
spaco, surrounded with plank walls
about four or five feet high nnd built
very strongly, more to keep ont the
crowd of excitod spectators than to
keep the combatants iu, for in tlio ex
citoment engendered by n very close
combat bctwoon two fnvorite cooks,
the natives had to be restrained nl
most forcibly from breaking into tho
ring and putting thoir fnvorite s nn
tngonist out of the fight by means fair
or foul. At each end of tho fence were
gates, through which the umpires and
a trainer for each bird woro permitted
to eutor; no othors than those woro
allowed in the pit during a buttle.
Outside the pit was a space devoted
to tho ownors of cocks, a few selected
friends and tho birds themselves.
Tho cocks woro kept in small bam
boo cages on littlo benches which cx
tended aronud the space, from which
point of vantage they filled the air
with thoir shrill crows of defiance. For
the exhibition of the moro noted fowls
elovnted stands woro provided, on
which they were exposed to the gaze
of an admiring multitude boforo the
fight in oages, gilt and carved with all
tho skill at the disposal of the owner,
This space was also a lounging place
for these who made ''books" on the
fights; this latter class of gentry was
composed of Chinese, most numerous,
a few Spaniards and one solitary Fili
pino, the Chinese being iu the major
ity on account of the fact that it re
quired some capital to conduct a suo
cessful book, nud this most of the no
lives sadlv lack. All bets were taken
by tho "bookies" with impartiality,
either for or against a cock, on the
number of rounds, tho probable dam
ago to the victor or any other of tho
many ways in which tho gentle k ill
pino wastes his cash in betting.
Back of this place began tho scats,
arranged iu tiers similar to our ar
rougeinont of opera scats; they were
divided into classes of whicii the
price differed according to location
and comfort. The scats reserved for
the officials and those able to pay for
tiiera were cushioned, the next class
had matting on them aud tho third
aud lowest price, the top rows, wore
bare. These were mostly filled with
poor natives, tho better class of
natives, olerks and lesser lights
among the Spaniards and the well-to
do Chinese being divided among the
first two divisions. Ono sido of this
pit was without seats; this was sot
aside for the natives too poor to pay
for a seat. Admission was paid in a
coin equaling two cents iu our money,
The building was filled to its utmost
limits with a wildly excited crowd of
poorly-clad people of both sexes
eagerly betliug everything they owned
among one nuothor, boing too poor
to bet with the bookmakers.
The fight was heralded by an an
nouncemeut from a native, whose
bosom was swolling with the pndo of
his duties and a atnrohod shirt, the
tails of which hung conspicuously
outside his tronsers, of the wonderful
achievements of tho two fowls in
words of many syllablos. Tho de
livery of this oration (for it was notli
ing less) was the sign for long nud
luud cheering ou the part of the spoo
tators, who wore impatient for the
fighting to begin, and as soon as it
was over nearly every one rushed np
to the bookmakers to plaoo tlieir bets
Boforo tho fight began, each oock
was inspected by the umpires to see
that it had on tho regulation gaff and
was not otuerwiso rigged np with for
bidden devices. The galls were of
the finest steel, acimetar-shsped, with
the concave edge down; this edge is as
sharp as a razor, and a severe blow
from a gaff has beon known to com
plotely deoapitate a fowl; they are
about two inches in length aud come
to a sharp point. The upper edge is
blunted.
The spurs furnished by nature to a
fowl are not considered deadly enough
by the savage tastes of the Filipinos
so those spurs are out off at a length
of an inch or so and the hollow part of
the gaff fits over the stump. Clasps
around the leg keep thein from falling
off or supping. It is a comical sight
to seo a lordly oook stepping along
the sand of the pit wearing a pair of
these huge spurs, whicn are so Ion?
aud so awkward that the at"': Irion
over them at almost every step; but in
the combat ot the pit, all is lUUVreur
a trained fowl nses his spurs with all
the skill of a fencing master with a
rapier, all the awkwarduexs is gone.
By way of note, sometimes the
cocks are allowed to fight with their
natural stumps of spurs. This is, how
ever, only for match of skill be
tweeu two fowls whose owners Uo not
oare to risk their slaughter, or be
tweeu au old and a young fowl, to
train the younger in the waya of
using his spurs' iu a real fight. Bo
well are the game birds trained that
often skillful one can kill its less
able adversary without hurt to itsolf,
With a cheer from the multitude,
the umpires each took np one of the
fowls and placed them on the aand
some four or five feet apart, holding
the straggling cocks fast until the
word was given; at the signal eaou
released Ins bold and the two eocks,
infuriated by the sight of on as
other, rnshed together with the tno
mentum of a miniatnre cyclone.
Though apparently flerco nnd nnoal-
cnlntod, this mooting was totally
unlike the ruBhes of unskilled fowls;
each cock was on his guard, and while
going at bis enemy with great fjiry.
was nevertheless very carenu to nvoiq
blows and picks. At first nothing
was visible but a revolving mass ot
fenthors, so closo were the two; lit
the qniot of the intensely ex
cited spectators, tho thnd, thud of
blows striking on tho tliiefc coating 01
feathers on tho breast conld be plainly
heard; even tho painful pautings and
gaapings of tho two fightors wore dis
tinguishable; then, ns the fury of the
onsot grow spent, tho cocks would
separate a little nnd strike at one an
other, springing high up in the air to
give and avoid blows.
Now we could see the fight plainly.
Though brutal, it must be confessed
that it was mngniflcout to witness the
skill' with which the fighters fointed
and pon ied, struck savage blows whick
were dodged witli the skill of A mas
tor of the scionoo, worded off some
swift out which would seem as if im
possible to avoid and never for nu in
stant lost sight of the opponent's cyo,
seeming to read in it tho contem
plated move or spring.
Thus far, no blood had been shed,
it was purely nu exhibition of skill,
and were it always so, it might be
sport not near ns brutal nu prize fight
ing. Hut the next round was more
tierce, and it was hard to tell which
cock was worst damaged when time
was called. The umpires rtiidied in
nud each grabbed up a cock and
handed it to tho owner, who began t-J
look it over to see tho extent of the
injuries, nnd then administered stim
ulnnts nud smeared on some kind ol
salve to stop tho flow of blood.
We were surprised at this move on
the part of tho umpires, aud turned
to our Filipino friend to learn tin
reason therefor. He explaiued it tc
us ns being a necessary precaution,
taken to prevent the owner of a losint
bird from administering a sty cut tt
the winner in tho niix-np, au under
hand tiick which is quito a fnvorite
with tho artless and gentle Filipino.
The rest of the fight was a series ol
dashes at ono another by the fighters
and brief dashes around the ring,
each lu turn being pursuer aud pur;
sued. At last the larger of the twe
cocks managed to reach the throat ol
its opponent with au upward sweep ol
its gaff; the blow cut clean througt
tho wiudpipo, and the defeated birr
sank dowu in a shower of blood am':
was dead beforo the umpires could got
to it.
Tho vlclor, though hardly ablo tr.
stand from loss of blood and exhaus
tion,' gavs n fooblo crow, aud was
snatched up with n howl of triumph
by its owner, who disappeared in tht
crowd. Tho beaten fowl was care
lessly takou up by the legs and
thrown aside, to food tho sttoy dog
and vultures later on, a proaeodiuf)
very characteristic of the natives; they
have no use for anything which wil,
uo longer amuso or profit them.
Words We y H k.
Little Dorothy came from the
kindergarten with her eyes shiuing,
holding in her hand a braided mat o:
bright-oolored paper. The littlo mat
found approviug words and admira
tion in the family oircle, and was ex
hibited when Miss Cary, her mother'!
friend, came to supper that night.
"It is very pretty," said Miss Carj
to Dorothy, "and soon yon will b
making more protty things, sewing ox
cardboard and making bright-oolored
paper chains. A little boy sent m
this word not long ngo in his mam
ma's letter: 'Tell Aunt Both I've made
a chain long enough to reach through
two rooms of the house.' "
Dorothy's eyos shone with pleased
excitement at the little kindorgarten
story, and eagerly sho asked, "And
what did yon say book?" The quick
question was a revelation. To tbt
little child the snconss of tho story lay
in what was "said back."
Words of encouragement are per
haps oftener called for in what w
say back than any others; enoourage
meut to begin, to keep on, aud to try
again, hold within them the kornelsol
a happy childhood, and successful
manhood and womanhood. Let nl
watch these words we say baok to the
childreu, and if possible make them
wise with incentives toward future
activity. Constance Conrad, ia . the
Woman's Home Companion.
Kvrn Ilnskln's Arivlc Was lteicnteil.
John Ruskin was a fearless critU
and made many enemies by his radi
cal views. He never considered the
man or tho friend in his oritioisms, II
was the work itself that oonoernod
him. He onco criticised, in his fear
less way the work ot a well-known
painter, who was much grioved at the
off'-ct. On hearing of the sorrow he
had caused, he 'rote to the artist
that he regretted ho could not speak
moro favorably of the picture, but
hoped it would make no differonoe in
their friendship. It is said tho artist
wrote in reply: "Dear Huskiu ftext
time I meet you I shall kuook yon
down, but I hope it will make no dif
ference in our friendship," Indian
apolis News.
. Kxolmnvllic Compliment.
The following little aooident oo
enrred in New Yoik City, on Fifth
avenue:
Two men, both "star gazing," were
seen wending their way toward each
other, one up the avenue, the otbet
down. By some fatality they col
lided, with the sad result that one sal
down in the gntter, the other weut to
the wall. Our friend iu the gntter
picked up his shattered bones and an
grily addressed the other man thus:
"Why can't you look whore you're
going, air?"
" Why oan't yon go where you're
looking, sir?" retorted the other,
NEWS AND NOTES!
I FOR WOMEN. I
nullntis nn fl-iwns.
The crazo for buttons on cloth
towns seems to bo innrenslilff, and it
nnst bo grautod that they givo a
jrctty touch of color to n costume,
buttons sot with real gems aro the
filing if you oou afford them; if not,
ihe very latest fancy is cameo ia
lilhcr Ktono or shell.
Itose Lsnvns For Ilia Ilrldn.
The opening of the door to permit
Ihe dcpnrtnre of a bride nnd grooin
has hithertofore becu the signal for a
etieral peltiug with rioo n Chinese
lustoin conveying wishes for good
acalth and prosperity. But this cus
tom has boon so nbusod with vulgar
ity, often producing injurious results,
that it is beinor discarded at tho wed
dings of careful people, aud shower
ing tho bride with rose leaves or loose
flowers has been instituted. Thoso
Bowers ore then ngoin picked up aud
kept ns souvenirs by tho guests.
Mrs. Hurton Kiugslauu, iu tueJjadics
Homo Journal.
llr Iitral's Fnlntn.
K womau'e idenl man cau seldom be
described ns good; never in tho sense
nf narrow sqenuiishuess. But littlo
laults which have no touch of nienn-
liens and are essentially masculine
11 nd ready absolution nt a woman's
bands. With what a note of touder
noss may she Bay, "You bad followl"
when he has mischievously tried hor
nationco by some purely ninuliko poo
radillo. Would she bo better pleased
if ho had uo such small failings to bo
forgiven? Probably not. But of all
things a woman ruosts ilctcsts in
man aro those littlo foibles which aro
supposod to belong exclusively to her
owu sex, but which really nro of very
common gender. Woo to tho man
who is not manlyl His very virtues
will count against him and only lur
nish material for ridicule. Anything
will bo more readily forgivon him
than tho mannerisms of n woman.
Cnrrio E. Garrett, iu Woman's Home
Uou.pauiou.
Fnntilon In Mourning.
Tho question is olten asked. Is
mourning going out of fashion? The
answer is yes nud no. Among tho
lower middle classes it certainly is;
niuonfj the upper section of society it
is as much observed ns it over was
Bovalties set nu example iu this re
spect in Europe, for their mourning is
always deop, nud crapo is used to n
great exteut by them. It is quite
true that the old system of things
which robbed tho trappings of woo of
nuy undue bocomingncss has boon
abolishoil, nor are these same trap
pings quite so funereal, for which let
us bo thankful. TUo time ot mourn
ing is also considerably shortened,
though thero aro still a few people
who novo moro regard for tue state oi
thoir feeliugs thau the dictates of
fashion.
Aftor eighteen months it is merely
a matter of fancy whether tlio wearing
of mourning in its kindred stagos
meaning mauves, gray and violot
shall be discarded altogether or if ono
shall resume the wearing of colors,
Age usually settles the poiut. Avery
young widow will undoubtedly tako
advaulage of tho latitndo thus al
lowed aud emerge from her period of
sackcloth and ashes in raimout of
brightest hue.
For immediate mombors ot the fam
ily inothors aud Bistors are required to
wear mourning for a year, during tue
last half of which it is lighiouod. It
is not good form to appear at social
gayeties until the expiration ot .this
prescribed terra. The younger mem
bers of tho home circle may wear
whito throughout tho period if they
desire. A band of bombaziuo worn
on the sleeve of either n tan ooat or
jacket is a permissible badge of
mourning, but is not approved by
those authorities who insist npon the
strict aud consistent observance of
the ruleB, which means all black.
Women In lit Drag noilneil.
"There is a field for girls in the
drug business," remarked a druggist
to a representative of the Washington
Star, "as there is a constantly in
oreasiug demand for their servioea
could employ two myself if I could
seoure them, and I know of 'several
other druggists who are iu the same
positiou. For some reason whioh I
cannot understand there has been but
little opportunity for girls to learn the
drug busiuess until the past five or
six years. Our experience with them
as far as we could seauro them, has
beeu exoeediugly satisfactory. Though
the law and medical oolloges opened
their doors to young women some
years ago, the colleges ot pharmacy
hold out against them, aud the only
way by which a girl could learn phar
ruacy was to get employment in a drug
tore. Young women have been for
some years employed iu many drug
tores as cashiers and as sodit water
clerks, but somehow they are never
allowed to learn tho art of ooinpound
ing proscriptions. A few of the
hoiucupatliio pharmacies broke the ioe
and instructed young women to com
pound thoir medicines, aud with this
knowledge of the business as a starter
many were installed in the drug
tores. They proved themselves to
be excellent prescription olerks, and
there are many physicians who would
rather have them oompouud their pre
oriptiona than men. Of course, it 1
not possible for a girl to learn tho
drug bnsiuoss unless sue uas sub
tautial education and a taste for it,
It represents great ainouut of work
aud inauy more boura in day, an
very day in the week, than almost
auy other calling. A !fnndamental
knowledge of Latin is necessary, but
after one gets into the inside of the
busiuess it will be found that tur is
more everyday English In it than
Latin. As far as compensation Isoon
eernod, though the salary paid to
learners is small, after a young wom
an is competent enough to be regis
tered a a pharmacist, which under
tho la is necessary for all who com
pound prescriptions and prepare
medicines, it will be found that tho
salaries paid nrn somewhat higher
than thono paid to tho average store
clerk. The only difficulty in the mat
ter is that it means long hours overy
day, and, like preuchors, we have to
work on Sundays."
Wnmim Mure nnd THnre.
A woman in Hinsdale. N. II., has
boon appointed assignoe of the local
savings bank.
New York young women have,
formed classos for instruction in in
telligent foreign travoliug.
Tho amount of national bank slock
held by thn women in America is esti
mated at 8130,000,000, and Ue amount
of private nud Btato bauk stock at
$137,000,030.
Mrs. Matgio Van Cott, the evangol-
1st now holding revival meetings in
Delawaro, begins tho services with an
afternoon tea, after which she tries to
convert the tea driukers.
Acoording to the Chugai Shogyo
Shimpo, womeu are being substituted
for men in tho minor official positions
in Japan, iu consequenoo ot a rocont
advauco in tho ratos of labor.
Miss Hazard, tho new President of
Wellesley College, Iibs nskod for the
appoiutmout of a dean iu order that
she nay have moro timo to dovoti' to
the general supervision of tho college
affairs.
There is many a girl who is consid
ered pretty not becauso sho really
has beautiful features, but because
sho hns cultivated n spiritod "nlive
ness" that is always cheering aud in
spiring. The grounds surrounding nearly
all ot Michigan's publio institutions
wors improve ! and beautinod by Mrs.
SlcCren, who was recently appointed
landscape gardenor for Lincoln Park,
Chicago.
A daughter of Captain D. S. Elliott,
of tho Twentieth Kauias Regiment,
who was killed nt Mauilu, was elected
City Clerk of Coffeyvillo, Kau., last
spring without opposition, her uamo
being on both tickets.
There is iu New York a young
woman who hangs pictures for a liv-
iug. Her novel occupation is both
pleasant and profitable. Sho supports
herself aud hor mother comf ortablj
by her novel profession.
Mine. Antoiuotto Stirling, the
singer, makes it one of her rules ncvet
to appear beforo tho public in even
ing dress. She frequently speaks ni
wall as sings at temperance meetings,
boing a great advocate of toetottitixui.
Miss Edith Rhodes, oue ot tho sis
ters of Cecil Rhodes, has better nud
larger diamonds, it is said, than moat
of the royalty. Theso wore givou to
her by hor brother, aud taken from
the famous Wessoltou mine at lum
ber! ey.
Mrs. Imogeno Paul, the Inspector
ot Streot Cloaniug iu tho Seooud
Ward of Chicago, wns appointed by
Mayor Harrison five years ago. She
drives about the word daily in a
bnggy, aud makes a thorough inspeo
tiou of the work that is going on.
An Illinois woman who origiunted
the plans for a now railroad of sevonl y
five miles in longth, seoured the op
tions ou tho right ot way, and made
all the arrangements wheroby the
rood may bo built at any time, re
cently sold hor rights to a syndicate
at her owu prico. She is the owner
ot a successful boll foundry, nnd has
invested largely iu real estate
Frills uf Fttalllon,
Women wearing mourning use only
tho dull sido and back hair ooinbs.
Velours foulard, very soft aud glossy
in fiuish, is oue of the novelties iu
materials.
Elaborate white costumes of all
kinds will be deemed the most olejanl
toilots for spring and summer.
The now foulard silks in pastel
colors bleuded charmingly in the cash
mere designs must be seen to bo ap
preciated. Cotton and silk grenadines are an
other novelty, aud tho French cballiei
with satin stripes are more charmiug
thau ever.
Gun metal purses, watohes, chains
and umbrella haudles are worn with
deep mourning. Bettor yet are the
chains of dull jot.
Red, running through the gamut ol
its glowing shades, from royal damask
and Jacqne rose tints to light cherry,
will appear as a favorite accessory on
spring costumes.
The improvomont in the manufac
ture of crepe has rendered it rain
proof, and their new finish protects
many other black materials from the
effect cf the weather.
Amoug the new dress goods nre seen
crepe de chine, silk and wool orepes
and grenadines iu the new pastel
shades. Henriettas, those oldtiiue
favorites, Venetians and broadcloths,
will be much used for street gowns.
The new hats in sight show very de
cided crowns more or less high and
sometimes broad, being made of nni
straw plaited into form as if it were
oloth. Taoked taffeta silk hats are
feature, too, and they are turbans,
toques and sailor shapes, whiohevei
you prefer, trimmed with chiffon ro
settes. Among the novelties in neokwear ic
a narrow band ot four silk-oovered
cords stitohed together, shapoda little
to fit the lower edge of the collar baud,
and the ends about a quarter of a yard
long, are braided in the four strands
and tbee silk tassels are the fiuish at
sou end. This is worn simply crossed
ia troni aud fastened with a stick piu,
Bit SIRTE HEWS COlim
GRANTED PENSIONS.
fecchrrJ ei a Strife) In Uz:rne County Co
ver Fal s IH.n Sir V:t It R
el Caps Noma.
I'iiIIov. ing pensions were granted Inst
week lVti-r I'nder, Johnstown, $24;
S:imucl V. Anderson, Kiineriburg, $8;
Thomas Irwin, Lccchhurg, $3; Saintul
Klin.Kiii, jolinslown. 17; v narics w.
Unndy, Cambridge Springs, $10; George j
Palmer. Johnstown, $10; Lafayette Dcr- J
by, Mi-advillc, $H; Cathe:ine A. Green,
Mcadvillc. $S; llfzckinli Livas. Beaver
Falls. $6 to $!2; Ashfonl Warnick. Dun
tar, $14 to ?i7; I.lnyd Mahancy, Union
town, SS to $10; Mary Chapman, Rlairs
ville, $3; Lyman R. Waddle, Beaver,
$jo.
The teachers in the public schools of
Pittstnn township, Luzerne county,
went on 5tril;c and the schools were
dosed. Fix months' salary is due some
if them. The school district has brcn
in financial straits for some time. The
members of the school board say that
they cannot collect sufficient taxes to
kcop the schools going. Sonic of the
teachers, however, claim that the board
lias been extravagant, and instead of pay-
has spent the
Hooding the cellars, lhc bo'Nes are
iroin ten lo twelve inches out of line and
ire in a dangerous condition. Property
owners have entered suit against the
Thomas Coal Company, owner of the
nine, for damages.
Right thousand ncres of wild land
beloiigiurr to Hoover, Hughes & Co.,
if I'liilipslutrg, and 1,100 acres of Trox
cll & Smith, of Cleveland, have just
been sold to the State of Pennsylvania
for a foreU reervntion. The land is
about the small streams in Clearfield
county that form part of the headwaters
of the West branch, and lias been strip
ped of all timber, but second growth is
pringii:g tip.
A letter has been received at Beaver
Falls from Harvey E. Fleming, a promi
nent jeweler who is now searching for
gold in Alaska. It was dated at Slate
Uiver January 2t. 1000. lie states that
his party have several claims that they
think will be paying ones. On a claim
adjoining one of these from $15,000
to Sjo.coo was taken out in a short timer''
last season.
A b-irplary epidemic has terrorized
New Castle, a half dozen occurring ev
ery week, and revolvers have become
as indispensable in homes as cooking
utensils. The home of F.ugcne Robin
son, near Nassau, Lawrence county,
was destroyed by fire yesterday morn
ing. Postmaster S. W. Waters, in Warren,
has received a letter from the dead let
ter office in Washington. It had been
there over 11 years, no one claiming
it. The letter contained a money order
issued nnd mailed to M. Donley, St.
Marys. Pa., December 18, i8X. by
Isaac S. Aldcn, postmaster in Warren
at that time.
Alvin Stewart, a prosperous farmer
of Little Beaver township, Lawrence
county, a brother of Deputy State Su
perintendent of Public Instruction John
Stewart and County Superintendent
Thomas Stewart, committed suicide
Monday by shooting. Ill health was
probably the cause.
The body of Gus Johnson, a Swede,
who disappeared from Mount Jewctt,
six weeks ago, was found in the- woods
near that place, Tuesday afternoon. He
had committed suicide by shooting him
self through the head. Despondency is
the cause ascribed.
The establishment of the free rtjpl
delivery of mails from the offioe'a nt
Claysville and West Alexander has so
reduced the business of the Plants, Eng
land and Dunsfort offices that the post
masters there have resigned.
When the court for Fulton county was
called it adjourned for want of busi
ness. There were no trials on the dock
et, no prisoners in the jail and no in
formations to be made before the grand
jury.
John Stevenson, Jr., vice president of
the Sharon Steel Company, has award
ed the contract to a New Castle con
tractor for the removal of his $200,000
residence from the latter place to Sjiar--on.
.. '
Andrew Carnegie has offered $13,000
to build a library at Blairsville, sub
ject to his usual conditions.
Matthew O'Connor was seriously in
jured by an explosion of gas at a well
on the Wall farm, near Monongahela.
He was hurled 50 feet.
Effects of I. -J. Fuller, the missing
tax collector of New Kensington, were
sold Saturday by the sheriff. Fuller's
liabilities are estimated as high as $20,
000, with new debts ccmincr in daily.
The People's Water Company at
Beaver Falls has just received an addi
tional pump, of the capacity of 500,000
gallons, making the pumping capacity
of the works 1,500,000 daily.
The board of trade of Grove City
has about concluded negotiations where
by a large woolen mill will be located
there. The principal stockholders of
the company are Charles Powers, of
Mannington, W. Va., and T. S. Bailey,
of bandy Lake.
Charles F. Hood, of Conne
ing salaries, lias spent the money in J
Imying fine furniture, globes and ,. li-i .
jraries. , I
Uiridents ill parts of Shenandoah nre I
highly excited owing to a cave-in in I
the inside workings of the Kehlcy run ,
colliery. P!ater fell from the walls I
and ceilings nnd water pines burst, k
nnellsville, I
coke and
icess eon-
who has practically pert'ected
coal briquettes under a process con
taining no pitch, is preparing to manu
facture the luel.
Liixhoo a Tavern. ..
The "Luxhof," a building historically
famous and of great antiquity, was re
cently destroyed by fire in Strassburg.
Incendiarism did the work of destruc
tion which the bullets and bombs of the
besiegers in 1870 were unable to do.
for the building withstood the deadly 1
weapons ot warlare, wniie its neighbors,,
the library, the new church and two a"
aters, were completely denulish
i.ater, wnen peace was established, til
highest honors that the Germans coul
bestow upon the place were certain
made use ol, and it received the distin
Hon of becoming a tavern. New Vol
Herald.