THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD, l'A.
OCTOBER 21, 1879.
Adventures in Australia.
WE AVEItE having hard luck on the
Lbtldon, In the province of Vlo
torla, Australia! as the grazing pastures,
which we had leased from the crown,
had not been blessed with an abundauce
of rain as we had hoped and had a rl ght
to expect ; for the previous season had
been dry, and all the old settlers had
said that the .present winter's rains
would be abundant, and that the little
Loddon would become a mighty stream,
overflow lis banks, and All the ground
so full of water that It would become like
a wet sponge for months after the win
ter had passed away. But all their pre
dictions had come to naught; and here
we were, with half the cold mouths
passed away, and not enough rain had
falleu to lay the dust or cause the dead
grass to change lis color, or to supply
the hungry sheep and cattle with food
to prevent them from growing thin and
wearing that peculiar dull expression
Which distinguishes animals Vilieil suf
fering lor suitable sustenauce. The river
was dry, and only by digging holes In
its bed could we obtain enough to water
our flacks, and prevent them straying
from our range in search of better quar
ters, which they were certain to do
unless all their wants were supplied;
and our stockmen were always on the
alert to prevent their leaving our range,
and wandering into the wild districts,
or else mixing with our neighbors'
stock, where they would be likely to
remain until the assorting took place
some time in the spring.
When cattle are once possessed with
an idea they would be better off in some
other section, eternal vigilance and a
pretty free use of the stockmen's whips
are necessary to make them abandon
the idea, and settle down to the fact that
a sharp protest will be made every time
they have laid out their plans for an
escape. We had four herders in our
employ ; and they were on horseback
day and night for two mouths, with but
scant opportunities for sleep, before we
could consider our property secure, or
tame the roving disposition of some
three-year-old bulls, which were ugly
and fretful because they were on Bhort
rations. The sheep did not give us
so much trouble; for several dogs which
we owned took verjf good care of them,
and kept them in bounds when disposed
to stray.
But this was not the only trouble
which we had to contend with. Within
t wo weeks we had lost several head of
cattle ; and they had apparently been
slaughtered in the most willful manner,
only the choicest parts of the carcasses
beiner taken, and the rest was left for
the wild docs and the fowls of the air.
We knew, by the manner iu which the
brutes were cut up, that no white men,
or bushrangers, were concerned in the
slaughter ; for there was not a gang of
the latter on the Loddon at the time,
having been driven back into the wilder
districts by the mounted police and the
settlers : so we were at last forced to the
conclusion that a colony of black men
had camped In the mountains near us,
and were growing fat and greasy at our
expense. We tried all manner of metli.
ods of snaring the scamps ; bnt a native
black Australian is like a ghost, and
can vanish about as quickly, and reap
pear when you least expect him. In
fact, when you think you are watching
him, he is on the lookout for you, and
knows your movements much better
than you know his, and you wait with
patience in the hope of catching him,
while be is probably not three rods off,
in a tuft of grass or a clump of bushes,
perfectly content to stay there until you
fall asleep, or return to your hut, satisfl.
ed in your own mind that there are 110
blacks on your place, and that your
cattle are safe for one night at least.
Your patience will not compare to a
. native's, and after a few months' expe
rience you understand that tnost per
fectly.
To be sure, the black fellows could
easily knock you over with a boome
rang, or pin you to the earth with one
of their long spears, which they throw
with wonderful precision ; but the
natives do not like to kill a settler, as
they know that such an act would wake
up the whole mounted police, and all
the stockmen within a radius of fifty
miles, and that a war of extermination
would be entered without delay, and
never cease until the murder was amply
avenged.
We gave up watchiug at last as
useless waste of time, and looked around
to see if there were not other methods
that could be adopted to stop such
wholesale slaughter of our cattle. The
only one that we could think of was to
send for Elrio, the Tracker, ft celebrated
black fellow, who lived some twenty
miles from us, and was noted for his
love of whisky, tobacco, and animal
food. He was often employed by , the
settlers and police in finding lost cattle
and people who had strayed away luto
the buh, and were unable to discover
the right way out, and bo often perished
of starvation and want of water.
One morning it was decided by my
partners and myself that I should visit
the Tracker, and see If he could be
induced to help us. If he was sober, or
did not have a stock of liquor on hand,
or was not engaged, we thought that we
mlgUt secure his valuable services ; and,
saddling one of our best horses, I started
on my journey, and luckily found Elrio
iu his hut and quite sober, for he had
been on a drinking bout for a week, and
his liquor was exhausted, and be was
anxious to earn more as soon as he
could.
" Elrlc," I said, as I left the saddle,
and hitched my horse, " you come with
me, and if you good boy plenty of
whisky and tobac."
"What want J1" asked the brawny,
hairy-faced fellow, who was inclined to
be a little sullen.
" Black fellers kill plenty bullock-
no can catcuee-ryou come mm 'em,
and plenty eat and much rum,"
"How much V
" Oh, lots. All you want for week."
"Me come," was the answer; and
tlie fellow took from bp hut a spear,
such as the natives use for catching fish,
a boomerang, and a long knife, and,
without another word, plunged into the
bush, and disappeared.
I knew there was no danger of his
losing his way, and did not fear but he
would find our place iu the course of
the day ; andBome time in the afternoon
the Tracker made his appearance, and
squatted down outside of our hut, and
waited for us to bring him a stock of
damper and boiled mutton, the whole to
be washed down by half a pint of rum
undiluted by water. Then he smoked
one or two pipes of tobacco, and curled
down in the shade for a sleep.first utter
ing this prophecy :
" Black fellers come 'night. Me find
'em 'morrow."'
Sure enough they did come, and killed
one of our best cows; and, when we
discovered the fact, we woke up Ehic,
and told him what the blacks had
clone.
"Yes, me said come no moon all
clouds good night for black fellers.
Give me eat, and den we go find 'em."
He ate his breakfast, but did not drink
his rum, as he wanted to be clear-headed
; and then we went to the place where
the remains of the laBt slaughtered
animal were lying. Elrlc examined the
ground iu all directions, and did not
speak a work until he had made a thor
ough survey. We could not see a foot
print oh the sun-baked earth or on the
grass ; but our eyes were not accustomed
to such things, and we knew that the
Tracker would make no mistakes, there
fore we were not surprised when he held
up four fingers, and said,
" Four black fellers do dls. Dey carry
away much meat, and go dar ; " and he
pointed in the direction of the hills.
" Can you find them 1"' we asked.
The old fellow allowed an expression
of contempt to pass over his face at the
absurdity of the question ; but all that
he said was,
"You come."
We took two of our best stockmen
with us, mounted our horses, and fol
lowed Elric, who started off on a dog
trot, his head down, and eyes on a trail,
plain enough to him, but not discernible
to us.
Over rocks and dead earth the Tracker
led the way, never at a loss for a mo
ment, stopping only for a second when a
ledge wag gone over, now winding
around the bed of a brook or a mud-hole,
but never leaving the marks of ft foot
print in the soft earth. On, on we
went, and at noon saw amoke at the foot
of a hill toward which we were headed.
" There damned black fellers," the
Tracker said. " No more boss. Walk.
See boss, and run like debbles."
We fastened our horses to some gum
trees, and resumed our tramp, keeping
under the shadow of bushes, and never
Blackening our pace, although it waa
hard one, and the hot sun poured down
upon our heads as though it would beat
us to the earth.
" Now mind I we by 'em I" whispered
Elrio ; and we drew our revolvers, and
waited for the signal for a rush.
- A little more creeping and crawling
and then the Tracker raised his hand
and with a bound we sprang into the
presence of a dozen or twenty men
women, and children, who were stuffing
themselves with the meat which they
had stolen from us.
The black fellows sprang to their feet,
and would have run and made their
escape, leaving their wives and children
to take care of themselves ; but we
shouted to them to stand or we would
shoot, and they did not dare to trust to
luck and fleet feet."
" You black rascals I" we said, " you
kill plenty cattle, and now we kill
you !" and we pointed our revolvers at
them as though about to fire; but w
had no intention of so doing, although
plenty of stockmen would not have
hesitated for a moment in shooting two
or three of the natives just as a warning
to the rest. ,
,lNo kill!" cried one fellow, who
could speak a little English.
We got Elrlc to Interpret for us, and
swore that we would Bhoot every man
and woman present unless the four
thieves were pointed out, and after ft
long parley tkey were delivered up to us;
and then we exacted a promise that the
est of the tribe would leave the neigh
borhood, and never come back to the
range, but Beek other quarters to ply
their thievish propensities.
We secured our prisoners, and return
ed home, driving them before us. They
took the matter quite coolly, and knew
the fate that awaited them as well as we
did, for the backs of two of the blacks
showed scars as though they had been
flogged for like crimes. '
We got home by sunset, and sent word
to the mounted police that we had four
prisoners who needed flogging for theft.
But the scamps did not get punished
that time, as they managed to make
their escape in the night, and probably
relolned their band before we were
awake. They had worked their lashings
loose, and vanished, without even dis
turbing our dogs, which were guarding
our hut, and were scattered in all direc
tions. The rascals took half of a sheep
to feed them on their way: but we
never saw them more.
We rewarded the Tracker, and he
went home satisfied ; arid two days after
ward the rahiB fell in sheets, and con
tinued so long that the Loddon was like
a large river, and the lowlands were
under water for six weeks, and the gras9
sprang up as If by magic, and our cattle
waxed fat and contented, and our clip of
wool was the largest that we ever sent
to market, and we made some money
that season in spite of our misfortunes
at the commencement of the year. But
keeping cattle Is trying work in Victoria
unless the rains favor you at the right
time.
Burdette's Tilt With a Mosquito.
T"lUT down at Musquash. Last Bun-
JD day night we all went to church
down at Musquash, and heard Mr. Hop
per preach,a pleasure that all Burlington
will envy us. Mr. II. was down there
helping the rest of us enjoy ourselves,
and the Baptists of Musquash just
pressed him into their service for one
day. Well, I had been trout fishing all
the day before and had waded down the
river a few miles, and Saturday night I
poured a bushel and a half of oats into
each of my boots, and all the bright,
sunny, Sabbath day they set out in the
sun and basked, while I lounged around
loosely shod in slippers, and extremely
happy. I went to church In the eve
ning, and you can't imagine how easy
and comfortable were my slippered feet,
I thrust them out before me and admired
them. In a moment or two a mosquito
came sailing along,humming the refrain
of ahymu the congregation had just
ceased singing. This startled me a little,
but not much, because I always believed
that the St. John mosquitoes could sing
if they would. Well, this fellow sailed
on, passed me, then he turned and came
back, and I observed that he had a
rather wicked look in his eyes, although,
I reasoned, that was no more than one
might expect of a musquito that flew
around on the Sabbath. Presently, still
humming " Broad is the road that leads
to death," the bird made a few circles
and lighted on my slippered foot, mak
ing his landing about an inch above the
slipper.
"Now, son," I said, "this Is a little
too much. I admire cheek, but you
fairly gorge my admiration. I am sorry
for you, because I know your harmless.
nesB and your stupidity. But your
impudence is more detestable than your
imbecility is touching, and I am com
pelled to mash you."
I lifted my other foot to crush him,
and I hope I may live a thousand years
if that mosquito didn't get the drop on
me.
I haven't felt anything like it since
seven years ago, when I tried to mend
the family wash-boiler, ana poured a
table-spoonful of sizzling, glowing, bub
Uing solder down Inside my shoe.
As I am a truthful man, when I felt the
shot, I looked down, and that mosquito
had his hind legs bent under him', his
front legs stretched out and braced
acainst my foot, while the venomous
wretch, holding his mouth full of eplder
mis arid stocking, leaned back, pulled,
and shook his head savagely, like a bull
terrier, without ever breaking his hold
Just before I kicked him he let go and
sailed around behind my head, while he
joined the congregation in singing :
" Brethren, while we sojourn here,
Fight we must, but Deed not fear."
I sat in silent enduring agony, won
derlng what manner of bird the Mus
quash mosquito was, when suddenly
another one came behind me, caught
rae by the heel, and I thought in my
soul it would pull the leg off me before I
could shake and kick it loose. And then
It dodged about my ears, snapping at
them as it went by, and humming with
great affectation of feeling, " I Would
Not Live Alway." I was glad that it
felt that way about it. . It lived long
enough to satisfy me, all the same. All
through the service this inhuman ban-
quet went on. The mosquitoes that
came late didn't stand on ceremony, but
drew right up and 'helped themselves.
" f'uf. n llltln nlfinor in tm linlia tlm nlil
ones would say to the new comers,
"you'll find the meat sweeter." And
closer to the bone it was. I kept up a
regular tattoo with my feet, until the
senior deacon came over and whispered
to me that the Dominion churches had
not adopted the New York custom of
applauding the good points in a sermon.
Then I held my feet off the Moor and
kicked them straight out, every time a
new mosquito got the drop on me and
made a bull's eye, until a man sitting in
front of me turned around and sternly
assured me that if I didn't quit kicking
his wife and children he throw me out
of the window. I had wondered several
times, in an abstracted sort of way, what
the children were crying for. Once, In
my suffering, I got my feet up on the
rew and tried to sit on them, but the
maneuver seemed to afford the young
ladles in that vicinity so much amuse
ment that I had to give it up. I got
hold of a window stick, and tried spear
ing the mosquitoes with it, like eels, but
it attracted too much attention, and
owing to my nervousness was a failure
anyhow. At last, either because they
had enough, or because it was all gone,
or because the service was concluded,
the mosquitoes quit, and the last I heard
of them as they started off toward the
other side of the room to swarm on
a bald-headed man before he could get
his hat on, they were singing with the
congregation, " Happy day; happy
day 1" Musquash is one of the pleasant
est places in the world, and I think it
must import its mosquitoes. I am now
quite content with the St. John variety.
A Queer Church Difficulty.
John Wagner, who resides at Indian
apolis, through his attorney, Ben. F.
Davis, filed a complaint against the Rev.
Victor A. Schnell, pastor of the Cath
olic Church of Cincinnati, alleging that
in July last, while his wife, together
with their infant daughter Katie, was
on a visit to Cincinnati, that the said
Infant daughter Katie was, without his
knowledge or consent, by the said de
fendant, the' Rev. Victor A. Schnell,
baptised into the Cathollo Church, and
that a record and entry of the same was
made in the church records', and plain
tiff demands that said Victor A. Schnell
be required to come into court with the
said church and baptismal record by him
made of the baptism of said infant child,
Katie Wagner, and that there and then,
in the presence of the Court, he be re
quired to make " erasure, cancellation
and destruction" of such church and
baptismal record, and asks such other
relief as the Court may think "meet and
proper." This is certainly a very pecu
liar case, and is the second case of the
kind ever brought in the Courts of the
United States. Francis T. Hord aqd
Cooper & Burns, of Cincinnati, have
been retained by Father Schnell as his
counsel, and the case will probably be
heard during the present term of Court.
BE EXACT.
Above all things, boys should be care
ful to speak the truth. I know several
boys, who perhaps mean well, but who
are careless in this particular, and when.
ever I hear them talk I am afraid I do
not put as much confidence in what
they say as I ought, because I know
their love of approbation and the mar
velous, and I find myself making allow
ance wherever my native sense sees the
need. This is bad ; for sometimes we
might make allowance, just where we
ought not to, and make ourselves much
trouble. It , makes us doubtful, too,
which is bad.
How quick you know if any one tells
what ia not exactly truthful, and you do
not forget it. Think then that others
regard you In the same way. ; Our
opinion of others is, generally, a fair
example of how others regard us. You
do not mean to be untruthful of course
you do not; but there are two ways of
telling anything, aud if you contract the
habit of coloring it, It will give you a
great deal of trouble. Speak and act
the truth, and you will never go far
astray.
A gentleman gives the following
advice in relation to dogs: "If," says
he, "you enter a lot where there is a
vicious dog, be careful to remove your
hat or cap as the animal approaches you;
hold the same down by vour side, be
tween yourself and the dog. When you
have done this you have secured perfect
immunity from attack. The dog will
not bite you if this advice is followed.
Such ia mv faith in this policy that I
will pay all doctor bills from dog bites
and funeral expenses for deaths from
hydrophobia.
gjr Apples of the crop of 1S78 and
those of 1879 are offered for sale side by
aide on the fruit stands. Twenty years
ago such a sight would have been re
garded as wonderful, now nobody is
surprised at it. The art of keeping fruit
has attained a high degree of perfection
In this country within the last decade.
DR. WIIITTIER,
No. 802 Penn Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
Continue to altord reliable apeelal treatment of
1'rlvat and Urinary licenses, Perfect cure
guaramf-eii. npermaiorrliwa or Seminal weaK
ness resulting (rum self abuse or sexual excess,
producing nervous debility, night emissions, de
spondency, dizziness, dimness of sluht, plmp'e'
ol the (ace, weakness o( mind and body, and
finally Impotency, loss o( sexual power, sterility,
etc., untitling the victim (ormarrlage or business
and rendering life miserable, are permanently
cured In shortest possible time. Gonorrheas.
Gleet, Strictures, all Urinary disease and Syphi
lis, (all (onus, consisting of Hkln Eruptions, til
cersin the mouth, throat, or on other part of the
body, are perlectly cured, and the blood poison
inorouiiniy urnuiuni.eu mini me sysiem, UK,
W11ITTI EK la a regular graduate o( medicine, as
his diploma at otllce shows; hi life long special
experience In all private disease, with purest
medicine prepared by himself, enable him to
cure ditllcult cases after others (all It Isself-evl-dent
that a physician treating thousands of eases
every year acquires great skll'- The establish-
ment Is central and retired, acd so arranged that
oatlents see the doctor only. Consultation and
correspondence private and free. I'amphletssent
sealed (or stamp. Medicines sent everywhere.
Hour 9 A. M. to 4 P. M., and 9 V. M.. to 8 P. M.
Sunday from 10 A. M., to 1 F. M. Everybody
thouid read the
MARRIAGE AND HEALTH GUIDE,
144 pages, line Illustrations, price 20 cents. A
book (or private, careful reading by both sexes,
married or single, explaining wonders and mys
teries o( sexual systemf reproduction, marriage
Impediments, etc., causes, consequence and cure.
Sold at otllce or by mall, sent securely sealed, on
.receipt oi prlco In money or postage stamps. Ad-
dress uii. wriii. riii.rl, do. 30 Penu St.. ruts
burgh, Pa. W 46 ly
J. M. Girvin.
J. II. GIRTIM
J. M. GIRVIN & SON.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED & PRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
No. 64 South Gay, fit., '
BALTIMORE, MD,
We will nav strict attention to the sale of all
kinds of Country Produce aud remit the amounts
promptly. 451yr.
v al U1KV4JM BUJN.
jypSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Mow otter the publio
A BARE AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF
DRESS GOODS
Consisting sf all shades suitable for the season
BLACK ALPACCAS
AMI
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUSLINS,'
AT VARIOUS PRICES.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS!
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS
And everything Under the head of
GROCERIES !
Machine needles and oil for all makes of
Machines.
To be convinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE BTOCK.
W No trouble to show goods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry Comity, Pa.
DRUGS.
DRUGS.
JACOB STRICKLER,
(successor to Dr. m. b. stnckier)
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PENH'A.
HAVING succeeded the late firm of Dr. M. B.
Strickler In the Drug Business at his Store-room,
on MAIN 8TKEKT, two doors East of the Big
Spring, I will endeavor to make it in every way
worthy the patronage of the public.
Personal and strict attention AT ALL TIMES
given lo the compounding and dispensing Physi
cians' prescriptions, so as to Insure accuracy and
guars, againat auciueuu.
BEAR IW mI
that my stock has been recently selected and care
taken to have everything if th
e BEST OUAL1-
The punuo may rest assured mat all mea-.
s that leave mv store shall be as represented
PURS and UNADULTERATED.
I HATE CONSTANTLY ON HAND
HAIR OIL and POMADES
8,TKGEON8, TOILET, and
' CARRIAGE SPONGES.
PUFF BOXES, TOILET POWDERS.
CASTILE aud FANCV SOAPS.
PERFUMERY OF ALL KINDS,
Together with Fresh and Genuine Patent Medi
cines of every description.
ALSO.
Segars, Tobacco, School Books, die.
ORANGES, LEMONS & BANANAS,
In season.
Tun Wines and Llqnors for Medicinal
Purposes.
Tonus, Strictly Cash.
By strict attention to business. I hope to merit
the confidence aud favor of the public
JACOB 8TRICKLER, Ph. G.
April 89. 1879.