The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, January 14, 1891, Image 2
fF- ;
P.
MMlsliS
An Exciting Story of the War
of 1812.
BY JOHN B. MUSICS.
CHAPTER IT.?(Continued.)
The commander of Manoa held a consaltation
with his chief officers While
the council was still in session runners
came in from Belfast with the information
that about fifty Americans, on their
way to the defense of Uanoa, had been
arrested by a British officer that morning,
in command of twenty dragoons.
"Simou," said our hero to the Yankee,
"I am going to leave yon in charge of the
town, take fifty armed men, and go to Belfast."
"Why, Capen," said the Yankee, his
yes and mouth opening wide with astonishment,
"what ye goin' to that teown
fur?"
"lo rescue those prisoners, and oapturt
whatever dragoons may bo in the town."
"Better let me go."
"No; you don't know the country. I
can effect a complete surprise at Belfast."
The young commander consulted with
others, among them the old sea captain,
who had hobbled down to the village.
"Ye needn't fear the man-o'-war," said
r?T)tftin Gatrell: "she's been blowed out
o' her cours? bo far that it'll take three
days to beat back, 'c' she's got contrary
winds all the time to contend with. Them
land Bharks are all we've got to fear."
"And it is certain that Major Bridges is
yet several miles march from Belfast.
Only his advanced guard, twenty or
thirty light horse, have been thrown forward,
to hold Belfast and stop all who
would come here to our defense. I propose
now with fifty well-armed men to
defeat this advance guard."
All could not but admit that Griffith's
plan was an excellent etrategio movement.
He selected fifty young men who
could endure fatitroe, and who seemed
courageous. Jack Hatchet was his lieutenant,
and Si Cole and Tommy Buffies
were officers in the expedition.
Griffith before going on the dangerous
expedition paid a short visit to the girl
whom he loved. In aB few words as possible
he told her of the coming expedition
and probable danger which he might
?n?nniit?? i>nnMni1inff with;
"I could not leave, Ola, without snatching
one moment at least to bid you good,
by."
Her face was pale, and he saw she had
been weeping.
"Oh, Griffith, there is such a weight on
my heart, i felt as if all light, all joy
liad gone out of my life forever."
"It is only a passing cloud, Ola, which
will pass away like la6t night's storm,
leaving sunshine on the earth."
"That terrible revelation last night?
the etonn and the f.ight "
"They are nothing, dearest Ola. The
revelation does not make you any the less
dear to me. I love you the same as ever
?yea, even more, for that pathetic little
tory of the death of your parents on the
wreck has endeared .\ou to me more than
anything could. The a'orm was our
f friend, for it has beaten tbe enemy away,
so that we 6hall now have time to comx;
plete out fortifications. The alarm grew
oat of nothing save tne capture or iwo
sailors, who say they have deserted the
SXenophon; but I am staving too long,
dearest. Take courage; do not .despair;
I will come back again this evening.
A moment he pressed her to his breast,
And was gone, while she fell sobbing on
the 6ettee.
The little band of heroes, many of
whom had never yet "smelt gunpowder,"
were ready when Griffith returned to
start for Belfast. At the head of the
little band, he left the works, on which
labor had been resumed at early dawn.
Silently the little band proceeded up the
hill and along a thickly wooded road.
Tbe sky was cloudless and the day promised
to be warm, but the march of the
Americans for most of the way lay
through a forest, which would screen
them from the glaring rays of the fierce
sun.
The Americans, in their shirt-sleeves,
. . with rifles or muskets on their shoulders,
hurried along through tbe woods, sometimes
fanning themselves with their hats,
? or pausing to slake their thirst at some
woodland brooklet.
It was eleven o'clock in the forenoon
? before they came in sight of Belfast.
'There was" a cornfield which extended
quite up to the village, and, halting his
command in tbe woods, Griffith
HEXSSHfft Sam Perry, who bad had some exHjH^^^^erience
in Indian warfare, into the cornfield
to reconnoiter.
Peny was gone bat a few moments
when he returned and informed the young
commander that he had 6een a few redcoats
ii> the town. Six were all he had
discovered, but beyond a doubt there
were more.
Griffith resolved to hazard an attack
AO cautioning his men to take good aim
end not injure any of the citizens, he
led tham into the field of standing corn.
Some of the younger members tumbled,
but no one tried to shirk doty.
"When they were near enough to catoh a
glimpse of the town, they discovered two
red-coats sitting on the platform in front
of Layman's store, while a third Btood
leaning on his fusee near them.
/ - "Steady, steady, not so fast," cautioned
the leader, in nn undertone.
They reached the fence without being
discovered. A6 one man they sprang upon
it, leaped over, and with loud huzzas
charged down the street.
The Briton with the musket fired at
them, but his shot went high. Two or
three shots in return brought him down.
One of the redcoats on the porch was
woxnded, and the other tied.
"Where ere the others?" cried Capt.
Alton, rushing on the wounded redcoat
and_waving his sword over his head.
"iney ar in tnac oig ouse ci-aown tno
street," the grounded man groaned.
Loud veils from the hou*e were heard,
and half a dozen muskets from it belched
forth their deadly contents. Bill Mason
fell, wounded, and his cries so enraged
hie comrades that Griffith found his
hands full to prevent them from rushing
pell-mell upon the large tobacco house,
I to their own destruction.
From the windows of the building the
heads of American prisoners appeared,
and Griffith, knew thai the. British had
put thfir prisoners in the tobacco bam to
keep .hem, until Major Briggs should
come.
"Screen yourselves behind the houses,"
said our hero.
"Why not charge 'em, Griff?" roared
Hatchet, whose blood was up. "We kin
lick 'em."
k They have an advantage over us. Be
careful how you shoot, or you will hit
one of your friends," cautioned Griffith.
| The few soldiers who were strolling
I about the village, either ran away or made
I their way to the tobacco barn, where their
I comrades were with the prisoners.
The Americans began blazing awav at
I these and in a few minutes the fire was
almost incessant on both Bidet. EveryI
yt wflc ir-ir* An T"?t a Vint
| &/VVt J ?5 vr** ?vva, v?..
the Americans were steadily Bearing the
tobacco barn.
"Steady, steady," cantioned the young
Captain. "Be careful how you fire; remember
we have friends in there."
A fusillade was going on by this time,
. aritK^he combatants were adding their
ehou'.BNind yells to the dischaige o(
musketry and rifles.
f "Gritf, give the word, b*
go in on *em anv clear 'ein np 'n no time,
yelled the blacksmith, who was getting
warmed up.
Though the young ofiScor discovered
that his men were determined to charge
the tobacco barn, he thought it best to de2a?
until the* cfisld flank.?Ach side of it
?
k. .
ard prevent the English soldiers escaping, f tl
Bnt commands and reason were useless. 1 oj
Their American blood was up. They had
emelledpowder and heard the cries of their G
wounded companions, and as one man, h
with tremendous yells, charged the barn, o:
The British poured in a volley as they
came up, and a man named Hill fell with p
bullet in his heart. This only more en- t(
taped the Americans and tbe British b
soldiers wisely beat a retreat.* They a:
leaped out of doorways, opposite the side y
from whence tbe attack was made, and i
ran for life. I r<
Three who could not get out surren- I
dered, and Griffith fonnd his hands full I k
to prevent his men hanging them. They
released fifty-seven American prisoners
whom the British were guarding iix_ tha a:
tobacco barn. No effort was" made to t]
pursue the British, for our hero feared h
that Major Bridges was only a short dis- I
tance away, and might come on in time I a
io capture his small force. p
~ >\ an, we ve met again, etna one 01 a
the released prisoners, coming to our
bero and sinking his hand. Griffith tl
recognized the man aB being the farmer
with whom be had taken dinner. "I told a
ye the Britishers would never stop till ri
they'd got the yoke on us 'n they're goin' tl
to grind us down now to a certainty." si
"How did you come here?" Griffith t]
asked. -n
"Why, you Bee them Britishers that b
tried to mob you fellers were so mad be- o
cause they couldn't that they took me, tl
and hare almost scared hair white by
threatenin' to hang me." C
"But you are free now?" v;
"Yes,'you hev set me free, but ttey'll ii
never stop till they git the yoke on our h
necks." e<
The farmer's name was Ezekiel Gross,
and he wns a confirmed pessimist as far y
as the war with England was concerned. h
Captain Alton had all the Americans tl
get ready at once to march back to i)
Manoa. Their wounded man was car- h
ried on a stretcher, and the man who had
been killed was buried in the church C
yard. t]
The dead Englishman and the two that 1<
had been wounded were left in charge of s
the old men and boys of the place. As
toon as all couhl "be got ready, the new o:
commander with all the arms and pro- p
visions he could get at Belfast, started a:
on his return to Manoa. d
b.
CHAPTER V.
rBEPAElKO FOB THE SIEGE. ^
Captain Alton reasoned correctly when
bo concluded that Major Bridges with his
force was not far away. Had he remained
in Belfast an hour longer he would have
been cut off and forced to surrender.
His force, now swelled to one hundred
and ten?all of whom were armed, though ?
many had only their own fire-locks?had j
not gone half a mile when a negro boy .
came galloping down the road after them. J
"Whar'sthe Cap'n? Whar's the boss?"
he demanded, his eyes rolling with ex- ,
citement.
"Here, here; what do you want," Griffith
demanded.
"Golly, marster, an you the boss?" the 3
excited boy asked. ?
"Yes; what is the matter?" t'
"De redcoats, on horseback an' on foot,
an'in wagons, wid cannons, am comin' g
jest as fast as dey kin." ti
"Where are they?" * fl
"Bight arter ye, marster," the excited u
darky cried. "Dey was comin' when ye y
licked dem sojers in Belfast, and now n
more'n forty millions o' dem jist swarm- y
in' down de road like bees." h
Griffith, of course, knew that the negro s<
boy had greatly exaggerated the number c
of the enemy. From all reports he had
heard, Bridges could not have to exceed n
five or 6ix hundred men, unless he had a
received reinforcements from General
Boss, which was not at all probable. p
At any rate, with his poorly equipped B
and illy disciplined force, inferior in r
numbers as they were, he felt that he
could not hazard a pitched battle, and ^
urged them on at a orisk pace. It is a t
difficult matter to get a large body of un- tl
trained men to travel rapidly. Some ]j
! -would hang back despite all he could do t
to urge them. t
But little more than half of the distance
had been gone over when the clat- L
ter of hoofs in their rear was heard, and v
British dragoons to the number of twenty i
or thirty appeared in sight. They opened c
fire and began flanking the Americans on ?
the right, intending to head them off. r
"Oh, we are gone now; they'll hev the g
yoke on our necks agin, sure," wailed 6
Zeke Gross, wringing his hands.
"Shet yer mouth!" roared Hatchet, a
cocking his rifle. "Ef yer goin' to knock
under at the fust scrimmage like this, ye a
better dig a hole and crawl in it."
A few shots weie exchanged, but the ^
dragoons kept out of reach of the rifles e
of the Americans, and consequently no
harm had yet been done to either party. g
"I jest know they'll keep on till they git j
the yoke on our necks," said Mr. Gross, v
in despair. j
"Ef ye don't shet up I'll lay the butt o'
my gun across ver neck," said Hatchet, r
"D'ye want to skeer out everybody in the
army, so we can't muster enough to fight S
the Britisher*0" p
"No talking in ranks," cried the young a
commander; and having selected twenty t!
experienced riflemen, he sent them forward
to deploy as skirmishers and drive
t>aok the dragoons, who, having flanked 0
them, were between i.he Americans and a
Manoa. . r
Although the sharpshooters drove the 0
dragoons away again and ajain, they invnriably
returned, and so impeded their ^
progress that when they were about two ?
miles from their fortificat ons a large body 7
of British infantry came up and made a ;
furious assault on their renr.
J a day was exce.-dingly warm, and .
though both the Americans and English
were considerably fatigued, the combat 1
was fierce. *
Griffith scon discovered that he would c
be compelled to cut his way through the
light-horse, who were now directly before d
him, or drive them away. He placed h
twenty-fivo of his best-armed men to
cover'the retreat, and with the remainder ii
he began to advance hurriedly on the j h
dragoons in front.
The conflict grew warmer and warmer, t
until it was little better than a running a
fight.
Major Bridges sent two small field 4
pieces forward, which unlimbered close c
on the renr of our friends and began to E
thunder away. The woods doubtless
saved the Americans from heavy loss.
The trees grew so thick that not a' single ?
6hot proved fatal to them, though one 01 *
two were slightly wounded.
On the other hand, two of the light- 8
horse had been hit, and the others gave jj
tray. J
The Americans reached the hill above ^
the village of Manoa. The stars and a
stripeB could be seen flying over the vil- x
lage below, and they could hear the r
bhouts of their friends in the fort.
Major Bridges had only been able to 1
bring up a hundred of his regulars, and T
lie realized mm. wuniever was uuuo must
be done at once. He ordered his soldiers 1
to fix bayonets and charge the retreating
Americans. Griffith, comprehending his
design, halted his men, faced them about, d
and, taking an advnntngeons position, v
met them with a volley which greatly
thinned their ranks, and caiised them to i
retreat in disorder. t
Re-enforcements headed by Simon lfinhimself,
came nt> the bill at a run
Horn the fort, but t?o last Briton had e
left the field. Two dead and one wounded [
redcoat was all that remained. Major j
Bridges, doubtless knowing tho folly of
ntt:ickiug Mano\ without the co-opern- v
tion of the Xenophon, fell b tck to Belfast.
where he was to await the coining ' c
of the man-of-war. t
"It's ti pitt; yes, sir, it's a darnation
pity," paid Kinrnan, when he t aw the red- I
coats retrer.ting over the bill. "Je6t when
a feller gets his jinks to workia* easy tte 6
cowardly redcoats skip eout."
He was very much inclined to follow f
them, but Captaip Alton ordered all into u
J
/
. _ v i
' ' ;
ie 'works, and lie was too good a die- i
iplinarian not to obey, *
"Well, we're here at last," said Zefee )
rro6B, as they entered fortification, "but," 1
e added, dismally, "they'll hav the yoke
n our neckB yet." ]
"Why, hailo," cried the Yankee, stop- J
ing and gazing at the farmer from head I
) foot. "You're the faillow that give us
athin' to eat when the Britishers come
a' made us git eout. Still afraid o' that <
oke, are ye? 1
"Yes," Bighed Zeke. "They'll hev it i
)Und our necks, too." I
"They'll find me worse than a kick in'
eow to yoke," said Simon.
The Americans were almost exhausted <
ith their long, rapid march in the heat
ad dust, and many threw themselves on <
je ground olid remained motionless for
ours.
m ~c all
JL 12 C WUIA *JL lUlbiiJ nouv Vu unj,
nd the earthworks were almost comleted
'when night came. Simon, who .
ad served a few months in the artillery, ,
-as enabled to direct the mounting of
ae gnns.
The long twenty-four, which was really
formidable gun, was mounted and
nnged so as to 6weep the ocean. Two of
be smaller pieces were on the seaboard
ide, while the others were to protect
tiem from a land attack. The Americans j
ere without any practical artillerist, ,
ut Simon, who had a little knowledge (
f the cannon, began drilling some of
iem ]
lr the middle of (he afternoon and (
Griffith was busy superintending the
orks, when a boy came to him with the ,
lformntion that one of the sailors who j
ad been captured tiie night before wishd
to see him. I
"I wonder what he wants," said the ,
oung commander, impatiently. At first (
e thought to would pay no attention to ,
le request, but somehow it strangely \
npressed him, and he decided to call on ,
rm.
"Well, M?,Burnett, what do you want?" ,
:aptain Alton asked. There was some- ]
iing in the lofty mein of that grand,
joking sailor which commanded the re- j
pect of everyone. (
"I wish to talk to you a few mom&nts
n our defense," said Burnett, who was j
acing the floor of his prison restlessly, |
nd occasionally cazing out of the win
ow on the worker "I see your men lack }
kill in planting the cannon." e
Griffith was forced to admit that they
id. '
"I suppose they also lack skill in using 1
rtillery." '
"They do, but they hope to acquire it." 3
The sailor shook his head, and after a i
loment's silence continued:
"The man-o'-war is prepared with good 1
unners and heavy guns, and in the end J
fill pound jou to pieces, Captain Alton,
think, However, if your heavy twenty- !
our was pioperly managed it could drive :
lie Xenophon away, or sink her, but it
rill require an experienced gunner to 1
o it-"
"What do yoa propose?" asked Griffith. ]
"1 was the best gunner aboard the <
lenopbon. Captain Monteith admitted
hat; now I volunteer to man the heavy j
wentv-f our." 1
"I thank you^" gaid Griffith, "but con- 1
ider our position?consider the imputa- ;
ion against you of being a spy, and think
E I, as a reasonable officer could consent <
nder all those circumstances to give j
ou such an important position. You
lay be all right, sailor, and I do not say
ou are playing filse, but your presence
ero, outaide of the testimony of your- i
elf and companion, has not been ac> i
oanted for."
An expression of painful disappoint- ]
lent passed over the face of the prisoner, i
nd after a few ifioments he said:
"You talk very 6ensibly; but will you
ermii me to atcompany you, and mtfka
ome valuable suggestions as to the j
ilanting of the cannon?"
There seemed to be no possible harm i
ti this, and Griffith assented. Both of i
Le prisoners were given the privilege of <
he camp, but persons were appointed to :
eep a strict watch over them, and shoot i
hem on their making the slightest at. '
empt to eBoape.
They accompanied the young com- '
Bander, and Burnett made some rerj i
aluable suggestions as to the improve- i
aents in the works and mounting tfct i
annon. His plans were so reasonable <
hat the artillery wa3 mounted and aranged
under his directions. He eveD
;ave instructions to two or three gun? <
quads that were drilling. 1
"Simon, what do you think of him?"
,sked Griffith of the Yankee. 1
The Yankee shook his head in a puzzled I
aanner, and answered:
"I doant eggsactly know, Cap'n, but I 1
rouldn't trust 'im too far till ye find 'im I
out."
"I do not intend to, Simon. We will i
;ive them the privilego of the camp dor- i
ng tne day, witn nan a aozen men to i
ratcli them, but at night they mnst go to
>rison.?"
"They may bo spies, an' then agin' they <
Qayn't."
"I will intrust watching them to you,
iimon, for I know you to be careful and <
irudent. Do not be harsh with them, i
nd yet be very careful about giving I
hem too many privileges."
During the remainder of the day Grifith
kept an eye on Burnett, the deserter
f the Xenonhon. There was something
bout the sailor which seemed grand and
loble, and yet he could not rid himself
f suspicion. I
"It may all be for effect," he reasoned :
rith himself. "Be may be a cunniDg |
py who has been 6ent among us to spike ;
he guns, or in 60me way deliver us over ,
o the enemy. It will not do to trust
lim too far until he is better known."
The voung commander of Manoa had j l
he works completed by nightfall, nndthe j i
nost experienced engineer would have j
>ronounced the town of Alanoa in an ex- I
:ellent state of defense.
nnrr fViaf fl<o Trnrlr rJnfu I I
WW414"M " w- "? I
lemanded was completed, hastened to the I
louse in which his betrothed lived. I
As usual, she was on the porch waitog
for him, and, with Captain Gat veil,
tad impatiently watched bis approach.
"I was so afraid you had been hurt in '
hat terrible battle on tbe bill," she said, ! i
s be ascended the steps.
"Why, Ola, that was no battle." said '
he young officer, with a laugh; "it was |
inly a skirmish, and a very slight ekir- i
irish at that."
"Oh, I thought it a terrible battle."
They had reached tbe cosy sitting- 11
oom, and Griffith smiled as he seated
timself beside her.
"Do not be alarmed, de'arest," he 6tiid.
iffectionately. "We are well fortified now,
nd the men well armed and fairly drilled,
rhey are cool ana determined, and we i
pill drive these invaders away. As soon j
ts our American army has had time to .
ecupera*e itself, it will come to tbe frout (
igain, and will not be long in sweeping
he English from oar shores. Tbe burn- |
ug of Washington has taught us a lesson |
re will never forget. We will now think I
noro of our Government and less about
he political party in power."
"lint. Griffith, I live in such dread."
wi coui se, 11 is natural luuv <.'111; suuuiu
Iread a Biege; yet our forefathers were
leed to it."
"But we have no common enemy. If
t was not for Major Bridp.es, I would
inve no fears; but he is in command "
"He can do no more than any other."
"But suppo?e they should force you to
nrreuder, Griffith. The Xenopiion is a
jowerful ship, nnd may bombard us until
ou will have to surrender."
"We would be treated as prisoners of
var, I suppose."
"No, no; we would fall into the clutches
if Bridges, who would under some preest
put you to death."
"But, Ola, we must hope for the better.
.,00k on the bright side."
She 6hook her pretty head as she aniwered:
""Father (she still called Capt. Gatrell
ather) is not hopefnl. He will not adait
it to me, but I know he has great
?'J
ft v .' *
Fears of tbe result. Ton have no experienced
gunners, and he says it will take
in experienced gunner to hit the man-of*ar."
H
Griffith had already thought of this.
His mind reverted to what the deserter
bad said, and to change her thoughts from t
:he coming attack he mentioned him. m
"What kind of a man is he?" she asked.
"He is almost if not quite fifty years of
ige. He is tall, finely formed, and looks
like he might be a ncble man. There is
something in that man's face and mild
jray eye attractive to me."
"bid he say he deserted the enemy?"
"He did, and he claims to be an Ameri- ts
:an." ai
"Then why do you keep him a pris- &
Dner'!'" I 8C
"Because we do not know but that he |
nay be a spy?a very cunning man sent to f1
betray us, and we dare not put too much b;
jonfidence in him." pi
She sat for several moments, her mind ta
buey with the deserter of the Xeoophon; c,
then she turned to her lover and said: J
"Griffith, I would like to see that man." .
"You shall, to-morrow." he answered. 18
?
CHAPTER VI. J(
THE LAST HESOBT.
Boom!
A tremendous report 6hook sea and a:
land, and, with a hissing scream, a solid P'
shot flew through the air above the village ti
)f Manoa. ji
"Hi, tumble up?tumble up, every- m
body!" roared Jack Hatchet, leaping
lown from the parapet.
"Git eout o' yer beds an' put yer Bhoul- ai
3er lo the wheel!" cried Simon, spring- "w
ing from hiB tent, only half dressed. al
l)ay was dawning, and out to eea could
be seen the huge man-of-war that all ^
light long had been slyly warping into I ,
:he harbor. She was yet over a mile
iway, but to the villagers, staitled from "
[heir slumbers by the quaking report, do
she seemed but a few yards distant. sc
Ten minutes later the shot was an* 0]
jwered by another from Major Bridges'
5eld piece, at Belfast.
"Oh, they've got us surrounded?they'll j 111
- - ? ~ ~4V*r? t-aVo nr? 6J
UOVCl Btup JUU VT VU1 IUOJ 51W liiU J WUW
Dur necks," groaned Zeke Grosu. fli
"Oh, ehet op," cried Hatchet. "We're g]
join to lick them fellers in spite 0' m
thunder." ^
for a few moments the wildest excitement
and confusion reicned. There j w
ally seemed danger of a panic. The w
iwiui rennty or t>eing snrronnaea Dy an zi
;nemv, of a siege, burst with such force - c<
apontho raw recruit b tint it was all our fc
f oung commander could do to prevent a se
general stampede. . CI
He mounted a goods box which stood ,
near nnd reminded them that they were P
Americans in defense of their homes. *c
their wives and children, and urgently tl
appealed to their patriotism and courage, m
Even while he waB speaking a second cj
boom shook the sea and earth, and a
heavy ball struck the outside of the .
Forks, sending earth and sand in every "
3irection. But the young commander tl;
paid no heed to it and soon got the re- tt
jruits quieted down. I*
"Now," said he in conclusion, "only a jn
few are wanted at present, just enough to -p
manage the oannon; the others go to **
breakfast and then lie low and rest until hi
your turn comes." ?
"Cap'n," said S:mon, as our hero I
ceased speaking, "hadn't we better begin .
to let that 'Long Tom' answer." '
"Yes. Simon, load it a&d let the manof-war
have the contents."
The long brass gun w.is loaded and
shotted, and then Simon sighted it himBelf
and cried, "Fire!"
Hatchet, who stood near with a redhot
iron rod, applied it to the touch-hole *
and immediately there followed a report
which almost shook tne raw recruits
from their feet.
Griffith, who stood on the palisade, his
glass to his eyes, saw the ball strike the V
water before it reached the vessel. The {]
shot evinced poor markmanship. He X
sig'ued and ordered the gun to be reload- V
Bd. The two puffs of smoke which had
risen from the ship had floated off some **
distance from the deck, and each individual
cloud was rising above the water.
A.t thib moment Griffith saw a third
wreath of ^moke curl up from the forecastle
of the vessel, and the next moment
a powerful shell went screaming by within
four or five feet of his bend, passing
over the town. When about half way ?
't exploded. 81
Fortunately, nowever, ne harm was fi;
ilcne other than killing a mule which had a
been used in the works.
"Oh, that ain't nutin'," said Simon
with a laugh. "Jest wait till ye git used *
to it." ?
"B?but will one ev-ev-ev-ever git used in
to it?" asked Zeke Gross, trembling with cl
fear. 01
"Course ve will," put in the black- ^
smith. uW'hy, when ye've fit here six ,
mon'.-hs every day 'n this way, ye won't .
mind them things more 'n sparks from a w
Eor^e." is
"I gness Hato^t *11 have some of the fa
conceit taken out o' him if one o' them T(
big bullets hits 'im," said Cole.
Simon in the meanwhile had the heavy ai
cannon svabbed and loaded. He elevat- "
ed it this time, and when the shot was le
fired thb bill flew to the larboard and T
missed the vessel a half cable's length. *
[TO BE CONTINUED.] ^
rOPULAR SCIENCE. 2
' 3l
There has been made a list of 210 a
bird9 which inhabit Alaska. J ja
One cubic foot of fresh water weighs tc
1000 ounces or 62.5 pounds avoirdupois a;
and contains 6.23 imperial gallons.
The experiment of producing rain by P1
Exploding dynamite i3 about to be tried, 11
?nd the result will be awaited with much "
interest. a)
A recent severe case of lockjaw has 110
been successsully treated in Philadelphia
by the use of choral aided by careful .
nutrition. JjJ
One of the best varnishes for steam ^
pipes or smoke stacks is directed to be
made with good asphaltum dissolved in
oil or turpentine.
Colonel N. 8. Goss, of Topeka, Kan., fl
has an ornithological collection that is S|
surpassed only by that of the National a
Museum at Washington. 1
The atmosphere of London is said to ri
be gradually becoming more and more p
harmful to plant life, and it is attributed o
in a large measure to the thick fogs. t
The production of metal aluminium by ?
electrolysis at a cost little above that of J*
tin is what some French chemists are
Eanguine of being able to accomplish.
Fresh water begins to freeze at thirty- u
two degrees Fahrenheit, called the freezing
point, but salt water will not congeal
until a temperature of twenty-eight and j
one-half degrees is reached. rj
The multiplex telegraph, devised by
Lieutenant Patten, is now working six- ti
teen circuits on a wire running between tl
New York and Philadelphia, a distance fi,
of about ninetv miles, at twentv-five aj
words a minute. "
Among the latest things in electricity fc
is the graphite battery. It3 chief rccom- w
mcndation is simplicity and cheapness, w
The sole materials used are graphite, *a
zinc, salt and water and an entire battery li:
can be constructed for ten cents. Another
feature is tthc immediate develop- ni
ment of power. U1
oj
jji:. i^oca was, until ten vears ago, an ?'
obscure country physician, ifis practice and Dt
bis reputation did not extend oeyOnd tha w
limits of the little town of Wollsteiu, Ger- .
many, a place so small and unimportant
that it is only with much difficulty that it "<
can be found upon th9 map. oi
tfOBBtalk. :
-i li -* T. \ ,r~. V. ^ -* . -v -r,ys.?
;
THE POPPY PLANT.
' g
lOW THE OPIUM DRUG IS OB- x
TAINED IN INDIA. U
b
he Cultivation of the Poppy? 0
Under Government Control? ?
Methods of Work in the
Opium Factories. jj
I a
The poppy, as far as can le ascer- c;
lined, was indigenous to "Western Asia q
id Southern Europe. Opium is the ?
ried milky juice that exudes from the g
ied polls of the poppy. There are sev- _
al varieties of the plant, distinguished
y the colors of the petals, butr the white
oppy is considered the best as it conlins
more of the active principle of
oium. the vegetable alkaloid, morphia,
lan any other variety. The name opium
from the Greek opion, and signifies
lice. The people of India call it ofee)on,
and in the Chinese materia medica
is termed afoo-yung. In ancient times
i extract was made from the whole
lant, and was called mek-onion, in disnction
from the more active opos or
lice from the capsules alone. Frequent {
ention of the medicinal properties of
le opium is made by aficient writers,
id from all that can be learned opium
as not used except as a medicine until >out
a century ago.
Soil of a sandy loam nature is best .
jited to the poppy, and the richer the J,1
etter. There are frequent plowings of
le ground during several months, com- .
iencing with the rains in June. The
iwing of the seed is done in November c
r December. About four pounds of #
;ed are used to the acre. The seed is D
loistened over night, mixed with dry '
irth and sown broadcast. The plants I *
e well irrigated and kept clean from
rass and weeds. The growing plant ?
:akes a beautiful appearance, and the '
ttle fields near the villages of mud huts f
e bright spots in the almost arid j;
aste around them. The cultivator <
salously guards his field, a9 he is under r
rntract with the Government for every t
tot of land planted and is liable to c
ivere punishment for any failure in his i
op. About the end of January the c
lants commence to flower, and continue c
i do so till March. During this timo c
le petals are collected in the following i
anner: The forefinger and thumb en- t
rcle the stem just beneath the pod,and j
ith the other fingers a kind of tube ia -v
rmed of the hand. This tube is gen- c
y raised straight over the pod, and if u
ie petals are matured they come off. c
hey are never plucked, as that would \
jure the pod. The pods mature in a
ebruary or March. When the plants r
ive been in bloom some time the cap- j
1TT | J
-j- ^ j
^ ^ >/ -?
PLOWING A POPPY FIELD.
lies become slightly coated with a
ae, ^ transparent white color. This is
sign of maturity, when the incisions
lould be made. There are several vercal
incisions made in each pod with a
lin scrap of iron. The juice exhudes I 1
t tears of a milky white color, gradually | 1
langing to a rose red. These are left j
a the pod till next morning, when
.cry ure carefully scraped off and the 1
mmb or fiDger rubbed over the incions
to close them. The yield of opium '
greater if the night is still and dew
ills. The scraping of the pods is done ;
sry gently with a thin piece of iron,
jd the opium is spatted in the palm of
ic left hand until several ounces are colcted,
when it is put into an earthen jar.
hp.re are four incisions made in a pod at
time, and this is done irom eignt to 11
velve times during a season. After the 1
oium is collected it is put into an earth- | c
i or brass jars, and these are tilted ightly
to drain oft' the dew passewah.
iter the drug has b?en all collected the
irs are placed iu a ventilated room ready
i be turued over to the Government
jent. I
Passewah is a blackish fluid, in ap- ;
earauce like strong ccfiee. If it exists
l any quantity and allowed to remain
ic opium is injured iu color, texture
id aroma and unsuited for the China
larket. Opium is affected by the soil in
hich the plant is grown, by the elevaon
and climatic peculiarities, by the ir- i
gation and treatment of the plant,
he value of the drug in the Chinese
larket is largely depeudent on the ?
roma. c
The whole of the poppy plant is val- 5
able to the grower. The petals of the 1
nwlfi into round leaves b^ \
preading and lightly pressing them on t
u earthen plate heated over a slow lire, t
'hose are purchased at the factory at [
ites ranging from two to four cents a j
ound and are used iu making the shells a
r envelopes in which the soft opium is c
acted for too China market. The r
ried poppy heads, after the opium has c
cen extracted, are taken off and crushed, p
he seed affords a bland, nutritious oil, i<
hich is used in cooking and for burn- 5
ig in lamps. The refuse oil cake is j
sed for feeding cattle. The seed is de- ti
oid of the soporific alkaloids which per- v
ide the other part?, of the plant, and it r
btains a ready sak in the local markets, ti
he dry capsules are also used in for- t]
lentations to which they impart feda- q
ve qualities. The leaves and stalks of I v
m ^innto nrp nllnwGtl to drv on the I n
elds, and are then coarsely pounded ;
id sold to the factory under the is
trash" for packing the cakes of opium p
ir shipment. The trash when sold is i
orth about thirty-five cent? a hundred- p
eight, but cultivators living at a dis- p
.nee from the factory use it as a fcfti- n
ier. <
The cultivation of the poppy, the 1
anufneture and sale of opium is wholly ;i
ider control of Government, and the i
jium department is as thoroughly orinized
and efficiently managed as any y
;her department. The board of revenue,
ith tl\p sanction of Government, from ?
me to time fixes the limits within which n
:enses may be given for the cultivation ?
: the poppy. In every district there is \ ?
. - t
v\ ,? /-t . ; ,.%?>*. ; v' ' ' v^-* ' * 1
V^V ,.
opium agent, usually a European,
dth a number or native assistants. He *
rants the licenses to'the cultivators, '
nd every license specifies the amount of '
ind authorized to be cultivated. On the t
ack of the license is written the name I
f the cultivator, his caste, the area and 1
umber of his field, where situated, and o
tie quality of his soil. When the fields t
re sown they are carefully measured, a
'rom November to March the Govern- B
lent officers travel through the district, t
heck the measurements previously made, r
ote the appearance of the crops, if ft
rater is available for irrigation, if the t
elds are free from weeds and vege- v
?- ft
IRRIGATION FOE A POPPY FIELD.
ables, the nature of the exudaioDs,
the manufacture of the petals
ato flower leaves and the proper manuacture
of the drug. No one without a
icense can cultivate the poppy, and all
xovernment officers, farmers or managers
f land knowing of illegal cultivation
nd not giving information to Governaent,
are liable to a penalty. No one
rithout a license, nor can any licensed
ender sell opium except what he obtains
rom the Government stores, and any
ultivator disposing of opium except to
he Government, is liable to a severe
>enalty, and the one purchasing from a
ultivator is subject to a fine and convocation
of the opium purchased. All
>mcers oi the police, customs ana evenue
departments are empowered to 3
irrest illegal venders and to seize all *
:ontraband opium. There are very exact
ules in regard to the reception, classifi:ation,
weighing and shipment of the
>pium to the Government factories. All 1
ipium must be delivered to the agent 8
n whose district it is gTown, who shipb it *
o the factory. All the cultivators, *
probably without erception, receive ad- ^
ances with their license, and it is on ac- *
ount of the Government ability to ad- 1
ance immense sums of money to the ?
cultivators that has stimulated the culti- fj
ration of opium. The chance of getting ^
, little ready money is a great induce- ?
aent to these wretchedly impoverished 1
>eople.
There are two factories?one at Patna,
he other at Ghazipore. At the factory
he opium is stored in large vats con*
aining about one and a half tons each,
,nd each grade is kept separate. When
; vat is filled its contents are stirred with
ong poles daily until the opium is of the
:onsistency of seventy per cent, of the
>ure dry drug and thirty per cent, of
ivater, when it is ready for caking. A
strict order of Government requires that
he opium should contain this proportion
>f water, for if half a grain more of the
Iry drug were used for each of the 20,)00
cakes made daily there would be a
oss of about four hundred dollars a day, /
(mounting to quite a sum in a year's
Droduct.
i- (\AA
nere is a ruum ott icct iuu^ auu
;wenty-seven feet wide to accommodate
550 cakemakers, each having a place
issigned him for work, with his number
printed on the wall above him. Each is
jrovided with a brass mold forming the
lalf of a hollow sphere. He has also a
;in vessel holding enough lewah or ,
liquid opium the regulated quantity used j
in making the shell of a cake. Every
precaution is taken to ensure the I
accurate weight in every cake of each of J
the ingredients used in making it, viz.: (
:he dry drug, the liquid, the flower ,
leaves, water and trash. The shell is
made by agglutinating the flower leaves 1
tvith the lewab, and the trash is used
[or dusting the outside of the shell. |
Down the centre of the room are a
number of delicate scales and the pots
for holding the lewah. There is a weighman
and two assistants for each scale.
When the order for work is given each
man takes his place. The vat-room I
doors are opened and the ODium is
>rought out in tinned sheet iron vessels p
lolding twenty pounds each, one for
:ach scale. One assistant takes a sufE
l roppy gboweh's ookgeocs coacf.
:ient quantity for a cake, crushes it to
ee if there are no extraneous matters in
t and hands it to the second assistant,
vho places it in a paa and hands it to
he weighraan, who weighs and gives it
o the boy attendant of each cukeraaker.
n the meantime the latter has been supilied
with the requisite amount of lewah
ind the propel amount of leaves for a
:ake. Having them by his side, he now
apicily torms ot flower leat iu the brass
aold thi; lower half of the shell of a cake,
lasting, by means of the lewah, leaf over
;af, until its thickness is about sevenixtecnths
of an iuch. He allows in so
loing the upper part of some of the 1
Eaves, which he tears in halves and places *
ertically, to hang down outside the mold, I
rith which he later forms the upper J
alf of the cake. Having finished i
he lower half of the shell by alterately
placing leaves horizontally and
ertically, he takes the opium from the fi
an and presses it into the shell, and p
overs it with layers of leaves. The cake c
. ? nlmHf flw. ci7i. nf n tirontr.frtiir
> a OjJIJCl M UI/VUU Uiv w??<w W. ?* w .. w.
ouuil shot. When removed from the
lold it is dusted with h little trash and
ut in a cup of unglazcd pottery, a id 9
laced in the sun en a brick platform
hich has the maker's number. Before
;moval every cake has a number and j
ate upon it, so that its history can be
aced, and by this means every cakcloi-nr
ia resnnnsiblp for his work. The ?
iking generally begins at 10 a. m. and ?
rmtinues till 2 p. m. About 20,000 1]
ikes are made daily. When the day's a
ork is finished all the vessels and vats ^
re carefully washed and the washings r'
ived; the cakes of the day are counted g
ad compared with the amount of opium y
fiven out. The cakes are then stored. J
)n the following day they are placed in j
he son and some of the cakes taken at N
andom from each maker's lot are weighed 4 I
o see if they are of the proper weight. _ ^
f lacking weight, ill-shapen, or loose*
7 made, the maker's names are jjk
loted to be admonished or. fined. On
be evening of the second day the cakes ?
re placed in their cups in racks in a J
torehousc. The storehouses are high J
irick buildings with galvanized iron J
oofs, and well ventilated. The cakes j
re turned in theircups every third day, - '?i
be men and boys, passing them as they ; fl
ronld cricket balls. The cakes for I
hlpment are put in chests packed with, jSjaM
toppy trash. In each chest are forty J
akes and on each is a printed card 1
howing the number of the chest, the" |
reigns,. xne aare or pacicing ana
ame of the assistant under whose eye
b was packed. The chest is securely,
overed with hemp cloth, coated with
ar. ^ : V* - " -S
Previous to packing the magistrate of
he district selects, at raudom six cakes',
n each of which he puts his seal. Two
f these are sent to the opifcm examiner
t Calcutta, and two are kept at the *
gency where they were mide. The re- y ' i
ults of the examiners are sent to the
3oard of Revenue, and by it to the mer'
|
> t
SMOKING AWAY THEIR INTELLECTS.
^
hants of Calcutta pjrsviouatoth'e first
ale of the season.?Chic^Mdtirtd*
A Great Battle Jlingieii
The Vermonters whose great-grand- j>?"
ires fought at Bennington are to haT?
, great celebration August 16, 1891. It
nil be a double jubilee. The battle of
Bennington was Sought August 10,1777. \ i
Vermont was admitted to the Union is
.791. So the celebrations are combined j
ad oa the anniversary of the battle thereat
Bennington battle monument will rj
>e dedicated. A bill introduced^,in the- ?
Vermont Legislature directed the Gorrnor
of |Vefmont 4o invite all of New
lampshire and Massachusetts over to
BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT.
Bennington to unite with the citizens of
Vermont in the dual celebration. Colonel j
3eth Warner's colonists who won the <
lecisive victory over the British in 1777" i
vere volunteers from Vermont, NewHampshire
and Massachusetts, and that
s why the three States will combine to
ibserve the anniversary.
The Bennington battle monument will
loon be completed and will be one of ' he
most interesting memorial structures' '
ret erected in this country. It stands
>n the hill which the grim and deternined
men of Bennington held against
;he red-coats on the memorable day in
L777. The base of the shaft if 300 feet
ibove' the Walloomsac valley. Half a I
nile to the south Mount Anthony rears j
tself in grandeur 2001} feet high. The? .
lite of the towering shaft has been ad- .<&
nirably selected. J
The monument will be 301 feet high,
14 feet square at the base and 37 feet
iquare at the top. The foundation is of -.
imestone, built into the solid rock which
"orms the hill. The structure proper, >
low almost completed, will be a simpleihaft
in the form of an obelisk, built of
nagnesian limestone. There will be a
vinding stairway in the interior. Thenonument
is erected by the three States
which are to dedicate it and the general
Government, togetner with large private-contributions.?Chicaao
Neits.
_
'Taking a Kiiijht Off."
?Life.
Emperor William, of Germany, has
ssued a book of regulations ordaining,
imong other things, thnt "the distance
jetween the rows of gol i lace on a field
)fficer'8 sleeve shall be .277559 of an
nch."
There are in the United States thirty
ve or more colleges of pharmacy or de- <
artments of pharmacy of universities or
olleges.
The cotton crop of America for 1889- d
'0 was 7,386,000 bales. i
Dcrixg the last Dine months 20,400 J
talians (chiefly of the less desirable
lass), 11,000 Poles, and 17,700 Hun- |
arians have been admitted into tins O
ountry. It is safe to say that cot one
a ten of these 49,100 immigrants will
ct the part of honest, industrious and
esirable citizens; and still we go on
eceiving such people, careless of the
rave danger that such a course in- I
olves. . .. J i
X ..J