Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE MYSTEMOUS G1MR XXOOCVJQO t An Exciting Story of the War * of 1812. ! i BT JOHN R. MUSICS. ; i CHAPTER VI.?(Continued). Griffith, who still remained on (he parapet, resolved to sight the gun the ' next time himself. But he was inex- ! perlenced, and his efcot 6truck but little < nearer than tne otner two. The man-of-war was in the meanwhile 1 Bending shot and shell at the fort with a ' precision which spoke of experience. It is useless to say that our hero's hopes sank ' within him. A shell was thrown into the fort, and, exploding, killed one man and * wounded three more. The Americans bad grown grim and determined. There Was little Tear of a panic now. Those ' heavy balls which constantly made their Works tremble and scattered dirt, sand ' and gravel all over the defenders, seemed j Jo frighten them no longer. ! A grim despair had settled down over I every one. Even Zeke Gross became sullen and silent. ! "We'll fight 'em as long as there's an ounce of powder, but thev'll hrre the I yoke on oui necks after all,*1 he declared, i "They'll nsver git it on mine," the blacksmith retorted. I "Boom! whiz! bang! " came a shell exploding above the works beneath which < Zeke and the blacksmith were lying. i "Wonder if them blasted things would hurt a feller?" said the blacksmith. "I don't keer to try 'em," answered < ^ * ? ?Iaim fi fflvp mAman1!!! i DJU1UU, HUU uau luiuuunuaibnuivuivu.u , to rest. The sun was well up, and the day bad? ( fnir to be exceedingly hot. About ten I o'clock in the forenoon the British land- | forces under Bridges come to Belfast, and planting their artillery on the hill, began * poundiog on the west line of works. I Leaving the east line under the manage- * xnent of bimon, our hero had the guns at i the west manned, and, deploying fifty i sharpshooters among the rocks and | stumps, drove the forces under Major 1 Bridges back over the hill. I In the meanwhile the man-of-war had ] been firing away at the fort with such I remarkable precision that the coolest i defenders became alarmed. < Despite the fact that the Americans were nsing the long twenty-four to the i be6t of their ability, the British actually 1 got out a warp under fire, and began slowly coming into the harbor to make i their fire more effective. < Noon came, and the Americans had cot 11 touched the 6hip. The women and chil- | ?dren of the vinage nau oeen 6eni 10 ? i bomb-proof building dag in the 6ide of ; the hill, among them Ola and her fosterfather. i "Jest let a old sea-dog manage the long torn," came a voice from behind Griffith. He turned about, and, to hie astonish- i ment, saw Captain Gatrell, the old Bea : captain. i "What, you here. Captnin Gatrell? j Get back to safety. Why are you exposing yourself to danger?" cried Griffith. : "D'ye see that, shipmate, and that, and 1 that?" asked the Bailor, pointing to three j or four dead and wounded Americans who 1 lay within the workB. "Why did they ex- ] po?e theirselves?" i They were strong; you are old and feeble, ' answered our hero. ] "That's no proof agin iron an' lead, i 6hipmate. We've got to all lend a hand, on' I'm an old hand at the pun, though < I've handled the reef riggin' oftecer than ] ?v.o VvrtBr/lin'-nito T lmnw hnw to n'int I her. Let me hev a chance." Griffith was almost in despair. The old sailor pointed the guu at the Bhip, and, aiming it with an experienced eye, gave the command, bimon applied the match. Griffith watched the path of the ball, and to his infinite satisfaction saw the Bplinters fly from the fore cross-tree, which was cnt in twain, bo that a part of the rigging hang down loosely by the mast. A shout of joy went up from the fort. " I told ye that an old sea-dog could stop 'em! exclaimed Captain Gntrell. *Ef she don't scud afore the wind I'll give her a shot that'll rake her from stem to stem." The next shot pierced the mainsail and sent the cordage flying in every direction. The man-of-war now cast anchor and ceasea warping m. i i After a few more 6hots the firing ceased- i for the day, and the Americans buried j their dead, cared for the wounded, drilled their raw recruits and mended the works, i ^ " Cdtot. Alton," said a voice at our hero's < side. He turned and saw it was Burnett, i the deserter of the Xenophon. " Captain, 1 the conflict will become warmer to-mort \ row. Can you not consent for me to handle that gun?" The Captain shook hi6 head. " Captain, with you it is only a matter * of short captivity, said the sailor, "while with me it is to hang at the yard arm." " Captain Gatrell has displayed excellent skill." " Let me try one shot." " We have" no shots to spare," said Captain Alton, and he turneu away from the sailor, who for a moment gazed sorrow- ( fully at the great gun, and then walked away to the guard house. The Americans were a little more hopo- ( fnl, for the nijjht had closed in, lcavin" i them with the belief that Captain Gatrell could point the long torn successfully. Mornirg was ushered in by a fearful cannonading from ship and shcre. i The American gunners relumed the fire with great spirit. Captain Gatrell | directed the loading and firing of the long torn. i Durinc the night the Xenophon had come closer to 6hore, and now lay broad- ] side to the American works. A dozen ; cannon from her side continually belched forth a shower of iron hail, 6hot, and shell. The sand and gravel flew in every direction from the works Captain Gatrell was sighting the gun for the ninth 6hot, when a shell exploded near him, and he fell, senseless and bleeding. "Oh, father, father," cried Ola, wanning to where the soldiers were raising the limp and apparently lifeless farm from the ground. "Go back, Ola! For heaven's sake, rfon't cbme "out In tms storm ot aeatn, cried her lover. The weeping girl followed the wounded man to the bomb-proof retreat. Captain Gatrell had been struck in the side and on the head, and the village doctor thought his wound fatal. There was no one now to sight the gun, and the consequences were that the next half a dozen shots missed. "Captain Alton," again came a calm, cool voice at the young officer's side. Turning, he saw the deserter from the British man-of-war. "Captain Alton, let me try one shot at the Xenophon." The young American gazed on the iead and wounded who had fallen abemt him, and then at the man who had beei< eo strongly suspected of being a spy. "I will try you," he finally replied, *but ' f rot Trrn rr?net Vta coor/">h^H ta Viof \ ah *"uv j vu inMOk wv uvutv/uvu wv ovw bun? 1 wi* hive nothing with which to spike the gun." The sailor consented, and when that r was doce Griffith said: b "Now, sir, if you attempt any trick I v ehail not hesitate to 6hoot you as an nemy." * fc ion may, calmly answered the sailor. "Take choree of the can." t The CeserTor oT rbe^Tenop'.?on weigtiea Q the powder with his own Land, loaded the gun to hie own order, and then, BiKhtinsr it, depressed the barrel a very little, 5 t: rned it to the left, and, standing back, jrird: I Tirol* I - - ? x CBC*PTE R . Vtt THE XENOPHOX BETIBES. Simon applied the match. A heavy report made th? earthworks [tiake. Griffith was on top of the breastworks vith hi* glass to his eyes. He saw a Lfcower of splinters fly from the gunwale >i tne .CenOphon. Uhe or her gbns was lismounted, ami several ghastly forms vere stretched npon the deck. AVild yells of gratification rose from he fort, and the Americans gathered ihout Burnett, waving their hats and sheering. "The:eis no time for rejoicing, shipnatea." he cried: "load the gun a^ain, fnd, if we can hold out till nignt, T win >ither drive her out o' port or sink her." While the gun was being leloaded, Griffith took the sailor's hand in his. "? >we you nn apology." "'So?no. Your responsib'lity demandid caution," returned Burnett. "But I have done you a great injusice." "Say no more about it." The gun was loaded, and again sighted )y the deserter. This shot struck the foremast about the leight of a man's head above the deck, md cut it in twain, 60 tHat it ien over 011 he larboard deck, bringing down a wreck >f ropeB and rigging. Again the Americans made the welkin ing with their 6houts, but a shell exploded in their midst, killing six and bounding three, and sucIilehTy putting an ind to their ardor. The officers aboard the man-of-war earned that a new hand was at the gun. The third shot raked the bow-deck, sweeping down several, aid knocking a pin from its carriage. "We'll lick 'em vet; see if we don't!" ihou'ed the Yankee, who with infinite lelight had watched the effect of the hot. "Look out! there it comes!" cried the letserter of the Xenophon. springing 'rom the parapet where he stood during he loading of the gun. Every one knew to what he referred fvhen he cried, "There it comes." The :hing represented in the neuter gender sras no more nor less than a ponderous shell hurled from the largest gun on the ship. Burnett sprang close unaer me parapet the instant he had given the' warning cry. Simon, who was swabbing the great gun, had only time to throw himself beneath it, and others dropped to the earth as a tremenduous explosion shook the works and fragments erf the exploded Bhell scattered far and wide. One poor fellow, who was standing several rods away, was struck in the head by a piece and SRnk to rise no more. "Never mind!" cried the excited Ynnkee, springing to his feet and 6wabbing the cannon with all his might; "we'll pay 'er back fur that, naow, see ef we donn't." "Lay low, Mr. Burnett," said the young commander of the fort; "don't expose yourself until you come to sight the Run." Captain Alton had all the time neen standing on the top of the parapet, utterly regardless of danger to himself. "Have a care for yourself, Captain," said the 6ailor rising from his place of refuge. "Is it consistent to advise others to be cautious and at the same time so recklesslv exnose youreolf?" "Thereis a great difference, Mr. Burnett," replied the young commander. "Your life is much more precious than mine. If you should be eiiatched away there would be no one left to aim the long gun. No one 6ave yourself will be ible to hit the vessel." "Naow she's ready!" cried Simon, with bis peculiar Yankee whine. "Stand clar, ill on }C." The deserter of the Xenophon again sighted the gun and the match was t.p? plied. The report, like a burst of thunler, shook the little fort, and n tremendous volume of smoke was wafted away by Ihe breeze. The young commander, who R-as watching the 6hip with his glass, saw a shower of splinters fly from the Jeck of the Xenophon, near the laiboard port, and a gun was thrown from its carriage. "How wag it, Griff?" cried Hatchet, :he blacksmith. Jack could not, it seemed, bring himself to address Captain \lton by hiB title. But Griffith was not ;uch a strict disciplinarian as some ofScers on such matters. "It was a good shot," he cried. "It bored her side. I 6ee her deck is aire adv jovered with dead and wounded. They ire in trouble, boys; give it to them again." "Wa-al, naow, ye better reckin we're Qot agoiu' to let up on 'em very soon," said Simon, who was again swabbing the big gun. "Hold yer thumb on that ar touch hole, Si Cole, or the plaguey thing may go off afore we ar' ready fur it." "Don't ver be 6keered o' me, Yank," the shoemaker returned, holding his thumb, over which a leather flap was iixed, on the touch-hole. "I'm not a-goin to squirm, though the dratted thing's cittin' hot." "She'll git hotter afore this day's over. Here, boy?you with the powder," cried Simon. "Bring 'er here, and let's slap 'ex in." Tne powder-monkey approncned ratfcjr cautiously, for the screeching shells and whistlingshots, -with the scenes of death about him, had somewhat intimidated the little fellow. "Hurry up thar, youngster, or the ship'll pat abeout, and be gone afore we git a chance to blow her eout of the water," cried Simon. The powder-monkey handed him the cartridge, and he rammod it home. Next caine a man with wadding, then the ball,! which was r^mm'jd home. In the memwhile, two more shjts from the vessel h d whistled about the fort, whilfi on the west side artillery and muskety were constantly ['laying. Sh&^pshooterd we:e at work on t>oth side g, and Major Bridges'artilleiy was knocking the sand and gravel in showers from the breastwork The British artillery wr.s superior to Ihe American guns, but the Americans bad aa advantage in sharpshooters. Those old squirrel-hunters, who had been marksmen from boyhood, were just in [dace, as, screened behind trees, they picked off the British gunners. Again and again did Major Br'dges charge them, and at the point of the bayonet drive them into their works, but they invariably returned to their old places, and, lying flat on the ground, concealed behind c rwl ctniific mntirmo/l tn away. Taken altogether, the Americans on the west side of the works were about holding their own with the British. Not being able to use thei" "rtillery to any advantage, Major Bridges soon dis:overe.l that unle6? the Xenophon could succeed in bombarding the village into a rurender, or siarve Mauoaout, their plans would fail. As the whole country was becoming aroused the Major was shrewd ?nough to know that if the Americans beld out for two or three weeks he would be forced to raise the 6iege. The principal anxiety of the young rommander of Manoa was from the acean. The Xenophon was by far the most dangerous foe, but the deserter [ roved, by his excellent gunnery, able ;o either* sink or drive her from the larbor. At each shot the youn& officer taw splinters fly, spars cut, or tne deck iwept. "Mr. Burnett," said our hero, turning o the deserter while the gun was being eloaded. "would it not be a cood id< a to end a shot Into her hull just ahouf the iriiter liue?" "I nave been thinking cf that, and I bill trv it." Bnid the deserter. \Vb le tLe .uj was being luided a shell mrled f:oui th? ship exploaded above it, nd one iuhu v. as killed and two wouuded. "They'll jtny rur tfca a\" cried Simon. "Oh, they'll never etop till thty git the olce on our neck^," gronned an iissistaut. "HuhL ye>' clatter Ztke," cried Jack iatcliet. "He e, gin a helpin' hand an' tVs ?it tUese feilers carried a\rav." * Tfn not a goTi? io atiirk, 7ack," said Zeke Gross, "but youH see that they'll never step till they've got the yoke on onr necks*. Oh, I know 'em." "But, by gravy, they doan't know me,cried Simon. "Ef they once get clns enough to feel the weight o' my fiBt they'll find me eout." The long gnn was loaded, amid the confusion and excitement of two or three shells exploding above the fort, and several solid 6hot striking the embankment. One buried itself in the earthworks near the feet of Captain Alton and almost covered him with sand. "Oh, Griff, come down," cried Jack Hatchet. "What 'n the name o* common sense is the use o' standin' up thar an' eittin' killed?" "Captain, it Beems to me that you have do ri^nt to needlessly expose yourself to certain death in that way; come down," said the deserter. "I want to watch the effect of the next shot." "Will yon comedown after that?" asked the mysterious gunner. "Yes, I promise you I will." The heavy gun was sighted and the match applied. The young commandei thought he could almost hear the ball strike the side of the ship. It went through the hull not more, than a fool above the water mark. "Good, gcod, Mr. Burnett; two or thref more such shots will send her below." "Now, 6tand by your agreement?coma down." said the eunner. Ine young omcer, rememtenng bis promise, climbed down from the earth* works. For move than hour he had stood there amid the 6torm of iron hail, but bad not received a single scratch. E< gazed about on tbe pale faces and ghastlj forms stretched npon the ground, and with a sigh said: "It cannot be avoided. Drive the manof-war away, and we will have nothing to fear from their land forces." Two or three of the smaller cannon ol the Americans had been playing on the ship, but with veiy little result. It wai the large gun alone that could save them. A second shot ?.t the hull struck the A% -1 A . / it.. water apparenuy aooui a ioui iruui me vessel, but evidently did the ship some harm, for she waB seen to careen slightlj from the ehock. Another shot struck the hull so near the spot as the last two fired that CaDtain Monteith 'was not a little alarmed .especially when he was informed that the ship was leaking. "What is she doin'naow?" Simon asked, as he observed some commotion on the deck of the Xenophon. The mysterious gunner sprang uror the parapet, glass in hand. He nad scarcely leveled the glasB on the vessel when he cried: "O-ho! they have manned the capstan, an' are goin' to weigh anchor." "Tha-at's so," shouted Simon, waving bis hut in the air. Then the loud huz< zahs which followed even reached tbc ears of those pale-faced men lying on th< earth-drod with their own blood. Thei raised their eyes,' growing glassy ii death, and in feeble, gurgling crief joined in the shouts of victory. "She may not intend to retire," said the gunner. "They are too close and wil drop down the bay a fourth of a mile o: so, and renew the siege." "Doan't keer ef they do," shoutet Simon. "We'll warm 'em up ef they con. tinue this." "Let's warm 'em up now before the; get out o' port," suggested the gunner. With a shout Ratchet, Simon, Si Cole, Sam Perry, A1 Jones, and Tommy Ruffles the little tailor, sprang to the gun am began loading it. "Bring on the ball, Tommy," com manded Simon. ? * ? ii ?1 a V Tommy was ormging 11 wuen, as iu man-of-war Blowly veered about, a.soljc soot sent irom one or ner ports~felrucl? Ihi top of the earthworks, and ploughed i furrow along beneath Tommy'6 feet. Thi little tailor, believing bis legs were cnt olf sank down bowling for mercy. "Don't touch me! don't touch me!" h< screamed; "I'll bleed to death ef ye toucl me; let me alone." "Why, ye ain't hnrt," cried Jack. "Yes, I am; my legs are cut off." Simon picked up the bail he bad drop ped and threw it into the gun. "Naow, git up thar, youngster, an< never mind any o' yer foolishness. Thi ball didn't tecb hide or hair o' ye. Gi np, won't ye?" He stooped, B<i:-.ed Tommy by the napi of the neck, and lifted him to his feet When the tailor discovered that he wai badly scared, but not hurt, he went dowi from the parapot feeling a little sheepish The nuin-of-war was rounding about heading for the ocean. A slight breez< came from the land, and her sails begai to fill. "Now, Mr. Burnett, give her a parting tribute," said the young commander. She was almost stern to the fort, wkei the mysterious gunner again brought ti< long torn to bear upon her. Simon acatr applied the match, and a sheet of llam< with a volume of smoke burst from th< canton. The effect of that shot wa! worse than any which had yet been fired It 6truck the lafiYail, bursting in thai part of the bulwark, passed through thi wheel-house, killing one man av the wheel, tore off a 6i)linter from the stern mast, then from *nft to fore raked th? deck, killing five more 6iiIors tnd baulv injuring the bowsprit. Captain Monteith could be Been througl the glass hurriedly issuing his orders, The ship had, of course, broke prounc before the shot struck her. Sails wer? unfurled and 6he stood out of the harbor, "That's the eend o' her," said Jack Hatchet. "I fear you are mistaken," said th( strange gunner. "She will not give us uj so easy." "What d'ye think she'll do?" "She will only drop down the bay a quarter of a mile further and begir pounding us again," said f.he sailor. Our hero had not heard from Captaii Gatrell for some time, and there being a lull in the attack, he decided to go to the bomb-proof lodges prepared for the women, children and wounded, and see him. The little village bore every evidence of siege. The nice little cottage residences were torn with shells and pierced with balls. There was scarcely one that had not been hit either from the guns, from the ship, or the for 98 from the shore. The upper stories 01 6ome of the houses were thickly peppered with musket balls. As the Captain approached the hut near which the wounded lay, Ola came to meet him. Her eyeB were red with weeping, and she had grown paler than he hud ever seen her. "Hew is your father Ola?" he asked. She Bhock her head and burying her face in her hands, said: "There is no hope." "Is he still alive?" Vao l*r>4 7 I'nftw Via rlnnfoi* Vtno niron him up." she sobbed. "Do not we?p, Ola, you have a protector left, even though your father is slain." "But it is not over yet," the poor girl sobbed. "The 6iege still goes on, and wo know not who may fall nest." "Jbut God is too good to withdraw all protect.on fiom you." said the youna coratnanaer.' borne one win ne sparea. "Father i* go:ie. My dearest friend, save jourself, she said, as she pointed, "liestheie bleeding and dying, and you may go next. Then who will be left?" "The Lord will raise you up a friend in your distress, who will defend and aid >ou dearest Oln. Do not think that you wi 1 be left without 6ome one to care for you, for our Heavenly Father never allows even a sparrow to fall to the ground wittout 11 is nonce. " They went to the spot where the sea capta n lay groining with pain. The Burgeon who had bouad up hie wounds was at his Bide. "Do you think h*B injuries fatal?" the young commander asked the doctor. The doctor, after & moment's pause, answered: '"v.?"- " '->* "Yefl. 1 thliflc ms cilunces tor recovery very sl'ght." "Js the wound in the head fatal?" 'No; be has a bad cnt there, but it is not serious. The wound in his side is much the worst of either. He could live over that in his bead, but no one could live with that piece of iron in his side." "Have jon probed for it?" "As far as I dare. I think it can never be taken out." "How long do you think he will Inst?" "I don't know; it may be several day? ?even weeks." "Do j*ou think he will regain his consciousness before the end is reached?" "It is very probable he will." At this moment there came a heavy boom out r.t Fea, answered by another shot from the large gun. A shell exploded above the village. The young commander started and looked guilty of having neglected his duty. He glanced at the pale, be&utiful Ola. She sprang to his side and said: , "Must you go? "Yes," Ola; I must go. Duty demandi that I go to defend you, as well as the others who depend on me." | She followeS hiih to the door of the bomb-proof dug-out, and there clung a , single moment to him.. He clasped her for an instant in his embrace, but as an' other "boom" rang out from the man-ofwar, urging him back to scenes of carnage, he pressed his lipB to hers and hurried away. The Xenophon had dropped down the bay, p.b the gunner had sappo6ed she would, and, casting anch&r, began to bombard the port. But the deserter proved such an excellent gunner that at the sixth shot Bhe again weighed anchof, i nnd Btoo l out to sea until she was too far to either do or receive any injury. chapter viii. BriEB IN THE W0RE8. With the withdrawal of the Xenophon f came the retiring of the land forces of the British. They did not retreat far, , however, for the siege was by no means raised. About half a mile from the posi| ticn they had occupied over the hill, they i called a halt and proceeded to encamp. , They were too far now, owing to the unr evenness of the ground, for even artillery i to be available. I ADorfnirty impetuous yourg American i riflemen leaped the parapet and followed (he British, deploying among the trees and harassing them with long-ranged Bhots, until they were driven back down the bill at the point of the bayonet. "Wa-al. CnD'n. does this end it?" Simon i asked of Capt. Alton. j "No, by no means," the young com[ mander answered, "Unless we should have re-enforcements, it is evident that thev intend to starve us into surrender." 1 "Is tha-at so?" asked the Yankee, while , a look of surprise came over his features. "It looks very much like it." , "We'll, Cap'n, I'm hungry even now. , I tell ye, it would be much better to be , shot than starved." The young commander could not but 1 smile at the cadaverous features of Simon. 1 Starvation with him was the most terrible punishment imaginable. He would ; much rather suffer torture. "There are plenty provisions on hand ' yet, Simon," said our nero. "I think we , can hold out for over a week and not be required to be put on short allowance, but we mu6t see bow badly we have been hurt in this engagement. And the young J officer hurried away to make a personal investigation. i He found atfairs bad enough. Several i had been killed and the.e were still a 1 greater number wounded. When they found that the siege was not raided but xV-i . U- 1 1 IQBl lilt) eueuijr uuu ecu uu?u o wu y <, them into a surrender, many became de' pressed J "I tell ye, boys, 'tain't any use to try it b longer, cos they're going to never stop till i they git the yoke on our necks; now i that's certain," said Zeke Gross, with a , 6igh which wa9 solemnity itself. "Now, hold on, Zeke," cried Eatchet, ? 'Don't go to givin' everybody the blues I or I'll load ye up in that big gun and shoot ye at the British. Goin' to git the yoke on our necks?gammon! D'ye think they'll ever git a yoke' on this?" nnd the blacksmith patted his thick, bull-liko neck. "Tbey couldn't find one I wouldn't ] bust, to flinders in eo time. Zounds, boy, t don't think bout yokes?think 'bout canI nonp." "But they ore goin' to starve us into t submission." Bicbed Zeke. wBtarve! >ny, ain't we cot lota o' Tit, ties?" replied the blacksmith. "But suppose they stay till all are gone, Jack!" "Then we'd eat the mules, the horses, | and each other. We wouldn't surrender. , Why, we'd go out an' catch a Britisher an' make a ruess o' him. Zeke did not relish the frivolous tall 1 the blacksmith and turued away. . [TO BE CONTINUFD.] I I m i Leie's Labor Lost. : ; "I've been standing here for an houi or mure trying to mash that rooster, and he doesn't deign to take the slightesi notice of me!"?Life. A Copyist at 119. Fred "Walker, aged 119 years, is undoubtedly the oldest man in West Tennessee. He lives at Savannah. The j writer, while in that city, called upon i the old gentleman. Mr. Walker stated I w Vip had voted for everv President of j the United States, from Thomas Jefferson down to the last Presidential election, and he confidently expects to bf on deck to cast his ballot in 1892. Mr. Walker makes his living by copying foi the County Court Clerk of McNaii County, which proves that his sight is good.? Globe Democrat. IN the matter ol rapid transit, ivew York might lea:n much fiom a consideration of the new underground line that ha3 just been put into operation in London. Tho line i9 only three miles in length, but the best English engineering authorities consider that the system is "destined to revolutionize the whole plan of metropolitan railway construction." A shaft fifty 01 sixty feet deep was sunk, and from this two tunnels wore dug out and lined with circular iron plates. Inside these tunnels the trains are run by an electric motor. Electric lighting, elevators from the street down to the level of the * f t ?a _ e 1 ?41 tunnel, a single rate uj iuih huu uiuoi arrangements very much after the manner of our elevated roads complete the system. The cost of the work was Terr heavy, but there is general belie! that the patronage will make it a paying enterprise. __ * " * .' ... ~ -v . CANARY BIRDS. POINTS OF VALUE FOR OWNERS OF THE SONGSTERS. Their Foods, Medicines and Vocal Training?Canaries That Are Taught to Slug Opera Music. The canary is one ot the most common of household pets, yet few people know just how to take care of them. As a general rule, when a canary is Suffering from a cold, or what is more common among these delicate birds, overheated blood, most housewives try what may be termed the faith cure, and leave the bird to get well of its own accord. Dealers say that a canary is just like a human being as regards sicknesses, and that for most of its ills some remedy is , necessary if the bird's life is to be saved. The canary is a delicately orea Dira, and never becomes hardy. The rate of mortality among them is very high, for so many of them are left when sick to get along as best they can, that it takes the annual importation of 200,000 to supply the demand in the United States. ii?! A BALD-HEADED CANARY. The best canaries imported here are the kind known in the trade a3 No. 1 German. This variety is the pick of the German product. They bring as high as eighty dollars a dozen wholesale, and are retailed at from ten to twelve dollars each, though some of them may be had for less. The great breeding place of the German canary is the city of St. Andreasberg. This place is situated in the highest inhabited portion of the Hartz Mountaios, and its population is 10,000. It is said that everv uerson in the town is a canary breeder, and that no other industry is practised there. Every street is lined with little shops filled with birds of all ages, and the noise of their singing is at times deafening. It is estimated that 150,000 birds are shipped to New York alone from this mountain city. Very few come to other ports in the country, for the tmda centres here, and all inland dealers gtt their supplies from New York houses. The canary that is sent here in the greatest quantities is the kind that is known, in contradistinction to the No. 1 mentioned above, as the "German." Of the first named quality the product is very small comparatively. They are picked out for their extraoidinary singing powers, and cannot b* bred regularly as a separate class. The eecond grade bird is the kind ordinarily seen in American households, and its singing qualities arc all that an average family desires. Its 6ong is at times as vociferous and satisfactory as that of the $10 bird, though this common songster can be bought for $2.25. The German canary is usually gray and yellow. There is a bright yellow canary on the market which is bred iu Norwich, England. These birds are fancied by many on account of their brilliant plumage. They are not nearly so fine singers as the Germans as a general thing, but they bring about the same price. One of the curious things about canaio !-,/? zi-fTonf /^orfrnn lrinds nf ailments have on them. There is a strange looking bird in a Brooklyn household at the present time. Either from a cold contracted in a draughty place or from overheating of the blood, this little German canary has become baldheaded. About a month or more ago two red lumps began to grow just above the bill. No special attention was paid to them at first, but when the feathers began to come of the head, back of the lumps, it began to dawn on the family that something was wrong. In three weeks' tinia the bird was bald all the wav down to his shoulders, with the exception of a tuft in the center of the head and a few tufts on the sidei which suggested feathered side whiskers. A bird dealer attributed this phenomenon to a cold and suggested the following treatment,which may be of service to readers who have bil'da liable to be similarly afflicted: TREATING A 6ICK BIRD. This expert directed that the bird should be taken from the cage and held f U?e cfrmrnrlinrr TirVnl#> fl ill mi j iu |iiwvv/ui/ uio u65uub " ?? ? generous coating of vaseline was rubbed on his head. The next operation should be an application of warm water the next morning and a repetition of the vaseline treatment. The funny-looking bird soon Decame accustomed to his daily greasing, but it made his head itcb, aud he spent hours every week rubbing his smooth and tender head against his pcrch to allay the irritation. In case of this kind the bird generally stops singing, and dealers say that this particular one will probably not sing until his head-feathers come out again. Similar freaks are occasioned by imnerfect moulting. Sometimes the moult ing of a bird is so imperfect that the result is a constant change of feathers, covering sometimes a year's time. In some cases the head loses all its feathers in the process, and it i9 frequently found that the denudement lasts for a whol* year, when the head-feathers crop out again. One of the most frequent complaints among canaries is asthma. The disease is easily cured if taken hold of at once. The bird dealers sell a powder that is mixed in the water the birds are given to drink, and there is also a bird tonic which is good for all the ills that bird flesh is heir to. When a bird has the asthma the.symptoms are a heaviness of breathing ft night. Canaries with this complaint have been known to breath like human,beings. ' j 4 I / / . ' The American bred canary is more subject to illness than the pure German. The breeding of canaries here is not a success. A great many people have native bred birds and do not know it. They can be identified every time by an j expert by their song, so some of the dealers claim. The breeding of birds < here is not a success, according to these i authorities, because the seed used is not of fine enough quality and the bird in its i earlier days does not get the proper nourishment to insure future strength, i They are therefore weaklings, so to speak, and a sort of brought-up-on-the- i bottle product. In Germany the very finest seed is used 1 by breeders, and although this seed is ' brought here it is expensive and most of the native breeders and in fact most bird owners buy a cheaper variety to save expense. In bird seed, as in many othe things, the best is in the end the cheapest. Breeders here find that the trouble of miaincr hir/Jfl t.n ft aftlpfthle hca -when added to the expense of the finest food, leaves them no profit, so they cut off the expensive food. Among bird food the summer rape seed, found in Germany, i6 the best kind for the use of breeders or bird owners. German breeders always use this kind of rape seed and the best product of canary seed. The cheapcr substitute for the first named is winter rape and karl, found in our West and in Mexico. The best grades of canary seed come from Spain and Sicily. The usual bird food packages contain canary and rape'mixed. The latter is generally advertised as fine summer rape, though it is often the more common Mexican product. Among the seeds of the latter there are often hard black ones, which the bird refuses to eat. As a dealer says: "People wonder why the bird refuses to eat these black seeds. They can't eat them. They swallow gravel to aid their digestion, but they simply can't eat the hard, black seeds. "And I would like to say here that ntnougn most people give their birds lettuce they generally consider it as a food, and not, as is really the case, a medicine. Lettuce acts as a . tonic tor a bird, and prevents it getting its blood too hot. The bird' ought to have it whenever it is possible to get it for him. ipples are very good for birds, too; and red pepper, if given occasionally, is good ' for brightening their plumage. "I am glad to find that people are be| coming educated in the treatment of birds, for it helps business. You might suppose that killing them with lack of attention would do that for us, but, all the same, people who are successful in j keeping their firet bird alive generally, ! If they have any means at all, buy two [ Dr three for different parts of the house." A BISKY PERCH. Tknro IB T)A limit. fiPJlTfielv. to a fiATl I ary's capacity for learning new songs if a proper method of teaching is employed. A man who has tried it claims that a canary can be taught an opera, or at least part of one. It is necessaiy that a peculiar note or whistle of the bird shall be duplicated. If a man can imitate this he can, with care and time, teach a canary to siag a bar of music. There arc whistles made which almost exactly reproduce the canary's note, and combinations of notes blown on them will in time be memorized by the bird. He may not be able to repeat them on demand, but it is very certain that he retains the song, for he will pipe it at intervals, and if not sick at any time long enough to forget his new call he will always include it in his repertoire. An uptown dealer who ^ook a fancy to a certain bird in his stock succeeded after a time in teaching it several pretty strains from operas. He brings out this V>irr? -cclion nnfttrvmprfi enLirce on the sine- I ing qualities of canaries, and, as be has taught it several airs, or fragments of them, it is pretty safe to sing at least one of them for the visitor. This bird : helps his master's sales wonderfully. One air that he sang recently was slightly blemished by a flat note. When the visitor commented on this the dealer claimed that the note was correct, and whistled the strain himself to prove it. It was then seen that the fault was due to the teacher's imperfect knowledge of the music, aud the bird had simply reproduced it as he had always heard it. A canary, now dead, was once a member of a family up town. Among other household pets was a very savage looking cat, quite old, but still active. There were three birds in the house, but the bird mentioned above was the most odd, for he conceived what seemed to be a violent affection for the big cat. When the latter would look op at the big cage as though longing for a chance to get the bird in his clutches the little canary would come to the side of the cage and look down at Tabby and chirp at her foi fifteen minutes at a time. One day, when it was supposed the cat was out of the house, the bird's case was put on a stool in the kitchen. The ? a* r* nlr flAina O If Oil _ I uiuiu iiau utcu x/i^rv suiut u?.wm EXHIBITING ACCOMPLISHMENTS. tion or other and had neglectcd to close the cage door. In the meantime the cat walked into the kitchen and, not noticing the cage, bid down on the floor a little distance from the stool. "When Dick 3aw the cat he hopped out of the cajjc and flying across the intervening space alighted directly on Tabby's back. The cat supposing, probably, that some one had dropped some light object upon lier, paid no attention, and the bird f "* IPPggl^M ^5^7*' * "*V rV -' *-"' r'^v,s>V bung on for a moment and made no nouojHH Suddenly Dick remembered lis MkM song to Tabby and be broke oat into q B| lively carol. The noise and the jar giveri ?MB the singer by the effort gave Tabby on 1 inkling of what waa going on, and she v*^ gave a sodden twist of her head, and isf "\ one second the bird was awake to it! x danger and made a rush for its cage and safety. As it happened the servant re^ turned in time to save the bird, and its ^ daily song to the cat, while not discon^ \ tinued, was afterward offered from & . J safer elevation. . W/ a Instances of extreme affection for theil V ' owner on the part of canaries are not ' wanting. All of these birds "ftoon grow 'I to know the person who feeds them, and; \ they generally distrust members of the vj family who are not home or about the room a great deal. ' The training that a canary is capable, : of is shown iu his performances in con-] nection with the street fakir who asks him to piok out cards from a little rack and hand them to his master. Some of these street birds are very cute, and. "~1 have little tricks of tossing the head that , suggests great intelligence when taken ?n wifVi iVrfii ? IH? * aix vuuaiuuauuu vta??a* miui vhiu jajiformance. They have also been sue- -. 1 cessfully used on the stage, doing many1 m curious things at the command of theirf exhibitor, who is usually a woman. They j seem to have a great deal of affection for the fair sex under all circumstancca, and . if they have a favored member in at "'1 ;* household it will generally be found thatj . it is a woman with a pleasant voice. AO I Kinds of music appeals to them, and the notes of a woman's voice are probably a J form of music that they find very agreei ? able. When a man talks to them hi >4 finds but little response, unless his yoicfli 3 is modulated very low. Whistling softlj " ;V| wins the canary over in time, and the$ 1 will chirp until tho man speaks in his * natural tone, when the bird song natu4 ; rally ceases or breaks out in a louder kef] ' as if to drown the harsh tones they serai , t: to dislike.?Neu York Herald. j .1 A Comparison. Young Lady?"Jack, you do so remind iue of a gentleman I met at (he Be >2 Robinsons1 last Christmas." Jack (interested)?"Indeed?" -L Young Lady?"Yes; he was an oddlooking, insignificant little fellow. Everybody was laughing at him." (Jack id delighted).?Judge. Wearing Twelve Hats at Once. ; "The Indian agents," said a woll-ini formed woman who has spent much oi . her life in the far West, "when they dp not steal, distribute supplies to the tribes ; in a most reckless fashion. I remembol ; on one occasion a consignment of white vl felt hats was to be distributed to a tribe - h. near our station, and the 8gent, instead - $; of seeing that each member of the tribe received a hat, handed over a pile of a dozen to one of the chiefs, who, suppose ing they forme I one highly ornate hat,| ; v the tops fitting closely into each otherj J gave them to his favorite squaw, who! in turn, placed the whole dozen upon tbi . ^ head of her oldest boy. The effect wsti ludicrous enough, but when we considei that eleven suffering red men wenj through the winter with bare heads iq consequence, the joke was not altogether * so laughable as the agent seemed t4 .. > think."?Jtbw York Sun. j The Czar's Greatest Foe. Sergius Stepniak, the Russian revolu tionary writer,whose real name is Michael _j Dragoman off, is now lecturing irithii 4 country. He is of all the so-called ~ j Nihilists the man most feared by the Russian Government, because his writings - '. have done more to sow discontent a ' j Russia and to expose to the world the j\$jj methods by which the people are kept j down than all the other agitators put to- ^ gether. Btepniak is a man of great ability and a writer of uncommon force* SEItGIUS STEPXIAK. He was born among the Ukraiae Mountains in 1841 and is of Cossack ancestryj . " His immediate family were partly noble and partly of the trading class and ha received a good education. He commenced writing in the dialect of Little Russia while a student at the University of Kie5, but his works were prohibited by the Government. Later he was ap-! pointed Professor of Ancient History at Kieff, but his criticisms of the policy of Count Tolstoi, the Minister of Justice, caused his removal and exile. Stepniak settled in Geneva, Switzerland, and devoted himself exclusively to a literary crusade against the present system of government in Russia. Besides "Underground Russia," "Russia Under the Czars." "Tyrannicide Russia," "The Turks, Within and Without," and other books which were written for the outside world, he has written numerous works, mostly in the Little Russian dia- r lect, for the purpose of spreading his ideas among ms own people, ne is not a Nihilist in the ordinary acceptation of the term and is as much opposed to socialism as he is to absolutism. His aim is to establish representative government in Russia and to give the people . control of their local affairs. Beside his p political works he ha9 written much on the ethnography, history, literature and legends of Little Russia.?Chicago Herald.