The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, April 08, 1891, Image 2
Ti MMRli GI1B
Aft Exciting Story of th? W*r
of 1812. *'tocKwyvWci
)BT JOHN B. 1TCS1CJS,'
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE CAPTURE OF THE XENOPHON.
With muffled oars and bated breath, the [
boarding party glided out of the harbor
into fog and darkness.
The boats went out in single file. In
the front boat sat the deserter of the
Xenophon and Griffith, while in the rear
boat was his shipmate, Henry Dawes,
irith Jack Hatchet. The boats were all
attached to each other by lines, 60 they
could not be separated or lost, for in the
darkness and fog it was almost impossible
to see an oar's length.
The sea was ^ry calm, and the dashing
of the waves" against the point of
rocks served as a gnide for the Americans.
"Do yon think we can find the man-ofwar
in this darkness?" asked Captain Alton,
anxiously.
"Oh, yes; wben we get off that point
where yon hear the breakers roar, we will
bring the fleet into line, and all go
abreast forward, and shall be sure to
take it in."
They had adopted a set of signals, so
one boat conld communicate to the other
by jerking a cord, and thus guide thom
all in one direction.
They were soon out a sufficient way to
feel the swells of the ocean. The boats
jose and fell on the top of the heaving
of the bosom of the great deep, ana some
of the Americans who were not accustomed
to the waves clnng nervously te
the gunwales.
Experienced fishermen handled the
oars, and we- doubt if regular sailors
cocld have done better.
The fleet wheeled about and advanced
lowly and carefully over the boundiDg
waves. In the bow of each boat was a
lookout stationed to give the alarm the
moment the ship of war was discovered.
The boats glided noiselessly forward.
Not a sound seemed to escape the fleet.
Th9 line wa* preserved, and in the bow
of each stood a lookout peering forward
into the darkness.
Some of the youngest and more inexperienced
men evinced no little nervous
anxiety. Some crouched low into the
boat and shivered as if they expected at
each moment a masked battery to open
upon them. That awful blackness was
appalling. They could not realize that
the same darkness which hid the enemy
also concealed them. They seemed to
"believe that the enemy could witness
every movement they made, while they
were unable to Bee anything which the
^Mc^would do.
iS^m^re were enough bold, determined
piril^pong t tie in to inspire tne omers.
Theso without fear eat erect, anxiously
awaiting the moment v.hen the engagement
should come. The sturdy fishermen
bent to their oars and pulled steadily out
from the shore in the direction, as near as
they could guess, of the ship-of-war, the
Xenophon.
Capt. Alton, whom nervous anxiety had
almost prostrated, waited at the bow of
lus boat, and gazed steadily forward into
the darkness, hoping against hope that
they would come iu sight of the man-ofwar.
Suddenly there came a signal. It was
from vhe center boat, and called upon all
the boats to collect there immediately.
They rounded in, and in a few moments
a great black object rose before
them. It was the hulk of a vessel?the
Xenophoo.
The middle boat had come almost under
it before the vessel was discovert.
Now was a moment of supreme excitement.
The Americans were right "fcndei
those grept frowning guns, and iXmld
hear the tTead of sentries abory, For
^^^^^^^noment only did the boarding \ arty
remain there gazing up at the greO vessel,
and then, as had been previously arfloof
Tlio hftofc txrifVi
IQU^CU, bUV UVV? u*f ?V?VM| A ?v wwu-u < %?
the deserter and Captain Alton glided to
the bow chains, and those other boats
headed by Henry Dawes and Jack Hatchel
came up under the larboard mizzen chains.
It was arranged for the most active, determined
men to take the lead.
They reached their places, and in a
moment every chain rope and other appliance
was useJ. Hopes with boat-hooks
were thrown over the gunwales, and the
men began climbing as rapidly as the}
could. Soon a score or more struck the
deck at once, and a shout went up from
the sentries.
"Boarders, ahoy, to arms! Repel boarders."
The cry was r.nswered by a ringing vol.
ley of pistol 6hot6 and a shoot from ths
larboard gunwale, where Henry Dawea
and fifty men had succeeded in reachiuR
the deck. It was now a fight for life. The
fuard were either shot down or driven
elow, where their companions were tumbling
up, seizing their cutlasses, and hurrying
on deck.
"The Americans were pouring on deck
very second by scores and fifties. Those
who had trembled and hesitated but a
moment bofore, at the first ring of deithshots
and clash of steel, became cool as
\eterans aad eager for the fray.
They hastened, climbed, scrambled, and
-tumbled over the gunwales to tbe decks,
and the shouts constantly increased. Some
one lighted the battle lanterns, showing a
wild, fierce enemy already in j osse^sion
of the deck, and still pouring over the
^^^nn wales.
M(^^^H|riffith Alton's military ability never
MEOnM^Hbared to a better advantage thin ou
BjnKBgH^Bpresent occasion. In a voice calm as
wSn^He was only on (lres3 parade, he issued
HnffiHgHcommaQds.
iBroBBK|H was a new and strange mode of warroSnSKH
to him. but be was master of the s:tK^HH&Hon.
He placed fifty men under the
gnfflfflB^kter of tbe Xenopbon at tbe main
jBajpjfflBB^^way, to cut down the men at? fast as
ajMN^BH^Kippeared. Their ringing blows fell
|mfiBflHH^Atne heads of the British sailors,
the gangway was blocked with
BB^nE^9Hl!en.
hMM^RB rv nthflr nnint from \rhinh thft
fflBNSxK^HTy would be likely to emerge was
The fight still went on. Those
below made desperate efforts to get above.
They emptied volley after volley of
pistol shots at the Americans, and many
a brave fellow fell upon that deck never
to rise again.
Sndde.nlv from thn cabin th?ra roan
bouts high aoove toe din or Daule, and
dozen British officers and sailors burst
through the band of flashing steel and
reached the deck.
"Close up the gap, never mind these,"
thundered our hero, hastening to the
acene at the head of a score of men.
"Aha, you knave, it is you whom we
may thank for this visit?" shouted a vo'ce,
which oar hero recognized as none other
than Major Bridges.
"It is I, you scoundrel!" shouted Captain
Alton, crossing swords with him.
"This shall be a combat to the death!"J
There was fierce fighting all around on
very 6ide. Major Bridges was not so
cool as be had been on tbe. other occasion,
and from tne nrRtt?nprain Alton Hart
him at a disadvantage. Backward, backward,
he fought step by step, growing
more and more alarmed as he discovered
himself separated from his companions
and confronted by so determined a man.
Bridges grow furious nnd began raining
blows npon the sword of his antagonist,
hoping to drive him back. In one
of these strokes he ne 'lccted his guard
and ruisod his sword too high.
In a second Captain Alton's sword-point
dropped to too unton*s oreast, ana me a
flash of lightning (he bright blade disappeared
beneath his rest almost to the hilt.
Griffith seized the nplifted avord-atm.
. but this precaution was onneeeesary. The
arm was paralysed, and the sword dropped
irom the nerveless grasp and rang with a
elK.tai as th? dank _
. '? ' ? ' ' * ' ' *
Griffith found the Major (taking and <
quickly jerked the blade from his body, i
Bridges sat down, leaning against a gun- ]
carriage, pressing his hand tightly upon 1
his breast to stop tbte flow of blood. A
J moment his body toltered, and he fell I
over on his side. Life had flown.
Griffith had ju6t wheeled around when 1
the cljish of &word?. near him attracted his 1
attention. Hurrjing to tbe scene ne 1
found the deserter of the Xenophon and <
Captain Monteith engaged in a deadly
I /mr\ flint
"Don't touch him?leave him to me,"
cried Mr. Burnett, as Captain Alton was i
about to run the Captain through. i
Captain Alton found other work near, i
A British {ar was attacked by two un- i
trained village boys, and was about to <
prove too much for them. The young
commander of Manoa just got in in time
to make Che Englishman surrender. The
sailor was disarmed and put under a
guard.
At this moment Captain Alton heard a
clash of swords, and looking about saw
I r>?if?oUnll /.W? in
vujnotu xun, uto V^vav ?U
twain from a stroke of the cutlass of his
antagonist.
The British never folly recovered from
their first surprise. The Americans had
a decided advantage over them, although
they were unskilled in the use of arms.
Less than a hundred ever succeeded in
reaching the gun-deck, aud of these half
were driven back; the others were slain
or surrendered within a few moments.
The combat had raged about thijty
minutes, when a cry from below came up:
"Quarter! quarter!"
"Throw down your arms, then, and '
your lives shall be opared," cried the
American captain. 1
There was a ring of falling cutlasses
iV> rt 1 ft TTT A >? /I A/lV
U|JUU liiC i\J TT tl UCVO.
The Americans paused, leaned upon
their swords and wiped the perspiration
from their faces. The battle was over
and thev had conquered.
Griffith Alton looked about over the
bloody deck a moment, and then seeing
the deserter of the Xenophon not far
away, hastened to him and said:
"ilr. Burnett, you can cot appreciate
my anxiety in regard to a certain young
lady who is a prisoner aboard this vessel.
Will you be kind enougb to eecnre the
prisoners, remove the dead and care for
the wounded, while I look after her?"
"Brave, noble fellow, you have served
your country well, now leave all to me.
Hunt up the young lady and I will attend
to all. I will even sail th9 ship into
port as soon as daylight appears, with the
American flag at her mast head."
rnnfnin A Vi n r? Tr o /I fVlD ^ flOflr^Or
I Va|.'iaiU auuu kunuacu mv uviiv*vv?| i
and, turning to a British sailor, asked j
him if he knew where the young lady
captive was.
j "I do," the tar answered.
"Then take me to her at once."
"Come this way," said the sailor, and
he led him below. A stream of British
sailors were coming up the ladders without
arms and the deserter was placing
them on the forward deck. Although
Burnett was recognized by many of the
sailors, they remained silent, doggedly
taking their positions.
Captain Alton was conducted to nn
elegant cabin where the sailor told him
he would find the "young 'ooman."
He opened the door and a pale but
beautiful creature with a cry of joy Sprang
forward and was clasped in his arms.
-Ola!"
"Griffith!" and a silence followed.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CONCLUSION.
Mr. Burnett, the deserter of the Xeno
phon, wns master of tne situation. Jti?
nad the deck clearcd of the dead, scrubbed,
and cleaned before daylight.
The dead English were sewn up in
strong canvas bags, and with heavy snot
at their feet 6unk into the water* The
few Americans who had fallen were to be
taken to the village.
When Griffith, after assuring his be- |
trothed that she was free once more and
among friends, returned to his post of
duty ho was sent back.
"I will take the ship into port," said
Mr. Burnett. "I know more about thi6
than you do."
Griffith thanked him, and returned to
his betrothed. She had much to ask
about?her foster-father's condition and
her many friends at the village.
The night was spent in laying plans j
for the future, for even then our hero
thought he could see daylight through the
gloom.
At early dawn the sounds above indicated
that they were weighing anchor.
They heard a heavy, rough step in the i
passage, the door opened unceremoniously.
and Jack Hatchet poking his head
in said:
"That 'ar feller Burne'.t says you'n Ola
kin come on deck now, Griff. Why,
hello! Ola, I'm right down glad ter see
ye._ Hope yer well."
When Captain Alton ana in* Detrotnea
reached the deck they found it scrubbed
clean, and all evidences of carnage, so
far as possible, removed.
The fog rolled away, the sun rose, and
our readers can imagine the exultant
6houts of joy wLdch came from ship an<3
shore as the man-of-war stood in, wit!
the glorious 6tars and stripes flying af
her masthead.
yhe reached the fort and ran npaga:nst
ihe long dock. The prisoners were taken
ashore. |
There were several widows and child- >
less mothers to weep over the bodies of
husbands and sons in that village, yet it
was a season of rejoicing. When Captain
Alton with Ola, pale and beautiful,
leaning on his arm, came off the ship, he
was greeted with shouts of joy and ex- j
altation.
juei as go ai oeco 10 papa, jno may ue
alive yet; he may know me, and I want
to kiss him once more before he leaves
as."
"We will go, Ola."
"Captnin Alton, I want to accompany
ron ou this visit." said Mr. Burnett.
"Come on. There will be no objection."
Among others who gathered on the
beach to welcome the victorious Americans
vns the village doctor.
"How is Captain G?trell?"
"lie is very low, but conscious," was the
the answer. ,
"Then let us hasten to him. I must
talk with him while he is conscious," said <
the deserter. i
When they entered the sick chamber
they found the sea captain very weak. He ]
smiled and took Ola's hand. She kiseed '
him and wept.
"I know all." the old sailot. vhiscered.
"l'he Doctor toia me you had been taken
aboard the man-o'-war, but that Griffith j
had gone for you. I'm ghd you come in ,
time." j
"Captain Gatrell," Baid our hero to the i
feeble officer, "do you know anything 1
more of this girl?" i
"Nothing savo what I have told. I have ]
the board fr'"n the ship with her name,
a locket and some jewelry which belonged
to her mother. They may tell '
who she is."
"Let me Bpeak to him," said Mr. P.nrnett,
coming forward. "You are John .
Gatrell, ore you not?"
"Yes." i
"Don't you remember your messmate
on the Stormy Fetrel, Jim Burnett'/"
"Oh, Jim, Jim, Jim, friend o' mychild- i
hood, I know you now. Where have ye
been cruiBin', lad?"
"I have been for fourteen years an imDres^ed
Keamnn in ?he British nayyt but
I orr? rpoo nrvtxr fori mA rnni" atftVr nf
this girl."
The same story which wa gave in our
second chapter was told again. Mr. Burnett
was very particular as to date and
at the conclusion said:
"Where are the locket, jewels and clothiug,
bit of board, and other things which
go to establish the identity of this young
lady?"
A house servant was called and the attides
quickly produced. Mr. Burnett examined
them and said:
" At Jhe very time given by Ciptaio John
Qatrell my wire ana our iituo aaugnte?
set Bail from Marblehead to join me at
Buenos Ayres, where I was lying and
thought to be dying from yellow fever.
[ never beard what their fate was until ~
to-night. The ship in which they sailed
was the Aspiuola, and it was lost at sea.
This is my wife's locket, which I gave ?
tier, and this her wedding ring. This
little garment I recognize as belonging to
our child, and this dear girl," seizing 0!ft
in his arms, "is my own child. My darling,
don't you know your father?"
The scene which follows beggars dc?
Bcription. We leave it wholly to the imagination
of the reader. The joy, the
Foirow, and the bewilderment which such ?
a revelation would bring under such trying ^
circumstances, can be supplied by the ?
reader's imaeination.
Tbo old sea captain, weak as be was, a
almost shouted. d
"My little gal is safe in port and now I p
kin weigh anchor." tl
"My dear old friend," Baid Burnett, tak- jr
ing the dying captain's hand, "heaven bo ,
praised that yon bavo lived long enough
for me to thank yon for being such a father "
to my child!" al
Captain Gatrell lived three days after si
this event?lived to know that an army of i jc
Americans had come to Manoa and captured
Major Bridges' battalion, and then
died in peace and happiness, with full ;
assurance of a better life in the world to j }J;
come. a
Mr. Burnett was almost immediately m
pat Inj;ommana or an excellent crew on r(
the Xenophon, which was fitted up as a tl
privateer, and during the remainder of ,
the war, brief as the period was, performed
many brilliant exploits. When ai
the war was over he became captain of a h
merchantman. ci
When the war closed Captain Alton Sl
had been promoted to Colonel and brevetted
Brigadier of volunteers. He re- ,
_ i -- 3 1 1 TT. v:- Hi
eignea ana weui uuuae. i_io iuiuucu ms
engagement with the beautiful Ola six * }
months after peace was declared. It was ti
a grand occasion. cl
The village put on a holiday appear- ^
ance. Captain Burnett's privateer ves.
pel, the Zenophon, was in port, and
Lieutennnt Dawes ordered a salute fired. "
The village church, which still bore the k
marks of British bullets, was gayly dec- n
orated, and the bell rang out merry peals, yj
Everybody seemed happy. Even Tommy
Ruffles, who h id got over being ,.
crossed in love and given his heart to "
Susie Hatchet, Jack's eldest daughter, "
was happy, as he nnd his betrothed t<
tripped along the flower-strewn path "to si
stand up with the couple." ^
Old Jack Hatchet waited at the side of rj
the path for the happy groom, and shaking
nis arm until he tnreatened to disio- ?
cate ins snouiaer, eaia:
"Ye must ttand if, boy. It's wus'n tl
Britisher cruiser, but stand it" ai
Captain Simon Kinmon looked hand- k
tome in his new uniform as he waited to ei
eee "how the Kenrnel come eout."
In addition to those mentioned there
were present Henry Small, Si Cole, Sam r<
Perry nnd Al Jones, and many others of p
our old friends whom we knew during ti
the days that tried men's souls, all happy
and gn'y. b
No one is so happy as thoso two who
have loved each other so long. As they l(
stand before the altar to be made one,
they are the ideal of happiness. The good h
minister prays, the ceremony proceeds, w
and they are man and wife.
Colonel Alton remaiued bnt a 6hort ,
time at the home of his childhood, nnd
then removed to Baltimore, where he be- 0
came an energetic business man. Cap- b
tain Burnett in a few years quit his sea- w
faring life and spent the remainder oi gt
hie dayB with his daughter. js
In conclusion, wo need only to sny that ,
both Car.tain Alton nnd bis father-in-law I r
lived lODg to enjoy the liberties lor which j -I'
they had fought, and to thi? day there are I a'
many prominent people in Baltimore who | iv
rightly claim to be descendants of tiw (j
d86ertor of the Xenophon. 4
[the end.]
TEMPERANCE.
PRACTICAL TEMPERANCE.
Young men are learning the every-flay
commercial value of temperance. The
"good fellow" man is ho who 6tays at the
ladder's foot, and his comrades profit by that
object lesson. In no walk of life are the
higher paths open as they were, not so very . j
long ago, to the man who drinks. Business \
meD, professional men, look upon an employe's
convivial habits as a menace to themselves.
What once found ready excuse now
suffers not even toleration. That is the ?
plain lesson of the times. And that is the
reason common sense is every day forward- w
ing the cause of practical temperance.-Kan
sas City Times. p
o.
MRS. CARLISLE'S TEMPERANCE VI^WS. SC
t-f
Mrs. Carlisle, wife of the eminent Senator
from Kentucky, is an advocate of strict tem- I g<
perance. So consistent is she that upon the ! pi
occasion of the handsome dinner given last ;
winter by the then Senator to the Justices of !
the Supreme Court no wino whatever was I llj
used. When I asked her opinion she re- | <?1
plied: "Of course you are sufficiently fa- sc
miliar with my sentiments in regard to the j
ufferiug of liquor not to doubt my answer, i
[ never touch wine or punch of any kind j
Juring all the season's round of receptions i tu
rod teas, and I never permit it to appear ! h?
upon my table. It makes no difference what
the world thinks; I shall always keep strictly
to my principles." tv]
TOTAL ABSTINENCE AND LONGEVITY.
"When the death of a centenarian is re- Wj
ported in the newspapers, it usually elicits
from the reporter one of two comments. I Ea
We are either told that the decease! had j cc
been all his life a total abstainer from to- | at
babco and alcoholic beverages, or else that ! 1
he had always indulged witn moderation in I
those stimulants. On such statements, even j
if authentic, we would not base any trust- j eh
worthy inferencs regarding the effect of I ^
alcohol upon longevity?first, because the j , .
facts are contradictory, and secondly, be- j"
cause they are too few* j be
The large amouut of data needed for even | al
% provisional induction is now for the first j
time presented by an English life insurance .
company, which has been for some years lr
collecting statistics bearing on the subject. pi
The Scepter Life Association, which has jn
been in existence for a quarter of a century,
lias kept two records ot the persons insured, }
total abstainers being classed in ones section 01
and all other risks in another, the so-called ti
general section. Even from the last-named ?C
category heavy drinkers and persons
r>ngageu in tne Jiquor traixc are exciuaeci.
The data, therefore, collected by the com- 01
pauy are intended to afford the means of tl
comparison between total abstinence and ^
moderate indulgence in alcohoiic beverages
as regards the effect upon longevity. w
The result of the company's experience ai
during the five years ending December, 18S8.
have just been published. In the general
section during that period six thousand seven
hundred lives were iusured; in the abstinence
section, four thousand five hundred and co
twenty-seveu. In the general section the gjj
actual deaths constituted only seventy-six .
per cent, of the deaths expected according e
to the British actuaries' tables. On the other H
hand, in the abstinence section the actuil to
deaths were only fifty-seven per cent, of the
deaths ex]>ectec<. Tne evidence supplied by P
thcsa statistics must be admitted to be cogent,
if not absolutely conclusive. It iudi- H
fates that even a moderate drinker is much
less likely than a total abstainer to live to an
advanced age. in
Another interesting fact is brought out by w
the medical examiner of this lifo insurance yt
company. He says that in th? examination
of many thousands of applicants he has
found that total abstainers, as a rule, exhibit 1,1
a much cleaner condition of th? tongue, re- m
seinbling, indeed, that of a young child. His n(
observations have also led bim to concur p
with the late Baron Liebie in aftirminsr that "I
total abstainers eat more than moderate i Iu
drinker*?New York Ledger. I ov
The English quarter, at which wheat R
Is quoted in the English reports, is DGO tj(
sounds, or one-fO'urth of the ton gross ^
ireight of 2,240 pounds. The English wj
egal bushel is Beventy pounds, and ca
dght of those bushels is a quarter? fo
Kjual to nine and one-half of our bush- ht
daof sixty pounds fa
l-: ; .-j- - -
elephants! 1;
^ v <
I1E WATS OP THE BIGGEST \
OF BEASTS DESCRIBED. ,
(
he Elephant's Intelligence Over- 1
iated?Captivity Shortens His 1
lilie?An Elephant's Fury t
and Cowardicc.
(
The period is coming, says S. "W. 6. j
enjamin, in the St. Louis Republic, (
hen wild animals will ceasc to exist.
.11 over the world they are rapidly dis- (
ppearing. In civilizcd countries the
evastations of the hunters are aided by
remiums offered by the Government for
le extermination of wild beasts; while
i uncivilized lands the increasing numer
of sportsmen furnished with the
itest inventions in firearms seem to be
lone sufficient to fill us with apprehenon
that the days of such sport are raplly
diminishing.
It was, therefore, with great pleasure
lat I came across Sir Samuel Baker's
i i! 1 uW!l,l
uercbiiug vuiuuiu, n uu l?cuov3 auu
heir Ways." There have been many
lighty hunters since the days of Nim)d,
but none more expert, more advenirons
nor more enthusiastic than the
imous author of this book, nor have
ay had a wider experience. He has
unted every species of game on every
Dntinent, and he now gives us the rellts
of some of his experiences led by
le belief that many of the species he
as hunted are destined to become exnct
within a short time. His observaons,
therefore, have a sort of historical
iaracter in addition to the interest of
is facts and the thrilling nature of some !
f bis adventures. No man has ever
ritten on these subjects who shows a
eener interest in the character of aniials.
or whose opinions are of more
ilue.
The author gives a very clear descripon
of the difference between the Asiac
and the African elephant. The lat:r
is much the larger. Jumbo at the
loulder stood eleven feet high, but some
.frican specimeus are over twelve feet,
he Indian or Asiatic elephant is rarely
rer nine feet, has a convex back, and
i tamed with comparative ease, while
ic African has hollow back, larger legs,
ad enormous ears, and does not take
indly to civilized life. Captivity shortas
the life of the elephant, but ih its
'ild state there are evidences that it
jaches 150 years; one reason is that the
erfection of the ivory is not reached un1
the age of forty.
mi? Vine
iUU- 1UK..1JCUW v/i
cen overrated. He would never volun?er
his services like a dog. Sir Samuel
ever saw one of them interfere to save
is master from drowning or attack; he
ould never interfere in your defence. 1
[e would instead run away unless guided 1
y his mahout or driver. But liis grower ]
f learning is extraordinary, and he can '
c taught to perform wonders. Not- '
ithstanding his enormous speed and 1
;rength, he is naturally a coward, and 1
much less to be depended on to face 1
anger without flinching than the horse.
; is impossible to train all elephants 1
like, aud very few can be rendered '
holly trustworthy. A good, well- ^
ained Indian elephant is valued at from *
8000 to ?15,000 in India. j
1 ]
_ i
-> 1 1
^>inn? 1 ?
A CHALT.KKOE TO TIIE ELEPIIATTTS. I
Much depends upon the mahout, who, j
ith a long iron spike, guides this ^
gantic auimal. It is impossible for an
-diuary bystander to comprehend the
icret signs which arc mutually under- (
ood by the elephant and his guide?the ^
jotle pressure of one toe, or the comression
of one knee, or the delicate
iucIi of a heel, or the almost impcrcept- j
ile swaying of the body to one side;the
ephant detects every movement, howicver
slight; the mighty beast obeys the
lseen helm of thought, just as a huge
tin yields b/ apparent instinct to the 1
significant appendage wmcu uircuw
r course.
While irrcatly regretting the time 4
uen the elephant may become extinct, J
lr author-sportsman confesses to having *
lied several huudred elephants. This
[is in early life, and nothing now, he
ys, would induce him to s'.fjot one expt
in self-defence. The author calls
teutiou to a remarkable and not generly
known fact. In all his experience
s rever came across a sick or a dead
epliant in the woods except once, and
at one had evidently been recently
llt'd in a tenible struggle with wild
asts. On the other hand elephants,
though without ever studying surgery,
tve an extraordinary power of recovery
om wounds in their wild state by
astering their hurts with mud or blow- g
dust upon the surface. Dust and P
ud comprise the entire medicine chest
: the elephant, and this is applied upon 11
ie most trifling as well as upon the most ^
rious occasion. If .in elephant ha9 a c
;ry slight sore back it will quickly paint
it the sore spot by blowing dust upou 11
ie part- which it cannot reach with its e
unk. He plasters up a bullet wound e
ith mud. This not only keeps out the ^
ir, but the flies, which in that climate
ry soon fill up a wound with maggots. a
Sir Samuel Baker describes an ad- D
uiturc in which the fury aud the c
iwardice of the elephant arc equally b
own. Bisgaum, a high-caste bull 8
ephant, was the animal in question, o
e was bad tempered, but was supposed r;
be courageous. lie seems to have
)ssessed some of the traits we some- *
mno c nn ovViihitorl lit: human ll<>ino<J. A
"""? "J O?
e would fling out his trunk with ex- 1
time quickness to strike a person with- s]
his reach, and would kick out sharply *
ith his hind leg whenever a native p
?tured to approach his rear. A nice 1!
lima!, that! After considerable watch- ^
g from a concealed platform called
ucharn, Sir Samuel Baker succeeded in a
itting a good shot at the magnificent c
jer for which the hunt had been started. *
. due time the tiger appeared, dashing "
it of the jungle, flying across the open J.'
a tremendous speed. Sir Samuel sue- 1
eded in getting in a good shot. The a
*er gave a short but spasmodic roar r
id disappeared in the forest, goins c
ith unabated speed. The ground was ^
refully examined and deep tracks were
and leading into the jungle. The c
Lntera followed the trail cautiously on P
ot until a dried leaf was found splashed ^
: : - l i
with blood. It was evident that the
;iger could not be far off, and the two
ilephants, Demoiselle and Bisgaucn,were
ailed up to aid in beating up the tiger,
f still alive. The shikaris, or hunters,
vith Sir Samuel, stationed themselves
>n the crest of a hillside. Directly in
Vont the eround suddenlv diuDed into a
ittle dell, which formed the bed of a
;orrent in the rainy season.
Several shots were soon heard. The
ilephants immediately becamc wild with
jxcitement. Changing his steed for
Demoiselle, Sir Samuel advanced and
liscovered the tiger, at which he fired
feveral shots until he thought life was
? T5..4 nllrt IIT T1A ATI O f A
:ALlLlCli. JJUL UC ttUUlU auun uw vuv wvr
ipproach it on foot to prove that the
Mi
J&Su
BI5GAUM CHARGES THE TIGER.
animal was quite dead. Instead of this
he ordered the mahout of Bisgaum to
make a turn with his elephant and advance
cautiously from the right to ascertain
if the tieer was quite dead.
Bisgaum approached the prostratt
body of the tiger, which lay appartentlj
dead. Suddenly the elephant halted fitteen
yards from the object which had
never moved. Never was such hysterical
fury exhibited as that now shown bj
Bisgaum. It is impossilbe to' describt
the elephantine antics of this frantic
animal; he kicked right and hft xvitt
his hind legs alternately; he tossed hii
trunk in the air. trumpeting and screaming,
and shook his immense head until,
having nerved himself into a sufficient
rage, he charged on his supposed dead
enemy to vent on the lifeless carcass a
hate he dared not exhibit toward him
when alive.
But the tiger was not quite dead, and
with its teeth and claws it seized the
hind leg of the maddened Bisgaum.
Never was such fury seen. The air was
full of stones and dust, as the elephant
kicked with such force that the tiger foi
a moment was lost to view in the tre
mendous struggle. Being kicked away
from his hold, with one of his long fangs
broken of! short to the gum, the poor,
lying tiger lay helpless before his tremendous
foe, who, spinning quickly
ibout, drove his long tusks between his
adversary's shoulders and finished him.
It really looked as if, after all. there
eras some real pluck in Bisgaum; but
iuddeuly a reaction 3et in; seized with a
fearful panic, the victorious elephant
turned tail and rushed through the thorny
jungle at the rate of twenty miles an
hour, seriously threatening his brave
iiahout with destruction. The foolish
jeast ran half a mile before he stopped.
Here was au elephant of unusual size,
;horough training and great spirit, who
lisplayed a most untrustworthy charac;er.
It is no wonder that Eastern armies
vhich formerly included ranks of war
dephants were so often beaten by the unreliable
temper of those huge but treach
;iuua allies.
Our author has some interesting observations
about the courage of wild aninals.
Contrary to the general opinion,
le has not found that they are bold in
he presence of an unknown danger or
ly not from man if they have had no previous
knowledge of firearms or other
veapons. Thus the curlew is always
lifticult to approach, even if unmolested
u swamps where the hand of man has
lever been raised against it. Occasionally
mimals show an opposite innocent fearcssness
that cannot be explained. The
' agtails are tame and confiding through>ut
all places. Beasts of prey vary even
n an extraordinary degree, some of the
ame species being brave, others timid.
So calculations can be made as to how
hey will act on the approach of an
inemy, whether man or beast. But it U
i mistake to imagine that the gazeofth<
luman eye has an intimidating effect, es
TO'M"S\
jImXfLer/l*^ - &
ASIATIC ELEPHANT.
iccially on those of the cat tribe, such
s tigers or panthers. On the contrary.
; rather tends, to increase their r&ge,
ecausc it shows that they are. under
areful observation and therefore liable
3 attack. Whereas, if they think they
re unobserved, they often ]ia?s on quitly
and slink icto ther hiding places,
XCCpt WUCn piU'JUUU uv tut; J'"un3 ui
lunger.
In general, wild animals, like men, aro
lways on the alert for clanger. They
ever know from what quarter it may
ome, each spccies being a terror to those
elow it. For example, it i3 rarely that
, herd of wild beasts dare to stoop to
rink without first examining the horizon
ight and left, as a band of pioneers on
he Western prairies before they pitch
bcir camps 3can the plain for roving
t 1. - e 1 xr^4. nnnn I
Lpacnes in seiircn in suiiijia. nui.
hen do all animals drink ft once, but
ome watch while the others slake their
hirst. From the lowest animal up to
ian, "the roof and crown of thiugs," it
3 indeed one continuous battle while life
fists.
As a rule the more highly organized
n animal is, or a human being, the more
onscinus he becomes about the danger,
he more intelligent aud wary in avoiding
r overcoming it, and the more intciestng
are the occasions when he crowds
ear back and displays chivalrous action
nH ?iir?nrh r-nnrmrfi. The tioer is natU
""I'"*" o" o-ally
cautious, notwithstanding his feroity
and strength. He is dangerous
fhen desperate, but does not willingly
ace danger. And yet when he does he
alls forth bursts of admiration for iuelligent
daring that reminds us of the?
leroism of man.
i
Sir Samuel describes such an incident,:
-when he was out on a hunt with the;
Rajah of Moochtagacha. There were no
jless than forty-seven elephants in tho'
train. Lady Baker formed one of the
hunting party, which leads her husband
to say: "It was hot work for ladies?'<
my wife was in the howdah behind me;
I confess that I am not fond of the fair
'sex when shooting, as I think they aro
out of place, but I hai taken Lady
Baker upon this occasion at her special
request."
After several hours of search for the
royal game they were after the party dis-j
covered the feathery tops of a strip of
tamarisk gently waving. As the day was |
sultry and without wind it was evident
something was stirring in the dense grass.;
The elephants at once sounded theii
kettle-drum note of alarm. Conscious
that the critical moment was at hand;
the hunters ranged the forty-seven ele-,
phants in a row 200 yards long, a most i
imposing line to present to the enemy. I
Slowly the procession advanced in good
order.
They had not marched over sixtj
yards before a succession of tremendous
roars rang on the still uir. s maeniticcnt'
challenge of battle. At the same moment
a large tiger sprang from the coppice,
but instead of attacking any of th?
elephants, he fearlessly charged along
r\
fIffi;
iff.
AFRICAN ELEPHANT.
the line, swerving here and there as he
made demonstrations of attack upoD l
several elephants in tarn. It was a
magnificent sight to see this grand ani?
mal, in the fullest strength and vigor,
defy the line of advancing monsters,
every one of which quailed before the
energy of his attack and threatening
power of his awe-inspiring roars. Having
checked the advance by this noble
display of courage, the tiger bounded into
the thicket and disaDDeared from
view. One would think that auch an
exhibition, reminding one of the exploits
of the old paladins, would have
aroused in his pursuers a chivalrous admiration
that might ha\e allowed him
to escape unscathed. But I regret to
say he did not thus pass the gauntlet.
Several shots were firei at him, and a
few moments later this Laro of the wil
derness was found lying in the bush
dead I
Brazil's Deposed Emperor.
Dom Pedro II., the deposed Emperor
of Brazil, has spent most of the time
since the revolution sent him into exile
at various 'places in the Riviera.. His
health is not good and he has been much
depressed in spirits by his misfortunes.
Dom Pedro de Alcantara was during his
reign in Brazil the only representative of
monarchy on the American continent.
The attempt to found an empire in Mexico
in the interest of his cousin, Maximilian
of Austria, proved a disastrous failure,
ending in the execution of the would-be
DOM PEDHO II.,* LAST EMPEBOR OP BIIAZII^Emperor
and the insanity of liis^wife.
And Dom Pedro himself, among the
wisest and best of monarchy has lived
tn qpp. his emnire turned into a republic
and must spend the balance of his life in
exile. To make his experience all the
more striking he has witnessed during
his exile a desperate attempt to drive
from the throne of Portugal the last of
his race, who holds a precarious sway
over a kingdom which his ancestors had
ruled for many centuries.
Dom Pedro is descended from three
of the proudest and most ancient royal
families in Europe. Hh paternal ancestors
were the Braganzas, his grandmother
was a BourLon and his mother a
Hapsburg. The Brazilian dynasty came I
into existence through the wars with the |
great Napoleon and ended with over- !
throw of the second Emperor. Dom
Pedro's mind has lost its vigor since his
enforced retirement.?Chicago Post.
A Good Shot.
L
Policcniau?"Shure, sonny, and what
wild beast are ye goin' to shoot?"
Smart Boy?"P'licemeu 1"?Argosy.
Inscription ou a Snn Dial.
Tx rn nn TT VPflrQ flan in
JLL iS? dUlll UJflL ii \jv iuuuj jvw.w ?fc3~
tbc Temple in London was a sun dial
with the motto: "Be gone about jour
business," and that this unusual inscription
arcae from the "builder's man" calling
to receive orders about it when the
bencher in charge was so busy that he
did not listen, but said: "Begone about
your business," which the man took as
his answer and forthwith engraved.?
The Saturday Review. i
A special parcel of Ceylon tea sold 1
recently, after spirited bidding at the 1
London Commercial Salesroom, for $54 ,
per pound,
A "temple of the arts" at Washington .
is to occupy 150 acres and cost $5,000,000.
Wl llRlSfHID. j|
A Ship Load of Emigrants Finds {I
a Watery Grate. I
S f^'v?
Awful Scenes Aboard the Sinking' I
Utopia in Gibraltar Bay. 1
The British steamship Utopia, from Itali&a
ports bound to New York, with 700 Italian
emigrants aboard, collided with the British
iron-clad Rodney, anchored in Gibraltar '
Bay a few days ago, and sank soon afterward
off Ragged Staff.
On entering the bay the Utopia, before
colliding with the Rodney, ran into the \
British iron-clad Anson. The Utopia sunk
within a few minutes. Boats were imme- 'h
diately lowered from the British iron-clad? '<
and also .from the Swedish man-of-war J
Freya.
Of the SS3 persons, passengers and crew,
on the steamship Utopia 311 have been saved,
leaving 569 as drowned or missing. In ad? \
dition to this, two of the rescuing party were \
drowned, making the probable loss of life by \
the accident 571. : <
The Utopia, after pulling c'.ear of the ironr
clal, drifted about before win! ?uid
The rapid inrush of water through the rait 'i
in her side caused her to settle down in five
minutes from the timo of the first impact.
On shore the news of the disaster spread
quickly. A large crowd soon gathered on i
the Parade, and great excitement prevailed.
Little could be seen, however, save the loom- {
ing bulls of the men-of-war and the white >
rays of the search-lights falling upon the \
crests of the waves. The shrieks of the -<
Utopia's passengers and crew could be plainly
heard above the roaring of the gale.
The sea was so heavy that the boats of the
rescuers could not with safety approach
the wreck; so they were compelled to lie to
leeward, where they picked up the people a* ^
they were swept irom the decks. As the
Utopia's bows settled, a terrible scene was
witnessed from the boats. Those still on
board the sinking steamer made a sudden
rush en masse to the forerigging, strug
gling for their lives and vainly seeking places
of refuge. Twenty minutes later the forecastle
was submerged, and a large number
of persons gathered there, who had not dared
to leap overboard with the hope of being res- ,
cued by the boats, and who had failed la >,
their efforts to ascend the rigging, were carried
away by the waves.
The rescuers, blinded by the wind and ?
rain, saw nothing but a confused, struggling X
mass of human beings entangled with wreck
age. A steam pinnace rescued all those who
had taken refuse in the main rigging, but
the last ones were not taken oflf until eleven 1
o'clock. They were so exhausted that they .
could do nothing for themselves, so it was
necessary to haul them into the boats
by the brave bluejackets in the rigging, '
who clambered into the shrouds and
passed the helpless people to the rescuers in
the boats. Both the British and Swedish \
sailors did plucky and vigorous work. While *
a steam pinnace balonging to the British
iron-clad Immortalite was engaged in the
work of rescue, her crew fouled and she bo- ;
came helpless and drifted on the rocks. In \
trying to save themselves, two of the sailors )
aboard the pinnace were drowned. The re- ^
moin^or rraro rocm 1
Peterson, a Swedish quartermaster, who ;
had been steering the Utopia a short time *
before the collision, says that the commander
of the Utopia, Captain McKeague. was on "(
the steamship's bridge until the last .
moment. Peterson adds that as the Utopia }
was crushed by the Anson's ram he
clambered up the davits of one of the steamship's
boats and cut the ropes holding it. ,
He had no time, however, to lower the boat
away, as the bows of the Utopia had pasted
beneath the war ship, and it was evident
that the passtnger steamer was rapidly sinking.
Soon after, the boats of the Anson
having been promptly lowered, one of the
man-of-war's cutters ran alongside the
Utopia and Petersen managed to jump into
her.
He says that while on board the Utopia
after the collision he was surrounded by a
terrible mass of human beinc s fighting their
way desperately and savagely, regaraleas of
sex or age, towards the boats. Menwomen
and children tumbled and
climbed over each other in the horrible
fight for a chance of escape from ,
drowning. One poor woman who was rescued
bv the Anson's bluejackets went raving
mad when she was convinced that her chit- \
dren were drowned. . '.V <
An officer of the Utopia says: "We ware t
slowing our engines, preparing to anchor, '
when, before we realized our danger, we i
found ourselves broadside on the bows of the i
A ncAn Thara mno a oVlAllf frATW KrttJl VAC* '?
AUnVU AUVAO "UO U OUVUV WW ??* t
sels, which was instantly followed by the \
Anson's ram tearing into the Utopia. We
were about a quarter of a mile from shore at
the time." .
Tue ofHcers say they will never forget the
scene that followed the collision. The Italians J
were thrown into a state of complete and
cowardly panic. They yelled franctically
and fought madly to reach the forecastle.
A few of the married men dragged their
wives with thein, but the bulk of the single
men were heedless of the piteous appeals of
the women and children. The forecastle
and rigging were soon crowded
aud the vessel began to settle down. Pres*
eutly an explosion, with a r.eafening report
occurred in the forecastle, killing many ana
throwing others into the ssa. Luckily the
masts held and remained some yards above
the water as the vessel touched bottom.
From forty to fifty persons were rescued
from the masts.
The only instances of manliness occurred
among the people in the rigging. Many men
and nearl** every woman" clasp 3d children
to their leasts, but they wore gradually
overcome by sheer exhaustion and cola
and were compelled to drop their burdens
and often follow themselves."-"*
Those on the lower rigging wbo were exposed
to the full fores of the waves
were swept a.way before th3 first of the
Anson's boats was able to reach them. Some
of the men had tied to themselves bis wife or -<
a child, hoping to be able to float until they .
were saved. Several bodies so tied together
were washed ashore dead. The majority of '
Italians, however, behaved more like beasts
than reasoning men. I
Divers who made an examination of the
wreck of the Utopia report that th9r> are
i a?i~ I ka_
uuiiurcus Ul uuaiw ill awco.a^o uu ? uw
tween decks.
During the course of tba day the bD lie3 of
twenty-ei^ht men and one woman war? recovered
at Gibraltar, while at various other
points along tha coast thj boJios oZ six
men, eighteen women, savoa boys and
one girl were washed asho:v. One of the
women, when her body was taken from the
water, was fouud to have her arms firmly
locked around the corps? of her child. Th? 1
remains of the unfortu.nta p jo pie were
takjntoa cemetery in th9 Spanish lines,
where an inquest was held.
The authorities of Gibraltar aro furnishing
the rescued people with lodgings, fooi
and clothing.
BIG LAND SALE.
A Stock Company Buys the Maxwell
Land Grant of 1,700,000 Acres,
It is announced at Denver, Col., that the
?.?!! ]an<4 m?onf in "V^TTT PAnfftill* I
iUOA >1 Cii lauu glCMJV AL.A AlV'l MV*4VVf WUMWM
ing 1,700,000 acres has been sold. The price
is not named, but it is known that the commission
of the agent who sold it amounted to
$150,000. The agent who made the deal has
been in New York for the past three months,
where he has been negotiating. Many mea
have been killed for trespassing upon it.
The company is stocked for $10,000,000.'
The final payment is not to be made for
about three months, when the company will
take possession of the lands. It is claimed
there are rich mineral land* in the tract.
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY, ! I
S Parisian Killed His Wife, Child aru?, n
Mother-in-Law. IB
M. Herbslot, of the Boulevard Courctllas, j
Paris, France, believing his wife to be ua- ; I
Faithful, at a late hour at night cat her j fl
throat and strangled the child whioh was; B
sleeping by her side. J
He then went to th9 chamber of his wlWi
truth jr. ani after a straggle, during which j J
iha poor woman begged piteously for life, ;
tabbei her to the heart. 1 W
He than instantly ran into the Boulevard, i V
<Htlf clothed, and surrendered himself to ttavj I
"en iarmea, avowing the murders and declat*". fl
'tig he wasglai his yi^im3 wore dead. , I
^j