The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, March 05, 1902, Image 2
(ComiHT, EoitxsT B
CHAPTER IL
(Continued.)
t "Surely they will not be so bard
tpon you, Harold! Tbey know your
reputation. Tbey will be lenient.
When tbey know tbat you give up
everything to them?"
"UUi uui any one wouiu uo, akch,
to Interrupted her again, irritably. He
was losing his genial nature under this
triaL "It Is what any man should do.
But even so, I am heavily in debt, and
the heaviest creditor is an Implacable
sbu. He would not yield an inch. I
would not ask him."
"Then you shall not ask him, Harold.
As soon as possible we will leave these
troubles. Surely your wife will not
be the one to deepen your troubles. If
I cannot help you," (she was thinking
wiftly how she might help blm) "at
least I will not hinder yon. The West
is broad. There are too many people
Is New York, any way. One hasn't
room to retrieve one's self should there
be need. Every Inch is crowded. It is
like an ant-hill?with not a grain for
Me newcomer or hope for one slipped
down. We will go away."
She said nothing of what she must
tire up to yield to this wish of hit.
Ibe was not the woman to force ber
griefs upon another. She smiled, and
ber voice waa careless, ber husband
, thought bitterly. Nevertheless be
knew that there waa sadness behind
It, and it only Increased his irritability,
aa be felt aggrieved that she
Should not be aggrieved. She could
not?in spite of his effort to explain?
be could not quite comprehend their
situation, he thought. From luxury to
labor?for be was very despairing in
thought?from palace to cottage;
strangers In a strange land!
CHAPTER III.
nniAXEBs.
The cloud lying so low at sunset rose
as twilight deepened to night, and
'gathering to itseir tue louvr vapors,
came along the nearer heavens until
it waa a mass of midnight swallowing
up the Hart, the moon, the heavens.
There waa fire in Its midst, and thunder
that rolled in vaster volumes,
rambling like Vulcan'* hammer-echoes.
' Destruction rode riotously in its heart.
It waa flood tide at midnight, and as
the watera beat higher and higher up
the sanda and throbbed like some great
heart against the pier, the anchored
boata lifting and falling and tossing
like living things upon it, the black
vapors overhead, overcharged, broke
upon the world beneath in a torrent of
wind and rain, shot through and
throufh with lightning tongues.
Moat of the guests at the Surf Hotel
irers awakened by the storm, and
auuty of theia made hasty toilets and
gathered in the parlor for companion
ship. Alecla Uraham naa not rauen
asleep, and, at the first sound of thunder.
rose very softly not to rouse her
husband, and donning a loose wrapper
of pale silk, >be seated herself at the
window to watch the breaking of the
Storm.
The clouds had not yet swallowed
the moon, which was riding the heavens
like some witch at strike with the
elements of an Infernal world, the hurTying
sends blown from the greater
mass of cloud whirling across her face
and fleeing away, tearing at her. flaunting
beside her. yet ever growing larger
and more dense as the warship of the
storm advanced up the sea of heaven.
On the sands below, Just visible now
ua men oeyoua lue buimi-uijis, u? iue
, Boon conquered the scuils, the white
corf gleamed gbostlly, rank upon rank.
The woman at the window. In her
trailing silken gown, sat fascinated.
With her hands clasped upon the ledge
before her, her face luminated or darkened
by the shining or dimming of the
Moon. There was no fear in her heart,
only deep awe and a namely something
like the touch of a heavenly spirit. She
was unconscious that her husband had
wakened and was watching her under
his half-closed lids. She was unconscious
that she was an inspiration to
him, or that the bitterness of his soul
was touched by the sweetness of her
presence. Like the true woman she
was, she was thinking of Mm. not of
herself. She loved him. and knew that
he suffered intensely because of the
trouble fallen upon him. He was so
proud and loved luxury so thoroughly
that failure was worse than death.
But she knew. also, that be was too
, ' noble and too manly to seek death for
?m m?nv mlnrht
Presently, In a lull in tbe thunder, be
addressed her:
" Aleciar be said, quietly.
She turned to him at ouee. Even in
tbe darkness be knew that she was
railing upon him.
"You are awake. Harold? What a
terrible storm this is!"
"Yea," he replied, waiting until another
thunder-peal died away, ieaviug
the world strangely still, save for the
roar of the surf. "Terrible. Alecia. especially
for any vessel unfortunate
enough to be upon the water u. prepared."
Once more she turned to the window,
looking across the black saud-bills to
the invisible roaring sur;.
MI had not thought of that," she said,
an anxious note in her voice.
"You need not worry about It. dear.'*
be said, gently, catching this troubled
tone. "Tbe coast-guard are able fel
lews.*
A distant report of firearms interrupted
him, and brought Alecia to her
feet. He alto started up and began
hastily dresslag.
"Some boat in distress." he said hurriedly.
"A pleasure or fishing-boat,
probably, for that wus a riCe-xbot. A
teamshiD would fire heavy guns and
end up rockets." v
"What Are you going to do. Harold?"
"Come," be Mid." we will go dowu
stairs. Alecia. and learn if there is danger.
M may be nothing. 1 have frightsued
yon, dearest!"
He held the door open for ber to pass
through, and reached out bis band to
her as she crossed the room from the
window.
. "It may only ho some signal 1Mb
.3 Novel.
KATE LUDLUNf:
0.<IIU1 Sosf, 1898.]
\
tbe Government House." be said, smiling
to rcrssure her.
Kbe placed ber band trustingly in bis
and tbey passed out together, but tbe
band -was a band of Ice and ber beart
was beating In terror. Her sensitive
spirit was stirred by tbe probability of
danger to otbers. It wa* such a fearful
night
Tbey came upon excited groups in
*!<? I>?ll nnil nnrlnr ihn Inillpg ITfcther
iuc wail auu ?v? ? ?~ ??
Ing at once around AlccJa. as though
there were some sublte strength and
ma got! s m in her presence. Harold
passed out upon the piazza with a few
of the men to learn what was possible
of the threatened danger.
"A ticklish thing!" shouted George
Priestly, turning aside from the burnt
of shrieking wind that struck across
the pier, holding his hat on with one
band and grasping the lapels of his
coat with the other, that It should not
be torn from him. "A ticklish thing,
now. I tell you. fellows, if It's a small
boat out there! Those shots didn't
come from the coast side; they're off to
* ? -- A * Ml
leewara. ana me coa?-guani nm uaic
a hard time trying to save them. Pretty
rocky, yoa know, ont farther.
Mighty little hope, I say. What is it.
Banks?"
"A yacht,** replied one of the hotel
bands, hurrying past them across the
piazza for 'lanterns. Every one was
alert, for a wreck was a terrible thing
In sacb a storm. "She's down by the
point. Been letting off rockets. Too
far gone for that, though, now. Hardly
a bit of her left whole. They'll do
what they can to save 'em, but there
ain't much hope:"
"Let's go down!" shouted Harold.
"Perhaps we may beof service. They'll
need all of that they can get, God help
them r*
"But we cannot go down there."
protested Charlie Brown, decidedly.
We'll blow across to Europe* If we
try."
"Well. I <loc't object to a free passage
across!" retorted Harold, shortly.
He was off ere be finished speaking,
struggling, with his companions, with
the sheet* of rain and hall beating
upon them. The sea had lifted itsci?
iu the might of the storm and was
lashing close up under the plan* walks
along the sand, washing over their feet
now and then as they fought their
waju
Alecia, with her friends in the parlor
of the Surf Hotel, would indeed have
been proud of her husband could she
have known of his e/rand. But she
did not know, and Ninette was clinging
to her for courage, and a group
surrounded her discussing the danger
of a vessel upon the sea, and trembling
under the terrible shocks of thunder
roaring around them.
Poor Bess Catherwood was as white
as a ghost, and had long ago forgiven
Leland. and would not allow him to
stir from lier side tor a inomeui even
to learn what was passing outside, bat
clung to him -with her small bands. Iter
terrified eyes now lifted to bis. now
clove shut under their lids to keep out
the lightning flashes.
"Ob. It's just dreadful?dreadfuldreadful!"
she would say. ns a thunder-burst
reverberated around and
around the building, snatching her
bands from his arm to cover ber ears
and cower still further down among
the cushions of the great chair at the
farthest end of the room from the windows.
Why must we have thundershowers.
Mr. Iceland? Why can't we
have qu'et and rains instead? They're
bad enough, indeed, but this makes me
wretched! One might as well be at the
mouth of a cannon and expect to be
shot into pieces. I tell you it's horrid.
and I won't let you go outside that
door! You just keep right on telling
me over and over tbat it will not last
long, or I shall die. I tell you!"
Bo what could be do but remain
with her and comfort her. and think,
in spite of her cowardice, that she was
the sweetest and dearest of all women,
and be absolutely happy knowiug that
sue cared to detain him there, although
It was bis wish to go with his friends
and do what be might, should there be
need.
But shudder as they would in the
parlor, made brilliant with lights to
deaden the lightning, huddled in
groups, fearful of the thunder and
lightning and sen, they did not drenm
of a drama enacted upon the wild
bench with the clouds and lightning
for a background and only lanterns for
footlights. Had Alecia known, would
her hands have been so steady or her
voice so soft with its comforting?
Would she have said tbat all was well
even in that storm?
Far down on the beach the guests,
the hotel-hands and the coast-guard
were doing tbelr best for a steamyacht
beating herself to pieces among
the breakers and rocks just beyond.
Tbe yacht contained a pleasure party
upon a fishing excursion caught In th?
storm and unable to keep off tbe coast,
tbe fury of tbe storm having strained
tbeir machinery and broken tbe shaft.
? > tbere site was beating upon the
rocks beyond tbe beach, Her bow
was scarcely above tbe waves. Her
stern was under water, and her passongi
rs were crowded forward and
ilnging with the oue instinct of life to
I lie last hope. Tbe small boat was of
uu use in that water, and if the coastguard
conic! not save them there could
come no hope. Tbe rocket* had ceased;
tbe sboU also.
In the terrible utorin it was difficult
to work, but tbe men ou *hore fought
like heroes to render help to those
clinging to the beating wreck. The
tirst rocket attached to the life-lint1
went astray, beaten aside by the furious
rain and wind, hut the second,
well aimed, struck tbe how aud the
rope was caught. Tbe work of rescue
was under way. though hut a few moments
at most were left ere the boat
must go down. \
One man was saved, scarcely breathing,
from the fierce struggle through
tbe breakers, l?ut huh aiive: aaoiuer
and another in tbe same condition.
Hope was reviving, though still deatb
leaped to graap them on all aidca. For
A time !t was difficult to determln<
whether life or death would conque:
in the struggle. Hut them men on tin
beach worked like madmen to save tli
men mad with fear in the midst of thn
boiling wntet. And then, the lnst mai
was fishtiiiR his way. buoyed up by hi
life-preserver, gasping the life-Hue a
be rose and sauk and rose again in tli
heart of the wnter.
Harold Graham among the men 01
the beach was like a giant in bis ef
forts to render assistance. He dashed
unmiudful of himself, into the boilin
breakers to drag tbe men to land a
they struggled In. His companion
acarcely recognized him. for the love
of luxury, tbe pet of fortune and sc
clety bad never before been trlet
That his own life might pay for hi
reckless bravery he never thought. II
had no fear. He lacked the knowledg
of the beach which the coast-guar
possessed, but he was equal with thei
In "n ? >'! hraVPTV.
The last man was fighting his wn
to life through that sea of death. H
was evidently greatly exhausted, fo
his efforts were feeble as he drei
nearer Into the light of the lantern
and the almost constant glare of th
lightning. They shouted to cheer bin
and were on the alert at the rop<
But as be came in almost to the brae
the receding breakers beat him back.
And then It was that the mills of th
gods ground very slowly and except
lngly fine, casting into the balance th
good or 111 of Harold Graham's lift
For with his reckless disregard of 3ell
pushing aside detaining hands ere an
other could pass him. be dashed int
the water and let the breakers lift an
bear him out toward the man beyonc
it.4 k
and straggled to grasp mm mm u
might guide him to shore. And thei
with an exclamation of horror, be Ic
him go, drifting part bim and farthe
out upon the black nigbt of waten
For in the glare of lightning, wit
earth and heaven rent by thunder, an
death beatlnc about bim. Graham rc<
ognixed his heaviest creditor.
CHAPTER IV.
THROUGH BREAKERS.
To let bim die! This man, who c
all those against bim on the morrow
would be tbc hardest! He need nc
push him under, move bis bands t
barm bim. ami?what could save bii
for bis undoing. lie would not be hi
murderer. Mm could not look upo
bim and whisper that bis bauds wer
stained with blood. They would liav
sufticiently hard words against bin
truly, but thl? they would not kuov
The breakers had wasLcJ him bad
senseless, from his reaeh; be struggle
?bow he had struggled!?and yet b
only saved him?dead! They woul
still call bim hero; still cry of hi
bravery! No rnau would know?m
one!
One Instant out of time! One secon
out of millions of seconds! The spat
of a hair on illimitable space! But ?
grind the mills of the gods, very tin<
proving tbe chaff from the grain.
One instant. The men huddled upo
the beach, waiting for the rescui
im n?h? nf (Itr.Ir Innfprt
WUlCUIlJg uj mr ntiu> v.
and the lightning flare, called him
hero, battling there to have tne lai
man from the wreck. The yacht wa
gone out of sight and the unconsciou
man in the black water had let go tli
life-line, though the life-preserver sti
buoyed him up. with his pallid fac
lifting and falling in the sfcoutm
waves and seething foam. They bel
their lanterns aloft and shouted, an
watched with the red lightning an
the flashing of the light-house lump i
its revolutions. They could see th
men at intervals, never for longer tha
a swift glance, but the man risking hi
life for the other was bravely flghiin
to save him. Tb'.-y could see that.
A half-dozen men dashed in the watt
to drag the two in as a huge breal
er lifted them high to fling them t
the beach; for a blow, such as tha
would possibly mean death to boti
and this man was proved too herol
to be dashed to death unaided. Pc
tli?? impel hn?l cc-ntiuered the demon i
Harold Graham's soul, and the ou
instant of struggle bad intensified an
ennobled bin).
As they dragged the two on tb
higher beach, out of roach of tli
breakers, the rescuer was scarcel
more conscious than the rescued. 1
had been a terrible battle. He wa
drenched through and through, an
bis pallid face, with the black ba!
clinging to It, looked haggard undt
the shifting lights.
"Lot's take 'ein to one of the co
tages here," suggested one of the rnei
"Jill the storm is over. It'll never d
to try to get 'em to the hotel as the
are!"
fTn be continued.)
The (irntlruian)y Doe.
TThen 1 approached the palntc
LouKf. ou my way homeward. the fi
oM collie cornea running uul agaii
barking. says Bradford Torrey iu tli
Atlantic. This time, however, i
takes but one sniff. He has made
mistake, and realizes it ut once. "Ol
excuse ine," be says quite plainly. *
didn't recognize you. You're tbe saiii
old codger. 1 ought to bnve know
you." And be is so confused an
ashamed that he runs away withoi
walling to make up.
It is a great mortification to a gci
tic-manly dog to find himself at fau
iu this way. 1 remember another cp
lie, much younger than thin cue, wit
whom I ouce had a minute or two <
friendly Intercourse. Then, aiontl
afterward, I went ag..iu by the bout
u-liuri. Iu> liv/>i! un<l lit* i-nin<? i!:is.'iii!
out with all fierceness, a.s if hi? wcul
! reud uie in pieccs. I let hiui con
(there whs nothing else tc. do. or not I
lug else worth doing). but the lustai
bix nose struck me be nan bis erro
Then, in a Cash, he dropped tint on i!
ground and literally licked my shoe
There w::s no attitude abjecc enottjj
to cxpresx the depth of his binn:l!i
tun. Ami then. like the tlog or t;i
morning, 1k> jumped up and ruu wit
ail syccd back to bis doorstep.
A Dlflrrencr.
"The performance," said the amua
ment reporter, in bis story of tt
previous evening's opera, "was lis
: ened to by about 1700 people in tli
common Keats and witnessed by pe
haps forty in the boxes."?Indiaua]
olis I'rcss.
The friction of steel on ice is exact]
half that of ice on ice, and one-tent
that pf steel on steel.
? '
r I It*************************
jjThe Danisl
: West Indie
3
I. **************************
ir ???
s The Danish West Indies have come
8 Into public notice on account of the ner
gotintions between the United States
i and the Danish (Jovernmcnt by which
' the three islands ? St. Thomas, St.
8 I John and St. Croix become the possese
i sions of the United States at a lower
e ! price thnn this country was willing tcr
^ j pay for them many years ago.
u I The islands cover about 127 square
I miles, and the population is estimated
? I at about 30,000. Denmark has been in
e | possession of the islands since 1071,
* J but they have never been a great
v i source of revenue, and for many years
8 I
. !
r:i i?
3 | .Mw'jjbiic
)t | ?
! It has cost Denmark much money in
<1 ' excess of tbe revenue to maintain
:e ; them. A former resident of Charlotte
o i Ara.'ilie. the largest place on the island
! of St. Thomas, In speaking of the sen-j
J timent of the people as to annexation,
n . said:
i The white population and nearly all
18 ! sugnr producers arc In favor of annexa
j ntiou, bnt tbe blacks are opposed to
j the scheme. There are comparatively
18 j few whites on the islands, not more
18 j than fifteen per cent, of the population.
e | The blacks are of a superior class, and.
I* ; having tbe same rights and privileges
e j as the whites, they naturally fear that
* : their condition would snffer if they be^
j came American citizens. There Is no
such thing as a color line there. Edu"
i cation is compulsory, and all tbe cbiln
I dren. white and black, go to school beie
j twi*en the ages of seven and thirteen.
? In the churcbor there is also an ab'*
i sence of all distinction as to color. :?!>
| then* is certainly no line drawn
! business. The Dane recognizes a m..
^ I for his worth. and never things of e.v
' j eluding IiIh neighbor from social, busiI
ness or religious functions because of
i bis color "n the Colonial Council at
J St. Croi ? re are two black men. and
| tbey till the places wi'b'credit to themselves*
and to the satisfaction of their
j associates. Intermarriage between naj
| lives and whites is nothing unusual,
j and clergymen of the various denominj
atiotH never refuse to perrorm tbe mare
j riage ceremony between white and
y j black men and women.
[t There hcems to he a misunderstands
| ing in the I'nited States as to the lanj
gucge used by the people in the Dauir
isb West Indies. Ttie fact is that
,p everybody speaks I'.ngnsii. auu. although
the official language is iJanish.
English is used iu tlic schools as well
j as iu the court tf justice.
0 St. Thomas has no agricultural imy
portauce. A few onions and other vegj
eta hies are raised there, hut not
I enough to supply the 10.l>0(> inhabitj
ants, aud nearly everything that is
i used at the table is sent from the Uni<1
| ted States. The place has a Hue barit
j bor. large coal wharves and a drydork.
J. and among the larger '.uilding* are the
if I Government house ami a hotel. The
'?-* j stores end shops as well as the houses
u : of the inhabitants are nearly ail one
11 j story buildings. The old structures
1 are built of stene. but the modern
,i; bouses are of wood, aud all are of the
u old Spanish style. The roofs are tib*d
d and flat and so arranged that they shed
il the rain into risterus. where it :s kept
for drinking purposes, there being no
3* other water available.
On the Island of St. Croix Frederick1
>f V
is j\ ___
? ^ CHARLOTTE AMALIE. ST T
sted and Christ iausliM) are the c biff
town*. These platen have a popula*l
tioo of about 1000 eaeb. They have
tores and shops like those of St.
****************?**??*?**!
r*i i
I ! J Some Interesting
II 11 Facts About the
I Three Little
S i .... Islands.
Thomas, and the population is made
up of tbe same elements. There are
Episcopal, Moravian, Catholic, Dutch
Reformed and Methodist churches and
a synagogue, and there are two 'Masonic
lodges on the island, one French
and one English. In each of these
thnr?? iipp .is mnnv black as white mem
Iters. One of the deacons in the Dutch
lleformed Cliurch Is n full-blood nesro.
One of the peculiarities of the bouses
in the Danish West Indies is that they
have no chimneys. The kitchens are
all detached, and as fire is used for
cooking only, bouses require no fire|
If
!W
mm
places or chimneys. The stores. If they
stand directly on a street, have doors
front and buck, and those that stand
away from the regular thoroughfare
have openings on all four sides. In order
to protect the merchandise from
the sand many glass cases are used.
St. Thomas bus a cab system which
is usually a surprise to the visitor. The
horses and cabs are not of the showy
kind, but the price is in keeping with
the outfit, ten cents a mile being the
regular rate. People who travel In
the country ride on little ponies, which
nf f.vit mid sesmner over the
mountains like .coats.
Denmark maintains an army on the
islands of about 250 men. These are
volunteers recruited from the veteran
corps in the home country and sent to
the islands for a term of six years.
They have guard and barracks duties
I ?
KABBO?
y?&v4-'
7
to perform. t:u? those who have trades
may work at them when they are not
ou duty, ami when their term of ofiice
is ovt-r they receive free transportation
home. or. if they dtsire to remain.
ie?eive positions on the police foree.
"The clearness of the air at St.
Thomas," raid a former resident of the
I place. " may l>e judged by my experience.
I lived ou the highest of the
three hills on which the city is built,
and from my house I could see l'orto
Hico. fifty utiles to the west, and with
the naked eye could set* the palms of
St. Croix, forty miles south. The thermometer
registers between ninety and
niuet.v-tivc degrees in the shade nine
morn lis :ri ii|c year, out our n-t-i* muifurlalile.
stud sonic of my frimris who
were iu New York during the Lot sea
nOMAJ*. FROM THE HARBOR.
son !a*t v?*ai wont home to St. Thomas
to em-ap*- the N*'W York brat.
low priii* of wine dovs the p#oLie
more liarm Uiau the warm weaiher.
i.
For 9ix cents one can buy n bottle of
native wine, nnil half of tbnt will settle
the strongest man. Tbe people :ire hospitable
to n fault, and stranger* are always
made welcome. People in this
part of tbe world are surprised to bear
this, but it is just as true as that tbe
hurricane stories from St. Thomas and
St Croix are nearly all exaggerations,
for there are no more hurricanes there
than there are Jn the Southern States
of this country."
Therv are tblity-two sugar estates
on the Island of St. Croix, the product
of which goes to one coucern in New
York. But in ordrr te protect growers
who are not in this combination the
Danish Government has established
sugar stations where growers bring
their cane for sale. It Is ground in
mills belonging to tbe Government.
1 a- ??i
ifiiu luu iuuuuiTi rcmu-a jiaj uas?:u
on the New York price*.
Tbe water about these islands is so
clear that tbe bottom may be seen at
any point, and it abounds in fish. Very
little fishing is done, but many people
predict that it will not be long aftet
tbe United States has the islands be?
\
= A
"r\c
* "*??V
MUC. *SC
**" ?p 10
\ iL .
***& 0 ' <!?%>' s
m(mmm rfico: ;
:
.# i,
' t
! *
^ -5
is
>
i
fore largo canning establishments will
be started there.
A sail or half an hour J com the ease
end'of St. Thomas takes .^pe to St.
John, which has a population of about
700. There Is much grazing laud on
this island, and with a small investment
profitable stock farms might be [
established there. The Inhabitants of i
this island are nearly all blacks. The j
chief judge of the island fills several
other important offices. He is the chief '
of police, the postmaster, the head of j
the truant school which is situated cii j
the island, the wharf master ana eus- ;
torn house officer. The Police Depart- |
njcut over which he presides has two j
members. I
Mrs. Martin's Opportunity.
.Mr. Martin was talking at the dinner, j
taMe. in bix usual clever manner, about j
the inconsistency of women.
"These young ladies who protest that
they are never going to marry I" he
broke out. "Everybody knows they
will belie their own words at the very
first opportunity."
He paused and evidently hoped that
Mrs. Martin would come to the rescue
of her sex: but that discreet woman
held her tougue.
"Why. Mary," he continued, "yoa
rementl>er how it was with yourself.
I have heard you say more than once
that you wouldn't marry the best
man alive."
"Well. I didn't," said Mrs. Martin.
-Tit-Bits.
Sprootinc Table Lrr>,
A three-legged table, belonging to ft
Donegal farmer named O'Brian. has
been distinguishing itself in a remarkable
way lateiy. It has l?een varnished
and revarnisiHMi nany unit*. h uan i
never been out in the air. and has not |
received uny excessive amount of *un- i
shiue: nevertheless. al;out two mouths j
I j
|[ | , [ ifirT^
JU^r
leaves ox table legs.
ago tiny buds formed on two of the
leg# of tin- table, and now vivid green
sprouts have liecome slender branches,
covered with leaves. It is a remarkable
manffestation of the vitality of
nhint life under adverse t ir? uuistan<vs. \
Tin- O'Briaus do not know how old the
table is.
r.uildinc a Itatlroad In Cuba.
A now railroad under construction in
Culm by American and Canadian capitalists
has Ihtu graded for serenty
four miles cut of Santiago and the
track is laid for thirty-tire mile*. Tie*
right of way has to Ik* purchased, as
no concessions can Ik* obtained by i-orporaJiotis
in Cuba at present. I'hv
thousand meti are engaged on the
work. Tracklayers receire $ 1 ..V) a
day and graders $1. American money.
Thus far the road has jtcuclrated a |
sugar-raising country, with rich. black
*gtunl?o" soil. Ties are obtained in
the I'uitcd States and shipped by the
way of New Orleans and MobileIndianaiKilig
News.
Sort of a Kuramagf Sale.
Colorado Spni:j;? liu? an old cemetery
for sale, lien* b an opportunity lor
houu> uiau wlio in lcokiug for a Utad
surt lliiu?.?DtrbVfi Pout.
' ' "i 'f-'hmm- W >- -- ? -n . : &?
m
SILENT MACHINERY. *
Tranvmlcaton of Power Through Wheel**
Without Contact.
Id tbc illustration is shown the power
transmitting the device recently deeigned
by Charles G. Armstrong, the
object of tl>e invention being to drivfr
DRIVES UACHINEBT WITHOUT COHTACT*
machinery by employing magnetic line* \
of force. The inventor states th.it be
is enabled to transmit the rotary cio* M
tion of a driving wheel to a driven ^
wheel witbont actual contact and witbJ '
out any mechanical wear and tear or
noise resulting while the machinery is
in motion. Tne driving wneei is pro* ,
vided with magnetic coils arranged
around the periphery, with means for
energizing a portion of the coils at 6
time. This is accomplished by passing
the electric current from a generator
through the upper spring contact arm
into the two or three coils immediately
below, and allowing it to pass out
through the lower arm. In this way * t
strong pull Is exerted on the projtctin^
spokes of the larger wheel on the side
toward the energized coils, with absolutely
no attraction after the centre it
passed. The tendency Is for the mag*
nets and attracted spokes to contino*
ally approach each other, and as fresh
magnet* and spoke* are constantly,
coming under the drawing power tbo
wheel continues to involve ax long a# \
the energizing current la supplied.
A New Kagland Woman's lavrntloa.
A railway snow plow is rather a
strange thing for a woman to invent,
but the one shown Here Is not ou!y a
woman's device, but has a number of
practical advantages which reeom- ^
mend its use by railways and street
car lines. The chief feature of the ap^
paratus is that it will cut through ft'
drift of crust or packed snow about at
easy as an ordinary plow removes a
light drift. This is accomplished by
first disintegrating the' ice and snow
MINCING KNIVES ON THE SXOW PLOW,
with the revolving cutters mounted In
the mouth of the plow, when it Is an
easy matter to dispose of the small sections.
A motor is provided to revolve
the knives, and the same power runs
the endless elevator which projects up|
ward from the centre of the car. Directly
beneath the upper end of this
elevator the roof takr^ the shape of the
letter A. with the lower ends rrojectI
intc over either side of the car. In action
the flaring month of the plow %
fscojps in the snow, while the revolving
knives mince it fine and drive it
back to the elevator. Here it is lifted
and falls on the sides of the slanting
I roof, passing thence to the ground on
either side of the track. A turret above
rhe knives affords a housing for the
controlling motors and the operator
who has charge of the machine. The
inventor is Katharine C. Munson. of
Massachusetts.
Mea? tired by MuWc.
A scientist fcas recently shown hot*
the velocity of the wind can be reckoned
by noting the musical pitch of the
found given ou: wiipu iw muu
across a stretched wire. The principal
elements on which the calculation !f
based are the diameter of the wire
and the temperature of the air. The
length of the wire is immaterial, so
long as it is not changed. Every variation
in the wind's velocity is fa.thtully
represented by the rising or railing
of pitch of the note sung by th?
Wire.?Tit-Bits.
Court Etiquette Preferred. ifl
Charles the Second once granted at fl
audience to the courtly Quaker. Will- 8
iaiu I'enu. who. as was his custom. 8
entered the royal presence with hi* hat V
on. The humorous sovereign quietly fl
laid aside his own. which occasioned yk
IVnn's inquiry: 'Friend Charles, why S
dost tliou remove thy hat?" "It is the I
custom," he replied, "in this place for
one person only to remain covered."? I
The Argonaut. I
Another Narraai r?tcn H
A patent has been recently g;*:wirc4 3
In Kngland to William Marconi, cover- X
iug his invention of a portable signal- 9
ing apparatus designed for use in war- B
Asdj I
"^1 nil nil ?
EtBEj. I
WIRELESS TELKORArHIN'a ATTOMODILE, H
fare on land. The principal feature :m ?H|
telescoping tower, which Is intended for g||
use irf transmitting signals aud col- 91
lapsed when the vehicle is cn the fl|
move. The accompany ins diagram it H
from the Ku^Ush patent and shows the m
cons:ruction and the mode of opera- Bp
Metal w-.re is still largely imported 9E
>?y Russia from Germany, though the SB
United States is proving a ttrong con*- S
D^titor- gn
J