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" ^ ISSUED SEMI'WEEKL^^ i. m. gkist & sons, Publishers. J 5\ jt'amilj Jleirspapcr: J'or the gromolion of the {political, Social, ^grirultural, and Comnierrial Jnlerssts the geople. j tbbmssi"no1e#2oApt1!^n ckn?fNCE' established 1855. YOBKVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBEB 13, 1901. NO. 91. ^ ' 1 m # I A.* 4 **- ~1 ? atAomAMa "'Villn olnna 1CQ1 tViora hovo THE COURIER sir JUIJBIE .CHAPTER VI. I N the afternoon of the 23d t of July Michael Strogoll VI and Nadin were not more rnmmmmt than thirty rersts from jnUMi Ichim. Suddenly Michael caught sight of a carriage, scarcely visible among the clouds of dust, preceding them along the road. As his horses were evidently less fatigued than those of the other traveler, he would not be long in overtaking it This was neither a tarantass nor a telga, but a post berlin, all over dust and looking as if it had made a long journey. The postilion was thrashing his horses with all his might and only kept them at a gallop by dint of abuse and blows. The berlln had certainly not passed through ? Novo-Saimsk and could only have struck the Irkutsk road by some less frequented route across the steppe. Michael's first thought on seeing this berlln was to get in front of It and arrive first at the relay, so as to make sure of fresh horses. He said a word Ul" oAAn hrnncht him UD with the berlln. As he passed a head was thrust out of the window of the berlin. He bad no time to see what it was like, but as he dashed by he distinctly heard this word uttered In an imperious tone: "Stop!" But he did not stop. On the contrary, the berlin was soon distanced by the tarantass. It now became a regular race, for the horses of the berlin. no doubt excited by the sight and pace of the others, recovered their strength and kept up for some minutes. The two carriages were hidden in a cloud of dust From this cloud issued the cracking of whips, mingled with excited shouts and ex- 1 clamatlons of anger. Nevertheless the advantage remained with Michael, which might be very important to him if the relay were poorly ' provided with horses. Two carriages were perhaps more than the postmaster could provide for, at least in a short space of time. Half an hour after the berlin was left far behind, looking only a speck on the horizon on the steppe. It was 8 o'clock in the evening when < Michael and bis companion arrived at 1 the posthouse in lebim. The news was worse and worse with regard to the invasion. Here baa arrivea just a snort time before two men. The one was English, the other French. Both were tall and thin, but the latter was sallow, as are the southern provencals, while the former was ruddy like a Lancashire gentleman. The Anglo-Norman, formal, cold, grave, parsimonious of gestures and words, appearing only to speak or gesticulate under the Influence of a spring operat- , Ing at regular Intervals. The Haul, on the contrary, was lively and petulant, expressed himself with lips, eyes, , hands, all at once, having twenty different ways of explaining his thoughts, whereas his interlocutor seemed to | have only one immutably stereotyped on his brain. The strong contrast they presented < would at once have struck the most superficial observer, but a physiognomist, regarding them more closely, would have defined their particular characteristics by saying that if the Frenchman was "all eyes," the Englishman was "all ears." In fact, the visual apparatus of the one had been singularly perfected by practice. The sensibility of its retina must have been as instantaneous as that of those conjurers who recognize a card merely by a rapid movement in cutting the pack or by the arrangement only of marks Invisible to others. The Frenchman, indeed, possessed in the highest degree what may be called "the memory of the eye." The Englishman, on the contrary, appeared especially organized to listen and to hear. When his aural apparatus had been once struck by the sound of a voice, he could not forget It, and after ten or even twenty years he would have recognized it among a thousand. His ears, to be sure, had not the power of moving as freely as those of animals who are provided with large auditory flaps; but, since scienttfirt mon Irnnir that human ears nos sess, in fact, a very limited power of movement, we should not be far wroug in affirming that those of the said Englishman became erect and turned in all directions while endeavoring to gather in the sounds in a manner apparent only to the naturalist. It must be observed that this perfection of sight and hearing was of wonderful assistance to these two men in their vocation, for the Englishman acted as correspondent for The Daily Telegraph and the Frenchman as correspondent of the?of what newspaper or of what newspapers he did not say, and when asked he replied in a jocular manner that he corresponded with "his cousin Madeleine." This Frenchman, however, beneath his careless surface was wonderfully shrewd and sagacious. Even while speaking at random, perhaps the better to hide his desire to learn, he never forgot himself. Ilis loquacity even helped hitu to conceal his thoughts, and he was perhaps even more discreet thau his confrere of The Daily Telegraph. It is needless to say that these two men were devoted to their mission in the world?that they delighted to throw themselves in the track of the most unexpected intelligence; that nothing terrified or discouraged them from succeeding; that they possessed the imperturbable sang froid and the genuine OF THE CZAR. 3 VBR3XTB. Intrepidity of men of their calling. Enthusiastic jockeys in this steeplechase, this bunt after information, they leaped hedges, crossed rivers, sprang over fences with the ardor of pure blooded racers who will run "a good first" or die. Their journals did not restrict then^ with regard to money, the surest, the] most rapid, the most perfect element I of information known to this day. It must also be added, to their honor, that neither the one nor the other evp/ looked or listened at the walls of private life and that they only exercised their vocation when political or social interests were at stake. In a word, they made what has been for some years called "the great political and military reports." It will be seen In following them that they had generally an independent mode of viewing events and, above all, their consequences, each having his own way of observing and appreciating. The object to be obtained being of adequate value, they never failed to expend the money required. The French correspondent was named Alcide Jolivet. Harry Blount was the name of the Englishman. The dissimilarity of their characters, added to a certain amount of Jealousy, which generally exists between rivals in the same calling, might havg rendered them but little sympathetic. However, they did not avoid one another, but endeavored rather to exchange with each other the news of the day. They were two sportsmen, after all. hunting on the same grounds, in the same preserve. That which one missed might be advantageously secured by the other, and it was to their interest to meet and converse together. From these two correspondents Michael learned that the town itself was menaced by the Tartar vanguard, and two days before the authorities had been obliged to retreat to Tobolsk. There was not an officer nor a soldier left in Ichlm. On arriving a? the relay Michael Strogoff Immediately asked for horses. He bad been fortunate in distancing the berlin. Only three horses were in a fit state to be Immediately harnessed. The others bad Just come In worn out from a long stage. The postmaster gave the order to put to. As the two correspondents Intended to stop at Ichlm. they had not to trouble themselves to find means of transport and therefore had their carriage put away. In ten minutes Michael was told that his tarantass was ready to start. "Good." said he. Then, turning to the two reporters, be said: "Well, gentlemen, since you remain at Icliim. I wish you success in the prosecution of your mission." "What, Mr. Korpanoff," said Alcide Jolivet, "shall you not stop even for an hour at Ichlm?" "No, sir, and I also wish to leave the posthouse before the arrival of a berlin which I distanced." "Are you afraid that the traveler will dispute the horses with you?" "I particularly wish to avoid any difficulty." "It is possible that we shall meet you again In a few days at Omsk," added Blount. "It Is possible." answered Michael, "since I am going straight there." "Well, I wish you a safe jouruey, Mr. Korpanoff." said Alcide. Almost immediately the sound of a carriage was heard outside, the door was flung open and a man appeared. It was the traveler of the berlin, a military looking man, apparently about forty years of age, tall, robust in figure. broad shouldered, with a strongly set head and thick mustache meeting red whiskers. He wore a plain uniform. A cavalry saber hung at his side, and in his hand he held a short handled whip. "Horses," he demanded, with the air of a man accustomed to command. "I have no more disposable horses," answered the postmaster, bowing. 1 II1USL I1U>C 9U111C IUIO UIUUIIUI. "It is imijossible." "What are those horses which have just been harnessed to the tarautass I saw at the door?" "They belong to this traveler," answered the postmaster, pointing to Michael Strogoff. "Take them out!" said the traveler in a tone which admitted of no reply. Michael then advanced. "These horses are engaged by me." he said. "What does that matter? I must have them. Come, be quick; I have no time to lose." "I have no time to lose either," replied Michael, endeavoring to be calm, but restraining himself with difficulty. Nad la was near him, calm also, but secretly uneasy at a scene which it would have been better to avoid. "Enough!" said the traveler. Then, going up to the postmaster: ?T ?l,n Iiakm ho tnlron nut of the tarantass ami put into my berlin," lie exclaimed, with a threatening gesture. The postmaster, much embarrassed, did not know whom to obey and looked at Michael, who evidently had the right to resist the unjust demands of the traveler. Michael hesitated an Instant. He did not wish to make use of his podorojna, which would have drawn attention to him, and he was most unwilling either by giving up his horses to delay his journey, and yet it was important not to engage in a struggle which might compromise his mission. The two reporters looked at him, ready to support him should he appeal to them. "My horses will remain in my carriage," said Michael, but without raising bis tone more than would be suit* , able for a plain Irkutsk merchant The traveler advanced toward Michael and laid bis hand heavily on his J shoulder. "Is it so?" he said in a rough voice. ] "You will not give up your horses to ] me?" - 1 "No," answered Michael. < "Very well, then they shall belong to i whichever of us is able to start De- < fend yourself, for I shall not spare you!" 1 So saying the traveler drew his saber ' from its sheath, and Nadia threw her- i 6elf before Michael. i Blount and Alcide Jolivet advanced 1 toward him. i "I shall not fight," said Michael quiet- i ly, folding his arms across his chest "You will not fight?" I "No." "Not even after tills?" exclaimed the traveler, and before any one could prevent him he struck Michael's shoulder with the handle of the whip. At this Insult Michael turned deadly pale. His hands moved convulsively, as if he would have knocked the brute down. But by a tremendous effort he mastered himself. A duel! It was more than a delay; It was perhaps the failure of his mission. It would be better to I lose some hours. Yes. but to swallow this affront! "Will you fight now, coward?" repeated the traveler, adding coarseness to brutality. "No." answered Michael, without moving, but looking the other straight In the face. "The horses this moment," said the man and left the room. Tbe postmaster followed him. The effect produced on the reporters by this incident was not to Michael's advantage. Their discomfiture was visible. How could this strong young man allow himself to be struck like that and not demand satisfaction for such an insult? They contented themselves with bowing to him and retired. A moment afterward the noise of wheels and the cracking of a whip showed that the berlin, drawn by the tarantass' horses, was driving rapidly away from the posthouse. Nadla. unraovea, ana Micnaei, sun quivering, remained alone in the room. The courier of the czar, his arms crossed over his chest, was seated motionless as a statue. However, a color which could not have been the blush of shame bad replaced the paleness on his manly countenance. Nadia did not doubt that powerful reasons alone could have allowed him to suffer so great a humiliation from such a man. Then, going up to him as he bad come to her in the police station at Nijni Novgorod, she said: "Your band, brother." ? And at the same time her hand with < an almost maternal gesture wiped away a tear which sprung to her compan- s ion's eyes. j TO BE CONTINUED. NEBRASKA'S RABBIT PLAGUE. g C Rapid Increase of the Animals of a Late?No Means of Destroying 8 Them. s The farmers of west Nebraska are r suffering from the depredations of jack < rabbits, which have recently appeared e in that part of the state. Fruit trees t and winter wheat have especially been j injured. t Last summer the rabbits multiplied s with surprising rapidity. There were c no neavy. rains iu uivwu mc juung &?!? ^ the extreme heat caused them to grow rapidly. The old rabbits, in many cases, produced three and four litters, each brood numbering from six to eight healthy young rabbits. The disappearance of the coyote is another factor connected with the present plight of the farmer. The coyote preyed on jack rabbits. But there was a bounty on coyote scalps, and besides the animals were the enemies of the sheep owners. So coyotes have been thinned out. And now the jack rabbits flourish and increase in number. In the eastern part of the state the rabbits have made no noticeable increase. but in the central and western regions their increase has been alarming. Raids are planned by the farmers for the winter months. Poisoned corn and grain can sometimes be used to advantage on farms where there are no fowls. Sometimes the poison is placed about the edges of young orchards and partially protects the trees from the teeth of the rabbits. "Jack rabbits are the pests which will give the farmer the most trouble for the next couple of years," said Prof. Lawrence Bruner, head of the department of entomology at the State university. "I have just returned from an extended trip in the western part of the state and was surprised at the number of rabbits I saw. "I know of no rapid plan of exterminating them. Organized hunts and raids take time and money, while the actual number of rabbits killed often does not repay the efforts made by the farmers." Two species of jack rabbits infest Nebraska. They are commonly known as black tails anil silver tails. There is no difference in their size, food or habits. Several scientists connected with the entomological department of the State university are now making a detailed study of these pests, with a view to inventing some scheme for their rapid extermination. s Young jack rabbits are very palata- i ble as food, but after three or four 1 months they become too tough to eat, 1 and game dealers are charry about i buying them.?Lincoln Nebraska, dis- i patch. 1 pisccUatKOUS grading. WHIPSAW TRICK AT POKER. Lively Card Playing on the Steamer* Before the War. New York Sun. It was never* hard to get old Caleb Mix, the bar-keeper on the river packet Natchez plying the lower Mississippi, :o talk of his earlier days. A chance luestion would start him. One day he vas asked if things had changed much jn the river within his recollection. "Yes, indeedy," he said, almost sady, "the Mississippi river isn't what it ivas befo' the war. You see some card ilayln' on the boats now; but there's 10 such games as I've seen hundreds o' limes when I was a youngster in the jaloons on some o* the packets on the ower Mississippi. "It was poker they played, almost al:ogether. In them days It was no itrange thing for professional gamblers :o travel the river all the time, an' there va'n't much doubt that the cap'ns on lome o' the old River Belle that run "m Memphis plumb through to New Orleans, was one o'.them kind that wouldn't have no tricks played on a jassenger on his boat- by nobody." "O' course, we had our orders, an' ,vhat we uns had to do was to report ;o him if we seen anything that looked :rooked. I was only second bartender ihen, an' hadn't much to say, my boss )eln' a man that'd a good deal druther lad more doin' on the boat than the :ap'n 'd stand for. Beasley?he were ny boss?he'd worked on other boats jefo' where the cap'ns wa'n't so strict, Ln' he were a little raw when he found -ap'n Barker wouldn't stand for it. "One time we was layin' up at Mem>hls between trips an' I was in a saoon when Beasley come in with two itrangers an' walkln' into a back room vith 'em they called for a bottle of vine. I didn't think nothin' of it then, rat the next day when we was about o start down the river, them two men :ame aboard. They was dressed diferent an' they didn't come together. They didn't neither of 'em speak to 3easley. Just naturally I didn't say iothin'; but I says to myself they'd rath be playin' poker befo* long, an' nore'n likely they'd play at the same able. If they did, I made up my mind o speak to the cap'n an* not to Beasey. "That night after I knowed the lalies was likely all gone to their state ooms, I got~ a chance to go into the ' naln saloon an' take a look around, an' ust as I expected them two was seiun vlth three other men playin' poker. I Ildn't wait to see no mo'. I Just huntid up the old man an' told him the vhole story. He were mad clean hrough. He kind o' chewed his lip a nlnute an' then says: " 'I want you to watch that game for iwhile an' see If you can see anything irooked.' "Well, I stood watchin' the game for i long time befo' I could make out ust what was doin*. Close as I watchd, I couldn't see anything wrong about he play. Then all of a sudden it flashid on me. It was after one o' the itrangers, the taller one o* the two, he ailed hisself Major Hardy, had made l bet that somehow seemed to me like ' l bluff. "He was third man to play, the other itranger ha^in' the age, an' the two nen befo' him, Judge Ross and Mr. Tartwright havin" both come in. The inte was $1 an' by the two comin' in here was five in the pot when this Maor Hardy raised it five. O' course here was nothin* strange in that: but lomehow I felt it were a signal to the >ther feller, an' I watched what he'd lo. "The dealer was a planter from Arcansas named Bolles. He skinned his :ards down very careful an' studied a vhile an' finally come in, seein' the alse. That made $19 in the pot an' the ige man's next say. I felt sure that le was goin' to raise back; but he 1 Ildn't, not then. I hadn't seen much ?' the whipsaw racket befo' that night, >r I reckon I'd ha' tumbled sooner; but hem two had it down fine. "Well, the judge and Mr. Cartwrlght >oth made good, so the pot was $35 jefo' the draw an' all five was a playn'. The age man, Pearson, his name i vas, he took one card, the judge took [ hree, Cartwright three, Hardy two , md the dealer one. It looked, o' course, like Hardy had the best hand 0 draw to; but they was all holdin' heir cards close as a good player alvays does, an' I never knowed, really, vhat any of 'em had for there wa'n't , 10 show down on that deal. "The judge he throwed in a white :hip, which was Jl, without lookin' at lis cards, an' Cartwright did the same, t was good poker, for they was waitn' to see what Hardy would do, an' ust naturally he put up $10. That was 1 good play, too, for if he had made a >lg bet it would ha' looked like a bluff, jut beln' no bigger 'n 'twas, it looked ike he was trying to catch suckers. "Whether he was or not he got one, or Bolles seen nis ten an raisea mm wenty. I reckon he'd filled a flush; but inyway Pearson, he looked at his one ard an' come in without raisin'. That ooked queer to me, for if he was strong mough to play, he oughter been strong enough to raise; but he knowed ,vhat he were doin' all right. "The judge and Cartwright both laid iown, an Hardy, he h'isted it fifty, an' Ike a flash I seen that Hardy an' Pearson had Bolles hooked. If he made food, Pearson would raised again an' Hardy would raise him; but if Bolles aid down, Pearson would lay down, oo, so there wouldn't be no showdown. "Bolles must ha' had a flush or a small full, for he made good, an' he ivouldn't ha' done that much if he ladn't had a strong hand, an' he'd ha' -aised again if he'd had fours or even i high full. Whatever he had, he had to show, for Pearson raised it fifty an' Hardy raised him fifty, just as I ex pected, an' tnen cones iaia aown an u Pearson did the same. fo "It were the biggest pot the'y had, G an' Bolles must ha' felt pretty sore; but ct he didn't say nothln' an I don't reckon to he suspicloned anything, for he didn't b: know, what I did, that Pearson an' th Hardy was pals. I c'd see that he was at puzzled at Pearson's play, as I would M ha' been myself if I hadn't been lookin* io for it; but he dug up some more money It on' tho era ma wont on. D "Then I says to myself that the next H time it come Hardy's age, Pearson n? would make the same play that Har- li< dy had, an' if they caught any one of of the other three they'd work it the same M way. If they did, I knowed I'd seen Pf enough, an' all I had to do was to re- th port to the old man. "Sho' enough, that was what hap- 'n pened, an' they caught the Judge on a ai double raise for about $75; but still no- b( body but me seen anything wrong tl< about it. When I told the cap'n about Pc it, though, which I did inside o' three cl; minutes, he seen it quick enough, an' tr he come into the saloon like a gale o' ra wind. Marchin' up to the table like a kr reg'Iar army officer, he says, very quiet, t*1 but stern, like: n? " 'This game stops right here.' Pc "They all looked up, mighty sur- C< prised, an' Judge Ross, he were a "f white-haired old gentleman, he spoke m up sort o' sharp. ev " 'What do you mean?' he says. t0 'Can't a party o' gentlemen amuse a themselves with a game o' cards on Pe your boat?' co " 'They certainly can,' says the cap'n sp very poiue. l naven i me sugniesi objection judge, to your playin' all you like with Mr. Cartwrlght an' Mr. i Bolles; but I ain't goln* to have no professionals usin' my boat for a gamblin' Gi house to swindle my passengers.' . ] "Them days, that kind o' tayk meant fight, an' I had my hand In my hip pocket all the time. I wasn't goln' to draw first; but I knowed my little book ' well enough to stand by the cap'n If J anybody else drawed. But them two fellows was good grit. Hardy spoke 8 first, an' spoke as quiet as the cap'n y had. " 'Since you mention three gentlemen by name,' he says, 'you must intend to insult the other two, and as for me you will have to answer. I am no brawler, pi sir, but you will not refuse to meet me 18 on the field of honor.' tr " 'And you will have to meet me also, CO sir,' said Pearson, just as quiet as Har- 00 dy. "I kept my hand on the butt of my '? gun, for I wa'nt certain, even then; but to what there'd be some shootin' right ,n there: but the cap'n, he says, just as cool as they: " 'If I was to do what I'd ought to, w I'd set you both ashore right here; but ar I'd rather enjoy the privilege of shoot- 'a In' at you, so I'll meet you both when we get to Vlcksburg. I'm goln' to lie se over there for three or four hours an' y there'll be time enough. But In the p* meantime you're on my boat an' I'm In command of her. I order you both to your rooms, and you'll stay there r till we reach Vlcksburg. An' if you make any trouble I'll put you both in IBIrons. CO "Well, there wa'n't no more to be said. They both began to bluster a lit- 1 tie; but the cap'n he called In the mate 1 an' give him his orders, an' the two had to go to their rooms, an' what's ye more they had to stay there. "I didn't see what happened in Vicks- gr burg, for the old man wouldn't let me or leave the boat. He fired Beasley at the first landing an' put me In charge of s the bar. But I know the two gamblers left the boat when we got there an' I heard after that the cap'n killed one ? of 'em an' wounded the other. He got ? shot himself in the second duel; but r a'n't hurt enough to lay him up, an' he took the boat on down the river Just as If nothin' had happened. Things ^ was very different, them days, from what they is now." ^ KOESTER EXONERATED. st ps The New Collector Get* the Best of th Deas and Gonsales. fr President Roosevelt has made a full st Investigation of the allegations against A Internal Revenue Collector Koester for "1 the latter's connection with 'a lynch- Bi Ing party" in South Carolina a long fo time ago. Various statements on the $5 subject were presented to the president, and although he had commission- ca ed Mr. Koester and the latter had filed in his bond, the president determined to (e make a full investigation of the sub- st ject in order to satisfy himself whether th the appointment of Mr. Koester was ar justifiable. There has been consider- he able correspondence on the subject and th Mr. Koester's frank and manly expla- ca nation of his participation in the lynching has induced the president to de- m clare that, so far as Mr. Koester is ic; concerned, the Incident is closed and th his appointment will stand. te Every one of the horrible details of Pi the lynching referred to, which in- or volved three demons charged with out- th raging a white woman, were laid be- on fore the president. Mr. Koester frank- yt ly related the details surrounding the sickenlner scene and the DOSSlbllity for CO the escape of the fiend who had com- ca mltted the outrage upon the white wo- at man. He related to what extent he to participated in the affair, in addition Cc to his duty as a newspaper reporter. n< He also supplied the president with a in copy of the story of the affair, which 0c he himself had written for publication, jo and added that, in view of the condi- ah tions which existed at that time, he fa considered his action justified. The victim was about to be burned at the Ai stake and Mr. Koester proposed a less of violent punishment for the fiend, in There is not a man with a drop of Ai American blood in his veins who elj would not have commended Mr. Koes- m ter's course in the circumstances, and fo President Roosevelt is satisfied that B; Mr. Koester will make a fearless and bi capable collector of internal revenue ad for the district of South Carolina. ac In this connection it is understood 93 mi i*ir. nueoicr i? uutmuy pic^cuiu >r changes in his list of deputiei eorge Washington Murray, a forme >lored congressman from the Charles n district, is being strongly urge / prominent Republicans outside c le state as one of the deputies. Ser ;or Mark Hanna, who Is interested 1 urray, has asked that some pro vis n be made for him in South Carolins is understood that Deputy Collectc eas, who publicly arraigned Senate anna for designating District Attoi >y Capers as a member of the Reput :an national committee, is slated fc Jlcial decapitation to make way fc urray. Deas not only made himse srsonally and politically offensive t ie administration during the contes +U/\ Kitf Via la CI me t'uiicwivioui}/, uuw nc 10 ii v sympathy with Collector Koester' >pointment. As Mr. Koester holds >nded responsibility for all his depu iB he will select men who are sup >sed to be friendly to him and in Ined to work to make the admlniE atlon of the office successful. Mur .y and Deas are from the same con -essional district, and it is expecte ere will be a lively row in the noml iting convention if Murray is ap tinted to succeed Deas. Just hoi illector Koester relishes being ob red to appoint a colored deputy re ains to be seen. He may feel, how rer, that he can make some sacriflc win the friendship of so formidabl leader as Senator Mark Hanna, ee daily as it will only be swapping on ilored man for another.?Washingto iecial of Thursday to News an jurier. LMERICAN SHIPPING PROGRESS. rent Increase of Tonnage on th Lakes and In the Coasting Trade. The report of Mr. Chamberlain, th nited States commissioner of naviga in, states that the past fiscal year ha sen the third successive year of nota e prosperity and growth in America lipping, exceeding the two previou >ars. The extent and nature of wor ider way or projected in ship yard -omlses an even greater growth fo ie current fiscal year. American tonnage has now attalne actically the former maximum c 61. The figures of 1901, compare ith 1861, show an Increase in coastin ade vessels from 2,704,544 tons to 4, 2,683 tons (two-thirds of this increas sing on the Great lakes), a decrease i reign trade vessels from 2,496,984 ton 879,595 tons, and a decrease in whal g and fishing from 338,375 tons to 61, 0 tons. Of our total tonnage 3,623,201 tons at ooden vessels, and only 1,901,017 ton e iron or steel. In 1900 Great Britai unched 1,440,000 tons of steel vesseli Although registered American vet In tnrrPRsed 62.435 tons during th >ar, American vessels carried only 8, sr cent, of our exports and Import! e smallest percentage In our hlstorj Our fleet of ocean steamers In forelg ade, the report says, Is too small to b mpared with that of foreign nation! Is compared with the fleets of ou rge British and German steamshl rporations, each of which exceeds th merlcan fleet In tonnage, mileage an islness. The tonnage built and documented 1 e United States during the past flscs :ar comprised 1,580 vessels and 4S3.4C oss tons. The steel vessels under constructlo under contract during the curren ical year will much exceed slmila nnage built in any previous yeai le bureau is advised of 98 such met lant vessels of 355,645 gross tons, t > valued at about 836,000,000. Besld ese 71 naval vessels of 281,148 ton splacement are building at contrac ices of 878,000,000. In this work 4 ants with a capital of about 868,000, 0 employing about 64,000 men are en iged. The building of ten trans-Atlantl earners presumably rests on antici Lted legislation by congress. Six fc e Atlantic transport line are bulldin om the same plans used in bulldin earners for the same company. Th merlcan cost of a steamer of th dinnehaha" type will be 81,864,000, th ritish cargo steamers will be 8729,00! r which the British price ranges fror 34,000 to 8486,000. The difference in wages on Amerl .n and foreign vessels is considere detail. In illustration, the payro xcluding master) of 380. men on th earner St. Louis is 811,300; of 427 o o tji-ihqVi atpamcr Oceanic is 89.90< id of 500 on the German Kaiser Wil dm der Grosse $7,715. The German 1 e fastest steamship and the Ameri n is the smallest. The report contains a detailed state ent of the foreign voyages of Amer an vessels last year, showing tha e American flag was seen much of ner on the North Atlantic durin -esident Jefferson's embargo (1808 during the cruises of the "Alabama an at present. Foreign shipping i ir Pacific trade has doubled in thre >ars. The purchase of the Leyland line i nsidered as evidence that America ipital is willing to invest in ocea eamships. that there is an advantag American exporters in America introl of ocean steamships, even I )t under the American flag, and tha the coming development of ou ean transportation facilities the un n of trunk railroad lines and steam lip corporations will be an importan ctor. Including: the Leyland purchas merican capital owns fully 670,000 ton steamers under foreign flags, whic actual carrying power exceed al merican vessels now engaged in for ijn trade. The war and navy depart ent also own 126,847 gross tons o reign built transports and colliers y various special acts, 56 foreigi lilt vessels of 132,187 tons have bee: Imitted to registry. American mone; cordingly of late years has purchasei 1,000 tons of foreign built stee 5 oicoinuo, mute kitvtv s. been built In the United States 1,006,>r 00 tons of steel steam vessels of all i- kinds. d The principal foreign and American if ocean mail contracts are printed In i- full, and It is shown that at the presn ent prices of steamships, British ocean i- mall contracts are more advantageous l. for steamship lines than American conir tracts under the act of 1891. >r * MINE HAS FABULOUS RICHES. 1- ? ir HI* Arlionn Property Makes Senator ,r Clark the Wealthiest Man In the lf World. o The American Mining News contains it the following article about the great ?t United Verde mine, the property of a Senator W. A. Clark, which, If correct, a would Indicate that It is probably the t- richest mine and he the richest man in i- the world. i- "In my recent letter I made some ali luslon to the fact that Yavapai county contained more dividend paying mines i- than any other mining section of like d size in the United States. In addition - to this statement it can be said that i- Yavapai county Is undoubtedly proy duclng today more value in actual meti al than any other section of like area in (- the world. According to statistics at - hand at the beginning 01 this month e the metal output of this county e amounted to $120,000,000, and at this i- rate at the close of the year it would e show an output of $180,000,000. n "It has only lately come to light that d the average value of the ore taken from the United Verde is $75 per ton in all values?gold, silver and copper. This mine, so far as has been developed, including explorations and diamond drille ings below the present workings, shows an immense ore chimney 400x600 feet across that has been explored by tune nels, shafts and drill holes to a depth of 1,400 feet. 8 "Just how far it will be possible to work this mine down before the heat n limit is reached is hard to say, but a 8 reasonable estimate would be at 3,000 k feet. An estimate by one of the best 8 mining engineers In this country shows ir that the mine to the depth of 1,400 feet contains 336,000,000 cubic feet of ore, and, estimating 11 cubic feet to the ton, there is practically 23,000,000 tons d in sight. B "It we carry these figures a little r farther on the present four values of le the United Verde we have the average n value of the ore equaling 12,600,000,000. 13 These are not fancy figures, but represent the actual production of the prop>" erty, and can be verified by any one familiar with mining work. The present >e owner of the property has refused $500,18 000,000 for the mine. It can be said n with safety that it has become so valB uable that there is not a syndicate or corporation that could put up the mone ey to buy it. Several giant syndicates 2 have looked into the property with a J> view to purchasing it outright, but r- when they tackled the figures above n mentioned their hopes of ever become ing owners of the United Verde dis' appeared forever."?Phoenix, Arizona, r dispatch to the Indianapolis Journal. P . e Bridal Superstitions. ^ Relative merits of the various months with regard to matrimony are set forth " in the old rhyme which runs: "Marry when the year is new, 19 Always loving, kind and true; When February birds do mate n You may wed, nor dread your fate. t If you wed when March winds blow, 11 Joy and sorrow both you'll know, r Marry in April when you can, r. Joy for maiden and for man; Marry in the month of May, You will surely rule the day; 0 Marry when June roses blow, e Over land and sea you'll go. is They who in July do wed, ,t Must labor always for their bread. Whoever wed in August be, W Many a chance are sure to see. ,- Marry in September's shine, Your living will be rich and fine. If in October you do marry, Love will come, but riches tarry; ? v J 1*> KIaoL XTAtrntn Kor V 11 )UU W CU xxi uicarv AivT?iuuvit |. Only joy will come, remember; When December's snows fall fast Marry, and true love will last." g Of the days In the week, Wednesday e Is the best and Saturday the worst on e which to get married. The old rhyme e runs: e "Monday for wealth, ). Tuesday for health, n Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for crosses, ? Friday for losses, l" Saturday no luck at all." d If we are to believe superstition, a 11 bride's happiness depends not a little e on what she wears. "Something old n and something new, something borrow>. ed and something blue," Is invariably - regarded by brides. According to an s old rhyme; - "Married in white. You have chosen all right. Married in gray, You will go far away. Married in black, t You will wish yourself back. >_ Married in red, You had better be dead. g Married in green, 1) Ashamed to be seen. " Married in blue, You'll always be true. Married in pearl, e You'll live in a whirl. Married in yellow, s Ashamed of the fellow. Married in Drown, n You'll live out of town, n Married In pink, e Your spirit will sink." n ? i if Cleveland Started It.?In speaking c of Roosevelt's dinner with Booker r Washington, the Philadelphia Bulletin " says: Other presidents, notably Grover Cleveland, have had colored guests at t the executive mansion. Very little criticism was heard when Mr. Cleveland ? entertained Frederick Douglass, the s then most conspicuous man of the colli ored race in the United States. The II mere fact that President Roosevelt, - coming into office as he did, invited - Washington to dine with him so shortf ly after his election to the highest ofj. flee within the gift of the American n people, has started a furor throughout n the country, and the results so far as y he is concerned are likely to injure his d interests as a candidate for the Repub>1 lican presidential nomination in 1904.