Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, February 01, 1902, Image 1
" ^ ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL^
; r
i. m. orist 4 sons, Publishers.} % jt'amiln Jlfurspuptr: J; or the promotion of the golitiral, facial, gjjritultural, and Commn;tial gnteresta o)f the $ to fit. {""mcKoijlm? kmPtVsASCE'
ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. O., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1902. ISTO. IP.
' -- ' - ? ?- CHARLESTON'S BLACK WINGS.
THE KNIFE'
By FREDERICK VAN
Author of "Not Like Other S
Silence,
Copyright, 1901, by Frederic Van Renssel
CHAPTER VIII. 1
80ME STARTLING REVELATIONS. [
// Jk RE you quite sure that you i
* XX were not followed?" she In- ^
^ quired after their greetings {
were over.
"Quite so, senorita," replied Wynd- t
ham, with a smile.
Then In a few words he related all (
that be bad done to obviate such a possibility.
and she laughed heartily at bis (
description. t
Craig Wyndham had prepared to encounter
beauty when be entered the
presence of Carmen del Puente, and t
yet when the reality was before him he j
was tionscious of a shock of surprise.
Beauty In women had never affected
him beyond the point of mere adrniratlon,
but the earnest, steadfast eyes,
perfect features and high character
that shone in the face of Carmen del
Puente awoke some hitherto dormant
sense of appreciation within him. Be- j
fore be had been ten minutes in her
presence he felt as if they were old
friends, as if somehow or somewhere j
they had known each other always. .
There were sincerity, truth, earnest- ^
* * * ?J In uno.
ess, nign purpose auu luuuuiuauic ?wolutlon
in every expression of her features,
In every gesture she made, and
Wyndham, who rarely trusted anybody
until that person bac} been thoroughly
tried, felt that be might with complacency
put Implicit trust in this woman.
"We have a long Interview before us.
Mr. Wyndbam," she said presently. "1
want you to be comfortable and thoroughly
at your ease, so I have taken
the liberty of providing some very excellent
cigars for you to smoke. You
need not hesitate. You kuow, in my
country we are accustomed to tobacco
smoke. You will be more comfortable
If you can waste your temper on the
end of a cigar when I say things to
annoy or astonish you."
He took her at her word 'without
comment. They sat opposite each otber
at one end of the room, while the
duenna remained at the other, industriously
sewing or knitting or doing
drawnwork, Wyndham could not tell
which.
"Y hnllovo rair tnlk WAS to be abOUt
the duel," he began by way of opening.
"I think," she replied slowly, "that
the duel Is only an incident among
many others we are likely to discuss. ,
I told you this afternoon that I was
a former friend of Mr. Pendleton. ,
That statement was quite true, though
somewhat misleading. I was his friend,
but lie did not know it It is possible
that "he regarded me In a contrary light.
It Is strange, if he mentioned the duel
to you. he did not speak of me."
"He might have done so, senorlta,
had his life been spared a few hours
more. We were to have discussed his
affairs the evening of his death, but
he was murdered before I arrived."
"Murdered!"
She leaped to her feet with flashing
eyes and for support grasped the back
of the chair on which she had been
seated. For a moment she stood gazing.
wide eyed, at Wyndham, and then
slowly she reseated herself.
"Did you not know that be was murdered?"
asked Wyndham calmly.
"No. I knew that he was dead, of
course. Word came to me of that in a
IaHam fKJo rtlfrr Kllf fhnpa tttq a
ICklCl 11VUI kUlO VIIJ, UUV vuvtv ?IMW
nothing said about violence."
The papers were full of the affair."
"Ah. yes. But such news seldom
reaches us In Mexico. Murdered! My
God! It is awful! 1 should have warned
him of his danger. I might have
done so, but I did not regard it as necessary.
Tell me about It. Mr. Wyndham."
"There is not much that 1 can tell.
The affair is a great mystery. I believe
the detectives are still at work upon
the case, but only in the effort to And
a man whom 1 know to be innocent."
"Tell me about it." she repeated.
"Tell me all you know about it."
She uttered the words in the tone of
one who has the right to know, and
Wyndham, with sudden confidence
that was Inexplicable to himself, complied.
He related in detail everything
that occurred from the moment when
he first met Pendleton after his return
from Mexico until the discovery of the
body and the sending away of old
James In order that he might be suspected.
Two things only he omitted?
he did not mention the fact that he
suspected Escudera of the crime, and
he said nothing about his belief that
an explanation of the motive could be
found in the secret matter connected
with Pendleton's visit to Mexico. Nor
did he refer to that brief instant when
he stood before the dead body of his
friend and glanced back toward the
open door as if to measure the distance.
He had thought then that the
weapon was thrown at Its victim from
the doorway, but he had never mentioned
that idea to anybody. Even
now he remained silent concerning it.
She heard him through to the end
without uttering n word In reply, but
when he had finished she said very
quietly:
"Describe to me again the room
where you found him; or, better?have
you a pencil??draw me a diagram of
it."
He did so, and she studied it long
and earnestly. Presently she asked:
"Is there nothing between this
point"?she. placed the point of the
THROWERS
RENSSELAER DEY.
fen,'* "The Urotherliooci of
" Etc.
aer Day.
)encll on the spot which he had Indi:ated
as the" position of the chair?
'and this?" She touched the place
narked doorway. "I mean by that is
here no chandelier or table with a
all object upon it directly on a line
Irawn from here to here?" Aud she
udlcated the two points again.
"Nothing whatever ? not even a
:hfdr." he replied.
Carmen rose from her chair and
;rossed the floor twice. Then she retimed
and resumed her seat.
"Mr. Wyndham." she said slowly
md Impressively, "did you ever hear
hat a favorite pastime among Mexcans
is knife throwing?"
"Yes."
"How far Is it from the door to the
;bair where you found him?"
"About twenty feet"
"My frieud?you will permit me to so
egard you?the knife or dagger or
whatever it was that took the life of
iurr Pendleton was thrown from the
loorway, and he did not even see the
irm that hurled It. But. Mr. Wyndlam,"
aud she leaped to her feet In
jonslderable excitement, "I have seen
bat arm and that hand many times,
ind so have you!"
"Possibly," replied Wyndbam, unnoved.
"You know, then? You know?" she
lemanded.
"No, seuorita, 1 do not know; I only
mspect. But I mean to know some
Jme."
"Ah, but I know now. I do not bus>ect?I
know."
"Well?"
Carmen burled ber face In her bands,
)ut she did not weep. She was thinkng.
"I can see it all," she said finally.
'He pretended to leave the rooms, but
tie did not do so. He remained. He
watched his opportunity. When It
:ame, he stepped to the door, pushed
it softly open, wide enough for his purpose,
and then he threw the knife and
walked quietly out of the house. Yes,
1 can see it I know It Is so."
"Of whom are you speaking, senorita?"
"I am speaking of Carlos Escudern,
my own cousin."
"Good God!" exclaimed Wyndbam.
"What? Did you not suspect him?"
"Yes, but"?
"But it shocks you to bear that he Is
related to me?"
"Yes. I think that is what startled
me."
"I thank you for that thought. Mr.
Wyndbam. It means more than you
She leaped to her feet totth flashing eyes.
Intended it should or more than you
thought when you uttered it. My
mother was a Romero. Escudera's
mother was her sister. His name Is, in
Spanish. Eseuderu y Uoinero. My
name is Del Pueute y Romero. Do you
understand ?"
"Yes. Who, then, is the Romero with
whom Burr fought the duel?"
"Ah! We have uot arrived at that
point yet. will explain it all to you
when we do. but first let us finish with
this one. Does Eseudera know that
you suspect him?"
"I don't know; 1 don't think so. Pardon
me if I insist upon returning to
the name of the duelist. Tell me, Is
Eseudera related to him?"
Iiw qpu omicinc nl<n "
"Anil is Captain Romero also a cousin
of yours?"
"I ilo not like to admit that. Mr.
Wynilham. Please remember that I
have not done so. You will think all
my relatives are murderers."
"Pardon lite. I am a brute. 1 am"?
"You are the living friend of the
man who was foully murdered. I am
the cousin of the brute who murdered
liim. Rut I am even more than that.
Mr. Wyndham: more than that even to
Carlos Escudera. for I am his utUauced
wife."
It was Wyndham's turn to leap to his
feet, more agitated than he remembered
ever to have lieou before. Ills heavy
brows drew down in an ugly scowl over
his eyes, half shading them, and his
square jaws set themselves together
with indomitable resolve. Rut the expression
lasted only an instant. Then
his face cleared into a settled look of
utter contempt.
"So." he said, "you brought me here
to trap me with your beauty. You
brought me here to induce me to spare
from the electric chair the murderer
whom you would marry, whose wife
you would become. You brought me
here at the bidding of Escudera. to
worm out of me for his sake all I know.
You would make me an accomplice
with you in"?
She held up one hand, and he paused.
There was no anger In her face. Tie
saw with amazement that there were
tears in her eyes. and he ground his :
teeth in renewed rage when he discovered
that she was smiling through
them. 11
"You forget that It was I who denounced
him. not you. You did not
permit me to finish what I was saying," c
she said. "I am the affianced wife of r
Carlos Escudera, but I hate him?oh, 8
how I hate him! As only-a woman of ^
my blood can hate! He killed Burr *
Pendleton. For that, woman though I 1
am, there is no torture to which I would
not willingly consign him. He killed ^
Burr Pendleton! He killed my"? p
She broke down and wept then with t
sobs that shook her as a raging storm 1
... . . , s
troubles the sea, sinking upon tuecuair t
again and burying ber face in ber y
hands. r
Craig watched ber silently. He was 1
wise enough to know that It was best j
to permit the storm to pass without in- r
terruption. He felt that a great reve- 11
lation had fallen upon him like a flood '
of light. A great pity for her filled his
heart. He knew how engagements are ^
entered into in Spanish countries and
that the woman is never consulted re- ^
gardlng the choice that is made for her,
and he knew?he thought he knew? j
that this womau had loved Burr. P
That of itself was sufficient in his
heart to render her aud her wishes
dear to him. lie asked himself in that t
moment of waiting, 'if I, a man, loved
Burr Pendleton so dearly, how utterly
must she, a woman, have loved him'/1"
When her sobs ceased, lie was standing
beside ner, and he touched her gently
upon her shoulder. He forgot his v
own harsh words, forgot that he had 8
uttered them, for he knew, in the other 8
and greater sorrow, she had not heeded
them. 0
"Was he so dear to you, senorita?" *
he asked. "Did you love Burr like
that?" *
She raised her face and looked Into ,!
his eyes. Then she rose and stood be- 8
side him. a
? - - ??-* ??? i a a.?? * ii.ui. 8
"les, soe saiu, 1 loveu uiuj. i in ma
I would bave worshiped him bad be 11
lived. He was all that I had left to p
love, but he died without knowing it?
without knowing me." fl
"Without knowing you?" repeated r
Craig. "I do not understand."
She placed one delicate band on either
of bis shoulders and looked steadily
Into his eyes with an expression 1
that Craig Wyndham never forgot.
"You were his friend, and you will
be my friend," she said. "Mr. Wynd- S
ham, Burr Pendleton's father was my I
father. He was my brother. I was his C
sister, and he is dead and never knew h
It Oh, if I had only told him all that A
night! But I did not dare?I did not J
dare. You will believe me? You will s
not doubt me? He was my brother? I
my brother! And I was so proud of v
him! I loved him?I loved blua!" d
In her great sorrow she forgot all t
else. She remembered only that she
was in the presence of the man who 1<
had been her brother's friend and who ti
would be her frieud, and she laid her t
head against his stalwart shoulder and n
wept anew. c
TO BB CONTINUED. a
PITTSBURG MILLIONAIRES. ?
_______ s
Storlew Illustrating the Rivalry ^
That Exists Among Them. a
The development of the steel indus- ^
try has made Pittsburg a town of mil- ^
lionaires, and most of them are men
who started without a cent. Of course j
the fact that they have become
wealthy by their own efforts is greatly
to their credit, but it does not help ^
them in spending their money. Besides.
there is a great deal of rivalry ^
among them and much striving to out- ^
/1A ao AV? nthor
uv cavti vrw?v>*?
A story is told of two rival men of ^
millions who have fine houses in Pittsburg's
Fifth avenue. One of the rich
men heard that the other was having
two electric elevators installed in his ^
house. He telegrahped to a New York
firm for four house elevators. A man
was sent out to draw the plans. j
"But where on earth are you going t
to put all these elevators?" he asked .
c
in amazement when he looked over the
a
architect's plans.
"I don't care where you put them," ^
replied the rich man. "Put them any- t
where, but put them. Smith has got
two elevators in his new house, and
I'm going to go him two better.' I
One of the richest Pittsburgers was c
in the smoking room of a Pullman car j.
recently when the son of a rich friend t
entered and took a seat near him. ^
"My boy," said the old man, "do you
know that there was once a time when
I positively envied your father?" v
The young man was pleased, for the t
old man was richer by three of four v
millions than his father.
"And when was that?" he asked, c
smiling. j
"Well, It was a long time ago. You t
see, I was working in a ditch, shovel- t
ing dirt, for $1.50 a day. Your father x
was working in the same ditch, but he r
got $1.75 a day." p
The youth no longer smiled, for he j
has been trying all his life to forget r
that his father once worked with his t
hands.?New York Tribune. c
The Time to Charge.?At the taking
of Moscow, while the troops sat in
their saddles under a murderous fire.
Murat, Napoleon's dashing chief of
cavalry, received a dispatch to which
an answer was required. Though his
mettlesome horse was trembling, Murat
laid the reins upon the horn of the
saddle, took his notebook in one hand
and a pencil in the other, and began to
write a response. Suddenly a shell fell
and exploded on the ground close by.
The horse leaped into the air and
swung wildly around.
Murat simply transferred the pencil
to the hand that held the notebook,
calmed the horse with the other hand,
and then went on writing his dispatch
as if nothing had happened. A shout
of admiration went up along the line.
Murat saw that the enthusiasm aroused
by his trilling act had created a favorable
moment for a charge. He gave
the order, and his men swept clear
through the enemy's line.
piscdlattfdtis Reading.
A CURSE TO THE COMMUNITY.
rhe People Who Try to Poll Dowi
But Never to Build Up.
The Charleston News and Courier re
ltes some Instances where Charlestoi
nen have been heard depreciating th<
ittractlons of the Charleston West In^
lian fair and advising strangers thai
he show is not worth' seeing. Th<
fews and Courier says:
Tnese two men are specimens ui im
rery small, but vicious, fellows wh<
ire a curse to the communty. It Is t
>lty that the Jonah, who traveled or
he ship from New? York could not hav?
>een thrown into the sea. It Is e
hame that any drummer from this
own should be so confirmed a liar thai
le would seek In any way or for anj
eason to keep any person from coming
0 this city. It Is a reflection upor
.ny business house in Charleston thai
t should have in Its service any repesentatlve
who is not thoroughlj
dentifled in thought, purpose and efort
with whatever enterprise may b<
indertaken for the benefit of the city.
The condemnation is not too severe
1 citizen should not run his town and
ts enterprises down, even should hf
lave reason to feel that both towr
,nd its enterprise are of inferior qualty:
he can at least hold his peace
Jut to lie about the place that supiorts
him Is Inexcusable.
We fear that there are too many ol
his sort of detractors in the world. Intend
of accepting the situation as ar
pportunity for doing something tc
nake it better, they are engaged In
isparaging and pulling to pieces the
i-ork accomplished by others. One
ees what can be achieved by unity ol
entiment and effort such as is exhlbted
by the people of Atlanta, and it it
ne of the wonders of the time that
he people of other cities do not realise
that there is everything to be gaind
by imitating their example. Whal
3 needed is a greater flow of public
plrit, a stronger union in building ur
. thorough concert in recognizing and
etting forth whatever is praiseworthj
a the city, so that outsiders, seeing the
eople are confident and ready for enerprise,
will be inspired with like condence,
and join in the work of progess?Mobile
Register.
HAD NO TIMB TO WASTE.
eful and Bnir Life of Rev. John
D. McCnllongh, D. D.
Rev. J. D. McCullough, was born al
loclety Hill, Darlington county, or
)ecember 8. 1822. He entered the South
larolina college and graduated before
ie was 20 years of age. He married
llss Hattie Hart, of Columbia, S. C.,
une 29, 1842, who died recently. Foui
ons and four clpnghters survive him
lis oldest son, John, a manly youth
,-as wounded in his country's cause and
led at Frederick City, Maryland, Sepember
14. 1862, in his 19th year.
After graduation, Mr. McCullough
joked after his Pee Dee farm and
aught school for a time. He felt called
o the ministry, and soon after beginIng
preparation for that calling he
ame to Glenn Springs. He was made
deacon by Bishop Gadsden, Januarj
l, 1848, In Trinity church, Charleston
rdained to the priesthood at Glenr
prings, July 28, 1850. While pursuing
is studies he saw the need of missionry
work'in the Piedmont country and
e made up his mind that this was hie
eld. He began by building a chapel al
Menn Springs. The church at Sparanburg
was next. Then came St,
ohn's High school, where Converse colige
now is. Then followed a Femalt
chool of high grade at Glenn Springs
'hat was kent up for a few years. Th<
,*ar and consequent years Interfered
rith the work of establishing churches
>ut he never relaxed In earnest mln3terial
work. As soon as he was able
~ V*la mlaalnnorv wrkrlr q P'a 1 n
iC UCgan Alio illluvivi<u.> j ?T v. .. w.a
nd as a result of his suggestion, acual
help and untiring devotion, the
hurches at Gaffney, Blacksburg
Jreenwood and Saluda, N. C., were esablished.
Mr. McCullough was a careful, dilgent
student of church history anc
heological questions. He was admiraily
informed on the great movement!
nd revolutions in the church from it!
irganization. He was eminently quailed
for the title of D. D., which cam*
o him late in life.
It was seldom that his church or anj
ther church had a better reader of th<
iible lessons or sermons. Without anj
lerical tones or affectations of voice
le read in a clear, natural voice anc
hrew new light and meaning on whai
le read. We commend his simple
ilaln, effective style to the younf
ireachers of this day and time, some o
vhom slouch over the reading of Scrip
ure lessons, or affect a stage styl<
vhich is very tiresome.
The matter of his sermons was ex
ellent. His diction was always good
ie was most careful in the prepara
ion of every sermon he preached. T<
houghtful, intelligent people the:
vere helpful at all times. The writei
low calls to mind a series of sermoni
ireached nearly fifty years ago durin;
Jassion Week. In a most graphic man
ler did he bring eacn day s mciaenu
>efore his little audience in St. John'!
hapel.
He was one of the most industrioui
nen the writer ever saw. When not a
vork in his library he was busy in th<
garden or front yard, or work shop. Hi
lardly spent an hour in absolute idle
less. He rested by changing his styli
>f work. Long after he had passed thi
hree score mark he frequently walke<
o or from Glenn Springs, a distanci
>f 12 miles, when he was preachinj
here. With his own hands he dl<
nuch of the work in building th<
hurches and chapels he established.
It was in the home circle where hi
vas at his best. Gentle, genial, al
vays cheerful and interesting, he wai
velcome in the homes of his friends a
ill times. No one who knew him eve
ooked on him as "company." If, whei
>ven in a hurry, he took dinner with i
,'riend, the family felt that a blessinj
vas left on the home. By his modesty
nis watcniui consideration 01 uinern,
his keen interest in all small things, he
I won the heart and affection of all.
But above and over all these admirable
qualities of head and heart was his
i clear, strong, child-like, unwavering
faith in the Bible and religion he
- preached. He was progressive without
1 being radical, unmoved by any new
i doctrines, always abounding In faith,
- with a heart overflowing with love to
t all.?Carolina Spartan.
k ^
CHAT FROM CHEROKEE.
k
| What the Farmers Are Doing;?Some
1 iniereaniiK via duuki.
- Correspondence of the Yorkrllle Enauirer.
1 Etta Jane, January 25.?Some of our
t neighbors have sown their wheat land
r over on account of their getting such
! poor stands at the first sowing. In
f many places there was no wheat at all.
. Either the freeze or bad seed caused
r the failure to get a stand. Some urge
as the reason that the guano put In
' with it killed the seed.
Farm hands are scare, and a good
J deal of moving Is going on. In fact
, several agreements have been broken
off and landlords disappointed.
U. S. Senators Tillman and McLaurin,
who have abundantly supplied this
section with garden seeds from the agricultural
department, deserve the
, thanks of our people, and Congressman
Finley has been liberal In this respect
since he has been in congress. Besides,
he has shown our people many other
favors. He Is much Interested In giving
our people the best mail facilities it is
possible for them to have. If the people
In the rural districts do not get
what they want it will not be his fault.
Miss Annie Miller, of Fort Mill, is expected
to begin school at this place on
next Monday. Miss Anna McCarley,
who took charge of the school the first
of the month, was compelled to give it
up on account of the sickness of her
brother.
Since the establishment of the free
' ferry at Howell's, a great deal of travel
' ha a hopn cnlnc on between the two
! counties.
We had the pleasure of attending the
celebration of General Lee's birthday
at Limestone college on last Monday.
The large auditorium was filled with
eager listeners and participators, among
them the schools and college students.
Everything was conducted admirably
' and all passed off pleasantly.
The weather has been quite cold since
winter set in, and very little outdoor
1 work has been done by our farmers.
1 We have never seen the farming
! classes so completely discouraged. EvI
ery one who can is trying to change his
- business?either to working on! the
"halves" or for wages, and several have
gone to the knitting, mill and other
- places to hunt work.
I Through the kindness of Mr. J. R.
Poole, of Sunnyside, I am now In possession
of some very old and useful
1 books which he has given me the use
1 of. They treat on religion history
I and science by the best authors of the
day. These books are from libraries of
! the Poole and Carothers families. The
! title of one very Interesting volume la
T "A Sacramental Catechism, or A Fa>
miliar Instructor for Young Communi1
cants, plainly unfolding the nature of
' the covenant of grace with the two
' seals thereof?Baptism and the Lord's
1 Supper," by the Rev. Mr. John Willi-1
1 son, late minister of the Gospel at Dun- j
t dee." On the fly leaf we find this ln
scription: "John C. Carothers' Book,
bought this 23 day of December, 1802;
" price 5 shillings and 6 pence." On one
! of the blank bages this verse is found
written in ink:
! "John C. Carothers, his book?
I God give him grace thereon to look;
Not only look, but understand
That learning's better than house or
land;
. For when land's gone and money spent
, Then learning is most excellent."
Mr. John C. Carothers married Miss
? Rachel Burrlss, as his second wife.
, She was born and raised on Turkey
creek in York county, and has many
relatives in that section. She died sev.
eral years ago and was buried at Bul1
lock's Creek church, of which she was
. a member. j. l. s.
' THE KING OF THE FARM.
, TIiIm Title Belong* to Commonplace
Indian Corn.
r There is not much money in raising
? corn in the Piedmont, but we notice
f that the farmer who always raises corn
, to sell generally keeps his smokehouse
1 on the farm and there are no mortgages
t against him. If there is not much
money in it, it is a great money saver.
? The people need corn now. Their need
f will be pressing by the first of May.
. Some of them will feel as if the press
sure was about a ton to the square
inch. They will also need corn the first
. of next October. At that date there
. will not be ten bushels of old home
raised corn to the square mile in the
3 country. These are facts. What are
/ you going to do about it? Suppose we
r consider the matted a little while:
s For each horse you work or keep,
r plant for 100 bushels. For every ten
. hogs plant for the same amount. Do
3 not count more than 10 to 12 bushels to
3 the acre. Of course you can make 20
to 25 with a pencil on paper in Janua3
ry; but consider your average crop on
t poor land for the last ten years. Pens
cil crops are poor feed. Do you not find
e it so?
Begin by selecting good land. Break
s it thoroughly. Harrow it until it is in
=? eood condition for a seed bed. Just
j before planting time bed your upland
e so as to plant in the water furrow,
r Do not have your rows for ordinary
1 field corn narrower than five feet. If
e you plant some of the smaller and earlier
kinds make your rows four feet.
? On thin lands let the hills be four feet
. apart. If the land is good the hills may
s be three feet. On rich bottom land corn
t will make 5 by 2 feet.
r If you have the maaure to spare it
, is better to scatter it all along in the
x furrow; but few people can afford that
r this year. On pretty good land we have
seen very fine corn, 15 to 20 bushels to
me acre, wnen manure wus put 1x1 liic
hill. The manure should be fairly pulverized
so as to be available as plant
food. Two lively hands can manure
about four acres a day in the hill if
they do not have to haul it too far.
Most people plant corn too thick and
do not cultivate it fast enough. We
give the number of hills with distances,
so that one may know how many ears
he may expect to an acre provided he
makes an ear in each hill. The first
figures give the distance between the
rows; the second between the hills:
4 by 2 5445
4 by 3 3630
4 by 4 2722
5 by 2 4356
K hv 3 !>8fU
5 by 4 2678
5 by 5 1742
?Carolina Spartan.
ENGLAND'S STRANGE WARSHIP.
Like the Brick Man-o'-War at Chicago,
It Never Goe* to Sea.
The most novel warship In existence
appears on the admiralty list. It Is
known as H. M. S. Excellent, but H.
M. S. Excellent never weighs anchor,
never gets up steam with Belleville
or any other boilers, and has never left
these shores in search of any enemy.
The ship as a ship, in fact, does not
exist. H. M. S. Excellent is an admiralty
fiction. The name has been bestowed
upon what was 30 years ago e
mere mud bank off Portsmouth, but
which now, owing to the exertions ot
the "handy man," Is the most perfectly
equipped gunnery establishment in the
world.
On H. M. S. Excellent?or Whale Island,
as it is sometimes called?The
armor plates for British warships are
tested. Special proof butts have been
built for this purpose. For its supply
of armor plates the admiralty relies
entirely upon the enterprise of private
firms. Very few of these are wealthy
enough to put down the costly plant
necessary for producing armor plates
and stand the expense of the not less
costly experimental work that has to
be constantly undertaken if the manufacturer
would keep abreast of his
rivals. Great is the competition
among the few big firms who do produce
armor, and the result Is that the
admiralty are constantly being asked
to try some make of plate that is designed
to offer more resistance to projectiles
than the older patterns did.
'in other words, the admiralty lets the
nrivate firms do the exnerimentine- and
selects the best from the material offered
to It.
When a firm has produced something
they deem an advance upon the product
of their rivals they send It on
board H. M. S. Excellent and ask the
admiralty to subject the plate to the
official test. The armor Is built up In
proof cells against a strong backing of
oak to keep It rigid, and when everything
Is ready a day Is fixed for the
experiment
This is conducted by a party of gunners
under the direction of the captain
of his majesty's steamship Excellent.
Admiralty officials watch the proceedings
and the firm whose goods on trial
Is permitted to send representatives,
though the latter are little more than
spectators. Five projectiles are fired
at the plate, one at each corner and
one in the center. For testing fourInch
plates a 4.7-lnch gun Is used, for
six-Inch plates a six-inch gun, for
nine-Inch plates a 9.2-inch gun and for
foot thick plates a 12-inch gun. The
firing takes place at short range with
charges carefully calculated to give a
high sticking velocity to the armorpiercing
projectile that Is loaded into
the gain. When the gun is laid, (1. e.,
aimed,) everybody goes Into a bombproof
shelter and the weapon Is fired
by electricity.
As soon as the danger is over the
party emerge from their shelter. The
plate Is carefully examined, photographed
and the depth of the Indentation,
If any, measured. Time after
time is this repeated, if the plate
shows sufficient resisting power, until
the trial is completed. Sometimes the
projectile punches a hole through the
plate or cracks It in all directions, as
though It had been a bit of glass Instead
of a big mass of rolled steel.
Then an unfavorable verdict is given
and the unfortunate manufacturer
finds that research and experiment
that have perhaps cost him hundreds
of pounds will bring no return. When
any new invention Js brought to the
notice of the admiralty and is accepted
by the august body the Inventor is
required to disclose every detail ol
manufacture. It is, in fact, one of the
strictest rules that the process from
beginning to end shall be plainly
stated, so that a strict watch may be
kept by the properly appointed officials.
In this way, and in this waj
only, can the standard of quality be
assured.?London Mail.
Pacts About Presidents.?Twc
presidents of the United States were
elected by the Whig party during the
25 years of its existence as an organization.
These were William Henry
Harrison and Zachary Taylor. Both
died in office. The Republican party,
which succeeded the Whig party, has
elected in 41 years six presidents?Lincoln,
Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison
and McKlnley. Three of these?Lincoln.
Garfield and McKlnley?were assassinated.
This is a startling and a
tragic record.
The Democratic party has been in
existence 110 years. During half that
period it has been in power in the nation.
It has elected nine presidents of
the United States?Messrs. Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Van Buren,
Polk, Pierce, Buchanan and Cleveland.
Five of these?namely, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Jackson and Clevelandserved
two terms each. Of the entire
nine Democratic Dresidents elected in
110 years not one died in office. It is
worthy of note also that the only expresident
living: is a Democrat?Boston
Republic.
Like the Whlie \Hng> of Gotham,
They Help Keep *he City Clean.
Of all the odd pets I have ever seen
or heard of. It seems to me that
Charleston's pet buzzards go up at the
very top of the list. These buzzards
are not only allowed to roam about
the streets and market place at will,
but their lives are protected by law.
Recently I made my first visit to
Charleston In order to attend the opening
of the great exposition In that city,
which, by the way, let me say here, is
an enterprise of great magnitude and
most worthy of the praise and hearty
support of the people of the entire
country. While on the spot I determined
to investigate and And out for
myself about these strange pets of the
city authorities.
I had always understood that Mr.
Buzzard made his headquarters about
the centra] market, which is situated
on one of the principal streets, near
the United States custom house, and
between the Charleston Hotel and the
celebrated old church of St. Michael's.
One bright morning I started out. To
my great astonishment I soon walked
right up to a big flock of
these ebony birds, picking at bones
or loose scraps of meat, and moving
about on the market pavement
In quite a leisurely way and as unconcerned
about the life around them as
chickens in a farmer's barnyard. The
crowd of people going in and out of the
market paid no more attention to these
feathered monsters at their feet than
we do to as many English sparrows on
our streets.
I slowly drew nearer and nearer, all
the time watching them closely, for I
had never been so near birds of this
feather and odor in all my life. I was
surprised to And the sight so bewildering
as well as entertaining. To me
they seemed not only to be leisurely
engaged In eating their morning repast
but at the same time were Imitating
many of the different characteristics
of the human family. Their actions
were so true to nature in many phases
of human life that I almost felt I was
witnessing a real play, the pavement
oefore me being a stage. Soon it occurred
to me that buzzards perhaps
first became welcome visitors in the
streets of Charleston some hundred
years ago, not as scavengers, as the
modern Charlestonian will now tell you,
but simply to entertain the people by
their many odd and clever acts. I will
here note a few of their performances,
which I witnessed that morning.
One seemed to me to be the wag of
the flock and would raise one wing
much higher than the other, and in a
swaggering zig-zag way walk across
the street, which act seemed at least
highly satisfactory to himself. Another
would hold his wings in a most
graceful position and give a few steps
of that old-time favorite dance known
as the minuet. Others would stand
very erect while putting the tips of
their wings very close around their
feet and letting the upper parts stand
out a little, giving them the appearance
of imitating the members of the
United States supreme court in their
official gowns. Others appeared like
prim, dignified widows in deepest
mourning and with hearts bowed down
with sorrow. Some looked like haughty
bondholders with no poor kin and
plenty of money to burn. Others gave
an appearance of being poor and proud
and were Just certain they belonged to
the very first families of the land, and
that in their veins flowed purer blood
and more of it than any other buzzard
In the whole flock, while many others
cut to perfection the old-fashioned "pigeon
wing" with its many variations.
No wonder they are so haughty and
without regard for the rights and feelings
of others, for they have a trust
founded upon the richest scavenger
1 business in one of the oldest cities of
the land, and theirs was perhaps the
first trust in America. Trust magnates
among men are always supposed to be
defiant, and why should they not be
ike wise among buzzards?
! I had not been looking at their entertainment
long before they seemed
1 to recognize me as a stranger fresh
from up the country, for Charleston
people never appear to notice them any
1 more than they do the cobblestones
in the street. They shot at me about
the most defiant looks I ever had. I
' was plainly shown that they regarded
1 me as an intruder meddling with the
' affairs of my superiors, and the sooner
I would get about my business the
1 oetter. Some of them acted as if they
were enjoying among themselves a
: little bit of fun at my expense.
' I was there to Investigate tne duzzard
situation to the best advantage,
! and instead of leaving I drew nearer
' and made a motion with my umbrella
as if I were going to contend for the
} breakfast of one old fellow who was
picking at a bone on the pavement. He
showed great anger at being thus dis,
turbed in the enjoyment of his vested
, rights and held his wings in a most dei
hunt attitude, and his eyes fairly burned
with rage, which would have done
credit to our fighting American eagle
( himself.
I was struck with the fact that every
i one of these Charleston buzzards, like
all Chinamen, looked very old. If one
had been pointed out to me as having
done scavenger work there since Colonial
days, judging from appearances I
would not have doubted the statement.
Had another been designated as one
of the pair of buzzards that Noah had
in the ark, no one could truthfully say
that he looked too young for that favored
bird.
An old Charlestonian told me that the
buzzards neia unaispuiea ngma ums
long before the civil war, but during
that period they entirely deserted the
city. Soon after peace was declared
they returned to their old haunts and
again engaged in their old occupation
in helping the best they knew how
to keep Charleston clean. Their work
must continue to be satisfactory to the
people or the buzzard family could not
continue to hold their jobs.-rKnoxville
1 Sentinel.