Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1,7k" OEI8T8 sous, p?bu.h.r..} ? Tamils gfirnpagtr: J or the promotion of th< political, ^ociat.^gricaltnral and flSoatmwial jntmsis <sj lh< fti^. !""??w4."" ??V!V4,M'1' ESTABLISHED 1855. = YORKVILLE, 8. C., FH1DAY, .JANUARY 14, 1910. ISTQ. 4. ' Novelized bj \ Succesi 1' Frederic Thompson. Copyright. 1908. by CHAPTER XIV. The Perils of the Sea. The steamer Mongolian was pitching, tossing, pounding along sturdily as best * * L -l-v* W? sne couia cnrougn me nigui. rui icu 0 hours she had fought her way up the coast in the face of the worst storm of the season. Now, off Hatteras, the danger spot in the route from Porto Rico to New } York, the sturdy little liner scarcely seemed able to make any progress. She had been forced miles off her course and closer in toward the dangerous reefs than her captain liked. Not that the liner herself was in any grave danger, for the old Mongolian and her experienced captain had faced too many Atlantic storms for even a big one to alarm them. The hatches had all been battened down, the pas0 sengers were below, and the stanch steamer, stripped as much as possible, slowly rising to each attack of the waves, drove on with all the power of her engines under the storm. Up in the little wireless room, the f highest point on the ship, Harllng, the young operator, clung to his berth and wondered what was going to happen. It was his second trip to sea and his first big storm, so no wonder the young operator felt the thrill of the struggle and Just the faintest fear for the outcome. Every officer and man connected with the liner was on post, waiting { anxgiously for whatever might happen. They had little fears for the stanch Mongolian, but there were many ships RSi M He volleyed out Into the night a message ^ of cheer. less sturdy In those waters, and on such a night, with the vessel out of her course, there was no telling what might occur. The captain's last in^ struction had been to look out for wrecks. Most of the vessels of any size in these waters carried wireless outfits, and in case of trouble they would be sure at once to send out broadcast their appeals for help. Little could be done in any case, but at least the Mongolian could stand by to help as much 0. as she could or, if absolutely necessary, take advantage of the warnings to keep clear of wrecks, t For hours the pitching of the ship, timed irregularly to the roaring drive of the storm, had held the wireless 0 man fast at this post. It was now past midnight and with little chance of any abatement before dawn. Harling's nerves were on edge as he clung to his berth, wide eyed, alert, waiting, listening to the faintest click that might be the forerunner to tell of disaster and death. Half a dozen times his strained nerves had brought him ^ struggling from his berth to receive such a message, only to find his imagination had been playing tricks with his fear. Suddenly there came from the inp strument clicks so sharp, so distinct and yet so hurried that the young fellow sprang from the berth and stumbled to the table, sure now that at last something was coming. Again the Instrument clicked wildly. To the ears of the strained operator it brought a chill, for he knew it was the sending of some one wild with ' * V?Q 1 i Q ? W icar. rtiuiuuoi J, ..t .... tened. At first he could make out nothing. 'They're crazy!" he exclaimed to himself. "What's the matter with them? They're crazy." + The wild rattle of the receiver stopped, and Harling seized his own key. "What's wrong? Don't be a fool. Keep your nerves. Send sense." The touch of the key had brought him thoroughly to himself. His nerve tightened and his head grew cool as he drove his message fiercely out into the storm. He paused, listened eagerly, and again the receiver began to click, almost as wildly, as insanely, as before. Only the skilled operator could make out "C?Q?D." 7 "A distress signal!" he gasped. "It's come." Again the Mongolian's wireless operator seized his key and drove out his answer into the night. As he waited ne seizeu uie telephone connection direct with the captain's stateroom. "Captain, have Just received a distress signal!" he shouted. "Have sent them our position in course, but the fool seemed to have lost his nerve. Have not been able to get anything from him yet." The answer of the captain came back cool and sharp. W "Make him tell where he Is and who he is at once. I'll be with you." The receiver had begun to click again wildly, and Hailing, gripping the table to keep himself steady, listened with disgust, for the sending now was iVIRELESS [ ' Thompson Bochanna From tba ifnl Play of the Saam Name 1, HELL SMITH, FREDERIC IN and PAUL ARMSTRONG Fredaric Tbompaaa. All Righta Reitnred. 1 that of a man absolutely Insane from fear. "Help! Help! For God's sake help us!" was all the receiver clicked. At last it stopped a moment, and the Mongolian operator managed to cut in. "Send name and position," he pound ed fiercely. "Send position. Keep nerve. Send position." He stopped, grasping the table and waiting anxiously. "M-o-n-g-o-l-i-a-n!" the receiver clicked wildly. "The fool!" gasped Harling. "The dirty coward! .Sending that way at such a time!" He seized the key and drove out fiercely his command: "Send position." For reply the receiver clicked back in the same rattled way: "Yacht Irvessa breaking upon reef. For God's sake help us! Will pay any reward if you will save us at once! Help us quick, for God's sake!" The rage of the operator had risen. The thought of lives resting on the work of the coward was awful. "The fool!" he gasped. "If he's breaking up, why is he wasting time that wav?" And then his own message volleyed out Into the night: "What reef? Send position. Quick!" In panicky clicks the answer came back. It was the same Idiotic raving of a fear crazed man. "I'll reward you. I am E. H. Pinckney and rich. Have thirty on board. Will reward handsomely." Again Harling drove out the short demand for the position of the wrecked yacht. Then, as he wafted for reply. he seized the captain's telephone a second time. "It's the yacht Irvessa, captain. She reports going to pieces. There's a frightened fool at the key?E. H, Pinckney. Can't even get his position, I'm doing my best, sir, but Pinckney'e lost his nerve completely. If they had a man at the key we might get something." He hung up the phone to listen in disgust and despair to Pinckney's ravings driven out through the storm. There was no chance for Harling to send. The man at the Irvessa key kept pounding, with no sense to his messages. As the Mongolian operator "Waned for h break to cut in the captain. driven by the force of the wind, fairly burst into the little wireless room. "Well," he snapped, "What is it now? Have you got the position of the Irvessa ?" Harling shook his head in disgust. "I can hardly make out what he says, captain. His sending is awful. Uo'o a arr\nt1 nnprator too. I belieVe. only he's lost his nerve completely. But as nearly as I can make out"?he listened a moment anxiously?"It's a little "better now. He says Irvessa, bound for New York from Porto Rico, [ struck reef two hours ago. Don't know where." "Yes, yes, I understand." broke In the captain Impatiently. "But can't he give us any Idea of his course?" Candada reef Is the only charted reef within 200 miles of our present position. Could you send 200 miles tonight?" Harling shook his head. "I don't think we could, sir. And 200 miles for a yacht would be impossible. Wait a minute." He sprang to the key again and with firm, emphatic strokes drove an Imperative message. "What's that?" asked the captain. "I asked for his radius of communication?how far he could send," explained Hailing. He waited a moment, and then the receiver began again its nervous, frightened clicking. The face of the listening operator brightened. "Sixty miles," he exclaimed, translating the clicks. "Why, we must be within forty miles to get him at all tonight. But we are going toward him. We might now be within thirty miles." The captain shook his head. "Yes. but where?" he said. "It may be in any position. Anywhere within a forty mile reach, ahead or on either beam, and tonight we can scarcely see n miarter mile with the searchlieht." Again the receiver began a wild tattoo. The light went out of Harllng's face as he listened. Then he turned almost piteously to the captain. "He says they're breaking up, sir. For God's sake"? The clicking stopped suddenly. The two men in the wireless room looked at each other, and slowly each saw the horror grow in the eyes of the other. They waited with blanched faces. The receiver stayed still. "They're gone," said the captain softly at last, and outside the wireless room the wind roared triumphantly, while the big waves pitched the ship about in the teeth of the gale. Harling dropped back into a chair. "Gone!" he muttered stupidly. "Gone!" And then, to his plain imagination, there came the picture of the yacht breaking up and the thirty going down to death in the sea. Perhaps they might be closei; they might be almost on them. Perhaps there was still time. And then the thought, "Suppose there are women, too, on board," came to the young operator. Harling sprang to his feet. "No, no!" he yelled loud above the storm. "They shan't be gone! We will save them!" He sprang to the key and desperately. rebelliously. volleyed out into the night a message of cheer and hope. "We're coming. We'll save you yet. Where are you? Hang on!" The captain laid his hand gently on the young fellow's shoulder. "It's no use, I fear, boy," he said softly. "They are gone. That's the way it is at sea. You've done all you could, boy. Make a full report and transcription for me. If you should get another call send for me at once." Turning, the old seaman opened the door of the wireless room to fight his way along the deck to the lookout's position. Inside the room young Hariing dropped Into a chair before his instrument and, bending over, buried his head in his hand. Suddenly he sat up straight, tense in every nerve and muscle. What was that? Was It his imagination playing tricks again? No. He could not be mistaken. There it was again. He looked, listened, then sprang to his feet, with a shriek of Joy, for the little recorder in front of him began again slowly, as though tired, to click. "A-A-A-A." He read it off aloud, with regret. "Just some battleship." he said bitterly to himself. That's the navy aloud hysterically, for it was the navy call." Next his face lighted, and he laughed aloud hysterically, for it was the navy call, but it came from the Irvessa. Im patiently the operator seizea me telephone. "Captain, captain," he shrieked, "I've got the Irvessa again, sir! Not Pinckney this time. There's a man at the key. We can get something from this one. He can't send much, but he's all there with his nerve." He dropped the telephone again as the receiver began to click: "Yacht Irvessa aground on reef. Position unknown, but within thirty miles of your getting this message. To indicate relative position storm center now passing directly northeast of us. Heaviest lightning northeast by east. Can you make out our position?" The captain had re-entered the wireless room by the time the message was delivered. "Tell him," exclaimed the officer, "we can make out his probable position. We are steering southwest by west to find him. Ask him how long he can last." The answer to the message came back slowly, with every dot and dash absolutely distinct: "Half an hour." "Tell him," commanded the captain, "we are twenty miles away probably and can't make better than 12 knots an hour in this storm." A terrific flash of lightning for one blinding instant lit up the mountainous waste of waves outside. "Ask him where that lightning was," shouted the officer. "East by north," the receiver clicked back. In another minute the course of the ship had been changed one point to the southward, and all this while the receiver slowly but steadily clicked out guiding news. "We have two boats. Both boats left yacht ten minutes ago during break In communication with you. They seem understand direction you coming. First boat making for you. Look for its lights." An expression of admiration came on the face of the old seaman. "Then that fellow must have stayed behind to guide us and save the people in the boat," he exclaimed. "Ask him how many are with him." Harling translated the quick answer: 'Then, 'or Unit's Mike, enwe in me' Conn "One. He is below. Stayed with me to run dynamo. We can give directions as long as hold together. That last lightning flash due north." "Well, he's got his nerve, all right," exclaimed the officer, with admiration. "We've got to save that fellow." The receiver was still pounding away: "Both boats got away safely. Pinckney, Mrs. Durant, in first; also Miss Durant, I believe. Make every effort to save them." The skilled operator quickly cut off part of the current, but the message continued uninterrupted. Harling laughed joyously. "We are much closer than we thought," he exclaimed, with excitement. "I used less current, and he got us all right. If he got that we can't te ten miles off." He seized the key and clicked off the cheering news to the man on the stranded Irvessa who used the navy call. Very firmly, but slowly, the answer came: "We shall not outlive this. Storm gathering thicker. Both boats should live. If we are lost see that family of man who stayed with me is rewarded with my property." "I wonder who that fellow is," exclaimed the Mongolian's chief officer. "Did he tell you?" Hailing shook his head. "No, but he's a naval man. He used the navy call. We're on him. Listen." He translated quickly: "You are now between us and boats. See your light. Boats south of you. Do not expect further directions. Going to pieces. Steer south." The first officer burst into the wireless room. "Here, sir," he exclaimed. "I'll take your place. There Is a searchlight on the starboard bow." The captain struggled out to the deck as Hailing pounded this cheering message of help and appeal to stick: "See your light. Coming. For God's sake don't break yet." The answer was sharp and stern: "Don't try reach us. Boats have twenty-six. Only two here." Even as the message came a faint cheer rang out on the deck of the Mongolian. The first boat had been sighted. Carefully because of the tremendous waves the lifeboat bore down on the big ship. Slowly she edged around, then a rope was thrown and caught. A rope ladder and other rope? went over the side, and then almost before Harling could send another message the half drowned members of the Irvessa crew were being dragged to safety over the side of the ship. Mrs. Durant, the first one taken aboard, and Plnckney, the second, were helped Into the wireless room. The woman was moaning hysterically. "Frances Is lost, lost!" she sobbed. Next the clicking of the wireless Instrument brought Plnckney partly to himself. "What's that?" he asked. "Some one on the Irvessa. Who Is he?" demanded Harling. Plnckney did not answer, and Mrs. Durant broke In: "It's Lieutenant Sommers. He stayed behind to guide you. What's he saying?" "He wants to know If all are safe in the first boat." "Yes, but Frances," cried the mother?"Frances, where Is she?" The clicking of the receiver cut off; her speech. "He says: 'Don't give up second' boat. Don't believe it lost'" The captain of the Mongolian let out an oath. ,'fj "We can't stop for the second boat" he exclaimed. "I'm going for that fellow. Tell him we're coming for him." Harllng sent the message, but a moment later the word came from the lookout: "Irvessa light gone." The light was gone, but the Irvessa still held together, for the receiver in the wireless room of the Mongolian ? II <>1-n J Atti ? akot*n riAtrtman/l ' UltACU UUl a nuai jy vvuiitiwitv.. "Look for second boat. We stayed to save others. Don't come for us till you find second boat" Almost at that moment the lookout sang a cheering word. "Another boat on the port bow, sir."' Again the thrilling work of lifting; dazed, half drowned people from the tossing lifeboat to the firmer deck of, the steamer was successfully accomplished. Bradley, the leader of the second boat, staggered into the wireless room. "Frances! Was she with you?" screamed Mrs. Durant at sight of him. The secret service man shook his head. "We thought sne was in the first boat with you," he said. "How many did you have?" "Fifteen," replied Pinckney. "And we started with thirteen," exclaimed Bradley, "and lost two. That makes twenty-eight" A scream from Mrs. Durant Interrupted them. "My child! Prances! My child! She stayed behind with Sommers. Save her! Save her!" Harling sprang to the key, and a moment later this terrible messagewent to the hero in the wireless room on the Irvessa: "Miss Durant Is with you. She stayed behind to run dynamo." The answer came sharp, quick, and for the first time the sending was nervous: "Then for God's sake come to me! Come quick!" CHAPTER XV. Excitement at the Durant Works. The Durant gun works was in a fever of excitement. Ever since the forging of the Sommers gun events of Importance had happened In such close succession that about the works generally was the feeling of stunned amazement. The office force and even the hands when they met would look at each oth er fearfully. What would happen next? No one could tell. But all were sure something dreadful might be expected. First had come the fight in the furnace room, when Sommers was nearly killed; then the discharge of Smith, but with the rumor that he had gone to work in. another plant controlled by Mr. Durant; next had followed a terrible explosion of the Sommers gun, and now was the shipwreck, the wonderful rescue through the bravery of Sommers and Frances Durant, finally to culminate in a rigid Investigation to be held in the Durant works. So no wonder the thousands connected di rectly and indirectly with the Durant works were in a fever of excitement. The story of the heroic rescue had been told over and over again. All knew how Frances voluntarily had stayed behind on the wrecked yacht to share apparently certain death with the heroic young naval officer. It was plain that she loved him and he loved her. and all the gossips were straining their imaginations to conjure Just what would be the result when the girl's lover was tried at the court martial for the loss of his gun, forged in her father's works. As soon as the Mongolian reached New York the survivors of the Irvessa had landed. Pinckney hurried to Pittsburg on the first train, but Sommers stayed over a few hours to make the trip with Frances and her mother. Mr. Durant had met them there, and all came on together. Tne steel man was not given to many words. Sommers was equally undemonstrative. They had wrung each other's hands with mutual respect and esteem, but there had been no words of the relation which all knew must exist between the young officer and Frances. The girl had said nothing. Even her mother was not in her confidence. On the trip from New York to Pittsburg Mrs. Djrant had found time to take up the subject with her husband. "It's no use, George," she said. "Edward hasn't a chance. That wreck killed any feeling she ever had. We were all in the wireless room, and when he began to bungle and send foolish messages Mr. Sommers just caught him by the collar, pulled him away from the key and put him outside. If you had seen Frances' face then you would kno\. Edward was done. You must give Mr. Sommers every opportunity to clear himself of blame." George Durant nodded in agreement. "I'll give him every chance, my dear," he said. "Give him a chance, that's all any man can ask." Now the day of Sommers' chance wn? " hand, for Mr. Durant had put his books and the entire force of the works in charge of Bradley to ferret out the truth. Pinckney, with a few hours' start, hurried to the works as fast as possi ble. He wanted to meet Marsh before the investigation began. He must know what Marsh had told Bradlev. Their stories must agree. But the first blurted question brought another surprise to the chief conspirator. "I haven't seen any secret service man. There hasn't been any around here," protested Marsh. Plnckney shook his head impatiently. "Don't be foolish, Marsh. You saw him and talked to him. He questioned you here nearly a month ago. His name was Bradley." Marsh, thoroughly frightened at the Idea of secret service men working on a case, could only redouble his protest "I haven't seen him. I haven't talked In onvhnrlv T dMnf'l Irnnw In n mnnlh " Plnckney gave a relieved sigh. "Then he bluffed me," he said. "But now listen. This Investigation Is coming off today. We're all right. If you keep your head for half an hour you can't go wrong. And we begin work on a government contract for the Rhlnestrom tomorrow." "What must I say?" Inquired the Inventor of the Rhlnestrom gun weakly. "Swear that Smith was drunk and say that I and Sommers were In the furnace room when the gun went Into the tempering bath. Then Bradley can't prove anything to save his life. Don't let him frighten you. He'll try to, but keep your nerve. If he asks you about the Rhlnestrom gun don't know anything about It." Marsh, naturally nervous, was now trembling with fear. "You know of those killed and wounded, Mr. Plnckney. We both deserve state's prison for It." Plnckney grabbed the little man by me snouiuer tu siuuw oumc wuiagc into him. "Don't get chicken hearted, you fool,** he cried angrily. "I feel as bad about the accident as you do, but we can't think of that now. It's state's prison or a fortune for you, Marsh. Now keep your nerve. How did we know the gun was going to explode? Never thought it would stand the test at the proving ground. Come on In the office, and I'll give you a drink to brace you." They were still In the Inner room when Bradley, cool and debonair, as usual, strolled into the outer office. "How are you?" he said genially to Mazle O'Brien, the pretty stenogra "You need nut corne bnek to mc, lor I will come to yon." pher, pegging away in one corner at her machine. "I was looking for Mr. Pinckney." "He's in the inner office with Mr. March," responded the girl. Bradley nodded. "Sure. He sent for Marsh as soon as he came, didn't he " "Yes," replied the girl curiously, "How did you know that?" Bradley smiled. "Mind reader," he suggested, then added, with a serious explanation, "I have an engagement with him, so I thought they'd be waiting for me," "Shall I tell him you are here?" asked the stenographer. Bradley made a hasty objection. "Oh, no; don't bother. I'll wait till they get through. I was Just going to see them on a little business about the Rhinestrom gun. And that reminds me. Give me Mr. Rhlnestrom's address, won't you? I have to drop him a letter." "Rninestrom's address?" she asked curiously. The man nodded. Sore Rhinestrom. the inventor of the gun they're making here. Can't you give me his address? If you don't remember it look at the last letter you sent him." "Why, I've never sent him any letters," Mazie returned curiously. "If you want his address, why don't you get It from Mr. Pinckney?" Bradley smiled. "That's a good idea," he said. "I'll just do that. You take all Mr. Plnckney's dictations, don't you?" The girl had begun to wonder at the questioning. Bradley looked well and was pleasant. But what did he want? "Yes. I take Mr. Plnckney's dictation," she agreed cautiously. "And he's never written to Rhinestrom?" demanded Bradley, with sudden sternness. For a moment the girl flared up. "Say, who are you anyhow? What do you want? Are you trying to pump me?" Her questioner smiled blandly. "Oh, please don't suggest such a thing." he said. "I'm going In the works now to see a man named O'Leary. When Mr. Durant comes tell him that Mr. Kraciiey or uie sctici ?. is in the works, then send for me. Goodby. Much obliged for what you had to tell me." Mazle O'Brien leaned back in her chair, looking after Bradley with a curious expression on her face. "Well, what do you think of that?" she said to herself at last in astonishment. "He a detective! Well, he's a pretty good looking fellow?for a detective. I wonder what's up. I remember he was around here a month ago." Ten minutes later the detective was back in the office in time to meet Prances entering with Lieutenant Sommers. "I'm glad you're here, Miss Durant," he declared earnestly. "Would you mind If I ask you some questions on Investigation?" The girl smiled at the Idea. "Will I mind?" she exclaimed. "You know I'll do anything In the world I can to clear Mr. Sommers of any blame. Have you found out anything so far?" Bradley shook his head. "I've got no positive proof, but I think I shall have before this Investigation is over." "And Mr. Sommers will be cleared when he goes before the court of Inquiry at Washington?" persisted the girl. Bradley bowed. "I certainly hope so, Miss Durant You know how much I owe to Mr. Qnmmora anri tn von T fppl aiipp hp Ifl innocent of any neglect or wrongdoing, and you can depend on me to work my head off to clear him. Everything will depend, however, on what I can get from Marsh." Frances looked surprised. "I can't think Marsh Is guilty," she admitted anxiously. "He's been In the works for years, and nothing's ever been said against him." Bradley nodded. "I know all that, Miss Durant. But may I tell you a secret? I believe Marsh is the Inventor of the Rhlnestrom gun, and if I can prove that the rest Is easy." "And If you can't?" the girl asked fearfully. Bradley smiled with confidence. "I never let myself look on that side," he said. "Now I must leave you. 1*11 be back In a few minutes." When the door had closed on Bradley the girl turned Impulsively to Sommers at her side. "What will you do If you find they are against you?" she asked bluntly. The man looked at her seriously. "There Is nothing that I can do then, Frances, I'll be dishonored, a disgraced man." "You mean," she persisted, "If this Investigation discloses nothing and the court of Inquiry at Washington finds against vou that vou you will not come back to me?" An expression of pain crossed Sommers' face, but his answer came out straight: "How could I come back to you, dear? A cashiered naval officer, disgraced for life, couldn't come to you. I couldn't ask that sacrifice of you." Impulsively the girl had laid her hand on his arm. "Then listen, dearest," she said softly, but with determination that would not be denied. "If the Washington authorities place the blame of the accident upon you, If you are dishonored and disgraced, you need not come back to me." She paused a moment, then added, softly, raising her eyes to him, "You need not come back to me, for I will come to you." To be Continued. asphalt pools. A California Deathtrap That Antedates Adam. The western portion of the North American continent has been so generally recognized as one of the most Interesting regions of the world for the study of the life of past geological periods, and has therefore been so assiduously explored for many years by geologists and paleontologists, that the discovery of a new field for Investigations of this nature almost within the limits of a large city, Is distinctly surprising. Yet this has recently been made In the location of a great accumulation of remarkably preserved remains of extinct animals In deposits around prehistoric tar or asphalt pools at Rancho La Brea, near Los Angeles. Of the recent discoveries made In the asphalt work one of the most Interesting Is the finding of a gigantic lion, representing the group of true cats which have been found here so abundantly. Although fragments of the skelton had been known for some time, the first recognizable specimen was obtained In December, 1908, by Dr. William Bebb of Los Angeles. The skull found by Dr. Bebb resembles that of the modern African lion In Its general character, but Is larger than In any other member of the emAiir* wfl/iAn + nr fnaall f\t whlnh ' Ol 51 VUft tCVVIIV U? tvooii, W1. > ? any record has been obtained by the writer. The species seems to be the same as that represented by a large Jaw fragment obtained In 1836 In the vicinity of Natchez, Miss. This animal was given the name American lion by Prof. Leldy, who first described it. It probably had a wide range over North America In the last geological period. It is interesting: to note the presence in the same asphalt beds of the great American lion along with the sabre tooth tiger, the two representing the highest stages of development of the cat group, and being at the same time two of the most formidable carnivorous creatures that have existed. They represent two quite distinct divisions of the cat family, which developed concurrently through many periods, but reached their highest stage of efficiency in these two types. The true cats, represented by the lion, although very ancient, have been less Important In past geo logical periods than the sabre tooths. They are apparently the production of the Old World, having come into America In comparatively late geological time. The sabre tooth group, on the other hand, has flourished for many periods and was represented in North America by numerous species and individuals. These two great groups of animals, represented by their most formidable types, existed together in the environs of the Brea pools. What battles were waged between them we can only conjecture, but we may feel certain that encounters were not to be avoided. The sabre tooths outnumbered the lions, at least Ave to one, judging from the number of specimens found. The combats were, however, not ordinarily between groups but between Individuals. The style of attack of the two animals must have been fundamentally different. Both animals slashed and tore with their claws. The lion, with its powerful jaws and monstrous biting muscles, throttled Its prey, shaking and twisting it as a modern cat deals with a rat or rabbit. The sabre tooth slashed and stabbed with its knifelike teeth, sometimes incapacitating its adversary with a single blow. In some cases while lifting Its head to strike It gave an opening for the lion to attack Its throat, and the battle was quickly ended. At other times a blow from the lion's paw may have broken its long, thin sabres, and rendered It a comparatively inefficient adversary.?Harper's Weekly. ittisfcHancous grading. PARKER ON THE TARIFF. Former Presidential Candidate Discusses Subject Interestingly. By Judge Alton B. Parker. The people have suffered, and greatly, by the loss of the money taken from them through tariff statutes to fill the coffers of the protected interests. Tet great as that loss Is. It In no wise compares with the damage resulting to them in the decay of political morals, due to the successful efforts to utilize the government for political purposes. The stendv lowoHnsr nf nnlHlml Meald which has occurred, will diminish or cease when, and only when, business and politics are rended. To that end the gradual reduction of the tariff to a reveinue basis should be entered upon and persisted in. Doubtless, to prevent such result, a panic will be threatened by the protected interests, and may be precipitated, but their elimination from governmental control will be of infinitely greater value to the people than the cost of one or even many panics. That a panic is easily within their combined power no one doubts. That the power will not be exercised except as a last resort common sense teaches. But that their mastery will be surrendered before exhausting this last resource only the blindly credu lous can believe. Their leaders Include many of the most masterful men of the generation. And they have always at their command vast power?in situations shrewdly created to meet emergencies, In serviceable men without number, In money almost without limit. The Protected Interest*. The combined power of the protected interests In this country as they exist today cannot be measured, hardly even imagined, by the wisest men. What one of their units can do toward helping Itself to property that It wishes was described before a committee of the United States senate having under consideration the absorption of the Tennessee Coal and Iron company by the United States Steel corporation. One can but marvel at the ability which conceived and the audacity which created the situation from which the latter emerged with Its greatest competitor In its arms, ready to receive the generous and abundant thanks of a grateful people for having stopped the panic by this "seizure with the executive sanction." The last national commitment of the party In power promised a revision of the tariff. While we must admit that a revision of the tariff Is a revision whether up or down, the president insisted that good faith required a reduction of duties in many cases. In an address which I delivered on the subject at Princeton University on March 13 last, two days before the assembling of congress In extraordinary session, I had this to say: "Rumors persist that the ways and means committee have found a way to revise the tariff by lowering the rate of duty and at the same time Increasing the actual amount of the duties to be paid, the plan being, while lowering the rates of duty, to appraise the value of Imported goods not at their market prices abroad, as now, but at the prevailing prices in the United States, necessarily much higher since Included therein is a great part of the protection already afforded by the present abnormal rates of duty. By that plan a smaller rate will nevertheless produce a larger actual amount of duty. Upholding Party Honor. "It seems to them certain to satisfy the people who demand a reduction of duties to have the appearance of upholding the honor of the party. In that it seems to keep its pledge, while, best of all, assuring the continued loyalty and contributions of 'the Interests'?the beneficiaries of special bounties from a government originally organized and still professing to exist in hostility to special privilege." The president in his recent message at the opeing of the regular session of congress had this to say of the discretion given to him under the "maximum and minimum" clause of the act passed last summer: "The discretion granted to the executive by the terms 'unduly discriminatory' is wide. In order that the maximum duty shall be charged against the Imports from a country it is necessary that he shall find on the part of that country not only discrimination in its laws or the practice under them against the trade of the United States, but that the discriminations found shall be undue; that is. without good and fair reason. I conceive that this power was reposed in the president with the hope that the maximum duties might never be applied in any case, but that the power to apply them would enable the president and the state de- , partment through friendly negotia<- i tlon to secure the elimination from the laws and the practice under them of any foreign country of that which is unduly discriminatory. No one is I seeking a tariff war or a condition in ' which the spirit of retaliation shall be aroused." Demanding Justice. Let us hope that justice may result, but be assured that it wilt not unless , the people make their demand loud, i In the beginning of the country It 1 was never suggested that a tariff for me purpose ui soeducu yi uiccuuw? a tax upon the people for the benefit i of the producer?could under ordl- ' nary conditions be justified either in the domain of morals or of economics. Had any statesman of that day desired that result he would not have , dared to give expression to his wish. He knew too well the Anglo-Saxon's deep-seated hostility to unjust taxa- 1 tion?to taxation for any purpose other than the administration of government, economically administered. The long and bitter contest leading to Runnymede and its Magna Charta, the triumphs of Hampden, of Pym, of Sydney and of Russell, the revolution of 1668, and the American Revolution then but Just ended, all Involved burning questions relating to taxation and special privilege. In the hour in which we were Just emerging from a struggle the beginning of which had witnessed the hurling of taxed tea into Boston harbor, he would have been* counted a madman who had seriously proposed the tariff statute of today, a statute under which a small minority are permitted to levy tribute upon the great majority. Now, for more than forty-four years that have passed since the war, the people have not been able to secure relief. Attempts have been made, but the end is worse than the beginning. Why is this so? Because the protected interests, grown rich and powerful during the war, entered politics, as it had been predicted that they would, in order to hold fast to their special privilege to levy tribute. Forty-odd years of success have crowned their vigilant and incessant ' labors. THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT. It Means a New Leaf In the Nation's Life. The American people found awaiting them when they established the nation a heritage richer by far than , that which any other nation has ever known. The late Frofessor N. S. Shaler, the country's foremost economic geologist and one of its most profound thinkers, said: "Of all the sinful wasters of man's inheritance in the earth?and all are in this regard sinners?the very worst are the people of America." There must be a realisation on the part of many?a realisation that now is shared only by the few?that the country as a whole will have to "turn over a new leaf." This leaf can not be turned at once or without mighty effort. We have "got the habit" of spending, and it will be a long time before we can begin to save. In fact, it is only the Impending pinch that makes us think of saving now. We boast of what we can do and of what we are doing, and with justice, for are we not taking the leading part in the world's work, and do we not literally "deliver the goods" to all the world? But at the same time we do not reckon on what the morrow will bring, and we will go headlong to national decadence unless we stop to take an accounting. We do furnish, in general figures, a quarter of the world's wheat supply, half of its petroleum, three-quarters of its entire supply of cotton, and nine-tenths of its corn. But we are doing it at a terrible sacrifice. Take the forest question as an example. As a matter of fact we do not know how much forest we have, and we have been here, as a nation, a century or more. And yet we talk blithely of our "inexhaustible" forests and go drawing on the account without much more than a general notion of what the forest capital ts, ^ and with no notion of" Its cost and "*" -"? value. It is no better business than it would be for a bank to operate without a balance sheet, without any notion of its capitalisation and spending cost, trusting to luck that accounts may not be overdrawn and the surplus carried off. Government supervision now protects the people against this method of finance; may the time not come when it will be recognized as quite as much within the province of the government to take steps to so protect all of the material wealth of the county Such a step by no means connotes government or state ownership any more than there is no government or state ownership of the banks. All prudent men welcome the security that the national regulations give to national banks, and, for the safety of our moneys, prefer the national banks. The day will come, because It has got to come, and because Americans are an adaptable people, when there will be a clear change In the American trend of thought, a clear change In the American habits of life, a clear conception of the moral Issues Involved in a proper stewardship of the nation's things that are ours only as trustees for the future. The nation will still keep its optimism, Its capacity for hard work, its inherent buoyancy under the stress of grave problems, but It will take on a new and serious purpose of thrift. To some, no doubt, the idea of having to save after such a long period of easy spending may be repugnant; some may take the attitude of Madame de Pompadour, who said during the excesses of the French court, "after us the deluge"?a deluge that began with the reign of terror and still threatens the only nation of Europe that has a decreasing birth rate. But the majority of thinking Americans are going to take this question of the conservation of our natural resources home to themselves. They are going to ask, "How can I help?" and when that question is asked It is already half answered. It mqst be answered in the interests of the nation and of humanity. Moreover, these persons of large public spirit will understand that there is a distinction between saving and scrimping, that the type demanded to apply the principle of conservation Is not the miser any more than it is the prodigal, but the man of moderation who enjoys without riot and who spends without squandering the patrimony which he is in duty bound to hand on to a new generation. In 1868 Bismarck said that the real test of the American form of government would come when that country's great resources began to be exhausted, when the "limitless opportunities" were no longer to be had. The lmperatlvei need, then, is the assurance that our governmental Institutions shall be flexible, and maintained on a high plane of unselfishness. For "the only way in which the need can be met Is by enforcing through laws the principle, clearly enough recognized in our codes, that the wealth a man controls is his to use but not his to waste. A man may not burn down his own house or play the spendthrift with his fortune, because the state or his natural heirs will suffer from his folly or his malevolence. On the same ground the commonwealth law should arrest his action, if it wastes thei substance of the unborn. It is an old and well-affirmed concept, though too little worked out, that our governments exist in part that they may guard and preserve the societies which build them. If such is their purpose, their first duty should be to see that the material foundatllns of mankind are not idly wrecked." Wo rnnot PAiilbo tViot urn org* not mprp monetary tenants of our places In the present-day civilization, but the custodians and trustees of all the progress to come after us; and in so far as we can conserve instead of destroying, and save instead of wasting, so we, no less than those who laid the foundations of the republic, make possible the future of a nation, glorious beyond our fondest dreams. ?John H. Finney, Sec. Appalachian National Forest Association.