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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1889-1-17, Page 6PILOT ENGINE. The $tory of a Raihoed, Adeenture—Say • 401 by a Narrow Margin, 4'4 Who in &needing pilot thie evening r, OSIICI She Superintendent, or " bean" aft be weie "" Seth Maetin," was the foreman's re. " Tell hint to come here, will you ; and huery up 1" • The foreman, heatened away and •both he • isete Seth Martin must have 4; Spread them' geleres," as the former saicl, for in a few asiantee theengine-drtver atood benne his %et gleat men took a comprehensive leek SAO the engineer, wiewilinched not a musole. NU Clear, Steady eyes were as blue as the sky ; a handsome brown beard ornamented Pdefeee, which, albeit rather dirtye was WI of character and determination. TO 1180 Olho popular expression. "he was pure gold dawn to bed rook." /The auperintenclent, satiafied with the uteratiny, nodded to the engine -driver, and "Themes a specie train up out of Collins - * Me to -night, Seth." e ell know thee," wait the curb response. 4tAnd it will require' close watching," 00U. 'Slimed the chief. sp'ose so—I know that," repeated legt. "Veneers mighty knowie this evening," aid the superiatenent, smiling, "but there one thing yon don't know, Sonny. You inn't know that you are going to run the eilot to that nein." "Yes, I do," repeated the engine -driver. "Who in thunder told you then? I did't &now it myself till ten minutes ago I" . '4 'You told me this minute then I knew 'eV replied Seth, smiling, and disclosing his ewitite, even teeth, "I'ra ready, boss." • 'Seth Merlin, you. ought to be a judge; -wow talents are thrown away on this line. Sae liaten; we've no time to split straws. There's a very festive gang of desperadoes hanging about) up Hertford way. They :nearly wrecked the through Pacifio last week. Fortunately the passengers was handy with their shooting -irons, an& bul- lets was rainin' pretty thick, else there wauld. have been something unpleasant" " Waal," said the engine driver, • "go =heed.' "Now you must run pilot to the specie ...eaire and see that the line's Clear up as far .Dartford City. Ye canahunt at Trestle 13riage aiding, and wait to pall the wagons tam the Woife incline through the outtiugs. Once safe • there ye can rattle along, and =kid ye keep a good look -out." 44 4Zou bet "was Seth's reply. "I'd bet - bar take iny eix-shooters euppose. We'll • have to fight, may be?" Most likely." replied the superintend- hentneoolly. "Keep this quiet. I've got , =tenon the look out along the line. W ho s t warm -matte V' 'English Toni Atkins," was the reply. ef He's grit'!" -"AU right, then," said the chief. ":Now , Reuel drink; keep a full head of steam ; . Ieringemok the epecie safe, and—" " Wainl?", drawled the other coolly. "I'll provide rfor your family if you're e hurt or shot.; halo% rn reward you." Is that all -then Well, good night, \boss, and thank ye." 4.-690d luck," was the answer.; " not • 'fforget you." Seth Martin turnedneevay with a nod of acknowledgment, and -directed hia steps to •eke shed where hissengine was "standing -This means that the engine had nevem up (or was "in steam," to speak ereeekinically)• and was ready for any sudden emergency. The driver was just as well pleased to run t couple of hundred miles on a dark night, aven with the chance of being shot, as to ehave antinnitention to the "White House" eelteelf, "Mee, 11£1110 1" came back in an unmistakable • elidadfien voice. tie Fire up a bit; we're bound west; apecie pilot; ten o'clock. Keep it quiet." A man unseen by the driver put up his head to listen. 'Seth was a man of action, and so was his mate, Tom Atkins. They looked to the en- gine and their revolvers ; put a dozen cart- ,sridgee in a tin can; filled asimilar men with come old Bourbon whisky at a saloon close by, • Whither they were followed by the an who had been listening to their conversation, and who noted their preparations. After communicating with some accom- plice, this mysterious individual left the caloon and made his way towards the signal hex which stood some distance down the line. soonas the engine driver and his mate were recognized they were warmly welcomed lor they were favorites. Many drinks were 'tendered for their acceptance, and declined an various pleas, till at length one man de - relaxed the Britisher wanted to fix an insult P eree-born eitizen. He offered Seth and :Tom a glass apiece, saying— ' What's up, mate? Swore off, eh 7" e"For this evening," replied Seth, "but :as ni rather drink than fight jest now, •take your treat." So the men each took • ithe proffered glass, but scarcely tasted it; and soon afterwarde Seth, fearing that some :inkling of his intended minion alights leak nett, beckoned to his fireman to follow as soon as possible, and then left tne saloon. He lit e. otgar, climbed up into the " cab " of his en- gine and began to smoke. He smoked in comfort for about a quarter set an hour, then he felt "queer." "These fie stronger cigars than usual," he muttered, :and he threw it from him. But the oppres• .sion on his brain became heavier; he felt fiery eileepy now. I think I'll have a• nap; its only about •'9 o'clock. I must; there's an hour yet. I wonder where Tom in It's my opinion Tom will drink too much or--" His train of thought was suddenly inter. rained. All at once it flashed upon him that lie himself had been "drugged'. in the saloon! "That's it; what a thundering idiot I am 1" He essayed to rise, but felt quite be- •,wilderecl. He made hopeless attempts to tstand upright, but could do nothing. He • was as useleee as a child ; but, worse than all, he was conscious of his inability to do his duty, Ten onlook rang Out. Re strug- gled to his feet Ms head wee ephming netted, hie feet 'were heavy as leaden weights. He opened the sliding doer, but ere he could • descend a blow from behind sent hint flying into spacse—a splash, aud down he sank into a large pond eontaining a quantity of surplus water ler the locomotive tanks. At the same moment three men climbed up on- the engine and, with a low, but hearty • lohttolde, eitatted it out from the eliding. 4 I think we did that neat, said „the • shorteet of the party. "I didn't listen to the boas for nothin' this time. The epeoie train tviil run after all, you tee. Oh they .couldn't catch me tripping, No, air i" "'rho Savage will do the bridge, I SUP- pOsOf" Said another, " Hein to work on the sztp line, isn't he ?" "Aye, only on that ide, Ye did that Britither ptet by, I must say. He awl Seth was kinder oa.utious too." rnieed strong," said the ether, wtth a etwage laugh. 44 Did you settle the siguele, Abe?' " Aye ; telegraphed ourselves on speetial, and then, out th.e wires and emathed the ire- atrumentie We're clear now to Dertford City. What's that ?" he added hastily, as ths engine lurched for a Second an lifted. " Only the ponies. We're out now. We cen run (may, I suppoam She won't burst, I hope. Here goes." The speaker, who knew little about en- gine.driving, turned on the steam, and away they went. Re turned his head for a moment "There's something moving yonder; they have found Seth, likely." Bat this portion of the gang of despera- deep had met their match in leaglish TOM Atkins. For a moment or two he had been overcome by the drugged whisky, hut a dingle and very effective remedy cured. htret at the cost of a tew moment' sickness. Creeping along the ground, for he could not weak, he conceived the idea of following these men, so he held the points open and seat the "bravoes" away into the night on rhe me line, He proposed to give the alarm and follow (on the down metals) with a superior forme. But fate was drawing the fugitives to destruction. The up line was out at the bridge. " Lend a hand, mete, I'm drowndin' This is what Tom heard as he crawled rather than walked aorose the metals to seek assistance. "Seth --Seth Martin I what's happened to you ?" Them varmints bossed me in here when I was half stupid, but the water has done me good. Help me out, Tom, and vvell fix them yet." Tom, who was rapidly recovering, lent all the assistance he could, and then the dripping driver, quickly wringing the water from his clothes, said, when his mate had told him whet he had done: "Don't breathe a syllable to mortal man. I know Bob Franklin's engine is in steam by now for the cross traffic. We'll fire her up and run them down. We may - save the speeie yet. Hurry down to the signalhox while I get out the engine." - Tom hastened away as desired, but soon came back with the intelligence that the box was empty and the wire out. "We daresn't say a word now," said Seth. " What fools e were to take them drinks! Now, Tom, shove in •some wood while oil the cranks. I'll leave word for the forernaa ; we MUSh trust him." All these preparations were mede ah most as %moldy as they are hare de- scribed. la ten minutes the engine was ready, and as noiselessly as possible the • great locomotive was brought out of the shed, bub tender first. • "Never mind," said Seth, •when Tom objected. "We can run about as quick. Now, are you ready ?" The foreman came up at that moment. "11 ye do mimed," he seed, "your for- tunes are made. If you fail I wouldn't an- swer for your lives, Take my revolver," he added, " and be off." Seth thanked himt adding gloomily, "If we fail, we'll never come back alive. For us to be hocussed with Bourbon' is diegraoe enough." A whistle 1 The foreman opened the points and the engine pped away on the down line in full pursuit of theelesperadoes, to save the special train if possible. "We've no head•lamp 1" exclaimed Tom suddenly. "So ranch the better. We don't want to advertise ourselves to -night There's a flash of something; gum we'll have a storm." The remark was not uncalled for. The gleam of lightning every now and then ap- peared to rest upon the steel handles and glint along the rails. There was a moaning sound in the air, a feeling of oppression, while occasionally a heavy spleen of rain , would drop upon the roof of the "cab" in which the men journeyed. They absolutely flew along the track. Over the apptrently boundless prairie the line was laid. Not a station for Wien A few e watering -places at inter. vales alone broke the level character of the prospect when the fitful lightning lit up the surroundings. l'itoh-dark over -head except when the flashes came; and the only light below, the rapidly moving glare of the furnace -fire on the road." "It's past eleven," said the driver, "We ought to have pulled them up. We've run this thirty mites in the half - hour, There's Buffalo Creek," he added, as they skimmed past. "V ell then, _Dartford is only another thirty, aud the Trestle siding on the top of the cutting is only twenty-five." " We must pass them at the curve - below. Rollo 1 look out, mind that hand, lamp." ' Tom turned the slide and looked ahead. Seth shut off steam. "There they are I Lucky we are running tender foremost, or they would have seen our fire. We'll wait on them gently till they get on to the Trestle curve. Then we'll wire in' and drop them. Steady, mate 1" The engine came silently to a standstill. The gentle hiss of the steam, which was just raising the valve, was the only audible sound. Broad fleshes of sheet lightning lit up the heavy mama of cloud, butino thuncle er followed. Seth looked to hiet revolver. Tom fed the fire and they waited; it was there only ohanoe—a surprise. For quite twenty minutes the men waited the engine in front had long ago disap.pear- ed. At last Seth sad, "Now, Tom, is our time!" I'll run them a race down to Dartford City, end if I get there firet there'll be scalps to sell to -morrow, We'll round that curve before they, see tus, and oeme in flying. Are youready?" , Tom signified his cement, and away der. ted the ponderous engine acmes the bound- less prairie at top speed. On, on never naind the rough track; fine death if you leave it, it' t ewe% Moat likely if you remain. There e chance! and only one—if you reach Len „Lord City and give the alarm! throueh the glees of the other engine, and shattered the driving. arm of the man who held. the regulator. ' " Belly 1 met:lamed the delighted Seth. "Now for another log)' The fire was blown up, and like an arrow the engines flew along; hut no more shots were exchanged, for we they were running neck and neck for one in- stant, Seth perceived a light OA the line ahead, and before his companion was aware of his ,intention, sine] off the steam. The other engine fled away into the darkpess, leaving Seth and Tom far behind. "What did you shut off for ?" cried Tom in amazement. "Look ahead and you'll know," was the grim reply. Tom looked ahead. A weird light was playing on the traok, a heel° of unearthly appearance. It shimmered and moved about like a will-o'-the-wisp. It was a most ghastly white mist—a ghostly warn- ing. " What can it be ?" said Tom, his super- stitious terrore being now excited. "What is it?" " a light, that' i all," said Seth with a fiendish grin, "1 know ib though; I've seen it before. Tnereht somebody under- neath the rails in the bridge, and you bet train ltrecutting the track for the specie " Gracioue heaven, and that engine!" "That engine will be in the river in two minutes," said Seth Martin, "Oh 4 hurry up and save them if we oan," exclaimed Tom. "Go ahead! "Gently, mate, gently; let them go on a bit," He turned on steam, but ere they had passed half the distance:: in the direction of elle light a loud crash was heard, and amid screams of human agony the Trestle Bridge, sank down—down—gently, elowly, but surely, to the stream below. Tae pon- derous engine dipped forward, gave one heavy roll, righted again, and then turning completely over, fell with a thundering noise into the canon bel 3W. • The lights were • suddenly extiagnished, and the piercing screams of wounded and scalded men arose, mingled with the hiss- ing abeam and the dull roar of thuader. The storm hed buret. " Ought in their own trap," said Seth. "Serves them right ! Poor Qattara I'm • kinder sorry too." " Lebus help them," cried Tom. "Help 1 yes ; let us run on bo Derbford and she the trali: ; specie is due in tan miu bet." " Cross that bridge 7" exclannel the firemen. ' " Yes, sir, across that bridge. I'm agoin' to try it/ replied Seth. Not a souna escaped either of the men. Side by aide they stood. As they approach- ed they could see a red glare. The bridge had caught fire. As they shot pest, a form or two hurried quickly out of sight—some of the desperate band, now cowed and crush- ed. In a moment more the briage was in full view. The crackling timbers of the up line were all burning around the mighty monster engine, which still emitted smoke and lime. As a flesh of lightning will in one brief second reveal all surrounding ob. Picts distinctly, so the glare of the engine furnace lit up the scene below. The engine dished along—a roar, a creaking noise, the flame leaped up beneath—and the danger was over. The down line had not been undermined. As they slackened speed a long deep whis- tle was heard, and a dine speck War9 seen like a pin's head on the line in front "There's the specie, Tom. We've done our duty. Run down easy and then see if we can't help the unfortunate loafers under the bridge. Ib was a narrow &peak 1" It was indeed 1 The specie train was saved, though, end the filibusters taken in the sot. Three were drowned, and two more so terribly injured that they died soon after from the effects. Seth and Torn were rewarded, and. the former was aubsequentiv tnade inspector ; bathe and Tom often talk of that Stemmer night when they were so nearly killed while running pilot. „ Why the Queen BaVeS KOZO% In the Autumn ib was announced that some arrangement had been arrived at between the Qtmen, the Prince of Wales, and the Government with reference to the pecuni- ary position of the Princesses of Wales. It was impossible at the time to enter into details, but now that the retrenohments in the royal household are known ib may be as well to say that the money sieved by these economies will not be green by the Queen to the Prince of Wales, but will be put aside to accumulate during the Queen's life to provide portions for the Prince of Wales's children, should they marry before he becomes King, or should he die as Prince of Wales. Portions for the children of the Duke of Albany will also be provid- ed out of the fund. It is said that the saving will be as much as £30,000 a year. but thee estimate is too high, though the abolition of the Yeomen of the Guard, the Backhounds, and the other vedette small posts of the household will effect a consider- able saving. The arrangement will haye to be sanctioned by Parliamenb, but, having the approval of Mr. Gladstone, the opposi- tion is not likely to be important. The ar- rangement was, I believe, carried through by the late Sir John Rose on the part of the Prince of Wales, and, it is said, the negotiations with Mr. Gladstone were made through a well known banker, who was a friend of both Sir John and Mr. Gladstone. ThetQueen, who hari been very anxious about the matter, agreed at once to the proposal, and, on the whole, it seems a fair and reas- onable one. It is piobable that the House of Commons will not make any difficalties should the matter be brought betore it, of which, I believe, there is ecnne doubt. • e "Press on, Seth: it's nigh midnight. So whispered Tom, en the engine SU/1111V round the sharp curve. There, seemingly motion- less, was the other engine. Faster and fast- er rattled the pursuer. They were then at last The Med ',were visible through the glue for an instant. dowtal "roared Seth. Only just in time ; two leaflets oame crash ing over head; anotber hit the handle of the stnainiwhietle and sent out a scream of defiance into the night Seth reed elotvly and, plena in hand, Watohed the foe. "Pee's goin' to race na but he don't know • the triok of thin' No. 200,' Tom. We'll path him and then -1 1 Seth's face, as he spoke and clutched his revolver, Wag euffinient to etpittin his meann in g without words, I On, on, speeding across the prairie! NOW Seth was gaining, now the othere shoe ahead, " Mae Wood Irt the furnace; pile it in, Tenn," cried Seth*" thatn it-nowe--" ' A bullet frotn Seth's dtetedy hand pasted Circumstantial Eyidenoe. A tramp named Lianty has just been con- demned at Blois France, for the murder of a woman, whom he met on the highroad. He attacked and stabbed her repeatedly, afterward throwing her into a pool while she was atilt living, first taking from her her little savinge, amounting to 60 cents. The peculiarity of the case lies in the evi- deem: that convieted the murdereie On the bank of the peed near the spot' where the corpse Wati discovered there was found a large niece of bread, the end of a loaf with a singular bulge at one side. Oae of the neighboure totified that on the morning of the day the crime was committed, Lianty had come to her house to beg for something to eat She gave him a lease of piquette and a lunch of broad, He drank the wine and put the bread in the breast of his blouse, saying that he would eat if later. The loaf that he oat it from was horimbaked. One a the Woke in the floor of her oven was whiting, so that in each botch of levee there was one with a protithereincie marking the tete of the mitelingbrick. rt Was this pro tther. ance that erteebled her to identify the bread found near the body with the piece she heti given Ltenty, He was fottliwith fouud guilty and ceenclemeed to death, Bohilete ate nOW otiosen, t °leak instead ref the dress, match the In reply to questions sent out by the Ford Immigration Committee of Coneress the Stete Department at Washington has rethiv ed nearly a hundred lettere from United States Consuls in Europe, all telling pine:ti- c:ally the same disgraceful story. , The Consul at Palermo Writes that the steamehip cempaniee foster the emtgrittion business there juat es they do tracie neer- chandise, and without any regard for law or honesty. They employ brokers or agents, to whom they pay from $3 to $5 for every emi- grant secured, and these men are "a low, ly- in g, diehonorable eet, whowillstete and swear to Anything to in duce the poor, ignorant people to emigrate, and thus earn their teem They tell them that work is plentiful and wages Yery high, and that atter they ahall have laboured for a year or two they will have raved enough to return to their hone* and live the balance of their lives vrithent doing anything." The mono gentleman states that it would be a blessing if the class of Italians who are practically forced to emigrate could be kept from landing on Anaerioen shores. The Consul at Venice Says that as a rule emigrants are reoruited hom the ranks of thorn people whom their native country dttee net Wish tie Mehl ; thet tiley are citber men bf the dengue! ightnelete br fugitive* from justice, who are totally. unfittecl to perform the duties of °idealise:up ; and that . . they have no idea of becoming citizens of the United States, The Consul. General at Vienna writes that; moat of the emi- grants from Austria belong to the lower classes in Bohemia., possessed of little intelligence and having niost perverted ideas pf the liberty to be found in .Ameriene. He farther says that during the past sum- mer no less than eighty ruhtters of two steamship lines alone were arreeted on the The Situation in Frame. The signs of a ()rids in France have bete" making thetnselves more and more manifest during the past few weeks. Almost a month ago the indioations of a disturbance must have been tolerably clear to those on the spot, when the Reactionaries, as the oppo- nents of a republican form of government are called in France, took the trouble to present addresses to their respective leaders and manifestoes to the people at large. A depu- tation from the monarchist party waited upon the Count of Paris and declared : "We come to you because we are wearied of the Republic, It oppresses and is ruining us. We need a renovating Governments. Land- lords, farmers, workmen, we are all tired of seeing .the hate of our labor and our savings disappear in the hands of people who seek in power but the means of enriching themselves at emir expense. We desire to live and work in pesos, under a strong and respected gone ernment. • We will no longer have the Re- public. We await your coming with impa- tiesthe," And other forcible things to the same effect. The Count accepted the sentiments with due interest and pleasure but in replying failed, so some of his supper t- ent thiak, to be suffiaiently explicit. The Bonapertist managers issued a menifeeto de- manding a plebiscite to allow France to say whether or no she will have her present form of government. The Bonapartista promise to bow unreservedly to the sovereign will of the people, whatever it may be. Altogether, the situation seems to be suitably arranged in o tier that the unexpected may happen. DROBWRD HIS EMPLOYER. havenporSileant te Give His Clerk *le, bat IS e Took *3,595. BOSTON., Jan. 10,—Charles L. Devenport, a salt dealer, was asked on Saturday by one of his clerks, Harry G. Stickney, to let him have a check for $10 to give to somebody else. As Mr. Deveneort was in a great hurry to leave the Offi30, he merely signed his name to 'the check, and left it to Stick- ney to fill in the amount- This Ttickney did, but instead of writing $10 he wrc te $3,595, went to the bank and got the cheek cashed, and has not been seen since, Mr. Davenport has offered- a reward of $204) for his arrest. "'" , How' Mrs. Shaw Whistles, Mrs. Shaw sliook out her train, slowly raised her nensio, burned her black eyes fur- tively on her friends in the box and calmly pursed her hall red lips. It wasn't a puck- er but a tight drawing of the lips, held slightly, the white part of the fee° just above the upper lip and below the nose all drawn into little furrows and a heavy line extending all around. under the chin. The pianist thumped a few more bars and Moe Shaw suddenly shot oat the ,opening notes of A.udites dainty, lively, and running " Bacio." The sound was first like that of a piccolo well played, only softet and more engaging. Every note was taken truly and the :Deeding was at least amazing. A big smile had come out on the faces of the auditors as soon as Mrs. Shaw began, and when she finished they were laughing and vociferously applauding. They had not only heard, but they had not seen her do it. There are fouttesn different towns and cities in the United States named Augusta, and there is never a day that freight and mail twitter is not going wrong, While it is admitted that ford Dafferin has handed India over to Lord Lansdowne in a more tranquil and satisfied oondition than it was in four years ago, the new Vieeroy still has his difficulties before him. Lord Lthedowne has to meet the demand made by the native canoe:as, that the educated men of India should be given some share in the management of thab vast: empire's affairs, Lerd Dafferin's parting speech at Calmat& pointed out cleerly the almost; insuperable obstacle to the establishment of what is properly known as a demnoratio form of GovOrnment. This will doubtless make ill easier tor Lord Lenadowne to resist too am. hitious attempts on the part , of the natives of India, but it leavee him, notwithstanding, a serioue problem to solve. His caper in India -Will be watched with kindly interest by Canadiane. There is .great scope. for achieving anooess, as there is also for failure. • The Egyptian war pent/ are bringing strong premiere to bear upon the Ministry in favour of extending to the conquest of Khartouna the compeign just begun at Suakint, and the anewera given by Mr. Goschen in the House of Cemmons and Lord Salisbury in the 11000 Ol Lord & are, to say the lead, extremely a.nabiguous, one denote, if they indioate anything at all, that the end of the campaige cement be foreseen. Lord Salisbury's statement has failed to inspire ' eonfidenoe even atnong the Tories, grade it will be remembered that he promised last spring Viet there would he no expedition to Stialtim. The gotarday liauiew etrikes the • keynote of Coeeervenve bought in an awhile whittle assorts thet there will never be cietiet irt Vern -Eliot Africa unil lettglahd• , hes establiehed einem el power at Khartoum. This, the Review deelares, "18 as certain as that the sun rose yosterday, and concid?r- ably More cereein than that the sun will the to morrow. That date, everything else follotre," The Batseinal Gapital. The firat imprention of the traveler on approaching St. Petersburg is of wonder at its size awl lin Position. Olt every eide stretches of what is apparently a low, lief) marth, covered with innumerable buildings; the strangest place for a city ever chosen by `the °Intimate will of man, seeking th dis- pense with all natural advantages, Peter the Great chose it, it is Said, an being "a swuirnelowya sliotoeh iron gighotuht auvpn e ohe 0E4u frooulened, " withbut an equal outlook and a less desolate and fatal position. Unlike Stockholm, which is likewise surrounded by water, but which site on her rooky thrones like a queen above the dangerous element, St. Petersburg lies helplessly at its mercy. In autumn when the Neve is rough end ittormy, and in aping, when the ioe is brealciug up, the danger is great- est. The waves rise to the level of the streets, the numerous canals overflow e guns from the fortress are conetantty fired to wpm the people of their peril, while the inhabitants seek the upper dories of their houses and the police prepare boate for rescue. Another ooneequenoe of 'thin f mershysituation is he unhealthiness. The sewaga iill net prOperly ordeal eff, the Weter Miukinliable, tidyfstmitsty add Abler i diseases preyed whenever the friendly frost is not present to turn everything to ice. Peter the Great did not build hie capital in iglu:wane of what he was doing. He laid its foundation upon human lives, For Many years 40,000 men were annually drafted from all portions of his empire to work in this poisonous marsh. Every earl] and ves- sel entering the port was obliged to bring a certain number of atones to pave its etreets, and hundreds of thou:mends of wooden piles were buried in its depths. Soil was also brought in in great quantities to raise the level of the place, and massive granite quays built along the rapid river ; but noth- ing has availed to prevent disastrous inuncla. biome eeven or eight of whioh are particular- ly mentioned since the foundations were laid in 1703, At one time the river rose thirteen feet. Bub it is not only the want of elevation and of pieturesqueness that is depressing. to the visitor, it is no less the wide desolamon of the vest open spaces of the oity. From the buey moving multitudes and crowded quays of Stockholm we have come to quiet and deserted squares, endless rows of im- MIMS buildings, monotonous grandeur and regularity. It is evident that there are not enough people to fill its streets, and it is. positive relief to enter the few thoroueli- faxes where business and life is comithred; such as the Nevsky Proepeot. Of course, in i Winter, when the court s here and the rich- est citizens come in from their summer homes in Finland and the islands, when the sleigh- ing is lively and all the prides of the sea- son in vogue, St Petersburg would show to much greater advantage. . We had been told that the contrasts of luxury and poverty on the greets would be most painful, and we expected to meet beggary on every hand, bub such has not proved to be the case. There are always beggars at the clturch doors, bub seldom etsewhere, and poverty is by no meams so obvious and distressing as in many oities. It is not the poverty, but the coaraeness, almost brutality, in the lower classes that impresses you most vividly. The men that you meet in their sordid rags or their undressed sheepskins seem not to need nor desire any better raiment. It is suitable to theme Wild of face, with long, tangled hair, and inexpressibly eirty, often half drunk, but never acting - him you shrink from rather. than pity them. The pictures drawn by Tolstoi are seen to be fearfully realistic. The women are less forbidding, but with little intelli- gence or -good humor. Actually I have never seen a, smile or heard a laugh in the streets since we have been here. No- body understands you or nestles to under- stand. you ; the poor are sullen, the well-to-do oarelees or insolent. And then there ie so much that ia strange and utterly foreign. For some, to us, unexplained reason the days of the month are. changed. You thought it was the 20th of August— you find it is the atie. The Russian alphabet, is very different from, ours, and the names cf the streets and the signs over the shorn might as well be written in Runic. As very few of the natives, however, are better off than yourself in tine respect, the shopkeepers do not trust to the-alphaltet for setting forth their wares. I have complained of the want of lite in the streets. I mustmake an exception in favor of the clothes. These little carriages fey about in every direetion, for everybody rides. Yoe look down one of the long qU11178 per- haps end see no walkers, no loungers, but you are sure to see droskas. They are small, low vehicles, each holding two paesengers, with a driver on a high seat in front ole,d in a long blue blouse, with a leather girdle and a "peculiar cap on his head. The horses, with their huge arched cellare, are active and Antle and apparently well treated, and if you know enough Ruesian to make a bar- gain, you will find this method of a transit a cheap and convenient one. It ie certainly convenient; you have only to raise your hence and droakas sweep down neon you like vultures on their prey, nometimes jostling each other in their endeavor to reach you the rat; but as none of the drivers know 'a word of thything but Russian, you may not find it very easy,to make them comprehend where you want to go. This difficulty over- conie, b ()Weyer, yoix will snonbe spinning at a rapid rate over the badly paved streets. You, will probably soon none° the driver snatch off his cap, wave it in the air, and, replace it, make a hasty sign of the cross by leaching the forehead, breast and eaoh shoulder in SUCOSESAOIL This is when e. clench it passed., and such recognition of tho sacred edifices and. shrines is common among walkers and riders, 'There is no nation probably so "devoted to religious forms as the &mien—cern:In- ly, none which believes so implicitly in the value of signe and genuflexions. It is strange enough to watch the crowd which fills the &oath duriag service tinie. There are never atiy seato ; all, thee and poor, stand together; but in place of standing quietly, or, at most, be 1 *ng ocoasionaely, like the congregation eti a Catholic churoh, the Wholebody of teorshippere in a Greek church are in motion , ;bowing, prostrating themeelves, waving the arms up and down, 'continually making the 'aign of the cross deecribed above, they re - 'tremble a garden tossed by a great wind.— eCor. San Vietnam° Chioniole. Jlara Driven. Colonel Plunger (patroniebegly)—Ah, Miss Grace, you handle the ribbon e wonderfully. 'Quite a woman atter my own heart, I in- herit's love of horsefinth, you know. lty father, the General, was a superb tandem driver in his time. Mise Grath (oalthly) -Yea I heels heard of the einterare early efforts'in driving. , Colooell Planger (neryonely)—Ah 1—may I -eask —how you—? , Mita Grace—Viten, you tee, grandma told m of 't She wae ften passenger in the ore:lathe/et &sem by the first tandem driven 'beeyour tether. A DRATR-ARALINO CY0140112. Many People hilted in PenneFittanitt, Rinatmn, Jan. 12—A huudred household ors are in mourning as the result of one of the greetest calemities ever known in Penn- sylvania. A cyclone wept over the north- ern section of the city end laid waste' every- thing within ire reach and with it terrible loss of life. The livethat have been eacridoed and the number that have been injured on only be estimated. Tee only reliable computation at ten o'clock to night is that not lees than aixty pennons have been killed outright and 100 injured. Persons residing along the track of the storm eay that they saw the first signs of danger in, A FUNNEL SUSPED meeesericon, which seemed to gather up everything with- in its reach and oast it right and left. Out In the oountry houses an4 barne ware un, roofed, farm oubhuildings overturridd, crops rooted up and distruotion spread be every direction, The cyclone came from the west, but passed along the northern border of Reading. , First it touoned the Blount Penn Stove Works. Here the corner of the build- ing was struck, and a pottion of the roof, was ecouitseooffas nicely as if done with Par ei ro, silk mill, in winch HO girls were em• played, 'blew down just before the hour for quitting work. Every thiog is confusion. The loss of life is i nbably muh heavier than at first reported. About the same thne there was an explo- sion and fire in the same neighborhood, by which eight men were burned to death. A Ohinese Restaurant. , Unlike Americano, the Chinese do not gen- ' orally pay by the diahes ordered, liut by the tables or spreads, called by the Chinese . " Gzah." A first-class spread includes about forty courses, and it takes two days to finish the feast. It costs fifty dollars. A second - claim spread, with twenty-eight courses, costs forty dollars. A. third -clam spread with eighteen courses, costs twenty -fire dollars. The cheapeet rapread contains eight 00UrSOS for eight dollars. This is the lowest 'price ' for which a man can order a formal dinner in a firstoolass Chineee restaurant. But then the spread is made for any number of peo- ple within twelve. If a man simply Wants to eat a short meal, for himaelf and a friend or two, he can get ready-made dishes of fish, chicken'duck, piga' feet, rice, tea, etc., cheaper than in any other 'restaurant, besides many dishes peculiar to Chinatown. The prices run from five to twenty-five tents. The Chinese table implements are chopsticks, of ebonyor ivory, a tiny, little teaoup, and a porcelain spoon. A staple dish for the Chinese gourmand is chow chop twee+, a mixture of chickens' livers and gizzards, fungi, 59.1111)00 buds, pig's tripe, and bean sprouts stewed with spices. The grany of this is poured inr0 the bowl of finer( with some --(the prototype of Worcestenshire sauce), making a delicious seasoning -to the favorite grain. The tea is made by pour- ing hot water over the frei eh Oolong n a cup, . and covering it with a small saucer to draw. Then pushing back the saucer a little, you pour off the fluid into it smaller oup, and add more hot water to the grounds again. This \ may be repeated five or six times, :entitle sat cup will be nearly as strong as the firk The Chinaman always takes spirits within, meals pouring the rice whisky into a tiny cup from a pewter pot. But he always drinks moderately, and never apart front hie meals. For this reason drunken China- men are very rarely seen. When a party of Chinamen sit around it table, one dish of each kind of food is served, and all pick from the e same dish with the chopsticks. When there ere several courses,the earlier dishes are never removed, and hi' the time a good. din- ner has been served, the table is literally buried with dishes. A MIRAGE AT NIGHT. The Flames of a Prairie Fire 5,, Itaketa Pictured ta the Clouds. datyinbnentweleeeleTn09er,and daitte P. n. n.541,0.t—n heOsinegnannio.er. and beautiful ,speotacle was witnessed of a mirage at night. The day had been very warm, the thermometer reaching 60 ° in -the ahrede, and the gondition of the atmoaphere was certainly unusual. The sky was more or lese clouded, particularly on the horizon. Paeohes of prairie fire were visible at all points of the compress. To the north, south, and west there wan nothing in their appearance to attract attention, but two masses of fire to the northeast of Carrington were unlike those in any other direction. These fires were with wonderful distinctness heightened into the very clouds, just as in the brilliance, of the sunlight the obscure stack is made to assume the dimen- dons of a lofty tower. Then again, the connecting Iink between the real fire and its double disappeared, and there -was a perfece reflection of the fire in the clouds, individual tongues of film° being pictured hi the super- heated strata like the familiar fats morgana. At another time the reflected fire seemed to waver in the air like the restless shimmer of tee moat brilliant aurora. The spectacle lasted until the fires died ont altogether. Not by a Long Shot. There was a curious emulation at a church wedding ab Bridgeport, Conn., the other day. The groom, a person of violent temper swore because the bride and her party teem behind time. leering his ravings to his best man, the bride arrived and overheard her fiancee roundly abusing her and swearing outrageously. The brideei face assumed a deadly pallor. She approached the altar and stood motionless titian the minister asked if she would love, cherish and obey," to which She replied, in a clear ringing voice, "Not by a long shot," and majesti- cally marched cnit of the edifice. " • " " " " ' The fur trade in the Canadian NortbeW somewhat deprentied. In the Hui n Bay Company's yearly repot it is -taied that whereas in 1874 the averige price of marten skin was 27s. 63., ib is now only ld. Mink has fallen from lis. ed. to 2S. 3d. xho drop is due largely to the change of fashion, those furs being no longer worn by therm whose whin* are ' Efforte are being made to seem the Phila. deiphiet woman Sarah Jane )Whiteling from well deeerved execution on the filling) plea that she It a woman. No one, pretends to say she does not deeente to die. It is not even hinted that elm is insane, It id admit- ted that there is not a tingle mitigating oircumetance or redeeming feature in the oath. She poisoned her lie:nand and her two Ohildren deliberately, with oolcl veritable - tion, rirged on by the demi% of avarice, in order to get the meurance Emmen that watt on their lives. Why e plea of mercy ehoeld be urged in behalf of a woman so uneeeed by debasing' greed perms comprehension The execution of tiUdh a woman, just bettause she is a woman, will be all the more 'vain eible ee a terrible exasuple.