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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Times, 1898-6-30, Page 2TTIVIS8 THE LAST VOYAGE OF MARTIN VALLLANCE A SBA STORY OF TOeIlAYe I3Y jOI•IN ARTHUR BARRY, Author of "Steve Breves Bunyie," "Xx the Greet Deep," eta At the soured of the report the raen Meseta rowing ad stared above there in astoeishment, oue of the fellows droppleg his oar oyerboard tnbis f tarry. By this tire I saw that the dingey had drifted aimost on to the .i0r, anal that, bar accidents, he was Safe,I bowever, stood by for anoth- er shot. But the men in the beat had evidently had enough. One fellow was tryin,g to atop the leak with his hat, whilst, the others pulled back to the barglientine. Satisfied, I turned to watch the Major, and preeently saw bine tointch: the thde of the dingey, drag binesele oyer it, end fall into her bot - 'tom, walla Helen and I gulled like mad people on or line till we got hina alongside. Then in a jiffy I was Into the boat., belped the Major thence into the chivies, and. so ma deok. He was well enough, apparently; and al- though blown by his swim and pant- ing with the exeitement of the chase, Ile found strength and breath to shake ble fist at the bartruentine—now bur- riedly ena,.kine s—and swear terribly at her, even with Helen's arm around his neck and her sweet face pressed dose to his purple unshaven cheeks. Aect what a figure of e, Major it was with the thin, blue cotton suit, a world. too short for him in, all ways, clingieg tight to his dripping body; his thiok gray hair and long mosista,th.es all raf- fled and unkempt; hatless, shirtless, bootless, glassless! All at once catch- ing sight of tlee rifle, he made a grab at it, aimed, and pulled the trigger, but it was empty; and with a grovve of disgust, he flung it down again. Rapping just at this moment to look forward, I saw something that made . me shout with surprise and delight. There, nn the starboard bow, not more than a raile away, and steaming straight for us, was a great ironcla.d cruiser all aglitter in the sunlight with polished steel and brass end winking eyes of glass, a big mound of water rising on emelt side of her lofty stem, volumes of smoke pouring from her creara-colored 'thwartshiP funnels, spiteful little guns peering over her military tops, and from her halyards—held straight out like a Painted card by the wind of her speed —flew the red cross flag of the British navy; altogether a raost majestic and. convincing sea-pictuse. As I gazed an inspiration came to me, and turning to where the Major stood, alternately raving at the bar- quentine and. caressing his daughter, I touched alm on the shoulder, say- ing: "Look, Major 1 We shall have her here. alongside directly. Had you not better go below and dress to _receive her officerse She'll fix those friends of yours up presently," Sluaing around, he stared for a mine nte in a bewildered. sort of manner at tbe war -ship, as tbough hardly able to believe his eyes. Thera eith a corareheasive glance at himself, he bolt- ed down the companion like a rabbit into a furrow, followed almost at once byl Helen. ln, twenty minnte,s the ironclad was dose 'abreast of us, the wash from the enormou.s mass making the Bebe roll to it, as if in a sea -way. And as I looked up at the grim gun -studded sides, the crowd of hearty, welcome English fazes gazing at as over her rail forward, her uniformed officers quietly pacing the quarter-deck; the scarlet -coated sentry, rifle on should- er, doing his march to and fro the bridge before the oonning-tower; lis- tened to the short word of command, the shrill pipe of the boatswain, and the hoarse roar of his mate's leath- ern lungs—as I took all this in, I say, I felt my heart swell with such mingled feeling of pride of country and security of knowledge that at last our troubles were over, that scar- cely, could I find voice enough to ans- wer the hail of the white -headed cap- tain as he leaned aver the bridge to- wards me. Before, however, I had. a chance to explain things very hilly, up Game the Major, spick-and-span once more even to his glass, such good time had he made below—so far at least as eon - earned his outward appearance. Bet his, temper seemed. very little improv- ed, nor was his eye impressed by the spectacle of the sea -dragon and her greet crowd of faces all with their re- gards bent on him. Catching sight of the captain, shouted in a voice hoarse with' passion, whilst Nan, in her usual position, elaen-ed her cud contempla- tively at his side: "I appeal to you, sir, as a British officer, to stop that ship from escaping," wiring a vvild flourish of his arm towards the bar- quentine as he spoke. "They're pir- ates, sir 1 They've stolen my boat and, my diamond Heath and studs — a present) sir, fawn the Viceroy of India himself when I cut down the nig- ger vrho tried to stab him. at newel Pindi. Why, demrne it's robbery — barefaced robbery on the high seas. Stop 'em, sir 1 And if the won't stop, sink 'eml Why, by gad, sir, they pmt me in the fok'sle with a, Int of infer- nal. niggers, and made me—me—john Forteseue—after holding Her Most Gracious Majesty's commission for twenty years—, wash their blasted plates and dishes or "em 1" 41, this I saw a great wide, silent grin ripple acros,s the Jacks' faces forward, like the sudden wash of a short sea over a moored buoy, Bat aft, no one so much as smiled. Ana suddenly it straok ane that amongst those brown and bearded figures crowdleg the forward deok were one or two who—as they made curious grixne ac,es, slapped their bare and roossy ehests, and, as it were, itched all ov- er to attract my attention without trenching on discipline— seemed won- derfully familiar. But before I could place them in ray memory the captain °a the erniser spoke. "Be sure, sir," he replied courteously, "that you shall have every satisfantion, as soon as I learn your story, Meanwhile we will signal the barquentine to heave -to," and turning, he said something to an- other °Meer beside him. In a minute a boat full of men drop- ped into the water, whilet atring of "Captain Murray's. compliraelets, gen- tlemen, and. will you both 001350 on hoard, Her Majesty's dap Alexandra?" As he spoke Helen rose through the corapanicai beside him, radiant and smiling, her soft brown eyes spark- ling with joy and afeeetion. And though palpably astonished at the love- ly apparition, the young fellow rose to the occasion, as the Major intro- duced him, and said. something nice about suele an unexpected honor and pleasure; adding that, as his instru.o- dons were to presently return and bold the brig until things were settled, lielent had better a,coompany us to the Alexandra, At that moment there was a. loud report from the oruiser, and a long curl of smoke went eddy- ing from' her side. 'Ab 1" exclaimed the lieutenant, "the barquentine won't pay any at- tention to our signals apparently. That will help her to understand wbat we want. Have you a gangway for the lady, sir ?" he asked. "If you. have, my men Mali soon put it over," There was one lashed CM the for- ward. house, a very oomforteble one; and at a word some of the men tumb- led, :up, and, bad it aver the side, them- selves remaining to see that the brig didn't rim away during our absence. Then, offering his arra, to Helen, he helped her down the steps with a grace and ease and skill born, I doubt- ed not, of long and constant practice at Sydney, Auekland, Hobart, and other stations whose fair ones love every- thing able to sport the sign of the OrOWU arad the foul anchor, from the captain to the last -joined. naidshipman, with an energy and thoroughness that make those ports par excellence, the happy' hunting grounds of the service. The Major—still grumbling, but in a lower, quieter note now that the first blow -off of angry steam had escaped —and myself followed; and the boat was about to push off, when. Nan, thinking' ne meant to desert her, gave a dismal bleat and clattered down the steps, landing neatly on the knees of one of the Jacks. • "Let lier come r said the Major to the Lieutenant. "Let her come! You'll have the whole of the Hebe's Grew to- gether/ then." enent say or shot seemed Weave d0a0 ar what oflags could, not." Nearly a mile away lay the Ocearta Seale her three after -masts naked but for the toenails hengiug in lumps at their beads; her foresail, foreetopgal- hint-sail, and royal were all clewed up; topsail -yard on the oap—everything about her betokening surrender, un- conditioual and cerapiete. At climatal' speed only the Alexandra steamed alongside and bailed. The same tall, derk-whiskered fellow, pointed mat by the Major as her oaptain, replied, star- ing hard at his late captive standing near the first lieutenent. "'Come on• board, sir," said the latter when leis questian relating to the bar- ementine's ,etime and port had been an- swered, "and bring this gentleman's property with you, also your ship's papers." a British subject," his name was Van Beers, replied. the other sulk- ily, without stirring; "and I'll see what Hofmeyr and a. few of them have to say in the Rouse about my being shot at, first by him," pointixtg to me, "and then by you, in this free -and - easy fashion," "Come on board, sir, at once," re- peated the lieutenant sternly-. "Or do you. wish me to send a file oi marines for your Seeing that there was no help for it, the other got into his gig, and in a few minutes was conducted by a sub- lieutenant to us on the quarternieolt, carrying with him the Major's clothes and fallals all intact. ' During the sort of informal court- martial now held upon hira by the cap - tan and -two of bis lieutenants, the fellow protested, notwithstanding the indignant snorts of the angry Major, his belief that, when he picked him up, the latter was no better than an escap- ed convict win) had stolen both boat and jewellery. If, he argued, making a decided point, there had been any ship's name, even, on the boat, he might have believed the story. But what with the quantity of provisions in her, the traces of occupation by sev- eral men, and the improbability of any vessel carrying meth a craft upon her decks as asserted by the Major, why, he acted, he submitted, as most captains would have done in his place. AS it was, bis quarter -boat had been ruined by a shot from the brig; his voyage de- layed by the action of the cruiser ; and, taking things all round, he hoped, when be got back to Capetown, to receive thumping damages against both the owner of the brig and the government. And, actually, when thinga came to be dissected coolly, it seemed, somehow, that Captain Van Beers' defence was not wholly without reason, nor his threats without possible foundation; nay, that, in one way of putting it, he held the big end of the stick. Captain Murray evidently thought so; for, af- ter an aside with the Major and an- other with Van Beers, the latter came forward and apologised handsomely to the ;Major for his most unfortunate mistake. And when the Major, accept- ing his exceises, asked the captain to n keep the cutter as some return, ot only for picking him up, but for the injury sustained by tlae Oceances guar- ter-bcat, I think every on.e felt reliev- ed. "A very palpa,ble scamp P' remarked Captain alurray as we watched the 'British su.bject' pulling of to his ship. "And if we had not come up, Major, you'd have lost both boat and diamonds. I have heard of• his firm as being anything but particular. The chances are he would have seized the brig and claimed salvage but for us. liOw quickly he took to his heels! Yon see, Major, it's only in sea -novels that the British navy man roraps over the merchantman's decks and bullies him 13511 out of his life. If that fellow had not been placated, very probably some Capetown attorney would have pre- sently given H.M.S. Alexandra more trouble than enough; ay, and quite likely they'd have brought an action against our young friend here and yourself, as responsible owner of the brig, for an unprovoked and murderous attack on a boat's crew. Really, the affair has ended in the best way it could." The Major acquiesced, not very cheer- fully though, He wanted badly to teach those "confounded niggers" man- ners. And he never, to his dying day, forgot the indiguities put upon. him in the Oceana's forecastle; always, when spinning the yarn in after -days, omitting any mention of the scrubbing and plate -washing. "I think, Major," said. the command- er of the war -ship as we steamed. back ta the Rabe, "that we are going to bave some heavy weather, or 1 would- n't mind giving the brig a tow for a day or two. Bet if I put five hands and a bo'sn's mate aboard of her under Mr. Valiance here, as skipper, that number should be ample to take her bo Capetown. Of course, you and !Miss Fortescue must be my guests as far as there, at any rate. Both of you. have had quite enough adventures for all spe, am sure. --I am sorry to say, Mr, Valiance," he continued after the Major had thankfully accepted the in- vitation, "that Captain Craigie is still too low to see any one. He, however, sends his regards, and says how rejoic- ed he is to hear of your safety, and. that he hopes to meet you at the Cape." This was all very well; but the los- ing of Helen's company was somewhat of a facer, fEfowever, what could I do except acquiesce with as good a grace as possible 1 Also, had she not called me "Martin" twice 1 And when at last, the luggage having been put in- to the man-oawar's boat, and the time came for saying farewell, had she not said, her hand close grasped in mine: "Come to us quickly. I shall feel eath day a month until I set the Hebe again. Although you are losing your shipmate de not believe but that she will hold you. fast in her memory 1" (To Be Continued.) The lieutenant sat next Helen, and was evidently making the most of me the short tiat his disposal. But you mustn't think that I was the least, spruce uniform. Not I Too often bit jealous of his good-looking face and had: I seen the love -light in my girrs eyes for that; and even now caught a. look in them, as tlaey inomentarily met mine, that assured me of my be- ing able to laugh to scorn the wiles of the whele British navy if necessary. On the mrirter-deck of the Alexan- dra, we were met by the Captain him- self, who conducted us to his pri- vate cabin, whence,. preseetly, we could. hear the thumpang of the twin sorews as tbe wax -ship forged ahead again. Refreshments were placed on the table; and, by the reptainn wish, ar began ostory, telling, it shortly and with few details, to the time of the Major's leaving us, when he took it en.His His tumble had. happened, it appear- ed, exactly as I guessed. In the very act of unbending tbe painter, over- balancing himself, down he went, He shou,tect' on coming to the surface, but of course, in vain. Then, giving up all hopes of regaining the brig, he swam after the boat, already some consid- erable distance away, and at last reached. her, but too exhausted to do anything more even if he had known how. When daylight, broke he c,ould see nothing of the Plebe. She must have been, he thaught, sailing for some time after he fell overboard, for then there was no sign of any squall rising. Nor did! he once hear the report of a gun. But in any c,ase, without his glass, even, by day, be would probably have been unable to discern the brig at a distance. Quite ignorant of bow to manage the cutter, he appeared. to have sailed er- ratically bither and thither until pick- ed up by the barquentine. and then, to his rage and disgust, the captain affeoting altogether to disbelieve his Story, and remarking that he was prdbably an escaped convict from the Andamans or some other penal set- tlement, confiscated the boat, jewel- ery and clothes—whioh latter he had taken off and dried, putting on instead one of the dimgaree suits left by the mutineers—and sent him forward in- to the eastle. Rut there—and the old Major turned a rich purple, whilst every hair in his moustache visiby gnivered, and bristled with rage as he told, it—the inen, finding him useless for practical perposes, made a 'Jimmy Meeks" of him, forcing him to scrub, wash up, sweep decks, and generally wait on them. At first be had indig- nantly refused; but after the "nig- gem" had manhandled him pretty se- verely, and, as one might guess, put him in aotiml fear for leis life, he bad thought it best to submit, until at last name the chance of escape froin the Coeane amide, late of Vancou.ver, B. C., but now the property of a Dutch- English firm in Capetown. "From beginning to end of both your experiences, interest and roraance run each other elose," remarked the cap - tan as the old gentleman finished; ca "and I n, in one detail, cap yours, Mr. Valiance, with regard to the Ante- lope. About half -way between lhere and Cape Leeuwin we picked up one of her boats with Captain Craigie and three seamen in her, all nearly spent, Originally there had been ten in her. These were the snrvivors. And I am afraid, after what you tell us about the other boat, that the four •with us are the only ones who have escaped of the whole ship's company. The An- telope caught fire, the flames spread- ing so rapidly that; any preparations as regards plovisions, Ste., were out of the question, All •thet could he done was to pull dear of her as soon as pos- glace A terribly sad and sadden af- fair 1 The men recovered, and have bright flags fluttered up thlar. jolted the Alexanclrae but their cap - hip's heleardsdn another two or three fain is still under the (Motor's are, it elite alongside, and there clambered on board the Bebe a young lieutenant, typical British navy man, clean- shaven, bright-eyed, alert. Stepping af t, he saluted us, a ieg : Now shall we go on deck and see what 1VIejor Fortescue's frleads are doing? I think," continued the fine, hearty -look- ing old officer, as he offered his arm to Helen, "that t heard my Best lime - PERSONAL POINTERS. 1"4"orilltorcht Abele, hotate ole OM Folks el the 'World, cebilleaneaker at Frankenberg, in Saxony. now 84 years of age, boasts that he helped. build Goethe's coffin in 1838, and. Ski‘w the poet's body laid away In it. Miss Florence Nightingale, though an invalid, •continues to take an tere,st in, everything appertaining to nursing, especially the pursing • of addiers. oa. R IL, tbe Duke of Yerk, having assured the succession to the Beitith throne by becoming the father of two sons, is restored to active service in the lia'nr and. has been conunissioned Captain pi the first-olass cruiser Crest - cent, The Duke of York during leis mer eruise on her alejetty's ship Cree- oerit will visit Copenhagen, Stockbolm, and St Petersburg, where kG ia to be entertained by the Eimperor and Em- press of EUSSia, at Peterhof. Mine, Meissonier, widow of the cele- brated painter, haa just passed away in hex villa, at Poissy. She had be- queathed to the stets au the pictures, drawings, and sketches of her busband which she had in her possession. Mr. Gladetone is the sixth Prime Minister, since Chatham, to receive the recognition of a public monument. The other Prime Ministers similarly honor- ed were Pitt, Perceval, Palmerston, and Beaconsfield. 'Prince Bismarck hopes to be able this summer to fulfil his long -cherished wish to revisit Varzin. His health is coraparatively good. The soulptor Herr lieges was et Friedriclasruh re- cently, and reports that the Prince's appetite and spirits were excellent. Mr. ,Tames Balfour -Melville, who had been a member of the Royal and An- cient Golf Club since 1846, and • had won its gold medal, was choked to death „lay it piece of beef while at din- ner recently. He was the father of Mr. Leslie Balfour -Melville, , who has held the amateur championship. He was 80 years of age. Their Royal Eiganesses Prince Ed- ward, Prince Albert and Princess Vic- toria they are now by their great - A THOUGHTLESS REQUEST. What makes Miss Gimlet hate Sank sad? Why, he has a feidness fee the songs that were popular when he was a boy. Did. he offend her musical taste? No. Ile asked her to sing "Darling, I em Growing Old." TOO WIL4LING, Young Wife, teprovingly,—My dear love, you know My deat mother curet beat eigars, and she won't remelt with as a week if you smoke them in the house. Young Hushatid—All right, my dear, I'll eracke apipo. grandmamma's will and pleasure. The Queen, by letters patent, under the Great Seal, has declared "that the cline dren of the eldeat son of any Prince of Wales shall have and at all times hold and enjoy the style, title or at- tribute of Royal Highness." The Sir Walter Scott Memorial As- sociation, through whose efforts a bust of Scott was recently unveiled in Westminster Abbey, desires to present a replica, of it to the Boston Public Library, and the Secretary of the as- sociation, Richard Lees, has COMMUni- oated the desire of the association to Ambassador Bay. The Rev, William Wa,yte, who has just died in England, was for nearly a ;quarter of a century one of the most popular of the assistant masters at Eton. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge, where he gained both the Craven scholarship and the bronze medal in 1850. He was a very fine ches.splayer, and had been for many years a recognized authority on the gam.e. The Danish poet Peter Nansen re- lates M a recent article in a German magazine that Ibsen is becoming ranch more affable and communicative than be used to be. A young lady said to him the other day: "What would you do if you had it million 1" "If I bad a million," he replied, "I should buy an elegant steam yaeht, with electric lightsand. all modern comforts, with a crew of 120 and a grand orchestra. Then I shoula invite twenty good friends to travel -with me. We should. visit many fine regions, but our prin- cipal goal would be the island of Cey- lon, evhich must be, from all I have heard, the most beautiful spot on earth." It is not generally known that Mr. Cecil Rhodes takes a keen and active interest in natural history. His Zoo itt Grooteschuur contains many rari- ties. Jamrach's has long had a stand- ing order from, Mr. Rhodes that any animal that will, in the estimation of the heed of that firm, tend to render the Grooteschuur collection more com- plete is to be at once shipped to Soutb Africa. D. W. Stevens, counsellor of the Ja- panese Legation at Washington, has received from the Eroieror of a apan the second order of the Rising Sun. This order has been conferred upon one other foreigner, and. is given only to those upon whom the Emperor wishes to confer a speoial mark of his fav- or. Mr. Orchardsan of the Royal Aca- demy has received a commession to paint a four generations picture lee the royal family—Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and little Prince Edward. Surprise is expressed in England that the Queen should have allowed an English painter to undertake the task, as she prefers German. THE GIANT STIRS IN, ins SLEEP. Prince Henry of Germeny, who, a few weeks ago was making himself and the Kaiser ridiculous, has been making an enviable record for himself since he reached Chime Although the Chinese Eraperer has been so hedged about with diviniey that oommunicetion with his sacred person could only be had through august subordinates or sabor- dinetes of these august subordinates, anineer Henry afew days ago was per- mitted to interview his seared might- iness feento face, The achievement is coinsidered a. great diplomatic triumph. As England, Russia and FrahOe Will demand like reeognition with Germany, the inoident is much more important then it May seem., It signifies that China. is (shout to follow Japan's ex- aniple acrid depart from its oenturies- Old polic,e cif exelueiveness. The giant is beginning te stir it hie sleep. THE Swims BED. eStept en the Moor, tit 0 Moen ler a An old Highland chief, finding his youlagest Soo, it mere boy, sleeping on the battle-fielci with a huga snowball' under bis head, kieked it away, ex- olaiming, "What do ye want wr a pillow ? 111 nae snob, efeeminacy in rer family !" A similar aversion to "efeerainacy" marked Charles Water- ton, an English squire, who in early life had wandered. througli many lands, as a naturalist intent on making col. ‘dbeasts.Ieialtions, o fbirds, reptiles, insects and v The bedroom where the squire Slept, and also prepared the speeimens in his natural-hiatory collection, was in the roof, and, opened to the rafters, Across a stretched rope was thrown a striped blanket and his working clothes. The furniture was rough, coarse and scanty u—anaeailledt ceadieoa.tlbetphlree, stsdaaet f h r eaen erazychas i ros, a do drawers, The floor, dee]. boards, was a who narrated the hide deait in her volume, "'Social Hours with Celebrities," on sarveying it, remarked CO1 the anomaly of a bedroom lathing abed. s' BY.111e' "I've long learet that it bed is sus& less luxury," said the squire, drawing from. a corner an oblong block of oak, two feet long, ten inohes wide, eight inches deep, hollowed and polished in itajhangedmihliasydhddleown ea.a oTnliela he pulled. down the striped blanket, rolled, it around him, onthtellein boaokre boards rest - "There, that'lly bed 1 It's soon made, and I'll answer for it none of you sleep more soundly than I." For forty years the block and blank- et had been the squire's bed, summer and winter, in health and sickness. Waten travelling, as he could eot carry about his timber pillow, he used the best substitute he could, devise. Once he was Mrs. Byrne's guest in London, and as usual, retired to rest at nine o'clock. The German maid, not sup- posing that he had. retired at so early an hour, went into the bedroom to take in the can of hot water. She gave a acream and rushed out. The neat morning her mistress asked an expla- nation. "Ach, yell may you askl I vent in- to de room, and vat did I seol A long body roll up in a blanket on de floor, and a cray head on a portmanteau." ELECTRICITY IN WARFARE. 11•••••••• The Various Fees to Whielt the /Electric Fluid is Now Pat. The electric telegraph wires over the land, and the cables under the seas, in times of war become of untold value in, the quic,k transmission of despatches to and. from the forces in the field. Distance is annibilated; important mo- vements are executed with less de- lay and. a war is itself shortened. In addition to this application, elec- tricity Is now put to many other im- portant uses in the conduct of war. Moreover, new applications are con- stantly being found for its varied ca- pabilities. PRUE SHOOTS PEOE. TERRIBLE SHOOTING AFFRAY IN CAIRO'S SWELL, CLUB. Sense/tonal Scene Between men of eloyel Mood l the Abedire's Club illEellte— somethipg About the ,AAtiaSSIA Mad, )FIAS "Victim Cairo, the Egyptian capital, is still talking about the terrible scene wbich occurred is few days ago in the Zile - dive's chile, where leriece A.bnied Bey Ssif Eddin made his murderous attack on Peinee Fouad Paella., the latter be- ing the yoangeat son of the Kfhedive Israail and consequently uncle of the reigning Khedive, and the former be- ing a. son of Prinee Ibrahim and. nepaew of the Khedive Ismail. A Member of the club wlao was present on this eventful =vision gives the following gralibi° description of the scene:— "MY friends ad 1," he says, "were seated about seven onlook in 1i even- ing' in the reading room, which is on the first floor of the club, an(t in one corner sat Prins Fouad. Paella, talk- ing with Abani Pad*, Minister of Wax. . "Suddenly there entered nine° Ah- med Bey, who, althougie not a member of the club, easily suoceeded in obtain- ing adnlission, thanks to his high rank. He and his cousin, Frites Fouad, bad quarrelled on the previous evening aver some family matter, but the latter was apparently willing to make friends, for he prepaxed to receive his relative in the most kindly manner, doubtless be- cause he was really well disposed to- ward him and also because he did not wish the clab members to know that there had been a family quarrel. BENT ON MURDER. "Prince Ahraed, however, as soon aa he was within a few feet of his cousin, drew a revolver from his pocket and aimed at him. A table separated thei two, otherwise Prince Foiled would have sprung forward and. disarmed his opponent. As it was there was no- thing for him to do but hide behind A.bani Pacha. Prince Ahraed there- upon aimed straight for the Minister of Wan and, zot -wishing to risk tbia innocent mares life, Prince Foiled sprang aside and ran toward the door of an adjoining room. "This gave his cousin the oppor- tunity be wanted, and taking careful aim he fired. The bail struck Prince Fouad in the thigh and down he fell. As be lay on the ground the murderer fired two more sh.ots at him, one of which penetrated his abdomen vvhile the other simply grazed his shirt. "The tragedy was ovel in less than a minute, so that the olub members, who were in the reading room and in A modern mine field for coast or harbor defenoe is an electric adapta- tion akin to electric blasting in which suitable fuses are arranged to be fir- ed by a battery current sent at will from some control station by the simpleclosing of the circuit. Heavy oharges of high explosive, called mines, are so distributed and connected by cables to eontrolestae tents that it is diffithat to imagine it hostile ship or fleet traversing a well - organized mine field without destruc- tion or most serious clamant. Another terrible engine of destrue- tion for use in ,defence of harbors is the electrically controlled, dirigible tor- pedo. Moving and steering itself in response to electric currents sent through a small wire or cable, it carries a, charge of explosives suffi- dent to destroy in aa instant the most formida,ble war -ship. Its high speed and. its almost com- plete submergence save it from dam- age by the guns of the enemy, even it its approaela be discovered. The diri- gible torpedo may be regarded as an explosive mine, moved, directed and fired by the agency of electricity. The effectiveness of some of the more recently developed electricial de- vices has not yet been tested in ac- tual warfare, but it is safe to say that, their use will certainly hasten the <ley when wer will prove to be so destructive and so terrible as to be avoided, if possible, by all civilized nations. EX -EMPRESS EUGENIE. When the ex-Erapress Eugenie visit- ed Soulah Airien alter the Prillee Im- perial's death, she stopped at St. Hel- ena, and herself took a, number of weeping -willow 0401:bags iirora the tree which had once shaded Napoleon the First. Tbese auittings, carefully pre- served, have now- shot up into a grove of willows wound the mausoleum erect- ed. by the Empress at Farnborough. The house, wibieh once belonged. to Mr. Longman, the bead of the Venous pub- lishing Limit is full oa naementoes of the Empress's life. - Bach day the Empress spends a por- tion of ter lime in the 1V1emoriel Chap- el where are the splendid sarcophagi containing Ile embalmed • remains ot her leusbatd led of her son. The maus- oleum tost £100,000, and. elOse by is a nionaetery. The Empress's delay life is simple and austere. 'Of late years she !has suffered greenly from rhettraa,tiem, but she shares in Queen Victoria's love of fee*/ oar, and. be spends ninoh of her time aecompanied by 'her faithful seereltary and. her lady-in-waiting, in the beautiful groends of Fernhoroughl Ronne, Eiren, there everydberig has been done to recall her beloved, Prance, and one of tike features of the garden is agrove of 'horse ohestnuts planted from shoots taken fermi the famous Maxon - tiler des Tuileries. IN TERRIBLE CONDITION. sweepin Aroligo1unen4 of rated Mate*, allneney Methods. Poultney Bigelow bus cabled to the, 'London limes, after a month% obser- vance of the a,riny camps nt Chieka- inauga, aed Tampa, that the army is in it "terrible condition trove ladle 01 organisation." Out of tio whole tinny) of 140,000 men, he "cloubts whether 10,- 000 United Statetroops could be sent to Cuba in proper condition," as tce clothes, arms and discipline. �e as- serts that "9:10 Machinery exists where- by suet an aitay oould operate as a single caramarad." "Many of the regiments are com- mended by amateur otrieers vith orna- ments)," staffs. Offieere who left the army years ago as lieutenauts now re- enter tb.e army as. colonels or beige- dier-generals, having been jumped over the heads othundreds of more corapee tent men who have xemained constant, ly in the service, "The first United States infantry sent from California to Tampa was twelve days on the road, and no etaff officer was on the train, Men were transported like cattle, or rather, aa. freight—not even as perisbable stock "The treatment a political exiles in Eussia does not exceect in brutality that of tbe treatment of American soldiers going at the all of their country. There was no such brutal treatment of soldiers by Germany in her war. "Another regiment of cavalry was transported from. Chattanooga to Lakeland, Fla., without the, slightest provision for feeding and watering the, Men and. hpirses. The men were sep- arated from their horses sometimes by , twelve miles. "When it is said that meet of the young men appointed through the in„* fluence of their fathera, to positions oni the staff, the greatest possible wrong is dane. These incompetents may be in charge oaf commissaries of food and • supplies far an entire army corps. Hero above all, specialists are needed--ment who know the needs of war. "Volunteer regiments have come - from the north dressed in heav-y win- ter clothing, and. "are now sweltering' In Florida, with the thermometer at 110. Many_regiments have ,had. no! change af clothing, and no relief, al- thou,gh a month has gate by.". This is the condition of the United States army forty-five days after war; Is declared. Poultney Bigelow's eriticisras will tared wide attention in Europe. He was a class -mate in college of the Emperor William, and is thoroughly farailiar with both the German and. Englisa armies. a - the various salons and who rushed to the scene at the sound of the first shot, not only found it impossible to dis- arm Pnnee Ahmed in time but were also so astounded that they did not think of preventing him from making his escape. Indeed some time elapsed before instructions were given to the oon,cierge, who had fortunately closed the doors when he heard the shots, to arrest the murderer and to hand him over to the police, who had by this tirae crowded from all quarters. "No words cam describethe sadness of all of no who a naoment before, had been enjoying the charming society 01 Prince Fouad and who now saw him stretched on the ground, his clothing covered with blood, and who heard him calling in a pitiful voice for his moth- er and brother." The physicians who were summoned said that, as the hall had penetrated the abdomen, the wounded man was in is very critical condition and that a very dangerous eperation would be ne- cessary in order to extract the bullet. They expressed hopes however, that good, results would hopes, and the latest bulletins seem to sbow- that these hopes will be realized. The Khedive, who was in Alexandria at the time, and his heir, Mehemet Ali, who was in Paris, hastened to express their condolence to Prince Fouad's family and. their indignation that such a.shameless attack should have been made on him. As for the excitement in Cairo, when the news spread, no words can describe it. In less than an hoar an immense crowd had gather- ed around the club, while the entire Diplomatic' Corps, the Ministers and all the European and. Egyptian not- ables had gone there in order to ex- press their sympathy and indignation. A HEROTC MOTHER. The demeanor of Prince Fouad's Mather, as she knelt by her stricken, son, was truly heroic. "Courage, my deer boy," she said to him, "You have, been trained as it soldier, and is note a soldier's breast made for bullets? Though these bullets have struck you, your honor is in no way wounded thereby. Therefore keep up your courage, so that God, in reply to a mother's prayers, may give bach to her the life of her son.' Then, feel{ne her strength give way, she tottered toe ward at adjoining room, where the fell in a faint. Prince Fouad, who is now thirty-two years old., spent Ins youth in Italy and became an officer of the Italian army. Since 1892 Prince Fouad has lived in Cairo, his nepbew first appointing him general of division and eubsequen bis thief aide-de-eamp. About three years ago Prince Fouad married nrIna cow Chewskian sister of the man who has now tried to murder bim. The Would-be assassin is only tvven- ty-one yeaes old. lay order of the Khedive he evil] new be tried before the Court of Appeals like any ordi- nary triminal, and witholit the slight - eat attention being paid, to Ws rank, • • A PAR -SEEING DOCTOR, Sleet Man—I am afraid I can't have yeti, any Tenger, doctor; nay naotey is allIrag(Inallity. Physician), eheerfuliy—Ola thee doesn't mutter. I've insured your life hi to.y favor. , PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE. fl•••11.11 Hew to Build it llouse That Wfll Neatly ile Fireproof. Viewed, from certain standpoints ci- vilization is it failure. Take fire, for instance, We are told that it is a good friend, bat a bad eneray. Yet, being warned, we canna fight it with' any success. The accepted plan is to construct a. Bre-proof building. Framework of steel, sheathing of brick or stone,. floors of cement— the avoidance, ixt short, of every material that is com- bustible. • Now, what happens? A spark fr0ze. th,e porter's pipe, the ena of is burning mateh, spontaneous combustion in a spittoon, too heavy insurance carried by a tenant, or any little thing like teat, and up (or down) goes the build- ing "like a house of cards." These startling examples are of al- most daily occurrence, yet builders never seem to see the error of their ways. Is it not strange that so few. People know how to construct a build- ing thee will resist the raveges of flame ? Surelythere are enough real- ly fireproof buildings in every city to act. as models. First, it is essential that the strum - tine Shoald be of wood., and the parts must be flimsily put together. • No architectural. plan should be follow- ed. There should be narrow and dark Passages, crooked stairways, uneven floors, numerous crevices and closets where rubbish can accumulate, and there must be no repairs done. This building should be pat in e neighborhood, swarming with poor peo- ple, aud, as an additional peecaution, it should be °couplecl as a grocery' store, saloon or boarding-house. The yeller should be stocked with wood, coal, kerosene, gasoline and other oils, old rags, discarded furniture, empty boxes and. any other inflammable mat- ter that can be procured. Free access roust 'be bad to the cellar at all times, especially night time, by men smoking • children willi'matches and wo- men with lighted candles. There should never be any house- cleaning, so that the rubbish may re- main and tbe entire house beocnne dirty and greasy. The occupants must be perleotly reekless ; fight over cards, sraoke in bed, run is rickety stove in every room, grop matches on the floor—in short, they muse behave as if such a thing as a house on fire was unknown, Houses thus built and conducted are good for a century anywhere. This is not a mere theory; this is it fact. Yola oan find them in any city, and they never elisappeax until pulled down to ere make room for a fireproof leading that burns within a year. •vete GLADSTONE'S. SMALL COFFIN. Mr, Gladstone was once 5 feet 11 ine ches in heigale bat with the weight of years las frame had shrunk, and where he was Petite Minister the last time he was only 5 feet 9 inehee. The small - 'less of the coffin at Westminster Hall struck everybody. • ' BEFORE ME WEDDING, Sid she, this prornis to obey, , Seams clearly an atrocity. But you must let me have nity wayt, That's only reciprocity, •