The Wingham Times, 1885-10-16, Page 7The Collier's hying Child,
The oottage was a thatohedi one, tis outside old and
mew ;
Yet everything within that cot was wondrous neat
and clean ;
The night was dark and etormy,-.-the wind was blow-
ing wild ;—
A, patient mother sat beetle the deathbed of bar
obild,—
A little, worn out creature—his once bright eyes
grown dim;
It was a Collier's only child—they called him " Little
Jiro"
And oh i to see the briny tears tact flowing down h r
obeek,
Ae she offered up a prayer in thought I She was
afraid to speak,
Lest she might woken one she loved tar dearer than
her life ;
For the had all a mother's ht art that wretched Col-
lier a wife.
With hands uplifted, see, she kneels beards the suf.
ferer's bad
And prays that God will spare her boy and take her-
self instead ;
She gets her answer from the child—soft fell these
words from him—
"Mothers I the mantle do so smile, and beckon Little
" I have no pain, dear mother, now ; but, oh, I am
so dry ;
"Just moisten poor Jlm's line once more ; and
mother do not ory 1
With gentle, trembling haste, she held a tea oup to
his lips—
He smiled to thank her—then he took three tiny
sips.
"Tell father when becomes from work' I mid "good
alight' to him ;
" And, mother, now I'll go to sleep,"—Alas, poor
little Jim 1
She saw that he was dying I the and she loved eo
dear
Had utter'd the Last words she'd ever wished to hear.
The cottage door ie opened—the Collier's step Is
heard ;
The father and the mother meet, but neither speak
a word
He telt that all was over.. he knew tho child was
dead I
He hod the Dandle in his hand, and stood beside the
o
Hie quivering lip gave token of the gr'et he'd fain
conceal;
And see, the mother joins him 1 the etrleken couple
kneel ;
With Warts lowed down by sorrow they humbly ask
of Him
In heaven, onoe more that they niay meet their own
poor " little Jim I"
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
By the Author of " THE FLOWER GIRL,"
"LOVELY LADY LYNIIIIRST," &o., &c,
CHAPTER VII.
The little village of Midhurst was thrown
into the wildest state of excitement and
oonfueion when the tragical fate of Captain
Braithwaite became known.
As is usual in such circumstances+, the
most strange rumours gained currency, and
the widow Lane drove a roaring trade, only
dividing the honours with the landlord of
the Gray Parrot, during the few days prior
to the one fixed for the Coroner's inquest ;
but, wild and improbable as those conject-
ures were, they all fell short of the truth.
" It's only just what might have been ex-
pected 1" Meg Smith declared, with a scorn-
ful toes of her untidy head. " I al'ays said
no good'd come of her gallivantin' about wi'
her betters ; and now my words 'ave comp
true."
"Ay, poor lass ; but it was hard for her
if the man made a fule of her. I've heard
say as how the Capt'in Gould be awful fas-
oinatin' when he chose, and it's not surprised
I am if he turned the gal's head 1" one good-
natured dame deolared.
" Pooh 1 ' rejoined Meg, who appeared to
be in one of her most vindictive moods.
"She'd been warned often enough, but she
was too grand for poor folks like us, and was
al'ays a -hankering after 'igh folks. I dare
say"—with a harsh laugh—" it did make
her feel a bit mad when she found the Capt-
'in meant nothin' fir all his soft words ; and
then to think that she, who was suoh a
stuck-up piece of goods, should actually
have killed the Capt'in ! I declare it makes
me feel quite creepy when I think of it 1"
"Stay 1 "interrupted a deep voice at this
point. "It would be well, Meg Smith, not
to say things you cannot prove, or you may
be getting your self into trouble. No one
has a right to accuse Dolly Jarvis of any evil
deed yet."
" Oh it's you, Tom Larkins, is it ?" queri-
ed Meg, with a little disdainful shrug of her
shouldere. " Of course we all know you
would stand by Dolly, even if she had com-
mitted murder 1'
A dark red flush rose to the young man's
forehead.
"No one who deserves the name of man or
woman would strike another in the dark 1"
he cried hotly. "Dolly Jarvis ought not to
be condemned unheard and—and she is too
ill at this moment to defend herself or to ex-
plain matters."
" Ay, ay I"
" That's right, my boy I"
"Tom say's the truth 1"
And the little group, who evidently
sympathised with the young smith, gather-
ed closer around him.
" Do you say she is ill ? " questioned
widow Lane anxiously. "Shalt I step
around and see her ? "
"N -o, thank you 1" Tom answered, a
little confusion apparent in hie manner. "I
beg your pardon," he added quickly ; But I
know she does not wish to be disturbed;;
*find Adam will admit no one."
"Of course not 1 " Meg sniffed spitefully.
"It wouldn't do to have any eavesdroppers
about now I '
There was a general cry of "Shame,
shame ! " But Meg stood her ground
"Oh, you may pretend to be shocked, if
you like 1" she said. "But, for all that, I
know you all think you as I do, that Dolly
Jarvis killed the Capt'in out of jealousy 1 "
And, before any one could answer this bold
challenge, the girl had stalked off, leaving a
decidedly unoo;nfortuble impression behind
hsr,
and now the Coemeer called the first witness,
Joe Smith, As be stepped forward, more
than one noticed the dark minister look on
his brow,
" Tell us all you know about the sad af-
fair,"
f-
fair" the Coroner, a neighbouring Squire
and an old friend of the Braithwaites, oom-
manded, as Joe stood twisting his cap, and
never raising his eyes from the ground,
Thus adjured, he cleared his throat several
times, and then began.
" Well, sir, I had been doing a day's work
at the Hall--"
" I believe you are employed as under -
gardener there?" interpolated the Coroner.
" Yea, sir, and I'd stayed rather late ;
there was some decorations being flniehed
owing to the ball as was to come off in the
evening. While I was busy cutting flowers
in one of the conservatories, I sees the Capt -
'in Dome out of the house and go across the
park, That was about a quarter of an hour
before I left. Well, sir, I walked rather
slowly, for I was tired, and I'd forgot all
about the Capt'in, and I'd got half -way
aoross the pine -wood, when 1 heard the
awfullest shriek ; it made my blood run
cold, and then there came another cry, and
I went as fast as I could in the direction the
sound came from. When I got to Giant's
Hollow, I stood still and listened, for I
could see nothing, although the moon was
shining, and it was as light as day. As I
was a staring about me, I heard a woman's
sobs; and then it flashed upon me quite
midden some one had fallen over into the
Hollow ; so I peeped over the rocks, and
euro enough I saw two people--" Joe
paused, and for the first time glanoed round.
By this time he was beginning quite to rel-
ish the position he occupied, for every one
was listening to his story more or less eager-
ly.
" Well ? " queried the Coroner sharply,
seeing that Joe made no attempt to proceed
with his narrative.
" You might 'ave knocked me down wi' a
feather," Joe said then impressively, " for
sure ennugh I knew those two to be the
young Cept'in and Dolly Jarvis." There
was a breathless silence now, as the under -
gardener went on, speaking slowly and dis-
tinctly—"Whilst I was thinking what a
queer thing it was, and cf all the tales l'd
heerd about the--"
" Stop ! " interrupted the Coroner at this
point. " Confine yourself to the subject in
hand. What happened next? You said
you recognised the two persons in the
ravine,"
" Yes," Joe said, a trifle sulkily at not
being allowed to air his spite, which he had
come Cully prepared to do, for he was still
smarting under Dolly's refusal and the pom•
mailing he had received from her father.
" Yee," he repeated, "I couldn't be off
knowing 'em ; the Capt'in he lay all of a
heap like, and Dolly was sitting on the
ground with his head on her lap. ' Dolly,'
I calls out, ' what is it ?' And then she
looks up: ' It's—oh, Joe, oome here 1' she
anawered. ' Captain Braithwaite is very
much hurt, I fear,' I didn't wait to hear
more; but I clambered down the rocks where
they're not quite so steep, and in a minute 1
was beside Dolly. I seed how it was with
the Cept'in at the fleet glance. ' He's
dead 1' I said, ' How did it happen ?'
Oh. no, no ; he can't be dead !' Dolly Dried
out.; and then she turned as white as a
sheet. 'We must get help,' she said then,
staggering to her feet. ' You stay with
him, while I go for Doctor Seymour.But
I naught hold of her hand. ' Stop, Dolly,'
I said ; ' you can trust me—I want to know
who did it 1' ' My !.You should have seen
her then 1 I'd had my suspicions all along,
and now I was more convinced I was right
than ever. She just dropped like a stone at
my feet, and, if you'll tielievo me, gen'l'men,
I really thought she died of fright ; but abe
came round after a minute or two, and,
when I aeked her the same question, she
drew herself up and said i he would explain
everythieg to the proper peoele at the pro-
per time. 'Very well,' says I ; ' then I tell
you straight I believe you killed the Capt'in
yourself, all along of---.'.' But, before I
could finish, she had flown off like one be-
witched,"
" And what did you do then ?" question-
ed the Coroner drily, as Joe paused for want
of breath.
" Why, I didn't like to leave the poor
gen'1'man, and he not dead, perhaps, after
all ; and so I stayed awhile ; and then
Doetor Seymour came." e
Some one here leaned forward and
whispered a few words to the Coroner, who
nodded his head once or twice and regarded
Joe thoughtfully for a few moments.
"I believe you aspired tc marry Dolly
Jarvis, and she had refused your offer.
Was this so ? " he asked, after that brie;
pause.
Joe fidgeted uneasi.y, colouring to the
roots of his hair ; then he answered evasive -
There had been whisperings, and mutter-
ings, shaking of heads and uplifting of
hands; but, until Meg gave utterance to
those words, no one had dared to speak his
or her thoughts. Now, however, the ioe once
broken, it soon became an aooepted feet with
ignorant folks that Dolly had really killed
the young officer. But the excitement
reached its climax when the day fixed for the
ineuost dawned,
In the grand old dining -room at the Hall,
with its oak panelling and sombre oak fur-
niture,
thet lvo good mon and true were
ere
assembled to consider the oironmstanoes at-
tending Certain Braithwaito's death, They
had viewed the body in the adjoining roam;
next name was called—Dully Jarvis ; but,
instead of the girl ap Dearing, Adam Jarvis
ate ped forward. Yes, it was the black-
smith ; but he looked strangely unlike the
individual who had knooked Joe Smith
down, There were many whispered com-
mente on his appearance ; his formerly erect
igute was bent, his once jovial face was
gloomy and worn --almost haggard,
" It's just broken his heart, any one can
see that." " He'll never get over the dia-
gram)," " She was the very light of his old
eyes," observed some on the onlookers,
sotto voce,"
" My daughter is lying dangerously ill,"
Adam affirmed, in answer to a question from
the Coroner ; " she is not quite herself, and
—and unable to give evidence to -day."
" Who is attending her ?"
" Doctor Seymour."
"Adam is right," said that gentleman,
when an appeal wail male to him to confirm
this statement. " Dolly Jarvis is suffering
from brain -fever, and, when I saw her this
morning, she was quite delirious, I think
it would be useless to adjourn the inquest
for her appearance, as, to judge from the
present state of her health, it may be many
weeks before she would be able to give evi-
dence."
Adam oast a curious glance at the Doctor,
and gave a sigh of relief, or something akin
to it, as he heard this deoision. His wand-
ering thoughts were recalled by the Coroner,
" It is muoh to be regretted," that gentle-
man observed, "that the moat important
witness la the case should be enable to at-
tend ; but, from what Doctor Seymour says,
I see no alternative but to proceed with the
examination of the few remaining witness-
es."
Adam Jarvis then stated that he had gone
to Doctor Seymour's house on the evening
in question, having previously learnt from
old Sue that his daughter was out, He had
returned about nine o'olock and found that
she was still away. Sue had let him in,
and he had then sent her off to bed, saying
that he would Bit up for Dolly himself,
The old woman corroborated her master's
testimony, adding that she had understood
from Dolly that she was going to have a
chat with widow Lane ; but she supposed
the child was tempted by the beauty of the
night to take a walk. It was a favorite
stroll of hers through the pine -wood, Sue's
eyes sought Adam's with a half trumphant
expression as she turned away ; but the
blacksmith's ohin had fallen upon his breast,
and he was staring fixedly on the ground,
The blacksmith, recalled and cross-ex-
amined, admitted, with evident reluctance,
that he had only that day heard from Joe
Smith some scandal concerning his daughter
and the deceased; and, on hie return home,
after leaving Doctor's Seymour's, he had
sent Sue to bed because he wished to speak
to Dolly on the subject when she carne in.
How long did ha wait up for his daughter?
It was close upon midnight when she ar
rived ; she had seemed unlike herself, and,
as was natural, was much upset by the ac-
cident to Captain, Braithwaite. He had
understood that the latter had had a fall ;
but Dolly had not been very explicit about
it, and he had decided that it would be use -
lees to question her in her the state of mind.
On the following morning however she was
so ill that Doctor Seymour was called in, and
that gentleman had been attending her ever
sin ee.
ly—
" Her father, Adam Jarvia, thought it
'ud be a good match for us both,"
" Answer my question—did you at any
time ask Dolly Ja`rvis to be your wife, and
did she refuse ?"
"I—yes, sir," admitted Joe reluctantly,
mindful of the jeers such an avowal would
expose him to from his companions.
" And you and the father had words
about it, and Adam Jarvis knocked you
down ? ' pursued the Coroner relentlessly,
" Well, he did take me uos'tvaroe ; and, if
I'd done as 1 ought to a done, I'd have had
him up for an assault," Joe said lamely.
" That will do. Call the next witness."
That was Doctor Seymorr. He deposed
briefly to being summoned on tho night in
queetion to attend Captain Braithwaite. It
was Dolly Jarvis herself who canto for him,
and she accompanied him to the epot where
the young ctftoer lay. She had appeared
quite calm, and, in answer to his question se
to how it had happened, she had replied
simply that it was an accident. There had
not boon much conversation, as they had
walked very quickly, and, there being no
highroad that ran anywhere near tho scene
of the so-called accident, he had been unable
to drive over. A short examination had
sufficed to convince hien that Captain Braith-
waite was dead—ho had broken his neck,
and of course his death had been instantane-
ous. There was also a deep wound on the
loft temple, whfoh might or might not have
been occasioned by the fall.
By tho Coroner : " Could a blow from a
woman's hand have produced such a wound?"
Doctor Seymour considered that to be
niihly improbable; tho blow must havebeen
inflicted with immense force.
There was a general movement when the
of the room like one who had been suddenly
smitten blind,
Mrs. Maine, Doctor Seymour's house-
keeper, stated that Adam had called at the
Doctor's house on the evening that Captain
Braithwaite had met with his accident. He
had come to else her on private business, ohs
went onto say, not without some confusion;
but he had not stayed long, as he said Dolly
would be sure to be at home and waiting
supper for him:
That was all the evidence that was forth-
coming, and the Coroner, In a few lucid
sentences, summed it up. He could not help
repeating that Dilly Jarvis's absence was
very much to be regretted for her own sake,
as well as for the sake of justice, as it would
seem that she alone could have supplied the
details of the way in which Captain Braith-
waite had meet his sad fate. He also had to
oall attention to the manner in which one of
the witnesses—Joe Smith—had given hie
evidence. That ynung Tran was evidently
suffering from the smart of unrequited affeo-
tion,,and had endeavoured to wreak his spite
by casting aspersions on those unable to de-
fend themselves. Fortunately his motives
were sufficiently apparent, and it would be
for the jury to deal only with the bare faots
of the case. The medical testimony was
most important in the circumstances. If
they were to credit Susan Green, Dolly
Jarvis was in the habit of frequenting the
pjne-wood ; therefore her meeting with the
young officer might have been accidental.
He, the Coroner, sympathised greatly with
the bereaved family, and he was most anx-
ious that the ends of juotice should be sire -
ed ; but it was monstrous to ask them to
believe that a young girl had, through pique
and jealousy, pushed her lover over a preci-
pice. Captain Braithwaite was a man in
the prime of life, possessed of health and
strength, Dolly Jarvis a young and some-
what fragile girl. She had, he understood,
considerable personal attractions—was, in
fact, the acknowledged village belle. and it
was quite posaible—nay, very probable that
the deceased regarded her with the admire-
ticn which beauty, whether possessed by a
high-born,dame or a simple country maiden,
ever excites in the breast of man ; but to
hint at there existing any further intrigue
between them was a base calumny t� the
dead and a still greater wrong to the living.
He would venture to say that the theory of
Dolly Jarvis having in some way compassed
the young officer's death had its birt h in one
crooked and distorted mind only. However,
if the jury believed t here was room for any
reasonable doubt on the subject, thty would
return a verdict accordingly.
There followed a short whispered confer-
ence among the jurors, during which an
ominous silence reigned in the room. Adam
Jarvis atood,with folded arms, immovable,
though a keen observer might have remark
ed that now and again he gaveea curious in-
tent glance around from beneati the shaggy
brows ; and, when the foreman presently
announced that they were all agreed, he
drew along heavy breath and Pot his teeth
firmly like a man in pain.
" We find that Certain Henry Clifford
Braithwaite died from a broken neck ; but
how the injury was canoed them is not suf-
ficient evidence to show,"
verdict returned bythe
was the
That
twelve good mon and true ; and Adam Jar•
vas, as ho hes'd it, turned and staggered out
CHAPTER VIII,
Five years had passed away since that,
memorable day when Captain Braithwaite's
mysterious and sudden death had canoed so
miloh t xeitement, pain, and wonder.
The vilicege emithy still stood; but it was
not Adam's brawny arm that wielded the
heavy hammer now, Toni Larking had step-
ped into his shoes, and gave promise of be-
coming as skilful in hie craft and as popular
as his old master once was.
He had just completed a job; and was
pausing to rest, ere commencing a new one,
Standing in ,the doorway, with one hand
shading his eyes from the glare of the July
sun, one could see that time had greatly
Improved him. From a somewhat ,lender
youth he had developed into a sturdy man
with a broad chest and a thick dark beard,
and eyes that were honest and true looking
as ever, though there was an expression in
them now whloh was foreign to them in
those old days—sad and watchful—one
might almost say at times fearful ; yet Tom'a
prowess had been proved on more than one
occasion. As he dropped his hand, he re-
marked to a young man loitering in the
road—
"That's one of the Braithwaites'oarriages,
Sam, isn't it ?"
He spoke carelessly, and nobody could
have guessed at the tumult raised in his
heart by the mention of that name.
" Yes," replied Sam, after indulging in a
prolonged stare at the apprbachiag vehicle.
" It belongs to the 'all right snuff, and Mr.
Percy's driving ; and, yes, the gray is as
lame as 't can be 1 You're in for a job," he
ended enviously.
Tom made no rejoinder to thio, but went
inside ; and the next minute, sure enough,
the gray was pulled up at the smithy en-
trance, and a groom ran to the horse's head
as a young man prepared to descend.
" Don't be alarmed," he Bald reassuredly
to the lady who sat on the high seat beside
him. "Here, Larkins, or whoever's there,
just oome and look at this beast—he was
all right when we started, and now he's
dead lame."
Tom came out hastily and raised his cap,
casting a startled and uneasy glance at the
fair occupant of the T•cart as he stooped to
examine the ailing animal.
" Cast his shoe, sir," Tom announced,
after a brief examination. " I can put on
another in half au hour."
" All right. It's an awful nuisance ; but
I suppose we must wait."
" I'm sorry 1 can't ask you in, air—the
lady especially," Tom said awkwardly, as
he assisted the groom to unharness the
horse. " You see, sir, they"—lowering his
voice—" never receive visitors now."
" Who ? "—some what nuzzled, " Oh,
yea, 1 understand ! " Percy Briathwaite add-
ed hurriedly, a remembrance coming sudden-
ly to him ; and he too glancedat his compan-
ion apprehensively. " Shall we take a stroll
through the village whilst this busiaess is
being settled ? " he asked the lady quickly ;
and, she acquiescing, they set out and
leisurely picked their way through the
groups of dirty but smiling children, for the
" purty lady " had a pleasant word and a
penny for moat of them.
They had passed the High Street, andhad
come, into a lane where the cottages were
sprinkled but sparsely, when Geraldine
Mainwarning clasped her cousin's arm sud-
denly and startled him by an abrupt query.
" Percy what did that young man say
about the Jarvises ?
" My dear Geraldine, I-- He never
mentioned the Jarvises, to my knowledge."
" No, no ; but you know what I mean,"
she rejoined. impatiently. "He made some
reference to them, I am sure ; though I did
not catch the words, I caw him glance to-
wards the house when he was speaking to
you."
" Oh, 'ah, to be sure ! " Percy said, with
assumed sudden recollection. "He was
apologising for not risking you to go in. "
" Did he give any reasons for not doing
so ?"
" Only that ' they' did not receive any
visitors now,"
There was a little silence after this ; then
Geraldine spoke again.
"I wish, Peroy, you would tell me all you
know about these Jarvises. I went away
immediately after—after poor Harry's death,
and I :'.ave not been to the Hall until now—
as you know."
" Why would you seek to recall what
must be so painful to you as well as to me?"
the young man indeed, in a troubled voice,
" I hoped you had learned to forget,"
"Forget 1" she cried, giving him one
,ewift glance of reproach from her dark vel-
vety eyes. " As if I ever could do that 1
As if I ever shall forgot ! No ; doting all
these five years I have never for a moment
ceased to think of poor Harry's sad fate ;
and—forgive me—I never can understand
how Sir Rslph and aunt Braithwaite and
you could let the matter drop."
"But why—what could we do ? All the
evidence that was obtainable was produced
at the inquest, but it ted to nothing."
" Not all ; you forget Dolly Jarvis."
" No, I do not ; but it was of no use to
rake up a scandal that could refleot little
credit on any one concerned in it, and noth-
ing could bring poor Harry back to life."
"True; but 1 would have avenged his
death."
Percy shrugged his shoulders. He had
been sincerely attached to his brother, and
had felt his loss keenly at the time, notwith-
standing the fact that there had been lit tle
in common between the studious heir to the
Braithwaite estates and the gay careless
younger non. He had always regarded the
young oftaer s death as the result of an ao-
cident ; and, knowing his weak vacillating
character, ho had thought it highly probable
that he had been carrying on a flirtation
with the blacksmith's daughter, and had
oonourro 1 le hisfather's decision that further
investigation could load only to unpleasant
revelations without securing the and they
had in view,
" I am more and more convinced that
there has been some foul work," Geraldine
went on, in a low oonetrafned voice, "Tho
way in which therm Jarvisea shun society
points to their geilt."
"Hush, Geraldine 1" Percy said warning.
ly" I don't caro," the girl Dried pedal— te1y,
It every ono hears me • but l
111 ascertain
the truth before I leave the Hall,"
" There we may look upon you as station-
ery with us," the young fuse said; and
there was anundercurrent of''leaning iii his
words, u',�p' w'
roma
His cousin, however, did not heed them,
She was gazing straight before her,
"Ah, what is that?" she questioned
abruptly,
TO BE CONTINUED,
Rubber pennon Babe.
Some queer expedients are resorted to is
warfare when ammunition rune low, Front-
iersmen have boon known to use buttons and.
broken nails for bullete when the leiet armee
of lead had been expended in a vain attempt
to repulse hostile Indiana. In mote ,utast
one siege, artillerymen have been compelled
to serve their guns with pieces of riel;roed
iron in lieu of orrhodox cannon belie, and ft
is related that during an engagement at seae
the sturdy Dutch commodore, Von Tromps
thoroughly demoralized the seamen of at.
British man-of-war by pouring into them a
broadside of hard Dateh cheese, which broke
and scattered all over the decks and turned
defeat into victory.
During the year f the rebe ion the Con
federate forces were often "put to their
wits end" to supply themselves with ammu-
nition, and they were not at all particular in
selecting material to discharge at the Union
soldiers. On one occasion a rebel battery
resolved on attacking a Federal brigade
that had taken quarters at Brook s station,
Georgia., Ea route, they came to a point
where there had been a monster passenger
train wreck, the debris of which was scat-
tered in all directions. The detail, consist.
ing of artillery, cavalry and infantry, halt-
ed at the wreck to seeif something that
could be made useful might not he found.
Among other things picked up, the artillery
detail, ooneisting of six pitcea, procured one
or two bushels of rub:er springs, used on
the axles of all coaches, and put them in
their caisono. Wearily they trudg d along
until in the early after noon of the next day
they hove in sight of the enemy. They
soon put their pieces in place and opened on
the Federals, The duelling was kept up
for several hours, with no perceivable rout
of the encamped Union men. At last Itr
was made known that all shells and shot of
the Confederate artillery were exhausted.
They were puzzled as to what should be
done. Finally one of the artillerymen sug-
gested that they should give them one
round of rubber springs. Qaickly the com-
mand was put into execution. Into each
piece two springs were placed. At the
command 12 springs went whizzing through
the air. It is said that nothing on earth
was ever before comparable to it, These
springs did'nt just strike and drop down,
,ut they leaped, bout cad, bounded, killing
a man hero, another there, tearing down
tents, batter-whanging around for at 1.aet;
fifteen minutes, leaving but few men and
horses able to get away.
MECH AN IO AL ITEMS.
When it is not cons enient to tak • a lock
apart to fit a new hey, the key blank should
be ernoked over a candle, inserted in the key
hole, and pressed firm!' against the oppos-
ing wards of the look. The indentations
in the smoked portion made by the wards
will show where to file.
An important process has recently been
initiated—namely, that of casting steel tires
for locomotiv s and car wheels ny running
the metal directly from the furnaces into
cast iron moulds, and ready when cooled,
to be fitted and ahruu k on If the hopes in
regard to tote process , re realized, the ordin-
ary process of casting in a nd moulds will
be dispensed with at much saving of labor
and cost.
In his instructions relating to sewer con-
atructious, Sir It Rawlinson observea that
Portland cement and lias lines make good
hydraulic mortar. The proportion of cement
or of lime to sand should not exceed two and
a half parts of clean, sharp sand to one part„
by measure, of ground Portland cement or
lies lime. If clean furnace ashes or slag
should be available there may be two parts,
of sand one half part of ashes or slag employ-
ed, the whole to be mixed in a revolving pan,
each panful to iserve 20 minutes' grinding.
In makiott mortar or concrete it is of the
utmost importance to use clean. materials.
The water for wetting bricks and for mix-
ing mortar or concrete ought to be free from
salt.
Herr Wenstrom, a Swedish engineer, has
invented a machine for separating iron ore,
apparently one of great utility as an ad-
junct to the appliances of iron furnaces and
one for wh;ch use can be found at rolling
mills and engineering works. A hollow
cylinder is paused to rotate horizontally by
means of cogwheels at its euds, In the cen-
tre of the cylinder is a kind of drum of iron
bars which ie made highly magnetic by an
electrical apparatus. Iron ores are fed over
the cylinder as it rotates, and the fragments
adhere to it so long as the magnetic action
of the iron drum suffices to offer the necess-
ary action, but fall off on the reverse side in
• three distinct heaps, according to their
richness. The feeding must be done very
carefully and the ores must first be crushed.
The power required is very small.
Fiber and Fabric acid the calico marks
can be boomed and a great improvement
be effected in an industry en which thousands
of people are employed. It suggests that hus-
bands, fathers and brothers should bring all
their persuasive influence to bear to induce
wives, daughters and sisters to purchase
their dresses from some of the great variety
of prints which adorn the store windows and
with which our markets are glutted. The
milltroasurers, printers and cotton and cloth
brokers, superintendents and clerks should be
the first to load in this matter, and the fresh-
ion thus sot by their female relatives would
undoubtedly lead to a v ,et sale of prints of
every design and color, not only among
the upper and middle classes of society, but
among the great mass of the operatives.
The number of women employed its the cot.
ton mills of the United Sta{,ea ':a 54,359.
Supposing those womi;n bought t.1.1 yards of
print cloth each, it would lessen tea stock
on hand to the extent of 813.590 ye ds. The
whole number of operatives eine l;ved in
these mills, men, women and cl1tl.drese, is
172544 ; if all these operatives le tight ten
yarda of paint mei it would de rots3 the
stook iii the market 1,725 440 y. 'e. We
feel inipolled to allude to this reatt.r, owing
to the stagnant and unprofitable '•audition
of thep rint cloth market awl the almost en.
tire absence of prints as wearing 1l
:
rel.