si r r i j THE CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS. i I7.oInlaallon ami Other Clamea In tlte Xew ' - TMtnl Jllll. [ Tho land bill as passed by the houso • r on tin ? 20th carriod tbo Holnmn amend- ment , rotaining tillo in tho government I to coal mines found on government g ' , . lands , but allowing entrymen to uso r audi coal mines until further action by I congress. Tho bill as passed contains . tho following provisions : It classifies i ; nil public lands as follows : Agricnltu- fc 1 ral , timber , mineral , desert and re st served , and disposes of mineral lauds [ tho samo as under existing laws , and al- K lows every citizon , or person who has % declared his intention to become a citi- 1 . zeu , to enter ICO acres at tho prico of f $10 per acre. It forbids tho salo of all / timber land , but allows tho limber to bo f disposed of under proposals , allowing I settlers tho use of timber which has no 5 commercial value for domestic uses. f' Tho secretary of the interior is required yb toTescrvo bhade trees on the lines of lo ft gal subdivisions , and tho residents of tho k "western territories are permitted to f- cut timber under existing law for six te months after tho passage of this act. If IIS mineral is discovered on tracts where tho m timber 1ms been sold , such lauds may bo ft entered ns mineral lands. It provides * for tho { .ale , at not le. < > s than § 1.25 per p acre , of isolated tiacts of less than 100 I acres , and authorizes any person to enter i a 020-acro tract of such land upon nflida- i fit that it is for his own benefit , and not \ for a corpoiation ; and tliat he intends to | cultivate it hy irrigation , and , upon a payment of fiom $5 to $20 , according to | the size of f ho entry. Persons are to bo I permitted to associate in the construc tion of irrigation ditches and to file joint jnaps , surplus "water to be free to tho ! < public. Patent is to issue for desert ' lands only when one-eighth of the land hns.bcen irrigated , and cultivated with- / in three j'curs and upon payment of 25 I cents per acre heads of families are per mitted to enter quarter-section tracts i where they don't own that amount of \ land in any state or territory ( making affidavits that the land is intended for | their own use ) upon a payment of $5 or I $10 , according to tho size of tho entry. | Airy person who has not previously had I tho benefit of tho homestead and pro- i emption law , and who has failed to per- i feet title to a tract entered by him is to 1 _ be permitted to make a second entry in ? " " lieu thereof In case of drouth or sick ness an entryman may be allowed leave of absence from his claim for not ex- l cecding one year at a time , but this time is not to bo deducted from tho actual j residence required. Tho entrymen is ' - required to establish residence upon his ? . claim within six months after entry in a [ habitable house and to reside continu- _ ously thereon for five years and culti- K vate at least ten acres , when he may take It * out a patent. Proof of settlement , irri- Ration , residence , etc. , may be made 6 before a United States commissioner , | L and clerk ofji courtof record in tho , § U county. It is unlawful for any one to § cut and wantonly burn or destroy what Ip may be necessary for clearing the land W for actual settlers. A strip of land on { * " each side of section lines is reserved for | public highways ? It repeals the pre- i emption and timber culture laws , al- * lows settlers , when subjects of action at the hands of land grant companies or persons holding title under foreign grants , to plead in defense erroneous fc action of congress or the executive in l " certifying or patenting tho land to tho J companies. F r > The Republican Candidate for President. \ JLndiajtapolis , June 26. There was • -much enthusiasm here to-day over the ne < vs of the nomination of Gen. Harri- t -son for president. Later in the after- ? noon a delegation from Plainfield and X Hendricks county called at the gener- f al's home and were addressed by him as f' follows : Gentlemen : I sincerely thank you i for this evidence of friendliness. That so many of my Hendricks county friends r should have reached Indianapolis so w soon after hearing the result at Chicago - - * > " is Tery gratifying. The people of your I * -county have ulways given me their most k hearty support whenever I have ap- 1 pealed to them for support. I have tho i most affectionate interest in your county if' and its people , especially because of the U fact that it furnished two companies of I -the regiment which I took into the field. j | Some of the best and most loyal of > JS > these soldiers gave their lives for their Ik y country in battle. These incidents 38 < - ' have attached me to the county , and I [ * -trust I have yet , even here , anion * ? this ' ? - group some of my friends of the Seven- r - "tieth Indiana survivors , who will always [ ) T- ' ' be glad to extend to me , as I to them , a comrade's hand. I thank vou for this ; call. " In the evening a meeting was held at % the criminal court rooms , at the ad- ij journment of which a crowd about 6,000 II strong marched to the general's resi- i -dence , and called for liim. He ap- [ jt peared. and said : fe Neighbors and Friends : I am pro- ( foundry sensible of the kindness which [ S your evidence to-night on gathering in ' / such large numbers to extend to me your ' - > -congratulations over the result at Chi- -cago. It would be altogether inappro- r priate that I should say anything of a J partisan character. Many of my neigh- t Dors who differ with me politically have t kindly extended to me as citizens of In- l < lianapolis , their congratulations over " this event. Such congratulations , as well as those of my neighbors who sym pathize with me in my political beliefs , are exceedingly gratifying. I have been I % a long time a resident of Indianapolis J over thirty years. Many who are here , L _ 4 before me have been with me during all \ # ? * f these years citizens of the great and UV v. " growing capital of this magnificent state. _ ' " " 'We have seen the development and ! growth of thiscity. . We are proud of 'f ' * > its position to-day , and we look forward ? " . - in future to the development which shall • ST - outstrip that which the years behind us 'I ' * . have told. I thank you sincerely for \m& \ -the evidence that those who have known IjSi-t me well and long give mestill their confi- fae- " < lence and respect. Kings sometimes ! • * * - - bestow decorations upon those whom i - . they desire to honor , but that man is - most highly decorated who has the af- ieetionate regard of his neighbors and iriends. L will only again thank you most cordially for this demonstration of P your regard. I shall be glad from time to time , as opportunity offers , to meet .you all personally , and regret that to- g- night this crowd is so great that it will Tf- > be impossible for me to take each one of [ .you by the hand. But we will be here Ly together , and my house will open its fi -doors gladly to any of you when you I : may desire to see me. " \f \ $ ' . . -V CEZEBRJ.TE T3.E FOVRTUi f ' 02 , • Zote Hales via lite TTabash Western Jiailteay f t For the coming Fourth of July , th < i ' St'V ' "VTabash Western Kailway will sell tick- -ets between all stations , including St tSf * Ijouis , Kansas City , St. Joseph , Council ppp2 Bluffs and Des Moines , at \g \ [ . OXE PAKE FOB THE 3J0T3KD TBIP. S V " These tickets will be on sale July 3d ; 1kE1 -and 4th , not good returning after Jubj 'E3 ' , 5th , 1888. - mt. - The Wabash Western Short Line traini Pt , Are equipped with elegant Day Coaches IlL * • Free Eeclining Chair Cars , Vestibuli buffet Parlor Cars and Pullman Buffel Sleeping Cars. For further particulars apply to tht nearest Ticket Agent of The Wabasi r * . w * "Western Bail way. . ? S mTii BiiiifiSi jiB * , * ' * ? ii * ' ' ' i ' 1 * ) < * j"L'to&'Q * 'mir irimmmiKnr'Hf nti , i , tm ft < i m . ww. i winwTiX i Thousands ol Familios HomolesB. Telegraphic communication , which has been interrupted for sovoral days by floods , has been restored , and particu lars of tho terrible disaster on the Moxi- can Central railway , particularly at Leon and Cilao , aro obtained. During tho past ten days tho table lands between hero and Lacatecas have been visited by unprecedented rains , which havo flooded all tho streams. Many cities and towns havo been inun dated , and Leon and Silao havo boon partially destroyed. Tho first intima tion in this city of tho floods was tele graphed from Silao on tho 18th inst. It said : Tho rains havo flooded the low lands , and tho town is being flooded. About 840 adobo houses havo been de stroyed. Tho station buildings aro oc cupied by tho homeless people , who are unable to obtain anythiug to eat oxcopt tho fruit found floating on tho water. The rain has been general , and the wholo country around Silao is flooded. Sov oral dykes havo given way. The floods havo been more destructive in Leon than in Silao. Monday night brought the city oiio of tho most terrible scenes ever witnessed in this coun try. People who believed themselves secure from tho flood went to bed in tho unfiooded parts of tho town without fear. Tho steady downfall of rain caused tho river to overflow tho greater part of Leon , nouses tumbled in rapidly and the loss of life com menced. As tho buildings fell tho un fortunate sleepers were either crushed to death or drowned. A night of terror followed , men , women and children fled to the streets in their night clothes , some to find shelter in higher grounds and others to bo swept away by the flood. Wednesday afternoon tho rain ceased falling , and the waters com menced to recede. Tho people recov ered from their fright , though tho water was still covering a portion of the citjOne hundred and eleven bodies have been recovered without moving any of tho ruins of tho houses , where aro supposed to bo hundreds of bodies buried. The destro3'ed houses are estimated at 2,000 , and tho loss at $2,000,000. Mauy other towns have been badly damaged , but tho loss of life is only reported from Siloa and Leon. The Mexican Central has suffered very severely. The state of Guananjuato and the federal government aro doing much to succor the victims of tho flood. Information has been received at El Paso from the flooded districts in Mex ico saying that fifteen hundred lives wore lost by tho inundation and that 1,000 bodies had been recovered. Leon is a city of 100,000 inhabitants and a largo part of it is in ruins. It is stated that 100 miles of the Mexican Central road is impassible and that it will be ten days before tho mails can get through and twenty days before freight can be moved. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS AND NOTES. There are fourteen recent graduates of Yale college engaged in journalism in Now York. Women are the state librarians ol In diana , Iowa , Kentucky , Michigan , Lou isiana , Mississippi and Tennessee. A barber of Ns.wburg , N. Y. , has in vented a chair which registers the num ber of persons who sit in it during the day. day.Cases Cases of abduction of handsome and attractive children occur so frequently in Chicago as to lead to the belief that the city has an organized band of kid nappers alwaj's on the lookout for prey. At Fernandina , Fla. , a band of negro burglars got themselves up in white ghostly garments , and , passing as spooks , robbed the town with impunity till one of their number was caught. The new Japanese minister at Wash ington was in 1877 sent to prison for five years for a political offense. During his confinement he translated John Stuart Mill's work on political economy into Japanese. Elderly ladies who used to charm their beaux by singing "Do They Miss Me at Home ? " will be interested to know that Miss Caroline A. Briggs , who composed the verses , is now Mrs. Charles Mason , of Fitchburg , Mass. The song was first published forty years ago. ago.Prof. Prof. C. V. Biley , government ento " mologist , solemnly asserts that the "seventeen-year" locusts are due in this country this year. These locusts evi dently bear the title "seventeen-year" because they fail to appear once in sev enteen years. Their "time for disap pearing" has never been discovered , however. Queen Victoria recently celebrated her sixty-ninth birthday. Only four English sovereigns have attained a greater age Queen Elizabeth , seventy years ; GeorgeU , seventy-seven ; George HI , eighty-two ; William IV , seventy- two. Victoria has reigned longer than any of her predecessors excepting Henry JJLL , who reigned fifty-six 3ears , and George XII , who was on the throne for sixty jears. An amusing story is told of tho Bev. Myron Beed , of Colorado , who ten years ago ran as the democratic con gressional candidate in that state. It seems that during the canvass the rev erend gentleman was interrupted in the midst of a public prayer by a man who shouted "Louder ! " Beed stopped short , looked at the interrupter , and said coolly : "I wasn't addressing you , sir. I was addressing the Almighty. " Then he went on with his prayer. Murderer Quickly Disposed Of. Minneapolis ( Kansas ) special : At 2 o'clock this morning a party of forty or fifty masked men from Fountain town ship , in this ( Ottawa ) county , neighbors of Mike Dorse3r who was murdered in his bed a few days ago by Chubb Mc Carthy , came into this city and with sledges and a bar of railroad iron , pro ceeded to break down the outside doors of the jail. One outside and one inside door were broken open and then finding greater resistance than expected they overpowered the jailor and compelled him to open McCarthy's cell. McCarthy was taken out , bound , removed to the Geisen bridge across tho Solomon river about three miles from town and then hanged. The mob was well organized , heavily armed and quiet. The city mar shal , hearing the noise , went toward the jail , but was stopped by the guards and held up until the mob got away with the prisoner. Tho sheriff was kept in his room by armed guards. Citizens who were on the streets were held as pris oners until the mob got away. "A Pack of Lies , as Usual. " New York special : It having been re ported from Baltimore that a date was set for the marriage of Mrs. Langtry. ind Fred Gebhard , a reporter called at lier homo in this city to-day. Detailing [ lis mission in writing , he sent the mes sage up. In a few moments an answer : ame down under the Jersey Lily's hand ind seal. The reply was : 'It's a paok if lies , as usual. " A fine horse was stolen from D , H. skinner , of Crete , last week. • wit > Hiiuu . . m. r mama mmwrtm'imr \ ' imwxwit > • HMHnMHHni'saaMMaaBnaiM THE CANDIDATE FROM INDIANA. Tlte Ticket Give * General Satin/action U llexmbllcans , Chicago dispatch : J. S. Clarkson , ol tho national sub-committee which had in charge tho details of tho republican na tional convention , was seen before leav ing for home to-duy and questioned con cerning tho success of the convention and its results. When questioned as to whether tho nomination of Harrison was tho result of a combination mado before tho convention met on Monday he said : "It was not. Tho sharpest politician could see no attempt to mako any com bination. When Harrison showed a ris ing pulse of strength tho light camo. After two ballots tho Iowa delegation , which was governed more by party in terests than over for Senator Allison , saw that the situation could be unlocked and a favorable ticket reached , a ticket which New York and Indiana , two necessary states , had asked for and tho nomina tion of which would make those states responsible for party success in Novem ber. "Senator Allison had instructed to subordinate his interests at all times to tho part3''s interests. Before doing so we wont to several of tho strongest states and told them that solely for tho party interest 'and still realizing that Allison had i ood chances left wo wero willing to give up and unite on Harri son if they would go to him ulso. It was a patriotic appeal , unselfish and purely in the interest of tho party. They accepted it and Senator Allison was withdrawn and his entire following transferred to Harrison. It is a fact that Iowa made this choice , while at heart I think most of its delegates pre ferred Greshnm. Tho ticket commands and represents tho full strength of the republican party. No republican con vention has adjourned since tho war with * ' the result ever3bod3' accepting as unanimously as this convention ad journed. "General Harrison is as strong as his part } * . New York demanded him , Indi ana offered him , New Jersey accepted him , Connecticut approved him and California adopted him. " Chicago dispatch : Another story about tho Blaine telegrams , which was told to a reporter yesterday evening , was that Blaine feared that Boutelle and manhy would uso their own judgment and refuse to read tho dispatches to tho convention , and that in order to guard against this possibility Blaine cabled his son , Walter Blaine , instructions to havo those telegrams demanded by some friend in the convention if the balloting was persisted in. It was added that it was only under Walker Blaine's threat that ho would do this that Boutelle read the messages. On a Peculiar Mission. Washington dispatch : Colonel A. Longend3cke , a western Kansas cattle man , is in this cit3T on a peculiar mission. He is here to open negotiations with the Brazilian government , through their minister in Washington , for a grant of land in Dom Pedo's dominion. The ob ject of the grant is the formation of a great American cattle compaiy in Brazil. Col. Longend3-cke has been in the cattle business in Kansas and the southwest for many years , and he believes that the da3s of the ranchman in this country are numbered. He further believes that South America offers a fine field for the cattle industry , and that from the grassy plains of Brazil and the Argentine re public must come the cheap beef of the future. With that in view , he and his associates have informally organized themselves into a S3rndicate , and have undertaken to secure a grant of land from the Brazilian authorities. They will ask for 3,000,000 acres to bo located somewhere in the valle3" of the Amazon. Mr. Longendycke will go before the Brazilian minister in a few days and present the matter to him officially. He hopes to have his company's proposition transmitted to the proper authorities in Brazil for early action , and if favorably received , steps will then be taken toward permanent organization and the imme diate inauguration of the enterprise. Mr. Longendycke has already had a conference with the Brazilian minister , and has received most flattering assur ances. At present Mr. Longendycke is connected with an Indian Territory cat tle syndicate , with headquarters in Dodge City , and he states that ample capital for the proposed new enterprise is already pledged b3'the members of the syndicate and other wealthy cattle men , who are anxious to try their for tunes in South America. . Crops Benefitted by the Rain. The Cincinnati Price-Current of the 30th says : Needed rains have fallen to a considerable extent the past week in the central west , giving important re lief to corn and other crops , but detri mental more or less to winter wheat in the limited areas where the harvest pe riod has been reached. Northwestern crops have made good progress. Corn , the condition of which was being threat ened in the Ohio valle3r , is in good gen eral condition , making satisfactory pro gress in all the western states , with un important exceptions. It is still back ward in growth in Iowa , Nebraska and some other states. The oats crop main tains a good outlook. Indications as to the winter wheat 3'ield fromthe Ohio valley district and westw ard where har vesting has been in progress or com pleted are not such as to materially change the general outlook. So far as can be judged from the returns spring wheat , which got started considerably later than usual as a rule , has been fa vored the past month , and there is but little at this date prejudicial to its .gen eral outlook. Gen. Sheridan on the Mend. Washington dispatch : The following bulletin was issued this evening : Gen eral Sheridan's condition has continued to improve. The intense heat is , how ever , beginning to tell upon his strength. It is evidently becoming nec essary to consider the question of his re moval to a more favorable locality. Justices Field and Knowlton , of the supreme court at Cambridge. Mass. , re fused to entertain the motion for a new trial for Airs. Robinson convicted of mur- [ ler for poisoning her sister's husband and sentenced to be hanged November 16th. 16th.A A Montreal dispatch of June 28 says : The charge against Pitchet , the abscond ing bankteller of Providence , E. L , is that of bringing stolen money into Can ada ; but it is alleged that it cannot be sustained as he changed his money in Boston before coming here. In Montreal he hhd purchased of the Hechelega bank a draft on a Parisian band for 100,000 francs. Another draft from Boston for E100 on an English bank , was also found it is stated that Pitcher has offered to jive up S400,000 of securities he has hid- len on paj'ment of S50,000 to him. * A Lincoln man named Billingsley , while in attendance upon the national republican convention in Chicago , had bis pocket picked of a S300 cold watch. ' _ _ _ t Ll. . . _ .j A French Horror. Tho trial of two mon and throo wo men who are accused of having mur dered in tho most cold-blooded manner a "watchmaker named Vetarcl , and then of having cut his body into pieces , be gan to-day at Auxorre , says a corre spondent to tho Chicago Times : Velard was an elderly village rott who lived jn Joigny. Ho was soperated from his wifo and associated with tho lowest company in town. He was suddenly missed one day from his houso and. shop , and the neighbors , suspecting that somothing was wrong , went to his residence and found that his place had been pillaged. Tho alarm was given and a disreputable woman of the local ity , a letter from whom was found , In one of Vetard's desks giving him a trysting place for tho night , was .arrostod. Two mon and another wo man wore also taken into custody , but each proved an alibi and they wero liberated. Tho next day , however , tho lower part of Vetard's body was fished out of the River Youno by a bargee. It had been sawed off from the upper portion in a horribly rough " manner. By degrees tho hands , feet , and smaller portions of tho body camo to light A woman named Godcfroy now deposod to tho police that she had heard tho sounds of a fearful struggle on tho night that Votard was m ssed • in tho house of one Josephino Martin. This Martiu ' was arrested and stated it that it was she who had wr.tlon tho letters and sigued them with the name of an old mistress of Votard , in order to enlico the old man to her place , where ho had a quarrel with a poach er named Morand. She loft her house , 'but on her return sho was terror-strick en bwhat sho saw. Tho dead body rof Vetard was stretched on a tablo in the middle of the room. The face and flesh of tho victim wore pale and shriveled , his throat having been cut and the blood left to drain out of tho body. Morand and Vacher , an inn keeper , were busily ongaged with saws and carving-kuives , and they were sup- with refreshments dis • plied as they sected tho body by their female com panion. Pakis , May 18 Tho woman Josephine Martin , in whoso room tho watchmaker Vetard was murdered and then hacked to piece3. deposed that , when sho invited Velard to her house , at the instigation of the poacher Mor and , she thought the latter only intend ed to play some pranks with tho watch maker ; nevertheless , as the judge re minded her , she had told Morand that he could find a saw in her room. It was true that tho day after the murder she was at a rustic ball and enjoj ed herself as if nothing had happened. The crime was committed in her absence. The witness then describod the dissec tion with horrible cynicism. She said that Morand and Vacher , tho innkeep er , after having sawed off portions of the body tried to break off others. Vacher put tho lower part of the corpse on his knees and snapped off a leg just as if he wero breaking a piece of lire-wood. Sho had received sho admitted 4 out of the plunder. Mor and , the poacher , was next heaid. Ho is a forbidding-looking person , with a low , retreating forehead and cavern ous eyes. Ho denied everything and said that Josephine Martin had been instigated to denounce him by one of the law officials. Vacher , the inn keeper , who looked a veritable village bouiface , defended himself by similar denials ; but Martin steadfastly repeat ed her charges and added moreover , that , when Vacher broke Vetard's leg a stocking remained in his hand and ho cooly put it back on the foot Tho case is still on trial. Just to bo • • English. " Tho clergy , and especially the Epis copal clergy , who aro bound by strong ecclesiastical traditions to England , show this interest in things English in their speech and dress. Many of them have adopted the remarkably broad sound of the letter "a" that is supposed to be so "awfullly English. " They are very careful to give the open sound to the letter "u" in such words as ' • tune" and ' 'Tuesday. ' Indeed I havo recent ly heard an Episcopal clergyman go so far as to give these words the pro- nunc ' ationof "clmne" and "Chuesday" which to an American ear is simply atrocious. And I know a delightful little Ritualistic prist , whose whole aim in life is to be Anglican when he is not Roman , and who defines the Trinity to his people as "three Parsons and one God. " Moreover , in the Episcopal church it is getting so that the clergy man who says "A-men" and "either" and "neither" is a marked man. Ho may possibly succeed iu getting a par ish which is not up in religious assthe- tics but if he wants to be iu the eccle siastical swim ho must say "Ah-men' and "i-ther" and "ni-lher. " Neio York Tribune. • mm * ' i iiw Complimented by Napolcou. Lady Buchan , whose death is re corded at the ago of 91 years , was one of the last surviving persons who had a distinct recollection of Napoleon tho Great. Her father Col. Wilks was governor of St. Helena in 1815 , at the time of Bonaparte's banishment , and , on the term of his governorship ex piring , Miss Wilks was desirous of being introduced to the ex-emperor. " 1 have long heard from various quar ters of the superior eloquenco and beauty of Miss Wilks , and now I am convinced from my own eyes that re port has scarcely done her sufficient justice , " said Napoleon to her. "You must bo very glad to leave tho island , " he said. "Oh , no , sire , " was the an swer , "I am very sorry to go away. " "Oh ! madamoiselle , I w sh I could change places with you. " Napoleon presented her with a bracelet in mem ory of this visit Pall Mall Qazelte. His Life Was Saved. "I am Iruby sorry to give you pain , Mr. Hankinson , " said the young lady , "but please do not allude to this sub ject again. I can never be your wife. " "That is your final answer. Miss Irene ? " "It it" • • Nothing can in duce you to change your decision ? " "My mind is firmly and unalterably made up. " "Miss Irene , " said the voting man , rising and looking about for his hat "before coming here thi3 2vening I made a bot of $50 with Van Perkin that you would say no to my proposal. I have won. It was taking a great risk , but I was dead broke. Miss Irene , " ho continued his voice quivering with emotion , "you have laved a despairing man from the fate ! > f a suicide and won the life-long re spect and esteem of a despairing and grateful heart. Good evening. " Chicago Tribune. A young lady in Philadelphia is said to lave had live lovers all named Samuel. Her ) hotograpn album must be a book of Sams. • Drak i Magazine. * * . . . . . ii. . . - . . . „ . .itT1.r - - ' rj.nMil. --Till 'Jin JBrown of Australia * tl 13 surprising how very few a j : are capable of making lasting iraprss * sions upon acquaintances. Wo moot and greet great men , bright men , jolly mon , but straightway they aro gone we forgot all about them except as they may be recalled by somo circum stance entirely extraneous from our personal interest in them. But Brown of Australia , of whom a writer in the Philadelphia Press tolls this story , certainly seems to bo one of tho men not easily forgotten. A gentleman told mo recently of an instance of a peculiar unanimity of opinion among a lot of prominent men on a question where one might naturally expect to find a wide differ ence of thought. The point of nsree * ment was as to the most brilliant conversationalist whom the members of the gathering had ever heard. My friend said : "I was once sitting in the captain's cabin of tho steamship In diana of the American line , talking , with Capt. Sargeant of tho many people he had had under Erominent during his Ion ? life on the sea. "I have had a great many inter esting people cross with me , " said tho captain , "statesmen , actors , writers , professional men of prominence and men of tho world who have seen every _ part of it , but the most entertaining passenger I over met was a lawyer from Mel bourne , Australia , named Brown. He was , without doubt , the most brilliant conversationalist I evor listened to. " My friend said that the distinction given this unknown lawyer struck him as somewhat remarkable and caused him to remember tho name. He was still more surprised , therefore , when a -year later he heard Joseph Jefferson , at a dinner given him in this city , ex press as his opinion that among all tho bright talkers he had ever met in this or any other country the Samo prominent lawyer of Melbourne was the most brilliant. It was not that he said witty things every now and again , but that his conversation was one continual flow of queer conceits , bright epigrams and bon mots which came so easily and were so free from bitterness or sting that they had a charm and freshness seldom found in tho conversation of professional ra conteurs. Brown of Melbourne became a dis tinguished man in the eyes of the gen tleman , who had twice heard his prais es sung by so able critics , but ho was still to hear of him again. One even ing several years ago , while dining with the Savage club in London , when Byron , author of the comedy of "Our Boys , " W. S. Gilbert and other good talkers were at the table , a battle of words took place between Robertson , the author of "School" and "Caste" and another gentleman possessing no mean powers of repartee. My friend was greatly pleased with what he heard and expressed his admiration of the brightness of the speakers to a gentle man sitting next to him. "Yes , " said the Englishman , "they talk well , but we had a queer chap here from tho provinces once that made them all look to their laurels. He was by long odds the most brilliant fellow I ever heard talk. His name was Brown and he came from Melbourne. " It is not unnatural for three people even of wide experience to agree on the same novelist , actor or singer , but it struck me that the story was interesting , if only as a coincidence , and though Brown of Melbourne has not yot visit * ed this country. A Strange W.tnehs. Cor. Washington Star. Some weeks ago a young woman named Siott , who was soon to be come a mother , appeared before a Mercer County ( Pa. ) Justice of the Peace and swore out a warrant for the arrest of a young man named Wil liam Bloodgood on a charge of assault and battery. Bloodgood was arrest ed. The young woman swore at the hearing that a few weeks previous Bloodgood had come toher house , and , a § she objeckedTo his remaining , he had choked her nearly to insensi bility , and twisted her left wrist , al most dislocating it. She said the marks of his fingers and thumb were visible on her throat for several days , and her wrist remained crooked for Borne time. She had no witnesses to substantiate her statements or prove the assauit. Bloodgood admitted having been present at the girl's house at the time of the alleged assault , but denied that any had been made. He was held , however , to await trial at court. Few believed that the girl had been assaulted , and Bloodgood's discharge was expected by his friends as soon as court met. The case was called at the last term of the Mercer court. The complainant appeared , carrying her three-weeks-old baby. Her lawyer put her on the'stand , and she swore that Bloodgood hadassaulted her as stated and that she was the mother of the baby in her arms. A physician cor roborated the fact of that relation ship. The lawyer then told the court that as the defense would ask for ac quittal on the ground that there was no evidence of any assault having been commited , he offered as evidence cor roborative of theplainniff's testimony the baby she had in his arms. The prosecuting lawj-er took the infant to the jury , and , uncovering its throat , revealed to them the distinct marks ot four fingers on one side of it and the plain and unmistakable impression of a thumb on the other. After these remarkable birthmarks had been ex amined by the jury , the lawyer uncov ered the baby's left wrist. It was twisted out of shape and swollen , as if it had been suddenly wrenched. These marks corresponded exactly with the injuries the child's mother swore she had received at the hands of the pris oner , Bloodgood , more than a month before it was born. Tiie prisoner was convicted. Trees in Leaf in Snow Banks Waterbury American , May 20. The person who measured that snow bank in Winsted Sunday "yreekwhich tvas then four feet deep , measured it igain last Sunday , when he found it to be eighteen inches. It would seem , judging from the broken limbs on the brees , some of which were "as big as a man's leg , " that the snow must have been twenty five feet deep at the time yl the blizzard. The trees present a phenomenal appearance , with their ; reen folipge apparently growing un mrough the snow , The location ig within tho limits of Meadow Brook arm. Hi n "in " mm JWmimffi mmiiii' , < it. im i.n - . . wi * . < . ' A RIDE FOR LIFE. Thrllllnsr Exporlonco or o Man Who Rotlo Many Nil loo on a Watorloss Wnsto of Prolrlo Land. St. Louid Republican. "Do you see that wiry , sharp-eyed man thero swinging thoso Indian clubs ? " n gentleman askodoraRepub- lian reporter who wns at tho Missouri Gymnasium training for an interview , "That is Professor Grahame , the fencing teacher here. " "I know it. " : "But do you know him ? " "Only slightly. " "Well , go talk with him. Ho has a wonderful budget ol etories. The man has had a most varied experi ence. " Acting on the advico tho Professor was soon engaged in a general conver sation that gradually grew moro per sonal , and when pressed to' speak of himself did so with unusual modesty. Tho professor's lull name ia James W. Grahame. He is an Englishman by birth and is forty-one years of age. In 1864 , while still a boy , he went to New Zealand , being attracted thero by the wonderful description of tho place given by a captain Jenkins , who brought a delegation of Maori chiefs to England. Ho became overseer of a sheep ranch , and niter a year joined those who under tho gold excitement went to Hokitaka. While thero he was hurt by a landslide , and was tak en to Australia for medical treatment. He was in Melbourne at the time the steamer bearing tho gifted Gustavus V. Brooko sunk on its passage to that place. After somo years spent in the wars with the bush-rangers , young Grahame came to America and at once went to Texas. His New Zea land and Australia training predis posed him to the pursuits of the trap per , and for years he followed that life on the border. He was attached in thecapacity of a scout to a survey ing party of the Texas Pacific Rail road , and was with ono or two pros pecting companies that travelled that section for mining and other pur poses. Subsequently he was a scout for the United States army in its In dian warfare. Always , in speaking of the adventures he relatedthe profossorwasnoticeably free from egotism , and was inclined to ascribe the heroic parts of tho experi ences to others. "It was from Fort Concho , " ho said "that a company of twenty-five men in 187G was ordered out on a scout. You see tho Indians would wander from their reservations and steal cattle and horses and commit other depredations. They would do their work so quickly that it was unsafe to wait for the reports of theseoutbreaks , and it was the custom to alternately send the different companies out on scouting expeditions. Their duty would be to ride along the line of the reservation , and if any trail wa3 dis covered that seemed particularly fresh they were to follow it in search of the offenders. The party of twenty- five mentioned struck such a trail. As it lay across the edge only of the Staked Plain , Captain Nolan , who commanded , thought it safe to follow. For three days the trail was followed , apparently growing fresher all the time. At that time it was discovered that the water was exhausted , and the men and animals began to suffer for it. It was the middle of August , and under its terrible sun the men were without shelter. There was not a bill or a tree in sight only that glittering sand. The men pushed on expecting every hour to strike water , but they were doomed to disappointment. There were three scouts with the com mand , and they , under the belief that they knew where water could bo found , left the main , body , promising to re turn and conduct them to the springs when found. Two days were passed and the scouts had not returned. The men were going mad. Every animal but three had been killed and its blood eagerly drank by the men. The scouts had separated and two days after leaving the command one of them rode into Concho with the news of the dire plight of Captain Nolan and the company. The only parties who knew the plains well enough to ventQre in relief were the friendly In dians , and they were at Fort Griffin. A rider from Concho made the dis tance between the two points in & night and half a day. I was at Griffin when he arrived. The day was hot and sultry , and every- thinc had that hazy hum that comes with August. The sight , however , of this courier , dusty and travel-worn , and of his panting horse , informed the fort at once that something im portant was astir. We were at din ner when he came , but left it , of course , to hear the news. Col. Mizener was commanding at Griffin then , and he hardly read the dispatch before he told its contents to the Indians. There was one , a , Tonkaway Chief , called Old Charlie , who listeded to it , and then only asked which way No lan's company went when they en tered Staked Plain. Being told , he put his hand confidently on his breast and said , "Me find 'em. " It was only fa few minutes before a party of eight Indians under the leadership of Char lie left the fort with back animals and skins ot water. With the unerring instinct of their race they took a bee line for the sufferers and in two days they were with them. Four men had died. The survivors saw the ap proaching Indians but were too ex hausted to rise from the around , though they could but suppose them enemies. Nolan's tongue was so swol len that he could not close his mouth. Several ot the men were insane , and one of the four who had died was found on his face near a little hole he had made in a last frantic and in stinctive attempt to dig for water. " "Could it have been found by dig ging" "Bless you , no ! Not with an artes ian well. " The Professor talked on in response to various questions , giving glimpses of the rough life of their ontierat that time. The talk at last turning on the border " " he said "Ol "tough , : course , you heard of the duel of Anderson and McClosky at Camp Supply ? No ? Well , it wa3 the most desperate meet- inn of the kind I ever heard of. It was very soon after I came to the States. " , "Before this Nolan adventure ? " "Oh , yes , nearly five years. Bill Anderson and Andy McClosky were two buffalo men. When they weren't on the trail they were drinking smuggled ; whiskey and playing cards. Each had killed his several men , and both were : rivals in their desire to be considered ttough. They were playing cards at Supply , and each caught the other cheating. Blowa wore paasod , and tha- mon adjournod to tho space In front ? ' "a of the camp buildings to sottlo 1/ 1 their diflorenco. It waa agreed & { I that thoy should fight to tho ? I finish wity six-shooters and bowier S knives. Tho spectators ranged in two # lines , with a sufficient space between , 1 and the desporadoea stood back to 1 back. At a word each walked ton . I steps and turned. Thou they begen ( - j 1 firing. Twolve shots in all woro fired , I and only two failed to toll. Tho * I spectators could see tho men waver * I as each ball struck them , and then I with curses and taunts at tho bad [ 1 marksmanship of tho othor each r , I would stagger forwarn , firing as they ' ' 1 i camo. When tho pistols woro empty j I I tho bowie-knives woro taken ; tho men 1 I ongaged in a hand-to-hand fight. . f | They wero too weak to stand long , , | J j and wero soon on their knees fighting f I and with both hands. It was no I | j stage combat , no posing , but all work. I I j They swore and cursed and bit. Thoy i II hardly paused. Each was too eager * , I f j to kill the other to waste timo in any- III thins but cutting. Tho blades wero t t jf jl in their throats , their side3 , near tho , S "I hearts. Tho men literally woltered in g j | | | blood. The hardened spectators i jf 11 turned away asking if tho the death | M II of ono or tho other would not soon \ 1 II end tho struggle At last McClosky , ! a 11 too weak to longer evado or strike , . ' ill received Anderson's knifo in tho nock. S II Tho jugular was soverod and ho fell } | II forward dead. Anderson had jusfc 1 | l strength enough left to crawl triumph- | II antly upon him , and he , too , fell , and j'M \ in a moment had expired. " A II "That was a game fight. " 'I jl "It was , indeed. It has been six- * l teen years ago , but it is still remoni- I bered and talked of in that section of I tho Territory. I A Very Iiitercstinjr Pet. Skunks aro not often seen , oven by country people , and thoso who do see fl them seldom stay for any very careful observation of thero habits. All tho H better worth reading , therefore , is this H description of ono , which evidently H made an interesting pot. Farmers , at H least will understand that an animal H so exceedingly fond of grasshoxipers H and mice cannot bo accounted alto- H gether a nuisance. - . M Two summers ago I was the happy M master of the cleverest young skunk | H that I have thus far chanced to meet. M For a name ho received the titlo of his M genus , and wo called him "Meph" for M short. By way of precaution , I re- M moved his scent sacs , and he made a M rapid and complete recovery. Whilo M driving about tho country iu the per- M formanco of my professional duties , H ho usually slept in my pocket. M After supper I commonly took a , H walk , and he always followed , cioso at H my heels. If I had chanced to walk H too fast for him , ho would scold and H stamp with his fore-feet , and if I per- H sisted in keeping too far ahead , would H turn about disgusted , and make off in H an opposite direction ; but if I stopped j H and called him , he would hurry along H at a sort of ambling pace , and soon j H overtake me. H We used to walk through the woods H to a large meadow which abounded H in grnsshoppers. Here Meph would H fairly revel in his favorite food , and lb H was sport to watch his mnnu-uvres. H When a grasshopper jumped , ho H jumped , and I have seen him with as H many as three in his mouth and two H under his fore-paws at one time ! lie H that his over-dis- H would eat so many - - tended little belly actually draped | H upon the ground , and when so full | that he could hold no more , would M still catch and slay them. H Ere many weeks \entured to at- M tack a mouse , and the ferocity dis- M played in its destruction was truly | astonishing. He devoured the entire M body , and growled and stamped if any M one came near before the repast v , as M His nest was in a box at the foot of H the stairs , and before he grew strong H enough to climb out by himself , he H would , whenever he heard me coming , H stand on his hind legs , with his paws H resting on the edge 6l the box , and beg H to be carried upstairs. If I passed by H without appearing to notice him , he - H invariably became much enraged , and H chippered and scolded at a great rate. H stamping , meanwhile , most vehement- H ly. He was very sprightly and frolic- | some , and used to hop about the floor H in search of something to play with , H and frequently amused himself by at- H tempting to demolish my slippers. H Something Like Working for H Nothing * and Boarding Your- H San Francisco Chronicle. H It was in the days of the early rail- H road , when it was yet new ; the day * J when the journey to New York was F less of a little jaunt than it is now ; B when greenbacks were not popular j J here. One summer morning a man , H walking in happy and feverish haste , | with wild excitement beaming all over | his face , stepped into the office of a H well known banker. H "I want exchange for this on New H York. " | "Affright. What is it ? " M The man looked fearfully around H him and then brought out a " packet. H "It's $25,000 in greenbacks. " H "I guess I can do it. Going East ? " H Yes. I'm going to-morrow. I don't , H want to carrv all this with me. Could H not do it. Sure to get robbed. So 1 give me a draft. How much ? " H | "Oh seeing it's you , one per cent. ; H $250 " M So the banker made out the draft H on New York and took the money. H "You're going to-morrow , are vou ? " H "Would you mind taking a little H parcel for me and handing it to my H brother ? " H "Certainly. I'll do it with pleasure. " H The banker went to the other room H and presently came back with the par- H "Just put it in your valise , and H don't lose it , will vou ? " H "I'll take the best of care of it. " H ' • Thank you. Goodby. Pleasant H Arrived in New York , the Califor- H nian went to the address and delivered | | the package. Then he presented his | draft. The man opened the package | and gave him the indentical 925,000 H in greenbacks he had in San Francisco. I H He had carried them all the way him- H Mr. Louis , manager ol tho Grand Mis- H souri hotel , at Kansas City , dinnppcnred H lately. Later it was discovered that he H took with him all the cash from the safe | and checked out all money in bnnk to tho H credit ol the house , amounting to $1,500. H Louis hails from Chicago , where he wai H head waiter at the Brig ; ) house for ci ht j H During tho progress of tho national con- x H | vention Nebraska will have the honor of H havin tor her guest tho first staulaid H bearer ol the republican party. |