Bl * BEN'AL ' OF STATE JURISBICTIQN.
IK-I What tho KailntuJt Say to tho Retonl OriUr
Rif | of tho Xebrask * Transportation Moard.
UK I Oma&a ScpttbUcM ,
Kf T5 * Union Pacific company yesterday
B | ; omp ! ted tba ameer to the state board of
R ; era poctlion relative to the lattcr'a order ,
I * p&saed Julj 5 , last , concerning rates. The
mt\ \ -answer opens with a denial that the slate
lli b ° ard ° f transportation has anj jurlsdic-
II -tion Us paas or make the order referred to.
Tfi Jtalleges th re was not anj petitioner
M * complaint filed with tho board making any
Plj i attaalc open the tariff or schedules of rates
III * fofc opon tho line * of respondent com-
II Pny. or tbo e of another In this atate
II * suwe November of ' 87. Further , that
II tb board made no investigation of
IlJ th * abiect matter of said order ,
| \ * * ! that the board hsu no power or autbor-
lT | , My ad r the laws of this atate to make or
* AhiI the formula contained in aaid order.
< Tfcoa semes a description of the route of
I tint U-jfam Facile through the state , and
I * * " " tfce otatoon ef uome familiar fig-
, * * , tiie me e pertiaeut pait of tho answer
I ' < is tesiHMd wtOi ike allegation that the tr.if-
. * * t tiie atate m managed and oDerated
P' ' amlet a jeutt arraagenient and tariff , that
vrimt m k WB as the local dwtancc tariff ,
fcwmaiw 2 v. 1 , If3h7f was and atill is
K a < wtooaaM < t and proper schedule '
' it tntadftMtataea to and from point *
-wtthm tfc3 atatM , ami at the time
B | [ -el tte adwptMB was a reduction
afipfo .MBat B .Kty per ceut upon previous
. rutes , ftM-tber that since the adoption of
K said tariff until the present time but about '
Kl * gb * moatfee have elapsed and that during
i ; aaul Uibo stud tariff hat Hot operate ! upon
K the lwsuittM men ot Nebraska sufficiently
B loa twr it to determined or found that a
redttcfaen ean justly Ixs made. Further ,
B that durmg the greater part of 1-87 and
B - aatil November ef that year the tariff iu
B force on the haes of the Omaha & Kepubli-
B -can Valley railway was higher thau the
B i rates made by the tariff put in force
B | November 1 , lba7f that tho rov-
B * oaes derived from business
Bl I transported over said road daring the tirst
B J 4bar MM rtaof' - were $37(100 less than
B , * tbe epratiag ex i-cuMse of tbe road during
Bi the isum-c period u the proposed schedule
V 'was apphettf to the busmess done , than the
Br -volume ofbusiness / during said period
Bl , being greater than fur the corresponding
Bfi months hi ' teat the local biumes * tf
mi. the Union Pacificist ! its main line during
Bit ' 67 not than the
was more operating ei- >
BJl peases coaaected therewith ; that the
B | IothibIu referred to will , if applied to the
BB xisUsg da&sideation of Ireigbts , result
Bff I in a net loss of about 13 par
Bf ceatef the gross earmncs within the state ,
BJ and wilt | lBdict reat and irreparable dam-
BJ age spon the stoi-kholdeni. It is fu'tber-
B | mere alleged tnat the stockholders of the I
Bf Usioa Pacific railway company have re- j
Bf' caived bo dividend from their iniestment
Btl in the stock el said eompauy for the period !
Bfi of bv years last past , and that the ltepub-
B | ) licaa Valley railway compvny has never.
Kg j through its earnings or otherwise , been
f | able to pay a dividend upon its stock ; )
| wherefore the respondents pray that the
p said order may be cancelled and not be en-
M forced.
m y For a farther defence , it is assured that
mil the rates and charges fixed by the
II November , ' 37 tariff are as low as can be
II made , taking into consideratio the operating
j and other legitimate expenses. Keferenta
MM is made to the territory tributary to tho
v lues of road operated , being sparsely
e settled and largely und veIoped.
f. Here follows an extended reference to
the particular manner in which the Union
lj Pacific came into existence viz , by direct
| j governmental appointment. And by
M reason of the provisions of tho act by
m j -which it was created , the company hold
B | that it was authorized to fix it ? own rates ,
B | subject only to the power reserved
\ by the act itself until such time
I I as the Bet earnings of the entire road and
telegraph , including the amount allowed
I | J for services rendered for the Uuitcd States ,
I | J alter deducting all expenditures , shall ex-
mpjj < aed 10 per cent , per annum.
Bj | "Wherefore respondents further submit
B I that said board of transportation und tho
WA secretaries thereof and their tribunal have
if ; so authority , jurisdiction or power to con-
jSj" " * trol or fix , revise or correct , dimin-
§ ish. or increase rates on their
f A lines. Furthermore , it is alleged that
H .a large amount of the traffic carried
M bj the Union Pacific liadway comp.iny
1 consists of interstate shipments , and tnat
5 § * ihe proposed order , if eniorced. would
IJ cecedsitate the modification of its tariffs in
m respect of rates and charges made for the
W < arnage of such business , and the respond-
Ji nts allege and maintain that to that ex-
II tent the proposed action of the said board
If of transportation is beyond the power of
B the i-aid board in that it interferes with
'p and regulates and controls interstate
V commerce. Further , it is alleged that
H the said pretended order ol July
II -5 , 16S8 , was not served upon
m\ respondents or either of them or any officer '
B of the said respondents by any sheriff or •
M constable or other officer authorized to
B re-erve the same. Further , aud lastly it
jB is al'eged ' that it would be contrary to law
9 to enforce the said order , and that it would
be impossible for the said respondents or
w -either of them to comply with said order
ft without violating the laws of
H tho state , for the reason , that
f | said order was not brought to the notice of
Bj reapomlents , or either of them , as stated ,
B until July 11 , 'riS , and since the said order
9g by its terms , if enforced , will result m
v. raising certain of the rates now charged
y npon the lines of respondents , they say
% they cannot comply with the same by
% putting the rates in question in force on or
u before the-JO th of July. 'dS , withoutvioiating
> the laws of this state in that behalf neither
* -was it physically possible to prepare , print
* and publish said tariffs in or within said
B time , or to physically carry out the terms
M and conditions of said order.
m The answer bears the signature of T. L.
\ Kimball , acting general manager for the
4 [ Union Pacific and Omaha & Repub-
! lican Valley Railway company ,
'
i The attorneys of all other roads in the state
\ -Are also preparing like answers , and they ,
I when completed , will bo filed with tho
' board at Lincoln.
t
; f
Committed Suicide.
Dcdlix , July 20. Dr. Jamea Fidley ,
1 ; the medical officer in attendance at Tulla-
' mere jail during ilandeville'a incarcera-
j ; tion there , and who wai subpoenaed to ap-
I ; pear at the inquest at Mitchellstown into
B j Mandeville's death , haa committed suicide.
rfc Tba evidence at the inquest , given to show
that il&ndeville was subjected to ill-usage
-while in jail , seemed to prey upon his
mind. His suicide confirms the belief that
a/andenlle was cruelly treated by the
prison olicia ' s.
Dr. Ridley left a statement regarding the
nrison treatment of Messrs. O'Brien and
Mandeville , as evidence to bo given at the
inquest. On resumption of the inquest to
day council for the prison board asked an
adjournment for a few days to enable them
I to procure the evidence which Ridley would
have given. Dr. Cronin taid the illness of
tho deceased Tas caused by a sudden
change from the normal condition of life.
DHleywho raped the crippledwoman
at SteriinjT , "was arrested , pleaded guilty ,
and in default of $1,000 bailwas sent to
jail to await triaL
The pastors of Nebraska City
\j \ ; churches have pooled issues and will
2- i hold nnion services oa Sunday ereninsa
| : -daric the hot weather in tto citv Dark.
B t
I
bTbM _ . " W mW K Lmm
I • * * * - - * > -a _
i .
. . * * * * 'BBBB
BBBB 3BBfcS& - - Wki - - * - t • t 5t B % - '
THE TARIFF BILL FINALLY VOTED ON.
Tlie Measure Goes Tltrotiyh the IIo ] & by a
llalhcr-Cloio Vote ,
Washington , July 21. When the house
met this morning tho galleries wero filled
with spectators attracted to tho capitol by
the announcement that to-day would wit
ness tho close of the great tariff debate and
tho vote on the final passage of the Mills
bill. Promptly at 11-H0 tho bill was called
up and Mills , after offoritig two amend
ments intended to correct typographical
errors in the bill , moved the pre
vious question ou them , and they
were adopted. lie then proceeded
to address tho house , beginning by stating
the conditions of the ilnauces of the govern
ment , placing the surplus at $129,000,000.
This , he aaid , represented unnecessary
taxation drawn from tho people and piled
up in the treasury. It was taxation levied
upon the pnuluct of labor. This enormous
amount of money was constantly lowering
prices and piling an enormous load on labor
and increasing the benefits of tho privileged
clashes. The majority had attempted to
briug before the house a bill to rcduco
this taxation aud le en theiullowof money
into the treasury. By amendments inado
iu committee of tho whole , tho relative
rate of duty had been placed at12.00 on
the hundred. This moderate bill had been
met with a storm of denunciation , and
characterized us free trade message. Was
42.90 on $100 freo trade , what stato had a
5 per cent of taxation in majority ot
suites it did not exceed $1 on tho $100.
Mills theu took up the bill in detail , be
ginning with tho chemical schedule , where
the rate ot duty bad been reduced from
$32.87 to $2 ; ? . 17. Ou earthen and crock
ery ware the reduction had been $7 in a
hundred. They callod that free trade. If
$ o2 on a hundred taxation was free trade ,
in God's name what was protection ?
Sugar showed next to the largest reduction
in the bill larger thau in hemp , jute , iron
aud iu everything except wool. Yet tho
bill had beeu called a sectional measure.
To get $0,000,000 of protection onsuirar tho
government had to collect $38,000,000 of
tariff duties. In the provision
tho reduction was $1 in $100.
More freo trade. it was less than
$1 in cotton goods. Was not that moder
ate ? Ths duty still ramaiuiug at § :50.07 : in
wools and woolens the reduction was $20
on a hundred and most of that had been
caused by placing wool on the fiea list.
Tho manufacturer would got free wool and
40 per tent protection , or 5 per ceut more
than be now got. And atill they said the
bill was a free trade measure. Articles
amounting to $20,000,000 had been placed
on tho freo list , and $ ( JWO,000 : of that was
wool. Cotton had beeu the chief product
of this country , yet tho republican
party had put it ou tho free
list , and they were right. l > ut when
it wai proposed to touch wool tho combi
nation that made protective tariff was
struck , and they said , "You bhall not
touch it" The next article on tho freo
list was tinplate , $7,700,000. iSot a pound
of it was produced in this country. The
committee proposed to give this money to
the consumers , yet their action was called
free trade. Salt was next Because a few
people were intorcsted iu its manufacture
the committee was stigmatized as freo
traders for puttiug it on the free list.
Burlaps were not made in this country.
It had been placed ou the freo list. Hemp
and jute made up $1,700,000 of tho fres
list. With all the milk that could bo
given this baby industry it had failed to
grow. It was dying aud must soon disap
pear. The republicans had used tho .same
argument in favor of striking down the
augar industry. Opium paid $16 = ,000. It
had been placed on the tree list. Cotton
ties and bristles ( tho latter produced iu
Russia ) had also been placed on the fies
list. Yet the committee had been taunted
with being free traders. Thoir opponents
said : "If you want anything free take a
free drink of whisky. " [ Loud applause. ]
The taxes on express companies or
telephone companies , ou all tho wealth
of the country had been removed , but
none of the taxes on labor had beeu re
moved. Wool grew on tho sheep. There
had been much sympathy expressed for
ahoep , but the democratic party sympa
thized with men. It wanted cheap cloth
ing for the pcor. The republicans wanted
duty kept bo high that neither wool nor
woolens could bo brought in. With a pro
duct of three hundred million pounds of
wool and a need for six hundred million
pounds , what wero wo going to do ? Dem
ocrats proposed to let in wool
free , and let our workmen
make it up into clothing. The bill was in
tended to banefit the condition and in
crease of wages of the laboring people.
The government should not meddle with
the people. They could tako care of them
"
selves. They were the most intelligent
nd best people in the world , and could
iiive employment to all of the laborers it
congress would but let them alone.
Why should wo net have free raw
material , and have an opportuniey to con
test en equal terms with foreign manufac
turers ? We would have a fan
ield and an opon fight. Tho demo-
: ratic party intruded to appeal
to tho virtue aad intelligonce of tho coun
try. Money waa being poured into his
listrict in Texas to beat him for re-eloction
to fifty-firat congress , but ho wanted the
: ountry to know that tho people of his dis > -
triet were not for sale. The committee had
reduced the duty on steel rail , $17 to $11
per ton , and again it had been charged that
that was an effort to dtstroy an infant in-
luitry.
In conclusion he referred to tho suit of
clothes produced by McKinley during his
ipeech. He said he had nothing to take
back. He had inquired into it and had
found that the $10 auit had cost $4.93. He
bad heard that that suit was to be photo
graphed and uied in tho campaign.
He wanted to photograph in the
brain of every voter the fact that tho $10
uit cost less than $5. We stand hero
in the face of the American people con
tending for the rights of the people who
are plundered and wrongsd , who are ap
pealing to congress to do thom justice , who
are appealing for protection in its best
sense and asking congress to shako the
hand of monopoly from their pockets and
let them have the proceeds of their own
labor. And , Mr. Chairman we will do it.
As Mills finished he was warmly ap
plauded by his fellow democrats and the
galleries , all of which were by this timo
crowded. During his 6peech Mrs. Cleve
land and her motaar , Mrs. Folaoni , entered
the chamber and took seats in tho front
row of the executive gallery.
All the amendments ware agreed to with
the exception of that on cotton
ties , on which McKinloy demanded
a yea and nay vote , which was
ordered. It resulted , yeas , 170 ; nays , 12tj ;
and the amendment stands as agreed upon
in committee of the whole. Gear , of Iowa
( republican ) , voted with tho democrats.
Randall was paired with Hogg , of West
Virginia , The previous question was then
ordered on the final passage of the bill , and
the yeas and nays were ordered.
Sowden had raad a letter from Randall ,
asking to be paired with a friend of the
bill , and expressing himself distinctly as
opposed to its passage. The vote was then
taken on the final passage of the bill and
reaulted , yetfs , 162 ; nays , 149.
Sowden. of Pennsylvania , Greenman and
Bliss , of New York , ( democrats ) voted
against the bill , and Fitch , of New York ,
Nelson , of Minnesota , ( republicans ) voted
for it. The four independent members
also voted for it.
When the speaker anaonnced the pass
age of the bill the democrats broke in
cheers aud waved bandanas wildly. A
motion to adjourn until Monday wa3 de-
* ffi * " * H 'S ' " i " * 7 , i yav-i.C i f | p
' *
" .
'
' Bumariij ' ' * ? '
ililif Jnnu iflr # Bumar > 'ltlrtin
m ufiaMB MJ' " " - taai
feated , and the house at 2 o'clock took a
recess until 8 o'clook this evening.
The Conspiracy Case ol Hoge and Murphy.
CmcAao , July 21. A peculiar staco ot
affairs developod when tho case of conspir
acy against Chairmen Hogo and Murphy ,
of tho Burlington strikers was called up in
court. Neither of tho accused were pres
ent , and Frank Collier , attorney for tho
and representing tho
Burlington company ,
prosecution , surprised everybody in hear
ing by a request that tho case be continued.
Lawyer Collier explained his reason for this
strange action by saying : "Hoge and
Murphy are now out of tho city on an ex
tensive four , doing virtually the company's
work.
Counsel for defenso made no objection to
continuance and tho court granted a post
ponement of a week.
Hogo'a clerks , Informors Kelly nnd Mc-
Gilvary , wero held to the grand jury in
bonds of five hundred dollars each this
morning. Tho prisoners have been in cus
tody at tho coutral police station , and alter
their examination were taken back thcie
for safe keeping.
Federal Courts in Nebraska.
Washington special : Representative
Dorsey was before tho senate commit
tee on judiciary to-day and made an ar
gument in favor of his bill requirin
additional places for holding terms of
the Unitod States courts in Nebraska ,
llo encountered many objections to tho
measure from members of tho commit
tee , who claimed that tho judges of tho
district and circuit courts of Nebraska
were opposed to tho bill ; that there was
so littlo business on tho calendar of
both a civil and criminal character that
the additional terms and places for hold
ing the courts proposed in tho bill waa
unnecessary. 'Tho committco gavo Mr.
Dorsey no encouragement , but prom
ised to consider tho bill , and individual
members said that they might frame a
substitute bill similar in character to
the ono that passed tho Forty-ninth
congress. Mr. Dorsey insisted on hav
ing court held at both Norfolk and Kear-
ne3' , and .showed the necessity of tho ser
vice and tho great benefit tho people ol
the western portion of tho state would
derive from sessions at those places. Mr.
Edmunds objected , saying that there
wero about 123 criminal cases on the
calendar , to which Mr. Dorsey replied
that ho waa happy to know that there
were so few , as it showed that tho people
of Nebraska wero law-abiding in tho first
instance , and that in tho second place
they knew enough to know that when
the government of the United States
reached out its strong arm tho best thing
to do was to compromise and pay the
lines imposed. Several bills proposing
the reorganizing of United States courts ,
simi ar t < > tho one proposed for Nebraska
no ably Minnesota and Arkansas
have m * t with the same fato that threat
ens Mr Dorsey's measure. The bills af
ter passing tho house ha ire been amended
in the senate so as to make them worfch-
esa.
esa.The
The Editor of Harper's Magazine evi
dently thinks that poetry is good reading
for the hot months , and has therefore
provided a liberal supply for the August
Number. It is not all original. "The
Leather Bottei" is an old English rhyme ;
and the Sonnet "While not a Leaf seems
Faded" is by Wordsworth. But to the
original charms of these verses must now
be added niue illustiations for the first
by E. A. Abbey , and a full-page drawing
for the latter by Alfred Parsons. One of
Mr. Abbey's sketches is used as a frontis
piece of the Number. Other good poems
are "The Guest of the Evening , " by
Robert Underwood Johnsou ; "My Walk
to Church , " b } ' Horatio Nelson Powers ;
and "Aubade , " by Annie Chambera-
Kctchum. In addition , there are some
capital lines in the Drawer , every one of
which is sure to be found , whether or
not it is pointed out
The Baggage Agents' Deliberations.
New York , July 19. Tho national as
sociation of general baggago agents to-day
heard the committee report on the trans-
portatation of corpses. The report recom
mends absolute refusal of any bodies
affected with smoll pox , cholera , ty-
hna or yellow fever. ladies
having died of diphtheria , scarlet fdver ,
typhoid fever , ersypelas and measles must
be wrapped in a sheet saturated with
chloride of limo or bi-chloride of mercury.
They must bo encased in air-tight iron
caskets , covered with wood , tho in
terstices to be filled with disin
fected sawdust. Interstate transpor
tation of any corpse must be upon
health permits , and the disintered remains
to be rejected. Such are the recommtnda-
tioas which the committee will submit to
all health boards , reporting the results at
the-next meeting to be held in San Fran
cisco in January , 1S3 ! . Tho excess of bag-
gago check was adopted.
Burglars Make a Big Haul.
Providence , R. I. , July 20. The sea
shore residence of H. B. Aymer , of East
Warren , N. J. , located at Wicklord , was
ransacked by bnrglais last night.
Entrance was gained by a basement
window and , although the family were in
their several sleeping apartments , the rob
bery was not discovered by thom until they
arose. The burjjlars took away a large
quantity of silverware and plate and gold
watches and jewelry were taken from
tho very rooms iu which were tho
sleeping occupauts and owners. Bu
reaus and dressing cases wore over
hauled , and from Aymor's room abont
$15,000 iu bank stock securities was takeu.
Every room in tho house was entered , ex
cept those of tho servants. This bold
work showed a most thorough acquaintance
with tiie premises. Tho robbers ovidently
took matters leisurely , and the costly
fabrics taken , with which it is supposed
they packed the silver , covering tho whole
with a sack , showed that they were profes
sionals.
The Lard Question ;
Washington , July 20. Tho honso
oommitteo on agriculture to-day further
considered various measures before it re
lating to compound lard. The sub-com
mittee which is charged with tho duty of
recommending a lino of action upon the
subject was unable to agree upon nny pos
sible legislative measure. At this morn
ing's meeting Conger , of Iowa , moved tho
adoption of a substitute for the original
Butterworth bill , which substitute is pat- i
torned closely after the oleomargarine act , j
with provisions for branding , inspecting
and taxing compound lard. The commit
tee adjourned after some discussion , with
the understanding that a final vote will ba
taken to-morrow.
Six Men Robbed'by One. j
San Luis Obispo , Cal. , July 21. The
itago running between this place and Tem-
pleton wa3 robbed by a masked man last
night while crossing the mountains about
five miles from here. * From six passengers
he took about $500. The robber opened j
the Wells Fargo Express company's box \
and the United States mail bags and took
from the former about $1,000 , after which
he left Tho sheriff and a posse have gone
in pursuit.
- - 'J " *
iMTwnrmn'J
TALMAGrE.
THE BROOKLYN D1TINB IS 0AMP.
Bo Discourses to Troop and Civilian on
the Uses of Stratagem ,
A Graphic Portrayal of the Battle Through
Life to Final Victory Beyond the Ambus-
cado of Sin and Sorrow *
>
Pcekskill , N. Y. , July 22. Chaplain T.
SeWltt Talmage preached to-day to tho Thir
teenth Regiment of the New York 8tato Na
tional Guards , now encamped here. Tho reg-
Jraont assembled at 3 p. in. , when people from
the neighboring country , towns and cities
were present In immense numbersA milita
ry hand conducted tbe musical part of the
service. Cbaplaln Talmage's sermon , which
was on "Uses of Stratagem , " was based on
Joshua , Cb. 8 , v. 7 : "Then ye shall rise up
from the ambush , and seize upon the city. "
He said :
Men of the Thirteenth Regiment , and their
friends hero gathered , of all occupations , and
professions , men of the city and men or the
fields , here Is a theme fit for all of us.
One Sabbath evening with my family around
me , we wero talking over the scene of the
text. In tho wide-open eyes and the quick
Interrogations and tbe blanched cheeks , I re
alized what a thrilling drama It was. There
Is the old city , shorter by came than any
other city In the ages.spellcd with tuo letters
AI AI. Joshua aud his men want to
take it How to do It Is the question. Ou a
former occasion , In a straightforward , face
to face fight , they had been defeated : but
now they are going to take It by ambuscade.
General Joshua has two divisions iu his
army the one division the uattleworn com
mander will lead himself , the other division
he sends off to encamp in an ambush ou the
west side of tbe city of AI. No torches , no
lanterns , no sound of heavy battalions
but 8,000 swarthy warriors moving in
silence , speaking only in a whisper ; no
clicking of swords against shields ,
lest tnc watchmen of AI discover it and tbe
Btratagem be a failure. If a roysterlng sol
dier In the Israelltlsli army forgets himself ,
all along tbe line tho word is "Hush I"
Joshua takes the other division , tbe one with
which he Is to march , and puts It on the
north side of tbe city of AI , and then spends
the Dlght In reconnoiterlng in the valley.
There no is , thinking over tbe fortunes of tbe
coming day , with something of tho feelings
of Wellington the night before Waterloo , or
of Meade and Lee the night before Uottys-
burg. There he stands In the night , and says
to himself : "Yonder is the division In am
bush on the west side of Ai. Here Is tbe
division I have under my especial command
on tbe north side of AI. There Is tbe old city
Blnmbering In its sin. To-morrow will be the
battle. Lookl the morning already begins to
tip the hills. The military officers of Ai look
out in the morulugverjr early , and while they
do not see tbe division in ambush , they be
hold tho other division of Joshua , nnd the
cry , "To arms 1 To arms ! " ring through all
the streets of the old town , and every sword ,
whether hacked or bent or newly welded , Is
brought out , and all the inhabitants of the
city of AI pour through tbe gates , an Infuri
ated torrent , and their cry is : "Come , we'll
make quick work with Joshua and his troops. "
No sooner nad these people of AI come out
against the troops of Joshua , than Joshua
gavo such a command as he seldom gave :
• Fall back I" Why , they could not believe
their own ears. Is Josuiia's courage failing
biml
The retreat is beaten , and the Israelites are
flying , throwing blankets and canteens
on evcrr sldo under this worse than Bull
Run defeat. And you ought to bear the
soldiers of Ai cheer and cheer and
cheer. But they hazza too soon. The men
lying in ambusli are straining their vision to
get some sicnal from Joshua that they may
Unow what time to drop upon the city.
Joshua takes his burnished spear , glittering
in the sun like a shaft of doom , and points
it toward tbe city ; and when the men up
yonder in the ambush see it , with hauk-like
swoop they drop upon Ai , and without stroke
of sword or stab of spear take the city and
put it to the torch. So much for the divis
ion that was in ambush. How about the di
vision under Joshua's command ? No sooner
docs Joshua stop in flight than all his men
stop with him , and as be wheels they wheel ,
for in a voice of tbunder.be cried'Halt ! "
One strong arm driving back a torrent of
flying troops. And tlieu , as he points his
spear through the golden light toward that
fatal city , his troops know that they are to
start for it. What a scene it was when the
division in ambush which had taken the city
marched down agaiuat the men
of Ai on the one side , and the troops
under Joshu.1 doubled up their ene
mies from the other side , aud the men of Ai
were caucht between these two hurricanes
of Israelitish courage , thrust before and be
hind , stabbed in tbe breast and back , ground
between tbe upper and the nether millstones
of God's indiguation. Woe to the city of Ail
Cheer for tbe triumphs of Isreal I
Lesson the first : Tljcre is such a thing as
victorious retreat. Joshua's falling back"was
the first chapter in his successful besiege-
ment. And there are times iu your life when
the best thing you can do is to run. You
were once the victim of strong drink. The
demijohn and decanter were 3'our fierce foes.
They came down upon 3ou with greater lury
-than the men of Ai upon the men of
Joshua. Your only snfety Ig to get
away from them. Your dissipating
companions will come around you
for vour overthrrtw. Run for your life 1 Fall
back ! Fall back from tbe drinking saloon.
Fall back from the wine carty. Your flight
is your advance. Your retreat is your victory.
There is a saloon down on next street that
has almost been the ruin of your soul. Then
why do you go along that street ! Why do
you not pass through some other street
rather than bv tbe place of your calamity ? A
spoonful of brandy taken for medical pur
poses by a man who twenty years before had
been reformed from drunkenness , hurled Into
Inebriety and the grave one of the best
friends I ever had. Your retreat is your vic
tory. Here is a couverted infidel. He is so
strong now in his faith in the Gospel he says
he can read anything. What are you read
'
ing ? Boliugbro 'ke ? Andrew Jackson Davis's
tracts ? T > ndall's Glascow University ad
dress ? Drop them and run. You will be an
Infidel before you die unless yon quit that.
These men of Ai will be too much for \ ou.
Turn your back on the rank and file of un
belief. * Fly befcro they cut 3-ou with their
swords aud transfix you with their javelins.
There are people who have been well-nigh
ruined because ther i isked a foolhardy expe
dition in the presence of mighty and over
whelming temptations , and the men of Ai
made a morning meal of them. So also there
Is such a thing as victorious retreat in the
religious world. Tuousands of times the
kingdom of Christ has seemed to fall back.
When the blood of the Scotch Covenanters
gave a deeper dye to the heather of the High
lands , when tbe Vaudois of France chose ex
termination rather than make an un
christian surrender , when on St Bar
tholomew's Day mounted assassins rode
through the street of Paris , crving :
"Kill ! Blosd-letting fs good in August !
KUL Death to the Huguenots ! Kill ! "
when lady Jane Grev's head rolled from tbe
executioner's block , when Calvin was im
prisoned in tbe castle , when John Knox died
for tbe truth ; when John Bunvan lay rotting
in Bedford Jail , saying : "If God will help me
and my physical life continues I will sfay
here until the moss grows on my eyebrows
rathei than give up my faith , " the days of
retreat for the church were days of * victo
ry-
ryThe Pilgrim Fathers fell back from the
other side of the saa to Plymouth Rock , but
now are marshalling a continent for the
Christianization of tbe world. The Church
of Cbr.st falling back from Piedmont , falling
back from Rue St. Jacque . falling back from
St Denis , falling buck fiom Wurtemburg
castles , falling back fiom the Brussels mar
ket place , yet all the time triumphing. Not
withstanding all the shocking reverses which
tbe Church of Christ suffers , what do we sec
to-day ? Three thousand missionaries of the
cross on heathen ground ; sixty thousand
ministers of Jesus Christ iu this land : at
least two hundred millions of Christians on
tbe earth. Ail nations to-day kindling m a
blaze of revival. Falling back , yet advancing
until the old Wesleian hymn will prove
true :
"The Hon of .Indali shall break the chain.
And give us the victory aaln and ajj .In ! "
But there Is a more marked illustration of
Victorious retreat in tbe life of our Joshua ,
the Jesus of tbe ages. First tailing back
from an appalling height to an appalling
depth , falling from celestial hills to terres
trial valleys , from throne to manger ; yet that
did not seem to suffice Hitn as a retreat.
Falling back still further from Bethlehem to
Nazareth , from Nazareth to Jerusalem , back
from Jerusalem to Golgotha , back from Gol
gotha to the mausoleum in tbe rock , back
down over the precipices of perdition until He
walked amid tbe caverns of the eternal
captives and drank of tbe wine of the wrath
of Almighty God amid the Ababs and the
Jesebcls and the Belsbazzars. O men of the
f
pulpit and men of tho pew , Christ's descenV
from heaven to earth docs not measure hall
the distance. It waa from glory to perdition.
He descended Into hell. All the records of
earthly retreats aro as nothing compared with
this falling back. Santa Anna , with the
fragments of his army flying over the plateaux
of Mexico , and Napo'eon and his army ro-
treating from Moscow into tho awful snows
of Russia are not worthy to be mentioned
with this retreat , when " all tbe powers of
darkness seem to bo pursuing Christ as Ho
fell back , until the bodr of Him who camo
to do such wonderful things lay pulseless and
stripped. Methlnks that the city of AI was
not to emptied of Its Inhabitants when they
went to pursue Joshua , as perdition was
emptied of devils when they started for tho
pursuit of Christ aud He fell back aud back
down lower , down lower , chasm below chasm ,
pit below pit , until bo seemed to strike the
bottom of objurgation and scorn and torture.
Ob , the long , loud , jubilant shout of hell at
the defeat of tbe Lord God Almighty 1
But let not the powers ot darkness rejoice
quite so soon. Do you bear that disturbanco
in the tomb of Arlmathea ? I hear tho sheet
rendlngl What ineani that stono hurled
dowii the aide of the hill ? Who Is this
coming out ? Push him back I tbe dead must
not stalk in this open sunlight O , It is our
Joshua. Let him come out He comes forth
and starts for the city. He takes the spear
of tbe Roman guard and points tbe way.
Church militant marches up on one
side and the church triumphant marches down
on the other side. And tiie powers of dark
ness being caught between these ranks of
celestial and tcrrestral v.tlor , nothing Is left
of them save just enough to illustrate the
direful overthrow of bell aud our Joshua's
eternal victory. On Ills head be all the crowns.
In His hand be all the sceptres. At His feet
be all the human hearts ; aud here , Lord , is
one of them.
Lesson tbe second : The triumph of the
wicked Is short Did you ever see an army
In a panic. There Is nothing so uneontioil-
able. If you had stood ut Long Bridge.
Washington , during the opening of our sad
civil war , you would know what It is to see
an army run. And when those men of AI
looked nut and saw those men of Joshua In a
stampede , they expected easy work. They
would scatter them as the equinox the leaves.
O , the gleeful and jubilant descent of the
men of AI upon the men of Joshua ! But
their exhilaration was brief , for tbe tide of
battle was turned and these quondam con
querors left their miserable carcasses In the
wilderness of Bethaven. So It alwars Is. The
triumph of tbe wicked Is short You make
$20,000 at the gaming table. Do you expect
to keep it ? You will die In the poorhouse.
You made a fortune by Iniquitous traffic Do
you expect to keep it ? Your money will
scatter , or it will stay long enough to curse
j'our children after you were dead. Call over
the roll of bad men who has prospered and
see how short was their prosperity. For
awhile like the men of Ai they went
from conquest to conquent , but
after awhile disaster rolled back
upon them.and they were divided into three
parts : misfortune took their property , the
grave took their body , and the lost world
took their soul. Iain always interested lu
tbe building of theatres and the building of
dissipating saloons. I like to have them
built of tbe best granite and have tbe
rooms made large aud to have tbe pillars
made very firm. God is going to conquer
them and they will be turned Into
asylums and art galleries and churches. The
stores In which fraudulent men do business ,
the splendid banking institutions where the
president and cashier put all their property in
their wives hands and then fail for $200,003
all these institutions arc to become the
places where honest Christian men do busi
ness.
ness.How long will It take your boys to get
through your ill-gotten gains ? The wicked
do not live out half their days. For a while
ttiey swagger and strut aud make a great
splash in the newspapers , but after a while It
all dwindles down into a brief paragraph ;
"Died suddenlv , July 22d , 18S8 , at thirty-five
years of age. Relatives and friends of the
family are Invited to attend the funeral on
Wednesday , at two o'clock , from bU latu res
idence on Madison Square. Interment at
Greenwood. " Some of them jumped oT ! the
docks. Some of them look pru sie acid.
Some of them fell under the snap of a Derrin
ger pistol. Some of them spent their last
days in a lunatic asylnm. Where are Wil
liam Tweed and his associates ? Where arc
Ketchum and Swartwout absconding swlnd-
dlers ? Where Is James Fisk , the libertine ?
Where is John Wilkes Booth , the assassin ?
and all the other misdemeanants ? The wick
ed do not live out half their days. Disem
bogue , O world of darkness ! Come up , Hil-
debrand and Henry II. and Robespierre , and
with blistering and blaspheming and ashen
lips hiss out : "The triumph of thewiclod is
short" Alas for the men of Ai when Joshua
stretcbos out his spear toward the city I
Lesson the third : How much may be ac
complished by lying in ambush for opportun
ities. Are you hypercritical of Joshua's man
oeuvre ? Do you sav that it was cheating for
him to take that city by ambuscade ? Was
it wrong for Washington to kindle camp-fires
on New Jersey Heights , giving the im-
precession to the opposing force that a great
army was encamped there when there was
none at all ? I answer , if the war was right
then Joshua was right in his stratagem. He
violate. ! no flag of truce. He broke no treaty ,
but by lawful ambuscade captured the citr of
Ai. Ob , that we all knew how to lie in am
bush for opportunities to serve God. The best
of our opportunities do not lie on tbe surface ,
hut are secreted ; by tact , by stratagem , by
Christian ambuscade , you may take almost
any castle of sin for Christ Come toward ,
men with a regular beslcgement of argument
and you will be defeated ; but just wait until
the door of their hearts is set ajar , or tbey
are off their guard , or their severe caution Is
is away from home , and then drop in on them
from a Christian ambuscade. There has been
many a man up to his chin In scientific port
folios which proved there was no Christ and
no divine revelation , his pen a sclmetar flun g
into the hearts of theological opponents , who ,
nevertheless , has been discomfit and cap
tured for God by some little three vear-old
child who has got up and put her snowy arms
around Irs sinewy neck , and asked some sim
ple question about God and heaven.
Ob , make a flank movement ; steal a mcrch
on the devil ; cheat that man into heaven. A
five-dollar treatise that will stand all tbe
laws of homilctics may fail to do that which a
penny tract of Christian entreaty may ac
complish. Ob , for more Christians in ambus
cade , not lving in idleness , but waiting for a
quick spring " , waiting until just the right
time come ? . Do not talk to a man about tbe
vanity of this world on the dav when he has
bought something at "twelve" and is
going to hell it at "fifteen. " But talk-
to him about the vanity of the world on
tbe day when he has bought some
thing at "fifteen" and is compelled to sell at
"twelve. " Do not rub a man's disposition the
wrong way. Do not take tbe imperative
mood when the subjunctive mood will do just
as vrell. Do not talic in perservid style to a
phlegmatic nor try to tickle a torrid tempera
ment with an icicle. You can take any man
for Christ if you know how to get at him.
Do not send word to him that to-morrow at
ten o'clock you Diopose to open your batteries
upon him , but come on him by a skilful , per
severing , God-direeted ambuscade.
Lesson tbe fourth : The importance of tak
ing good aim. There is Joshua , but how are
those people in ambush up yonder to know
when they are to drop on the citv , aud how
ire these men around Joshua to know when
they are to stop their flight and advance J
There must be socio signal a signal to stop
the one division and to start the oth > r.
Jo h a with a 65. < ! r on which were ordinarily
liung the color * of battle , points toward the
siry. He standu iu such a conspicuous posi
tion , and there Is so much of the morning
light dripping from that spear-tip. that all
around tbe horizon they see it It was as
much as to say : "There is the city. Take
it Take it now. Roll down from the west
Surge up from tba north. It is ours , the citv
if Ai. God kno-sau I we know that a great
leal of Christian attack amounts to nothing
simplv because we do not take good aim.
Nobody knows and we do not know ourselvt.
which point we want to take , when we ouglu
Lo make up our minds what God will have Uh
to do , and po nt our spear In that direction
ind then liuil oubody , mind , soul , time ,
jternity at that one target Iu our pulpitb
.ud pews and Suuday-schools and praei -
meetitigs we want to get a reputation for
• ayiug pretty things , and so c
point our spear toward the flowers ; or
ive want a reputation for saying sublime
things , and we point our spear toward the
stars ; or we want to get a reputation for lu.s-
tor.cal knowlege , and we point our spear
toward the past ; or we want to get a reputa
tion for great libernlitv , eo we s ing our
spear all around ; and it strikes all points of
the horizon , andou can make out of it
ivhatever you please ; while there is the old
norld , proud , rebellious and armed against
ill righteousness ; aud instead of running any
[ urther away from its pursuit , we ought to
turn around , plant our foot in the strength of
the eternal God , lift tbe old cross and point it
In the direction of the world's conquest till
the redeemed of earth , marching up from one
side and tbe glorified of heaven marching
lown from the other side , the last battle-
nent of sin Is compelled to swing out tbe
streamers of Emanuel. Ob , Church of God ,
: ake aim and conquer.
I have heard it said : "Look oat for a man
vho has only one Idea ; he is irresponsible. "
[ say : Look out for tbe man who has one
dee , and that a determination for soul-saving
mJUL mniiu iqg - * j iv. " aJ.i. " > - . " " - gmsS T
V
ilMMMMMMMaMnMB > aMaiMMi
I believe God would strike mo dead If I darW
to point tho apcaro In any other direction.
Ob , for some of tho courago and enthusiasm
of Joshua I Ho flung two armies from tbe tip
of that spear. It Is sinful for us to rent , un
less It Is to get stronger muscle and fresher
brain and purer heart for God's work. I feci
on my bead the hands of Christ in a new or
dination. Do you not feel the name omnipo
tent presure ? There la a work for all of us.
Ob , that we might stand up afdo by aldo and
point the spear toward loose religion or what
Is called "liberal Christianity , " which la so
liberal that It gives up all tho cardinal doc-
trins of the Bible , so liberal
that it surrenders the rectitude
of the throne of the Almighty.
That Is liberality with a vengeance. Lot us
decide upon tbe work which wo , as Christian
men. have to do , and , in tbe strength of God ,
go to work and to it
It is comparatively easy to keep on a parade
amid a shower of banquets aud hand-clap-
ping , and the whole street full cf enthusias
tic huzzas ; but It I * not so easy to stand up
iu the day of battle , tbo face blackened with
smoke , tbo uniform covered with earth
ploughed up by whizzing bullets and burst
ing shells , half the regiment cut to pieces ,
and yet the commander crying "Forward ,
march 1" Theu It requires old-fashioned val
or. My friends , the great trouble of the
kingdom of God In this day Is the cowards.
They do splendidly on a parade day , and at
tbe communion , when they have on their best
clothes of Christian profession ; but put them
out lu the great battle of life , at the first
sharpshooting of skepticism they dodge , they
fall back , they break ranks. We confront tho
enemy , we open the battle agalust fraud , and
lo ! we find on our side a great many people
thxt do not try to pay their debts. And we
open the battle agalust lutempcraucc , and we
find on our owe side a great many people who
drink to much. And we open tho battlo
against profanity , and we find on our own
* Idc a great many men who mako hard
speeches. Ami wc open the battle against
infidelity , and lo ! wc find on our own aide a
great many men who arc not quite sure about
the Boolcof Jonah. And while we ought to
be massing our troops , and bringing forth
more thau the united courage of Austerlltz ,
and Waterloo , and Gettysburg , wc have to
be spending our time iu hunting up ambus
cades. There are a great many in the Lord's
army who would like to go out on a cam
paign with satin slippers and hold
ing umbrellas over their heads
to keep off the heavy dew , and having rations
of canvas-back ducks and lemon custards. If
they cannot have them they want to go home.
They think it is unhealthy among so mauy
bullets !
I believe that the next twelvo months will
be tho most stupendous year that heaven
ever saw. Tbe nations are quaklug now with
the coming of God. It will be a year of suc
cesses for the men of Joshua , hut of doom for
the men of AI. You put your ear to the rail-
track and you can hear the train coming
miles away. So I put my ear lo the ground
and I hear the thundering on of the light
ning train of God's mercies and judgments.
The mercy of God Is first to be tried upon this
nation. It will be preached in tbe pulpit ? ,
in theatres , on the streets , everywhere. Peo
ple will be invited to accept the mercy of the
Gospel and the story and tbe song aud the
prayer will be "mercy. " But suppose they
do not accept tbe offer of mercy what then ?
Then God will come with His judgineuts , and
the grasshoppers will eat the crops , aud the
freshets will devastate the valleys , and the
defalcations will swallow the money markets ,
and the fires will burn the cities , and the
earth will quake from pole to pole. Year of
mercies and of judgments. Year of Invitation
and of warning. Year of jubilee and of woe.
Which aide are you going to be on ? With
the men of AI or the men of Joshua ? Pass
over this Sabbath Into the ranks of Israel. I
would clap my hands at the joy of your com
ing. You will have a poor chance for thl3
world and the world to come without Jesus.
You cannot stand what Is to come upon you
and upon tbe world unless you have the par
don and the comfort and the help of Christ.
Come oyer. On this side Is your happiness
and sifcty , on the other side Is disquietude
and despair. Eternal dcteat to the men of
Ai 1 Eternal victory to the men of Josbual
The Family JJook-Case.
Tho family book-caso will be recall
ed by many who were reared in tho
country. Little was known of its his
tory , somotimes , as tbe chances were
that it had been bidden in at a "ven
due , " as auction sales were called
some years ago. Its scars showed that
it had experienced the battles of life.
In its best days it stood in tho parlor ,
but finally was banished , to the kitch
en of theold house , where it bocamo a
general receptacle for almost every
thing except books. You might iind a
copy of Fox's Martyrs , perhaps , with
the covers gone aud tho leaves rum-
pied and torn. Youthful paint brushes
had been busy with the illustrations ,
and the pious Latimer in a red suit
might have been seen slowiy roasting
over a green lire , and tho other vic
tims of holy zeal wero submitted to
martyrdoms that Mr. Fox never dream
ed of. Robjnson Crusoe , s6 mutilated
and changed that his own man Friday
wouldn't recognize him , rnigh t bo
fouud there ; and the remnants of the
once happy and united Swiss Family
Robnson scattered about on tho
shelves. Then there aro school books ,
old and discarded , odd numbers of
magazines , copy books , old newspapers
and other . odds and ends of literature.
Father keeps his shaving utensils in
tiie old book-case , and mother stufls
tho shelves with dried herbs ; Susio
puts her rubbers there and Bob lias a
corner for his skates. When the
blacking-brush cannot be found any
where else it is generally in the old
book-case , and there is a mingled odor
of hair oil and horse medicine. Texas
Sifting s.
An Earthquake Societj' .
At a recent session of tho Science
Association , a learned professor made
an eloquent appeal in behalf of a soci
ety in Japan that was established to
study earthquakes. He said the soci
ety was small and poor , but deserving
sympathy aud aid. There are unusual
facilities in Japan , we leran , for stud-
ing earthquakes for they occur almost
every week. The wear and tear of a
society organized for the special pur
pose of investigating the phenomena
must be very great , and it is no won
der that tho soc ety is poor , as the
professor says. When an earthquake
comes thundering along they have to
leave what ever they are doing and at
tend to it. Should it be in the dead of
night it makes no difference , they are
bound lo turn out. Wives may scold
about it , children cry , "don't go , pa
pa ! " but the demands of science
are imperative. It isn' t a pleasant ex
perience , poking about in the night
trying to investigate an earthquake.
The earth is liable to open almost any
where and swallow the investigator ,
and if he escapes that ten chances to
one he will be caught by tho seat of
his trousers when the fissure closes.
This is extremely wearing on clothes
and keeps the society poor. If friends
of science do not feel able to contrib
ute money to the earthquake society of
Japan , they might at lest forward
some of their cast-off pantaloons.
Texas Hiflinga.
Soraethiug Desperate.
"I met young Sampson at tho
g-ate as I came in , Lulu , " said the old
gentleman , "aud he seemed in great
liaste. " "Oh , papa , I have just re
fused him , and I'm afraid he may do
something desperate. What did ho
say ? " "He asked me if the boys down
tit the Crescent saloon had all gone
liorne. " New York Sun.
For 31edicinial Purposes.
Customer : "Give me a dose of whisky. "
Druggist : "What's the matter with
vou ? " Customer : "Ague. " Druggist :
"Oh , you shake for the drinks *
you ? * ' Washington Crit'f
0
A TALE OF TIIE TELEGRAMI. ,
i , ,
1
it was n lovely dny In May ; tho aun waa
( mining brightly , and tho air waa ladon with
that balmy frngrnnco that lends tho special
clmrm to Hpring days. I waa standing upon
the roof of ono of the leading hotels In tho
city.
1 had been examining tho telephone wires
on tho roof , on which wo hud lately placed a
now patent arrangement for tho purpoBO of
overcoming induction from tho neighboring
telegraph wires.
I Htood holding on with ono hand to a
Ntnndiird for telephone wires for eovcral
minutcH , Inst in thought ,
I bud stood thus for perhaps flvo minutefl ,
when I wnn brought back lo tho realization
of niypcnHoby iiBound which , coming upon
me so middcnly , seemed to freeze tho blood in
my vcin , boiuI a chill down my buck , nnd a
nervoiiH tremor through my etitiro nystem ; It
wiiH the unmistnkeablo cry of a manmci \
Turning quickly towurdn tho direction from * j
which tbe sound camo. I naw tho author of
it with hm head just ahovi ) the opening of
tho trap-door , through which I had gained
ncceuM to tho roof , ami tho door of which I j
hml left Hwunir back upon its hingcit , j
I recognized at once that tho man wan mad. i
IIin wild expression showed it quite plainly. J
For an iiiHtanb I stood motionless , not
knowing what to do , when again that langh j
rang out upon tho air ; and 1 noticed that ho <
was ascending to tho roof. Quick as light- j
ning my mind took in the Kituution , and I
rushed desperately towards tho man intend- j
ingto Htriko him with all my force , ami |
knock him buekwnrd down thollight of staira
to tho lloor below. He saw my intention ,
nuil tried to gain hIio roof before I could
reach him ; but tho dihtaneo between us was
only a few feet , and he had not risen ubovo
thu roof higher than his waist when I forced
him back.
I Atood upon the door a Bhort time , ex
pecting every iniuuto that ho would renew
the attack , when hiuldeiily I heard the report
of a pistol from below , and was conscious ol
a whizzing uoibc in the air.
Looking down , 1 noticed a small hole in
the trap-door , and that tho bullet had passed
uncomfortably near my leg iu its upward -
lliglit. i
I did not relish the idea of being shot nt in |
this manner and stepped immediately off tho j
door. ;
1 had Bcarccly done so when thero was an- S
other report , and another holo in tho door , •
directly upon the spot whero I had boon
titiuidiug. |
What was to bo done ?
AH at once 1 noticed that tho ends of the
Htnplo used for fastening tho door on tho in
side projected through tho thin boards for '
somo distance.
Quickly passing a ropo I had around tho
knob and under tho sharp ends of tho staple ,
I took two turns round them , which wuh all
there was room for , and drawing the ropo
tightly , fastened the ends aa securely ua
possible.
This whole performance lasted but a < bw
seconds , but the pistol sbotH contimii"t iu
rapid succe'ision , and I judged that by this
timo he had emptied tbo beven chambers of
his revolver.
The firing had censed , and I iiotired tho
door moving slightly , as though force waa
being brought to bear upon it lrom below.
I took hold of the door with my handsand
held it down uh hard us 1 could. The mad
man hcetned to be pushing against it with a
tremendous force. What was to be done ?
The rope was a weak thing at the best , and
I felt that ib could nob long hold out agaiiiHt
the efforts of a strong man.
AH at once the thought of calling help by
telegraph came into my mind. I had heard
of cases of telegrams being Bent without iu-
Ktiuments from the scene ofrailwnyaccidents
and 1 dctei mined to try for myself iftlie mad
man could only be kept within bonds long
enough to allow me an opportunity.
I waa an expert telegraphist , having Bpent " * *
a number of years in that business before en
tering tho telephonic Held. Although I was a
an old telegraphist I had never attempted
the feat of telegraphing without an instru
ment.
But the situation called for a desperate act ,
and after looking at the fastenings on the
door to see that they were becure aa possible ,
I went quickly to the edge of the building ,
where a number of wires werestrungon brack
ets. These wireu I knew to lead to the posb-
oflice.
1 had a email pair of pliera in my pocket ,
and wizing a wire I cut into it with tho pliers ,
and then bent the wire in order to break it.
The pliers were Fmall , and it required a
Blrong effort to snap the wire , but 1 nceom-
piished the feat in a few seconds. Now camo
the diflicult part. I was trembling with ner
vous excitement. Putting the etuis to my
tongue , I felt the circuit clobe through it and
all was still. No one waa using the wire.
I now took the wires in eaeli hand , and , as
well as the wires would allow , I called li
boveral times. This was done by holding tho
ends of the wire together to form tho dash ,
then bcparating them and striking quiekly
throe times to form tho Morbo letter 1 $ .
PJucing the ends to my tongue , the circuit
closed , but I felt uo signals. I again repeat
ed tho call , and placing the ends again in
position , distinctly felt tho shocke , which
baid plainly , "I. I. $ . " -i
Taking hold of the wires again , I sent the
following message slowly , and not without
blunders : "Send hplpto roof of Hotel.
Madman trying to get ou roof. Am in great
danger. Work quick ! "
Telegraphist aro generally quick of per
ception , and the operator grasped the situa
tion at once. s
Placing the wires again to my tongue , I
felt him answer slowly , and several times
over : "OK. . " "O.K. "
I wrote back "O.K. , " that he might know I
understood. And now my message was sent ,
I hastily dropped the wirea and ran to the
trap-door.
I was none to soon. The slender rope wa
giving way under the powerful strain , and I
threw mynelf upon the door just in time to
prevent it snapping.
I could hear the man below breathing
heavily , as though he were putting forth
great exertion.
He soon renewed his pushing.
I could tee the rope waa giving way under
the strain ; home of the strands were broken ,
and the door creaked and groaned.
I bore down with all my might , and suc
ceeded in keeping the door down. He paused
a moment , and then pressed upward again.
For several minutes I succeeded in keeping
the door in its place , but finally , after a long
and hard push , the rope broke , and the door
flew up a short distance , but I managed to
blain ib down again.
I could not hope to hold it , however , and I
felt it gradually ri.e , and I waa pushed up
bodily , while the madman got his head and
shoulders above the aperture.
His face was flushed , and he looked wilder
than ever.
"With an exultant cry he cleared the stairs
and sprang upon me.
I was indeed in a desperate position , for I
felt I was no match for my antagonist.
AVould help never come ?
I warded hira off as best I could , but he
: hitched me with a grip like iron. I struggled
fiercely , but I fear this story would never
have been written had not help arrived at this
moment.
I heard shouts from below , and the next
instant several men came quickly np the
stairway and gained the roof. Taking in tho
the bituation they seized my assailant , who ,
though making a desperate resistance , was
overcome and held down by superior num
ber ? .
I almost fell into the arms of one of my de
liverers , and for a bhort time Beemed to have
entirely lost my strength , while great , cold
beads of perspiration appeared on my face.
I was besieged with questions for several
minutep , but as soon as I could make myseli
lieard I told them briefly all that had hap
pened
In a short time I felt as vigorous as ever ,
tvith the exception that I could nottasteany-
thinir , tho electric shock having for a time
interfered with that sense. Afterseveral days ,
iow ever , it began to come gradually back ,
md in a few weeks I was as well as ever and
lone the worse for having called the ligiit-
ling to aid in saving my life.
Ci 'I ' lj m
What He 3Icaut.
Donn Piatt is noted for the ellegi-
jllitv of his hand writing , and when
10 sent a note to a friend the other
Jay the friend was shocked to read a
aostscript which read : "I aro in a
jlamed hornet's nest. " After some
urther study it was discovered that
ivhat Piatt had really written was :
: < I am in a blessed haven of rest. "
He meant the Providence Hospital-
-Journalist. t
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