SAVED BY A DREAM.
A THRICE REPEATED WARNING THA
> WAS LUCKILY HEEDED.
Bow Two Men Narrowly Kucnped
nation In a Weatern Ontario Inn Tl ,
Ilcullty Wan Perfect Reproduction <
the Vlnlon fif tlio Kritln.
Miss ? ! ulcl Wiloughby , writing i
the Torouco talohe , relates this straug
etory :
"Many y'.sis ago my great-uncle ,
magistrate of Niagara district , had ot
casion , an ho often Jiad , to make a joui
noy on horhehack through KOIIIO of th
moro unnettled parts of western Oi :
tario. As those were the pioneer day
many parts of Ontario now thickly hel
tied and prosperous communities wet
almost unbroken stretches of forest , it
torsectcd by roads , passable only b
equestrians. The only places of jnibli
accommodation were small taverns o
inns to bu found at intervals of man ;
miles along these trails or roads. M.
uuclo and his father-in-law , who ac
companicd him , carried largo sums o
money with which to buy grain am
cattle from the settlers.
"Ono afternoon , toward nightfall , a
they were Hearing the small inn wher
they intended stopping for the night
they heard the sound of horses' hoof
close bohiIH ! them , and , turning in hi
'saddle , my uuclo saw that the stranger
approaching him wore a dark visagci
pair of men whom ho had noticed a
the dinner table with him at the las
hostelry. They , however , saluted m :
uncle and Mr. II. , his father-in-law , ii
a very civil manner and returned th (
f compliments of the hour.
"Tho party soon reached the inn ,
ami , to uncle's surprise , the two strau
! gers trotted on past the only resting placi
there was for miles. But ho coucludet
that they were hunters or settlers liv
ing farther on , and so for the timt
thought no moro of it.
"Our two grain dealers took theii
supper and shortly afterward retiree
comfortably for the night. Not lonj
after going to bed Mr. H. , feeling thirs
ty , rose soul went down to the barrooir
for a drink of water. ( No laughter here.
Ho was a local preacher and stanch ad
her cut to the Methodist church. )
"On entering the bar ho was greatlj
surprised to see stretched out on the
wooden benches the guests of the din
ner table and traveling companions ol
the early evening. However , ho trou
bled very little about the matter , as he
thought that they had been overtakei ]
by night and turned back. On return
ing to the bedroom ho found my uncle
dozing , and so made no mention of the
uncanny pair in the barroom , and in a
few minutes fell asleep also.
"After a short sleep undo awoke and
almost started out of bed , having had a
most vivid and frightful dream , in
which he saw one of those men advanc
ing toward him -with a dark lantern
> turned upon his face and a drawn knife
? ; * .
> in his hand. But , finding the room per
fectly quiet , uncle persuaded himself
that his dream was the result of some
slight apprehension ho had had concern
I ing the two men , and so fell asleep
again , but only to have the horrible vi
sion repeated.
"He began to feel that the dream , so
vivid and persistent , might have the
nature of a presentiment , so put his
hand under the pillow to see that his
pistols which ho carried were safe.
But as everything continued perfectly
still ho allowed himself to fall into a
light doze , which was again interrupt
ed by the same dream , like a midnight
specter.
"Now thoroughly alarmed and feel
ing that his dream was sent as a warn
ing , ho roused the old gentleman by his
side and told him of it. Mr. H. then
told him of the men in the barroom.
This increasing their apprehension , the
two men decided to watch by turns , Mr.
H. taking the first watch. Not five min
utes had elapsed before a footstep just
outside their door caught the ear of
both men.
"In a moment the door opened very
sof tly , and a man stealthily entered and
crept toward the bed , while the two in
the bed prepared for immediate defense
when the villain had come close enough
to bo seen distinctly , kept perfectly
quiet. "When within about two yards of
the bed , the intending assassin , by the
manipulation of his lantern , which un
til this time had remained perfectly
dark , throw a clear light over the sup
posed sleepers and revealed to them the
reality of the vision the same man ,
knife and lantern , with his murderous
intention hideously written on his fixed
couuteuauco.
"Ono glance at his intended victims
and his expression changed to amaze
ment and fear and he stood like one
paralyzed as he met my uncle's steady
and white face , who , with pistol pre
sented , waited but another move on the
part of the villain to kill him on the
spot. But the man didn't move. All
was perfectly still , except for a smoth
ered prayer from the old gentleman.
Uncle was the first to speak , demand
ing what ho wanted. No reply was
given. Uncle then , threateningly ad
vancing his piece , ordered him to leave
the room at once on pain of death. In
obedience to this the robber , without
turning his face or changing his atti
tude in any way. backed as steadily
from the room as ho had entered it and
was seen no more. "
All Bear to Him.
Wife The doctor orders mo to the
mineral baths at Carlsbad , and you re
fuse me the means to go. That shows
how little yon value me.
Husband On the contrary , I do not
wish to lose a pound of you. Fliegendo
Blatter.
Strange as it may seem , the origin of
the miter is to be found in Acts ii , 3 ,
"And there appeared unto them cloven
tongnetf like as of fire , and it sat upon
each of them. " The miter is supposed
to lo : : representation of these cloven
ton
GUARDING THE MINT
HOW THE PHILADELPHIA INSTITL
TION IS PROTECTED.
Little Chance For Any Ono to Get KIc
Quickly hy Helping Hlmnolf to Uncl
Sain'H Tresuture Patrol * , Itevolvera an
Winchester ) * In Plenty.
Probably not one person out of a hun
flred who pasa by the Philadelphia mini
that grim looking edifice at Ohestmi
and Juniper streets , after nightfall real
izes what is going on inside. There i
nothing mean about Undo Sam , but h
is determined that any one who get
his money shall get it honestly and b.
process duly laid down. Therefore h
has taken all kinds of precautions t
properly protect , especially at night
the millions upon millions piled up ii
the vaults.
The doors of the mint are closed ev
cry weekday promptly at 4 o'clock ii
the afternoon. After that hour no on
but mint employees have any busines
within the walla which inclose so mucl
money , and no one can either stay ii
or get in without a special permit fron
the superintendent. Needless to tay
this is difficult to obtain.
Simultaneously with the closing o
the doors at 4 o'clock the first shift o
the night guard goes on duty. Theshif
is composed of the captain of the guan
and 11 stalwart men. As the men fill
out to begin their round each one i :
handed a big Colt's revolver of the inos
approved pattern and loaded with bi {
cartridges.
From then on till midnight seven o
the 11 guards patrol without cessatioi
every floor of the inside of the mint , fron
the corridors of the gloomy vault ;
where , away down in the earth , an
stowed eighty odd million dollars ii
silver and almost as much gold , to tut
top floor , where there is nothing more
valuable than machinery. Placed at fre
quent intervals throughout the corridors
are electrical devices for enabling tlu
captain of the guard to keep tabs on his
men. Each of these little machines com
municates with the rotunda opposite
the Chestnut street entrance to the
mint. Here it is that the captain is sta
tioned all through the long hours of
his shift. Every two minutes and a
half the central machiuo in the rotuudn
denotes the presence of some one of the
guard at some particular station in the
building. If it doesn't , then the cap
tain knows that something is wrong ,
and he immediately proceeds to discov
er what it is.
But it has been a long time since the
little machine failed to send forth its
announcement afc the proper time , for
the mint guards are patrolling up and
down outside the big building , careful
ly watching that no suspicious charac
ters approach too near the vast treasure
left in their care.
Promptly at midnight the second
shift of the night guard puts in an ap
pearance to relieve the early shift. It
is also composed of a captain and 11
men , and they are split up , as the other
squad , into inside and outside details.
From midnight on until 7 o'clock in
the morning they follow in the foot
steps of the first shift , with every fac
ulty alert to catch an intruder.
The big revolvers are not the only
weapons upon which the guards have
to rely. On each side of the main corridor
rider leading from the Chestnut street
entrance stands a walnut case. Through
the polished glass front of one frown
20 Winchester rifles. The other con
tains as many ugly looking carbines.
To grab these dispensers of death would
be but the work of an instant for the
guards , and then woe bo unto any man
3r men upon whom it might bo found
accessary to turn them.
For the revolvers there is kept con
stantly on hand in the mint 300 rounds
Df ammunition , and for the rifles and
jarbines 2,500 rounds. Each of the
guards is an expert in the use of both
: ho pistol and the gnu , and each is en-
lowed with a plentiful stock of cour-
igo ; hence a combination capable of
successfully resisting almost anything
.ess than a regiment.
The superintendent and assistant cus-
; odian both talked to the reporter about
; he methods in use to protect the mint
ind its contents. Both smiled sigiiifi-
: autly when the possibility of one get-
iiig away with a portion of the vast
; reasuro was suggested.
"It would bo folly for any one to try
t , " was the superintendent's only com-
neut. To it the assistant custodian nod-
led emphatic assent.
"I have been here for a , good many
ears , " the latter taid , "and no such
ittempt has ever been mado. It is prac-
ically impossible for any one to break
nto the mint from the outside , and no
me could secrete himself in the build-
ug during the hours when it is open to
isitors and hope to avoid discovery.
Ye search every nook and corner of the
tructuro carefully as soon as the doors
re closed for the day , and you may
est assured if any one who had no
insiuess within these walls was found
IB would regret the day he was born. "
In addition to the two shifts of night
; uards , the superintendent and assistant
ustodiau have a habit of dropping in
t the mint at odd hours of the night to
ee that everything is going on all right.
The mint is connected with the ceu-
ral telephone station , and should there
e trouble the captain of the guard
ould communicate with police head-
uarters in a brief space of time.
"If yon come across anybody who
[ rinks he can get rich quickly by help-
ag himself to our coin , " remarked the
aperintendent in parting , "just advise
im to think it over carefully first. "
In compliance with the superintend-
at's suggestion the advice is hereby
iven.
And it is pretty good advice to follow
)0. Philadelphia Inquirer.
The population of Antwerp includes
0,000 Germane , who , it is eaid , buy
leir goods of German merchants only.
A FEARLESS CONVICT
STEADMAN'S DARING ESCAPE FROf
SAN QUENTIN PRISON.
j One of the Most Remarkable Canes o
| Jail Breaking on Record Accompllnliei
j by Feat Which Almost Bordered 01
! the Miraculous.
It is one thing to catch a thief and i
is another thing to hold him. During i
meeting of the chiefs of police of all thi
! larger cities of the United States am
Canada , which occurred at Milwaukee ,
there were reminiscences of remarkabh
captures and of escapes which borderer
j closely upon the miraculous
I "The moht remarkable escape Iron
prison that I can recall , " said VVilliair
j A Pinkertou , "was that of FranJi
Steadman from the San Quentiu prison
I But I'll not tell yon about it , for hen
is John Glass , who caught Steadmuu
and sent him back to San Quentin "
Chief Glass pinched the brown im
perial on hi.s under lip reflectvely fet
a moment before ho responded to th =
looks of inquiry hent upon him by those
not familiar with the story
"Tho escape to which yon refer , Pinkerton -
kerton , was made after I bent bteadman
to San Quentin and not before I was
not the fortunate one to got him after
! that last woudeiful break. And to tell
the truth , I have never taken to myself
much credit for taking him tlio time 1
| did , for it was to a considerable degree
a matter of good fortune You see , we
| were just at that time keeping our eyes
open for a bank robber by the name of
Barnes , who had gone into one of the
banks out there , covered the one man
who happened to be alone in the place
at the time , locked him up in the vault ,
I and then coolly walked out of the bank
and out of sight with all the funds he
could get his hands on.
"Ono day a man answering closely
the description we had of Barnes step
ped off the train at Los Angeles. Wo
took him in tow at once , but found
wo did not have the bird we were after.
However , wo managed to hold him
long enough to find out that he was
Frank Steadman , who had become no
torious even at that time as a SUCCCFsf til
jail breaker. He had four or five escapes
from prison in southern Indiana credit
ed to him , had got away from Joliet
and had still seven years to do at the
Illinois prison ; had also been at San
Qnentin , and had escaped from there
with five years unfinished.
"Steadman was a machinist by pro
fession , and a burglar by inclination
When he was sent back to San Queutiu
to finish his time , he was put to work
with other convicts in the engine room.
It was hero that an idea came into his
brain that for absolute daring and fear
lessness was typical of the man. He had
noticed that every evening at the time
the men working in the engine room
were lined up to be marched away , the
machinery waa stopped at exactly the
same moment. He had observed as well
that a window leading to an adjacent
roof was not far from the top of the big
driving belt of the engine. From that
roof it was possible to reach the outer
wall of the prison. Beyond the wall
was freedom. Ho had escaped so many
times that his mind i everted again and
again to the window high up on the
wall of the engine room. Apparently it
was beyond all possibility of being
reached. No ladder was to bo obtained.
Had such a thing been even standing
in place against the wall , to break
from the line and scale it with catlike
dexterity , although the work of but a
few seconds , ho well know would be
futile , possibly fatal. Bullets travel
faster than legs , and the guards were
not bad shots. But desperate deeds de
mand desperate means. Some minds
may work with an ingenuity born of
despair , but Steadmau's was of a differ
ent caliber. His plans were the out
growth of steadfast optimism.
"One day there came to him as if by
inspiration the thought that the big belt
might bo the means of carrying him to
Ins goal. He found that it was impossi
ble to count the revolutions of the driv
ing wheel , but there were lacings in
the broad belt , which he was able to
Jistiuguifh as a sort of blur as it passed
i given point. For days and days ho
counted , and in his cell at night he
spent his time in calculations. Ho dis
covered the exact number of revolutions
the wheel made per minute. He learned
ilso by constant observation just how
nany times the belt went round after
: he engine was shut down.
"One evening , when the line had
jeen formed as usual at the clo&e of the
lay's work and as the big wheel began
: o lose its momentum , suddenly a con-
rict sprang from the line , leaped to the
jelt , with outstretched arms grappling
joth edges of the broad leather. He had
: alculated well the strength that would
je required , for the terrific wrench did
lot loosen his grasp. Outward and np
yard be swung until ho reached the
upmost point of the circumference. The
licety of his calculation had reaped its
eward The belt stopped. He leaped to
lis feet , sprang through the window
Hid was gone before convicts or guards
lad recovered from their astonishment
Io caught up a guard's coat and hat ,
[ ropped from the wall and got away in
he dusk of the evening. I am inclined
o believe that as a mathematical propo-
itiou that was about as perfect a piece
f work as any man ever accomplished. "
"And did ho get away without re-
apture ? " some one asked.
"No , i am almost sorry to say , he did
ot , " answered the Los Angeles chief ,
'for ' that ought by rights to be the de-
ouement of such a story , which coru-
ines so much of daring and cleverness ,
teadman was taken again in a short
ime and put to work at his old job.
'here are bars over that high window
bove the big drive belt now. Not long
fter this Steadman cut and nearly kill-
a one of the other convicts and is now
srving out an additional sentence for
ttempted murder at theFolsoin prison ,
Inch is situated some 28 miles from
acramento. " Chicago Inter Ocean.
A Nurse of Nebraska Volunteers
Doubtless all ( ire uware that coil
upclecl with the Church of Christ
or the Christian church , is thei ]
missionary society known as tin
Christian Women's Board of Mis
sions. They are supporting theii
missionaries in India , Jamaica
Mexico and other foreign fields
At Bilaspin , India , Miss M. Ade
laide Spradlin , one of their cliris
tian young women there , withdrew
from the work to go to Manila tt
nurse the American volunteers
This will rejoice the hearts oi
many Nebraska women who arc
members of the society , and whc
have dear ones there. To kno\\
there is one of our consecrated
Christian workers there , is a mat.
tor of rejoicing to them. Anothei
suggestive thought is how the
workers for the Master are improv
ing these great opportunities and
how they are prompted to enter
these opf n doors , taking with them
the Word of Life. May it be
truly said of them that "The wil
derness and the solitary place shall
be glad fur them , and the desert
shall rejoice and blossom ns the
rose. " It will be an inspiration to
the local auxiliary whose members
have friends and whose president
has a son in Manila , that they may
possibly enjoy her gentle ministra
tions if among the ill or wounded
ones , and what a lesson in mission
ary giving. Miss Spradlin left
Bilaspiu , India , the last of May or
early in June and is doubtless lo
cated in Manila long ere this.
MEMBER McCooK C.W.B.M.
INDIANOLA.
James Hetheriugton took in the
reunion , Wednesday.
S. R. Smith made a business
trip to McCook , Saturday last.
W. H. Powell had business in
the county's capital city. Thurs-
: lay.
lay.W.
W. B. Starr was down from the
jouuty seat , Thursday , on legal
jusiness.
A few of the old veterans from
his neighborhood took in the re-
inion at McCook.
Fred .Woodcock has gone to
Cook , and will clerk in the Com-
nercial hotel , this winter.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dolan at-
ended services in St. Patrick's
ihurch in the county seat , Sunday
ast.
Miss Lillian "Welboru , count }
uperiuteudent , had business in
he county seat , Tuesday anc
rVeduesday.
Mrs. Carrie Mitchell has been
pending part of the week in the
onuty seat , during the reunion ,
he guest of her son.
George Sheppard and wife at-
euded the reunion at McCook , part
if the week , the guests of her par-
nts , Mr. and Mrs. John Shepherd.
Frank Dolan returned home ,
Tuesday morning , on a short fur-
High , being guard over the re-
jaius of one of the soldier boys
The died in camp in the south-
ind.
The Republican county central
ommittee met here , Tuesdaj' of
lis week. There was a fair rep-
ssentation present from the east
ud of the county , but few from
le west end.
The oldtime friends of George
[ . Grubb of our city will learn
itli pleasure of the fact that he
as been nominated by the Silver
Republicans of Montana for the
igh and responsible office of mem-
er of the supreme bench of that
ate. Grubb practiced law here
3ars ago , and was regarded as a
Dung lawyer of some promise ; all
ill be pleased to learn of his ad-
incement in his profession to a
lint that warranted the Silver
epublicans of that mountain state
nominate him for the supreme
mch.
Q ur forever
. . .
.
COMMODORE W. S. SCH1.EY.
Collection
is now Complete.
The Entire Series of UNCLE
SAM'S PORTFOLIOS , consisting
of Twelve Numbers , is now com
plete and may be had in whole
or part at THE TRIBUNE office
at Ten Cents a Number or ONE
DOLLAR for the'Entire Series.
Interesting
ind Desirable.
W. T. SSMFSON.
