Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 1898)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : FRIDAY , DECEMBER 80 , 1808. VOYAGE ON THE BIG HIM Fifty-Eight Days on a Sternwheeler on th | Baginc Missouri. BUCKING SANDBARS ON THE WA Trick * anil ( Jniiicn nnil JoUc * Mlxci With Inillnn Srnrpa Knl the Trip Mnnlnna Ilciul- nlnccnccM. Old-timers recall the passing of the steam' boat from the Missouri with sincere rcsret- an emotion akin to that felt by the huntei over the disappearance of the buffalo. And the vanishing of both occurred at nearly th < ame time. The explanation lies partly It the fact that buffalo hides formed the prln < clpal return cargo of the steamboat , un < with tbo falling off of the shipments of pelti the aternwhccler ceased to be ft profitable Investment. Then , with the competition ol the railroads to meet , the steamboat was driven from the waters of the nig Muddy All Montanlang who have made the Journej of 3,000 miles up that singular stream , re lates a correspondent of the New York Sun will long deplore- the fact , "Why , the happiest tlmo of my life was that I spent In coming up the Missouri on a sternwheeler , " said one of the ploncen to the correspondent. "Ono boat was the Nellie Peck , Captain Andy Johnson. When I crossed the gang plank at St J.oc , Mo. a diffident and retiring youth of 14 1 observed that the eyes of a hundred other passengers already aboard were fastened upon me. II was the proudest moment of my life. How ever , whan I discovered that the same un divided attention was bestowed upon everybody - body el j who got aboard where the boat touched I began to measure myself with a much smaller tape line than the ono I used t , St. Joe. And the boat stopped at every little village south of Omaha. This feature of the trip waa most enjoyable. The pas- engers would Invariably get off to the last baby and walk and strut about the streets in a manner to be envied by the natives. Why , from St. Joe to Omaha we passengers were on land as much a on water. And after leaving Omaha the boat took to landing quite as frequently , for from that point on the sandbars were as thick , as blue beads on a squaw's moccasin. Once etuck on andbar there was no help for It but tc plant the 'dead man' the dead man being the anchor , you know. If we chanced to be near shore and a tree stood near the dead man would remain on board. The cable would bo tied to the tree and as the cap. ktans would begin to rattle and hum we would find the boat slowly but surely crossing the bar. On one occasion I think It was at Painted Woods the boat struck a sandbar right In the middle of the river. The Missouri there was three miles wide. It being night , , trie mate grabbed a lantern and set the deck- bands an example by coolly jumping over board. The roosters , us the deck hands were called , timidly followed. The current re- elstedtheft attempts to advance up tae bar. The anchor , too , which they carried , was a serious handicap and It was not suc cessfully planted fifty feet ahead of the boat until close on morning. Then tUo cable _ wa attached , the capstans began to re solve , the boat shuddered and there was the anchor hauled aboard without the boat having advanced so much as an Inch. After this fiasco there was no belp for 'it ' but to llgh'ten the boat. The yawls were lowered and the work of removing the freight was begun. The north bank of the river was elected as a dumping ground , since the Bloux held the south bank , and there , half the steamer's cargo was unloaded. At the close of three days the Nellie Peck pushed ahead , reloaded her freight and blandly .went tm with her Journey. * A Consignment of Slonx. ( "At Cheyenne agency we took aboard nine Bloux chiefs who , with 'their ' .Interpreter , white maii captured by 'them when he was a lad of 10 , were on their way to Washington to treat with the Great Father la regard to the. Black Hills. The head man of the crowd was a vicious looking Brule'known as lione Horn. There was yellow hair amid the 'fringe of his leggings , which could be accounted - , counted for on no other hypothesis than that It had been taken from the head of some poor , defenseless white woman. It was a revolting sight , par.tlcBlarly to tbo men aboard ; as for the women well , It awoke their Interest and curiosity. I know tnat ( the , clerk of the boat , who was much given to 'horseplay ' , and I consulted together as to the proper means of obtaining revenge. Finally wo decided upon the subtle plan of introducing salt and pins and other scratchy things into the big chief's blankets that night. And , having BO decided , we tnen concluded to provide a similar dose for the others also , In order that we might not ce 1 accused of showing partiality. The chiefs elept In the main cabin the staterooms being full and itho clerk and I watched them from the cabin window. Well , they all tumbled In , wrapped their blankets wen about them and then tumbled out again. In an hour we had every male passenger aboard out where we stood , eyeing them. And It was grim fun , too , to sec all of tftoso emigrant-killing chiefs standing up and ( baking ; .their blankets and trying to dis cover the new kind of bug with which the civilized white man had freely provided 'em. There was mighty lltllo sleep foe them that night or the next , and there was ono small boy aboard whohas never from that day to this ceased to regard with equanimity tne part he played in making those Sioux un comfortable. "Now , did you ever see a wild Indian eat ? Well , he's got about as little use for a knife and fork as you'd have for a gold-mounted chopstlck. The epoon Is his weapon , when he doesn't ply his fingers , and the bigger It is the better. Ho Just leans over as far as ho can reach , scoops the mashed things up from their dishes , and. after ono gulp , polics the spoon threateningly for another attack. One of the chiefs we had aboard , a Jong , lean , hungry six-footer by the name of Bull Eagle -afterward killed by our troops at the Rosebud flatly refused to eat at all. At the end of a three days' sulk , however , he grew more philosophical , and then , aa ono result of his reconsidering the natter , the cook's galley had extra help from thence on till he left the boat. After the Sioux left us to take the cars for St. Paul the boat was aired , the klnnlklntc fumes were allowed to depart , and then the through passengers , realizing what a long and perhaps monotonous trip was yet before h m , began for the first time to intermingle freely and to come down , as It were , to a common level. , Social Diversion * . "After that our principal amusements were cards and dancing. The music , In the absence ot a piano , was furnished by the negro barber , who -was quite a performer on the fiddle. His rendering ot the 'Blue Dan ube * and 'Money Musk' was worth going miles to hear. In fact , good-natured Cap tain Johnson not infrequently tied up the boat at lonely spots far removed from clv- lllted localities , and through the medium. . ot the boat's hoane whistle announced to the scattered settlers on the Dakota prairies f the presence' ot the Nellie Peck , having on board the famous , negro violinist , to whose1 melodious strains they had In previous times . tripped the light fautastlc. And , by Jove ! down they'd come tbo men with their , - . trousers tucked In their green-topped boots f and their broad-brimmed hats raklshly tilted over their larboard ear , and the girls , emll- ' ing and buxom , and wearing short skirts , as the prevailing style was in those days at teait in Dakota. And then the air ot re flpectful gravity that was maintained by thi New York banker or the Yale graduate- both of whom wo had aboard as he wouli swing these giggling prairie flowers to thel respective corners , or the painful gallantr ; of the Dakota men while performing slmlla ofllces on behalf of the ladles of the boat- all these , I nay , were sights which only th < stcrnwheelcr affords , which were well wortl making the trip to sec. "Aa for scenery , to be brief , we hadn' any. There was a lone stretch of browi pralrln on either side ot the river , but couldn't religiously call that scenery. A Intervals , particularly In the neighborhood of the Had Lands , the monotonous wnsti would be broken by Irregular shapei mounds. And then , too , occasionally , i grotesque-looking object would loom up It the vicinity of the river bank nn object however , of human manufacture , being foui upright coles placed closely together , will a tort of roof overhead , on which would Hi the bleaching bones of some noble Lo. Bu the real scenery was yet to appear. "At liorthold , where the Rces and Man- dans were quartered , I became the victim o ono of the boat clerk's little Jokes. Thi steamer stopped Just around the bend Ir order to give those of ue who desired i chance to cut across lots and visit the fort The clerk and I , being quite chummy bj this time , went up together. The round circular-shaped huts of the Indians for al the world like a big old-fashioned bee hive , with the top sawed off were nove slghta to mo and I grew Interested. " 'Wouldn't you like to see how they lool Inside ? ' asked the celrk. "I assured him that I would , but that 1 felt a little dubious about the reception ] might get from a possible occupant. " 'Pooh , ' said he ; 'go In. Nothing It there'll hurt you. ' "So I Incautiously lifted the thong latct and went in. The Interior of the hut 1 selected was dark as the mischief and thli notwithstanding a fire was burning wlthli and there was a big hole In the roof. Bui soon I got accustomed to the gloom. Anc then I saw something that showed a de cided Inclination to hurt me , the cterk'i easy assurance to the contrary notwithstand ing. And this something was a 200-pounc Mandan squaw , who was Just getting ui from her couch of buffalo skins for mj especial benefit and whose right hand helc a dagger that struck mo as being a trifle over a yard long. Well , I tried the door but the clerk was holding It outalde. , Thee I gasped his name in an Imploring voice after which my tongue refused to articulate another syllable. The door sprung oper just as the squaw , her eyes like a snake's drew her arm back to strike , and I flew out Altogether it was a close call , and as soon as I could talk once more I said all the Indignant things which any 14-year-old boj could say to a grown man , who , he knows won't sass htm back , owing to the dlsparit ) of their sizes and ages. Part of the Program. "But , then , it was all part of the trip. And , moreover , every sternwheel steamboat on thi Missouri river afforded its passengers some thing similar. Then there was the egg trick The clerk offers to bet that ho can hide i bad egg where the pilot can't find It. Thi pilot , professing to want three trials , take : him up ; and the deep laid plot Is on. Thi best-natured passenger aboard Is generall ] the victim ; the egg Is placed under his hat reposing just above his forehead. Then thi pilot comes on the scene , makes two falsi guesses as to the whereabouts ot the egg and then , having one more trial , he suddenly claps his hand on the victim's head ant crushes the egg , at the same time saying 'There it is ! ' The odoriferous content * art streaming down the victim's face and hli expression ot keen delight is rapidly chang ing to one ot painful dismay. Trifling , yoi think ? a mere boy's prank ? Why , blesi your soul ! On board a Missouri sternwheeler - wheeler and old as the joke Is It > was a trlcl that reached tbo moat magnificent proper tions. "Then , too , there was the snipe game , Ir our case we played it upon the shyest and most sensitive young man aboard. The boal being tied up for the night , we gave thi young man a large gunny sack and a candle and then led him out a quarter ot a mile from shore. Then , admonishing him to re main quiet , keep his candle lighted and hold the mouth of the gunny sack wldo open , the rest of us to the number of fifty began tc beat up the supposed snipe. In ten minutes we were back on the boat , prepared to Join In a derisive yell the moment the bagbolder , aware of the sell , should undertake to put in his appearance. But It was after mid night when that event took place and then there was something so forlorn looking in the attitude of the victim and he appeared 30 miserable and dejected over the figure he cut that our consciences pricked us and we Faced about and sneaked oft'to bed ai quietly is did he. "Now , as for game , there was quite a variety to be seen. Great bcrds ot buffalo srazod within a mile of the boat scamperIng - Ing off like mad at the terrifying sound of the steamer's whistle. Deer stood gazing at us In easy gunshot and brown and black l > ear scrambled up the hillside * at the boat's ipprcach. Beaver dug Into the river banks and all sorts ot wild birds , including the great American eagle , flew overhead. Ana intelope ? well , wo killed nine out ot a herd that was swimming the river Just in Front of the boat , and , with the yawls pickIng - Ing them up , EO varied the menu that from Ihence on , Instead ot straight ham , we had } ur choice of ham or antelope. It was the ) nly fresh meat wo bad during the last few weeks of our journey. Doostlnar Price * . "About this time , too , the steward advanced the prices of his wares a ghastly trick ol the sternwheel steomboat men. Ale and beer got too expensive to drink and tobacco ind cigars went clear out of sight. One passenger bad got aboard with a bushel sack it tobacco known as long green , his Inten tion being to take it to Montana for the purpose of exhibiting It as a curiosity. But t never reached there. Strong and vile tu it was , we' downed It. And cow a little iccrot : Youthful as I was. I smoked with he rest of 'em. My dally fear was that my elatlves , who were aboard , would catch nie. \nd the clerk always the clerk ! would take advantage ot the fact and get me slyly : o pasa him my pipe , saying , 'Hera they ? cme , ' and then calmly finish the smokInK In my stead. Luckily , however , I had a itaunch friend in both the pilots , who , hav ing made the journey before , were plentl- tully supplied with the weed. And from ihera I obtained my own supply , but only , lowever , after a verbal pledge on my part lot to give the snap away , since , as they laid , they 'didn't want the reet of the pas- iengers to come and * bother 'em. ' And I kept the pledge and this notwithstanding : hat the New York banker , who frequently borrowed of me and ot whom I was ovor- iwed , constantly importuned me to tell him iv here I got all my smoking tobacco. Oh , we stood cheek by jowl , from the banker > n question down to the Irish-Canadian , \bo was six months later hanged at Radera- jurg for murdering a man on thli smoking proposition. And the few the very few , vho bought of tbo steward took th'elr to bacco to their staterooms and cmoked it here , Immediately afterward hypocritically pretending that they had quit.the practice , ilthougb wo were all cognizant of their lit tle game. And 10 it was with every iteamer that carried passengers up the Mis- ipurl river. There were the same high ates after civilization bad been passed ; the same menu In the meat line ot ham straight ind the same absence of caste and false jrldo among those of the passengers whcr were given to the habit of smoking. No where else on earth could you have found a ilmllar condition of things , for nowhere : lee , save on a sternwheel steamboat , could such opportunities for bringing about this state of affairs have reasonably ex isted. flcrncrr and Hn\nf * . "At ( ho Montana line we began to have scenery. Off in the distance was a faint line of blue. This marked our first mountalr range. Then fore-its began to appear on cither bank , with wild bushes curled aboul the roots of trees. It was almost tropical Then the sloping foothills , merging Intc mountains further back , came down tu the river banks , and broad streams flowed In from surrounding points , oh , it was scen ery all right , but of course you can't ex pect me to describe It , And of course 1 won't The only thing that marred It was thw sudden appearance of Fort Peck , wltt its 2,000 Indians Asslnnlbolnes , Yankton- las , Santecs and Uncapappas , all Sioux , and all afterward conspicuous at the Custer mas. sacre and these Indians , with their hide ously painted faces and their silent way ol looking , made a blot on the landscape thai only their total annihilation could bave ef faced , "Now , these Sioux , unlike the Rees arid Mandans at Berthold , appeared to have nc Ideas of their own. They bad no bumboaU -a tubllke affair with 1U accessory of one paddle such as could bo seen in constanl use at Berthold ; nor had they so much as a bow and arrow. Why , I saw the Mandan children little mites of things at the last mentioned fort , busily employed at bow and arrow making. And they could shoot them , too , a 4-year-old being able to knock nickels out ot crotched sticks at a distance ot thirty feet , as the passcngen found to their sur prise and amusement. But thete Sioux , children and all , had apparently lost all am bition premising , of course , that they evei had any and simply stood about like then wooden substitutes before cigar stores , awaiting a chance to hide more ammunition and to draw their rations. However , their eyesight was good. For the agent at the tori told us dhat the Sioux had Informed him ol the approach of our boat eight hours before we really appeared. He had thought them mistaken , but they Insisted that they had seen our smoke. Yet , calculating our speed at sir miles an hour , we were close on tc fifty miles distant when they made their an nouncement. In view of their remarkable eyesight , therefore , it is no wonder that they at times successfully ambushed the passing sternwheeler , aa history records that they have done In many Instances. "Then finally leaving Fort Peck , with its multitude ot treacherous wards , we continued on our way without stopping tin we reached Fort Benton the old trading post ot the Hudson Bay Fur company , but at that time , 1875 , a straggling hamlet of perhaps three score of houses , principally saloons. And here , as the Nellie Peck touched the wharf , we received a unique and thoroughly west ern reception. A dozen half-drunken men- squaw men and trappers arrayed in the regulation dime novel buckskin , and with accoutrements of pistol , bowle knife and rifle , began to shout in chorus : 'Come on , you sons o' sea cooks ! come on , blank blankety-blank you ! ' and other expression not nearly so choice. And there was no tell ing when they would have -ever ceased , had It not been for an interruption. This inter ruption was caused , by the sudden appear- once of the Key West , a steamer that had left St. Louts ten days after the departure from that city of the Nellie Peck. And her coming , announced by the rumbling bass notes of her steam whistle , attracted the at tention ot the natives I mentioned and they drew off to give her passengers the same unique and cordial welcome. "Then our family party over , we , who had had aucb jolly times together aboard the Nellie Peck , resumed our dignity , shooK hands stiffly and went our different ways inland. The trip was ended. How I wish I could make it again. "But , say , did I call it a trip ? Well , now , that's a mistake , Seeing that we were fifty- eight days on board that boat , suppose you call it a cruise or a.voyage. . " , CLEAN START ON NEW YEAR'S. A. Wanderer Who Didn't Want to Quit a Loner on the Year. He had been through a world of trouble and his face showed it. His long , black hair was streaked with gray and the lines about his mouth had a downward droop that told of fierce struggles in the past. But the mouth Itself was firm and powerful and in his eyes there was a twinkle which named him a philosopher still unemblttered by the coquetries of fortune. He had been a wan derer over the face of the earth , with all the ups and downs that come to men of his kind. He had taught school , he had run an engine , he had fold books , he had dealt faro bank , he had owned a cattle ranch and he had prospected for Kold In the wilds ol New Mexico , Arizona , California and the Klondike. He hadn't yet struck his pile , but he hadn't weakened , either , and mean while he was doing the best he could. The other night he walked Into an uptown hotel and joined a group ot his acquaint ances , relates the Now York Sun. They be gan talking of the new year which was coming and making one another all sorts ol promises as to bad habits they were to for swear with the first day of 1899. Never an other oath would the biggest swearer swear , never another drink would the biggest drinker drink , never another lie would the biggest liar tell. It was to bo an all-round reform and their protestations carried one little weazened chap back to other days before new years had been scattered eo plentifully through their lives. "Do you remember , Bill , that new year away back In New Mexico years ago , when you and I were prospecting together ? " asked the little man of the wanderer with the droop to his mouth. "Sure Ming , " said BUI , with the twinkle In his eye lighting up. "That was a happy one , wasn't it ? By George , I've been blue in my time , but I think that New Year's day was the bluest I ever saw. "Well , tell us about it , " put In one of the others. "Let my pal do that , " remarked Bill. "I never could tell a story , " And so It was up to the Tittle man with the weazened face. He led the way to the cafe , where they gathered around a table , and ordering the drinks he began thuawlie : "It's no use telling how many years ago It was , for Bill and I are getting along to the time when we wlnco at a glimpse down the long past , but it Was when I had more hair on my head and there wasn't a gray hair on hit. We wsre prospecting together and we'd been up against it for months. We couldn't strike it anywhere , arthough we'd worked like dogs. On this particular New Year's day we were up in the moun tains , forty miles from nowhere , and we'd pretty nearly reached our limit. Heaven knows I was down in the mouth , but Bill there was looney. He hadn't spoken a civil word in four day * . He just kept mooning about the camp , snapping Mke a dog when ever I spoke to him , and I began to fear be was wrong up here under his hair. We were camped at this time by ourselves within about fifty yards of a high precipice. The main trail led down the mountain , ot course , but over to the edge of the preci pice ran a narrow footpath which we had worn In our trips to throw away rubbish ind garbage ot the camp. I remember that I woke up early on New Year's morning ind found Bill puttering about , uglier than ever , If that was possible. I spoke to him , but he only grunted and went outside the ihack. Something about his manner ilarmed me , eo I sprang up and reeked out. He was going down the little path to the edge of the precipice. " 'He's going to Jump over , ' I thought , but I was afraid to yell at him and it could not possibly do any good to run after him , so I Just walked slowly out and followed lown the path. When Bill got to the brink I saw him stick bis hands In his pockets uid gaze tor five minutes into the depth ! f below. Probably It was BOO sheer fwt Inte the valley , but the distance never fesr.c * him , I stopped half down the path am watte * ! to see what would happen. By and by Bill pulled something out of hli rlgh trousers pocket , looked at It hard for I minute , and then threw It far away frort him and into the valley. Then he raised lil arms above him and I thought he wi going to foltaw , but ho didn't. He jus stretched himself , threw back his head yawned and turned around. He grlnne < when he saw me watching htm with eyei that looked no doubt aa though they wen going to pop out of my bead. ' "What did you throw over there ? ' ! asked htm sharply. " ' ' 'a dlmi 'Fifteen vents , he explained ; and a nickel. ' " 'For heaven's sake what for ? ' I ejacu lated. 'Have you got money to throw to the birds ? ' " 'Oh , no , ' ho said , 'but that's every cenl I had In the world and I thought I'd Jusl make a clean start with the new year. ' " "Good scheme , " remarked ono of the Us- tenors. "Couldn't quit loser on the jreai then , eh ? " "But I did , " said the man with the droop "By the next year I had a big bunch ol debts. " LAST OP TUB INDIAN FIGHTERS. "Uncle Jnok" Parley Hau One Hun dred ncdiklns on HU Record. The great American Indian fighter , famee in history and dime novel , Is rapidly be coming a memory otthe past. With thi taming and the thinning out ot the IndUi his occupation has vanished and If you dis cover one today he U either a very ok man or else a very untruthful one , ecpeclall ) in California , where the hostile savage hat not been seen in many years. One of the few authenticated Indian fight ers of California , relates the San Franclsct Call , Is old Jackson 'Farley , common ! ] known ns "Uncle Jack , " -who lives on his ranch high up in the mountains of Mendo- cine county. Uncle Jack has passed his ninety-second birthday and will modestly admit the kill ing of 100 Indians. Only he will not saj that he "killed" " " them ; "stopped" is hli favorite expression an expression , by the way , that originated with him In the earlj ' 60s and subsequently became official ver nacular among ecouts and cattlemen. Between the years 1819 and 1865 Uncle Jack was engaged in almost constant warfare - faro with the Indians of Mendoclno , Trlnltj and Humboldt counties. He came to Cali fornia from Virginia with the early settleri in search of adventure and fortune and In search of revenge , too , for during the Jour ney across the plains bis best friend died from an Indian's arrow .and Uncle Jack fell easily into the then common belief that the only good Indian was a dead one. Trophies galore of. the balance of thai bloody Journey he showed to the Call re porter. Scalps by the dozen , chairs bottomed tomed with Indian bide , razor strops ot the same .grewsotne material and countless bows , arrows , tomahawks and firearms. With neither wife nor. child , only the com radeship of a .big mastiff , Uncle Jock ar rived here in 1849 and settled down to the business of stock raising on the lonelj mountain ranges of Mendoclno. From 1850 to 1856 there were no Indian agencies frstabllahed , and the advent of e white man wan au invitation to the treach erous instlncta of the Indian. Murder , ar son and cattle and horse stealing ran riot. riot.Farley went out one morning to Inspect his stock and found that twenty-five horses and 100 head ot cattle had been stolen and that his favorite saddle horse had been killed and Mutilated , " its mane and tall hanging defiantly on 'the gate post * ot the corral. Uncle Jack hastened back , to hii cabin , where he secured extra ammunition and another brace of * ' Ixshoqters. Three friendly prospector * with an extra hone were In the neighborhood and they and Uncle Jack eet forth In pursuit of the thieves. Reaching a 'deep canyon whera one of the Eel river tributaries came cas cading down the mountain , they w ra about to water their horses , when they were struck by the peculiar color of the water. It was blood red. This was enough to. tell Uncle Jack that the Indians were butchering bis cattle up the river and washing the carcasses in the stream. In a flash he and. > hls companions wera riding up the trail , where they soon met a shower of arrows. This was in the day of the muzzle-loading rifle and every one ol the return shots had to tell. Uncle Jack and his friends dismounted and broke for cover. In the shelter ot trees and bushes they poured a slow deadly fire on the attacking red men. As fait as the savages could reorganize and surround the rifles of the white men would cut gaps In the savage circle ; Time after time the Indians were repulsed , their supply of ar rows gave out and they beat a retreat , Uncle Jack recovered only a remnant of his band of cattle and none of the horses , but exactly forty Indians , "good and dead , " marked the quantity of his vengeance. This was one of Uncle Jack's most successful days. It soon became historic and waq instrumental in securing him a government coutshtp when the ' first Indian post was established in 1856. THE SIHPLON TUNNEL. A Twelve and a Half Mile Cat Benin- ninsr of n Great Undertaking. The work of constructing the tunnel through the Slmplon has just been Inaugu rated both on .the Italian and Swiss sides , reports the Pall -Mail - Gazette. It will be the longest In the world , and one of the most important , as it will put the Medit erranean ( through tbo port of Genoa ) In direct communication with west and cen tral Switzerland and with central Europe , It la likely to be a great rival of the Mont Cents and St. Gothard routes. The Stmplon tunnel will be twelve and one-half miles , while the Mont Cenls Is only about eight miles and the S"t Goth- ird a little over nine. The-opening of the tunnel on the Swiss side will be near Brlgue , at 860 meters above the level of the sea and on the Italian side , near Iselle , at 750 meters above datum. This great en gineering feat will In reality consist of two tunnels , one for the railway and one for 'ventilation , connected by galleries. The work Is being conducted at the expense of the Italian and Swiss governments and will : est about 3,000,000. It will take nearly five and a half years to complete. The hydraulic power for this gigantic un- lertaklng will be obtained on the Swiss side from the nhone , which will supply From 1,180 to 2,360 horse power , and on ; he Italian side from the Calraeca river , which will give 2,260 horse power. The hygienic conditions for the benefit > f the great number of workmen to ba employed are practically perfect. Bach nan , before being engaged , will be required o "pass a doc-tor , " and there will be period- cal examinations to insure that no one s suffering from contagious dliease. The iuts ot the employes will also be care fully Inspected , with a view to their proper imitation. Each workman will wear a ipeclal dress In working hours , after which ae will be obliged to take a bath. Thus It s hoped that perfect health ot the openi ng staff will be secured. Lake Front Controversy. CLEVELAND , Dec. 29. Negotiations for i settlement out of court of the famous Cleveland lake front controversy between his city and five railroad companies are lending and it is believed an agreement vlll be reached within a few days. The : ase Is scheduled to come up for trial In the Jolted Statea circuit court next Wednesday. Millions of dollars worth of property front * ng on the lake is Involved In the m W r. Nothing Succeeds . . . - _ _ _ " " - i nr i -lrur i Like . - . . . . T. Success V r The Bee has secured for publication in its Sunday issues a noteworthy and in * teresting series of articles dealing with the dominating American idea .of success. It provides a most attractive adaptation of this idea in the form of STQRJBS CXF SUCCESSFUL who have worked their way to the top by their own exertions men whose 'names are familiar to newspaper readers everywhere as the heads of great businesses , as leaders in the professions , or as masters and makers of great fortunes. . These life itories of prominent men are , TOI/P BY Each one presents in his own language his own opinions as to the influences , circumstances or events which have led to his success. The realities of life are . clothed with as deep an interest as the most stirring recitals of fiction in these ac counts of the turnlttg points in great careers. Among those who will contribute to tbie series are the following : 1 \ Andrew Carnegie 4 3 4 < > . The Scotch bobbin-boy , tells in his own words of his early struggle for a livelihood ; how he earned his first money , what was his first investment , and ; how he climbed the first rugged rounds of the ladder of success , whioh has led him to the head of one of the largest manufacturing concerns in the world. ' > * 1 ( > Senator Thomas C. Platt ' Relates a highly interesting story under the title "How I Cam * to Go ' : Into Politics ? in which he speaks from ripe experience. Jacob Gould Scharman The President of Cornell , gives the story of his advancement from the : place of grocer's boy in an obscure Nova Scotia town to the head of one of the ; greatest universities in the country. * * " Frank Thomson President of the Pennsylvania railroad , tells the story of his riie from the < ' ! ! machine shops of the road to the president's office. < W $ * m$4Hm44"444t > 4 > * * Dr. Lewis A. Sayre Ex-Preiident of the American Medical Association , tells how his success ; ; ; dates from a difficult operation performed in a new way in an emergency case. ; , John Claflin The head of the house of Olaflin & Co. , the largest dry goods merchants | in the world , relates the romantic story of his first success and founding of his ; ; house as a rival to A. T. Stewart , then the great merchant prince of America. + * t4WM4 + t > + MWM&&S > < W * This series will be extended by the addition of other equally notable names. Each article will be accompanied by the most recent and accurate portrait of person who forms ita subject. THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE. Road It. Subscribe for It.