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II I I I I II I IU,
The Affair of fe North Sea
NARRATIVE OF
CAPTAIN ADAMS
Detective -Diplomat
By H. M.
(Copyright, by W.
WING to the recent death
of tho admiral who" played
Uio most promlnont part
In tho affair, I am at last
free to nnrrnto tho truo
meaning ot a series of as
tonishing events which
a lew yoare ago and
all Europe. That some-
it t
happened
scrploxed
4t.f 1 ! ItiA 1iaIi nf thn nnnnriinfi
fLULUg 1UJT Uk mo uuvn. .. rj, -
ly tangled and meaningless maneuvers
rwae obvious oven to tho uninitiated.
TJut what It was remained a mystery.
in particular, why did not tho British
'gowornmont declare war upon llussla
when tho squadron of Rojcstvensky
jran amuck among tho British trawling
(fleet and shelled tho flshcrmon? I
ihopo that I may horo Bupply tho an
tewor. It was tho most critical period in
English history for, perhaps, 50 years
i 2at 1b to say, slnco tho period ot
the Crimean war. Russia was strug
gling in tho far east against tho power
of Japan. The war had gono badly
jwtth her, and it had boon decided, as
ja last resource, to send tho fleet from
Ithfl Baltic round tho coast of Africa
land Into Asiatic waters. Wo all know
I tho result which attended on this III
Ifatod venture
The activities of Russian cruisers
iln British waters and tho arbitrary
jholding up of British vessels had
istralned relations between tho two
countries to tho breaking point. This
llll-feellug was increased by the Anglo
ijapanese alliance. Finally, it was do-
I elded after a cabinet council that tho
Russian fleet must not be permitted to
leave European waters. In other
words, Mr. Balfour, who was then
(premier, resolved to declare war upon
itho Muscovite.
I, with all thoso who wcro ac
quainted with tho inner workings of
politics, was, of course, acquainted
with the situation. I had been warned
to bold myself prepared for servico at
a moment's notification. I know that
rtho cabinet council had been in scs
(eton; I more than r.uspected tho ro
sult of its deliberations. Thoro was
an electrical feeling in London that
tntght, hh though tho minds of all
(wore telepathlcally acquainted with
Iwbat wns Impending. Even tho the
ater crowds discussed the probability
ot war as they straggled homeward. I
had taken a stroll along Piccadilly
not for, for I dared not leave my lodg-
iiiws In Half Moon street for more
than a few minutes at a time. As I
warned I saw Talbot, my soldier serv
ant, hurrying after mo among tho
crowdn that Jostled under tho arc
lights. Ho held a telegram In his
hands. It was tho expected summons.
Instructing him to pack' my grip, I
hailed a hansom and was driven post
haeto to Downing street, where my
presence was requested. When Mr.
Balfour's butlor opened the door of
No. 10 to me I almost burst into the
chamber where tho council wero seat-
led. I know that the urgency of tho af
Ifalr would brook no considerations of
I etiquette.
Mr. Balfour was seated at the head
of tho table. At his side was Lord
Lansdowne, tho foreign minister. Mr.
Joseph Chamberlain, though ho had
resigned in order to carry on his prop
aganda for protection, was present, as
also were, most significantly, among
the rest of tho cabinet, Admiral
"Jacky" Fisher and Lord Roberts, rep
resenting respectively tho navy and
army.
No sooner had I entered than Mr.
Balfour vacated his chair, Insisted
that I should seat myself, and drew
up another for himself. Then ho ex
plained tho nature of my mission.
"Captain Adams," ho said, "this aft
ernoon the cabinet met and resolved
to advise his majesty to declare war
upon the government of Russia. Such
a declaration wns to havo been made
to tho Russian ambassador tomorrow
morning. By some occult mothod
nobody knows how these things hap
pen tho ambassador learned ot this.
Ho cabled tho nows to his govern
ment at 12 o'clock, i Four hours later
tho Russian fleet sailed on a mission
of destruction toward tho shores of
England.
"That in itself matters little. Our
fleet is prepared, and thero is littlo
doubt that wo could blow tho Rus
sians out of the water before they
could harm us. But thero is more
much more behind. At two o'clock
this afternoon his majesty's govern
ment received authorttatlvo notifica
tion from Berlin that, tho moment
that the EngUBh and Russian fleets
engage in hostilities a German squad
ron will sail from Kiel to land a hun
dred thousand men upon our southern
shores. Simultaneously an army corps
will cross tho Russian boundary. In
other words, Germany believes that
her time for aggrandizement at our
expense and Russia's Is now como.
"Tho Russian ambassador has been
informed of this plot. Needless to
say, the decision has been rovorsed.
England and Russia, instead of medi
tating war, aro now on more friend
ly terms than they havo been for a
decade. But Admiral Rojostyensky
has loft port and, Ignorant of this
chango, is on his way to England with
hostile Intent. You i must stop him
and notify him.
"Hero are dispatches countorslgned
by his majesty and tho Russian am
bassador," ho concluded. "Try to In
tercept him when ho takes his fleet
through tho Sound. And bewaro of
tho German ngents, who will, doubt
less, soon be upon your trail. Tho
kaiser's representative Is nono other
than the notorious Stapfhaus."
With this ho took mo by tho hand
pnd, after a cordial Godspeed, fairly
$ -shoved mo down the steps and Into
Downing street I was overcomo with
amazement for a fow moments, which
was not lessoned by tho recollection
ot tho enemy I had to faco. For Stapf-
fc
EGBERT
O. Chapman.)
haus, convicted forgor and blackmail
er, had been tho most adroit of all
Germany's representatives before his
downfall, and we had crossed swords
when I was at Berlin, not wholly to
my advantage
Half an hour liter I was at homo,
saying adieu to Tnlbot
"Won't you tyke mo with you, sir 7"
ho pleaded. "Tfloy8 tough devils, I
hear, them Rooshians."
I wavered for a momont But I al
ways like to tako my fences alone. Re
luctantly I iclt that I must piny n
lono hand in these atrango and pecu
liar circumstances. I ordered Talbot
to sow tho dlspatchos Inside my coat,
at the samo time mentioning that I
expected to encounter dangor from
Stapfhaua, whose duty It was at any
cost to prevent mo from delivering
my dlspatchos to tho Russian admiral.
Fivo minutes later Talbot handed
mo my coat. Putting It on, I felt tho
crinkly paper of the dispatches Insldo
tho lining. Then, again refusing his
urgent and repeated requosts that I
nermlt him to accompany me, I
Jumped into a cab, grip in hand, and
started upon my Journoy to Copen
hagen. With tho details of tho Journey ns
far ns the Danish frontlor I need not
trouble you. I may state, howovor,
that from the moment when I left tho
house I porceived that I was under
surveillance. In tho street. In tho
train, upon the boat, I was followed
by relays of spies. However, I was
armed, and gnvo no opportunity to my
enemies. Tho real struggle I knew,
would come later.
1 had calculated that I should bo
ablo to reach Copenhagen about flvo
hours before tho passage of the fleet
through the Sound, which would af
ford me ample time to communicate
with Admiral Rojcstvensky. But an
unexpected Incident effectually
changed my plans. We had Just
crossed the Danish frontier when sud
denly a violent impact shook me from
my seat Tho coach appeared to sway
and rock; it hung indecisively upon
one sldo for an appreciable Interval,
then slowly righted Itself, t was upon
my feet in a moment and, finding my
self uninjured, went to the door and
opened It. Then I discovered that the
train had left the metals and hung
perilously over a steep embankment.
from a descent into which wo had
been an Veil almost 'o? a miracle.
Happily no lives were lost in tho
disaster, but by tho time that help
arrived I knew I was too late to in
tercept Rojcstvensky. On arriving at
tho Danish capital, howover, to my
great Joy I learned that the vessels of
tho fleet had passed through only a
few hours previously, and were cred
ited with an intention of halting Just
outsido the thrce-milo limit to await
tho arrival of tho torpedo boats which
had left Russia a couple of days later.
Then I might yot bo In time to inter
cept tho admiral and turn him from
his mission of bloodshed with its dis
astrous sequels.
But how was I to reach the vessels
ot the lleot? I learned at the British
embassy that no vessels of any sort
had been permitted within gunshot of
tho Russians; that Rojcstvensky had
actually fired upon a small boat that
had attempted to ontor into communi
cation with him. Clearly his orders
had been explicit Tho watchers
from the town had seen his squadron
pass in tho offing, at a distance of
somo two miles, In perfect formation.
It was a formidable array, they said.
Furthermore, tho city was wild with
rumors ot an Impending attack upon
tho English shores. But nobody, least
of all the British officials, seemed to
know what events were llkoly to
transpire.
My plan was soon made up. Tho
only way to reach the admiral would
bo to hiro a flBhing schooner one of
those numerous vessels that put out
daily during tho season in quest of
herring and cod, off tho Banks of tho
North sea. With the use of this I
might approach Rojestvensky boldly
when ho was anchored on the high
seas, and safe from any Imminence of
danger. I did not doubt but that, un
der these circumstances, ho would ac
cord mo nn Interview. And at tho
worst, if ho should sink mo, I could
but do my duty and go down to the
depths of tho ocean, carrying my
precious dlspatchos with mo.
Since my arrival In Copenhagen I
had been free, so far as I could de
termine, from espionage. I had not
doubted that tho WTecking of tho ex
press was tho result of Stapfhaus'
machinations, and believed that he
considered that ho had effectually pre
vented mo from carrying out my In
tention ot intercepting Rojestvensky
at Copenhagen, und had thoreforo
abandoned his enterprise. On making
Inquiries ns to the chartering ot a
vessel I was Informed that a certain
Captain Olnfsen, who had spent many
of his years as a fisherman off tho
Malno coast, had a flno schooner, car
rying four men. I determined to in
spect It I discovered that sho was
admirably suited to my purpose, being
lightly built and ovldontly capablo of
making a high rate of speed. She also
carried, In addition to her crow, an
antiquated small muzzle-loader for
protection ngalnst pirates who often
plundered Ashing Bchooners that bo
como separated from tho fleet
Captain Olafsen was a flno (speci
men of his race; a man of feme CO
yonrs, with much natural dignity and
almost porfoct English. I thought it
best not to declare my purpcrao, but
merely stated that I would pay him
a thousand pounds for his r.ervices,
and thoso of his crow, during tho next
five days, tho vessel to bo completely
under my command. 1 calculated that,
by heading toward tho Banks, wo
could reach the anchorage of tho Rus
sian squadron the socc-Pin warning.
slnco In nil probability, they would bo
lying just outsido tho shoal walorf
Tho captain looked at mo quizzical
ly. Then ho burst forth into a roar
of pure and nervous English,
"By God, I'm with you every time,"
ho shouted, slapping his thigh. "When
it comes to England or America
ngalnst tho Rooshians, I'm nn Anglo
Saxon every time. Glvo mo tho thou
sand first, though," he nddod cau
tiously. '
I handed him ten bank notes for n
hundred pounds apiece, which I had
carried with mo for Just such a need.
Ho pocketed them.
"When do you want to start, sir?"
ho asked.
"In two hours," I replied.
''Right," ho answorod. "Tho Ynn
keo Girl will bo rendy, and so will hor
crow. And tho gun loaded up to tho
muzzle," ho added proudly, "ready to
dofy tho wholo Rooshlan nnvy. Thoro
Isn't a fishing vessel on tho wharves
could overhaul this ono or enpturo
hor," ho concluded, "oxcopt tho Lena
over thero, and she's got Une KunS
and carrlos a crow of flftoon. But
Bho's used ns tho flagship of tho fish
ing squndron, whon Bho'B In commis
sion." Wo put out from port' promptly to
tho minute. A strong broezo was
blowing and wo sailed gaily over tho
dancing waters of tho harbor, which
wcro nllvo with all manner of craft.
As wo passed abreast ot a certain an
chorago tho captain uttered an excla
mation. "By thunder, tho Lena's put off for
tho Banks," ho said. "I thought BJorn
sen wns going to lay her up for tho
season."
By nlghtfnll wo wero on tho high
seas, well out of sight of land. I slept
but littlo, for tho wind freshened and
wo tossed t In tho trough of tho comb
ors. Tho next day tho sky was over
cast and tho glass fell rapidly.
Through the vast rolling expanse of
waters wo could discorn a fow sailing
vessels passing us, scurrying toward
the land before tho breaking of tho
storm. Wo wero well on our course
by now, and, storm or no storm, ex
pected to reach our destination by tho
following daybreak. About two in tho
afternoon, ns tho captain surveyed tho
horizon with his binoculars, ho ut
tered an oath.
"Thunder and spitfire!" ho shouted
"If there Isn't tho Lonal" And ho in
dicated a distant speck upon the wa
ters yet not so very distant, slnco
tho heaving billows considerably
shortened tho horizon.
"And crowding on sail," ho mut
toreo. "What the devil's she hore
".eir har hnviG
liih JhnfceQ Girl rocked
we recoil.
for? This isn't tho shortest cut to tho
Banks!"
Our query was soon answered.
From tho peak of tho Lena a tiny flag
fluttered. Tho captain nearly droppod
his binoculars. Then ho turned to mo
grimly.
"Had you any er enemies that
wanted you particularly?" he asked.
But ho did not wait for a reply, for
he saw the answer In my faco. A mo
mont later the crew wero at work
among the rigging. A Jib topsail was
spread to tho winds, nnd tho accelera
tion of our pace Immediately became
evident Wo rolled heavily in the
trough of tho seas, the white foam
scudding level with our dock. But be
hind us tho speck had grown Into a
tiny ship, about as largo, to ray view,
as tho- toy lmata'that rhllrirnn sail
on ponds, perfect In all details. Mo
mentarily It grow larger. Tho captain
broke Into curses.
"8hell get us," ho yolled. "No hope
to mako the Ashing grounds unless
tho wind aids us."
Suddenly, as I watched, I saw a tiny
puff of smoke emerge from tho Lena's
side nnd spread fanwlso over her.
Simultaneously somothlng kicked up a
splash of water a3tern of us, and tho
echoes ol the shot went undulating
along the waters,
"What's thnt?" I cried.
"Shell," replied Captain Olafsen, la
conlcally. "Not oven a blank shot
first" Ho turned on me. "I don't
know who you are or why they want
you," ho cried, "but, by thunder, wo'll
best them. Smld! Petersen! Get to tho
gun. So! Lot hor havo It now!"
Tho littlo Yankee Girl rocked with
tho recoil. .Looking toward tho pur
suing vessel I saw a splash of water
apparently leap up and overwhelm
her. "A hit, by henvens!" I cried.
But a moment afterward 1 perceived
her sailing steadily onward as bo
fore. And sho had decreased tho In
terval to little more than a thousand
yards. An Instant lntor I heard a
shell shrlok through tho air and
plungo Into tho sea besldo us. After
ward, but so soon that It seemed to
synchronize, camo tho sound of tho
discharge
"Lot her hnvo It, boys," cried tho
captain again. Tho Yankee Girl
rocked again with tho recoil, and thon
heaven seemed to bo ollvo with tho
roverborationB thnt followed. All
threo of our pursuer's guns had gono
off togetbor. A mountain of water ap
peared to leap up at mo, I saw tho
A. .., t,' 'JMJ
in nay jne tlv if v ?j rzf
wi6h f i&p
horror-struck features of tho sailor
Poioracn, staring into my own. Then
something heavy took mo In tho chest,
squeezing tho breath out of me, and I
went sliding seaward through throo
feet of turgid pea water ncroin n slo
ping, shuddering deck. Cries rang
In my cars. Sulphurous fumes wore
stifling mo; n deadly lethargy over
came mo. Then;' nf lor nn appreciable
Interval, I opened my eyes.
I was lying In n reclining posture
uguliml the dvok house. At my foot
lay tho dend sailor, Stuld, fearfully
mangled; tho bodlos ot his compan
ions lay near by, awash In tho water
that flowed from sldo to sldo of tho
dock nt ovory motion ot tho fast scur
rying ship, At tho wheel tho captain
stood, but ho mndo no attempt to
stocr. Thoro was a bloody handker
chief round IjIb hond and ono arm
hung holplossly nt his sido. And closo
upon our heels camo on tho Lena,
now within hailing distance. I saw
hor spin before tho broeze; sho gli
ded nlongsldc, and a sailor sprang
ninthly from her deck to our:, carry
ing a ropo with him, by means ot
which wo wcro inndo fast to hor. A
moment later wo wero In tho hands
of tho enemy. I saw a mob, armod
with cutlasses, surround Olafsen; saw
him ralso hla sound arm and flro,
polnl-blnnk. Into their faces; saw hla
form totter beneath a rain of blows
that beat him down until ho lay life
less at their foot; saw his corpso
tossed Into tho sea. Thon I must havo
fainted again.
When I opened my eyes I was in tho
confer of a group, and a man wearing
a short, pointed bcaEd was bonding
over mo. Thero was a tnste of bran
dy In my mouth. Tho first thing that
I noticed was thnt ho hold tho en
velope containing my dispatches to
Rojestvensky. Ho had robbed mo
whllo I lay helploas.
"Welcome, my dear Adams," ho
said with a mock bow. "You do not
remember mo?"
"Stapfhaua!" I muttered weakly.
IIo grinned. "Sorry to havo put you
to so much lnconvonlonco, captain,"
ho said; "but It was necessary that
Admiral Rojestvensky should not ob
tain thoso papors. You sco, war will
now break out between your country
and Russia."
"You wcro always a thief, Stapf
haus," I retorted. "Nono but a thief
would steal papcrB from an uncon
scious' man's pocket3. Let me see,
was It picking pockets or forgery that
you were dismissed tho sorvlco for?
His faco grow dark.
"Bah! You always wcro n hypo
crite, Adams," ho retorted. "I don't
tf
want your papors. I only want to
prevent Rojestvensky from gottlng
them." With a sudden motion of his
arm ho tossed tho envelope Into tho
sea. "So much for your accusations,"
ho continued. "But now that 1 havo
done with you. I will pay my respocts
and lcavo you."
"Well, murderer, what are you go
ing to do with mo?" I asked. "Fling
mo overboard to Join tho captain?"
Stapfhaus mused, whllo I waited. I
did not dnro to hope; thought that It
was merely a ruse whereby ho might
enkindle my hopes ngaln, only to
crush them.
"Adams," ho said at last, "whon I
wns sent to prison lit Berlin fur for
gery you wcro ono of tho witnesses
against me, I had forged a check of
yours to tho amount of a thousand
mnrkR You had tho power of adding
another count to my indlctmont
When you wero called upon to testify
you rofuted, pleading your diplomatic
privilege. Why did you do so? Be
cause you pitied mo?"
"Because I would not troublo to go
tc court," I responded.
Stapfhaua Jumped forward Impul
sively. "That's well said," ho cried. "If you
had pitied mo I should havo Hung you
into the ocoan. But nowwell, why
Bhould I? You nro a prisoner of war,
nnd, so long as I remain In Germany,
my government will never deliver mo
up to pay tho penalty for this tech -
nlcal piracy, So you shall bo left to
tho arbitration of fate. Got up!"
I roso unsteadily, with aching head
1 could draw my breath only with
tho greatest difficulty; thoro was a
brulso on my sldo tho slzo of a plate
tho result of a spent fragment of
uhell, as I discovered afterward. It
had exploded, knocked ovor tho deck
houBo, nnd killed tho sailor Peterson,
beforo knocking mo ovor.
"Tic him to tho wheol!" Stapfhaus
commanded, and I wns speedily laHhod
up. Then, bidding me a mock faro
woll, ho was gono to his own vossol.
Their sails wore unfurled and thoy
began to draw nway from us, but not
moro than a hundred foot. Straining
my oycB through tho murk and gloom
of tho gathering night, I perceived
that wo wero still linked by a cablo,
and that tho Lona was towing me, for
somo renson of her own, toward an
unknown destination.
Night fell; nothing was any longer
visible I did not oven know that &q
pF-- N wsmms
r ' " V L
Lena wra r.ithTn sight, except thai tho
steady soughing of tho waves against
tho vessel on which I Btood told mo
thnt I was still being towed along.
Tho night wore on; I was shlvorlug 111
tho cold. Jt was growing rougher, too,
and flying nprny drenched mo. Pain
from my wound nnd wenknoas nt
length produced n seml-comntoso con
dition, front which I was awakoned
suddenly to find that tho Yankee Girl
was no longer being towed through
tho waters, but drifted hlili""dy nt
tho mcrcj' of tho wn)s. Tho Lena had
gono.
Suddenly a long beam ot light fell
upon tho wntors on tho port side
played there, and disappeared across
tho etirfnco ofx tho ocoan. Now, fol
lowing It to its source, I perceived a
single oyo of light nt a groat dlstnnco;
and behind It another; thon nnothor.
Instantly I know tho solution of this
mystery. It wnB tho Russian squad
ron, feeling Ha way cautiously to
ward tho coast ot England.
Then from tho dopths benonth mo I
Juard a cry.
"Ship ahoy!" It came
And suddenly n rocket flow into the
nlr, not 60 yards away, nnd descend
ed in a shower ot sparks.
It was a rockot fired by tho fishing
floot, in warning of dangor, or to koep
tho vessols together. Undoubtedly tho
Lena had towed mo Into tho mlddlo
ot tho fishing squadron nnd loft mo
thoro, with no lights showing, to their
Imminent dnngor.
Suddenly tho ffngor of light from
the Rttsslnn vessel pointed full at mo.
Illumining ovcry inch of tho ship. In
it I saw tho littlo fishing boats tossing
llko cockleshells, horo nnd thoro, on
ovory side of mo. And suddenly I
heard n roar oa ot an express train
In the nlr above My ears had been
schoolod to that cry tho provloua aft
ornoon. But whereas tho Lcna'n woro
toy shells, theso wero from tho heavy
guns of battleships.
It was tho Russians, shelling tho
fishing float
1 pass over tho scono thnt followed.
In tho dark, savo whoro thoso fiery
fingers picked them up, tho fishermen
wcro holptess. Again nnd ngnln the
giant shells hurtled through tho nlr,
plunging nil round me, bringing death
and destruction In their wake. Crlea
and curses camo to mo ns tho flshcr
men frantically ondenvorod to escapo
from tho destruction, only to bo
tracked down. I oxpoctod my own de
struction imminently.
Suddenly I saw a flguro scramble
over tho sided of Vho Yankoo Girl. He
rushed toward mo, a knife In hla
hand. I closed my oyos, too weak to
care Death would bo welcome now
that I had failed In my mission. Then
I hoard n volco that wub sweotor than
any music I over llstenod to.
It was Talbot's.
"'Old 'nrd, old man," ho shouted.
"Whero's them ropos? I couldn't
mako you boforo, so olp me,' ho con
tinued, as ho. cut my bonds. "It's all
right, old man. Tho Lena's ton eon
knots away, and thoy'vo stopped fir
ing. See, It's growing light,"
And ho half carried and half led mo
Into tho cabin below. Ho poured mo
out brandy and wrapped mo In blan
kets. "Now, old man," ho said, "'you've
got half an hour to rest up boforo lt'a
light enough to mnko for Rojestvou
sky's flagship."
I smiled bitterly at this.
"They've got tho papors," I an
swered. Talbot burst into a shout of laugh
tor. IIo tossed nn oil skin packago
Into my hand.
"Look Insldo that," ho cried, wring
ing my hand hard.
Tho explanation was a simple oho.
Talbot, knowing that Stapfhaus had
outwitted mo onco beforo, had been
desperately anxious to accompany mo
upon ray mission. Whon I refused to
tako him ho secretly oponed the en
velope containing tho ofllclnl docu
ment, removed tho contents, nnd sub
stituted a sheet of wrapping paper,
tho samo which Stapfhaua had stolon
and flung Into tho sea. Having tho
real document In his possosslon, ho
1. .1 .1 Inmilnml lilmnnlf n . .1 1 lnn.n.1 I
mo. Ho 'had boon ono of tho spies,
nt least, whom I had noted aB follow
ing mo; ho had been aboard tho train;
ho had not? been 20 yards away whon
the Yankee Girl departed from Copen
hagen, and, in despair of losing me,
had managed to obtain n post on
board tho Lona, learning by nccldont
that Stnpritaus had engaged hor. Ho
had actually been one of tho crow that
stood round mo nftor tho capture; and
when tho Lena cut mo adrift off tho
Banks, he had lowered ono of hor
boats in tho darkhoss and pullod
around for an hour boforo ho located
mo.
Tsu hours later I stood upen the
duck of Rojeatvensky's flagship and
dellverod to him tho dispatches from
the British government. I learned
that ho had flrod on tho fishing ves
sels thinking thnt they wore, In fact,
British torpedo boats, and that war
had been declared. An excuso was
hastily invented und promptly uccepU
ed by tho British govornmont as sin
cere; and thus a war which might
havo shaken Europo to Its foundations
wns happily nvortcd.
Perfect Birds Live Lonnost
Tho moro perfect n bird Ib racially,
thnt Is. tho fdrlhcr It has advanced
, IlIoi,K tho nCB of evoiutlon of tho bird
group, tho longor lived It will bo.
That Is tho opinion of Director Mitch
ell of tho London Zoological gardens.
Tjplcal lHrds, thcroforo, must bo the
raven, which has been known to llvo
CO years; tho eagle owl, C3; tho mttto
Bwnn, 70; tho domestic gooBo, 80; tho
gray pnrrot, 93; tho sulphur crested
cockntoo, 81; tho Amazon, 102; tliq
golden eagle, 104; tho Egyptian vul
ture, 118. Of courso, theso aro not
tho averago ngo3 of theso species.
Keen Buslncsi Woman.
Mrs. Ellen Roso of Uuena Vista,
Pennsylvania, Is cnrrylng on a unique
business for n woman pumping sand
and coal from tho bottom of tho Bus
quohanna river. Although Mra. Roso
has passed hor soventloth year Bho
directa her force of flftoon workmen
personally, going out with thom overy
morning nnd visiting thpm soveral
limes n day to seo that everything la
going right
flSHMERICANi
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W IKmi 1 HMnJ I I'll I tS." Tii FC
pijralafc
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Mr. William A. Radford will answer
question and Rtv ftdvlco FHBE OF
COST on all subjects pertaining to tho
mibjoct of building, for tho readers of tills
paper. On account of hla wldo experlcnco
ns Editor, Author nnd Manufacturer, ho
Is, without doubt tho highest authority
on all them nibjects. Address all Inquiries
to William A. lliwlford, No. 178 Vfeit
Jackson boulevard, Chicago, m., and only
noloso two-cant stamp for reply.
An otght-room house, somewhat on
the bungalow order. Is glvon In this
plan. A bungalow, properly speaking,
has only ono floor; but tills plan pro
vides for throe bedroomu nbovo, nnd
a kitchen Is added at tho back, with
a lower roof.
Tho bungalow dovolopod In this
country on tho Pacific coast Tho
idoa, probably, wns originally brought
from India, although n great many
architects claim that tho modern
bungalow really Is tho outgrowth of
tbo log cabins nnd tho sod ndobo
bouBes of tbo early Inhabitants of
tho United States. Probably buugn
low architectural ideas could bo tracod
back to all those sources. Tho result
is that wo havo a very oomfortnblo
low cost bouse called a bungalow,
which 1b being oxtonslvoly built In
different partn of tho country, and lta
popularity la constantly Increasing.
Within easy roach of largo cities,
bungalows aro going up by tho hun
dreds and tbo idea 1b a good one. Tco
plo are tired of being crowded Into
small, unhoalthful quartors, and nro
laklug this moana of providing thorn
aolvcs with good, sonslblo homes at a
roasonablo outlay.
Tho original bungalow roof wa3 low
nnd brond; but in order to get more
sleeping accommodation, tho tldgo was
ralsod Juat enough at first to got ono
room. DuDders, hdwevor, have re
peatedly pushed It up higher, until wo
see a good many houses built very
much after this plan, with about throe
bedrooms la tho roof.
It costs but littlo moro to build a
seven or eight room houso In this
way, than to build a five room houso
with th room all on tho lovoL The
rafters, of course, are longer, nnd it
takes moro shingles; but tho work on
tho roof is not much dlfforcnt, nnd, as
far as the insldo is concerned, you
simply add tho finishing up of threo
extra rooms. Tho foundation is no
largo r; and the only addition on the
first floor 1b the Btairway, which, In
this case, Is built in and closed with
a door at tho bottom.
You seldom soo an open stairway
In a bungalow houso. It seems to be
out of hooping with the general lay
out Even in larger houses, people's
Ideas regarding stairways havo under
gone some modification, Tho ques
tion baa often como up: Why Bhould
wo build a fancy open stair directly
opposite tbo main entrance door as
Cvjeat'
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First Floor Plan.
though every person entering must
Tocelve nn invitation to go up aloft?
Tho fact Is that not ono stranger in
a dozen entering tho front Moor goes
upstairs; bnt it makes a considerable
difference to the members of tho fam
ily where tho stairway la placed.
Very ofton it would bo much handlor
in tho mlddlo ot tho houso. It would
take up less room, too, nnd save
money, nnd savo tlio archttoct a head
ache Tho fact Is, we pay too much
attention to fashion or custom. Ono
person Is nfrald to do anything differ
ent, and oach ono follows rlong after
hlB nolghbor without knowing why.
I havo watched tho dovolopment of
tho bungalow Idea In houso building
with a gront doal of satisfaction, bo
causo I think I can soo in it tho moans
ot providing thouwuds of homes nt
prlcos within the roach ot thoso who
would never own houses of tholr own
If thoy had to buy houses or to build
on tho regular orthodox lines laid out
in tho old-fnshloned way. I havo
nothing to say against largo two
story solid housos aa heavy aB any ono
wants them. They are all right In their
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BRADFORD
EDITOR
right place; but what suits ono doea
not suit another, olthor In plan, la
appearance, or in cost; and tho bunga
low has added a chapter to house
building which meets tho view of a
largo and Increasing number ot per
sons. This houso plan gives an opportu
nity for young people td start In with
a homo of thofr otto Trtthcrut a grcit
outlay In cash. As designed, th
houso I- built without a cellar; but tti
cellar may bo added nt any tlmo.
e-aaacxdCur
Second Floor Plan.
While tbo children aro email, It !s
not absolutely necessary to finish the
bedrooms on tho Bccond floor, The
houso Is comploto downstairs. I know
men with families of flveorslr chil
dren to build a houso llko this, occu
py It for a year or two, then add a
cellar, sleeping rooms in tho attic, a
porch at tho back or sido, and many
other attractive features as they felt
they could afford the expense." -And"
very often the money saved In 'rent has
paid for theso Improvements.
I particularly like to see thrift of
this kind, and I am optimistic enough
to believe that similar sentiments aro
increasing as the country become
moro thickly populated. I see evi
dences of economy that I never no
ticed beforo except in Isolated cases.
Economy 1b ono of tho greatost vir
tues, economy and Ignorance seldom
go togother. It requires a person of
moro than averago Intelligence to
practice economy sensibly. 'Economy
is not stinginess; mere ib a wide dis
tinction. A houso after this plan con bo built
for $1,000 or 11,600, according to tho
location, cost of materials, and tho
price ot skilled labor.
Useful.
A breezy western lumber salesman
stopped at the Walton ror a few days"
returning from a trip abroad. In tho
courso ot hla second evening he had
mndo friends with halt a dozen men
from other cities.
"Yes, toys," ho said, insisting that
they tak wine, "I can well afford to
pay for the. bubblos. Why, when I waa
In Europo I pullod off a little deal
thnt'll net mo more than the cost of
a thousand trips over tho pond.
"You see, I trado principally in
white woods free from knots. Ot
course, plno knots aro waste; only for
firewood. But I Just made a deal
with a 8wiss factory, and I'l send all
tbo knots and knot holes I "
"What do thoy use 'em for?" asked
tho lnquisltlvo ono.
"Ear holes for wooden horses,
camo back tho answer. Philadelphia
Times.
Names Not Uncommon.
A London nowBpapor has apologized
for n statement that such surnames
as Egg and Beer did not oxlBt In Eng
land nnd that tho assertion that thoy
did oxlst was an Amoricnn invention.
Roaders ot the newspapor have boen
furnishing it with ovldenco that it
was all wrong. Thoro nro two pic
tures by Augustus L. Egg in tho Tnto
Gallery in London. Pickles, it seems,
is not uncommon In Lancashire and
tho West Riding of Yorkshire, and
Boer is nn old Devonshire namo.
Thero Is a Beer's browery at Canter
bury. Ono correspondent says ho
knows people of tho namo of Egg,
Beer and Ginn.
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Ennravlng with Dynamite,
In tho course of experiments to de
termine tho strength of high explo
sives a curious offoct was produced!
by placing freshly plucked llower
leaves botwoon two plates of panel
steel and then exploding dynamlto
cartridges on tho upper plato. Tho
recoil drove tho upper plato dovn
wurd with such forco as to catctt
exact impressions ot tho leaves be,
fore their dollcnte ribs had time to'1
glvo way to tb,o violence ofthe 'dIov
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