Lioaal I7sws. Alfalfa seed at Watklnson's. Jas. Johansen Is papering the post office. Good work harness for *14.00 at T. M. Read's. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton are visiting In Illinois. Miss Kate Moon is visiting at Greeley Center this week. Miss Nellie Ainger received a piano from Omaha Wednesday. Foster Bnehner. of Ravenna spent Sunday at the county seat. T. L. Pllgar has reduced the price of Kerosene Oil to 12 cents a gallon. Garden seed; new stock Just In at the old reliable Seed store, Watkinson. Dr.Chase and wife of Custer county were visiting in Loup City this week. Mrs. Ramey and sister reurned from a visit to Grand Island Friday evening. Photographs 7o cents per doz. at Leschinsky’s gallery. John Wall, attorney from Arcadia was In town yesterday afternoon on busi ness. J. T. Hale returned fiom Battle ('reek Heturday where he has been on busi ness. T. L l’llger Is selling all goods for cash or preduce only. Positively no credit. Carpet* a full line of samples carpet rugs, lace and chenille curtains at VVat kinson. H Hancock and wife uro recievmg a visit from bis daughter Mrs. Brooks of Denver. Mrs. Slillmacher has moved her res staurent into the building recently vacated by G. II. Gibeon. Mr Willits. of I’ennsylvanlu and lather of Mrs. E. 8. lisyburst arrived here last Saturday evening. One of St. Paul's leading attorney s, J.N. Paul was doing business at the court house In this city yesterday. West Pedler returned to Caro Mon day morning after visiting over Sunday with his brother J. S. and famely, Mrs. Tbrasber returned from Montana last Monday and, we understand will visit her mother for a few weeks. Engineer Morris of Grand Island made the Saturday run for J. O’Bryan while the latter was doing business at Boelus. Rev. Sutherland, of Grand Island occupied tbe pulpit at the Baptist church last Sunday morning and even ing. M. Leschinsky is materially improv ing bis photograph gailary by putting in a glass front and re-arranging tbe in terior. Do you need a washing machine, clothes wringer, wash boiler, tinware, or anything in that line. If so call on T, M. Reed. F. Eberman, the St. Elmo clerk has been on tbs sick list the psst week but was able to make bis usual run to the train yesterday. E Holcomb and wife are rejoicing over the arrival of a 13 pound baby boy which came te make its home with them Thursday morning Quite a distructive wind storm pre vailed last Tuesday, six mites west of Loup City. Several wind mill and out buildings were levied to the ground. All the different formsof skin troubles from chapped bands to eczema and in dolent ulxers can v«e readily cured by l)e Witts Witch Hazel Salve, the great pile cure. Odendahl Bros. J. B. O’Bryan has two excellent var ieties ot seed potatoes which he is sel ling reasonable. One variety In parti cular will make In sixty days after planting aud is ot a superior (juallty. Jas. Conley and daughter Minnie of Custer county drove over to Loup < 'ity last Saturday afternoon. Mr, Oouley returned home .Sunday ami Mias Minnie will attend tbs remaining eight week* ot the Loup City school. The ladles of the Baptist church ami Society will hold an K*»teru Bazar on April 17th, lu the building one door cast of Odendahl Bros drug store for the purpose of paying church indebted ness. There will he many u-efol arti cles and Kastern tokens ottered for sale. Supper will he served at six p in. aud through the evening. The oltlciaU aud business nu ll of the city aud friends In the country are curdlally Invited to attend and aid the ladies in this work. The village electlou will be held next Tuesday The otllcial aud sample bal lot have been printed with only one set of uowlttees, and that by petlttou Tire names ot the candidates are W f. Oik assn, C. Ilauck. & a llayburst, Vt II Morris and Ueo, W Hunter, A wove was m ade to get two uther tickets in ike gald, owe by the prokl hit low people, wko also tiled to woiwiuslo by paltliaai, but talked In gelling *u««*U signara. Ik* otfcer ticket was oomi wnlad at a tegnUr and well raprea*oi*d clliseus earner I hi# l*»t meottonad Itckal was WMMinsled l» late •» the law rs»|iitraa tka castrk. «io* ot aorwlna Hast to b# flled Witk Ik* sillsga atom ifiaan days letups *kiHue, If a»«wiwa lod bf caucus. If ki-wiMlsd by petition only law days fk# ♦a nans tellers die cut arid than artor t» Uia #»•'« to amewd ky petition. UNCLE SAM’S AUCTION SALE. Annual Dlipoul of the Accumulations of the n.-a.l letter Office. One of the queerest “institutions” of the national capital is the annual clearance sale of the (lead letter office, in which avast accumulation of articles gone astray in the mails is sold to the highest bidders. The auction house where it is held is continually crowdod with excited men, women and children, and beside it the bargain counters dur ing the holidays are as havens of rest, for when Uncle Ham goc* into the junk shop business great things are expect ed. As in the church fair raffle, you pay a small umount of money and trnst to luck to get bock more than its value. The articles, previously listed in a wholesale sort of way, aro tied np in bundles of from three to a half dozen and “auctioned” for what they will bring, the average bids ranging between 10 cents and a dollar. Nobody is permitted to examine the goods before pnrehasing, and no money is refunded to the dissatisfied. Every body hope* to pnil a genuine plum from the pie in the shape of a diamond ring, a silk dress pattern or a silver teapot, and although comparative blanks are the rule, there is always the possibility of a prize. For example, the auctioneer bolds up one of these odd shuped bun dles, listed* "pictures, underwear, mu sic, cigars.” Going—going—gone'—for 00 cents to a dapper young gentleman who was caught by the word “cigar. ” He opens it on the sport—an unwise thing to do if one objects to good Matured ridicule—and this is what he finds: Hix cigars, broken into bits with so strong a»> odor that one wonders how a sledge hammer could have (lone it; underwear —a female 10 cent “Jersey;” pictures— a collection of newspaper cuts designed for amusement of somo small child. The lot would be dear at a quarter and is of no nse to the buyer. In the dead letter office projier—that charnel house which swallows nearly half a million missives every month—it is positively harrowing. More than 40 bushels of photograph* have accumu lated there, awaiting the annual crcmu tion. There are tresses of hair enough to stuff a dozen mattresses, grandmoth ers’ silver locks and babies’ golden eurls, many no doubt cut from dead brows, and small sums of money which poor workmen send homo to feed their wives and little ones, aud servant girls save from tboir scanty wages for needy i>ar euts—gone to Uncle Ham’s rich purse, not because the United Htates wants it, but because the senders’ writing or or thography was beyond mortal ken. It is hard to realize that in this land of schools, at the closo of the nineteenth century, there are so many people so ignorant or so careless as to send several millions of letters a year without stamp* or addresses or with addresses which no man can make out. People seem to be so intent on what goes into the letters that they forget all about the superscrip tion. It is estimated that $4,500,030 in drafts and $80,000,000 in cash is receiv ed every year through dead letters.—In dianapolis Journal. COST OF A TRAIN. The Expen*e end Profit* of Travel on English Hallway Line*. How many people who travel in trains ever think of the cost of running them? It will probably surprise most people who have traveled from London to Ed inburgh to know that every mile of the journey costs the railway company over half a crown. The cost of the whole journey from the English to the Scotch capital is £50. The averago cost of running a train in England is 2a ?d. per mile, so that, the fare being reckoned at Id. per mile, a train with less than 31 passengers for each mile is run at a loss. There are few trains, however, that do not carry more than this number of passengers, and many of them carry the number doubled many times over. It is neces- . sary frequently to run trains that do not pay—usually in thinly inhabited coun try districts—but for every train ruu at a loss probably 100 are run at an enor luouil profit. Take, for instance, the journey from London to Edinburgh, which costs the ruilwny company £60. The average number of "through” passengers in these trains is probubly 00, in which case the total fares would bo nearly £100—a clear gain of nearly £50. Wlw n it is remembered that these trains ruu seveml times a day, and every day in the year, it will lie understood what an enormous revenue u single line yields in the course of 12 months. Supposing the average nuuiU«t>u.u.4 ae>«l tie i earful 11* rations uu dog* as well as human beings, lies tooth are made of gutla j*n ha p m Uiu nr Metal, as ito cans may to At the b« l of the fats* tiadh ton M« Made. Ikitrs Me a la* mate upward into the jaw The t««4h is thru pia<«d in Ih* isvity. In a stoat time a soft, granulated growth dials its way fuss llto patient s jaw into tto hohs in ths tenth Thu grow Ik gradually hardens and to oils ths tooth in |»siwa It to stated ltd it dene us4 matter wtottor the vavity In wbuh tto hsdk is to to |il«wl is uns tivw w h to h a net • oral ii> tb has to>u »»»■*ntly drawa i« • whether it bsa tom to and fur wane years • Miasvw L tt. r FACTS CONCERNING THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF SHERMAN COHNTY Continued from last w*H»k. A poe.n giving an account of the episode at tbe bridge was ale published in tbe Sherman County Times. It was doubtless written b C. H. E. Heath although “Comltial Cut" is credited with the produci ion. Tbe following is the poem with the preface as it then appeared: AN OLD LAY HKI.AH>. The following Is a fragments fram a raunu script found In an ancient Koman vault recently discovered by Comical Cum' while excavating for a foundation on which to set bis cabbage plants. It I* supposed to refer to a contemplat' ed raid of horse thieves on a place called Op pldum Lupl some 'Mm year* ago. The bad condition of the whole of tbe outside and a part of tbe Inside pages of the manuscript renders the deciphering of a large portion of It 1m possible, but I forward the fragments to the editor, thinking they may possibly prove of Interest. Comical Cue. f*. H. • Parts lost or uaintelHglble are denot ed by asterisks. Just then a scout came rushing All pale with fright and fear, To arms, to arms. Hill Henschoter. Tbe horse thieves Urey are near. And new hath every building Kent up Its tale of mes, The click of arms Is ringing. The ring of feet as when l.avalor led forth armed hosts To test In deadly strife Proud Hrlttttmlu's right to quench Hoth Liberty and Life. Nox Veuto came from Kearney. Prince of the rules of law, f.ulkus too from Hurllngtou Amid tbe crowd one saw; JutP-x Mums led tbe host. With Valeo at bis side. ril Ml" I'" I' * To mingle with the tide, Oden Du ulus from the vale Where shines Oq lawuka’s towers. Henna who so lately loft Iowa’s leafy bower*. They held a council, standing lief ore the river gate, No time there wa* you well may guess For musing or debate; Out spoke the mayor roundly, Upon his face a frown, If one* the thieve* can cress th« bridge, Then uuugbt can save the town, Then out spoke Jude* Murus In the Judges seat who sate. To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late; In you straight path a thousand May well be stopped by thee, Sow who will stand at my right hand And keep the bridge with met Then out spoke brave No* Vento, ICrlca out spoke he We each will stand with Colt in band And guafd the bridge with thee. Then cross tbe creaking tl in tiers Out marched tbe gallant three. One other follow In tbelr path. A man unknown to me. * • ♦ • • * Reclining upon a grassy bed Now lie the gallant four; Tobbnco Oder stents the air, Of stories a full store Seem piled In each one’s memory And, woDderous to relate All seemed entirely to forget, ’Tls their’* to save the gate. ■They come, they come." No* Vento Now cries with feblc cry, And quick beneath the bridge's piles The gallant four to fly, Murus leaves bla Colt’s behind Upon that grassy bed, As that great host with measured tread, Came slowly toward* the bridges head, A passage safe to llnd, Now clearly and more clearly Amid the gloom appears Two tall and well proportioned mules. Four perfect donkeys ears; A lumber wagon crowds the rear, With verlous sundry* tilled, The * polls of many eastern stores, To Calk Si Kreicbbaum billed. Then out spake Jude* Murus. A smile on his proud face, f now will see If chance It tic. Of thievish wanderers who propose This night to sack our place, Then out beyond the piling The gallant Muru* sprang Aud soon the bridge * timbers With sounding footsteps rang Then spoke he to the teamster. The teamster nought heard he, What do you say." the teamster said. And added, yes It be l.uuie very lame tls fur to drive Within a single day, Sena thrives not t nor no onu else," Thi n added What do you suyf" The pipes are once more lighted, Two others join the four. Aud if the loose thieves hud been near They would have thought that more Than slaty and aot sit ware there. ho pealed the laughter wild W hen each wltn eager lips would tell Kvta a story mild S»t Vauto guyed upon the sky. And wl|!spared the word rata I'proae tha sit and cut their stleh* With all their might aud mala • • t • • • They gate them of the glory To each so wry dear Not sen »• in u* h a* would suIRge To gal a glass ■ ■! hear Hut It the Might at trialar Whoa tha t.| moth wtada htua You II hear a n-.wtag tow s tate. That II tall t <■ suaads# W tth auagat* of rag Mad taaghtaf tha story atti hat taht. Ha* Judas Marwa held the bridge tM the g.«*» #MI days at Mid R.igM H p-, ,s the |t»st stthough an Max • th »>'> at t> v'souwai t'us hatiag am tatawd tt out „l the sahtraiflw had We ttmaglag M thtahs a* ar* « * • a eaaueh ta Sara his artta raw It appear* i . that Sol «ata la IsettR tor Myhttaga.il Js up Itoru* I* Jwdgg Wall Manat a*a ss i It-.1' a I* * Ws tt Rrk a sea tarts tala M> «ih but ee t*« If.- 4* paatteg ut the aststsiy v» vu* neats t It R Usath ta tba RReriMaiMuatt t'» ss P»*» t»e» KARI.V txriHIIMI ok JOHN M HAkKM iVilrap* Ik" at*«»| l< tt i|« i. n* »1 pi ■ ms 1 ilfe. t'‘nRe«lgs| wllk ikd RRf nwlllgRigRl Hi hltartuau yvuilf to tba rtpgilggtd of Juba H Hakd Mi Naknf til iMugg lb* #i*l wllbtr hi U tl* IR lb rfthll >uti»lt, kl iDg selected his claim on Oak Creek in October, 181‘J. He >• P'1 ^aPs the oldest man of the early settlers now residing here, if not tbe oldest , man in the county. A few weeks ago w* received a letter from Mr. Baker, dated February 26th, 18»7, from which we extract the following: “1 am eigbty-fiva years old to day and I have lived in Nebraska 20 years, and l propose to add another link to your chain of events in the t Early History of Sherman County. I came to Sherman county in 18 12 f and picked out my homestead on Oak Creek. I first came from Illinois ' with my family and stopped at Omaha, Nebraska for some weeks. At Omaha a gentleman told me that he had a squad of meu between the Middle and North Loup valleys surveying every alternate section for the B. <& M. R. R. Co., and be was of the opinion that no better land could bo found in Nebraska than on those streams. This gentleman invited me to go and stop with the eurveyorefor a few days and see the country, and learn from them the beet location to secure a homestead that would suit my fancy. I wanted a farm with timbor and a stream of spring water. After considering the matter 1 concluded to accept the gentleman s in vitation, and so came on to Grand Island, which place, I was informed would be my stopping etatieD. On my arrival at Graud Island I put up at the Franklin Hotel, of which Cyrus E. Rossetci was then proprietor. All the boarding houses ia Grand Island were crowded with people, many of whom, like myself were looking for homes in the west. At the Franklin Hotel I met Martin Benschoter and told him that I intended to go up into the Loup country, and also about the party of surveyor*. Mr. Benseboter also desired to see the Leup Country and so we made necess ary arrangement* for the trip. We hired a union solder at $t. per day to take us not to exceed one hundred miles the round trip. This was the last ot October, and we went in persuit of tbe Taylor out tit of surveyors. We fouod them on Davis Creek near the Hberman county line. They gave us a friendly welcome and treated us to venison and the best comforts their eamp afforded. The next morning they movid to Oak Creek, where 1 have always lived since coming to Nebraska We went from Oak Creek to the Middle Loup valley and then returned to Grand Island. Mr. Benschoter was favorably impressed with the Loup val ley but did not fully decide where to locate. I had concluded to take tny homestead on Oak Creek and at once net about to build a small house As Mr. Benschoter was deeireous of seeing more of the country so he pro posed to build my house for me if he might be allowed to occupy it un til I would need it for my family. I bought a heavy load of lumber in Grand Island, hired a livery team with Frank Hicks as driver and with Mr. Benschoter started again for Oak Creek. We had borrowed a set of carpenter tools from Mr. Kosseter and had with us a good sup ply of provisions and blankets. The weather was nice and warm when we started out but we experienced a very sudden change towards even ing. When we got into the sand bills about ten miles out from Grand Island one of the horses balked and we sent Mr. Hicks back after another. It was Dearly night when Mr. Hicks started back and he did not return until the next morning. During the night a fearful wind storm set in, and in two houis the mercury dropped »0 degrees, and to 10 below zero. Mr. Benschoter bad taken the preeaution to take a spade along. Bo commenced building what was afterwords called Fort Baker, a small pea about 4x0 feet in size aDd eighteen inches high. This was done for our prelection. We turned the wagon box over the structure to serve aa a roof. We entered the fort about an hour after sun dewn end laid on the prairie grass, side by side, with three double Indian blankets over us. We covered onr heads to protect our eyes from the driftiug ■and. My feet began to get cold but soon got so benumbed that I per eieved it not. My companion said that we had better get up and go to the houee of Mr. Annone, a blacksmith who lived about three miles and a half miles to the northeast. I told him that 1 dare not attempt it as I was near sixty years old. Frank bad left one horse tied to the wagon and it was constantly whinnering for its mate. The full moon was shining brightly, and we were afraid that the wolves, which could be heard not far away, would come and ham string the horse; in fact l was afraid that they would attempt to ham string us. Mr. Benschoter thought his feet would freeze if he remained there all night, so after care fully wraping a blanket around my feet he started for the Annons place. m.„ _A r. i.ui, nn/l fUo letvwl nraa Hvittff irw>lnnda W hf»n ha raa.f«hari Annons at 1 o’cloek in the morsing he was completely exhausted. He said to me the next morning that be could not have walked forty rods farther to have saved his life. The timely arrival ot Mr.* Benscboter and Mr. Hicks the next morning saved me from being a helpless cripple for life. I went t* Mr. Annons where I temained for two days when I returned to Grand Island. I paid Peter Ksitges *10. to haul my lumber from the sand hills on to Oak Creek and to Peter Uetliefs house, a distance of some 20 miles. Soon afterwords 1 had another load of lumber taken to Oak Greek, where on my arrival I expected to find Mr. Benschoter and Mr. Hicks but they had gone to the Middle Loup, and preferring that part of Sher man county, they afterwords located at what is now known as tke county seat. At that time there were only three families living in the Middle Loup valley betweeu the two towns sow known at Loup City ami Dcnnebrog. These famelies wore Stephens. Webster, and Johnson. Peter Hetlieft and Kd Nelson were about the only settlers on Oak. They had just buit their dug-out.” Mr. Baker bis always bees an active ami enterprising citizen and bus done much towards the development ot Shermua county. He was elected county commissioner in 187 1 and served the people in that eapu city with perfect satisfaction. Ho ami his aged wife still occupy the old homestead ou Oak Greek. Sow# ten years ago, ami on the 8th day of Noveober, Ihmo, they eelebrxtsd their golden wedding aunevereery i<> which an invitation was generally extended to alt the old settlers They are now liviug iu their sixty-first year of married life. -----—--.. t'uahiiued ueit week. l». 0. INilC. A. r. Ct'U.KY, Vice I*re*11leul 1 Miner. FIRST BANK OF LOUP CITY. General Banking Business Transacted. Oapttal Sleek. MO .000.