A midnight battle with a giant lob
ster, armed with powerful claws and
worked up to good fighting trim, was
fought by Charles McVane, fisherman
and resident of Long Island, four
miles from Portland, Me., in Cascoe
Bay.
Mr. McVane had been fishing all
day with indifferent success and had
decided to pull up and start for shore.
As he neared Ram Island, which is
a barren strip of land with bold, rocky
shores and entirely devoid of trees,
he spied a large flock of sea duck hud
dled together in one of the tiny coves
that run up into the shores of the
island. The sight of the ducks aroused
his sporting instincts and made him
forget the cheerful fireplace of his
own cottage. To make a long story
short, he spent an hour or so among
the wary sea duck sailing about from
one cove to another, catching first
one and then another flock napping.
So ardent did this duck hunter be
come in the pursuit of his game that
he was surrounded by the chilly
gloom of an April night almost before
he knew it.
McVane Is a man of action. With
a sweeping glance at sea and sky, and
not even stopping to pick up the last
duel: he had shot, he turned his boat's
bow toward the island and beached
it well on a strip of sand.
With a knowledge born of many
similar experiences he turned his
dory upside down, and, with the aid
of the sail and his oilskins, made
himself a tolerably comfortable rest
ing place for the night.
McVane had been asleep, as he
judges, some three or four hours,
when he was suddenly awakened by
an icy cold stream of water trickling
under him and running up his trous
ers legs. Scarcely had he regained
his senses when this forerunner of
the deluge was followed by a mighty
onrush of water that took him, his
boat, and everything else in its way,
pounding up the beach. Such was
the force of the wave that a heavy
piece of driftwood was hurled against
McVane’s head with sufficient force
t-4 render him unconscious for a few
seconds.
When he recovered he was lying
high and dry on the beach, but he
had a horrible choking sensation, and
his neck and throat feit as though
clasped in a vice. Clutching with his
hand he grasped the hard, cold shell
of a monster lobster. He seized the
claw that gripped his throat and tried
to break its hold, but the sturdy fish
erman had been weakened by the
blow on tnc head and the immersion
in the icy water. The giant crusta
cean clung with tenacity.
McVane rolled over on to his stom
ach and pinned the lobster under
him; then he tried once more to force
the cruel jaws apart, but, though he
moved them slightly, he was yet too
weak to do anything more. For fully
five minutes the fisherman and the
lobster struggled, one to release him
self. the other to maintain its hold.
Perhaps the weight of the man’s
body was too much for the lobster or
perhaps he repented of his midnight
assault, for it suddenly relaxed its
strangling grip and in a second Mc
Vane had released himself and seized
the lobster just back of the head and
the base of the claws, the safe grip
a fisherman knows so well. The ex
hausted Long Islander managed to
carry the huge crustacean to high
ground and fortunately found a deep,
smooth hollow in the ledge, the slimy
sides of which afforded no hold for
the prisoner's claws and thus kept it
safely until daybreak. Then McVane
took the lobster to Portland and
turned it over to Taxidermist John A.
Lord, who has just finished mounting
it. This monster measures four feet
and one-half inches from the tip end
of its tail to the tip of the longest
claw, and it weighed 27 pounds.
Significant.
A certain composer abroad had an J
opera accepted and anticipated for it j
a great success. On the strength of
this supposition he promised euch of
the musicians in the orchestra a fine
supper with wine “ad libitum at the
conclusion of the performance.
To his surprise and dismay the opera
at its premiere was a complete fiasco ,
and was all but hissed off the stage.
After all was over he returned into j
the orchestra to collect some missing j
manuscript and found there seated one
solitary musician—a trombone player.
"Weil, my friend,” he inquired kind
: iy, "what can I do for you?”
The musician looked at him earnest
ly and replied in tones of significant
sincerity: "I liked it."—Short Stories.
EnglUti Mttrrieil Women.
“You may think you know American
women with advanced ideas apd un
conventional modes of living,” says
a publisher, "but they are not to be
compared to their English sisters.
There is nothing so demure as an
English girl before she is married, but
matrimony, somehow or other, seems
to change her w'hole nature, if one
may judge from the way she breaks
loose.”—Philadelphia Record.
Crickets Sold on Ascension Day.
Picturesque Custom in Florence
“Crickets! Crickets! Fine sing
ers!” cry the Florentine venders on
Ascension morning. “Two cents, four
or five cents for crickets, tine sing
ers!” All day long the streets are
cheerful with the call, and with the
crickets' songs. For this is the festi
val which in Florence is dedicated
alike to the human soul, and to its
symbol, the cricket, whose beginning,
life and departure are as much a mys
tery as the coming and the raaSin8 of
man's elusive spirit. You may select
your owrn song-bird if you like from
the tangled heap in the peddler’s net
covered barrel, and you may choose
your cage, too, according to your taste
and pocketbook. Your cricket you must
pick out with care, for the strength
and vivacity of its voice will decide
your destiny for the coming year. A
merry singer foretells good luck,
health, and happiness; a sad one
augurs misfortune. You w’ill give your
pet a fresh green lettuce leaf, there
fore. if you are clever.
On Ascension morning devout Flor
entines go to mass. In the afternoon
a merry throng crowds the cafes and
the Cascine, the beautiful park which
lies sunsetward from the city along
the Arno. The common folk sit on
the grass and eat ‘‘i cannelloni,” the
large kind of macaroni that is the
peculiar delicacy of this feast day.
The beau monde promenades up and
down the long avenues of the Cascine.
swinging their cages and chattering
about their respective merits of their
song birds. When the hills and villas
beyond the Arno have begun to Tade
from view and Monte Morello and the
Appeuines on this side have grown
dim upon the sight, they let their
crickets free.
1^1 PEOPLE and
| EVENTS
MEMENTO CF THE PRINCE'S VISIT
German Government Has Junt l««ued a
Three-Murk Silver I’iecr.
The mint of the German govern
ment has struck off a three-mark sil
ver piece commemorative of the visit
of Prince Henry to the United States.
The coin is about the size of the
United States half dollar, but is a
trifle heavier. Its value is 72 cents.
On one side are bas-reliefs of Presi
dent Roosevelt and Prince Henry,
which are splendid examples of mint
ing. On the reverse side is a repre
sentation of a huge ship in midocean.
Above the engraving are the words
(in German), "In Remembrance of the
Journey to America. 1902," while in
smaller letters beneath this is printed
"Lloyd Steamer Kronprinz Wilhelm."
NEW YORK S VARIED POPULATION
All Natloualltloi Ite preheated In the
Great American Metropolis*
The new Cathedral of St. John, in
New York, will, in addition to its
main hall, have seven "Chapels of
Tongues,” where German, Spanish,
French, Swedish, Italian. Armenian
and Chinese services will be held
each Sunday. Nevertheless, by the
time the great cathedral is finished it
is not unlikely that the crypt and
transepts and ante-rooms will be re
quired for other nationalities. A
clergyman called on Bishop Potter
the other day to ask that some pro
vision might be made for religious
services for some Mesopotamian im
migrants.
Koany, nepnea me msnop, can
not a handful of Mesopotamians be
provided for in connection with your
Armenian congregation?"
The young clergyman of the tene
ments smiled. ‘T do not know what
you call a handful, sir. There are
some eight hundred families of Meso
potamians within ten minutes’ walk
of where we are sitting this moment,
and as for their attendance upon Ar
menian services, the languages have
about as little in common as Greek
and Choctaw."
Boys Fight FUtol Duel.
That romance is not dead in Gali
cia, Austria, is proved by a report
that two boys in the second class at
a grammar school at Erezezany, who
had both fallen in love with the same
girl, settled their differences by fight
ing a duel. The weapons used in the
encounter were old pistols, charged
with powder and pebbles, and fired
at a distance of ten paces. One youth
received a serious wound in the chest
and is thought to be in danger of his
life. His adversary was slightly in
jured.
PORTUGAL'S KING MAY ABDICATE
Threatened Revolution and Bankrupt
Country the Cauees.
King Carlos 1. of Portugal, who, it
is said, contemplates abdication ow
ing to the threatened revolution and
the bankrupt condition of his king
dom, ascended the Portuguese throne
Oct. 19. 1889. Since that time he has
been constantly harassed by financial
troubles. In 1S92 he and the entire
royal family gave up a fifth of their
income to help out the state. The
queen of Portugal is the Princess
Amelie of Bourbon-Orleans, daughter
of the late Comte de Paris. King
Carlos is 39 years old.
SARPY MAY ' LOSE HATCHERY.
Fish Commission Objects to Being
Tied Down to One Location.
WASHINGTON, May 12.—Commis
sioner Bowers of the department of
fisheries, in explaining why the bill
for the establishment of the fish
hatching and fish culture station in
Sarpy county had been changed so as
to include the state of Nebraska, in
stead of locating the station near
South Bend, as Representative Mer
cer's hill indicated, said congress had
not heretofore limited the department
of fish and fisheries in the selection
of a site. He stated that the estab
lishment of a fish culture statiou in
Nebraska was most desirable, but to
lie compelled to locate it at some
point named by a bill would he detri
mental to the interests of the de
partment and he had therefore recom
mended that the hill he made general
in character, so as to provide that a
site should be selected by the fish
commissioner without limitation in
the state of Nebraska.
It was stated today that the com
mittee or. merchant marine and fish
eries of the house, of which General
Grosvenor is chairman, would bring
in an omnibus appropriation bill pro
viding for all fish cultural stations
that have been recommended by the
committee and it is thought the bill
to locate a station in Nebraska will
lie included in that measure.
W. B. PRICE IS NAMED.
Succeed J. Sterling Morton on the
Purchase Commission.
LINCOLN. Neb.. May 12.—Gover
nor Savage has appointed W. B.
Price of Lincoln to succeed J. Ster
ling Morton on the Louisiana Pur
chase commission. Mr. Price was
deputy insurance commissioner dur
ing the latter part of State Auditor
Cornell s administration. He is a
populist. The commission is non-par
tisan in ehaiacter, all political par
ties being represented.
As the St. Louis exposition has
been postponed until 1904 the incom
ing governor and the next legislature
may provide for another commission.
If this is done the present commis
sion will have nothing to do. The
gentlemen now serving have hold
several meetings, but have done little
toward representing Nebraska at the
fair.
May Be Nebraska Horse Thief.
WHEATLAND, Wyo„ May 12.—
The authorities believe that in the
arrest of O. J. Young they have secur
ed a notorious horse thief. It is al
leged that last March Young stole
fourteen head of horses from F. M.
Troy, a prominent ranchman of Gor
ing, Neb. The horses were driven to
Sidney and there sold and shipped
to various points. Young’s father
lives near Gering, Neb.
Nebraska Homeopaths.
OMAHA, Neb., May 12.—At the
regular annual meeting of the Ne
braska Homeopaths in this city the
following officers wore elected for
the ensuing year: President, Dr. E.
B. Finey, Lincoln; Dr. F. E. Way of
Wahoo, first vice president; Dr. H.
It. Miner of Falls City, second vice
president; Dr. E. Arthur Carr of Lin
coln, secretary, and Dr. O. S. Wood
of Omaha, treasurer.
Nebraska at Washington.
WASHINGTON. May 12.—Senator
Millard lias introduced bills appropri
ating §40,000 for the purchase of sites
for public buildings at Columbus and
West Point, Neb.
Representative Mercer has intro
duced a bill aiming to repeal the law
approved July 23, 1888, providing for
the sale of the site at Fort Omaha,
and the purchase of a new site and
construction of buildings.
Big Pension for Nebraskan.
WASHINGTON, May 12.—Congress
man Stark lias the honor of having
secured one of the largest back pen
sions ever granted to residents in
Nebraska. Hiram J. Kietland of Ar
borville, York county, has just had
a pension allowed, dating back to
March, 1865, and which gives him up
ward of 12,700.
Coal Near Fremont.
FREMONT, Neb.. May 12.—A sec
ond prospect hole has been sunk on
the Remele farm to a depth of 218
feet. The same coal vein was struck
as in the first hole and at about the
same depth.
The comptroller of the currency has
issued a call for the condition of na
tional banks at the close of business
Wednesday, April 30, 1902.
Under Christian Science Treatment.
OMAHA, Neb., May 12.—Donald,
the 15-year-old son of Judge J. W. El
ler, died at his father’s house under
Clnistian Science treatment, which
was being administered by C. W.
Chadwick, first reader of the church
in this city, assisted by Judge Eller
himself. No physician had been call
ed on the case and the hoy died In
intense agony, after a struggle of
hours, without having had medical
asisstance.
NEBRASKA HAS CANDIDATES.
Circuit Judge Caldwell is About to
Retire.
WASHINGTON. May 10.—There .b
a well defined rumor c urrent in Wash
ington that Judge Henrv Clay Cald
weu of the Eighth United States cir
cuu is shortly to retire irom the
iicneh, in which event there will be
a most interesting contest for the va
cancy thus created on the part o» men
well known in the west. Already
Jituge SmL.. B. McPherson oi .owa
has announced himself as a candidate
for the position and it is understood
that Judge William Gather Hook,
United States judge for the district
of Kansas, will be a candidate, while
Nebraska will in all probability pre
sent two aspirants for this very dis
tinguished position, Geneo M. Lam
bertson of Lincoln and Charles J.
Greene of Omaha, it is stated that
Mr. Greene, should he desire to he
a candidate, as now seems possible,
will bring to bear upon the appointing
power the very strongest recommen
dations possible. Judge Caldwell was
appointed In 1864 United States judge
for the eastern district of Arkansas
by President Lincoln and in 1390 was
appointed hv President Harrison
judge of the Eighth United States cir
cuit. Judge Caldwell went out from
Iowa to the war and became major,
lieutenant colonel and colonel, and en
tered Little Rock, Arkansas' capital,
booted and spurred to take his posi
tion upon the district bench. He is
now 70 years of age and believes that
he has reached the retiring period.
WAS GENERAL AND COPIOUS.
Nebraska’s Rainfall the Heaviest of
the Season.
The recent rainfall in Nebraska
wfas the heaviest of the season. It is
regarded as the salvation of the win
ter wheat, which this year is the most
extensive in acreage in tho history of
the state. Nearly every station re
ported rain and nearly every one re
ported at least one Inch, but at Cur
tis the gauge showed two and one
haif. Only three stations reported
less than half an inch of rain. The
record in inches is as follows: Arap
ahoe, LOO; Ashland, 1.18: Aurora.
1.50; Benkelman, .50; Bluehill, .74;
Burehard, .86; Burwell, .80; Central
City, 1.26; Chester, .GO; CoIumbU3,
64; Curtis, 2.on; Edgar, 1.10; Eric
son. .60; Fairmont, 1.44; Grand Is
land, 1.32; Greeley, LOO; Hastings,
1.58; Hickman, 1.10; Holdrege, 1.50;
Imperial. .10; Kearney, 1.22; Lincoln,
.92; Loup City, .74; McCook. 1.20; Ne
braska City. $1.14; North Platte, .40;
Omaha. .94; Palmer, .94; Plattsmouth,
1.00; Ravenna, 1.16; Rulo, 1.04; Sa
lem. 1.00; Schuyler, .70; Seward, .90;
Strang, .98; Superior, .52; Syracuse,
.80; Tecumseh, .73; Valentine, .44;
Wilber, 1.10; Wilsonvilie, .44; Wy
more, .50.
Fire at St. Edward.
ST. EDWARD, Neb., May in.—The
most destructive fire that ever visited
St. Edward occurred, resulting in the
loss of five business houses and two
unoccupied store buildings. The fire
started in the restaurant and dwelling
of Harry Richmond, who lost all of
his household effects and stock of
goods. In all seven buildings were
burned. The total loss will reach
$15,000.
Lively Reception to Burglar.
GRESHAM, Neb., May 10.—Burg
lars were given a warm reception at
Hylton & Clem's store. Fred Van
Gorden, who sleeps in the store,
heard a noise and discovered the vis
itor helping himself to a pair of new
shoes, and opened fire on him at. short
range, but his aim was poor and the
thief escaped, leaving his hat and
hose behind.
Coal Prospecting Progressing.
FREMONT, Neb., May 10—The
second prospect hole for coal on the
Remele farm at Jamestown is now'
down over 218 feet. The same vein
which was struck in the first hole
wan struck in this one at a depth of
218 feet.
Bright Prospects in Chase County.
IMPERIAL ,Neb.. May 10.—Chase
county has been blessed with a most
copious rain. Small grain Is looking
fine and the farmers are busy put
ting in corn. The indications are
that the crop outlook will be unusu
ally large in this county this year.
Cut Worms Injuring Wheat.
TAYLOR, Neb., May 10.—Prospects
for spring wheat in Loup county are
quite flattering, but it Is said that cut
worms are doing considerable dam
age to fall wheat and rye.
Ex-Convict Held for Robbery.
NEBRASKA CITY, Neb., May 10.—
Chief of Police I). W. McCallum ar
rested John v* rmstrong, a former res
ident of this city, who returned but a
short time ago after a protracted ab
sence. The arrest was made upon
the request of the authorities at Des
Moines, who allege that Armstrong
robbed the home of his brother at
Churchville, a suburb of Des Moines.
He has confessed to the crime and
will be extradited.
THE uvr STOCK MARKET.
S Latest Quotations from South Omaha
and Kansas City.
sn”Tir OMAHA.
VA.TTJ.13—There v-is t light supply of
< :itSor but still It tv,.a the heaviest of the
week. There was *» gri.d demand for
htef steers showing quality, and the
market on such kinds* could safely In*
e'.loti d ntlonger. Whn.t It canto to those
that wwre not quite finishoil. however.
It was a, different proposition, and trad#
on such kinds was ratio ? siow and th<»
prices dht not look much more than
steady. The c >w market wns active and
strong all around. The bttttr the qual
ity the better the demand, hut still even
the medium, and eomfnon kinds sold
without mud) trouble at steady to strong
prices. The trade Is very uneven owing
to the rapid fluctuations that have taken
place within the last few days, so that
some sales look a good deal higher than
others. It is a good deal of a catch-as
catch-can market. Bulls, veal calves and
stags of good quality all commanded
steady to strong prices. There were only
n few stoekers and feeders tin sale, and
anything desirable sold at just about
steady prices.
HOGS—There were not nearly as many
hogs on sale as there were yesterday
and as other markets were reported a
little stronger, trailing at this i>olnt
started out on a basis of about a 5c ad
vance and closed about 10c higher than
yesterday's general market. The mar
ket was active, so that the bulk of tho
offerings was disposed of in good sea
son. The advance was general on alt
classes, though, of course, the light
weight stuff and common grades were
neglected and hard to sell, the same as
usual. The bulk of the good weight hogs
sold front J7.UG to $7.30 and the medium
weights went mostly from $0.25 to $7.05. 4
SHEEP—There was a light run of
sheep and lambs and as packers all
seemed to want a few the market held
just about steady. With the exception
sf a few loads the quality was nothing
extra, but still buyers bought up about
everything offered at Just about yester
day's prices. It was evident, though,
that they were a great deal more anxi
ous for the better grades than they werti
for those lacking in quality.
KANSAS CITY.
CATTI.S—Market steady to Wc higher.
Choice export and dressed beef steers,
$6.754i7.25; fair to good. $5,004)6.75; Stock
ers and feeders. $3,004*3.53; western fed
stei rs. $3.0066.66; Texas and Indian
steers, $3,754)6.05; Texas cows. $2.754*3.10;
native cows, ${.2565.60; native heifers.
$2..-,04(6.*6; emitters, $1.5062.75; bulls. $3,004*
5.15; calves ,$2.5066 W.
HOGS—Market steady to 5c higher;
top. $7 3*>; bulk of sales, $7,004*7.23; heavy.
$7,204*7.30; paoktrs. $7,004*7.25; light, $6,656
7.07*3, yorkors, $G.2567.07Vi; pigs, $5.5*4#
6.60.
'SHEEP AND DAM RS- Rest steady;
others, slow, and native lambs. $54*4(1
7 15; western lambs, $5,754*7.20; native
wethers. $5.4'4ji*.oo; western wethers.
$1.504*6.13; fi i ewes, 1.604*5.55; Texas
clipped sheep. $4.50^)5.55; stackers and
clipped yearlings, $5,754)6.05; Texas
feeders, $2,204*473.
MORTON'S DEATH GREAT LOSS.
Tribute is Paid by Former President
Grover Cleveland.
PRINCETON. N. J., May 10.—
Speaking of the number of promi
nent men who have died within the
last few days, former President Cleve
land said to the Associated Press:
“Mr. J. Sterling Morton, who was
at one time a member of my cabinet. ^
was the only one I knew personally,
so I do not wish to make any com
ment further thau to say that the
country has sustained a great loss.
The death of the author, Mr. Ford,
was a very sad event.’
Mr. Cleveland was asked today for
his opinion of the effect on the coun
try of the recent effort of the beef
combine."
“It looks,” said Mr. Cleveland, “as
though the packers had overshot the
market. 1 see by the newspapers that
the markets are full, and that the
tanners’ produce is not being used as
freely as formerly, and the stock rais
ers are content to sell their cattle at
reasonable prices. I judge the situa
tion is beginning to assume normal
proportions.”
Iowa Conductor Injured.
IOWA FALLS, la., May 10.—Chas.
Knoll, a former Burlington, Cedar
Rapids & Northern conductor of this
city, narrowly escaped being killed
in the railroad yards at Kansas City,
Kan. He had gone to the depot to
take the train for this city and in
crossing the tracks was struck by a
switch engine, but luckily escaped >
with a broken arm and severe inju
ries on the side and back.
May Get Free Delivery.
IOWA FALLS, la.. May 10.—The
announcement is made that this city
is entitled to the free delivery serv
j ice and that the year ending March
31 showed the receipts of the post
office here had passed the 510,000
mark.
Cholera in Manila.
MANILA, May 10.—The cholera
statistics to date are as follows: Ma
nila, 807 cases and 700 deaths; the
provinces, 2,542 cases and 1,085
deaths.
Ware and Evans Meet.
WASHINGTON, May 10.— Eugene
F. AY are, who is to succeed H. Clay
Evans as commissioner of pensions,
was at the AA'hite House and met the
retiring commissioner in the presi
dent s room. The three had a pleas
ant conversation together and it was
announced that Mr. AYare would take
charge of the office as soon as he is <
confirmed. His nomination will go to ^
the senate today. Evans will leave
for London in the near future.