A Curious Business.
Do the boys who for fun have climb.
ed the highest trees they could find ,
'and ' whenever chances offered , all
-kinds of poles and scaffoldings and
roofn and windmills ( the higher the
better , know that there arc men who
-make a business of climbing ? Very
few American boys , probably , have
seennny of these men ; but in Europe ,
especially ; where there are so many
cathedrals with their lofty domes and
spires , and great manufacturing
cities with their penk-like chimneys ,
they are quite common. '
Those men nre en lied "steeple
jacks , " because a larger part of their
business is to scale the steeples of the
jchurches , and perhaps repair a
; weather-vaneorreseta broken slate.
[ or do some other small work which
would be very expensive if a scaffpld-
.ing had to be built up every time
such work needed to bo done. Not
jnuuy men enter this business , for
the "work is so dangerous that only
Ithoso with very clear hqnds nnd
strong nerves care to risk their life
"
"hundreds of feet above the earth on
[ very narrow footings. Sailors nre
jsaid to make the best men for this
work , being so used to iurling snils
and running about on the tall masts
iof their ships.
Once in a while we hear of a steeplejack
ple-jack in America , as we did the
"other day at the time of a singular
accident 'in New Jersey. A factory
there has a great chimney 835 feet
'nigh ' , the largest in the United States , '
and higher than Bunker Hill Monu-
"ment. " During a thunder-storm the
lightning twice struck the top ofi '
jthj cuimuey , teariug off many
'on-loads of bricks. No means hud
{ been provided foe reaching the top'
iof the chimney , yet it was necessary
too reach and repair the break before
'
.the wo'rk could goon. . A steeple
jack was called for , and a man was
; found in Newark who had once been
'engaged in this business in England. '
"Think " of what he had to do to climb
a wall of brick 335 feet high , without
la projection of anv kind to take hold
of !
Ho did it in this way : taking a lad
der , he fastened it to the side of the
chimney by driving in long iron
nooks , wmcn neiu it. Anouner iaa-
< ier was then passed up , which he
lashed to the top of the first ladder
'with ropes ; nnd then went out to
jdrive in hooks nnd fasten this second ,
ladder firmly. Thus he slowly crept
up the side of the great chimney ,
adding ladder after ladder , and
.working as coolly when over 300 leet
from -the ground as when only three
ieet. It Jid not s2em to trouble him
to look down from the dizzy helcrht
or to venture up higher on his frail
and only half-fastened ladder. At
the top he had to build out over the
projecting bell by which the chimney
was crowned , and on the third day
stood on the top and waved his hat
1o the people.
Thousands of people had gathered
to watch this daring climber. On
hills around the city he was watched
with breathless anxiety , looking , as
t.i\s said , like a fly on the top of a
broomstick. As he hung over the
edge of the bell , between heaven and
earth , he was watched with tears
and prayers and cries ; and , when he
decended safely to the ground , one
brave steeple-jack had achieved a
deed and gained a name which people
ple will not soon forget. Selected.
He Painted the Furniture.
An ingenious New Yorker with a
wife who insisted upon wicker rock
ers with danty head rests , and small
tables with blue china , 'and who
. frequently had to get np nights for
the paregoric , went out one morning
after a night's groping for the match
box and brought home a pot of
phosphorescent paint , which he
daubed on all corners , points and
edges of those darling little rockers
and sweet tables , decorating the
match box , the bed posts , the gas
bracket and the doorknobs , deter-
inrned upon avoiding the shoals and
wreckages of the midnight cruise.
And now at night the room looks
like the ghost scenes Irom ' 'The Fly
ing Dutchman. " The phosphor-
essencegathers light all day and lets
it loose at night.
A Strange Coincidence.
A curious coincidence is said to
have occurred in one of the London
chess resorts. A gentleman was
looking on for some time at a game
being played between two excellent
chessists. He left them still plaj'ing.
The next day he started for a long
sojourn abroad. He was away near
ly five years , during which time ho
had been round the world. On his
return to London he went to the
game chess resort that he had form
erly visited , nnd there at the same
table us before were the same two
players whom he had five years be-
lore left at the game. London Tit-
Bits.
Both Went Out
An Irishman , in addition to his
duties as gardener , had the care of
the furnace which heated the house.
To the irritation of the househoM
there came a morning bitterly cold
when the furnace gaveforth no heat ,
for the very good reason that an in
vestigation showed there remained
not one spark or ember in the grata.
"Mike , " cried the jingry paterfam
ilias , "the furnace fire , went out. Inpt.
nightl"'So did. I , sor'r , " returned
thfeculpritserenely.-rDorainion lllua-
'
AFTER.
After the rain the sunshine , 't
after bitter tears. "nt
Peace in the bonrt at nightfall
After a day of feara.
Tim clouds of the early morning , . - ,
DidHolved In the midday sun.
Rliow glistening edges of uilver
After the day is done.
_
Tlio heaviest burden of sorrow
Laid by grief in the heart *
May lighter become on the morrow
And , BOi'tencd by timo. depart.
Marie M. Pursol.
THE CHAINED HAOT ,
CIRCLE had formed
around Judge Bermutier ,
who was giving his opin
ion of the mysterious af
fair of St. Cloud , that un
accountable crime which
for a month had agitated
all Paris. He reviewed evidences.dis-
cussed theories , but arrived at noth
ing definite. He stood with his back
to the fireplace , and several ladies.
who had arisen to approach him , re
mained standing , with their eyes fix
ed upon those shaven lips from which
fell such impressive remarks. They
shivered , though impelled to listen by
their curiosity and by their eager and
insatiable desire for the sensational ,
which tortured them like hunger.
During a pause one of them said :
"It is awful. It approaches the su
pernatural. We shall never know
the truth. "
The magistrate turned toward her.
"Yes , madame , the truth probably
never will be known. But as to the
word 'supernatural' that you have
just used , it has no placu here. We
are in the presence of a crime very
skillfully conceived , very skillfully ex
ecuted , so well enveloped in mystery
that we can not extricate ib from the
nnusnl circumstances that surround
it. But I was once interested in a
crime with which something of the
supernatural really seemed to be
ue were uuuieu MJ gi w iu
up. "
Several of the ladies exclaimed at
once : "Oh , tell us about it ! " M. Ber
mutier smiled gravely as a judge
should smile , and replied : "Do not
think that I have , even for an in
stant , believed that anything super
natural did occur. I have faith in
Natural causes only and if we would
use the word 'inexplicable' instead
of 'supernatural' for that which we
do not understand it. would be much
better. At any rate , the crime of
which I am to speak baffled me chief
ly by the circumstances that pro
ceeded and surrounded it. These
are the facts :
II.
"I was at the time judge in Ajaccio ,
a little village lying on the shore of
a beautiful gulf and encircled by nigh
mountains. It was my duty to in
quire into the 'affairs of the ven
dettas. ' They were full of dramatic
possibilities , 'both ferocious and
heroic. I found in these family leuds
the greatest motives for revenge
uge-long hatreds , subdued for a time
but never extinct , unpardonable
treacheries , assassinations growing
into massacres , and almost into
glorious actions. For two years I
heard no conversation save that
of the 'price of blood , ' that terrible
Corsican duty that obliges one to
avenge an injury , not only upon the
person of the injnrer but upon his
descendants and relations. I have
seen old men and innocent children
murdered at the price of blood. My
head is full of such stories.
"Well , one day I learned that an
Englishman had leased for a term of
years a villa by the border of the
ulf. He had brought with him a
f 'rench ' servant whom he had hired
while passing through Marseilles.
Soon every one was interested in
this singular personage , who lived
alone , never going out except to hunt
or iisn. ± 10 spOKe to no one , never
came to the village , and every morn
ing he practiced for an hour or two
with his pistols or carbine.
"Soon numerous rumors about
him were afloat. It wassajd that he
was a man of high station who had
fled from his country for political
reasons ; then it was affirmed that ,
having committed an atrocious
crime , he was concealing himself. I
wished as judge to make some in
quiries concerning this man , but it
was impossible to learn anything.
He was called Sir John Rowell.
"Meanwhile , as the rumors in re
gard to his character continued and
became general , I resolved to try to
see the stranger myself , and so I
began to hunt regularly in the neigh
borhood of his grounds.
"For a long time I waited an op
portunity. It presented itself at last
in the form of a partridge that I
killed before the Englishman's nose.
My dog brought it tome'but taking
the bird I went to Sir John and ex
cusing my impertinence begged him
to accept the game. He was a tall ,
large man , with red hair and beard
a sort of placid and polished Her
cules. He had none of the so-called
'English stiffness , ' but thanked me
cordially in French , with a slight
English accent. At the end of a
month we had conversed together
five or six times. One evening as I
passed his door I saw him astride a
chair , smoking his pipe in his garden.
I saluted him , and he invited me to
enter and drink a glass of beer. He
received me with the scr.upulqus.Eng-
linh politeness , and spoke highly of
France and Corsica.
"Then , with great precaution and
with a profession of sincere interest ,
I asked him a few questions concern-
ins : his life and his projects. He re
sponded freely , nnd told mo that he
had traveled a great deal in Africa ,
in India , and in America. He added
laughingly : 'Oh , yes ; I have had
many adventures. '
"I then began to talk about hunt
ing , and he gave me many curious
details about hunting the hippopota
mus , the tiger , the elephant , and
even the gorilla.
"I said : "All of those animals are
very formidable. '
"He smiled. 'Oh , no ! man is the
worst.He began to laugh with a
hearty English laugh , and added : I
have hunted man also. '
"Then ho spoke of arms and invit
ed me into the house to show me the
different sorts offire-arms. His union
was draped with black silk embroid
ered with gold. Large 3'ellow flow
ers , grouped on the somber cloth ,
glowed like fire. He said : 'That is
a.Japanese flag. '
"In the center of the largest panel
a strange thing caught my pye. A
black object hung on a red velvet
square. 1 approached it. It was a
hand the hand of a man. Not the
white , clean hand of a skeleton , but
a dried , black hand , with yellow nails.
The muscles were bare and traces ot
dried blood across the forearm sug
gested the mark of a hatchet. An
enormous chain was riveted about
the wrist and attached to the wall by
a ring strong enough to hold an ele
phant.
"I demanded : 'What is that ?
"The Englishman quietly replied :
'That was my best enemy. It came
from America. It was cut off by a
saber , and it was then dried in the
sun for a week. ' ,
"I tOUcheu the luimaii remnant ,
which might have belonged to a
colossus. The fingers , immoderate
ly long , were held by enormous ten
dons. This hand was hideous to
look upon , and made one think of
the vengeance of a savage. I said :
. 'He mt.st have been a very strong
man. '
"The Englishman grimly replied :
'Oh , yes , but I was stronger than he.
I have put on the chain to hold it. '
"I thought he was jokingandsaid :
'The chain is useless now ; the hand
will not escape. '
_ .
f/r-1 * T t T * It 1 .T
KJll fj VJ1I1A I.VU If tsAl C t U. < rfl T 1 VTO 1/W4.11 *
ed : 'It is always anxious to get
awny. The chain has been necessa
ry. '
"With i rapid glance I questioned
his countenance , asking myself : 'Is
he a fool or is that a bad joke ? "
"But his face remained tranquil
and impenetrable. I spoke of other
things and admired his gune : I also
noticed that three loaded revolvers
were lying about the room , as
though the man lived in constant
fear of an attack.
"I visited him several times , and
then discontinued my calls. We had
become accustomed to his presence ,
and he became indifferent to all.
in.
"A year passed by. One morning
toward the last of November my ser
vant awoke me with the announce
ment that Sir John Rowell had been
murdered during the night. A half
hour later I entered theEnglishman's
house in company with the general
commissioner and the chief of police.
The valet was weeping before the
door. I suspected this man at first ,
but he was innocent. The assassin
has never been found.
"Upon entering Sir Jolm7s saloon
I beheld the corpse extended on its
back in. the middle of the room. The
vest was rent and a sleeve torn , and
everything indicated that a terrible
struggle had taken place. The En
glishman had been strangled to death
his black and swollen face bore the
expression of terrible fright ; some
thing was imprisoned by the set
teeth , and the neck , pierced by five
holes , was covered with blood.
"A surgeon joined us presently. He
examined mirfutely the finger-marks
HI the flesh , and uttered thesestraujje
words : ' 1 should say he had been
strangled by a skeleton. '
' 'A shiver ran down my back , and
I glanced toward the wall where I
had seen the hand. It was not there.
The chain , now broken , hung
from the ring. Then I bent over the
corpse , and found between its set
teeth one of the fingers of the miss
ing hand , cut , or rather sawed off.
by the teeth at the second joint.
"We proceeded with our investiga
tion , but nothing was discovered ;
no door had been forced , no window
broken , no article of-furniture over
thrown , and the two wateli-dogs had
not been awakenad.
"Here in a few words Is the ser
vant's deposition : For a month
past his master had appeared agi
tated. He had received many letters ,
which he burned as soon as rend.
He would frequently take a riding
whip nnd in a fit of anger furiously
lash the dried hand chained to the
wall. He retired at a late hour ,
carefully locked himself in , and al
ways had arms within rench. Often
during the night he could be heard
talking loudly as though quarreling
with some one. On this night he
had been very quiet , and it was not
until morning that the servant , on
opening the house , had found Sir
John assassinated. He suspected
no one.
"I communicated all that I knew
of the crime to the magistrates and
officers of police , and a thorough
search was made throughout the
island , bdt nothing was discovered.
"Well , one night three months
after the murder had been committed ,
I had a horrible nightmare. I seem
ed to behold the dreadful hand run
ning like a scorpion alongthe cur
tains and across the walls. Three
times I awoke three times I fell
asleep three times I saw the hide
ous ebjectgalloping about the room.
"On the morrow it was brought tome
mo , having been found in the ceme-
try on the grave of Sir John Rowell ,
for ho had been buried in the" village ,
nsno trace of his family could be
found. The forefinger was missincr.
"That , ladies , isiny story. Iku % ur
nothing more. "
IV.
* rhe women were pale and trem
bling. One of them cried : "But that
is not an explanation ! We shall not
be able to sleep if you do not explain
it to us. "
The magistrate gravely smiled :
"Oh , ladies , I certainly will prevent
your having bad dreams. I think
quite likely that the original owner
of the hand was not dead , but came
to reclaim it with the one that re
mained to him. But I don't know
how he did it. That is a sort of ven
detta , "
One of the Indies murmured : "No ,
that can't be it. "
Andthejudge , still smiling , replied :
"I told you that my explanation
wouldn't satisfy you. " From the
French of Guy de Maupassant.
The Cart Before the Horse.
The Atlanta Journal publishes a
description of what it describes as
"the queerest looking vehicle that
ever came from the carriage maker's
hand. " It is the property of Dr.
Thurmond and will cost him about
$500. The doctor believes in.having
things just like he wants them and
he went to a carriage builder , who
drew up a plan like a large wheelbar
row with a canopy top , and a gen
tleman who saw the picture said it
tvas just the thing if the horse could
be found to work with his head to
ward the buggy and tail at the ends
of the shaft , so that he could be led
by the man sitting inside , thus push
ing the buggy instead of pulling it.
The plan pleased the doctor and he
ordered the vehicle made. It was
finished and a wounderful looking
affair it was. It was nineteen feet
jongfrom the big velocipede wheel
behind to the end of the shafts in
Dr. Thurmond carried it home and
gave it a trial. It worked all right ,
except that there was too much of a
twisty motion about it , and the
doctor decided to add two little
wheels to the front of the vehicle ,
two very little wheels. They do network
work on a pivot like the rollers on a
center table. If the horse turns to
the right the little wheels will flop
quickly to the right , while the big
wheel behind turns slowly and ma
jestically in the same direction. The
only harness to be used on the horse
is the wooden collar and a very
wide bellyband , to which the shalt ?
will be fastened.
Decoratlngatthe Drug Stores-
"There is a new way of doctoring
in the city , ' " writes a plmrmacentist-
"I don't mean that there are new
remedies and treatments. There are
young doctors whose business is not
such as warrants an office , and they
go about like doctors in the olden
times , from pillar to post. T.-Ike it
in this store , for example. I know oj
four young doctors who come in here
sit different hours and meet patients.
Then the doctors go from here to
other drug stores , so that by the
time the day is over they have travel
ed a good many miles. The patients
theyseedonot pay much , individual
ly they can't afford it. But they are
sick and must be healed , and they are
not the sort ot people who go to hos
pitals. Itisagood thing lor the sick
who can't afford to have doctors
come to to the house ; it is a good
thing for young doctors who are not
able to pay office rent , nnd it is a
good thing for the drug stores , for
they almost invariably get to sell the
medicines that are prescribed. "
An Angel Photographed by
Lightning.
From the Atlanta Constitution.
A portrait of the late John Taylor ,
which J. R. Smith of Charlotte , N. C. ,
lias on exhibition in his store , atr
tracts many visitors daily , and has
caused a great deal of discussion.
The portrait formerly rested on the
mantelpiece at Air. Smith's residence ,
in Mt. Olive. During a heavy storm
a lightning flash struck it. The
frarr.e was demolished , but the flash
left on the portrait a clearly defined
picture of an angel , with outstretched
wings overshadowing Mr. Taylor's
head , the nrms encircling his neck
and the right hand holding a bunch
of flowers. The pose of the angel
suggests protection and benediction.
The dark line showing the lightning's
journey along the cardboard turns
abruptly just above the face of
Mr. Taylor , giving the spectator
the idea that -the angel changed
the lightning's course.
A Disagreeable Inheritance.
"What is the matter with that
baby ? " prowled an irascible husband
as the little one persisted in howling
and kicking to the extent of it8
might.
"The matter is. sir , " calmly re
plied the wife as she strode up and
down the floor , "the matter id that
this baby inherits your'.temp'er.
And thelmsband turned to his pa
per with gloomier face than before. .
' l ' ' *
L'oston Courrier. -
j i i
Announces the arrival of his fall stock , .
comprising the LATEST and MOST .FASH
IONABLE GOODS of the season. His prices ,
are lower than any tailor's in McCobk-
Don't fail to see his line.
ATTENTION , FARMERS ,
We are closing out our entire stock oi"
FARM IMPLEMENTS AT COST. Riglrt
now is the time to secure rare bargains.
Call and be amazed at our prices.
must be SOLD AT ONCE.
t
HALL , COCHRAN & COL
JACK DWYER'S
"OUR COUNTY SEAT"
A 5c. CIGAR ,
Try this popular brand. It is one of the finest jc. cigars
ever placed on sale in McCook.
A. K. MOORK. -ISO. H. HAKT.
MOORE & HART ,
ATTORNEYS - : - AT - : -
( Office ever F sn : Ciettlaj 0 : . Store. )
NEBRASKA.
MCCOOK , - -
practice in the State and Federal
Courts mid before the U. S. Land OlHce.
C. II. BOYLE ,
--LAND - : - ATTORNEY--
Six yeara experience in Government
Land Cases.
Real Estate , Loans and Insurance ,
Notary Pub fie.
Sggr Office up stairs in the Scott Unildinc ,
south of the Commercial Hotel. Jlc'Jook. Neb.
J. BYRON JENNINGS ,
ATTORNEY- - LAW.
Will practice in the State and United States
courts , nnd before the 0. S. Land Offices.
Careful attention given to collections. OHice'
over the Nebraska Loan and Banking Co. .
ilcCook.
HUGH. W. COLE , LAWYER ,
MCCOOK , NEBRASKA ,
Will practice in all courts. Commercial and
Corporation law a specialty.
MONEY TO LOAN.
Booms 4 and 5 First National Uauk Building.
DR , A. P. WELLES ,
HOMEOPATHIC
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
MCCOOK. NEBRASKA.
Ppecial attention jriven to diseases of Wo
men and Children. The latest improved meth
ods of Electricity used in all cases requiring
euch treatment. Office over McMillan's Drug
Store. Residence. North Main Street.
B. B. DAVIS. M. D. C. H. JONES. M. D.
DAVIS & JONES ,
PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS ,
MCCOOK. NEBRASKA.
OFFICE HOURS : 0 to H a. m. : 2 to 5 p. m. :
7 to ft p. in. Rooms over First National Bunk.
THE COMMERCIAL HOTEL.
GEO. E. JOHNSTON. PROP. ,
McCooK , - - NEBRASKA.
Tuls house has been completely renovated
and refurnished throughout and la first-class
in every respect. Rates reasonable.
ABSTRACTS OF TITLE
TO
LANDS AHD TOWN LOTS IN RED
WILLOW COUNTY
FURNISHED ON APPLICATION BY
J. B. MATHER ,
BONDED - : - ABSTRACTED
( SUCCESSOR TO C. D. CRAMER. )
pyOffice in Court House with County Clerk.
Down Town Office with A. J. Rand , ludianola ,
Nebraska.
: UMlsiei fa 1885. tSflSGSS * * * *
r , Prsp.
FIRST-CLASS WORK AND
LOWEST PRICES.
Family Washing Solicited
sent from out of town will
be sent back at my expense without delay.
REVISED CATALOGUE
or
-AN0 B
i = d fcr Sale tj
THE McCOOK TRIBUKE ,
MCCOOK. NEBRASKA.
These Blanks nre kept constantly rtrritfQ'try
the most ciipnblu nnd careful men i iSi-
and hence they aio to he entirely 7rirt )
. Booksellers ana stationers aupphtd
eral discount.
Blanks of any kind not found in
Inir list , will be furnished according 10039- .
on short notice.
\2ff In oiderinp it is only necessary Jvpi -
the number prellxed to each blank.
COUNTY CLERK.
NO.
1 Certificate of Election a
2 Election Notice 3T
a Official Bond IF
4 Oath of Office JR.
5 Oath , Notice- and Report of SpeercS
Commissioner
C Commission to Locate Road and :
7 Petition for License to sell Liquor. .
8 Bond for License to Sell Liquor
U Liquor License
111 Road Overseer's Annual Settlement
It Voucher
12 Certificate of Acknowledgement. . .
1J ! Certificate of Official Character
It Certificate of Association
15 Affidavit for Bounty on Scalps
IB Certificate for Bounty on Scalps
17 Homestead Exemption .Lands
18 Homestead Exemption Lots
19 Listing Acreage - . . . .
20 Report to Secretary of Stale of
Signature , etc
21 Abstract of Election Returns
22 Road Petition
J Notice to Appraisers
24 Appraiser's Oatn arid Report J '
25 Commissioner's Appointment nnd Report
u. s. LAND OFFICE : .
1000 Pre-emption Proof. Witness Ulniraaxtl 7f-
11W1 Homestead Proof , Witness Claimant 2t-
IflttJ Pre-emption Proof. Affidavit requiswi
Pre-emption Clairaunt li.
1003 Homestead Proof. Affidavit requirr L
Homestead Claimant .K
1001 Affidavit required of Claimant Js
1003 Pre-emption and Homestead A2Jda ii34
1006 Homestead Application. . ! A
1007 Homestead Affidavit in twa colorsK
1008 Declaratory Statement 2f
1009 Timber-Culture Certiflenteli
1010 Timber-Culture Entry , Final Affi fc Tit _ 7i
1UI1 Timber-Culture Proof Ti
lOia Homestead Certificate _ .11 :
Homestead. Notice Final Proof X.
IOH r otlcefor Publication.
1015 Certificate us to Posting NotJce.
1010 Timber-Culture Affidavit
1017 Affidavit Additional Homestead
1018 Timber-Culture Application
1019 Additional Homestead Application 2
1020 Cash Entry Certificate "i
1021 Notice of Application Prc-emptiou. . , " 32-
102J Pre-emption Proof
11CJ Notice of Timber-Culture
1024 Notice of Contest
1023 Affidavit of Contest Timber Claim
1026 Affidavit of Contest Homestead. .
1027 Non-Minrrni Affidavit R :
1028 Timber-Culture Proof 3 >
102U Homestead. Pre-emption , and Coinxuo-
tation Proof JI
U. S. CIRCUIT AND DISTfUCT COUKTr
1050 Bill of Foreclosure ZT
1051 Answer
10ci Demurrer
1053 Replication
1054 Decree
1055 Affidavit for Order
1050 Order IF
Deposition E'-voiopes _ 2z -
Stihpajim of U. S. Commissioner.3L -
subpoena of Examiner
Complaint S.
Warrant
Notice to take Deposition - _ 3T
Notice to take Deposition , de bene t-Kf y
Notice of Oral Examination of Vfitnewasoff
Order JET
Recognizance of Witness
Prisoner's Recojrniznnce f
Recognizance to appear before Comini
Ball Bond
Commitment
U. S. Commissioner's CertiiJeat-
dance of Witness .
U. S. Commissioner's Certificate-
danceof V/Jtnefp T"
Transcript of Proceedings Ji
Above is Only a Partial
Do Ton Re
The McCook Tribune ?
All the News for