THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , AUGUST 15 , 1880.-TWELVE PAGES.
OMAHA'S ' MILITARY POST ,
History of Fort Omaha Description of thb
Grounds and Buildings.
HOW THE BOYS IN BLUE LIVE.
In Time * of Peace a Holiday Life
Their Duties , AinuBciiicntH and
Pay Tlie Officers1 Quarters
1)PC8 I'nrndc.
( Written for the Omaha Sunday Ike. ]
The post now known ns Fort Omaha ,
wns established in 18(58. ( It was then
Btylcd Sherman barracks. In the same
* year , by a general order , its name was
changed to Omaha barracks. In 1878 , by
n n general order of the division of the
Missouri , the nnuio was n third time
changed to that of Fort Omaha. When
the next change , either by general order
or other means shall take place , may not
now be determined.
THE FOIIT
comprises thirty-eight building used as
residences for officers , places for the
\ transaction of rephnontul business , store
v houses and manufactories ol nil kinds
' required for local repairs.
The quartermaster's and subsistence
stores nro furnished from this city by con
tract. There are two wells , ono eighty-
six and the other twenty-six feet tlenp.
From these , water Is pumped to a reser
voir situated on the bluffs northwest of
V the ofllcors' quarters. This reservoir has
a capacity of 88,000 gallons. The bottom
of this cistern is 101 feet above the bed of
thopump. The supply of drinking water ,
at present , however , is secured from the
city water works.
TIII : oitoi'NDS
occupied by the fort comprise eighty-two
and n nan acres These , in the main ,
were purchased by the government , on
August 2th ( ) anil September , 1808 , anil
March 2Uth , 1882. The price paid on the
lirst two dales was about $10 ; ) per acre.
This was paid to n man named Seymour ,
through" Augustus Kountzu , then of
Omaha , anil now of New York. Besides
the ground purchased by the govern
ment , at tlio time of the estab
lishment of t'io fort , a tract of
land was bought by a number
of Omaha citizens , each of whom con
tributed iJlOO to the fund required. With
this money about forty acres were pur
chased and granted to the government ,
to bo used for military purposes , but
with the proviso that , in the event of the
site boiug vacated for the original pur
poses , it would revert to its donors. The
purchase by the government had not been
made in the most satisfactory manner , at
least to some of the military gentlemen
who wore most directly interested in the
matter The sale had been effected a
long time before _ congress made the re
quired appropriation to pay for the
ground , and for a time it looked as if the
officers would bo compelled to make
good the amount required , out of their
own pockets. The appropriation was
finally made and the erection of the fort
was proceeded with. Since that time
THK UISTOltV OF THE TOST
has been a varied one , indeed. At intervals
of about live years' movements , or rather
alleged movements , have originated
in some inconceivable manner , tlio object
of which has been to deprive Omaha of
its dearly cherished military institution.
These movements have led to meetings ,
and the meetings to resolutions , and ,
T later , to committees sent to Washington
to protest against the outrage. As neon-
Gcqucuco of this vigilance , thu fort still
remains.
Six years ago , the government refused
to make any further allowance for im
provements because it owned only part of
the ground on which thu fort stood. This
caused the owners of the other acres to
vest the title absolutely in the govern
ment.
It was one of the durK days in the his
tory of the fort when the lieadquarters
of the department of the 1'latto and the
staff of officers were removed from the
city to the post. The order emanated ,
from ( Jen. Sherman and caused a great
. deal of dissatisfaction. It deprived the
officers of many pleasures ot city life and
compelled the civilians to make long and
tiresome trips to the post when business
call them thither.
Tills transfer caused the erection of a
brick building for the residence of the
commander of the Pintle , which , by the
way , was inaugurated with one ot the
most notable sociable gatherings ever as
sembled in Omaha. Many of the old
rookeries which had been used as ofliccrs'
quarters since 18(58 ( were repaired and
enlarged , and the gallant gentlemen and
their families adapted themselves with
military resignation to their changed for
tunes. A new brick headquarters buildIng -
Ing was also erected , and then tlio work
of too department was done , until in
fluence was brought to bear upon Sher
man to not insist upon a strict compli
ance with his order , requiring the ollicers
to reside at the poet , and forthwith they
came trooping buck to civili/.ution and
social pleasures.
Seven year.s have elapsed since the
issuance of the Sherman order , or rather ,
since it was put into effect. Nothing of
a serious nature affecting the post has
occurred since , with the exception of the
move lately made to transfer thu fort to
some point obout ten miles from Omaha.
Y This is probably the most formidable
A move that has ever taken place And
yet , there is not much reason to fear that
it will bo more successful than its prede
cessors , at least not until the &cmiiu i > t
of the people is more pronounced in its
favor than it is at the present time.
LOCATION OF THK FlIUT.
The fort is beautifully situated. The
country west and bouth 13 rolling , while
eastward , anil toward Omaha it is nearly
level , The parade ground is of course
the most attractive part. It comprises
about thirty acres , and for about two-
thirds of its width it is almost level ,
gently ascending thence toward the west
until it meets the road running north
und south. On a gentle plateau rising
from the road and running parallel to
it. uro situated the ollicers' quar
ters. From those a view may
bo hud of the parade ground , even when ,
, in summer , the magnificent row of box-
ciders is green with its luxuriant foliage.
These trees line thu grounds , and shade
both lines of the avenue , rendering it
cool and shady in the mid-day heat , und
calmly suggestive of pleasure and rest
when swayed bv the light winds of oven-
ing.
lll'SINESS QUAIITKUS.
Norlh of the parade ground are
situated the hospital and post head
quarters. This is a brick building , three
( stories high , MX MB feet. It contains the
business place of the commanding officer ,
the quartermaster , adjutant , the sor-
RounMnujor und the rejfimental printer.
This position is tilled by one soldier , who
besides attending to the work of thu
regiment also does that of the entire post.
In thu basement is the postolllco , pro-
Bided over by M. Cody , and hero money
orders , registered letters and postal
notes may bo mailed. There uro besides ,
the ordnance , clothe * room , the library ,
tlio librarian's private room , the general
oourt-niurtiul room , the private apart-
incuts of several of the clerks us also that
of the leader of the baud , Mr.Vcde. .
mover ,
These rooms occupy the western hall
of the building. In the eastern end and
the first story are located the hospital ,
the rooms of the lirst und second class
stewards , two rooms for the storage ol
, medical supplies , the officers ward , the
/ - nje.dical library in the post sergeant's of <
lice , lu the basement uro the hospital
kitchen , the dining room , the boiler
which heats the hospital by moans of
twenty two radiators and tnc cell for
sick prisoners , for the accommodation
of soldiers , who whlio under sentence
may fall sick anil require skilled atten
tion. On the second lloor arc two largo
wards with four smaller one ? , capable of
accommodating thirty two patients. The
building was erected as above mentioned
and cost in the vicinity of it.W.OCO.
On the east side of the enclosure , are
the tin-smith's shop , the ico-house , the
club room for enlisted men , the school
house , co.il house , guard house , quarter-
master's store house , the engine anil bath
house. In the club room the men play
pool and billiards and if so inoiined , in
dulge inn glass of beer. This is kept
open only during the day. In the bath
house are accommodations for ten
bathers , one apartment being provided
for each company , and two for extra
occasions.
Tim nrAHi ) norsE
brick building Immediately
is a one-story ,
ately south of the main entrance to the
grounds. It is oO 01 feet will anaddititn
12x23 foot. It faces the parade ground ami
is prelected on the front by an ample
porch. On a walk before the entrance , a
sentinel is always on duty. Ho is dressed
in fatigue uniform , with polished nllc
and gloved hands , mid as ho walks back
anil forth , instinclivcly endeavors to im
press the visitor with the dignity and im
portance of Ins position. Other soldiers
lounge around as if keeping sympathetic
company with an unfortunate com
rade whom they know to be , but
yet , whom they can not see ,
within the walls. This house con
tains four large and four small cells , a
sink and wash-room and two rooms for
the non-comiuis-iioued ollicers. The cells
are iron-burred and the lloor is of two
sections of wood between which is a
layer of iron , The windows are barred
outside and inside , are covered with n
moro closely wrought iron guard with
openings ot not moro than an inch
in si7.o. This effectually shuts the
Inmate off from the kindly donations of
friends , such , perhaps , as a bottle of beer
or a lln k of bourbon , articles that arc
not unappreciated by heroes in durance.
In this place , n lamp burns all night.
Before it , n sentry parades all night , and
with these precautions , and the rough-
ribbed walls of the place , the most ingen
ious inmate has as yet to announce that
ho has bullied all ami made his escape.
Soldiers are confined here for the miss
ing of calls , drunKenness , desertion or
while under sentence of some court mar
tial , are waiting transportation to the
military prison at Leavenworth. Fifteen
men act as guard , each serving two hours
on und four off.
To the north of the main entrance is
the quartermaster's and the
COMM1SSAHY M'OltKIIOL'SK.
This is a brick building , two stories in
height and thirty-four feet wide by one
hundred and iifty-sovcn in length. The
quartermaster's stores occupy about two-
thirds , those of the commissary , the re
mainder of the building. In the former
may be found almost everything To-
quired in a first-class hardware store ; in
tlio latter.cverythingono mightexpect ex
cept of a perishable nature , in a grocery.
Following the drive on the east north
ward and turning to the west ,
THE NOHTII HAUKAC'KS
are passed. These are of frame , -10x25
feet in size , each comprising a sleeping
and mess-room and kitchen for a com
pany. The dormitory is supplied with
iron beds ranged beside each other , and
with woven wire mattresses. Adjoining
each is a movable locker , in winch the
soldier deposits his little possessions
On the wall at the head of the bed are
humr such articles of use or ornamenta
tion as the feeling of the occupant may
suggest. Now it is a picture of a celeb
rity , again a pair of boxing gloves. This
man hangs up his banjo , and that ono
the base ball club with which he has
made the homo run that defeated thejri-
val nine , that awarded him the honor of
beinir the best player in the regiment.
Oucnimr offthisisthe mess-room. Here ,
pine lablcs , as white as these found in a
New England kitchen , extend partly
across the room. From these the sol
diers eat their wholesome meals of fri-sh
moat , potatoes , beans and coffee. The
kitchen opens from each end , and two
cooks preside over an immense army
range , which enables them to sup
ply the hungry mortals without , who are
always in excellent uppetito.
Around these barracks tlio soldiers , un
less when engaged upon special duty , erin
in exercise or amusement , spend their
time. They read , smoke , tell stories ,
swing clubs , write letters or work on
some nicknack to fill up the time. There
are several base ball clubs among the
companies , each with its uniform , and
some containing line players. On the
day on which my visit was made to the
place , ono of the nines had met and van
quished a club from town. It was a hot
ilny , but the work was hotter , and when
the soldiers concluded the game , they
looked us sun-bron/.ed as if they had
passed through an Apache campaign.
In the evenings them are company frol
ics , mil it is not nn unusual matter to
see a purse formed , the contents depos
ited with a neighboring saloon man , and
forthwith in return to note a keg of lager
beer wheeled to the quarters for convivial
discussion. This liberality is intended
to withdraw soldiers from lounging
around the saloons which infest the old
entrance to the grounds.
TIII : TUOOPS.
In these barracks are quartered E , A ,
II and B companies. To the south of the
parade ground is another linn of bar
racks , built in the same uniform style
and dimensions. Thcsu accommodate D.
O and F companies and tlio regimental
band of twenty-two pieces , under the
leadership of Air. Wedemeyor.
SOMIIKKS1 I'Ay.
These soldiers are paid every two
months , receiving at that tinn $25.75.
Their clothes are issued to them , but if a
man draws in excess of the allowance it
is deducted from his wagesif less than
thu allowance , he is credited with the
amount and is given it on his retirement
from the army. Their term of enlistment
is five years , though some of them become -
como so fascinated with the life that they
re-enlist upon the conclusion of eacl
term , I saw a number of men who hail
almost grown grov in the soryico , am
they wore in b'ut the prime of life
Sjt of these worn live bands of white
across the coat-sleeve at thu wrist , am
each of Ihcso denoted live years of ser
vice. In nil , ho had spent moro than n
quarter of u century in the habiliments
of Undo Sam. The wages of the private
are $12.87 per month ; corporal , $10
sergeant. $17. A second lieutenant
receives $1,400 a year , a lirst lieutenant
and chaplain $ lr > 00 , regiment * ! quarter
master , adjutant anil captain $1,800 , a
major $3r > UO , a lieutenant colonel $3,000
a colonel $3,500 , and a general $5,500. Ii
is said that military men seldom grow
wealthy , and it is trenerally believed thai
such Is the case. Ono soldier , perhaps
in n dozen saves his money. Whan ho
gets Ids \vagcs ho uses them in canceling
the indebtedness ho has contracted dur
ing the two months it is required to earn
them. With the olllcers , | > ociui entertain
incuts , dcsiro for novelty , together with
the certainty of uninterrupted employ-
mnnt , do not conduce to that thriftncss
which amasses wealth.
North of the northern barracks la
A HOW OK VltKTTY COTTAGES ,
six in number. Thcso nro occupied by
non-commissioned stuffoQicors with their
families. In the first of those resides
Hospital Stowurd Howard ; ii
the second , Post Quartermaster
Sergeant D. Tnttlo ; Rcgimcnta
Quartermaster , Sergeant Allison ; Com
missury sergeant , Davidson , and Regi
mental Sergeant Major Stacor , On the
drive , nearly opposite thn commander's
residence , is situated
THE OIIAPKI. .
ThU is 37x37 feet , &ml in U religious
Rcrvic.es are held twice every Sunday , t
asked my escort if many of the soldiers
attended the exercises. He laughed , and
said ho did not know , He had been in
the post two years and had never hern
present at divine worship. He guessed
there not many soldiers who went to
church. A Catholic priest from Omaha
visits the fort twice every month and
says mass. My informant told me that
most of the religions men of the garrison
attended these exorcises.
The chapel has a stage , and in winter
dramatic performances are given upon
it. Formerly , also , the place wt.s used
for dancing , bnt latterly , a vacant hall ,
in another part of tlio post , has been
substituted out of a feeling of respect for
the original idea of the little place.
Following the west avenue toward the
south ,
THK OKKICI'.ltS' QfAUTKIlS
are passed. Some of them arc now ,
others show recent Improvements , while
others still boar the imprets of an inlirtu-
ilV superinduced by bad care anil old age.
They are nearly all painted in dark
brown. Each has a porch , and in front a
little garden spot , which , however , isbut
rarely improved. Thogablesof the struc
tures arc turned from the avenue , and
the effect of the whole is that the. archi
tect originally intended to make the
houses Keep n single lilc , but suddenly
change them to a company front. The
lirst resilience Is that of Col. Wheatou ,
commander of the post. This is situated
in thu northwestern part of the square ,
( inn. Crook watt its lirsl occupant. It is
of brick and most solidly constructed.
Commecitig at the.south end of thcavonuo
the occupants of the other quarters are :
No. 1 , Second Lieutenant Abner Picker-
imr ; No. 2 , Captain Abner Hainen , Jr. ;
No. ! . First Lieutenant Wm. A Abcr-
crombio ; No. o. First Lieutenant Horace
B. Sarson ; No. 0 , First Lieutenant Rich.
T. Karle No. 7 , First Lieutenant Sidney
E. Clark , R. Q. M. and P. Q.
M.No. . 8 , Captain Rob. B. Ben-
ham , assistant surgeon , U. S. A. ; No. I ) ,
First Lieutenant Luther S. Amos A C.S. :
No. 10 , II. S. Hoskin , A. A. S. , U. S. A. ;
No. 11 , Captain Henry Catloy ; No. II } ,
Second Lieutenant II. II. Bcnhain , Second
end Lieutenant V. J. Brutnback , Second
Lieutenant Thos. 11. Wilson , Second
Lieutenant Win. M. WrhrhtNo. ; 12 , Cap
tain James Ulio ; N'o. iT ; Captain Wm.
Mills ; No. 11 , Captain A. S. Daggott ; No.
in. Major Edmoud Butler ; No. 1(5 ( , Major
J. M. Brown , .surgeon U. S. A and post
surgeo'n ; No. 18 , Captain C. A. Dempscy.
No. 18J , Captain II. C. Cook ; No. lit.First
Lieutenant John Kin/.lu ; No. 20 , First
Lieutenant ! ' . T. Van Liow ; No. 21 , First
Lieutenant C. W. Rowell , adjutant Second
end infantry ami post adjutant ; No. 22 ,
Second Lit utonant C. I ) . Towslcy ; No. 2ii
W. T. McAdams , post chaplain.
South of the southern line of barracks
there is a heterogeneous collection of
structures , occupied and used by all
kinds of people and for all purposes ,
They are the
usfAL ArrnxiuoLs OF A FOUT.
and comprise the quarters of laundresses ,
the ovens of the baker , the shambles of
the butcher , the forgo of the smith , the
table of the carpenter , the stalls of the
hostler , the shed of the wagoner , and
the place in which the deep-toned mon
sters ot war are housed from elemental
attack.
The feature most interesting to the
average civilian , is
THE DItKSS I'AKADE
of the companies composing the carri-
son. This takes place generally at about
sun down. It is always a beautiful and
impressive spectacle. The heat of the
day has died away. The light air of the
evening rustle through the trees. The
tall box elder and cotton woods on the
west cast giant shadows athwart the
parade ground , while the tops of those in
the east are tipped with gold. The pa
rade ground stretches to the east like an
extensive spread ot emerald velvet , the
little inequalities noticeable during' the
day , softened bv the distance and the
waning jight. I'hcro is a beauty in the
scene which thrills the spectators who
throng the avenues on all sides. There
is little talk save in low tones , because
the bugler _ has called the assembly.
Companies are being formed on the north
and south sides of tlio square , their
dark and light blue uniforms contrasting
with the green ot both blade and Inat.
Stately officers are walking to assume
command. The roll is called , anil the
manual of anus is gone through. The
adjutant , straight as Apollo , and filled
with the pride that ho is the cynosure of
every eye , followed by two orderlies , to
the music of the baud , walks to the mid
dle of the ground and forms the lino.
Another' burst of martial music. The
commander appears , a long white plume
falling in curves from his helmet crest.
The companies begin to march. They
advance in columns of four , and in coin- ,
pany front wheeling into line , some wjth
the precision of automatons , others with
much less regularity , until seven com
panies face the commander. There are
big and little men in eacli com
pany , Uio former occupying the
right , the latter tapering to the loft.
The rcgimcntaj band in blue , inarches
up anil down in front of the line , the
drum-major in a panoply of red , white
and gold , with a bearskin chako as largo
as bruin himself , and u mammoth staff
which ho juggles with case , as ho
marches in trout. There is noman
prouder than a drum-major. There is
no prouder drum-major than tins ono.
Ciesar in review never assumed the
majesty which graces the bearing of this
mortal. Ho is alone in his gorgeousncss
and unapproachable in his dignity. It is
well , perhaps , that this is so , because his
notoriety is but short-lived. The line is
put through the manual of arms. Mus
kets are ruined and lowered with gloved
hands. When touched by the latter , the
sound of buckle and strap is like an in
stantaneous fall of rain upon a garret
roof , or against the window-pane. The
gloved hands are busy describing move
ments , which may hardly bo detected.
They till work with precision and ease ,
anil denote the effort of the tactician. The
olliccrs form in line , nnd young and old ,
light und heavy , at a rapid .stride march
forth to salute the commander. They
are well-formed and military in their
bearing , although some show the effect
of weight of yoais. Thcso are unmind
ful of the glances of the fair ones who
occupy barouche nnd coupe nnd car
riage , while the younger ones not too
slyly looIc from beneath their white-
crowned helmets to , where the bright-
eyed beauty may bo beaming her smiles ,
The salute over. th ouglors sound the
retreat , thu band plays , and the compan
ies march to their quarters. Some of the
carriages roll to the city , Others with
their occupants wait for the concert.
Back to town go the visitors , buggy ,
cab , coupe , carriage , some aiming to
lead in the lino. Past groggory and don ,
past garden nnd farm , the vehicles whirl ,
until at length the military road is
reached. Hero giant poplars line
the way , allowing intermittent pencils of
sunlight to gild with gold the rolling
pageant , and forming u vista of won
drous extent and boauty. Tlio distance
is shortened by congenial companionship ,
thu beauty of the scene , and the visit of
the'day. and almost before it is appre
ciated tlio lights of the city are readied
and the party Is again in Omaha.
E , A. O'BitiE.v.
TIioBustlo on Fire.
York ( Pa. ) Ago : A comical incident
occurred at a lawn party the other oven-
ing. A ceitaln well-known lad v sat down
on a Chinese lantern and set fire to httr
dress. Several gallant young men sprang
to her rescue und extinguished the flames ,
but not before thu back part of her bustle
and dress had been badly damaged. The
unfortunate lady was.compelled to sit on
the lloor In n very nndignilicd position
until some one brought her a cloak to
hide tlio deficiency.
THE ITALIANS' OF OMAHA.
Tacts About a Pctnliarly Interesting Glass
of. Citizens.
WHO THEY ARE-WHAT THEY DO.
Clinrautcrlstloa of Italy's StinlMirncil
Sons I'Tull 1'cilUlcrs Musicians
Fortunes.Mftdc From Sinnll
[ Written for the tmaha RttmlayHrc. ]
The little bootlec-shnpcd country of
Italy , sun-kissed and sea-washed , has fur
nished the larger cities of the United States
with a peculiarly interesting class of citi
zens. A people of natural commercial
instinct , the more intelligent of them
find the serfdom nnd hrmy life of their
native country unbearable , and each
year thousands of them make their way
lo America , and are not slow In taking
advantage of thri opportunity afforded
tlnim of selecting their own method of
making a living. Five or six years ago
Omaha wrist ho home of less than ado7.cn
Italians , but they lire quick to rcall/.c the
advantages offered In a growing oily , nnd
to-day there are nearly four hundred of
them In our midst , engaged in almost all
of the dilleront lines of commercial life
and in most of the various kinds of man
ual labor. They form a distinct class of
citi/.ens , little known and understood ,
but they boar acquaintance well. In
Italy , with n military apprenticeship
that employs their younger years , and no
prospect but a life of serfdom thereafter ,
they are a listless , lusty class , but they
undergo a complete change when the ad
vantages of a free man are opened to
them and they form one of our most
nNTKUI'IIISINli U.A S OF C1T17.KSS.
Of the three hundred and fifty or four
hundred male Italians in Omaha about
fitly are engaged in the fruit business
anil their sun-browned faces , beaming
good-naturedly from a hole in the wall
or from the side of some box stall on n
convenient street corner , arc the
first .that greet the early
risers , and their places of business are
not closed until midnight or after , when
only the policemen , reporters and bums
are abroatl in the land. The stock of
these fruit stands IB gauged by the capital
of the owner , ami varies from the
basket of bananas judiciously scat
tered over the bottom of the push cart ,
controlled by the beginner in the busi
ness , up to the full Hue of fruits , cigars
and confections that comprise the stock
in trade of the established business man.
They conduct their business a good deal
like other people. The "worm i' the
bud" in their pears is turned down or
concealed by a tissue uaiior wrapper for
the same reason that the small straw
berries are always found in the bottom of
the box. Regular customers und
purchasers with a critical eye can
llnd us good ' .fruit at the
Italian's shop as _ elsewhere and the un
suspecting victim , , and tlio man who
wants a basketful for a dime is imposed
upon by the Italian the same as he is by
moro pretentious trad is men.
Tlie llaliansdo not-as is generally sup
posed , have a monopoly upon the street
fruit trade. Theru are two classes of
these dealers. Tlie Italians own all or
nearly nil of the street corner stands' ,
while the huckster wagons on
the business streets arc principally
owned by Russian Jjtys. (
A half dozen of'Omahu's Italians arc
employed in Uio smelting works , and
some of thorn commanding the best
skilled labor wages : A few of them are
employed in the packing houses , while
by far the majority" them are day
laborers on contfaol , job ? , railroading ,
grading , street sweeping , etc.
There is no onrpnixntion among the
Italians as a class. " While most of them
are from southern Italy , they are from
different dialect-spca.king provinces , and
perhaps less than one-httli of the num
ber in Omaha sucaU the same language ,
For instance , J , II. Cuneo and Charles
Lagomarclno are from ( icnoa , and can
converse with the , majority of tlio
Omaha Italians with difficulty except in
French , which most pf thnm speak moro
or less fluently. The Italians have the
accumulative faculty well dc\ eloped ,
and most of the Omaha Italians arc
I'HOI'EKTY OWNEUS.
The installment plan linds great favor
with them , and a majority of them are
making monthly payments on real estate
investments in different parts of the city.
About a do/en Italian families own their
own houses and live in a little settlement
down on South Thirlccntli street. They
live economically , thpugh their appearance -
anco of untidiness and their squalid sur
roundings are duo to n natural habit anil
not to a lack of means. They are ot a
peaceful disposition , ( mtholics in religion ,
and are generally Very Careful about
the education of their children. They
invest their carnirigs in property , are
generally very temperate and seldom lig-
uro in police court transactions. They
are strong in their dpmestio nature , anil
those who are not married uro saving
their earnings and making a homo for
beauties who are to bo imported from the
laud of song. TJiere is
A STUANflE qONTHAST ,
bv the way , between the Italian sexes.
While the majority ol the men are below
the average Mature and have anything
but a robust appearance , the women are
nearly all of a larger build , generally
good looking nnd healthy. The Italians
us u class are
N X.TUHAL MUSICIANS ,
and the majority of fhoso whoso work
gives tli'jin any leisure at all uro adopts
with the violin or harp. There is an as
sociation of them under the management
of Frank Motta und brother , who con
tract to furnish harp or violin music for
entertainments of any'elmracter. Then
there uro solitary hfirpists , who after
cacli day's work manage to pick up a
good many stray dimes in the hotel ro
tundas and on the street corners where
their efforts tint ! appreciative hearers ,
The Italians have but little interest in
affairs of government , and while
they own property Hnd pay tuxes ,
like other citizens , but few of them have
availed themselves of- the privilege so
dour to the American ihcurt , thu right to
vote and pass party TCJ gluttons , tow of
them have taken ot t naturalization
papers , although in obi , ilienco to law and
respect of the rightsjof ptucrs their exiiin-
ple could well bo uuii luted by certain
more pretentious clasfitj&of citi/.ens.
In a quiet way a'ntJiubcr ' of Omaha
Italians have uc'cumulntpd property that
makqs them
A 11SOI.UTELY INUEPKNUEKT.
The/most noted of thc a is Mr. Giaco-
nuni , of the ThirtcoiitlrstrcRt bank. Ho
cumo to Omaha about twenty yours ago ,
ami is the oldest Italian resident
of the cjty.VitU remarkable
foresight lie planted his earnings
in city property , ' and as a
result Is to day a very 'rich man , bolus
rated at over a quarter of a million del
lars. John li. Cuneo. the Thirteenth
street grocer , has been In the city about
ton years and by strict ecbnomy and ju
dicious investments has acquired a prop
erty valued at $25,000 at least. Joseph
Fiorclli , of the 1'uxton barber shop , who
styles himself "tho bestos barber in do
world" lias quietly laid aside over twenty
thousand dollars for a rainy day , ami ft
will oo a rainy day when ho stops adding
to his accumulation. Adam liaudo , vdio
is employed in the Smoltinir works , has
invested his earnings in such a way thai
ho owns live acres of vnlaabln land ad
joining the city and fcau't moro than
count his thousands on the fingers of
both hands. Ills brother Moses Haudo ,
employed by I'oyckc Bros. , has also made
n real citato "siiec" that has plac. d him
n possession of dollars to the amount of
sovcral thousand. The Vcnutos Auto-
ila , Joseph and Raphael who have a
uonopoly on the musical business , have
aid aside neat fortunes. Charley Lago-
narcino , the good natured , who owns the
confectionery and fruit establishment at
No. 1,1301 Farnam street , commenced
business1 without any capital about six
rears ago and now , while lie persists that
IP is a very poor man , would lauah at an
oiler of $2UUOO for his property Interests
n Omaha. Thcso are n few of the men
wiio have made comfortable fortunes in
n very few years from beginnings smaller
than the sums spent by the young man
of the period on a 'single champagne
supper on a night out witli the boys.
H.MillV lit NTElt.
REPORTING FORTY YEARS AGO.
HcmliilscctiBPS or nil Old-
Time Stenographer.
Indianapolis Joiirnr.l : "I suppose 1
1111 the oldest stenographer in this part
of the country ! " said J. J. Henderson.
ngent in this city of the Adams express
company , "when 1 say stenographer 1
mean it , for phonography , the system of
diort hand writing now cm rent , hail
uirdly been introduced when I learned
stenography. Of course it has been many
years since I practiced it. 1 was living
it Buffalo and began learning it in 1318 ,
being taught by a friend who advised mete
to learn it , Mr. Hicks , who at ono time
was a reporter on the London Times. He
ifterward went to Washington and was
on the Congressional Globe , that mauso-
. urn of national speech makers. In 18501
got an engagement to report hi the Can
adian parlia'iient. That was in the stir-
rlnir times of Mackenzie and Pupineau.
1 came back to Buffalo the same year. J
[ hen got a place as reporter on the But-
falo Courier , at the munificent salary of
$3i week. Little or no attention was
paid to local matters in the papers then.
and my service not being in demand
oven at ? ' ) a week , 1 wont into an ollico
to .study law. About the 7th or 8lh of
June , 1831 , President Fillmorc with his
cabinet , started on a tour through
the United States. A telegram oanio
from Thurlow Weed to the editor of the
Express , saying that Daniel Webster ,
then secretary of state , would speak at
liuHalo , and ho wanted a vorbantnn re
port of the speech. Word came to me ,
and I said I would take it. The presi
dent and the cabinet arrived. Mr. Web
ster spoke in the court house park in the
afternoon during a soakimr rain. N. K.
Hall , postmaster general , held an um
brella over mo while 1 took Mr. Wcb-
sler's speech. Solon Robinson , of the
New York Tribune , was the only other
stenographer there. It was not diliicult
to take the great orator. A rapid long-
haml man couid almost get him vcr-
bantim , so deliberate and measured were
his periods. 1 can repeat the opening
feculences of that speech to-day. My
notes were soaked through , and 1 had to
dry thnm before they could bo transcribed.
The telegraph was Very little i.scd in that
day , and the speech of the gl-eatcst Amer
ican of his time , instead of being put
upon the wires , as in this day is done
with the utterances of much smaller men ,
was put into the mail and sent to the
Albany Journal , and there published two
days alter it was delivered. This report
resulted in my going upon the Journal ,
which was then conducted by Thurlow
Weed. I ditl not remain long , but re
turned to Buffalo.
"In 18.j2when , 1 went back to Buffalo , "
continued Mr. Henderson , "wo had the
Morse line of telegraph from Now York
to Hutlalo , and also the House line. . From
Buffalo west were the O' Roily and Speed
lines , operated in opuosition to each
other : The Associated Press was then
in the hands of Craig & Co. , of Now
York. They furnished all the western
newspapers , but their reports never wont
west of Buffalo to the lake region , though
they sent reports to Pittsbiirg , which
came on west to Cincinnati and St.
Louis.
"The O'Roily and Speed lines having
each but ono wire running through a
pretty wild country from Buffalo to To
ledo , with no railroad communication
between those points , it was diliicult to
keep the lines up , and they were fre
quently do\yn two or three days a weok.
The press of Cleveland , Toledo , Detroit ,
Chicago , Milwaukee , and other points
were solely dependent on these opposi
tion lines for all market and news re
ports. Gram merchants had for 3 ears
relied upon private dispatches on which
to conduct their business , and those were
so unsatisfactory that the grain dealers
of those cities askctl mo to furnish them
with a daily report of New York and
Buffalo markets and ocean steamer news.
This I did for a compensation of 2.1 cents
for each city , in addition to telegraphic
charges , and they wouldn't pay any
moro.
"This arrangement worked so satisfac
torily that the newspapers of these cities
relied solely on tlioso tolegrapic dis
patches for their market report. Mr.
Stewart , then managing man on the Chicago
cage Tribune , consulted with Unfits
King , ot the Milwaukee Sentinel , and
with the Milwaukee Wisconsin , De
troit Tribune , Toledo Blade , Cleveland
Plain Dealer , Cleveland Leader , ami , I
think , the Sandusky Register. They
agreed to authorize. Mr. Stewart to em
ploy mo to furnish the papers with a daily
report of the news , which had to bo in
the telegraph ollico before C o'clock in
the evening. What do you think of that ,
in these days when telegraph news ran
nearly all night ? Ho agreed to pay mo
$1 a week from each newspaper for my
services. I In-gan sometime in the middle
of the summer of 185' ' . The first week I
sent dispatches by the Spocil line ; the
wires wore down between Buffalo and
Cleveland for two or three days , and the
newspapers failed to got their report .
Then the O'Reilly line was tried , and I
was soon in trouble with that. Both
lines were so anxious for the business
that they allowed us to lix our own rates
of compensation. The first week's ex
perience with the O'Reilly line was
no bettor than that with the
Speed line had been. On my com
pensation of a dollar a week the
Cleveland Loader ciit mo off Hfty cents a
week for two weeks on account of the
wires being down , although I had prepared -
pared and placed the matter in the tele
graph operator's hands. 1 have letters
in my possession now from Kmory Cobb ,
who was then general manager of the
telegraph ollico in Chicago , in which ho
says that ho has been m the Chicago
Tribune ollico day after day to collect my
JO for six weeks' ' service , but the Tribune
says it hasn't the money to pay , That
reads a little strange now , when the
Tribune is paving out hundreds of dollars
lars for specials at nearly every cross
roads in the north-west.
"In those days the telegraph ofllccsdid
not send reports to the newspaper otllccs
by messenger boys. In the Buffalo ollico ,
when the report came the newspaper re
porters came and set down and wrote it ,
while the telegrapher read it from the
papor. Mutt Buell was nn operator at
Buffalo , and wo thought it a surprising
thing when he would drop the paper foe
n minute or two and read by soujyd , Hu
didn't duro stay away long from the
paper , however , for fear of losing gome-
thin' ; , As late as 1837 , when President
Buchanan's message camu over the
wires , I remember that I , with reporters
of the other papers , sat in the Buffalo
oilico and took the message as the opor
ntor road it tous from the paper machine ,
in that day they didn't ' think of writing
out the report for the newspapers.Vc \
took the message as ho dictated it , send'
ing two shoots at a time by a 'prentice tc
the newspaper omco.
THE NEWSBOYS OF 01IA11A ,
Something Abont the Unordainotl Ministers
Who Spread the Gospel of News.
THEIR LIFE AND HABITS.
Tliclr riensures niul Amusements
How Tlicy Work : ml What Tlicy
KnriiA Hey \Vlio Owns Kent
Eatntp Idf * In n Dry
Goods Uo.Ktc. .
( Written for tttc OmnJm Sumlny lice. . ]
An article on the newsboys of Omaha
to bo comprehensive in Its scope would
have to be strung out to a length distaste
ful to the average reader In these days of
torrid weather. Some limited idea , how
ever , of the life and habits of the young
street Arabs who sell the dally papers ,
may bo given perhaps in brief space.
Till : Nl'.WSIIOYS.
There are about twenty boys who
make a business of selling daily papers.
About half of these sell morning papers.
The other half arc lee lazy or too inde
pendent to make the exertion which the
selling of both morning and evening
papers involves. Of ' .he score or more
boys who sell in the evening
all but flvo or six soil the
UKB alone , for to use the expression
of one young merchant , 'Mat's do only
paper dat sells worth a continental in do
evenin' . " Promptly at live o'clock the
morning newsboys begin to gather about
the different offices , and by half past live
they are "stocked up" and commence to
patrol their various beats with the cry ,
" ' mornin'BKK Herald Re
"Hero's.ycr , or
publican. " They keep on the jump
until r.bout nine o'clock , or at Ihc latest
ten or half past , when all their papers
are disposed of. A good , active boy can
sell easily twenty or thirty papers in u
morning , and us many or more in the
evening , even without any partii-ulur
sensation to cause an unusual sale. Tlie
evening boys begin their labor about four
or half past , ami by seven or eight
o'clock have disposo'l of all their papers.
Some of the boys fill in the hours between
the Issue of the morning and evening
papers bv blacking "boots , and thereby
add considerably to their earnings.
HIS KAItNINtiS.
It is a mistaken idea entertained by
many people that the newsboy , work as
he may , can earn but just barely enough
to keep body and soul together. The
fact is , on the other hand , that , a smart ,
active newsboy earns as much or more
than the average dry goods clerk. It is
no uncommon thing for one of these
bright youngsters to make $8 or $10 a
week , or even as hiffh us $14. Ten dollars
lars a WOOK tfould be a fair average for
the most active of thu newsboys and
these owning the most lucrative corners.
Ilis profits are small to bo sure , for ho
makes but two and a half cents on each
paper. But then his sales are quick , es
pecially when he has anything to cry out
in the way of a sensation. During tlio
presidential election , and for days there
after , it is no uncommon thing for the
newsboys to make from : f4 to $8 per
day.
THE NKWSUOYS * "llKAT. "
As already intimated , each boy has his
"beat" or corner , on which lie is allowed
bell. Woo to the unprincipled newsboy
who itvyudes the territory of n follow
merchant"If ! lho injured party is big
enough he promptly proceeds to thump
the transgressor in a manner befitting an
apostle of the great John L. If , on the
other hand , the pirate is too large for the
other man , the latter promptly gathers
some of his friends to his aid , anil thus
backed up "sails into" his adversary.
However , instances of such transgres
sions arc lure indeed. There is a sort of
unwritten law among the boys on this
subject which is tacitly respected and
obeyed.
The best corners in tlio city are re
spectively the postofliceeornerFiftconth (
and Dodge , ) Fifteenth and Douglas , Fif
teenth and Farnam , the Paxton corner ,
Thirteenth and Farnam and Thirteenth
and Douglas. These various beats
are hold by the boys accord
ing to the length of time they
have been selling papers , the oldest boys
always being given the best , The post-
ollico corner is held , for instance , by n
newsboy named "Hunchy , " ( on account
of his crippled back ) who has sold in
Omaha for four or five years past. He is
seventeen years old and is regarded the
leader of the local fraternity. Tlio
younger boys are allowed to soil papers
oil the corners which are less frequented
and consequently do not afford such a
lively trade as these hold by the older
boys. If a newsboy for any reason quits
the business ho sells his corner to the
highest bidder. A choice beat frequently
brings from live to ten dollon * .
"HIS IIA11ITS ANIJ AMUSEMICNT3.
As a general thing tie ! newsboy docs
not save up much monoy. He has ample
opportunity to do so , to bo suro. His
earninirs.as have been seen , arc consider
able , while his expenses are light. Ho
pays no attention to the fashion , and
therefore squanders no money on stylish
dress or high living , lint he is fond of
going to tlio theatre , anil spends n deal
of money in that way. "Crap shoot
ing , " a species of gambling , already no
ticed in tlio HKB , fascinates him , ami ho
frequently loses in playing that game
the earnings of a week. The
huso ball pool rooms are his especial de
light. Ho contributes regularly to their
support. Sometimes no wins a good-
sized stake , but moro frequently ho is
"blanked , " Tobacco ami , It must bo
confessed , liquor , cause frequent outlays
on his part , nnd form a heavy item of ex
pense in his cash account. So that alto
gether ho has little inclination to save.
Besides , in many cases ho is obliged to
turn in all or nearly all of his
wages to his parents , who nro fre
quently depend almost entirely upon
his earnings for support. There
is ono , briirht active newsboy hero , how
ever , who is an exception to the rule and
Is saving up his money by the safest pro-
cuss , u real estate investment. Ho bought
u city lot in ono of the additions some
time ago , and has been making monthly
payments on it ever since. Ho now has
it nearly paid for. That boy is bound to
make his murk in this world.
now UK LIVES ,
The life of u newsboy is not in nil re
spects pleasant to contemplate Some
times he lives with his parents , who are
respectable , fairly well-to-do people ,
lint moro frequently ho is ODIII-
polled to hunt his lodgings in
barns , dry goods boxes and
structures of that sort. A lauro , spacious
dry goods box , provided with n little hay ,
is to him a bonanza , and ho can accom
modate himself to it with astonishing
case. For , bo it understood , the newsboy
believes in spending as little as possible
on food or lodging. If ho hau but ! 15
cents in his pockets ho would go supper-
less and sleep in a spacious
doorway rather than miss n scat in Uio
gallery at noino blood-und-thundor theat
rical performance. If any ono doubts that
the nowsbovs , and their companions the
boot blacks" are regular patrons of the
theatres , lot him take up his btation at
the gallery door some night nnd watch
the motley throng tiling in , Tun to one
that not a lamb of the Hock would be
missing. A J. KENUWCK.
UIJATIt OK PATH Kit UliltOlN.
V Prominent Kote innUc , formerly
of Omnhn , Dioi in Ht. Iiotiio.
Rev. John F. Herein , 8. J. , vice presl-
lent and chancellor of the St , Louis uni
versity , ant ! formerly of Crcighton
college In this city died at the
lovltiuto of the Jesuit fathers at Floris-
lant , Mo. , on last Tuesday evening shortly
before 11 o clock. Father Hcrgin
was ill for several months preceding his
loath , anil this sad event was not
altogether unexpected. The illness which
resulted fatally was consumption ,
he result of a cold the con
tracted last April. He grow gradually
worse , but still remaliud at Ids posi
tion in active discharge of Ids onerous
tilth's. During the month of Juno his
IIness took a bad turn , anil it was de
cided by his physician to have him leave
the university for Florissant , where It
was thought he would sion improve. Ho
eft the college about a week before the
commencement exorcisiM were held , but
; hc fresh country air could not build up
Ids shattered constitution. Despite the
care given him by the medical profession
and the members of the order , he eon-
[ inued to grow worse every day , bear
ing his pains and siilVeriugs
wintort- Mrn.Miii : ,
until Tuesday night , when ho eulmly
expired , with several of the Jesuit
fathers at his bedside.
Father Bergin was born in Cincinnati
about thirty-years ago , and wont to St.
Louis with his parents when less than live
years of ago. Ilis lather , Michael Borgin ,
engaged in the upholstering businessami
succeeded in building up ti large and
paying establishment. Ills reputation
for honesty and integrity won for him a
large circle of friends both in business
and social life. Mr. Bergiu and his wife
were devoted members of the Komuu
Catholic church , and when John , their
eldest son , was old enough
to attend school ho was
sent to the St. Louis university
where ho remained for about six years ,
proving a verv successful student. Ho
evinced a strong desire to become a priest ,
and his wish was readily granted by his
parents. He was admitted to the novitiate
; it Florissantwhere ho completctUyithem
inent success the course prescribed uy
the fathers in charge. By way of con
tinuing his studies lor the holy otlice , ho
was next sent to the Jesuit college at
Woodstock , Mil. , afterwards
hlTOYIXO AND TKAOIIlXf !
at the Cincinnati , St. Louis and
Creighton college in this city ,
colleges. While at the St. Louis univer
sity "in the capacity of professor and
scholastic ho was made prefect and
placed in charge of the playgrounds and
study-hall. While in this position he
merited the respect and lore of all the
pupils attending the university at that
time , liver kind and courteous , and will
ing to help along all the students falling
behind their classes , ho established a rep
utation which will always be remembered
by those attending the institution at that
time. On completing his theological and
other studies , and attaining the requisite
age , he was ordained in February. 188:5 : ,
together with several other scholas
tics , by Archbishop Kcnriek ,
the solemn ceremonies taking
place in the old College church on
Ninth and Christy avenue. In the sum
mer of 1885 arrangements were made to
place Father Schapman. who was the
vice prcsiue.nt ot St Louis university , ) ! !
charge of the new Je.suitehurch at Kansas
City , and the newly ordained Father Bor-
gin was selected to succeed him. The
position was ono which required precise
judgment , and ability to perform consid
erable work , and no one was thought
more competent to fill it than
Father Bergin. Although not quito
thirty-one years of age , he was assigned
to lill the position , ho being the youngest
father ever placed
IN TUB Vlt'K I'liESIUENT'S CHAIIt.
The same zeal and energy which car
ried him so successfully through his
career as a scholastic , entered into ins
work as vice president , and the manner
in which ho discharged the duties of the
position won for him the respect and
esteem of professors and pupils. Ho
was a thorough scholar and an eloquent
and able speaker.
Cut down , as it were , on the very
threshold of a useful career , his death
will bo regretted by all with whom ho
over came in contact , either as a scholas
tic or priest.
His father died in August , 1878 , and loft
his establishment in charge of Michael ,
liis second eldest son.
AT niEimrrox COLLEGE.
Father Bergin was connected with
Creighton college in this city for three
years. Ho had charge at different times
of the second anil lirst humanities , and
the class in poetry and rhetoric. The lat
ter was the class with which he was last
assoeiated.when in 188) ) ho left the city for
St. Louis. He was one of the most val
uable professors which Creighton college
had had up to that time. His educa
tion was complete In all ho was called
upon to give instruction , while his
method of imparting , information was
not less remarkable for its success in ac
complishing the work which devolved
upon him. With a class in the lirst years
or a now collegiate institution , which re
quired judicious handling to both sco and
appreciate the advantages of n classical
education , Mr. Bergin wrought ;
with wondrously happy re
sults. Its members became devot
ed to their studies , pursued them with
gratifying industry , so much so that
when he ceased Ins connection with them
they had advanced even beyond the stan
dard required in the examination for pro
motion.
With his students , Father licrgin was
both a teacher , a companion and friend.
He presided over them in class , associated
with them at their homes and took part
in their recreations anil their games.
As a scholar in Knglish literatureFather
Borgin , for a young man was somewhat
remarkable. IBs knowledge of the early
classics ot the language was extensive ,
while that of later works and those of the
time * was scarcely excelled bv any mem
ber of his order.
Ho was a writer of exceeding brilliancy
and force , anil now anil then wove
into poetry a number of pieces of remark
able grace and beauty.
As a speaker , ho was ornnto , earnest
and effective , and displayed the reason
ing power of a logician with the ease and
dignity anil grace of a natural orator
who had studied the beauties of his art.
Than him , there hail been
up to Ills time. no moro
popular member of Crolghton's faculty.
Though of easy ami rather retiring dis
position , ho was generally known among
the friends and patrons of the institution
and as generally respected and esteemed.
His death will bo sad and unexpected
intelligence to all his friends , because ,
when last seen in Omaha , ho appeared us
if he was blessed with health anil strength
to renli/.o in a long anil useful life , the
anticipation of his friends and the utili
zation of both his acquirements and his
natural gifts.
Father Berlin's death will prove a
hard blow to his mother , four brothers
and two sisters who survive him. They
took a prulu in his success in the sacred
calling , which he preferred to the high
position his talents anil ability would
have raised him to in any worldly pro
fession.
Tlio funeral took place at 10:20 :
o'clock Thursday morning atthonovitlato
at Florissant. Ucquicm mass wua
celebrated in the chapel In
the presence , of the mem
bers of the order and the mother , broth
ers and sisters of the deceased. Follow
ing the .services the remains were iu >
terrcd in the cemetery on the groundd.