12 THE OMAHA DALLY BEE : SUNDAY , AUGUST 22 , laSO.-TWELVE PAGES.
A BATTLE ON THE PLAINS ,
How Scv6n Bravo Men Withstood nn Indian
Attack.
A Desperate IJnttlc on tlic Big Clicy-
CIIIIP lUvcr The Advantage of
Cool lloadH and Cnrefill
Calculation.
After tlio clo o of tlio civil war four or
five bodk-s of cavalry wore scut to the
plains to servo out their unoxpircd terms
byKivliiKtlicIinlian.su rub. At Jules-
burg n part of the force fcmtcd to tlio
South in C'olorailo , anil the rest proceeded
to Fort Laramie and thunuo raided to
ward tin1 HI ick Hills. White atul Iiulian
scouts were furnished by tliogovoniment ,
utul the cavalry was not IOIIK in Unding
Indians and plenty to do. In July , 18)"ia )
force of JJ.IO cavalry lull Laramie for a
raid to tnc nortli. With this force were
live white and foven Indian scouts , llic
body of troifp.s was scarcely live miles
from the fort when Indians were sighted ,
and before going ' " ' ° fl1nP | f"1' tlio
night at least COO IndiaiiH had shown
tlicmsolvcs. The Indians did not seek to
obstruct the way , and there was hardly u
Klin llred until the fourth day when the
troops reached the south fork of the Big
Cheyenne ritior. 'J'he Illuck Hills were
close at hand now , the country was
rough and broken and
TIIU ISMANS HAD OATIir.HKl )
until their number was estimated at 1,200.
It was evident from their actions that
they were determined to oppose further
progress. The brigadjor-gonoral in com
mand had done good lighting in Virginia
but had never .seen a wild Indian before.
He was tor adopting the tactics practised
in civili/.nd warfare , but luckily for the
command , he was an olllcer without
obstinacy or conceit. This scouts warned
him that a big light was impending , and
that it must 1m fought Indian fashion , or
not a man of them would return to the
fort. lie accepted their advice and
countermanded the orders he had given
for pushing out small dctatchmcnts to
charge the Indians , The idea had been
to find the Indians and light them. The
caruj ) on the bank of the stream was a
good defensive position , bullion a blufl
well covered with trees. The camp extended -
tended along a front of half a mile , tak
ing in a sort of grove. To the west there
wns an interval of a quarter of a mile
and then a smaller grove , while to the
east tlio ground was clear for milrs. The
attack lirst came from the Indians. At
day-light they sent forward sharpshoot
ers , who crept as near the camp as possi
ble and opened lire with considerable
cfl'cct Tins was speedily returned from
the rillcs of the scouts and the carbines
of the trooper * , but after an hour the
men were ordered to
SAVK TIIKlIt AMMUNITION' .
During the firing a largo number of
Indians crossed to the north side of the
stream and opened fire from that direc
tion , but they wasted their bullets. It
was afternoon before the tight , opened in
real earnest. At least 500 dismounted
Indians advanced on the front of the
camp , taking advantage of every rock
and hollow , and although the camp could
not have been better sheltered , a number
of men and horses were hit within an
hour. It was soon discovered that the
real attack was to be made on the right
flank. Mounted Indians to the number
of 1500 gathered on the open ground be
tween the groves for a dash into the
camp. With the troops strung out on
such long front , and having plenty to do ,
a Hank attack meant disaster , and the
commander prepared to checkmate it.
.Fifty men were ordered into the saddle
under cover of the trees , and at the blast
of the bugle seven troopers found them
selves cut oil'from the main body. One
of them was a cornoral and as soon as lie
saw the situation ho ordered the squad to
make for the second grove. They
reached this , to find it about half an acre
in extent , the gionnd not only well cov
ered with trees , but broken in natural
rifle pits and dotted hero and there with
boulders. Tlio troopers reached the
grove amid a shower of bullets and ar
rows , which , fortunately , injured no one ,
and instead of trying to cover the whole
ground , they took up a position at the
eastern end and throw nn a breastwork
of logs and rocks. Wnilo they were
working at this , every one of their horses
wore killed and the men added their bodies
ies to the breastwork.
Till ! KNTIHK FOUCE OK INDIANS
now crowded in between tlio two groves ,
thus cutting oil'all hopes that the seven
troopurs might bo rescued by a charge.
The larger body was hold under a very
hot fire , and every man in it felt tint the
squadron thus cut oil'would be butchered
within half an hour. It was well for the
seven that the corporal v/as a cool and
JeveJ-headed man. All wore veterans ,
but it was their first Indian fight. His
first instructions were to count theircart-
ridges , Some had sixty , having just berm
served before the chariru , others had as
high as seventy-two , thus making the
average sixty-live rounds per man. In
addition to their Spencers each man had
n Remington revolver with abundance of
ammunition. From the moment they in
trenched in the grove at least K03 Indians
turned their whole attention to wiping
the little command out , A fire was
maintained on a complete crescent. The
troopers did not fire one return shot for
nearly an hour. Then , as the emboldened
Indians began to creep nearer , the
Sponcors were brought into play for ton
rounds apiece , and at least twenty In
dians were killed or wounded. From a
tree in the larger camp one of the scouts
saw them boar oil' fourteen warriors in
their arms and six or eight more went
limping out of the fight without help.
Five hundred bullets a minute during the
hottest of the fight struck the breast work ,
but not one of its defenders were injured.
About an hour before sundown it was
FCOII that the Indians were getting ready
for
A OltAND ADVANCE
on the isolated troopers. A sudden rush
from all sides would result in the capture
of the men , Not one of their carbines
had boon heard for the last hour , and no
onu could say whether they were dead or
alive. The general belief was that they
were dead. The ground was favorable
for the Indians to advance on horseback ,
and some 200 of them formed in the
valley in one single lino. The firing all
at once ceased ami with a "Yi yi yilM the
redskins dashed forward at the grove ,
the ends of the line riding the fastest seas
as to completely envelop the position hold
by the troonors. It was as square a
charge as white men over made , but
when the line was within nistol shot of
the prove the seven troopers sprang put
of tnolr fort , opened out in skirmishing
order , and the way the once trails from
those carbines screamed among the In
dians was something to make one cheer.
The men hadn't tired three rounds apicco
before the line was wavering , and as they
kept it up the charge degenerated into a
mob. Tiicro was cheering , yelling ,
shooting , and rushing to and fro , lie-
twcon the reports of tlio Spencers wo got
the crack of the revolvers and the snap
of the rifles , but the smoke t > ottlcddo\yn
eo thick that all objects were speedily
shut out. While we encored our comrades
for
THE DIIAVK DKKENCE
they were making , no one had the Joust
hone of es apOi You can , therefore ,
judge of our amazement when , after the
] > jcors had seemed to lire in volleys
ff ) r five tlmes.tho seven troopers came
/ JfinK in under the smoke cloud.
J /rco of thorn were wounded with bulleta
jd three with arrows , but none serious
ly They had fought with n plan and
tlii'ir plan had been a sUccuss.
The defence and escape was a matter
of wonderment to Indian lighters as well
as ( jrcen hands and particularly * > o in the
loss to the Indians. Three months later
when a ort ot trnco had been pa'.ehcd up
they admitted a direct loss from the de
fence of these ovcn men , of nineteen
killed , eleven wound"d. awl ten ponies
killed or rendered u.sclcss. They with
drew without making another serious
attack upon u . having suH'ered a total
loss of thirty-two killed and about as
many wounded.
Cant , Swift nnil Ills Valiant rive.
A dofonce in whieh were combined
pluck , endurance. snllV'ring and despera
tion was that of I aptain Swift and his
five companion * , near the forks of the
ITg Cheyenne. They were all citizens ,
anil all on their way mlo the Black Hills
country on foot. Swift hud been a cap
tain in"a border company raised to light
Indians in northern Nebraska , and wan
the only one in ( lie lot who had ever meta
a hostile. Swift and two companions
found the other three prospectors near
tin- forks , and it was agreed that all
should push further west In company.
Kvery man was armed with a Win *
Chester and two revolvers , and each
carried several hundred rounds of ammu
nition. The men had broken camp live
miles below the forks , and were on the
south bank of the main stream , when
they were attacked by thirty-live mounted
Indians. The whites were on footand had
the shelter of tinibernlongtho banks , and ,
although they were harrassed fora couple
of hours , no one was hurt , and the march
v as not greatly retarded. However , as
they reached the forks the force of In
dians .suddenly increased to over one
hundredand as they not only barred the
way but cut oil' retreat , Swift realized
that the little band must go into camp
and prepare for a siege. They drove the
Indians down the south fork about half a
mile , until getting possession of a blull'
which was well covered with timber , and
here they entrenched. A natural sink
was deepened with hatchets and knives ,
a few rocks and limbs were piled up
around the edges , and th men got into
therillo pit , knowing that the odds were
twenty to one , and that there could be not
the faintest hope of reinforcements.
The Indians could not approach the
blull' except under lire. After they had
maintained a fusillade for upward of an
hour without harm to the partythoy sent
forward a ling of truce by half breeds who
could sneak Kugllsh tolerably well. Swift
went forward to the edge of the timber to
meet him , and the men in the pit were
warned to bo on their guard against
treachery , and to shoot down any other
Indian who sought to approach while a
parley was being hold. The half breed
came forward without fear. It was evi
dently his object to get near enough to
see wiiat sort of a defonco the men had
erected and to be sure of their number ,
but Swift had ballled him in this by
meeting him outside ot the timber. The
two were iii rifle shot of both forces , and
as the half breed rode up he demanded
the immediate surrender of the party.
He said that 120 Indians were on the
ground with others coming up in the
afternoon , and that it was folly for the
whites to think of holding out against such
a force. In case of surrender they would
bo disarmed and set at liberty to make
their way out of the country , but if the
Indians were compelled to light them tea
a surrender thov could expect no jnorcy.
Swift replied that his party did not
peek war with the red men. They were
going into the Black Hills witli hundreds
of others to prospect for gold , and only
asked to be let alone. They had been at
tacked without provocation , and they
should light to the uittcr end. The half
breed had his rifle lying across his saddle
'
while he talked , w'lulc Swift leaned on
his. The captain suspected what would
follow his refusal to surrender. The half
breed once more put his demand , and as
it was refused ho suddenly raised his
weapon and fired at Swift , and then
wheeled his pony. The men were not
over ton feet apart , and the bullet passed
between Swift's left arm and his side ,
cuttinjj through his coat. Had lie raised
his rillo to lire a return shot ho would
have boon a dead man. for the action of
the half breed was the signal for fifty
Indian rifles to ring out. Swift dropped
iii his tracks and crept' b-ick to the rille
nit unarmed ; but he was revenged before
lie reached it. One of the men had kept
the half breed covered with his Winches
ter , and as ho turned to gallon away he
received a bullet in ll.o bacK which ifiing
him from the saddle and loft him deaden
on the ground. The redskins had been
beaten at their own game , and they gave
vent to their chagrin and anger in shouts
and yells and individual demonstrations.
In ten minutes they were firing all along
the line , and some of them took advan
tage of the ground to approach within
pistol shot of the rille pit.
Swift's instructions to the men were
not to waste a bullet. The Indians had
to expose themselves more or less , and
by watching for opportunities and keep
ing cool the men in the pit made some
telling shots. Before sundown they had
killed or wounded a do/.eu savages and
forced the others to exercise far "greater
caution. Not over thirty shots were lired
from tlio pit during the afternoon. As
night approached the want of water be
gan to bo felt. No one had had a drop
since the morning. One of the men
crept back to the bank of the river to sec
what the prospects were for getting down
to tlio water , and ho was instantly killed
by a bullet lired from tlio other side of
the stream. His fate was not known
until darkness came on and a second
man went to look for him. The bank
was very steep , twelve or fourteen
feet high , and it would have been extremely -
tremoly dilllcult to get down to the
stream had there been no danger. The
attempt to secure water was abandont d
for the time. All the provisions in the
parly were in a raw slate , and. of cour.-'o ,
no lire could bo lighted. Soon after
dark the fire of the Indians ceased en
tirely. They probably reasoned that it
was only a question of a few hours more
when the white men would fall into their
hands , and they had maintained such a
hot tire through the day that their ammu
nition must have been running low.
Tlio death of Wolcottcast a gloom over
the party , but no ono weakened. Alans
toward midnight , when everything had
grown very quiet , Captain Swift tried for
water. A cottonwood leaned on" over the
bank until ono in its top would bo over
the water , A canteen was lowered by a
rope after Swilt got into position , hut
sonii ) elight noise was made , whieh
caused tlio Indians on the opposite bank
to open lire , and before Swilt could do-
scund from the tree a bullet wounded him
in the calf of the leg. Ho crept back to
the rilla pit and bandaged the wound ,
and In fifteen minutes would have given
a year of his life for a pint of water.
Various methods for obtaining what all
now really suH'orod for were suggested
and rejected. Tiicro was only ono way.
It must bo got from tlio true it at all. An
hour or two after Swift was shot a man
named Cooper crept out on the tree and
lowered the canteen , Ho succeeded in
drawing up a few swallows of water , and
at once hastened to Swift. The
captain's wound of course sot him
in a fever , and while ho could have
gulped down u quart he had only a gill ,
Cooper r itnrned to the true , and in low
ering the canteen lost it , Another rope
was oxtcmpori/.cd and a coll'ecpot low
ered , lint the Indians in some manner
got a hint of what was going on and
again opened tiro. While Cooper ws
not wounded , ho witj driven to the pit ,
and all further hope of securing water
was abandoned. Not u man slept a wink
during the night , it ucing generally
understood that the Indians might make
a rush any moment. As early dawn
came n shot was fired from the top of a
tree in the edge of the .grovo , which
struck u mau named Abbot in tlio head
and killed him instantly. A second shot
immediately followed , but hit no one.
U was at once discovered tliat two Indian
sharpshooters had climbed into the tree
during the night , and from their eleva
tion could look down into the rillo pit.
They could not bo seen , but two of the
men opened a rapid lire on tlio tree , and
after about twenty-live . liot had been
fired both redskins were tumbled to the
ground. Their fall was the signal for
the ball to open all along the line , ami
again the bullels wlu//.ed over the pit
like legions of angry bees. The Indians
were pretty cautious anout exposing
themselves but during the forenoon
three of them were seen to drop , either
hard hit or killed outright.
From noon to 5 o'clock not a shot was
fired on either ide , and from 5 to sun
down the Indians lired only nboiit a
do/.en times nillicicnt to warn llm white
inon that the seige was still on. Hunger
now compelled the men to'oat raw bacon
and lloiir , and the torments ot thirst were
increased. Swift siifl'orod far more than
the others , being wounded , but not a
complaint parsed Tils lips. He was too
stiU'aud sore to leave the pit , but about
10 o'clock ono of the men volunteered to
try for water. Some of the Indians had
swam across and were located under the
bank While they could not climb it , or
at least did not , they were at hand to
prevent the men from getting water.
It was Foster who went out on tlio trco
this time , and he had not yet lowered
the vessel when a bullet Knocked his cap
oil' , a second struck the stock of his rille ,
and a third went through the coll'co pot.
He reached the pit unwounded , however ,
and Swift advised that no one cl c should
expose himself. They dug up the roots
around them and got slight consolation
from chewing them , and again the morn
ing broke. It soon became evident that
the Indians intended to finish their work.
They were whooping and shouting all
along the line , anil seemed in good
spirits.
An hour after daylight the whole line
advanced on the pit , each i-mlskin work
ing along under the best shelter he could
find. There were only four men to de
fend the pit , but armed as they wereand
desperate us they had become , the odds
were not so "rout. They lired cooly yet
rapidly , and they not only halted the
line , but at one point where three bucks
were killed within ton seconds of each
oilier a panic occurred. Thirty or more
Indians rose up in a body for a rush , but
the lire broke them before they had made
a jump. The four men had tlio six rilles ,
and their revolvers were lying beside
them for the emergency which
all expected. The peril of
the morning did not last
twenty minutes. The bullied Indians
retreated back to their old position , and
about 9 o'clock withdrew so quietly that
their going was not suspected lor another
hour. They went on masse , leaving not
even a scout behind. When the four men
had secured water and something to eat
they took a look over the battle ground.
The carcasses of seven ponies had been
left behind , and there were plenty of
blood stains to prove thus their Winchesters -
tors had not thrown away all their load.
A Dog-Sioux , who was afterward em
ployed as a scout at Fort Sully , told the
military authorities that thirteen Indians
were killed and twenty-one wounded in
the light , and that the Indians felt them
selves fairly whipped. Other intlians re
ported the number killed at nineteen ,
and the wounded at thirty , but they
asserted that the number of whites was
fourteen.
Ijlterury Noten.
"Adventures of an Old Maid , " is one
of the most humorous books ever pub
lished , anil superior to "A Bad Boy's
Diary , " which has attained a wide repu
tation. Her adventures will draw tears
from a stone , and those who enjoy wjt
and humor should not fail to read this
book. It is handsomely illlustrated and
will bo sent in paper cover for 25 cents ,
or in cloth for fiO cents to any address by
.1. S Ogilvic & Co , 31 Rose street , New
York.
The illustrations in the September mini
bcr of the Magazine of Art would make a
beautiful little album by themselves. 'J'ho
nuinbir opens with a suggestive uapor
on "Art in Australia , " by It. A. Steven-
son. W.J. I lender.on writes of "Some
Now York Theaters , " giving description
with illustrations of the Casino , the Ly-
cum and the Madison Square theatres ,
thrco which exhibit most the quaintness
and beauty of recent theatrical arclii-
tcctuio "Current Art" describes _ a
largo number of recent pictures and the
methods of many prominent artists.
Quentin Motsy , whoso story is one of
those stranger than fiction is the hero of
the present article on tlio "Romance of
Art" by Annie K. Evans. Francis
Watt's descriptive article on "The
Rapid Spoy" gives iv roman
tic account of the storied castles ,
mountains and lochs of that lovely region ,
while Claude Philipps describes "Tlio
Picture Gallery at Dorchester House , "
which he thinks deserves to bo known
niuch better than it is. A very entertain
ing contribution on the subject of "Fe
male Headgear , " by Richard Heath ,
teaches resignation to the present high ,
but comparatively low , bonnets and hats
that intercept our view at the theatre ,
with vivid presentment , literary and pic
torial , of the extraordinary head-dresses
of the eighteenth century. One exquisite
illustration in the number is that of "A
Nunnery at Bruycs"auda noteworthy
page is filled with Austin Dobson's dainty
verses , daintily set in a frame ot Fred-
crick Barnard'sdrawings. ' Casscll & Co. ,
limited , Now York , $3.50 u year.
Tlio Quiver for September opens with
two particularly charming pictures. In
solid articles it gives "Workingmen on
the Sunday Question , " bearing testimony
that many of the class supposed to bo
bonelitted objoot seriously to the opening
of museums and galleries on Sunday , an
article on Uudhu as ono of the "False
Prophets in the Past , " "Sunday Musings
in the Lake District. " "Truth tor tlio
Times , " by Rov. , ) HilosIIitchonsgiving
valuable hints in the matter of reading ,
with religious papers on "Tho Dream of
Gideon , ( ho Soldier , " and on "Tho
Burning Bush. " The serials still leave
us in pleasant suspense , and there are
two short stories , ono with a scapegrace
son , and ono with a troublesome daugh
ter , to bo reformed through stifled ng ,
while another serial. "Airs. Scott's
Daughters , " begins with promise ,
AGAINST CREMATION.
An Ofllcliil Declaration From tlio Vat
ican oil tlio .Sulileol of
Cremation.
The Holy Ollico has boon asked by
many Catholics about the cremation of
the dead , a custom which is rapidly ex
tending in Italy. The ollco ! has just ren
dered tlio following decree :
1 , IK it permissible to alllliato with
societies whoso aim is to increase the
ciihtom of cremation of the dead ?
2 , Is it permissible cither to have one's
own body or that of any ono clso cre
mated ?
The most eminent and reverend car
dinal fathers , inquisitors-general on matters -
tors of the faith , after having seriously
and for a long time examined the pro
posed questions , and after having con
sulted the reverend advisors , have de
cided to reply :
To the lir.st question negatively , and if
the societies mentioned have any alliliu-
lion with the Masonic sect , the members
will bo subject to the penance intlictjtl
uion ) Masons.
To the second question negatively ,
Upon this report being made to our
holy father , Pope Leo XIII. , his holiness
has approved and confirmed the resolu
tions of the most eminent fathers , and
has decreed that they shall bo transmitted
to rectors of parishes In order that they
shall take pains to instruct the faithful
concerning this culpable abuse in burn
ing the human body , and in order that
they shall turn from it the Hocks entrusted
to thuir euro.
WASHINGTON MILLIONAIRES ,
Who and What They nra and How They
Have Made Theitroitunes.
John \V. Thompson TfmTliroc Cancer
\VlllimlN-Other MiltloiinlrcB-
A For ( line In Asjilinlt Tel
ephone Hell , Warder ,
anil tlio .MelieatiH.
Frank 0. Carpenter , writing from
Washington to the Cleveland Leader ,
says : Washington is fait becoming a city
of rich men. There art ) ten men hero
now worth fiOOi09 tn-.oiifi worth that
amount in 1800. The Platesmon llicm-
selves are richer and not a few of them
now own property here. The two rich
est citizens are W. W. Corcoran , who has
given away three-fourths as much as he
is now worth , and John \V. \ Thompson ,
who is one of the most enlerprlsing inon
in the district. Corcoran Is the wealthi
est , and he is probably worth several mil
lions. He has given away not less than
if 1:1,000,000 : or -1,000,000 in charities , and
ho is giving all the time. Ho began llfo
us clerk in his father's shoo store , and I
am told that his father was a shoemaker.
Ono of Corcoran's lirst enterprises was
in the dry goods business , and he kept a
dry goods store lu Georgetown. I think
ho was connected in this enterprise with
Cteorgo Peabody , who afterward became
so noted as a charitable millionaire.
IJoth Corcoran and Peabody got their
blurt in connection with Klishu Riggs , u
banker of Georgetown and Washington ,
and Riggs1 , Peabody and Corcoran have
all amassed great wealth.
I'OUrillUN'M 1'II.K.
Corcoran was not very successful in
dry goods , and Riggs established him as
a banker in Washington in connection
with Ids son. Ho succeeded in banking ,
showed a good deal of nerve in making
investments , and gradually accumulated
a good capital. When tlm Mexican war
broke out the New York bankers were
afraid of the bonds of the United States ,
and Corcoran got the placing of the loan
Ho went to London to do this , and did
not succeed very well there. When he
came back to Ni-w York Wall street tried
to break him up and they sold tiio uonds
short. He quietly bought them , and after
a time they found that ho had the whole
thing in his hands The bonds went up
like a shot and he made a nice thing out
of it. He has also made a irrcat deal of
money in Washington real estate , and
he owns property all over Washington.
He lives just opposite the Wliito house ,
surrounded by a big garden , and his
house is the ono in which Daniel Web
ster used to live. It is richly furnished ,
but Corcoran is too old to enjoy it very
well. Ho is a tall , line-looking , fat old
fellow of eighty-six , who has a body ser
vant i-i livery to hold ; , his arm as ho
moves about in and outuof his carriage
over Washington. He drcs'Hcs well , is a
man of culture and education , and has
known all the proniinonfrpublic men for
years. His real property , in Washington
is assessed at ? 8U ! , ! 01.
A HAXKKIt MI1.I.K.I.VAIKE.
John W , Thompson must be about
thirty years younger tliait Corcoran. Ho
is a good looking man with a healthy
complexion and u blue eye. Ho is : i
p-ood talker , is noted for his common
sense , and is one of tlio shrewdest and
most public spirited nieniof the capital.
He has made all his millions himself ,
aiul ho had something of. a. capital when
lie camu from Now York city about the
timcPiorco was president .ami opened a
plumbing establishment. .iHo found a
city of less than 50,030. ' Property was
low and plumbing and gas lilting was
very crudely done by tlio Washington
workmen. Mr. Thompson soon got a
foothold. Ho invested in real estate ,
and in 1872 lie retired from the plumbing
establishment a rich man. He hail been
always actively interested in district ai-
fairs , and he now became a member of
the common council over the then legis
lative government of the city Ho be
came a bank president and was largely
interested in steamship and street car
lines. Ho had lines of steamers running
from Norfolk to Nw York , and ho is the
president of the National Metropolitan
bank of Washington , which has been the
leading bank hero since the days of Mad
ison. Ho has made money right along
and still makes it , though 1 think ho
now feels us though about to retire. Ho
lives wull at Washington , and has a line
brown stone mansion just next to that of
Chief Justice Waite on I street. Ho is
in the swim of fashionable society , and
has perhaps more inlluonco than any
other rich man in Washington.
TUB WII.I.AK1) HltoniEKS
are all rich , and common report puts
each of them down as a millionaire.
There are thrcu of them , Joseph , Henry ,
and Caleb , and a queer trio they aro.
.loo Willard is the oldest and the richest.
Mo owns the largest part of Willard's
hotel , and ho has lots of real estate and
government bonds. Ho is worth at least
between one or two millions , but ho lives
in an old brick house with green window
shutters close to the business part of F
street , and the blinds of his house are al
ways closed. Ho is a sort of a hermit ,
though I would hardly call him a
misanthrope. Ho is a tall , well built
man , with slightly stooping shiuldors
and a big head covered with hair us white
as newly washed wool. Ho has heavy
eyebrows of silver , and under these lierco
black eyes sliiuo out at yon as he talks.
Ho is a church member , and attends the
Presbyterian church every Sunday. Ho
always dresses in the newest clothes.
His linen is of the whitest , his shoes of
the blackest and his kid gloves , often
crouin colored , are always now and fresh.
His ollieo is in strange contrast with his
dross. You reach it by a pair of shaokly
stairs , and it looks moro like tha room of
a broken down tenement house than
thu workshop of a millionaire. Upon
its mantel are fifty or sixty
little ii-ccnt Ink bottles , the contents
of which Joe Willard has used , but which
his natural aciuisitiveiies ] .wlll not allow
him to throw away , lie is not noted for
his generosity , but ho is tuHlmrp business
man and money has boon the moving
spring of his life work. Ho came here
with Ids brothers , from Vermont. There
were four brothers at the time , but ono
of them , Kdward , died ill1 the army. I
am told that Jou sold milk at onu time in
Washington , and ho afterwards went to
California ami madn soniu money thoro.
When ho came back lioandH 'nry runted
what is now Willard's hotel of Ogle Tay
lor , and Caleb acted us their clerk and
errand boy. They made money at hotel
keeping and in time bought the building
and improved it until it now occupies
half the block.
Till : I'U'l ) OK TWO IIICIIIIWOTIir.llS.
In the meantime Caleb .Willurd nmdo
some monov , nnil after a while ho bought ,
in connection with his brother Houry ,
thu Kbbitt house. It was a small all'air at
the time and there was a grocery store
on the corner occupied by part of the
present structure. The hotel itself was
farther down F street than it is now.
Caleb wanted to extend the Kbbitt hi'iiso ,
and with this view wanted to buy the
grocery. It was worth perhaps 120,000.
Joo. who owned the Willard hotel , just
across the wav , feared Caleb's competi
tion , and ho has tor years boon trying to
prevent Caleb from extending tlio Kbbitt
hoiiso in every possible way. Ho bid
against him for this grocorv , and I am
told that Caleb had to pay $75,000 for it ,
or neurlv four times what it wai worth ,
before ho could get it. The next lot bo-
low the grocery was * worth per
haps about $12,000 , and the two
lots below this belonged to Henry
Willard. Caleb wanted to extend
the Kbbitt house in this way also , llo
was about to buy this lot ami then build
the Kbbitt on down over Henry's two
lots , but Joe came in again and bid the
property up so that Caleb had to pay
* " ( X',000 for what was worth $12,000. Caleb
secured it at last , however , and the
Kbbitt house now stands on these lots.
It is as big as Willard's hotel and qiitlo us
popuhr. Caleb runs it himself and you
may SOP him in it every day. He is u
smooth-faced man of about lifty , in com
mon business plot hot , and walks about
with nn energetic air The feud between
the two brothers still continues and Joe
owns a little story and a half structure
perhaps t"ii feet wide , which adjoins the
Kbbitt house on F street. It separates
Hie Kbbitt from an Immense building
whieh Caleb owns just below it , ami
though Caleb has tried in a number of
wavs to buy .loo's shanty , Joe will not
sell it at any price. He keeps it in spite
of his brother , and il is u monument
of the quarrel of the two millionaire
Wilhirds. He has provided against
Caleb's gelling it in his will , I am told.
Henry Willard is more of a man of poli
tics and society than his two brothers.
He has been commissioner of the District
of Columbia and you will see his name
connected with the fashionabloeiitertain-
ments of the capital.
A itirn i i.r.KK.
It is not often that government clerks
become wealthy , but Sam Nornienl , the
president of the Central National bank ,
Is a millionaire and was ouco employed
in the government departments. He left
the departments to go into business and
ho had a largo lumber business here dur
ing the war. He is a shrewd business
man and u grout deal of his wealth has
been inado in Washington leal estate.
Ho owns thirty or forty houses over
Washington , and he paints the interiors
of these in nearly every case ? ho same
way , and puts us little paint to the square
inch as possible. Norment's favorite
paints are white for all the woodwork ex
cept the base boards , which are a dirty
brown ,
Sam Normont lives well heio in Wash
ington , and is a pleasant fellow to talk
to. Ho is , 1 should judge , about sixty
years old , and may be set down as worth
at least a million. His wife is also a rich
man's ' daughter , and lie has a prospect of
being in time tlio richest man in Wash
ington.
rr.i.KPiioNi : DKI.I.'S ' .MILLIONS.
Tclonhono Hell lives in Washington
now , and his house cost him more than
$100,000. Ho stands high up in the mil
lions and father-in-law lives
, Ins - - , who
here also , is a millionaire.
Mr. Warder , of Ohio , is another mil
lionaire who has lately settled in Wash
ington , and his investments in Washing
ton property are now made by the tens
ot thousands. Ho is building blocks of
houses hero and there , all over the city ,
and is putting up umagnilicontrcsi'dcnuc
on Sixteenth street.
A. L. Harbor is a man who has made
A KOltTUNi ; IN TUIN1DAI ) ASPHALT.
Barber came hero comparatively poor ,
but he found a lake of asphalt in the top
of a mountain in the Isle ol ° Trinidad. It
is the best asphalt in the world , and
Harbor has secured the right to ] it from
the British government by the payment
of a royalty. Ho has now ono of tlio
l.uest houses in the city. It is a magnifi
cent stone mansion with many towers
and turrets. Il is situated on the hills
above Washington , and the grounds
about it comprise several acres. Old
forest trees surround it , and it is very
near the house of Senator Logan. Bar
ber and Senator Sherman formed u syn
dicate and bought 200 acres surrounding
this house. They have sold it oil' in lots ,
ami have made , 'I suppose , u fortune out
of it , us it bids fair to bo a part of the
fashionable Washington of the future.
Senator Sherman owns considerable
Washington real estate and his hoiiso
hero is worth $40,000. William Walter
Phelps has lands hero and Don Cameron
owns a block or so of land worth about a
dollar a foot , The McLeans , the news
paper men of Cincinnati , own nearly
1,000,000 worth of Washington houses
and lands , and they buy moru every
month.
c.VLKii AVILLAUD'S MANIA.
In speaking of Ciilob Willard I forgot
to mention his mania for repairing. Ho
keeps a little army of carpenters and
painters the year round , and ho person
ally superintends these. Ho lives in a
rambling brick house on Fourteenth
street which he has made into a very
pleasant home by a few slight additions
and plenty of paint. He is now remodel
ing into a business building the residence
which John Quincy Adams used to oc
cupy when ho was secretary of state , and
it is funny to see thu way he. does it. First
ho decided to add one story additional ,
then ho tore nil tins apart and built up
a couple of moro stories. Ho put in a
stone front and is now taking it out
again , and it i& haru to tell what the
building will be like when hn gets done
with it. There are u number of other
men in Washington who are well to do ,
and not a low who are very rich. I don't
think , on the whole , money counts for as
much hero as it does elsewhere. Wash
ington society does not worship the
golden calf us much us does Now York ,
and a man can have less money and bo
more of a man hero than ho can in any
place else in the United States. Of course
money has its weight in Washington , but
the lirst question is not what u man is
worth , but what and who ho is. Brains
and blood count for moro than stocks
and bonds , and 1 know a few very rich
inon who are too poor to get the standing
in Washington society hold by some
$2 , .100 a year politicians.
7owol Frauds.
Pull Mall ( luzetto : There is consternation
tion just now in the Palais Royal , and
the jewelers of Paris have found them
selves the dupes of what has not yet been
pronounced to be a fraud. Last year
they were the victims of a diamond fraud.
The gems found at tlm Cape were moro
plentiful and of inferior quality to the
genuine diamond of lifty years ago , The
fire was less brilliant and the stones had
a yellow tinge. An ingenious manipulator
later steeped them in a violet dye , and
by some chemical process they came
forth from the ordeal a puns and
brilliant white. This industrious
investigator received as the reward of his
research a recompense of six months'
imprisonment , and the Palais Royal jew
elers were for the moment comforted.
But now things are going wrong again.
There are some splendid rubies in tlio
market whoso trouosis it is very dillloult
to account for. Tested chemically , they
answer the true definition of thu Oriental
ruby , analysis shows lliem to consist of
all its constituents and nothing olso.
The chemist is saUnlicil , but the oxnert
has his doubts. The lire i.s not FO bril
liant , and there are certain yellow tones
which the true gem has escaped , It
is suspected that a dillieult problem
has been solved , especially since it is
found that thcsu gems when broken up do
not follow a regular line of cleavage , as a
crystal should , but split in all directions.
It is suspected that Swiss artillcers have
learned how to molt a number of small
rubies and consolidate them into ono.
Ton carats' weight of ruby sparks would
bo worth about ton shillings. Ono ruby
of ten carats would bo worth some hun
dreds of pounds. The subject is a serious -
ous ono. and there are both chemical and
legal tlillieultics in its treatment. Experts
are now employed to ascertain how the
thing is done , and then the judges will
decide whether thu process or sale
amounts to fraud.
A Liverpool paper published a notice
that a ready-made clothing house in that
city would give away a "nand-mo-down"
for each parcel sent containing 1,000
cherry stones.
THE RIGHTS OF WOMANHOOD ,
A World of Achlco nnd Wisdom Convoyed
in Verse.
Timely SiiKucstlona for \Vlvos on tlio
Maiingciiiont of IlusliatulsTlio
HerloiiH Slile of JlnrrliiKii
Selections for the KaliSox. .
Woman' * Itlcltts.
.t. U fu 7'rinji'r ' llnr ,
\ woman's rights : What do Umso word *
convey' '
What depths of old-uothl wisdom do they
lenph1. '
Whnl Is their real luteiil' ' Oh , ! ? ters , say ;
And slilve In daily life their tiulh to twu'h.
The light to minister to those that need ;
YIlli quiet SOUK tlu weary to bi'inille ;
\\ltli\\oids \ of peace the IIIIIIIIT ; heailslo
llTll ,
And dicer the sad and lonely with a smile.
The rlirhl In others' joys .1 joy to liiul :
'
The rlirlit divine'to weep wlien others
weep ;
The light to be to all uiiceasini ; kind ;
Ihcrlchl lo wake ami pray while others
sleep.
to bo noble , rlijht to be true.
KU'lit to think rlclitly-uiid Hirhtlv to do ;
KUht ID bo tomli-r. riclit to be just.
Right to bo worthy of Inliulte tins ! .
To lie the little children's truest friend ,
To know them in their over-changing
mood ;
Forcettliig self , to labor to the end
To bo a cr.iclims Influence for good.
To bo the hdlM ot creation's lonK
As mothers daughters , sisters or as wives ;
To be the best that earth to them allords ,
To ho to them the music < > l their lives.
The right lu streimth and honor to be free ;
Indiiily work accomplished , liiidlng rest ;
Tim light lu "tmiui round" a .sphere to see ;
The right , lu blessing , to bj fully blust ,
Right to bo pci feet , rlirht to be pure.
lilvrht to bo iiatlont ami strong to endure ;
Right to bu loving , right to begou'l
Tliu.se are the lights of the turn womanhood.
For \\lvc.iaiid lluslmiulH.
Cleveland Plaindealer : A sunshiny
husband makes a merry , beautiful homo
worth having , worth working in and for.
If a man is breezy , cheery , considerate
and sympathetic , Ins wife sings in her
hcait over her puddings and her mend
ing basket , and renews her youth in the
security she feels of his approbation and
admiration. You may think it weak and
childish , if you please , but it is the ad
mired wife , the wife who hears words of
praise and receives smiles of commenda
tion , who is capable , discreet and execu
tive. 1 have seen a timid , meek , self-
distrusting little body fairly bloom into
strong , self-reliant womanhood under the
tonic and cordial of companionship of a
husband who really went out of his way
to find occasion lor showing her how
fully he trusted her judgment and how
fully ho deferred to her opinion.
Now , if you will permit me , I will give
some suggestions to the wives also. 15e-
cause your husband is a lover of peace
and quietness , and does not always pay
you back in your own coin , you must not
think that your continued scolding and
fault-linding make no more impression
upon him than the fall of water on a
duck's back It sinks in , and "still waters
run deep , " you know. These quiet men ' 1
are perfect volcanoes sometimes when I
endurance ceases to bo a virtue. There ]
are times when "the last feather breaks I
the camel's back. " If you were sweet I I
and gentle to your Jover , continue to be 1
so to your husband , if you wish to retain
his all'ection and loyalty. I .1111 aware <
that some men are not very sunshiny , but I ]
1 think more would hi.1 willing to reflect
the golden bourns if their wives would
adopt the halo plan.
O n Serious Thin ; * .
Saturday Kveiiing Post : Truly mar
riage is a serious thing. The young man
who kifses your cheek s ) tenderly , whoso
low words of love are now so graceful to I I
your ear , will not always bo thus. That >
glowing color will fade from his countenance - ! i |
nance ; those manly limbs now so full of |
Youthful energy , will totter beneath the j
burden of disease ; that deep voice will I
lo.so its melody. Will your love bo proof
against all thesis changes ? Will it grow
stronger in the days of trial V On the
other hand , have you no fears that when
your beauty is but a thing of the past ;
youi husband will cease to love you ; that
ho will turn to those whoso persons are ,
yet made beautiful by the summer of
life ? Pause , oh , pun.su undiiucstion your- j
self thus , and should no mis-giving then | I i
come to your heart , go fearlessly to the j
nuptial altar. United to a person worthy i
of your love and respect , whoso heart is | I
connected to your _ own by the electric
chord of sympathetic natures , marriage
will prove a blessing indeed , and heaven
will have you in its holy keeping.
"Woman.
Cincinnati Enquirer : A handsome
woman is dangerous.
A woman has neither love nor respect
for the man she can rule.
Ono bad woman can keep n whole
neighborhood in hot water.
A woman who is not jealous of her
husband is not in love with him.
This world is full of beautiful women ,
but a truly good woman is a rarity.
Two tilings always trained for action
a woman's tongue and a mule's heels.
Nine cases out of ton when a woman
says she hates a man she is in love with
him.
him.Woman
Woman is the sweetest and bitterest
gift of God to man.
A woman will confess to almost any
thing but to the fact that she is growing
old and ugly.
The devil is never as black as ho is
painted , and a woman is never us inno
cent as she appears.
If you want to keep a woman's love ,
keep up a slight but steady llirtutioii with
her most hated rival.
When a woman gives j'ou her love
don't lay it away on ice for safe-keeping.
Hotter keep it in the warmest corner of
your heart , so if she calls for it at any
time you can return it in the condition
she gave it to you.
A .Model Wife.
TM-llttit ,
A man's wll'o should
Bo very good ,
And tU'ht lib buttons sow ;
iJomcwtlovorlc
.She imistif slunk ,
Ami ne'er a hlioj | ) lus BOW.
.She shouldn't buy
A cauo nr pay ,
But mix herself tlio dough :
Home-Hindu things aiu
The best by faro ,
As husbands always knough.
Of bonnuts , two
A year should do ,
Of bcals'kln sucqucs , not ono ;
BeeaiiHU in debt
A man will geht
Fur things wives ought to MIUII ,
The hotter halt
Should suiilii nnil lair
And never have tlio blues ;
Kor homo Is where
.Man tests I rum care ,
And smokes ami roail.s the nucs.
Kxiiresslons of
A wife's trim lof
To liustmuils bhoiild bo salil ,
And then he'll kneel
In prayer and kfcul
Clail that ho ibii't dald.
Women of the World.
Now York is to have a fomulo dentist ,
a graduate of the college in Philadelphia.
The women of Sydney , Australia , play
cricket. Two clubs recently played a
match game.
Mrs. Leo , a young American woman , is
considered by Coquulin his mojt prom-
i l. lng pupil , She can declaim in five lap.-
In Now Orleans a young woman Is stiO
cossfnlly carrying on n largo dye-house ,
while another Is an extensive numufiio
turer of boxes.
The first actress in the Shah's doinfn *
ions is the wife of a German clockmaker ,
who Is now appearing in a Persian playt
adapted from the French.
Mary Macdonuld , a young English
woman , was recently publicly decorated
with the medal of the Royal Society for
the Protection ol Life from Fire , for hav
ing , nt the n k of her own life , saved
that of a workman.
Kngland has thirty-eight women for
poor law guardians , and Scotland nine ,
hach ono of these has been re elected ,
pome of them for the liflh and si\th time ,
showing how satisfactorily they discharge
their duties.
Mr. Albert Blor < tadt has sent his p *
quii-ito painting , "An Indian Summer in
New Hampshire , " to Mrs. Kmlly T.
Charles , in token of his appreciation of
her poem , "A Storm on the Mutterhorn , "
which is described us a rare piece of Uc-
scriptvo ! lyrio.
\ \ hen Mr. ( Jodey win asked why ho
did not rai-o the standard of his Lady's
Book Jin replied : " 1 am not making a
inagu/ino for the few , but a magazinelor
the Kli/a .lanes. They are in a vast ma
jority. " This is hard on the women , but
that Mr. ( iodey , dying , lelt a fortune ot
$ . ' ,000.000 or lUOOOi)0 ) , proves that ho
was right.
Instances of women engaged in agri
culture are not rare , and many of them
are successful. One of these , Miss Du
Lucas , of Madison Parish , La. , manages
a large plantation. On the principle that
personal supervision is essential to sue-
ee.ss in farming , she herself looks after
tlio plows , hoes , drains , levees , stocks
and mills.
The Now York World suggests the
establishment of "ladies' clubs' " at tlio
watering places , as a relief to the women
upon whose hands lime hangs heavily ,
and as u preventive of the gossip and
mischief set alloat from confabs held in'
hotel bediooms. A movement lo organ-
i/.e a club of this kind is on foot at Mount
Desert.
The annual report of the Young
Women's ' Christian association , of Lon
don , states that twenty new branches
have been formed within the year , in
cluding seven now institutes , thus making
the total number of branches throughout
London and its suburbs 12t ! , with a mem
bership of IS.iiriiJ. The receipts showed
an increase of nearly .fS.OOO over 183-1.
Miss Stoncman , whoso plucky tight has
secured the imssage of the bill , and its
indorsement by ( lovcrnor Hill , admitting
women to j'r.ietice law in the state of
New York , is a leading member of the
faculty of the State Normal school , and
for ihreo years was regularly articled in
nn Albany law ollleo bhe is about thirty-
five years old , and belongs to a family
well known in western New York.
Lueretiu Molt recognized her husband
as the treasury of tin.- family lirm , but
she did not hesitate to draw "orders. "
Miss Anthonv ti-IN how Lucretia once
said to her : "Sister , I am going to give
thee.'JSO to carry on the work. " Then ,
turning to James Molt , -he said : "Out
of that corner of thy poeketbook whe.ro
theo put my pay for keeping thy house ,
mending thy dollies , etc. , please hand
Susan the money. " .James wu < too just
a man to withhold hin hand.
Demorest's Magazine : Mis.s Kliso
llaiglitoii wrote an article called "Do
Vrouw in Nederlaud , " in a Dutch nmg-
azinc , Vragcu des Tijids ( Questions
of the Day ) , three years ago , which
has been republislicd. With regard
to the middle classes , Miss Iluighlon
laments that women lead , in general ,
such idle lives. It is not thought lit that
a woman should have any regular work
unless she is absolutely compelled losui- )
port herself. Parents teach their daugh
ters that it is not frutHoonhjk ( genteel ) to
jiavo a regular occupation ; at all events
they should not have one that pays , they
should not work for money. Many ihiugli-
tors have protested against this , ami
some have oven carried their point , bi.t
the old idea remains that earning money
is discreditable to women , and hum.'ruds '
choose to live miserably on a small and
insecure income rather than double or
treble it by work. "There is quite a
dill'ereiH standard for men and women.
It is no honor for a man to live idly on
his income , but it is the highest honor for
a woman. If a man is content with u
small fortune , and makes no endeavor to
increase if , lie is reproached with lack of
energy , out for a woman it is a m.trK of
gentility. " Of married women she SUN. :
"Practically , the lot of a married woni ; u
is endurable , because men are better tic u
the laws , but legally , it is terrible ; sl.o
has as good as no rights ; she is a slnve.
Nothing belongs to her unconditionally.
Whatever she earns by her head or bauds
is the property of her husband and can
bo claimed by him , even though helms
abandoned her for years ; and the interest
of such money ! is is settled upon her l.o-
fore marriage can only bo paid to her
with her husband's consent. " She con
cludes by counseling women to enlarge
their sphere of occupations and not to bo
deterred by the fear of an employment
not being considered genteel.
WHERE THEY SIT.
Different KinilH of TravoterH Oli-
. served YVIillu 'Iruvullnj ; .
Merchant Traveler : Have you noticed
how some pcopln enlor a cur and where
they sit'A lady will walk past a doxen
vacant scats , often the entire length > f Jf.
the oar , then eom < > hack again and take
one of the seats she has just passed , and
often after she is sealed eliangu to an-
other.just exactly like the ono she leaves ;
never exactly decided at homo or
abroad.
The old traveler walks direct to the
best seat in the car that is vacant , i. o. ,
the ono nearest the center and on thu
shady side , not because it rides ousior.but
it i safer in case of an accident. Iho
o. t. noyor passes a vacant seat if the car
is any way nearly full.
The small boy or his sister must gel to
thu window , and usually llattons his nose
iif'uhiHt the glass if it is not open , ho being -
ing on his knees on the seat , wo moan
the small boy on a smajl journey. If the
trip lengthens out ho will gel all ever the
car before ho gets to the end of the trip.
The backwoodsman wi.l take the lirst
seat insidu the door whether the car is
crowded or empty , and \\ill put his entire -
tire family on Iho ono seat if ho can
i > qucc/.o them in between the arm of the
beat and window. If its down in Ken
tucky or Tennessee they will take oil'
huts and bonnets and make ihomsolvcH
at homo.
Thu colored brother or sisler from
down South hunts a window before ho
docs a seat , raises the sash quickly ,
pusses his body through to thu waist , and
to people ho has told good-byo ho shouts
again , " ( Joo'-byo , goo'-byo. ' GIve my i love
to Aint Mary , doo'-byo. You must
wnto , " whllu'tlio person yelled at is us
innocent of writing as a babe. When
th train is on its way ho sinks into a
seat , Iho ono whuro ho is , us good as any ;
ho slays there , looks around with a smilu
of satisfaction , is glad ho is alive , and
gladder ho is "gwine on Ihls yens cyar , "
and gladdest of all that the car is sup
plied with ice watur , a luxury that does
not uppoir : iii his every day lifu. When
a colored people's excursion is announced
the ice water U advertised us onu of the
attractions.
Little Juanita. the tiny daughter of
Jo iquin Miller , has been creating a sen-
fcution at the Grand hotel , In thu Catskills -
skills , by her extraordinary recitations ,
Shu recites liku an experienced actress j
and looks a veritable baby , with curls -
and short skirts , and has to bu lifted ou
thu tablu to bu ;