Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, December 09, 1888, Part II, Page 12, Image 12
12 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , DECEMBER 9 , 1888.-SIXTEEN PAGES ; 'F % % * : it'F it- : L'l fl * Chrli 3 for IN. ADDITION TO THEIR Have purchased the entire sample line , 2,500 different styles of Ife. V W" 1 w11"8 * m w js ± . f V P * w W FW INR JL-rfliivJJL-rflOJri From one of the leading manufacturers in England , consisting of Pocket Knives , Scissors , Shears , Toilet Cases , Ink btands. Clocks , Bric-a-Brao , Etc. Also the entire sample line of fine French , German and Bohemian GLASSWARE , Consisting of all the novelties brought out this year , in Vases , Toilet Bottles. Pitchers , Etc. about 2,300 pieces These two lines we offer at 50c on the dollar. There never was a time when you could buy a Fine Holiday Present so cheap as now at Barr's. Our Art Department Has received many novelties within the past few days. We also call especial attention to the new line of Furs Just Received Which we offer fully one-third less than the same are usually sold for. Those Seal Sacques , Newmarkets , Handsome Muffs and Boas , for Ladies and Children , should be seen to be appreciated. Every department in our establishment has received new additions , from whidh a Holiday present may be selected. The Great Depot for Santa Glaus , where he has established his headquarters , is worth your inspection. Our prices are more uniformly adapted to all classes than any other house in America. You can take your choice from this immense stock , from 5c to $40O.OO. We will not only convince you that our variety from which to make your selection is better but that our prices are LOWE R than at any store in the city. DON'T MISS BARR'S , THE POPULAR PLACE TO BUY YOUR HOLIDAY PRESENTS. WM. BARR DRY GOODS COMPANY , SIXTEENTH AND DOUGIrAS STREETS , OMAHA. N. B. Mail Orders receive prompt attention. Express paid within 48 miles of Omaha. Send for Catalogue I STREAMS OF MOLTEN METAL. The Wealth of Gold , Silver , Copper and Load Therein. THROUGH THE SMELTING WORKS. A Gllmpsont Seething CauIdronfMuid Blazinc VurnacpB Description . oftlio Process ofSmoltInn mxl lluunlnj ; at tlio WorJcs. i Omaha's Great Smoltcr. Down by the bank of the Missouri tlVcp is a cluster of many buildings , the majority of which have the appearance of more shod ? , but are surmounted by tall mid characteristic cbimnies which Bond forth black smoke , white steam , and invisible cases that make their ex istence Known by strong and disagree able odors. Railroad tracks run on each side of It , and wagons loaded A'itli. coal , or coke , or lime , or something that looks like broken rock and gravel are continually disgorging their content : ) . 1'his is the famous Omaha & Grant smel ter , though the ofllcial name hardly corresponds to the work done , which in cludes refilling. The more smelting of pro into bullion pigs is iv comparatively elinplo and inexpensive process. But refining , which is extracting from them their gold , silver nnd copper , and free- lug them of their impurities , is both costly nnd complicated. A bul lion pig , such as comes in such Quantities from the Colorado smelters , to thin institution contains OS per cent load , nnd in n ton of it there will bo from $20 to $100 worth of gold , and from flOO to $260 worth of silver , besides con- Bidorablo copper. But the main work is to make pigs of rod nod lead , which go from this spot all over the United Elates. \ , JFllOM THE OUK llKJil * UIMVAUI ) . * This grout business , winch employs COO men year in nnd year out , is mnn- Bgcd by the Hon. Guy O. Barton. The JCrant smelter nt Denver is a partof the concern , and sends hero all its bullion | ) lgs , but in addition the company buys largely the crude ore from the mines of Colorado and Utah , and some from Da kota , Montana and Wyoming. These tires are assayed by the chemist of the companyami lie gives a schedule of the gold aim silver and copper which each car-loud of ore contains , and it is the business ol the rotlning department to cot them out with ns little loss impossi ble. There are , therefore , two dopart- f > knouts , the refining conducted by Mr. If. Gnrllchs , and the smelting by Mr. Walter T. Pago. The work of the latter Comes ilrst. The smelting furnace slied IB In two stories. In the upper one the pro is shoveled into openings in the flooring , communicating with the fur naces below , The ere has no inotalllo appearance , and .no one , fa. stranger to the 'business , Vrould HUpK | > so that it was any thing but Very coarse gravel mixed with broken grayish quartz. The men who feed the furnaces throw in with the ere , coke , | imo and iron scraps , the two lust as Duxes. The ere comes up into the feed chamber by an inclined jilane , and the 'Coke and lime are loaded on an eleva tor. The furnaces are below , directly Under the Iron lloorlng whore the feed- ID rs arc working , and yet the heat from them does not penetrate , and the men When it Is cold extemporise a stove in a most primitive way out of two pieces of | ron cylinder and an iron slab resting u foundation of fire brick , rpou IK KJIONT OF TI1K KUUNACU. . i Down below it in hot enough in all conscience. The furnaces are built by I'Vazeri Chalmers , of Chicago , and pro very odd looking .from the fact that on each side thcro are five tubes through which a blower drives lierce blasts of air. So intense is the heat that the iron facings would melt were they not cooled by a current of cold water which runs all the time , and is carried'oft in a semi-boiling condition by a system of pipes. This is called the water jacket. In front of each fur nace is a metal hood to" carry off the gases , some of which nro most nauseat ing. When the fumes are arsenical the visitor smells whiffs of roasting garlic ; when they come from antimony the odor is loss easy to describe , but in finitely more overpowering. On the right hand side is a small kettle into which the molten lead with its con cealed wealth of gold and silver con tinually dribbles , and as It is necessary tp keep this molten , there is a coal fire under the kettle. Every few minutes a workman comes to the front of the fur nace , pulls out a plug of fire clay , and allows a stream of slag to run into a hugo pot on wheels -tho smel ters' wheelbarrow. When it is full ho replugs the furnace , wheels oft his slag to a point whore there is another slag pot , into which ho proceeds to pour all of the slag that is not matte which is the refineries word for the bottom layer containing borne of the copper of the oi'O. This matte is taken to the ere crushing machine and pulverized , and is dumped in heaps about the yard awaiting its turn for special treatment. IN Till ! KCriNINO DEI'AllTilKNT. The lead that dribbles into the small kettle is ladled into moulds , and is bullion pig , being identical \\ith the sumo article that arrives from the Grant smelter at Denver. Thono pigs contain besides lead , some gold , some silver , some copper , some antimony , and they are first treated in furnaces to got rid of all fauvo the gold and silver and the load ( by oxidization , which is assisted by adding pulvor- izcdzinc.Mien this Is accomplished , the metal is run into an enormous kettle built into the Jlooring , having fires beneath to keen it liquid. At this stage the metal is lead , with gold and silver , the copper ana antimony having risen to the top through the kindly as sistance of the zinc , and having boon skimmed off. Exactly the same process is resorted to , for sopanHing the gold and silver from the lend , nnd the shim ming process in the great kettle is replete - ploto with interest. Square cakes of shining zinc am slid into the mass , and then refined load Is added to bring the metal as nearly ns possibluto the top of the kettle to aid the skimmers. When tlio kettle is ready there is upon the top a floating velvety scum that is brownish and greenish and bluoish. But nil the silver and gold is not there , and it is necessary to assist the zinc in catching the precious metals by a good stirring up. This is effected by inserting an iron pipe connected with" steam tank. In un.instant the kettle becomes a magic fountain of the most extraordinary character. Sometimes when the steam first outers the iron pipe a little is con densed into a drop or two of water. Tills makes the metal send out one or two Hying specks , nnd If there were much water there would .bo an explo sion. Tlio liquid metal acts , exactly like water , and series of concentric waves force the scum to the edges , while the whole surface dances ana vi brates and the center sends up jets that fall down like miniature cascades Then the men take long skimmers and eklni off that precious soum and pour It into .moulds. Another workman takes a sample of thoMoad in the kettle to as certain how much precious metal still remains , and the process is ropoatoa until the load is bereaved of all its noble alliances , MAKING 11KFINKD LKAI ) . The refiner now has two distinct bed ies to work upon the skimmings.of gold and silver and the great kettles full ol lead. All the substances that wore with the lead in the ore , have now been got rid of. Most of the copper is in the matte heaps awaiting treatment , and the remaining copper and anti mony wore got rid of by oxidization. The gold and the syvor have also boon separated , and the lead would now bo pure were it not for the zinc that has boon added. This has now to bo re moved , which is necessary because the zinc would by no means add value to the lead for any of the many purposes for which it is used. The great kettles whore the skimming of the gold and silver takes place are upon a raised platform , and below them at a convenient dis tance that can bo easily reached by a syphon is the last furnace , the refining lead furnace Hero by the steady ap plication of a low heat , the zinc rises to the top and is skimmed off , and then the pure lead is run into a cooling kettle tlo , whence it is run into iron moulds arranged on a semi-circular stand around the kettle. So rapidly does the metal cool that it is solid already in the first moulds before the men have gone half their round , and in an incredibly quick space of time the moulds are emptied and the pigs are removed and stacked in squares , each one Dcaring the inscription , "Omaha & Grant Re fined. " THU GOLD AND SIM'KIt. The precious skimmings from the great kettle wore poured into llattish moulds , and have now to bo turned into ingots of gold nnd silver. When removed for this purpose they certainly bear no resemblance to those charming objects for which all the world punts , but the richness is still concealed by the lead , though the percentage of the latter is now comparatively small. These skimmings nro removed to the retort furnace room , a noble nnd spacious chamber with two great square brick chimneys in the center. To each of these chimneys is attached six retort furnaces , where the high-grade metal will bo made still higher by volatiliza tion and condensation. In the center of each furnace is u retort-pot made of lire-clay and graphite- , and this is stuck on at right angles. The zinu is mostly volatilized , and escapes in beautiful fiamos from a plug-holo at the top of the retort , while some of the load runs oil' Into a small kottlo. When this process has been exhausted , the work men run hand-spikes into receptacles of the furnaces , which are mounted on trunnions like the guns of a vessel , and turn the whole thing clean over. Then the retorts nro transferred to special ladles on wheels , made of fire clay , and stoutly hooped with Iron , nnd those are trundled off to the cupelling room. THKUli IS STILL SOMK I.UAD , The contents of these ladles is very high grade metal , but there is still some lead , for it clings to its bullion with the tenacity of a miser. But it is now going through a process which will finally divorce it. Hitherto the treat ment has been mild , but In the cupell ing chamber it if ) exposed in a furnace to the terrific heat produced by a strong air blast , and everything that is not gold and silver runs oil as litharge. The blast makes a perceptible ripple in the molten metal which is now plainly silver , and has a most picturesque ap pearance as the fierce current drives it into uilvory waves nnd causes the whole surface to bo airitated. For eighteen hours at a stretch the men keep adding the metal from the con denser retorts to this cupelling furnace until there is a charge of sufficient size , and until all the litharge has been got rid of. The result is now silver dore , or silver 000 pure , containing gold. 8KFAKATJNO TUB GOLD. The next process is to separate the two precious metals , and this is done by mineral acid. The metal is placed in tanks containing sulphuric acid , which dissolves the silver , and loaves the gold at the bottom in the form of fine pow der. But as some gold would still re main , the silver-bearing acid is siphoned into another tank a settler , where this remainder is precipitated. This gold is now washed with hot water to got rid of the acid clinging to it , and is then molted and run into an ingot , averaging from 200 ounces to double Unit amount. Then the silver-bearing acid is siphoned into largo vats , over which are placed wooden poles , from which are suspended large strips of mc- tnlio copper. The acid having a greater affinity for the copper , absorbs it , and releases the silver , which fulls to the bottom , as a precipitate of pure silver , though , actually , it looks like cement. This process of precipitation is assisted by continually stirring the liquid with poles. The silver cement is melted and run into ingots that are practically ab solutely pure U99. TUEATMKNT OF COri'EIl MATTE. The copper used in precipitating tlio silver was obtained from the copper matte lying in heaps in the yard. This matte contains sulphur , and this must be reduced by roasting. Thin process takes place in aroasting chamber whore are four great furnaces about seventy foot long. In those the matte is phiecil with coke , but without fluxes , tlio object being to disengage the sulphur only. Naturally , as tlio sulphur passes away in fumes , the grains of copper have a tendency to cake , but this ia prevented by continual stirring with iron rods. All sulphide ores have to bo treated in tills way , and there are many that contain from ISO to 40 per cent of this evil smelling but useful mineral. Some of the copper is converted into con venient strips for the silver reduction chamber , and home is run'into ingots to bo subsequently taken to tlio granulat ing room , whore It Is molted and pre cipitated in a fluid condition into cold water , the result being a form of cop- pur applicable cither to the uses of electricians or for conv'crsion into blue stone. This latter product is manufac tured in very largo quantities in this establishment entirely from the copper separated from their ores. 'CONCIUIINCj KEJrAKKH. This account must necessarily bo bald and insufficientbut it will servo to give the people of OmahuHomo idea of one of the greatest of thoir.industries. Noth ing demonstrates more clearly the victory of mind over matter than the admirable way in which the rude and obstinate ere IB compelled to give up one by ono its treasures. This method of reduction is an absolute triumph over the profound ana myslor- ipiiH complications of metallurgy. The metals are conquered 'in ' turn by a knowledge of tnoir Idiosyncrasies , of their secret preferences and dislikes , nnd the variation - > of 'their ' molting points , Such worksis Ibis liavo their oasis in science , nnd not in localities , therefore it is no small honor to Omaha to have such an establishment amongst us. It is not an industry that will pass away further west , for no matter whore the mines are , the ores must come whore they will bo scien tifically treated. A hundred years ago men of the highest knowledge did not dream that gold and silver wore associ ated with this class of load ores , though the presence of silver in load was known oven to the ancient Sicilians. But that was argentiferous galonn , con taining actually nioro silver than lead , and bucu mines are rare. We of to-day find riches in what has hitherto boon unknown , or at least unnoticed , and to morrow will witness scientific victories oven more astounding than those of to-day. FROM THE QUIVER OF CUPID , Sorrows and Joys of the Mated and Mismatod. MARRIED UNDER DIFFICULTIES. Mlas West's Love Affair Swore Awnj Ills Girl An Ancient Brldo and Groom American Wives of Kngllsluncn. Miss West's Ijovo Affair. According to n Washington dispatch to the Now York Herald , a heart affair has prevented iMiss Sackvillo-Wost from encouraging the attentions of a number of suitors for her hand. It is seven years since Miss Victoria West emerged from a French convent and , with a govornof-s for a companion , came 10 Washington to preside over her Britunic majesty's legation , her father being minister plenipotentiary. Miss West was a crirl'of eighteen. IIor great charm of face consisted in what the Italians call sympathetic blue eye * . Countess Lowenhuupt , tlio wife of the Swedish minister , young , handsome , high born , chaperoned Miss West. . At- tat'hcd to the Swedish legation wan a young man with ono of those borrows for which there is no help. Mr. Do Bildt , while living in Philadelphia had mot and married the liandFOino nnd wealthy daughter of Mrs. Bloomflold Moore , the lady whoso muno has long been associated with that of the poet Browning. Mr , and Mine. Do Bildt wore very very hnppy , especially when two chil dren were added to their pleasant homo in this city. After the birth of u third child the mother was ill and dolirous. She has never regained her reason. She had to bo sent to a private asylum. Mrs. Moore came to Washington , kept house for iiorson-in-law and took elinrgo of the children. The house was on Con necticut avenue , near tlio British lega tion. tion.Mr. Mr. Do Bildt and Miss West were thrown much together , and but for the obstacle would have been declared lorors. It was deemed prudent for Mr. Do Bllot to be transferred elsewhere , and Mrs. Moore , hoping that something might bedono forhorallllctoddaughter , took hoi to Europe , Miss West has boon bravo through tier trial and kept up her cheerfulness. 3ho styled herself "an old maid" at [ .wolily-three , but continues the hand somest and most attractive of the three sisters. She Married Him Under DIITloiiltlon. Philadelphia Record : Miss Ilattio Lies , the pretty daughter of George P. Lies , tlio millionaire cigar manufact urer , and Frederick W. W. Woorz , son of E. G. Woorz , of Philadelphia , wore married last Vodnesday evening in a rather more romantic manner than had soon originally intended. The coro- nony was to have taken pluco at their liunubomoly furnished residence , No. Jfi East Eighteenth street , the joint lift of their parents , but a few hours be- 'oro the time appointed the cold with which young Mr. Woort/ had been suffering for a few days grow so much worse that his physician absolutely for bade him leaving his bed , Miss Lies was us averse as her fiance to fall under .ho ban of the popular superstition that declares a postponed marriage to bo i frightfully unlucky thing , and pluck- ly accepted the alternative of having .ho ceremony performed at her lover's > edsido. After the marriage she pro- sided at the reception at her now home and has spent her time since in care fully nursing her husband to perfect health again. Mr. and Mrs. Woorz will start on their deferred wedding trip in a few days. Swore Awny His Olrl. Philadelphia Record : There was a curious sensation nt a church wedding nt Bridgeport , Conn. , recently. The groom , a person of violent temper , swore because the bride and her party were behind time. During his ravings to his best man the bride arrived and overheard her fiance roundly abusing her and swearing outrageously. Tlio bride's face assumed a deadly pallor. SJio approached the altar and stood mo tionless until the minister asked if &ho would "love , cherish and obey , " to which she replied in a clear , ringing voice : "Not by a long &hot. " and ma jestically marched oat of the edifice. Served him , right is bald to bo the pop ular verdict. _ Ilrldt ) Hj ; , lti-l < lccro ( > iii 82. New York World : A man eighty- two yonrs old and a woman a year older wore united in marriage in Boston a few days ago. Tlio groom was Perry .1. Chase , a prosperoua retired merchant Providence , and the bride was Mrs. Surah Ann Tilton , of Bobton. The groom was a wldowor and the bride a widow. It is stated by those who ought to know that it is a case of love at first sight. The ardent groom has seen his fiance three times since , including yes terday , making four times in all. On the second visit lie proposed. MI-J. Til- ton hesitated at flr.st , but without much persistence on his part yielded. At the third visit arrangements were made for the wedding. Mrs. Tilton was formerly a Boston milliner. She believe.it is staled , in spiritualistic wonders. She is said to have visited a senneu a week ngo , whore spirits gathered around her and told her that her engagement was. all their work. ' . Mrs. Tilton's deceased husband then came and "asked the blessing of the whole company. " The couple will reside in Providence , where the groom has fitted up a luxurious homo. Anierlcnii Wives of Pull Mall Gazette : The remarks on the .successful raid recently made by American women on the English mar riage market wore based on reliable and startling facts , and ns they nppoar to have attracted considerable attention it may bo of some interest to place before our renders n general list not by any means , however , complete of promi nent captures made within the last fmv years by American frc.o traders in Brit ish matrimonial waters. Tlio following is a fairly complete list of American la dies married to prominent Englishmen : Tlio duchess of Murlborough , Lady Mandovillo , future duchess of Manches ter. ; Lady Handolph Churchill , Lady Harcourt , MM , Robert Wnlpolo , future countcb ? of Oxford ; Lady Vernon , Lady Arthur Butler , Lady Llstor Kayo. Lady Wolsoloy , wife of Sir Clmrlob Wolsoley ; Lady Ilcaketh , LudyAbingor , Lady An- glesea , Mrs. W. Carrington , Mrs. It Harbard , Lady Playfulr , Lady Butt , Lady PlunKott , wife of our minister to Japan ; the Honorable Mrs. Lawrence , the Honorable Mrs. II. Oliver North- cote , the Honorable Mr * . Burke Rolie , the Honorable Mrs , Charles Ramsay , Mrs. Adam and Mrs. Howard , husbands in the diplomatic service ; Mrs. George Cavondish-Bontlnck , MM. Boresford-JIopo , Mrs. Ernest Chaplin , Mrs. Lewis Molcsworth , future Lady Moleaworth ; Mrs. Ernest Beckott , Mrs. Charhon , of HosbyBido : Mrs. Lo Strange , of Iluntstuntoir MM. Wilton Phippa , Mrs. Ranulph Mostyn , Lady Watorlow , Lndy Coke , wife of Sir Francis Coke ; Mrs. David Sollur , Mra , ITughes-nallett. Mrs. Adair , . Schenloy , Mrs. Victor Drumuiond , hus band in diplomatic service ; Mrs. Jack Leslie , husband heir to the baronetcy ; Mrs. Archibald Forbes , Mrs. Alaata'ir Gordon-Gumming husband heir , pro- sumativo to baronetcy ; Mrs. Pelliam Clinton , Mrs. Ritchie , Mrs. Ronald's daughter and Mrs. Arthur Pago. Mnrrlnse of Actor Downlnj ; . Minneapolis Tribune : Robert L. Downing , the tragedian , and Eugenia Blair , his leading lady , wore made man and wife at the West hotel , Minneap olis , quite recently. Rev. T. B. Wollor. of the Church of St. Marie's , performed the ceremony , which was according to } the form prescribed by the Episcopal I- church. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph II. Mack n were the only attendants , and besides ' the mother of the bride only a few friends from the company were present. After the ceremony adinnor was served , with the eomnliinentsof the West hotel , while Colonel West telephoned his con gratulations and the wish that hishand- bomo apartments bo sotapart for the use i of the young couple during their stay in j ; Minneapolis. A pretty little romance is connected with the wedding. Six years ago , when Miss Blair wnscjuito a young girl , she was in Minneapolis with , 'lanies O'NeiH'.s company in "Moute Crislo. " In the company was a handsome actor mimed Forrest Robinson. It was win ter , and a Hleitfliing party was organ ized , in which bovurnl of the company participated. Though a merry partyit had an unfortunate ending. Thoalolgli was overturned and Robinson quite ser iously injured. Through the sickness which followed Miss Blair was a , do- vott'U inirso , and when the actor recov ered they were married. Robinson proved dissipated and worthless , and iiib young wife was compelled to earn her own living. The lovd grow cold , anil she was finally compelled to obtain n divorce for non-support. Then with the natural void in her heart , who mot Downing , who had mif- fornd a bereavement in the loss of his wifo. nnd the mutual attraction resulted in a wedding. A Mildc-room in tlio Style of l r,7. Chicago Herald : A queer looking bridegroom was John Lochhendof Lake county , an lie stood before Justice Murphy in Chicago and promised to love , cherish and protect Mary Butt , of Ela towiibhin , in tlio bamo county , lie was dressed exactly as ho was thirty- one yuars nye when ho came wobt from the green mountains of Vermont. Ilia long liuir WUH well brushed back under ] iLouis \ Kossuth hat , his wlilHlceru trimmed in the style of General Win- field Srott , and Ills well-preserved black silk stook encircled in ita ample folds an innnacitlato but not very sillily Htarched lirien collar of great depth. About thirty-one years ago , ho said , with his father and mother and three hiHtors ho liijt Vermont and came to Luke county. 'Here his bisters died and later his mthuV and mother followed thorn. Through their lust illness as each came to die they hud been nursed and cared for by the faithful Mary Butt , who , since her tenth year had never hworvod in her faithful devotion to the family. And now lie had made her his wife and when ho came to die ho doubted not that Mary would as lovingly close his eves for Ills last sleep as she had Ills fulhor'a and mother's , and surviving - viving him she would own as fine a farm as there la in Lake county and some of the beat stock that ever trod on hoofs. Mr. Looliheiid is fifty-one years old and has not before married. No CIirlHtrnns Tnhlo should bo without a bottle of Angostura Bitters , the world renowned appetizer of exquisite flavor , Beware of counter * foiLs.