Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY BEG ; MONDAY , MAY 21 , 1891. I
LIFE ON THE MEXICAN UNI
Remarkable Incident Lending to a Livclj
Border Fair.
CATTLE DYING IN COUNTLESS NUMBER !
I'rcc CurrnMM rnnliira I'ronporlly nml
Grand ilninliorro lii
irlth Hull right * IIIH !
Lotteries.
Southwestern Texas In the years follow
Ing the clone of our civil war was KO over
tun with cattle and their market value wai
BO small that Immense numbers wen
slaughtered annually for nothing but thcli
hides and tallow. Such was the region thai
was suffering during the summer and fal
months In the year 1872 from a long am
protracted drouth. Crocks became void ol
water , their bottoms being converted Intt
highways by llvo stock. I'romlncnt lake ;
and "water holes" became as dry af
powder houses , bleaching skeletons ol
cow or horse marking their former loca-
lion. Great scams opened In the parched
black icarth , and half-grown chicken )
around the settlements In eager pursuit ol
BOtno choice Insect , would suddenly dlappeai
within their unexplored depths , to be seen
nor heard no more. All kind of live stock
had to make long Journeys from their feed'
IF Ing grounds to the principal water courses
' to satisfy their thirst. Time wore on , tin
fierce rays from a tropical sun burnt to t
crisp the grosses , the trampling feet ol
thousands of live stock ground It to powder ,
fall winds came and blew It Into the Mexican
gulf , leaving the prairies as barren of vege
tation as the desert.
It was In the beginning of the autumnal
days of that year that vast hordes of half-
wild , half-starved cattle and horses , mules
and burros , whose number might be estimated
but not counted , driven by hunger from the
open country , invaded the "brush" unob
structed In their progress by wire or rail.
The tender twigs and leaves , vines and un
derbrush vanished before that devouring
army. Wild horses and cattle surprised In
their secret haunts helped to swell the num
bers of that living , moving host ol
the brute creation. Early winter was her.
aided In by cold "northers , " but .sprung from
n tough , hearty stock the cattle hung onto
life tenaciously ; bravely they attacked the
prickly pear , with Its palmllkc leaves , pro
tected by nature with thousands of tiny
clastic needles , which pierced their mouths ,
lacerated their tongues and stuck by hun
dreds In their throats. Still with slobbering
mouths , festering tongues and swollen throats
they fought off the grim tyrant Death they
fought off starvation and thirst by continu
ing to eat the cactus.
A GLITTERING LANDSCAPE.
The appearance of the new year , 1873 ,
only added to their distress. Terrific winds
from the north swept down upon them ,
bearing In their waku rain , hall , sleet and
Ice. Ice covcicd the hills and valleys. The
trees were Incrusted with It , both trunk
and limb , while silvery Icicles sparkled
pendant from the branches. Nature seemed
to have been In a strange mood , for a
irarm , genial , sunny land had been sud
Jcnly converted Into a cold , bleak , inhospit
able region. H was at that time that great
herds of miserable , famishing cattlu came
trooping Into the Lower Nuecesa country
from the north and east , seeking to es
cape the tortures of cold and hunger.
Thousands exhausted and benumbed fell in
their tracks , other thousands , with more
vitality , sought sheltered spots behind bluffs
or brush to rest or protect their emaciated
limbs from the biting blasts , only to at
last succumb to the storm. The main
army , Impelled by the fury of the blizzard ,
tottered onward until checked by the pre
cipitous banks of the Nueces river. There ,
blinded by the elements and the pressure
of united numbers In their rear , thousands
fell headlong Into the stinking quagmire be
neath , with sad , appealing eyes , to meet a
lingering death. The cattle owners , recog
nizing , In an area ot country of so large
an extent , and so sparingly bettled , their
Inability to save the pelts , with a niag-
nanlmlty worthy of praise , gave free to all
Classes of the Inhabitants whatever pelts
they could save.
When It will be remembered that , at that
period , hides were worth from ? 3 to $ C
each , according to weight and classage ,
that ono vast bovine graveyard covered
the land waiting for the scalping knife ,
Borne Idea may bo gleaned of the golden
opportunity to make money , which had so
suddenly presented Itself to the people , es
pecially the poorer class. They were not
Blow In realizing the good luck that had
befallen them , and with vigor and energy
sprung to the work. Camps were habtlly
established In favorite localities , far from
habitation , near lake , river or woodland ,
where death hail been busy. Some "peel
ers" lounged at homo at night , but searched
the country on horse back by day. All
classes engaged In the work. Horsemen
searched high land and low land , hills and
valley , prairie and brush In all directions.
Thousands ot hides were reclaimed , while
hundreds perished through decomposition.
There was much speculation In the purchase
of hides. Some peelers made as much as
J75 per day on favorite days , and there are
jnon living today who laid the foundation
to ample fortunes from that ghoulish work.
In three weeks time the principal harvest
had been gathered and housed.
The terrible sacrifice of brute life to the
elements and the financial wreckage of
Jiiany cattle owners had been the peculiar
means through which were distributed
thousands of golden dollars among the pee
ple. The country seemed to groan under
the weight of gold and sliver. The most
humble huts , as well ns the more pretentious
building ? , were alike storehouses for from
? 200 to ? 2,000 In coin.
TOO MUCH PROSPERITY.
It was * at that favorable time that the
American and Mexican gentlemen of the
"green cloth" met upon a common level
to devise means to fleece the people of their
treasures. Out of their evil consultations
onamated and was at the proper moment
born Into life a Mexican fair. The time
was opportune , gold had made the people
restless and they craved for excitement.
The nature of their lives upon on exposed
frontier sparsely settled In protecting themselves -
selves and property from marauding bands
of outlaws or from the raids of bath Mexi
can and Indian robbers made their Ideas
of pleasure and enjoyment both rude and
uncouth. U made poss.blo In what was
called a law abiding' community of Immun
ity from arrest of desperate characters and
the open and flagrant violation of both
moral and civil law. it accounted In a
great measure for the leniency with which
the better part of the people viewed and
patronized such festivities , as I shall at
tempt to describe ,
U was announced that the fair would bo
held on the west side of the Nueces at a
well known place called Rancho Grande ,
nt a given date , commencing with a bull
fight. This news , being circulated broad
cast over the land by wandering horsemen ,
was received with favor by the Inhabitants.
The writer. Just reaching manhood , unso-
phlstlcated In the amusements of border life
with a well filled purse made from the pelt
bus.no's ' , curiously enough , was us Impatient
for the "circus" to commence us any free-
boater abroad.
I shall never forget the Impressions made
ti l > on my mind when , after a hard day's ride
II through brush and "pear , " my companion ,
a native Texan , a year or two my senior ,
and myself In the middle of the afternoon
of the second day. pulled up our game lit
tle mustangs at Rancho Grande and lifted
from their sweat covered backs and panting
sides our heavy saddles.
With now twenty odd years of life passed
upon the frontier I cannot recall of ever
looking upon Its like before or sine * . It
was a strange , wld | , wlerd , but In some re
spects p'cturesque scene that unfolded It
self before my vision. Mesqulte , chapparel
f { and pear partially obscured the view , but
Ij as far as the eye conld reach men and horses
It , covered the ground ,
| F Swarthy skinned Mexicans and sunburnt
Texans moved hero and there by foot or
horseHalfbreed and American , Caatlllan
and negro , Jostled against each other good
iiaturedly In the moving crowd. The shrill
neigh of the mustang staked with lariat for
his evening meal was answered back from
the four polnta of the compass by hundreds
ot J l kind. Shriveled and wrinkled old
;
FSfc.
n women and men , decrepit with OKC
frequently Desisted liy hnlf-Rrown. half-da
rhlldrcti , stood behind table * 'llxhlnt ; out t
the liunRry at remunerative prices coffee
frlKatrs , chlln con carne , tomnlc ? and otlic
Mexican duties. I'con and liulry-ccmted en
nines itood around alnrt to catch the crumb
that fell from the tables or with watchfn
eye to ntcal from the vessels scattered aroniv
whenever the old IIBRS" vigilance relaxed fo
a moment. Whisky peilillcra piled their vo
cation and that mlnerable compound callci
inescnle was hawked around to Its mimeroii
admirers. Nevertheless tlio multitude wa
comparatively temperate. Death was lurk
liiK too near In many hiding places for mci
to lose their heads over drinks.
A IlOltUKH DA NCI- : .
The Bnft , sweet strains of a waltz from at
Imported Mexican band rooe above the nolsi
of m.iny tongues from a stn o erected mule
the broad spreading branches of majcstli
water oaks. ThroiiRh the heavy vcrdnn
follafie tlio blazing rays of an afternoon' !
sun hardly penetrated. Nut-brown ilanghtcri
of our sister republic , with raven tresses
laughing black eyes and coquettish smllci
that disclosed Ivory colored teeth , floatei
gracefully hero and there , keeping time ti
the Inspiring notes with small , well slmpei
feet , their upper limbs Indolently rcclliilni
In thu strong arms ot some gallant knight
whether he bo .Mexican or American , greasci
or negro.
The discerning eye of the student of humai
nature could easily distinguish In that heterogeneous
rogeneous gathering the frontier gambler
with silk sash around the waist ( used Insteai
ot suspenders ) , Jeweled hands and rufllei
shirt front , his face expressionless , his eyt
sinister ; the Mexican ranchcro on whosi
head rests the wlde-brlmmcd sombrero
gorgeously trimmed with gold and sllvei
lace , around whoso shoulders Is wrapped r
beautiful handwovcn blanket of many tints
and under the lovely folds lurking one oi
possibly two long-bladed , murderous-looking
Texan with compressed
knives ; the gray-Jialred
pressed lips and eagle eye that time has nol
dimmed , In whose scarred and weather-
beaten face and determined looks could be
read p.ist exploits and adventure where nerve
and courage won ; the big-hearted but wild
and reckless cowboy , over whose lower limbs
were worn leather leggings to protect them
from thorn or rain , feet encased In boots ,
from these long and narrow heels hung huge
spurs , the chains and bolls clanking and
rattling BH ho walked , around his neck loosely
tied a gaudy silk handkerchief , upon his
hands buckskin gauntlets reaching half-way
to his elbows ; the border desperado and man-
killer with his swaggering walk , bold , defiant
face , evil eye and restless splilt , armed with
pearl-handled pistols and Ivory-handled bowk
knives ; the outlaw with his bearded face , un
kempt hair , hunted looks and bloodshot , uneasy
with his scowling ,
easy eye ; the murderer
hang-dog , suspicious face , villainous , lowerIng -
Ing eyes and hesitating step ; the half-breed
Mexican negro with straight , black hair , ma
hogany skin and pouting lips , and last , the
rabble , unworthy of description here , as they
were there lacking In manhood and respect.
Each man wore a slx-ahooter , sometimes
two , and bowle knife handles were plainly
visible from their resting places In bootlegs ,
belt or sash. Hlfles hung from saddle horns
In leather scabbards , rifles were stacked In
convenient places In brush or house , rifles
were ever present In hands accustomed to
use them. ,
The multitude swayed here and there In
search of pleasure. Horse racing captivated
and wiry-
vated many a fleet-footed Texan
limbed Mexican mustangs were matched
agaliiBt each other ; betting ran high ; sober
judgment was lost sight of In the rivalry
that existed , It being Mexican against Texan ,
and Texan against Mexican. Cock fighting
had Its numerous votaries , game birds with
blood red eyes , heeled with slashers , those
cruel , double-edged knives , were tossed Into
pits with challenges Issuing from their
throats , these gamely meeting death before
defeat.
Foot races were Inaugurated between Mex
icans and half-breeds , and many good dollars
lars changed hands over the results. En
ticing and foclnatlng games of cards were
Introduced and played upon spread blankets
under inviting shade. Largo sums of money
were either won or lost with a coolness and
abandon that was truly wonderful and sur
prising to the uninitiated beholders. C.ird
sharps or their emissaries could be seen
everywhere , some easily detected through
flimsy disguises.
A GAMBLING CARNIVAL.
At the end of a week the crowd with their
appetites temporarily satiated for gambling ,
their systems worn out from continued ex
citement and various excesses , their brains
sluggish for want of sleep and the majority
with empty purses , were In the proper hu
mor to take a much needed rest. So the
festivities were wisely brought to a close by
the managers. Strange , almost marvelous
to relate , there had been no fighting , no
killing. A small black cloud showed Its
threatening hea'd above the blue horizon
once only for an Instant then to disap
pear to return no more.
Over the possession of the olive hand of
a senorlta In the dance a desperate smug
gler from the Illo Grande and a dovll-may-
care cowboy came to angry words , to be
quieted with great difficulty by the combined
efforts of mutual friends Hatred and jeal
ousy existed then as now between Texan
and Mexican. The crowd seemed , about
evenly divided as to nationality and a pistol
shot , even a blow , would have precipitated
one of those short , decisive , bloody border
fights that has so often disgraced Texas !
history.
All other amusements were tame compared
to gambling. Fortune ruled supreme over
these wild , reckless and restless spirits ; she
was their queen and they her loyal subjects ;
she was their goddess , whom all worshipped
and the proudest bent the knee. The ranch
BUildlngt" had been confiscated for the use of
"banking games" faro and Mexican montc.
Upon the tables where these games were
dealt were stacked In rows ten and twenty
dollar gold coins , representing thousands of
dollars. Day and night the games went on ,
day and night the rooms were jammed wlh
players. Monte was by far the favorite.
Crowds of men stood around the tables plac
ing their bile , the human mass swearing
and pushlg for standing room ; feverish
liands were thrust forth over men's heads
and shoulders with money to bo staked on a
card. Many who could not reach the tables
handed In their bets to be placed upon their
card by the dealer or some accommodating
player.
The Mexican dealer vied with his Ameri
can brother In the smoothness nnd deftness
of manner In which they manipulated the
cards ; vied with him In suavity of politeness
of manners In which they treated the ex
cited but apparently calm players.
In the opinions ot the gentlemen of the
'green cloth , " financially the "affair" had
jccn a complete success from start to finish
from the old tomale woman to the gentle-
nan with the diamond studs. "Tho sport-
ng gentlemen , " as they were proud to deslg-
late themesclves , filled shotbags with coin
> reparatory to leaving and with many fond
adcliis at parting , but keeping close company
with their money-bags , hied themselves to
low fields of labor ,
The band , with most ot the scnorltas ,
quietly returned to Mexico. The cowboys
ode back to the ranches with a vague feei
ng that they had inadu fools of themselves ,
but consoled for empty pockctbooka by the
proud knowledge that they had had a rip-
roaring good time. The Mexicans returned
good iiaturedly to their "Jackals" of thatched
roofs and dirt floors , without a peso , there ,
revived on goal's milk and red pepper , to
relate with many a gesticulation and evident
ellsh to their wondering household the great
hlnga seen at thu fair ,
There was a precipitous homo seeking
among all classes. The fair was now num-
> ered with the events ot the print. It had
men welcomed and heralded Into existence
by a happy people with fat purses , the Just
reward of faithful labor performed with the
skinning knife. It disappeared llko a thief
n the dark , leaving the country as depleted
ot money as It had been before the great
cattle die up. LKB URTHUNB.
Hrnnoii KIIOUK'I.
A woman told the following little. Incident
ho other day : "I was at u woman auffrage
parlor meeting , " she said , "and I aw one
ot the most charming society women In
own among the guests. She always seemed
o me as It she ought to be kept In a glass
case , she was BO exquisite and refined. After
ho meeting was over I said to her ; 'How
lo you happen to bo bore ? ' 'Wwll.1 she
sold , 'I'll tell you , Last fall I talked with
iftcen men of my acquaintance , urging them
to at y In town to vote at the election. Not
one of them did , and I came to the con
clusion that It the respectable men wouldn't
vote the respectable women ought to. ' "
Sweet breath , sweet stomach , sweet tem
per ! Tisn uie DeWltt'i Little Earl *
ANNIHILATION OF DISTANCE
The Principles of Sound Transmission Ap
plied to Vision ,
FACES REFLECTED AT LONG RANGE
Multirnrlntin .Method * of the r.lrctrlc In
ccnilliiry Improvement * In Strcnt Car
I'roiitllKlim UcirlopiiirntA In
tlio Klectrk-iil J'lt'hl.
If communication by sound to great ills
tanccs by electrical messages was .such e
wonderful achievement , what shall wo so ;
to the application of this principle to vision
Many will say this Is Impossible , and then
Is In I'lttshurg an Inventor who has lie
only conceived tin Instrument that wll
enable one to ECO In this manner , but , the
I'lttsburg Dispatch asserts , has so far per
fueled It that It may be said to have passed
beyond the range of possibilities , and Is
among those things that arc achieved.
Mr. Leon IM I'outols hits been working
on this Invention for n number of years
but he has recently made great Improve
ments In the apparatus.
The object of the Invention Is to do for
the eye what the telephone docs for the
car. That Is , one can have this apparatus
attached to his telephone , by which he
will be able to fftc the person speaking at
the other end , or any object that may bo
presented before the transmitting apparatus
This Invention Is different from the Kill-
son Idnctograph , which Is designed for the
purpose of reproducing pictures of objects
representing them In movement. By this
Invention a succession of Instantaneous pho
tographs Is taken , which , when placed' In
the apparatus and rotated , produces an
effect on the eye similar to the original
movement , as , for Instance , a horse In
motion. _
Hut the tclectroscopo of Mr. I'ontols Is
entirely different. Hy this a person , ob
ject or scene placed before the transmit
ting apparatus , for Instance , In New Yorker
or Chicago and attached to a telephone
wire may be seen In 1'lttsburg.
In fact , It Is to do for the eye exactly
what the telephone does for the car , and the
same wire may bo used for both Instru
ments , so that one can use a long distance
telephone wire to talk with , mid at the
same time seq a correspondent In a distant
city.The
The telectroscope , as originally designed
by Mr. I'ontols , consisted of a transmitting
apparatus which consisted of a dark box
provided with lenses like n camera.
At the focus where the sensitive plate Is
ordinarily exposed to the action of light Is
placed an open disc made of very thin and
light material mounted on a shaft. 1'ln
holes about 1-100 of an Inch In diameter
are perforated near the periphery on con
centric arcs of circles , the difference be
tween the radius of two successive arcs
being 1-100 of an Inch , while the distance
between two holes Is equal to the width of
the Image painted by the rays of light on
the superior part of the disc.
The number of the psrforatlons Is such
that the total of their diameter Is equal to
the height of the linage. The holes being
thus dispersed on the surface of the disc ,
and the disc revolving , the perforations
traverse the surface of the picture or object
to bo transmitted according to different
concentric lines , and the rays of light pass
successively through the disc when the per
forations are moving past them.
From this it will be seen that the rays of
light from all parts of the object pass
through the perforations In the disc In one
revolution on its axis. The object of this Is
that Instead of all the rays fulling upon the
transmitter at once they ran be divided tip
and transmitted successively.
CONVERSION OF LIGHT UAYS.
The conversion of the rays of light Into
electrical currents of proportional Intensity
Is effected by a special selenium cell of an
extreme sensitiveness acting by the influenca
of the heated light. The selenium has this
remarkable property , that Its resistance to
currents of electricity Is varied by light
falling on It , especially heated light , so that
the greater the difference between the tem
perature of the beam of light and the
selenium Itself the more sensitive will It be
to the variations of Intensity in the light ,
and therefore the more will It vary the
electrical current passing through It.
These currents act at the receiving ap
paratus upon a mlcrophonlc relay acting on
the telephone receiver , modified by the ad
dition of a narrow chamber placed between
the disc and a cover hermetically closing the
telephone.
Ono of the covers is full of oxygen , brought
In by a pipe , and the other is full of
hydrogen. On the top of the covers is
tubing properly adjusted and provided with
regulating valves. The two gases are
brought under pressure near the surface of a
cylinder of carbonate of calcium.
The variations In the strength of the
current of the mlcrophonlc relay cause
pulsations of the diaphragms. But these
pulsations , oven if they are of a molecular
nature , Impart to the molecules of gas an
excess of speed , causing proportional varia
tions In the Intensity of the oxyhydrogen
light.
A lens and a reflector concentrate the
light on a ground glass or screen after
having previously passed through one of
the perforations of a disc absolutely similar
to the disc placed in the transmitting ap
paratus.
Then , according to the position occupied
by the perforation on the surface of the
disc , the beam of light passing by this point
makes a more or less luminous point on the
screen.
The two discs at each end of the line are
revolved synchronously. At each end of the
line , therefore , the discs rotate In absolute
accord. When the light passes through a
hole In one disc the light Is transmitted
through' the corresponding one at the other
end at the same Instant.
When the discs revolve nt a high rate of
speed the points of light pass with such
rapid succession that on account of the per
sistence of vision the retina Is not affected
by the successive disappearance of the
points , which , taken together , reproduce
exactly the object placed before the trans
mitter.
ELECTRIC INCENDIARY.
The turning adrift of the electric current ,
after having served the purpose of the elec
tric railway car. has not only been found to
play havoc with the water and gas pipes
along Its course , but , as H. C. Gushing , Jr. ,
now shows , IB responsible for a more or less
largo proportion of fires from "unknown"
causes. In the city of BaMon there were
during the year 1893 1.233 fires , with a loss
of | 5,02I,7G5. Twenty per cent of these fires
wore from unknown causes. Mr. 'dialling
suggests that the loss of $1,004,955 ought to
bo effectual In spurring on property owners
and Insurance companies to make some sys
tematic Investigations Into the eatiso there'of ,
Instead of resting content with blaming in
candescent or arc light wires or any other
wires which enter a building , and proceeds
to show from his own experience what In
structive facts such Investigation would de
velop , das and water pipe were found to
be completely eaten through by electrolytic
action In three months after having been
placed In the ground near street railway re
turns , In the cellars and basements of many
houses there was a largo difference of elec
trical pressure between two plpca entering
within one foot of each other , and In one In
stance It was a very easy matter to take a
piece of hoop Iron and draw an
electric arc sulllclent to Ignite a
piece of waste held near It , and by connect
ing these pipes together with a piece of cop
per wire the current passing made It so hot
that the hand could not be borne upon It ,
In one case two pipes were so close together
that the vibrations of an elevator engine
caused them to knock together , and an arc
was created every time a contact was made
and broken. This had been going on so long
that the gas pipe was almost eaten through.
Had thin not been discovered the pipe would
have been Ignited by the electric spark as
soon as the first small hole appeared , and
probably another fire "cause unknown"
would have followed. The power for good or
Dvll which this electricity lying around loose
nossesnes Is further shown by the fact that
one man ran small motors and Incandescent
lamps , as well as all the electric bells In till
building , by simply twisting his wires around
two different water pipes which entered the
building. So well do people now recognize
that thU vagabond current from the railway
clrculta U lurking around ready for activity
In .my slinpo , that It Is quit ? common 1
some cities to oiiUuly discard the ordlnar
electric befl battpaind to connect wires t
the water pipes , wlitoh-fiirnlsh an lnxhaiistl
bio supply of elcctfibny strong enough to ru
any number of bejwwa- gas lighting appani
tus. These are cMemlons which must In
evltably lead to w ftis risk of ( Ire. Thcr
Is only ono way ( Stj Hiiilnatlng this rnpldl
Increasing danger , Is to compel th
electric street rall > a"y companies to Insulat
from the ground heir entire idectrleal clr
cult. Mr. Cnslilm holds that the sooner
suit for damages I : brtaight by Ilio water an
gas companies for irj'sttnH nf pipes destroyc
by electrolysis th < wiiooner will the rallvva ;
companies put the remedy , which they or
already well cognisant ( of , Into operation.
A NEW STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM.
Street railway companies arc eagerly dls
cussing the newest My tein of car propulsloi
on the market , and many are sanguine tha
the method of operating city lines that the ;
have been hoping ahd waiting for has at las
arrived. Useful MS the trolley has been as i
temporary Improvement on horse traction , I
Is open to many objections , nml Its radlca
defects have prevented Its general acceptanc
as a permanent and desirable method of af
fording rap.d transit In city streets. Th
cable service Is equally out of court. Its tin
certainty of operation Is well known. If th
least thing goes wrong tit any point on th
line , the whole scrvlca Is paralyzed , and th
public has become accustomed to the sight o
n runaway cable car spreading disaster aloni
n crowded street , and absolutely beyond con
trol until the power house can be notified ti
shut down. In these days make shifts wll
not satisfy the public , who , during the las
few years , have made great strides In the ap
preclatlon of the possibilities of safety , com
fort , and rapidity In traveling , and both tin
trolley and the cable have been barely tel
crated pending the advent of a still bette ;
system. 'Such n system Is apparently nov
presented to the public , after having beet
severely tested through the winter In Ncv
York. In devising this system , the Inventors
Messrs. Johnson and Lundell , sought to cm
body the following salient features : (1) ( ) T <
dispense with all the overhead wires. (2) ( ) T <
replace the trolley by a system of wlrlni
which should essentially duplicate or imltati
that of the former trolley lines , but shouh
be out of the way and out of sight under tin
street paving. (3) ( ) To give the car all the ad
vantages of n self-moving vehicle , In cast
current from the distant power house shoulc
be shut off temporarily from any cause , 01
dislocated at any point , (4) ( ) To enable the cai
to be always un'dcr the highest possible degree -
gree of control. These exacting condition !
appear to have been met. In effect , the new
system Is a very Ingenious combination of UK
great advantages of both the closed and con-
dult method and the storage battery car , antl
It abolishes nt one stroke all the evils of the
overhead wire. The current Is taken from
the conduit by a "pick-up rubbing brush,1
which fulfills the function of the trollej
wheel. In fact , as a prominent electrical
journal expressively puts It , "If n man wen
to stand on his head , and If paving stones
were made of glass , he would see underneath
a literal counterpart or reproduction of the
trolley system , so far as the track Itsell
goes. " There Is ono great point of differ
ence , however. Whereas the trolley system
Is alive throughout , the new system Is nol
alive anywhere except at the point ovei
which the car Is passing , hence there Is nc
danger to horse or passer-by. Hut the car Is
not dependent merely upon the supply ol
llvo current. Under the seats are storage
batteries , which , while practically requiring
no attention , are ready at a moment's notice
to carry the car through any emergencies.
They will. If necessary , keep It going foi
several miles , or even enable It to be workeJ
on a line that Is without electric current ,
The controlling devices .are the most efficient
that have yet appeared ! there Is none of the
usual jerking or jgUIng ; , and the car Is oper
ated with the utmost ] precision and smooth
ness.
ness.TROLLEY
TROLLEY LINE INFRINGEMENTS.
JudgeWllllam 1C , * Townbcnd of the United
States circuit court of'Connecticut rendered
an Important decision * in the case of the
Electric Railway "Company of the United
States against the Jamaica and Brooklyn
Railroad company. It * Is In favor of the
General Electric company. The decision Is
on a final rehearing ou a bill in equity , al
leging Infringement , of letters patent granted
to Stephen I ) . Field ? July 18 , 1889 , for im
provements on electric railways and as
signed to the complainant.
The evidence of'Infringement , as stated In
the decision , applies -to the combination of a
stationary dynamo-electric generator driven
by a suitable motor and circuit of motors ,
composed In part of an Insulated or detached
section of the line of rails of the railway
track anct the electro-magnetic motor
mounted on a wheeled vehicle and used for
propelling the same , and Included In a cir
cuit of conductors , also a current controlling
device placed upon such vehicle. The de
fence was a denial of Infringement , antici
pation by prior patents , publication and
prior inventions.
Judge Townsend states that the complaint
admits that every element in the Invention
existed In art before the combination was
made , and he finds that there was-U ques
tion In the patent office In 1879 as to
whether patents could be granted to Field
because of a prior patent known as the
Clark , which embodied the same principle.
The suit Is said tojiave been the most Im
portant that has yet been tried In any
court , as It Involves the entire- electric rail
road systems of the country , and the patent
Is on the first principle. The plaintiffs , who
represent the Field Interests , have been
nonsuited , and Judge Townsend has or
dered a decree dismissing the bill. While
the defendants are nominally the Brooklyn
company , the case was defended by the
General Electric company. Had the decision
been In favor of the plaintiff they would
have controlled the- entire electric railroad
Interests of the United States.
ELECTRICAL NOTES ,
The electrical extraction of Iron from the
ere by the Do Laval process Is being tried
on a largo scale at Trollhattan , Sweden ,
and Is even expected to revolutionize the
Swedish Iron Industry.
The well known attraction which light has
for fish has Induced Ingenious fishermen to
utilize the electric light as a bait and It Is
bald that this never falls to bring together
largo shoals of llsh , which swim round the
illuminated globe and are easily caught.
In Franco the ' Do Merltens system of
treating wines by 'passing currents of elec-
irlclty through them has been officially
: ested and reported on favorably. This
treatment Is found to mellow and preserve
lealthy wines , and to arrebt deterioration In
thobo beginning to give way.
An Inventor has brought out a rocking
chair actuated by electricity. The sitter can
at the same time receive gentle currents by
grasping metal handles or by resting the
jaro feet on metal pedals.
In Russia a lady was saved from pre-
nature burial by means of a microphone
ilaced over her heart , which enabled n
nedlcal man to detect a faint beat , which
md escaped the ordinary tests.
A Now York lady has so contrived matters
that she can , before getting out of bed , start
i flro In the kitchen by turning on the current
and when she conies down stairs finds the
cottlo boiling andlho | place comfortably
'
warmed. nu ,
The electric light leds ) Itself admirably to
tousehold decoratlqii0 , Among other curious
ways Is a table iluwr tlon In which jelly U
Humiliated by a IJfiljt , shining through the
nnsH from the cenjerT When the dish , nt
first hidden by a silver cover and a mass of
lowers , Is suddenly uncovered the effect IB
very striking. , , , o
World' * C'olu'/jVlHnti ' / Kxpixltlnu
Will bo of value to. the , world by Illustrating
ho Improvements , fit utho mechanical arts
and eminent physldans will toll you that
ho progress In wpdlqlrml agents has been
of equal importancend as u strengthen'
ng laxative tlmt. . yrup ot Figs Is far 111
advance of all otjiers.j
Tulli Trees.
The tallest standing tree ls In Tasmania ,
50 feet high , but the "Mammoth" ot C'all-
ornla , which has now fallen , was 100 feet
allcr. Though California grows the largest
rult and flowers , the most enormous flower
n a native of Sumatra. U wan discovered
liy the suite ot Sir Stamford Rallies and
named RafllesU In his honor. When the
bud , which Is like a monstrous cabbage ,
jnfolds It shows live petals , flesh colored
nd marked with yellowlsli-wlilto protuber-
tnces , surrounding a cup of an intense
iiirplo that will hold a gallon and n half of
Iquld. The flower Is nlno feet In clrcum-
trenco and gives out a most rcpulslvo odor
Iko tainted meat , which In , however , at-
ractivo to Insects ,
DoWltt'B Little Early Risers. Small pills ,
ate pills , best cilia ,
OMAHA LIVE STOCK MARKET !
Receipts for the Week Much Heavier Thn :
Ono or Two Years Ago.
LITTLE CHANGE IN THE CATTLE TRAD
Sag of ' ) liursilujI'ully Iturmrrcil nni
1'rlccs In I.imt Hnturilny'H Noti-lii-
llogn t'omliii ; In I'lrnty nnd Cell
ing Hrlnlily nt u Dfrlliu- .
SATURDAY. May 19.
Receipts of cattle and sheep this wi'cl
have been lighter than last , but somcwha
heavier than for the corresponding \srek on
ami two years ago. In hogn there has been i
hlglncroase , the pupply being nearly 10,00' '
head heavier than a week ago nnd not far fron
double the number received dining the cor
responding weilt In 1S93. The figures nr
us follows :
Olltlll * . llORS. Slll'PI
Receipts this week II.IM.I II.S7J 1,70
UfColpts hint week 1G.UU Lil.97.1 II.'JJ
Same week hist year. . . 10l > : 9 22,181 1.71
Same week 1892 12,911 31.219 1,37
There has been no radical change In rattl
values all week. During Monday , Tucsdu ;
and Wednesday about the only different
In the market from day to day was i
gradual finning up of values for the llghtc
grades and u weakening In prices paid fo
the heavier. On Thursday , In symputh :
with bad reports from other markets , tradi
here was very dull and prices lOc to 15i
lower nil around. With comparatively llgh
supplies both Friday nnd today tills decllni
was practically all regained , und the ctosi
of the week finds most grades of bee
cattle Belling about In last Suturday'i
notches. Hot weather and a bud market 01
the other side of theiUor hnvi
made this a dull week for heavy cut
tie and prices for the ordinary run o :
steers weighing from 1,200 Ibs. up arc iilion
as low as they have been at any time foi
the past live years. There Is not a vcrj
vigorous deniund for any class of rattle
but the lighter grades are wanted the most
and as most of the cattle coming now havi
been on feed for some time buyers havt
some difficulty In lining their order. . It
general there has been no Improvement Ji :
the situation cither here or elsewhere.
WEEK CLOSES DULL.
Receipts for the past three days have been
comparatively light and even. Today's sup.
ply fell nearly 1,200 short of last Saturday's
run , but there were plenty of cattle here
for the demand. Trade was dull , nnd whllt
the good light and medium weight xtceri
sold the some ns on Frldny the heavlei
grades were slow and dull , with u rathci
lower tendency. Dressed beef men were tolerably
erably free buyers , but shippers und ex
porters were not at all anxious to trade un
less lower prices were held out us nn In
ducement. The reiult was a rather drag
ging market , but as Saturday Is a poor claj
to hold cattle nearly everything had let !
first hands by noon.
The cow market was very poorly supplied
and there was n6 noticeable change In prices ,
During the entire week there have not been
fifty loads on sale , and today there were
not over three straight loads In the yards ,
although there were a few odds and emit
and mixed lots. In fact , supplies of tills
class of stock have been so limited that
prices have been firmly held all week , with
scarcely any fluctuation. There has been
and continues to be a better demand for
calves and at firmer figures. The market
for bulls , oxen and stags has'becn Indiffer
ently supplied. Fat stock has sold a shade
stronger than last week , but the ordinary
and Inferior grades have not shown any
Improvement.
In stockers and feeders there has been n
fair amount of business transacted and
prices have ruled strong most of the time ,
Country buyers have been moro numerous
and have taken hold more freely , the result
being a cleaning up of speculators' supplies
and the tloso of the week finds very few
stale cattle in the yards. Naturally prices
have Improved a trifle and all grades are
selling at substantially better prices than
prevailed the. latter part of the week. Good
to choice feeders are quoted at $3.2003.75 ;
fair to good , $3.00ii)3.15 ? ) , and the commoner
grades at from $3 down.
HARD WEEK ON HOG RAISERS.
This has been a bad week In the hog
market. Receipts have been unusually
heavy , showing a marked Increase over lost
week and one and two yours ago. Prices
have felt the Increase In supplies , and the
decline during the week amounts to all ol
35c on all grades. There has been a fair
shipping demand , but packers have been ex
tremely bearish on account of the Heavy
supplies. The quality continues good , and
from this fact packers argue that supplies
this summer will be ample , If not heavy.
A buyer for a prominent packer says that
unless ho wanted weight he could go
Into the yards blindfolded and get as good
a drove as he could with his eyes open , the
hogs run so even. The big decline this
week brings hog prices more In line with
provision prices than they have been at any
time during the past six months , but any
thing like a steady nuirke' need not be ex
pected until packers can dispose of the pro
duct on the same basis thut they buy the
hogs.
The week closes with the heaviest run In
over a month , the supply being considerably
heavier than at Kansas City , and nearly as
heavy as at Chicago. In quality the offer
ings averaged up butter than they have on
any day of the week , although the proportion
tion of heavy weights was comparatively
small. In opening the market was slow
and rather uneven. There was not a very
active shipping demand , and the amide sup
plies made all the packers bearish. Hlda
and sales were ut $1.05 to $4.70 for fair to
good hogs of all weights , or steady to a
shade easier than Friday. Later good
shipping orders Infused now life und strength
Into the business , nnd late trading was
mostly at $1.70 , or full Friday's figures.
The top was $4.75 for three choice loads ,
and the extreme low mark $4.G2'for ' 11
load of rough , sklppy bluff. Everything
changed hands In good season , the bulk
going ut $4,65 and $4.70 , as against $4.70
Friday , and $5 to $5.05 on last Saturday.
SHEEP IN GOOD DEMAND.
This has been another week of light
supplies , and prices have developed some
strength. The demand for muttons and
lambs Is greater than the supply , and any
thing at all useful finds a ready sale at
strong prices. The offerings today were
very common odds and ends. Fair to good
natives are quotable at $3.50@4.35 ; fair to
good westerns , $3.204.15 ; common and
stock sheep , $2.50ft3,25 ( ; good to choice 40
to 100-lb. lambs , $3.5004.60.
CIIICAOO OKAIN MAKKKT.
lrcatiircn of I ho riuutimllmi nnd
1'rlren for Nntiinlny.
CHICAGO , May 19. Wheat shot skyward
today , advancing lc and closing lo higher.
Trading was heavy und excited , hhorts rush
ing frantically to cover , scared by frosts ,
higher cables and the bulge In outside mar
kets. Realizing cuused a reaction from the
top figures , but the market closed firm.
Corn closed % c higher , July oats We higher
and provisions at a slight decline.
The opening In wheat was excited , with
the buying general and the selling led by
I'ardrldge , The principal cause for the sud
den change In the course of the market was
the weather , the surprising strength In
cables nnd the bulge In the side markets.
The strength In foreign markets was un
expected und was ono of the main factors
In creating the demand. After the rush
up , there was a reaction canted by holders
taking profits , Pardrldgo was reported as
covering shorts and the market firmed up
at the close. The opening trades were ut
Vi&lo advance , sold up T'sO'U&c ' , worked buck
% © ! HC , changed some , ruled steady and
closed as stated.
Corn was active nnd steady , fluctuations
covering a range ofiilc , The strength
came from the weather and hliorts hastened
to cover. Opening trades were ' ,40 lie ad-
vnnco , sold up H@c , reacted > /i@c on
local realizing , ruled Btcady and closed
higher.
Oats were active and stronger , especially
for July and September , which advanced
V:0 > % o and closed steady.
Previsions opened quiet und slightly higher
m the strength In wlieut , Iat r heaviness
tot In , values declining moderately for
Your Laundress' Back ,
and her time , arc not the only things that
you save , if she uses Pearline. You'll
get your clothes washed without that ruin
ous rub , rub , rub that wears them out
quickly. It's a gain for her and a
gain for you , and they're washed
just as safely as they could be with
the best soap only a great deal
more easily.
But sec for yourself that what
she uses is Pearline the original washing-compound ; the
best ; the one proved to be perfectly harmless. All these
washing-powders that you're warned against arc only imi
tations of Pearline. cc JAM us PVLK , NOW York.
1
WORT-I NOW
Ingrain Carpets $ i40 $ .28
Brussels Carpets i.oo -46
Mattings ,35 .11
Dinner Sets 15 ' oo 7.34
Toilet Sets 3'5O 1.62
Cook Stoves 10.00 5.20
Wardrobes 12.00 5.83
BookCases 13.50 6.15
Lounges 9.50 4.40
Rockers 3.0o 1.14
Mattresses 3.50 1.87
Springs. . . , 2.oo .90
Ice Boxes 6.50 3.48
Gasoline Stoves 5.00 2.48
Baby Carriages 3.50 4.68
Chamber Suits 22.50 12.65
Folding Beds 15.00 7.63
Extension Tables s.so 4.45
Sideboards 24.00 13.50
Parlor Suits 45.00 23.95
Parlor Rockers e.50 2.67
Center Tables 3.50 1.40
Bedsteads 2.00 149
Lace Curtains .97
Terms Cash or Easy Payments.
PRESENTS TO AI/L PURCHASERS ,
Formerly People's ' Mammoth Installment Hous3
.
Smil lOeforjionlayfnii lilt"J4 ciittiloyim.
Close at 6:30 : evening's , except Monday and Saturday.
L-KE A GOOD TEMPER SHEDS A
' BRIGHTNESS EVERYWHERE.
of support. During the balance of the ses
sion the market was narrow , advancing
slightly and closing steady for pork and
ribs and firm for lard. Compared with
last night , July pork Is 2'/ic higher , July
lard unchanged and July ribs 2V&c lower.
Estimated receipts for Mondayr Wheat ,
130 cars ; corn , SCO curs ; oats , 250 cars ; hogs ,
25,000 head.
The leading futures ranged as follows :
Articles. | | Hlffll. | I.OW. | ClOBC.
Wheat. No. 1'
M
July
Hiipt OS
Corn No. i. . .
May aim 87 3 < 1M
July 37-M
Sept
OalB No. 2. . .
May 311 Hi
Juno
July 3DJ ,
Sent 20 aotf
I'orli per bljl
May 11 77i !
July 11 UU 11 02,1 11 fit ) 11 82M
La nl. 101) ) His
May 7 20 7 1C 7 IB
July (1 ( 1)0 n H.r > 0 87 !
Sept U (10 U B7H
Short UlUB-
ilay n in fl 15 G in
July u „ > < ) o m Q in
Sept. I ) 12i ! o in ti in
r-anli nuotiiUnnHcre OB fnllnwti :
I'LOI'll i.is > ; winter BtrnlKlitH , : .45Sj3 ;
winter imtentH , J2.8iJij3.IX ) ; fpilim' Btniliihts , } 2.-'J '
4l2.CO.
WIIIJAT N'o. 2 uptime , Hici No. 3 eprlns , no
salon ; No. 'i u-il. M\i > .
( JOHN No. 2 , 37'ic ' ! No3 vUl'iW. 37Wo.
OATH No. 2 , aa'.ii1 : No. 2 lilte , aCiOSG'ic ;
No. wlille. 3l'Si(3iic. ( ,
HAliujV No. S , ' nominal ; No. 3 , C2QWc ; No. 4 ,
USiiKlc.
Kl.AX 8J3I3H No. 1 , 11.38.
TIMOTIIV HKI3D I'dme. 11.10(74.13.
1'IIOVI.SIONS MrHii pork , per lib ! . , Jll.SI'iW '
11.85 ; laid , pt-r 1W ) UPH. . J7.l5ij7.17H ; Hliort rllm ,
HI.ICH < lei e ) . $ C.I7'i1i7. ) ; Ory enlli-d ulioulilcni
( btixeil ) . J.r > ,7 ; (6.Uij ) Blioit I'lenr iildu ( lioxeil ) ,
Wllisky DlHtlllerii' flnlHtiril KOodH , per Kti\ \ . ,
The followlne woiu tlio rccciiua ana Bliliiniauts
forloilay :
On thu I'rodiico nxchaiik'O today the Imttor imr -
hot WUH nuk'l and imcliuniri'd ; creamery. l'J < ililc ;
dnlry , MlI8e. KSTBH , iulct and uiichanzrd ;
Blrlctly fit'Hh , liMo.
1.1 vi : STOCK M.VIIKIT. :
With Only r.lirlit llumlml C'nttlu Offered
There WUH I.lttln AHUIty.
CHIOAflO , Miiy 19. The cattle market nut
Hem at I'tldity'H iiiotutloiiH. | It wait not actl\n
bccuufo of tlio fuel lli.it only itlwut SW licm !
\\uro offend. They were all pli-knl up In Kix > a
Kcucon on u Imnla of from II. DO to > 3.W for in
ferior to i-xli-ii cows unit liclfi-ra und ut from
13.40 to | 4 for common f ) fancy dti'crn. H ' -
Cfliiln WITH ntlmuleil nt 6' ' liwul , making C9.0C8
hfiul fur th weik , iiKiiltmt D3.8W head lust wrcU ,
O.3C1 lirud n yt-ar DRU and MMi In ! & ' . > : .
Alxiut 12.001) IIOKH unlveil trxlny , mnklnK 134,000
ln'iiil for till" "fi-k , or l8oui ! > lit-ad more than fur
lout urt-K. 4lUu'J head mnr Hum fur I hi- tam
urrk lout > > -ur and 43 , < X lu-ad lc n limn In li'/ ' .
The di-mund wu ijood und lilsl 'r | irlcn were
paid. There wan 1111 iidvanra on yeHtcrday'n
i > rlcr * of from tc In I0o ami un mlvance from
tbv luue l yrKti ut Thuiaflux ot ? ) c , but ttm
WM. LOUDON ,
Commission Merchant
GRAIN AND PROVISIONS'
Frlvnto nlrcs to Chicago nnd New Yoilt. All
liualiK'sd 01 dura placed on Chicago JJoanl ( . {
Tiade.
Correspondence solicited.
Office , room 4 , New Yorlc I.lfo Dull'llni ' ;
Telephone J3US.
maiUi'l Is ftlll 20iInwrr than at the rlnvn of Ian
\\eik. h'ali'H xu-ri ) lnin''ly at from II.M to ir > .
thiiiiKli a numlipi- WITH riportrd nt I5.U5 ami nt
leant inn * at fi.i)7it. ) Tlu-re wprp about 17,00) ) lieatl
on Kilo , noaily all of which changi-il hand * by
llin mlililliof tinforworn
KoculptH of Hliccp \\tre i-Htlmali'd lit
l.fiH ) fit-mi , making 5.M7 ! hi-iul for thin
wt-i'k. Ki > r Ian \\i-rk llin tolul wan lil,3i > ' .i
i'i'k laHt > iar
liciul imil for the coiiexpomtlnt ;
f.'l.l.M ) hriiil. ThiMP as a Him nmiUi-t at fiom
H.T.'i to H.M fur pour tu i-xlru phi-i-p , at fiom
fi.L' : . " , u > | 4.7'i fur yriirlinb'H ami at fiom 14 to
f 7r > finpprlnif lamliH.
ltcii-lilH | : Cntll , ' . MX ) lii-iiil ; rahrs , 23 heail ;
hiiK , l..DOl hi-acl ; H"II-I | > , l.MO tifnil.
TiniinlnK : .loiirnal it > porlH :
l'ATI'1.13 HwelpiH. 1.0 ( l hcml ; shlpmonlH , l.Wil
li nl ; niiiiki-t Htwiclyj prlrno to i-xtra niitlvn
' " - J3.a.5l l.la , otlu'iH ,
Hli-i-iH , } 4.20'iH.3"i ; nil-ilium ,
M.'Mil f l. Ti'XiuiH , } 3.1'liiS."i. ' :
IKX1S Iti-n-lpiH , 12,0x1 lioail ; Hhlnmentis Mw
lii-nil , iniirki-t iictivu nml strnnit ; nil milil , nniKli
lii-nty , II 25fl4.W ; pnckirs imil inlxml , H.7.WI.J5 ;
pi Innhiay ami liulrlit-r weights , I1.M1M.M ,
UHHorli-il IlKht , 11.SO 4.tii ) .
HIIIII3I' AM ) l.A.MISHpiti ! | | , 1.500 lii-ncl ;
iniiiki-l iiiiiliniiKi-il , ijiiolatlona for clipped. Top
livi- | ) , | 4,25t(4ili ( lop IlllllliH. ll.7Sf5KI. (
Iti-culplt unit lll p iiltliiinif Stook ,
Omrlalr.iceiMaauddlHpoJltloiiofHtoj'iaifn vi
liyllio hooka of the Union Sin * y.ir.ln voiitiii/
for HIM iwi'Miy-foiir lioiirnuiiillnj nt ; i o'clock p. in ,
Ma ) 1U , Ibtll :
till Murltoli.
Oil. f'lTY , I'M. . May 19. National Tiaiult
( ertllliaten opened ul Mir ! ' ; hlKhc'iit , kCVic , loweil.
kC\r. HuliK. 1.01)0 ) bbU. : Illpmtntx , VMH bblK. ;
' "rnTWIIfltO. 'l'u. . May 19. National Tmntlt
i-ertllleali-H opened at tec , cloned at Me ,
IIAI ; lowi'ft , He. No Kulrn.
Little pllla for great UU ; QoWitt'a LIUH
Early. IUscr ,