12 THE OMAHA DAILY BJ1T& SATUJRDAY" , MAY 4 , 1895.
A FIGHT fflTIl MM
A Stirring Story of Adventure of the South
ern Sea.
,
( IJy roun o\ell WllJimn )
The dally Straits Times on the desk be
fore me. contained a vivid word picture of the
"Capture of the British aleanuhlp Namoa ,
by 300 Chlnt-o pirates , the guns of Hongkong
almost within sight , and the year of our
Lord , IS'JO , but Jiml drawing to a close. "
The report teemed Incredible ,
I pushed the paper across the table to
thfl grizzled old taptaln of the Hunker Hill
nnd continued my examination of the ac
counts of a half dozen sailors of whom he
was Intent on Retting rid. lly the time I
hail signed the last discharge and affixed the
consular seal , he had finished the article
and put It aside with a contemptuous "btlmi > . "
expressive of his opinion of the \alor of the
crew and officers. I could see that he was
anxious for me to give him my attention
vvhllo he related one of those long drawn out
utorles of perhaps a like personal experience
I knew the svmptoms and took occasion to
escape , If business or Inclination undo me
forego the pleasure Today 1 was In a lit
mood to humor him.
There Is always something dcllclously re
freshing In a sailor's > arn. I ha\e listened
to hundreds In the course of my consular
career , and have jet to Una one that Is duller
or prosy. They all bear the Imprint of
truth , perhaps a trifle overdiawn , but ncvcr-
the lets sparkling with the salt of the sc.t.
and redolent with the romance of utrjngc
people and dlttant lands. In listening one
becomes almott dizzy at the rapldltv with
\\1ilch the scene and personnel chinge The
Icebergs and the aurora borcalla of the Arctic
give place to the tepid waters and the south
ern cross of the South Pacific. A volcanic
Island , an Arabian de'ert , a tropical jungle
and the breadth and width of the ocean serv ?
as the theater , \\hKe a 1'egll Islander , an Cs-
( | ulmaux nnd a turbaned Arab are the actors
In a half hour's tale. In Interest thsy rival
Verne , Kingston or Marryat. All they lack
Is skilled hands to dress them In proper lan
guage.
TIIC CAPTAIN'S YAUN
The captain helped himself to one of my
Manilas and commenced
"I've ' nothing to say about the fate of the
poor fellows on the Namoa , seeing the captain
was killed at the first fire , but It looks to me
like a case of carelessness which was almost
criminal. The Idea of allowing 300 Chinese
to come aboard as passengers without tcarch-
.ng them for arms. Why ! It Is an open bid
to pirates Goes to show prettly plain that
these seas are not cleared of pirates. Sailing
ships nowadays think they can go anywhere
without a pound of powder or an old cut-
lasB aboard Just because there Is an English
or Dutch man-of-war within a hundred
miles. I don't know what we'd have done
when I first traded among these Islands
without a good brass swivel and a stock of
percussion cap muskets.
"Let me see , It was In ' 58 , I was a cabin
boy on the brltf 'Danger. ' Captain Howe ,
hale old fellow from Maine , had his two little
boys aboard. They are merchants now In
Boston. On the 'Elmlra' I've been sailing
for them ever since. Wo were trading along
the coast of Borneo Those were great days
for trading In spite of the pirates. That was
long before iron steamers sent our good
oaken ships to rot In the deck yards of
Maine. Why , In those days jou could
Bee n half dozen of our snug little crafts In
any port of the world , and I've fcecn more
American flags In this very harbor of Singa
pore than of any other nation. We had come
into Snngaporo with a ship load of Ice , ( no
scientific ice factories then ) , and had gone
along the coast of Java and Borneo to load
with coffee , rubber and spices for a return
voyage. Wo were Just oft Kuchlng , the capi
tal of Sarawak , and about loaded , when the
captain heard that gold had been discovered
somewhere up near the head of the Kcjang.
The captain was an adventurous old salt and
decided to test the truth of the story , so tak
ing the long boat and ten men , he pulled
up the Sarawak river to Kuchlng and got
permission of Rajah Brook to go up the
Rejang on a hunting expedition. The rajah
\\ns curtcous but tried to dissuade us from
the undertaking by relating that several
bands of Dykas had been out on head huntIng -
Ing expeditions of late , nnd that the mouth
of the Rejang was Infested by Illanum pi
rates. The captain only laughed , and Jok
ingly told Sir James that If the game proved
scarce he might come back and claim the
prize money on a boatload of pirate heads
"Wo started at once , for captiln let me
go , and rowed some sixty miles along the
coast to the mouth of the Rejang Then for
FIGHTING HAND-TQ.IIAND.
four days we pulled up Its snake-Ilka course
It was my first bit of adventure , and every
thing was strange and now The river's
COUIEP was llko a great tunnel Into the dense
black Jungle. On each side and above , we
were completely walled In by an Impenc
trablo growth of great tropical trees and the
Iron-like vines of the rubber. The sun for a
few hours each day came in broken shafts
down through the foliage and exposed the
black back of a crocodile on the green sides
of an Iguana. Troops of monkeys swung am
chattered In the branches abova and a
Intervals a grove of cocoanut broke the
monotony of the scenery. Among them wo
would land and rest for the day or night
cat of their Juicy fruit and go on short ex
curslons for game. A roasted monkey , some
baked yams nnd a delicious rlco curry made
up a royal bill of fare and as the odor o
our tobacco mixed with the breathing per
fume of the jungle , I would fall asleep listen
InK to sea yarns that sometimes ran back to
the war of 1612.
II.
"At the end of the fifth day we arrlve <
at the head of the Rejang. Hero the river
broke up Into a dozen small streams and a
gnamp. A stockade had been erected am
the rajah had stationed a small compati ;
of native soldiers under an English olll'-er
to keep the head-hunting Dyaks In check
I don't remember what our captain found
out In regard to the gold fields , at least , I
was not encouraging , for he gave up the
search and joined the English lleutenan
In a grand deer hunt that lasted for five
days , and then started back , accompanlei
by two native soldiers bearing dispatches
to the rajah.
"It was easy running down the river with
the current , One man In each end of the
boat kept It off roots , sunken logs and croco
dlles , and the rest of us spent the time na
best our cramped space allowed. Twice we
detected the black ugly face of a Dyak peer-
lug from out the jungle. The men were
or hunting them down for the price on their
leads , but the captain Eild that he never
killed a human being except In self-defense ,
and that If the rajah wanted to get rid of
he savages he had better give the contract
0 n Mississippi slave trader. Secretly I
\as longing for some kind of excitement , and
\OB hoping that the men's clamorous talk
vould have some effect. I never doubted
our ability to raid a Iyak village and kill
he head-hunters and carry off the beautiful
naldens. I could not see why
a parcel of blacks should be
such a terror to the good rajah
when Big Tom tald he could easily handle
1 dozen and flattered me by saying tint such
i brawny lad as I ought to take care of
two at least.
"In the course of three days we reached the
mouth of the river and prepared the sail
for the trip across the bay to the Dingor
Just as everything was In readiness one of
those peculiar and rapid changes In the
weather took place , that are to common
hero In the tropics , near the equator. A
great blue , blnck cloud , looking like an Im
mense cutrldge , came up from the west.
Through It played vlved flashes of lightning
and around It was a red haze. "A nasty
animal , " I heard the Bo'son tell the captain ,
and jet I wa * fqpllshly delighted when they
decided to risk a blow and put to sea. The
sky on all sides grew darker from hour to
hour. A smell of sulphur came to our nos
trils It was oppressively hot , not a breath
of wind was stirring The sail flapped use
lessly against the mast and the men labored
at the oirs while streams of sweat ran from
their bodies.
"The captain had Just taken do n the mast
when , without a moment's warning , the gale
struck us and the boat half filled with water
We arranged to head It with the wind and
were soon driving with the rapidity of a
cannon ball over the boiling and surging
waters. It was a fearful gale ; we blew for
hours before it , oftlmes in danger of a
volcanic reef , again almost sunken by a
giant wave I billed until I was completely
exhausted , but the long boat was a staunch
little craft and there were plenty of men to
manage it , BO as long as we could keep her
before the wind the captain felt no great
anxiety as to our safety.
III.
"At about six bells in the afterncon the
wind fell away and the rain came down in
torrents , leaving us to pitch about on the
rapidly decreasing waves , wet to the skin
and unequal to another effort. Wo were
within a mlle of a rocky Island that rose like
a half ruined castla from the ocean. The
Dyak soldiers called It Satang Island , and I
have sailed past It many a time since
Without waiting for the word we rowed to It.
and around it before we found a suitable
beach on which to land One end of the
Island rose perclpltous and sheer above the
beach a hundred feet and ended In a barren
plateau of some two dozen acres. The re
mainder comprised some hundred acres of
sand and rocks on which were half a dozen
cocoanut treoa and a few yams. Along the
beach we found a largo number of turtle
eggs.
"The captain remembering the rajah's cau
tion In ngard to pirates , decided not to make
a light , but we were wet and hungry and
overcame his scruples , and soon had a huge
flre and a savory repast of coffee , turtles'
eggs and > ams. At midnight It was extin
guished and a watch stationed on top of the
plateau ; toward morning I clambered grum
bling up the narrow , almost perpendicular
sides of the rift that cut Into the rocky
watch tower. I did not believe In pirates and
was willing to take my chances In sleep. I
paced back and forth Inhaling deep breaths
of the rich tropical air ; below me the waves
beat In ripples against the rugged beach , castIng -
Ing off from time to time little flashes of
phosphorent light and mirroring In their
depths the hardly distinguishable outlineof
the southern cross. The salt smell of the sea
was tinged with the spice-laden air of the
near coast. Drowsiness came over me. I
picked up a musket and paced around the lit
tle plateau. The moon had but just reached
its zenith making all objects easily discern
ible. The smooth storm-swept space before
mo reflected back Its rays like a well scrub
bed quarter deck ; below were the dark
outlines of my sleeping mates. I could hear
the light wind rustling through the branches
of the Casuarnla trees that fringed the shore.
I paused and looked out over the sea. Like
a charge of electricity a curious sensation
of fear shot through me. Then an Intimation
that some object had flashed between me and
the moon. I rubbed my eyes and gazed In
the air above , expecting to see a night birder
or a bat. Then the same peculiar sensation
came over mo again and I looked down into
the water below just In time to cee the long
keen knife-like outline of a pirate prahu
glide as noiselessly as a shadow from a pass
ing cloud Into the gloom of the Island. Its
great , wide spreading dark-red sails were
set full to the wind and hanging over its
side by ropes , were a dozen naked Illanums
guiding the sensitive craft like a thing of
life. Within the prahu were two dozen fight
ing men , armed with their alligator hide
buckler , long steel tipped spear and ugly
snake-like krls. A third prahu followed In
the wake of the -other two and all three were
lost In the blackness of the overhanging
cliffs.
"With as little noise as possible I ran
across the plain and warnet my companion ,
then picked my way silently down the de
file to the camp. The captain responded
to my touch , and was up In an Instant
The men were awakened and the news whis
pered from one to another. Gathering up
what food ard utensils we possessed we
hurried to get on top of the plateau before
our exact whereabouts became known The
captain hoped that when they discovered we
were well fortified and there weto no wrecks
to pillage , they would withdraw without
giving battle. They had landed on the op
posite side of the Island from our boat and
might leave It undisturbed. We felt reason
ably safe In our fortress from attacks There
were but two breaks in Its precipitous sides ,
each a narrow defile filled with loose boul
ders that could easily be detached and sent
thundering down on an assailant's head.
On the other hand our shortness of food
and water made us singularly weak In case
of a siege. But we hoped for the best ,
Two men were pos'ed at each defile , and as
nothing was heard for an hour , most of
us dropped aslc p.
IV.
"It was Just at dawn when we were
awakened by the report of two muskets and
the terrific crashing of a great boulder fol
lowed by groans and yella. With one accord
wo rushed to the head of the canyon. The
Illanums , naked with the exception of parti-
color&l sarongs around their waists , with
their bucklers on their left arms and their
gleaming knives ( trapped to their right
wrists , were .mounting en each other's shoul
ders , forcing a way up the precipitous defile
u.nmlndful of the madly descindlng rocks
that had crushed and maimed nrre than
one of their number. They were fine , pow
erful fellous. with a reddish brown fkln
that ihcna like polished ebony. Their hair
was shorn close to their heads ; they bad high
cheek bones , flat notes , syrah atalned Up *
and btood-shet ores , In their movements
they were as lithe and supple as a tiger and
commanded our admiration while they made
us shudder. We knew that they neither
give nor take quarter , and tor years had ter
rorized the entire Bornean coast.
"We were ready to fire but a gesture from
the captain restrained us ; our ammunition
was low and he wished to save It until we
actually needed It. lly our united efforts wo
pried off two of the volcanic rocks , which ,
with a great leap , disappeared Into the dark
ness below , oftlmes appearing for an Instant
before rushing to the sea. Every time an
Illanum fell we gave a hearty American
cheer , which was answered by savage jells.
Still they fought on and up making little
headway. We were gradually relaxing our
efforts , thinking that they were sick of the
affair , when the report of a musket from the
opposite side of the Island called our attention
to the 'Bo'sn , * who had been detailed to guard
the other defile.
"The boatswain and one native soldier were
fighting hand to hind with a dozen pirates
who were forcing their way up the edge of
the cliff , Half of the men dashed to their
relief just In time to see the soldier go over
the precipice locked In the arms of a giant
Illanum , One volley from our muskets
settled the hopes of the Invaders. Our little
party was divided and we were outnumbered
ten to one. One of the sailors In dislodging
a boulder lost his footing and went crashing
down with It , amid the derisive yells of the
pirates Suddenly the conflict ceased and the
pirates withdrew. In A short time we could
see them building n number of small fires
along the beach and the aroma of rice curry
came up to us with the breeze. The captain ,
I could sec , was anxious , although my bojlsh
feelings did not go beyond a sense of Intoxi
cating excitement. I heard him say that
nothing but a storm or a bhlp could save
us In case we were be'leged ; that It was
better to have the fight out at once , and die
with our arms in our hands than starve ted
d ath.
"Giving us each a small poitlon of ship
biscuit and a taste of water he enjoined on
each a careful watchfulness and a provident
use of our small stock of provisions.
"I took mine In my hand and walked out
on the edge of the cliff somewhat sobered.
Directly below me were the pirates and at
my feet I noticed a fragment of rock that I
thought I could loosen Putting down my
food I foolishly picked up a piece of timber
which I used as a lever , when , without warn
ing , the mass broke away and with a tre
mendous bound went crashing down Into the
very midst of the pirates , scattering them
light and left , and cndri by crushing one of
the prahus that was drawn up on the sand
"In an Instant the quiet beach was a scene
"I CLOSED MY EYES AND FIRED
of the wildest confusion. A surging , crowdIng -
Ing mass of pirates with their krls' between
their teeth , dashed up the canyon Intent on
avenging their loss. I dropped my lever and
rushed back to the men nearly frightened to
death , at the result of my temerity. There
was no time for boulders , the men reached
the brink of the defile Just In time to wel
come the assailants with a broadside. Their
lines wavered , but fresh men look the places
of the fallen , and they pushed ; on. Another
volley from our guns and the dead and
wounded encumbered the progress of the liv
ing. A shower of stones and timbers gave
. us the fight and they withdrew with savage
yells to once more open the siege. Only one
of our men had been wounded. He by an
arrow from a blow pipe.V. .
V.
"All that night we kept watch. The nex
morning wo were once mora attacked , bu
successfully defended ourselves with bould
crs and our cutlasses. Yet one swarthy
pirate succeeded In catching the leg of the
remaining native soldier and bearing him
away with them With cessation of hos
tllltlea we saarched the top of the Island for
food and water. At one sldo of the table
land there was a break In Its surface and a
beach of some dozen acres lay perhaps
twenty feet below our retreat. Wo cautiously
worked our way down to this portion am
there to our delight found a number of fan
shaped travelers , palms and monkey cups
full of sweet water , which , with two wild
sago palms , we calculated would keep us
alive a few days at all events.
"We were much encouraged at this dls
covery and that night collected a lot of brusl
from the lower plain and lit a big flre on the
most exposed part of the rocks. Wo did no
care If It brought a thousand more pirates as
long as It attracted the attention of a passing
ship. Two good nine-pounders would seer
end our foes In all directions. We relieve *
each other In watching during the night , and
by sunrise we were all completely worn out
The third day was one of weariness am
thirst under the burning rays of the tropl
cal sun. Tliat day we ate the last o
our ship biscuit and were reduced to a
few drops of water each. Starvation was
looking us In the face. There was but one
alternative , and that'was to descend am
make a fight for our boat on the twach. The
Bo'son volunteered , with three men , to de
scend the defile and1 reconnolter. Armed
only with their cutlasses and a short ax they
worked their way carefully down In the
, shadow of the rocks , while we kept watcl
above.
"All was quiet for a time , then there arose
a. tumult of cries , oaths and yells. The cap
tain gave the order and pell-mell down the
rift wo clambered , some dropping their mus
kets In their hurried descent , one exploJIng
In its fall. The 'Bo'son' had found the
beach and our boat guarded by six pirates
who were asleep , four of whom they succecde <
in throttling. Wo pushed our boat Into th
surf , expecting every moment to see one o
tha prahus glide around the two Inlets. We
coald plainly hear their cries and yells as
they discovered our escape , and with a heigh
o-helgh our long boat shot out into the plack
ocean , sending up a shower of phosphoren
bubbles. We bent our backs to the oars as
only a question of life or death can make
one. With each stroke the boat seen ed al
most to lift Itself out of ths > water. Almos
at the same time a long , dark line , filled with
moving objects , dashed out from the shadow
of the cliffs hardly 100 yards away.
"It was a glorious race over the dim waters
of that tropical sea. I as a boy could no
realize what capture meant at the hands o
our cruel pursuers. My heart beat high and
I felt equal to a dozen Illanums. My
thoughts traveled back to New England In
the midst of the excitement. I saw mysel
before the open arch fire In a low roofed oh
house , that for a century had withstood the
fiercest giles on the old Maine coast , and
from whose doors had gone forth three g'n
eratlons of sea captains , I saw myself on a
winter night Jelating this very adventure to
an old gray-haired , bronzed faced father
and a mother whose parting kiss still lingered
gored on my lips , to my youngsr brother and
sister. I could feel their undisguised ad
miration as I told cf my fight with pirates
In the Boran sea. It is wonderful how the
mind will travel. Yet with my thoughts in
Maine I saw and felt that the Illanums were
gradually gaining on us. Our men were
weary and feeble from two days fasting
while the pirates were strong and thlrstln ;
for our blool ,
"The captain kept glancing first at the
enemy and then at the musket that lay nea
him. He longed to use It , but not a man
could be spared from the oars. Hand over
hand they gained on us. Turning his eyes
on me , seated In the bow , the captain said
while he bent his sinewy back to the oar
Jack , are you a good shot1 I stsmmerec
and answered , 'I can try , sir. ' 'Very well
get the musket there in the bow. It Is
loaded. Take good aim and shoot that big
fellow In the ( tern. It you hit him I'll make
you a master of a ship some day. ' Trem
blingly I raised the heavy musket as dl
reeled. The boat was unsteady. I hardly ex
jjectcd to bit tie chief , but aimed low , hoping
o hit one of the rowers at least. I aimed ,
iloted my eyes and fired. With the report of
he musket the tail leader sprang Into the
air and then felt head foremost amid his
rowers. I coulil ( Just detect the gleams of
he moonlight on ( he jeweled handle of hlu
iris as he ( ante Into the waters. I had hit
ny man. The sailors sent up a hearty Amor-
can cheer and a tiger , as they saw the prahu
: amcto a standstill. Our boat sprang away
nto the darkncis. Wo did not cease rowing
until dawn ; then we lay back on our oars
ind stretched our tired backs and arms , I
lad taken my place at the oar during the
night.
"Away out on tha northern horizon we saw
a black speck ; on the southern horizon an
other , The captain's glass revealed one to
ba the pirate's prahu with all sails set , for
a wind had come up with the dawn. The
other we welcomed with a cheer , for It was
he 'Danger. ' Enfeebled and nearly fa-n-
shing we headed toward It and rowed for
life. How we regrettsd having left our
sails on the Island. The prahu had sighted
is and was bearing down In full pursuit ;
teen we could distinguish Its wide spread-
ng rakish satis almost touching the water
as It sped on Then v e made out the naked
'arms of the Illanumr hanging to the ropes ,
far out over the watir , and then we could
irar their blood curdling yell. It was too
late , their yell was one of balllcd rage. It
was answered by the deep bass tones of
the swivel on board the 'Bangor' sending
a ball skimming along over the waters
which , although It went wide of its mark ,
caused the natives on the ropes to throw
themselves bodily across the prahu , taking
the great sail with them ,
'In another Instant the red sail , the long
keen black shell , the naked forms of the
fierce Illanums were mixed In one undo-
finable blot on the distant horizon. "
J OV.\1 > AT I..IST.
Itnrpcr's llarnr.
The muse-maid's second cousin had unfor
tunately died.
And It behooved her to go forth nnd seek
the widow's side ;
So JllstressH Hes she had to tnke care of
the bojs that day.
And keep their little paddles clean nnd out
of mischief's vvny.
The cook hnd such n headache that he
couldn't do a. thing ;
She trulv couldn't tell n poker from a muf-
fln-rlng ;
And hence It vvns that Mistress Bess was
forced to go downstairs
And get the dinner ready for her husband
and the hclrs .
The waitress had departed In a manner
known ns Trench ,
Because she hnd been scolded for the thirst
"lie sought to quench :
So Bess had work to do likewise with plates
nnd forks and knives ,
Such ns would prove distasteful to the
general run of wives.
And ns thf > laundress' brother on a sudden
hud a fall ,
That broke a rib and both his legs , at
HIckey'R Tem' > "nnce ball ,
She too had left that day to go to see him
nnd his folk ,
And that Is why poor Mistress Bess put nil
the clothes to soak.
And that Is why her husband , When he
heard what she had done.
Said that he'd found one thing quite new
at last beneath the sun ;
A thing that htvl ( been sought for many
yenrp , a very pearl
A willing , pretty , civil , wholly perfect
servant girl.
HIDDEN STREAMS.
The Question of Umlcrcround inters for
Irrlgiitlnn Purposes
The development of largo enterprises for
the purposes of Irrigating arid or semi-arid
lands in tha west , says the Engineering
Record , has for a considerable time directed
the attention of engineers and others to the
Importance of underground waters in this
connection. Tluro ore many apparently "dry
rivers" In and vycst of the Rocky moun
tain region , as well as In Jrany portions cf
the country Immediately east of it , which
the early discoverers regarded as rather re
markable plmnomena. cf nature , but they
certainly1 never regarded them as sources
of great future wealth for the people whc
might subsequently develop that portion of
the country. It has long bcen known , however -
over , that these dry river beds are but the
top surfaces of accumulations of sand , gravel
and boulders , through which are flowing at
low velocities great bodies of water which
may be made available with comparative ease
for the Irrigation of large tracts of adjoining
country , essentially sterile and unproductive
In Its natural state. Many small landholders
as well as great Irrigation companies , are
wisely directing their efforts to the utlllzatlor
of these underground sources of agricultura
wealth , and the operations of engineers have
seldom been employed toward a more ad
vantageous direction of "the great sources o :
power in nature * for the use and convenience
of man. "
The legal character of these undergroum
percolating waters renders them particularly
available for the purposes of Irrigation , since
the title to them seems to rest with the
owner of the land in which they are found
No water may be taken from any surface
stream flowing above a well defined bed , ant
whose course may be clearly followed am
determined , without rendering adequate com
pensation to any rightful water user below
the point at which It is uxken from the
stream , but the owner of any land througl
which underground water may bo percolat
Ing may sink wells and drive tunnels for the
purpose of Intercepting and utilizing such
waters , apparently without any regard to
the effects upon the flow in similar wells and
tunnels In the vicinity of his own property
As long , therefore , as any party confines hi
operations within the boundaries of his own
land he may collect and distribute , to any
extent , the underground waters which may
be found flowing through the subsurface
sand or gravel without fear of legal compll
cations. The stimulating effect of such lega
conditions , combined with the prospect o
profitable returns from well-managed Irriga
tion enterprises , has been remarkable , am
Is well shown by the recent and rather
prominent enterprise of the Spllman Subur
ban Water company of Los Angeles , Cal
of which Mr L. S. Holt Is the secretary am
Mr. George Manuel is the engineer , both o
whom are well known In connection with
Irrigation Interests.
A preliminary report by the latter , nnd a
recent paper by the former , read before the
farmers' Institute of Redlands , Cal. , contain
some very Interesting , as well na valuable
Information in connection with a number o
largo works of the same character , Including
data Indicating what. In accordance will
past experience , may be reasonably expectec
as a yield from water-bearing subsurface
sand and gravel. While underground sup
piles of water for cities and towns In the
eastern portion1 of the United States have
not yet proved to be as successful as couli
be desired , it appears to be very clearly
established that the narrow undergroum
outlets from some of the canyons of the
mountain ranges , of the west , as well as
other similar subsurface conformations o
sand and gravel , afford opportunities of In
tercepting very largo supplies of percolating
waters , having their origin In the melting
snows of higher levels , and which are thus
of an apparently permanent nature , on
which rellanca may be placed for all time
It is a field of engineering work in whlcl
many successful results on a largo scale
have already been obtained , and although
there have been some disappointments , am
perhaps even failures , enough has been suc
cessfully done to show that Irrigation en
gineers may yet expect large developments
in this line cf their work.
A-nii ppolutocl Man.
Plttsburg Chronicle : "How much does the
government allow me ? " said a citizen to the
Income tax collector.
"Four thousand dollars , " replied the of
ficial.
"Here Is a statement of my Income , then , '
nd he handed a paper to Uncle Sam's .crre-
sentatlve , who looked at It and then ob
served , with some warmth of feeling-
"You have no occasion to file this II
shows an Income of only Jl-00. You don'l
need to file a statement unless your Income Is
| 3,500 or more. "
"D'dn't you say the law allowed me $1,000 ? '
"Yes. "
'Well , my Income was J1.200 and I file the
statement so that the government can give
me the difference , which I figure out to be
12,800 , When do I get It ? "
After much expostulation the citizen was
finally led out Into the cool spring air.
Through Increased postal facilities a letter
potted In Paris at midday can be delivered
in London at 8 p. m. , by means of on "ex-
presi mtgscDger'ft" arrangement.
JAVA'S ' MIGHTY UPHEAVAL
A Stupendous Oatacljttu Described by n
Visiting Engineer ,
ORIGIN OF THE SMOKY VAPOR OF ' 83
A Volrnnlo flutlirrnk Unrqunlcil In 1'ury
HIM ! Dcatructltrucfs riio Unrtli
lockc ! < l , House ] tumbled null
Cntft Continued.
It Is n curious and Inexplicable fact that
little or nothing has appeared In print dur
ing the past twelve jears about the great
eruption of Krakatoa , Nearly every perton
In America , sajs Current Literature , will
recall the famous jellow day In August , 1SS3 ,
when the sky of this whole continent was
covered with a smoky vapor , through which
the sun shone llko a large ball of red lire
The phenomenon was at the time ml under-
stood. Later It was attributed to the terrific
upheavals of the Island of Java , whence re
ports came by slow degrees of the sudden
activity of an extinct crater , which In May
began belching forth a continued mass of
flre and smoke and molten stone. On the
12th of August , the eruption culminated In
a series of explosions. The earth was rent
In places , Islands were sunk beneath the sea ,
and new ones brought Into being , hum-in be
ings lost their lives by thousands and hun
dreds of thousands , and one of the greatest
physical catastrophes of modern times then
took place. It has been generally accepted
since that the hazy atmosphere which cov
ered our continent came from the endless
outpouring of smoke and ashes which pre
ceded this final outbreak Some Idea of the
magnitude of the occurrence can bo gained
from the fact that the center of the disturb
ance was thousands of miles distant from our
eastern shores , that at the * cone Itsfflf the
sky was literally as black ns night at noon
time , and that the explosions which ended the
great catastrophe were said to have been
distinctly hcird In countries which were
thousands of miles distant. The event was
certainly a phenomenal one. Yet In the
twelve jeari tint have since elapsed no
general mention has been made of the occur
rence , and an article which oppeirs In the
April number of the Cosmopolitan by Joan
T Van Gestel , claims to be the first account
written by an eye-witness of the occurrence
Mr. Van Gestel Is a surveyor , of Dutch birth ,
who had been sent to Java by the Dutch
government. He was present at the time of
the eruption , and gives a graphic description
of Its terrors. The trouble began on the
I3th of May , when the whole of Java ,
Sumatra and Borneo were convulsed , and
continued to the middle of August. The
noise at and near the scene of action he de
scribes as continuous and appalling. The
sky was filled with smoke and cinders , and
from the center of an Island , some eight or
ten miles long , there was a column of flre
shooting straight up Into the sky. There was
a constant rain of pumice stone , while rivers
of molten sulphur ran down the slopes , while
every living being that had dwelt upon the
Island had apparently been consumed , and
the trees were gradually being burled be
neath the pumice Mr. Van Gestel disem
barked on this Island and ventured to ex
plore It , but was driven back by the heat.
He remained In that region , however , until
the final catastrophe , which he describes as
an eve-wltness. He was then al Anjer , was
sitting overlooking the bay. As he looked
at the small boats he saw that they were all
moving In one direction , and In nn Instant
had all disappeared. "I ran out of the
house , " he sajs , "back , up higher , to where
I could command a better view , and looked
out far onto the sea. Instantly a great glare
of flre right In the midst of the water caught
my eyes , and all the way across the bay and
the strait , and In a straight line of flame to
the very Island of Krakatoa Itself , the bet
tom of the sea seemed to have cracked open ,
so that the subterranean fires were belching
forth. On either side of this wall of flames ,
down Into this subaqueous chasm , the waters
of the strait were pouring with a tremendous
hissing sound. It teemed at every moment
a& If the flames would be extinguished , but
they were not. There- were twin cataracts ,
and between the two cataracts rose a great
crackling wall of flre hemmed In by clouds
of steam of the same cottony appearance
which I have spoken of before. It was In
this abjss that the fishing boats were dis
appearing even as I looked , whirling down
the hissing precipice , the roar of which was
already calling out excited crowds In the
city of Anjer at my feet.
"The sight was such an extraordinary one
that It took awny the power of reason. With
out attempting In any way to explain to my
self what It was , I turned and beckoned to
some one , any human being to a servant , we
will say to come and see It. Then , In a
moment , while my eyes were turned , came an
Immense deafening explosion , greater than
any we had heard , as yet , proceeding from
Krakatoa. It stunned me and It was a
minute or two before I reall eJ , when once
more I turned my eyes toward the bay , that
I could see nothing. Darkness had instantly
shrouded the world. Through this darkness ,
which was punctuated by distant cries and
groans , the falling of heavy bodies and the
creaking disruption of masses of brick and
timber most of all , the roaring and crashing
of breakers on the ocean were audible
The city of Anjer , with all its 60,000 people
in and about it , had been blotted out. If
any living being , save mjself , remained I did
not find It out then. One of those deafening
explcslons followed another , as some new
submerged area was suddenly heaved up by
the volcanic flro below , and the sea admitted
to the hollow depths where that flre had
raged In vain for centuries.
"The awful surge of the maddened ocean as
It rushed landward terrified me. I feared I
would be engulfed. Mechanically I ran back
up the mountain side. My subsequent ob
servations convinced me that at the first ex
plosion the ocean had burst a new crater
under Krakatoa. At the second explosion
the big Island , Dwers In-de-Wcg , had been
split In two , so that a great strait separated
what were the two halves. The Island of
Legundl , northwest of Krakatoa , disappeared
at the same .time ; and all the west coastof
Java , for fifteen or twenty in lias , was
wrenched loose. Many new Islands were
formed In that throe , which afterward dis
appeared. A map , which I made not long
afterward , shows the change of the con
figuration of that part cf the world.
"I waded on inland in a dazed condition ,
which Eeemed to last for hours. The high
road from Anjer to Serang was white and
smooth , and easy to follow ; and I felt my
way along It In the darkness
I reached the city of Serang about 4 or 5
oVlcck In the afternoon , after having made
ono stop at a house on the way. This resi
dence loomed up on the sldo of the road ,
offering me , apparently , a welcome refuge.
I rushed In thinking to find relief from ,
the Intense heat under the shelter of Its
roof , but through the tiles of the flooring
little blue flames were flickering as I en
tered , and the house Itself Eeemed like a
furnace. The subterranean fires were at
work even then , on the side of the moun
tain Under the mass of flooring , or masonry ,
I could not distinguish which , I taw the
body of a woman In native garments. I
rushed out horrified from the burning tomb
It was the residence , I learned afterward , of
Controller Frankcl , an officer of the govern-
mc-p , ranking Immediately after the governor
himself.
"I staggered blindly on my way. When I
reached Serang 1 was taken Into the garri
son and nursed for two days. I was sup
posed to be a lunatic. I started up In my
sleep a half dozen times the first night , utterIng -
Ing cries of terror. I was soothed by drugs ,
and enabled on the third day to go to Batavla
" * On Mcrak Point , where the gov
ernment had been blasting rock , were an
engine and several boilers , used for com
pressed air. All of these , containing com
pressed air , had been hurled against the
walls of the quarry , and absolutely flattened
out like Hheets of paper. In Lombok , on the
southeast coast of Sumatra wooden
, a man-of-
war , belonging to the Dutch government , and
two barks , of 200 or 300 tons each , one of
tl em loaded with salt , had been thrown 150
feet up the mountain eldo Into the trees by
the tidal wave which Immediately followed
the explosion.
" My Investigations showed that
there was 100 feet of water where the city
of Anjer had been , so short a distance from
my villa , and that the coast line was. just
one and one-half miles further Inland. "
The author's escape wag a narrow and a
miraculous one , but still more astonishing
Is the sllencei he and others have kept re
garding the event. With the exception of a
fugitive article In Nature , a few jeara ago ,
we bave barely seen mention of the event.
Charles MacDonald , a Prominent Chicago
Business Man , is Restored to Health.
J
' 1
' I"/
Within a few steps of the Intersection of
two of the busiest thoroughfares In Chicago ,
It not In the entire country , Is a store through
the portals of which more people pass In the
course of a day than enter Into nnd depart
from any other establishment of Its size In
the west. Men nnd women whose faces
bear the stamp of Intelligence and culture ,
women who lead In society , art and letters ,
men who are prominent In the professions ;
lawjers , physicians , artists. Judges and Jour
nalists. The exterior of the place elves Im
mediate evidence of Its character , which Is
that of a center of current news and Informa
tion. It Is the news and periodical depot
of Charles MacDonald at E5 Washington
street , who writes the following letter :
CHICAGO , Feb. 20 , 1895 Messrs. Wells ,
Richardson & Co. , Burlington , Vt Gentle
men : It Is clearly the duty of everv person
to acknowledge a service rendered , no mat
ter what its nature Mlien , however , the
character of the benefit bestowed Is such
that It lightens the dally burdens of our
lives and changes our nights from dreary
watches to periods of tranquil and refreshing
repose , the duty resolves Itself Into a pleas
ure. A few months ago , owing to the con
fining nature of my business , I began to feel
at first a sort of languor and llstlcssiness , tc )
disguise which I was compelled to bring Into
play all the strength of will I could com
mand. "Hie feeling grew upon mo , how"
over , and In a short time It took such posses ,
slon of me that It affected ray appetite and
caused Insomnia. I approached my mcala
with a feeling amounting almost to nausea1
nnd my bed with horror at the restless night
that I was nearly certain was before mc\
It was only by the strongest efforts that I
was enabled to hide the change from peopta
who came Into my place of business , but my. .
Intimate * acquaintances were quicker to no
tice It. J had arrived at a point where I
could no longer keep silent upon the subject ,
and speaking of It to one of my friends on
day he suggested tliat I try Palne's celcryj
compound. I purchased a bottle , and bet-
fore I had taken n dozen dcscs I knew that
the suggestion was a good one , for I felt an
Improvement. I continued to use It , and ,
feel entirely restored. My appetite la good ,
I sleep well , and , Instead of an irksome )
grind , my business has again become a pleas *
ure to me. You may put mo down OB ft
strong advocate of Palno's celery compound , ,
Yours respectfully , 11
CHAS. MAC DONALD. . ) i
TO AUTHORS FOR
"Stories of
' THE CHICAGO RECORD offers to authors the
sum of $30,000 for original stories written in
English , no parts of which have ever been
heretofore published. The offer is made
upon the following conditions :
$20,000
Will be paid in twelve cash prizes lor llic best twelve
stories , llie money will be divided as follows :
Firat Prize - - 310,000
Second Prize - - 3,000
Third Prize - - 1,500
Fourth Prize - - l.OOO
Fifth Prize - - - 800
Two Prizes of 8600 each 1,200
Five Prizes of $500 eaoli 2,500
Maliine ; n total of $20OOO
The firat prize- will bo pild for the utory adjudged to bo thebost , the
tccond prize for the Bloiy mlu ] < ! i'rd tlie next bunt , the tlilrtl prlco for the
Btory acljiulirril to ho thu tlilrtf In nitrlt , the fourth iirlzo for the fourth In
nitrit , the llftli prize for the nftli In merit two prize H of UDJ each nnd
five prizes of f SOU cacti , limb making thu total of twelve prizes In $20,00 u
$10,000
additional will be paid at space rates for stories of accept
ed value , but which may not be awarded any of the twelve
cash prizes.
The stories submitted in this competi
tion are required to be "stories of mystery , "
in other words stones in which the mystery
is not explained until the last chapter , in or
der that readers may be offered prizes for
guessing the solution of the mystery in ad
vance of its publication.
The Htorlon iiuiBt reach The Chicago Kecord at Its office of pulillcitlon
181 MJ'llBon hlnet Chicago III , bi fore Oct 1 , IX'JS , niitl tlio .iwanla will
bo in.-ulo .m noon afu r tli.it ( lain .IB they cin bo rc.U and JudKud.
Fur full Information authors will adilrx'HU
VICTOR F.L.VWSON , Publisher The Chicago Record
Chicago , III. , U. S. A.
LADIES.
TURKISH BATHS.
FIRST CLASS SERVICE. REASONABLE RATiJj.
100 I3EK OUILDINO.
Rooms Adjoining Young Woman's Christian Association Rooms
MME.YALE'8 and other Toilet Articles kcptoa Bile.
