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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1895)
THE OoSFATIA DAILY BHJCi SUNDAY , JULY 21 , 1895. JOSEPH SOWARDS THE SCOUT A Piece ofVTnr History Mora Romantic Than Any Romance. GEN , GARFIELD'S ' MOST TRUSTED GUIDE thrilling .Incident * In the Cnrnor of n Dashing KcntiicUy llnckwooilMniin Uangerou * borrlccn mid Mys terious Km ) , ( Copyright , H95 , l > y S. 8. Mcflure , Limited. ) Joseph Sowards was the son of a Scotch man of the same name , who settled In the mountain region of East Kentucky some time In the early part of the present century , Ho was , 1 am told , n surveyor by profession , and a man ofa considerable degree ol cultivation , and'thus was able to give his ser a better book education than Is common tc the young men of that somewhat primitive self-absorbed as to Invite very few to a fa * mlllar acquaintance. He arrived at manhoo < district. The son grew up a thoughtful youth of Irreproachable morals , but so distant nm about the time of the breaking out of th < civil war. and his personal appearance n that period as described to me by Genera James A. Qarfleld , from whom I derived tin greater part of this narrative , was as follows "Ho was above six feet In height , with at erect , sinewy figure , ami gaunt , bony arm ; that extended nearly down to his knees. Hli features were of a noble cast , large am promlne.it , the nose slightly acqullane , tin eyes deep gray , overshadowed by heavy eye brows , and the skin bronzed by much ex posure , except upon the forehead , which wa high and broad , and of an Intense whiteness His hair and beard were of a deep , gloss ; black , and he wore when he first came to m a broad slouched hat , and the ordinary home spun of the district ; but this he soon ex changed for the uniform of the Fourteentl Kentucky. He was a very remarkable mar I had him often with me on the march when he would talk a quilnt sort of wlsdon that , In more favorable circumstances , woul have given him a place In history. At the outbreak of the secession agltatlo Sowards and his father sided with the unlor and thus came In conflict with Judge Cecil the leading politician of the district , wh was using all his Influence to throw Eaa Kentucky Into secession. He soon began canvas of the mountain region , and there h was unexpectedly met by the younger Sow ards , wlio developed an ability at stum oratory that was extraoidlnary. Mortified b the discomfitures he was receiving from hi homespun opponent , Cecil resorted to pel soiial threats , and this so exasperated th friends of Sowards that violence resulted o several occasions , on ono of which Cecil' ' life might have been sacrificed but for tli timely Interference of Sowards. Kentucky had at this time assumed th attitude of mock neutrality , by which som of Its leading men hoped to cloak their ho : tlllty to the union , and more effectually sen secession , and early In August , 1801 , tl governor Issued a proclamation , commandln all persons having arms belonging to th state to deliver them up Immediately. Thi gave opportunity to the state guard , a s ( cession organization , to enter the houses ( union men , and , under color of law , to tat away their rifles and shotguns to , In fac disarm every loyalist In the commonwealth. A BAND OF UNIONISTS OVElll'OWEREI The natural result followed. The unlonlsi banded together to resist these proceeding One of these bands , numbering about 10 was organized by Sowards , and late In Sel tcmber It came In collision with n body of tl Home guards , In which one of the guan was killed and two were badly woundei Ono of the wounded was a nephew of Judf Cecil. A writ was then Issued by the latti charging Sowards and some others wll murder and a body-cf 300 was dispatched take them Into custody. Too weak to mal n successful resistance Sowards took to tl woods , to be In concealment. ileanwhl he got together about fifty of his friends wl whom he set out to Join Colonel Moore , wl was recruiting the Fourteenth ( union ) Kc : tucky regiment at Loulza. On the wi Sowards and his friends were surrounded ai overpowered by six times their number state guards and Sowards , heavily irene was conveyed to the confederate camp Plketon. There he was offered by Colon John S. 'Williams , the Kentucky officer command , amnesty for any past offenses ai a captaincy In the state guard If ho wou enroll hlniEelf In the ranks of secession , b ho steadfastly refused. He thereupon w turned over to the civil authority , which w Judge Cecil and a packed Jury "packec because the place was In possession of t confederates , and not a man there had t courage to vote against the prevailing sen ment. He was tried and foun.1 guilty face of the fact that two confederate olllcei who took part In the skirmish , testified th he did not fire a shot and on the contrary il all he could to prevent the collision. T bentence was the gallows on the succedl Friday. Sowards was thrown Into Jail and for a solute security was chained to the stone lie of his prison , but looking Into his cell o morning the jailer found there a rickety e nn empty tin pan , a broken stool and huge pile of chains but no other trace Sowards. How he got out was a mystei and the mystery was not cleared by the d appearance of the turnkey , and of a fine b mare ridden for some years by Sowards , t then In possession of Colonel Williams , t confederate commander. Th8 colonel was enthusiastic admirer of Sowards ; but no o supposed he would rob himself of a fine her and , In addition , bribe the turnkey to feet the liberation of a man diametrically < posed to himself In political sentiment. CECIL'S FIENDISH DEED. With 200 men Judge Cecil set on foot on I mediate pursuit of Sowards. He rode once to hU father's house , and with a pis leveled at the old man's head , demand the whereabouts of his son. Ho declined give the desired Information , and Cecil agt asked , "Will you tell mo where your s Is ? " "I will not , " was the answer. Ce fired , and the" elder Sowards fell dead up his own hearthstone. His aged wife w present , and alto a younger son , aged who at once drew a revolver , shot dead t of the guards , and severely wounded Jud Cecil , who cried out from the lloor where had fallen , "Secure html Don't shoot him hang him hang him before his own doi way. " There are some deeds at which one stai aghast when he remembers that slumber ] within hlmeslt arc passions that at tin transform men Into devils. This was one those deeds. While this aged mother v kneeling and pleading for the life of I son they took him and before her very c ; they hanged him to a great tree In the co } 'i\rd. Tills was In October. 1861 , and probably that very hour Joseph Sowards was In i camp of Colonel Moore at Loulza , only twei miles distant. He enlisted under Moore the Eighteenth Kentucky , and so It was tl In the succeeding December ho came In c tact with Jahios A. darfleld , when the lat took command of the little army which \ to hold Kentucky to her mooring In union. Like the confederate , Colonel V Hams , Garfleld concclvei an enthusiastic miration for Sowards , had him with 1 often and entrusted him with some most I .portant commissions. Garfleld told me the ho had met very few men who had his s pie nobility of character ; that an hour's t with him was like a chapter out of Homer "Virgil. , IN CUUFIELD'S SCUVICC. Space will not permit even the most cas notice of the events of this campaign which Garfleld , with only 2COO , sent Hum rey Marshall , at the head of more than 5 , < In the space ol a single fortnight , 'whirl into Virginia. But directly after his ' tory at Middle Creek It was supposed by union commander that Marshall had not left Kentucky. It was of the first mom to learn his exact position , and to this Oarfleld UUputched. a body of 100 cava under Captain Jenkins , with orders to go the Big Sa'dy as far as Plketon , anil nol return till they brought tilings of the ene With this squad S.o\varila went AS guide. Proceeding cautiously along the nnr road that skirts the river , ( he squadron tered the scattered town jutt as a half dc confederates were hastening from It In opposite direction. Catching slgbt of fugitives Lieutenant Luke or Wooster , called In two of his men anJ followed i breakneck pace for five or fix miles , I Ins the pursuit they killed one ol the ( lives and severely wounded another , but they kept oil , for a short distance In advance were two others one evidently a man of some consideration. The two wcro mounted on one horse , anil as they turned a bend In the road they cnme Within short range of their pursuers. Private Boone of the Forty-second Ohio , belns for the moment In advance , lev eled his carbfne and fired as he rode , but the bullet struck the endJIe and glanced of ! harmless. By this time l > ako was , nearly abreast of the fugitive ; , and drawing his re volver he b.ought the horse to the ground so suddenly that the two riders were thrown over the neck of the animal and. landed In the creek that bordered the highway. When they recovered their feet they were prisoners. SQUARES ACCOUNTS WITH CECIL. Sowards , seeing the reckless daring of the Httle party In pursuing more than twice their number , had called a half-dozen cavalrymen to his aid , and followed at an Interval of about five minutes. He came up with them wiillo Lake and his prisoners were still standing In the highway. What followed I had from the lips of an eye witness. Reining up his horse Sowards turned to the two confederates ono of whom was Judge Cecil and "his eyes giv ing out a lurid glare , " he said suddenly : "Alii It Is a long road that has no end. " Leaning over his saddle bow he almost hissed the remainder , "and at the end of all roads there Is retribution. " Cecil's face grew livid , but with some ap pearance of coolness ho said , "I am your pris oner , but I am ready to take the oath. " "Take the oathl" echoed Sowards. "Do you expect to atone for your crimes by a little false swearing ? Do you expect to live while there l.s timber for a gallows In all Ken tucky ? " "I do , " answered Cecil , with a mocking smile. "I expect to live , and to pass sentence en a good many more scoundrels. " "Not while so much sacred blood cries from the ground against you , " cried Sowards. Not another word was said , but there was n sudden upward movement of Sowards' hand , a sudden shot and Cecil fell dead In the high- way. way."My God , Sowards ! " cried Lake. "What have you done ? lie was unarmed and o prisoner. " A strange light was In Sowards' eyes as he answered : "So was an old man he shot down on his own hearth so was a young boy he hanged before the very eyes of his mother. Blood will have blood. This world couldn't hold him and me , lieutenant no ! not this world , nor any other. " "I know , and I pity you , Sowards , " salt ! Lake , "but the colonel will have to hang you. Go pet away. Get away at once. Not a man will lift a hand against you. " "No , " answered Sowards , "I shall not run : I will answer for what I have done. " Then turning his horse's head ho led the column which bore the lifeless body of Cecil back to Plketon. SOWARDS' TRIAL. The killing of Cecil was n great embar rassment to the union commander. He was the leading man of the district. His deatli would be known far and wide , and , If II went unpunished , It would show the people of Kentucky whom It was the policy of the government to pacify and conciliate that nc trust could be put In the friendly professlor of the union , nor In Garfield himself , wht had , by proclamation , promised peace and protection to all who observed the laws ol the country. On the other hand , Seward ; had rendered Important services to the army , and had especially endeared hlmsell to Garfleld , who had come to regard hlrr more as a friend than as n subordinate Ills Inclination would lead him to llberat < Sowards , but both duty and policy required that he should be tried ; and upon this lattei course Garfleld at last decided , hoping tin circumstances might lead to Sowards' ac quittal. A court-martial composed mostly of Ken tucky officers was convened and Seward ! was brought before It. It was very soon developed that the prose cutlon was about to fall for lack of evl dence. A half-dozen witnesses testified ti hearing the discharge of the revolver am seeing Cecil fall dead In the road , but couli not , or would not , tel ) who fired the fata shot , , or remember ! any act that wouli fasten the killing upon Sowards. The Judg > advocate smiled , glad to be relieved fron an unpleasant duty , but at this momen Sowards rose and said , In substance , to th witnesses : "Gentlemen , I thank you. Yoi mean to do me a kindness , and I thank you But I prefer the truth'should bo told , fired the shot that killed Judge Cecil. For i moment I forgot that vengeance belong only to God , and I stained my hands with i crime that all the water In the world can not wash away. For that I expect Justlc and not mercy. " * A MOST DANGEROUS SERVICE. Nothing could follow but a verdict o guilty , and the sentence of death wa passed upon Sowards. A day was set fo the execution , but about midnight of th day before the one appointed an officer c the Fourteenth Kentucky cntejed the cabl where he was confined under "guard of hal a dozen privates of that regiment , ar rayed Sowards In a disguise , and led hlr boldly out by the door to a clump of tree where his bay mare was already tetherec Then he told Sowards that being under ser tenco of death by both ths confederates an the federals , Kentucky was not a health country for him to remain In , and he ha better take a straight course for Ohio. To this Sowards replied in effect that h could not go , there being still work for hli to do In Kentucky. That Garfield had beatc Marshall , but not driven him from the stati He still held Pound Gap , and his guerrilla were overrunning all the lower couutle Garfleld had moved to Plketon In the her of bringing him to battle ; but Marshall woul not fight till ho could secure , strong reli forcementjs , from Vlrglnla , Then he won ! sweep down on Garfleld and drive him froi east Kentucky. In that event the stal 'might be lost to the union. Qarfleld cou ] . not then force Marshall to battle becaui f- behind his retrenchments at Pound Gap tl alter could beat off five times his own nun ] ers. Some ono must enter Marshall's cam earn his exact strength and position , an : hen guide Garfleld over the mountains ' the rear of Marshall's entrenchments , a man In the union army would do thi but he would undertake It If the ofllci would be the go-between between him ar 3arfleld. To this the odlcsr assented , ar tor about a fortnight nothing more w ; tieard of Sowards. A MYSTERIOUS PARSON n is At the end of that time one of the outi pickets was accosted at midnight by a ma who seemed to be a back-country parse who asked to fee the officer who bad 111 eratetl Sowarda , but whose name , I regret i say , I have forgotten. On their meetlr Sowards handed him a complete map of tl 1'ound Gap stronghold , with full dlrectloi how the position might be turned. On tt margin of the map , In Sowards' handkrltln was the following : "General Marshall hi Issued an order for n grand muster of tl rebel mllltla on the 15th of March. Thi are to meet at the I'ound In the rear their Intrenchmcnts , and It Is expected thi will muster In sufficient strength to end rt Kentucky and drive the union forces befo them. " Disguised as a "hard-shell" preacher , S wards had been In the I'ound Gap camp f } * nearly a fortnight and had escaped detectlo ' " though meeting a score of persons whom 1 al knew. , OARFIELD'S ATTACK ON POUND GA Pound Gap Is a wild and Irregular openli In the Cumberland mountains and the on chamiel for wagon communication betwe the southerly portions of Virginia and Ke tucky. Here the confederates had built li huts capable of quartering a large body men ; and across the opening of the gap th had arrested a breast work that complete blocked the passage , and which 600 m could hold against 0,000. The place was go rlsoncd by about COO and It was the rende vous of numerous b.inJs of guerrillas who co Bluntly Issued forth to terrorize and plund lal the surrounding country. In Against this stronghold Garfleld moved ill)0. - the following morning with a force of b )0."B 700 men , 100 of whom were cavalry. Wl "B th cavalry he purposed to make a demc Iche stratlon against the enemy' * Intrenchmen he while wth | hlx Infantry he should scale t ret mountain In the manner Sowards had I int dlcated and fall upon the garrison In thi nd rear. rear.HOW ry. . HOW GARFIELD FOUND A GUIDE. ry.up up After a hard march over roads knee dc to In mud he came late on the night of the B < iy nnd day to Klkhorn creek , tv > o miles north the confederate position. There ho we Into camp on the v > ei ground and waited I the mo'rnlng , meanwhile seeking for so : "native" who would guide him over t .he mountain. Every male resident of the : ho clnlty was brought Into camp to prevent 1 O. giving Information to the enemy , and qu tlonerl AS to lome practicable route to I rear of MarMiall't Intrenchments. There v sl- no route. TLe mountuln was sleep. In so : places prcclpttoux , tangled with dense thick ets , obstructed by fall n lops and covered with huce boulders , which coated then with Ice and snow , formed an Impassable barrier to any creature less nimble than a panther era a squirrel , But. were the summit nt last KPilncd , the adventurous band would be obliged to thread for n considerable distance , a narrow ltdge. burled three feet deep In yielding snow , where ono false step would be destruction and ten men could dispute the passage of on army. Though tempted with liberal offers of money , not one of tht > "natives" would undertake to guide the expedition. Garfleld lay down at midnight on the floor of a wretched log shanty at the foot of the moun tain with the conviction that Sowards had concealed the real difficulties of the enter prise. But toward morning he was roused by a captain of the Eighteenth Kentucky , who said he had brought an old fellow who had Just come Into camp , and knew every red of the mountains. He could guide them safely. By the dim light of the smouldering logs Oarfleld scanned the old "native" closely. Ho was apparently about 70. with a tall , bent form , and long hair and beard of al most snowy \vhltenesB. His enormous beard and slouched hat almost hid his fac' , but Garfleld could see that he had prominent features and a clear , determined eye , that met his gaze fearlessly. He plUd him with questions , which the old man answered In a volco that sounded like a cracked kettle , but with a quiet , self-possession that impressed Oarfleld very favorably. At last he said to the old man : "I will trust you. Be here at sun-UR. " In the morning the snow was falling so thickly that cbJectH n few yards away wer ? wholly Invisible , hut ai 9 o'clock Garfleld * bgan the ascent of tlis mountain. In a long , bristling column , catching at every shrub and fallen" log that lay In their way , they- clambered slowly up the Icy mountain side , the old guide leading the way , and steadying his steps with the long , Iron shod staff In use among mountaineers. Ths rldue at this point rises fully 2.000 feet above the bed of Elkhorn creek , and lulf way up breaks Into abrupt precipices which seem to defy the approach of human -foot. Thus far the guide had gone on with feeble steps , stopping often for breath , but now , planting his staff firmly In the Icy slope , he leaped from reck to rock , as agile as If he had been but a stripling. His altered gait caught the quick eye of Garfleld , and suspecting treachery he called upon him to halt. The guide kept on , as If not hearing the sum mons , and Garfield shouted more loudly : "Halt ! or I'll put a bullet through you. " This brought the guide to a stand , and clambering up to him. Garfleld said : "Who are you ? Tell me the truth , or I'll hang you to the first tree. " The guld3 lifted his hat , and parting aside his long , false locks , he showed him the broad , white forehead of Sowards. The expedition was entirely successful , and at Its closs Garfield Inquired for Sowarda to assure him that he should at one ; obtain from him a pardon ( rom the government ; but he was nowhere to be found , and he never saw him afterward. His subsequent career was dim and shadowy. I have not been able to obtain enough of It that Is authentic to incorporate In this narrative ; but It Is supposed that be was filially killed by the confederates. JAMES R. GILMORE , ( "Edmund Klrke. " ) Spokane brewers won a strike. A co-operative colony Is bslng started In San Francisco. Martha Moore Avery preached socialism on Boston Common July 4. Garment Workers union * Is four years old , has 107 locals and 30,000 members. Coxey will deliver a number of speeches In Nebraska In the middle of August. Connecticut legislature will probably grant woman suffrage In municipalities. The governor of Pennsylvania has sleneJ the bill fixing the ton of coal at 2,240 pounds. All cases against the American Hallway union men In the northern section of Cali fornia have been dismissed. Kansas City hotel -keepers are Retting around the barbers' Sunday closing law by giving free shaves ( o guests. , The National Reform conference on Staten Island was largely attendedand created great Interest In the east. Twenty ardent single taxcrs , divided Intc eight groups , have made a tour of Delaware on bicycles , and good meetings everywhere. The New York Voice Is authority for the statement that a large numbsr of congress men favor the establishment of a govern mental postal telegraph. The Germantown , Pa. , Spinning company has restored the wages of Its employes to the rate paid before the reduction of 10 per cent was made more than a year ago. The Chicago Tribune estimates that 250.00C workers lit the United States have had theli wages Increased on an average of 11 % pel cent durlrig the last ninety days. A number of families from Chlppewa and Eau Claire counties , Wisconsin , have salectec a site and are to establish a colony about 10 ( miles from New Orleans. Henry Welssman , national secretary of thi Bakers union , has been requested by tin Cleveland union to visit that city and taki charge of the strike In progress there. At the convention of the pressmen In'Phlla delphla an "agreement of alliance" was en tered Into with the Typographical union am the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders Death benefits amounting to $39COO won paid last month to the heirs of deceasei members of the Brotherhood of Rallroai Trainmen , making a total of $2,913,413.7 paid since the brotherhood was organized. San Francisco Furniture Workers unloi reports that work Is duller and wages lowc than ever before on the coast. Not mor than one-half of the members are worklni and these are" not making more than hal time. An organization called the Trlanglo Is sal to be making Itself felt In New York. It i secret and composed only of men who thor oughly understand the fundamental principle of organized labor , and who have carried card no less than ten years. Orders have been given for starting u the puddling mills of the Cumberland Nal and Iron Mills an Brldgeton , N , J. , and th sheet mills Immediately following , when th entire plant will be put In operation , 'glvln employment to over 400 men. Philadelphia , notwithstanding- Independ erco hall , has been the despair of 'the labo movement. It has served as the mecca t which employers turned In times of troubl with the unions. But oven Phlladelphl moves , as shown by the signs of the revive In organization among the many clothln workers of the "City of Brotherly Love. " The Pennsylvania Bolt and Nut Works c Lebanon. Pa. , has notified the employes I the puddle and rolling mills that thel wages will be Increased 10 per cent , to g Into effect Immediately. Reading , Pa. , brlc manufacturers have voluntarily Increased th wages of brlckmakers from $1.50 to $1.75 pe day , and all other employes In proportion. Chicago labor congress Is actively pre paring for a grand Labor day celcbratto this year. It will be a clean , bona fid union celebration , and negotiation are no1 on foot to secure such well known speaker as John Swlnton , the eminent labc champion , and J. Kelr Hardle , one of .th English labor leaders and member of th British Parliament. San Francisco Carpenters union has Ir augurated a system "building bees , " b which homes are provided for the memberi The lumber and lanl having been securet the members go to work on Sunday mornln and by night have covered In a domicile c three or four apartments. .There Is a colon of dwellings erected on this plan In a Gubur of the city. The United States' consul at St. Etlenni one of the great mining and manufacturlri centers of France , reports that the worl Ings of the French conciliation and arbltn tton act produced a marked diminution i strikes during the past year. In thlrty-tvt cases the demands of the workmen wei granted In ten Instances , refused In one an compromise decisions were rendered I twenty-one other dispute ! questions. Go South. Fruit-raising garden farming always payNe No cold winters , no hot winds , no crop fal ures. The tide has turned south , Twenl to forty acres of this fruit or garden Ian makes you more money than the best K acres In the west. Particulars on appllcatlo George W. Ames , general agent , 1617 Fa nam street , Omaha , Neb. Don't Insist that every member of the fan lly shall consult the thermometer before 1 Is permitted to shiver. He may be col though the weather li not. THE FIELD HOP ELECTRICITY Effect of Electric Locomotives on E igineers anil Eiremen , DOOM OF THE.-ITRADE P3-DICTED A Ktentii LocomnMte ititpull.Mt ) br n Aloe Ire Ulectrlr .ntclilnc Description of it Tunnel Uluiit Other lilcc- < trlcut A > areloiiiiciiU. | The substitution of electric for steam loco motives on a seaside branch of tlie New York , New Haven & Hartford railroad Is a matter of grave Interest to locomotive en gineers and firemen. "There are three en gineers to one Job In the country today , " said an Omaha engineer , In discussing the advance of electricity , "and every electric locomotive built means all addition to the number. Of course the Increase In tralllc will give employment to many Idle engineers and firemen , but this will not overcome the dismissals caused by the change from steam to electricity. Take the elevated railroads of New York and Brooklyn , employing thousands of skilled workmen. It la simply a question of time , and short at that , when steam locomotives will be retired from these roads. Uconomy and public comfort will expedite" change. I'ubllc comfort will be Increased in these crowded thoroughfares by banishing locomotive smoke and steam , while the companies will save the wages of the firemen by using electricity. One man will do the work of two , and certainly at less than the engineer now receives. Like changes are bound to come on countless branch lines and In switching In cities. ' I look for electric locomotives on passenger trains , because of the comforts of a ride without smoke and cinders. These changes will come slowly , but they will come , and their coming means a revolution , perhaps the annihilation , of one of the best paid and most skilled trades In the United States. " Following closely on the change on the few Haven railroad branch comes the Ilaltl- nore & Ohio with three ninety-six ton elec- rlc locomotives for work In Us tunnel under he city of Baltimore. The power engines , ihlch will supply the energy for the loco- uotlves , are built extra strong , on account f the severe work by which they will be axed , and present the latest development of he Reynolds Corliss type. Directly coupled to hem are 500 K. W. general electric mult- ! lohr generators , adapted to run with the iiglne at 110 revolutions per minute. The rmalures of these generators are "over- lung" on the outer end of the shaft. The rrangement. In this respect , differs from he regular practice of railway generators. The armatures differ from standard practice n being wound for " 00 volts potential , and re of the Iron clad type , I. e. , the windings .re embedded In slots cut Into the outer ierlphery of the laminated armature body , 'ho armatures are of the latest barrel wound ype , and present a very massive appear- mce. The fields nre of steel , according to he well known general electric design , and tin remarkably cool. The machine com- lounils from 600 volts no load to 700 volts ull load. The performance of both the gen- irator and engine under the severe fluctun- lens to which this character of work Is sub- ect shows that the apparatus must have isen carefully designed , with reference to he peculiar conditions to which it was to subjected. From the railway generators the current s brought over cables of 1,000,000 C. M. ross-sectlon to n switchboard of white narble , erected on a platform raised at the iouth end of the engine room. This swltch- oard consists of four standard "K" genera- or panels , each equipped with all the nec- issary Instruments for controllltrg and measuring the current from the generator. The machines are protected from accidents arising from short circuit by automatic clicult breakers , one of which Is fixed to the ipper part of each panel. The most Interesting portion of the Instal lation Is , of course , the locomotive. Klec- rlc locomotives of such weight and power liad never before been conceived , but it has always been a rule In American electric railway practice from the 'beginning , to push ahead what Improvements were pos- Ible and make the results realize the ex pectations and there has been no departure 'rom the rule In this case. The ninety-fix on electric locomotive Is a success. It was designed to do very heavy work anU handle rains such as the largest bteam locomotives Handle. It Is , of course , also designed to run In either direction. The test of the first completed truck , representing one-half of the locomotive , was recently made on the tracks at the Schenectady shops of the General Electric company. In order to obtain the necessary load a heavy blx-wl.eel engine was made use of and the electric locomotive truck coupled to It. The machines were then sent In op posite directions tugging at the connecting coupling as In a tug of war. Tlje electric locomotive had a slight advantage over the steam engine In weight on the driving wheels and pulled It up and down the track with apparent ease. PULLS MORE THAN STEAM. For the same weight on the drivers It was shown that the electric locomotive starts a greater load than the steam lo comotive. The pull , being constant through out the entire evolution of the wheel , the difficulty of variation of pull with the angle crank , as In the steam locomotive , Is eltmlnatod. The test also proved that nol only are the motors sufficiently powerful , but that the driving mechanism and arma ture couplings are amply strong to transmit the torque of the armature to the axle. Each motor Is rated at 3CO-horse power anc takes a normal current of 900 amperes. The eight driving wheels are of east steel pressed and keyed to the axle , and have" tlrei three- Inches thick at the centers of treai shrunk on to the wheel centers. The driving axles are of special open hearth steel. In design the good features of the steam loco motive the driving box and passenger car box are embodied. The cab Is of steel sheet and so that an unobstructed view may be had In all di rections -four drop windows are provided on the side and two on each end. The doors slide laterally on large rollers. The cab's Interior Is Illuminated by clusters of Incan descent lights. The current Is brought to the locomotive by means of cables connected to the sliding shuttle-like shoe of brass and fastened to the trolley support. The conductor , whlcl Is a reversed Ironccondult or trough erectei ovcrhead- trusses In the open and In the tunnel attached tothe ! crown of the arch Is directly over the-center of the track. The locomotive Unequipped with a 1,200 to 3MO automatic circuit breaker , -one 2,00 ( ampere magnetic ccut-out , a 5,000 ampere Illuminated dial , Weitan ammeter and one Illuminated Westoir vdlt meter. The com pressed air for the 'Whistle ' and brakes Is supplied by an oscillating cylinder electric air pump. The alrtlanks are placed at eacf end of the locomotive. The tunnel and Its approaches measure 15,000 feet. feet.SPECTACCLAOl SPECTACCLAOl EFFECTS. Among the modern arts that have re ceived their Impetus from electricity Is that of the production vbf spectacular effects by the play of light on tmovlng water , Hecent expositions have ibeen Indebted for much of their popularity ! to the beauty of their electric fountains , but the coming display at the Atlanta exposition-promises to far sur pass In brilliance and originality anything of the kind yet seen. The water designs will conilst of wheat sheave * , ring curtains rings of geynters , oscillator * , lily Jew , large and small parabolas and aUo a mint bank and a mammoth geyser. The mist bank Is an entirely new feature In hydraulic effects It will envelop the fountain area In a dense mist of ( pray and will be < Illuminated with colored lights In endless combination Twenty-three powerful electrlfl projector * will be used , each of which will be not less than 250,000-candle power. Water will be furnished to the fountains at 100 pressure through a ilxteen-lnch main , having a ca paclty of 15,000 gallons a minute. Rising from the surface of thei lake the fountain structure containing the operating chambe will present the appearance of a half-sub merged rocky Island of Irregular form , some 100 feet long and fifty feet wide. It Is to possess a distinctive feature never presentei at any of the great expositions. When In position the fountain will be plainly visible nut OST EXPENSIVE SHORT STOUY EVER PUBLISHED. IT WON THE CAPITAL PRIZE OF" COLU10MTJON WITH AftJOSEPH ; E.CIIAMJBERL1N OF B05TON. 'rom base to apex from almost every point on the exposition grounds and the mirror effect produced by the reflection of the play and flash of color and light upon the waters of the lake will be unique. ELECTRICITY FOR DEAFNESS. Many advanced aurlsts are now investigat ing the effect of mechanical and electrical vibrations In curing deafness and various diseases of the ear. A prominent New York practitioner has Invented an Instrument wtilcli gives a sustained note of reed-like quality over several octaves of the scale. Close to the Instrument Is a telephone transmitter , through which the sound passes to a receiver at the tar of the patient. The exact pitch at which the ear Is found to exh'bit ' normal symptoms Is first ascertained r.nd then the corresponding note on the Instrument Is started , and the concentrated vibrations are allowed to play on the ear drum of the patient for a specified time every day * An other leading aurlst Is experimenting on the effect of various kinds of electrical vibrations In the treatment of ear affections , and some promising results have been obtained. What ever may be the outcome of these valuable Investigations It Is certain thaU ordinary telephone conversation Is heard much better by some people than by others , even where there Is no manifest superiority of the organs of hearing. An electrical Journal Illustrates this pecu liarity amusingly by relating the experience of the salesman of an electrical supply house In an Indiana town. The salesman was showIng - Ing a pair of Improved telephones , which had been Installed for exhibition purposes , and a number of citizens present were pleased and surprised at the loud talking of the Instru ments. One of the citizens had been almost deaf for many years , and more as a Joke than with any Idea of a test the rest shouted Into his car the suggestion that he should try the telephone. As the man put the receiver to his car his face assumed an expression of mingled astonishment and delight. Ho could carry on a conversation with the oflier end of the line without any apparent difficulty. Overflowing with gratitude he promptly treated the crowd , and he entertained the salesman royally for the rest of his stay In the town , AS A HAIRCUTTER. Two striking proofs of the eagerness of the public to avail Itself of any electrical Im provement was recently afforded. An elec trical Journel published an article on a comb which when passed through the hair would cut It and singe It at the same Instant by means of the contact of a platinum wire stretched across It , to which current could be. admitted on pressure of a button at the other end of the comb. As a direct result of this article the manufacturers of the device received 372 letters and eighty-four postals , and their gross sales In a little over a month were nearly $4,000. In regard to a device for generating electricity direct from coal , which was described In another Journal , the Inventor had 800 letters. TELEPHONE SECRECY. The New York law In regard to the main tenance of secrecy by telephone employes as to messages passing over the wires will come Into operation on September 1. It re quires the staff of telephone companies to be as secretive regarding the nature of their business as are the men and women who handle the telegraphic messages. A person who either wrongfully obtains or attempts to obtain any knowledge of a telegraphic or telephonic message by connivance with a clerk , operator , messenger , or other em ploye of a telegraph or telephone company , or. being such operator or other employe , willfully divulges to any one but the person for whom It was Intended the contents or the nature of a telegraphic or telephonic message Intrusted to htm for transmission or delivery , or of which contents he may In any way have become possessed , U punishable by a fine of $1,000 or six months' Imprison ment , or both. The si-me penalty attaches to neglect or refusal to transmit or deliver messages , except when they are Intended for Illegal purposes. THE SOUTH ! THE SOUTH ! It Should Be Investigated THE LAND OF Prosperity a Plenty ORCHARD HOMES. The land where you will not freeze to ( loath In winter nor ilry up nnd blow away In summer. The land whore you can work in the Holds every month In the year and have something to null every month out of the twelve. The land where UO acres Is n butter paying Investment and will make yon more money each year than the best 100 acres In the west. The land that Is now taking the attention of the live prouresslve men of the west and north who are ( 'oiiiK there to settle as fast as they can set a chance to do so. The Land of Beauty and Joy Forever. The land where you can have three crops n year one crop to sup port your family and two crops.for export and sale at jooil prices. Knel costs you nothing cattle run out all the year aiitl wet fat. You have no long cold winters to ll ht and no hot winds and drouth to fear ; almost anything that Grows on Top of the Earth can be raised In the greatest abundance on these Orchard Home lands In Central Mississippi. Now Is the time to Investigate. Now is the time to orpinl/.e Into clubs of three to live nnd Look the Land Over ! You can nee this land for yourself. You can make up your own mind about It after you have seen It. There Is no such thing as failure for the energetic man. Coed schools , nnd churches of all denominations already there. Kallroad facilities the very best. The pleasantest and most healthy climate under the sun. COM 1C AND KKH KOIl YOfHSKLK. Lumber Is cheap. Wnlor Is good. Markets are the best in the whole country. The people are friendly. If you want to better your vxoudltlon and live n long , healthy and hap py life , this Is your opportunity. Kull Information on application. Correspondence solicited. GEO. W. AMES , General Agent , 1G17 FARNAM STREET , OMAHA , MKURASKA. A/T LADIES'BATHAND TOILET PARLORS 109-110 Bee Building , A FULL LINE OF MME. YALE'S COSMETICS.