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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1898)
Tins OMAHA DAILY BEE : MUD AY , SEPTEMBER 10 , tsos. YANKEE MAGIC IN THE EAST | V Eiperietcei of A Western Wizard Among the fakirs of the Orient , SHOW THE INDIANS A FEW TRICKS I'uU ( o flight n CrncU Hindoo Mn l- clmi ami Cnunun ( he Chinese 12m- proim to 'llilnk Him n Dc\ll Mlkndo .Not Uattlcd. "I confct.3 , " said Prof. Baldwin , the show man , to a New York Sun reporter , "that 1 have not acrj - high opinion of the much- talkcd-of eastern magic Some of the tricks done by the Indian fakirs may ap pear miraculous enough to us , although they are In reality quite simple , but , on the other hand , many of out old familiar stindbyn astonish the Orientals far moro. For example , there Is a well known trick requiring only a little knowledge of ele mentary chemistry for Its performance which I ha\o played before various strange audiences , always with great success and sometimes with rather surprising results. If you put a few drops of a very simple chemical mixture on a garment the whole thing will burst Into flame In exactly three minutes without giving any warning ex cept to the cyo of the Initiated , and to him only when ho keeps a very careful watch. _ "Wcll , some ten years ago , when Sir James Kcrgusson waa governor of Bombay , I was performing In Simla. After ono of my showt I waa Introduced to Sir James , nnd we fell to talking of Indian magic. \ Sir James was a believer ; I was a skeptic. Ho declared that ho could produce men who would convert mo. I accepted the challenge. The trial wan to take place In ten days , when 1 was to dine nt Government house. By this tlmo Sir James said ho could pro cure the most eelcbrated magicians In the province , with whom ho would confront me. Well , the tlmo came I repaired to Gov ernment house , when there was assembled V.V/ a. hlu crowd of officers nnd civilians nnd i their wives , In fact , nil the wealth nnd lit. fashion of Simla , watting to see the dis comfiture of the American braggart. There I were also present some half dozen fakirs , or Yoghls , or whatever you choose to call 4 > hcm , solemn-looking Individuals , with long beards and nails , and not ovorclcan , nnd for clothes , white bandanns wound round thorn. The Indians went through the old familiar tricks , the mango tree , stabbing , ' the boy In the basket , etc. , the mysteries of which I was able to explain away well enough to the audience. "After my rivals 'had got through with their work I took the governor aside nnd told him that I would make all the Indians strip to the skin nnd run out of the house l\ho company could stand It. Sir James told mo to go ahead 'Wo don't think nny- tblng of naked niggers here , ' ho said. Now , /I was familiar enough with the Indian char- nctor to know that unless you carry mat- teis with ft high hand they will think nothing of you. I acted accordingly. Through the medium of an officer , who acted as Interpreter , I reviled the Inadlng magician through nil the moods and tenses. TUo I-lrc TrleU. "I asked him what ho mpant by showing r such childish rubbish to his excellency , the > Itv reprcsentatlvo of the empress , and ended by felling him that I would blast him with fire I from heaven unless he went down on his Jcnces and Incontinently apologized. The In dian smiled contemptuously nnd made Boinc fe remark , nt which my Interpreter laughed , but refused to translate. It. As well as 1 * could gather , It was an obscene expression , signifying that I was 'talking through my hat. ' Straightway I pretended to fall Into a towering rngo and , reeling out a long rig marole , wived my hands above his head and Invoked the wrath of heaven to burn him up. The magician looked a llttlo startled , but maintained nn attitude of Incredulltj and contempt. Of course my rigmarole was meaningless , but whllo I was \oclforatlnf a llttlo natlvo 'servant of mlno had sneaked up behind and poured n few drops of th ( chemical I have spoken of above upon tbi garmentof each of the magicians. Then 1 waited with my watch In my hand. "Just as the three minutes expired 1 fitrotched up my hands above my head nnd made another Invocation. At the same mo ment the bandanas burst Into sheets ol llumo. With ft howl the Indians tore ofl their garments the bandana comes off eas- Ilyand lied stark naked nnd screaming oul of the house , down the street , and flnallj out through the- gates of the town Into thf open country. My triumph was complete The company waa dumfounded nnd even th ( governor was puzzled. I kept htm guessing " "for a week'before I explained to him. Ir the meantime I sent out after the discom fited magicians and ordered them to rcturr and npologlze. They did so , prostrntlnj themselves before me most abjectly , tine naming me the king of all magicians. : Goothed their injured feelings a little , tellint I them that their magic was very good In Iti way , but warnlnc them not to attempt tc Impose upon their superiors , Then 1 gave them each n small gratuity and sent then nnay , humbled , but fairly satisfied. I Trleil It on llojulty. "Thin same trick will serve to exempltf : omo of the differences In character and In tolled In the Chinese nnd Japanese. Sotni tlmo after the Incident related above I vis Ited Pcklu , where I played before the ira press and court. The cmprws' mother , yoi must know , la the real ruler of China Well , at the end of the performance I sc ; f. man's clothf-s on fire In the manner I hav explained. The Chinese courtiers were on [ r'nnd all astounded and terrified. Even th /icniprcM / ! , cle\er woman as she Is , was upset 't'No ' man did this , ' ho said. 'It Is the worl 4ot a devil. Take the man away. Do no If hurt him. Load him with presents ; but le Vcuo never see him more. ' I took my orra , 'cnia and departed with all tbo epeod l fcoulJ. I got out of the city , too , for I kno\ { ( that If the people once knew that I wa. . .under the bnti of theempreps' dlsplcasur iniy life would not be worth an hour's pur "When I performed before the mikado li R 'jToklo ray experience was very different 'When ' my victim's clothes took lire th applauded. " 'Very good. ' ho said , stroking his chli lund smiling ; 'excellent , but you must sho\ inio how to do It. Of course I was not go llng to give the thing away at once. I pu up n respectful bluff , declaring that It wa only to certain favored ones thnt heavei yanted euch power , and that I might no 'c\'oal ' It to others. The mikado contlnuci i smile. 'Of course , ' ho said , 'of course < . .must not rev eal these secrets to th run of mankind ; but between usa - a king of magic ; I , too , am a sov ' "I was much pleased with the dlplomac the answer ; furthermore I thought I bo wUo on my part to accede to th of so powerful an Individual. I ex the trick in full. The mikado wa ellghtcd and rewarded mo handsomely. fcnotherluntry , where I tried th , earae , U . 'results wcro like to hav ton more eerlouU was the capital of aafM < province of Further India , and in VlndL'Ml spectator was an exalted princes ; iie lady she was about 15 years eli ! ut/of course , fully matured was de with my lire. After the perform ce * ha summoned my wife and mo to he veouce and held forth. A AVnrm 1'roiioxnl. Trlnco of magic , ' she &ald , 'your pow You could destroy my encmle and tnakc mo the mightiest lu the lanj. ' "I bowed and nald nothing. 'Your per- on,1 eho went on , Ma agreeable to me. You hall bo my husband and wo will rule over hi * country. ' "I was dumfounded. I explained to her hat I had a wife already. She waived he objection aside. " 'The law of this land , ' she Bald , 'allows a man six wives. ' Then she came up to Mrs. Baldwin and put her arm around her neck. 'I think , ' she said , 'that wo two could rule the harem. ' "I was a my wits' end. I knew that If I cbuffcd the lady she would order a guard o stick a dagger In my back. I thought a title and finally devised a plan. After ex- ircsslng my gratitude and new-born love told her that we must make a great festival of the marriage , and that In a far-off Down : had a vast store of riches , which wo could use for the purpose. To obtain It , however , t would be necessary that I should go to where It was , In order to sign some papers. "The princess was not quite pleased. She bade me go and leave my wife as a host age. This did not suit mo , so I explained rhnt It was my wife's signature that was required. "To this she replied that my wife should go and I remain behind. This was nearly as bad , so I took her aside and told her that my wife was a very jealous woman and that If I was not with her she would rc- vengo herself by running off with the money. Finally the princess gave us reave to go nnd fetch the money with strict ! In junctions that we make haste back. That was all I needed. I got out as quickly as [ could. On arriving at a coast town where there was a British resident I told him my stwry. He swore deeply and fervently. " 'A nice mess , ' said ho , 'you have got mo Into. Now at every ship that touches at this port I shall have a horde of the [ irlncess's people looking for you , and threatening the town with all kinds of blood and murder. ' Then ho evolved a plan. 'Get out of this ns quick as you can , ' ho said , 'and when you arrlvo In British territory get the authorities to make out a deed certifying your death. Put this In n largo official envelope nil covered with stamps , and have It mailed lo your princess. I acted en his advice , nnd have never heard of my royal would-be brldo since. " I > OLGKVILIi : MILLS IIKOPKXCD. Thcorlm of Tlu-lr Fonmler DlKcnrilcd lijtlio Men MnnuKumciit. The big felt mills at Dolgevillc , N. Y. , formerly owned nnd operated by Alfred Dolgo & Son , reopened last week , after five months' Idleness , under new management. Under the new ownership the profit-sharing theories advanced by Alfred Dolgo and put In operation In his works , together with his nine nnd one-holt hours' workday , have all been discarded , and the workmen have re ceived notice that hereafter the worlw will bo conducted on cvery-day business prin ciples. The rise and fall of the commercial house of Alfred Dolgo forms un Interesting story related by the New York Sun. Alfred Dolge expended all of his energies , all of his capi tal and all the money that a gilt-edge credit could borrow with the ono Idea In view of building a city on the foothills of the Adl- rondacks populated solely by wage earners. In a measure he succeeded. From a hamlet of less than 200 souls ho built a prosperous town of over 3,000 Inhabitants. For years he has been Insolvent , but this did not deter him in his efforts and up to tbo hour of his failure the -work of Improving the- town was continued. The Tillage has a splendid system of water works and sewers , wide strets , ave nues and boulevards lighted by electricity , with magnificent school buildings. For years Alfred Dolgo was the supreme ruler of Dolgovlllo. Ho was the president of the village and the Board of Trustees was controlled by him. He bought farm after farm around the village and gave notes In payment. Then he laid out new streets over the property nnd the streets were accepted by the village. Ho proposed water works and the village was bonded. When the water works were built his now streets were piped. Ho was the president of the Board of Education and controlled the other members of the board. To build new school buildings the district was bonded. He controlled all the manufacturing Industries In the village and built a railroad to Llttlo Falls at a cost of nearly $500,000. Bonds constructed this road. Ho formed the Dolgevllle Electric Light and Power company and made a con tract with the village board that he con trolled to furnish lights for the village streets. All of the Improvements In the village were made on borrowed capital. The present liabilities of tbo Dolgo corporation will ap proximate $3,000,000. The village bonds , cor poration bonds and school bonds will aggre gate another $500,000. Every dollar of this Indebtedness Is held by capitalists outside of the village , and the most of it Is held by banks scattered In all parts of the union. All the assets of the firm and of Alfred Dolgo personally ; > re represented In Dolge- vlllo real estate. In addition to the money borrowed by Dolge for the purpose of building UP the village and Increasing bis property Interests here , hundreds of thousands of dollars of foreign capital Is Invested in small mort gages on worklngmen's homes. Dolge , who owned all the available building lots In the village , always encouraged his workmen In building and owning thuir homes. Dolge would sell a lot to his workman on tha basis of a small weekly payment , and the amount was sometimes deducted from the operative's weekly pay. Then , through his Influence with New York capitalists , the money wodld be obtained to build the house , and a mortgage given. Dolge had an exten sive lumber yard connected with his plant and he would furnish the lumber. Nearly all the workmen's homes In the village have been erected In this manner , and tbo ma jority have them only paid for In part. Different building nnd loan associations also I have thousands of dollars Invested in village ' real estate. The very foundation of the vil lage Is built on mortgages , bonds , notes and promises The profit-sharing theories of Alfred Dolgo were also largely represented In promises. Tbo actual practical benefits to the workmen of the profit-sharing theories are nil. His profit-sharing embraced three theories : First , Insurance ; second , pension ; third , endowment. The first , Insurance , was good while It lasted. This plan provided that after five j ears' continuous service the opera tive should receive an Insurance policy for $1,000 ; at the end of another five years an other $1,000 policy , and so on Mr. Dolge paid the premiums on the policy. About sevonty-flve policies were In operation at the Umo of the failure. The second plan , pen sion , provided that when an operative had become old and feeble and no longer able to work , he should be retired on a pension of halt pay. Only four men were on tbo pen sion roll at the time of the failure. The third plan embraced the endowment theory. This provided that It any of the operatives made an Improvement to the machinery so that the cost of production should be de creased , the operative should have credit for a certain per cent of the Increased profit. Tbo endowment account was payable when the workman reached the age of 60 years , ' or to bis belra on his death. Many of the ' old operatives had several hundred dollars' 1 j credit on the endowment books , but now the ' I account is not worth the price of the paper It Is written on. The Insurance and pension 1 plan had a tendency to encourage continued service , while the third plan had a tendency | to encourage harder work. Profit-sharing ' I has no standing with the new owners of the I works. Three years ago Mr. Dolg limited the hours of labor In his factory to nine and r a halt , giving ten hours' pay. This is i uow oft. PROMOTIONS IN THE ARMY Effect of War on the Bank of Officers of tbo Regulars. ADVANCEMENT BELIEVED TO BE TEMPORARY I'rolmlillKr f I3nlnrKltii ; tlin Army Afford * KiiconrnKeiiicnt Ilb- crnl KrimrilH llrcvcttcil Titled Mick. negular army officers are usually sup posed to welcome a war. Hostilities , they say , stop stacnailoa and promotions are In order. The war Just ended no doubt brought to the minds of many of the rcculur army officers visions of advancement and promo tion , many of which have boon fully real ized. According to the Washington correspond ent of the Philadelphia Press , these ad vancements will for the most part bo but temporary. They have been In the line of commands In the volunteer troops. Perma nent promotions come only through the re tirement or death of officers further up on the list. There will be a few of these latter on account of the ravages In the ranks of officers caused by Mauicr bullets and yellow fever encountered In the Santiago campaign. There have been some very pronounced advancements of officers , especially of those assigned to staff duty since the volunteer army was called Into exlntencc. Many of the officers of the line , too , have been pushed forward two or three steps In point of rank and compensation by being placed In command of Independent nnd volunteer organizations. Ofnccru' Hro-i ct. Many an army officer who was drawing the pay of a first llnutcnant Is now enjoying the Increased compensation of n captain or n major of volunteers. Many of them also have received an additional honor by being brevettcd to some higher rank than that which they actually hold , even In the vol unteers. This matter of brevet does not seem to bo fully understood outsldo of the army. In the public mind It conveys an Idea of ad ditional rank and command. But the truth Is that It Is a purely honorary rank , and Is conferred as ft mark of distinction by the president of the United States In honor of the officers' gallant and meritorious conduct. It convc > s no moro authority than would the bestowal of a medal of honor. Not withstanding Its purely honorary character a brevet is highly appreciated by every officer of the army. For fear some who have attained this honor should presume upon It , congress many years ago passed section 1212 of the revised statutes , which specifically provides thut "no officer shall bo entitled on account of having been brevettcd to wear while on duty a uniform other than that of his actual rank , or bo addressed In orders or official communications by any other than that of his actual rank. " In 1890 congress provided In a special act that "brevet rank shall bo considered strictly honorary and shall confer no privilege of precedence or command not already provided for In the statutes. " Title * .Stick to lire * cited Men. Desplto these legal restrictions the public will continue to accord the heroes of the war all the honor which Is conveyed In the tltlo to which they may have been brevctted. A captain who for bravery or specially meritorious service , has been brovcttod ft colonel will bo a "colonel" to the end of his days , or until he attains a higher rank , as far aa the1 public is concerned. lu official communications be will still bo captain , but his family , friends and neighbors will address nm by his brevet title. Many officers who went Into this war as colonels will bo "generals" from this time out , although the army register will still show them to bo colonels , and their monthly check from Undo Sam will bo of a size commensurate with a colonel's position. The title Is a good deal , however , and It Is a very modest officer who will not feel a little prouder In the future to bo ad- dresied by his friends by a tltlo two or three grades above his regular army rank. There ore many men In public life today who are known from one end of the country to the other as "colonel" this or "general" that who never rose In real rank to within several steps of these positions. They are not Kentucky colonels , either. But In times past they have done such service for the country that the president , as commander- tn-chlof of the army , has given them the honorary title of brevet. MclClnlej'a llrctet. Very tow people know "Lieutenant Me- KInloy , " but if "Major McKlnloy" were mentioned the president of the United States would be Immediately recognized. Yet the truth Is that the chief executive of the na tion never rose In actual rank above the grade of first lieutenant. Ills tltlo of major was bestowed by brevet for gallantry in battle. There is little doubt that this title has been as serviceable to him as though he had been a full-fledged major In the United States army. Ono would have to think twice before lie would recognize In "Colonel" Algcr the present secretary of war. But If "General" Alger were named his mind would be Instantly fixed upon this member of the cabinet. Secretary Alger wears two brevets , one of brigadier general and ono of major general , but his highest actual rank was that of colonel. Senator Hawley of Connecticut is always spoken of as "Major General" Hawley. But his actual rank was that of brigadier. No one questions for a moment that this bluff old veteran of the war has not received as much honor out of the brevet title as ho would have received had he been commis sioned a major general. Everybody knows "General" Seworl of New Jersey. But his title was attained by brevet. The same la true of hundreds of others who served In the civil war and received this honorary title , which Is In the nature of a war decoration. Tctniiornry I'rontntlmiN. The regular army officers who have been given rank In the voruntecr service higher than that which they held in the regular army have received something rooro sub stantial than brevet. The volunteer array act passed April 22 last , and amended May 28 , provides for the detail of regular army officers as field officers of volunteer com mands , during which service they shall re tain their rank In the regular army , but eball receive the compensation that pertains to the higher grade which they may hold In the volunteer army. A first lieutenant who has been promoted meted to a captain or a major In the vorun- tceer service is entitled to wear the uniform of the latter and draw the pay of a captain or major. The same Is true of the officers who hrive been elevated to still higher rank in service. The several brigadier generals of the reg ular army who were promoted to major generals and colonels who have b-en made brigadier generals excrcUo all the authority and privileges of their higher ranks , al though It is In the volunteer service. ' The sorrowful riart of the whole affair Is that when the volunteer army Is dis banded and the regular officers go back Into the regular servlcee they will have to resume the rank from which they were promoted. The major generals will resume the one star of a brigadier , while the I brigadiers will have to relinquish the atar and go back to the silver eagle of a colonel or the silver leaf of the lieutenant colonel. In the company of their unofficial as sociates , however , they will still bo re garded as cenarals , nnd this may become como compensation for the unpleasant re trograde motion which the dismissal of .1 volunteer army will create. OflluiTM Look for I.nrRcr Army. There Is considerable hope held out to the regular army officers now In actlvo service , however , In the probability that hereafter the standing array of the United States will bo three or four times the slzo It was at the time of the opening of the war. If congress should authorize the maintenance of a standing army of 100,000 men there will be a lively movement along the line of promotion. It Is also probable that In officering the now regular army those men who were most distinguished In the present war will get desirable commands. The strict rules of promotion do not recognize the brevet com missions noted above , but where such an honor has been conferred for conspicuous bravery or service It Is likely to aid in giv ing the owner a desirable assignment , al though It may not push him ahead of an other officer who outranked him In tha old army. President McKlnley has been very liberal In recognizing the services of officers , and ho has made promotions where merit suggested them. When congress meets there will doubtless bo n very long list of brevet pro motions which the senate will act upon. The confirmation of this honorary grade by the senate of the Uriltcd States makes It of moro value , and moro highly prized by the officers receiving It Much as they prize this promotion , how ever , they will be moro highly gratified If congress meets their expectations and au thorizes the enlargement of the standing army , thus giving them a chance to receive practical compensation In higher grade and higher pay for what they have done In this war. SCIILUY'S UNFOIT.HT UATTI.H. He Took HIi CrnlMT After n U\K An - trliui ItuttlfNlili ) . Near Santiago a battleship was sighted , heavily armored and turrctcd , rotates the Chicago Record , uut at such ft distance that her colors could not be distinguished under the glass. Toward her the Brooklyn started. Commodore Schlcy and Captain Cook stood on the forward bridge as the big cruiser fairly leaped forward to give battlo. "Sho Is white an unusual thing In war time , " said the commodore , watching the stranger through his glass. "I don't bo- llevo she Is Spanish , " ho remarked a mo ment later , and then , consulting the picture of a sister ship to the Pelayo , suddenly ex claimed : "By Jove ! It Is the Pelayo after all ! " "On the signal bridge ! " shouted Captain Cook. "Can jou make out her colors ? " "Not > et , sir , " came the answer , followed a moment after by , "Wo have raised her colors , sir , nnd she Is Spanish. " "Send jour men to quarters , Cook , " said the commodore , "and start an 8-lnch shell for her when I give the word. " On went the Brooklyn , fast closing the distance between herself and the stranger a big battleship < 5f modern typo , and with her flag aft , two stripes of red on each sldo of yellow , ns It appeared , and the crown In proper place. The bugle sung "To quar ters ! " and the men , although they had been fighting all morning , rushed to their guns with n cheer. For a moment the com modore hesitated. "On the signal bridge ! " ho called. "Aro you certain the stranger Is a Spaniard ? " "Certain , sir , " came the reply. "I can see her colors distinctly. " The commodore had his glasses on the battleship. Turning to the captain of his ship ho said"Cook. . thaUfellow Is not at quarters. Ills guns ara'tuined ' away from us. He Is not up to snuff. Watch him closely , and the moment ho sends his men to quarters or moves a turret , let drive. Glvo him everything > ou have. Wo will sink him in twenty minutes , unless ho gets a shot under our bolt. " Just then the officer on the bridge re ported that the battleship was signaling with the International code , and soon trans lated the message : "This la an Austrian battleship. " Half an hour later the commander of the Maria Teresa ( Austrian ) was seated In Commodore - modore Schley's cabin. "If you had sent jour men to quarters or moved a turret I should have raked you ; " said the commodore It was a narrow escape , dore during the conversation. "Your flag Is so llko Spain's , saving that you have a white stripe where she has yellow , that It Is hard to tell them apart at any consid erable distance , and I came very near letting drive at you. " "Wo know that , " returned the Austrian , "and wo were much worried. We signaled long before jou answered. We had no wish to bo troubled. Wo have seen the wrecks along the coast. But , " ho Inquired , as ho rose to leave , "do you send cruisers to meet battleships ? " The commodore smiled as ho answered : "We always make a fight w 1th the first ship wo have nt hand. We never wait because wo arc outrated. We try to win with what wo have. " "You Americans aio very remarkable , said the Austrian , as ho went over the sldo to his boat. ' I1I3LI1 ri A THAI.V. AmuHlntr Incident of the Xnviil AVorli at Santiago. The first shot fired by the Brooklyn in the war occuncd three days after wo arrived oft Santiago In the night , relates ft corre spondent of the Boston Herald. It was n llttlo after dusk , when the Vixen , a torpedo host destroyer , which was lying well Inshore , fired the red , green , red rocket signal , Indi cating a torpedo attack. A't ' the same tlmo a small white light could bo seen moving down the coast to the eastward. This looked lll.o business Just what every man had been wishing for a few minutes before on the forecastle. Ship was cleared for action with a rush and wo stood by our guns , peeping out through open ports Into the Inky black ness , growing denser every minute , pa tiently waiting for orders to fire as the foe dashed onto us. The Iowa , lying astern of us , opened up on the shore with her six-pounders. This was too much for one of our ordinarily coolheaded - headed apprentice boys and bo let drlvo a port slx-poundor without orders. It was our first gun. Furthermore , It came near being nn unfortunate shot , as It flew dangerously close over 'the Marblchead's stern , which , unbeknown to us , had run Inshore and broad off of us , to < thc consternation of Captain Mc- Calla and his men. A vigorous wigwagging of lights made us aw are of the fact. Still , there was nothing 'to be seen save the light moving along swiftly , a strange proceeding for a torpedo boat. In order to bo In U the Massachusetts fired c , nix-Inch at the light and It went out. All hands concluded that this shot had put the enemy out of commission , and whllo secur ing the guns were hurrahing for our con sort. Shortly the Vixen came alongside. "I want < o report to the commodore , " sang out somebody on the destroyer. "Well , " answered the commodore , who had come to quarters In pajamas and feelIng - Ing chilly In the night air , "let's hear It in a hurry. " "I wish to report , sir , that wo have been chasing a loco mot ho on the beach , mistak ing it for a torpedo boat , and that the Mas sachusetts fired her shot as the train went around a curve out of sight. " Everybody laughed at the incident and uoud moro heartily than the commodore , who gald that It was his first experience In holdIng - Ing up a train. Wo saw the euglno make her trips ou 1he > beach for several succeed- l Ing nlthts , but were never fooled again. REDUCING THE NAVAL HUMP Obstacles to Promotion Partly Removed by the War , CHANCE FOR GRADUATES OF ANNAPOLIS of Itccent 12 cii < n mill In- crrnncd StrrnittU of ( he ! Ulnildrn thn Urartu at Many Youni : Ofllecri. The hearts of ( i great ranny boys will likely bo gladdened by ono sequel to the war. Congress has already authorized the construction of thirty-six now ships , o greater number than was over authorized In a single year before. These ships nro going to require crews and officers. One of the first results of this demand will be an Increase In the number of appointments at Annapolis and In the annual crop of en signs from the naval academy. The oppor tunities for appointment will be greater and the chance of getting ono of the coveted places Increased. Intelligence rind applica tion point the road to the Na\al academy nowadays , since the appointments are awarded competitively and not by fa\or and Intelligence nr application will be much more certain of reward of hereafter. The na\y outgrew Us list of officers In 1S97 , but congress woud not appropriate the money to Increase their number , so Secre tary Long waa compelled to send some of our shins Into retirement. When the war broke out most of the active officers sta tioned ashore had to bo assigned to shlpi , nnd their places were taken by officers on the retired Hat. Congress has shown n more liberal spirit since In Its appropriation for ships , and no doubt It will bo equally lib eral with the men who are to man and of ficer them. Ilcmot ln r the Hump. Another fact which ghes promise of n great number \acanclcs Is the npptoarh of the tlmo when the famous "hump" In the naval list will disappear. This "hump" Is composed of the mass of officers admitted to the na\y at the beginning of the civil war and during Us progress. The depart ment was not so particular about the quali fications of Its officers at that critical jierto.l. Many officers were admitted from private life , many from the merchant marine and many were rushed through the nuval acad emy at a rate that took their uuutlcal breath away. So thcra accumulated In the naval establishment a great number of officcrn of the same age. When the war was ocr.lost of these men remained In the sanlce. About 200 nro there t day. Ono yeat'H grind at the naval academy produces a crlsi of about twenty-flvo ensigns , to tbero are seven times moro officers of a certain ago in the sen Ice than there would bo under normal condi tions. Congress has considered Eovctal times a proposition to remove the "hutup ; " or at least to cnro for the graduates 01 the Na\nl academy , for whom there wane space In the navy , by maklbg them supernumerary officers and keeping them on that footing until lacnuclcs occurred. Then , when the year of retirement for the "hump" officeis came and 200 of them went out at oao tlmo under the ago limit there would be plenty of material to fill their places. This h.is not been done and the day the "hump" goes out there Is going to be a large vacuum In the naval service. Still another co'irso which will hcli > ( o make vacancies In the list of ccHvo olllrurs Is the list of retirements for disability , which Is sure to follow the war. Already several officers have broken down uu l one has died under the fctraln of the campaign. E\ery officer transferred to the retired list will leave a vacancy at the foot of the list of ensigns to be filled l > y appointment of the president , Llxt of Ofllocra. Before the war the number of officers on the active list was : Admirals , 6 ; captains , 45 ; commanders- ; lieutenant commanders , 74 ; lieutenants , 250 ; lieutenants ( junior grade ) , 75 ; ensigns , 167 ( number allowed by law 181) ; cadet graduated on cruise , 62. This was In addition to the medical corns , pay corps , engineers corps , construction corps , civil engineer corps and professors at the naval academy. Three battleships are about to be built by the government Aboard a first-class bat tleship are twenty-three naval officers of different grades. Those three battleships alone will require slxty-nlno officers , mak ing sixty-nine additional ensigns needed in the service. The other thirty-three vessels will require each a smaller number of offi cers , but the aggregate will probably repre sent almost as many officers as are now In the service more than 800. The additions to the lUt of vessels will bo male gradually but quite a large Increase In the personnel may bo expected the coming winter , and a further Increase each year till the new ships are completed. No doubt there will bo a greater demand for places In the na\y as the result of the glory achieved at Manila bay and Santiago. Boys "who are ambitious to Join the service will not reflect , If they toavo any means or knowing , that the navy In time of peace does not offer a spectacular career. In fact the navy officer gets very little glory to compensate for many years of unremitting toll. When "ho Is not off on a three-yean , ' crube. out of touch with all his friends , he Is probably sitting at n. deak In the navy de partment building at Washington or workIng - Ing out abstruse problems at the naval ob servatory. The career of the naval officer , e\en In tlmo of peace , though , has many at tractions. It offers the opportunity to travel. It pays a salary ranging from the $500 of the naval cadet to $6,000 , which Is the rear admiral's pay when at sea ; and It promises employment for life , -with three- quarters pay when disabled and retired from active service. When you call for DeWitt's Witch Hazl Saho , the great pile cure , don't accept any thing else. Don't bo talked Into accepting a Eubstltutc , for piles , for sores , for bruises. WOODPECICUH'S MAIIVI3LOUS Ilrcnki n Teleurraiili I'olo by Conutunt Work Him ItM Illll. If you have read and doubted the story of the prisoner centuries ago who , according to a comic opera libretto , cut his way through a stone wall with a penknife , read this story , one of fact , and believe. This Is an achievement of the Industrious red headed woodpecker. On Hartford avenue Just south of the Belt Line tunnel , relates the Baltimore Herald , there was a tall , well-rounded and appar ently sound telegraph pole. To passcraby It was Just a telegraph pole , doing Its duty llko any of the army of timbers stretched along the thoroughfare. Probably this polo 1 would never have been heard of had it not 1 been for an unusual occurrence Suudiy ! morning. And this Is what happened At 10 c'c'cck , without any warning , llko a great , strong man struck down by same slow but sure disease , the pole suJJenly groaned , and then , with a snapping , tcai- | Ing , grinding bound , the upper portion foil to the street , leaving about twenty-five feet stncdlng The seople looked on and won- dcied. Tbero was no hurricane , not even a brisk- breeze , and surely not enough to sever I such a pole as that which had weathered . EO n.any storms , And still they wondered. | Explanations followed thick and fas' , and tbo argument over the cause bccumo all the more 1'cated. The oldest Inhabitant was sought , and after much going over the past he remembered that some tlmo ago he had . been disturbed while quietly reading bis [ paper and tmoVi-ne his pipe by a sound as WORLD RENOWNED BEER Budweiser , ( Th Michelob , Mucnchener , Faust , Anheuser-Standard , Pale Lager. Thc"Kii\g \ of Bottled Beers" holding the world's record for output as well as for quaiity-the universal beverage- served in every part of the habitable globe-now in the second half billion bottling. "NOT HOW CHEAP ; BUT HOW GOOD , " is the motto of the Its brew commands the highest priccbecausc of its choice flavor and absolute purity ; the use of the best materials and full maturity before placing on the market , r * & rf /f - "tt wL & /t &fo&fl& the recuperative food-drink , the great up-builder , is prepared by this association. "Biographical Sketch of the ANMEUSER-BUSCM BREWING ASS'N , St. Louis , U. S. A. " free to all who desire it. OK OMAHA. BOILER AND SHEET IRON WORKS , Wilson Importers and Jobbara el SuccexMors Wllmm fc Drake. Dry Goods Goods , Furnishing Manufacturers boilers , smoke stncks nnd fcreecblngs , pressure , tendering , sheep dip , lard nnd wuter tanks , boiler tubes con AND NOTIONS * stantly on hand , necond hnnd boilers bought nnd Fold Spoclnl nnd prompt to repairs In city or country 19th nnd riorco. ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES. BOOTS-SHOES-RUBBERS , Electrical American Company r\ Sewed Shoe Go Elctrical Supplies. M'frs Jobbers of Foot Wear Electric Wivinsr Bolls and Gas Lighting g a W JOHNSTON. Mgr. 1510 Howard St. WXSTERR AOINT9 Ton The Joseph Bouigan Rubber Co , John T. Burke , F H. Sprague & Co. , COJVTKAOTOie J'OR ELECTRIC LIGHT and PO WER PLANTS Rubbers and Mackintoshes. 424 South 15th St. . . , . Cor. Kleventh fc Fiiriiniii Htn. Oninhn. FRUIT-PRODUCE. P.P. Kirkendall & Co United States u Suppiy Co. J3oots , Shoes and Rubbers 1108-1110 Harney St. Blltiroomi 1102-1104-11M Hartley BtmL Bteam Pumps , Engines and Boilers , _ . Wind Mills , Stcnin and Plumblnc Material. Beltlnsr. Host , Etc. CHICORY HARDWARE. I Chicory Go. Pector&WilhelmyCo \ Growers and manufacturers of all formi of Chicory Omaha-Fremont-O'Nell. Wholesale Hardware , CREAMERY SUPPLIES Omaha. The Sharpies Company T ee-Olark Andreesen Hardware Of Creamery Machinery and Supplies. Wholesale Hardware. Bollora , Engines , Kccd Cookern , Wood Pol. . . lejs , Shaftlnff. Beltlnc , Butter Pack- Bicycles and HporUnt Gocd . UUB.ai-35 BM njei of all kind * . oor U9 WJ.909 Jonea Bt. HARNESS-SADDLERY. DRUGS. J Ichardsen Onig Co. HARNESS , SADDLKA J.XI ) COUC4IM Jobber * o/X < afher , * eidill 'y Hardware , KU. 902-906 Jackson St. Wo solicit . your orders 1315 Howard Bt. O. lUCHAIlDSON , Prcat. B' . WELLUR. V. Prwt. STEAM-WATER SUPPLIES. T rano-Ghurchill Co. 1014-1016 Doitjlai Street. U'fr * ft + ndard fharmaonttleal Utnufacturera and jobber * of SUara. Oai ax tiont. ( Ip&tal Fvrniula Prtpureii fo Ortlcr I btratorjr Sena , ! for U ? Cittaloyue. Howard BL , Omaha. Water Supplies of All Kinds. E. Bruce & Co. For an up-to-date Druggists and Stationers , Western Newspaper "Qu n Bee" Specialties Read The Omaha Bee Ctrure , Wlncu und Urnndlei. Ooraw 10th and Harovr fltrMUk If boys \\ero tapping on the < leer After awhile ho noticed n nlrcl , a real , ll\o wood pecker , working energetically with ita sharp-pointed bill against the telegraph pole. This , ho Bald , was fully fho years ago. ago.Then Then somebody else remembered having seen a bird pecking away at the pok . Hut oven this , they thought , could not have l caused such a great timber to fair. Then a small boy \olunteercd the testimony that ho had seen a bird light on the pole and i was about to shoot at It with his elungshov , I the policeman on the beat being at dinner , 1 when tbo bird disappeared In a hole in tbo [ pole. ) Then the oldest Inhabitant took the stand again , In rebuttal , as It were , and ho cor roborated the boy's statement In fact , ho had seen two birds go into tha hole. Then a resident ) who had at ono tlmo worked in . a raw mill until a certain buz * saw , whllo on the huz < , had changed his occupation to something suitable for a nne-armod mm , openly declared that no woodpecker In the world could luue < ner cut through wood like that If It had started before horse cars ran ouC Gay street. The oldest Inhabitant scratched his bead , and another resident who had lived In the country flatly contradicted the man who had worked In the sawmill , and whllo they "fought it out , " BO to speak , the small boy investigated Sure enough , there , right where the polo had broken , was the hollow where the wood- pecknrs had cut out their nest , and , what was raoro and realty unanswerable and con- ylnclng testimony beyond peradvwiDure , wan a poor llttlo woodpecker , half frightened to denth The small boy took possession of It , and the oldest Inhabitant walked back and rcmarkwl trlumphHntly , "I told you so , " while the one-armed man went ! to bis homo and the man who had upent hit boyhood days down on the farm gave him the gleeful curglc. All of which goes to show that the pris oner who chipped his way through a stone wall with a penknife and the spider tlmt built a silken suspension bridge have been outdone by the industrious llttlo wood pecker. Japan OriltTM Airicrlcmi .HIrod ram. ST LOUIS. Kept 1C. An order has been received by the St Louis Par company for 250 street cars for the Japanese government The order , which will bo filled , calls for the completion of the cara within the next ninety days. The amount to be paid for the can In 1300 000 ,