20 TTTE OMAHA DATTjY TVBE : STjyDAV , SEPTEMBER L'o. 1803.
REPUBLICS THREATEN WAR
Chili and Argentine Seriously Involved Over
Boundary Lines.
PUTTING THEIR FIGHTING CLOTHES ON
Thirty Tlintiftnnil Chilian * Under Ann *
nnil IlrlllltiK Wlint IJneh Coun
try OnlmK l'nlrlntl m
of ( he People.
( Copyrighted , 1 9 . by Frank O. Carpenter. )
SANTIAGO , Clilll , Aug. 22 , 1838. ( Special
Correspondence of The Bee. ) There Is great
dnnger of a war breaking out between the
Argentine Republic and Chill within the
next three months. The masses of the
Chilians want It , ami popular meetings ore
held nil over the country demanding It.
Not long ago the secretary of war resigned
from the cabinet , telling the president that
Jio accepted the place because ho supposed
that Chill was going to light the Argentine ,
end that If there was to be no war ho pre
ferred to resign. The president and his
administration would like to avoid a conlllct
If possible , but the feeling of the people Is
such that the least overt act on the part of
the Argentlnea would Inflarao them beyond
control. The government appreciates this ,
nnd It has for months been making military
and naval preparations. The national guard
has been called out , and at this writing
30,000 men arc under arms nnd soldiers are
being rigidly drilled In every part of Chill.
I saw them first In the northern provinces.
At Valparaiso I found the Alameda filled
with young men going through the military
evolutions of the German army many hours
a day , and the drills of the artillery , cavalry
nnd Infantry arn to be seen daily In the
parks of Santiago. In the meantime everyone
ono Is talking war. You hear It In the
clubs and on the streets. Congress alts in
necrct sessions on the subject , and at a
convention held a few weeks ago resolutions
asking the administration to declare war
were adopted and sent to the president. At
the name tlmo the people of the Argentine
nro also much excited over the situation and
the newspapers of both countrieo are filled
with war editorials.
CHUMP of tin * Trouble.
The trouble between the two countries Is
ns to Just where the boundary between
Cbllo and the Argentine Republic lies.
This has been the subject of diplomatic
discussion for years , and It has again
nnd again threatened to cause war. In
1876 the relations of the two countries were
no strained over this matter that an armed
conlllct seemed imminent , nnd It was only
avoided by the governments negotiating for
a Joint commission of exports to mark out
tlio boundary line. The present excitement
IK the result of the conlllctlng Interpreta
tions of the treaties which were mndo
through these negotiations. The first at
tempt to settle the matter failed. Anoher
trial was made In 1878 , but It was not
until 1881 that a treaty was entered Into
nnd this was largely the result of the
friendly offices of Thomas 0. Osborn , then
our minister to Argentine , and his cousin ,
Thomas A , Osborn , who was then United
Slates minister to Chill. This treaty stated
that the boundary from Peru as far south
ns thn fifty-second degree of latitude , which
Is about the eastern entrance to the Strait
of Magellan , should bo the cordlllera of
liio Andes. The treaty stated that the
frontier line should run along the highest
summits of the mountains that divide thn
waters and should pass between the sources
of the streams which lie on the other Bldo
of those flowing Into the Atlantic and
Chill , taking all on the Pacific side. In
, ca es where the boundary line was not clear
it was to be settled by two experts , ono
ohosen by each country , ami It they were
not able to como to a decision a third
ngent chosen by both governments was to
decide the matter. It was also provided
that Chill should have no port on the
Atlantic and the Argentine none on the
I'aclflc. The line so fixed was to remain
for all time , and If other matters of dis
pute arose they were to bo submitted by the
two governments to some friendly power
for arbitration.
This was a beautiful treaty , full of com
mon sense and brotherly love , but when
the experts began to work on the boundary
the temper of the people changed nnd all
sorts of disputes arose. In ISM , in advance
of his report to the government , the Chilian
expert published his statement of the situa
tion.
tion.This
This was attacked at once by the Argen
tine press , and the relations of the two
countries apaln became strained. Then a
little later on the Argentina expert rushed
into print In a book on the subject , which
was bitterly attacked by the Chilian press
nnd which Is the cause of the war talk of
today. According to this book the Chilian
line In the south Is close to the Pacific , while
the people here believe It should be far
Inalde of Patagonia. The land In question
IB , I nm told , not worth the price of the
powder that would bo burned In the Impend.
Jng conlllct ; and , In fact , the real cause of
the ill feeling dates considerably further
back. By this treaty the Strait of Magellan
nud the greater part of Tlerra del Fuego are
given to Chill. The Argentines think they
nhould have a large part of them and that
the Chilians have really no right to any
thing east of the Andeg , although they have
agreed to the contrary. 'They think Chill
Is scheming to grab a great part of their
territory , as she did the rich nitrate fields
of Pew. and feel that she Is after a war of
conquest. Chill feels that the Argentines
took a largo part of Patagonia from her , nnd
knows that a port on the Pacific would beef
of great advantage to her neighbor. She
knows the Argentine Is growing and wants
a war now before the Argentine gets so rich
and powerful that she
cannot hope to con
quer her ,
Why Chill MiiHt I-'lKht \ < MV.
It Is hardly probable that these troubles
can ever bo finally nettled without a war.
Doth countries realize this , nnd the Argen
tines know that their best policy Is to put
the conflict off ns long as possible. The
Chilians must fight soon , If at all. They
cannot stand the expenses of their present
war establishment. I am told that the
nrmy and navy are now costing nbout $80,000
gold a day. Enormous sums have been
spent for arms and ammunition , and during
A visit which I made this week to the vari
ous military establishments hero I found
that the guns and equipment are of the
* ! luxvo Hied your valuable CASOA-
UET.N and Una them perfect. Couldn't do
without them I have usril them for some time
for Indigestion and biliousness and am now com
pletely cured , Kecommend them , to every one.
Once tried , you will never bo without them In
tbo family.1' EDIT. A. MAUJ , Albany , N. Y.
I'letitDt. I'nlatu Potent , Taite flood. Do
Oood. Never Sicken , Weaken , or Gripe , 10c.26c.tOo.
. . . CURE CONSTIPATION. . . .
T fk. 3tt
finest nnd the most recent make * . The sol-
dlers are armed with Mausrr rifles. In the
artillery barracks I was shown mountain
guns which were made at the Krupp works
In 1890 , nnd other arms of the same date.
The soldiers are well uniformed , and their
drill Is as good as that of any army of
Europe. They have Prussian army officers
as Instructors , and the most rigid discipline
has been enforced The most arduous gym
nastic exercises are practiced , BO that the
bodies of the men are like Iron , nnd
today there Is not an army In the world that
Is more ready nnd better fitted t take the
Held than that of ChlH. The bullQlngs of the
army and navy at Santiago nnd Valparaiso
cover acres , and they are among the fine
buildings of the country.
I'lii ! l're l lent' Gnnnl.
Just opposite the Moncda or the Chilian
white house la the headquarters of the
president's guard. This consists of 200
cavalry who are mounted on some of the
finest horses of Chill. During my
visit the commander held a review of the
troops that I might see what the Chilians
can do on horseback. They are among the
best horsemen of the world , and It is a com
mon expression that the Chilian Is born on
horseback. The president's cavalry moved
as ono man. The companies of troops went
galloping over the hedges and ditches and
hurdles , which are kept In the largo court
of the quarters for practice. Dummy soldiers
lit uniform were scattered about the ground
to represent the wounded on the field of
battle , nnd these the men pierced with their
lances ns they went galloping by. At the
military school , or West Point of Chill , I saw
the eons of the best families of the country
undergoing the most rigid gymnastic and
military training. Boys of from IB to 18
whose fathers are worth millions were
marching through the same exercises as the
recruits of the national guard. They ban
died their guns well and the discipline was
perfect. There Is a naval school at Val
paraiso. There are military and naval clubs
here , nnd Chill has military and naval jour
nals subsidized by the state. There Is no
lack of martial spirit and the ambition In a
military way of both old and young Is
boundless.
Too Jinny Cnrrlnison.
Speaking of the necessity for Immediate
action on account of expense , Scnor Jorge
Asta-Buruaga , the son of the former Chilian
minister to the United States and for a time
Chilian secretary of the legation at Wash
ington , accompanied me on my tour ot milt
tary Inspection here. During the day I remarked -
marked several times on the splendid train
ing and equipment of the men , when Senor
Asta-Buruaga said : "Yes , they are very
fine and they look very well , but Chill must
use them soon If at all. We are llko a man
who has twenty-flvo carriages and nothing
with which to keep them up. He may have
the carriages brought around to his door
every morning and the people will open their
eyen and say , 'See what magnificent turn
outs that man has , ' while all the time he
may bo starving In the kitchen. These
soldiers are very fine , but Chill can't stand
the expense long. " This Is true. Chill has
all told only 3,000,000 people , not as many
as a number of our American states. Five-
sixths of these nro peons , or laborers , who
pay practically no taxes , and the burden
of the military establishment comes on but
few. The country does not grow In popula
tion to any extent , and Its tillable territory
is comparatively email. It has , however ,
good credit , and It has always promptly paid
Its foreign indebtedness.
I'ntrlollMH III Chill.
I have not yet seen the soldiers of the
Argentine , but I doubt whether their array
will compare with this for effective work- -
The Chilians are natural soldiers. They
would rather light than eat , and when the
call was made for the members of the Na
tional Guard between the ages of 17 and
-0 to como to the field for the present drll
more than no per cent above the quota
asked for applied. Business men tell me
they could not hold their employes and
that thousands were ready to enter the
ranks who could not get in. It is said that
Chili could put 150,000 soldiers In the
field within a week , and by the reorganiza
tion of the National Ouard according to the
law of 1896 every Chilian from 20 to 40
years ot age must serve. By this system
the fighting force of Chill Is now over
132,000 , and the 20,000 and more young fel
lows now In training are under those ages.
Tlio Argentine militia and National Guard
are more numerous than that ot Chill , but
It Is believed here that the men are not
such good soldiers , and that they are
anxious to escape service , whllo the
Chilians court It. At a recent call of troops
In the Argentine 'about half of the num
ber failed to appear. The Argentine has
about 1,000,000 more people than Chill , but
among them are tens of thousands of
Italians who have been warned by their
homo government to keep out of the
Argentine nrmy. There are tens of thou
sands of Germans who still hold their al
legiance to the kaiser , nnd tens of thousands -
sands of English who are out here to make
money and who will not fight for any
thing else. Buenos Ayrcs alone has more
than 100,000 people of English blood , and
these have no patriotic regard for the
country. Here In Chill there are corapara-
lively few foreigners and every Chilian Is
a patriot. There Is no country In the
world which has so many flagslaffs on Its
houses ns this , and the people nro wild with
enthusiasm for everything Chilian. This Is
especially so among the higher classes , the
people who run the government , who own
almost nil the property and are the leaders
In everything. They are as Intelligent and
as well educated as wo are. Few of them
have any Indian blood In them , but they
are to a man ready to fight for Chill.
The War Will lip n Illooily One.
If the war occurs It will be ono of the
bloodiest of history. IB will bo fought with
the latest Improvements In arms and with
all the savagery of the middle ages. In
the war with Peru there was not much
need of hospitals. The Chilians stabbed the
wounded to death with their lances or cut
their throats as they lay on the field. I
have told you how I saw the president's
guard lancing wounded dummies in the re
view. I Imagine that the Argentines wourd
not be much better In rhls respect , and It
will bo n war to the death. It Is hard for
one who has not seen the Chilian peon to
understand utm. Ho Is as tough as a knot ,
and he can endure nil sorts of hardships.
Ho can sleep on the ground for weeks at a
stretch , and can live for months on radons
of a handful or so of toasted flour for his
meals. Ho comes of the best Castlllan blood
crossed with that of the bravest Indians ot
this continent , and he will stick to his com
mander until ho falls. He seems to care
nothing for Ufa and little for pain , and wltl
do the most foolish things rather than be
thought a coward. One day last week two
peons were drinking together with a crowd
of their fellows , when one said to the oflier
that ho thought him a coward. "You do ? "
was the reply. "Well , I will show you fliat
I am not. Would a coward do this ? " And
thereupon ho pulled a knife and plunged It
Into his bowels again and again , "I will
show you that I afao am not a coward. "
rejoined the other , and ho began to stab
himself. The two men would have soon
committed suicide had not a young priest
rushed In and torn the knives from their
hands and called In the police to take them
to the hospital. The above story was told
me by a man who saw the whole affair , and
ho said rhat no one else but a priest could
have stopped the cutting.
The \iiilm of tin- Two Conntrlm.
U Is believed that It war occurs It will
be largely naval. In order to prevent war
It was suggested by some ot the statesmen
here at the tlmo that the United States was
buying up vessels for our fight with Spain ,
that both Chill and the Argentine give up
their ships to tbo United States for come-
thing I Ilka their font on the understanding
that I the United States would aid them In
cane < of foreign complications. This was
nl i o proposed ns to the Chilian navy nlono ,
but It never got further than the president's
council i chamber. At this time the United
States I made a proposition to Chill to buy
her fine armored cruiser O'HIgglns , which
as just been finished In England , but on
ccount ot the danger from the Argentine ,
Chill did not dare to cell. At present Chill
as an excellent fleet nnd one which Is be
loved hero to bo far superior to that of the
\rgcntlne. It consists of five armor clads ,
Ive cruisers , eleven gunboats and nineteen
orpcdo boats. It has four destroyers , which
! mvo a speed of more than thirty knots.
The Chilians are excellent sailors , ami they
Lvere launched In 1806 , and all of which
have In addition to their navy a commercial
licet of over 150 vessels of more than 100
ons each. They have twcnty-flvo stearnern
and they have an English steamship line ,
he Pacific Steam Navigation company ,
which they subsidize. If there IB a war
hero may bo a- naval engagement near the
Strait ot Magellan , but hero the Chilians
will have the advantage of a thorough
knowledge of the waters. Their navy has
ailed about there for years , and within the
ast two years careful surveys have been
made ot the seas about the Horn by the
Chilian naval officers. Chill will there have
he advantage of her town of Punta Arenas
as a coaling nnij supply station. The Idea
expressed by some Influential people here ,
however , Is that It will be much better for
.he Chilian fleet to go at once to the River
'latto and to center Its forces on the taking
of Buenos Ayrea. This they believe would
mean the end of the war , ns Buenos Ayres
Is as much the Argentine as Paris Is France.
Wlint NclBliliorn Mn > * Do.
If this war occurs It will hardly bo con
fined to Chill nnd the Argentine. All of the
adjoining countries will probably be forced
to take part. Peru hates Chill with good
reason , for Chill has taken the best of her
money producing territory and has made her
bankrupt. She has looted her public bulld-
ngs and has butchered her people by the
tens ot thousands. The Chilians scraped
the Peruvian territory as with a fine tooth
comb for things valuable. They wiped out
villages and demolished cities. They
destroyed plantations nnd burned factories.
They sacked Lima and brought away every
thing of value. The books In the public
libraries , the art In the museums and even
the animals In the zoological gardens were
carried to Santiago. At the end of tbo
struggle Chill demanded the nitrate fields
as ono of the prices of peace and she Is now
getting a great part of her revenues from the
export duties which she collects from what
was once Peruvian territory. Bolivia would
Join Peru nnd the Argentine for much the
same reasons and also because the Bolivians
think ns do also many of the Peruvians that
If Chill Is victorious over the Argentine she
will at once push her conquests further
north , swallowing up all of the countries on
the west coast and making Chill extend from
Capo Horn to the Isthmus of Panama. The
Argentines on the other hand fear that Bra
zil will unite with Chill. The Brazilians
nnd the Argentines nro old tlmo enemies ,
and the Argentines despise and hate the
Brazilians.
They fear that in case of war the Bra
zilians will demand back some of the ter
ritory which President Cleveland aa arbi
trator awarded them in a dispute during
his administration and that in case ot a
union with Chill and their own defeat that
the Argentine would bo carved up to suit
the two. One thing that Is holding Chill
back from declaring war Is the large amount
of property In the Argentine belonging to
forelcners. The best things of the Argen
tines nro cither mortgaged to or have been
bought by Europeans , nnd Chill does not
see where she could get enough stuff In the
country to pay the expenses of the war.
Said ono of the most Influential of the
Chilians , a man who Is very close to the
president , to mo last night : "If the Argen
tine had any available assets wo would
make war at once. If there was anything
there that would pay the expensesof our
army we would go In and take It , but there
Is not , and we don't see where we can come
out whole , It lu like entering Into a law
suit for damages with a pauper. He may
give you a hard fight and If you succeed
you can collect nothing. The Argentine has
a debt of almost half a billion gold dollars
a year. With the foreign Influences against
us wo would find It hard to get anything
out of the nation should we succeed , and
should wo lose they will carve us to pieces.
They will take the whole of lower Chill
for themselves and will allow Peru nnd
Bolivia to have what wo captured In our
war with Peru. "
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
For brontj , . surfaces. ores , insect bites ,
burns , skin diseases , and especially plies ,
there Is one reliable remedy , DeWltt's Witch
Hazel Salve. When you call for DeWltt's
don't accept counterfeit or frauds. You will
not bo disappointed with DeWltt's Witch
Hazel Salve
VISITORS FLOCK TO WAR SHIPS !
Crowds Trmt Throng the lighting Vessels
Whenever They Oomo to Port.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS ON THE DECKS
I'rlito of tlio Oflli'cri mill Mm In Ix-
lillillltiK Their ChnrKcx The .Jiiek-
Ivn' Laconic ; Kxplnnntlon of
Thrilling IjvcntM.
NEW YORK , Sept. 21. It Is estimated
that fully 100,000 persons have visited tha
. various ships of Admiral Sampson's vie- >
torlus squadron since their arrival from
3uba. From 9 In the morning until 6 In
tbo afternoon the decks of the Now York ,
the Brooklyn and the rest of the fleet have ]
echoed to the tread of nn admiring host'
ot American citizens citizens who have just
awakened to the fact that they have a navy
that can fight remarkable battles In a re
markably short npace of time.
The mere , fact that these vessels have
all been Inspected nnd viewed many times |
before has nothing to do with It. That j
wonderful chase off Santiago nnd the annl- i
hllatton of a mighty Spanish fleet have j
vested each craft from the stately flagship '
to the second-class battleship Texas with
such a halo of Interest nnd romance that
the drawing properties of a circus pale j
Into Insignificance before It. <
The crowds that descended upon the fleet }
directly anchors were dropped off Tompj j
klnsvlllo literally besieged the uhlps nnd
when It bccnmo necessary to commence
needful repairs the authorities at Washington - |
ton were compelled to Issue orders closing i
the gangways and oven the gates at the
Brooklyn navy yard. There were no complaints - j
plaints because of this Influx of visitors
from the olllcers and crow , however. Jack |
and his superiors nro never happier than ,
when tbo decks nro thronged with visitors
from shore. They like the attention and
they llko to feel that their masters the
American people are Interested In them.
"Fighting Bob" Evans , the captain of the
Iowa , said recently : "I would bo glad to ;
show to show my ship to every man and
woman , boy nnd girl In the whole country.
I am only sorry that I can't go on deck '
nnd greet every visitor personally. They are |
Indeed welcome to any ship I command. "
There are very few officers In the navy
today who would not echo the sentiment
And that Is the reason why every visitor
to n man-of-war when he leaves the navy
yard gales , or the gangway , ns the case may
bo. feels that he has been personally wel
comed nnd has been treated with cordUl
hospitality. That is a way the naval officer
and the naval Jackie have.
The "Net-fa of VinltorN.
The Brooklyn navy yard Is the Mecca
of two-thirds of the strangers who annually
visit New York City , but within the last
month hosts of honest citizens , who have
lived all their lives almost within sound
of the naval workshop whistle without en
tering the gate , have eagerly sought ad
mission to see the ships of Sampson's fleet. I
Admission Is by pass obtained from the
captain of the yard. Armed with this the
visitor betaken himself to the gate at the
foot of Sands street , Brooklyn , where he
Is compelled to submit to the scrutiny of a
watchman nnd several marines. Once Inside
the yard , a yard regularly laid out with
streets and buildings nnd parks , gas lamps ,
police and an efficient fire department , It Is
easy enough to find the waterfront where
nro moored the various ships of war under
going rcoalrs.
H Is now the visitor finds that the pass
nn official-looking document duly signed and
sealed Is potent only In the yard Itself.
The cass has no stnndlng or Influence on
board a ship In commission. This fact Is
learned when the honest citizen Is stopped
at the gangway of a ship by a marine
sentry nnd Informed in any kind of n
dialect that "It's no good here , sir. If you
want to go nboard this ship you must get
permission from the officer of the deck. "
During certain hours , however , this par
ticular yard of red tape Is not In evidence
nnd visitors nro permitted to look nnd ex
plore nnd stare to their Heart's content.
Once over the gangway , the welcome shows
Itself. The officer of the deck , a dapper
young ensign , looking very cool and neat
In his white uniform , generally approaches
and asks If the visitor or visitors would
like to sen tbo ship. On being answered
In the affirmative the young officer beckons
to some apprentice or bluejacket , of whom
there are generally n number In waiting ,
and says easily : "Thompson , show these
people the sights. Explain the turrets nnd
anything else they may care to sec. "
"Thompson , " ns trim and neat In hla
way as the officer , grins and gives his head
a queer little duck to the ladles of the
party and steps toward the nearest gun ,
which , in the case say ot the Texas , Is
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Remnants of Carpets.
All short lengths of carpets ,
from 20 yards down at a clear
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Ingrains 25c and 40c a yard
Brussels
Velvets 50c to 75c a yard
Wiltons
This includes all the short
lengths of goods in value up to
$2.50 a yard.
Remnants made up in Rugs <
with borders.
8-3x11-9 Drussells $14.00 8-3x10-6 Drussells 11.00
8-3x10-6 Drussells 12.50 8-3x10-6 Drussolls 11.00
S-3xlO-6 Axmlnstcr . . . 17.50 8-3x9-6 Drussells 10.00
8-3x10-6 Velvet 9.50 10-6x12-9 Drussclls . . . . 18.00
CxlO-6 Velvet 8.50 10-6x12 Gobelin 24.00
8-3x9-3 Wilton 14.00 9x12-9 Dlglow Ax 20.00
7-6x8-9 Axmlnstcr . . . . 11.00 10-6x11-3 Drussells . . . . 17.50
8-3x12 Moquotto 15.00 10-6x11-6 Dnissells . . . . H.OO
8-3x11-9 Drussclla . . . . 13.50 9-8x12-6 Drussclls 13.00
7-6x7-3 Drussells 7.00 9-8x11-4 Drussells . . . . 12.00
7-3x8-10 Drussels 7.50 9x12-3 Drussells 14.50
7-6x7-3 Drussells 0.50 9x13 Drussclls 15.00
8-3x11-6 Drusells 15.00 9-9x11-9 Drussels 10.00
8-3x10-6 Drussells 12.50 9x10-6 Drussclls 11.50
6-9x14 Drussells 11.00 9x12-3 Drussels 11.00
& -3xlO-6 Drussells I'.OO ' 9-9x13-9 Urussells . . . . 17.DO
8-3x10-6 Drussells . . . . 8.00 9x12 Drussels 15.00
8-3x10-7 Drussells . . . . 11.00 9x10-6 Drussels 11.00
8-3x10-6 Drussclls 12.00 11-3x13-6 Velvet 20.00
8-3x9-9 Drussells 9.00 10-6x12 Velvet 19.00
8-3x9-9 Axmlnster . . . . 12.00 10-6x13-9 Axmlnster . . . 22.50
8x9 Drussclls 9.00
There are more than 200 of these rugs
in various styles to select from.
H yju'd Axminster carpet samples fin
ished for rugs , 60c to $1.75 each.
Oil Cloth Stove Rugs.
1 yard square 35c
H yards square 75c
2 yards square $1.25
Metal bindings for 1 yard size lOc.
Metal bindings for H yard size 15c ,
Metal bindings for 2 yard size 20c.
l4l4-l4)6-l4J3 ) STREET.
a six-Inch breechloader , mounted as a
pivot on the edge of the quarterdeck. Ho
grasps the training lover In a business
like manner , shows how 'tho piece la ele
vated or depressed , then opens the breech
with n quick swing.
Talk of the Jackie * .
"This hero gun Is a beaut , ladles and
gentlemen , " he says with , pride. "It fires
a shell weighing 100 pounds , uses fifty
pounds of powder to do It , nnd say , what
do you t'lnk , ono of these hero shells Ml
knock the stuflln" out of any old dago ark
afloat. She's a lulu. "
A red-painted submarine mine , closely
resembling ono of the buoys to be met In
every harbor , stands near the gun nnd
Thompson states that It was picked up In
Guantnnarno shortly after the Texas had
unsuspectingly passed over It.
"It was what me barber calls a close
shave , " explains the bluejacket. "If that
t'lng had gene off while wo was above It ,
th' Texas would be joining hands wld tl'C '
poor old Maine. Wo found enough guncotton -
ton In It to blow th' slats out of any nooker
nlloat. Wo struck It all right , but th * flrin'
pin wouldn't work. Just like all th' .stuff
them dagoes git up. "
Ho leads tbo way to a hatchway forward
of the six-Inch pivot. The ladder extending
below fades Into obscurity , nnd It Is with
Bomo timidity that visitors prepare to de
scend. The Incline Is sharp and the apert-
V1SITORS ON TUB U. S. S. "BROOKLYN. '
Fine Carpets.
The lendoncy of the timed is affected by
the class of goods the people purchase.
Never before have wo sold so many good
carpets and never before have we shown
such a stock of good carpets.
Jn Wilton velvets our stock comprisoa
nearly the entire line of the Alex. Smith
Sons Carpet Co. and Stephen Sanford Sons
and wo are offering these well known
makes to our customer * which have sold
everywhere at $1.75 to $2.00 a yard at
$1.50.
Kail line of Bigknv Axminster carpets
arc the new fall patterns most perfect
parlor lloor coverings.
Wilton carpets We are showing a se
lection from all the best manufacturers at
from $1.75 to $2.50 per yard. On these
goods wo moot the competition of all cut
tings in price guaranteeing the same
qualities cannot bo bought lower than wo
sell them.
Special Sale of Spare Rugs.
These are mitcred 75c and $1.00 ea.
Special on Moquette Rugs.
27x54 value easily $2.75 300 of these
rugs will be sold at $1.75 each ,
Remnants of Linoleum.
All at oilcloth prices 2 yards square
and up regular stove sizes and will last
longer than oilcloth 35c and up.
Bissell's ' Carpet Sweepers.
$2.00 , $2.50 and $3.00.
The very best made.
Window Shades.
Opaque shades in genuine water colors
-with fixtures all complete ready to hang
-at 25c each.
uro small , but Thompson pilots them In
safety , saying as ho does BO , "Just duck
your heads , there , ladles and gents. That
coaming Is harder than bone , bet'cher life.
There was a dude rammed his nut agin It
yesterday and ho made a damp spot on th'
deck with his bleed. This way , plcaso
We've got to go a deck lower before wo
can git Into the turret. "
Incandescent lights make the gloom of the
Interior more apparent , strange objects ,
shapeless in the semi-darkness , bar the way
at every step ; there Is a closeness In the
air which would be stifling If It were not
for the ventilating blowers which can bo
heard whirring and humming In each pas
sageway. The ceilings are low and cork
painted beams reach within an Inch of the
visitor's head. On both aides stretch parti
tions of steel.
Thompson leads tbo way with perfect con
fidence and presently a ray of light Is seen
In the advance. In broadens at last and a
huge circular chamber many feet across and
rising to double a man's height Is reached.
The bluejacket guide waves his hand and
says with the air of a showman exhibiting
his most valuable curiosity : "This , ladles
an' gents , Is the for-ard turret. "
Ini'ireMMlve .Shoolliiu ; Tool * .
A little gasp of awe comes from the fem
inine portion of the visitors. There Is some
thing grimly Impressive In the great Iron
chamber with Its curious objects of war.
In the center rests the monster 12-Inch
breech loading rifle , built upon a pedestal
of steel girders and wheels and levers. The
masslvo breech frowns at the spectators
and Us brown coated sides extend seemingly
an Interminable number of feet through the
oval aperture In the turret.
"Isn't she a daisy ? " asks Thompson , jerkIng -
Ing his thumb toward the gun. "You're
now looking at the popper that wo swatted
th' dagoes with. You want to look closer
an' understand that It was this here gun
that fired a shot that knocked th' etuflln'
out of the Marlar Teresa , Admiral Cervcra's
flagship. What ? No , I wasn't In hero at th'
time. I don't belong to this division. Hut ,
say , I heard It bark and you'd think th'
whole roof was comln' In. How do wo load
It , eh ? Sco this ledge at th' foot of th'
turret ? That's a little railway an' cars run
on It from th' magazine shaft around there.
Th' fellers yank a shell from th' lifter ,
place It on th' carriage and run her around
here to th' breech of th' gun. Then other
fellers git th' hydraulic that's water , d'ye
see ? rammer to work , an' In she gore.
They put th' charge In then , an' when all
Is ready , th' olflcer In charge he stands up
there In that flrln' hood where you see th'
little telescope sights th' gun , gits th' range
and there you are. It's great work.
Thompson wiped his forehead nfter this
burst of descriptive eloquence nnd escorted
his party to the forward bcrthdeck. The
apartment contained a number of marines
and bluejackets , who seemed entirely ob
livious of the visitors' presence. Some
were stretched out upon bits of canvas
or sheets of newspapers , Bleeping calmly ,
as If ( he laughter and talking and the mul
titudinous noises of u man of war commu
nity were simply parts of a mother's lullaby.
Others were reading or writing , their desks
being a cramped knee or tie ! unsteady lid
of a ditty box. Ono man was shaving
with the aid of a triangular piece of glass
resting against a bulkhead and a tall , gaunt
marine , coatlcss and with the collar of
his flannel shirt thrown open , was working
away at a bit of nctello stuff.
Thompson stopped near the port forward
corner of the deck. About thn level of
his head was a now square patch of steel
In the ship's side. It had not yet received
the last coat of paint and It loomed red and
ugly In the semi-gloom.
An Incident of ( lie KlKhl ,
"There was a big jagged hole there a
few day * bgo , " oald the bluejacket In a
peculiarly nad tone of volco. "It's whcro '
the shell came three that exploded on th' ,
other Ride of th' deck an * killed ono of our
apprentices. You read the story In th' pa
pers , I guess. I I saw It all , an' "
Thompson brushed one hand over his shirt
with a queer gesture of repugnance "an *
I helped pick him up. Ho was a good boy
an' him and roe chummed It as a rule.
Th' shell , It came tbroo th1 steel elde with.
a wound like th' popping of a toy balloon ;
then It struck a stanchion where that now
ono Is now , an' exploded within a foot of
the apprentice. I thought th' whole sldo of
th' ship was blown up. There was n shock
like thunder an' lightning an' 1 felt n red
glare about inc. Th' smell was enough to
choke a dead dog an' I thought my last
end had come. Say ! If you'd been there
you'd bo couBhln' yet. Was I scared ?
Huh ! I didn't have tlmo to think of It. "
The bluejacket shrugged his shoulders and
spat contemplatively through an open dead
light. The spot where the apprentice had
been killed seemed distasteful to him and
ho got his party of visitors to the upper
deck as speedily as possible. After showing
them the steel conning tower with IU
strange electrical contrivances and Its mlto
of a steering wheel nnd various other ob
jects of more or less Interest , ho returned
with the party to the quarterdeck.
"I hope you like th' old hooker , " ho said ,
standing with cap In hand and a friendly
grin on his good-natured face. "We boys
nro all proud of her , bet'cher life. They
said she was a hoodoo an' that th' old Texas
would fall to pieces with nervous prostration
when th' dagoes got a shot nt her , but I
guess she
Ho stopped and took a step backward.
Ono of the party had thrust a hand toward
him containing a small wad of green In
the palm. Thompson looked hurt.
"I beg your pardon , sir , " ho said slowly ,
"but you must 'scuso me. Wo boys don't
take nothln' llko that. When we shows th'
ship wo do It because we are proud of her.
No , thankee , very much. Will I give you
my name ? Certainly , I'm William Thomp
son , seaman. Been in th' service three full
cruises an' expect to stay th' rest of my
time. Good-bye ! Como again and' wel
come. "
With a bow nnd ono of his queer llttlo
_ ducks the blue jacket turned and disappeared
forward. The -members of the party who
had offered him money stepped up to the
officer of tbo deck and said :
"I want to express my appreciation of
your ship and your gallant crow , sir. Tha
man who piloted us about Is a rough jewel
of the first water. His name Is Thompson ,
I bcltovc. I'd llko to leave tills bill to be
used In "
"Bxcuse mo , but I do not think It would
bo wise , sir , " Interrupted the young officer
with a smile. "The 'boys ' are rather strict
on that subject. Thompson wouldn't thank
mo If I took anything for htm. fjood-byo ,
sir. You arc heartily welcome. Coma
again. "
As the party threaded Its way down thn
crowded gangplank , ono of the members
glanced back nnd saw several bluejackets
escorting other parties about the ship. Ono
of the sailors was Thompnon , grinning ,
happy and glad of his task.
SUITS
167 styles to $1150
select from , in JLJL
all woods . . . .
Stone
FURNITURE CO. ,
1115-1117 FARNAM STREET.
