iiBJcaJoSWEtta / FHE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE PAGES 11 TO 20.
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871. OMAHA , SUNDAY MORNING , AUGUST 27 , 1899. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
FIRST TRIP UP THE RIVER
Jtut Eighty Yean Ago the Steamer Western
Engineer Tonohed at Omaha.
PLANS TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY
Some Ionlln of the Hlntnrlc Hvent nn
Nnrrntcd l > y Ilic ftovrrmnciit Of-
llclnln AVtin Accompanied
the
Tbo Bomewhat unusual spectacle of a
ntcamboat plying up nnd down the Missouri
from Omaha to Florence recalls the fact
that U IB now almost exactly elchty years
nlnco tlio nrst steamer pushed Its nose
against the current and passed the almoot
unbroken wilderness of bluft and torest that
then occupied what U now the site o
Omaha. In fact the centennial anniversary
of the event Is close nt hand and the pas-
Bcncera who take the trln UD the river on
the afternoon mid evening of September 17 ,
1919 , will Inadvertently bo assisting In Its
celebration. On that date In 1819 the
etcamor Western Enelnoer struggled north
ward against the swift current that now
hurries past the western metropolis. It has
been suggested that an old-timers' excursion
should bo organised on that day , that the
city and' county ofllclals ohould participate
dn a body and that Home appropriate ex
orcises should be provided for to emphasize
ono of the most Interesting events In the
early history of the west.
A detailed narrative of the trip of the
"Western Rnelnccr Is contained In an old
publication that Is now a part of the Dyron
llced collection In < the public library and j I
which was published In London In 1823. It
1s In three small volumes and Is entitled
"An Account of an Expedition from Pitts-
burg to tie Ilocky Mountains Performed In
the Years 1819 and 1820 , by Order of J. C.
Calhoun , Secretary of War , Under the Com
mand of Major S. II. Long of the United i
fitjvtpn TnnnfTrnnMr.il R
The Tx > ok was written by Edwin Jones ,
who accompanied the expedition as botanist
and geologist , from the notes prepared by
Major Long and other members of the party.
It has been quoted to some extent In the
histories of Omaha that have been com
plied In moro recent years , and'a perusal
of the work gives the reader a realistic
Impression of the change that eighty years
Iiaa compassed In the territory that has
elnco become 'Nebraska.
In connection with tbo approaching anni
versary a brief reproduction of Mr. Jones'
rarrativo becomes of Interest. There Is
llttlo In the history that suggests the Omaha
of 'today. ' Neither geographical names nor
the narrator's descriptions of. the scenic
and natural conditions would be recognised
were It not for the references to the trading
post at Bcllevuo and to the Council Bluffs
as the rnnsslvo plateaus on the Iowa side
were oven then known. Even the river
is not the same as the one an which Major
Long and his party traveled. It has swept
into now channels and destroyed many of
the old landmarks. But the vivid picture
of the savage.life that inhabited the rugged
bluffs becomes moro Interesting as the years
leave It behind.
Htnrt of the Expedition.
The exploring party left Plttsburg early
inMay on a craft that river men of the
present generation 'would hardly consider
capo bio of the projected trip through the
"Mississippi , the Missouri and their navlga-
blo tributaries. " Fulton's Clermont , the
first successful steamboat , was invented only
twelve years before , and the Western Engi
neer was a decidedly crude and unwieldy
Invention as compared with the river crutt
of the present. Its boilers wore fired with
wood , and when the Missouri was reaslud
ono of the greatest troubles of the navigator
waa to find sufficient fuel to keep the fires
burning. Them was no scarcity of timber ,
but the forests were BO deep and heavily
shaded that oven the fallen trees were
heavily soaked with moisture.Tho party
was compelled to depend solely on ash and
cottonwood stumps that were dead , but still
remained standing , and the boat was tie-
quently tied up for * omo tlmo whllo the
crew skirmished through the woods in
search of such material.
The trip down the * Ohio and thence to the
waters of the Missouri .was comparatively
uneventful , as the real work of the expedi
tion was not begun until It reached a ter
ritory that was then comparatively unknown.
Franklin , previously the extreme head of
, navigation on the Missouri , was reached
*
July 13. This was In what Is now Howard
i county , almost 6xnctly In the center of Mis
souri , nnd whllo tbo original townslto was
subsequently awallowed up In one of these
changes of base for which tbo Missouri river
was famous , the spot Is approximately
located by the present town of Franklin
Junction. At tuu time 01 Major Longrs
arrival Franklin consisted of thirteen log
houses , a few frame dwellings , two brick
liulldlngs , thirteen stores , four taverns , two
Maclttmlth shops nnd a court house. Even
then , however , It supported the luxury of a
weekly paper and a two-etory log building
served no u place of detention for horse
thieves and other unsavory characters.
Frankfin was noted at that tlmo as the
point that was reached a few weeks before
hy the steamer Independence , of Louisville ,
the first steamer that ever ascended the Mis
souri. Major J. D. Wllcox , father of Wil
liam P. Wllcox , later of Omaha , was one
of the passengers on the Independence and
ho was ono qf the guests at an elaborate
banquet that woa tendered to the captain
and passengers by the citizens of Franklin
in honor of the event. The news of Major
Ix > ng'o expedition had already reached the
pioneers and thrlr Interest In Its arrival was
indicated In one of the toasts that were
offered at the banquet , "Tho policy resulting
in the expedition to the Yellowstone , "
Major Long and his party were also re
ceived with exuberant hospitality by the
Frankrin people and It Is significant that , In
Ills reference to tholr visit , Mr. Jones do-
clarca that. In his opinion , It la only a ques
tion of tlmo when the town will be swept
away by the river. After a short stay at
Franklin the expedition paused on up the
Missouri , and on September IS It arrived
oppoatto tbo mouth of the Platte ,
fclintt * Old I'lnltf.
That the characteristics of this river have
not materially changed In Indicated by Mr ,
Jones' description. Ho says ; "Its mouth
now exhibited a great extent of naked sand-
liars. Tbo water , which was transparent nnd
of a grwnlsh color , flowed almost unseen
through a number of small channels.
Masses of eand accumulate at the mouth of
the Platte , rendering the navigation of the
Missouri at that point extremely difficult.
The Piatte , during Its flood , pours Into the
Missouri n volume of water considerably
exceeding In magnitude that of the latter
river , occasioning a rellux of the water for
many ralle . From the Platte upward the
annual rangn from high to low water In the
Missouri may bo rated nt about eighteen
feet. "
Two days later the steamer reached what
was then known aa Fort Lisa , a trading j
station operated by the Missouri Fur com- i i
puny , which was located just above the
present eito of Omaha. Here the explorers
began to cast about for a suitable location
tor a camp In which to spend the winter ,
end this was found two day * later at a
about half a mile above Fort Lisa , or
at the foot of the high bluff that still re
mains Immediately north of the water works
pumping station at Florence. In his de
scription of the camping grounds Mr. Jones
alleges that cliffs of "sparry limestone" rose
In the rear of the site to an elevation of
nearly 300 feet. At the present time a
highway winds along the foot of the cliff
over the exact spot where the party spent
the winter , ami any one who has passed ttm
spot can easily understand why the ex
plorers took advantage of the protection
that the towering bluff provided against the
winter wlndi.
It would seem that the long winter spent
In this Isolated place must have been a
tedious ordeal to the wanderers , but the
Journal kept by their officers Indicates that
they found much that was novel nnd Inter
esting In tlie savage life around them. One
of the things that particularly Interested
them was the wonderful Intelligence dis
played by the pralrlo wolves , with which
the banks of the river abounded. At first
the wolves evaded every artifice that thelt
ingenuity could suggest. After spending SBV >
oral necks In a futile attempt to construe
n trap that would fool n wolf they gave the
Job up In despair nnd turned to other oc
cupations. Mr. Jones also speaks of latrons ,
a species of jackal , which were very nu
merous In this section. Droves of oik wer
frequently seen , nnd swans , geese nnd ducki
came driving down the river before the cold ,
winds In Immense flocks that must have '
numbered millions. I
Width mid Velocity of th Hirer. I
Measurements made by the engineer of the
party soon after the camp -was located Indli i
catcd that the Missouri was at that time 100 i
yards wide at a point Just above the camp | '
and 277 % yards wldo a few hundred foot '
further down. The velocity of the current' '
was tested by floating an empty
porter bottle , that was partially
filled with water to glvo It spe
cific gravity , and letting It ride down
the currant Ho the length of a string that I ,
was 100 yards long. By this unique method I
It was determined that the velocity was ono
mlle , -141 yards and ono and one-half feet' j
per hour. Later more elaborate experiments I I
weio made , and It was discovered that the
current was much swifter a few feet below
the surface. A polo ten feet long was
weighted and floated In the same manner as
the porter bottle , and this indicated that , at
a point ten feet below the surface , the
current flowed with a velocity of one mile ,
893 yards and ono foot per hour.
Ono of the most Interesting features of tbo
winter was the reception of the various
bands of Indians that came to pay their
respects to their white visitors. Represen
tatives of nearly all the tribes in this lo
cality visited the encampment during the
season , and Mr. Jones has detailed very
minutely the impressions -that he and his
comrades received.
The flrst deputation that cafled at the
cantonment was a party of about 100 Otoos
and a number of lowas , who came early in
October to dance "before their tents , " which
was their way of expressing esteem. After
this was accomplished the Indians went
through the ceremony of "striking the post"
In order to Impress the visitors with the
fact that they were also deserving of honor ,
and the journal of Major Long contains a
very exhaustive description of this dance.
According to the aboriginal idea the act of
striking tbo post with a stick was equivalent
to taking an oath that ho would not vary a.
hair's breadth from the unvarnished truth In
boasting of his exploits. After this preface
the brave would reclto his deeds of valor , tell
of the horses he had stolen , and the number
of dead bodies of his enemies ho had struck ,
and then give way to one of the other bucks
who would also recount bis valorous exploits.
It Is related that when one old warrior was
In the midst of his harangue one of the
younger braves put his hand over his mouth
and led him away as a suggestion that If ho
told of all the brave acts he had done no one
else would get a chance to speak. This was
esteemed the highest compliment that could
bo paid to a warrior and the snuffing process
was not conferred on any but ono or two of
the most noted chiefs.
Two weeks later a deputation of 400
Omahas presented Itself and this visit was
also made the occasion of elaborate cere
monials. Long speeches -were made by Big
Elk and Big Eyes , and theeo have been pre
served almost verbatim by the historian of
the party. The speeches abounded In tha
figurative language of the savage and
wound up with the statement thxt they were
satisfied that their white visitors did not
Intend to poison them or steal th < slr women
and that they would bo friends.
Sioux Were Hit ; Chlffn.
About the middle of November a big party
of Sioux came down the river and stopped
to call at the cantonmont. Mr. Jones de
clares that the Sioux were by far the
finest looking Indians that they saw during
their trip. They manifested a lively curi
osity In regard to the steamboat , but for a
long tlmo they could not bo Induced to go'
on board. They were afraid that It was some
"great medicine" that would annihilate
them , but after a good deal of persuasion
they wcrn convinced that no harm was Intended -
tended and spent some tlmo examining the
craft and lt machinery. They
wereespec -
tally Interested In the air guns and howltz-
crs and a powerful magnet that happened to
bo discovered among the supplies was a
source of the most extravagant astonishment
* o the nborlclnnl visitors.
During the winter tbo Omahas were fre
quent visitors at the camp , where they ex-
chanced jerked meat for tobacco and re
mained on the best of terras with the whlto
men. They were profuse in their professions
of friendship , but took occasion to warn the
explorers that they were the only trlbo that
could be defended on. The others would j
'
profess amity , but would rob and murder the
white men If they got a chance.
Mnjor Long had gene cast during the
winter and < ho party waited for him to le-
turn by n Ior s overland Journey before It
broke cnmn and started to continue Its ex-
ploratloris. Ho arrived at the cantonment
May 28 and a few days later the party started
up the Pla/tto / by land , while the Western
Engineer was sent down to the Mississippi.
In the story of the long tramp up the
Platte much wonder Is expressed at the
peculiar undulating tendency of the
prairies over which they passed , The PX-
trome fertility of the soil is observed and
tbo historian Indulges In an enthusiastic
prediction that eome tlmo In the future
these rolllne prairies will support a pros
perous community ,
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEET
t nr ii ill n ur IlldM , Set JiiNtiiie
ICInUond'M llrnrlnur nuil TriuiNiiet
Viirloim Itoullne Ilnnliii-HH ,
The complaint of Ed Morcarty In regard
to alleged unprofessional conduct uf Justice
of the Peace Ktnkead was taken up by the .
Board of County Commissioners at Us reg
ular meeting and the hearing was set at
10 o'clock September 16.
Bids were received for 25,000 yards of
grading on L street from South Omaha to |
a point one and one-half miles west of the
city limits , KB follows : Thomas Ryan , HVs
cents per yard ; J , A , Beverly company , 17 > 4
crnts , and John Jackman , 10 2-5 cents. The
bide were referred to the committee on i
roads. I
The board accepted the Invitation of the
Central Labor union to march lu a body In
the Labor day parade and passed the usual
i
grist of bill * and claim * .
SHORT STORIES OF THE DAY
"Steamboat" Worm Makes lu Own Craft
and Navlgatel Hanicom Park Lake.
SKIP DUNDY AND THE MOON CONCESSION
Novel ItornrleAN CnrrlnKr "Why the
Countryinnn UndKcd rnnlon Con
vention Anecdote Menu Men
nnd AVomtMi McKKnr'n Trick.
News that the army bugs were ravaging
the parks and destroying the
lawns In Chi-
i cage led to a rumor that the pests had up1-
poared in Omaha. An Inquiry among the
parks and lawns of the city , however , falls
to find any of the army bugs at work here.
The common caterpillars , however , are causIng -
] Ing much annoyance In the north part of
the city , where they Infest the shade trees.
The people get rid of them cither by scorchIng -
Ing or by the liberal application of hot water.
From South Omaha 'the ' report comes that
the army bugs have made their appearance
there and that they are doing great damage
to the postofllco lawn.
At Han scorn park the men who take care
of the trees and lawns said they had heard
nothing of the army bugs , but they bad dis
covered a new worm , which was playing
havoc with the water lilies. This new pest
Is a brlndle-colored worm about halt an
Inch In length. Thousands of them appear
on the leaves of the water plants and cut
thorn to pieces. A favorite pastlmo of the
worm Is ito cut out a piece of a leaf about
the slzo of a nickel , which floats away on
the water with the worm on the upper aide.
This system of cutting the leaves of the
water plants Into miniature canoes is caus
ing much annoyance and work for the kuep-
crs of the park and a. strong effort Is being
made to destroy the worms. Workmen who
have been at the park for several years say
that this Is the first they have ever seen
of this variety of worm and they arc unable
to find In the books any description or name
that will fit It. In the absence of a scientific
name they have dubbed it the "steamboat
worm. "
It was an Ideal summer night. There was
not a cloud In sight. The blue vault of
heaven was Illuminated by the bright , sil
very moon and the brilliant , golden stars.
The heavenly Illumination , vielng In beauty
with the display of the 64,000 electric lights
of the Greater America Exposition , was being
viewed with much admiration by a rather
hilarious and happy-go-lucky quartet of
young men. "Say , fellows , I wonder if that
moon up there U a part of the exposition ? "
said one of them. "If it Is , " replied an
other , "you can bet that Sell ) Dundy has
got U on his list of concessions. He has
got about everything In sight. He wouldn't
overlook the moon If he could get hold of it. "
Two girls , wending their way along a
winding road , homeward-bound from a
Syndicate park plonlo , were startled by some
ono yelling : "Got out of the way ! Hero
comes a horseless carriage ! " The girls
jumped to ono side , and turning round they
saw , leisurely approaching , a mule team
hauling a lumber wagon. The driver , enjoy
ing the Joke on the girls , Invited thorn ta
rde { with him. They declined the Invita
tion , ona of them remarking : "That's a
horse on us. "
The street car was coming In from the
exposition and n earing Dodge street. A man
with straw-colored-whiskers was sitting near
the rear end of the car , gazing about with
eyes and mouth wide open , taking in the
sights. He was evidently from the country ,
for ho had a carpet bag with him and there
were other unmistakable Indications that bo
did not reside In town. As the car rattled
over the Dodge street tracks the conductor
called out In stentorian tones , "Dodge , " nnd
the man with the straw-colored whiskers
dodged as though bo were about to bo hit
with a Cuban machete. There was a sup
pressed titter from the passengers who saw
the incident.
In the flood of convention ancedotes and
stories occasioned by the late state con
ventions one from thej populist county
convention should not bo lost sight of. In
one of the worst mix-ups achieved by that
body one of the delegates arose and in a
loud tone of voice demanded recognition on
a point of order. Ho was told by the chair
to state his point and said :
"Tho gentleman is talking slander about
another gentleman. "
"That makes no difference , " replied ths
chair. "Slander Is always In order In a
populist convention. "
' A curious character was recently taken
Into custody by the police. His nameIs
Francis Clark and he moves in an orbit
, centering at Chicago. Clark describes hlm-
j | pelf as a "bird of passage. " In the summer
bo migrates to the north , and In the winter
I he returns to the south. Clark admits he Is
i uu Impostor and glories In his profession.
When the police picked him up ho was
loitering about the street corners begging.
'He has a trick of contracting the muscles
of his arm In such a manner that bis hands
appear to bo drawn bopolessfy out of sbapo.
lie presents a pitiful appearance and the
charitable Inclinations of citizens were-
manifest by the collection of small change
in the beggar's pockets.
When placed under arrest Clark would not
i admit ho was "faking. " He complained that
tbo officers hurt him when examining his
misshapen hands. After be had gone to
sleep the Jailer visited his cell and found
his bands were Just like these of an
ordinary person. Clark confessed and
showed the policeman how he worked the
deception. The Irlck , he explained , required
years of practice , but It Is worth all the
labor executed for the reason that It enables
him to live without working , Clark claims
ho Is the only man who possesses this
peculiar accomplishment.
Two men met In the office of a down
town hotel the other day nnd after exchang
ing a few curious glances approached ono
another and shook hands ,
"Seems to me your face Is familiar , " said
the younger ,
"Yes. I think I know you , too , " replied
the other. Then they discovered that they
vitto from tbo same section of the count ) y
and that each knew a lot of the other's
acquaintances. After they bad chatted a
fuw moments the younger man said :
"Let's Bee , seems to me you married my
sister , didn't you ? "
The bystanders suddenly became Inter
ested , There teemed to be a case of dta-
covering a long lost relative going on be
fore them , especially as the second man
answered in the affirmative.
But as the conversation progressed It
became apparent that the man who had
married the sister was either a justice of
the peace or ai priest and had simply oifl-
cUtcd at the ceremony ,
There are men and women In this town
mean enough to cheat an office boy or a girl
who washea dishes In the kitchen out of half
a dollar whenever it can be done. They
look upon the transaction as a praiseworthy
economical step and the fact that they do
not have the shadow of on excuse for avoid
ing payment does not BCCTH to bother them
In the least.
A good-sized boy came into ono of tha
justice's courts last week nud brought suit
against hla employer for hall' a dollar. The
man had employed htm at 75 cents a day
and after ho had worked coveral days dis
charged him. He told the boy that he had
not done his work properly , and refused tu
pay htm all ho owed him , though as a mat
ter of fact the boy had been doing a man's
work , The case hns not been settled yet ,
but the boy proposed to show the man how
not to save money.
A clearer case came up In another court
a few doya later. A woman had hired n
small girl to work for a dollar a week. At
the end of the first week she * discharged the
girl and refused to pay her anything. Sha
gave no excuse , but simply told the girl to
"get out. " The girl and lier mother went
to a lawyer , who drew up a bill of particu
lars and flled It In court. The defendant ,
when summoned , came in and paid the girl
a dollar , but that would not satisfy the
court , who accessed $2.35 costs against her.
At laot accounts the employer of frugal
habits was out trying to scrape up the
amount of the costs. It happens once In a
whtlo that Justice doffs her leaden sandals
and geta Into a pair of truck shoes with
j cleats on them. '
'
11ATC1I OF SHOUT
-
The New York Tribune says the late Seth
L. Mllllkon of Maine was fond of telling the
following story : At a tlmo when prohibition
was particularly strict In Maine a largo party
of ministers made an excursion to Cranberry
Island , near Bar Harbor. As the members
of the party possessed considerable political
influence , both Mr. Mllllken and Senator
Hale accompanied them. In ? the course of
the trip ono of the ministers came to Mr.
Mllllken , saying : "
"I have been told that some member of
this party has yielded to the temptation of
the serpent , and has a bottle piwhisky with
'him. ' Do you know any thing f this ? "
Mr. Mllllken denied all knowledge of the
j ' Iniquity , and referred the cloflc to Seqator
Hate. The senator listened patiently to the
clergyman's tale , and then , looking up with
a twinkle In his eye , quietly nslced :
"You didn't happen to hear whether It was
good or not , did you ? "
"One of the strangest Incidents-that I ever
witnessed , " remarked Colonel Lyle of Ken
tucky , "occurred In Camden , S. C. "
"How was that , colonel ? " interposed the
crowd.
"It was this way , " continued the colonel.
"Several years ago , whllo I was In that city
a gentleman arrived at the hotel there early
one morning , and whllo making some requests -
quests of the randlord , who rented the hotel , j
received a very short reply. Thereupon he
Inquired as tq who owned < thethqtel. After
receiving the information he went but and
succeeded in finding the ownerand ; actually ,
paid $10,000 for the building , and la jess than I
three hours returned to the hotel with 'the ,
, keys and a deed to the property ana locked
I up the hotel , with the remark that 'If 'tho
j hotel could not be run decent he'd "just close
it up. ' " .gfc f -
Hon. William Wortham , long ntafo treas
urer of Texas , was In a New York Jewelry
store one day when he noticed a showcase
filled with optendld jeweled revolvers , with
silver and gold grips and choked , barrels ,
having precious stones set into , tha hutts.
"Lemme see ono of those guns , " he said to
the clerk. "Which one , sir ? " "The gold ono '
with the big ruby In the handle. " The clerk | I
took it from the case. It was marked $300
and It looked even worth more. The Texan
took ft tenderly In both hands and held It |
admiringly up to the light. Then , drawing
hlmeelf up to his full height , Which was
elx feet and a half , he rested the revolver ,
barrel on his left elbow , cocked for the j I
purpose , and looked over the sights down
the long store. Those persons who saw
him Involuntarily dodged. "Say , " said
Mr. Wortham , with quiet but Intense en
thusiasm , as he returned the weapon. "If
I were to wear that gun down In my state
the people would be falling down on their
Knees begging to bo killed with It. "
John Young Brown , candidate of the boltIng -
Ing democrats for governor of Kentucky ,
was governor of the Blue Grass State a few
years ago , and the way It came about Is
thus related : Mr. Young and some friends
had been discussing the political outlook
in Kentucky at Mr. Brown's house In Louis
ville ono night just on the eve of the demo
cratic state convention several years ago.
\ \ hen the party broke up Mr. Brown's
daughter , than about 18 years old , now mar
ried , who had been an Interested listener
during the discussion , spoke up.
"Why don't you run for governor , pa ? "
"Why. my child , they would never think
of me for that office. No one cares enough
about me for that. "
"But , pa , would you accept the nomina
tion if It were offered you ? "
"Why , of course , I would nobody would
refuse the honor. "
Miss Brown said no moro at the tlmo , but
quietly slipped out of the house and started
In the direction of the Courier-Journal of
fice , Colonel Henry Watterson being'an In
timate friend of the family. It happened
that she met the veteran editor on the street.
"Ah , Undo Henry , will you do mo a fa
vor ? " the young woman asked Impulsively ,
"Anything in the world that I can do I
will. "
"Well , I want pa to be governor of Ken
tucky and can you get him the nomina
tion ? "
Colonel Watoreon turned back to the nf-
flce and sot down and wrote a spirited edl-
j I torlal demanding In the Interests of the
democratic party that John Young Brown
be nominated by the convention soon to
meet- The result was In accordance with
the noted editor's wishes , Mr. Brown's
election being a foregone conclusion ,
CO.\\UIIIAIITIIS ,
Bella M. Hughes of Atcliltop , Kan. , re
cently celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of
her second marriage.
It sounds paradoxical to say so , but the
New York woman who pa'ld $7,000 for a
husband was certainly hard up.
That Kansas girl who has forfeited $50,000
In marrying one of Funston's Rough Swim
mers evidently doesn't care for anything
but pure and unadulterated glory ,
Rev. W. L. Meese of Auburn , Ind. , who
has performed the marriage ceremony for
1,200 couples that he has record of , be
sides a considerable number In addition ,
held a matrimonial reunion August 17 and
18 , to which were Invited all tbo couples
he has united ,
A remarkable twin story comes from the
mountains of Kentucky. At Caney , Mor
gan county , there ure two merchants known
under the firm name of Caudle Bros. They
are twins and so much alike that they ran
hardly be distinguished. They married twin
elsters and they each have twin glrC ba
bies , which so much resemble each other
that there is danger of getting the children
mixed almost dally ,
Thirty years ago two brothers named
Stltes started in the real estate business
in Wichita , Kan , , and still carry It on ,
There is nothing remarkable In this , but' j
the same can hardly be eald of the fact
that they are twin brothers , 54 years old ,
and look so much alike that only Inl-
ninte friends can tell them apart. They
married twin Bisters , the Mlesea Alice and
Carrie Worth , and the two families five
together in the same house.
Unusually Strong Faculty Has Been Sdoured
for tha Ensuing Year.
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS
Aiimnnr ( lie Number Arc Severn ! -Men
Imminent In Their Spccliiltli'ii
1'roxiicctx for . " \cxt
Year Arc Very
No person who has not visited Crclghton
university , nt Twenty-tilth and CJlltornla
streets , ' can have any Idea of tbo extent and
thoroughness of the work done by that in
stitution during the last twenty jears.
Being a free- college the members of
'tho ' faculty have always enjoyed the
advantage of selecting pupils from the
most available material at hand , lookIng -
Ing rntlior to results than numbers.
They have seldom been able to accept
all that applied for admission , because , the
class room facilities being llmlto'l , they ( .Id
not sco their way clear to dolnc jns.ico to
more than about 200 ) n the classicil de
partment , In addition to the special students
aud those In the Medical colh'xo at Four
teenth and Davenport btreMs. Last jear
was a very prosperous season aud the ntxt
bids fair to suroass It. Iho wrllor of a
monograph on higher education In Nebraska ,
more than a decade ago , mentions with com
mendation the fact that Crclghton unlvotslty
held back from the conforrlnc of degrees
for a number of years because it did not
find the right material at hand and tt pre
ferred to postpone the giving of degrees
until it was satisfied with the quality of
scholarship loading up to them. That atago
Is Ionir slnco passed and now graduating
classes succeed each other with ever-lncrcas-
Ing breadth of attainments and over-widen
ing Intellectual development.
' Buildings do not male : a college , but they
add i materially to Its efficiency , and hence
It Is to bo regretted that the university Is
i handicapped : for want of room and buildings
and Is obliged to exclude some applicants for
want of room. Its patrons have long since
begun to note that Its facilities arc entirely
i too limited for the work It might do and Is
i already called upon to do , both for the cause
of education and the upholding of the hon
ored name of Crclghtou.
The XecdH of CrclKlttoii UitlvoriiHr.
A scientific butldlnc is evidently needed ,
for | a rare collection of scientific Instruments ,
the most complete and modern , Is crowded
Into ! space in which even a satisfactory dls-
pla'y ; of the apparatus Is Impossible. The
room devoted to the library proper Is al
together Inadequate and divisions of the
library have been Installed on the shorves
placed ; In various corridors , and even In the
i' commodious ' and well lighted attic , through
which ono passes on his way to the tower
to obtain a commanding view of Omaha and
Its environs. The separate house used for
a chemical laboratory Is entirely too small
for so considerable an outfit as It contains ,
whllo the want of gymnasium advantages
practically confines the athletics to outdoor
sports. Buildings twice the slzo of
ithe present would bo none too
great for the work which can be
done by Crelghton university. The build
ings have been thoroughly renovated during
the vacation at an expense of about $1,500 ,
the assembly hall and chapel especially
showing notable Improvement. From the
proceeds of a play given fast December by
the Dramatic association , under the dlrec-
tlon of Prof. William Whelan , the stage has
been electrically lighted with lamps of dif
ferent colors. The parlors have been beauti
fully decorated by a domestic artist a ro-
tiring lay brother and a man of rare artistic
and classical taste who before entering the
brotherhood was a portrait painter and
musical virtuoso. Not finding a sufficient
play for his peculiar talents In the new life
ho took up the study of ecclesiastical decora
tion and left evidences of his skill In various
churches and houses of the Jesuit order In
the west. Ho adorned the wall of the re
fectory at Florissant , Mo. , with an Immense
mural painting of "The Last Supper , " and
decorated the Interior of Marquette college ,
Milwaukee. He likewise composed a grand
march In honor of the rector of Crelghton
university. It was first produced by aa
orchestra composed of some members of the
faculty and Prof. John Schonk , at a private
entertainment recently tendered to John A.
Crclchton.
A considerable number of trees and snrubs
were sot out on the grounds fast spring with
the Intention of having them after a whllo
replace some box elders which must be cut
down on account of being breeding places for
caterpillars. The lawn and flower beds , under
the fostering care of the genial Father Roo3 ,
j have been unusually well kept and attractive
this summer. Naturally enough the kinship
of name causes the reverend father to look
with special favor on the TOSO In his collec
tion of flowers.
The stone building to the west of Twenty-
fifth street , which was originally a collegiate
church , but Is now devoted also to parish
purposes , was renovated nnd beautified
within the last few months at a cost of
about $3,000 , under the superintendence of
the paator , Father Bronsgeent. A stone
wall , flanked by turrets and ornamented with
urns nnd plants , was built In front of the
church and a broad etono stairway leading up
to the entrance was likewise put In. Flower
beds and a well kept lawn add to tbo stately
appearance of the front.
A Strong Faculty Secured.
President Dowllng of tbo university has
succeeded in securing an unusually strong
faculty for the popular Institution during
the ensuing year. Kev , James J. Conway -
way , for many years professor of mental
and moral philosophy In the post-graduate
department of St. Louis university , has
been added to the staff. This reverend
gentleman was also one of tbo most popu
lar lecturers at the Madison summer Echool
and Is the author of numerous articles fori '
periodicals and of several moro elaborate' 1
and enduring works In bis own chosen field I
of Intellectual research , as well as In the' ' '
domain of biography. In addition to1
other duties , Father Conway will occupy ' j
the chair of evidences of religion , !
Rev , Richard Corcoran , whose specialty l 1 '
llteraturo and the classics , and who has 1' ,
taught with success for many years In 1
some of tbo principal Jesuit colleges lu this i
country , Interrupted hla occupations long ;
enough to devote a year to ascetic theology ;
but ho returns once more to the profe sor-
bhlp of rhetoilc , which was always most to
his taste.
Rev. John Kuhlmann , a native of Cincin
nati and a graduate of the University of
Innsbruck , Tyrol , succeeds Rev. John 1
Hemanu ns vice president and director of
studies. Father Kublmann has had the i
advantage of extensive European travel ,
during whluh ho has taken great Interest !
In tbo system of teaching In educational In
stitutions abroad , and he wl\l \ prove a valuable - '
able addition to tbo
faculty , especially as 1
director of etudles. He has also hud ex-
coptlonal opportunities for scientific study , ,
he having taught science In his joungor
yeaia.
Father Coppene , who has filled the chair
of logic , metaphysics and ctblcn in the
university , as well as lecturer In the John 1
A. Crelghton Medical college , will continue 1
to occupy tbo same positions. He ii the
author of n number of well known text
books on rhetoric , composition and medical
Jurisprudence. Ono of his recent works en
"Moral Principles and Modlc.il Prac.
tlco" Is now being translated Into French
and German and will soon be Issued In
these languages by the Bcn/lgcr Bros. ,
who have offered the reverend author quite
n handsome royalty on tbo publication ,
A HlNtltiKuUliFd AMrnnontcr.
Rev. William F. Rlggo will continue In
charge of the astronomical oboorvntory.
Though a comparatively young man , ho
stands high as tin astronomer both In the
practical nnd theoretical work appertainIng -
Ing to his professorship. From the very
beginning of his career ho enjoyed the ad
vantages of tuition under some of the
ablest masters , uch as Scwtlnt of" Flor
ence , a distinguished scientific man , nn
architect , mctcrcorologst , astronomer nod
author of a complete course of
mathematics , who adorned the li
brary of Woodstock college , Mary
land , with representations of the planetary
ujstcm and mural draw lugs nf his own ob
servations of sun spots , eclipses and the
like. Within the last few years Father
lllggo has worked at the Georgetown ob
servatory with Ilagcn of Bonn , an astiou-
omcr famous as the author of an atlas of
the vmlublo stars , n herculean task , and
likewise the author of a synopsis of the
higher mathematics , which baa won un-
stlntod praise from the most eminent math-
umatlclans of Kuropo. Some of our prom
inent citizens who have spent an evening at
the observatory with Father Rlggo looking
at the heavenly bodies through his equa
torial and who have witnessed his skillful
manipulation of the transit Instrument ,
chronograph , sidereal clocks and other ap
paratus can bear evidence to his superior
scientific attainments , as well as his sun
shiny character aud genial courtesy. It IB
probably not generally known that few of
thn higher Institutions throughout the coun
try glvo such opportunities for practical
work In astronomy ns Crelghton university
actually affords its students.
Prof , Charlea Wolklng , who has Just fin
ished a thorough cottrso of chemistry and
special science In St. Louis , will bo associ
ated In the teaching of chemistry with Prof.
Charles Crowley , A. M. , Ph. C. , tbo accom
plished and erudite professor of chemistry
and toxicology in the John A. Crelghton
Medical college. The best years of Prof.
Crowley have been devoted to chemistry.
After graduating from the department of
arts and sclonco In
Detroit college and en
gaging in desultory scientific pursuits for
some time , he took a course at Ann Arbor ,
after which ho taught chemistry at Detroit
and later at Crelghton university and the
John A. Crelghton Medical college. It Is
hoped that arrangements may bo made for
Prof. Crowley to glvo a free course of
scientific lectures In the university hall
during the fall and winter on timely topics ,
interesting and Instructive to persons who
are too busily engaged to keep pace with
the advance of scientific knowledge. In ad-
djtlon to his Omaha work Prof. Crowlcy lust
year gave a course on hyglcuo , cooking and
kindred subjects at St. Francis academy ,
Council Bluffs.
.Mimic.
Prof. J. A. Huster. who met with such
marked success in the formation of the
University Mandolin and Guitar club , will
resume his place , to the great satlaHiLtlon
of the students. Prof. Thomas J. Kelly , eo
favorably known to. the Omaha public us
an accomplished musician , will taHo charge
of the vocal music. Prof. Fltz George
Dincen will teach the second class of the
academic course , Prof. William Schlermann
the third and Prof. Martin Lucrsmann
the first. The connecting link be
tween the academic and collegiate
classes , called the Humanity class , will bo
taught by Prof. Paul Breen , who has just
finished a three-years' course of philosophy
and science , after having taken n course In
pedagogics in the normal department of St.
Stanislaus seminary , Missouri. Prof. P. A.
Mulfens , recently of Chicago and Milwaukee ,
will have charge of the sophomore- class and
the higher grades of elocution.
This Is the second time Rev. M. P. Dowl-
ing has held the position of president within
the last fifteen years. He Is fully acquainted
with the needs of this section of tbo country
and lends to his work all the advantages
of large experience and rlpo scholarship.
Besides the executive ability required for hla
pcsltlon ho has a moro than focal reputation
as a finished public speaker and. has an
Intimate acquaintance with economic sub-
The departure of Father Hemann for
Chicago Is deeply regretted by students and
patrons of Crelghton university. During hlfl
stay hero ho gave a great Impetus to
musical studies and dramatic art , surprls-
Ing everyone by the thoroughness and sue-
cess of his efforts In developing latent talent
and producing marvellous results In a com
paratively short Jlmo. Profs. Kelly and
Schlermann will take up the work where ho
laid It down.
Crelghton being a free college , the at
tendance always equal's the accommodations ,
and no advertising is necessary to secure a
largo number of most desirable , students ,
many of whom come from adjacent states
and board In the city while pursuing tbolr
studies. Not a few of the young men have
no ono to depend on but themselves , nnd
having by their own labor and by Bccurlng
employment during vacation acquired suf
ficient means to nttond college , rtovoto
themselves earnestly to study anditflvo great
satisfaction to their professors. They nro
excellent material out of which good , suc
cessful and brainy men are- formed for the
best uses of the republic. Crelghton uni
versity looks forward to a very successful
year.
OUT OK THIS Oltni.V.lHY.
Paris has a dog's cemetery.
Paris has many petroleum drinkers.
In Porto Rico ten oranges cost a cent.
In Porto Rico coffee costs C ccnta a
pound.
The German army Includes moro than
10,000 military musicians.
Adrian , Mich , , enjoys 3-cerit street car
tickets. The management has long Bold
i1100 tickets for $3. Single fares arc a nickel ,
but any ono can buy 100 tickets for $3 ,
And the company makes money by It , for
people ride flvo times where they would
once were the tickets C cents.
Woman , as a ruin , bords the household
together , and this Is strangely exemplified
by an elderly maiden woman who died a few
weeks ago In Atblone , Ireland , Sha left a
fortune of $130,000 , to bo spent In the erec
tion of a church , provided that her body
should be converted Into ashes and used
In making the mortar for building the
edifice.
Complaints were made In Seattle , Wash. ,
recently that the nro al'arm system of the
city was working very badly. Investigation
of the boxes showed that "yellow jackets"
had clogged many of them by deposits of
clay , which bad hardened. The wasps had
crawled through the keyholes and built
their fire proof houses.
A Cincinnati policeman's bees swarmed
In a tree In his absence on duty tbo other
day , but the policeman's wife was a re-
Bourceful woman. She summoned her nclgh-
bora , donned a suit of her husband's
clothes , covered her face with a veir nnd
her bands with thick gloves and then
climbed the tree and , while the other
women beat tin pans at Its foot , she cap
tured the bees In a market basket. When
her husband returned homo he found the
bees attending to business in a heretofora
unueed hive ,
n * CMMVPIP pn t HP rnupcMMpp
PASSING Or GRADL CROSSINGS
Whnt Otb.tr Oitlos Have DODO to Banish a
Public Evil.
EXPENSES JUSTIFIED BY THE RESULTS
nf ( lie ( SlRntitlo Tank In Clil-
MnrvclntiH ClinilKC AVroiiKht
In the City of llnlTulo lu
Four Yfiirft.
The manner In which other cities grappled
with the problem of abolishing railroad
grade crossings forms an Interesting study ,
particularly so to the people of Omaha.
It has , been n prolific source of Irritation
and agitation here for twenty years , nnd la
likely to continue for jears to come , TJid
bickering nnd dallying over the reconstruc
tion of the Sixteenth street viaduct Illus
trates the email pace of great bodies when so
disposed , and Illumine * the dllllcultles , It
not the Indisposition , of city fathers In
plosstng thn settlement of public rights on
friendly corporations. Some robiwt op
timists expect to llvo to co that structura
completed. Perhaps they will. But they
are young , nnd youth has hope to burn.
Chicago wrestled with the grade crossing
o\ll for many years , but without much suc
cess until 1S03 , when the enormous traffic
of the World's Fair forced a change. In
anticipation of the rush the Illinois Central ,
In 1S92 , reconstructed Its roadbed along the
lake front nnd bridged every crossing ns
far out as Seventieth ntrcot. The enormous
traffic nnd the freedom from accident dur
ing the World's Fair period proved the wis
dom of the management and amply justified
tha Increased
of Time nnd Money.
That was the beginning of the ond. Al
ready millions have been spent In raising
roadbeds and bridging streets , and millions
are yet needed to finish the plans. It Is
said the Chicago & Northwestern alone
spent $10,000,000 In raising its roadbed
within the city limits and Bridging all In
tersecting streets. A dozen other corpora
tions are spending large sums aud within
flvo yeans grade crossings In that city will
bo n memory. Persistent agitation and
vigorous political pressure were necessary
to compel the railroad corporations to
spare the llvea of people obliged to cross
tholr tracks. They protested the change In
volved such expense that to undertake It
meant bankruptcy. The work Is now so well
advanced and the gain so apparent that the
protcstants acknowledge the authorities did
the right thing In calling tholr tearful
bluffs. It IB asserted
In the case of one
corporation that the money theretofore paid
In maintaining crossings , for damages to
pel sons and property and for death claims
will pay Interest on the money required to
abolish grade crossings.
" \Vlmt IliifTnlo In Dolnn.
The city of Buffalo Is another shining ex
ample of what can bo accomplished when
the authorities take a determined grip on n
public project. Prior to 1895 grade crossings
were as numerous tbero
as flics around an
arc light. The evil
had grown to such pro
portions that something had to be done.
City officials argued and threatened , but lt
ended In talk. Corporation managers ad
mitted the evils complained of and filled the
aldcrmanlc cars with lavish promises , mean
while Increasing the number of crossings
and occasionally gathering In a street for
trackago purposes. At last an obscure law
maker appeared In the state legislature aud
procured the passage of a bill creating a
commission to plan and prosecute the work.
The bill provided that the cost of the via
ducts nnd EUbways and property damages
should bo paid , three-fourths by tbo railroad
and about one-fourth by the city.
A start was inado In 1S95. In the succeed
ing three and a Jialf years what would bo
regarded as a mlraclo In these parts hna
been wrought in Buffalo. Ono tunnel under
Main street , six viaducts and three anbwajo
were completed up to the cfoso of 1898 , at a
cost of $1,082,604,24 , 'tho ' city's share being
$221,905.35. A viaduct on Hamburg and
Seneca , two Intersecting streets , built In the
form of an L , was completed last July at a
cost of $369,897.87. Viaducts are now In
course of construction on Elk and Van
Rcnsselacr streets and on tbo Abbot road ,
estimated to cost $790,380 , The- completed
nnrl ilinort , in,1n . rn. , . . „ . . „ , . , .
| outlay for construction alone of $2,243,482.11 ,
of which the city will pay $524,492.89. Dam
ages to property are not Included In these
I figures. The amount In ovcry Instance la
established by the commission. No award
J
la made to property owners until the viaduct
i or subway la completed. It Is estimated that
I the aggregate of damages and the cost of
property condemned will equal1 the cost of
the structures.
Unlit < o fllny.
The proportion of subways to viaducts Is
) I small , the level character of the country ren-
I dcrlng them unsuitableAs a rule the grade
I ' of the roadbeds are not changed. All
changes of grades are made on Uio streets.
The approaches are buttressed with Etono
walls built at the lot lines , are curbed and
guttered and paved with drosscd stone laid
In cement. The viaducts proper are of steel ,
usually the width of the street , with foot
ways on each sldo , and all floored with
asphalt. If a street intersects any of the
approaches It la raised nnd paved precisely
as the main approach. Where streets pass
under the viaduct stairs are built on tbo
corners. A noticeable feature of these via
ducts b the walls of steel platen , flvo feet
high , separating the wagonways from the
sidewalks ,
Buffalo's viaducts are of the best typo of
masonry and eteol ibrldglng. Kvcn to a
novice their appearance conveys the Imprca-
elon of masslvo strength and durability. A *
a local enthusiast expressed It ; "Thoy are
built to btay , "
MORE ROOM J-OR THE PUPILS
Ilonril of ICiliiriitlon s\nked ( n Add a
rii-L'o to tlin S ru > KU .School
'
Hllc.
There Is a proportion before the Board
of Education for the purchase by the ( ward
of u strip of ground on the north eldo
of the Saratoga school Bite , the use of
which would be to allow the enlargement
of the buldlng on the north side. Tba pa
trons of the school are urging the board
to add an eighth grade to the school and
eay that the building can be enlarged only
on the north aide. They Insist that It
should bo enlarged and additional grades es
tablished , as the neighborhood IB being rapIdly -
Idly built up , ten houses haying been built
close tu the school thin uummer. The pe
tition for an eighth grade Is In the hands
of a committee of tuu board.
A special meeting of the board has been
called for 'Monday ' night , primarily for tbo
purpose cf considering bids on the supply of
coal for the coming year. The Saratoga
school matter will probably lie called up
during tbo evening.
\lxiui llmity for Trial ,
NUWI'OHT NEWS , Vo. . AuK. 26. Thojrlal
trip of the battleship Kearaarco will take
place between September C and October ] 6.
The bhlp la now within about 1 per cent of
completion.