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TRAGEDIES OF NIAGARA. Old StoriM of Peril ml Detth at The Giait OftUrtct !Btold Hay Thai fl Twe Lltrs -Tke llyMery r Ikr i . Itralkrrt I n-l a> rh,.l Kin . BI4e lo Heath -Tkr WII4 Whirl >! er Ike imir MI mi r n.ii-i >. Ikr MI<|. In June, 1S70, a party consisting of I'hailrs Johnson, wife and child, the latter a bright little fallow of ."> yetrn, Mr. John son's brother Albert, and Mrs. Johnson's sister, all of Detroit, visiid the falls. They had mad* a tour of tioat Island and were taking in the sight* on one of the Three Sister* Islands the on* that teems to stand right out in the middle of the stream, and when looking up at the tumbling waters ap- pear* as if it must the next insUnt ba swept away. On this i*Ur.d overhanging the river, an 1 at a point where the current seems to run swiftest, is a huge rock. It is a dangerous place at best, but no one who visit* the island feels satisfied until he ha* dmitx-d upon it. All of the Johnson parly had view- ed the scenery from the rock save the little boy, whom it was thought prudent to leave behind. He begged so hard to be taken upon it though, that Albert finally picked him up in his arms and carried him over to it. It wa* then the a^ident ocaurred. Albert, to frighten the boy, held him al arm'* length over the rushing water. The little fellow wa* badly sjared ami twisted about in Albert's arms. A second more and th* lad litd slipped from his uncle' em'irace and was being hurled toward the brink of the cataract. H* gave one long, agoni/mg shriek, and was carrie.I out into the centre of the stream, and in three seconds more was tossed over the foaming fall*. The boy had scarcely been lost to view when Albert, appalled at THE AWrl'L KKM'I.T of his play, dived headlong into the river. An instant later he was dashed against a ro-;k and the life crushed out if him. The horror-stricken group on the island watched his body slide in and nut among the gigantic buuldeis a* it was swept downward, getting the last sight of it as it raised on the foam- ing crest of a big wave a few yard* from the edge of the awful abyss, where it plunged over and down and disappeared forever. No trace either was ever obtained of the re- mains of the bov. It was thought for a long time that the insane asylum would claim thote of the un- fortunate party that hail escaped a watery grave, tat they recovered from the *hock in time, and now the 18tb of every June find* the Johnsons visitor* at Niagara. With them it i* like visiting, a grave where the remains of those once dearly loved lie buried. They find comfort and consolation Mlnle near the fatal rock and listening to the waters. On* of the moat myiUrions and, at the same time, one of the must horrible affairs on N agara's bloody record is what is com- monly called the Pieraan tragedy, whuh n. ourre.i in IHSI. One of the prettiest hou ei of rock* that dot the river at this place, but it glided around them a* if a master hand was at the tiller. On it came, almost stand mgon it* beam ends one inktant, the next careening on it* side until the oarlock touched the writer and then skimming over the waves as gracefully a* a swallow. The powerful reflector* brought out every tea- lure of the girl'* face. Save that the latter retemUed a piece of chiselled marble in whitencs* there wa* no OF KEAB. She sat like a statue, hreyes fixed straight ahead on the foaming brink of the cataract. For one instant the boat wa* lost to view Mnml a cloud of mist, and thenexlit dart- ed out with the force of a falling meteor in full view of the hundred* in the park. A second later it seemed to give one bound and leave the water. The crowd got one glanec of it as it shot into the air. Tuey looked again, and there was nothing but the falling water, which, under the light's strong rays, appeared like a moving mass of molten silver. About a week later, a* a fisherman was walking along the beach at Fort Niagara lie found the girl's body. It had drifted down the river and out into the lake, and h id been cast on land by the waves. It wa* on April 1, 1HH1, that one of the most thrilli ig events in Niagara's nistorj occurred. Between the Canadian and American hands of the river there had plied for many year* a little (teamboat known .is thejhlaid of the Mis;. The vessel wus bnilt on the American side, and all the time it had floated around on the rough waters here it never went more than a half mile from the spot where it was constructed and launched. The reason for this is very simple. It oould not move up stream be- cause of the falls, aud it could not go down further than the new suspension or foot bridge. If it ventured too far in this direc- tion it was liable to get caught in the swift current, carried down to the whirpool rapids, and then to the whirlpool itself certain death for every one on board. The vessel wa* not a success in a financial way. Not a* many people visited the fall* then as now, nor were there so many willing to brave the dangers ol a ride on a small boat in these turbulent waters, knowing that if the machinery should give way the craft would coon b* swept to destruction. The builder* of the boat has never been paid in full. They grew tired of watting for the balance, secured the necessary papers, and were alu.ut to attach the boat. The owner, however, got wind of the affair, steamed over to the Canadian side, and an- chored there. Klforts were made to patch up a truce, but without success Some- thing had to be done. The owner could not afford to let the vasto 1 lie in the dock and rot. The boat could get no priMiigers un- less il wa* allowed to land an the American side. This was impoMihle, on account of the officers who were there night and day ready to pounce up m it the moment it poked its nose into port. The owner, who also acted a* opium and pilot, was a man of nerve. He saw there was but one way to get the boat away from the American creditors, and thai was to move it from the fall*. Kut how wa* ti. n rige. hers-in-law, in Niigara is the IVrsou mansion, which i to be done was the question. There was In, t lands on the river bank midway between one route and that wa* through the falls and Suspension Bridge. Pier, n riir. wii.n RAI-IDH and the wilder whirlpool. Heconsulted his engineer and fireman. U ould they aid him m the attempt to make the perilous passage? Yes they would and they did. All the men hod doubts how the journey would end, Imt I hey did not propose lo back out. They settled up their attain and prepared for the trip One morning before the sun had riren the Maid of the Mist was throwing great clouds of smoki from her stack. People who saw her thought ihe difficulties had been aettled and that the bust was about to resume Inisinea* al the old stand. The officers on the other side thought the Captain had ali- and Veddei- were brothers-in-law, havn g married sisters. They were business rm u nl moved in the highest circles of society. They were past middle age, had ! n 'd many years, and their domestic I. * was always considered unusually hupi . Tho men were ccuitant companions. (),e Sunday evening they wtnl out, as had !> n their custom for a long lime, fora drive. They never returned. A search was begun | along in the middle of the m^lit, and us the sun was breaking through the dense folinga iiiiiin.it l-l.iinl. close to the brink of the catara'-t, their horse */as found tied to a tree. A few feet away lay the body of Pieriou. There was a ragged hole made by a bullet in his temple, and life hail evident- ly boen exlinct for many hours. There was no trace of Vedder, am) fora week there were grave double a* to whether he wa* dead or alive. |{y some it was l*lieved he had killed Piorsnn and either lied or jumped over the fall*. Uihers thought the men had tonkin a duel ; that Pierson had killed \ i-dder, thrown hi body over the cataract, and thru ommilli-d suicide. rxi s AHUM. TIIK i. t the fool of the falls, close to the cavo of the. winds, a little over* week afu-i ihr tragedy occurred, was found the Imdy of Vedder. There were no wounds other than those made by iho fall on the poiiited liou!deis. The mystery has never been aolt cd, and the truth will nut bo known until Niagara gives up its secrets. The widows of the two men still reside here. On the Canadian ode of tho river, back a h*sswnil<- fr.im th* fall* and built upon a high bluff that commands a Utaiitifiil view e i !< surrounding ciimilry, is Our l.ily of fhe-SArrt-d Heart Convent, a seminary for young ladies. A student here in the sum- in. i of IS-il was Amelia Choteau of Ml. CtharineK. Mm was a Krenoh Canadian, elxnit H years old, and possessed beauty, wcilth. and refinime.it. Her pirenis were dead, ar.d shn made her home with an ncle. She wa* eniragcd (o he married lo a Montreal man, and the wedding day had been set. They were to he umtr 1 in the fill, after the summer term. Just l>. :..r. the school was out the girl received new* that her lover hail disregarded his promise and had become the husband of another. Tho very ni^ht this information reached hoi she stole out of the convent, walked down in the bridge leading to Sulphur Spring*. jumped into a rowboat there that was used almut the little streams, an I pulled out into the Niagara. At this time Prospect Park on the American side wa* owned by private parties, and wa* tho favorite n-iorl for crowds every evening. At this lime also powerful electric lights were used on the falls, the water Itoing seen in variuu* . -.l..n, according to the nUss placed before thn reflectors. Occasionally the lights would 5s thrown up stream, when llic rapids oould be seen A* plainly M under a n,' ! .!y sun. n ". tMs particular night, a> the rays of lights shot through the darkneM upontne river, aery of horror went up fro'n ,he crowd a* a boat with a single occu|>\nt was seen tlaihin;' in .nd out among the ^ and coming with frightful speed to- war I the horseshoe falli. The boat's lonu passenger who wa* taking a ride to certain , wa- none other than Mis) C'hoteau. -< ... t in the item of the little craft, Ii. idmg on lo the. gunwales to keup from I.. n|f thrown overboard. It seemed as if tho vessel must lie dahc>l MII one iif UM hundreds en up ihe fight and was ready I? surrender. Suddenly the lines were cast off and the steamer snorted out into the stream. She ran up toward the falls, thn rout* always taken when starting fur tho other side. She t.pp-d and tossed aliout up neat the catar- act for a few secunds, then wheeled around il (minted straight down stream. As she M i:i//ed by the waiting officers the Captain doffed his cap and smiled. I '.mid the puople iln. ird l- m id, or were thy just p'aying a joko ? asked the men who were around at i In 1 time. They would run down a short tan. e and then return, of course. Surely they could not be thinking of forcing a passage through the whirlpool and expect lo come out alive. l>own ihe vessel went, though, and she never came back. As far as where the cantilever bridgonow stands the trip wis comparatively a ipin ! one. Here, though, the water commenced lo seethe aud foam; there is aliig fall in the river hunk and the current is as swift as at nny place. The men o;i the boat wero lashe J to their respective positions and every puund of steam that tiro and water could make was on. The Captain gave the signa 1 ind away went the N! lid of the Mint on her journey o.er the angriest piece of water to lie found on this or any other continent. The Maul dashed into the boiling, foaming mass and fcr a few second:! kept gallantly i.n hei keel. Then she struck tne curve in the river where the water seems to leave ihe boil and shoot into the air. She rose on the crest of a gigantic wave that i* always formed here hy the curve and the currents and many cross-currents, and FOR AN INSTANT her keel was visible its entire length. She Cave a plunge, diving down deep enough, it seemed, until her nose could touch the bot- tom. It appeared as if she would never rise from the trough of the awful sea but an in- stant later she commenced to climb the next grenl wave ; so steep it was that her prow WAS pointed to the sky. Up she came and down she went again, the wholo vessel he- ing lost to view occasionally behind the. mountains of water. Thus far the engine had worked nobly, tho steam had held out well, the (mat's nose had been kept to the front, and the nerves of the men on board wero still like steel. Forward went tho little steamer, tipping on her sidei st time- mnl her sniofcealank would almost touch the top of & neighboring wave, neatly standing on her prow one second and the next rushing along on her stern. That she missed striking one of the many rocks and huing crushed was a mir- aele. Providenct) an I a g. 1 pilot kept her on her proper course. The trip through the rapids wa* end. 1 1, hut lli'! most perilous part of tin voyage was yet to come. As the Maid ap|in.aclieil the whirlpool the black s nuku that went up from her stack showed that she was preparing for the final plunge. Down sh< went at a npoed so great that lh- fast-run- ning waves could not catch her. She waver- ed a* she struck the ever whirring waters, toppled over to leeward as the twisting torrents met her, and for a moment it look- ed as if the engine would be powerless to drive the boat through ; that the gallant vessel would be whirled around on the rocks, where the brave trio would meet certain death. The little wheel, though, made iuelf felt, and in just seven seconds the Maid was safe on the other side of the whirlpool, and in four minute* from the lime she started from the falls she had com- pleted the molt perilous trip made by any ve*sel before or since. Just a* the good people were teginning to stir at Lewistown the Maid of the Mist hove into sight, coining leisurely down the stream. She steamed to Niagara, on the lake, *t the mouth of the river, and anchor- ed. When the pilot, the owner of the boat ' i: l-ITl- THE UIIK.r.l. that morning as the journey was commenced his hair was raven black, but when he stepped en land at the end of the voyage il was gray. The men, however, beyond being somewhat bruised and weak from theexcite ment of the trip, were uninjured. They are all yet living. The Maid, after a few (lays, proceeded to Port Dalhousie, where for many yean she was employed it towing on the Welland Canal. The name of the daring navigator who conceived this awful trip is Joel K. Robin son. The voyage earned tor him the sobri- quet of " the hero of the rapid*," and it is by this title that he is still known. Speaking of the affair some time after- ward. He said : " I thought there was al out one chance in one thousand of our coming out of ihe whirlpool alive, I wa* ready to give up the venture, but the men who had agreed to help me were anxious after they had made all preparation* to make the run. For many year* I piloted steamers through the dangerous rapids of the St. Lawrence, but theae are a* a mill pond compared with the wild Niagsra. I thought we were gone up several times dar- ing the voyage. At time* we were pointed directly for hug* rocks, and I was sure that the en 1 had come. Kut just a* we were about to strike them the Maid's nose would twist away and the brave little steamer would slide past theae point* of danger with the velocity of the wind. At timea we were completely at the mercy of the water, the rudder having absolutely no control of the veisel. The boat came out of the journey with scarcely a (cratch, her only damage being the loas of her smoke stack. " Jame* Mclntyr* was the engineer of the Maid on this memorable trip and James H. Jones wa* the firema 1 :. 8ince the Maul of th* Mist went through the rapids there hat always been mor* or leas controversy a* to whether this body of water could be fre- quently navigated by stanch little craft. Mr. Robinon unhesiuilingly lays it could not ; that it was simply a miracle that the Maid went through in safety, and thai there scarcely one chance in a million of a vessel coming out bottom side down. l l*> Ikr BrllUk .,- a I < omanou*. One of the first peculiarities to strike a visitor is the freedom which permits mem- bers to keep on their hats during the pro- iresi of public business. But this libert- lias its limits. A member may not w r his hat at he enters or leaves the House, r when he stands at the bar, although he may put it on a* soon as he takes his sell. If a colleague engages in conversation with hrn he uncovers Inn head, and so mJst he, of course, when he rises to address the House. Another requirement is that a member mint only make a speech from one of the accus- tomed seat*, never from the eutrance, the bar, or the gangway. The same rule is observed when he rises to order in the c nine of debate, but if he rai*es a point of order concerning a division which ha* been already called, he must keep his seal and apeak w.lh his hat on. i;.. u the S|>esker in such caw* doe* not rise when he interposm with his rulings, so that the proceedings assume a somewhat !sygoini{ conversational character. On one occasion of the kind lite late Prof. Fawcett, who *htn sat below the gangway, wa* unable, being blind, lo find his own hat quickly enough. He overcame the emergency, however, by borrowing the well-known soft cap of his neighbor, Mr. Joseph ( o wen. which allhouqh it neither tinted nur suite. I hint, yet served the pur 1 pose of the moment. The effect was ludi crous, but not more so than at another similar crisis when Mr. liladsmue hastily borrowed the hat of another occupant of the front OppiMiton bench, aud found it so much too small for linn that he had lo holdilon until the p mil in dispute was settled. [Cham- bers's Journal. The Ways ul Bles>kanl. A big rlephant which wa* employed to drag away the carcass of a dead Imflock, and had allowed tho burden to be attached l.y ropes without observing what it was, hap- pened to look round, and instantly bolted, its fright increasing every moment a* the unknown otijcct jumped and bumped at its henls. After nnnmg some miles, like a dog with a tin can tied to it* tail, the ele- phant (topped Mid allowed itself to be turned round, and drew the bullock Iwk again without protest. Yet an elephant, with a good mahout, gives, per: apa, the hen mstaii'-e for disciplined coursge cour- age, that in, which persists, in the face of knowledge and disinclination -to be seen in the animal world. They will submit day after day, to have, painful wo.iiuU dressed in otiediencs to their keeper, and meet danger in obedience to their orders, though their intelligence is sufficient to understand the peril, ami far too great for man to trick them into a belief that it i* non- existent. No animal will face danger more readily at man'* bidding. A* an instance, take the following incident, which recently occurred ill Indift, and was communicated to the writer : A small female elephant wa* charg- ed by a Inillalo, in high grass, and her rider, in the hurry of the moment, and perhaps owing to the sudden slopping of the ele- phant, tired an exploive shell from his rifle, not into the buffalo, but into the elc|.h nit's shoulder. The wound was so severe that it had not healed a year later. Yet the elephant cto.nl firm, although it wits gored |._, ih>- 1 ii Halo, whic.h was then killed hy another gun. What is even more strange i* that the elephant was not "gun shy" afterward. ASTCATlIWWSIItU'LE An Old and K>(. -m il ntlzrn Re stored in limit h and Strrnglli Mr. '. vr. iiriirmi r.. Melase* Ihr Partlo latrser HI* MafferlBCs Krllr! le Mu.daril K.|,.,rl.r .lilre I* Bluer AnsTereni. St. Catharine Standard. Caaually, the other day, the Standard l.-a in c.l that Mr. C. W. Hellems, *en., one of the oldest and inoet respected ciliwms of St. Catharine*, had been restored to health after yean of suffering, in a manner border- ing on the miraculous. The editor of this paper had known Mr. Hellem* for yean, and lie waj anxious to hear from him the itory of his wonderful recovery. He had not seen Mr. Uellems for some mouthi, but met with a very warm welcome when he told the errand upon which he had jome. Mr. Hellems' home is on the corner of St. Paul and Court streets, and he ii well- known to all our older resident* a< a citi- zen of the highest integrity, having lived in this city iuce 183.1. " I have bad rheumatism," said Mr. Hellems, " more or lee* for the past twen- ty years, which often got so painful that I could not get about at all. I had been to all the doctors here and to torn* in Toronto anil llutfalo, but I could get no relief worth peaking about. Five years ago I went to Wellaud and took a vapor hath, and felt so much relieved that I took two more. THb relief, however, was only temporary, and four and a half years ago the lameness am! pain* came on again *nd no completely naeil me up that I could hardly do anything. I applied to a number of doctors for treat- ment and two of them treated me, but with- out relief. My age they said was against me ; that if I were a younger man there might be some hup* tor me. I was 84 last Ootober. I then discon tinned the doctor*' treatment and about a year ago got a box of Dr. William* Pink Pilli for Pale People ami uaed them without feeling any benefit aud quit. Thit spring I used another box without any effect and again stopped. You see that I expected too much and seemed to think that a box of Pink Pills ought to do what year* of doctoring did not do. In July I read about the case of Mr. Condor, of Oakville, who had used, I think, eighteen Loves. When I read that he was so fully cured thsl h was able to work again, and even play ban-ball, I took courage and saw iliat> 1 had not before given the pills a fair trial. I then got half a dozen boxes and was on the taf^i before I felt any beneficial effects. I had run down so low ind my appetite had left me. I now began to feel my appetite re- turning and my knee* and ankles began to gain strength. From that out 1 continued to improve until ths time of the county fair, when I went down there in company with others and went the rounds seeing the stock ami other exhibits. I tried to keep up with them aud walked so much that day that 1 ( I frit *ome bad effrcts afterwards. Hut I now knew where to look for relief and continued using Dr. Williams' Pink Tills, and ever since have felt a steady improvement. My leg* hare gained strength wonderfully, and the doctor* tell me if I was a younger man I would be still more benefited. My general i health has also improved very much. About { six weeki ago 1 was in Toronto and walked fully tive mile* that day, something I could , not have done before. In fact I feel so much Ivtter that I have taken a two year old mustang colt to break it in." At this point .Mr*. Hellems, the life partner of the vener- able gentleman, who had come into the room while Mr. Hellems wss relating his story, said that a friend when he heard that Mr. Hellems had taken a oolt to break, amid he was going to commence using Pink Pill* too. Then the Udy noticing the Standard man writing at the table asked Mr. Hel- lent* if all this was to K-e published. " Yes," sai.l Mr. Hellems, "if there are any other poor creatures who are suffering a I have done I would be glad to have them know the groat good Dr. Williams' Pink Pills have done me, and be benefited in the same way. I am glad to have my experi- ence published (or the benefit it miy do to others ami 1 cannot too strongly recommend these great pill*. In reply to an enquiry Mr. Hellems sai.l h had taken three half dozen boxes since he began to take thorn regularly and was now using the fourth half do/en. The Standard reporter called upon Mr. A. J. (Ireenwood, the east end druggist, whose store i* only % few door* from the residence of Mr. Hellems, to enquire how the sale of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills stood in regard to other proprietary medicines, and incidentally to enquire what he thought of their etfec' in Mr. Hellem's case. "Pink PilU fur Pale People have a great sale, "said Mr. (Ireeuwood, "ami I am continually ask- ed for them. With regard to Mr. Hel- lem's case I knew that fur years he ha<l suffered from rheumatism and other dis- ease.! and what he was thoroughly run down He now speaks very highly of Pink Pills though at first he did not think they were doing him any good, but tnat may be ac- counted for by the hold the disease had on hi* system. He now feels like a young man and is able to attend the various animals, hones, etc. After he had taken about a dozen boxe* lie cauie into the store one day and started to danoe around like a school boy. ' What's the matter,' I exclaimed, perfectly astonished and with happiness ringing in every tone of his voice ha c.tll> 1 i m. '0, I'm young again ; I'm young again.' He ascribed as the reason for this that Dr. William*' Pink Pills had perform- ed the miracle. He has frequently told me that he had tried doctors without mini her, besides other pUont modiiines but without any avail. My sales of Dr. Will- iams' Pink Pills are constantly increasing, and all agree that these excellent little pills are beyond praise. There arc many people in thin district who have cuise to be thank- ful they tried Pink Pills." The r-sporter called upon Mr. \V W. (ireeiiwood and Mr. Henry Sonthcolt, the well Known druggists, and both spoke hi^hl\ of Pink Pills, saying that they are the most popular remedies in the store, and that those using them are loud in their praise* of the resu'ts. Dr. Williams' Pink Pills are a perfect blood builder and nerve restorer, curing such diseases as rheumalium, neuralgia, par- tial paralysis, locomotor ntaxia, St. Vitua' dance, nervous headache, nervous prostra- tion and the tirod teeling therefrom, the after effects of la grippe, diseases depending on humor* in tSo blood such as scrofula, rli ronio erysipelas, i!tc. Pink Pills give a healthy glow to pale ami (allow, com ions, and are a spe.-itic foi tl.e tnuiMci peculiar to the female lystem, and MI the caw of men they effect a radical oure in eJl cases arising from mental vrcrry, overwork or excesses of any nature. These Pills a>e manufactured by the Dr. Williams' Aledioine Company, Rrockville, Out., and Scheneclady, tf. V., and are sold only in boxe* bearing the firm's trade -nark and wrapper, at 3OcU. a box or six boxes for $-'.. 'rfi. Bear in mind that Dr. Williams' Pink Pills are never sold in bulk, or by the dozen or hundred, and any dealer who of- fers substitutes in this form is trying to de- fraud you and should be avoided. The pub- lic are also cautioned against all other un- called blood builder* ami nerve tonics, no matter what name may be given them. They are all imitations whose maker* hope to reap a pecuniary advantage from the wonderful reputation achieved by Dr. Will- iams' Pink Pills. Ask your dealer for Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Paid People, and re- fuse all imitations and substitute*. Dr. William*' Pink Pills may ' had of all druggists or direct hy mail from Dr. Williams' Medicine Company from either address. The price at which these pills are sold make* a course of treatment compara- tively inexpensive as compared with other remedies or medical treatment. SAVE* BY A CAT. Wkv *( Mao Has a Lasll*> on dne* fer a Frllsie. " Yes, sir ; it saved my life, and Astor's wealth could not purchase it. I would part with everything I possess first and starve afterwards." The speaker was Jacob Myers, a young carpenter of Han Francisco, and the unpur- chaiable " it " an ordinary looking tomcat, wild three dark lateral stripe* extending from shoulder to flank on each of it* sides, and the person addressed the writer, who confesses to having made futile bat wi :k- ed attempt to convert the priceless tabby into a Hamburg s'eak with hi* bootjack on the night previous. " You see, sir," continued the ipeaker picking the cat p in his arm* and stroking its fur with hia ban i, while the mo-iser b<- gan a g sutle purr and rubbed Its whiskers against it* owner's arm, " leu than six months ago It *avcd me from a horrible death. You want to know how it happened? Twa* this way : I was building houses for the Indian Department on the Orow Reser- vation in Montana. I was working conven- ient to the Big Horn River and had to sleep in an old shack '. built on the outskirts of a little copso, in which there wa* a dense undergrowth of wiUow, rosebush and wild currants, which the In- dians said contained swarm* of rattlesnake*. Until then I had not seen any of the rep- tiles. but I had heard the noise of their rattle many a time. I had a half-breed In- dian helping me, who owned the cat. On* afternoon last July he went to the river to get a drink. Ten minute* afterwards I heard him give a terrific yell, and a few minute* after he came running towards me squeezing the thumb o' his right hand, while hi* copper-colored features had as- sumed a cadaverous hue. He had been Int'en by a rattlesnake. I tied a handker- chief around hi* arm, while an old Indian sucke-l the wound. Despite the primitive remedies of the ' medicine man ' and the medical aid of the doctor from the agency, who was sent for, the man died the next day, suffering intense agony. Afier the funeral the Indian* set fire to the copse, and forming a circle round it they killed a nurn'mr of snake* that were attempting to escape from the fire. That night I was thinking over the fate of my late companion before going to sleep, while the cat purred pleasantly upon my shoulder. I had about another week's work to do there aud I fer- vently wished myself through with the job. I went to sleep consoling myself with the thought that all of the snakes in that neigh- borhood had been exterminated. Being very tired I slept until late uext day ana when I opened my eyes the sight that met my gaze almost paralyzed me with terror. Coiled on my bosom, it* head erect and ready to strike and it* large eye i scintillat- ing with rage, wa* a large rattlesnake. I was too horrified to move and to add to my dread I could hear the rattle* of another reptile under my bed. I do not know the exact time I hart been watching that snake after I awoke. It might have been fifteen seconds, but it seemed to me a lifetime. The first thing I knew I saw the cat's paw descend upon the snake's head like a stroke of lightning, and the next moment the squirming, slimy thing was flung upon the floor. Uitha bound I jumped up in tho bed, and, grasping a heavy stick that stood convenient, I smashed the reptile'* head into ("ilp. The other snake then showed fight j but it was despatched a* quickly a* it* mate. After making sure that thera wa* no other snake in the hut I p eked up the cat, and to my joy found it unharmed. I Measured the reptile from which the cat so timely rescued me, and found it to be 3 feet 6 inches long, having 107 scuta on the body audits tail ha 1 thirteen rattles. The fire in the copse had driven the reptile* into the shack, and were it not for the cat I would have met the fate of the half-breed Indian. No, sir, money cannot buy this cat. " ____ __ ____ A Stand Off- Applicant I ask for the hand of your dauphter. Parent Have you any prospects for the future? "None whatever." "She hain't any either. Take her, my boy, and be happy. Hlcss you both." That Tired Feeling Tho IM.llk .'. hiell people overcome hy That Tiri-il rVelin.i; il, ii\e from Ho.nl < Sar- vi|*iil)a, concluilvrly proves that thin medi- cine "nukes the weak strong." J. n. K ..... .-{ wi-ll known merchant of Auburn. Maine, says: "About five years ago 1 began to .inner with very severe >! ! any *Ue*Mck, grari- ua "y growing worse. I ^^ Hoo<l ' s f* i ilb, bring convinced thai I was tronMcil will, l,.prpin compli- cated with l.ivrr n.l Kirfr. tuiuMci. I Improved at unci- ami am ccruhily very much better and feel more like working. Hood's Sarsaparilla always (five-; m>' relief ami en '.-it comfort It U l.d -J to any urn- sulTcring in I did." HOOD'S PlLLS cure lUl.i... t i c ..,,,! ipvtnii 1> texturing peristaltic actiuuvf tns aUuouWtrjr uuaL Mr. J. K. Kuiertuu.