Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-29

The savannah Volunteer Guards
have determined to hold the fair which
they decided upon some time ago, for the
benefit Of their armory fund, next Feb
ruary. The purpose Of those who have
the matter in charge is to make the fair
memorable event in the history of Savan-
nah. An effort is to be made to raise
$4,000, it being estimated that fully
that amount will be required. of
course. so large q sum cannot be
raised unless the friends Of the Guards"
lend helping hand. The citizens of
savannah. we are confident, feel deep
interest in this undertaking, and will do
all they can To make it success. The
committee will be glad to receive con-
tributions of any kind suitable for the
fair, and they appeal for aid not only to
the ladies and citizens generally Of
savannah. but also to their fellow
citizens throughout the United States.
That there will be hearty
response to their appeal we have no doubt.
The savannah Volunteer Guards is one
of the oldest military organizations i'm the
country, it having enjoyed continuous
existence since 1902. 1t is now, and has
always been, composed Of the very best
material Its history is interviewer with
the history Of Georgia, and many of Geor-
gia's greatest names are on its roster.
The old arsenal property in this
city has been conveyed to
it by the State and city,
and it is proposed to tear down the old
building and erect a handsome modern
structure. which will answer as AN
arsenal, armory and home. The Guards
certainly deserve what they are striving to
obtain, and there Is no reason to doubt
that their friends here and elsewhere will
assist earnestly and enthusiastically in
browning their efforts with success.
\ curious problem, growing out Of the
relative value Of local time at each OF two
points of longitude, was solved in Wash
ington recently. The case is stated in a
special to the New York Times as fol-
lows: The deaths of two naval officers
were announced to the Navy Department.
Paymaster Zachary T. Brown died at
the Pensacola navy yard, the victim of
yellow fever, and Lieut.. BOutelle Noyes
died on board the frigate Richmond, flag
ship of the Asiatic fleet, at Yokohama, by
accident. The cable dispatch from Rear
Admiral Crosby announcing NOyes' death
was dated August %, and stated that the
officer was killed at 10 a. m. this morn
ing The announcement Of Paymaster
Browns death was dated August %, and
stated that he died at : 30 last evening"
The question was raised here: which
died first4 Both officers were members
of the Navy Mutual Aid Association.
The rule of the association is that,
on the death Of a member
each Of the surviving members shall
pay in certain amounts, which 20 to make
up the benefit to he turned over to the
family of the dead member. Each MEM
Der pays in yearly fixed amount, which
is held by the trustees, so that on a death
the assessments can be made at once and
the officer credited with the sum taken.
In this case il was necessary to determine
whether Lieutenant NOyes' fees should
paw an assessment for Paymaster Browns
family or Browns to the former. The
officers at the Naval Observatory were
called upon, and after computing the diff
ference Of local time between the Pensa-
cola navy ward and Yokohama, found
that while Lieutenant NOyes died at 10
a. m. and Paymaster Brown at 1880
p. m. of August -, Brown had, in fact,
died nearly day earlier than Noyes.
Persons familiar with mathematics, as
applied to time measurements and to
navigation, will understand this seeming
paradox. Admiral Crosby's dispatch, re-
ferred TO, was received here before 10 a.
m. of the 2Sth, according to local time"