Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-01
SPIDER INGENUITY.
An Incident That Is Enriching a
SaIoonist.
HARD LABOR FOR AN ARAoHInDA.

The Little Engineer Works Week ON =
The scene of Operations Crowded. and
Bets Gsing Freely on the spider To Win
He seems TO Have Read the Presi-
dents Proclamation. and Rests Thanks
giving Day.
SYRACUSE, \. Y, Dec. Popular inter
est has conferred during the past few days
in the operations of spider of the Tegen-
aria Melicinalis species over the bar in a
saloon in this city. Thousands Of people
have gone into the place to watch the spi-
der accomplish an engineering feat which
displays in the insect almost human capac-
ity, and the saloonkeeper is becoming rich
by the patronage Of his visitors during the
star engagement of the spider. The insect
set out on Tuesday to lift kernel of
web attached to an electric light wire on
ceiling.
starting His Machinery.
IL descended on the kernel by spinning
cable of the necessary length. II was evil
dent, however, that when the spider hoist
ed the load clear from the dish its uneven
weight would cause it to lop TO one side so
suddenly as to probably snap the cable. To
prevent such an accident the spider at
tached two smaller sized cables to project
ing parts of the kernel and made them fast
TO the main cable about five inches above
the burden. All being ready, the spider
returned to its headquarters and started
its windlass, and the kernel began TO rise.
That was the situation when the people
In the saloon first discovered what was go
ing on.
Applause for the Little Engineer.
After getting the corn mp about foot
work was suspended for a time. The
spider had begun TO mistrust some OF the
machinery. 1t made an investigation, re-
paired slight break or two above i'm the
guys, and then slid down to the corn.
Every thing there was all solid, but the
little engineer Thought prudence a mark OF
wisdom, and doubled up the cable where
the main weight was seen TO hang. This
was II O'Clock on Tuesday night, and with
more cheerful air of confidence than it
had before displayed the spider ran lightly
aloft to the hoisting apparatus The ma
chine started and so did the corn, and so
did the eager throng of spectators, who
burst into applause
Stuck mt Tbirty-Six Inches.
Inside of a minute the corn was raised at
least four inches. Then there was another
delay, which was only short At midnight
ON Tuesday the corn had risen two feet
At daylight on Wednesday il was up thir-
ty- six inches. There il seemed to stick.
All day Wednesday only slight progress
was made, though the spider never re-
laxed its efforts. Sometimes the burden
even receded. Then there was series OF
jerks, but the machinery overhead seemed
to slip cog, and no Roadway was made
Late on "Wednesday night operations were
temporarily suspended, and the spider re-
tired.
Backing the Spider to Win.
Thanksgiving Day was spent in the COM
pletion of further plans or in rest, and Sat
day morning the work rested where il had
stopped "Wednesday night The spider
went up and down the main cable time
and time again, apparently mending il.
and finally, toward evening, began to draw
up, but with only partial success, though
it was cheered on by a crowd of spectators.
The sporting fraternity are backing the
spider to win ten to one.