The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-31

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De trented as If it was not signed, and the
writer need not expect an answer.
ez-sSgTINGAREE j. ]. c.. City. The
AK stingaree is properly speaking
~Sc the sting ray. The rays form
the suborder Plagiostomata of carti-
laginous fishes, and are divided into six
families. The first family contains saw
fishes only (Pristis) Of which five species
are known. The rays Of the second family
(Rhinobatida) bear strong resem blanee to
the saw fishes, bat lack the saw. The third
family (Torpedinda) includes the electric
ray, and it uses its power to stun or kill
the smaller animals on which 1t feeds. The
electric currents created in these fishes ex-
ercise all the other known powers of cleo
tricity. They render the needle magnetic
decompose chemical compounds. and emit
persons. are severely felt, and if
proceeding from large. healthy fish.
will temporarily paralyze the arms
OF a strong man. The fourth family QRaiide)
comprises the skates and rays proper.
The fifth family Crrygonida) are the sting
known. BY lashing the tail in every d.
recllon, the sting rays can inflict dangerous,
or at least extremely painful wounds. The
danger arises from the lacerated nature Of
tho Ncunuf dS w CIl do liUm Vic pUlSuHuuS
property of the mucus inoculated. The
sixth family (Alvliobatid9) include devil
fishes, "sea devils" and eagle rays" OF
these latter there are twenty Species and
they grow to an enormous size, one having
been taken at Messna which weighed 1850
pounds. No case can be found on record
where death has ensued from the sting of
these reptiles unless the person or animal
struck should chance to drown, and the
treatment for relief is the same as that made
use OF In ordinary cases of poisoning.
MINERAL LANDs-J. U. S.. Oregon The
following, published in THE CALL, August
18th, covers tile entire ground gone over in
your query, and settles the status of mineral
lands:
In the United States Circuit Court verdict
for the defendant was rendered In the case of
George Ii. Francoeur against Oscar NewhOuse
an action in ejec ment involving the Title 10 the
Eagle Bird mine, situated near the town of
Washington, in Nevada County. The case was
on trial for three weeks win the plaintiff repre-
sented by ex-AttorDey General Hart assisted by
William Singer, attorney Tor the land depart
ment OF the Central Pacific Railroad, and the
defendant by ReinStein q Eisner aud j. M
Sewell.
The mine Is valued at about 81 600 900, and
the Improvements thereon at 500, 600 more
Francoeur claimed tile under deed from
The Central Pacific Railroad. issued Feb
United States mining patent issued In 1873
contendlDg hereunder. as has always been the
rule III lie United States Lana department, tnat
the question OF what were and what were not
mineral lands was open until the issuance OF
United States patent either TO the railroad com.
paDy as agricultural land or TO the mineral
claimant as mineral land.
For the plaintiff &c wa. maintained that the
railroad grant OF July l. 1862, gave 10 the COM
pany clear title 10 all odd sections OF land I'M
| less they were known to be mineral lands, and
| from which mineral In paying quantities was
grant of July /, 1862, In order 10 encourage the
building OF railroads, gave 10 the railroad COM
panies patent TO all odd sections OF land lying
within ten miles on either Side OF their tracks,
but excepting mineral land.
1t has always been considered an open ques-
lion by the United States Land Department
whether land is mineral or agricultural until the
patent Is issued, but the court decided that land
need not have been known to be mineral land
tried lhe case found that the land was known as
mineral land when Newhouse received his
10 the Sacramento Land District, including some
OF the most valuable MINES In the state aud
lying within the railroad grant.
Mont VALERIEN-B. r., City. No men,
ton is made in the history of the war be-
tween Germany and France of the removal
of any guns from the captured fortress of
Mont Valerien, aud. indeed, such thing
would scarcely have been possible, The
fort was evacuated on the evening of January
rs, 1871. On the 29th the German detach-
mentS occupied the captured fortress and
hosted their colors over them On the 30;h
the fortress Of Mont Valerien was visited by
The Emperor of Germany. Crown Prince
Fritz and General Won Moltke, who inspected
the works and the guns. One of these guns.
named Sainte Marie, was ali object of much
curiosity. 1t was slung in chains in
peculiar manner with an iron framework
rising above its carriage The largest gun
of this fortress had sent a bail during the
siege across the Seine as far as the terrace
of St Germans. The war was then virtu-
ally closed, but much diplomatic work re-
manned to be done, and it was not until the
morning of March 1st that the German
troops took formal possession of Paris.
The treaty of peace having been ratified by
the Bordeaux Assembly, orders were given
on the I'd for the withdrawal Of the Ger
man troops from Paris, and their stores and
other property were dispatched to Germany
with all haste. If one of those big guns had
been included in the "other property" it is
safe to say that not much haste was used.
Unless they have been condemned and cut
up it is highly probable they still occupy
their chain sings.
GUNPowDER-F. 0. T., City. 'The real
inventor of gunpOwder" is unknown. 1t
has been stated that it was invented by a
German monk named Bertholdus Schwartz
about the year 1920, but such is not the case.
Roger Bacon, who was born in 1914, refers
to the use of gunpowder before his time,
and INDUCES in the supposition that some
such substance might have been employed
by Gideon to destroy the Midianites. as re-
lated in the seventh chapter of Judges.
Marcus Gr9cuS, who lived in the eighth GEN.
tury, spoke of lone pound of live sulphur.
two of charcoal of willow and six Of salt
peter reduced to fine powder in a marble
mortar and mixed together; a certain guam
| tity to be put into long, narrow and we'll
| compaeted cover and then discharged
| inln the air. Virgil and Homer sneak of