The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-17
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

AN interesting geological phenomenon is
noticed In the district of Izum in Kharkov.
Russia In consequence of the heat this sum
mer the ground broke open in many places and
deep bitches formed at the bottom of which
suoterranean water appeared. Biologists who
examined the ground think that The subterra-
mean water comes from the same source which
supplies the SlaviahSkoye salt lakes of the
neighborhoOd.
MET gang of Ohio tramps the other day
stretched out in the shade on the banks OF
Buck creek. says a writer in the Springfield
sunday NelCS. In conversation with one whom
the rest called old Whiskers." he said: II
wIsh't that had as many dollars as it is easy to
get hats You see. gang Of US will lay down
in the weeds alongside of the railroad little
way from water tank. Jest as a passenger
holler Howdy, colonel?' Then all the men in
the car stick their heads out NV the winders an
we grab their hats an slide. In the west we
say Jedge' and IN the est we say 'perfesser.
Anywhere else we sing out 'Howdy, Mr..
Smith,
TIE Bangor NetCs thinks that the high fares
on American railroads result in sending people
to Europe. ''All of New England and the mid
ole states, IT says, ARE full of people who
have climbed Alps, visited Rome. boulevards
OF Paris, been all over the United Kingdom and
seen the midnight sun on tue coast of Norway
and yet who have never been west Of Chicago
They hear of the beauties of the Pacific slope,
they read about the glorieS of the Yosemite
valley, and they want to go and see them but
when they learn what it will cost thew think
they cannot afford to 60 furthur than Niagara
year by year the Atlantic passenger lists have
been swelling rapidly until now they are some
thing stupendous to contemplate"
TEE native population of Alaska has de-
creased to an enormous extent in the past ten
years, and the Alaskaps are ev identity fast going
the way of the otter The seal and the buffalo
Ivan Petrof, who has been Conducting he cen
or1h Ia 70 ax,l
a full report will be published by the census
bureau IN few days The returns show that
there are fully 5000 less natives in Alaska to-
Gay than there we're ten years ago. There has
been an influx of whites and hinese in that
time, but withal there is decrease of 1000 IN
the population OF the territory. The total
population to-day is computed at 81 900, com
posed of geo Aleuts, 5000 Indians, $4,000 Es-
quimaux, $500 Chinese, and 400 whites In
1850 the population was sc, 600 and since that
time some 1900 whites aud 1900 Chinese have
been added Mr.. Petroff says there is no dodg-
ing the fact that rum has ruined the natives.
Civilization, especially that particular brand
introduced by the whalers and sealers, is kill
ing tHeIn The Alaskans drink heavily, despite
prohibition ordinance, and have learned to
manufacture particularly fiery kind of bey-
e rags. csiien ''houtcha" Mr.. Petrof says the
live In a country of great natural wealth.
DIR. GEORGE HUNTER of South Strong, Me-,
claims TO have been the sole discove rer of the
big meteor that fell in Maine last ebruary
This meteor, from all accounts, struck in about
fifty different places, from Bangor to the Que
osc boundary, and it was seen to strike in
each OF the various counties and towns by
dozens OF truthful people. 1t was of various
colors, ranged in size from the dimensions OF a
foot ball to those Of hay barn, ami ma ie all
sorts of noises, from the kissing of @ sake to
the roar of thunder. DR.. Hunter, however is
quite circumstential IN his account of the phe
nomenon, and, moreover. he has something to
show for his experience with it, He SAYS that
mHf0OF ranlAnighI1eI h0
fires in his bOuse late at night. Suddenly he
saw a ball of fire a large as bushel basket
fall directly in front of the windows At
the same time he heard sound as of snow
falling from the roof followed by the rafting
OF stones against the side of the house. while
the building shook so that crockery rocked on
the pantry shelves. He first thought that the
chimney had fallen and that the house was on
IRE, but investigation outside disclosed simply
big hole in the snow bank, around which were
scattered numerous fragments of what ap-
peared to be coke. AS no coal was used on the
premises or anywhere for miles around, DR..
Hunter concluded that the fragments were
parts of an exploded meteor. By the aid of a
magnifyng glass traces of silver were dscov-
cred in the coke, and. by process of his own,
DR.. Hunter secured CROUCH OF the precious
metal to plate piece OF iron, which he now ex-
hibits as proof that the celestial vagrant really
landed upon his premises.
QUEEN CHRISTINA of Spain says the New York
Recorder, invariably displays the greatest re-
luctance to sign a death warrant, and has lust
furnished another striking demonstration Of
her sentiments in matters OF this kind fort
night ago a corporal named Cnrones suddenly
burst into the Office of the captain general OF
Barcelona and discharged a revolver at him
The wound inflicted was fortunately slight
one but the Offenss was sufficiently serious to
render necessary q sentence OF death for the
culprit Within forty eight hours the Judgment
of the court-nnartial was submitted to the queen
at San Sebastian and after much pressure on the
part of the minister of war received her sigma
ture. The man was to be executed on the follow
ing day, and in accordance with the Spanish
custom was conveyed to the chapel Of the prison
for the purpose OF spending his last hight on
earth in listening to the mournful chanting of
the penitential psalms and the prayers for the
dying and for the dead. The very moment that
the man entered the chapel the queen was noti-
fled of the fact at San Sebastian, and herself
withdrew to her oratory to pray for the soul of
the condemned prisoner. dinner and O re-
ception which had been arranged for that night
at the palace were countermanded by her
orders, and her whole manner betrayed great
distress of mind. At 1 O'Clock in the morning
when issuing from her oratory. a telegram WAS
handed to her from the archbishop of Bar
celona bearing the following words: "On
NV conscience and with my hand on
the holy gospels. / assure your majesty that
Corpl Girones is insane" The regent immedi-
ately caused the minister Of justice, who hap
pened to be the cabinet officer in attendance at
San Sebastian. to b. announced, and drew his
attention to the fact that prelate of the rank
and Importance of the archbishop of Barcelona
would never have dared to thus telegraph un-
less he had been absolutely certain of what he
was advancing. This somewhat dramatic inter
view between the queen snd her minister at
the dead of night Terminated in the dispatch
of telegram bearing the queens command
that the prisoner should be reprieved The
telegram reached the authorities at Barcelona
Just as Girones, who had no motive in attempt
ing to assassinate the captain general was
being led from the chapel to the field of execu-