The morning call., 1892-11-15

A sensible order has been issued by the
Secretary of the Navy commanding the nom
use of brown prismatie powder in the firing
of blank shots and the return to the use of
black powder in the ordinary grains OF
small sizes. The large cubes of powder
burn slowly and their use in big gun is TO
enable the propeling gas to be developed
gradually while the ball is within the tube.
All the elements OF combustion are not de-
veloped at once in the breeeh, but the total
OF force is applied gradually as the ball
travels toward the muZzle. Through want
OF caution an accident OF a most dangerous
character occurred on the Philadelphia at
practice. blank discharge was fired and
it came near being far from blank. The
breech was opened before the powder was
consumed and some Of Ii came out by the
breech and two men were killed. But be-
sides that some of the burning grains passed
down the exit tube from the magazine room
and. had they not been tTamped out, away
would have gone the ship in double quick
up in the air and down 10 the bottom. Some
cutoff must be provided at the moment of
hiring against these stray sparks descending
TO the magazine.
The engineers for tie fonr-track under
ground electric railroad in New York are.
doubtless, not disturbed by any difficulties
OF construction. They Will go ahead quite
confidently when the money is provided.
Already they have an example of success
three miles long under streets and houses
from the city OF London to Stockwell in
the south. Even the underground railways
| OF London, with ordinary steam l0como-
tives. give encouragement although it is de-
slrabie 10 avoid the smoke in the tunnels
With electric power there is no reason why
the tunnels should not be as wholesome for
ordinary breathing and for the comfort Of
| light as street or elevated railroads. New
| York needs this change, and can afford to
pay for 1t. AT present some of the urnci-
| pal streets are blocked by miles OF surface
traffic
The Duchess OF Marlborough, formerly
Mrs. Hammersley, comes out OF her mar
rage with the Duke she was welded 10 a
couple OF years ago more successfully than
the average public would suppose. 1t is
said she has cool million of dollars COM
ing to her from the Dukes insurance poll
cies. All the money she spent on the dilap-
idated palace at Blenheim or elsewhere goes
in increment to the new Dukes possessions,
but the policies are not matter of entail
The report goes that the Duchess has al
ready been ordered out of occupation.
Whatever chagrin accompanies this notice
to Quit she can only attribute TO herself.
She did not marry the dead roue either for
fortune, fame or character. He had not
rag of either left. He was Just as unpriu-
eipled scOundrel as has ever adorned the
ranks OF the British peerage. But these
policies show that the business gifts of Mrs.
Hammersley did not desert her when she
coveted dueal title.
The precise number of ways of commit
ting murder is quite undiscovered at San
jose. The case of Mr.. PIanz Is in point
quite mysteriously. The murderer who
was hanged recently in Melbourne adopted
new methods. So did Burke and Hare. the
former of whom has given us the verb "to
burke" to remember him by. SO did Neill,
tie poisoner of numbers of women in Amer
lea and London. And now there are rumors
OF another form ofmonster. BE is a French
man and far worse Don Juan than ever
Byron pictured or imagined. BE is de-
scrlbed as having made love, 'sghing like
furnace" TO thirty.two young ladies of
Copenhagen during one winter. OF these
sixteen, Just one-half, have committed sui
eide or have quilted Copenhagen. The de-
ceiver is morally as much a murderer as il
he had cut the throats of his fair dupes.
But that is not the construction of the law.
His villainies in an American city would
lave heen rewarded with halter.
The farce of the Railroad Commissi is
pretty we'll fzzled out by the performances
OF that august body yesterday. In public
gaze Mr.. Rea and the other two Commits
sionors were at loggerheads about the pres
entatlon OF the expert report compiled by
Colonel Morgan, with the assistance Of the
Southern Pacific Company. Mr.. Rea wanted
TO near the report read. He doubtless
knows as well what the report contains as
Colonel Morgan himself. but has not the
latters Judgment. having been trained in
other walks Of life useful to himself. The
two other Commissioners saw no need for
the report at present. They ara prepared 20
wait Tor the evidence In the Shiyeley case.
Some OF this evidence was presented, and