The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-05-12
An improved Horseshoe.

Inc London Iellcfil OulilIDliS Nohl-
pany is about to make a thorough
trial of an improved horseshoe, which
is said to have been subjected to Sc
we're tests on the European Continent
with very satisfactory results. The
idea. which is the invention of
Frcnchman named Pigot, is a very
simple one. consisting merely Of the
af1ixing to the underpart of the shoe
of two strips of cork, one on each
side. "The cork strips" says print
ed description. "arc held in position
by two very thin sheet-iron plates
firmly fastened together by rivet.
The outer edges Of these plates are
slipped between the shoe and the
hoof. The inner edges are turned up
wards, forming t!anges, between
which and the inner edge Of
the shoe the cork blocks are tightly
fixed. Between these flanges is fitted
a screwed bolt with nuts at either
end, so that when the nuts are tight
" screwed against the 1iangeS the
whole is perfectly immovable. In
order TO hold the cork still firmcr in
position the corners Of the flanges are
turned down over it, thus forming a
couple Of sockets. into which the cork.
which at first sight slightly projects
over the surface of the shoe. is
jam d and compressed more firmly
every day hy the weight of the horse"
These shoes are said to enable the
horse to obtain such grip upon a
slippery surface that slipping is al
most impossible and straining is
greatly diminished. The Brussels
Tramway company, aftertrying them
for six months, has adopted them for
general use. The extra expense is
estimated at $50 year for each
horse. against which must be put a
saving on the wearing of the shoe and
a prolongation of the life of the AMI
NAL.
A Survivor of The Black Hawk War.
A survivor of the Black Hawk war
is still living in Frccport, H., in the
person Of Mrs. William Lawhorn.
She is the widow of one of the band
of settlers who helped to build the
fort on Apple River, which was after
wards attacked by the Indians. 1t
was constructed of split logs set on
| end and making stockadc twelve
feet high. The wagons and goods
| of the settlers families We're taken
| inside, and there gathered the men.
! women. and children when the news
reached them of the advance of Black
| Hawk and his bloodthirsty warriors.
| The whites did not have long to wait.
| Three hundred and fifty braves in
full war-paint suddenly appeared on
| the crest of the prairie. After three
hours Of hard fighting the Indians
were repulsed by the sharp and un-
erring fire from the settlers rifles,
| taking their dead with them. One
| of the whites, Haskell Rhodes. was
| killed, and two were wounded. Dur
! ing the seige Mrs. Lawhorn and other
women nodded bullets and helped
| the men to load their rifles. AS the
| Indians drew off the settlers sailed
forth, only to fall into an ambuscadc
and lose several of their little force.
| Mrs. Lawhorn attends the reunions
| of the few Black Hawk veterans who
! survive. She is now nearly so years
| old, and was about 30 years of age at
the time of the fight on Apple River.
| The Biggest Guns Have Failed.
The heaviest modern ordnance, the
English 11O-ton gun. has failed to
| fulfill its initial or experimental
promises in more serious handling OF
application, for reasons now undergo
ing careful investigation. With a
charge of nearly 900 pounds best pris.
matte gunpowder and a cylindrical
steel shot of the enormous weight OF
1900 pounds, it was found at the
final test that this prodigious sho,
penetrated entirely through com
pressed armor-steel-faced iron-o1
twenty inches thickness, then through
an iron backing some five inche.
thick, after which it pierced wholly
through twenty foot of oak, five feet
of granite, eleven feet of hard con
crete, and three feet into bricl
wall. It was concluded, of course
that no existing fortress. much les:
armored vessel, could Withstand sucl
shot, but the difficulty Of sea han
ding has proven SO formidable fac
tor that the most sanguine expecta
tions as to the efficiency of such vast
ordnance in practical service seen
doomed to disappointment. - New
j, York Sun.
BEDFORD that is said to be almos
everlasting is in the possession of Mr.
Moody, of Winterport, Me. 1t is mad
of the sinews Of whale. and has bee1
in constant use since 1883.
{ A MINISTER in this State was, it
, said, successfully barber, a bartende
} and a variety theater actor before he be
t came converted.