The morning call., 1892-10-23

One peculiar circumstance marks the
suicide of the old man, NJ. Elias, in San
Francisco. His resolve to quit this life was
intense He took a dose Of cyanide of
potassium. modified with whisky, but the
fear that this lethal draught would not
operate instantaneously. as it usually does,
or would fail, prompted him to place
pistol by his side as second resource. In
addition he left letter for the Coroner,
begging him to have his heart cut
out in order TO insure that after
burial his body would be lifeless. He
had evidently morbid dread of being in
TERED alive, and eDdeavored TO make GER
tain that that horrible fate should not be
his. Whether his last request has been
complied with matters little to the public.
The dread of premature burial is natural.
There is probably little danger of it to-day.
for medical men have many tests to show
the difference between the dead and the
living; but actual disinrerments have
shown that In the past an appreciaDle per-
centage OF the buried have Turned in their
collins and have made struggle for breath
In freedom again. What agony more in
tense can be pictured?
The millionaire OF California, or anywhere
In the United States, has a chance to dis
tingulsh himself il he follows the sug-
gestioDs of Professor Holden of the Lick
Observatory. lie points out that for the
purpose of photography and spectroscopy,
especially OF nebnl9 and faint comets,
rejecting telescope has many advantages
over refracting one, and is, besides, much
cheaper. he describes five-foot reflector,
recently made for Mr. Common in London,
and is Of opinion that reflector with ten
foot aperture IS possible, If the lens is
ground in America, and might be provided,
tfh oil for
great Lick refract0r cost $500. 600.
This appeal for 80 great reflector
as can possibly be constructed should be
answered by some of the millionaires, who
are as numerous as black berrles iu Calfor-
MIA. The immediate results from these re-
searches are frequently not obvious, but
time does come when all discoveries bear
fruit 1t surely is not hard task to pro-
vide the Lick Observatory with the instru-
ment required. The value of such an in
strument on mountain peak In the clear,
rarefied air OF California would be very
great. There might, as result, be soon
many discoveries to chronicle besides the
fifth moon to Jupiter and comet Of the
thirteenth magnitude. BY munitcence of
this description the millionaire who has
fame On this earth may also have IL in the
Skies
The long voyage of the first officer Of the
wrecked ship w. A. Campbell is not with
out parallel. Less than twenty years ago
two coal-laden vessels, after rounding the
Horn, took fire, and the boats had over 1000
miles OF voyage ere they reached haven.
In tropical seas an open boat has a fair
prospect OF keeping afoat In respect of
provisions much remains to be concerted
by seamen for emergencies. 1t is generally
too late 10 leave the storage of provisions
and water to the last moment. But while
water MAY not be procurable it is posi-
Bile TO obtain food. The boat of the
CampbelPs first officer made about 100
miles day. or five miles an hour.
In all tropical seas flying-fis abound.
Other kinds Of fish are abundant also, but
may not be so easily caught. The flyng-fish
may be trapped by the hundred on boats