The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-30
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

nov ndue OF zinc, ana 10 per cent OF Inese
are OF indians. some of these figures are eS.
cellent; in some cases the original model
cost $1,000 or 81 500 They are made In va
nous sizes, from small figure that ca be
bought for S25 or $50 up. A good 7foot In
dian can be bought for 500.
Toluol is being substituted for mercury and
alcohol in thermometer in Germany and
many advantages are claimed. Toluol is
uquld OF deep black color, which renders
the column very visible; in the second place
the freezing point of this liquid is very re-
mote from the bollng'polnt, and finally It costs
less than mercury. and the manipulation of IL
is attended with no danger TO the health OF
the woTkmen.
The Chicago Tribune tells a story that il
Illustrates the senselessness Of the sympa-
thettc strike. Twenty five carriage painters
VINO mad been working for c. P. kimoal &
Co OF Chicago, 1t says. struck in sympathy
with the Pullman strikers. but they had not
been out of the factory an hour before twenty
nVe striking Pullman painters had applied
for their places and obtained them, and are
now probably sympathizing with the union
Fellows who went out in obe1lence to the
Debs-SoVerelgA-H Howard combination IN order
70 express sympathy with the Pullman men
Inc twenty-five men on the outside are Doll
ing at the unSympat hetic conduct OF the
twenty-five Pullman fe lows on the inside and
az the results Of their clear waste OF sympa-
thy. They have lost their jobs and their
wages, and there is only vanity and vexatlon
OF spirit In the thought OF sympathy
Speaking of wild beasts that are at once
large, ferocious and African, says Natural
Science, a correspondent sends US an inter
eStlng note about an earth worm. Africa has
already produced the largest earth worm
(Mlcrochaeta rapp) known to science, with
the possible exec Jtion OF MegaScOlldes Aus
trails, from Australia: but these are giants of
perfectly harmless kind. The worm. to
winch we now refer is said by Mr.. Alvan
Mlllson, assistant colonial secretary atLagoS,
dread
among the natives of that coast. Its appear
ance IS against it; the worm is not only large
three or four feet-bDt 1t is either of rich,
raw-Geety color or of a lowering black, the
dlderence OF color being a mark OF
a difference of species, On one
occasion number of natives were
collected together when one of these giants
strolled casually into the camp; the result ap-
pears to have been rapid flight on the part
OF the natives. The reason for the aWe-ln-
spring character Of the worm Is its reputed
habit of sucking blood. 1t does not seem
probable that the mot recent results of
geological research are known in tropical
AMI "a but 1t is curious coincidence that
TINS research has tended to show that the
line Of separation between the leeches and
earth worms is by no means so wide as it was
a one time thought to be. This big earth
worm OF vest Africa lnhabits locality that
is remGr kable; 1t does not as do most earth
worms. burrow constantly in the ground,
throwing up castings, bu5 lives in deserted
hills OF termites.
The selling OF snakes to scientific men. to
manufacturers who use the skins. and to
museums is business which a man and his
wife, who live IN Mississippi house boat en-.
gage in. The strange couple were inter
viewed the other day by the reporter for
New Orleans paper. The man does most of
the snake catching, and, although he has
been often several times he considers the
experience only t1idlng incident of his
trade. "A rattiesnake. for instance, when
pursued, he saws: coils and is ready to de.
lend himself. flip stone or small piece OF
suck at him. ne uncollS and starts of. but be
fore he can az ain coil have him back of the
neck. No, use no stlck-nothing but my
bare hands You NAV laugh, too, when I tell
you that our snake lore teaches us not to
hunt when the wind is in the northwest. II
we do, we find no snakes. The principal sea
son OF the year for US are spring and fall;
the snakes are then tat and produce
lots OF oil" OF all the snakes in the
United States only three families he
says, can be claSSed as deadly. But" he
ADDS, these families comprise about thirty.
Two species. distributed as follows: Rattle
snakes. seven; cotton-nouths. eight: copper-
heads seventeen the two latter beng moe.
casins and jewellers in the swamps and low
places y The snake catcher method of
treating bites is as follows: When bitten, I
Immediately tie band above the wound cut
ting the latter deeply in order to cause it 10
oleed freely, and to reach low the extrem-
lty pierced by the fang. The cut is thea
sucked, or warm. newly killed mesh is applied,
and the remedies are then rubbed into the
Wo md, neutralizing the poison"
The Missouri river in its cratic course is
undermining and sweeping away the town of
Winthrop, Mo, says the New York Post. No
notice was taken of the work Of the flood
when. few months ago, it began to cut into
the tank mile above the town. 1t was said
that Winthrop would never e reached nv the
new channel, but the crumbling of soil and
the inroads OF the stream went on so
rapidly as 70 create alarm. The chan
nel headed, II the term may be
building after another toppled over and
fell into the flood. A visitor to the doomed
place says: ~ hat was prosperous town of
5000 people few months ago is now almost a
deserted village. Fully twothirds of the
dwellings and business houses in the town
have been torn down or moved away in order
to save them from the merciless torrent. and
some have been swept away. The serious
ness OF the situation did not dawn upon the
people living there until 1t was too late To
at efectually'' -Four railroad tracks
stretched originally between WinUhron Iunc-
ton and the town, and to save their pron-
erty the companies spent $4,000 but
eventually all the tracks had to be torn IN to
save them. The farmers above Winthrop
nave suffered even more than the citizens
Tor In many instances the latter have had
time to move their houses beyond the reach
oil the iocd But the farmer had no means OF
saving his acres One by one they have been
taken from him by the river and even IL II
changes its channel again and gives him back
his land, all the metes and bounds will have
teen obllterated. Nearly half a mile of banlr
has disappeared since the demolition began
The South Sea Islanders tell curious
story Of the origin Of tire If they are to be
believed, says the ST. Louis Republic, thew
came IN possession Of that useful element in
the following manner: great whale was
once washed ashore upon one of their islands
curing the prevalence of a terrible hurricane
1 he monster bet ame entengled in a grove OF
tallow trees "a species OF evergreens whose
branches easily ignite), and while CRASHING
his teeth in his impotent rage struck off a
spark which lighted the grove ana consumed
both trees and whale. Fires which are said
10 have been perpetuated since the day OF the
great whale hre may yet be seen burning
IN many parts of the island. Another IRE
legend believed IN by the inhabitants of the
island TO the north of the ones in which the
great whale ire is preserved. is to
the effect that great air
dragon probably liehtning) breathed upon
a tallow tree and set its branches on fire
From the Goals left from this fire they
learned OF its great value, and have ever
since used the enent for domestic purposes
ana IN their reltgl ceremonies. Ihey also
nave tradition that the time will come
when the dragon will return for the fire and
that no man Will be able to withstand him
and save the sacred spark except he be u per.
son oorn with pink eyes. fair skin ana white
nalr. For this reason the birth OF an albino
is always hailed as a good omen. and his or
her person guarded with Jealous care so as
TO preserve lie 10 its utmost limit Mar.
lonette mentions seeing a fire god or fire
guard alt mo while on his visit to the