davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02

exceptionally large piece of coral. 1t
happened that q school of large gar
fishes were lying near, and, alarmed
at the loud noise, they darted away
like 50 many arrows frem their bow,
directly in the direction of four or
five men. The native who started
them into action raised q shout, which
the others heard just in time to turn
and see the living darts coming at
them. They fully realized the danger,
as serious accidents had occurred in
the past from contact with them.
On came the gars, four or five of
them, gaining momentum OF every
bound, and in few seconds they were
on the party. The naturalist in the
boat dropped behind the gunwales,
while his companion was struck on the
cap, the fish glancing of. The ma
ti7es held up their fiat baskets as
shields and secured two in this way ;
still another, using his stick very
skillfully as sword, lodged third
fish and struck it down, securing it.
It was narrow escape for all con-
cerned, and very suggestive OF the
dangers resulting from seemingly
harmless fishes.
In his Voyage of the Challenger
Moseley, the naturalist, mentions that
an officer was struck by one Of these
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
CHAPTER v.
4 AflRRIAHE

When DR.. Warringham rose on ths
following morning he had bad head.
ache, but forgot it under the more seri-
Gus trouble that disturbed his mind.
No allusion to what had just occurred
was made, either by him or Miss Lyon,
when he took leave from her after the
supper that had been so disagreeably in
terrupted. The actress felt herself
guilty and trembled with momentary ap-
prehension to see the violence of Ralph's
passion turning against her. The Doc
tor, on the other hand, was in part paci-
fed by the promptness with which she
lad resented Walters impudence. and in
part felt himself too excited to converse
reasonably with her on the various topics
on which he must come to an under
standing with her.
In the morning these topics f1uttered
over his mental horizon like so many
dark demons OF night.
Against his brother he felt very bitter.
There never had been very warm
affection between him and Walter-their
characters, tastes and habits we're too
different. But, Of course, an external
state Of peace must be kept up. If only
Spofford and the Count would hold their
tongues.
But Lucy must Immediately quit life
in which such scenes as the one OF last
night were po sible. Ralph could not
bear the idea of seeing her On the stage
another time. He resolved to insist that
she should break off her engagement
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02

fish dashed into them like furies,
ing several feet into the air, maj
the water boil as if in q heated
dron, and sho wing that the grease
excitement possessed them. The nolss,
and commotion attracted the attentio5
of gulls and pelicans, that hoTered
about, preying upon the small fry ana
adding to the confusion and excite
ment.
waded out into the struggling
mass of animation to discover II mi
presence would be noticed, and wa!
soon satisfee that discretion was tk}
better part of Talor. The fish wer|
running to and fro at such rapid
rate of speed that there was no pleas
ure in being struck by them, whiltI]
their sharp spines and fins were weaH(
ons not to be despised. For half al
hour this warfare kept up, dying awal
to recommence in some fresh place
where the aerial flight of fish woul|
be repeated.
One of the most remarkable leaperi
among fish of large size is the tarpo1
or silver king of the Atlantic coasi
one of the most magnificent of gam
fishes, that attains length OF six oj
seven feet and weight of 200 pounda
Its movements are extremely rapid
dashing through the water Like bean
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02

lying in schools SO near it that they
are conspicuous objects from above.
Whether the gar sleeps at the surface
is not known; in any event they are
easily startled, and will suddenly
bound from the water and go darting
away like a living arrow, entering the
water only to bound away like ball
fred from cannon that glances from
the water number of times before 1t
finally strikes.
In this singular habit, said my in.
formant, consists the danger. The
fight is wild and made in fear, con-
sequently it is without aim and Just as
liable to strike man as not. This is
what has occurred on various occa-
sions, and the incident in question
was remarkable from the narrow es-
cape. and from the fact that the man
and fishes appeared to the observers
like fencers.
A naturalist had engaged a dozen
natives who were wading along the
reef, he following in boat. They
were after everything of interest, and
he had glasses Of alcohol and various .,
vessels to receive the specimens. The
waders brought him arich assortment.
There were great pink-ipped conches,
sea fans bright in color, star fishes OF
enormous size, others with coiling
arms and seeming tentacles, delicate
branches of coral, some like the rose,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
FISH OUT OF WATER
CASES WHERE DENIZENS OF
THE DEEP SHOWED FIGHT.
Bathers Menaced by Showers Of Gar
fish - A Yacht Bombarded by
Pompino-A Tarpon Leaped
Over the Rail:

X FISH out of water is naturally
n eta disadvantage, but, curl
NJ ously enough, they often &C.
complish some very aggres-
sive acts when leaving their natural
element. Perhaps one of the most re-
markable instances was related to me
by naturalist who had travelled ex-
tensively in the islands of the South
Pacific Ocean. The great reefs which
extend away over this region are very
shallow, and covered with acres of
rich branch, leaf and other corals,
which grow in such q manner that
paths and lanes are left, calling to
mind the streets of city. In these
byways grow sea fans and plumes
known as gorgonias, some lavendar,
others yellow, brown and many tints,
which, with the gorgeously colored
fishes that swim in and out, add to the
beauty of the scene and carry out th
idea of garden, as the fishes resem-
BILE the birds and the corals and
plumes can well be compared to the
trees of q terrestrial forest.
In the cor al are found many beauti-
tul shells that are valued by collect
ors, and in their sale there has grown
up large and important industry.
The collectors are the natives, who in
parties wander over the vast shoals
with baskets slung over their
shoulders, tripping over the the coral
in search of shells, which are kept un-
til the trading schooners come round.
The water on the reef where the ma
tives wade has an average depth Of
three or four feet, and is famous for
the number and variety of fishes
found there. Among them is long,
slender fish called the gar, attaining a
length of three feet, with a sharp
pointed bill armed with fine teeth,
that is feared by the natives more
than sharks. This would be difficult
to understand by those n OF familiar
with their habits. The garfsh live
entirely upon the surface, generally
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02

Lyons French maid, who served as wit
nesSeS.
Miss Lyon looked very charming in
the tight-fttng, dark-colored travelling
suit she wore Oh the occasion; for the
Young couple had decided TO set out on a
trip to Europe at once.
Ralph was in paradise. That signi'
fes all.
Jack Spofford had been selected by the
Doctor as the person who should COM
municate the ominous news to Mrs
Warringham.
| He had been on intimate terms With
Ralph since their college days, and felt
an unbounded admiration for his clever
friend. Him nobody ever dreamed OF
calling clever, but he had the reputation
OF being good hearted honest fellow,
and everybody liked him. Ralph regard
ed him with sincere friendship and lm-
plicit trust.
This am!able young gentleman did by
no means feel comfortable at the thought
| Of his commission. But there was notb<
I! ing he would not have done at Ra!ph's
bchest. He would even have sold him
his iavorite horse.
When the ceremony was over and
the newly made couple had received the
congratulations or Jack and the Legal
gentleman, the former observed chance
to take the Doctor aside for moment
Mrs. Warringham, with the assistance
of the maid, was putting the finishing
touches to her toilet, while the lawyer
arranged his papers and documents
81 wish you all the happiness friend
cam" Jack said to Ralph, warmly press
Ing his friends hand. "You have dar-
gerous rocks ahead. old man, but I'll 90
what can to make things right
Ralph saw the emotion in Jacks eyes
and warmly responded to the pressure
Of his hand.
"Thank you, my dear fellow" he said,
"thank you. 81 know that you will do
that And listen. Jack; tell my cousin
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
YACHT BoMBARDED BY PoMPNo.

gars, the bill of the fish hitting his
thick cap, knocking it off. He also
learned that accidents were common
among the natives, fatal wounds often
being made by the gars.
In the Gulf of Mexico two gars are
found, one about q foot in length,
with two long bills, the other having
short upper and a long lower bill.
These fishes are always seen at the
surface, and the writer has observe d
them rushing blindly away, skipping
over it, in and out, glistening in, the
sun like flash OF light, only return
ing to the water after 100 or more feet
had been covered.
Numbers of fishes have similar
habit of hurting themselves from the
water. Even heavy fishes, as the rays.
that are flat and unwieldy, dash out of
their natural element when attacked
by sharks, and endeavor to sail away,
but this generally results in a terrific
fall and the reverberation I have heard
on q still night over a mile away,
sounding as though a gigantic object
had fallen from lofty height.
In Southern waters there is a fish
known as the flying gurnard that, like
the garfshes, lives at the surface. 1t
is gorgeously colored creature, look
ing like some gayly hued insect. Its
head is incased in hard armor, In
which lies the danger from them.
When alarmed the fish leaves the
water, though more completely than
does the gar, spreads its enormous
side fins and literally soars away. Its
flight is more or less blind and curious
accidents have been the result.
On one occasion a fishing schooner
was sailing neal the Barbados, and
but one man, and he at the helm, was
on deck. The rounding-to of the YES
sci and the shaking of the sails
brought the skipper from below, when,
to his amazement, he found the helms
man lying senseless, with bruise on
his forehead, and, in the lee scuppers,
wriggling about, a large gurnard. The
fish in f ying along had been caught
bv the wind and struck the man fairly
in the forehead with such force as to
knock him senseless. Similar in
stances have been recorded, and o
blow from the armored head OF such a
fish is not at all q joke.
The gurnads are found in large
schools in the Barbados, and consti-
tute an important item of food among
the natives.
Some years ago q friend of the
writer was cruising in boatln South
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02

exhibition was seen one day as Jack
sonville steamer was going down TN
river, bound for Fernandina. A gem
tleman was sitting on the upper deck
tipped back comfortably against th|
pilot-house. He was probably drinA3
ing in the beauties of the Florida cl I
mate in the winter and its semitropiI
features when suddenly there came
flash, CLEAN of white and silver,
glimpse of big, black eyes, and mon
ster fish poised in the air, and then
big tarpon fell fairly into the lap q
the thinker, who with it rolled to th|
deck, q very much astonished and dc
moralized man. The tarpon had evl|
IDENTIFY been swimming toward TIL
steamer, and alarmed at the noise hsd
darted ahead, rising at least ten fee|
in the air, then shooting ahead at leaf
six feet, to land in this curious fashion
Many more incidents could be relate
illustrative of the encounters that ha1
occurred between man and fish In tn
element of the former.--San Franclsq
Call
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
Found Diamonds in a Bale of Rag

Miss Bridget O'Neal is a pretty gu
who sorts rags at the Knowlton Brott
ers' paper mill in this city. The ott
er day she found two rings, which 80
put in her pocket and went on abo1
her work. Thinking that they migt
be valuable, she told male employ
of the mill, and he took rnen to
iewelry store. The jeweler said OF
WAS a cluster of fifteen diamonds ar
valued at $3.50, and the other contalne
one diamond, garnet and a turquols
No person has yet claimed the ring
Utica IN. W Herald.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02

of light, the resemblance intensified
by the silvery covering of the eno1
nous scales, which resemble newl!
minted silver dollars more than any
thing else. There is something sin
gularly impressive in these fishes, and
monster that I came upon suddenly
lying in very shallow water gave mi
something akin to buck fever. In AM
event, my astonishment and confuao1
lasted 80 long that the fish escaped.
At certain seasons in the year th|
st. Johns River in Florida abounds i
the tarpon, and some extraordinar1I
jumping is to be witnessed. Whe1
suddenly alarmed the fish will Leaf
into the air in any direction that ]
may be headed. Thus it happen
they have landed in boats towed b
steamers. But the most extraordinary
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21
ISLAM'S PROBLEM IN AFRICA.

Importance of the sultan of Morocco
as Claimant to Supremacy.
From the n. Petersburg zeituns.
The sudden death Of the Sultan of Mo-
rocco has such obvious significance for
the ncighboring Latin countries as well as
for the rest Of Industrial Europe notably
England and Germany. that this death
has been the principal subject Of public
discussion for days. and gives the richest
opportunities for the most diverse explana-
lions.
But the importance Of the question does
not end here. Within the entire Islamitic
domain Morocco plays so great s part that
the makeup OF her future his;ory-that is
to say. the answering of the question.
Which of the sons Of the last sultan shall
come into hts fathers heritage?''-will come
into permanent consideration for the great
est part OF north and middle Africa: The
decision of this question Is in fact moro
In portant for Africa than for Europe This
Question Is bound TIP with conditions which
arc practically unknown to the greatest
part Of the Christian world. and for this
reason they seem worthy Of explanation
Since the Islamitic states Of the Mediter-
ranean. Turkey, Egypt. Algiers and Tunis
were brought directly or indirectly under
Christian and European governments and
were compelled not only to ACKNOWLEDGE a
foreign control on the Nile. but also on the
Algerian coast. and moreover. to transplant
TO their own grounds non-Islamitic insti-
tutions. there was. in accordance with the
orthodox Mohammedan view only one ruler
who had remained a correct and true be-
lever. and he was the Sultan Of Morocco.
who enjoyed in spiritual consideration a
regard which his limited sphere Of power
old not change. The four official divisions
of right-beiieying Islam will not admit this
Is true. Just 50 much more theoretically
and passionatciy is this point of view
brought into prominence by the numerous,
far-reaching, and influential religious orders
OF northern Africa, who. as professed de-
poSitaries of the mystic secrets Of the faith,
enjoy the highest regard. The most i'm
pcrtant of these orders is that of the
dreaded Esnussijs. which has it's seat in a
desert Of the eastern Tripoli. They claim
to be the providen tial leaders of the future
OF lsiam and to have among them the hid
den Mahdi. who must be distinguished
from the false Notwithstanding to their
view-in the Nile valley.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21

which are trained on the long range-ths
stretch of water which forms part Of the
channel OF the Potomac. These are six and
eiSht-inch guns. 1t Is with the six-inch gun
that the powder tests are to be made
We walk across the valley. along the line
of q railroad which. with many turn tables
and branches makes all points accessible
from the wharf. Mr. TiSdaIe Is Weighing
out the powder in a shanty built Of heavy
pianks. Against one side of this shanty
earth has been heaped to protect il from the
fragments of armor and projectiles for It
Is on this side OF the valley, Just beyond
this gun station. that the pieces OF steel
are placed to be bonbarded by those twelve
and thirteeh-inch guns. The powder Is in
large, nat grains. slightly ebiong. 1t looks
as though 1t had been made in long ribbons
and cut into lengths.
Testing smokeless Powder.
"fou haven't a match that might drop ami
set fire TO something's" says Mr.. Mason as
we enter. / have no match, so | have no
hesitancy In approaching the scales and
handling the dangerous black stuff A
workman holds a cylindrical cotton bag
while Mr.. Tfsdaie puts two "encouragers,"
as he describes them, at the bottom OF IL
Then he pours In the powder from the scale
pan, and the top of the bag is gathered end
tied. Another -encourager" Is pinned to
the outside OF the bag at the lower end
The Smokeiess powder Is a slow powder and
this rapid-tre powder ~tll respond to the
ursgement needed to insure its tmmedIate
explosion. The workman carries the bag TO
the stx-inch gun. common iron proiectiie
has been put In place. The cartridge is in
serted behind 1t. and the breech is closed
and locked In place. MIR. Mason and
mount the little shed to watcn the effect
OF the shot. He hands me some GOTTEN
waste. Better put this IN your ears. open
your mouth ard stand your toes" he
says 1 see that he Is following his cwn
precepts. and do as he directs. Mr. lis
dale mounts long ladder just behind the
soh. with a glass he sweeps the river. No
boat is In sight. lie gives the signal TO the
man across the valley. who touches a button
and SO rings a bell In the little Office over
the hill. At sound of that bell the chrono-
graphs are made ready. An answering sig
nal comes back The man at the beiibCtton
calls II across Again the glass covers the
range. Still the water is clear ''FIrer
me gun pums out mouthful of white
vapor. The next instant a great splash In
the water far hey 0nd the point shows where
the shell has struck. A few seconds later
and there Is. another cloud Of spray thrown
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21

II shelters a Little Girl and IL Then
Presented to Her.

II shelters a Little Girl and IL Then
Presented to Her.
From the New York Tribune.
The Empress Elizabeth OF Austria was re-
Gently spending a few days at L:ntz. One
morning she started for long walk in the
environs of the town. accompanied only nv
iady-in-waiting. Suddenly it began to
rain; but the empress opened her umbrella
and continued ON her way. Near the ham,
let of Windinden she noticed a little child.
who had taken refuge from the storm under
the branches Of a great tree The empress
asked the little one a few questions about
the neghborhood. and was about to continue
her walk when the child asked:
Dear madame l beg you take me under
your umbrella"
The request was granted and the tbrna
marched on toward the village the empress
asking the child about her family her du-
ties at school and the people of the hamlet
When the rain ceased the child the daugh-
ter OF a peasant. babe her companions IA re-
we'll The empress. however. made her a
present of the gold-handled umbrella that
she might mot get wet when it rained
again"
.'But, dear madame" remarked the child
her eyes wide open with wonder; you must
be rich il you can buy a new umbrella"
Her majesty smiled and kissed the girl
goodbye. few days later she took drive
in the same neighborhood and saw the child
parading IN and down the village streets
with her umbrella. followed by her play
mates. Her majesty greeted her little friend
and was recognized by some OF the older in
habitants Of the village, who soon informed
the parents of the girl to whom the present
was due. The umbrella Is now sacred
relic in the peasant home.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21


into the air beyond. Another moment and
there Is spray cloud a little beyond but
this time a little out of line The rotary
motion which the guns ri1ing has given to
the shell has changed its course as il re-
bounds from the surface of the water As
SCCn as the shot has been fired the work
men throw open the breech of the gun.
Against its inner surface are three nuts.
Making the Record.
These they unscrew and, lifting them from
their bed, carry them to the brfck house
across the valley. In each Of these nuts IS
d depression for the gases from the powder
Below this Is . piston, which works against
a tiny cylinder Of copper. This cylinder has
been put under pressure and its resistance
ascerIained. The amount OF compression
II DIR tie force OF the powder gases can be
asceftaiaed by measui ernent ard the ex-
pans:,t power OF the gases thus learned.
That IS one Of t;ie results OF the test.
but the speed CT the projectile was 20 he
Tnes sdred. We go be-k around the hillside
IT- IA to the Offices. whore the chronographs
st;..d. There are three of them in upright.
erisTT-5haped cases. Their mechanism, In
ire rough. is simple enough. even To the I'M
scientific mind. A metal column. To the
right and above 4 rubber casing, surrounding
coil OF wine drawn around piece OF iron,
T.ci-h 1t nlasnctiZcs a current OF cleo
trlclty plays through il. To the left, below.
similar rubber casing, coil and piece of
Hon. To hang from the risht-hand magnet,
q long piece or steel, with q SILVER case.
To hang from ihe l-ft-haud magnet, n
shorter pisc. ot steel. While the current is
El2Enetizing the pi.Ce cf iron. the pieces CT
steel hang pcndapt. When the current of
ono is bro.0ca tie corresponding weight
viii fail. The upper magnet is in circuit
VITA screen n the l!ra Of ilie projectile
from tie ssua. THIS screeT IL q frame Of
Voc. sor1c fOur fs~t high Strung with wires
The lover magnet is IN Circ,:i: with a SINH
lar screen scInc distance bryond the first
: he Sc al - hot
tho two s"rr5riS. II passes through the
f'Ts5, cutting the wires aud 50 breaking the
-s-c,,it. O5I the Instant, the long weight in
80 eh-a:i oS-ap1 "a the Hill falls. AS the
-.'it~;f'r passes through the second screca
,-.- ssr";cr y eight fails. In it's dovrwar I'd
.,-.s.-- <e * strikes a lever wi.ich throws
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21

sand bank on the other side of the little VAL
ley and sailed through the air to the top Of
the hill. A slight variation in its course
and 1T would have crashed through the roof
or wall OF Mr.. Mason's house Mrs Mason
would probably not have suffered. for she
has reasonably secure retreat behind the
Kitchen chimney when the test shots are be-
ing fired. There are no social gaities at In
dian Head 1t would be a little awkward to
nave TO ask your guests to step out behind
the kitchen chimney for a minute to avoid
the shower of steel fragments following
test shot So the opportunities for social
enjoyment at the post are extremely limit
ed.
Great Gnas All Around.
Great guns are scattered all over the lit
tie valley. Just below the hill on the south
are a twelve-inch gun, which weighs about
siXty-iive tons, and a thirteen-inch gun,
which weighs a little mere. Both are prod
ucts of the naval gun factory at Washing
ton. which was established only ten years
ago. but which ranks today with the best
gun factories of the world. These are the
guns With which the recent tests of arrnor
AMI arfnor-pieTcing projectiles have been
uade. Beyond them is a group of small
ordnance. Not all of this is manufactured
a The Washington navy yard. 1t is the pol
Icy OF the Navy Department to encourage
the manufacture of small ordnance by pri-
vate concerns. 50 that their plants may be
aNaiiaoie IN case of war. In the middle of
the valley Is another group of smaller guns
I'm the otner Side OF the valley are the guns