Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20

through the investigations of the Agricul-
tural Department here and we have quit
killing hawks, especially the swalIow-tailed
kites, as they destroy cotton worms in vast
numbers. We now realize that hawks are
worth many thousands of dollars annually
to the people Of Mississippi"
1.-THE most exciting fight I ever saw was
near Deadwood," said DR.. E. c. Williams,
retired army surgeon, at the Ebbitt 'Our
post was rather small one, and. as there
had been rumors Of trouble with the Sioux.
we had sent for reinforcements. A band of
Indians prowling around the post was
placed under. arrest ane locked up in the
guard house. It showed hard that evening,
and in the middle Of Che night we were
! awakened by the most 'hideous yells from
the savages We did not take time to put on
our clothes. Every soldier jumped out of
bed, seized his gun and rushed out into the
snow, clad only in his night clothes. The
moon was shining brightly, and will never
forget the soldiers in white, the snow on the
ground and the Indians in their war paint.
The battle was sharp and decisive; both
sides fought like demons. and the Indians
were driven away, but not until number
OF soldiers were killed or wounded. One of
the Indians was killed just he was climb
ing over the fence Of the stockade, and his
body hung over the fence, while his painted
face cleaned in the moonlight It was a
horrible sight Several soldiers were laid up
In hospital with frozen feet, and none
escaped injury from their fight for life in
from the weather."
r. G. Macarthur of Hennepin, ILL.,, is at
the Riggs. "Hennepin is the head of navi-
cation on the Illinois river and the ter
minus Of the Illinois and Michigan canal"
he said. Near 1t, along the banks of the
river. are many springs making air holes
IN he r.to<a
great many screech owls, and on moon
light nights sight can be witnessed that
is unique. AS is universally known, screech
owls are very fond of fish, and even more
expert than hawks or eagles in catching
them. At one place in the Illinois river
there are probably hundred small springs,
and at night each spring is guarded by an
owl, who sits in a dignifled, stately way on
the Ice watching the water, never seeming,
however, to move his head or even turn
his eyes. Suddenly he will dive down into
the air hole and come up with fish in his
mouth. and another owl that has evidently
been waiting for his turn will take the DO
sition vacated at the side of the air hole.
Once in awhile one will screech, but as
rule they are solemn. and it is the solem-
nifty of the scene that makes it SO pic
turesQue."
ut is generally supposed that family re-
semblances are confined to the animal
world" said ]. L. Hagans of Salyersville,
KY, at the Metropolitan. But on the out
skirts of Salyersville is an oak tree which
as soon as a person sees it recalls the IA
nous charter oak. It Is frequently COM
mented upon, and now that the original
charter oak is broken, men who have seen
pictures of what 1t used to be and then look
at the Ken tucky tree instantly recognize
that it is an exact counterpart Of the old
tree. I. Ia the child Of the original charter
oak. Sixty years ago Judge Smith, who is
still living, at i very advanced age, in Gin
cinnati, visited Hartford and brought home
pocketful of acorns from the charter oak.
These were planted, and the result is the
tree that is counterpart Of its famous
parent"