The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19

train IS run upon another track.
When a flying switch is TO be made
the engineer causes the train TO travel at
considerable speed the coupling between
the engine and the train Is then undone, and
the engine. at a greater speed, runs from
the still moving train upon the track all
ready for it. Immediately after the engine
has passed the switch points, the switch is
changed to throw the train running with
its own momentum, upon another track. A
flying switch is also called a running
switch.
l. Will you state when, where and why
was the first national bank established in
the United States? i have searched faith
tully, and the nearest to the time can find
IS 1854 ?. Please also inform me when and
whore was the first railroad built in Texas.
j. A. NJ.
The first national bank in the United
States is the First National Bank of New
York city, founded in June or July, 1864, in
consequence of the passage of the national
banking act, which became a law on June
g. 1864. 2. In 1S4S the Galveston & Red
River Railway Company was incorporated;
the name was changed to Houston & Texas
Central Company in 1856. The company OPP
Grated a road from Houston to Millican be-
fore the war, which was the first Texas
railroad.
1 think I have heard that modern critics
arrange the books of the Old Testament in
another order from that of the ordinary
English Bible Can you tell me what the
new order is?-Old Fogey.
1t is not such a new order; it is the or
der followed by the Hebrews in their
Bibles. The Old Testament consists of
three divisions-the Law (Thorah) the
Prophets and the Scriptures (Ketubim.)
The law consists of the Pentateuch, gen.
orally ascribed to Moses; Genesis, Exodus
Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The
prophets consist of these books, in the fol-
lowing order: Joshua, Judges, Samuel,
Kings Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the
Twelve Minor Prophets. The scriptures or
writings consist of the Psalms, Proverbs
Job, Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations Ec-
clesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah
and Chronicles. The Chronicles are dragged
wholly out of their chronological place in
the present arrangement, for they date
down to at least 442 B. C. Modern criti-
cism Of the Old Testament has not altered
so much the arrangement of the books as
it has found dates for them, and writer's
different from those to whom they are
usually ascribed. For instance, two sepa-
rate and distinct writer's have been found
in Genesis-one speaks of God always as
Eloha, the other as Janvah. And so in
other books.
What was the Alamo, or the affair of
the Alamo?'-Parson.
The Alamo was a fort near San Antonio,
Tex, so called because of the almond trees
(alamo) that grew near it. During the war
Of Texan independence against Mexico 140
Texans, under Col. WlnIam Travis, were
besieged in the fort by some 1900 Mexicans,
JNa-
gan Feb. 3d. 1886. After a few days thirty
two men from San Felipe managed to pass
the Mexican lines making the garrison all
told IT'S persons, including women and chill
dren. On March the Mexicans assaulted
twice but were driven back; third time
they captured the fort, killing every person
in it except nine. Col. Davy Crockett sur
rendered himself on a promise of safety
but was murdered by Santa Annals orders;
Colonel Bowie, the inventor of the bowie
knife, was killed as he lay i'll in bed, but
not until he had killed several of his assail-
ants. Major Evans shot while trying
to explode the powder in the magazine
three others were murdered with Crockett
Only three persons-a woman, a child and
a servant were permitted to escape. The
Mexicans had lost 1000 men in the three
attacks. On April 81, 1896. the Texans met
battle cry was Remember the Alamo!
The Mexican army was entirely defeated,
and Santa Anna himself was taken pris-
oner.