The Butte inter mountain., 1901-07-31
GOSSIP AND NEWS GRAB-b0x.

HE latest and oldest of inventions for
hfe-saving at sea Is q life belt that
carries a light to guide the struggling
by contact with the sea water. This de-
vice IS reported from Germany.
In the new apparatus a buoy Of globular
form carries from two to four life belts,
and supports q long cylinder Of sheet tin,
having twelve compartments filled with
carbide of calcium. These compartments
are arranged at different elevations.
When the apparatus is thrown into the
sea the water passes through perforations
in the bottom of the cylinder and, coming
acetylene gas. The gas is conducted
through pipes to burner attached to each
compartment.
When the volume of gas in the cylinder
decreases hydrostatic pressure opens the
: valves and allows water to enter the next
compartment to generate additional sup
ply of gas. The gas is lighted electrically
and 25 seconds after the buoy is thrown
into the sea the light is shining brightly.
1t is protected from the wind by glass and
burns steadily and with great intensity for
tnree or four hours.
i Only few minutes are occupied in
cleaning and reflling the apparatus, the
cost of charge being about II cents. The
whole apparatus weighs only 33 pounds.
and produces light equal to 1o0-candle
power.
The Sandy Hook Pilots club is not in the
social register. yet it Is the most exclusive
club in New York. You might apply for ad-
mission for membership now, but you
wouldn't get in for ten or twelve years
and you would be more fortunate than
some present members if you got in even
then. For. unlike the Authors club. which
is not all author, or the Golf club which
is not entirely golfer. or the athletic club.
which is not wholly athlete. the Pilots
club Is all pilot And to be pilot you
must serve first, two years before the mast.
lnen six years as an apprentice on pilot
boat, then one or two years as pilot. So
that. usually twelve years pass before a
pilot gets a full license.
-
A harvest hand at Colby. Kan. was con-
victed of a crime which carried Jail SEN
tence. His employer appeared before Judge
Smith and said he needed the mans serv-
ice in the wheat field, and wouldn't the
judge defer the sentence unl44 the next
term of court in September? The judge
would and did.
! The latest invention in fire escapes for
! residences is being put into one of the
houses buil,.-..g in Fifth avenue. New
York. The casual observer knows nothing
about it. for it is in the middle of the
house. A contractor thus describes it:
I'VE are building sheetiron shaft in the
center of the mouse from the top floor to
i tie basement. The walls are half an inch
J ----~K, and so are the doors which open on
each floor. A.ere is spiral stairway of
iron, which can be reached from any floor.
From the basement tunel of iron runs
out into the street The whole thing is alb
solutely fireproo4. and the invention is go
ing to take wnere the builders have plenty
of money and do not want to spoil the
outer appearance of the house."
In locallng the Virginia & Southwestern
railroad through the Alieghenies from Vir-
ginia into Tennessee advantage was taken
of natural tunnel which is one of the
wonders of the world. The distance through
this tunel Is about 1000 feet, and so nearly
perfect is the tunnel that only 60 feet of
blasting was necessary. The region Is OF
limestone formation, as always where
there are extensive caves. The cliffs at
each end of the tunnel are 400 feet high
and the scenery in the locality is re-
markably fine.
In the north of England an influential
company is being foated to promote ITEM
perance by eliminating as far as possible
the element of private profit from the re-
tail sale of Intoxicating liquors. The COM
pany seeks to lease Or purchase existing
pubnc houses. to acquire new licenses at
, places where the growth of the population
induces the licensing magistrate to grant
them, and to esta.-fsh canteens and re-
freshment bars where required at large
public works, ship yards. collieries, and
! elsewhere.
| Democratic simplicity marks the banking
house of j. p. Morgan Co. Seated OH
! one of the steps leading up to the bank
| ing house the other day were Robert Ba-
! con of the firm of Lewis Cass Ledyard.
! counsel Of the Stock Exchange. Mr.. Bacon
! was hatess and coatless. Behind them
| stood Charles Steel. also of the firm, who
did not accept an invitation to be seated.
! Past them and into the offices walked 4
quiet old man, whose clothes indicated
! that he hailed from some prosperous H.
! terror town. He semed highly delighted
| when told that he might walk about the
! front Offices. Mr. Morgan, 1t seems
only objects to such visitors under
take to stand outside of the we'll known
glass partition and stare at him while he
| is working at his desk.
1 -.
/ Thousands of drunken fish in Maiden
! Creek, near Reading, Pa, recently af'
forded great amusement to hundreds OF
| people along the banks of the stream
The distillery and warehouse of Aaror
Dunkle at Berkeley burned and 200 barrels
of whisney were emptied into the water
Bass carp, catfish. sun fish and eels float
ed on the surface. Some were lively and
kicking while others were stupefied anG
still Tubs Of fish were captured before
they got over their spree and returned
to quarters.