Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05

"I wonder who is going to have the story
OF ;he largest bass next season.? inquired
man who is well known in sporting circles
of n friend one day this week
Give it up" his friend responded. you
know last year Maj. Sylvester caught
whaler and had the record until Charles
I.ocraft came along with one that weighed
little more. But the major got the prize
because he landed his fish with reel of a
particular pattern
big mouth bass have been plentiful this
winter" said the angler who had asked
the question land I'm told that ,some Of
them have been photographed. These pho
tographs may be used next summer. The
largest fish of this species have ever seen
have been in market this winter. They
were from North Carolina and weighed as
much as fifteen pounds. 1t would not be
surprising If some of them have been pho
tographed."
During the discussion of the fish question
IL was related that the fish have fairly
filled the creeks and branches about this
city and hundreds of them have been
caught.
You know they were plentiful" said one
angler. when the boys were smuggling
them the same as they do herring in the
spring. They were particularly plentiful
about places where the waste from boilers
empted into the river, and their conduct
was very much on the order Of that of cat
fish in searching for food. The snagging
was stopped and then some fish We're taken
from beneath the ice with the hand. 1t
was possible to locate the fish through the
ice, and the fishermen would get them by
cutting a hole through the ice and taking
hold Of them before they were aware of the
mans presence.
This method of taking the fish from the
river" he explained, was also stopped and
then the fishermen were out of business.
Later 1t was found that some of the fish
were killed by the ice at low tide in places
where there was shoal water. and these fish
they were permitted to take
x X
The newspapers of the country have been
giving wide circulation to a story emanat-
Ing from Salt Lake City, to the effect that
the bodies of thirty men who persisted from
thirst have been found in the desert be-
tween Moapa and Los Vegas, New.
The tale. which is richly embellished. de-
scribes the bodies as being entirely nude
and giving evidence that the victims. be-
coming insane from their sufferiugs, had
drunk the waters of Dead Mems Well"
The waters of this well, while temporarily
relieving thirst are claimed to be sure
death to those who drink it.
Since the publication of this tale one OF
has been besieged with communications
from curious people asking for particulars
One indignant citizen demands that the
government shall Immediately proceed to
cover this well or put up sign warning all
travellers of the sure death which turks in
its pellucid depths for all those who would
guam It's waters.
"A prominent hydrologist today said: We
have no information as to the so-called
Dead Mems Well. Doubtless 1T Is one of
fhe many shallow dug wells which have
been made and abandoned 1t rs improb-
able that the water is palatable so that one
would be able to drink sufficient even to al
leviate his thirst or to be poisoned by 1t.
Most of the desert waters contain salt,
borax or 'alkah. that they are not
drinkable. There are thousands OF such
water holes in western United States, and
It would not be practicable to put signs On
them"
< X X
! The inordinats fondness of the American
Indian for blue uniform. and his high and
lofty respect for the wearer of such a uni
form, and especially policeman, was
shown at the White House recently, when
the famous Nez Perces chief Joseph called
there to see the President. Joseph Is prob
ably the brainiest Indian in the United
States. Next TO Sitting Bull he gave the
Rrmy OF this country more trouble in 1877
than any other chief in history, but he has
a great weakness for blue uniform After
he had left the Presidents room Chief
Joseph stopped in the vestibule of the
Presidents offices TO wait for Representative
Curtis OF Kansas. who accompanied him.
10 talk with the newspaper men. While
Mr.. Curtis talked Chief Josephs eye rest
ed in admiration upon the fine. manly form
and bright uniform Of the policeman at the
door. The attraction was the only one that
had caused the stern old chief a smile or a
look Of admiration all day. but the police
man was unconscious Of the awe and re-
spect In which he was held by the Indian
AS Josephs party started out the old chief
with a broad smile on his face. put out his
right hand and with a cordial grunt "How-
how" grasped the hand of the officer. The
indian on western reservation who can
get possession of discarded uniform will
wear 1t until Ii falls off. and he Is regarded
with envy by the other Indians II some
or the stands In Washington that deal In
cast7oh clothing were doing business in tbe
west. and could supply the uniforms OF no.
ncemen. they would reap large profits in
dealing with the Indians.
4 X
Higher education is having its certain
effect on the masses in Washington. but
IN no quarter Is its influence so apparent IA
among the older generation of the coiored
race, who are many OF them receiving its
benefits rather late in life In all the de-
partments may be seen the young and old
colored men with books whenever they get
an opportunity to momentarily rest from
their labors and Indulge themselves I'm
reading for pleasure or study. Among this
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