The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-11

fined to no people or class. The
army is no exception, and the yarns
of some of its raconteurs lose moth
ing of their entertaining qualities
because their authenticity might
reasonably be doubted.
Years ago there was one particu
lar cavalry officer who was endow-
ed with qualities rivaling those of
Munchausen. Though he was not
old, those who kept account of the
time he had consumed in his vari-
GUS experiences could not escape
that he had been actively engaged
in mans pursuit for over a cen
fury at least. His yarns were
unique. For instance: At one
time he was in Scandinavia with
his father who, according to the
story, was head forester for the
king Part of his duties was to
select and send to the royal ship.
yards especially fine ship timbers.
One monarch of the forest had long
challenged his admiration. But
year after year he felt obliged re-
gretfully to pass it by for want of
transportation facilities. At last
he could resist no longer. The
king must have this pride of the
forest. After carefully preparing
a bed to prevent its breaking in
the fall the splendid tree was fell
ed. AS an agent of the monarch
he reQuisitioned oven to haul it.
So heavy was the log that when
the great number of oxen required
to move IL were yoked up they
strung out for miles. The long and
tedious journey began, and, in
crossing some of the valleys, it
frequently occurred that the lead
ing teams would be on one hill
top and the log on another, while
Miles Of oxen were suspended in
midair like a great centipede with
legs dangling, hundreds of feet
above the ground beneath them
Again, he was in Cape Colony
with his father, who this time was
an agent of the British government
and in charge of the great govern
ment warehouses. Increasing
needs made an additional ware
house necessary. All building ma
terials had to be brought from Eng
land. 1t took year to get them.
At last the long delayed material
arrived and, following the custom
of the time and place, everything
in readiness, all the men in the vi
cinity were invited to the rails
ing When, 10 and behold,
through some blunder one of the
principal tmbers had been cut IS
inches too short. Unless remedied
it meant delay of another year.
MY father" said he, thought a
moment and then ordered one end
of the timber chained fast; to the
other end he hitched a pair of
strong young African oxen and be-
gan to pull and, by the Lord Harry,
before he could stop them they
stretched that timber % inches."
Again. he was in Glasgow, this
time on his own account and at the
head of great shipyard. The
place was infested with rats. So
destructive were the rodents that
they gnawed great holes in the
hulls of new vessels and felled
their masts. How to get rid of
them was a question. Many at
tempts had been made, followed
by as many failures. In the midst
of the distress appeared a vaga-
bond, who claimed to have discov-
cred means of banishing rats.
But little attention was paid to his
claims. He was persistent and
confident. Finally he was per-
mitted to make a trial. All open.
ing to the yard but one were
tightly closed. The tramp entered
and sprinkled throughout the
premises a mysterious white now