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gee. (A UNSINKABLE SHIPS, From the American Ship. The great loss of life caused by foundering, and the many very narrow escapes is more than suggestive 5 First-class steamers ave generally divided into six water-tight compartments; practic- ally, only two of these are of any use, name- ly, the collision bulkhead and the atter one, any of the others filling would sink the ship. Even if they would not, one never has been ‘seen strong enough to stand the weight of water with a ship tumbling in a seaway. All passenger ships should be unsinkable. They should have longitudinal divisions running the whole length of the ship, through engine-room and all, and have ath- wartship bulkheads in such small divisions as would render their sinking impossible. Their strength should be properly tested. ‘The whole thing is only a matter of money. An unsinkable ship is entirely feasible. She would of course have twin serews. They would be a greatadvantage, as a total break- down would be nearly impossible. Light masts could be carried, and yards done away with. Experience has shown that in full- powered steamers they «re more harm than good. A very small sailing vessel hitting an iron steamer stem ov will knock a hole in her. Competition is forcing a dangerous econo- ny in everything at sea, except gilt and show. ‘The rates of passage money ure 80 low that without large cargoes, with a very few exceptions, it is impossible for ships to pay. Se THE FIRST [IRON SAILING SHIP. The Nautical Gazette, New York, says: The Tillie KE. Starbuck, the first full rigged iron sailing ship ever builtin the United States, sailed at 5:30 a, m., from her anchor- age eff Roach’s yard, Chester, Pa., for Port- land, Oregon. We give as an item for his- tory a list of her officers: Captain, William A. Rodgers; first mate, M. H. Sullivan; | second mate, J. H. Foley; third mate, John | Lindsay; steward, Philip Nichols; cook, Joseph Plasket; cabin boy, D.C. Carson; carpenter and engineer, David James. The crew, all told, numbers 24 hands. Young Carson, the cabin boy, is a Chester lad. He “is 16 years old and an orphan, both parents “being dead. Her cargo consists ot 22 loco- motives, 1,100 tons railroad iron, the hull, engine, boilers, ete., for a sidewheel steam! boat; 40 bales of waste, 3 lifeboats, one life raft, 90 tons of car springs, 60 tons of’ rail- read spikes, 1 turn table, 4 bridge girders, 3 barge loads of car wheels and axles, 15 tons railroad bolts, 20 tons of stove coal, 80 cords of cordwood used as dunnage, 12,600 feet of lumber boards, 3,000 feet of hemlock joist. The Starbuck, loaded, drew 19 féet 8 inches forward, and 20 feet 4 inches aft, but will lighten about 6 inches when salt water is reached. She was towed out to sea by the Protector. ‘The vessel and eargo is valued at about $900,000. ‘The yacht ‘Tillie accom- panied her a short distance down the river. ODD SCRAPS OF NEWS. The glorious Fourth of July draws near. Will the deadly toy-pistol come algo? Gentlemanly road agents* have indus- tilously begun the summer season ir Mon- tana. Fluctuations are effected so easily on our Board of Trade that the death of a horse is sufficient to occasion a decline in oats. The white perch of the Ohio are noted for the musical sounds they make. ‘he sound is much like that produced by a silk thread placed in a window where the wind blows across it. The Popular Science Monthly prints an article on the “cause of sea-sickness.” At this season of the year, and in view of the enormous European travel, this article is likely to have a large run. If the gentlemen on the West Side who claimed that He had made a discovery by which he could disperse clouds at will would only set up in practical business he wonld become rich before we are drowned out. Messers. David S. Jordan and Chas. H. Gilbert have prepared a synopsis of all known North American fishes, including both fresh and salt water species. ‘Their list embraces 1,340 specie’, belonging to 487 genera and 130 families. Alligator hunting is all the rage at Ta- vares, Fla. Every night parties may be seen along the shores of the lake trying to “shine”? the eyes of the surlans. A party last week killed eleven in one night. hey are killed for their hides and teeth, I SIGNALS ERNATIONAL FOG WANTED. New York Maritime Register. It is most singular that while many pre- cautions have been adopted for the protec- tion of lite and property at sea the very im- portant matter of providing against the risk of collision of vessels in a fog by a system of signals adequate to the wants of the vessel at such times seems to have been neglected. In the days when vessels were fewer and when the ocean was not traversed as much as it is now, the present method of signall- ing the approach of a vessel in a fog by keep- ing up a continual blowing of the conven- tional fog-horn on the sailing vessel and the hardly more effective whistle of the steamer may have answered its purpose very well, Then the likelihood of vessels meeting each other on the sen was much less than it is at the present time. This, as it reduced the probability of collision, was greatly in the fayor of the vessel. In these times, however, when steamers are so numerous ard when a vessel cunnot cross the ocean without meet- ing with very inany others on her way over, the present system—if so itean be called— of fog signals is most inadequate for the pro- tection of vessels in thick and foggy weather. The objection to itis that no detinite idea can be formed of the course of an approach- ing vessel either from the number or dura tion of her signals. Nothing is therefore in- dicated but thac a vessel is somewhere in the vicinity of one hearing the signals, ‘There is nothing todenote the course of either ves- sel, although they may be rapidly approach- ing each other with imminent 1 of collis ion. This is certainly a very primitive way of providing against great dangers and it is a reproach to the. intelligence of this uge that it has not been improved upon. It is time that a better system of fog signals should be adopted, A number of schemes with this object in view have been brought forward within recent years. Many of them however, were too complicated to be of any practical value, while a few of them proba: bly might, with some alteration, be made to serve the purpose for which they were in- tended. They all, however, agree upon the necessity for indicating the course the ves- sel was steering. do this effectively the sound which conveys the: sigiial should be full and Joad. It should be uttered with great distinetness and the interval between each sound and between each signal should be most clearly marked. Many practical shipmasters condemn the systems of this kind thus far invented and many even hold that anything which departs in the least from the methods of the present system will prove impracticable. But professional and experienced men have trom time immemo- rial protested against all innovations in their own line as being worthless. A better fog signalling system is wanted and can be made. A simple code by which the approx- imate course that a ship is steering might rea‘lily be made known to other vessels, to- gether with a signal indicating that a vessel is at anchor would seem to be all that is necessary to meet this want. .'There is no reason why some such code as this should not be adopted internationally. The neces- sity for such action has long existed and there is no good excuse for it not having re- ceived attention before this, it is a_precau: tion that is quite as necessary as any that have been taken for. the safety of vessel property on thé sea. Apart from this the lives of the great number of people who cross the ocean every year are put in more or Jess jeopardy by reason of this neglect. 7 “There are international signals for speaking vessels, international rules of the road, etc. Why then should there not be « system of international fog signals? If people in this and other countries who are interested in vessel property will give this matter their at- tention it will not be found so difficult to dis- cover some good plan whieh will insure greater safety in fogs. _—_- THE CAPTAIN’S PUDDING. The following story is told of a captain and his mate: Whenever there was a plum pudding made by the captain’s orders all the plums were put into one end of it, and that end placed next to the captain, who, after helping him- self, passed it to the mate, who never found any plums in his part of it. Well, atter this game had been played for some time the mate prevailed on the steward to place the end which had no plums in it next to the esptain. ‘The captain no sooner saw the pudding than he disecoverd that he nad the wrong end of it. Pieking up the dish and turning it in his hand as if merely examin- ing the china, he said, “This dish cost me | two shillings in Liverpool,’”’ and put it down again, as though without design, with the plum end next to himself. “Ts it possible,’ said the mate, taking up the dish. “I shouldn’t suppose it was worth more than a shilling,’? and as if in perfect innocence, he put down the dish with the plum end next to himself. The captain looked at the mate, the mate looked at the captain. The captain laughed, the mate laughed. “I tell you what, young one,’ said the | captain, “you've found me out, so we'll just cut the pudding lengthwise this time, and OUR ROTTEN NAVY. From the Phidelphia Record. Secretary of the Navy Chandler has di- rected that a number of vessels of various navy yards shall be sold, He singles out at League Island the ferry boat Burlington, a large paddle-wheel affair, along with others. This vessel was purchased by the Govern- ment in 1873 for the purpose of transporting material from the old uavy yard to League Island. It cost $40,000 and made about three trips. Since then it has been tied up at the wharf and not used, ‘The engines are those which were used in the old ferry boat, Burl- ington, once owned by the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company. When the rail- road company sold her an iron hull was built for the Burlington, and new beilers placed in her, ‘he boat was purchased from Oialogue & Wood, of Camden, upon the order of the then Secretary Robeson. The three trips made by her cost the Government just $13,333.62 eac She was offered to the department at the rate of $2,000 per month. Another boat to go is the Supply. She is barkrigged, and was purehased for use in carrying cxmels from foreign countries to ‘Texas during the war, the Government in- tending at the time to utilize the camels in earrying supplies. When the experiment was abandoned the Supply was used a3 a storeship for the South Pacifie fleet, ‘The vessel carried a partof the American exhibit to the Vienna Exhibition. She is # sailing vessel of 547 tons burden, and has not re- cently been in commission. The single-turreted monitor Dictator is ilso to be disposed of. It is of 4,500 tons, and is a wooden‘ iron-clad. ‘The monitor was used for a long time on the North Adclantic station, and carried two fifteen-ineh smooth- bore guns, At the time of the Virginis troubles she was.at) Key West, but was brought here for overhauling in anticipation of a war with Spain. At that time the craft was deemed the most seryiceable in the navy. It was necessary to change the crew eyery year because of the sickness of the men on board her. This was caused by their being compelled to live below for se longa period, The Dictator has been at this port for some years. : There are also two tugs, the Glance and the Sorrel. ‘The former was uged for some time as the Chiet Engineer’s boat in the Norfolk harbor, that official utilizing her to visit the various war ships.- ‘The Sorrel has no history, and for a long time has been the home of the fishes, being half sunk. At Chester is the three-turreted monitor Roanoke, which is also to be sold. She was one of the old-style steam frigates, but was cut down and converted intoa monitor. ‘The Government spent immense sums of money upon this craft—some. $2,000,000—but no service of account was obtained from it, She made a cruise in- Hampton Roads for a short time, and, like the Dictator, was’ sent here during the Cuban excitement. Since then nothing has been done with her.. It is. said John Roach has a heavy claim for wharfage and repairs against the cratt. ' OCEAN ETIQUEY. Boston ‘Traveller: Eighty thousand Americans annually visit Europe. Of this number 40,000 sail from the port of New York. ‘They spend upon an average while abroad $2,500 apiece. The greater number are ladles, Such is the statement made by a Broadway traveling commission firm toa journalier. The importance of these annual pilgrimages which are increasing vear by year, has. developed a system of ovean-eti- quet that governs the conduct of what may be termed the best circles of “maritime so- ciety.” Nowadays the captain of a crack ovean stexamer must not only be a first-class sailor, but he must also be a man of infinite tact and method, with a thorough knowl- edge of what “society” requires at his hands. To sitat the “right of the captain” at table at onee accords to the occupants of that dis- tinguished honor the highest place in the social seale on board ship, and the position is competed for with an amount of anxiety that is very amusing. The senior surgeon and his assistant (when two are carried) aet as deputies, and rank socially next in im- portance to the captain himself. How to accommodate the yarious claims for this cove eted position is 2 matter of serious moment. ‘The personnel of the passenger list is closely searched at least forty-eight hours before the vessel sails. Very often the purser is called into consultation, and the difficulty is finally settled by placing a card bearing the passenger's name upon his or her plate. From this detision there is no appeal. Lt frequently happens, however, that one ot more persons may consider themselves slighted, and where it is probable that the |imoginary slight may disturb the social har- mony the captain escapes by taking his {meals in his own room. ———— A rope clamp designed to facilitate splic- ing hempen or wire ropes without entting or otherwise injuring the same, has been patented by Mr. Charles Littlefield, of Vi- !nalhaven, Me. ‘The two clamp plates connected by links and | pins, one of the pins passing through and working in an inclined slot formed upon the back of one of the jaws or plates, whereby the device may be applied to ropes of any kind or size and may be readily attached to have the plums fairly distributed hereafter.” |or detached therefrom. fnvention consists of | ! | Utah. MECHANICAL INVENTIONS A micrometer guage of improved construc- tion has been patented by Mr. George W. Church, of Roseville, N.J. ‘I'he object ot this invention is to provide a micrometer guage in which the measuring bar may be forced against the object to be measured, al- ways with acertain uniform pressure, there- by insuring accuracy of measurement with- out reference to the force applied. Mr. Charles H. Parsons, ot Shauk’s, O., is the patentee of an improved elliptic spring. ‘This invention consists of an improved con- struction of the end joints of elliptic springs. Ln this improvement the lower plate is made to hold caps to keep the plates together, and the upper one rests on the coil of the Jower one, 80 as to relieve the joint bolt of wear, and so that the welding of flanges on one of the plates to support the pivot bolt is evoid- ed, und the injury thereby caused to the metal prevented, Mr. J. E. Dowson, of Westminster, Lon- don. England, bas received a United States patent for an apparatus for the manufacture of gas. . This invention relates to the manu facture of non-luminous heating gas, made by passing steam and air, or steam only, through incandescent, carbonaceous fuel. ‘The improvements chiefly refer te. appara- tus for making such gas; but the inventor claims that some of them may be also useful for other purposes. The'following conclusion are credited to Aitken as thé result of extensive observa- nd experiment. Whenever vapor con- in the atmosphere, the condensation ys made ona solid nevcles, which is ed by particles of dust. Without dust there would be neither mists or clouds, and the super-saturated air would transtorm every object upon the earths surface intoa condenser upon which it would deposit its excess water, Whenever the breath becomes visible in a cold atmosphere it demonstrates the impure and dusty condition of the air. The foam of the sea, meteric matter, and fires are fertile sourcés of the dust and im- purity. : MORMON RECRUI'TS Two of the propagandists recently gave a reporter of the Charlotte Journal an outline of their operations in North Carolina. ‘They arrived in that State some time last March. There are seventeen of these apostles of prostitution at work in North Carolina, and since that time they have been holding meet- ings and making converts.’ ‘They have had considerable success. ‘The propagandists work separately, but meet at stated times and places to compare notes and map outa hew programme. They work quietly and systematically, and their presence is known only to those who are willing to attend their meetings. ‘The propagandists must be: good talkers and judges of human nature. ‘They degin by riding about a neighborhood, stopping at houses.and asking for a drink of water or for meals until they know the wo- men, and the weaker of these are selected as victims. ‘They are informed of meetings to be held, and invited to attend, and at these ineetings the prostitution business is never disclosed, and the converts rarely know the fate that awaits them until they reach Utah. Adispatch from Rutherford, N. C., says: Great indignation and talk of lynching were the result of the first: public services held at Dunean’s creek by the Mormon missionaries who have been gathering recruits here for the past two weeks. ‘The four missionaries have been holding prayer meetings and pre- s-nting flattering inducements to converts. This evening seven women and three men who had professed the faith were baptized in Dunean’s creek. Several hundred peo- ple, about half being women, gathered on the banks to witness the ceremony. ‘he place was lit up by pine knots and torches, The converts and missionaries arrived about 70 clock and went toa small house adjacent, and when night tell the entire party of con- verts, male and female, accompanied by the four missionaries, Jett the building, all of them entirely naked and divested of every article of clothing. At first us they marehed to the water there was a murmur of surprise among the crowd, soon followed by hisses bat they did not interfere with the party. The rite was performed in the middle of the ereeck, where the water was reely waist deep, two of the missionaries carrying pine knots in their hands. After the ceremony a committee of 2itizens waited upon the Mor- jmons and gave them notice to quit’ the county at once on pain of sutnmary justice, Several of the women in the party are quite pretty and have borne good characters, The Mormons are demoralized and gave assur- ance that they would Jeave to-morrow for + THOUSANDS bo rr, Men will spend mints of money for to- bacco, rum and fast horses, but’ it their wives get feeble, need a little toning up and ask for 25 cents to purehase “bottle ot Swayne’s pills, which are entirely vegetable, why—they “havn’t got the change.” For liver complaint, purifying the blood sick headache, jaundice, dropsy, conjestive fevers billiousness, constipation, epilepsy female irregularities they are a never failing reme- dy. Ask your druggist tor them and take no other,