The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 47, September 30, 1897 / A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls
Date: 2005-06-08T00:00:00+00:00
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Title: The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 47, September 30, 1897

Author: Various

Editor: Julia Truitt Bishop

Release date: June 8, 2005 [eBook #16025]
Most recently updated: December 14, 2020

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team.(www.pgdp.net)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT ROUND WORLD AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN IT, VOL. 1, NO. 47, SEPTEMBER 30, 1897 ***

Vol. 1            September 30, 1897.            No. 47

Copyright, 1897, by The Great Round World Publishing Company.

It is said that the Sultan of Turkey has at last made up his mind to do something for the Armenians, and has ordered that a commission visit the villages that have suffered from the massacres, and make a careful note of the schools, churches, and monasteries which have been destroyed.

This Royal Commission is composed of two Mussulmans, three Armenians, and one Greek.

It is to start immediately, and the Sultan has ordered that a careful note of all the damage done shall be taken, and a full report rendered to him. It is his intention to reconstruct every building that has been destroyed.

In addition to this, he intends to erect orphan asylums for the children whose parents were killed during the massacres.

If this report is really true it will greatly rejoice Europe as well as the unfortunate people it is intended to benefit, for the impossibility of making the Sultan do anything for the Armenians has been worrying the various European governments considerably.

There is nothing new to tell about the peace negotiations.

England insists that the Turks shall leave Thessaly, and it seems as if the other Powers were willing to agree with her. The Sultan has thus far raised no new objections, and it looks as if peace would be concluded within a very short time.

The Cubans are rejoicing over the news which we have to tell you this week.

They have won a great victory which is of the utmost importance to their cause.

Under the leadership of Gen. Calixto Garcia, the insurgents have taken Victoria de las Tunas, a large town in the province of Santiago de Cuba.

This town was considered one of the great Spanish strongholds in Eastern Cuba. At the beginning of the present revolution it was freshly fortified, and at the time of its capture was defended by seven forts, which were armed with first-class guns.

It was garrisoned by a force of three hundred soldiers, but after a fight which lasted three days, the commander surrendered.

The loss of this town was such a severe blow, that the moment the bad news reached Spain a Cabinet Council was called, to discuss the situation. It was decided that the Spanish cause must be upheld at all hazards, and that fresh troops must immediately be sent to Cuba, to strike some decisive blow which shall offset the triumph of the Cubans.

The capture of this town is of great value to the Cubans for several reasons, one of which is that it breaks the strength of Spain in Eastern Cuba.

We have told you before that this part of the island is now known as Free Cuba, that the insurgent government controls it, and that there are no Spanish troops marching through it, ravaging it or laying it waste. What soldiers Spain still keeps in this part of the island are shut up in a few large and important towns.

These towns are, however, more of a burden than a profit to the Government, for the Spaniards dare not venture out into the surrounding country, the Cubans being too strong for them.

They are thus practically besieged; their supplies have to be sent to them from Havana, and they are entirely dependent on the main army for support.

For months past the great object of the Cuban troops in Eastern Cuba has been to waylay the baggage-trains carrying these supplies. Again and again they have been attacked, the guard slaughtered, and the provisions captured. The Cubans have begun to boast that such comforts as their army is now enjoying have been supplied to them through these forays on the enemy.

Bayamo, one of the towns that especially depended on the convoys, is in a state bordering on starvation, as the last three trains sent to her relief have been captured.

The Spaniards declare that a force of ten thousand men is necessary to take provisions to Bayamo in safety.

But it is not alone the importance of their victory which pleases the Cubans in the capture of Las Tunas. Their great cause for rejoicing is that at this battle the Spaniards for the first time accorded them the rights of belligerents. That is to say, the Spaniards treated them as soldiers engaged in legitimate warfare, not as brigands and bandits.

The Spanish commander himself requested that the Cubans should consent to an exchange of prisoners.

That you may understand the importance of this request, you must remember that there are especial rules and laws which govern the conduct of a war, and from which no nation dares depart, unless it wishes to be branded as inhuman and savage.

One of these laws relates to the care of prisoners. Prisoners of war must not be treated like criminals, for they have done no wrong. The patriotism that makes a man willing to give his life for his country is a virtue, not a crime, and therefore prisoners of war must always be treated as honorable men. Nothing should be done to them but to keep them in confinement, and prevent them from fighting.

As every prisoner captured weakens the fighting force of the enemy, all armies try to take as many captives as they can. During a war it is customary frequently to exchange prisoners; that is to say, each side gives back the prisoners they hold, in exchange for their own soldiers who are held by the other side.

Brigands, bandits, and rebels are not considered prisoners of war, and when captured are treated as criminals.

Up to the time of the capture of Victoria de las Tunas, the Spaniards utterly refused to exchange prisoners with the Cubans. They have insisted that the Cubans were rebels, and have shot their captives without mercy.

The Cubans have tried in every way to get the Spaniards to treat them fairly and acknowledge their rights as a nation at war, but have been unable to do so.

Now the situation is changed, and Spain has at last acknowledged the belligerency of Cuba to a certain extent.

When it was found that Las Tunas could hold out no longer, an unarmed officer was sent out to parley with the Cubans. He said that the commander would surrender if the Cuban General would consent to spare the lives of the garrison, and grant them their liberty in case an exchange of prisoners could be arranged.

General Garcia was only too pleased to agree to these terms, and the forts were delivered over to him.

Eighty-seven Spaniards were afterward exchanged for an equal number of Cubans.

It is thought that the Cubans will endeavor to improve the advantage they have gained by holding the city of Las Tunas, and establishing their government there.

One of the reasons why both Mr. Cleveland and President McKinley have hesitated to acknowledge the war rights of Cuba was that the Cubans did not hold one important city in which to establish a government. Their government was carried on in secret and hidden places, and the army wandered from camp to camp, without one stronghold to call its own.

Should the Cubans fortify Las Tunas, all these objections will be removed, and the United States may be able to grant these brave people the rights they ask for.

Once recognized as belligerents, they will be able to buy what they need in our ports, and fit out a navy to fight Spain.

The Spaniards are fearful that some such action will be taken. The Government in Madrid has cabled to Weyler that Las Tunas must be retaken at any cost.

An attempt has already been made on the town, but the Spaniards were routed by the Cubans, who still retain possession of their prize.

The Spanish prisoners who were exchanged have been put under arrest for surrendering. They will be court-martialled, that is to say, tried by military court, and called upon to explain why they gave up the town.

From the Cuban accounts that have reached us, it seems that they attribute the victory to the fine work done by a new artillery corps which General Garcia has just organized. An artillery corps is made up of a number of cannon, each having its regular number of gunners to serve it. The artillery is a very valuable assistance in all warfare.

The new corps of gunners had only lately landed on Cuban soil. It consists mainly of American sympathizers with the Cuban cause. The guns they serve are two heavy cannon, six rapid-firing guns, and one dynamite-gun.

The Cubans declare that as soon as the dynamite-gun went into action the victory was assured.

On the other hand, the Spanish claim that the loss of the city was due to the poor communication kept up on their side between the posts.

For more than two weeks before the attack on the city, the commander at Las Tunas had been aware that the Cubans were advancing, and contemplated an assault on it.

He therefore used the heliograph, and with it flashed the news to the Spanish stations on the Canto River, asking that reinforcements be sent him. He was surprised to receive no answer, and again and again the mirrors flashed his message across the hills. No response was received.

For some unknown reason the commander did not send out scouts and messengers to find out why his despatches were left unanswered. Not receiving any response to his messages, it is strange that he did not send scouts to find out the reason; but the idea does not seem to have occurred to him that the stations on the Canto River had been captured or abandoned.

He throws the whole blame of the disaster on the river stations, and declares that if they had only answered his appeal, Las Tunas might have been saved.

As a matter of fact, the insurgents had been so active in the neighborhood of the Canto River that the garrisons had all been abandoned, and the messages from Las Tunas were never received.

The fall of Las Tunas has made the fate of Holguin, Bayamo, and Jiguani very uncertain. These are other towns which Spain still holds in "Free Cuba." The Spaniards fear that they too will soon fall into the hands of the insurgents. It is rumored that Garcia has already sent an expedition against Holguin.

Reports have reached us that a president has been elected for Cuba. The reports, however, do not agree, and it is therefore impossible to make any decided statement about the matter.

One telegram states that General Bartolome Maso has been elected, while another, on equally good authority, says that the new Cuban president is Señor Domingo Mendez Capote. Señor Capote is a young lawyer, and while a bright and clever man, was not thought of as a possible candidate for the office. His election, if it is confirmed, will be a great surprise.

The only information which we get reaches us through Havana. It had been arranged that couriers should carry the news of the election to the West as soon as the result was known. No courier has, however, arrived in Havana. Such information as we have received has been sent through channels that may not be reliable.

General Lee has been interviewed in regard to the state of affairs in Cuba.

He gives a very sad picture of the once prosperous island. He says that there is no business doing but that which deals with the actual daily needs. No crops are being raised, except those that are required to supply food, and even these are maintained under difficulties, for the Spaniards destroy when they can all the crops the Cubans try to raise, and the Cubans try to do the same toward the Spanish. Between the two the island is being laid waste.

General Lee also says that he has distributed about $15,000 of the $50,000 appropriated by Congress for the relief of the sufferers. He says that there are very few native-born Americans among those who apply to him for help. They are mostly Cubans who have come to America and become naturalized.

Considerable anxiety is being felt on the score of General Woodford's mission.

He has been presented to the Queen Regent, and we must now wait patiently to know how the Spanish Government will receive the message which he bears from our President.

There are new rumors of a Carlist rising.

It is stated that Don Carlos and his advisers are still waiting for a favorable opportunity to come forward and press their claims.

Don Carlos is still afraid of prejudicing the people against him by coming forward and trying to seize the throne at a moment when the country is in so much trouble. He is hoping that the new leaders of the Government will make some mistake which will render it possible for him to come forward and declare himself the only person who can save the country.

It is stated on most reliable authority that the Carlists have secretly established an elaborate military organization. They have, so it is said, made lists of all the men who are willing to fight for Don Carlos, and have arranged and mustered them in troops and companies, posting each man as to his place and duties. When the time comes that the Carlists unfurl their standard and revolt against the Government of Spain, they expect, by these means, to have a well-drilled army to back up the claims of the Pretender.

Arrangements have been made for the Carlist leaders to meet at Lucerne in Switzerland. They are to discuss the situation. Many of them think that they have been passive long enough, and that it is now high time that a decided attempt should be made to secure the crown for their candidate.

A flutter of excitement was caused in this country the other day by the news that a Spanish officer had been inspecting our Southern coast defences, and had made sketches of some of them to send to Madrid.

Our Government ordered the matter investigated, and it was found that the man who had apparently been spying on our forts was a lieutenant in the Spanish navy named Sobrai. He is known to us as being the author of certain letters, calling attention to the weakness of our coast defences.

On his arrival in Charleston, Señor Sobrai chartered a boat and went over to Sullivan's Island, where the new forts are being constructed, and spent the day examining them.

He was not admitted inside the works, and could only make his observations from the outside. A new regulation has lately been made by the War Department, forbidding any persons to inspect the new defences, except American army and navy officers.

When Lieutenant Sobrai heard of the accusation against him, he protested against it vigorously. He said that he had not made the slightest effort to inspect any of our Southern forts or coast defences.

He declared that he had been in the South on a confidential mission from his Government, and that his visit to Sullivan's Island was merely to escape the intolerable heat of the city.

Whether his statement be true or false, the scare which he caused will have the good effect of making our Government still more careful about admitting strangers to our forts.

The reports from India are not as encouraging as they were last week.

There seems to have been small foundation for the statement that the Mullah had ordered his followers to go back to their homes, and had disbanded his forces because of the refusal of the Mohmands to join him.

It is true that the Mohmands have not risen, and that the British have little or no fear that they mean to make trouble; but the Afridis are just as troublesome as ever.

They have now been joined by a new tribe called the Orakzais. If these people are as terrible as their name, they must be an unpleasant enemy.

The news comes from the hills that these two tribes now represent a force of forty-seven thousand men, and that they are advancing on the Samana Hills, where the British have a number of small forts.

The tribesmen apparently intend to attack and demolish these forts.

Some brave fighting is being done in these hills. One of the forts was attacked by a body of Orakzais, one thousand strong. Its garrison consisted of twenty native soldiers, who defended themselves with wonderful heroism for a period of six hours.

One of these men whose duty it was to signal to the other forts remained at his post until the fort was captured. In spite of the bullets that were whistling around him, he continued sending his messages of warning until he was overcome by the enemy.

Another had been told off to defend the guard-room of the fort. He remained at his post, killing twenty of the enemy before he was shot down himself.

Of the whole garrison, but one man remained alive when the assault was over.

These heroes were not white men, but native subjects of Queen Victoria. They belonged to a people called the Sikhs, natives of the Punjaub, a northern province of Hindustan.

With such brave men as these loyal to their standard, the British should take heart about their future in India.

The expedition which is to be sent out to punish the rebellious tribes is being hurried forward with all possible speed.

The Ameer of Afghanistan has, it is said, become seriously alarmed over the advance of the British troops to the frontier. He is persuaded that England intends to invade Afghanistan, and take his country away from him.

The Government in India has sent him word that though they are obliged to send troops across his frontier, in order to accomplish their purposes, their object is solely to punish the mad priest, or Haddah Mullah, and his followers. They assure the Ameer that no harm is intended to him or his loyal subjects, but declare that all the tribes who endeavor to oppose their advance or harass the English troops will be included in the severe punishment which the British intend to mete out to their enemies.

On hearing this, the Ameer sent a letter to the Mullah, ordering him to cease from inciting the Afridis to revolt.

In spite of this the British Government continues to be very suspicious of the honesty of the Ameer.

Word has been sent to him from the Government that no war material or machinery for manufacturing it will be allowed to cross the frontier into Afghanistan until the present troubles are over, and the tribes at peace.

Some time ago we talked to you about the Ex-Empress Charlotte of Mexico, widow of the Emperor Maximilian who was shot by the Mexicans.

The Empress, as you doubtless remember, went out of her mind from the troubles of her short reign in Mexico.

We told you that after thirty years of insanity the poor lady had given signs of returning reason, and that the doctors thought a visit to Mexico might entirely restore her.

Preparations were being made for the visit, which was to take place as soon as the doctors thought it safe. All plans have now, however, had to be abandoned, for the Empress Charlotte has become so alarmingly ill that her life is despaired of, and the news of her death is hourly expected.

Ever since her affliction she has been leading a quiet life at the Palace of Larken, near Brussels.

Her insanity has never assumed a violent or unmanageable character, and her sweet and gentle nature has endeared the unhappy lady to all her attendants.

Her mania lay chiefly in a belief that her husband Maximilian was alive, and she spent her days in hourly expectation of his arrival. She appeared to have forgotten all the troubles which had unbalanced her mind, and to be unaware of the cruel death which he had suffered.

The Palace of Larken, where the ex-Empress passed her life, is beautifully situated in a large park. The gentle Princess would wander over the estate, interesting herself in all the various phases of a country life.

It is said that her one pleasure was her dairy. The King of the Belgians, who endeavored to gratify every wish that she expressed, sent a very fine herd of cows to Larken, and the ex-Empress established a model dairy farm, from which she derived much pleasure.

Another traveller has reached the summit of the Enchanted Mesa.

We told you how Professor Libbey, of Princeton, had successfully scaled the bluff, and had reported that there were no traces of human life on the Mesa-top.

It seems that the scientists were not altogether satisfied with this decision.

It has been the experience of all men who have had any dealings with the red Indians that, no matter how vague and strange their legends may be, they are always founded on fact. Every tribe has an abundance of legends, and it has been found that there is always a leaven of truth in them.

The story of the Enchanted Mesa,—how the roadway which led up to the village on its summit was destroyed in a great storm, and how the people left on the top were starved to death because they could not get down,—exists in one form or another among all the tribes in the vicinity, and therefore several men who are versed in Indian lore have refused to believe Professor Libbey's assertion that there were no traces of life to be found on the Mesa's top.

A representative of the Smithsonian Institution, Mr. F.W. Hodge, has just returned from an expedition to the Enchanted Mesa, and his account is utterly at variance with that of the Professor.

Mr. Hodge ascended the Butte by means of an extension ladder, and once on top proceeded to investigate in a much more thorough and leisurely manner than Professor Libbey had attempted to do.

After a long and careful search, which convinced him that people had once dwelt on this mound, Mr. Hodge began to dig at various points where he thought he had a chance of making a find.

His perseverance was soon rewarded. After a few hours' labor he found two stone axes, a broken fragment of a shell bracelet, a stone arrow-point, and several fragments of pottery.

This proves conclusively that there have been dwellers on the Mesa-top, and it seems a pity that after all his trouble the Professor was not rewarded by some such find.

Mr. Hodge says that Professor Libbey could not have attempted to dig, but must have expected to find the traces he was in search of lying exposed on the surface.

By Mr. Hodge's measurement, the Mesa is 431 feet at its highest point, and 224 feet at its lowest.

He thinks there is not a shadow of doubt that it was once occupied by Indians, and suggests that an expedition be sent out prepared to encamp on the Mesa, and examine it much more thoroughly than he was able to do.

The committee appointed to look into the possibility of establishing a government factory for the manufacture of armor-plate has reported that it will cost about three million dollars.

The committee was also instructed to look about for a desirable site on which to build the works. This raised the hopes of the towns within the iron districts. Delegates from several States have appeared before the board to extol the desirability of their various townships. As yet, however, it is not decided whether the Government will build the works at all, and so the matter of place has not been taken into serious consideration.

It was supposed that the Bethlehem Iron Works and perhaps the Carnegie works might make some offer to the Government by which the works could be under the control of the Government, or the armor could be made at the price the Government offers ($300 per ton). No offer has as yet been made.

A suggestion has, however, come from a man who thoroughly understands the manufacture of armor-plate.

He says that by the use of a new process of making steel the plate can be turned out at a much less cost, and with half the waste that there is in the present method of making it. The plant to make this new-process steel can be built for half the money required for the old-style plant, and moreover the armor-plate can be turned out in a much shorter time.

By the use of this process he asserts that the finest armor-plate can be made at a cost of $150 per ton, and at that price there would be a margin of $50 profit.

The armor factory board has written to him, telling him that they will be ready to consider any proposals from him in a few days, and will inquire into his process.

The manufacturer says that if the Government does not take kindly to his plan, he will start his own factory, and make armor-plate at $150 per ton.

There is little fear that the article which this Mr. Carpenter offers is of an inferior character, for all armor-plate is carefully tested before it is accepted.

The people who have gone to the Klondike gold hunting have found out for themselves the truth of the saying that "all is not gold that glitters."

Day after day news reaches us of the trials and struggles, the hunger and hardships, of those who have hurried off in this mad rush after wealth.

Only a day or two ago a carrier-pigeon reached its home in Portland, Oregon, bearing a message from a party of young men who had set out from that city to seek their fortunes.

Wishing to be able to tell their friends of their safe arrival, the young men took several carrier-pigeons with them. This bird is the first that has arrived. The message it brought was by no means a cheerful one.

When the slip of paper tied to its leg was unwound it was found to contain these words: "We are all well and in good spirits, but tell every one you know not to come up here this winter."

It was written on the summit of Chilkoot Pass, and dated August 25th. The pigeon had flown a distance of 1,071 miles to bear this message, and was completely worn out when it reached its home, refusing food, and declining to enter the dovecote for some hours.

The scarcity of food is already being felt. Some of the old miners are frightened, and are coming out of the district before it is shut in with snow.

Hundreds of men are, however, pouring in from all directions, and shameful stories are reaching us of the wild and lawless deeds that are being done.

A returning messenger brought word that a party of men who had for some reason been separated from their comrades blockaded a mountain pass, and having barred it up with trees and rocks, guarded it with firearms, refusing to allow any one to pass until their friends came up with them.

So lawless did they become that they threatened to shoot the first man who ventured to approach the barrier.

Party after party arrived at the pass, until finally there was a crowd of two thousand people waiting in the narrow gorge to be allowed to pass the barrier.

This state of affairs continued for several days, until a party of men, more resolute than the rest, pushed their way to the front, made a rush for the barrier, and overcame the resistance.

The waiting crowds promptly pushed aside the barricade, and began to file through the narrow pass; but so eager was each man to be first into the land of gold that the travellers pushed each other aside, knocked their fellows down, and trampled them under foot till the pass looked like a battlefield.

It is strange how men lose all sense of humanity when they are thirsting for gold. The stories of jealousy, hatred, robbery, and murder which have followed the rush for riches into the Klondike are a repetition of the lawless doings of '49 in California.

The question of providing food for these eager hordes has been considered by the President and his Cabinet during the past week.

It has been decided to send two detachments of troops to Alaska, to preserve order and carry supplies to those who are in need of them.

As it will be necessary to send the supplies before Congress can meet and make an appropriation for it, General Alger, the Secretary of War, has agreed to purchase the provisions at his own expense, and trust to Congress to pay him back.

A report is current in London that a great honor has been conferred on Sir Julian Pauncefote, the English Ambassador at Washington.

The term for which he was appointed ends next year, in 1898, but it is said that in consideration of the good service he has done, Lord Salisbury has obtained permission of the Queen to keep Sir Julian in office for another year.

The rumor that a new arbitration treaty is to be prepared is again being circulated.

We told you some time ago that it was likely that another treaty would be arranged for, and it is now said that Sir Julian Pauncefote is to be kept in office that he may have ample time to arrange the details of a new agreement which shall be favorably received by both countries.

It is said that when he returns to Washington this winter he will bring with him full instructions to guide him in this difficult matter.

The next mail from Hawaii is being most anxiously waited for. It is expected that it will bring word what action the Hawaiian Congress has taken in regard to the annexation treaty.

The Legislature of the islands was called to assemble on September 8th, and the first matter to be brought before the law-makers was to be that of annexation.

While the United States have been invited by the Hawaiian Government to annex the islands, the voice of the people has not yet been heard. The decision of the Congress of the Sandwich Islands will therefore be eagerly looked for.

Some members of our Senate are of the opinion that the people of the islands are not really desirous of being annexed to the United States but if the representatives of the people vote for the measure, it will remove all such doubts from their minds, and greatly help the matter in its journey through our Legislature.

Mr. Thurston, the Hawaiian Minister to the United States, asserts positively that the Congress will decide for annexation.

He says that just before the Legislature in Honolulu adjourned, a joint resolution was offered, declaring that the interests of Hawaii demanded that she should be joined to the United States.

This resolution was adopted unanimously, and as there have been no changes in the Hawaiian Senate since the adjournment, he thinks it absolutely sure that the members voted in favor of annexation.

One of the inhabitants of Milledgeville, Kentucky, has a very interesting relic of the early days of our country.

It is an old flint-lock rifle which once belonged to Daniel Boone, the famous pioneer, who opened up Kentucky for us.

It is asserted that this rifle belonged to Boone when he went to Kentucky in May, 1769, and the history of the rifle can be so clearly traced back to its first owner that there seems to be little doubt of the truth of the story.

The barrel of the gun measures four feet one inch, and the entire gun six feet two inches.

The story goes that it was with this gun that Boone helped to kill the 2,300 deer whose skins were hidden in the mountains of Kentucky, while the pioneers went back to Virginia for more ammunition and supplies.

When the men returned a few months later, they found that the Indians had stolen and destroyed the entire lot of skins.

The present owner of the gun has had it for fifty years.

A new bullet-proof cloth has been invented by a priest of Chicago, Father Casimir Zeglen.

Father Casimir is a man of peace, who takes but little interest in implements of warfare, and this great discovery was made by chance. The discovery once made, he determined to bring his invention to the highest state of perfection, hoping that through it he might lessen the horrors of war, and save many innocent lives that are now sacrificed for the honor of a country.

The cloth is intended to be used as a padding or interlining for the soldiers' uniforms, and its inventor hopes to make the cloth so thin and flexible that it can be worn without inconvenience.

It has already been tested, and the results were highly satisfactory.

The test was made at Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, and it was decided to use the Krag-Jorgensen gun against it.

The inch steel bullet thrown by this rifle has, it is said, been known to pierce through armor-plate. It has made its way through twenty inches of packed sand, pierced twenty-two inches of oak timber, and fired from a distance of six hundred yards it will pass through five feet of earth.

The cloth stood the test of these terrible bullets wonderfully well. Five thicknesses of the material were used for the test, all the pieces being exactly the same size, and laid together in one compact pad.

The first shot was made at a distance of four hundred yards. It was found that the bullet had pierced through the first thickness of the cloth, but had become flattened out against the rest.

When the bullet was removed from the cloth it was said to have looked like a mushroom, the end that had first touched the cloth being flattened.

The experiments were continued at shorter and shorter range, but the cloth was never quite pierced through.

The military men who witnessed the trial were amazed at the results.

Colonel Hall, who conducted the experiments, said that he thought that the cloth might perhaps be penetrated at a distance of fifty yards, but even so, there was no doubt that it would afford immense protection for soldiers engaged in actual warfare.

The material of which the cloth is made is a secret. Father Casimir will only say that it is made of silk. He keeps it so closely covered that no one has had an opportunity of examining it.

He evidently has the most absolute faith in the qualities of his invention, for he is anxious that the authorities of Governor's Island, New York, shall make a test of his invention, and offers, to envelope himself in the cloth and let the soldiers fire at him.

He wishes to sail for Europe and give exhibitions of his invention in various cities.

If the Governor's Island test takes place, regular army rifles are to be used, and the only precaution the priest will consent to is, that the soldiers shall first fire at an animal, enveloped in the bullet-proof cloth. When it is found that the creature escapes unhurt, the priest insists that he shall be allowed to become the target.

G.H. Rosenfeld.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT ROUND WORLD AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN IT, VOL. 1, NO. 47, SEPTEMBER 30, 1897 ***

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