Canadian Valley Record. (Canton, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 22, 1907 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Canadian Valley Record
C. B. McDowell, Ed. A Prop.
CANTON,
OKLAHOMA.
Bird* as Air-Ship Modal*.
The explanation of bird flight that
occurs to the casual observer Is that
these winged creatures fly by flapping
their wings. But all birds do not do
■o. In fact, the birds that fly the best
and most fearlessly can proceed for
hours and sometimes for a whole
day, and not Infrequently against the
force of a storm, without making the
■lightest perceptible movement of
their wings. Although the secret of
Sight on motionless wings is at pres-
ent beyond the solution of science, the
principle involved gives promise rf
being the one that would be most suc-
cessfully applied by man In aerial
travel. It is true that nearly all In-
sects and most of the small birds pro-
ceed by beating their wings. some-
times with almost incredible velocity.
Possibly the air-ships of the future,
particularly those designed for short
trips, may proceed by this method.
But the present tendency Is toward
sailing flight. The most common the-
ory Id explanation of flight on motion-
less wings is that the birds take ad-
vantage of air-currents. However, a
fact that weakens the air-current idea
Is that birds of prey will dart instant-
ly In any direction, quite regardless
of air-currents, when a victim ap-
pears. This theory of necessary air-
currents, remarks a writer in Every-
body's, may have been as serious a
hindrance to the progress of aeronau-
tics as has been the fallacy that, in
order to sail, a ship must be lighter
than air. But the fact that there is
among the myriad of bird species a
number that wing their way without
effort in either calm or storm, some
of them sailing on motionless pinions,
furnishes the hope and possibility that
man may also become absolute master
of the air.
A Bird-Flight Fallacy.
There have been decades of dis-
pute over the value of the hollow
bones and the air-sacs in many spe-
cies of birds. It has been contended
that Inasmuch as the temperature of
birds is higher than that of any other
creature, this network of air cham-
bers, becoming filled with air warmer
than the surrounding atmosphere, en-
ables the bird to rise. It Is true, says
Everybody's Magazine, that the gan-
net, the pigeon, the pelican, the al-*
batross, and other flying birds are
equipped with air chambers, but the
Australian emu, which flies, when at
all, with the greatest difficulty, as
wen as the ostrich and the apteryx,
which cannot fly at all, are also pro-
vided with these air cells—and so,
(too. Is the orang-utan! Moreover, no-
tably good fflera—iwlfti, martins,
■nlpea, the gloss starling, the spot-
ted flycatcher, the wood-wren and the
black headed bunting, have bones
destitute of air, some of them. In fact,
being filled with marrow. No fal-
lacy has been more difficult to punc-
ture than this air cell or balloon the-
ory of flight.
Among the newest societies Is
that founded In France, called the
Confederation of Cripples. One of its
objects is to secure a repeal of the
law which forbids the halt and the
lame to beg. In Paris, a man who
lost both legs In a railroad accident is
organizing a branch of the confedera-
tion. At present he goes about on two
wooden legs and attracts public atten-
tion by playing a hand organ. He
received orders from the chief of
the league in Marseilles to establish
a society in the capital. It Is pro-
posed to found branches in all the
French towns, with the hope that
charitable people may contribute In
aid of members who are unable to
work. Perhaps the most extraordinary
Item of news about this new brother-
hood Ib that its Marseilles delegation
went to Paris on foot!
Northern peoples are all given to
free and independent ways, as has
been shown from the days of the an
dent Scandinavians and Norsemen to
the present time. Even the hardy
leaders of viking days were selected
by their followers, and no king could
rule without the consent of the peo-
ple. King Frederick of Denmark,
himself a liberal constitutional mon-
arch, In visiting Iceland, a part of his
dominion, has assured the Icelanders
that they shall remain free and co-
operate with him in making laws that
will be satisfactory to them. And that
wise and tactful procedure will prob-
ably make the Icelanders more falth-
and devoted subjects than before.
lAltSEYCUOFT
(JOSEPH JPOWN QOOKE copyright nor by
^ JTORY-PK£&3 cotAcmrav
CHAPTER XXII.—Continued.
An iron ladder, very much rusted
And weather worn, but apparently per-
fectly strong and secure, was attached
to one Bide of this shaft, and, after
waiting for a few minutes until my
eyes had become accustomed to the
blackness of the hole. 1 could see that
It was about 12 feet deep and opened
Into the arched roof of a tunnel of
some kind, the floor of which, as well
as the sides and top, was constructed
of massive masonry.
At times the most level-headed and
evenly balanced man is tempted to
do some foolhardy thing, and. while
I make no claim to any unusual de-
gree of personal bravery, and have
not a dare-devil trait in my disposi-
tion. I was suddenly seized with an
Irresistible desire to descend Into this
forbidding looking pit and investigate
It for myself, then and there.
My revolver was fully loaded and I
also carried a small pocket-lamp which
had been given me some time before
and which I had found useful on sev-
eral occasions; less strenuous, how
ever, than the one at hand.
With these thoughts in my mind
and, it must be confessed, with many
misgivings which I strove to keep
down and Ignore. I propped open the
lid of the manhole and descended
boldly Into the underground passage,
holding my revolver firmly in my hand
and ready to light my little lamp as
soon as I reached the bottom of the
ladder.
Once In the tunnel I stepped to one
side In the direction of the river,
where I could not be seen by anyone
looking In from above, and tried to
accommodate my eyes to the darkness
of the place, and avoid, if possible, the
use of my lamp.
After a time I found that I could
see fairly well and that I was In a
long, narrow tunnel of brick and stone,
about six feet wide and seven in
height, which sloped gradually down
to the river, where it ended in the
flight of stone steps that I had seen
and which were entirely under the
surface of the water. There was a
damp, noisome odor to the place and
I soon recognized In It the same
graveyard smell that I now knew so
well and dreaded so much.
I had, however, expected something
of this sort, and nerving myself to al-
most anything that might be disclosed
In my search, I proceeded cautiously
and stealthily along toward the steps,
thinking I would explore that part of
the tunnel first, before going in the
other direction.
I saw cothlng of interest until I got
hear the water, where I found a heavy,
warm coat neatly folded and, on it, a
whisky flask with the cork loosened,
evidently awaiting their owner and in-
dicating clearly that he purposed re-
turning by the route he had taken
when he left.
Leaving these as they lay, I re-
traced my steps and passed once more
under the open shaft and on up the
gentle slope of the passage-way, hold-
ing my pistol well In front of me and
wondering at what moment some
ghastly sight would meet my gaze and
account for the constantly increasing
fetidness of the place. I had not
lighted my lamp, for the faint glimmer
that filtered In through the river
water and the Illumination from the
shaft enabled me to see with reason
able distinctness.
As I proceeded up the tunnel, how
ever, objects began to grow dimmer
and dimmer and I was on the point of
striking a light when 1 heard a sudden
crash and saw, to my horror, that the
lid of the* manhole had fallen shut
with a bang, leaving me in total dark
I ness.
Before I could ignite my lamp or
! even collect my thoughts, there was a
rush of foul air from the upper end of
I the tunnel and then some heavy, lum-
I bering creature brushed past me.
breathing into my face a hot breath
I of unspeakable s*ia;gestiveness and
I wheerlng and mumbling like a fretful
lion just after a generous meal.
I shrank close to the wall of my
prison, for such it now was, not know-
I ing what to do or which way to turn,
when, to my great relief, the beaot, or
I whatever it was, shuffled awkwardly
I past me again, still making horrid gut-
| tural sounds and breathing deeply as
before.
A rat, or some similar little animal,
scuttled over my feet at the same mo-
ment, stopping long enough to bite my
ankle sharply, but I made no sound
and held my breath until the more
formidable creature was well beyond
me and left me a free course to the
river.
As soon as I felt that the coast was
clear and that I could not over-
taken, I sped doini the Incline toward
the steps and plunged headlong into
the water, which glimmered faintly
green before me. Striking out under
the surface, I swam as far away from
the entrance as I could, and. coming
to the top at last. I made for the shore
and dashed on to my room for whisky
and dry clothing.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Anothet Escape.
It was still esrly in the evening and
such was my anxiety to solve this
problem without -unnecessary delay-
that. In spite of my experiences of the
day, I resolved to return again to the
manhole and see how It happened to
trance, but I could not be surst and it
might have been only the dust and
other small bits <* matter that were
picked up In the gale and whirled
viciously through the air.
When I reached the manhole I was
not at all surprised to find that some
one had been there before me and
again covered it with leases and bits
of grass but, as I tried to raise it once
more, never doubting that I could
make my escape across the lawn if I
were detected In this, my astonish-
ment was profound at discovering
that it was securely fastened down
from below.
While I was kneeling down on the
ground and tugging at the lid to make
sure that it waa locked, I thought I
heard a step behind me and turned my
head quickly to see If anyone was ap-
proaching. It was, however, apparent-
ly nothing more tjian the snapping of
a branch due to the fury of the wind,
and I again turned to the manhole,
hoping vaguely that, even if I could
not open it, I might perhaps hear some
conversation through the grating that
would serve as a sort of a clew to the
grewsome doings beneath.
As I laid my hand on the Iron work
again it touched a cold, heavy object
which had certainly not been there a
moment before, and, picking it up and
c
Descended Into the Underground Passage.
have fallen shut and if anything new
could be learned from a superficial In-
spection of the place after dark.
I stopped long enough in the hall-
way to dispatch a servant to the rail-
way station with my letter to Mac-
Ardel so that it would catch the late
mail and then, leaving word that I was
going out for a short stroll, I put on a
heavy coat and left the house.
There was an Icy chill in the air
that betokened snow In the near fu-
ture, and I had heard one of the na
tlves say the day before that we would
have a storm and a "gol dummed big
one. too," before the end of the week.
As I started down the path to the
ilver I could not doubt the accuracy of
the fellow's prophecy, and I drew my
coat collar well about my neck and
shivered fitfully as the rigorous blasts
of the coming winter reached through
my garments and chilled my very
bones.
A sudden drop In temperature, fol-
lowed by heSvy snow, in the early
autumn was not uncommon in this cli-
mate. as I knew full well, and it was
usually a serious matter to the farm-
ers, whose fall crops were ruined and
many of whose cattle perished; bat
this year was destined to see such a
storm as had not been equaled In many
a decade.
The wind howled and whistled
through the trees and over the hill-
tope and then, wnen a lull would come,
it was emphasized by the dull, heavy
moaning of the pines and hemlocks
far away in the distance beyond the
riv«r. At times I even thought I could
feel occasional flakes of snow striking
m) In the face as I strode on ov r the
tut* on my wa" 'unael ea-
holding it between me and the sky, I
saw, to my amazement, that it was my
own revolver, to the handle of which
was tied a bit of folded paper.
For an instant my heart seemed to
stop and I remained rigid on my knees
with my arms upraised as I had held
out my pistol for Inspection, fearing to
move through very terror of my owi
shadow. My breath caught la my
throat and then came in short, heavy
gasps, while the wind alternately
moaned and roared about me and oc-
casional thick damp snowflakes lightly
touched my ashen face.
The.e certainly bad been no sound
or motion in front of me where I
found the pistol, and I had convinced
myself that the crackling I had heard
at my bark, and which was some dis-
tance away at best, had been due to
nothing more than the wind.
At length, and with trembling An-
gers, I removed the paper from
stock of the weapon and stuffed it in
ray pocket, so that I could examine
later, and was about to rise nervously
to my feet, when I again heard a slight
disturbance in the shrubbery to on^
side of me and saw a man approach
ing stealthily and apparently on all
fours.
With no thought of the consequencea
and in an actual frenzy of terror, I
raised the pistol and fired at him point-
blank, but the cartridge failed to ex-
plode or else the chambers were
empty, and, with a frantic shriek, I
sprang to my feet and threw myself
headlong upon him.
He seemed entirely unprepared for
this attack, but he made no sound and
strove manfully to defend himself as
I grappled at bis throat and we rolled
over and over down the velvety lawa
to the river.
I was considerably hampered by
overcoat and having no desire to go
into the water with him, I relaxed my
efforts somewhat, when, with almost
superhuman strength and emitting a
cry that indicated a degree of terror
equal to my own, he tore himself from
my gra3p and sped away in the direc-
tion of the turnpike.
Feeling, now, that I was his master,
I dashed madly after him, pulling oft
my coat as I ran, and I was gaining
slowly upon him in spite of the re-
doubled elforts that he made, when, on
the sharp incline that led down to the
road, he stumbled and fell and I was
3 *1
J
upon
My vi
for
him
equal fu
him fnto a
'again rolled
until, as luck
caught in a st
rence that e:
this
in a moment.
short lived, however,
fiercely to free
grasp and I, with
choke or beat
submission, we
over in the grass
have It, my leg
the barbed wire
property at
t. and once
himself
Hie dlrec-
succ
down
and mud-
ands and face were
ing. I ached in every
nigh exhausted with
a^d protracted encounter,
and I was hatless and coatless into the
bargain, but I at least had one cause
for congratulation.
In my second wrestle with my hith-
erto unknown assailant I had been
able to get a sufficiently good view of
his face to Identify him positively and.
In spite of the remarkable protesta-
tions of ignorance concerning the Car-
ney-Croft mystery which I had heard
him make to the widow only the night
before, and which I was now forced to
believe were but part of a little com-
edy gotten up for my special delecta-
tion, my lusty antagonist was no other
than the long-suffering Jenks.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Doctor Explains It.
When I returned to the house my
first thought was to read the note
which I had found tied to the pistol
and. as I had expected. It was in the
Bruce woman's hand and was evident-
ly intended for Jenks, whom I had de-
tected as he was coming to get it. It
was brief and s>o the point and read:
"Try and return this pistol to Mr.
Ware's room. Be cautious. Get her
to manage it. Do as she says."
(TO US CONTINUED.)
ARTISTIC COIN
DESIRED.
Numismatic Society Favors Change In
Appearance of Money.
New York.—The American Numis-
matic and Archaeological society ap-
proved the recommendations of its
committee on coinage in regard to the
issue by the United States of an en-
tirely new coinage, artistic in design
The committee, of which Dr George
F. Kunz is the head, was authorized
to bring the society's recommenda-
tions to the attention of th6 proper au
thorities.
The society believes that congress
should appropriate $100,000 for new de-
signs for tin ten denominations Includ-
ed in the American coinage. Besides
the president of the United States, the
report suggests that the members of
the committee on selection should be
the secretary of the treasury the di
rector of the mi . one senator, one j builders.
representative, three numlsmatlsta,
one sculptor and one painter.
It was announced that Augustus
Saint Gaudons had been commissioned
by :• • tr.. irv <l >; i-t,. . nt to execute
a new dec. ,rn for tho ;L'0 gold piece.
Dead Heads.
"Conductor." s-ild the gasping pas-
senger, vainly trylne to raise a win-
dow. There are at least a billion mi-
crobes In th!s car." "You ought to be
able to stand that if the company
can," growled the street car conduc-
tor. "We don't get a blamed cent for
carrying 'em."
Cc'.tplain of Beavers.
There is a movement In Maine to
permit an open season for killing
beavers, because of the damage to
standing timber caused by the little
animals. Lumbermen lay all sorts ot
denudations at the dour of the dam
UZMMM
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
McDowell, C. S. Canadian Valley Record. (Canton, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 22, 1907, newspaper, August 22, 1907; Canton, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc175616/m1/2/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.