The Dallas Herald. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 312, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 11, 1887 Page: 6 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 20 x 13 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SWORD BEARERS OF TEE SEA.
Terriflo Encounters with Ships.
His Wonderful Tale of Jules Verne
Eclipsed.
Among the objects frequently to bo
observoil In museums of natural history
tho timbers of ships pierced by sword-
fishes aro by no means uncommon.
This danger of the deep is not unfa-
miliar to those who go down to the sea
in ships but at the same time tho oc-
currence constitutes ouo of tho most cu-
rious features of 'zoological history.
Ordinarily speaking and as far as nat-
uralist opinions go. tho sword-fioh ap-
pears to bo peaceable enough. When
however tho lish is injured or enraged
Ha disposition becomes outrageously
fierce Presumably It is in such tits of
tamper that tho sword-hsh vonts its
temper on the unoiTonding timbers of
hips. Tho latest account of such an
encounter comes to hand in tho Miapo
of a report from tho pages of tho cur-
rent bulletin of the United States Fish
Commission. A certain schooner
namod tho Volunteer hailing from tho
port of Gloucester Mass. found itself
on Juno 15th last in the neighborhood
of Block Island. About 4 p. in. on
that day tho vessel reeled from a sudden
ehock which at lirst suggested the possi-
bility of her having struck some hiddon
reef not figuring in tho chart. Tho
weather was so tine that tho Volunteer
was well-nigh becalmed and fortu-
nately captain and crew had plenty of
leaauro and opportunity to tako things
ealmly in faco of the mysterious dang-
er which threatened thorn. A glance
over the sidu of tho vessel sufficed to
reveal tho cause of the shock. A sword-
fish of largo size was seen in the act of
charging tho ship onco again. It re-
treated and then rushing through tho
water renewed its assault with great
rigor. A boat was quickly mannod
and a harpoon duly dispatched the as-
sailant which was found to weigh throe
hundred pounds. Tho effects of tho
Attack on the Pish itself were most dis-
astrous. Tho "sword"' jaw had com-
pletely disappeared; the upper jaw it-
nclf was demolished and both eyes had
icon destroyed. In due time the Vol-
unteer was docked at Gloucester when
ji inspection was made of tho vessel's
keel. It was then found that about six
feet from tho vessel's stem noar tho
top of tho keel tho sword had entered
the wood and had actually broken
(our times as the nssault of the fish
was renewed. Four pieces of tho
weapon were found imbedded in tho
keel. Tho fish had thus jscd its dam-
aged sword again and again in tho
eourso of ils attack and oblivious of
the hurt and pain had sacrificed itself
in the pursuit of an utterly unjustifiable
gr.
Jules Verne could scarcoly have mi-
gnd a more tragical encounter than
his. The incident however is quito in
tenpiug with all wo know of the habtis
f the creature. The singular fact in
itvont-Jish history is the apparently
moauingless and sudden character of
iho attacks mado by the animals on
its neighbors in tho sea. Talcs of its
anmbat with whales and porpoises fig-
ero in natural history. The sword-fish
.b.r.n itn nronf; una mammals and
ipears tlinm with as deaihly a thrust as
ever harpooner gave The fish has the
advantage in every senso of tho term.
It is whale with ho same case that a
f ght a lithe active creature and can
attack the horseman can pester and an-
aoy a dragoon in heavy marohlng order.
Curiously enough the sword-fish and its
va attracted a considerable amount
f uttention from zoologist who can
scan-err bo described aa of modem
late. Sir Thomas Browne himself tells
s of a sword-fish which he saw "en-
tangled in the herring nets at Yar-
mouth." It was "agreeable unto the
Icon (or picture) in Johnstonus with a
smooth sword not unlike the glandius
f Rnndcleliua about a yard and a half
lung." The account continues that the
Ssh had "no teeth; eyes very remark-
able inclosed in a bard cartilaginous
ovcrclc about tho bigness of a good
nple."
This is a very fair description of the
inlmal and stands forth in respect to
tts accuracy in marked contrast to
another account of the sword-fish given
y that somewhat imaginative person
!aus Magnus. The fish according to
the latter writer "is like a whale. He
aatli as ugly a head as an owl; his
aoulh is wondrous deep as a vast pit
whereby be terrifies and drives away
those that look into it." The idea of
thus inspiring spectators with terror
to in itself h;ghly quaint; albeit qnes-
ionn regarding the nature and place of
tteervation of those that look into fie
aouth of the fish will naturally -iccur
to the con.mon-place mind. Olans
Magnus however once traveling on
the" J -ilhway of imagination is not
mily turned awav from his theme.
"His eyes" he continues "are horrible
his back wedge fashion or elevated
like a sword; nis snout is pointed." It
would almost appear as though our
author had really missed the character-
istic sword law altogether since he
minutely describes the mouth which
by the way Is by no means-dcop and
dismisses the jaw by naming it a point-
ed snout.
These however were the days ot
imagination in zoology. This same
Olans Magnus delights to tell us of the
kraken that giant cuttlefish which
accustomed to disport itself off the
coast of Norway was figured tho size
of an island created whirlpools drew
ships down to destruction and other-
wise misconducted itself in tho deep.
In these days also another animal
appears to have been somewhat con-
fused in identity with the swordfish
itself. This was tho narwhal which
of course is perfectly well known as a
member of the whale family. The nar
whal enjoys tho reputation of possess-
ing tho longest tooth in tho world
since this organ grows to form a
twisted ivory pole which may oo-
cassionally attain a length of nine or
ton feet. Thus armed tho animal
would seem to present a much nioro
formidable front than tho sword-fish
itself. Hut by all accounts tho sea-unicorn
is a relatively quiet and peaco-j
able creatuio by no means given to
attack anything or anybody save per-
chance as Darwin tells us to engage
in occasional combats with its own
rivals and with its own kith and kin.
As far as our information extends we
fail to discover any instance of a nar
whal using his long tooth to probe the
timbers of a ship. In olden times the
tooth was much valued as a remedy
against poison; a virtue by the way.
which the horn of the mythical land-
unicorn was likewise believed to pos-
sess. Haflin of Baffin's Bay fame wrote
of this animal that "it being a
great fish having a long horn or bone
growing forth of its forehead or nostril
such as Sir Martin Frobisher in his
second voyage found ono in divors
places we saw them which if the horn
bo of any good value no doubt but
many of them may bo killed." In
Hakluyt's "Travels" Frobisher him
self describing tho narwhal speaks of
it as having "in his nose a home
streight and torquct of length two
yards lacking two ynches." Ho then
proceeds to test his presumably modi-
clnal powers. '-Being broken in tho
top here we might porceivo it hollow
into the which so mo of our sailors put-
ting spiders they presently died"
Wisely perhaps for the credit of his
own narrative Sir Martin adds that ho
"saw not tho trial heroof but it was
reported unto me of a truth; by the
virtue whereof we supposed it to be the
sea nicorno." This was rather a cu-
rious fashion of judging tho character
of an animal by tho effects of its horn
upon innocent spiders and tho tale
smacks somewhat of the Olaus Magnus
typo after all. Tho sword-fish anil tho
narwhal however are well kuown to
modern zoologists and the former
must bo added to tho list of occasional
perils which threaten the welfare of
those who travel by sea. London
Daily News.
A Result of Title Worship.
The fact stated in the foreign dis-
patches that eight suspicious husbands
have employed detectives to watch the
Duke of Marlborough during his pres-
ence in London throws another reflec-
tor full of light upon the state of "up-
per class" society in England.
This bald-headed scapegrace scion ot
one of the oldest and roost powerful
families in England is not In himself
a yery attractive or accomplished per-
son. Were he a plain citizen the jeal-
ous husbands of even the giddiest wives
in London would have no occasion to
employ extraordinary precautions to
protect their homes against him. It is
the noble duke's" name and title that
attract the silly butterflies of fashion
aaurivalof the feeling that woman-
hood is honored instead of degraded by
the partiality of dissolute princes.
There is a comical sido to the picture
suggested by the eight detectives dog-
ging the steps of a blase little roue of a
duke but the moral which it points for
this country is that enforced by the
scandalous trial with which he has been
connected that the aping of English
fashions and customs is a very weak
and dangerous business for Americans.
Emerson said of the old country: "Our
politics threaten her: her manners
threaten tis " It would be a dreadful
revenge for the introduction of democ-
racy In England to have her corrupt
aristocracy Imitated In this country.
Surely the manners of the Campbell
nnd Marlborough set are such as rhould
bring disrepute rather than distinction
upon American Anglomaniacs. -Ves?
York World.
A prlvs'e tooter tbe mn wbo practices oa
tht cornet Id bit room. WVuJifny'1'" Critic
PRECIOUS STONES.
Many of Them That Are Little
. Known Hut Very Valuable How
Diamond! Are Clasal ned The
Emerald and the Sapphire.
'Mr. Will Oskamp what Is one of
the peculiarities of your business?"
"Our people havo to bo educated in
the matter of appreciating certain valu-
ablo stones. The people of London
and New York are thoroughly posted
on the subjeot of stoues and therefore
they know the value of thorn. Out
here tbo diamond is looked upon as the
most valuable; in fact tho only really
precious stono that there is. As a con-
sequence wo labor under a disndvan-
tago as compared with dealers in the
cast Of course I know that there are
some here who are informed on tho
subject of precious stones but' I mean
that as a class our people have much to
learn. For instance if I were to nsk
almost anybody that canio iu here if ho
would liko to buy an Alexandrite ho
would notkuow what I meant."
"Tell mo something nbout cnin?"
What is an Alexandrite?"
"It is dark green in color in day-
light and dark red at night. It is
named after tho czar of Russia nnd
ows its celebrity to its prominent hues
of rod and green tho chosen emblema-
tic colors of that empire's flag."
"Is it true that you can't break a
diamondP"
"A diamond will crack or break as
any other stone but the cracking will
reduce $1000 to nothing spite of the
vulgar tradition that you 'cun't break a
diamond.' Only about one in ten is
roval tho others bbing black and col
ored (useful In the arts)."
"How do you got at tho value of
diamondsP"
"The valuation of goms is arbitrary
depending on many considerations.
Among them is water. If perfectly
limpid like a drop of the purest water
it is classed 'first water.' Color conies
next. Colorless ranks highest whitish
next while the merest suspicion of
green or blue rather brightens the
rank of tho whlto stonos. Hose comes
next and then yellow or nnibcr but
they must all be perfect in water ami
flawless to rank among tho lirst class."
"What about agates?"
"They aro translucent all colors.
Agates are built up layer on layer
sometimes hundreds to the inch. Those
stained by mangnanose or iron In moss-
liko figures and veins (moss agates)
sometimes closely resembling persons
and things command very high prices."
"Can you give me a chapter on the
amethyst?"
"It Is transparent purple or violet In
color. A cluster as mined generally
contains other crystals of blue green
yellow red gray and white. The rod
crystals aro proporly roso quartz the
clouded ones smoky quartz; the green
are prase the yellow 'falsa topaz and
the perfectly clear are rock crystals.
The finest rock crystals are found in
groat numbers near Hot Springs Ark.
in 'Diamond mountain.' "
"What is a hard stono aside from tho
diamond.?"
"Tho aquuiariue a transparent beryl
of greenish blue. It is a lovely stono-
sisler of the emeiald and very hard.
It will cut all the amethysts but not the
topaz and is not affected by acids. The
chrysoberyl (cat's eye) Is very hard but
racks below saphires rubles etc. It is
transparent to translucont green In
many shades. Tho chrysoprase is ap-
ple green and somo stones are very
beautiful and highly valuod."
"How does the emerald rank?"
"Tho translucent or subtransparcnt
and green variety of the beryl just as
tho aquamerine is the transparent and
blue variety but it is very much more
highly nr zed Emeralds rank next to
the diamonds ruby and finer sapphire
Oriental emerald is tho green sapphire
very rare very beautiful and valua-
ble." "Are there stones that can be passed
for anotherP"
"The garnet which Is transparent
and red depends upon its value alto-
gether on its looks for it can often pass
as a ruby."
"What is a bloodstone?"
"A variety of chalcedony of a deep
green color varigated with blood-red or
yellowish snots! It is properly called
heliotrope.
"Name some other stones. I've run
out "
"There is tbe hyacinth cinnamon
stone transparent yellow red and
brown. There are garnet hyacinths
and alrcon hyacinths. Although its In-
trinsic qualities ought to rank tho tircon
hyacinths first the market rates it sec-
ond. Then there is the legalite (blue
spar) translucent and deep blue. Only
the fine varieties are valued for luw-
elers' purposes. Next the malachite
translucent green used for clocks
vases and parlor ornaments slabs etc.
Mexican onyx translucent greenish
white with veins of all colors makes
lovely paper weight inkstands pipe-
bowls eta The onvx is constructed in
films or layers of different colors like
the azate "except that in the onyx the
films are laid flat whilo in the agato
thev an like the peelings of an onion.
The onyx is chiefly valued for cutting
cameos. The choice colors in true
onvx are white black and brown.
Sardonyx has also a film of carnelian
rd. The ooal is transparent white
pale yellow grey green and red. It
owes' its value to Its peculiar power of
exhibiting a wonderful play of colors
as it is turned to various ancles. The
most remarkable is the fire-opal Free-
ions onal is the very finest and most
dnlicateir shaded and tinted of opal
Of the ruby there is the spinel trans
parent light medium or dark red. The
oriental sapphire ruby is of the samt
description and very difficult to distin-
guish from the spinel. It Is a degree
harder. As a general rule the oriental!
are the most valuable and spinels ol
oqual beauty are handicapped by repu-
tation. Orlontal rubies of the very finest
qualities are moro valuable than dia-
monds of the same weight
"Let me seo there is the sapphire
transparent azuro celestial etc. and
bluo Sapphires of tho most celestial
hue and all other good qualities are
worth much less than oriental rubies of
the same size. Yellow sapphires are
called oriental topaz greou ones orien-
tal emerald ana violet ones oriental
amethysts. The precious topaz is trans-
parent and yellow. There are othet
varieties greenish bluish reddish
and some are perfectly colorless. When
these are entirely transparent and other-
wise porfect tuey have a h gh valuo also
for they often pass as rubies sapphires
and diamonds. Another highly valued
stono is the tourmaline. ' It is transpar-
ent yollow red groen blue. The clear
rich stones aro greatly prizod Tho red
is called rubcllito. and is often sported
as a rub- as Is tho yellow for a topaz.
Somo ambor and honey-colored yellow
tourmalines aro among the most beau
tiful gems in existence.
"Tho turquoise opaquo is blue-green.
Turquoise mines in Persia have been
workod for t housands of years. Wo get
ours mostly from New Mexico. The ul-
trainnrii.o is translucent bright bluo to
grcon. It is a much valued gem for
brooches and othor jewelry in whloh
slab-shaped blocks can bo utilized. Also
for expensive inlaid work in mosaics.
It ranks higher with tho artists as a
color than aquamarine but as a gem it
is not valuable.
"Pearls of tho greatest valuo havo a
fine orient whito black or pink lint;
that is to say a distinctive color with
a lively luster that sparkles in tho light
The prico of pearls depends upon their
size beauty and variety." Cincinnati
Jinqmrer.
CELEBRATED DIAMONDS.
Beautiful (Jem 'Worth Thousands O)
Dollar.
The largest diamond known is that
of the "Rajah of Mattan" in Bornoo.
It was found on tho island about twenty
years ago and weighs S67 carats; it il
a pearl shaped stone with a small hols
or crevico at its short end.
"Grent Mogul" The diamond known
under this name has received an
amount of attention beyond any other.
Under the name of the "Kohinoor
(mountain of light) it played an Im-
portant part in the exhibition of 1851.
The history of this stone dates back to
66 B. C; but there is nothing known
with certainty about It until the
beginning of tho fourteenth century.
After the annexation of the Punjab by
the English government it came into
hn nnMnossinn nf the diieen of Enclalid
on June 3 1850. Its weight then was
180 1-16 carats or an irregular cgg-iiKe
shape and valuod at $700000. it was
thou reduced to 106 1-6 carats and
made into a regular cut brilliant
Tho "Orlofl" or Amcstcrdum dia-
mond weighs 194 8-4 carats and is set
in the ton of the Russian imperial
unoiAnr. It is nf iiurn water but not
cut to advantage. It was bought by
Catherine IL in the year 177a 01 mibi-
ras In Amsterdam tor iMMl.two. giving
mm at me huiiiu umu a iuiu uuu a iiur
sinn of $20000 for life.
The diamond well-known under the
nnmo of the "shah" was given to the
nmnnror nf RiiMHia bv Princo Cosroes.
younger brother of the Abbe Mir.a
when he was In hf rotersuurg. it
woighs only 75 carats but is perfectly
num. without a Haw or cloud and it is
interesting inasmuch as it is only partly
cut manv 01 its natural suriaces oeing
preserved. Tho cut facets contain Per-
sian inscriptions and there is a littlo
groove around tho top of it to which a
cord was fastened in order that it might
bo worn a do ut me ncca.
One of the most perfect brilliants In
iho rwlahrAtpd Ptlt. or Recent whioh is
among the French crown jewels. It
weighs 136 3-4 carats. 11 once orna-
moninit llm Rword of Knooleon I. Bo-
fore it wns cut it weighed 410 carats.
Tbe Florentine uiamonu among me
crown jewels of tho emperor of Aus-
tria weighs 139J carats. It is of pure
mAtop rf haunt ifnl nnlnr. and. nntwlth-
stauding its color la somewhat of
citron tint. It Is vaiuea at gozo.uuu.
The Sancy diamond weighs 09)
carats and came from India about the
flflaanth nenturv. It Was Bold bV
Napoleon to the emperor of Russia for
370.UUU.
The Star of the South is the largest
diamond found in Brazil and weighs
254 carats. It is a brilliant of the
purest water.
Tbe Pasha of Egypt is cut on eight
sides weighs 40 carats and cost $140
000.
The Pi got t diamond brought from
India by Lord Pigott weighs &2 carats.
In 1801 il was sold in a lottery for
1150000.
The Nassac formerly In the possea-
ilnn nf tlm Kant India eomnanv. welch
ed 89 carats; but since Lord West-
minster had It cut anew It weighs only
78J carats. Its value is aooui 9100 uuu.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
A Frogal Mind.
Shall I vind de clock. ladder" aske.
Isaao Abramstcin as he shut up for the
nlcht
No Yawcob; peesness vas too pad.
Choost let it achtop Yawcob unt ve'll
save de year unt tear on de veels."
Ckicu Ltdger.
af 70 aire Item of atwi Taiapaona
il to th Herald
If yon want to snbsorlbo far the Herald
lalaphoae your addraa.
If yoa want to Insert an advartlaameal
a the Heraid talep bona your order.
Ptta-Kteeftrfci Jtn. 74 I B-H rniM 81
'.1
THE NEW
Arlington Hotel
005 and 007 Dallas
Main Street Texsa.
-)o(-
Contrally located on Main street car line.
Building and Equipment NEW.
Accommodations equal to any hnuse in the
city. Satisfaction guaranteed.
RA1'S I Per week... 6.00 to 7.00
CIGAHSl
CIGARS!
If kfliokers want the best Nickel
Cigar call for Sam Jones 0. G. G.
GRACE GRIT AHD GREENBACKS
TTTTH H VrjT .rVNTR!
Both guaranteed Equal if not Better
than iitiv niekfll cicar offered.
T. L. IAESALIS & CO.
AGFNTS
A.11 First-Class Dealers
SELL
MARDI G-RAS
AND
LA BELLE CREOLE
CIGARS.
SCHOOL BOOKS
Xew or Second-liHnd at Lowest Prices.
MILLER'S BOOK STORE
100 Lamar Street.
t3T Wanted Miscellaneous Law Medics
ud School llooks. Head list and net prices.
'The Social Mirror'
Introduction by
ROSE ELIZABETH CLEVELAND
Is the title of our new and beautifully jllurtrated
book on the I.awa Kolea ml IlaaKea.
that (roern our raoat Refined HotucM and
Hoclal Circle. The work aJso coauina a
TreaHury of Home Heading; for
Home Culture. It la grand new book
luat out. Agenta wanted.
(MEirrioHTHUfAria.) iMtrolt. Mien.
C. fi. SCH0ELK0PF
Jobber and Manufacturer of
Saddlery Leather and Shoe FMiii.L
Kin and H.T2 Main St.. I n ilh.8 Tp
BlU unci Dili Commerce St. """"' ' c-
lx. K. WRIGHT & SON
Contractor anil littililei'M.
No. 'M MulB and Krviiy alivola oiijioalie the
new l'oitlolnVc.
Kxtlnintea t'lvcn on nil work and bid
mudo. SalUI'uction tiuaiuiilefd.
Samples r red
Sample! Free
CROWN
MEDICATED
COMPLEXION POWDER.
Highly Indoraed by the Theatrical Prolea.
alon. Contatna valuable medicinal proper-
tlei which quickly remove all btomfahei ot
the akin. It effect! a complete transforma-
tion and camel the roost ordinary person
to become itriklntfy beautiful. It is put up
in pearl and fleab tints. In large toilet bozei
and is for sale by all druggists or sent se-
curely aealeU to any address oa receipt ol
Srlce 50 cent In stamps or currency. La-
lei can Main elegant sample! FREE by
encloslr s 10 eta. la stamps to pay for post-
age and picking. Address naming this pa-
per Crown Chemical Compant
10W Arch St. Philadelphia V
Notice of Dissolution
The partnership heretofore existing b-
tween L. L. Foster and C. E. Gilbert under
the firm nsme of Foster k Gilbert has thl 1
day been dissolved by mutual consent Mr.
Foster retiring. Mr. C. . Gilbert will
continue the publication of the Herali
and aettle all outstanding business of Un-
arm. L.L. FOSTKK
C. E. GILBERT.
"MEMORIAI EDITION"
DR. A. W. CHASE'S
; 3d Last & Complete Receipt Book
and HOUSIHOLD rKiaiiiiAH.
C j i.Mii.ium. rwlpU. cmmviM uwlla oa
r mi..iinwra r-r-tpu. nnntniM uwalla ott
(h. dmM n1 lrtm-nt of M c1"mJUt anlmM: rn-
hundr
" ii .. . .mrll. . hi. former mrt
r " LI. A 1 L- - at iMBMl. tTr M
h.i ntlrel a n-w book "'U5T''1
ch.
o
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.
Gilbert, C. E. The Dallas Herald. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 312, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 11, 1887, newspaper, January 11, 1887; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth293732/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .