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812B475
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material connected with Prof. Bidwell's long and varied
career as lawyer, citizen, and inventor.
There is not a dull page from cover to cover of the 265-page book,
and parts are of the most intense interest, holding the reader
long against his will-it seeming impossible to put
the book down before it is finished.
Illustrated Throughout, Well Printed and Prettily Bound.
Sold by all News Dealers. Price: 35c and 75c.
If not obtainable in your neighborhood, address:
BENSON
BIDWELL, PUBLISHER
1595 HUMBOLDT BOULEVARD, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U. S. A.

BENSON BIDWELL.
(Who had his first lesson in electricity as a messenger boy for the tele-
graph company at Toledo, Ohio, in 1847.)

FLYING COWS
OF
BILOXI
BY
BENSON BIDWELL
INVENTOR OF THE TROLLEY CAR
AND THE ELECTRIC FAN.
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE HENNEBERRY PRESS
1907
Copyrighted, 1907
By BENSON BIDWELL.
812B475
OF
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.-Short Legged Cows..
CHAPTER II.-Clemie Davis
CHAPTER III.-Clemie and Her Mother.
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25
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28
31
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37
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40
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CHAPTER IV.-Clemie and the Pot of Gold.
CHAPTER V.-The Broken Stone Pot...
CHAPTER VI.-The Biloxi Cows Have Short Legs..
CHAPTER VII.-How I Came to Make the Wings.
CHAPTER VIII.-If Oranges are Good and Useful, Etc.
CHAPTER IX.-Fertilizing the Wings..
CHAPTER X.-Drifting with the Tide
CHAPTER XI.-At the Fair Grounds.
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• •
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CHAPTER XII.-The First Formally Public Flight..
CHAPTER XIII.-The Wings Become a Fixture on the Cow.
CHAPTER XIV.-The Wings Flop..
•
CHAPTER XV.-A More Astonishing Surprise..
CHAPTER XVI.-The New Species of Fruit, "Co-Oranges"
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
3
OCT 1948 W
FRONTISPIECE-Cow in Act of Flying..
Old-Fashioned Tongs and Fireplace
Negroes Being Driven to New Masters.
Clemie Carrying Kindling Wood
Where Pot of Gold Was Found
Boy Gathering Moss for Cow..
·
Wonderful Wings Rooted in Ground.
Cow Flying at Fair Grounds.
Mayor and Procession Entering Gate.
Cows Grazing in Tree Tops..
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Flying Cows Off for Deer Island.
Queer Experience by Sailors..
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FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
Dear Sam:-
CHAPTER I.
SHORT LEGGED COWS.
BILOXI, MISS., January 3, 1893.
In your recent letter you asked me what success, if any, I had
achieved in my experiments with flying cows.
I owe you an apology for neglecting to inform you several months
since; but I am partially excusable, from the fact that I have a
faint remembrance that I had written you fully on the subject.
And, as I have a very extensive correspondence, some other person
must have received the letter intended for you. I will, therefore,
proceed to give you the facts in the case of my amusing but suc-
cessful experiment.
You will recall that, upon my arrival in this beautiful little Gulf
town last December, I wrote you that the feed for the cows grew
upon the trees, and that there must have been some mistake made
at the time of the creation of the cows and of their feed. Either
the feed was made to grow at too high an altitude, or the cows'
legs were made too short by about ten feet.
In fact, this Spanish moss must have been intended for feeding
the giraffe, which, unfortunately, is not a product of this sandy
soil. With his six-foot legs and five-foot neck he could graze
nicely from these trees.
Dear Sam:·
CHAPTER II.
CLEMIE DAVIS.
BILOXI, MISS., January 8, 1893.
I was talking to my sister, who is also spending the winter here,
about the mysterious dispensation of Providence that placed the
forage for the cattle in the trees and had made the legs of the
7
8
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
quadrupeds that needed the feed so short they could not feed upon
its abundance.
"Oh, Lawd!" said Clemie, the colored servant, "the low-down
white trash are too lazy to pull it down, an' they let they cattle go
hungry till a cow what ought to weigh five hundred don' weigh over
two hundred pounds. Shuah's I live, you can count every blessed
bone in their bodies."
"Yes," said my sister, laughing, "they sold me some milk when
I first came to Biloxi that was poorer than the skim milk we throw
away or feed to the pigs in Michigan."
"No wonder;" explained Clemie, "if you could see them feed
their cows you would say they ought to give nothing but skimmed
water, an' a shuah thin quality at that-
"Sakes alive, that great hulkin' man wat has de bay windah
in front of his gizzard doan give his two cows moan' foah pounds
of moss in a day. Then, the low-down fellow, he drives them to
the Bay to drink, hoping the salt water will keep them from
spiling-
"And Miss Harriett has done gone and seen them and knows
it's Gawd's truth."
"Oh, Clemie," said my sister, I have seen some fine cows here.
You must not judge them too severely; for they may be poor people
and not able to provide suitable feed for their cows."
"Miss Harriett done gone and say that, when the good Lawd
has hung the trees so full of moss that it just hangs so low any
two-legged male critter can reach and pull it for de poah bosseys
dat the Blessed Master has made so short legged dey needs help
to get it-
"And sposen as how the dear blessed Mighty One had went and
done gone and made de female oxens long leggered enough to reach
dem mosses on the trees, how in mercy sakes, Miss Harriett, would
the peoples done gone and milked them
"Would yer went and gone and had all the folks' legs as long
as that old Miss Jonson who is so mean and thin her legs am
like a pair of old Massa Davis' big tongs what he uster have in
de corner of de big fiah chimney before de wah?"
"Why, Clemie," said my sister, "you ought not to slander Miss
Jonson, for she is a good woman, only she has had lots of trouble."

80
OLD-FASHIONED TONGS AND FIREPLACE.
10
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
"Miss Harriett, yo needn't done gone and try to tell me any-
thing bout dat old woman. For the Lawd's sakes, didn't I hearn.
her tell yourself as to how youse Yankees had stole all of her
niggers and she jus' hated you Yankees; and now youse wants
me to love her jus' like as how youse feeds all of de tramps and
loves every one-
"Ole Miss Jonson, she's got lots of houses and property; she
never feeds the tramps, nor has any pity for any misfortunate
folkses, only sets her dogs on them-
"Oh, no, Miss Harriett, yer can't tell me no good bout such as
her. Doan' I know them ever since they stole my mommer and
me when I'se a little pickaninny five years old from my pop, who
was a free nigger in Maryland."
"Why, Clemie, is that so," said my sister. "Do tell us all about
it. We Northern people have read so much about those old days
before the war that we would be delighted to hear a true story
from one who was a slave."
Dear Sam: —
CHAPTER III.
CLEMIE AND HER MOTHER.
BILOXI, MISS., January 12, 1893.
Complying with my sister's request, Clemie related the following:
"Well, Miss Harriett, I done gone and don't know nothing about
a story. I jus' disremember dat the Sunday School teacher in de
school house in Maryland uster tell de white chiluns as how they
must done and gone and not tell no stories, or de good Lawd would
not love them.
"I jus' know as how my pop had a little farm and raised
tobaccer and corn, potatoes and garden truck, and as how one day
a store man from a town over the line in Virginny comed to our
place and looked at pop's tobaccer and said as how, if pop would
bring it to his store, he would buy it of him.
"The next day pop hitched the mule to the wagon and toted the
tobaccer to the store man's place; when as how the store man
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
looked at it and picked at it for a long time.
11
Then, says he:
'Dis yere tobaccer mus' be selected and seprated; and if yer doan
go and send yer wife and pickaninny over to select it, yer'll never
get a picayune foah it.'
"An', as pop started away, he called to him and said, says he:
'My nigger Jim will go over to yer town foah a load o' cohn, an'
as how he can tote the old woman and pickaninny back with him.'.
"When my pop tole my mommer as how he done and got no
money for his tobaccer and as how she must go and select it,
my mommer said as how she would done gone and stay at home,
foah there were so many nigger stealers around dey mout done
gone and steal her and the pickaninny.
"My pop he laugh and say she afeard to go, all the same.
She have no money for new bonnet. Nigger stealers would not
tech her for she was a free woman and the wife of a free man.
Didn't ole Massa Boyer gives them their free papers before he died?
"So nex' day, when nigger Jim comes, me and my mommer
went with him, and he toted us all day long. He never got to the
town till after dark, and he took us into a building where he said
we should stay all night and go in the morning and select the
tobaccer.
"Oh, Miss Harriet, you could never believe what an awful place
nigger Jim took us into. There were lots of other niggers there.
Some of them were crying and weeping; and when my mommer
saw them she axed them what for they cry and weep so, and they
said as how they was sold to the slave dealers to be taken to
Louisiana to work on the sugar plantations.
"Then my mommer said as how she was no slave but a free
woman, and would not stay in such a place over night. And she
tried to open the doah; but it was locked.
was locked. And when she pounded
on it, a big man comed with a whip and whipped her awful, and
said as how she was his nigger, for he had bought her and her
pickaninny. Then she cried and screamed and fought him, when
other men comed and put chains on my mommer and tooked her
away; and, Miss Harriett, I never done seen my mommer since dat
awfullest night I ever sperienced."
Poor Clemie! Though that night was forty years gone, she
broke down, sobbing and weeping as though her heart was broken
12
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
anew at the remembrance of that cruel time when human beings
were stolen from their homes and loved ones and sold like cattle.
And my good, kind-hearted sister wept in sympathy with her.
As soon as she could Clemie continued her story, saying;
"An', Miss Harriett, they tooked me away with lots of other chiluns
and poor weeping men and women on a long, long journey. We
walked all day for days and days, and the wicked men rode along,
hitting us chiluns with their cattle whips, if we got tired and did
not keep up with the big men and women.
"After a long time we comed to Louisiana, where we was sold
at auction, and Massa Davis bought me, and I lived in his house
on his plantation until after de wah."
Dear Sam:—
CHAPTER IV.
CLEMIE AND THE POT OF GOLD.
BILOXI, MISS., January 17, 1893.
Clemie was an able-bodied woman, perhaps forty-five years of
age, with a head and neck capable of supporting more than a hun-
dred pounds, I think I can safely say. One day we saw her coming
down the street with an enormous load of some kind upon her
head. It was as large as two ordinary wash tubs but of different
shape, and she was walking with the dignity of a queen.
As we were watching her coming towards the house my sister
said to me:
"Have you noticed how dignified Clemie is and how clean she
keeps her clothing?"
"Yes," said I; "she has two big trunks and more clothing than
all of the rest of us, I judge, from seeing her laundry hung out
to dry last week; for it covered the lines and also the fences."
At my remarks my sister laughed heartily, saying:
"Clemie's washing is larger than that of all the family. She has
so large an assortment of wearing apparel she does her laundry
work but once in four weeks. Do you remember she desired to
go and visit a colored family a short time since and stayed all

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NEGROES BEING DRIVEN TO NEW MASTERS.

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CLEMIE CARRYING KINDLING WOOD.
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
15
night? When she same back the next day she told me those
'niggers' where she went visiting smelled so bad. she was glad to
get back home."
We were still laughing at the oddity of Clemie's remarks about
the "nigger" family when she appeared in the yard with the huge
burden on her head, walking as steadily and sedately as a deacon.
"Why, Clemie, what have you on your head?" my sister cried
out.
"Why, Miss Harriett," said she, "I was up the street where they
are building a house, and I axed the man if I could have the pieces
of timber, and he said yes, and I found an old sack and rope and
tied them in a big bundle for to use to kindle the fire."
After she had deposited the load on the ground she came in,
greatly excited, her eyes snapping and her ebony face shining,
exclaiming:
"Oh, Miss Harriett, Miss Harriett, dey has found a pot of gold
buried by the pirates, and I done gone and seed whar they digged
it up, and I seed all the pieces of the old stone crock an' de hole
outen which de anciter old stone kettle comed. And, Oh, Miss
Harriett, dey did last night, when hones' folks were sleeping deah
sleep of innocense, dose pirate men comed and went an digged up
dat old pot of gold under yere old pine tree.
"An', Oh, Miss Harriett, I'se walked ober dat pot of gold more'n
a thousand times. Yer see, Miss Harriett (Clemie's excitement
was on the increase as she told the story), dey wicked pirate men
gone and done and kivered up dat pot er gold jes' under de old path
through them pines. And, Oh, Miss Harriett, to jes' think 'er as
how I'se set under that particularized old pine whar dem wickeder
pirate men done went and buried that pot of gold. And, Oh, it
jes' breaks my heart to think as how I'se sot on that pot of gold,
and walked over that pot er gold all dese years, an as how them
awfuler wickeder pirate men comes and done gone and digged it
up, an as how I never did think of that old pot er gold till it were
done gone, and nothing left but the old broken pot. Oh, Miss
Harriett, it jes' breaks my heart into leben pieces."
And poor Clemie broke down, crying and sobbing over the lost
pot of gold, seeming, in her honest, ignorant heart, to think it was
her pot of gold because she had sat under the tree from beneath
ウ
​
LILE
WHERE POT OF GOLD WAS FOUND.
0
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
17
which it was digged and because she had trod over it so many
times in the old beaten path, as had thousands of others, both
black and white.
Clemie was as honest as the day was long. My sister could
trust her at all times and under all circumstances. She was a
staunch Baptist and despised dishonest "niggers" and the "low
white trash," classing the latter as a little lower than the "bad
niggers;" and she spent all of her spare time reading the Bible.
Clemie would not be satisfied until my sister and myself went
to view the remains of the broken pot that had contained the
gold. Upon our arrival in the pine woods, which hemmed the
town in closely on every side, except on the Gulf shore, we were
soon in a primal solitude. Here and there a tree had fallen before
the ocean blast; but nowhere could be seen the marks of the wood-
man's axe,-except upon the fallen trees, and then but to lop off
the limbs or some part easily detached from the main trunk of the
tree.
Tradition and history say that Biloxi has been settled nearly three
hundred years. Yet you can hide yourself in the forest within a
half mile of the City Hall.
So much for the energy of these French-Spanish settlers who
have lived an idyllic life of ease and indolence, their source of
livelihood being the fish and oysters of the Gulf and the birds of
the forests in their season.
Dear Sam: —
CHAPTER V.
THE BROKEN STONE POT.
BILOXI, MISS., January 22, 1893.
Sure enough there in the pine forest were to be seen the remains
of an ancient stone crock that in its best days would probably have
held two gallons. It was shaped much like a vase, small at the
bottom, bulging in the center, and smaller at the top. Before
being baked the clay of which it was made had been stamped with
some quaint Spanish design; and we thought we could discern
18
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
J
among its fragments the imperial crown and coat of arms of the
royal family of Spain.
Near the broken pieces the earth had been thrown up not many
hours before, leaving in the center of the hillock a hole partially
refilled by the caving in of the sand, some three feet deep and
two feet wide at the top, giving one every reason to believe that
the old broken jar had been taken from the hole.
How many years it had been buried in the silent shade of that
pine tree sentinel none could tell but those who placed it there, or
those who in the midnight hours had come and carried it away.
Whether that old stone vase contained gold or silver or gems we
did not know, but that it contained some treasure there was little
doubt.
There is a tradition in Biloxi that some of the old families were
connected with the pirate ships that desolated the commerce of the
Gulf and the adjacent seas in the early years of the last century;
and there is a rumor that some of its ancient seamen still living
could tell strange things of those days if they wished.
I afterwards learned that at different periods of the past relics
of buried treasures similar to Clemie's broken pot and open holes
from whence they had been dug had been seen and were the wonder
of a few days and then were forgotten, to be recalled again when
a similar event occurred to stir up the rumors of the pirates' buried
treasures.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BILOXI COWS HAVE SHORT LEGS.
BILOXI, MISS., January 27, 1893.
Dear Sam:-
You will think I have forgotten the leading event, or cause, of
the writing of this letter; but I have not, and will now proceed
with the narrative of how I made the cows of Biloxi fly or amble
through the air in search of their food,-the Spanish moss that
grows abundantly on the trees.
When I was out walking on the beach one morning I saw a boy
with a long fish pole having a large fish hook fastened to the end

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出
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20
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
of it. With it he would reach up to the moss and, catching a
bunch, he would twist until it was wrenched from the tree. Then
putting the moss in a bag he would repeat the operation until
his bag was full. On my asking him what he used it for, he said:
"We feed our cow with it; but I don't like the work of pulling
it down. If dad's cow's legs were long she could reach it."
Says I: Your dad's cow's legs would have to be as long as
that fish pole. Would it suit you as well if your dad's cow had
wings?"
"You bet," said he, laughing; "but the old woman could never
milk her without a step ladder, unless her legs was as long as
this fish pole————
"Say, ain't you the Yankee wot's making wings for the cows?
I hearn as how you was, and I axed my dad to go an' see you about
fixing our old brindle with wings; for I'm all fired tired of pulling
dis ere moss for her."
"Well, sonny, send yer dad over and we will see if we can
splice her short legs with wings so that they will reach higher and
farther than your fish pole."
"Sure," said he. "I'll do it."
And he trotted home with his bag of moss for old brindle's
breakfast.
CHAPTER VII.
HOW I CAME TO MAKE THE WINGS.
BILOXI, MISS., February 2, 1893.
Dear Sam:-
In this town there are so many funny things occurring every
day that it takes a long time to tell all about the flying cows of
Biloxi.
You see it came about in this way. I was telling the man that
owned the cow that gave the "skimmed water," as Clemie called
it, which my sister paid him ten cents a quart for, that it was a
pity his cow's legs were not long enough to reach the moss, so she
could eat all she liked.
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
21
"Yes," said he; "wish she had wings to fly, for it's hard work
pulling moss this cold weather. You Yankees can do most any-
thing you try to do; and if you can fit that critter with some kind
of an apparatus whereby she can feed herself, I will be more than´
grateful to you."
After reflecting a moment, and wanting to kill time some way,
for one gets tired of eating, sleeping and resting at these winter
resorts, says I to him:
"We will go and look at your bossey."
"My what?" says he, bridling up. "I ain't got no boss. I'se
my own master. I stands for no man to order me around."
"Oh," says I, "your cow, I meant, when I said bossey. That's
what we call them up North."
"Oh," says he; "if that's what you want, come over and see
her."
I found her to be a small Jersey cow, very thin and, as Clemie
had said, you could count the bones in her body. I do not think
she weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds.
In fact, I think the man would weigh as much as the cow; for
he was the man Clemie described as having "a bay window in
front of his gizzard." His size and full condition was easily ac-
counted for, as his diet was oysters, which lay but a few inches
under the sand of the beach, where his wife and daughter could
dig them when the tide was out. The cow, not being able to
gather and eat the oysters, had no bay window where it ought to
have been, "fronting the ground."
Thinks I to myself, as long as the man is willing, I will have
some fun anyway. As for the little Jersey, her hide will probably
be in the tannery in a month. For I knew a man on the next
block who had had two cows that were equally thin, I having often
seen them wandering aimlessly up and down the street that fronts.
the Gulf; and one of them had lain down on the sand of the
beach and given up the ghost a few days before this time.
Therefore, I saw no harm in having a little fun with the thin
Jersey before she lost her hide.
22
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
CHAPTER VIII.
IF ORANGES ARE GOOD AND USEFUL, WHY NOT THE TREE.
Dear Sam: —
BILOXI, MISS., February 9, 1893.
Life is funny and full of puzzles. Did you know that animal
and vegetable life in some conditions are on the same plane? Did
you know that your blood was nothing but red sap and that if
you had some way to connect your arteries with the arteries of a
tree, there would be a promiscuous circulation between your
heart's blood and the life fluid of the tree?
But I will return to my narrative; for you will be better satisfied
to learn how it came about.
told the man,-we will call him John. In fact, I never heard
his name. After measuring the cow, I told John to cut me a
lot of orange limbs, from one and a half inches at the butt to
smaller sizes, the largest to be six feet in length.
Then I marked off on the ground the shape and size of the wings
needed and laid the longest branches at the bottom of my pattern,
so that when they were both extended they had a sweep of twelve
feet, which I thought would be of sufficient size to lift a COW
of two hundred and fifty pounds, provided I made them of sufficient
depth.
I next placed two branches of three feet in length for the upper
part of the wings. Then I bound each together with orange withes,
so that the ends of the wings could be fixed to the cow's back,
just behind the fore shoulders, the connection forming a saddle
over the cow's back.
Having completed the framework, I very carefully selected a
large number of orange tree switches as large as your small finger
and two or more feet in length. These I wove back and forth
into the framework of each wing. At each point of junction or
contact I carefully removed all of the bark to let the wood proper
come into close contact.
When I had completed the weaving to my satisfaction, I got some
grafting wax and covered each joint with the wax. After ten
days steady work I had spread out on the ground a completed
pair of orangetree wings, twelve feet from tip to tip and finely
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
23
proportioned. From lateral branches run from the base of the
wings I had provided for folding joints, so that I could fold them
up and carry them in my arms very comfortably. I had John
dig and cultivate a warm corner in his garden. When this spot
of ground had been carefully prepared I carried the wings over and
set the base of them into a hole about twelve inches deep, then
gently pressed the warm soil about them until they stood firm in
the ground.
Dear Sam:·
CHAPTER IX.
FERTILIZING THE WINGS.
BILOXI, MISS., February 12, 1893.
I planted the wings because I wanted them to grow into a solid
framework, which would make them strong, elastic and light, like
a bird's wings. I fertilized them with dried blood, bought from a
dealer in fertilizers, dissolved in water, which made the wings.
sprout and grow rapidly. In two weeks they were thoroughly
interlaced and covered with new leaves of a rich, deep, green
color, very artistic and pretty. Pulling them up, I found their
bases covered with thousands of rootlets.
We now rigged a tripod with a pulley block, through the apex
of which a rope was passed to lift the cow. I made a band of
heavy cotton cloth sixteen inches wide which, after buckling around
the cow, we hitched to the tackle and raised the cow some eighteen
inches from the ground.
I suppose you are aware of the fact that if you lift a horse or
cow as we raised her it will remain quiet for a long time.
We now tied two strips of pine each side of the cow to which
I attached four pulley wheels, each having a light rope, one end
of each rope being tied to a leg just above the fetlock and the
other end to the wings, so that when the cow walked the ropes
would cause the wings to rise and flop the same as a bird does
with its wings.
We now adjusted the wings to her fore shoulders and drew all

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WONDERFUL WINGS ROOTED IN GROUND.
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
25
of the bands tight until the wings were as firm in their places
as a well girthed saddle on a horse. We spread the wings to their
full extent and found them to be strong and graceful, apparently
well prepared to do the work for which they were intended.
As we were about to lower the cow to test the wings I received
a letter from the Mayor of Biloxi, in which he said that as the
entire community had become deeply interested in my experiment,
there would no doubt be an immense crowd of people to witness
the flight of the cow; and, if I desired, he would send a police
escort for protection, for fear some of the unruly element should
interfere. And if I would fix the hour, the members of the
Council, with himself and the prominent business men, would like
to be present to witness my success.
You see, Sam, in order to get a large place for the first test I
had arranged to use the Fair Grounds, where they had a magnifi-
cent track.
As it was now 4 p. m., I sent word to the Mayor that I should
make the test at 10 a. m., the next morning, and that I would
be pleased to see him and his friends at that time. I also announced
to the assembled crowd my intentions, and sent them away. After
they had gone I removed the wings and laid them carefully
aside.
At 3 a. m. the next morning John led his cow over to the
Fair Grounds, and I carried the wings, the rope and the other
paraphernalia. You can imagine my mind was filled with con-
tending emotions. If all worked well and the cow sailed aloft
with ease and comfort, I was well aware that its success would
give me immortal fame. I could then say to myself: "Alexander
conquered the earth, but I have conquered the air."
Q
܀
Dear Sam:-
CHAPTER X.
DRIFTING WITH THE TIDE.
BILOXI, MISS., February 16, 1893.
One day, while I was waiting for the growth of my wings, my
sister suggested that we have a boat ride on the bay over to Deer
26
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
Island, which lies one mile south of Biloxi and is several miles
in length and not over a half mile wide, forming an admirable
protection from the waves and storms of the wide ocean-like gulf,
and giving Biloxi an almost land-locked harbor in which, with
some dredging and other government work, the navies of the
world could ride in safety during the wildest storms.
It was one of those ideal days of which we read and of which
poets rave and tear their hair and silly school girls write love
sonnets.
We started about 10 a. m., when the tide was running east.
With resting oars and almost bated breath we were swept along
past the city water front, enjoying a magnificent view of the
summer residences, now closed, of the New Orleans merchants,
each in a park of one or more acres.
Here, there and everywhere about the harbor were anchored
private yachts, oyster sloops, shrimp schooners, steamers and lumber
crafts.
Later on I can tell you an interesting story about the shrimp
schooners that leave anchorage at 2 a. m. and return at 9 a. m.,
some with fifty barrels, some with one hundred barrels of shrimps.
The sun was shining with that mellow, hazy light of our best
October days in the North. There was not a cloud to disturb the
mirror-like appearance of the mighty concave sphere above us,
not even a lazy breeze rippled the glossy surface of the bay.
The sails of the many crafts about us hung listlessly in their
stays. All nature was serene and clothed in beauty. The air
was neither cold nor warm but just made to fit the hazy, lazy day.
It was such a day as when we forget the world and without an
effort enter the waking dreamland of joy where no cares disturb
or frictions jar.
Thus we drifted with the tide and dreamed almost in silence,
so absorbed were we in the details that formed the picture of the
harbor, the giant forest trees on either hand festooned with their
living drapery of moss, in all the fantastic forms that nature
could outline.
So silent and quiet was all nature that even the fish respected
our mood and disturbed not the baited lines that hung listlessly
over the side.
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
27
Not a sound was heard from either shore or from the anchored
boats all about us. These happy fisher people seem to enjoy the
quiet and respect the serenity of such a day. As far as light or
sound was concerned we were floating through a deserted squadron
anchored before a city of vacant houses.
The tide had been gradually drifting us away southeast until,
two miles below our starting point, we came into the shallow
waters of Deer Island, the white sand of the bottom being planted
thickly with oysters brought in from the outer bay, where they lay
to fatten for the harvest.
Drawing up to a dilapidated old dock, built by a former genera-
tion, now fallen into decay, we landed, to see the general lay of
the island, which here was only about forty rods wide. The only
small vegetation on the island is a tropical plant with fan-like
leaves that grow on a slender stalk some two feet high. Along
the outer shore of the island we saw many of these plants where
the waves at high tide had washed the sand away from the upper
part or body of the roots which, upon examination, proved to be
huge affairs six to twelve inches in diameter and four to six feet
in length.
About the only other growth on the island is the swamp or live
oaks with huge limbs, the spread of some, taking the full diameter
on opposite sides of the tree, being one hundred feet, all hanging
heavy with moss, some of it four or five feet in length.
Seeing a cabin in the distance, we went to it; but found no one
at home, though the doors were wide open. The people were no
doubt poor, but everything was neat and clean. The unfenced
front yard was laid off in neat plots with sea shells and pure
ocean washed sand.
Going farther down, we discovered an overturned and wrecked
oyster sloop. It lay at the roots of a tree ten rods from the
shore. It had been washed up there, so we afterwards learned,
at the time the great tidal wave swept the gulf in 1885, when
hundreds of fishing and other boats were overturned by it and with
their occupants went down never to be seen again, while others near
the shore were swept high upon the land,-sad wrecks.
I am told that there are hundreds of "tornado widows," as they
are called, whose husbands and sons disappeared that wild night
·
28
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
when the storm swept from Pensacola on the east to Galveston
on the west, many of the inhabited islands being swept clean of
all life.
As we went further east we saw a woman walking barefooted
on the beach, which is a common event here. She kept away from
us as far as she could. But finally my sister spoke to her. Then
she proved to be a pleasant, intelligent girl of eighteen or twenty.
She said she lived in the log cabin we had been to and that her
husband worked over in East Biloxi at the oyster packing house.
In further conversation she said her father owned all of the west
end of Deer Island and that he had been offered forty thousand
dollars for it, but preferred to keep it for the oyster beds on its
shores, which paid him a large income.
After strolling up and down the island for two or three hours,
we concluded to go home, as we were getting hungry, not having
thought to bring a lunch.
Entering our boat we found the tide had turned, and upon it we
again floated in idyllic pleasure, past ship and boat and wharf to
our landing, and voted unanimously that it was one of the pleasant-
est rides of our lifetime.
I take it to be somewhat synonymous of the eternal tides upon
which immortals will float without "care or hunger" forever.
Dear Sam:-
CHAPTER XI.
AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.
BILOXI, MISS., February 19, 1893.
You can imagine my surprise on arriving at the Fair Grounds
to see crowds of colored people camped out. I learned that they
came the night before to secure a good location to see the show.
They rather spoiled my plans of having a preliminary test before
the crowd should come. But as I was in for it, we quickly adjusted
the wings and started the cow on a gentle trot up the track, which

COW FLYING AT FAIR GROUNDS.
滤
​30
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
set the wings in rapid motion and, almost before we knew it, she
had risen from the ground and was sailing through the air.
I had tied a light cord to her horns in order to control her flight,
and allowed her to rise but about twenty feet. And she had not
gone more than ten rods before such a mighty shout of surprise
and astonishment arose from the throats of the people that it
admonished me to pull her down and quickly put her in one of
the stables for fear their enthusiasm would arouse the town and
that the Mayor would charge me with bad faith in giving an
exhibition before the appointed time.
When I came out of the stable the entire crowd of not less than
a thousand people were closely grouped about the building and had
struck up an impromptu ballad, singing:
"Now de cow can eat the moss
And fly faster than de race hoss;
Like Jordan, de milk will flow,
No longer with hunger will she low,
And the pickaninnies promiscuous like will grow,
In dis promised land of milk and honey,
And dis nigger never more will need money."
While they were shouting this song they crowded unpleasantly
near, in their admiration of the Yankee, until I was glad to escape
from their kind-hearted attentions into the barn.
To say that I was gratified and pleased hardly expresses my
feelings. In fact, I really believe it was the happiest moment of
my eventful life-in which I have seen many happy moments as
well as many sad ones.
Yet there was a vein of anxiety in it all which was caused by the
fear that some of my fixings would break during the exhibition
about to be made before the Mayor, the Council and the assembled
citizens and business men of Biloxi and its surrounding towns.
Therefore, I spent my time examining the wings and the girths
with all of their connections, also in feeding the cow some timothy
hay which I found in the stable.
John was jubilant over our short trip and its success. Says he:
"No more pulling of moss for me; and, then, what lots of milk
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
31
I will have to sell at ten cents a quart as soon as she gets all the
moss she can eat."
Hearing distant strains of music, I looked out and saw a military
band entering the gates of the Fair Grounds and could hardly
believe it was 9:30 a. m., and that the band headed the procession
of citizens coming in carriages, on horseback and on foot to view
the flight of the first bovine since the dawn of creation.
Yet, it was true. Following the band came His Honor the
Mayor; next came the Council, also in carriages; then came the
Board of Trade and business men on horseback, a body of six hun-
dred as fine looking men as I ever saw; then followed about two
thousand men on foot; after them a mixed multitude, "poor whites"
and "niggers,” some of them in rickety carts drawn by mules or
oxen. One old darky woman was riding an ancient cow, seated
on an old side-saddle. Probably the cow and the saddle had seen
their best days "before the wah."
Looking at my watch and seeing it lacked but five minutes of
10 a. m., I entered the barn to prepare for the coming exhibition.
Giving a last look at the buckles, straps and pulleys, I led the
cow out into the middle of the race track, towards the grand stand,
where the elite of the city were seated.
As we came in view the band played the tune "He Is a Jolly
Good Fellow." The men clapped their hands. The ladies fluttered
their handkerchiefs. Thus we were given a flattering reception. It
was so generous that I shall ever remember that memorable 17th
day of February and the big-hearted people who gave it.
When we arrived before the Mayor we halted to give him and
his friends an opportunity to see the wings and the appliances by
which they were attached to the cow. And they expressed their
warmest approval at the ingenuity shown in their application.
Dear Sam:-
CHAPTER XII.
THE FIRST FORMALLY PUBLIC FLIGHT.
BILOXI, MISS., February 25, 1893.
After the Mayor and Council had resumed their seats, we again
started the cow on a gentle trot, and the wings began to wave

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MYCY
MAYOR AND PROCESSION ENTERING GATE.
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
33
gradually but gracefully. After going about five rods the cow rose
from the ground, as naturally as a bird. Letting her rise to the
height of twenty-five feet, I was compelled to run a lively pace to
keep up with her.
We soon passed around the track to the front of the grand
stand, and I drew her to the ground. As her feet rested on the
earth there arose such mingled cheers and shouts as mortal throats
never before gave expression to. The vast throng both in the
grand stand and in the compound were wild with enthusiasm.
Crash went the fence, swept down by the crazy, cheering good-
natured blacks. And we were saved from being crushed only
by the quick movements of the Chief of Police, who, as the fence
went down, threw his men around us three deep, 'thus repelling
the good-natured mob.
The Mayor, in his anxiety for our safety, came down within
the circle and made a speech to the people, saying that as this
first trial had been a success they would soon see all of the
cows of Biloxi feeding from the moss in the trees, each cow
having her own wings; that he was so well satisfied with the
results of the morning's exhibition that he, with other gentlemen,
was ready to furnish all of the money needed to supply every
cow in the county with wings at reasonable rates.
It was a long time before the people went away. They wanted
to see the Yankee and ask him questions about the cost and
the durability of the wings.
Towards night, when there were but a few hundred persons
remaining, we led the cow out of the barn and started her on
a trot towards home. Then, as before, her wings soon raised
her in the air. Giving the guiding rope to Mr. John, I said:
"Lead your cow home."
I wished to walk behind to watch the action of the wings. The
excitement being over, I wanted to observe them more closely
than I had been able to before.
I was unable to detect any flaw in their action or fault in their
construction, and felt very much gratified to know that my cogita-
tions and deductions had yielded such perfect results at so little
cost.
On the way home the cow was allowed to eat the moss from
0
34
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
the trees. She had adapted herself so readily to the wings that
she moved about with ease and comfort. On arriving at John's
house we tied her near a moss-covered tree, giving her sufficient
rope to enable her to fly to the highest limbs.
When I went to my sister's for supper I found the yard crowded
with colored people who were listening to Clemie while she told
Clemie
them of the wonderful things Master Benson could do.
enjoyed to its full extent her share of the sudden popularity that
had come to us in the admiration of the people of her color.
Dear Sam: -
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WINGS BECOME A FIXTURE ON THE COW.
BILOXI, MISS., March 1, 1893.
You will recall that I had written you that I left the wings
out in the garden to have them sprout and that we fertilized
them with dried blood mixed with water. The result of the
use of the blood caused two remarkable things to happen. I will
try to relate the circumstances, though it will be impossible for
me to give the scientific reasons. But I will do the best I can to
explain to you the union of animal and vegetable substances. You
remember I have written you that there was a similarity under
certain conditions,-each of them being alive, of course.
First, I will have to explain the conditions of the saddle or
girth upon which the lower ends of the wings rested and were
fastened. As before said, it was made of heavy cotton goods
bound as tight around her as heavy buckles could make it.
As related, we brought the cow home and left her to feed until
dark. Being very tired, I told Mr. John to leave the wings on
over night, but to draw the cow down out of the tree and tie her
very carefully, so no accident could happen over night.
I went over before breakfast in the morning to take the wings
off, but could not do so. Each time I tried to lift them the cow
winced and turned her head towards me, seeming in pain. Then,

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COWS GRAZING IN TREE TOPS.
36
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
carefully examining the cotton belt, I found that the wings had
worn a hole through it and also through the hair and hide of
the cow into the flesh. I then carefully cut away all of the belt
close to the wings. And, as marvelous as it may seem to you,
and no one could believe it unless seen, and I thought I was
dreaming when I saw it; but, Sam, it's as true as the wings
themselves that a union had taken place between the vegetable of
the wings and the flesh of the cow.
To tell you I was surprised does not express my feelings by
a long way. It was some time before I could grasp the reasons
for the mysterious combination between live flesh and live vegetable.
But it slowly dawned upon my brain that there was a reason,
and a good one, for the seeming miracle.
My experience of life has taught me that for whatever happens
in nature there is a cause and a law behind it. Chance has no
place in this world. To illustrate: if we see a man with a black
eye, we know that some one has hit him. When we see a load
of ice, even on the equator, we know there has been a freeze
somewhere and at some time. Therefore, you see, there is a reason
for every result.
As I thought the matter over I remembered about using the
dried blood as a fertilizer, and also recalled that when visiting
you some years since the strawberries you were raising were of
a deep black blood red and that they looked repugnant; and you
explained to me that the color was caused by the use of beef
blood as a fertilizer. You said that the blood was taken up by
the berries and when the berries were eaten the blood in them
entered the person's circulation, giving to the person a rosy,
healthy color.
As I thought these matters over, I was compelled to the con-
clusion that the blood I had used to fertilize the wings had found
its affinity in the blood of the cow and a circulation had been
established between the wings and the heart of the cow whose
every beat sent its blood to the tips of the wings.
Now, Sam, I may be mistaken in my deductions, though I have
reasoned by the rules of analogy; yet I am not fully satisfied and
when I go North I hope to be able to lay the facts before the
president of the Chicago University and request him to refer the
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
37
subject to the Department of Science and Evolution for an ex-
haustive examination.
There is little doubt in my mind that I have elucidated and
uncovered the very keystone of the arch of Darwin's evolution;
that is, I mean to say, if I can make it plain to you, Cousin
Sam, it's the bridge that spans the space between humanity and
vegetation. That is to say, in other words, we can establish by
infallible evidence that man has surely, certainly and positively
ascended from the monkey. Now, the monkey lived in a tree,
and in the early ages a symbolical navel cord connected the cir-
culation of the monkey with the circulating fluids of the tree;
and, thus, the monkey, in reality, is the offspring of the tree;
and, by reasoning analogically, man is the product of vegetation.
I will not enter any deeper into this subject at this time, but in
some future letter will further elucidate it.
After fully realizing what had occurred I explained it to Mr.
John and we concluded to keep the cow quiet for several days
until the union between the base of the wings and the muscles of
her back was firm and fully developed.
Seeing that the pulleys, ropes and girths were of no further
use, we removed them; at which the cow seemed relieved.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE WINGS FLOP.
BILOXI, MISS., March 5, 1893.
Dear Sam:-
After removing the harness, as we called it, I went over to a
nearby tree to cut a branch to drive the flies away so the cow
could keep quiet. When I turned about to go back to the cow
I almost fell backwards against the tree in fright and amazement.
Was it true or only a hazy dream? Her wings were actually
waving up and down, driving the flies away.
As soon as I could recover myself I went to her and, sure
enough, I could see the muscles of her back move in unison with
her wings.
38
888
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
I was so excited by the results of my work that I jumped up
and down, shouting: "Glory! Hallelujah!" This proceeding brought
all of the neighbors out; and my sister and Clemie ran over in
great alarm, thinking I had gone daft.
I told them I was not crazy, only so astonished that I had to
let off steam or burst. When they had seen the cow wave her
wings the effect on the different people was peculiar. Some of
the women fainted with fright, others were speechless, with their
mouths wide open.
The blacks were so alarmed that most of them ran away, telling
those they met that the Yankee was possessed with a devil. Soon
thousands of people surrounded the cow; and I sent for the
police. After their arrival I explained to the people that I was
neither a devil nor a prophet, only a Yankee inventor who was
more surprised by the results of his experiment than any of them.
That the growth of the wings into the muscles of the cow was
one of the not understandable processes of nature, and that I was
innocent of any occult power. That I could do more than any
ordinary man who was willing to work and persevere until he
obtained logical results; and if nature assisted him and the results
exceeded his most sanguine expectations he certainly was not to
be blamed for it.
Dear Sam:-
CHAPTER XV.
A MORE ASTONISHING SURPRISE.
BILOXI, MISS., March 11, 1893.
You can imagine I was thoroughly tired out with the last two
days of excitement. I slept so sound last night I did not awaken
until long after sunrise. I do not know how long I would have
slept if I had not been wakened by some one pounding on my
window. Looking out, I saw Mr. John. He cried out in great
excitement:
"Come over, quick; there is something new for you to see."
Thinking wonders would never cease, I hurried my dressing,
BY BENSON BIDWELL.
39
and went over to his house as fast as I could go, fearing some-
thing must have happened to his cow that would demolish all of
my dreams of the future.
Therefore, with an anxious heart and straining eyes, I drew
near the place. She was tied, but I could not see her until close.
up, there were so many people there. Pressing through the
crowd until I could get a near view, I discovered the wings
covered with white blossoms, which had come out in the night.
"Surely, what are they?" said I, turning to Mr. John.
"Why," said he, "they are orange blossoms.”
As I had seen orange blossoms only in pictures, I was much
interested. They were snow white, making the wings beautiful
in contrast with the deep green of the leaves that covered them.
After a careful examination of the blossoms I investigated the
base of the wings, to see if the union with the muscles of the
cow's back was perfect. And, to my delight, they were firmly
attached and useful,-not only for flying but to scare the flies,
for which purpose she moved them as readily as does a bird.
At my suggestion, John led her to a moss-covered tree, when
she spread her wings as readily as a condor and leaped as it were
into the air. While eating she kept her wings moving just enough
to keep herself in position.
"You ought to see the milk she gave this morning," says John.
"There was two gallons, and some cream on it also."
This last development of my invention has turned the people of
this old town wild with excitement. Our cows will not only give
lots of milk, but they will be beautiful as they fly about in the
tree tops. Now say they:
"If he can teach them to sing the sweet songs of the mocking-
bird, we will hail the wing-maker as the chief magic worker of all
our fair Southland.”
Sam, at some future time, I will write you about the "Siren
Songs of the Lady Bovines."
40
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
Dear Sam:-
CHAPTER XVI.
THE NEW SPECIES OF FRUIT-"CO-ORANGES.'
BILOXI, MISS., March 15, 1893.
Will wonders never cease? Is it the clime, the people, the ocean-
vapor, the soul inspiring fantastic moss draped foliage, the solemn,
thoughtful piney woods, the round full-faced sun, neither too hot
nor too cold. Or is it all of them added and multiplied that evolves
the present times, so replete with marvels? It is said that good
men will be angels in the sweet bye and bye.
The ladies, of course, are full-fledged angels in the present tense,
and the problem now puzzling the paralyzed head gear of this
people is: Are the cows also to be angels?
It looks that way, or you would have thought it did, if you could
have seen the occurrences of to-day, the tumult, the wonderment,
the amazement which commenced with daylight and is still in full
possession of the town now at 10 p. m.
A few days after writing my last letter, my attention was called
to the falling of the blossoms from the wings of the cow and
the growth of orange buds, which in six weeks have developed
into fine oranges. They are now ripening and falling off. When
we cut them open, they are of a rich crimson color and very juicy
and rich in flavor.
Having given you the full details of the way and the process
of fitting wings to the first cow, it is hardly needful to tell you
that we have applications for more of the wings than we have
been able to make.
Before we commenced this wing business, oyster and shrimp
shipping was the principal occupation of Biloxi. But at the present
time milk is the chief product leaving the city for New Orleans.
And Spanish moss, that for ages has been almost useless, has
become of such value that it is now held at a premium and some
of the old fogies who do not keep cows are kicking because the
"beautiful drapery," as they call it, is being eaten from the trees.
Deer Island, a mile away and in front of the city, with its
thousands of moss-covered trees, is now bringing the owner a large
income from a contract made with Mr. Whack, a prominent busi-

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FLYING COWS OFF FOR DEER ISLAND.
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42
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
ness man of this city, who bought one hundred cows and has had
them all fitted with wings.
And, Sam, it is a beautiful sight to see the cows at sunrise.
leave for the island. The leader, a mottled brown, has on a bell.
And as soon as they are untied, after milking time, she rises in
the air and leads the herd across the water to the island.
Visitors come from all over the North to see this sunrise flight
of Biloxi's cows as they skim over the harbor to the island, where
they spend the day browsing in the tree tops. As the evening
draws on they return to be milked. Not only the yield of milk
but the orange crop brings a large income, for they fetch better
prices than oranges raised on trees.
Tinker & Sons, commission merchants of Chicago, have an agent
here who has contracted for all of the "co-oranges," as they call
them. At first they were called "cow-oranges;" but, as you see,
it has been abbreviated to "co-oranges."
Mr. Doodles, the agent, will not sell them in this market, saying
the demand for them is so heavy in Chicago department stores it
cannot be fully supplied. The demand is mostly from the millionaire
department storekeepers. They give them as premiums. Any lady
buying a new hat receives one of the co-oranges worth one dollar,
the result being the premiums draw an immense trade, and the trade
pays large dividends. The ladies all trade at the premium stores.
This experiment is working itself out very rapidly and ought to
satisfy the most eminent evolutionist; for it is reported that several
of the cows while over on Deer Island today were delivered of calves
and that all of those calves have wings.
Dear Sam, I will draw my long letter to a close by saying that I
hope you will come down and see us soon.
Yours truly,
BENSON BIDWELL.
P. S.—Since closing my letter I have received a copy of the New
Orleans Times-Democrat, and send you a copy of an article pub-
lished in it, as follows:
"The captain of the ship Wellington, from Liverpool to this port,
gives the following details of a most remarkable occurrence in
regard to the flying cows of Biloxi, of which mention has been
made in this paper a number of times within the last two months.

QUEER EXPERIENCE BY SAILORS.
3
44
FLYING COWS OF BILOXI
"He says that last Thursday night, while his ship was about fifty
miles South of Biloxi, Miss., the officer of the watch heard a
singular moaning sound a short distance from the ship. After
listening for some time, all of the watch decided it was the lowing
of a cow.
'Fearing the ship must be out of her course and near one of
the islands in the gulf,' said the Captain, 'I was called and after
listening to the sound, also was convinced that it was made by a
cow in distress and ordered the ship anchored until daylight. After
the ship became stationary the sound seemed to move around it,
some distance above the water. As soon as the grey of dawn
began to appear we could see the dim outlines of a huge flying
creature of some kind, having horns. The crew were very much
frightened, and sending below for our guns, we prepared to repel
the monster, if it should attempt to alight on the ship.
'Being anxious to capture the queer thing alive, if possible, ve
did not shoot but waited for the full light of dawn to more distinctly
learn of its nature. The lowing of the creature continued and
seemed to be more distressful than at first.
A
'As soon as it was fully light, so we could make out its full form,
we saw that it had the horns, the udder, the tail and legs of a cow.
But, in addition, it had enormous wings, and it seemed to be flying
in great distress and slowly nearing the ship.
'Seeing that it appeared to be harmless, we allowed it to draw
near until, finally, it landed on the deck, and immediately lay down,
exhausted. I ordered it secured with a rope around its horns.
Some water and food was given the animal; and as soon as it had
rested itself it stood up, and we then saw that its udder was full
and that streams of milk were flowing thereform.
'I ordered the cook to bring a pail, and he obtained nearly three
gallons of milk from her.'
"Our reporter immediately went to the ship when she docked,
and he says that it is a Biloxi cow that must have strayed away
from Mr. Whack's herd on Deer Island."
Dear Sam, what will happen next I do not care to prophesy;
but will write you next month and keep you posted on matters.
Yours, etc.,
BENSON BIDWELL.
OUR GRAND JURY SYSTEM
A RELIC OF THE
BARBARIAN AGE
In this day, which we proudly call the age of enlightenment, a worthless
female or a mob incited by such a disreputable person, can go before a Grand
Jury and swear away the liberty of any honorable man and discredit the best
business in Chicago or any other city. Incited by personal spite, such despi-
cable creatures may go into court after it has adjourned for the day and get a
warrant issued for the immediate arrest of any honest man. By such shrewd
maneuvering the prisoner is compelled to remain in jail over night, herding
with the vilest of common criminals, until court is convened the following day,
before he may even make application for ball under a wholly false charge.

THE LAW MOST UNJUST
A man arrested on information before a Grand Jury should be at once taken
tore the Judge having jurisdiction, who may take proper juridical cognizance
the case and use his discretionary powers in granting the prisoner bail or in
temporarily freeing him until he and his attorneys shall be ready for trial.
This should apply particularly in cases worked up on trivial testimony, no cor-
roborative evidence, and wholly maneuvered by those having only motives of
personal enmity.
MANY CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS ALL SPITE WORK
I have been informed by a Court official of many years experience that at
least one-fourth of the cases brought before Criminal Judges are the result of
spite, and are instigated by the basest of personal motives.
ABOLISH THE GRAND JURY
In view of the abuses accentuated above, the Grand Jury is archaic and
should be obsolete. It is out of date and easily taken advantage of for working
injustice on innocent citizens. Therefore, it should be abolished by Legislative
enactment. In our day, when the courts sit in session almost constantly, the
only excuse for the existence of the Grand Jury is canceled; and that frequently
misled body should adjourn, never to be again convened.
BENSON BIDWELL.

BIDWELL'S CARBONIC GAS
COMPRESSORS
BIDWELL ELECTRIC COMPANY
133-969 5.CLINTON ST CHICAGO.
PATENT APPLIED YOR
FOR MAKING ICE AND ALL REFRIGERATING
PURPOSES, ALSO FOR USE ON CARS TO
PREVENT MOTORS BURNING OUT.
They are adapted for all conditions
and places where refrigeration or ice-
making is required, for cooling of
rooms, for storage of perishable goods,
and for the cooling of liquids and
dangerous ingredients which have to
be handled at fixed temperatures.
MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY THE
BIDWELL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Offices:
403-404 Monadnock Bldg., Chicago.
Factory:
Chicago Heights, III.
يود
BIDWELL'S NEW CAR WHEEL AXLE COLD MOTOR

This Motor is built between the wheels of the car to be equipped with it,
making it very simple in operation and compact as to space occupied.
By taking the wheels and axles out of a car and replacing them with the Cold
Motor axle and wheels the car is transformed into an electric car without further
expense except connections and trolley wires.
MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY THE
BIDWELL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Offices: 403-404 Monadnock Bldg., Chicago. Factory: Chicago Heights, Ill.
•

BIDWELL'S AIR COMPRESSOR
BIDWELL ELECTRIC COMPANY
CHICAGO
Will condense air until it has a pressure of
three hundred pounds to the square inch-one
hundred pounds more than can be accom-
plished by any other Compressor on the
market.
At Riverview Amusement Park, Chicago,
all through the season of 1907, it was used
by the inventor of the Deep Sea Diver, who
could remain under water for several hours
without inconvenience in breathing by carry-
ing on his back a cylinder of air filled by
this Compressor.
The Compressor, as illustrated, is so de-
signed that it can be operated in any position,
and may be of the oscillating or rigid type.
MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY THE
BIDWELL ELECTRIC COMPANY
OFFICES:
403-404 Monadnock Bldg., Chicago.
FACTORY:
Chicago Heights, Ill.

812B475
OF
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:
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UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
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Flying cows of Biloxi.
3 1951 002 131 085 X
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PRODUCED BY GRAPHIC ARTS RESEARCH CENTER