davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
The HOOsac Tunnel.

The work of the Hoosac Tunnel was
commenced as far back as 1850. After
that it was abandoned and recommended
some three or four times within period
of twenty years until in December,
1869, contract for completing it within
five years was undertaken by the present
contractors. Since then the work has
gone forward without interruption. The
time required to complete the work, in
Guiding the laying of the permanent
track, will be about seven months from
the 1st of December next, and the tun-
mel will probably be open for traffic by
the 4th OF July next.
The total length of the Hoosac tunnel
is four miles and three quarters. It is
twenty-four feet wide, that being sufi-
cient for double line of rails, and its
height is twenty. six feet. Compared
with the Mont Cents Tunnel, after which
it takes rank in point of length (the
former is about seven miles long), the
conditions attending the work OF the
Hoosao made it O much more difficult
undertaking. The exigencies of the
situation required that the work should
be carried out by means of shafts, of
which there are two-the west shaft,
about half mile from the western per-
tai, and 318 feet deep, and the central
shaft, which is sunk in the lowest part
of the mountain between the two ends,
to the depth of 1,030 feet. The pump
ing of the latter alone, to allow of the
tunHel being driven east and west, in
volved an expenditure of 100000. II
is estimated that the Hoosac tunnel,
when completed, will have cost the
State of Massachusetts, ssme $12 600, 600,
including interest and sums vested in
unsuccessful attempts to carry on the
work under State management. BY
whom the tunnel is to be worked is still
an open question, to be settled by the
! Legislature OF the State,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
Adventures of q Burglar.

A man tried to burglarize the house
of Mr.. Smith, residing in the neighbor-
hood of the railroad track, but was sue
cessfully foiled in the attempt. 1t
seems that the fellow forced an entrance
through the back kitchen door by pry-
ing off the hasp, about 11:30 o'clock,
soon after the occupants of the house
had retired. The burglar, after getting
into the kitchen, commenced walking
around the room. Mr.. Smith, who
had not yet gone to sleep, heard the
fellow, but kept quiet. In a few mo-
ments more the burglar entered the
hall which leads directly to the Sleep
ing apartment. About this time Smith
had gotten out of bed, and, arming
himself with bootiack and one of his
heavy boots, awaited the approach of
the other. 1t was as dark as tar, and
as soon as the man came within striking
distance he let fly at him with his boot
jack, hitting him over the head. The
fellow beat hosty retreat, but not fast
enough to escape the heavy boot, which
was thrown after him. When he got
into the kitchen he didn't know which
way to turn, as he had closed the door
when he came in. Before he knew
where he was he had fallen over the
stove, knocking half dozen tea kettles
and pots off with him. This created
such terrible din that Smith thought
four or five burglars were in his kitch-
en-, and was afraid to follow. Lucky
for the other that he did, for he had
become SO demoralized by the fall that
he wasn't worth q cent for fighting.
Getting on his feet again, he struck
for the door wildly, and this time came
in contact with rocking chair, and he
fell head over heels into tub of water.
His splashing and foundering around
in the tub of water terrified Smith more
than ever, and he began to think his
house was possessed of devils. The
man at last found the door, and jumped
down the steps he ran across the yard
likelightning, and this timerushed into a
small hen coop, which he knocked
over, and killed several of the small
hens. What happened to him after
this no one knows. Suffice it, he has
not showp himself around those parts
since Vallejo (Cdl.) Independence.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
The Old Woman of Shamokin.

Some few miles from Shamokin, Pa.
says the Episcopal Register, lives a
character that those manly people, the
woman's rights women" should GER
tainly know, as she is decidedly the
champion. The singular being is some
seyenty-two years of age, end is alto
gether the most manly woman I ever
met with. A tenant-at-will, she has oc.
cupied for many years the farm she
cultivates with her own hands and the
assistance of hired laborers. She owns
about forty-two head of cattle, some of
which I saw, and are really fine stock
She lives alone in her log cabin, her
only companions being two shepherd
dogs and her chickens, many of the
latter sleeping under the same roof with
her, she calling them her children, and
training them up in the way they should
go, so as to cause the least inconveni-
enee to her in their habit of life. She
is utterly fearless, and with her dogs
and gun, which she can use with I'M
erring aim, Lize Schuler is character
that few would care to trife with.
Imagine, if you can, a woman of me-
dium size, dgessed in mems clothes,
with soft hat variously indented upon
her head, no coat, barefooted, and you
have this champion of woman's
rights" before you. Wrinkled though
her face is by the storms and trials OF
many years, the strength and activity
of this man-woman OF seventy-two is
somewhat wonderful. Voluble is hard
ly the term suitable for the expression
of her powers of talk, and few men
however disposed for such perfection
may boast themselves superior toher OF
the score of profanity. Much and varied
has been my travel, and strange sights
and objects have 1 seen and met with
but the Hermit of Shamokin, with hel
supernatural powers of tongue and limb
far surpasses anything of my previous
experience.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29

The arrest of number of poor coal
pickers in Kansas City, recently, has
resulted in the discovery of once very
popular actress, who long ago drove the
play-going public of London wild over
her beauty and power of delineation.
A railroad watchman caught bright
eyed little girl of thirteen years filling
her basket with Goals from the cars Of
the Missouri Pacific Railroad. When
the child was brought before the au-
thorities, Mrs. Caroline Whittlesey,
more familiarly known as Brighton
Pearl" of the Drury Lane Theatre, ap-
peared in her behalf, and her calm and
lady-like manner, and pale, careworn
face, were all the eloquence required to
release the little girl from the watch
mans grasp. This man, to test the
woman's words as to her poverty and
destitution, visited her rude, unplaster-
ed hovel in the bottoms near the rail-
road track. A clean but humble bed, q
few chairs, table, number of relics
of the stage, such as play-bills, por-
traits, &C., and sewing machine, COM
prised all her earthly possessions. Mrs.
Whittlesey, it appears, went to Kansas
City about five years ago, and has lived
there since the death of her husband
by her own exertions as q seamstress.
When she left the stage she did so ex-
pecting to become the wife of Lord
Denbigh, with whom she went, as his
wife, to Geneva and thence to Florence,
where they lived in retirement several
months. On his death her claims as
his wife were set aside, and having
neither money nor friends she came to
this country to seek livelihood. Since
the death of her husband, whom she
married in Kansas, she had gradually
become reduced in circumstances, and
now found herself compelled to send
her child to gather Goals to assist in
eking out the scanty support won by her
needle.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29

After the lapse of some days the first
claimant returned, accompanied by an
ill-looking nan of aged appearance.
Il have found out the real murder
er," he said; "but, unfortunately, heis
beyond the reach of justice"
His name ?" 1 asked.
Richard White" he answered.
What proof have you ?"
This, pointing to his companion,
sis the man with whom White pawned
my uncle's watch shortly after the mur-
der. The pawnbroker has kept it ever
since, and has it with him now"
"Yesh, here it ish," said the gentla-
man referred to, producing the watch.
"Misther Fhite shpouted him NIT me
for foofzy dollar. 1 can shvear to dat.
Und my trent, Sharley Vilson-I can
shwear to him, too-know't him from a
poy."
L stepped out, and sent messenger
privately for the other claimant.
In few minutes he entered the
Office At the sight of him the first
conner started to his feet and sprang to-
ward the dSor. 1t was plain that he
recognized the real Charles Wilson, and
saw tAat his own game was up.
A couple of officers intercepted his
flight. The pawnbroker was fain to
make his peace by coufessing that the
counterfeit Charles Wilson had placed
the watch in his hands, and instructed
him what story to tell.
Both the watch and the ring were
identified as the property of the muir
dered man, other circumstances coming
to light, tue criminal was, in due time,
tried and executed, first making a full
confession of his guilt.-Ledgef.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
Executed by Beheading.

A correspondent gives the following
account of an execution at Yeddo in
Japan:
The culprits were eight in number,
one being a woman. They were all be-
headed with a sword. The operation
was performed with wonderful dexter
ity and coolness, and not one of them,
even the woman, showed the slightest
symptoms of fear. There was a space
of ground roped off; inside were three
holes dug in the ground, with little
mound behind each, on which was
spread a mat for the criminal to kneel
on. On one side of the inclosure were
two japanese officials, in chairs, to see
the thing properly conducted. I had a
place directly in front of the mounds, at
about six feet distence. The criminals
were placed in a row, on one side of
the inclosure, blindfolded with pieces
of paper (they use paper for everything
there).
What struck me most was the horrid
GOODNESS Of the executioner's assistant,
q good-looking lad of about 18; he went
up to each poor wretch in his turn, gave
him tap on the shoulder, led hip up
to the mound, and made him kneel on
the mat; he then stripped his shoul-
ders, made him stretch out his neck,
said "That will do, and in flash the
mans head was in the hole in frsnt of
him, and his bleeding neck was, as 1t
were, staring me in the face. The as
sistant, still with the same pleasant
smile, picked the head up, threw some
water over the face to wash off the mud
and blood, and presented tito the Japa-
nese officials, who nodded and signed
to go on with the next. The assistant
then gave the corpse blow between
the shoulders to expel the bloc !, and
finally threw the carcass aside like o
log of wood.
He repeated the same pleasant pro-
gramme with the next. 1 never thought
a mans head could come off so easily;
it was like chopping cabbages, only ac-
companied with peculiar and most
horrid sound-that of cutting meat, in
fact. There was dense crowd of Jap
anese present, including many women,
and even children; these people never
ceased to eat, smoke, and chatter the
whole time, making remarks on the
performance, and even occasionally
laughing, just as if they were at a
| theatre,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
Suicide of Nine Chinese Girls.

A recent China newspaper publishes
the following account of an incident
which is reported to have taken place
at Whampoa: "Nine young girls, liv-
ing with different families in the vii
lage, seem to have entertained an aver.
sion to married life. Seeing the misery
and toll to which the members of the
families with whom they lived were sub.
jected, and above all the slave-like obe-
dience of wives to the wills of their hus-
bands, the damsels in question came to
the resolution of putting an end to their
earthly careers, which is here carried
into effect by different naodus OperGndi
to that of opium. poisoning in vogue in
Hong Kong. The nine damsels met by
appointment on the banks of the river,
at the entrance of one of the creeks in
the vicinity of Browns Folly attired
in heavy winter garments, which they
had sewn all together in order to pre-
vent separation. While thus united
in body, heart, and mind, the damself
plunged into the deep. As this hap
pened close to the time of the festival
of the seven female genii, who descend
ed from heaven and are called the sever
sisters all sorts of superstitious conclu
sions are drawn from it."
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
Paris Firemen,

The fire brigade in Paris, including
one Colonel and forty-uine officers,
numbers /, 800 men, distributed in elev-
en- barracks, and sixty looStes de gdrde.
The total annual expenses for the main
tenance of this force and its accessories
is one and a half million francs, de-
trayed by the municipality. The pri-
Yates and non commissioned officers
pay varies per class from $50 francs to
1900 francs per annum the children
of the regiment receive eleven sous per
day.. with bread, and an increase of one
sou daily every year, commencing from
their eighth year. This early service
renders the fremeA of PARIS veritable
Leotards, as they have to practice gym.
nastic exercises daily, and the value OF
such training is evident to the visitor
who has seen the small, wiry, india
rubber -muscled fremen of Paris al
work. It is said that an American gun.
boat will sail wherever the ground is
moist the firemen in question climb
anything upright, like cats or monkeys,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
A Whole Day to Do Nothing.

eff only could have whole day to
do nothing-Ho work, and no lessons,
only play all day-I should be happy"
said little Bessie.
"To-day shall be yours" said her
mother. "You may play as much as
you please; and will not give you any
work, no matter how much you may
want it.
Bessie laughed at the idea of wishing
for work, and ran out to play. She was
swinging on tie gate when the children
passed to school; and they envied her
for having no lessons. When they were
gone, s&e climbed up into the cherry
tree; and picked lapful for pies but
when she carried them in, her mother
said,-
"That is work, Bessie. Don't you
remember you cried yesterday because
1 wished you to pick cherries for the
pudding? You may take them away.
No work to-day, you know" And the
little girl went away rather out of bu-
NOR. She got her doll, and pli.ed with
it awhile, but was soon tired. She
tried all her toys; but they didn't seem
to please her any better. She came
back and watched her mother, who was
shelling peas.
Mayn't help you, mother?" she
asked.
"No, Bessie this isn't play"
Bessie went into the garden again,
and leaned over the fence, watching the
ducks and geese in the pond. Soon she
heard her mother setting the table for
dinner. Bessie was quite cheerful
during the meal but when it was over
and her father away, she said wearily,-
"Mother, yor don't know how tired
am of doing nothing. If you would
only let me wind your cotton, or put
your work-box in order, or even sew at
that tiresome patchwork, I would be so
glad |"
"I can't, little daughter, because I
said would not give you any work to-
day. But you may find some for your
self, if you can"
SO Bessie hunted up a pile of old
stockings, and began to mend them
for she could darn very neatly,
Her face grew brighter; and she
presently said,-
Mother. why do people get tired of
play?"
"Because God did not mean us to be
idle. His command is, Six days shalt
thou labor He has given all of us
work to do, and has made us SO that
unless we do just the very work that he
gives us we can't be happy" He has
very hard work who has nothing to do.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
Wisdom for the Crisis, by Bill Arp

Mummy to be helthy must be shattered
around so that everybody can git sum.
When it's most all piled up in a few
pyramids the least jostle will tumble it
to the ground. If 1 was King I'd fix a
remedy for bloated fortunes nifty quick.
I'd tax man nuthin on an incum of 5
thousan dollars and under. I'd tax 10
per ct. on all between 5 and 10 thousan;
twenty per ct. on all between 10 and 20
thousan, and so on, doublin up to 80
thousan. Above that I'd take it all
every dollar. / tell you that win get
EN-, That will keep down these Wall
street rings. It will let q man have
enuff for oil decent and respectable
purposes, and after that he mast do his
sheer for them who swet and toll and
haven't been as smart or as pLean or as
lucky as himself. 1t will pant limit
upon mans avarice and keep mummy
in better employment than paying
$50, 900 for horse or 100 th oussn for o
! diamond pin.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29

M. Betham Edwards visiteda Turkish
princess, whom she describes as follows:
"Shc was tall and slender and very
handsome, with pearly skin, delicately
cut features, and black hair and eyes,
Her dress was simply perfect, ample,
flowing, easy, of soft, noiseless, lus-
trous silk, the precise hue of which it
would be impossible to describe; it
was something between an asphodel-
blossom and the palest pink coral, and
yet neither the one nor the other ap
preached it at all nearly. Around her
head was wound little turban of deli
cately colored gauze, fastened over the
foreherd with a jewel. Now, [ am sorry
to confess that this graceful and i'm
posing creature was such an inveterate
smoker that it seemed the sole business
of two or three of her slave-girls to
supply her wants. During the two
hours that we were honored with her
presence one of these automaton-like
figures would come in about every seven
or eight minutes, unsummoned, and
hand each of the ladies cigarette
Anything more like machinery could
not be conceived. There was no salu-
tation on the part of the servant, no
acknowledgment on the part of the
mistress. The cigarettes came and
went, and that was all.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29
Long Ago.
bloomed upon n tree ;

Two roses bloomed upon tree;
Their white leaves touched with every sway
lug. .- .
bent to gather one, while she
Plucked of the other, gently saying,
"When things do grow and cling like this,
And Death almost appeareth loath
To take but one, twere greater bliss
To both for Death to smite them both"
Lost Love! Dead Love! They come and go
The summers with their sun and flowers,
Their song of birds. only know
There is blight upon the hours.
No sun is like the once bright sun
That shone upon that golden weather,
In which she said those flowers we're one,
And Death should spare OF smite together.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29

GEN. BUTLER IN New ORLEANS. In
the case in which William A. Button
sought to recover from Gen. B. F. But
Ter the value of two drafts for $15, 900,
seized by Gen. Butler at New Orleans
on the ground that the drafts were
property, contraband of war on account
of an attempt to smsggle them through
the Unisn lines, Judge Woodruff gave
decision for Gen Butler, holding that
the General was justified in making the
seizure.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-29

P1TTINd IN SMALLPOX. x.-Dr. I. H.
Bird uses an ointment made of charcoal
and lard toprevent pitting in smallpox.
This is applied freely over the surface
of the face, neck, and hands, as soon
as the disease is distinguished, and con-
tinued until symptoms of suppurative
fever have ceased. The application al
lays the itching, seems to shorten the
duration Of the complaint, and leaves
the patient without a blemish the
eruption protected by the ointment moi
even showing signs of pustulatien, The
charcoal prevents the action of light,
and lard that of air,
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-20
Northern Tourists,

Yesterday afternoon an excursion party
from the East arrived in this city and are
stonping at the Maxwell House. The par
ty Is composed Of wealthy persons who are
said TO represent two hundred millions of
dollars. They are A. l.. Dennis, President
Cfthe New Jersey Railroad Car Company;
q. g. Francklyn, Agent of the Cunard
steamship Company; Col. FraneKlyn, OF
,be British army; Josiah Bacon, Vice Presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Compa-
nv: Daniel Dodd, President of the Newark
Savings Company; G. G. lockwood, Cash
Ter of The National Savings Bank, Newark;
Mrs, A. l.. Dennis, Sam'l S. Dennis, New
ark. N. J.: Mrs. Josiah Bacon, Henry Ba-
corr Philadelphia; K. L. Savage and wife,
Newark; Peter S. Duryee and wife, MISS
Marv o. Duryee, Beach Vanderport and
wife, w. W. Astor, New ork;; Mrs Daniel
Dodd. c. G. lockwood, Miss 5. 5. Rock,
wood Newark; A. Q. Keasby, United
states District Attorney for New Jersey,
and Mrs. A. @. Keasby. The party have
,iirecsor's car from New York and are max
inc a tour of the Southern States. Tney
leave this evening for New Orleans. by
invitation of the House of Representatives,
line party will visit the Capitol this morn
lug. and be shown through its various
apartments.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-20
aeash of Geo. w. HiIIman, Jr.

We are panied to learn that G. W. Hill
man died last Sunday at bis fathers resi-.
-deDce in GAINESVILLE. He was victim OF
consumption, and in the warm cline OF
Florida sought relief from its attacks. But
In vain, for too soon has death seized the
goung man in the prime Of life, and left
many to mourn his loss. Young, genial
and beloved, bis death brings sorrow to a
large circle Of friends and relatives. how
often are the flowers OF our early
friendship snatched from the wreath OF lie,
til the yery garland itself is withered. At
the lime of his death he was but twenty
two years Of age, and no one ever entered
life with more pleasant visions Of its Joys,
It's truths and its duties.
Above thy grave will friendship kneel
And flowers strew upon the mound;
Vet not Times decree, nor Deaths stern seal
Hath curbed thy spirit from its heaven-bound'