davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
Improved Sandy Soils.

A writer in the New York Tribune talks
thus learnedly of how to improve sandy
soils: "Sandy soils do not hold manure
for great length of time Hence the
question to be studied ISIS there sub
soil not to deep too be plowed up SO as to
mix with the sand, thus forming a soil
which will hold fertilizer2 But this clay
under-soil may be at too great depth to
admit its being plowed up at profitable
rates then the question must be to fertil-
ize the upper stratum of sand alone. The
the silica of the sand soluble, so that the
stalk of the grain may have strength. This
is done by the addition of an alkai, green
crop, or by any decaying vegetable matter.
To say that these chemically different sub
stances act alike in this respect may seem
singular, but they all tend to make the
silica soluble, The first does it by com.
bining with the siicic acid and forming a
silicate of soda, potash, Or lime, as may be
the alkai used. The second and third act
similarly, as in the course of vegetable de-
cay an acid known as humic acid is genera
ted, and this acid has the ability to resolve
silica. But it is always better to use an
a1kaE in connection with green crop, for
the reason that then the aikaE will act in
making the silica soluble, and the hunic
acid of the plant will be left free to resolve
itself into ammonia. Therefore, judicious
combination of an alkai and green crop
can be- made the best snd cheapest of fer
tilizers for sandy soil.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
An Anxious Mother,

"Ephrahem, come to your mudder,
boy, whar you bin 2"
Playin' wild the white folke's chill
lun."
You is, eh See hyar, chile, you
broke your ole mudder's heart, and
brung her gray hairs in sorrow to de
grave wild yer reckumless an carvings
on wild ebil assoayshuns Hadn't L
raised you in the way you should ought
to go2' es
"Yessum.'
Hadn't I bin kline and tender wild
you, an treated you like my own chile,
which you ISL"
"Yessum.'
Hadn't I reezened wild you, and
prayed wild you, and deplored de good
Lord to wrap you in his buzzum9
"Yessum.
"An' isn't I yer naterl detector an
garden TO- de law z"
Yessum.n
Well, den, do you 'spose Use gwine
to hab yer morals ruptured by de white
trash No, sab ! You git in de house
dis instep an if [ cher cotch you
'mudicatin' wild de white trash any mo-
fo' de Lord, niggar, I'll break yer black
head wild brick -
&c Ynssumh
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
Shooting Stars.

The Paris Journal des Debats of the
18th says that at that date the French
astronomers were on the look out for
the annual recurrence of meteors.
Other shooting stars were to be ex-
pected on the Goth, 9th and 28th of
the present month. Since the research
es into the character of meteors made
by the astronomer Schiaparelli, shoot
ing stars have come to be considered
as the remains of comets which have
become shivered in space. while COM
ct itself is only shooting star on a
comet on gigantic scale. Last year,
upon the 9th of November, the astron-
omers were looking for Biela's comet,
which was due at that time, but instead
of the comet came a rain of meteors
across the skies, which were counted by
thousands. From this circumstance
it was deduced that Biela's comet had
separated, taking the shape of shoot
ing stars.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
A MURDEROUS ASSAULT.
burglars Attack a Dwelling at Night
- and Shoot a Woman.

b. and Shoot a Woman.
A Cincinnati dispatch of the 7th
says:
A most determined and murderous
assault was made on a farm house out
near Madisonville on last Thursday
night, and the news has but just crossed
the intervening six miles and become
known in Cincinnati. Geo. Ward, a
well-todo citizen of Madisonville,
little village about six miles northeast
of Cincinnati rented about six years
ago little farm about half mile out
from Madisonville to Germrn, about
40 years old at the time, named Fred.
Close. Year after year the lease was
renewed, and it was the general opinion
that Close and his frau, being frugal
and industrious, were amassing money.
The little house in which they lived was
about 200 yards from any other. On
last Tuesday night about midnight,
Close was awakened by the barking of
his dog, and almost Immediately per-
ceived the sound of some one forcing
an entrance to the house. He AVA
kened his wife, and told her to get the
tin horn and go up stairs and blow it
out of the window to alarm the neigh
bors. He himself got his revolver,
and went to the door, where the bur
glars were forcing an entrance. He
warned them if they did not go away
he would shoot They replied by
breaking in the windows on either side
of the door. Seeing the old mars re-
volver they did not enter through the
gaps made, but continued their as
saults on the door. By this time the
sound of the raising of window up
stairs was heard, and Immediately the
sounds of horn blown by the stout
lungs of brave woman rang out on
the midnight air. At the sound, one
of the four burglars raised his
musket, and taking sure aim at the
white-robed figure, clearly defined in
the window-setting, shot the fearless
woman in the neck, inaicting a prob
ably fatal wound. Close heard his
wife fall, and abandoning the defense
of the door, he rushed up stairs to her
assistance. STOPPING over her pros
trate body he saw through the open
window two of the besiegers of his
house. He fired two shots from his
revolver aG tIo TWO men, anu CHoy ran
The neighbors were by this time
aroused, and the other two men, who
had got into the house, took alarm and
fed. Mr.. Close ran down stairs and
fred four shots after them. In the
morning an old musket was found near
the house. It had evidently been
thrown away by the miscreants. Mrs.
Close is lying very i'll, and tits thought
will not recover.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
A FIGHT WITH PIRATES.
Sharp Navel Battle In the Eastern
Seas.


The Penang Gazette of October 4th,
contains the following intelligence
In accordance with the intention an
nounced in our last issue, her majesty's
ship Thalia met her majestys ship
Nudge at the mouth of the Laroot river,
on the night of the 10Th of September,
and, after consultation between the
captains Of the two vessels, the Miege
and the Ralph Muntri's yacht proceeded
up the river early on the morning of
the 10th, towing the boats which we're
intended to take part in the intended
action. At about IL O'Clock prepare
tlons were made for going into action
the boats left the Nudge led by the
galley of the Thalia, under Capt. Wool
combes command, to attack the stock
ade; the Nudge opened fire i'm
med1ately, and the Chinese in the
stockade returned it, assisted by the
guns from three heavy war-junks which
were anchored close by. Shortly af-
ter, the rejan's yacht, with Capt. Grant
III command, steamed close up to the
tort, and anchored. The Nudge, in
the meantime, somehow or other-ow-
ing, we believe, to change of tide
got ashore, and was for time exposed
broadside on to the fire of the enemy.
A boat was Immediately sent out with
an anchor, under Mr.. Ellis, of the
Thalia, who laid it out in a most
plucky manner, under the fire of the
stockade, and the vessel was taken out
of her dangerous position. At about 2
o'clock all the boats were mustered un
der the shelter of the rajan's yacht, and
she steamed up into a favorable posi-
ton, where, at given signal, stimuli
taneous attack was made on the fort,
the stockade, and the iunks. The
scene which ensued is described as
being more than ordinarily exciting
and brilliant. Captain Woolcombe
led the attack, and was seen standing
in the stern sheets of his boat waving
his drawn sword, urging his men on
the boats, which, propelled as fast as
muscle and eagerness would, were soon
up to the positions that they were
respectively to attack. The assault is
said to have been the most daringly
made. The Chinese fought to the last,
but they were no match for the impet
uous onslaught E,ade upon them by
the blue jackets, and one after another,
the fort, the three Junks, and the
stockade surrendered. Later in the
day the boats, after destroying the forts
and stockades, spiking the guns, and
burning the junks, proceeded up the
river in company with the yacht; they
came up with y war-junk and burnt
her, destroying another stockade, and
capturing second Junk. After this
two of the heads of the Sing Engs
boarded the yacht and unconditionally
surrendered themselves and their force,
mastering some 1000 strong. The
doctor on board the Nudge was direct
ed to attend to the wounded of the
enemy, and did his best to alleviate
| their sufferings. The boats subse-
quently made their way to their re-
spective ships. The whole force I'M
der Capt. Wolcombe's command in this
assault only amounted to $50 men.
The loss on the side of the Chinese, as
far as could be estimated, amounted
to about 200 killed and wounded.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
4 Vessel Ballasted with Human Bones

The San Francisco Bulletin of Nov.
IA reports the following IN -
FsLast Satut day the German bark
Matthias Meyer, Captain Niemann, ar
in this port from Ancon, Peru, after a
passage of thirty-six days, and is now
lying at Front street wharf. The yes
sci arrived at Ancon with a cargo of
coal from Newport, England, and fail
ing to secure sugar on favorable terms
sailed on her outward trip with two
hundred and fifty tons of sand as bal
last. On Wednesday she began dis
charging the sand previous to receiv-
ing supply of. wheat for Liver
pool. Nothing unusual occurred
to excite the imaginations of
of the loungers who congregate in
that vicinity, until yesterday after
noon, when sections of human frames
were exhumed with great rapidity.
Blood-curdliDg rumors were quickly
circulated, and motley crowd, attract
ed by morbid curiosity, was soon on
the ground discussing the various sur
misses advanced. Up to II o'clock this
morning six skulls and a large number
VI uIuCI OOhOO nave OCCh olOCOFCICu.
One Of the CHASTITY relics was the skull
of a young woman, with long, heavy
black hair, which clings firmly to the
scalp. Several others have complete
sets of teeth, and are bleached white.
The skull with the hair attached has
been secured for the private collection
of surgeon residing at Alcatraz.
Captain Niernann states that Ancon
is situated on sandy waste, and that
vessels now secure ballast from the
suburbs of the town which was occu-
pied centuries ago as a graveyard.
Bodies Of men, women and children,
upheaved by earthquakes, are now
bleaching in the sun, and may be
counted by the hundreds within ten
minutes walk from the heart of the
town. Corn in the cob is dug out of
the graves in large quantities also
pieces of pottery, images, coins and
symbolic letters to the spirit world,
made of knotted Irvine and cord The
cemetery covers such large amount Of
ground that it is difficult to supply the
necessary amount of ballast for the
large number of vessels stopping at
anchor, without occasionally parting
with some Of these relics. This ex-
PLANTATION will afford relief to those
who believed this to be the foundation
of a startling sensation. %
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
From the New York Evening Post.
An AutumnaI Day.
nYLEwIs G. PRINDLE,

BIZ LEWIS c. PRINDLE.
A living, pulsing glory fills the world,
And bids me break
NV bonds where slumber banners are nm.
fnrled,
And awake.
The subtle wings of snn-glow fills the air
And DER the plain
The rising god OF glory everywhere
Show'rs golden rain.
Across the shades that dancing oak boughs
fling,
The yellow tide
Creeps on, and melts to gold the dusky ring,
From its far side.
The lance leaves of the chestnut feck the all
With emerald glow;
thousand quivering jewels 1utter there,
And to and fro.
The naughty maple, princess of the wood,
Is blushing red,
Because the pine bowed low, from where he
stood,
His kingly head.
The sombre hemlock. silent and alone,
In garb of woe,
Mourns still for griefs it never can atone,
In anguish low.
The slender birches send their wonted tune,
Light, glad and free;
And send, as always, tides of sweet perfume
Across the lea.
The beeches hoary, monumental, tall,
Stately and grand,
Laugh while the oak kings culver to the fall
Which they withstand.
The dome of God is blue from bound tc
bound
Unmeasured vast
4 universe of circling worlds around
All ours at last.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
Lady Holland and Her Caprices.

Lord Holland was all kindness and
cultivated intelligence, while Lady
Holland undoubtedly mingled with her
many kind and charming qualities a
good deal of that tyranny which old
fashioned poets were fond of cele-
brating as among the prerogatives and
graces of the ladies whose praise they
sang. It must have been curious. !"
says the author of these volumes, C to
see her coollv order about the clever
men of the day who were accustomed
to being courted by others" It must
occasionally have been something rath-
er more than curious. In the midst of
Macaulay's most overwhelming flow of
talk and anecdote she would tap on
the table with her fan, and say, CHOW,
Macaulay, we have had enough of this.
Give us something else" Once she was
little too Imperative in tone when
issuing her commands to Sidney Smith.
She said rather peremptorily, "Sidney,
ring the Fell." ooh, yes, he answer
ed, I" and shall I sweep the room !"
While Moore was engaged in preparing
his Life of Sheridan" he was dining
once at Holland House, and sat
next the hostess. She kindly re-
marked to him, "This will be a dull
book of yours, this Sheridan, [ fear. y
To Lord Dorchester she once said, 81
am sorry to hear that you are going to
publish poem, Can't you suppress
it 2" Her friendly factotum, Allen,
who usually sat at the bottom of the
table and carved for her, she was apt
to fdget by giving him directions unit
he sometimes lost patience and assert
ed his independence by laying down
the knife and fork, and telling her she
had better do it herself. Mr.. Chorley's
recently published memoirs contain an
amusing story of the manner in which
the late Comte D'Orsay, then young
man, resented what he considered
vexatious caprice of Lady Holland
He sat next to her at dinner, and she
dropped her napkin, which he stopped
for and restored to her. Then she let
fall her handkerchief, then her
knife, then her fork, and SO on. At
last D'Orsay lost patience and calling
to one of the footmen, he requested, in
an audible tone that his plate might
be laid on the floor, adding, g shall
finish my dinner there, as it will be
more convenient to Lady Holland"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
what the Patrons Propose 20 Do.

w
1. To secure for themselves, through the
oranges, social and educational advantages
not otherwise attainable, and to thereby
while improving their condition as class
ennoble farm life, and render it attractive
and desirable.
2. To give full practical effect to the
fraternal tie which unites them in helping
and protecting each other in case of sick.
ness, bereavement, pecuniary misfortune
and want and danger of every kind
3. To make themselves better and more
successful farmers and planters, by means
of the knowledge gained, the habits of in.
dustry and method established and the
quickening of thought induced by inter
course and discussion.
4 To secure economies in the buying of
implements, fertilizers, and family sup
plies, and in transportation, as we'll as in
creased profits in the sale of the products
of their labor. without enhancing their cost
to the consumer.
s. To entirely abolish the credit system,
in ordinary transactions, always buying
and selling on cash basis, both among
themselves and in their dealings with the
outside world.
6. To encourage cooperation in trade,
in farming, and in other branches of indus
try, especially those most intimately con-
necyed with agriculture.
T. To promote the true unity of the re.
public by drawing the best men and wo-
men of all parts of the country together in
an organization which knows no sectional
bounds or preiudices, or owes no party allie
glance. San.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
Speedy Butchering.

The Australian butchers have in
vented new method of slaughtering
ullocks. At Sydney the animals are
driven, five at time, into the slaugh-
ter house, where there is no person to
be seen. While they are quietly star
ing around this strangely quiet apart
ment, man silently passes above
them, walking along the open beams
which closely cross the house. He is
armed with a lance, with a point like a
mortising chisel. One by one the
beasts are pierced with this weapon
just behind the horns they drop in
stantly, and as soon as all are down the
other men, waiting in the next room,
enter and bleed and dress the car
cases.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17

time. We sometimes see hogs dragging
their hind legs. This is caused by worms
in the kidney, and may be easily cured by
giving teaspoonful of turpentine every
morning for three or four days, mixed with
corn. Hogs which have been feeding on
acorns are most subject to this disease, and
should have the turpentine at least twice a
week while feeding on this mast. Every
hog feeder should keep a bottle of the
spirits of turpentine, and give it occasion
ally through the year; he will find it of
great benefit to his hogs. have practiced
this for twenty years successfully. 1t seems
to be specific food for all hog diseases.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
Red Pepper for Insects.

=. x correspondent of the Rural press says
"1 have discovered by practical test that
cayenne OF. red pepper (capsicum) will de-
ST oy cabbage lice or cabbage mildew, 1 have
some 200 fine cabbages growing, andto my
S. row, some two weeks since, [ found them
covered with lice. I sprinkled them how
ever where the lice could be found, with the
capsicum. and am delighted to see my cab
bages entirely cleared, save few that [ did
not sprinkle that I might contrast them,
and that | can assure you is very evident or
speaking, for those so left are covered with
the little destroyers. Now [ am of the
opinion that capsicum will in the same man
ner destroy the fungi of all plants, vines,
fruits, etc., spoken of in the Agricultural
Report of 1871, from page ITO to 1913. I
also sprinkled bumblebee with it, and the
result was death in a few minutes to the
bee Now this might be applied to vines in
the form of solution; but for the cabbage
sprinkling dry is preferable, aud it sticks or
adheres closely to the leaf.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
A Courageous Texan.

The Eli Paso Sentinel of November
9Th says: From Fort Davis comes the
news of an affray at Preside del Norte,
resulting in the death of four men and
the wounding of three others, from
what we can gather from the reports.
Mr.. John D. Burgess, large land
holder at Del Norte, had some Difficult
ty with a number of Mexicans, IN which
he was badly beaten, and shot several
times, one ball striking him on his
forehead and glancing, inflicted pain
full but not serious wound. Burgess
then armed himself and renewed the
fight; this time the result was different
-four of the former assailants were
killed and two wounded. Mr.. Burgess
is now at Fort Davis, and by our next
we are enabled to give full particulars
of what must have been right lively
scrimmage," reminding one of old
times.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17

LETTERS have been received in Glib
raltar from Morocco, which state that
the present Sultan, Mulay Nassau,
who is only twenty-five years of age, is
much respected. At the time of his
fathers death he was with the army In
Suez, exactlng an indemnity from some
tribes there who had revolted. His
uncle, Mulay Abbas, kept things in
order at Morocco until his arrival, at
the same time resigning his claims to
the crown, the late Sultan haying ex-
pressed a wish to that effect. The
country is reported quiet, and likely TO
continue so.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
Tender Footed Horses.

An old man who has had much expert
ence in handling and dealing in horses for
more than a half a century said to me
recently that he had never known horse
to get tender footed that was kept loose in
shed and yard, or in boxed stall. That
turning around and treading with their for
ward feet in the manure keep them con-
stantly moist and soft. His theory appear
ed perfectly reasonable to me. [ have no
box stalls, but [ used shavings for bedding,
and every morning with large shovel I
move the wet shavings under the horses for
ward feet, and then the last thing at night
cover these with dry shavings for him to lie
on. Healso remarked that he had never
known lat-footed horse but what was a
great worker.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
How a Horse Rides in the Cars.

The Baltimore Sun thus describes the
palace car in which the racer True Blue left
that city for California:
"The rear end of the car, which had
been set apart for the valuable steed, was
lined all around with thick mattresses, as
was also the roof. Glass windows were
placed in the side to secure proper ventila-
ton. The fore part of the car was divided
into five separate compartments for two of
True Blues stable companions who
accompanied him. The middle of the car
was arranged for the accommodation of at
tendants, and for the storage of temporary
supplies of provender.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Pear Blight.

Mr.. Fahnstock, near Toledo, Ohio, is
said to have succeeded, thus far, in control
ing this disease of the pear tree. He says
the bark of the tree becomes tight, it seems
to adhere to the wood, becomes discolored,
&c. This he scrapes off and uses wash of
copperas water He then takes a sharp in
strument and makes longitudinal openings,
with decided advantage, he thinks, to his
trees. He spoke of a gentleman having a
fine orchard of trees, but for three or four
years had no fruit to speak of. He then
turned in his hogs and sheep, after which
he had fine crops.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17

SEVERAL Italian workmen have lately
committed deplorable excuses at
Valid, town in Canton Zurich. They
attacked and maltreated different peo-
pie, and wounded three young men with
knives
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17

THE Rev. A. D. Wagner, Of the Els
tablished Church of England, amour
ces in placard at ST. Paul's Church,
Brighton, that on certain days and
convenient hours he will he in the
vestry g for hearing confessions or Civ
ing spiritual advice
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-17
Exporting Frozen Meat.

Another experiment has been tried, and
has failed, to supply the markets of Eng
land with fresh meat from Australia These
experiments are of great value to Western
farmers, who are going more into the pro-
duction of meat, instead of marketing the
crude products of the farm.
The failure of the last experiment, which
consisted of the packing of meat in ice and
freezing it, seems to have been solely acct
dental. Meat had previously been kept
perfectly for over three months, which is
about the average length of the passage.
On the voyage, the vessel being about thirty
five days out, in consequence of faulty con-
struction the tanks in which the meats was
placed sprung leak, and the meat had to
be thrown erboard
If this project can succeed-and failure
like this is the next thing to success-with
meat from Australia, where there are no
frosts and where expensive refrigerating
machines have to be used to make ice, we
see no reason why, in this country, from
which England lies but fortnight's voyage,
the butchers should be allowed to remain
masters of the situation. If there were a
sure market which could not be glutted, the
present wholesale and retail prices of meat
would not be so scandalously far apart.