davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15
whIskey DIstIIlerIes in Sing Sing.
HOW A CONVICT MADE $4,000 IN ONE YEA

HOW COSNlCf MADE SO,OVU IN ONE YEAR
John Short, the Sing Sing convict who
ran whiskey still while in prison, tells how
he did it, and also few other facts in regard
to the doings inside the walls of that institu-
ton which indicate that rich field for in
vestigation might be found there by the
proper authorities The assistance of an Off
Ger of the prison was of course essential to a
high degree of success. But this Short found
no difficulty in securing. His first still he
worked with some small lamps, and had
been at it year when another convict to
whom he refused credit "peached." During
this time he had averaged $50 per day from
the profits of the still At the same time he
and his accomplice, the prison officer, made
large profits on smuggled groceries, tobacco,
and cigars, estimated at not less than 1000
per cent. The keeper who was with him
was able to build four-story house with his
share. Subsequently small copper still and
some worms were smuggled into the prison
and set up in an clubhouse, where gun-pow-
der and nitro-glycerine for blasting rocks are
stored, and though we'll watched, and once
locked up in dark cell on suspicion, Short
said he had S6,4i3 when he left the prison,
all made out of the whiskey trade, for his
stock of groceries was found and seized, and
eventually netted loss, the keeper and
other confederate having received still lar
ger sum. Short states that he could have
escaped any time, but didn't want to leave
while making 800 a week. He had no diff
fenlty in getting all the barley he wanted,
as large quantities are used in the soup, and
the steamboat brings snumerous bags full every
week. All he had to do was to rip a hole in
the bags and fill his pals. He used two
large wash-tubs belonging to the prison to
make his mash in Before he was discharged
he sold the business to another convict, who
is now making whiskey, and who ought to
make 500 ,000 before his time is up.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

TnE CoxvE>lENcEs AND RISKS OF CRENA-
uoN.-Instead Of placing the dear departed
in the cold. coliground, to become food for
worms, with the "Nrill'' power the dead
body is instantly reduced to ashes.
These ashes are gathered up with
care, placed in an urn, and set away in
the house Of its friends How charming
this must be With what pleasure would
be contemplate a long row of jars, set
ting upon back chamber shelf, al! nicely
labeled. grandmother ashes, MARY
Jane. first wife Of 81 and So, her ashes,
Thomas Joseph, son Of 50 and So, his ashes. =
Bat what confusion there might exist, how
ever. if some mischeyous little fellow in our
family should climb up and, thinking he had
go, among nee jars of jams, preserves, pick
les aud other goodies. pull over his grand
mother, or his fathers first wife, or his sister
Jane, thus literally towering himself with
sack-cloth and ashes" Then again. when
soft soap making time came around, who
knows but Bridget not being able to read,
should tumble several labeled generations of
ones flesh and blood into the I've kettle. The
possibility of washing our hands with our
departed relations i ton horrible to eontem-
plate. Bot without wishing to be at all
iacetious. We really possess acquaintance
whose ashes would he exceedingly rich with
lie Whitehall ~ J. J Times.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

A land agent in Colorado remarked To an
ipouiring emigrant that all that was needed
to make the place paradise was COM
Portable climate, water and good society.
g. That is all that is lacking in hell. was
the reply.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15
MEMPHIS, Iowa, January l3, 1874.

MEMfhlS, IONu, JuIudrN 10, ICi Z.
Dear Glad. The blarsted Americans,
never very reyerent of law, are Just now in
devil of stew about the appointment of a
suitable politician for Supreme Justice to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of
the late Horace Greeley, who resigned it to
become candidate for Governor Of the Bali
timore Convention. Satisfied, as am. that
you will never be able to make head or tail
of the 'muddle' Ito use an expressive Ameri-
canism) from the cable and newspaper ac-
counts of it, know you will be interested
to hear from the true nature Of this interest
ing complication. 1t seems that when va
cancy occurs in the Supreme Bench it must
be filed by appointment of the Governor of
the United States, which Office is now held
by General Grant. The Generals ostler,
who, it seems. is bit offs lawyer as well As
equerry and chief keeper of the landaulet,
wanted the position of Chief Justice besides,
and so the Governor. Grant, appointed this
extraordinary person to that position, and
his name is Williams. The American edi-
tors got up what they style perfect howl
over this appointment, which so badgered
the poor Governor that he was compelled to
withdraw his Observation-Disclosures hav-
ing reached him that the Senate would new
er confirm an applicant who hadn't been
first baptized. The Governor then appoint
ed person by the name of Calebs to be
Chief Justice, when another howl from an
other set of editors began. 1t is almost i'm
possible in this country to do anything of a
political character without producing a
howl from some quarter-and n friend of the
Governors, a sergeant of his body-guard,
having discovered letter which cost $780,
600 among some archives which had been
sold to the confederates by Mr.. Boon,
while President of Kentucky, and this let
ter, which was written in Arabic, was of a
hig ghly reasonable character against one of
the Governors old flags. 1t was addressed
to General Davis, now Governor of Texas,
proposing to send him troops to suppress a
ioval Legislature, elected in that State by
more than a constitutional majority. The
objection to Davis, by the Senate, being
that he had previously threatened to appoint
one Mr. Black, Supreme Justice over Gov
ernor Grants veto; consequently the name
of Calebs was withdrawn, and the Ameri-
cans now have no court to amount to any
thing-the decisions of the eight Democrats
now on the bench being of so partisan
character as to defeat the ends of justice. If
any new development occurs in this exciting
complication, rest assured l will address
you from Florida. Yours in haste,
GORE"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

Clara Schumann wants to come and see us
on guarantee of $4,000 net for six
months. and in company with the violinist
Joachim Charles Auchester) and his wife,
fine songstress, who want $50, 900 between
them.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15
April.

N.W the golden Nom alOit
Nuyos her dew w-bespangled wing,
With yerueil cheek. and whisper soft.
She wuos the tardy Spring;
TIL April starts and calls around
Aui lightly DER the living scene
settlers Ai. freshest. tend rest green.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

Mrs nyus was shot dead in Manuel, n.
Y. ON Sunday. Cui?-l Boston Post. The
detectives have made up an accusativs case
against suspected parties and it all hSnc.-
N. Y. Com. Ado. Some justice Of the
quorum shoald clap these horrid Punstsrs
in quod? We should ask qui! If any ons
misses Hujus who was shot. is it not proper
that the ease should be settled? We
ask cujus to reflect before you pronounes
sentence.-[ Bostos Dnly Aasertisss. Hic !
Il Lose1 Courier. EAnd now We tske .
he at it-l Bosson Journal.
Was not the shooter hi. on hocf
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

A TES THOUSAND Dollar GIRL must
give You story lately told me, which goes
to show the value Of the girl Of the period.
On certain day on Pennsylvania railroad
belle OF thriving Pennsylvania town, the
daughter of a wealthy lumber merchant, was
travelling on the same ear with a shrewd old
citizen of her native town, and an agreeabls
Young gentleman from the West, who telle
the story. The latter had been talking To the
belle-(N. B-She is now one of the corps
of Washington correspondents and a noto-
rious belle-ringer when not a belle-hanger)
but as night drew on and the Young lady
grew drowsy, he gave up his seat to her and
placed himself beside the somewhat cynical
Pennsylvania. The latter began the CONVEX
sation by pointing To high mountain past
which they were whirling, and said
"Nou see that mountain. SIX or eight
wears ago it was covered with as fine a forest
as ever grew, and was worth $40 900 and
upwards Now, without tree, covered
with stulnrs. the land is scarcely worth
continental The net produce Of that noun
tain lies over there in that seat and he
pointed to the recumbent belle THAT * my
calculation 1t has just about absorbed all
that lumber which her father owned to raise
and educate that girl. pay for her clothes
and jewelry, bring her out into society, and
maintain her there. some Of you Young
men, perhaps. if were given your choice he
tween the mountain yonder a. it now stands
and the net produce on that seat, would
take the net produce, but a. for me, give me
the stumps'- y Gidphic.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

Chicago boys say that there are six oceans;
the Arctic, Antarctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
and the Inter-Ocean
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

a SOLITARY TwiN.-The Fat Contribu-
tor furnishes the Utica Ojsarer the follow
ing strange story of "a twin -
There was a woman out west who gave
birth to one twin-just one, that's all there
was of him. She never had another solitary
twin 50 long as she lived He was melan-
choly child from the first, and wore such a
lonesome look. lie always seemed TO be
watching and listening for somebody who
never came. He appeared to realize that he
wasn't all together-that he was kind Of
parenthe~is with one bracket gone-animat-
ed dumb-bells and one dumb-bell miss
ng-a pair that couldn't beat deuces and
hardly worth drawing. Tie used to moan in
his sleep and paw around his pillow for his
missing brother When that boy grew up
he was different from any boy ever knew
that his 10 say, any one boy. He seemed
more like two boys-at least he was alto
gether two-boys-terouS for one If he had n
fight with one boy twice As big as he was,
he always licked. for he seemed 10 feel,
somehow, a. though there were two Of him,
OF ought to he He always managed to get
two pieces OF pie at the table, lust a if one
was for the other of him who wasn't there.
and there was thin pretence of taking care
Of it for him, but he always took care to eat,
noticed lie only half learned his lessons,
and double entry bookkeeping nigh about
set him crazy, because, rs told you. there
wasn't but half Of him there. and he couldn't I
double entry. lie wouldn't sleep with any
other, because, he said, it crowded EN-. He
grew up but he never got married One or
twice he attempted to court girl. but he
left her when it was only half done, a.
though that other twin Of his would be along
and court the other half. don't know what
became Of him. heard that he died from
sheer loneliness, but | only believe half |
hear about that boy anyhow II he is dead
YOU can bet he is only half dead.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

MlxED.-The following letter purports to
be sent to the late Prime Minister of Eng
land by Sir George Gore, who is travelling
in the country on hunting expedition with
''twenty-one $500 dogs, half dozen ser
vents, and one hundred and Sixty-four par
GELS of personal baggage :"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

Magrudei's oldest boy came staggering
through the door of the kitchen, the other
day, with his face as white as the reputation
| of one of the early martyrs. When his
mother, in great alarm, asked him what was
the matter, he said he thought he must have
| caught cold somehow. But as he proceeded
to the window the next moment and began
| to permit his breakfast to come to light, the
explanation was not regarded as perfectly
satisfactory. and the old lady instituted an
investigation upon her own account. In the
first pocket that she explored she discovered
a r. q of tobacco from which mouthful
hal: 5een removed ; and then as the cause of
Heury's illness was evident, she proceeded
to hunt up Henry's father for the purpose
of getting him to demonstrate with the cul-
prit. When Magruder arrived he went to
the closet and selected favorite bed-slat,
and approaching Henry, he sternly asked
"What d'you mean by chawin' terbacker? ?
Haven't | told YOU often eno,gh to let that
ornary stuff alone? I've half mind tc
bang thunder out O. YOU. What d'you mean
say?"
II was only tryin to scare off the canni-
balls" blubbered Henry. Il don't want to
chew tobacco. only wanted to keep 'em
from eatin' me. I'll cross nv heart to it,
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-25


| to have any of his work measured at his owr
expense, - s---'. ~
) The Witness. Oh, yes. In this whole con
Germ of the measurements of Mr.. Evans have
not charged fraud. have charged irregulsrity
and the impossibility for an engineer to do hi:
full duty If those irregularities occur every
day. have not charged any fraud. In the
complicated business which we have here 1t II
impossible, unless the engineer in charge ID
posted about ali the little details Of what Is
going oui to get on. Il 49,
By Mr.. Mattingly; @. Do you not think that
the whole tenor of your direct examination wal
TO produce the impression that you were max.
ing serious charges of fraud A. In all the
facts speak about Irregularities. II anybody
implies-fraud 1t is the facts which bring It out
not by my humble person. have reported the
| facts. ---
Q. Do you think the facts as stated by you
and as reported as testified to by you, would
naturally cause any one 10 infer fraudl A. II
is not for me to draw differences; 1t Is not fol
me TO indict or acquit. / report the facts, and
it is for the committee to draw conclusions.
@. It is for you to produce impressions &C,
eording to the mode in which you testified
A. have my tables here, sir, and am ready
to be tried on them II on one avenue find
among my records IS, 900 have been paid TO Q
contractor and find In the Governors an.
swer that SIC, 900 have been charged to the
Government, # is my duty to report fearlessly,
! and l will do It. NJ ~.
Q. Did you do LII A. l have this compli
Gated machinery for finding letter, according
to the way they do business In the Board Of
Public Works. would get It in minute, but
they have 1t In this way. Here Is a gentleman
not exactly in charge Of these books, but con.
nected with the office. But say their system
is so complicated, that II you want TO find 6
single reference to letter Of August 6, you
have to waste your time for ever SO long. And
| this is the trouble.
@. Did you not have control Of the machin.
cry BY which you could enter letters and an.
swers that were made, so that you could find
themf A. ] have tried as much as could to
keep In the old channel, because the board
did not want serious changes. That origi;
mated by the board. ~ ! > .ssa-,.s =
Q. Did the board ever order you or anybody
in your Office not to make any changes in the
operations Of the Office as to the fling and re-
cordlHg Of lcttersi A.. No, sir.
Q. Then this is the fault Of the board that
your clerk cannot find that letter. A. It is
the fault Of the organization Of this Office. I
Q. It Is not your faultl A. No, sir; not
quite.
Q. Nor the fault of your clerk A. If 1 60
to the auditor and want single bill It is the
same thing as hero.
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-25

OHAs. s. JoHysoy. geeretary.
AIwisb IN saw that simiIar annIicatjons
for increase of work were made. Would saw.
for one. the North CanltoI-street sewer-the
board were a counle of times - - - :
q. / do not mean to insipuate at all that Il
was mot proper that that should be done. A.
I stated The other day that / did that on ac-
commit Of the sI itcuity Of dealing with such
things. and Il was done. I am willing TO take
the fesponsibility for Whatever I am RESPONSE
be for. - x 80
D. This certificate Oh, yours as to the increase
in the Evans matter bears date December "a,
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-25

Q. Was anybody injured by the transaction
at alli A. It is an irregular proceeding.
Q. mean was there any injury1 A. Ihave
not complained of any fraud SO far. have
complained Of the great irregularities that ex
Q. The irregularities that exist in Mr.
Oertly's making these Measurements A.
Well, in many similar cases. -
i Q. Well, am speaking Of this particular
transaction. You cay 1t was referred by Mr.
Shepherd to Mr.. Oertley, the paper shows tina;
It was to Mr.. oertly and to Mr.. Barney. A
Yes, sir. sT-. .-.1s b. ...sr''-- ~, oil
Q. They were the men in your office who
were doing the work, were they mott A. Yes
sir, .r-r----s .--ELE- ..-ae.r .-e-rr-s L . r
Q. when that was Endorsed that way it was
sent TO your Office, supposed A. Most likely
in those cases, and in q case Ike this, Mr.
Evans himself 50 s.-stsi 49,. =
Q, What is the fact; DO you know anything
about the fact in this easel A. It did not come
to the office In the regular way, otherwise
would have known It. -
By Mr.. 'MattingIy: Q. Refer to the record
A. Here is the record. have 1t here.
BY Mr.. Stewart: Q. Is there any note Of thit
coming to your object What was the order o.
the board, I there snything IN the record e
have here the record Of my Office.
Q. What entry did you makei A. CAUCUS;
IS. John o. Evans asks estimates for the fol.
lowing work done under contract with the
Board Of Public Works" s--...g
@. That entry is spread In full upon your
minutesl Ayes, sir.
| Q. When this order to have the survey made
by Mr.. 0ertly and Barney was Endorsed by the
vies president, 1t came to your office and was
spread upon the, booksl A. Yes, sir; 1T Il
4 marked here .tinforma1." Now, think where
1914 ,000of public money is invested, matters
and things ought not to be passed 50 inform.
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-25

Isee Fourth Pase.l
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-04
Magazines for JnlY.

OLD AND New for July is an unusually
good number. According to the wont for
four years the current number is devoted
more especially to questions of education.
TIE Introductory article by the editor con-
tans some thoughtful suggestions and strict
ures on the subject. He very pertineLtly re-
marks that sin our republican passion for
numbers we generally build up schools so
large that half the vital force of the teachers
is expended on keeping the machinery NOV
ing.' G. W. Powers contributes an abe
review OF Mr.. Stetson's essay, published last
year, ON technical education. An article on
French aud German schools is worthy of
careful attention by all educators. '.Educa-
ton for the Civil Service is an entertaining
account and defense of that much-abus re-
form. MrI Tyrwhitt's very readable paper
on sketching deserves TO be classed with the
educational matter of the number.
OF matter not technically educational there
is good variety. Mr.. Martineau furnishes
an able article on ''The Protestant Theory of
Authority" San Expert" tells us how ar
tiicial teeth are made. Anthony TIollope
continues his serial, aud "Scrope" is conclud-
ed. Some poetry, the musical review, Rec
ord of Progress and Examiner make up the
number.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-04
mion wins the beautiful princess for his

mlon wins the beautiful princess for his
bride.
The story is a trihe tiresome, for one
wearles of three hundred pages and more of
fairy lore. But when the story loses It's in-
terest one can take refuge In the really wou-
derful descriptions of scenery. Lord Colel-
idge in the preface says "the scenery of the
tale is that of Cumberland and Westmore-
land, only under brighter sky and softer
climate. This and the fine lyrics make the
charm of the book.
LORD OF HIMSELF. By.F. II Underwood. Boston:
Lee & Shepard. For sale by Francis Coffin.
1t is well to premise that this is not SEN
sational novel. though its title is a label 10
that effect. The hero's heritage is not one
of woe, unless we dignity by that name the
discomfort consequent on poverty. Despite
his name, Beauchamp Russell, he is clever
young fellow, kampered little by family ira
ditions, and doing his best to save the dwind-
ling remains of a once powerful estate. The
scene of the tale is in Kentucky, and lie
time thirty years ago. The state OF Kentucky
society at that time is strikingy, and appar-
emily faithfully painted. 1t is natural and
life-like, and accords with traditional ac-
counts, good evidence as regards its fidelity
One OF those family feuds SO common in the
state plays an important part in the story.
The hero is wronged by his enemies, the
Wyndhams, and despoiled by perjury and
otherwise of great portion of his heredit-
ary estates; but in the end the Russell comes
to bis own again. The story is good one,
and in some portionssquite dramatic. The
characters are well delineaied and original.
In fact, the novel is much above the ordinary
RIM