davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
Buried Treasure.

There is no event in Western history,
the St. Louis Republican thinks, that is
remembered with more undying fond
ness than a tragic affair that occurred on
the Missouri River, opposite the town of
Waverly, about fifteen years ago. This
was the sinking of a gallant steamboat
with a cargo of 300 barrels of whisky.
The dwellers on the banks of the river
for twenty miles above and below Wa
verify, have never forgotten it-and they
never will. They remember it as fresh
ly as if it had happened only last week.
They know the very spot where the gal
liant steamboat went down, and though
their ewes have never been gladdened
with the sight of barrel, or hoop of
barrel, involved in the catastrophe, they
comfort themselves with the perennial
faith, which no amount of skeptical hy-
geographic reasoning can shake, but that
blessed liquor is ''thar" yet, and that it
will be recovered some day. Each pass
ing year only adds another touch of mel
lowness to the submerged nectar, and
another degree TO the fondness with
which the disaster is remembered. When
this 300 barrels went into store it was
worth only about seventeen and half
cents gallon; now it is worth, internal
revenue tax included-well, there is no
telling how much it is worth. Three
times have attempts been made to get at
the sub-huvial treasure, and three times
have the divers, watchers and workers, af-
ter getting down almost to it, been forced
to abandon the search without getting
it. Every annual subsidence of the riv-
er is watched and learnedly speculated
on, for it's bearing on the question of
recovery, until what these watchers and
workers don't know about the dynamics
of rivers isn't worth knowing. Two
weeks ago the tantalizing waters fell to
a point never witnessed before by the
oldest inhabitant, uncovering mud and
snags that had never been uncovered
within the memory of man, and actually
exposing the very spot where the boat
went down. The whole region round
about was frightened with the hope of
recovering the treasure, and scores of
men went to work with will, endeavor-
ing to disentomb it before the river
should rise again. The way they labor
ed was sight to behold. But all to no
purpose. The malignant river took a
rise just, apparently, as they were ready
TO grasp the coveted prize, reheaped the
sand OH the buried barrels, thus indefi-
nitely protracting this pathetic tradi-
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
He Would Sing.

A rather singular lawsuit has taken
place in North Carolina. 1t grew out
of an effort to stop a good man who
couldn't sing from making the attempt
in church. The name of the unfortun-
ate lover of song is William Linkhaw,
indicted for misdemeanor, and tried be-
fore Russell, Judge, at Robson Super
ior Court. Defendant was indicted for
disturbing religious congregation
The evidence, as detailed by several
witnesses, was substantially this: De-
fendant is member of the Methodist
Church. He sings in such way as to
disturb the congregation. At the end
of each verse his voice is heard after
the other singers have ceased, One of
the witnesses being requested to describe
defendants singing initiated it by sing
ing a verse in the voice and manner of
defendant, which produced burst of
prolonged and irresistible laughter con-
vulsing alike the spectators, the bar, the
jury, and the Court" The defendent is
reported to be strict member of the
church (Methodist,) and man of the
most exemplary department. 1t was
not contended by the State upon the
evidence that he had any intention or
purpose to disturb the congregation, but
on the contrary, it was admitted that he
was conscientiously taking part in the
religious services. There was verdict
of guilty, judgment, and an appeal by
| the defendant.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
In a Bad Fix.

1t has never been settled to the satis-
faction of all the public who the Man
in the Iron Mask was, but generations
10 come will know all about Dick Pal
mer, of Macomb street, who got inside
of something worse than a mask on Sat-
urday. His mother sent him after a
brass kettle which one of her neighbors
had borrowed, and on his way home the
boy turned the kettle upside down and
put it on his head. Another boy gave
it blow, and it shut down over Dicks
face as closely as clam in a shell, one
of the "sars" digging into the boys
head behind, and the other pressing on
his nose The victim shouted and
jumped and clawed at the kettle, but he
couldn't bulge it. A man came along
and lifted at it, but Dicks nose began to
come out by the roots, and the man had
to stop. A crowd ran out from the cor
ner grocery, Dicks mother sent for, and
the boy danced up and down and cried,
"Oh golly!" without ceasing. One boy
said they would have to take a cold
chisel and drill Dick out of the kettle,
and another said they'd have to melt
the kettle off, but Dick roared "murder!''
until they stopped. Some said grease
his head, and some said grease the ket-
tie, while the boys mother sat down on
the curb-stone and sobbed out, "Oh,
Richard, why did you do this?'' The
crowd took it coolly, it wasn't their fun
eral, and boy with a brass kettle ON his
head isn't seen every day. Tears fell
from the kettle, and hollow kept re-
peating: "I'll never do it again." Fin
ally they laid Richard on the walk, and
while one man sat on his legs and an
other on his stomach, third compress
ed the kettle between his hands and the
boy crawled out, his nose all stretched
and twisted out Of shape, hole in his
head, and a bump in his forehead. His
mother wildly embraced him, all the
boys cried chip lap and little Richard
was led home to loaf around on the
lounge and have toast and fried eggs for
a week.-Detroit Free Press.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
The Coffee Crop.
From the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore American.
Housekeepers will be sorry to hear
that the price of coffee is likely to ad-
vance, and that even the present unus-
ually high figures will probably be in
creased. The cause is a short crop in
the two chief coffee producing countries
Brazil and the East Indies. Impor-
ters often try to invent reasons for the
failure of prospective crops, hop
ing thereby to frighten buyers into pay
ing better prices, but this time the scare
appears to have foundation in fact.
Rio or Brazil coffee, which is the main
stay of the coffee trade, is in short stock,
the whole amount in the United States
being less by about 10000 bags than at
the corresponding time last year. This
is not of itself significant when we con-
slider that the yearly import exceeds one
million bags of Rio coffee, but is plain
that even with the average stock on
hand deficient supply for the coming
season must cause considerable advances
in the prices. Advices from the pro-
ducing districts are unfavorable, and ii
is predicted that the receipts this year
will be unusually scant.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20

necessarily until the bell rang again
twelve hours afterward. L gave her a
galyanic shock, so powerful that a heal
thy person could not have endured it,
yet she did not stir There is no doubt
but that she had received from her brain
some immense power over her nervous
system, entirely independent of her will.
the act of performance does not have
reference TO the will. The communica-
ton between the brain and spinal cord
may be very largely destroyed, and still
voluntary action exists. a very few re-
naming fibres are sufficient.
Many facts show that when the will has
ordered certain action, that action is
completed Independent of the will
as walking in sleep. Indeed, the action
of the muscles is nearer perfection the
less we think about it. The action is
more like telegraphic dispatch from
the brain telling the muscles what to do,
than vibration of the nerves directly
causing the result.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
81 Want to Find my Papa"

Yesterday young lady was walking
along the street, when she met little
girl two or three years old, evidently
lost, and crying bitterly. Taking her by
the hand, the lady asked her where she
was going. Il am going down to find my
papa was the reply, between sobs, of the
child. What is your papa's name?' ask
ed the lady. His name is papa replied
the innocent little thing. But what is
his other name? queried the lady; what
does your mamma call him?' she calls
him papa persisted the baby. The la
dy then took the little one by the hand
and led her along, saying, you had bet
ter come with me; guess you will come
this way?" Yes, butt want to go back;
l want to find my papa replied the lit
tie girl, crying afresh as if her heart
would break. What do you want of
your papa?' asked the lady. 4 want to
kiss him. Just then sister of the child
came along looking for her, and led her
away. From subsequent inquiries, it
peared that the little ones papa, whom
she was so earnestly in search of, had re-
Gently died. In her lonesomeness and
love for him, she tired of waiting for
him 60 come home, and had gone TO find
him and greet him with the accustomed
kiss.--Poyghkeepsie Eagle.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
VARIETIES.

A certain man has n watch which ho
says has gained enough to pay for itself
in six months.
Johny assures us that a railroad con-
ductor punches hole in your ticket to
let you pass through.
When bisof ostrich feather is found
by wife in her husbands beard no
one can blame her for being down on
him.
A Detroit female Of just twenty five
was married to her fifth husband lately.
All the gentlemen are alive, and the
first four are doing we'll.
Judge Jeffreys, pointing with his
cane at prisoner before him, observed.
"There is a great rogue at the end Of
the stick" The man replied "At which
end, my lord?"
An Iowa editor wrote: During the
past week we have visited the Solons Of
of the country" and his constant sub
scribers think that is a funny way to
spell saloons"
Andrew Jackson was accused Of bad
spelling, but John Randolph defended
him by declaring that "a man must be
fool who could not spell words more
ways than one"
Quite a number of young men in this
city are attending a night school, where
Latin is taught. AT least we Judge 30,
as we saw crowd the other evening
who had got as far as "Hic."
A sophomore says he cannot under
stand how any one possessing what is
generally known as a conscience can
counterfeit five-cent piece, and put on
the back Of it ain God we trust"
In a California obituary il is stated
that "the deceased was a person Of ro-
mantle nature. He placed the breech
of the gun in the FIRE, and the touchdown
muzzle, departed hence instantaneously."
'If this jury convicts my client"
said Mississippi lawyer, rolling up his
sleeves and displaying his ponderous
hsts, Il shall feel compelled 90 met each
one and hammer justice into his soul
through his head"
A Vermont man warns Boston, epi-
cures that eating frogs produces warts;
which he thinks may be because thcy'er
water-reptiles
The company raised for the conquest
of Cuba at Augusta, Ga, was very strong
ly ofIicered. It consisted Of thirteen
generals, seven colonels, four captains,
nineteen paymasters, twenty-seven quar-
termasters and one private.
The Danbury News man states that a
New Haven editor spent last Sunday in
Slawson and attend church. When the
contribution-box came around he was
in dose, but, on being nudgod, hastily
exclaimed, 81 have pass"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20

In the range of mountains in Western
North Carolina, known as the "Fox
Range" most singular phenomenon
exists. 1t is breathing cave" In the
summer months current of air comes
from it SO strongly that person can't
walk against it, while in winter the sue
tion is just as great. The cool air from
the mountain in the summer is felt for
miles, in direct line from the mouth of
the cave. At times a most unpleasant
odor is emitted upon the current from
dead carcasses of animals sucked in and
killed by the violence. The loss of cat
tie and stock in that section in winter is
accounted for in this way: They range
too near the mouth of the cave, and the
current carries them in. At times
when the change from inhalation to ex'
halation begins, the air is filed with the
various hairs of animals; not unfre
quently bones and whole carcasses are
found miles from this place. The all
has been known to change materially il
temperature during exhalation from
quite cool to unpleasantly hot, witherinG
vegetation within reach, and accompan
led by terrible roaring, gurgling sound
as pot boiling. 1t is unaccounted for
by scientific men who have examined it.
though no exploration can take place
1t is feared by many that volcanic
eruption may break forth there some
time. Such things have occurred il
places as little expected.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20

THE WHITE ELEPHAHT.-One of the
proudest titles of the King of Ava is
"Lord of the White Elephant" though
the King of Siam, at Bangkok, is also
the possessor of one or more Of these sa-
cred beasts. The Mandalay animal is a
male of medium size, with white eyes,
and forehead spotted white, appearing
as if it had been rubbed with pumice-
stone or sand-paper; but the remainder
of the body is as black as coal. He was
a vicious brute, chained by the forelegs
in the center of large shed, and was
surrounded with the 'adjuncts Of royal
ty'-gold and white umbrellas, and en-
broidered canopy above, and some bun
dies of spears in the corners Of the room.
The attendants said that young one,
captured in the northeastern part of
British Burmah, near Tounghoo, had
recently died after a short residence in
the capital, and that the king had been
"out Of sorts" ever since.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
A Drink in the Dark.


On New Years night Chubb came
home very late, and when he went up
stairs his wife and children were asleep.
He undressed as softly as he could, and
then, as he felt thirsty, he thought he
would get drink Of water. Fortunate
ly, he saw goblet full standing on the
wash-stand, placed before him, evident
ly, by Mrs Chubb. He seized it and
drank the liquid in two or three huge
gulps, but Just as he was draining the
goblet he gagged, dropped the glass to
the floor, where it was shivered to atoms,
while he elected something from his
mouth. He was certain that live ami
NAL of some kind had been in the water,
and that he had nearly swallowed it.
This theory was confirmed when he saw
the object which he spit out go bound
ing over the floor. He pursued it, kick
ing a couple of chairs over while doing
so, and at last he put his foot on it and
held it. Of course Mrs. Chubb was
wide awake by this time and scared near
ly to death, ard the baby was screaming
at the top of its lungs. Mrs. Chubb
got out of bed and turned up the gas,
and said:
Mr.. Chubb, what in the name of COM
mon sense is the matter?'
"It's mouse, Louisar' shouted Chubb
in an excited manner. OTIS a mouse in
the goblet 1 nearly swallowed it, but 1
spit it out, and now I've got my foot on
it. Get stick and kill it quickp'
Mrs. Chubb was at first disposed TO
Jump on chair and scream; for, like all
women, she feared a mouse much more
than she did a tiger. But at Chubb's
solicitation she got the broom and pre-
pared to demolish the mouse when
Chubb lifted his foot. He drew back
and she aimed fearful blow at the OBJ
ject and missed it. Then, as it did moi
move, she took good look at it. Then
she threw down the broom, and after
casting look of scorn at Chubb, she
said:
"Come to bed, you old fool; that's moi
a mouse"
"What d'you mean?'
"Why, you simpleton, that's the baby''
India rubber bottle-top, that I put in the
goblet to keep it sweet! You ought tc
be ashamed of yourself carrying on il
this manner at one o'clock in the morn
ing."-Sdturday Post.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
Legal Holiday.

Some questions having been raised as
to the legality of observing as holiday
the 23d of February (the 22d coming on
Sunday a correspondent, says the Phil
adelphia Ledger, calls our attention to
the fact that the session of the Legisla-
ture of 1873 passed a law covering the
point in dispute. That law, after recap
itulating all the days of the year set
apart as holidays, and to be observed by
the general cessation of business, de-
clares that when any of the said days
shall occur on a Sunday, the following
day, Monday, shall be deemed and de-
clarcd a public holiday, "and all bills
of exchange, bank checks or promisory
notes falling due on either of the Mon
days so observed as a holiday shall be
due and payable on the Saturdays pre-
ceding such holidays; and such Mondays,
so observed, shall, for all purposes what
ever, as regards the presenting for pay
ment or acceptance, and of the protes-
tance and giving notice of the dishonor
of bills of exchange, bank checks, drafts
and promisory notes, be treated and
considered as is Sunday" The act
from which we quote was signed by Gov
ernor Hartranft, April I'd, 1873, and
clearly settles the right of the banks to
close on the 23d instant.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
An Editor.

We have seen many definitions of
many names, words and phrases, but the
following of an editor, given by Josh
Billings, is about the best we ever yet
encountered:
Gan editor il a male being, whose
biziness il to navigate nuze paper. He
writes editorials, grinds out poetry, in
serts deaths and weddings, sorts out
manuscripts, keeps waste basket, blows
up the devil steals matter, fites other
peoples battles, sells his paper for a dol
lar and so cents a year, takes white
beans and apple-sass for pay when he
kan git it, raises large family, works
19 hours out of "a, knows no Sunday
gifts damned bi everybody, and once in
a while whipt by sumbody, lives poor
dies middle-aged and often broken heart.
ed, leaves no money, is rewarded for q
life ov toll with short but free obitua.
ry puff in the nuze papers. Exchanges
please copy"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20

FARMERS II DEBT.-Some of our ex-
changes are descanting on the ruin sure
to follow getting in debt to carry on
farming operations. One farmer, who
stopped giving and asking credit few
years ago, records it as his experience
that he can now buy more than he ever
bought before, and sell more. The case
is mentioned of the French, who never
go in debt, and who, having been saving
money since the days of the first Napo-
leon, have become the richest nation in
the world, which is proved by the fact
that the German indemnity of a thous-
and millions of dollars which they were
obliged to pay has been all discharged
in two years, while we have been strug-
Cling for eight years with twice as much.
Perhaps the wealth of the French farm
ers arises as much from the small farm
system and the high cultivation they
give to soil. There is vast difference
in farming in a loose way and having
all work done in the best manner.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20

principle that difference of opinion is nc
crime, and hold that progress toward
truth is made by differences of opinion,
while the fault lies in bitterness of con-
troversv. We desire proper equality,
equity and fairness, protection for the
weak, restraint upon the strong; in short,
justly distributed burdens and justly dis
tributed power. These are American
ideas, the very essence of American in
dependence, and TO advocate the contra
ry is unworthy of the sons and daugh-
tiers of an American Republic. We
cherish the belieffthat sectionalism is,
and of right should be, dead and buried
with the past. Our work is for the
present and the future. In our agricul-
ture Brotherhood and its purposes we
shall recognize no North, no South, no
East, no West. 1t is reserved by every
Patron as his right as freeman to af-
filiate with any party that will best car
~ out his principles.
"Sixth-Ours being peculiarly farm
ers' institution, we can not admit all TO
our ranks. Many are excluded by the
nature of our organization, not because
they are professional men, or artisans,
or laborers, but because they have not
sufficient direct interest in tillIpg or
pasturing the soil, or may have some in
terest in conflict with our purposes, but
we appeal to all good citizens for their
hearty cooperation to assist in our eff
forts toward reform, that we may even
tually remove from our midst the last
vestige of tyranny and corruption. We
hail the general desire for fraternal har-
mony, equitable compromise and earnest
cooperation as an omen of our future
success.
"Seventh-It shall be an abiding
principle with US to relieve any of our
oppressed and suffering brotherhood by
any means at our command.
Last, but not least, we proclaim it
among our purposes to lnculcate prop
er appreciation of the abilities and
sphere of woman, as is indicated by ad-
mitting her to membership and position
in our order.
'EImploring the continued assistance of
our Divine Master to guide us in our
work, we here pledge ourselves to the
faithful and harmonious labor for all
future time to return, by our united ef-
forts, to the widom, justice, fraternity,
and political purity of our forefathers.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-20
The agriculture Of The Future.

There is a curiuus and very radical ar
ticIe in a recent number of Fraser's
Magazine upon farming. The writer :
belief is that in the time 10 come a farm
will be an immense food factory carried
on by company. The companies will
be Joint stock concerns, issuing shares OF
from $50 to $3.50 each, and working from
5000 to 10000 acres. The buildings of
the farm (such is the scheme) must be
placed on the highest point of land, 50
that water and manure may be conveyed
over surface by gravitation. Machinery
is, among other services, to shear a sheep.
A whole staff of butchers will be en-
ployed to kill and cut up bullocks for
the city markets, to be transferred
straight to the salesman, without the in
teryention of a dealer. The salesman
will be in the company's employ, and
will only sell their meet. The company
will make an effort to get more than one
crop in a year. But the most surprising
of the results which await the future OF
farming will be the ripening of crops by
means of an electric current passed
through the plants or by some other
kind of artificial heat.
One point of which the writer makes
much, is the impossibility of profit in
England from the cultivation of wheat.
Wheat is almost the only agricultural
product that has not risen since 177O.-
The only sort Of corn which is much
dearer now than then is barley, the rea-
son being that barley is used in distilla-
ton and brewing. In the last fifty years
meat and dairy produce have greatly
risen in price. Yet wheat remains the
same; Notwithstanding the rise in the
price of labor and the increase of rents.
No increase of demand has any import
ant effect upon the price of corn. A rise
in wheat will at once bring any quantity
of it to England. The importation OF
wheat by England, in 1859, was 100000
900 bushels. In 1871, the importation
was nearly 8O,O00,00O bushels. Yet the
price of wheat in 1871 was lower than in
1860. 1t is very plain, says the writer
in Fraser, that wheat. cultivation can no
longer be profitable, and it would be bet
ter to use the land occupied to raise pro-
duee which must be imported to Eng
land at loss. One of the difficulties
which the farmer must meet is to find
some green produce which will take the
place of wheat in the rotation of crops
This obstacle the author of the article
thinks very serious one.