davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
Lead OH the Brain.

Apropos of the case Of Carruth and
Shute, who are now successfully carrying
bullets in their brains, the Irwinton (Ga.
Southe,ner relates the following parallel
experience: In the battle of Hatcher.s
Run in 1864, Green Pittmann, of Will
kinson county, received wound in the
face, the ball entering the upper portion
of the nose on the left side. The wound
was probed and dressed by an army sur
geon, and finally healed up, and although
the surgeon stated that the ball was still
in the head, Mr.. Pittman had almost for
gotten it, never. having experienced the
least pain or inconvenience from it. In
1869, one morning in February, FIVE years
after receiving the wound, as Mr.. Pitt
man was making his toilet to attend
church, it fell out into his mouth. Mr..
Pittman was combing his hair at the
time, standing perfectly erect and came
near swallowing the ball after it fell into
his mouth. Strange to say, no hemorr-
hage followed its exit, nor was there any
pain felt. The ball weighed one ounce
and two pennyweights. Iti now in pos
session of Mr.. Pittman, who was a gal.
liant member of the Sd Georgia Regiment
during the late war.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
IFS Altogether Binding.

Judge WalruU~- has rendered 4 de-
cision in the Spiritulistic coI9mon law
marriage case tried some weeks since. l..
this case an eccentric individual named
Chauncy a. Barnes, who calls himself
"the Apostle of the New Dispensation,"
endeayored to set up his right as hus-
band in the estate of Mrs. Harriet
Carpenter, whose heirs resisted on the
ground that there had been no marriage
between these parties.
Mrs. c.. was the widow of Riley Nj.
Carpenter, 4 halter, under the fremont
House before the fire, but had lived with
Barnes for several years, on the free-loye
plan, as his wife, having been to him all
that the name implies.
They were quite well-known in Spirl-
tualistic circles, and published paper
together at Grand Rapids. The estate
over which there has been so much
quarreling does not amount to six hun
dred dollars.
The question AS to whether the rela-
tions existing between these parties con-
stituted marriage under the common
law. was the one Judge Wallace was
called upon to decide. After defining
the law, and the different varieties OF
common-law marriages, the court said
that the question was whether itwas the
intention of the parties to live together
as man and wife. He then reviewed the
evidence presented. On one side it was
shown that the parties had lived together,
occupying the same house and room, had
introduced each other in society as man
and wife, and had been recognized by
their relatives and by respectable people
as married. In tie absence ofprOofof an
actual contract, the. court must infer,
from these and other circumstances, that
they intended to be considered man and
wife, and take these circumstances as
proof that there had been contract.
On the other side there was evidence
that Mrs. Carpenter had declared that
she would never marry; that she was in
fatuated with Barnes, but thought his
intention was to spend her money. 1t is
admitted that these people sustained the
relations of man and wife from November
1871, to the death of Mrs. Carpenter, SC
that the practical execution of the con
tract was for life. Under all the circum
stances the court felt bound to decide
that there had been an actual marriage
between the parties.
He was not ready, however, to revoke
the letters of administration granted tc
| Mr.. and Mrs. Dodge, but would consider
that point a few days longer. Thii
favorable decision seemed to please Mis-
Hulett, who is attorney for the eccentric
Barnes.i He will be remembered as th'
individual who disturbed the proceed
ings of the recent Temperance Conven
tion with his remarkable chart.-Chiodg
/ Post and Nail.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
The Potato Bug in the East.

The New York Herald has been gath
ering reports concerning the potato bug
which is not bug at all, but beetle
and though many OF them are written
sensationally, it seems to be certain that
the pest has got comfortably to work on
the potatoes, tomatoes and egg plants
through some of the southern New
York counties, all Pennsylvania and
New Jersey-especialIy south jersey I;
and that the crop will be much less than
usual in Pennsylvania; partly, however,
because so much less land has been
planted.
The farmers in all these sections are
very generally using Paris green and
hand picking combined, and in n great
measure succeed in keeping down their
numbers.
1t seems, on the whole, somewhat odd
that there should be 20 much more excite
ment over this rascally striped beetle
this season than last his large and in
creasing family has been East before.
They appeared in the Mohawk Valley in
1873. did much less damage last year,
succumbing readily to Paris green, and
have not appeared as yet this season. 1t
is possible that they may never feel quite
at home this side the Alleghanies.-
Springfield (Jfass.) Republican.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
Pedestrianism Extraordinary.

His tube-rose lives on Piety Hill. He
had heard divers rumors about young
MEDICAL student trying to get the inside
wary. While standing on the street just
about the time the evening shadows be-
gan TO lengthen, he espied his supposed
rival, in company with another disciple
of Esculapius, making rapid strides to-
ward Mt. Piety. The young mans ap-
prehensions were at once aroused. lie
Thought if he could reach the girls house
first he would be all right. OF course, in
Il case like this fellow will endure any
amount Of over-exertion 10 carry his
point So he vaulted over fence with
the agility Of an Angora goat, paid no
attention To the rent in his unwhispera-
bles which the performance Occasioned,
crossed lots and dashed through patches
of wild rose bushes, and finally struck
the street again, supposing his short cut
had left his rival far behind. But they
had seen through the joke and wanted
to have fun at the young mans expense.
They were on business, but abandoned ii
and hurried along so as TO just reach the
opposite side of the street as the young
man emerged through fence. He was
rather chagrined to find his competitors
even with him, but they were on the OPP
posite side of the street and he thought
he could out-walk them. Then the
heavy walking began. All were good
walkers, and laid down to 4 regular
heel-and-toe contest. Toes were stubbed,
loose planks ratified, and cuss words were
uttered in regard TO uneven sidewalks.
All of the boys were putting and painting,
but still the contest went on, the con-
testants being neck-and'neck. Finally
the doctors made n spurt, which brought
them to the house about eighty seven
yards ahead of the young man. But to
his surprise they didn't enter-they Sat
on the fence, laughed and sung out
Sold |" as he went TO the door. About
two and half minutes after, the young
man himself came out and sung out
" Soldw She wasn'tin.-Sdten (Oregon)
SIfcSDl0D
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
EraStuS Jones is Troubled About
GraSshOpperS.

"Erastus Jones, you orter be ashamed
of yourself, cuttin' up this way right
here in the road afore everybody" was
the remark made by an old woman from
the country, as she held like grim death
to the wing of Erastus, who was brim
full of bad whisky and crazy for more,
and making every effort in his power to
get to a saloon.
But the old lady was in earnest; at
10. Nc tho~ght so from the way she
vanked the old man lii tIh.S direction of
their wagon. With one hand she held
him by the back of his coat collar and
with the other she grasped him by the
seat of his unmentionables, and COM
pelled him, ,as the boys say, to walk Span
ish. And as she sculled the old man
along, she talked as only woman can
talk: ..
Erastus, if you had your own way
you'd Jest keep on drinkin' that ere
pizen till you got worms in your boots.
The Lord knows Pm not a crusader, nor
am I in favor of crusadin', but do be-
ieye in every woman takin' her hus-
band in her own hands and beltin' thun-
der outer him every time he gets the
blind staggers."
As Erastus danced along on the tips OF
his toes, he made several attempts to look
back: but the old woman had the head
way on him, and didn't propose to give
up her steering power
However, Erastus managed to gasp
(the old lady had his wind about turned
ofO, "See here, ole woman, you're hurt
in that ere risin' on my neck"
"Shet up, you old lunatic, or I'll give
YOU n worse risin' than you're gettin'
now." -,
"Well, ole woman, them ere durn old
grasshoppers is 'nough ter make trouble
in any mans family; they eat up all our
crops, and spit terbacker juice all over
our farm
"Oh oh ! you old sot" and here she
elevated the old man clear Oft the pave
ment, and his feet made revolution like
a steamboat wheel out of wafer, and she
brought him down again with thump
that made Erastus think that his inn
mortal soul had fled. :,
"Grasshoppers. grasshoppers. you old
fool, there aren't one in the State OF In
danny"
Well, ther papers says theirs goin'
to be-"
"Erastus, yer mind an body's wander
in; yer got the jim jams"
By this time she had conveyed the OLD
man to the tail end of the wagon, and
gave him boost that upended him into
the vehicle like sack of potatoes, where
Erastus wilted and shut up like a hot-All
balloon.
The old lady then jumped into the
wagon, gathered up the reins, and, turn
ing to the crowd, remarked, That's the
kind of a close-pin | am" and drove off,
-Evansrile (Lnd.) Herald.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
An Incident in the Life of wachtel.

| send YOU herewith touching little
incident narrated TO me by friend in
Leipzig, who was present on the occasion
mentioned. The central figure in the
story is one so well known to your
American readers that | feel sure any
thing about him must he of general
interest.
The Opera-hOuse is thronged with an
expectant audience, for Theodore Wach-
tel is to appear in "Der Position Won
Loniumeau," and all Leipzig must hear
him. Perhaps more than one person IN
that assembly is thinking what fine
thing it is TO be n favorite actor. and
wishing that he could exchange places
with Wachtel. The audience even fancy
that he must be as inpatient as they for
the curtain to rise asd the opera to be
gin. While they are waiting, let us take
a peep back on the scenes.
The postboy stands ut the threshold,
and the attendants look from one to
another with awe-struck faces. Through
the halfopen door of dressing-room we
see the celebrated Wachiel in an agony
of grief, and can easily guess that the
paper he has dropped on the floor is a
telegram with bad news.
In truth it il, for it brings word that
his youngest son is dying and wants to
see him. He can not 90; the audience
must not be disappointed; he must
swallow the lump that rises in his throat
81 i almost chokes him, and assume all
the gayety VT 0I.-rolon the Position OF
Loniumeaz. IN 7H.g.,
At the end Of the second act, while the
audience is making the house ing with
applause, Wachtel IS reading another
telegram. This one tells him that his
son Is dead.
At the end Of the third act he thrills
the audience as he sings "Gute Nacht,
mein Herzliches Kind" They think the
position is singing that song, but we
know that Theodore Wachtel is bidding
his child last good night.-CoTesPond-
nce " y EreniHg Post.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
Bunker Hill Celebration.

Boston has disproved the current say
ing that Americans do not know how TO
celebrate. Her Bunker Hill Centennial
was brilliant affair in every essential
respect. The civic and military process
SION, seven miles long, in which all the
trades were represented, and abundant
scope was allowed to the grotesque
humors Of those who were willing to
make themselves ridiculous for the gen
eral amusement, was magnificent spec
tacle. The speeches, the music, the
fraternal feeling. the excellent order, and
above all, the thorough sympathy with
the spirit of the occasion, were admlra-
BILE, and deserve emulation. In fact 1t
seemed as though every one of the halt
million people who poured through the
streets was determined to contribute
something to the pleasure of the occasion.
The hearty welcome extended to the
Southern visitors was one of the best
signs and results, and the twining of the
palmetto and the pine in Music Hall
was a happy augury for the future
of the Union. 1t is impossible 70
overlook the part the literary class took
in the festivities, and the Bunker
Hill literature was one OF the
features of the occasion. The good peo.
pie who were afraid that the Centennial
excitement would burn itself away be
fore the Philadelphia celebration, may a
we'll calm their apprehension on thai
point. There is too much Declaration
of Independence in the American char
acter to let such an occasion as the com
ing National Centennial fail Of prope1
observanee.-Nec York Graphic.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
A Centennial Incident.

The Boston Herald tells this: The day
following the Centennial festivities, the
following incident occurred in a South
End saloon: A friend had invited one
of the South Carolina soldiers into the
saloon to put another turf on the buried
hatchet. While standing at the bar a
stranger came in. The Carolinian. sud
denly dropped his glass and closely
eyed the stranger. His gaze was so
steady and peculiar that his friend began
to be alarmed and to fear that the
hatchet was about to be dug up again.
Directly the Carolinian asked the
stranger if he knew him. There was no
recognition, whereupon the Carolinian
asked him if he was not in the late war.
"Yes," was the reply. "And yon were
once stationed at such placer "Ies.'
F" And took part in such skirmish y
eyes" "Well, l thought So" replied
the Carolinian, and raising his hat showed
a large scar on his forehead, saying
there's your saber mark, my boy
come up and take drink"
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10

versation, and travelled from one face to
the other in hopeless agony; not word
passed her ears, and only the one de-
spairing changeless expression sat like a
seal upon her face. She knew there was
no escape for her-none. There was only
the one question to be solved: Was she
to die by the unwilling hand of pitying
stranger, or be killed cruelty BY profes-
sional murderers? What a world of ter
ror must have been compassed in those
few moments of her life as she lay watch
ing and waiting there!
The clock began to chime the quar-.
ters it was about to strike. At a
given signal the statue-like figure
stepped forward and rapidly auncoiled a
rope with moose already made; they
were about to slip it over his head and
hang him to a beam which ran along the
center of the ceiling. The horror of fac
ing sudden and violent end seized him
his death would avail her nothing for
whom he died. His senses were in a
whirl; he threw up his hands and sprang
forward.
"Pll do itw he exclaimed, and fell on
his knees beside her: "They ,ciN have
your life; l cannot save you, child /;
but can shield you from their rough,
cruel hands, and put you painlessly to
rest. Forgive me, forgive me, for it is in
mercy to you / do this cruel deed" ,
The white hand went out to him and
closed over his in soft, forgiving clasp !;
the agony died out Of the sweet eyes as
they rested one moment on his lace; ;
then with low sigh she closed them and
turned away her head In another mo-
ment her young life was ebbing slowly
away. He remained by her side, holding
her hand in his till all was over.
He would not for a second leave her with
those stern men, lest a wOunding word
or rough touch might disturb her on her
way from this world to the next. He
was conducted from the place in the
same way as he had entered it, and when
his conductors took leave of him they sug-
gested that it would be well if he would
leave Naples with as little delay as pos
sible. This forced murder-for such it
really was-lay upon his conscience to
the end of his life, and filled it with one
long remorse-a living nightmare-for
that scene was always present to his
mind. The change that had so long
puzzled us puzzled us no more. He could
not carry his secret to the grave with
him, so gave it into our keeping.
lisa terrible story" | exclaimed.
"And, unlike most terrible stories, it is
true" he answered. "Come out for a
breath of fresh air and sunshine, to blow
this gloomy subject from our senses"
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
Contest With a Boiling Machine.

The st. Louis Republican says: There
is a mill in Westmoreland county where
the machinery is of very fine class IN
deed, and visitors of practical turn OF
mind find themselves amply repaid for
an examination of the works.
Among the recent visitors to the mill
was lady who had just as much curios-
ity as the men concerning the great
wheels and the hoppers and the appll-
ances for Transforming wheat into flour
and feed SO they showed her through
the mill, and she was very much de-
lighted, and evinced just as lively an
interest in the machinery as though she
had been Robert Fulton or George
Stephenson, or any of the great invent
On.
She was not satisfied with any cursory
view of things, either, but went up close
to the wheels Notwithstanding the re-
peated warning of the miller.
Finally she approached the boiling
machine and proceeded to inspect it with
a critics eye. Very close to the machine
she stepped, and then two cog wheels
took little nip at her dress. The wheels
appeared delighted with the flavor, and
took in more and more, having good
mouthful before the lady noticed her
predicament.
Then she screamed, and tried to get
away; but the rapacious cogs were not
to be cheated of meal, and kept on
chewing, every mouthful drawing the
fated woman nearer the works.
The miller saw the danger, and sprang
to the rescue of the frightened victim.
There was but one course to pursue. lie
was a huge, brawny man, and, clasping
the shreking woman in his arms, he
braced his feet against an upright post
and pulled. :,
1t was a contest between the man and
the bolting machine-mind and muscle
on one side, hungry iron and steel upon
the other. Mind and muscle won, but
not without catastrophe. There was a
long pull, strong pull and a pull alto
gether and then, by one gigantic effort,
the miller bore the woman clear, but that
was all.
He saved the statue; the machinery
got all the drapery. The lady was un-
hurt, but also unclothed. She stood
there-like the Greek slave-unshackled.
The lockers on ran out for feelings sake.
There was any amount of hustle about
the mill, but not a particular hustle
about she woman-the bolting machine
had that.
The rescued lady stood shuddering and
blushing, and her rescuer stood painting
and blushing. There was moment or
two of awful embarrassment, and then
the miller solved the problem. He fled
from the mill and sought his wife and
sent her back with bundle of clothing.
She soon arrived upon the scene, and the
dismantled woman was arrayed again,
though, perhaps, not quite so gaudily as
before her little affair with the boiling
machine.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
The Stings of Conscience.
BY VI. QUAD.


/ have struggled with my guilty con
science until can no longer stand W
under the heavy burden, and | am going
to make confession.
/ am a murderer
Within few hours l shall go and de-
| liver myself up to the officers of the law,
plead guilty, and hail my sentence with
satisfaction. No one can conceive of the
weight of my mental burden5-no one
who has not stained his hands with hui
man gore.
He was shoemaker-my victim. !
entered his place of business one night in
search of a pair of boots. He smiled
sweetly, remarked about the weather,
and said he would make me the best
pair of boots that ever laid out doors. 1t
was Monday, and he was to have them
done Wednesday. / called at the APP
pointed time, and they were not half
finished. He said Friday, and when
Friday came he said Tuesday. was
there Tuesday and he said Thursday,
and when Thursday came he smiled and
explained;
We've been rushed to death-come
in Tuesday"
They were finished when | called
again, and that wretched man worked
an hour and half to get them over my
feet. He said they were made to fit,
and he was determined that they should
do 50.
When we got 'em on it seemed As if
every toe had been driven back an inch,
and as if each foot was bent up in the
shape of a rainbow. | haG to draw my
self along by seizing hold of the counter,
but he assured me that the boots would
fit perfectly easy by the time | got
home. | fell down on the street, and
had to ride home in hack. | destroyed
three boot,jacks and demolished two
chairs getting the boots of, and it took
all night for my toes to get Strengthened
out.
Nothing in the world ails the-bootsl" !"
said the dealer, when l limped down the
next day, and he insisted that | put
them on. He locked the door and
called down the cobblers, and the boots
were finally pulled on. He said if I'd
come back there at the end of two hours
and say that the boots weren't a fit he'd
give me fifty dollars. | went out on the
street, and the boys followed me, believ--
ing was drunk men stopped me and
wanted to know if / had run nail into
my foot; two women turned around,
and one of them remarked that it always
made her sad to see man with a cork
leg.
"Those boots want freeing out" re-
marked the dealer, rs crawled into the
store.
He treed them out, he oiled them, he
dug away at the pegs. He said they
were 4 perfect fit. Finally, when ] was
carried into his store on door, and his
cobblers had removed the boots and left
the room, killed him. He didn't sus-
pect anything, and was rubbing chalk
down inside the leg, determined to pull
the boots on again, when became a
murderer. He never even groaned, and
he didn't make struggle. shouldn't
have done it, and if it were to be done
over again / wouldn't raise my hand.
His face has haunted me day and night
for years, and it will be relief for me to
bear punishment.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-10
Terrible Shocks OF Earthquake.

4 letter from Marasaybo, May %,
gives an account of an earthquake at
Circuta on the 18th. The first shock
leyeled every wall in the city, burying
in an instant 5000 people out Of a
population of 10000. Several not killed
subsequently, died from injuries, and
many were murdered by robbers, who
plundered in bands.
The shocks continued, and the fires
burned much property. Those saved
fed to the neigbboring country, and en-.
camped. When the news reached
Maracaybo, two steamers were sent with
food and clothing to the sufferers by the
American Consul and the people; also
a corps of physicians and a committee
to disburse aid. The Governor sent
soldiers to protect the police.
Reports from San Cayetons, Santiago
Gramolote. Arboteda, Cucutella, and
Cristabel, all aggregating population o.
%, 900, confirm the previous accounts o
the destruction of life and property in
those places. The shock was felt al
Bogota and other places, and IN
Maracaybo, there have been light quake
every day since.