davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
A Rats Mistaken Journey.

Yesterday evening areporter for morn.
ing contemporary was engaged writing up
his items, when he suddenly and quite
unintentionally furnished an item him
self. He was so engrossed IN describing
the mysteries of the Police Court that he
did not notice an ancient and WISE look in 2
rat who was out on prospecting tour,
and was examining infinitely the mud
about the bottom of the reporters panta.
looms. The mud seemed of good quality,
and the rat began to nibble it, the report
er became conscious of some unusual 60
ing on about his pedal extremities, and
gave kick, then the trouble began. The
rat made spring and commenced a voy-
age of discovery up the leg of the report
er's pantaloons; the reporter gave a jump
and howl of establishment, upset his
chair, nearly overturning the table,
and yelled thieves while the rat
squealed "murder," as plainly as
rat can. The rat continued his
explorations until the pantaloons got too
tight for him to gohigher. Then he took
good hold of the reporters thigh, and the
reportera good grip on him, and began to
dance. The reporter is an exemplary
young man, and not given to Terpsicho-
rean exercises; but when the compositers
and clerks from the business office, at
tracted by his cries, entered the room, they
found him cutting such fantastic capers
that they thought he was either crazy OF
was practising anew fling for the St. An.
drews' Society ball. Still the rat held on
and still the reporter kept his grip. The
situation was becoming serious How was
the rat to be got out? At last brlllian,
idea struck the reporter. He began to take
Oft his pantaloons, still holding the rat
and, when he had removed them, general
onslaught was made on the unfortunat,
rodent, and he was quickly dispatched, ;
compositor almost decapitating him with
a column-rule ."-4NontreaI " ituess.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
Heller's Basket Trick.

The trick known as the "basket trick ,,
which Mr.. Heller introduces as the last
feature of his performance at the Wonder
Theater, excites good deal of surprise,
as it is only natural it should. The con.
ditions of the trick are simply as follows:
A large basket is brought out and placed
in full view upon bench supported on
four primitive wooden legs, and leaving
an open space between the basket and
the floor. There seems no possible way
by which human beng once in could
get out of that basket without being seen.
The basket placed by Mr.. Heller and his
assistant, Mr.. Heller next brings forward
a pair of overalls which cover him
to the neck and which have no outlet at
ends OF the sleeves or legs. When the
overalls are drawn on and hood drawn
over Mr.. Heller's head and attached to
the main garment by strings, there re-
mains no outlet for so much as finger
of the performer to get through. But as
Mr.. Heller is about to remove his coat
for the purpose of donning this gar
ment, he remembers that he is in New
York instead of Australia-that is his
carelessly stated excuse-and screen,
which reaches up to the performers neck,
is placed behind the basket, and the per
former retires behind this and effects the
change. So far as one notices, his head
does not once disappear during the time
he is employed in drawing on the overalls.
The last vision one has is of Mr.. Heller's
own face disappearing in the ample hood,
and Immediately lie steps out from behind
the screen, and, with the help of his assis-
tant, climbs into the basket, the lid of
which is closed upon him, and locked.
As far as any human eye can dis
cover, this is MIR. Heller that has
just gone into the basket, but
in the same Observation-Disclosures before
the cover is down-Mr. Heller makes his
appearance in ordinary evening costume
at the entrance of the theatre and walks
down the aisle inquiring what was being
done with him. He Immediately
ascends the platform, opens the basket,
and nobody is within. The question is
still an open one: How did Mr.. Heller
cease to be the man in the basket, and
whoever the man in the basket was, how
did he get out.-N. Y. World.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
More Experiments in Telegraphy.

For some years past. Prof. A. Graham
Bell, professor of vocal physiology in
the Boston University, has been engaged
in the invention of apparatus by the use
of which persons might talk to each
other by word of mouth over the tele-
graph wires. His invention having
reached such state of perfection as to
admit of experiments between distant
points, trial was made yesterday on
the wires along the line of the Eastern
Railroad. Prof. Bell conducted the ex-
pertinent in the Boston Office, and Mr..
Thomas A. Watson, assisted by the East
ern Railroad operator, officiated at the
Salem Office, between which and Boston
"a distance of sixteen miles-a CONVEX
sation was carried on with the most graf
flying success. Every word uttered in
the Boston office was distinctly heard in
Salem and vice ueySa. The circuit was
then made to extend to North Conway,
N. H., 143 miles from Boston, with Sa-
lem as a way station, where the messages
sent to North Conway were taken of the
wires in passing, and distinctly heard.
As the apparatus used yesterday was
only intended to convey the sounds to
Salem, the unexpected extent of its utili-
ty was exceedingly wonderful. A fur
tler experiment was finally tried, as fol-
lows: The Boston operator talked with
the Salem operator via Portland, that
is, the sound Of Prof. Bells voice
was conveyed to Portland, and
thence back as far as Salem, a distance
of about 200 miles. AT this distance the
words could not be distinguished, but the
sound of talking was heard by Mr.. Wat
son, at Salem, family, as if Of some one
speaking on the other side Of door.
The apparatus, as above stated, however,
was not adapted to conveying the sounds
to such great distance, and the expert.
ments made are held to be adequate
preet that any given distance can b an
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
A Gorilla.

Pungu, the young gorilla lately received
at the Berlin Aquarium, is the pet of the
Prussian Capital, and dwells in large
glass palace erected for his express occu-
patton. His interesting manners have
been the subject of a paper read before
the German Association of Naturalists and
Physicians, from which Nature takes the
following particulars: "He mods and
claps his hands to visitors; wakes
up like a man, and stretches himself.
His keeper must always be beside him,
and eat with him. He cats what his
keeper eats; they share dinner and sup
per. The keeper must remain by him till
he goes to sleep, his sleep lasting eight
hours. His easy life has increased his
weight in few months from thirty
one to thirty seven pounds. For some
months he had Inflammation of the
lungs, when his old friend, Dr. Falleen-
stein, was fetched, who treated him with
quinine and Ems water, which made him
better. When DR.. Hermes left the gorilla,
on the previous Sunday, the latter showed
the Doctor his tongue, clapped his hands,
and squeezed the hand of the Doctor as
an Indication, the latter believed, of his
recovery" Such intelligent and courteous
behavior on the part of brute who has
had but a few months association with
mankind leads one to believe that he may
yet display reasoning powers but little
inferior to those of his dumb human
brOthers.-ChicaqO Tribune
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
Speaker Randall.
On taking the chair as Speaker of the
National House of Representatives, Mr..
Randall said:

On taking the chair as Speaker of the
National House of Representatives, Mr..
Randall said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT
ATIvEs: Called to this position because of
the death of the late Speaker, Mr.. Kerr, of
Indiana, only express the universal senti
ment in saying he was good and great man,
whose public and private life was character
lied by purity, patriotism and answering
integrity. Nobody can more completely
appreciate than ! do the high honor of
Representatives of the American people,
and for this mark of your esteem
and confidence return my profound and
heartfelt Acknowledgements. In the discharge
of the important duties confided to me, I
shall endeavor to be absolutely fair and i'm
partial. While enforcing the rules and up
the body, shall at the same time protect
each and every member in the rights
and privileges to which he NAV iust
" be entitled. In the experience of
the parliamentary power of the Chair,
it will be my duty and my pleas
S1f The to gSts the e. true
opinions and wishes Of the House upon every
question presented, believing myself, as I
really am, no more than the voice Of the
House itself. We stand In the presence of
events which strain and test in the last de-
gree our forms of government. Our iber.
ties consecrated by SO many sacrifices in the
past, and preserved amid the rejoicings
tenntal anniversary as one among the
nations of the earth, must be main
tanned ct every hazard. The people
look confidently to your moderation, to your
patient, calm, firm judgment and wisdom in
this time, fraught with 90 many perils. Let
Just expectation and their keen sense Of
right, but by vigilance prevent even the
slightest departure from the Constitution
aud law. forgetting In the moment Of diff
Guilty that We are adherents Of party, and
only remembering that we are American
be lost II unauthoris d and unconstitutionel
acts on the part Of Executive officers Sc mot
fr0wned down at once with yelsntasse and
unspasin4 esadsmnstien.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14

THE Governor has made proclamation that
the county seat of LIE Sucur County is re-
moved from the village of Cleveland to Lie
Sucur centre.
THE building and grocery stock of Wesley
Ncill, in Minneapolis, was burned few
mornings ago, involving the loss Of $1,000.
The residence of County Treasurer Hunt ny
ton, also Of Minneap oils, was burned on the
morning of the 1st. Loss, 5000.
THE Surveyor-General scaled through the
boom at Minneapolis, this season, IA ,9l5
logs aggregating 1e9, 731 $40 feet board
measure.
THE following is an abstract of the assess
mcnt of real property in Minnesota for the
year 1876:
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14

went to the mountain to hunt. About
noon the boys left for home. On their
departure the father requested them to
state to their mother that he might be ex-
pected home by five O'Clock that evening.
Not arriving at home on Wednesday m orr
ing, eco men went to the mountain to
look for him, and in the afternoon he was
found dead, with bullet-hole in his left
side. The following note, in his own
handwriting, was found by his side: II
fell, and my gun flew back and shot me.
My dear wife and children, meet me in
Heaven" How that message from tile
boundary land of the world to come will
be cherished.-Mibin'own (Pa.) Sentinel.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14

initiated by the use of proportionately
powerful magnets. The trial is, there
fore, considered to establish the great
utility of the invention and its success
undoubtedly marks an era in the history
OF the telegraph. Among those present
at the Boston Office, yesterday, during
the progress of the experiments, were
Gen. A: P. Rockwell, President of the
Eastern Railroad, and wife, Miss Stearns,
Mr.: Morrison, and Mr.. Eustis Hubbard.
-BOst0p Globe. Non. 27
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS.

"A landslide took place on Rattlesnake
Mountain, in Wentworth, n. H., recently,
which swept off trees two feet in diameter.
The sound was heard several miles, and
resembled an earthquake.
The recorder of the Dalles, Washing.
ton Territory, having, the other day, ex.
pressed the opinion that Chinawoman
who, with others, had been arraigned and
brought before him, was somewhat to
blame, her "liege lord " blandly remarked
that if the recorder would permit, he 0he
CelestiaD would take his wife into The adj
joining room and kill her.
The St. Johns IN. b. Telegraph re-
while Mrs. Mowatt, of the parish of st.
was driving down hill, she stopped over
when a cloud which she had about her
and was drawn SO tightly as to severely
strangle her. The team could not be
stopped. and her husband, seeing that she
would choke to death, drew his knife and
cut the cloud, but not before it had made
an incision about three inches long in her
neck and SO discolored the surrounding
flesh that it remained purple for several
days after.''
The other morning, as Mr.. E. L.
Freeman, a merchant of Portland, Me-,
was sitting at the breakfast table with his
family, an individual glass butter-plate
sitting On the table " exploded" with a
loud noise. 1t was broken into hundreds
of little square pieces, but how or from
what cause could not be told. It was
- - CO. 4
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
THE EAST.

THE Main Building at the Centennial Elk.
position at Philadelphia was purchased on the
LIST by joint stock company, which designs
to use it for permanent annual exposition.
Price paid, s25O,o0o.
The New York Herald of the LIST announces
that Tweed hid determined to dismiss all
his counsel and let the law take it's course.
The Rhode Island General Assembly con-
vened in special session on the LIST. Gov.
Llppctt communicated the opinion of the
Supreme Court that Corless, one of the Pres
idential Electors-elect, was ineligible by rea-
son of being member of the United States
Centennial Commission. Hon. w. D. Slater
was elected to fill the vacancy, receiving
eighty-one votes to nineteen for e. r. Cut
Ter, Democratic candidate.
IT was reported in New York on the I'd
that Secretary Robson had recovered the
full amount of the s2,0OO,OOO which it was
said he had lost in the advance made to Jay
Cooke Il Co. as Government fiscal agents,
just before the panic of 1878.
The monument of the printers of the
United States to Horace Greeley bronze
hust-was formally placed over his tomb in
Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, N. Y, on
the 4th, the ceremonies being participated
in by Thurlow Weed, William Cullen
Bryant, and other distinguished printers and
journalists who were the associates and CO.
workers of Mr.. Greeley.
GOLD closed in New York on the 4th, at
l.0sS. The following were the closing quo.
tations for produce: No 2 Chicago Spring
Wheat, New sl.3o@13l; No. 2 Milwaukee,
New $1.s2@1.321s; Oats, Western Mixed
and State, 33@4sc; Corn, Western Mixed,
55@5sc; Pork, Mess, $500; Lard, 1oaSc;
Flour, good to choice, s5.6O@5.7O; White
Wheat Extra, $5.75@675. Cattle, s@1Ohc
for good 10 extra. Hogs, live, $5.S715@6 10
Sheep, 41@5Ac.
AT East Liberty, Pa, on the 4th, cattle
brought: Best, s5.OO@5.25; medium, s4.5l
CATS; common, $4.OO@425. Hogs sold
Workers, $530@5.5O; Philadelphia, $500
5.s5 Sheep brought s4oo@525, according
to quality,
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14

1t is related of the late Cardinal Anto-
nelli, as one of his most admirable traits,
that even when most overwhelmed with
business and the cares of Church and
State, ne never omitted for one single day
to visit his mother, for whom he enter
tanned the most filial affection.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL.

WHEN the Senate was called to order on
the 4th the new members were sworn in, and the
two from Colorado drew for their respective
terms, Cnaffee scouting the long term and Teller
the short one. Aresolution was submi tied by Mr.
Edmunds, and ordered printed ms ructlng the
whether, at the recent election, the Hight
of any citizen to vote has been denied o.
abridged in South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia
to the s' ssSy or Of soFf &isc sns 'ss
joint resolution was offered by Mr.. ingalls,, aud
ordered printed, recommending that a convention
be held at Columbus Ohio, in May next, to re.
States: The opening Of the session in the House
was witnessed by an immense concourse Of spec
tators. The Speakers chair was draped in
sp aker Kerr. The roll call showed 2is members
present, The number on the roll being s58
A rsolntion was offered to proceed to
up the credentials of the member elect ON Col
orado. and insisted upon his ght to have his name
Rlac on tue roll 50 that he might par ticipate in
Clerk decided tina. the resolution to proceed to
the election Of Speaker took precedence over re-
eeiying the credentials; an appeal was taken and
a On the to the
sylyania, received le1 votes; James A. Gar
field field; of Ohio eighty-tT9; Williams Of Wis;
edging his thanks for the honor conferred
upon him, and giving an assurance that he should
endeavor to discharge the duties devolving upon
him in an absolutely fair and impartial manner,
Mr.. Randall took the oath Of Office as Speaker.
Several new members were sworn in, objection
being made TO Messrs. Buttz, of South Carolina,
and Bedford, Of Colorado. A resolution was Of
fered, debated and adopted-14a 10 9s-referring
the creden ials Of he Colorado member to
the Judiciary Committee; fife n Democrats voted
Ths Question u.s. to the admisss sa''v Of
Mr.. B;Ittz was referred to the Committee on
Elections. A resolution was adopted-1a6 10 IS
for the appointment Of three select commit ees -
one of fifteen members. to proceed to Louisiana,
one of six members, to proceed to Florida, and
one Of nine, to proceed to South Caroliua, to in
ve-tigate the action of the Returning or Canvass
ing Boards, a. to the recent elect. ms in those
States. The Sou Carolina Committee was an
bounced as follows: Messrs Sayler, Abbott
Stenger. Eden. Jones (Ky.), Phillips (Mo.),
Banks, Lapham and Lawrence.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14

old Mother Wilson, who has kept a
fruit stand in front Of the Academy of
Music, New Orleans, for many We ars, has
returned to her place from the Georgia
fever districts She has voluntarily
pursed yellow.fever patients In every cpl
dsmie since 1857.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
SOUTH CARoLrNA.

The Democratic mouse took peaceable
possession of the State legislative Hall on
the S0th ult, at eleven o'clock. The Re.
publican Houss entered the hall 1t noon.
6vtk speaker occupied tie stand, Waaaage
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
canvassed, and that one Of the pen,h,,o.n.

canvassed, and that one Of the Republicans
is ineligible, being Federal oficeholder.
The entire military force under Gen.
Crook left Fort Reno, on the morning of the
sd, FOR the junction Of Little Powder River
with Powder River, where they expected to
strike the hostile Sioux. The latest infor-
nation was to the effect that Sitting Bull
had about 400 lodges, and Crazy Horse sew
enty-equivalent to fighting force of nearly
1900.
In Chicago, on the 18th, spr1ng wheat No.
2, closed at s1.17@1.17sSc cash. Cash corn
closed at 45c for No. 2; cash oats No. asold
at ssK@34c; January options sold at
s4]tc; Barley, No. 2, e7@67 c; Rye,
No. 2, 71@72c. Cash mess pork New
closed At s16.oo@leyo5; Lard, $e.es1<@
9.95. Good to choice beeves brought s4.25
@5OO; medium grades, $s50@4.0O; butchers
stock 81. 75@3.30; stock cattle, etc., $3.50
@s.so. Hogs brought s5.75@e1o for good
to choice. Sheep sold at s. 5O@45O for good
to choice.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14

No. acres OF land, exclusive of town
and city lots. ........... ......... 14S9J,2 :,
70. acres improved .............. 2.,si, IS,
10. acres unimproved ........ 1u,Sl7 2i,,
value of lands, exclusive Of struc.
lures and other improvements. -. $0A63O ~ 10
craze value OF land per acre :. & g.
.aue of Improvements on lands. 9,121, Ar T.
alne of lands other than town and
city, including all improv ements. 49, 81 I,
vcrage value OF land, including all
improvements -. .......... rs
alue of iown and city lots, exclus-
i've of improvements ......... a2,5542o
.alue of improvements on town
aud city lots ...........,..... 17,as7,5 0
.'alue OF town and city lots includ-
ing ali imp on ements .......... b6,6s5, 56S
eausIzsd. ............ 49,. sra 3s7. 069 ca
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
FROM WASHINGTON.

A WASHINGTON dispatch of the 3Oth ult
says the resignation of w. F. Clarke, Chief
Of the Customs Bureau of the Treasury De-
partment, had been requested, rendered and
accepted.
The public debt statement for November,
published on the LIST inst, shows the follow
ing: Coin bonds outstanding, 81, 697 1926, 100;
total debt, s., s21 ,6s5, 1884; cash in Treasury,
2,349, 6S6; debt less cash in the Treasury,
81 OS9, 336, 19s; increase during November,
$457, 1862.
A WASHINGTON special of the I'd states
that, in an Interview on that dav, President
Grant said he did not apprehend any diff
Guilty over the settlement of the Presidential
question.
A WASHINGTON telegram of the I'd says it
was believed by the Cabinet that there was
then no necessity for any additional official
action by the Government relative to South
Carolina affairs. A dispatch was sent to
Gen. Kruger announcing that his explana-
ton of the action of the mill airy on the 2Sth
ult. was satisfactory, and that his course
was fully approved.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14

was III Bottoms Office on the 18th, and saw
Dukes put his mark to the affidavit that was
read to him.
Before the Board of Canvassers on the
2d-which was the last day for the intro
duction of testimony-each side filed speci-
hcations of contest in several counties, and
made replications to charges in certain
other counties. With regard to the county
of Manatee. which is almost wholly Demo-
cratic, the Republicans asked that it
be thrown out because the election
was irregular, owing to the resig-
nation of the Clerk of the
County, by law the registering officer, a
week before the election, and because of
which fact many voters. not believing an
election would be held without q clerk, did
net 20 to tie polls. The Democrats asked
that the returns be counted, as the voters
exhausted their resources in trying to vote
lawfully, and recited that hundreds of voters
were kept from voting, as only those on the
registry list Of former years felt the right 10
vote: The Democratic managers raised
point as to the eligibility of Humphreys,
Republican candidate for Elector, who was
appointed Shipping Master at Pensacola
some time ago, and held that position when
the election came of. The official returns
from Dade County were received and an
nounced by the Chairman of the Returning
Board as being nine for Hayes and five for
Tilcen.
The morning of the 4th was consumed
principally with the presentation before the
Board of the general argument of the Dem
ocrats. The Republicans offered no general
argument, but spent the day in Offering new
affidavi's and testimony HUMPHREYS, Re-
publican candidate for Elector, who was re-
ported to be ineligible to an Electorship, as
he was Shipping Master at Pensacola,
came before the Board and swore that he re.
signed in October, ana that his resignation
was accepted a week before the election.