davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
A Spider Captures a Mouse.

The Hartford Courant of Monday tells
the following: "a few days ago a gen.
tleman in the west part of the city dis
covered mouse in the corner of his eel
lar, aud noticed that it was struggling to
escape from some restraint. Examina-
tion showed that one of the hind legs
of the little animal was held quite firm
ly by several fibres of spiders web at
tached to piece of hose suspended
above. This leg was drawn up from the
bottom OF the cellar, and with the other
three legs the animal was scratching to
free himself The spider-not a very
large one-was busy in multiplying the
fastenings and in making everything
more secure. The gentleman took pre-
cautions to leave the animal and insect
undisturbed, and watched the progress of
this curious exhibition of engineering.
The next day the spider had extended
its web to the other legs of the mouse,
which was alive, but much weakened,
possibly from the bite of the insect. Fin
ally the mouse died. The engineering
progressed until the spider had actually
raised the mouse nearly an inch from
the cellar bottom, and was resting from
its labors and commencing a feast upon
the captured rodent. On Saturday, dur
ing the absence of the gentleman from
home some accident befel the works of
the little engineer, and the sustaining
webs were broken During the opera
tions of the spider several of the neigh
bors called in to watch the performances
of the industrious insects. Several re-
membered reading an account of SINH
lar capture by a spider in newspaper,
but they did not then believe the story
This illustration and experience were
undoubtedly given them to show how
unjust they had been, and to teach them
TO rely with more confidence upon wha
the truly good newspaper tells them.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
SELLING HAY IN RICHMoND.-Ths

SELLING HAY IN RICHMoND.-The
worst boy is supposed to live in Rich
mond, Virginia. He directed colored
hay man to empty his two-ton load in
the backyard of an old lady who was
deaf. He claimed that the old lady was
his mother-in- law. The load of hay was
emptied in the backyard, and when the
driver came to the front door to ask the
old lady for his pay she looked upon
him with visage like a thunder cloud
She called him an impostor, and accused
him of imposing upon an old and lonely
female. He showed her the load of hay
in her backyard. She told him to take
it away, and remarked that darkies were
bigger fools now than ever. The darkey
worked two hours, got his load back on
his cart, and soliloquized thusly: "Nig-
gers is called fools. / b'lieve they are
in giner'l; but ef a man or boy eber
catch dis hay goin' out'n dis cart before
de backabilities is put down, den dis
niger gwine to 'vaporate."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22


The Boston Globe thinks il has dis
covered the champion fast boy. Sever
al years ago a wealthy citizen of Boston
bought one of the finest lots in Forest
Hills cemetery, and inclosed it with
granite curbing and steps leading to the
entrance. Upon dying, the body was
inferred in the lot, which, with the
general estate, became the property of
an only son. The son became addicted
to gambling, fast horses, &c., and in q
comparatively short time his wealth
disappeared. Finally he sold the bur-
ial lot to a stranger, and caused the
bones of his father to be removed to one
of the S25 single graves.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
4 Texas Duel Between Three Men
ON One Side and Four on the
Other-The Party of Four
Exterminated.

The Waco Examiner gives the story
of the frightful affair already referred TO
In the kilograms. Messrs. George Rec
tor and Spencer Grand, who returned
Sunday from Kimball, Bosqne County,
give Us the following particulars of
terrible duel which took place Friday
morning on the bank of the Brazos Riv
er, opposite the town mentioned. A
party composed of Walter Turner, Ed.
Brown and-Thompson, from kauf-
man County, had been in that locality
several days with race horses. On
Thursday last Frank and Lacy Robin
son, Taylor Campbell and Wiley Nor
man, all of Hill County, went to the
camp of the Kaufman County men and
got into dispute with them about po-
ny race, which resulted in a fist fight
The parties agreed to meet the next day
and settle the thing in a more satisfacto-
ry manner So at 10 o'clock on Friday
morning the Hill County men took a
stand at the place agreed upon, in readi-
ness for action. They had not waited
long when the other party rode toward
them. The men were all armed with
ix-shooters except Turner, who carried
a needle carbIne When the parties had
approached within twenty yards of each
other, Taylor Campbell fired at Turner
and the battle commenced. Turner
leaped from his horse and fired three
shots with his terrible carbine. Tht
first shot went crashing through Camp
bells brain, the second caused the in
slant death of Frank Robinson, and tn.
last shot mortally wounded Lacy Robin
son; by this time ball from Thompson
revolver had passed through poor Nor
mans breast, boy aged seventeen
years, and all of the Hill County part
shots were fred altogether. More thai
half of the shots were by the Hill
County party, but strange to say, none G
the Kaufman County men were in tn
least hurt. Campbell and Frank Robin
son each fired FIVE shots; Norman an
Lacy Robinson also fired, but the onl
damage they did was to kill Turner
, horse. The surviving party mounte
horses and fed the country.
hundred men started in pursuit. Bot
the Robinsons leave families. Campbe
, and Norman are ali boys, none of thel
, being more than nineteen or twent
. years of age.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
Joaquin Miller Il Bore.



Quite another person was fitting about
here the other day, and may be still for
aught know. The person was Joaquin
Miller, the Bard of the Sierras, as he
has been dubbed. Miller is poet un-
questionably, and probably possessed of
common sense, if he saw fit to use it
The trouble with him is he is consumed
by a passion for notoriety, and is inces-
sanity striving to make himself talked
about. The consequence is he is forever
trying to appear odd, and arrest atten-
tion, which renders him supreme
bore. He is 30 full Of affectations and
tells so many stories that nobody can
know when he is genuine or truthful.
His chief 1eslre is to be esteemed
pure genius, which he is far from being,
One of his assumptions is that he has
never read anything to speak of, and yet
every one of his compositions show that
he has been saturated with Byron, Ten
nyson, Browning, and other poets. Fre
quently he does little more than echo
them. Another assumption is that he
was with William Walker in Nicaragua
Those who ought to know and have
means of knowing say that he never saw
"the gray-eyed man of destiny" He is
very fond of calling himself an Indian,
too, and of telling of his life with the
Modocs. He may have been with them
but there are many who doubt it. 1t il
fair to question any of his statements, sc
much must be allowed for them. All hi,
long hair, red shirt and trousers in boots
performance in England was deliberately
adopted as a means ofself advertising.
He IS a very Snowman in this regard
He now dresses like other civilized men
for he has found that such Transparent
tomfoolery doesn't "pay" in this coun
try. Still, he plays all sorts of odditie
in society, and wherever he goes, causing
sensible persons to avoid him. The mo
: tive Of his countless affectations is t
3 convey the impression that he is a wild
3 undisciplined fellow, opposed to- form
e and conventionalities.
o Good -natured, kind hearted and wei
!. endowed he seems to be, and it il strane
3 that he has not intelligence enough I
J, lay aside his shallow tricks and be him
e self. The dullest of his acquaintance
found him out long ago
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
The Man Who Loved Jim Fisk's
Widow.

The man is in his grave now, and it
can do no harm to tell the story of his
very remarkable infatua alton for the wild
ow of Jim Fisk-Mrs. Lucy Fisk. He
wanted to marry her, and, had his situa-
ton been other than what it was, prob
ably Mrs. Fisk would have been Mrs.
B. instead. During the early attentions
he paid her, somebody informed the
widow that her admirer had a wife al
ready living, and when she confronted
him with the story he admitted it freely.
From that moment they met only as ac-
quaintances but the change in her de-
meanor rendered the man frantic. He
had been separated from his lawful wife
for several years by mutual agreement.
He was rich, and his wife received a
separate but liberal support. From this
moment he was crazy for divorce A
lawyers services were secured and the
necessary papers prepared. Through a
third party he proposed TO his wife to
pay her very handsome sum of money
If she would offer no opposition to his
suit. The wife declined to make the ar
rangement, and the divorce suit was
prosecuted with renewed vigor. She
had heard of his infatuation of Jim
Fisk's widow, and was maddened by the
thought of his desiring another wife. Sc
she prepared to defend the case quite as
vigorously, and was ready to call the
widow of Fisk as one of her witnesses
when the infatuated husband was pros.
trated by sickness, which ended in his
death. He had lived for months at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, and died and was
buried from there. The offended wife
took charge of his effects, but refused tt
attend the funeral. She is now enjoy
ing his property in fashionable home
close by Grammercy Park, and thi
summer has been visitor to the ancien
shades of Nantucket.-[N. Y. CORES
pondent Chicago Tribune.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
NUMBER "a.
Is Donaldson Dead.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Is Donaldson, the balloonist, really
dead? Such is the question under de-
bate among those cognizant of the Pro-
fessor's true character and selfish incli-
nations and it is but just to affirm that
a large majority of persons knowing the
man, give it to be their deliberate opin-
ion that although the body of the un-
fortunate reporter, his companion on his
presumptively fatal voyage, was found
and identified, and his note book, ab-
ruptly closed, discovered on the corpse.
Donaldson himself is still alive, and
dwelling in obscurity beneath an assum-
Barnum invented, as an attraction to his
show, marriage in mid-air with the
balloon. carrying the bridal party, be-
meath Donaldson's management. On
that occasion the number of @rial voy-
ayers seriously incommoded the aro-
naut, who, in anticipation of disaster,
seriously informed them that in the
event of danger to his own life would
be compelled to toss them one by one
out of the basket rather than have them
all perish. Now, neither has the corpse
of Donaldson nor the faintest vestige OF
his balloon been discovered, and it is i'm.
possible that all traces should have per
ished, when the body of the Journalist
was found in good preservation so short
ly after the disaster. AS clear demon
stration of the Professor being in tht
land of living, it can be proven that 1
lady to whom he is believed to hav,
been betrothed, incautiously admitted
receipt of letters from Donaldson lon,
after the alleged occurrence of the bal
loon catastrophe. Consequently it i
fair to presume that to insure his owl
safety during a moment of danger h
flung the reporter overheard, reache
terra frma in safety, and, after destroy
ing his balloon, is hiding himself I
avoid the penalty of his caime.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
Col. HOLSTERS Almond Orchard.

II is estimated that Colonel Hollis
ter's almond orchard will, this year,
yield crop three times as great as that
of last season. The crop of 1875
amounted to 1900 pounds. This treb-
led will give the Colonel, for this years
yield, 81, 900 pounds, or 253 tons. AT
sixteen cents per pound, or $3.50 pei
ton, this will give a gross return of $S,.
100, and calculating on the basis OF
former years, will net the owner $6,120
When we remember that this orchard
has only commenced to yield, the profits
hereafter can scarcely be calculated
surely, within the next FIVE years, they
will run over $4,000.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
WHAT Is
VEGETINE?

1t is compound extracted from
barks, roots and herbs. 1t is Natures
Remedy. 1t is perfectly harmless from
any bad effect upon the system. 1t is
nourishing and strengthing. 1t acts di-
rectly upon the blood. 1t quiets the
nervous system. 1t gives you good sweet
sleep at night. 1t is panacea for our
aged fathers and mothers. for it gives
them strength, quiets their nerves, and
gives them Natures sweet sleep,-as has
been proved by many an aged person.
1t is the great Blood Purifier. It is a
soothing remedy for our children. 1t
has relieved and cured thousands, It is
very pleasant to take; every child likes
it. 1t relieves and cures all diseases ori-
ginating from impure blood. Try the
vEGETINE. Give it fair trial for your
complaints; then you will say to your
friend, neighbor and acquaintance. "Try
it; ithas cured me-"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

In the days when the city of Rich
mond was small town and had but one
church, lived there Parson Buchanan,
the Episcopalian, and Parson Blair, the
Presbyterian. They occupied the pull
pit an alternate Sundays, and were
sworn friends. They were both witty
and far from ascetic, for they went to
balls, and Parson Buchanan was said to
be in the minuet most stately and ex-
hiliarating vision. Parson Blair was
wont to aver that there was not such an
other dancer in the world. Parson
Buchanan's best friend was Jacquelin
Amber, Treasurer of Virginia, and
with one of the Amber daughters the
good man is reported to have been very
much in love-so quantity and unselfsh-
ly in love that he twice performed the
wedding ceremony for her, she having
married again on the death of her first
husband. The parson left his hand.
some estate to Mr.. Ambler's daughter
and their grand children have Just pres.
ented portrait Of him TO the State Ii.
brary.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
NIX0S'S RISE FROMTHE GRAVE.
An Egyptian Juggler Astonishing
the Natives of South Carolina.

From the Charleston Journal of Commercs.l |
Prof. Nixon had advertised that he |
would allow himself to be placed in a
coffin, screwed down, and buried in a |
grave six feet deep. He was to remain
for one hour and half, and then rise
from the grave through the soil. The
grave was dug in Belvldere, and be said
that if he failed he hoped the crowd
would be large enough to insure re-
spectacle legacy to his wife and chill
dren. Upon approaching the grave
Nixon was seen on platform perform
ing juggling tricks. He was dressed in
bright yellow coat, pink trowers
Short, and about II brogans. Mr..
Nixon claims to be an Egyptian. Ifthe
Egyptians ordinarily dress in that cost
ume, Moses was justified in getting out
of the country at all hazards. An Egyp-
tian task master with a brogan like Nix
on's must have been able to administer
a fearful kick. Nixon soon approached
the grave, aid made earnest appeals to
the crowd to get away from it. The
coffin was brought forward, and COM
mittee was selected to see that there was
no deception. Nixon now pulled off
his shoes and stood on the coffin, hold
ing in each hand a vial His voice as
sumed unnatural solemnity. He said
that he wanted silence for while; that
this was life and death matter; his
voice became husky, and perspiration
began to start upon his brow. He paus-
ed moment. A look of grave deter
mination settled upon his face, and with
tremulous sigh he hastily swallowed
the contents of the vial. In few min
utes his face assumed dea.hly pallor
and dark rims appeared beneath his eyes
The spectators thought he was going tc
die He lay in the coffin and the lid
was screwed down. The coffin was rap
idly lowered into the grave, and the
, earth shoveled in. The excitement in
, creased as the time for which the
Professor was to remain under ground
(thirty minutes) passed. At twenty
eight minutes the excitement communi
Gated itselfto the judges, and they issued
orders for the horn to be blown, which
= was to summon the buried man forth
AS the first note of the instrument runs
out the assembly became frantic. Sool
; a scream rose as the earth began t,
f crack, and Nixon came up into sigh
!. with load of DIRT on his head. Then
, howl was caused by the discovery tha
I the Professors appearance had beel
t made through a neatly covered chamber
which was diyided by only a thin parti
U tion from the head of the grave. IT
n had burst the head out of the coffir
q crept into the shaft, and emerged from
o at the sound of the horn. He bowe
o his thanks and withdrew.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

Edward S. Stokes still seems very
much detected because he has to herd
with the Common trash" of criminals.
The authorities have allowed him to
start his moustache and imperial, in
view of the near approach of the expi-
ration eff his sentence. During the pro-
gress of a meal the prisoner, who sits on
the fifth row of seats from the door of
the dining-room, bends low over his
plate, his effort apparently being to hide
himself from the curiosity of the pub
lie. He trains with the regular prison.
ers, and is one of the six hundred for
whom the State in these hard times can
find no employment.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
A Somnambulist in the Pulpit.

Rev. DR.. Shermer, pastor of the
Methodist Protestant Church, Broad
way and Monument street, was in the
midst of his sermon last Sunday night,
when rather strange interruption oc-
CURED. A little girl about ten years
old .arose from her seat in pew beside
her mother and walked up the aisle and
into the pulpit, passing behind the
preacher. From the pulpit platform
she stepped on chair, the back of
which was placedl against the pulpit
platform, and from the chair on to the
top of the communion table, marble
oblong slab several feet long, in front of
the pulpit. She walked the length of
the table, and seemed just about to step
or fall to the floor when she was caught
by member of the church who came
forward. He lifted her down, when she
sank on the floor She was Immediately
surrounded by the pastor, her mother
and other friends, who found that she
was sound asleep. She did not awake
until after her mother had removed her
to the pew from which she had started
on her peregrinations. She said she
dreamed she was in the pulpit. Or
Shermer says he thought she was some
child unused to the place who wanted a
drink of water from the pitcher usually
placed at hand for the preacher. He
noticed that her steps were light and
noiseless, and her eyes fixed, but he die
not suspect she was walking in her sleeE
until she passed in front of him on tn,
communion table. 1t is stated that tn,
child is not used to sleep walking, thi
being her first performance Baltimor,
Snp
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

On the 23d of August the King of
Sweden presented Christine Nilsson
with the Swedish civil order, "Pour lie
Merite." The decoration consists of q
gold medal, with the inscription, "In
sui memoriam," surmounted by royal
crown rickly set with brilliants. On
the 26th Nilsson appeared for the first
time after her indisposition in "Faust,n
at the Stora Theater, and her reception
is described in the Swedish papers as
having been most enthusiastic.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22
An Incident Of the Hanging Of John
Brown.
[From the Phlladelphia Bulletin.l

John Brown died death to which the
law signed him, and the risk of which
he took in his hand when he struck his
mad blow for human freedom. Among
the guards who kept the people from
seeing how a man could die for princi-
pie, and in the same company of
Richmond regiment, were the son of
Governor Wise and young actor who
hastily left theater where he had been
playing, to witness Browns death, whose
name was John Wilkes Booth. John
Brown died on December 2, 1859, and a
little more than two years later Governor
Wise was flying from Roanoke Island
before the victorious Burnside, while his
son lay dead upon the field; and still
three years later, Booth, who had guard
ed John Brown to his death, had again
fed from the theater which he had
made the crowning scene of Slavery's
death struggle, to die the death of a
wild beast at bay. This coincidence in
Booths history we do not remember to
have seen noted, and it may be appro-
priately referred to in connection with
the death of Virginia's Ex-Governor.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

They tell story of an old business
man of this city, who recently found
himselfcorlered financially, and desired
to go into bankruptcy. He applied to a
lawyer to know how much it would cost
to have the papers made out and the bu-
siness put through. He was told that
the expense would be about $10O, and
appearing to be satisfied with the price,
he told the lawyer to go ahead. The
lawyer followed the Instructions, and
when the work was done, called for his
little 500. "All right" said the bank
rupt, "you can put your claim right. in
with the others.'- [Springiield Union.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

On Saturday afternoon David S.
Thomas, an eronsut of daring and re-
sources who learned the ropes with
Donaldson, had very narrow escape
with his life and those of three passen-
gers, over New Haven Green. The
balloon collapsed against an insurance
building, and the car hung suspended
by slender spikes sixty feet above the
sidewalk. BY the coolness Of Thomas
all were saved. Thomas was formerly
Barnum's "prsss agent"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

When a Burlington Democrat comes
home very late now he doesn't get his
pillow pounded up to suit before his
wife sits bolt upright in bed. "M'f!
m'ff! m'ffl What does smell 80? M'f
My goodness, if you haven't been out
pelting Republican procession again.
Now climb right out of this bed and
wash your hands this minute! Ugh
how I do hate politics!'-[ Hawkeye.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

Lille White, who had been reported d
as attempting to commit suicide, has a
card in the Virginia City Chronicle,
saying: "While fully realizing the
vanities of this world, am in no hurry
for another, - Il might be case Of get
ting ont Of the frying pan into the Gre" "
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-22

At home as abroad, says n writer in
the London World, John Bright main
tains that scrupulous neatness Of apparel
proper to the Society of Friends; not
the costume or uniform of sect, be it
we'll understood, but the quiet. severe
dress of an English gentleman. The
firm, well-knit figure, the bright blue
eye, the leonine head with its name of
snowy locks, are too we'll known in the
Senate to require description.