davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
CATS AT A FIRE.
The Story Told by the Servant Girls--Be-
havIOr of the Felines.

havIOr of the Felines.
The servant girls who escaped from
the Southern Hotel, St. Louis, while it
was in flames, tell a singular story about
their premonition of a fearful disaster.
The girls occupied three different rooms
ON the sixth story, and about eleven
o'clock, after they had all retired and
most of them were asleep, cat came,
scratched against the doors and moaned
pitifully. As cat had never before
been seen in that part of the house many
of the girls were frightened.
Lizzie Leary, girl strongly super
stitious in her inclinations, woke up the
other inmates of the room in which she
slept, and told them there was cat at
the door acting strangely, and she could
not drive it away. She expressed be-
lief that it was the sign of something
terrible going to happen, at which the
other girls laughed and ridiculed her.
When they opened the door the cat
mewed but refused to come in, and in a
moment retreated down the hall as if
badly frightened.
About twelve o'clock all the girls in
that room we're awakened by the noise
of cats at the door. On opening the door
| they discovered four felines crouching
against and scratching the wall, and
moaning low, as if in terror. They pro-
cured a broom and endeavored to drive
the disturbers down the hall toward the
stairway leading to the floors below, but
they refused to go in that direction.
While making the effort to drive them
away the door of the adjoining room,
where the other girls slept, was opened,
whereupon the cats made frantic rush
into the room, flew under the beds,
where they crouched together. By this
time dozen of the girls we're awake and
highly excited over the strange action OF
the cats.
The cats refused to move from their
position under the bed, neither blows
nor persuasive calls having any effect on
them. All the cats were recognized as
those belonging in the cellars and on the
lower floors, where they were used as
mousers, and their sudden advent to the
sixth floor, together with their unac.
countable actions, very naturally aroused
the fears OF the servants, and the more
nervous ones could hardly be persuaded
to retire to bed again. 1t was concluded
to allow the cats to remain under the
beds, and in half hour quiet was agair
restored. When the alarm of fire came
the cats were still under the bed crouch
ing, and there they staid until the girls
were rescued by the memorable courage
of Michael Hester.
1t is said that all the girls now have {
firm belief that the visit of the cats was
a warning of impending danger, and tina
they were sent there by some mysteriou
agency to give timely premonition
The proper theory, doubtless, is tha
occupying that part of the lower build
ing where the fire first started, and wher
it spread and groaned and cracked in
smothered way, perhaps for hours befor
the general alarm was given, the cat
became terror-stricken and sought safet,
by flight to the upper stories. The,
stopped at the servant girls rooms be
cause that was the highest point tha
could be reached
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
An Oriental Rulers Cruelties.

When the French finally reduced
Constantine, one of the Algerine cities,
in 1848, the palace of Hadj Ahmed ex-
cited general admiration, and the women
of his large harem caused unusual
curiosity and compassion, from the tales
spread of his cruelty to them. He
sprang from wealthy family of the
place, and had been khalifa under the
Bey Brahamel- Rabbi, but exciting the
jealousy of that ruler, fled to Algiers
There he won the goodwill of the pasha,
and in 1926 became himself bey of Con
stantine.
His cruelties were the theme of every
tongue. A summer-house used to be
shown in his garden where he was ac-
customed to sit and smoke, while his
harem, all attired in their finest array,
passed one by one before him. They
were required to keep their eyes cast
down, their arms folded across their
breast in modest attitude. One day
one of these women, as she passed
through the garden, plucked an orange.
The Hadi Ahmed ordered her hand to be
nailed up to the tree.
One of his four wives was an italian
girl named Aicha, carried off, when q
child, with her brother. She was a
queenly young woman, and, after the
French occupation, was instructed, and
in time married a French officer. Her
influence had been great with the Hadi
Ahmed, yet when her brother, after ris-
ing to high rank in the army, dis
covered finally that his sister was in the
harem, the Hadi Ahmed put him to
death for daring to ask to see her.
One day some of the women found q
pipe, and, to divert themselves, dressed
one of their number in turban and
robes, and set her up to smoke while
they waited upon her. Hadi Ahmed
burst in upon this childish scene, tore
his mock representative from her seat Of
honor, had her mouth sewed up az 9
punishment for daring to place his pipe
within it, and ordered her to be put tc
death.
From time to time, during his rule
two men would be seen at night, one
bearing to the height overlooking the
valley of the Roumel long box open al
each end, the other a white sack from
which smothered means escaped. Halt
ing at three stones, the box was PLACED
on the middle one, the sack slipped in
one end of the box raised, and the sacB
shot out down aprecipice of six hundred
feet. Some hours later men approached
the sack on the rocky bank of the river
opened it, took out woman's corpse
and conveyed it to the grave.
This monster lived many years aftel
his overthrow, and died an object o
| horror.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
German Cremation.

1t appears to be fact that the Ger.
man society for the introduction of Gre
nation has paid the sum of fifteen thou
sand marks to the town of Gotha to COW
er the necessary expenses of erecting a
cremation apparatus. Strict regulations
have also been published by the police,
ordering the examination by competent
medical officers of all bodies submitted
to be burned, so as to prevent cremation
in all cases where the causes of death
have not been properly ascertained. In
order to still further guard against
abuse, bodies sent to Gotha from abroad
are to be subjected to the same, or even
more stringent, rules before being re-
ceived for the operation. At first, no
corpse is to be burned unless the deceas-
ed had expressed wish to that effect,
and the relatives. have approved.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07

Samuel Wheeler is farmer in small
way in the Berkshire hills, in Massachu-
sets. Some two or three weeks ago,
while at work on his farm, he was ap-
preached by well-dressed, genteel and
suave stranger, who introduced himself
as an attorney from Albany county.
" Your name is Wheeler" says the sat
torney." eyes" was the response.
Then the illegal light went on to tell
him that Amos Burton, of New Scotland,
had died less than year ago, and LETT
behind him two magnificent farms III
New Scotland, valued at $25, 900 each,
which were awaiting the coming forward
of the next of kin to claim them. The
attorney" in his off-hand, persuasive
way, went on to show the hitherto con-
tented tiller of the Massachusetts soil,
that he, and he only, was the next OF
kin, and by the laws of right as well as
consanguinity was entitled to the posses
sion of the lordly estate.
The bait took. Although astonished
by his unexpected good fortune at first,
visions of life as a landed proprietor on
q large scale succeeded, and Wheeler ca
gerry dSK6u the uSudl1S tS W WllOil "hA
how he could get the necessary informa-
ton so as to take immediate possession.
The little preliminary of a fee must first
be paid for the trouble the attorney had
taken to apprise him of his good fortune,
for expenses incurred, and the 800 de-
manded was quickly handed over.
"Write to the surrogate at Albany, "
was the injunction of the attorney, "
and he will furnish full particulars, or
you may call at his Office and examine
his records for yourself" With that the
attorney departed, promising to return
in few days with additional proof The
few days passed, no attorney ap-
peared, and Wheeler, preferring to salts
fly himself rather than write, extracted
more money from his hard earnings, and
came to Albany, only to find that he had
been duped. His chagrin and mortified
tion at learning that he had been victim
lied was great, but he departed much
wiser than he entered, and will not in
future look, as next of kin, for the estate
of persons whom he had never heard OF
before.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
FerOciOus Attack on a Paymaster.

One of the most desperate daylight
attacks on record was made in Scranton,
Pa, few weeks ago, by pair of mask
ed robbers, upon Paymaster Bessell, of
the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
railroad company, and his assistant,
Captain CARING, while on their way to
pay the employees at the Cayuga and
Brisbin collieries. The murderous af-
fair occurred within a stones throw Of
the Brisbin mine, at short distance
from the main road, between Hyde Park
and Providence, almost in the midst of a
thickly populated settlement, and shortly
after one o'clock in the afternoon. Pay
master j. H. Bessell and Captain W. H.
CARING were driving leisurely along, in
buggy in which they had the money
for the men, amountin G to twelve thou
sand dollars, and on arriving at point
of the road which is crossed by the rail-
way, and guarded 10y a gate ON each side
of the track, they halted for the purpose
of Mr.. CARING getting ont and opening
the gates that they might pass through.
The captain was just in the act of re-
moving the lap-robe from his knees,
when he and his companion were startled
by the sudden appearance of two masked
robbers, who had been crouching by the
roadside in wait for them, and now
sprang up and pointed pistols at their
heads. The men were closely masked
with something that completed ly covered
their faces, so that it was impossible to
get even a glimpse of their features.
They were quite close to the buggy,
being no more than two yards from the
horses head, and their appearance fairly
unnerved the paymaster and his assist
ant for a moment. They made no de-
mand, and it was evident from their de-
termined demeanor that it was their in
tention to murder and rob the men in
charge of the miners pay. In less time
than it takes to tell it, one of them dis
charged his revolver at Captain Carvings
head, which, fortunately, was inclined
backward, owing to the position he had
taken to get out of the buggy. The bull
let glanced along his left cheek, and
plowed its way through the skin of the
temple, leaving a CHASTITY mark, but
fortunately going whistling harmlessly
beyond its intended victim. Such a sud-
den shock, thrilling situation and mar
row escape from instant death, fairly
stunned the captain for the moment,
but summoning up his accustomed cool
ness and courage, he was out Of the
buggy in an instant and he cried to his
companion "Shoot them-shoot them
down I" The horse, frightened by the
report of the assassin's pistol, plunged
forward, making it a difficult matter for
Mr.. Bessell, who was still in the carriage,
to take aim at the assassins, but before
the words were shoken his revolver was
leveled at the highwaymen, at whom he
fired. It was a close struggle. The
murderers were now no further off than
five feet from the buggy in which the
money lay, but it required more than
the heroism of even a highwayman to
approach it under the determined guard
of Paymaster Bessell, who held his
ground firmly and kept firing at the
would-be' e'assassins, who now, seeing they
were foiled, turned and fed in the direc-
ton of Church's Corners.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
ACROSS THE DANUBE,
How the Russians Effected the Passage O
the River,

How the Russians Effected the Passage of
the River.
A special dispatch gives the following
account of the passage of the Russian
troops across the Danube at Simnitza:
Under the willows and tamarisks there
were collected, about six o'clock at night,
boats and men. AT eleven O'Clock they
began to cross. Both during the cross
ing and afterward they suffered seriously
from the fire of two batteries, aud from
rife fire.
One gun standing alone fired with
steadiness and precision and created
some damage, but, although the men
suffered, the boats went and came until
men enough were collected to hold their
own when morning dawned. Still the
Turks made q feeble resistance, for re-
sistance must surely be fseble which can
not prevent 20S boats from passing to
and fro on broad river Dragomiroffs Is
division of the Eighth corps was the first
to cross. The Turks fired the last round
little after one o'clock.
On the Turkish side the bank presents
low cliffs and steep declivities, and be-
hind that more gradual ascents, but al
ways forming perfectly defensive posi-
tions, which were, in fact, only feebly
contested.
On the right of the Russians opposite
Sistova, all day, three battalions of field
artillery, firing slowly, helped to crush the
opposition of the Turks. To the left OF
the landing place, concealed among will
lows, were more batteries, and further
left still, horse artillery. From that
position whole feet of Turkish crafts
was visible. One of them was O war
vessel. Its inactivity was unaccount,
able.
Between one and two o'clock the next
day the first Russian gun was ferried
over on stage supported by two pom
toons, and by that time the column OF
wounded ceased to pass. The character
of the resistance may be estimated by the
fact that so far as known there were only
140 wounded, and giving a fair proper
tion for the killed, it may be said that
the Russians loss was about 200
Though the Russians crossed at Sim.
nitza easily, it has not been so higher uI
the river near Turnu-Magureli, where
their attempt failed. We must therefore
suppose that Simnitza will become the
chief point of passage for other corps
than those originally destined to cross
there. AS matters stand one corps only
the Eighth, will have gained march OF
the Turkish army.
The Russians wisely drew thick vel
around their movement at the las
moment, placing sentries on every road
and suffering no man to pass. They ther
passed higher up the river than was ex
| nected.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
Thoughts for Saturday Night.

Expense of time is the most costly of
all expenses.
AS moth gnaws a garment, SO doth
envy consume man.
To some purpose is that man wise who
is wise at another mans expense.
The hen of our neighbor appears to us
goose, says the Oriental proverb.
The man who can be nothing but seri-
GUS or nothing but merry is but half a
man.
People seldom improve when they
have no other model than themselves to
copy after.
Our natures are like oil, compounds
with everything, yet still we try to swim
upon the top.
A hesitating, tardy, or grim yielding
to the wishes of another, always CRATES
upon loving heart.
The woman who is resolved to be re-
spected can make herself to be so even
amidst an army of soldiers.
Many men profess to hate another, but
no man owns envy as being an enmity fol
no cause but goodness or felicity.
We do not know of how much man is
capable, if he has the will, and to what
point he will rise if he feels free.
There is this of good in real evils-they
deliver us while they last from the petty
despotism of all that were imaginary.
The old saying is expressed with deptl
and significance: "On the pinnacle O
fortune man does not long stand firm"
Who shoots at the midday sun, thougl
he be sure he will never hit his mark, ye
as sure is he that he shall shoot highe
than he who aims at brush
We gain nothing by being with sucl
! as ourselves. We encourage one anothe
, in mediocrity. [ am always longing t
be with men more excellent than myself
, Lamb.
God has made no one absolute. Th
rich depend on the poor, as we'll as th
j poor ON the rich. The world is but
mere magnificent building; all the stone
are gradually cemented together. Thel
Q is no one subsists by himself alone.
Q F'eLthGna.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
Storms.


At night, within my lonely room,
So shelterless and high,
1 dread the storm winds when they come
And sweep the earth and sky;
They seem to shake the feeble wall,
AS with giants arm,
And oft look to see it fall
In desperate alarm.
But if in all the darkened sky
1 see one cleaning star,
1 smile to hear the rough winds try
My confidence to mar;
Or if the moon, so calmly bright,
Between the clouds appears,
Then, though the storm be at its height,
l bid farewell to fears.
Or if by day the storm winds come
And drive the clouds with might,
If for one instant shines the sun,
1 know that all is right.
If still when these are out of sight
1 see the blue of Heaven,
No terror can my soul alright
OF winds and storm clouds driven.
l know then that the storm / dread
Shall have no power to harm,
And that the darkness overspread
Need give me no alarm.
'Tis so Of other storms that come
My spirit to appall,
No evil shall by them be done
While Heaven is seen through all.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
Farmers Needs.

Mind must be the emancipation of the
farmer. Science, intelligence, machin-
ery-these must iberate the white bond
men of the soil from their long slavery.
When [ look back and see what has been
done for the farmer within my brief
memory, am full of hope for the future.
The pillow, under the hand of science, is
become new instrument. The horse
now hoes the corn, digs the potatoes,
mows the grass, rakes the hay, reaps
the wheat and thrashes and winnows it
and every day adds new machinery to
the farmers stock, to supersede the
clumsy implements which once bound
him to his bard and never ending tell.
When farmer begins to use machinery
and study processes of other men, and
to apply his mind TO farming so far as he
can make it take the place Of muscle,
then he illuminates his calling with new
light, and lifts himself into the dignity
of man. If mind once gets the upper
hand it will serve itself and see that the
body is properly cared for. Intelligent
farming is dignifed living. For farm
er who reads and thinks, and studies and
applies, nature will open the storehouses
Of her secrets, and point the way to life
full of dignity and beauty, and grateful
! and improvable leisure, ~ q. Holland
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
The Meek Man a Victor.

There are some meek-faced and ten
der-hearted men in this city of Detroit,
says the Free Press. There is one in par
ticular who owns u house and lot in the
eastern part of the city. Another citi.
zen, whoss face doesn't betray meekn ass,
owns a vacant lot next to him, and few
days ago he wanted to buy the meek-faced
man out and build a factory covering
both lots. The figures were too high,
and he went away feeling mad and re-
vengeful. Coming across a Snowman
who wanted to set up his tent and ex-
hibit wild man and other interesting
specimens Of life and death, he gave him
the free use of the vacant lot Itwas stipu-
lated that hand-organ should be kept
going, bells rung now and then, and il
the wild man uttered wild yells occa-
sionally so much the better. When the
meek-faced citizen saw the tent put up
a tender, forgiving smile crossed his
face, and he made for a printing office.
About the time the Snowman was ready
to open doors to the anxious public the
meek-faced citizen was ready with his
signs and tack-hammer. q
Gentlemen, walk in and see The
great Kickapoo kangaroo from Kalama
ZOO p said the Snowman.
"Tack tack p and up went sign OIL
the fence reading: "Look out for small
pox p A second and third followed
and the meek-faced man was putting III
the fourth when the Snowman closed {
bargain with a truck to move him down
town. He wasn't over fifteen minutes
packing and loading. and when the 10
was clear again the meek-faced either
sat on his door step and mused.
"He who wants to sell out let hin
sell, and I wonder how much aheaC
they are ?"
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
The DethrOned Sultan.

Murad, Turkeys dethroned sultan,
lives, gloomy man, in palace on
Seraglio Point. His mother is constantly
by his side. She tastes his food before
it touches his lips, and she allows no
one to approach him until she knows
the object of the visit. His beautiful
daughter, Blanche, the Circassian, whom
he had reared up to an European educa-
tion in the family of his private physi-
clan, is with him also. As soon as he
was called to the throne he had part of
the harem fitted up for her exclusive
use in q style Of the most luxurious
splendor and expense. Her apartment,
whose establishment cost nearly 100, ,00C
francs, was Just finished as Murad was
| forced to abdicate.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
NO. 81.
Items OF Interest.

The most truthful man ends the day by lying
at night.
Why is an angry man like camel Cause
he's got his back up.
An Indian woman is a squaw therefore an
Indian baby is a squawling.
The Established church in England has an
annual revenue of $36 000,0 900.
People who keep things in apple-pie order, do
not always belong to the upper crust.
In fifteen wears the deposits in English saw
ings banks have amounted to $685., 00O
II is the man who wears white linen clothes
who is obliged to shin up fruit trees for the
ladies.
"Another Cowhiding Affair was the sensa-
tional head line Western editor put over
brief item calling attention to his lost cattle.
The farmer should SOW his P's, keep his US
warm, hive his BIS, remember what he Cs, take
care Of the VS., teach his wife not to T's, pay
all he O's, and take his Els.
Old bachelors will read with subdued joy the
following epitaph on one of their order, written
by himself
At threescore winters end died,
cheeress being, sole and sad;
The nuptial knot never tied
And wished my father never had.
A female called for a Welsh rabbit at a
restaurant. and denounced the waiter because
there was no part of q rabbit in the dish
served. And no later than yesterday" said
the wearied waiter, "there was man in here
who growled because there was a hare in the
butter can't please 'em all, anyway.
The brewers should to Malta go,
The boobies all to Scilly,
The Quakers to the Friendly Isles,
The furriers to Chill.
The little snarling, caroling babes,
That break our nightly rest,
Should be packed off to Babylon,
To Lapland or to Brest
From Spithead cooks go DER to Greece,
And while the miser waits
His passage to the Guinea coast,
Spendthrifts are in the Straits.
Spinsters should to the Needles go,
Wine bibbers to Burgundy,
Commands should lunch at Sandwich Isles,
Ways at the Bay of Fundy.
Bachelors to the United States,
Maids to the Isle of Man,
Let gardeners go to Botany Bay,
And shoeblacks to Japsn.
Thus immigrate and misplaced men
Will then no longer vex us,
And then all who're not provided for
Had better go to Texas
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-07-07
Truths Oueerly Told.

Science is frst-rate piece of furni-
ture for mans upper chamber, if he
has common sense on the ground floor.
Advice is like DOCTORS pills how
easily he gives them--how reluctantly
he takes them, when his turn comes.
Some iniudicious folks, instead of en-
couraging the highly-charged mind and
heart, in blowing off verse and bombast,
would sit on the safety-valye.
Truth gets we'll if she is run over by
locomotive, while error dies Of lock-
jaw il she scratches her finger.