davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
A South African Snake.

We take the following exciting episode
from work called "a Years House
keeping in South Africa 80.
HARDLY this camp keen sportsman
was lately pursuing buck. He had no
dogs except q pet Skye terrier to help in
the chase, nothing but his pony and rife
and a trusty Kafir yet the hard-pressed
buck had to dash into small solitary
patch of the thorny scrub for shelter and
a moments rest. In an instant the
hunter was off his pony, and had sent
the Kafir into the bush to drive out the
buck, that he might have shot the
moment it emerged from the cover. In
stead of the expected buck, however,
I must tell you the story never states
what became of him-came loud cries In
Kafir from the scrub of "Oh, my
mother oh, my father oh, my friends
and relations! I die, I die!" The master,
much astonished, peeped as well as ne
could into The little patch of tangled
briers and bushes, and there he saw his
Kaffir STOPPING motionless beneath low
branch around which was coiled large
and venomous snake.
Tho creature bad struck at the mans
head as he crept beneath, and it's forked
tongue had got firmly embedded in the
Kafir's woolly pate. The wretched
beater dared not stir an inch, he dared
not even put out his hands to free him
self, but there he remained, motionless
and despairing, uttering these loud
shrieks. His master bade him stay per-
fectly still, and taking close aim at the
snakes body fired and blew itin two. He
then, with dexterous jerk, disentangled
the barbed tongue, and flung the qulver-
ing head and neck outside the bushes:
Here comes the only marvellous part OF
the story. "How did he know it was
poisonous snake?" I asked. ooh,
well; !; the little dog ron up to play with
the head, and the snake, Or rather the
half snake, struck out at it, bit it in the
paw and it died in ten minutes.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
The H Big Horn " Heroes.

General Schofeld explains the reason
why the Custer obsequies have been de-
layed until October. A consultation be-
tween him and Mrs. Custer took place,
when they took into consideration
the fact that ut this particular
time many OF the officers of the post
are away on o furlough, and as nearly
all of them were old army friends
of the dead general, it was deemed wise
to postpone the funeral respects due to
the memory of the deceased until some
time in October. This will also give his
old army friends abroad IN opportunity
to participate in the solemn exercises.
This conclusion was made known to the
intimate friends of the family when Mrs.
Custer left West Point for New York.
In the meantime the body will remain
in the vault of the Poughkeepsie ceme-
terry. A dispatch from Leavenworth,
Kansas, says: The bodies of Captain
George w. Yates, Captain Thomas W.
Custer, Lieutenant A. E. Smith, Lieu
tenant James Calhoun and Lieutenant
Donald Mcintosh, of the Seventh cavalry,
who we're killed with General George A.
Custer in the massacre of the Little Big
Horn, on the twenty-ffth of June, 1876,
arrivedfrom Chicago onthemorningtrain,
and were at once taken to Fort Leaven-
worth, where they now repose in the
chapel. They will be buried in the
National cemetery. All the commission
cd officers at this post are to act as pail
bearers, and the soldiers are to act as
the funeral escort.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
New Test of Death.

The importance of having some readi-
ly applied and indisputable test of
the fact of death is apparent, and many
are the processes that have been offered
to determine it. Nevertheless, such q
test appears to be still desideratum-
unless, indeed, we accept that offered
by Kappeler. In course of his research
es on the electrical stimulation of dead
muscles, Kappeler subjected twenty
corpses to the action of various electric
currents, noting the times of disap-
pearance of contractility. In persons
emaciated by chronic maladies, it dis
appeared much more rapidly than in
we'll nourished individuals, or those
who had had acute disease. It disap-
peared seventy-fve minutes after death
at the quickest, and six and half hours
at the slowest. In cases where rise OF
temperature is observed after death,
electric contractility persists longest.
So long there remains the least flicker
of life IT, contractions continue intact.
In the most prolonged faints, in the
deepest lethargies, i'll poisoning by
carbonic oxide, chloroform etc., there is
no contraction rs long as life lasts. But
if the muscles make no response to the
electrical stimulation, Kappeler pre-.
nounces life to be extinct.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
A Long and Weary Walk.

The Reno (Nev.) Gazette of a recent
date says: "Two tramps yesterday,
while en- route from Wadsworth to
Reno, discovered Polish woman lying
on the Central Pacific railroad track,
about six miles west of Wadsworth.
They soon ascertained that she had
been travelling, and had lain down on the
track completely exhausted. She had q
roll of blankets with her, and, as was
afterward found out, had travelled on foot
from Sacramento. Her irtentions were
to make Chicago, but the warm weather
proved too severe on thepoor old woman,
and she had sunk down discouraged and
exhausted, and perhaps soon would have
persisted had she not been discovered.
She is hear fifty years of age, aud cannot
speak one word of English. The tramps
footed back to Wadsworth and informed
the railroad authorities of the facts in
the case. Superintendent Free ut once
sent nm engine and coach to where she
lay, and had her brought to Wadsworth,
where she was placed i'll charge OF D.
Allen, proprietor of the Wadsworth
Hotel. 1t is very probable that the rail-
road company will take her East. Ger
tainly, when woman of her age walks
over 200 miles she is entitled to a free
ride the remainder Of her Journey"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
Good Times Coming.

A speedy return Of the good times of
five years ago is predicted by the Toledo
(O.) Blade, which bases its belief on
the immense crop of the year, and the
well known effects of prosperity among
farmers on general business. It appears
that the crops being harvested are the
largest the country ever had. The acre
age of wheat is largely in excess of any
since the settlement of the country, and
the yield per acre is infinitely greater.
Hay is magnificent, and has been secured
in the very best condition. Corn is now
certainty. Never was the eye glad
dened with the sight of such fields. The
stalks tower gloriously, and the color is
superb. Oats, which have been failure
since 1874, will this year yield very much
more than they did then. The Blade
continues: "We prophesy an imme-
diate and decided revival of business.
There have been tight times for three
years. The farmers have not had money,
nor have they had any way to make it.
This enormous crop, coming
in just at the nick of time, when the
calamities of other nations makes good
price for it, is the let-up we have been
looking for SO anxiously. and waiting for
so patiently. The farmer will in few
weeks from this have money enough to
pay his debts out of his wheat alone, and
he has his enormous corn, oats and hay
crop for future needs. He will pay the
debts that have been accrmulating for
three years, and he will have plenty
with which to get those supplies he has
been compelled to do without SO long. !"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
e. A farmer, POLITICALLY inclined, gives the
foJlowing definition of q good COW: Ai"
F,pbts Retween Iron. .Clads.

Mr.. Scott Russell, nm English writer
on naval affairs, thinks twenty minutes
will be long time for nm engagement
that is for the period which will elapse
between sighting an enemy and either
sinking him or being sunk. This ls
staggering, but Mr.. Marshall has his rea.
sons, and puts them forward boldly if
not theatrically. "Standing on the
deck, twenty-four feet above the water, 1
see nv enemy clear on the horizon. He
is seeking me. I am seeking him. We
are six miles apart-at modest speed q
mile takes six minutes-at that rate we
shall meet in eighteen minutes. What
to do in these eighteen minutes is
serious question. There is not heavy
SEQ on, but an ordinary swell !; our ships
roll gently; steam steadily our guns
are charged; all is ready; twelve minutes
are consumed in the mutual approach
and the disposal of the next six minutes
is serious. During the first three ne
maintains the only course is to meet the
enemy boldly and run at him and insists
that commanders orders. must be
Stand byl Steady Full speed ahead !
Then the three minutes are soon over!
The engineer gets all in order for the
crash ! All in the ship is already made
fast .! The commanders eye never leaves
the enemy. At the end of a minute he
sees the enemy hesitate. Then, If the
enemy is not sufficiently alert to double
or tack, he must sue for mercy, or the
only course of dealing with him is to
stem on, stem into him. His side is
open to the sea. " Mr.. Scott Russells
conclusion is, however, that, (which
ever side may WIN, it seems unlikely
that on encounter between two such
ships will last through more than three
minutes, or that the time of an engage
ment will be prolonged. Eighteen
minutes to meet, and eighteen minutes
close quarters seems o long time to
fight" So, the lessons he would have
us learn, by way of preparation for this
rapid work, are first to possess the
greatest strength to strike IN enemy
with most harm to him anil lecst to me, !"
and the second, "to possess the greatest
gunpower."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
A Rough Practical Joke.

An English farmer has recently been
compelled to pay the costs Of practical
Joke. He was sitting in the barroom OF
the GREYHOUND inn one night and taking
his usual tankard of ale, when his eye
Glanced to fall on the sleeping form OF
man with long beard. He went to the
fire, and, Lighting q piece OF paper,
deliberately applied it to the sleeping
mans beard. There was bright, rush
ing fame for a second or two; the man
sprang to his feet in agony; the Joke
was complete, andthe farmer roared IN
ecstacy. The unfortunate sufferer, who
happened to be the village tailor, knew
that the farmer was a man OF substan-
tial means, and acted accordingly. He
brought an action for $3.50 damages in
the Malmesbury county court in due
course. According to the plalntltt S
evidence, his beard was eighteen inches
long when he laid down, after having
some ale. The next thing he remember
ed was his face being on fire, while
man helped to put out the flame. Inc
defendant sat in his seat roaring WIN
laughter, and did not offer any assist
ance nor did he tender any apology for
what he had done. His lips were burned
severely, bis face was blistered, his
beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes were
burned to the skin, and one eye and one
ear we're scorched. The magistrate
awarded him $3.50 and costs.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
The Sultan's CONSERVATION.

The ring of pashas at Constantinople
have fallen into the habit of shouting
"Russian gold" whenever fortress is
captured. There were about thousand
Turkish soldiers in Sistova, armed with
Martini Henry rifles, and having some
guns; yet they allowed the Russians to
come leisurely across in large open
barges, and then vacated the place with
out firing shot The commandsnt ex-
cuses himself by saying that he had no
instructions to resist; but it is believed
at Constantinople that his inactivity, like
that of the commandant at Arabian, had
been purchased by Russian gold: The
sultan was powerfully affected by the
news, and at once summoned the minis
ters to the palace. BE asked them, with
tears in his eyes, how it was that, with
an army of three thousand men at their
command, they had allowed the Rus
slams to pass the Danube in manner 80
disgraceful. The ministers could only
reply that the affair was in the hands of
the COMMUNICATIVE chief, to whom the
sultan at once dispatched telegram to
demand IN explanation. The reply OF
Abdul Kerim, as quoted by CORE
spondent of the London Standard, was
nearly in the following word 81 be-
seech your majesty not to trouble your
self about the passage of the Russians at
Sistova; it is of no Importance. 1 have
an excellent plan, which will certainly
result in the total defeat of the Russians,
and will prevent any one of those who
have crossed from ever returning alive to
his own country. Only I must beseech
your majesty to permit me to carry out
my plan, and to forbid those gentlemen
in Stamboul to hinder my operations"
The sultan, being very dissatisfied with
this reply, telegraphed again for state
ment of Abdul Kerim's plans. Abdul
Kerim, however, positively refused to
communicate his plans, and said that the
sultan must either put confidence in
him, or put some one else in his place.
The sultan then declared that he would
himself proceed to Abdul Kerim's head
quarters to investigate his plans. Upon
this Redif Pasha urged the sultan to
send him to Abdul Keriln, and to await
the result of his report. The other
ministers, who were delighted to get rid
of Redif Pasha, even for short time,
seconded the proposal, and after. much
hesitation the sultan acceded to it.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
The Life.Saving Service.

The statistics of wrecks which have
occurred within the range of the life
saving service during the last fiscal year
have Just been made up Mt the Treasury
department, and show that the number
of vessels driven ashore by stress OF
weather during the year was l2O, and
that they had on board ,253 persons:
OF this number of lives there were ], 2l4
saved and 80 lost; the number lost being
about three per cent. of those imperlled.
The estimated value of the vessels
wrecked WAS $1,746, ,464, and of their
cargoes 81, ,34S, SIG, making total ralu-
alton of SO, ,O95, ,331.' The whole amount
of property saved, so far as reported,
was 81 ,54, sos, and of that lost 81 ,053,--
1926, leaving $487, 900 not yet ascertained
whether saved or lost. At fifty OF the
disasters the life-saving service appara-
tus was successfully used, and S3S per-
sons were rescued by it.
Additional signals are preparing to be
Incorporated into the national code for
use Of vessels and lite-saying station 8,
which will greatly facilitate communlca-
tions betwees the vessels and the shore.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29

over wilted cabbage also to the coun-
tenance of Mrs. Mix, who at the kitchen
window was peering at the two with a
resentful eye.
"I am very much mistaken" observed
Mary Jane, upon our return home,
every much mistaken if the reign OF
Mrs. Mix and the rats are not approach
ing speedy end"
I thought it improbable, but the su-
perior sagacity and discernment OF
woman was soon made apparent. Meet
ing Granger accidentally, I inquired how
he was getting on at Woodbine Cottage,
and whether he had yet commenced the
ivied tower.
"Why," he replied, with little en-
barrassment, yet good deal of evident
secret satisfaction-' you see l con-
suited friend about it and she-ahem
thought the style of architecture not
exactly suited to my little place. Be-
Sides" he added, looking at me as if re-
solved to put bold face OH the matter,
"I am thinking of-of moving little
further into the country. In fact, a
model farm you know-a thing I always
thought myself mot fitted for :; and as
Eliza's tastes agree with mine-and 30
we're going to improve her little farm ;
So
II beg your pardon. Eliza I think
you said ?" ,
"Certainly, Miss Tim1ns, Of course, I
mean" Here he blushed violently, and
taking off his hat rubbed his bald fore
head vigorously with his handkerchief.
"Warm weather, rather. you can't
conceive what luxury it is to me to
get out of these dusty streets into the
fresh air and greenery of my little place.
I positively feel as though I were new
man, with new life opening to me-a
sort of youth-renewed feeling, you see
ha, ha?"
And chuckling joyously he waved me
a hearty adieu as he boarded the street
car bound Rose Terraceward.
This was sometime ago. For the last
few days my wife has been very much
interested in "shopping in company
with Miss Timms, and last night re-
marked to me what delightful visits we
shall have to Eliza's beautiful place in
the country, and what happy, COM
Portable couple our two friends will
mako
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
The Indians Test of Honesty,

An old trader who had established him
self at what happened to be a favorable
locality among the Northern Indians
tells good story Of his first trials with
his red customers. Other traders had
located in that same place before, but
had not remained long. The Indians,
who evidently wanted goods, and had
money and furs, focked about the store
of the trader, and carefully examined
his gooLs, but offered oH.buy nothing.
Finally the chief, will, large number
of his tribe, visited him.
Chow do, John?" said the chief.
/. +" Show me goods. Aha, I take blanket
for me, and that calico for squaw; three
otter skins for blanket, and one for calico.
Ough pay by'm by-to-morrow." !
He received his goods and left. On
the next day he returned with a large
part of his band, his blanket well stuffed
with skins of various kinds.
"'Now, John, I pay.
And with this he drew On otter skin
from his blanket, and laid it on the
counter. Then he drew second, q
third and fourth. A moments hesita-
ton, as though calculating, and he drew
out a fifth skin-a very rich and rare one
and passed it over.
"That's right, John"
The trader instantly pushed back the
last skin, with: =.
"You owe me but four. I want only
my just DUE"
Thechief refused to take it, and they
passed it several times back and forth,
each one asserting that it belonged to
the other. At length the dusky chieftain
appeared to be satisfied. He gave the
trader scrutinizing look, and then
stepped to the door and gave yell, and
cried to his followers:
"Come; come, and trade with the
pale-face John. He no cheat Indian; bis
heart big"
Then turning back to the trader, he
said:
"Suppose you take last skin, I tell
my people no trade with you. We
drive you off like dog, as we drive off
others; but DOW you Indians friend, and
we be yours.
Before dark the trader was waist deep
in furs, and loaded down with cash. He
found that honesty had commercial value
with the Indians.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
Indian Dignity.

Washoe Charlie, one of the pioneer
Indian residents of Douglas county, and
on intelligent fellow withal, paid visit
to the editor of the Nevada Tribune a
few. days since, and this is what followed:
He walked into our sanctum with his
son and saluted us thus ): "How you
been, colonel? l? me know you long time.
How's all the folks? Hows times ?
You heap write 'em, eh; you smart like
-. ell; we'll, all right. Me- all same
white man. everybody know Charley ;
gimme paper, me. read 'em; take him
home to my squaw. Being little busy
at the time, but little attention was paid
to Charlie, and, noticing the fact, he
rose to his feet with all the dignity of an
Uncas, and said: "My son heap
hungry; give him quarter" 1t was
donated.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
SNAKES.
A Blue Racer Over Twenty Feet LlonR--Two
Girls Killed by Rnttlcrs.

A Blue Racer Over Twenty Feet IIOnE.-Two
Girls Killed by Rnttlcrs-
A gigantic blue racer, twenty feet
eight and three-fourths inches in length,
and ten inches in circumference in the
largest place, was recently killed in the
southwestern part of the township OF
Cannon, Mich, by citizen of good
repute. He had a terrible encounter
with it. On going from his work to a
neighboring spring to get q drink OF
water he saw the grass wave few rods
from him, when the serpent came toward
him with lightning velocity and head up
lifted about three or four feet high from
the ground. When within about ten
feet from the man it halted, as if to look
its prey over. It ventured nearer and
nearer, and finally attacked the man.
The snake twined itself several times
around the mans legs, and felled him to
the ground. The man took his knife
out of his pocket, and with few des-
perate strokes completely severed the
monsters head from its body. It had
previously been hurt, or it probably
would have crushed the man, there being
q large bunch on its side. Since then
the mans hair has turned gray.
A daughter of Mr.. ]. g. Briery, of
Twin Greek, Osborn county, Kan, aged
some thirteen or fourteen years, went
with her brother one Saturday morning
not long ago to his claim, some five miles
distant, wher he was doing some work,
and the two expected to return together
in the afternoon. They changed their
plans, however, and about eight o'clock
the girl set out for home on foot and
alone, carrying pail in which to gather
some wild berries on the way. Later in
the evening her brother returned home,
and great was the surprise to find that
the girl was still absent. Search was
Immediately instituted, but went on
without any avail until two o'clock on
Sunday. The pail she carried was found
by the roadside about two miles from
home, partly filled. This seemed to con-
firm beyond a doubt the great fear that
some awful fate had delayed her return.
Mr.. Ward and another party, who were
engaged in the search, at last heard o
call, and proceeded in the direction
whence it came. There, sitting on the
ground in a nearly denuded state, they
found the poor girl by pool to which
she had found her way. She was trying
to extract the poison which the fangs Of
a rattlesnake had buried in her foot, by
burying it in soft mud. All this time
she had remained there alone, and ex-
perienced the symptoms of horrible
death approaching, for the venom was
working in her system Although suf-
ficiently conscious to call for help when
it was near, her denuded state indicated
that her srlfferings had, at times at least,
driven her to frenzy. She died.
One. Monday lately q colored girl,
about thirteen years of age, daughter of
Richard Dunn, colored, who lives on the
premises of Mr.. Walter Jefreys, near
Neuse Depot, N. c., was bitten by a
rattlesnake. The snake was soon killed
and found to have four rattles. The girl
fingered few days, when she died in
agony.