davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
A Great Bridge on Fire.

The st. Louis Republican says: A
disastrous fire occurred about midnight
at the eastern end of the bridge. The
first seen OF the fire was about half past
eleven o'clock, when the engineer of an
east bound train crossing q the river
noticed that there was fire in an. unoccu-
pied two story frame building at the
north side of the bridge. He sounded his
whistle, but failed to attract attention.
Then he stopped his train, and all hands
shouted and yelled and whistled till an
alarm was sounded. Meantime the frame
building had become enveloped in Light
flame. The high wind from the north
speedily swelled the strength Of the fire,
which communicated to another building.
The flames were swept by the, breeze di-
rectly toward the south, and began to
threaten the woodwork of the bridge.
Before the steamers could effect a cross
ing, the flames had captured the track,
and were cracking among the planks
and timbers Of the trestle. The steam
ers went to the other end, but, being un-
able to pass, Chief Sexton sent them
back, at the same time sending word to
the ferry company to bring them over.
Whether there was misunderstanding
about the landing place, or whether the
ferry company did not care to stop the
burning Of the bridge, does not appear.
A boat started across, and, it was report
ed, took three steamers on board, but up
to one O clock the one steamer of the st.
Louis department that first crossed was
without assistance from her mates.
The one engine then went vigorously
to work to stop the spread Of the fire.
By this time q long row Of frame build
ings on the north Of the bridge was half
consumed, about three hundred yards
of the bridge approach was burning, and
the fire had reached number OF frame
buildings south Of the tracks. The whole
ground for an acre in extent was 9 sheet
Of fame, roaring, surging, leaping up
and across the open ground on the river
beach rs each succeeding gust Of wind
would toss it and whirl it about. 1t
swept along the ground, driving the
crowd of sight-seers far back from it's
fierce heat. 1t crept through the trestle,
twining itself about each brace and tim-
Der, and it stole along the ratings, max
ing rapid progress in every direction
where it could find combustible material
to feed upon. Before the engine had
started stream the waiting room on top
of the bridge was completely enveloped,
and the blaze had climbed the two tall
flag staffs to their submits and was set
ting off a shower of sparks therefrom.
II &c Il RI or
to prevent the fame going further west
aid des; .'oying the staircase by which foot
passengers descend. upon Bloody island:
The loss may reach 5000, 600. Agreat
number Of people crowded over on the
bridge to witness the brilliant confagra-
ton, which WAS really grand, Till after
two o'clock the crash Of falling trestle
work could still be heard in this city, as
the red-hot iron bent and yielded to it's
own insupportable weight, and tumbled
to the ground in glowing curves and
angles. ~t;fCI ~ rGTT!r' .c-,l:'.'.|r ''a,ii .
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Thoughts for Saturday Night.
Friendship is full Of dregs.,;'

Friendship is full Of dregs.; 81
PITY, the tenderest part Of love-. -
Ye stars that are the poetry Of heaven !!
Poets are too frequently merely poets.
You will find poetry nowhere unless
YOU bring some with you. @''.'' "'''
Politeness has been we'll defined as
benevolence in small things. ''.' ''"''
Power is seldom innocent, and envy is
the yokefellow of eminence.:p! III! ="
Pride goeth before destruction, and a
naughty spirit before q fall" r,l,.I
PRAYER is shield to the soul, sacrl-
fee to God anda scourge to satan. :n
, Pride and weakness are Siamese TWINS,
knit together by the, indlssolpole
hyphen. .:..... 1r,.4
Laws act after crimes have been COM
mitted; prevention goes before them
both.
A mind that is conscious of it's integri-
ty scorns to say more than it means 70
perform. .;#..'- -
The HIGHER the rank, the! less the
pretence, because there is, less TO pre-
tend to. ... .ra,i....a
The sourest man is not wholly hope
less when he will not blaspheme before
tI -. - '-.,'f.
his son.
We should accustom the mind to keep
the best company by introducing 1t only
to the best books. ....' '','..i
To have religion upon authority is like
a finger watch, tobe set forward or BACK
ward as he pleases that has it in keeping.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
The .Wife's Reyerie.

Oh, Heart Of mine, is Our estate
Our sweet estate-of JOY assured?
1t came so slow, it came 80 late.
Bought by such bitter pains endured;
Dare we forget those sorrows sore,
And think that they will come no more
With fearful eyes scan my face,
And doubt how he can find it fair.
Wistful, watch each charm and grace
see that other women wear:
OF all the secrets Of loves lore,
know but one, to love him more.
I see each day, he grows more wise,
His life is broader far than mine;
Unjust be lacking in his eyes,
In many things where others shine.
Oh, Heart can we this loss restore
To him, by simply loving more?
I often see upon his brow,
A look half tender and half stern;
His thoughts are far away, I know;
To fathom them, vainly yearn;
But nought is ours which went before;
Oh, Heart we can but love him more
] sometimes think that he had loved
An older, deeper love, apart
From this which later feebler moved
His soul to mine. Oh, Heart Oh, Heart
What can we do? This hurteth sore.
Nothing, my Heart, but love him more
-Scribner'S MOnttly.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Peculiarities OF the Ant.

Not content with having destroyed
some traditional beliefs on the subject
Of bees, Sir John Lubbock is now at,
tacking the reputation of the ant. Ac-
cording to Sir John, it would appear that
the different species of ants-and there
are about TOO" have strongly contrast
ed moral characteristics. Some are
distinguished by bravery, some by cow
ardice, some are industrious, some are
strikingly idle. They are too lazy even
to feed themselves or clean themselves,
and Sir John Lubbock found that to
keep them alive it was necessary to put
few slaves for an hour or two every day
into the case in which they were con-
fined, in order that their domestic ar
rangements might be duly attended to.
They are said to be very stupid with re-
gard to locality. eySir John Lubbock,has
tried putting store Of food to be reach
ell by passing over. little cardboard
bridges, and lie found. that slightly shift
ing bridge bafaed them. = They never
tried to push the bridge, or even to make
use of supply Of fine mold put ready to
help them fill the gap. They .'craned
at jump of about one-third of an inch,
anu preferred going circuit of eighteen
feet, Just as cautious rider to hounds
might make a detor Of several fields to
take advantage of line of gates. It is
mistake, too, to suppose that ants will
take care of a distressed friend. Sir John
Lubbock tried just covering an ant with
mold where many were passing and re-
passing. Not one took, any notice, of
him. They have, however, singular
power of recognizing each other, as was
tested by placing thirty Intoxicated
friends in company with thirty intoxicat-
ed strangers together in a nest. The
ants we're at first much puzzled with the
sad spectacle. However, twenty of the
friends were taken into the nest, FIVE
were thrown into the water, and the
others neglected. On the other hand,
twenty-four Of the thirty strangers were
thrown into the water at. once, and of
the six taken into the nest by mistake,
four were afterward found to be stran-
gers; and were then taken out and thrown
into The water also. d ~, {, Co.,. '.,,. .. .
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
A Conscientious Jury.

An old story is well retold in a recent
issue of a Southern journal, as follows:
GA jury in Alabama had been empaneled
in the case of a Mr.. johnson, charged
with killing his wife. The evidence was
positive and conclusive, leaving no doubt
of his speedy conviction. To the eamaze-
ment, Of all, the jury, after short alb.
sence, returned verdict: 6 Guilty of
horse stealing The Judge, astonished,
asked IN explanation, stating that the in.
dictment was not for horse stealing, but
manslaughter. The foreman, with his
hand upon huge law book, and with an
amusingly dignifed air, informed the
court that it was not case OF man
slaughter, but woman slaug ghter, for
which the law made no provision, but
being satisfied the man deserved to be
hanged, they had brought in verdict
of horse stealing, which, in that country,
would be sure to hang him." ....s
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
OthelIO In Nevada.

The Virginia (Nev) Chronicle says:
A lady who determined to surprise her
husband few nights ago bought him a
new pair of rubbers and placed them by
the bedside, so that when he came in
she could enjoy his delight at.snch fond
exhibition Of love and affection: The
man stayed out so late that his wife fell
asleep, and when he came in his eye fell
upon the overshoes. He was just about
to stab himself with cheese-knife
when he reconsidered his intention and
determined to rouse his wife and tell her
that he knew all. Grabbing her by the
hair he yelled out: "This once happy
home is desolated by faithless woman's
peridy," and pointed to the overshoes;
It took nearly two hours to explain, and
then he forgave her, with the under
standing that she would make him pair
of slippers with his monogram and
green deg on the top.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21

The runner looked at the bill a mo-
ment, and demanded an explanation.
The landlord recited his adventure, and
remarked that the bill was S25.
a "Twenty-fve dollars" the runner
exclaimed; 1925, why, that's an outwage.
It's an o,ltwage, sir; I won't stand it.
No, sir" The dye on his whiskers get
ting deeper with rage.
"You has to stand it cos I won't take
no less," replied the landlord. --..,s '
"I won't pay any such bill. No, sir,
+ WON'T" the runner shrieked, and
stamped his foot with rage. r.. .... .
;. p You insisted on having quail Oh toast,
aud said you'd pay the bill, and that's the
bill, mister" said the landlord, mildly.
II won't pay it. It's terrible out
wage, and won't stand it. I'll see you
in Texas first, and then I won't" The
runner had increased his anger, stamped
his feet, and made 80 much noise the
passers-b by gathered in to see the fun. .
."You won't pay it ?" asked the land
lord. 'n.'|
"No, sir, never, never !" he shrieked,
louder and louder. The landlord
"snaked" his coat, and struck an atti-
tude before the towering, raging runner
and said: eff you don't pay it, and
pretty considerable quick, "Ill give you
such an, alfred licking that yer mother
won't recognize you from billed ham. "
The runner withered before his pugilis-
tic landlord and paid his bill, amid the
shouts of the lookers-on and departed.
The landlord took pains to tell the story
to the boys, and it soon leaked out, and
the commercial travellers have called him
equal on Toast" ever since. -
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
. Tired .nfLife.

A California schoolmnster who was ont
of employment and fast losing his sight
walked into q shooting gallery, in San
Francisco on Feb. l3, and taking mp a
large revolver fired two shots at the tar
get, missing each time, Apparently an
noyed at his poor shooting he strobe
half way down the gallery and tried again
with the same result, and then to the
amazement of all present, placed the pis-
tol to his ear and pulled the trigger.
Before the bystanders could prevent him
he put the muzzle of the revolver in his
mouth and fired again. Upon his per-
son was found the following note, written
in pencil on a scrap of letter paper
"Thomas Biggs, LID, disappointed
and weary of life, eyesight utterly failing,
will soon be blind"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Effect of the Jersey Execution.

A bill has been. introduced in the New
Jersey legislature which makes it the
duty of the court on o trial for murder
in the first degree to pass a sentence of
imprisonment for life whenever a verdict
of guilty shall be accompanied by rec
ommendation to mercy on the part Of
the jury. The effect of the passage OF
the bill would probably be the virtual
abolition of capital punishment in the
State. Very few iuries would convict
without recommendation to mercy. In
the first place it would be difficult to
get together twelve men all of whom up
hold legal strangllations, and in the
next there would be in almost every muir
der trial enough sympathy for the pris-
oner to render it certain that some OF
the jury would insist on securing for
him the more lenient sentence. The
bill, no doubt, owes its origin to the
feeling of dissatisfaction engendered by
the refusal of a new trial to Ryan and
Oschwald, and to the fear that these men
may have suffered death for a crime Of
which they were innocent. New Jersey
does not generally lean to the side Of
mercy, and the proposed change in the
law shows how firm hold the doubt of
the guilt Of Ryan and Oschwald has taken
on the public mind. .,,
The new movement in the Legislature,
viewed in this light, must serve to open
the eyes of the Jersey authorities to the
duty of exerting themselves to discover
whether the murderer of Officer Brock Is
still alive and unpunished. When a
whole community is 80 earnestly i'm
pressed with the feeling that justice may
have gone astray it is due to public SEN
timent that all doubt should be cleared
away. It will not do to settle quietly
down with the idea that as two men have
paid the forfeit of their lives for the
crime there is on end Of the matter.
Justice to the murdered man, Justice to
the memory of those who suffered for
the murder, if they suffered unjustly,
Justice to the State requires that if mis-
take has been made it shall be rectifed
and that the real offender shall be called
to account. We have not yet heard that
any steps have been taken on the part of
the Jersey authorities to ferret out the
truth. It is to be hoped, however, that
they will promptly follow up every clew
that can lead to the final settlement of
the question as to the guilt or innocence
of the two men who have been sent to
their graves as Brock murderers. .-Ncv
York Herald.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
The Too; Eloquent Man.

~" Dominic .s Miles,, was known
throughout the northern part of New
York State fifteen or twenty years ago as
hardy worker among seamen -ihclud-
ing those reprobates who swore on the
tow-path from Albany to Lake Erie and
he knew the most effectual way of deal!
ing with the too eloquent man. "My
friends" said q young gentleman who
would edify the "canalers I" in Bethel,
"it is good to perceive before me those
hardy mariners who 60 down to the sea
in ships and do business in mighty
waters. We are, as it we're -. "Broth-
er," interrupted the dominic, edo you
love the: Lord 2" Much disconcerted,
the eloc tlent youth stamnered:e trust
I do" Wenn rejoined the worthy
dominic, that's aal we want to hear
from you this evening, Brethren, let
us sing" It's hatdly possible to: i'm
agine n man continuing his able remarks
after receiving such a rebuke. -. =. .,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Who Owned It.

Realty is realty. The Iowa lawyers
have had wrangle over a meteor. A
large fragment Of the big meteor of 1875
fell in the highway on lands owned by
the Amana society, and German named
Mas picked it up. The society claimed
title under the law of accretion, the
realty in the highway belonging to them,
and whatever came to the lands natural
accretion being part of the realty. The
German put in counter claim based
upon original discovery and the nine
points of the law. The court has de-
cided that the society have the better
title, and the fragment of the meteor
will be placed in the State University.
Realty is realty, whether deposit be
made during the glacial period
or yesterday. Scientific tramps who
spend their nights in trudging along the
highways and hunting for meteors may
as well go to bed at curfew. Realty is
realty.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Quail on Toast.

A Chicago runner happened to stop at
a tavern in the southern part of the
State, and called for quail on toast for
dinner, about after this style: " Land
word, I want quail toast for dinner.
Do you hear?" ....
"Got lots of stale bread to make toast,
but amt got DO quail to put on the
toast" replied mine host. -. ..'
"Ah, ,landword, do not the feathery quail
abound in this weagon of country?" in
quired the runner.
"Yes, but I hain't got no time to hunt
EN-. I got to have a dog, hoss and q
wagon to hunt EN-, was the landlords
answer. ".
"Ah, never mind the expense. The
next time I come this way, want you to
have, for my especial comfort, quail on
toast. Do you hear, landword? ?" "
"Of course, " said mine host, "if you
insist on it, and are willing to pay the
expenses, you shall have quail on toast,
for + can 90 to the timber any day and
get you quail OF two. Gest telegraph
when you'll be here, and I'll have 'em for
you" :,
They parted, and the matter was Tor
gotten until one morning about month
after the landlord received message that
his patron would arrive the next day,
and be sure to have quail on toast for his
dinner. The landlord loaded his old
fusee, hired horse and buggy, borrowed
dog and started for the timber. The
dog was valuable one and well trained,
and they had not gone far when he came
to point. The landlord saw the quail
and took aim. The dog and quail changed
positions simultaneously, and the old
fusee went bang at the same time, and
the dog and quail were both shot dead.
The landlord was in terrible flntter::
He gathered up the quail, put it in the
front part of the buggy, and while under
taking to put the dog in the back part,
the horse took fright and ran to town,
leaving the landlord to foot it home.
When he arrived in town he found the
wagon broken and the harness torn in
several places, but he got the quail all
right. The runner came on time and
found his quail on toast awaiting him.
He did justice to the dish, and after
taking cigar called for his bill. The
landlord had it all made out and ready.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Fashion Notes.

Sleeves tit tight.
Basques are still worn.
Spring bonnets are small.
Bonnet crowns are broader.
Basques must fit like armor.
Tight jackets are fashionable.
Brims of bonnets are smaller.
Unglazed percales are the best.
The new round hats are very small.
Creme Blanche is the magic beauti-
fer.
Chenille bonnet cords are very fash
ionable.
Normandy crowns are the most fash
ionable.
Lace scarfs for bonnet strings grow in
favor.
The spring colors are gray, drab and
brown.
Gold bead embroidery on lace is COM
ing into vogue. r
The new spring wraps are dolmans
and scarf mantles. -
Some modistes are using coraline as q
dress trimming.
Partisan diamonds are beautiful imi-
tations of real jewels. .''
There is revival of fashions demand
ing the use of lace.
Feathers studded with steel and crys-
tails are shown for evening par'~es.
Seal brown and navy blue are still the
favorite colors for little boys suits.
The empress bonnet is large crowned
and of modified Normandy shape.
The empress bonnet is the favorite for
middle aged and elderly ladies.
Rose and blue is favorite eombina-
ton of color in the new Scotch plaid
ginghams.
Red, white and blue bunting will be
used for both dresses and trimmings
next summer.
Plush collars and muffs are expected
to take the place of fur boas and muffs
next month. r = -
The new fchus have lace ruches in the
neck rising high above ribbon quillings
and bands.
Madras ginghams in beautiful combi-
nations of color are seen on the counters
OF dry goods stores. =
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21

apothecary's with such wholesome re-
suits that he reported to his brother:
"Budgie, down to the village was a
whay-al. l didn't froe up Djonah but I
froed up whole floor full OF uvver
fngs."
Tom and Helen came home in due
time, and Mt lunch that day toasts were
drunk to "Her" and to "the makers of
the match-Budge and Toddie |" And
Alice insists that when a certain cere-
mony takes place they shall oficiate as
groomsmen, nor have I the slightest
doubt that she will carry her point
Illustrated Weekly.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Couldn't Keep a Little Still.

"Some visitors are coming, and you
must keep little still this afternoon,
remarkeda Chicago teacher to her pupils
one day lately. w
"We cart keep q little still, or a
big one, ether" chimed in one lad,
" "leastwise We can't 'nless we pay
license
The teacher then remembered that the
boy wis the son of former revenue de-
faulter, and pardoned his remark.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Deaths in the Navy.

The deaths of six rear admirals of the
United States navy took place within a
few weeks. This is certainly a remark
able mortality. None Of these men were
young, however, for Admiral Alden, the
least aged of the number, entered the
navy in 1928. His death from an acute
inhammatory disease was an indication
that his system was little spent by age;
for morbid processes themselves have not
such vigor and rapidity in the systems Of
the feeble. Admiral Wilkes, however,
was seventy-fve, Bailey, seventy-three,
Goldsborough, sew nty-one, Davis, sew
enty, and Smith, sixty-eight.