davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13

Correspondence of the Hartford Times

A keen eyed and graybeard rat in a
Rockville wooden mill had for long
time evaded every device to entrap
him, but an expert took the case in
hand, and succeeded a. last in beguil-
ing him into the trap. When the
spring announced that the "Old Gen
eraI' was caught the boys crowded
around and peered curiously in at the
blight eyes and nervous movements of
the old fellow, who was "streaking it"
inside. 1t was decided to put him in
the extractor and if he survived that
treatment to let him go. The extractor
in a wooden mill is a machine used to
extract the moisture out of the cloth,
the process being effected by putting
the cloth into basket that revolvcs
swiftly inside massive framework Of
iron. SO the trap was fixed into the
basket and the belt run on. Round
and round went the basket, lurching
heavily from side to side, but gradually
growing steadier as the revolution be-
came swifter. Steadily the speed went
up; 100, 200, 800, and 400 times
minute. The eye could just see
dark spot in the basket, then there was
sudden jar, and "A cry was heard that
the trap would fly out. On IA sudden
impulse, the belt was flung of, the
brake put on, and the machine stopped.
Was 'graybeard' dead? Not bit.
He was streaking it fore and aft the
trap, his lively eyes as bright as ever.
Once more he took his place in the
basket. 1t was to be a ride to death
this time--a fast train that would
whirl him around AT the rate of mile
and a quarter every sixty seconds.
The cold General" seemed to have an
impression that affairs were nearing a
climax, for despairing squeal was
heard as the basket again started up.
One minute, two minutes, three min
utes, and the basket was whirline
around fully 700 times to the minute
A steady hum, instead of the surging,
indicated the high speed. Then the
belt was thrown off and the brake
applied When the machine stopped
the "Old General" was no more; but
his was painless death, without the
agony and distress usually dealt out to
vermin.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13
That Checker Board.
Detroit Free Press.

Up to three evenings ago such thing
as a checker.b board was never known IN
Mr.. Grattan's house. He and his aged
partner have managed 10 pass the long
evenings very pleasantly, and be sup
posed they were happy enough until a
friend from the east paid them a flying
visit, and asserted over and over aga n
that the game Of checkers was not OF '
all the rage there, but that it served o
quicken the perceptive faculties, en-
large the mind, and render the brain
more active. After giving the subject
due thought, Mr.. Grattan walked down
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13
The Kentucky Election.

A Louisville dispatch of Aug. 9TH
says: The Courter-Journdi has unofficial
and definite returns from about fifty
counties, which show about one-third
falling off in the aggregate vote, but
about the usual democratic majority.
The republicans have made legislative
gains, but the general assembly that two
years ago was ia democratic on joint
ballot, continues democratic by over orc
hundred. Blackburn's majority for
governor is variously estimated at
from 10000 to 10000 The vote rec
ommending call for constitutional
convention, though supported by both
parties, has undoubtedly failed of the re
quired constitutional majority. Tie
election was unusually quiet all over the
State, no serious difficulty being reported.
The Greenbackers have certainly elect.
ed two mem ers of the lower house of
the Legi stature, but their aggregate vote
is insignificant. In this county Black
burn gets 6,961; Evans 4,043 AT the
last gubernatorial race McCreary dem }
received 9,706; Harlan (Rep.) 7,l60.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13

town and purchased a chccker-board,
and when evening came he surprised
his good wife by bringing It in from the
wood-shed and saying:
"Well. Martha, We'll have game or
two before we go over To the social. l
expect to beat you all to flinders, but
you won't care"
"Of course not; and if | beat YOU,
why you won't care" she replied.
They sat down, and ne claimed the
| first move. She Mt once objected, but
when he began to grow red in the face
she yielded and he led of. At the
fourth move she took a man, chuck ling
as she raked him In.
81 don't see anything to grin at he
sneered rs he moved n man backwards.
Here! you can't move that waym
she called out.
81 can't, Ell? Perhaps l never played
checkers before you were hornl'
She saw chance TO jump two more
men and gave in the point, but rs she
moved he cried out;
"Put them men right back there I've
concluded not to move backward, even
| if Hoyle does permit itl'
She gave in again, but when he
jumped man her nose grew red and
she cried out:
81 didn't mean to move there, | was
thinking of the social!'
Cant help the social, Martha,
must go by Hoylew
In about two minutes she Jumped
,,,,y /, l.
shouting;
Grown him crown him. I've got
king"
zone would think by your childish
actions that You never played game
beforeW he growled out.
81 know enough TO beat you"
"Iou do, Ell? Some folks are awful
smart
"And some folks ain'il' she snapped,
rs her king captured another man.
"What in thunder are you jumping
that way for p
"a king can jump any way
"NG he can't
"Ies he CAM
"Don't talk back to me, Martha
Grattanl | was playing checkers when
you were III your cradlel'
II don't carel | can jump two men
whichever way you movep'
He looked down Oh the board, saw
that such was the case, and roared
out:
you've moved twice to my once?"
81 haven't"
en- take my oath you have! can't
play against any such blackleg prac-
ticesW
"Who's blacklegl You not only
cheated, but you tried to lie out of it,
Board and checkers fell between
them. He could get on his hat quicker
than she could find her bonnet, and
that was the only reason why he got
out of the house first. A Woodward
avenue grocer found him sitting on n
basket of cranberries at the door IA he
was closing up for the night, and asked
him if he was waiting for his wife to
come along.
"Well, not exactly; / stopped here to
feel in my pocket for the key OF the
barn. | sh II sleep on the hay to-
night, and see if it won't cure this cold
in my headp
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13
SOmnambulistic Scare.
Little Rock ARK } Gazette

A strange story comes from st. Fran
els County. In the st. Francis river
bottoms there lives man named Geo.
II ,Toban. With him live a wife and a
thirteen year old son. This family has
resided in quiet way, SO far AS any
one knows, until recently, when the
first strange bubble arose on the lake of
the family's every day lite. One morn
ing, just after the yellow fever excite.
ment began to spread all over the
country, Mr.. Toban, upon opening his
door, found card lying on the door
step. On the card was written the
words, yellow fever" Very little at
tention was paid to the matter, but
when again and again similar cards
we're found, Mr.. Toban became con-
cerned, and not being as clear of super
stiuon AS Il festival is of conscience, re-
garded the cards as ominous, and as a
warming of all approach of the terrible
disease. Every night he would read
gloomy reports from Memphis, and
every morning found the card yellow
fever" Finally he determined to watch
and satisfy himself and on the doorstep
he remained all night. No one APP
peared, but, by the streaks of daylight,
he saw a card ly ing on the step beside
him. Catching it 40 and examining it,
he sew the words yellow fever" written
in exactly the same hand that had
marked the cards before. Then there
was indeed anxiety in the family. The
fever reports grew gloomier, and the
family settled into the belief that Provi-
dence, by handwriting on cards, had
advised flight. The husband did not
know what to do, the wife was fright
ened into q terror that tremhled at
every sound as though yellow fever
walked with noisy footsteps, and the
son was almost dumb and sometime s
deaf with fright. 1t was at last decided
that vacation Of the place would be
necessary. But a change came, and
the mystery, like mist, cleared up. On
the night before the proposed departure,
the husband, unable to sleep, sat on the
bedside almost terrified and weak with
dread. Suddenly the door of the room
opened and his son, in might attire"
stood in the room. The father, infln-
enced by q sudden feeling, dld not
speak. The boy advanced to the mar
tlepiece, took down a pencil, went to
"the little table," took out card, leaned
over, wrote something on it, and then,
advancing to the door, slipped it under.
The father watched breathlessly, and,
when the boy started to leave the room,
the man caught him. The boy strug'
gled, gasped and awoke. He did not
know, nor could he understand, why he
stood there grasped by his father. The
wife sprang out of bed. A few word
explained all, and, when the door was
opened, there was the card bearing the
words yellow fever" The young man
in his early youth had exhibited signs
Of somnambulism, and reading every
day the yellow fever reports to the
family no doubt Influenced his action
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13
A Quiet California Hanging.

A quiet California hanging is thus re-
corded in dispatch from Visalla: A
Young man named Townsend, sheep
herder, disappeared some ten days ago
aud nothing was learned of him until
Tuesday last, when an Indian rode into
Plano with lis saddle, which circum-
stance aroused the suspicion OF parties
who recognized the saddle. and the In
dian WAS arrested. On Wednesday he
confessed that he had murdered Towns
end. He said that he met him IN the
mountains, twenty-five miles from Pa
no. near where the Maher boys were
murdered eighteen months ago, and
supposing he had money shot him, m
tending to rob him afterward. The In
dian offered to pilot the authorities to
where the body was left, and was ac-
companied to the spot by the coroner
and 2, large crowd Of citizens. who, aiIer
recovering the body which was badly
decom posed, hanged the Indian to the
nearest tree. There was no excitement
nor any arrest.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13
Minnesota Swamp.
Maryels


Breckenridge, tMinl) ffce ifess'
j. w. Blanding, one of the commits
sioners appointed by the Governor to
appraise the salt lands in our county,
has given an interesting account of a
natural curiosity visited by the commits
sioners during their trip. In the course
Of their search for an examination Of
the above lands in the northeastern part
of the county they came upon large
tract Of quaking bog land. Running in
a northwest and southeast direction was
a line Of mounds from six to three hue
dred feet in diameter at the base and
from fifteen to thirty feet high, OF con.
zeal form, the slope being about forty
five degrees. These mounds were a
shaking bog to their SUBMITS, where
was found circular opening TX to
eight feet in diameter, filled with clear,
cold water, and of unknown depth, "A
pole eight feet long being their only
means of testing the latter. Most sing
ular of all few feet from these wells,
upon digging from sixteen to twenty
four inches solid body of ice was
found. Who can give US an explain
alton of this phenomenon?
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13
MAJOR LAWRENCE WILLIAMS.
The story of How He Came tn be
Cha shiered.
New York Times,

In the notice Of the death of Major
Lawrence Williams, at Easthampton,
Mass, on the the 2lst inst, one of our
CITY contemporaries stated that he was
q graduate of West Point, and spent a
norton of his life in the regular army"
Major Williams was long polished,
brilliant, and brave officer, but was
cashiered early in the war for disloyalty
TO the flag. The story of his digrace is
among the most singular of the many
remarkable ones that the rebellion has
nroduced. Major Williams was on the
staff of Major General George B. Nc
Clellan. One day several prominent
officers from distance were dined bv
the commanding general, and during
the closing hour of the meal brass
band, belonging to one of the volunteer
regiments, marched up to the head
quarters to serenade Little Mac" and
his guests. Those bandmen hailed
from rural locality, where people gen
orally knew more about agricultural
implements than saxhorns or other
musical instruments. However, by
strict attention to practice, lasting as a
rule from reveille to taps, the band had
succeeded in getting tolerable control
over two tunes, one of which was the
"Star SDangled Banner" and to use an
old expression "the other wasn't" The
band began to play. Their repertoire
was limited, but not so the tune at their
disposal. Over and over again they
played these Two tunes, but with de-
cided "hankering' in favor of the "Star
Spanged Banner" They played it SO
often that finally Major Williams
petulantly exclaimed, Damn the
star Spanged Bannerr" The
words were speedily reported
by some eavesdropper to Sec.
rotary Stanton at Washington. 1t
so happened that only few days be-
fore the Majors brother was hanged as
a spy by General Rosecrans in Tennes-
see At the beginning of the war this
brother was az officer in Lieutenant
General SCOTS staff. He used to com
municate important military secrets to
a relative of his, the daughter of dis
tinguished rebel general and finally he
deserted from Washington over to the
enemy. In the course of time Captain
w llIiflLlS dlld ollc OtItl olllCcl tDtttc u
Rosecrans' lines. They boldly assumed
the role of officers of the staff, and or
dered the troops of a certain brigade,
then on outpost duty, to parade for in
spection. Fortunately, they were sus-
pected; they were arrested and sent to
headquarters. Their trial followed, and
they quickly paid the penalty of their
ofiense. 1t is said that Secretary Stan.
ton always believed that his brothers
fate disturbed Major Williams loyalty,
and that the Objectionable words were
spoken deliberately and from the bot
tom of his heart. But the Majors
brother soldiers, in and out of service,
believed nothing of the kind. and al
ways looked upon him as the unfortu-
nate victim of circumstances. Major
Williams tried frequently to have his
case inquired into by the government,
but always without success.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13
The Istilmus Canal.

The New York Times thus indorses n
solution Of the inter-oceanic canal prob
lem
A decidedly better scheme than that OF
Mr.. Eads il the one invented by Il lead
ing cit,zcn OF Clinton, ILL.,, who,of course,
has been familiar with ships from his
earliest youth. He proposes that when
a vessel arrives at Panama chains should
be passed under and around her and
secured to an enormous balloon. The
balloon, on being inflated, viii rise,
lifting the vessel with 1T, and while sus-
pcNdsd IN air, both balloon and vessel
can be towed across the istnmus by
rope attached to locomotive on The
existing railway from Aspinwal to
Panama. This plan IL unquestIonabiy
most simple Of all. 1t requires no out
lay except for balloons, chains and gas.
1t does not involve the cutting OF
mountains, and it gives the expressmap
no opportunity TO smash unoflending
ships. Still, it is not entirely free
from faults. Chains are liable to break
and balloons to burst, and when sue
cession Of such accidents compels
every Central American to carry an
umbrella TO protect his head from fall.
ing vessels, there will be a strong local
opposition to that method OF crossing
the isthmus. Moreover, the passengers
on board the passing steamers VIII be
sure to drop nut-shells and lemon-peei
and empty tomato-cans, whereby Gen,
trail America will be all Uttered up and
it's inhabitants prevented from pursu-
ing their ordinary business of sleeping
in the sun with any comfort.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13

The complain, IS made mat English
girls are becoming as free and independ
ant as American girls. The Court CIR
c,,iar says that IS right.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13

Poke bonnets are much wcrn at the
watering places. They are made OF
coarse straw, and trimmed with but
,ercups, carnations, cherries or blacg-
berries,
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13

Rome Italy has been startled by
bicycle race between two ladies who
both belong to the best society and are
celebrated for their beauty.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-13

Already there is talk of the styles
the dress-makers have devised for next
winter. 1t is whispered that there are
TO be wonderful combinations OF colors,
and novelties in materials and shapes.
, 1879-07-04

sassl for tobacco md cigars, :ast' for beer,
,a1ri f2s23 frngsa privnto l,apRs an,l hnrkerf.
j, Msrshal 1EIitlr,,p has gluo to nc;ridesc to 10
with his family over tic Fourth.
i, x.ll Of the Offices In the uoyeroment Building
will 10 ctoerll today, nttf the various occupants
time.
Tic: bqck1a,ne ot tl'c lqea! dspartmeot ot The
o. l'aeon. fur which p'aee hs departed Wcdacs-
dag eveht,,E.
.'a1nca 4. linton. the 1.trnestonetown, Peoria
County. n,sn who was brought np Tuesday Tor
selling i!9,ints ind cigars without license. WAS
Gs,or1 ,na ,GGma'ss'.er lloyns yesterday pr,' }.
gone gone wrong IN, thu, eyes Of the
A. fnfnfrallon was hlrl ngaInst him brforr
judge blsiGett. who. nfter llcat!ng ths mar.
story. tn wicft shtrp worc apparently mitigating
s!rclau'staptes. tsn'sneed him tu, pav.n ano of
gu, md etafil. aam.1,Ittsl until Il WIS raid.
The nltl feltoTp wNa aesonl!rs'v talteu down TO
l'eoria lasL us6l,t, a1hl will s,cud his Fourth In
enHc Agent for thsa district. has i1,at completed
M examination of ftntlostor lturver's utlce and
thu csah accounts. ctc., In accordance With tle
directions ot Conlmisstona: Kau1u. VIM assRned
sistc,1 by Deputy -co'1ectat snr'.,rcrt nul The
| cnntinC hogan Mondny. DUNG 80, being cotI1-
pietcd "Wednesday, s1,t "a inst, fhc accoants
Snre all fo!!nd tn he rofroe'. tlc luoks ealanc-
| fHE perfectly. The examination showed That
,ha prcsont liabilities .of; TIN Office, Including
stamps un 1nr,tl anl aasetetncntt to be collected
from rariuIlS pnrsons.-foE all otwhich tho Col
iuctnr Is respoaslLa to the Dcpa.tmont,-wcrc
s., ,:.:003.:tsl.
| Conrad nitrbrnuer, WHO runs ctpeery at No.
eAl South linlste.l street, waH lptpee Co,usnis-
| si0nnr Hoync yratcrIlhy rnnrnfnEnHtt,e common
charge oF selling 'souor ~lthout bavns n liccnec.
, 1879-07-04

Duluth. Then thcy 60 By Tho s. rani @ o. ~
Minneapolis, St. Paul, and other places, ret''sn-
lug BY the Della al Wlsconsin.
Of Go iat Dona't, 1 oi tiu Bentsnyi1te Adrantt
formerly Of tnv Caucasian. l!r, y WI 10 r.
inctabofed, t1Ado h trar throllh tia Nnrth"sst
so,nu tlmc ago, a,',l was MUCH impressed WILD
ns compared will, ihi SOUTH. This "bject
Ut tic present trip Is tnatyo tug rapfcscntatt9css
OF the press of lint stnte full knoriraGe OF
f!ie woutIcrflil growth which IMPRESSED hin,
lint on their return they mar aLvosate tncas'
tires looking to tc sntnc advance IN Ideas.
AMONG THIS PROMINENT MEMBERS
Of tic party aru tie lion. 1avob Froltch sccrc-
tary OF 5tate; tlr lion. ]. l.. Denton. state ~
pertntendaus ut Public lnatrtction; itc Hon. J.
J.. Palmer. First Assistant A'ml;or u ,.s Sta!o;
Sda Clerk rsssnt a;a s g. Fs.s ~
a.s.! editor Of the Darecnei! ArkanaaA; 7. Y
i'eck, editor Of the l.:sslc Rock Ga:etfs; =. 4.
Nowl.a Or .ls sgrt Hf x1. trkx.'Ss va:,,s2 =: y,
The llc!enn >ie.putM: :,air. T.. Whitman and vile.
OF tho Menphs LaigT; E. 4. Waryeu. prescott
Lsm.teh; J.. u. rtman. Dsr'atea; prot. Leo
lIsisr, littla Rock ot;tiit; 1ilco lla1ttnasl su,
Kailroad; Tbomae. Esscx, Land Commissioner
Of the St. Louis s. iron Mountain Railroad; :;
Franz; j. Gallagher, Fort su,itt Lftrdd; Len.
janltn Thomas, Little Kuck Gn:t'ie; g. j: Hytlct
Little nocx t''f3e'tti F. !. yauElan l.ltt!e Hofi'
Ucndrrson, Malvern 4utleor J. u. hlnba'l, HOT
Springs S<.tl,4*t; r. f. Holland, .Hentonylltc
dtitdhce; tho Rev. j. 4. Dye, Little Roclt
Democrat ): I. Bonnet, scait'n,F B.aeo,!, GU
set. Kn.pp osseos Tn,.' J. nenaerso, asrsa'
7iu.ts thc Rer. ". i. Forbes, Western Bapsist; ;
l.. c. McCurKe, Hope Reeord; Y. {. Freemao.
Do Wts Democrat E. ". B. White, Prescott
I'ieayune; c. 4. Dhccn. Mum phts .ioMrnaf; ".
l}ecbe IYafcinnn; J. j. y. Thomas, Dcsard dl.
1ts1'; W. e. Dav1s, Forest City Courier; and j.
e, krcusba,v, Brink1ey ITtnts.
, 1879-07-04
HYMENEAi-.

Smttat Catrttpn,.dthet II 7he Tribune.
LEXINGTON. H., July 9.-On Sunday, june
60, nt p. M, there occurred in this city very
quiet though elegant wedding, at the residence
of the brtde's parente, The contracting partIas
,,ony Miss Mngcte G. Boiler, wes! and iavorab!y
knowu Ia social circles Of this place, and Mr.
Augustus j. WOODWARD, Que OF Lexington'a
most promising business u,en. The ceremony
was pronounced by TIC Rev, j. T. Davis, D. d.
None were prcscnt at the ceremony save thu
relatives aud few Of the nearest friends Of the
family. Tho bride. a striking brunette. looked
very lovely in a heavy black silk atd velvet
dress, cut rrlnccssc, long court train, relieved
at tho see7es and neck by point applique
lace. a so,l af cxquls'tcly WoTcn lace
completely envelopcd her form, while her dark
hnir was caught back BY wreath attd SPRAYS OF
orange blossoms, Miss Ado Boiler, sister u iho
bride, was worry tastefully dressed. a. well a.
Wcro alt the ladlcs present. The presents were
deed 10 d hollse mud lot, well furnlshe1
throughout, bo!ng atnong tho number
Tho evening following (sionda{} a M reception
and tl,e tasteiully decorated , rooms wess
ladies ind gentlemen. During tic evening the
party were terenaded hY the Lexington CoFnrt
Band, Of which Mr. Woodward. the groom, is
was noticed chair tastefullT Decorated
with evergreen. and ou ts s bask ~ j. "Frank,"
OF an absent brother who, being 1000 miles
away, wa unab'e 10 70 ~ present s; Among tnose
ia.hes asA mother ct the bride, we're tue Misses
Ada a,ri Carrie Boiler, slaters Of the bride; aiss
josie Elder, Miss lda Coiland Of Paris, Miss
Fanaio Okoson, Mss Emma Smith, Mis- Stella
Franklin, Nils Lille franklin. Mtss ltattte Do
Meux, Miss Luelln Shade, attss Emma Htraus-
laugh ot Decatur, tns sllAsea Btrdis aud Cora
Poor, Miss hello Harnrss, the Mtsacs Prcble,
Str. aud Mrs. William Lung. Feoi. aud Mrs.
t!eorRu n'oaut, A',s: El!a y.u pyIkts, NJ. sl
Laura ksut, III. y. A; Tayor of Doontsg ton.
Nj. y. y; FulwIIer, Ar. ". Il. stephe1a, ".
Curly Of Bloomington, Mr. i: Elder, prof.
E4lst "t nioo"6ton M asoFfS f., Naha' s,a'
William and Bt1rnarl Clsggett, John stcyensuu,
| Sir. VIII j. Boiler Of chicago, Air. 4. N. Day,
nllss others.
DLooAlkGToN, ILL.,. July 3.-ataerra schloe-
der, lie youngest daughter Of Dr.. II. sehroeder,
| OF Bloomington. was married to.dayto Dr,
sel.!1luer, Of Muggendo:f, Germany, The cete-
] mopy having been performed there. The fsut