davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist., 1880-09-15
In the Jaws Of an Alligator.

From the Pehnsylrana Tribune
a strange and serious accident
happened recently to farmers boy
named Pennel Sharp, who lives in
the country a Short distance beyond
Cressen, along thsline of the Penn.
sylvania railroad crosses a small
stream here, branch Of the Cone
maugh. In placesit has deep holes,
which are very good bathing places.
Young Sharp afNisseveral companions
who had been out shooting wood
cock, had gone into bathe. As Sharp
was swimming BY himself some dis
tance from the bank, his companions
suddenly heard him give an agoniz.
ing scream an0then disappear in the
water. They Saw that he had been
caught by some black animal, which
had one Of his lsgsHn its mouth,
where it was heMEfmly by a row OF
cruel white teeth. Yhe animal car
RED the young man under the water,
but reappeared in Two or three
minutes with Sharp,iq his jaws. He
cried to his companions to shoot, but
before a gun could he discharged he
was pulled under the water again.
About two minutes after he rose
with the big black brute still cling
ing to his leg, andkrEck out for the
opposite shore. AganlRe called to
his companions to shoot, but being
afraid Of hitting Sharp, no one dis
charged his gun. AT last he reached
the bank and began climbing up it's
slippery side, when the animal,
guided by sudden impulse, gave
jerk, which lore a great piece from
the calf Of Sharp's leg and slid with
its mouthtul OF human flesh into the
deep water, to reappear no more.
The wounded Rpy was carried
The Florida agriculturist., 1880-09-15

A'uo UHO oASCP CdlHC again, anu w Ill
lam Ladd, who was very orderly
man himself, was provoked. "Sam,"
he said, "go to that fellow, and tell
him if he don't keep his sheep out
of my wheat field III have them
shot" Even this did not do; the
sheep were in again. "Sam," said
William Ladd, "taEe my gun, and
shoot those sheep
II would rather not" said Sam.
"Rather not, Sam! Why there are
but three; it's no great job"
"No, sir; but the poor man has
but three in the world, and l am not
the person that likes to shoot poor
mans sheep"
"Then the poor man should take
proper care of them. gave him
warning. Why didn't he mend his
fence ?"
"Well, sir, guess it was because
you sent him a rough kind of mes
sage. 1t made him mad, and so he
wouldn't do it,"
II considered a few minutes" said
William LaGd, 'and then l told Sam
to put the horse in the buggy"
"Shall put in the gun" said
Sam.
NO." said I. l saw Sam halt
smile, but said nothing. 1 got into
the buggy, and drove up to my neigh.
boris; he lived a mile off, and l had
a good deal OF time TO think the mat
ter over. When l drove up to his
house, the man was chopping wood.
there were few sticks of wood, and
the house was poor, and my heart
was softened. "Neighbor," l called
out. The man looked sulky, and did
not lit up his head. "Come, come,
neighbour" said l, Il have come with
friendly feelings tc you, and you
must meet me halfway" He pre-.
ceived / was in earnest, laid down
his axe, and came to the wagon.
mo, neighbor," said l, 1--WE have
both been in the wrong; you neg
lected your tence, and l got angry,
and sent you a provoking message.
Now let's both lace about, and
both do right, and feel right. I'll
forgive you, and you must forgive
me. Now, let's shake hands," He
didn't feel quite like giving me his
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
A Valuable Discovery.

Some five or six years ago young man
was traversing the mountains. caiions and
valleys of Esmeralda county, Nevada, pros
pecting for gold and silver. As he locked
down on the valley Of Teel's marsh be saw
q vast bed of white sand or something like
ii, and was tempted 10 descend and exam
inc it. He found the place to be the bed
or dry lagoon, five miles In length ana
about half as wide, aud what he had taken
Tor sand proved to be . soft, clay-like de-
posit, in which he sank ankle deep as he
cautiously walked over it. Filling his
pockets with the curious stuff he mounted
his horse again and rode to bis home In
Columbus. There an assayer pronounced
the conteuts Of his pockets the firest
specimen Of crude borax be bad ever seen.
The astonished prospector-onc Of the
large family or Smitbs--lost no time In
making formal claim to this find. and, that
OBTAINED, he and his brother went TO work
with tanks, boilers, and al necessary ap.
pliances, and are at the present writing the
masters of an immense establishmsnt,
driving very profitable trade, ono likely
to be as permanent ~ possible, since the
deposit OF borax in Tssl's marsh reprodu'
oes itself every two or three yean.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
A ROYAL LOVE STORY.
wEEN AND WHERE THE cZAR FELL IN
LOVE WITH THE CzARINA.
New York World.

New York World.
As the society journals on the other side
of the Atlantic are just now entertainin g
their readers with stories OF the fatal in
fluencs exercised over Alexander III. by a
certain prircess at hie court, who is said to
rule him to his ruin more cruelty and com
pletely than Julie Won Krudener ruled his
namesake and predecessor, it may be worth
while to reprint from London newspaper,
not society journal, the romance Of the
Emperor's legitimate affection for the EN-
press Mary:
In 1881, when the present Car was 23
years of age, list was prepared at St.
Petersburg Of marriageabls German prin-
cesses, and, under the care of Count Or
loft, the Czarevitch went to visit them. He
had been to Berlin and the Courts OF North
Germany, and was on his way to Carlsruhe
when he arrived at Frankfort. The Prince
was about to resume his journey, when he
received an invitation from the Grand Duke
of Hesse Darmstadt to dine at the Palace
of Darmstadt. AS a matter Of courtesy
only the invitation was accepted, and after
dinner the Court adjourned to another
room to tea. There the Russian CGlebs In
search OF a wife saw young lady OF 10,
accompanied by her governess, whose ap-
pearance was so charming in its simplicity
that he inquired who she WAS. The Prin-
cess Mary was the daughter Of his host, but
her name was not upon the st. Petersburg
list. Presently The royal and imperial per-
sonages proceeded to the drawing room,
where Alexander asked to be presented to
the attractive girl, and long conversation
with her confirmed his first impression.
Next morning Count Orloff informed the
Prince Of the arrangements for proceeding
to Baden. "My dear Count" said the
Grand Duke, we shall 90 no further;
have made my choice the journey is fin
ished." Orloff had not expected how
matters stood, and expostulated. The
Princeses of Baden had not been seen, and
the name of Princess Mary of Hesse was
not on the list. Alexander would 60 tt
Carlsruhe If politeness required, bus be
had made up his mind to marry none Other
than the Princess Mary. When the news
reached Sc. Petersburg the entourdge o.
the Emperor endeavored to prevent thi'
marriage, but Nicholas was tenderly at
tacbed to his son and would not allcw hin
10 be thwarted in affair Of the heart. Al
old diplomatist, the Count de Reisit. tell
this story in his unpu ublished memoirs.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
Fifty Days from the Artipodss.

Australian meat was sold in London
fortnight ago Fifty-two days were occu-
pied in the outward voyage, and four or
Eve more on the homeward voyage. Tho
work of taking meat on board at Sidney
and of freezing it began on November IL,
and on the Goth the vessel set sail for Mel
bourne, where additions were made to the
stock, raising the total to 5G3 sheep and 50
bullocks, weighing altogether about 30
tons, and on December 8 began the voyage.
The meat was kept in a room about 70
feet square, and the temperature maintain
ed during the voyage was from ten to nj
teen degrees below the ireezing point No
chemicals were employed in the freezing
process or during the voyage home. by
means of an engine the all was drawn out
of the room, washed and chilled, being
compressed in the washing process and
then forced back into the chamber. Four
or five hours working of the engine per
day was sufficient throughout for the pur-
pose. No difficulty was experienced during
the voyage through the Indian Ocean and
by the Saez route, though naturally some
had been apprenended. 20 days being spent
in the tropics. Some Of the meat was oc-
casionally used as food, and in one instance
1t least part Of what had been taken out
of the room was left hanging for three or
four days in the rigging, and then found
fit for use. On Christmas eve, when the
vessel was nearing home, 100 pounds were
given out, and the whole proved all that
the crew could wish for. evea At such > fes'
tive time.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
RUsSIA's DICTATOR,
PERSONNEL OF GEN. LoRIs MELIBoFF,
THE CARS NEW APPoINTEE.

Gen. Loris Melikoff, who is now tine
military dictator of Russia, is the son of
an Armenian merchant, and began his mil
tary career as an officer in a hussar regi-
ment in st. Petersburg. His talents were
recognized by Mouravisff, the Governor
General of the Caucasus, but until the
campaign of 1877 he had never had an OPP
portunity to handle large BODY of troops
or to learn the science of war in the open
field.
Melikoff is handsome soldier, with
black curly hair, large dark, sparkling
eyes, a somewhat bronzed complexion and
features which. without being quite regu-
lar, are comely and refined. He is of mid
die stature, of a slight, nervous structure
and spare in person. his manners are pol
ished and extremely affable, while his con-
versation In light and easy. He has been
one of the most successful military gov
ernors who have been invested with su-
preme power in their districts during the
past year. He is a man of great and va
ried accomplishments. In addition to his
native language, Armenian, he is familiar
with and speaks Russian, Turkish, PersI..n
and French. but he is ignorant of German
and English. He was great favorite
with his soldiers. He visited them n their
bivouacs, tasted their soup and inquired
after their comfort. He took especial care
of the sick, frequeHtly inspecting the hos
pitals and ambulances. At the same time
he was strict disciplinarian, and required
from all, and particularly the non-com mis-
stoned officers of his army, punctuai per
formance of their duty. His age is fifty,
seven.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19

They ray this life il barren, drear and cold;
Ever the same sad song sung Of old,
Ever the same long weary tale IL told.
And to our lips is held the cup of strife,
And yet-a little love can sweeten life.
They says our hands may grasp bat joys destroyed,
Youth has but dreams, and age an aching void,
Whose Dead Sea fruit long, long ago has cloyed,
Whose night with wild tempestuous storms Is rife
And yet little hope can brighten life.
They say we fling ourselves in wild despair
Amidst the broken treasures scattered there,
Where all is wrecked, where al once promised tair;
And stab ourselves with sorrows twocdged knife
And yet q little patience f'rengthens life
Is II then true this tale of bitter grief,
OF mortal anguish finding no relief
Lo! midst the winter shines the laurel's leaf
Three angels share the lot OF human strife,
Three angels gorify the path of life.
Love, Hope and Patience cheer us on our way,
Love Hope and Patience form our spirits stay,
Love, Hope and Patience watch us day by day,
And bid the desert bloom with beauty vcrnal,
Until the earthly fades in the eternal.
Temple Oar
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
COMPLETION OF A HUGE WORK.
MOUNT sT. GoTHARD SUCCESSFULLY
PIERCED.

A dispatch from Berne, Switzerland, an
nounces that the work Of piercing Mount
ST. Gothard was satisfactorily completed at
nine o'clock on Sunday morning. March Z,
amid great rejoicing. The contract for the
construction of the st. Gothard Tunnel
was awarded to NJ. Louis Favre, of Geneva,
on August Z, 1872. 1t was one of the
conditions of the contract that the perfora-
ton should be completed within eight
years from that date, with large premi-
um in case Of the completion OF the work
in afshorter time and with not less heavy
penalty ip case of delay. 1t will be seen,
therefore, that the contractor has kept in
side his limit by some months His opin-
ion that the perforation could be accom-.
plished in considerably less time would
doubtless hsve been justified but for the
fact that progress was frequently impeded
by the saving in of the rock aud by the ir-
ruption of water in the strata. Despite
these difficulties, which were sometimes
serious and always great consumers Of
time, NJ. Favre has the satisfaction of hav-
ing bored the longest tunnel in the world
by over a mile in less time by ovef five
years than was required 10 bore the Mont
Gents Tunnel, now the second greatest
work of the kind. This rapid achieve
ment is triumph for the improved drill
ling machinery of modern invention which
has been employed upon the st. Gothard
Tunnel from the beginning.
Comparison of the three largest tunnels
shows that the Mont Gents, length eight
miles, less few yards, cost $l5, 200, 900,
was constructed in the thirteen years from
1857 to 1870 the Hoosac Tunnel, length
Al miles, cost $f3,0OO,OO0, was finished in
eleven years from the time the work was
properly begun, and the st. Gothard, length
o. miles, has been bored in less than seven
years and half. The contract prices sum
up to an estimated total cost of 50, 700, 900.
This amount was to cover all expenses,
whether direct or accessory, and all risks
and contingencies from whatever cause ari-
sing. If this part &C the contract is held
to, the st. Gothard will be the cheapest
OF the three tunnels in cost Of construc-
tion, in addition to its other and insufficient
distinctions.
The St. Gothard Railway will form the
shortest line of transit between the Valley
of the Rhine and the Mediterranean. and
it has been we'll said that when the geo.
graphical relation of the cour tries it con-
meets are considered, together with the
vast political, military and commercial in-
terests which will be affected by it, it may
safely be characterized as the great artery
of European International life and circula-
tiou, and as the most important work OF
material improvement yet projected on that
continent.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
Il Was His Wife.

Council Bluffs had a lively sensation
short time ago. A man from Chicago ar
rived at one of the hotels In the former
place, and the clerk, thinking he had .
nice surprise for his guest, told him that
his wife was in the house.
"That cannot be-" said the G. NJ, "for
left her at home. few days since and
she said nothing Of making a journey"
"well." said the clerk, "she Is in the
house and I'll prove it by showing her to
you." .
Going to her room, he knocked and told
the lady her husband was down stairs and
would like to see her. She almost tainted
and the clerk didn't know what it all meant.
The secret, however, soon was disclosed
that she was eloping with another man and
thought her husband was in California.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
THE ISTEgUs CANAL.
PRESIDENT HAYES SAYS 1T MUST BE UNDER
AMERICAN CONTROL.

WASHINGTON, March S.-The Senate to-
day received message from the President
in response to the resolution calling for the
correspondence respecting the ship canal.
He says: deem it proper to state briefly
my opinion as to the policy of the United
States with respect to the construction OF
an inter-oceanc canal by any route across
the Amelica isthmus. The policy of this
country is that the canal should be under
American control. The United States can
not consent to surrender this control TO any
European power or to any combination OF
European powers. II existing treaties be-
tween the United States and other natisns,
or if the rights Of sovereignty OF property
of other nations stand in the way of this pol
icy-a contingency which is not apprehend-
ed suitable steps should be taken by just
and liberal negotiations to promote and
establish the American policy on this sub
icct consistently with ths rights OF the
nations to be affected by 1t. Capital in
vestment by corporations or citizens OF
Diuci III ouOa Checi ~ 'cS A'eS" 80
a great degree look for protection to one
or more Of the great powers of the world.
No European power can intervene for such
protection without adopting measures on
this continent which the United States
would deem wholly inadmissible. If the
protection OF the United States is relied
upon the United States must exercise such
control as will enable this country to pro-
tect its national int erests and maintain
those whose private capital is embarked in
the work. An inter.oceapic canal across
the American isthmus will essentially change
the geographical relations between the
Atlantic and Pacific coast Of the United
States and between the United States and
the rest of the world. 1t will be the great
ocean thoroughfare between our Atlantic
and Pacific shores, and virtually part OF
the coast line of che United States. Our
merely commercial interest is greater than
that of all other countries, while its rela-
tions to our power and prosperity as a
nation, to our means of defense, our unity,
peace aud safety, are matters of paramount
consideration to the people of the United
States. No other great power would, un-
der similar circumstances, fail to assert
rightful control over work so closely and
vitally affecting its interests and welfare.
Without urging further the ground of my
opinion, repeat, in conclusion, that 1t is
the right and duty of the United States to
assert and maintain such supervision and
authority over any inter. oceanic canal across
the isthmus that connects North and South
America as will protect our national inter
ests. This, am quite sure, will be found
not only compatible with but promotive
of the widest and most permanent advant-
age to commerce and civilization.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
The Degraded Women Of ALASKA.

Rev. DR.. Jackson. OF Denver, Col, In
recent lecture in Cincinnati, describes tue
condition or the women among the Alaska
Indians as degrading beyond description.
He had heard often of Indian women
leaving their cabins in the night and GO
ing into the forest with their little girls,
where, after making bed Of leaves, they
lulled them to sleep and left them to be
devoured by the foxes, preferring that
they should perish as innocent babes rather
than grow up TO be sold into slavery and
suffer as their mothers had done. Rev.
Kirby, an English missionary stationed IN
British Columbia, had stated TO him that
on one occasion when be had spoken with
peculiar effect to large number of In
dams, 10 Indian women had come forward
after the services were over and confes sed
to him that they had always murdered
their babies when they were females rathe
than have them live TO grow up to woman
hood. II the Alaska girl escapes the foxes
and grows up, she finds her life condemned
to drudgery that soon stamps out all
traces of tenderness. Ii was no uncom-
mon spectacle in Sitka to see woman Of
fer her own daughter for sale to any trade
or person who would consent to buy her.
1t was not true that there was no slavery
within the jurisdiction of the United States;
there were hundreds of slaves in Alaska,
bought and sold like cattle, and their lives
were regarded scarcely more than those OF
cattle. 1t was customary with the heads
of tribes, and with men of consideration,
when a daughter died, to send out and
have female slave killed, in order that
the young lady might have waiting spirit
10 the land to which she was going. We
might also, if time permitted, speak OF the
terrors of sorcery among the natives of
Alaska. We could tell how mob of In
dams broke into the mission school of Ft.
Wrangle and captured two women, whom
they took down to the shore and held under
water until they nearly strangled. Then
they proceeded to beat and torture them
out of all semblance to humanity. O1e oi
the victims died under the hands OF heI
tormentors, and the other owed her life u
the interference Of party whom the mis-
siouaries collected to effect their rescue
They found remains of the practice o.
widow burning among the natives, and ths
bones of murdered slaves were often ex
humed beneath the corner posts Of dwelling
houses.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
A FLOATING ISLAND.
ONE or THE NATURAL cURIosrTIEs OF
JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON.

Among the many natural curiosities Of
this county, it is not generally known that
there is fieating island. Up in the Sis
kiyous, lying like pearl in the great
mountain chain, is Squaw Lake, beauti-
full sheet of water, owned BY mining
company as reservoir. For many years
the lake has been favorite and delightful
resort for fishing parties. and contained
nearly in its centre an island, comprising
about one acre Of ground covered with
luxuriant grass and growth of willow and
alder. 1t was never dreamed that tie
pretty little island was not terra firma, but
when tho bulkhead across the
outlet OF tho lake damned up its waters
the island rosa slowly folly sixteen feet
above its original level. II would be .
question far the naturalist rather than the
geologist to determine tho age Of this fioat-
ing island, a it il evidently made mp en-
tirely OF decayad vegstatica. Perhaps 1t
some remote period the roots of. > tree, up
torn by the mountain storm drifting out
into the lake, formed the nuclous from
which this island has grown; but II seems
singular that 1t should have remained I'M
snch ored and unohanged In it, position.
Tho loraiity il much frsquented by pleasure
seekers, Who will hersafesr notice tho in-
creased elevation.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
Life in Mexico.

Mrs. Governor Lew Wallace finds in New
Mexico what she calls u "suotle Spanish
essence" pervading everything. Even the
names Of the most common persons she
meets are poetic. She says, In the hide
pendent, "Perfectio (perfection), worth
less peon in Navaha blanket, sweeps the
Benito (the good). shambling
Mexican boy, watching his chance for a
spring at the spoons, brings the daily mail;
Mariposa (butterfy), the silliest OF Slow
boys, pushes the baby wagon; while An
gellus, an angel whose form has lost it's
original brightness, lszily watches her.
Three old witches, whom VIC familiarly call
the Macbeths, were baptized Feliciana, the
Ia ppy; Rosita, little Rose; Hepmosa, the
beautiful" Mrs. Wallace adds that most
of the people she meets have Indian blood
in their veins, and not few are mixture
of Spanish, African and Indian. Here is
her picture of Santa Fe woman: "Quite
out Of reach Of the shady trees, In the
fiercest blaze of the sun. sitting ON frag-
ment OF the Rocky Mountains, Ia n statu-
esque figure, which might represent the
Oldest, the most furious Of the Furies. IL
8 Bland,na, the fair one, the soft one. OF
Santa Fe. Her face, like one OF her own
foot hills, is worn into cutters and seams.
N OF like them 20 moulded BY the action OF
the water, but by exposure to sharp sun
light and withsring winds, destructive to
beauty, which make even young persons
appear old. Her skin is . parchment, which
looks a. though it might date back to--l
was .bout to say the flood, but that would
imply that at SONS prehistoric era she had
felt the sanitary influence Of q shower
bath"
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
A Few Old Sayings.

Impatiepce dries the blood sooner than
age or sorrow.
If you would create something you must
be something.
Fretting about to-norrow's troubles
never drives them of.
He that tov much refinas his delicacy VIII
always endangers his quiet.
Pain is the squirting of nature that comes
To remind man that he has gone of the
track of happiness, and to bring him back
again.
Formerly, when great fortunes were
made only in war, war was business; now,
when great fortunes are only made oy bus
mess, business 10 war.