davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
Periis of the Rail.

The following story wag told during an interview held by New York World reporter with two old Erie engineers, now dead; Did you ever hear Hughey Williamson tell of his adventure at
 Washingtonvillc on the Newbue
 hranch?" asked Carpenter. William son is another know danger runner, and is now on the road. Fisk selected
 him because of his courage to run the Chicago relief train. We'll" he went on to say, "that was rarity, one that seldom occurs. Williamson was in Newburg when he was teIegraphed to run to Greycourt to assist in pulling a big six-wheeler on the track that had run off q switch and could not get back herself, as they sometimes do, you know. Of course time was an import, ant thing, as the engine that was of blocked up the westward bound track
 He started from New burg with nothing but his engine and clear road; you can just bet he flew. He left the rails echoing behind like 8 never ending waterfall The station agent rushed 10 the door wild with fright, thinking it was a runaway engine, and nobody on it. AtSalisbury Mills, the population of which village is but a few feet from the track, the people rushed out of the houses utterly dismayed and unable to believe their own eyes. They thought it was a specter, which they could not describe, so suddenly did it appear and as quickly vanish from sight. Over the Washingtonville flats the gait was SC rapid the telegraph poles looked like blades of grass, they were so thin. X ftCr turning the curve at the Washing tOnville station Hughey espied hand car full of track-hands, rails, etc. They had no sign ot flag out, and did not expect anything along. He immedi- ately concluded that he could not stop in time, so he only blew his whistle to warn the men to jump of. There were a dozen of lem and they had q wonder fully narrow escape He picked up that hand-car, and sent 'cm fiyin' in the air in al! directions. A low hand car with rails on it pointing right at you is the most dangerous thing that you can possibly hit, but the rails this time in stead of piercing the boiler and engine swerved off and did little injury The dinner-kettles of the laborers flew like popcorn on frying-pan, and crowbars, shovels, pickaxes, tamping bars and spikes made a complete kaleidoscope in the air. One of the axles Of the car, 10 which was attached one wheel, bounded over the smokestack and came crashing through the cab window on the fire mans side, who was nearly killed in his great hurry to get out ot the way. The most of the car landed on the front of the engine, and before Hughey could stop he had carried it through one of those old-fashioned covered wooden bridges nearly 8 quarter of mile on. In all my experience" concluded Car penter, II don't think l ever heard tell of such a miraculous escape as Hughey had. He must have been going through the air like an electric current when he couldn't stop an empty engine before hitting such dangerous thing"
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
Odd Ways of Putting Things.

When Naples was ruled by King Bomba, his majesty one day paid visit to the ship of an English commodore, lying in the bay. While the commo. dore was receiving his royal visitor on the quarter-deck, a member of the Nea- politan suite, cruising about midships, mistook wind sail for 8 pillar, and leaning against it. suddenly went below head foremost. The only witness of the accident, an old tar, thercupon made for the quarter deck, and having saluted. said: "I beg pardon, commodore. but one of them ere kings has fell down the hatchway!''
 Sheridan once declined to take walk with troublesome feminine admirer, on the plea that the weather would not permit; and being caught by the lady as he was sneaking out for a stroll, encoun- tered her remark that the weather seemed now to have cleared up, with the bold asseveration: :. Yes, madam, enough for one, but not enough for two" Enough for one would, how ever, have been held enough for two, had the lady been as attractive as the fair one to whom youthful admirer wrote: want you to come around to our house. If you cannot get any body to come around to your house, ami fetch you around to our house, win come around to your house and fetcl. you around to our house." He evidently meant business, although his method of putting things was as odd as that of the gf fntlenan who would not hear of sllar- Ing lis fortunes with q partner because: - II you make anything you don't get 1t; and If you lose you have to lose 1t all. "-C Chambers Journal.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
washineton's La st Illness.

The certificate of Drs. Craik and Dick. the physicians who attended George Washington at the time of his death, has just been unearthed from a George town newspaper of l799. It does not appear in any of the biographies of Washington. The certificate concludes thus: He was fully impressed at the beginning of his complaint, as well as through every succeeding stage of 1t, that it's conclusion would be mortal !; submitting to the several exertions made tor his recovery rather as q duty than from any expectations of their efficacy. He considered tine operations of death upon his system as coeval with the dis ease. and several hours before his de- cease, after several efforts to be under stood, succeeded in expressing a desire that he might be permitted to die with out interruption. During the short period of his illness he economized time in the arrangements of such few con cerns as required his attention, with the utmost serenity, anticipated his ap- preaching dissolutions with every dem onstration of that equanimity for which his whole life has been so uniformly y and singularly conspicuous.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
Compressed Food for Armies,

Tie horse-biscuit W i1ich continental armies have used with success is a port able invention which enables the trooper to carry in his haversack a weeks ra- tion for the charger, and thus on a sudden emergency makes himself in dependent of all other forage. In like case, Kopf's consolidated preparations, which were used with signal service in South Africa, supply a long-felt and much-needed want. Kopf's prepara- tions are inexpensive, they are nutritious and are extremely portable. In Zulu land the British soldiers spoke most highly of them, and even in England they are not despised in the baIraek- room. A small tin cylinder weighing but one and one half ounces contains ample for $ meal; three of these among two men are all the soldier requires in the day. Soups of various kinds, con- taining compressed vegetables in greater or less quantities are the preparations most appreciated. but compressed tea, milk and sugar are luxuries which cam paigners will not pass by. Three lnin- utes' boiling ill soldiers canteen is all the cooking necessary for meal. One mule can carry 2,600 tins of Kopf's soups, or rations for whole battalion for a day; camel can in like manner carry over rough ground more than two days rations Each man without much difficulty could slip supply for two or three days into his haversack. Here, then we have the whole secret of wag- ing war with minimized transport and consequently at q reduced expenditure
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
sworn iii as a Thief.

Oscar Taylor, young man arrested for a robbery committed at Alden, N. Y, is now confined in jail at Newburg. He has, since his arrest, given a history of his career in knavery, which, consider ing it's short duration-six months-has been unusually eventful. About six months ago he left Alden and came to in with a gang of thieves in drink ing saloon, and was induced without much persuasion to join them.
 He was then conducted by two of their number. by many Windings. to narrow street. The leader suddenly darted into '' narrow alley and the others followed. Alter passing through yard they stopped before 9 door leading into 8 cellar. Three taps by the leader and the door was cautiously opened. This place Taylor describes as thieves ren- dezVous, containing everything neces- sarv to the trade-burglar' tools, knives, pistols. jimmies and crucibles for melting down silverware. Here ths newcomer was compelled to swear thae he would never betray his comradest he oath being administered by one of, their number known as "Slippery oath, they said ia blood -curdling tones, wac 60 be shot at sight. He was also instructed never to recognize any of the of the gang in the street. and to always follow his conductor in silence until the cellar was reached. Especial care was to be taken when they were under the eyes ofthe police or had any reason to suspect they were being watched. Taylor says he is not able to say how many men belong to the gang, as he never saw all of them at the same time. Tine only ones he knew by name were $ Burglar Dick Slippery Jim," and his companion, George Scott, with whom most of his own robberies were committed. He was never able to go to the rendezvous without guide, and W hen he was conducted there it was by 3 circuitous route. The method of operating practiced by the thieves was to go in pairs, taking different routes, into the interior of the neighboring States. -NesO Yorb T11bane.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
Horrible.

California community has sur- passed the atrocity of Spanish bull- fights by a match between a mule and locomotive, at least it is so stated by well-known writer The mule was large and bony army mule, and the locomotive was one of the celebrated Patterson breed. A circular track was built in a large temporary amphitheater, on which the locomotive was run at full speed, and the mule was let loose into the arena to deal with its antagon- ist as it saw fit. The mule watched the locomotive for some time, with its ears ln threatening attitude, and when the locomotive had attained a speed of fully fifty miles an hour, backed up in front of 1t and delivered a kick with both feet. The locomotive was brought to an instant stop, trembling in every wheel, while hot precipitation of steam covered its surface. Alter being care fully sponged of and stimulated with small coals, the miserable locomotive was again set in motion. This time the mule kicked it with such terrific yio- lence as to break its funnel short of, and to smash its headlights. Moaning with pain, the locomotive was once more sponged, and its wounds bound up with sheet-iron. At this point several ladies left the amphitheater, being unable to witness any longer so brutal a spec tacle, but the inhuman owner of the locomotive ordered time to be called, and the combat to be renewed. The mule waited until the locomotive was running at an estimated speed of sixty seven miles per hour, and then delivered its final kick. The hapless locomotive was hurled some thirty feet from the track, and was taken up with its boiler ruptuIed, its eccentrics dislocated, and its connecting rods broken. It breathed its last steam in few moments in great apparent suffering, and the mule was declared the victor.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
BagpiUes in His Head,

Recently an Atlanta Consultations re-
 porter, observing quite a crowd gather ing about negro boy in the csr-shed, approached and inquired the cause of the excitement. He discovered that the boy was a musical prodigy on a very unique scale By placing his right hand over his right ear and partially opening his mouth, this boy gave the exact imitation of the musical tones of the Scotch bsgpiper, playing many airs with perfect accuracy. The music seemed to come from the inside of the boys head, and many people were at- tracted to the spot thinking that the bagpipes were giving forth their rich, mild melody. The boy was very accom- modating and played many airs, gliding with ease from the gay to the grave For instance, he played "DiSie" with great spirit and rapidity and then in the slowest and most mournful cadences :. Streams of Mercy Never Ceasing" His name is Alonzo Barnes, and he halls from Eastman. He is only eigh- teen years of age and says that he found out by accident about three years ago that his head was full of bagpipes, and has been practicing upon them ever since. He said that he could play any tune that was wbistled whereupon some one in the crowd suggested that he give something from "Pinafore." He had never heard of the piece, he said, bu called upon man after man in the group to whistle it for him, but not one seemed equal to the task. All admitted that they had once heard it, but so long ago that it was difficult to recall. The boy holds nothing whatever in hi mouth, but simply places his right hand over his ear and without the slightest effort starts his bagpipes-the Lord only knows how-the boy can't explain it. He is a living wonder, and would be feature upon any stag9
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
The L0ochooans.

In the present critical state of affairs between China and Japan in regard to the suzerainty of the Loochoo islands. much interest attaches to an official document issued in the latter country on the subject. All the Loochoo islands, the Japanese maintain, are connected by certain geomantic signs in the earth with the Japanese province of Satsuma. The forty-eight characters of the Japan csc alphabet are in use there. having been communicated to the islanders by Minamotonotametono AS regards Ian guage, they use mixture of Chinese words and the Japanese alphabet in their literature. They call their own kingdom Okina, or otherwise Okinawa. As regards religion. they worship Nj Shin, ttle great spirit of Japan, beside
 other divinities. In many of their do- mestic customs, too, the Japanese main- tain that their practice indubitably indicates their origia.--Christiarr Union
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

The IIonessla!e (Pa.) Herald tells of a Pocono mountain hunter who shot at :. bear and missed him, and was treed by hruin. The enraged animal followed up the tree, in anticipation of living high on human steak, took off the hunters boot, and was about laying out a curve on his unprotected ankle, when the hunter bethought himself of lump of salt in his pocket, which he took out md crumbled into the bears eyes. It had the desired effect. The bear went roaring and grooming down the tree and shuffieu away. as1 s
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

A good case of tit for tat is mentioned in Hdrper's AdgGziste. Mir. C. was pastor of Baptist church in a certain town in one of the Western States. He had been on very bad terms with his flock for some time They abused him whenever they could find occasion, and he reciprocated with equal readiness. Before his contract with the parish ex- pired he received the appointment of chaplain at the State prison. Elated at this lucky opportunity of getting rid of him, the congregation came in full numbers to hear his farewell sermon, perhaps less to compliment than to annoy him with their presence. Great was their astonishment and still gTea' CT their anger when the reverend gentle man chose for his text the following words: '' go to prepare placa for you that where l am there ye may be aiso."
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
rIHELY TOPICS.

It is said that diamonds have lately declined in market value. The decline is attributed to the large numbers re- gently found in Brazil and in the South African diamond fields. A Paris jeweler says that the trade in diamonds after all is very limited, owing to the very few who wear them; and they keep passing in rotation from hand to hand. Of fifty persons who buy dia- monds, forty purchase to sell again, six buy to give away, and four only actu- ally keep and wear the gems.
 The Hartford Tunes tells singular story, which is vouched for by mem . Der of the legislature. It relates to a dream by Mrs. Martha F. Graves, ot South KilGngly, an old lady who has been deaf for the past thirty years. One night recently she dreamed that her hearing was wholly restored. In the morning she related her dream to the members of her family. One night about a week afterward when she re- tired, she was as deaf as usual, but the following morning her affiiction was gone, and since then she has had no diff ficuity in hearing--a whisper even be- ing distinctly audible. It is related by her friends that she has always been a firm believer in dreams.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

Statistics show that there is one cow to every four persons in this country. One COW, if it has just been bereaved of its offspring, or is determined to go the wrong way, is enough for any four ordinary persons. Indeed, under cir cum stances of great cxcitement, one COW to about fifteen persons is generally con- sidered sufficient. -Hawkeye.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

Wealth may minister to the best part of man. but only minister-not master. When it usurps the throne and becomes monarch, it is of all things most pitiiul and abject.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

According to the Montana Herald comparatively few buffaloes have ranged the past summer north of the interna- tional boundary. Forts Walsh and Mac leod have for some years past been inn portant centers for the collection of buff falo robes, the market value ofwhich to the Indian hunter may be estimated at S2 each. In 1877 some 30,OO0 robes were gathered at Fort Macleod and a large number at Fort Walsh. In 1878 the number was 12,797 at the former and l0,697 at the latter place, while this year only 5,764 have come in at Fort Macleod and s, PIT at Fort Walsh. This steady decrease in the number of buffalo slain by the Indians and half-breeds of the Northwest affords q ready eXplana- tion of the suffering among them.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

cording to the severity of the winter. Much of this appropriation IS from the gifts from charitable sources, and from Uncertain taxes. But even this amount is insufficient to meet the wants of the pauper element; and the ways and means for increasing the amount are already the subject of anxious discus sions.
 An elderly gentleman in New York who for some years has been experi- menting with the juice of the milk weed, with reference to substituting 1t for india rubber, has discovered some- thing which he regards as far more valuable than the object he was seeking. He has succeeded in producing a so- lution that converts all fabrics into water proof goods. The most delicate colored silks, broadcloths, kid gloves, feathers, furs, velvets, ostrich plumes, when treated to this process, cannot, in appearance, be distinguished from those not subjected to it. But floods of water will run off of pink silk dipped in the bath two years ago, ostrich feathers do not have a curl disturbed, and the water standing on the goods collects in glob- ules like mercury, even as 1t does on the leaves of some plants, notably that of the lotus, which can be found in the river Rouge, near Detroit. Nor does the solution fill up the pores of the cloth. A company with a capital of g., ,O0O, 900 has been established.
 The return of the number of wolves and other wild animals killed last win ter in France has just been published, and shows the following result: Wolves, 4Os; young wolves, 153; foxes, 6,771; badgers, 5, ,036; wild boars, 5.328. It is supposed that the returns for the pres- ent winter will show vast increase in the number of slaughtered wolves, in consequence of the exceptional severity of the weather. Most of the wolves which perish in France are slain by the louveterie, special body charged with that duty. Under the ancient regime the grand louvetier of France was an officer of the kings household, and the office, after having been abolished dur ing the revolution, was re. established by Napoleon l. There are now in France 462 heutenants of lOuveterie, who keep up at their own expense a considerable staff of beaters and 1905 hounds. The office of lieutenant is honorary, and merely carries with it few privileges, such as that of hunting the wild boar twice month, during the season, in the state forests.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

The clip of wool for 1879 is the largest ever shown in the United States, amounting to 233, 5e0, ,60) pounds.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

Tho portion of Asia Minor, compris- ing Ratoum, Kars, Olti and Artwin, which has been acquired by Russia un- der the treaty of Berlin, is q district very rich in natural productions and capable of great evelopment under an efficient administration. There is not much agricultural produce, but there is an abundance of wood and metals, and the climate and soil are well suited for the cultivation of silk and tobacco. The natives, appear rGG0ncllSd ,cI to the new rmigratc into Turkish territory, and hoarts of money which had hitherto been concealed have made their appear ance in the towns. BatoUm, thnul,s :u its great advantages as q harlnr, iS in creasing Tn size, while Poti. }otwiih- 5taudin., lis dockyard aLd rai way, de- Clines.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

IL seems that within war or two Cleveland was the happy pOssessor of a woman who gave away about $50 OOO. She at last came Co the end of her funds. and continuing her extravaganza, she bought right and left, but omitted the little formality of payment, so she now finds herself in jail in that un ngrateful citv. SLe explains that she is ? victim Ofopium, a" q that she was not responsi- ble for her acts. She takes two ounces a day, which doctors say ought to kill her, but she, it seems. can neither die nor be cured The Detroit Free Press thinks that if she were to take passage on slow ship bound out on a six months voyage to some port where opium could not be obtained, she would perhaps find that when she got back to this country she would be either killed or cured.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

A Presbyterian clergyman, of Phila- delphia, protests against Pagan lam- cn.ations" at Christian funerals and the "too common custom" on the part of ministers to exaggerated praises of the dead. A really good man does not want to be praised at his funeral" and clergymcn unconsciously oulogize. They begin, like Antony at the death of Caesar, to say that they come to Lury not to praise, and end with extravagant lau3ation. And yet there is evidentlya human craving for funeral literature. A secondhand book dealer in New York, who is in the habit of making queer collections, recently got together 2,70O different funeral sermons, and then began to fear he had made a. bad speculation. But to his great satisfac- tion he sold in a short time SI,OOO worth of funeral sermons.
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

The New York correspondents of out of-town papers are reporting what enor- nous fortunes have been made in that city during the last few months in the stock market. One of them has heard of one gentleman who has cleared S7OO. 900 by his speculations, of another who pocketed a cool $l5O,OOO. of judge who has made $60,G0O. Extravagance in living is said to be one of the cOnse- quences, and we are told that "new houses and apartments are being expen- sively furnished. Fashionable tailors, dressmakers, and milliners never were so busy. One Fifth avenue tailor boasts of having made one hundred and nine teen dress suits for his regular clientele since the opening of the fall season. It is a notable fact that in all matters per taining to dress, both men and women, among the we'll to-do classes, now choose the most expensive articles. Economy is no longer the order of the day"
The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

Paris always nas a watchful enemy en camped within its walls-its poor. They are estimated as amounting to nearly 350, ,000.people. This army is not like those which underlie the society and politics of American cities. It's components are vivacious and vers little pleases them. Hunger and cold are their intimate friends. Yet little wine and little sunshine warns heart and body. But the fires of their passions are only banked. and when the Paris paup,r has gone unsed and unwarmcd :. little too long he becomes worse than u wild beast. So the city watches this army of the ferocious and feels it's pulse and muffles it's claws, and is wary of it's un- rest. There is always fever in the faubourgs- the fever of starvation. The authorities treat it with charity-not the loose, unwise charity that is lavished upon the poverty-stricken in America, but with conservatism and wisdom The ordinary annual appropriation of the city for such purposes is between S3, ,0O0, 900 and $4,OOO. 900, increasing ae-