davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
As Strange rs Fiction.

All old Texans and the student of the
history of Texas are familiar with the ill
starred Meir expedition, which left
Texas in the fall of 1S41 for the purpose
of invading Mexico The expedition
started out under command of General
Somervill. and on the 10Th of December,
when in the vicinity of the Rio Grande,
was ordered back After the return of
General Somervill and a portion of the
command, some 800 men who were left
determined on hostile demonstrations
and elected William S. Fisher as COM
mander The expedition then advanced
on the town of Mier, in Mexico. A de-
tachment arriving there on the 21st and
demanding provisions took the alcade of
the town with them as hostage and re-
turned to where the main body was
camped to wait the arrival of the articles
demanded. While the Texans remained
in camp Mier was occupied by General
Ampudia, of the Mexican army, with
1900 men. On the afternoon of the 25th
of December the Texas forces started for
the town and encountered the forces of
Ampudia in its vicinity, and fight en-
sued, in which the Mexicans were driven
through the town, but still fighting. After
several parleys and representation of the
overwhelming numbers opposed to them
and promises of generous terms the Tex
ans were induced to surrender. The
prisoners were then started for the City
of Mexico, a number being killed en-
route, and on arriving at Salado, on the
25th of March, an order was received
from Santa Anna, directing that every
tenth man be shot. Accordingly one
hundred and fifty-nine white and seven
teen black beans, representing the num-
Der of Texans left, were placed in a box
and each man drew, the ones drawing
the black beans being taken out and shot.
In "Thrall's History of Texas occurs
the following paragraph: First Am
pudia and then Santa Anna took a fancy
to mere lad by the name of Hill, and
young Hills father and brother were re-
leased, and the young man sent to the
best college in Mexico. He adopted the
profession of milling engineer, and is
still citizen of Mexico" Mr.. Hill, who
has never been to Texas since the time
he started on the expedition, left Vera
Cruz some days since by the Alexandra
| line of steamers for New Orleans, al
which place he has already arrived, and
viii be in Galveston on the arrival of the
Morgan line steamer this morning. He
is brother-in-law of General w. G.
Webb, of Houston, and will be welcomed
in Galveston by many old Texans, who
remembered his father on his return
from Mexico in 1874, when the prisoners
were released. The changes wrought in
Texas since the departure of Mr.. Hill
when a mere lad, thirty-nine years ago
have been of such magnitude that il
would require more space than is allotted
this paragraph, but for the bare enumer
alton of them. GalUestOn (IeraS) Nea0S
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
A Fossil Sea Serpent.

Time and again the bones of large ami
mails have been found in the marlpits of
Monmouth County, N. j., but the soft
and friable bones which have frequently
been found in the marl-beds of Mr.. John
Vankirk, of Marlborough, indicate it to
be a cemetery of these osseous relics.
There is evidence that in the " long ago.
a great ocean rolled its waters over the
now dry land of the Eastern States, and
that the land rose and sank several times,
thus telling of successive seas. New Jer-
sey was in this way, before it was up
heaved, part of an ancient sea-bed. 1t
is not doubted that the precious substance
of the marl-beds is derived from the
skeletons of huge monsters which found
a burial in the dark mud of that ancient
sea. The finding at Marlborough few
days ago of the remains of one of these
monsters is regarded as proof of this.
The discoverer was Mr.. Charles McCue,
who found the bones in the marlpit of
John Vankirk, twenty-four miles from
the sea. Mr.. McCue Immediately re-
ported his find to Prof Samuel Lock-
wood, Principal of Freehold University
and Superintendent of Monmouth County
Schools, and one of the most learned
naturalists and geologists in New Jersey.
The huge jaws were fenced with terrible
teeth much like but far more formidable
than those of crocodile. They were in
good condition. The portion of the back
bones found was also in good condition.
Professor Lockwood, after careful eX-
animation of the bones, pronounced them
to be undoubtedly those of fossil sea
serpent known as the pythonomorpha.
The Professor said to a Herald re-
porter: | can say in all truth this was
the sea serpent of our ancient New Jer-
Sey ocean. The Professor. in describing
the monster, said it had body of great
bulk, the most exposed parts of which
We're protected by small bony plates OF
scales. 1t had two paddles well forward
and two behind, the size and solidity OF
the bones of which indicated extraor.
dinary propelling force. Extending far
behind was the tail, stout, long and ser
pentine. but somewhat flat, so that il
could afford great aid in propulsion by a
slulling movement. The neck was long,
vet thick and sufficiently powerful to
sustain the great head high out of the
water. Regarding the bOny frame OF
the lower jaw, the skeleton showed q
sort of elbow attached to it which was
very significant. 1t had to swallow its
prey entire, and oftentimes this was a
fish of very large size. By means of its
elbow jointed jaw the monster could en-
large the opening over the gullet. Still
this act of swallowing was slow, and the
retaining of powerful, struggling prey
would be very difficult. Hence the upper
jaw had an auxiliary contrivance which
exactly met the necessities of the case
1t was, in reality, jaw with small curved
and very sharp teeth, and had the ap,
pearance of grapnel. The Professor
in describing this, said: AS the great
jaws with their formidable teeth gave q
hitch and thus forced the struggling prey
little way down the mouth to get an,
other hitch they had to open wide again,
and then the prey would fall out Al
this juncture down came the little grapne
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17

jaw and held the struggling prey in place.
So the movements of the great jaws and
the small grapnel jaw alternated until
the prey was safely down the great nav.
It is plain that during this snake-like
method of swallowing, so slow and
laborious, the wedging-up of the throat
would in ordinary animals stop the
breathing. In the case of the sea serpent
this difficulty was met by the position of
the great air-tube, which was near the
front teeth of the lower jaw, instead of
back in the mouth, where the cram was
severest. Besides, we find in serpents q
place for the tongue in front of the
mouth. This organ, too, is always with
them cylindrical, bifurcate and retracti-
bic. Moreover, they all make Kissing
sound. Although perhaps of threatening
aspect, the serpents tongue is a beauti-
full and harmless organ, and its two di-
visions are as soft as two strands of floss
silk. 1t is vulgar ignorance which in
terror calls it a stinger,' but if the term
be allowable let us ask what kind of a
singer did the pythonomorpha have,
and what kissing must that monstrous
mouth have madeP'
Regarding the size Of the monster
Professor Lockwood said: 1.-The back
bones in our possession are too few for
safe conjecture. do not think it was
less than forty feet long, and it may
have been sixty feet. On another occa-
sion demon ted the existence of one
that was not ) than eighty feet long,
but it had teeth twice the size that our
present specimen had.
How this great tyrant Of the deep
came to an ignoble end, he continued,
"no one knows. He died certainly not
of old age, for in the examination of the
skeleton / discovered remnants of the
secondary teeth, The bones show marks
upon them of fishes teeth, seeming to
prove that while the dead monster lay
like wreck on the old ocean bed the
fishes tore him from limb to limb and
gnawed off his flesh"
A hunt will be made for some missing
parts Of the fossil skeleton and remains
of others of these monsters of the reptilian
age supposed to be buried in the marl-
beds of Monmouth County.--M. Y. Her.
dld
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
Fire by Friction.

The process of producing fire by the
friction of wood, so often described in
books of travel, was recently performed
by a band of Zulus at the London
Aquarium. Some straw being laid on
the ground as bed, two sticks were
placed on it few inches apart, to form
a support for a third stick, which was
laid across them. This had deep notch
cut in it to receive the blunt point of a
drilling stick, which was twirled like a
chocolate-muller between the palms of
the hands. When the twirler's hands
reached the bottom they were either
dexterously shifted to the top again, or
another of the Africans squatting around
took hold and relieved the first. Aspark
was got in the charred dust in about five
minutes, and was received with shouts
and leaps of delight by the fire-makers,
one of whom, carefully shielding it in a
handful of straw, soon famed it into a
flame.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
@nr nonrg .GoMs.
CHILDHOOD'S COLD.

They need not go so far away,
Through heat and cold, TO hunt for guld
They might beside MS sit OF stray
Our hands are full az they can hold.
Gold? Gold is poured out of the sky
From rise of sun till day is done;
With falling leaves it flashes by;
In liquid gold the rivers run.
IT was scattered all the way from school,
In stars and bells adown the dells;
We children gathered aprons full
Where little Dandelion dwells.
And yellow Cowslip TO our feet
Came like king his hoard TO bring;
And Columbine, with nod so sweet
Shook gold upon our path,-gay thing!
What goblet glistens with such wine
As the bee sups from buttercups?
What gold beads on the wet grass shine,
Sparkling to breezy downs and ups
Our homes are sweet upon the hills,
Where love is sure, and life is pure,
And sunshine every season fills;
How can a country child be poor2
No robber scares our midnight hours;
No Golfers cold our treasures hOld
Dewdrops and sunbeams, stars and flowers
Gold! Gold! Who shares our childhood
gold?"
Lucy LarcoD1, In 81. Nicholas for april.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17

81 don't know about helping you,
gruG old grandsir,' thought Kon. In
moment more, he said, 81 will do as
Grandpa Sin Mu says, and lend q help
ing hand. Let me pull in my Kite"
Alas, in drawing the dragon home that
creature must have resisted, for The string
broke Away went the dragon, bobbing
up and down, executing all sorts of ca
pers in the air as if it had met with an
enemy and were rolling over aud over
with it in a death-grapplc.
"Therer' said Kon, pettislIy: $50
much for lending a helping hand"
But the next moment the boys gener-
Gus impulses prevailed, and away he ran.
"Here am.' he shouted. WHATS
the matterg'
30. thank you, boy. I spraincd my
foot when 1 slipped down here. and il
can't well get back unless some one Will
reach down and take this pot up to
safe place. You see can't set il any
where
Itsi held up the pot, and Kon reached
down his chubby hands and grasped it.
"What' thispn thought Kon, noticing
words on the wrapper of the pot: d" For
ma belored Kon. a
where did you get this2'' ~
81 will tell you, boy, in a moment"
Old lists hands were free, and he
gradually worked himself up into safe
place.
"Sin Mu sent that to his grandson,
Kon, living in house Oh the big village
street. j must hunt him up. somehow,
wherever he is. 1t is dwarf plum that
10, al IT, Ill l. g.,
hands for the tree.
"Why, my name is on it, sir! That is
q surprise y rHt r.
"You are Kon, then? Well, young
friend, you have saved your own prop
erty by your kindness" H'fl
But where was the dragon? That
went tumbling down, fighting and Crap
pling all sorts of invisible enemies, whirl-
ing in every direction At last it came
tumbling toward Grandpa Sin Mus gar
den, where he was walking. II has been
already said that his head was bald. In
Grecian history it is told that an eagle,
mistaking Eschylus' bald head for a
stone, let tortoise fall upon it in order
to break the shell. Poor Eschylus! for
| he did not recover from it. Poor tor
Ftoise! one might also say. Whether the
dragon in this story had like intent
when it saw Grandp dpa Sin MUS shining
head is not known, but as he looked up
! he saw the dragon coming. HoTorsl
| With mouth open, wings extended,
claws thrust forward, the dragon came
right upon grandpa's headl 1t did not
specially hurt grandpa, but it was too
much for the dragon, and the jar shook
off tho toH
What is hiS?' asked Sin Mu. "a
kiteP And what's the name on itP
K-O-N. 1t belongs to my grandson. I
viii take it to him at once"
He carried the fragments to Kon's
mother, and she told him about Itsi
"Is that SOP Kon shall have a new
kite. Twill put something on it also. /"
When Kon went into the barn he
found another dragon in the " stall, -
and on it were these words: "Giyen to
the boy who was willing to lend help
ing hand. ."-Rec. E. 4. Rand, IN Chris
| ton Union
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17

from him an2 ne was left solitary in
some unknown, infinite space But there
was nothing of that in his voice as he
asked Alfe for her address and permis-
sion to call upon her in the afternoon.
Then, taking his brother by the arm, he
led him away, and they continued their
walk without exchanging a single word
about the strange encounter.
In the afternoon John called at Miss
Russell's hotel, and in few moments
he found himself seated beside her in
a pleasant sitting-room overlooking the
sea.
"Alice," he said, plunging into the
subject at once, "do you remember q
conversation you had with my brother a
long time agoP'
"Yes, remember, Mr.. Gourlay," she
replied, sadly.
"He made a request for me then which
it was not in your power to grant; am
come TO make a similar one for him now.
Roger loves you, Alice. He has loved
you all those long, weary years, though
yoJfwill at least believe | did not know
it them
Poor Rogerv' Alice said, softly
"You care about himp You will
make him happy even at this late hourp
Tell me, Alice, that you love my
brotherp'
eyes, Mr.. Gourlay, do. Why should
1 deny itP 1 have loved him always,
though l did not know that he cared
about me, and if the little life that is left
me can make him happier, will devote
it to him gladly, proudly-poor Roger!
You see L am too old for pretenses, Mr..
Gourlay, and fear am dying; there
fore, 1 tell you ALL"
"Dying, Alicep No, no! you viii live
many years yet, hope, to make my dear
brother happy--brave, loyal, great-heart-
ed Roger. Let me send him TO you now,
and, Alice, for my old and long affec-
tion's sake, make him happy. He de-
serves it, and that is the only way can
ever help to repay the devotion of his
life"
81 love him." Alice replied, simply.
81 cannot do more"
In their lodgings John Gourlay found
his brother pacing restlessly up and
down.
Roger, I've found out your secret
and hers he said, laying both his hands
on his shoulders; loyal, faithful friend,
go to her; she loves you, she is waiting
for you"
Poor Alice! how she must have suf-
feredr'
How we all have suffered. but it's
nearly over now, Roger-the grief, pain,
regret. It's all clear and bright. Roger,
dear friend, can you forgive me?"
Forgive y0U, John? Say rather can
you forgive me?"
"True to the last, John murmured, as
he wrung his brothers hand. Now,
Roger, go to her; she is waiting for you.
She loves you-loves you, Roger! Good
bye, and may you beth be happyr'
Late that evening when Roger Gourlay
returned home full of deep, quiet glad.
ness, he found his brother sitting in an
easy chair near the window, apparently
asleep. The full moon shone down on
his pale face, and showed smile on his
lips; his hands were clasped on an open
book that rested on his knee. The atti-
tude was life-like, but at the very first
glance Roger felt that his brother was
dead. The doctors said that he had died
of disease of the heart. Perhaps they
were right. More people die of that
malady than the world knows of.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
TOKENS.


Behold fash Of wings
Along the sunny trnck--
FROM scented southern groves
The birds arc coming back;
a bit of summer red
Gluwa on the robins breast,
The biuebird warbles sweet
OF green leaves and nest.
Behold mist of blue
Along the pasture bleak,
As IL the sky had stopped
To kiss the earth's rough cheek.
The silver streams are clasped
With ribbons of soft green, ~-
And In the sun we see
The roses silken sheen.
The trees awake and stir
Through all their branches bare,
And sigh at the embrace
OF the sweet, amorous air;
And little timOrous flowers,
Whose lives are pale and feet.
Feel the new influence
And blossom ut their feet.
o, miracle of springi
The sunbeam smites the rock;
Life bursts its ICY bonds
Obedient to the shock
The trumpetA OF the air
Call TO the silent dead;
And spirits everywhere
Arise in white aud red.
m. r. Butts. In Good Company.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17

1t is said that John Jacob Astor al
ways has detective in his service, and
his dwelling is never left unguarded.
Hence he has never suffered from depre-
dations. The detective who accompa~
nies Mrs. Astor to all places where her
diamonds are to be displayed, is said to
represent an elegantly dressed gentle
man who mingIes quietly among the
guests.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17

1t takes a while to get used to a
woman's ways. When young husband
steals up behind his wife, while she
stands at her dressing-case, and sudden
ly bends forward and prints an unex-
pected kiss on her lips, he gains the
knowledge that a woman holds about 1877
pins in her mouth when she is dressing.
Boston Post.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17

-LOndoners who six years ago looked
upon ice water as an unhealthy beverage,
and stared when Americans ordered it,
now find it indispensable.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-08
william K. Chiffon,

Eliza Seuseboy, widow Of James Sense
boy, deceased; Garrett Chiffon. Betty
Chiffon, Margaret Chiffon, OF her uu-
known heirs; Isom Chiffon; John Car
ter. Eliza Roberts, and A Roberts, her
husbands; Henry Carter, Price Carter,
Kolla Carter, and F1ney Carter.
Partition.
DY virtue and authority OF an order OF
- sale, for the purpose OF partltion,
made and entered Of record at the Octo-
Der term Of the Iron county circuit court.
1879, copy Of which has been to me de-
livered;
Now. therefore, in obedience to said
order, will, on
Friday. April sOth, 1879,
at the east front door Of the courthouse.
in the city of Ironton, In the county OF
Iron, and State If Missouri, between the
hours Of o o'clock A. NJ. and 8 O'Clock +.
NJ. Of said day, expose to sale. at public
ing described real estate, to wit:
All Of the north half of the northeast
quarter Of section fifteen. In township
thirty. north, Of range four east-cxcept
twenty acres more or less. lying Oh the
northeast end Of said tract;
Also. the corner of the southwest quar-
ter of the northeast quarter Of section nj
teen, In township thirty. north, Of range
four east--containing II acres;
Said tracts contain In the aggregate
about az acres. situated In Iron Co., NO.;
On the following terms. To wit:
Twenty per cent. of the purchase money
cash I'm hand. the balance on q credit OF
twelve months. the purchaser to give
nCte with approved Scurity for the de-
ferred payment. JAS. BUFORD.
mar25n36 Sheriff.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-08
SHERIFF'S SALE.

BY virtue and authority of a special eX-
ecutiOn issued from the office of theclerk
of the circuit court of Iron county, Mis-
souri,. and to me. the undersigned sheriff.
delivered, i'm favor of the State of Missou-
ri, at the relation and to the use of James
BufOrd, collector Of the revenue for Iron
county, Mo. and against James G. Thomp-
son, bearing date March 18th, 1880. and
retnrnable to the April term, 1880. there
of, have levied it upon and seized the
following described real estate and prop
erty, lying and being in Iron county. Mo-.
as the property Of James G.. Thompson.
and, described as follows. to wit:
The northwest quarter of the southwest
quarter of section %, township 80, range
| east;
And I will. on
Thursday, April 10Th. 1850.
at the east trout door of the courthouse,
i'm the city of Ironton, Iron COUNTY. Mo. !,
between the hours of 0 o'clock A. NJ. and
5o'clock p. NJ. of that day. and during the
session of the circuit court. sell. at public
.vendue. all the right, title, claim, estate
and property of the said James q. Thomp-
son. of, in and to the above described real
estate and property, for cash in hand, to
the highest bidder, to satisfy said execu-
ton and Gusts. JAS. BUFORD.
aprln37 -s Sheriff.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-08
SIIERIFF'S SALE.

BY virtue and authority OF an execu.
ton issued from the Office of the clerk OF
the circuit court OF Iron county. Missouri
and to me, the undersigned sheriff, de-
livered, in favor of Robert Gragg, adj.
minlstrator of the estate of Thomas w.
Howe, deceased. and against ISom Smith
bearing date March 18th, 1880, and re-
turnable to the April term. 1880, thereof
have levied it upon and seized the fol-
lowing described real estate and proper
ty, lying and being i'm Iron county, Mo. :.
as the property of Isom Smith, and de-
scribed as follows, to wit:
The west half of the southwest quarter,
and the west half of lot number one OF
the northwest quarter, of section number
two, in township thirty-four, north, OF
range two west;
Also. lot number two, and the west hall
of lot number one. of the northwest quar-
ter: and the east half of lot number ole
of the northeast quarter, of section three
all in township thirty -four, north, of
range two west;
AndI will, on
Thursday, April Goth, 1880,
at the east front door of the courthouse,
in the city of Ironton, Iron county. Mo. !,
between the hours of 8 o'clock A. NJ. and
o'clock p. N. of that day. and during the
session of tile circuit court,ssell at public
vendue. all the right. title, claim, estate
and property of the said Isom Smith. of,
in and to the above described real estate
and property, for cash in hand, to the
highest bidder, to satisfy said execution
and costs. JAS. BCFORD,
apln37 Sheriff.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-08
SHFRTFE"S SALE

VIRTUE and authority of special ex-
ecution issued from the Office of the clerk
Of the circuit court of Iron county, Mis-
souri,, and to me, the undersigned sheriff.
delivered. in favor of the State OF Missou-
ri. at the relation and to the use Of James
Buford, collector OF the revenue OF Iron
county. Missouri, and against Robert
Sherwood and III. 8. Corrister, bearing
date March 26th, 1890. and returnable to
the April term. 1880. thereof, 1 have lev
led it upon and seized the following de-
scribed real estate and pfOperty.ll flying and
being in Iron county. Mo-. az the proper
ty of Robert Sherwood and Il S. Corris-
ter, and described rs follows. to wit:
Lots !; and of the northeast quarter of
section3. township "a, range west;
And will, on
Friday. April 3Oth. 1880.
at the east front door of the courthouse,
i'm the city of Ironton, Iron county, Mo.
between the hours of 8 O'Clock A. NJ. and
O'Clock r. NJ. of that day. and during the
sessi0n.of the circuit court. sell. at public
vendue. all the right. title. claim, estate and
property OF the said Robert Sherwood and
FL. S. Corrister. of, in and to the above de-
scribed real estate and property for cash
In hand. to the highest bidder, to satisfy
said execution and costs.
@ JAS. BUFORD. Sheriff.