davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30

powder. The mate told the men to look
out for themselves as he himself pulled the
string.
AZ the mate fired, we ell naturally licked
seaward to see the effect of the discharge
upon the junks. There were no signs OF
any excitement or even stir on board of
them; but hearing grunting close by us,
turned and saw the chief officer, with his
hand on the f1eshy part of his leg, hmping
aft to the cabin, and the gun away in-board,
half slowed around, and her pert breeching
lying on the deck, having drawn out the
ring and bolt from the side of the ship
with the recoil.
'That was splendid shot 70 exultingly
cried the skipper.
'.Blast it I" SAID the mate, who was of
religious turn and didn't use "cuss "
words.
''We'll give 'sm shot on the other side
and see If that will wake 'em upl" cried
the captain. 'Who'n fire the gun ."
After the mates experience, none Of us
were demonstrative in an offer to act as
gunner, but finally an old Swede volun-
teered, both the second and third mates
declining to of1clate on the score OF ignor-
ance.
The gun was made ready and the Swede
at the end of the lock-string gave pull
and there was q discharge. AS before we
looked seaward to witness the effect, bur
suddenly heard the captain exclalm -
''Pick up that man and bring him aft
herel"
We turned and saw the poor old Swede
well nigh the other side of the ship, lying
flat on his back, the two after-wheels of
the gun-carriage upon his stomach and the
for'ard trucks doubling up his legs. He
had his eyes closed and was unconscious,
land we all thought him dead. We quickly
got the gun from off him and as we did 80
he gave deep sigh and long groan, and
then we knew that he was yet alive. The
gun had drawn both of its breeching bolts
and backing across the deck had knocked
him down and run on top of him ere he
could get away. We carried him aft, and
working with him the junks were, for the
nonce, forgotten. But, suddenly, one of
the boys exclaimed, ''They're off"
And sure enough they we're. The decks,
which before had been deserted, were now
alive with men, all busily engaged in MAX
ing sail. The junks steered for the other
two and when they had joined them the
four sailed away toward the land, which
we passed by well on our port beam with
out being disturbed. Two weeks after we
entered the harbor of Hong Kong, the pilot
who took us in telling of Russian bark
captured by pirates just outside the harbor
of Hong Kong few days previous, all
hands being murdered. Our skipper went
ashore and gave the consignees glowing
accounts of how we were attacked by
pirates, but, after having two men injured,
beat them off. The voyage of the 'Syren"
was not ended for six months afterward,
and all that time the Swede limped and
grunted, whilst the mate whenever he was
asked about the affair would clap his hand
to his knee and say-"Oh blast 'em!"
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30
A Bunken Island in Lake Michigan.

From Mrs. Josephine Graham we learn
some particulars concerning the so-called
''sunken island" In the vicinity of Port du
Morte Deaths door,. Mrs. Graham states
that the island was situated in Lake Michi-
gan, about five miles southeast of Rock Is
.{and, and known as "Little Gull" because
IF its whiteness and appearance of q gull
at long range. The island was irregu-
lar in shape, being about fifty feet in width
by one hundred feet In length; was en-
tlrely formation made of small stones,
ranging from the size of a.walnut to rocks
weighing several pounds. By no means
was the island place OF vegetation. for
not even grass grew upon 1t. In the sum-
mer of 1846 or 1847 Mr.. Graham built a
fish shanty or house on 'Little Gull" to
be handler to his nets that were set "out-
side" Into the small fish place on the is
land of sea pebbles Mrs. Graham went and
cooked for her husband during the summer
months, but, as fall approached and old
Michigan began to froth, the inhabitants of
Little Gull" returned to Rock Island.
where terra frma was more extended. The
next season Little Gull was too small
to even ''squat' on-having diminished
good deal during the winter. 1t continued
to grow smaller each year, and long years
ago disappeared below the surface of the
water. Then the spot was referred to as
the ''outside shoal." Still the work of
f'golng down" continued, and small sail
crafts of light draft could navigate over the
shoal. A few years ago the water over the
shoal was of depth sufficient to hide the
appearance of shoal, and large steamer
suffered heavy loss by grounding On the
bar. Today the once dry island is cover
ed by fathoms of water. By the supersti-
tious it is claimed that the disappearance
of Little Gull Island Is q mystery, and that
the neighboring islands have also settled a
number of feet. Landmarks prove the
latter statement untrue, while the mystery
connected with the s'sunken island" does
not seem to be difficult to solve. The fact
that the little island was entirely formed of
small stones s-unquestionab heaped up
by the seat does not seem unreasonable
to suppose that the same power that rolled
the stones up could also level or roll them
down.
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30
FOrty-Seventn Congress.
SENATE

In the U. s. Senate, on the goth, the
Dawes resolution was debated by Messrs.
Dawes, Jonas, Frye, Brown, Hampton,
Butler and Burnside. At sos the Senate
adjourned.
In the u s. Senate, on the 2lst, the
Dawes resolution was debated by Messrs
Coke, of Texas, Jones, of Florida, Call, of
Florida, Dawes, of Massachusetts, and
Jonas, of Louislna. During the debate
there was personal passage between Mr..
Dawes and MIR. Cameron, of Pennsylvania,
growing out of a motion by the latter to
adjourn until the 25th. There was also q
passage between Mr.. Dawes and Salisbury.
AT B. 40 p. M. the Senate adjourned.
In the u, S. Senate, on the 22d, the
Dawes resolution was discussed by Messrs.
Morrill,, Beck, Sherman, Harris, Dawes,
jonas, Brown, Hawley and others The
Senate adjourned until Tuesday, the Goth.
In the U. s. Senate on the 26th, on mo-
tion of MIR. Edmunds, the Judiciary Com
mittee was authorized to sit during the re-
cess Of the Senate, ''if that should ever
occur, to pursue the investigation of the
bankruptcy question. The debate on the
Dawes resolution was then resumed, and
carried on by Meesrs. Jones, OF Florida,
and Hoar, of Massachusetts After several
dilatory motions and roll calls, the Senate
at 4. 30 +. III. adjourned.
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30
A Nickel.

In Galveston, there is no coin of lower
denomination than nickel in circulation.
this is of course, great inconvenience.
For instance, yesterday two men quarreled
on the avenue. The bigger man of the two
said to the smaller man:
''For three cents I'll give you the con-
foundest licking you ever got in your life.
The little man looked wicked. He had
his coat off In less than minute. Then he
took out nickel and rendered it to the
other party, who said:
81 said I'd lick you for three cents, and
Pll do it. That's five cents. Gimme three
cents, and I'll fix you so the Coroner will
have to hire hack to get enough of you
together to hold an Inquest
''You can keep the change" said the
little fe low, edgng up.
'I'm like the country. don't want any
change. ! stick to my proposition. Gimme
three cents and will destroy you"
''Here is fifteen cents. Suppose you
lick me five times, and then it will come
out even."
s.After I've licked you once there wont
be enough left for dog to lick. Pm not
going TO rob your widow and orphans of
twelve cents. Gimme three cents and the
trouble can begin right now. It's not my
fault that there are no copper cents in cir
culation.
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30
water as q Drink.

Many persons drink ordinarily as little
water as possible, and none at all at meal
times, because they suppose that water
dllutes the gastric juice. Experiments,
however, show that dilution does not di-
mlnish the power of the gastric juice, and
further, that water alone, as we'll as solid
food, awakens its secretion. A paper read
by DIR. Webster, of Boston, at meeting
OF learned medical society, took the
ground that water, used moderately at
meals, is beneficial, and that large class
OF persons drink too little. The result is,
If too little water is drank-especiall if
the person eats heartlly-the perspiration
and the kidney secretion are diminished.
Not only they, but the waste of the system,
which can be removed only in state of
solution, is not eliminated with sufficient
regularity and fullness, and the system be-
comes gradually cloggsd by it. The accu-
mutation is slight from day to day, but in
time unpleasant symptoms are developed.
These symptoms are of an indefinite char
ter-discomfort, even pain, sometimes
in one place and sometimes IN another.
constipation. and unhealthy hue of the
skin. 'Patients, " said DR.. Webster, "who
drank no more than a pint of water day
have told me that they were not thirsty.
They were surprised when told to drink
more. Those who have followed this sug-
gestion in the course of a week have de-
veloped thirst, and drank as many as three
pinis of water day." We may add that
water taken into the stomach is at once
rapidly absorbed by the blood vessls. A
bowl of well-seasoned broth, as a first
course, is specially helpful to the above
class of patients. A large quontity of ice
water is harmful to any one.
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30
"In der Mudt."

There was slight blaze on the roof of a
house on Russell street, Detroit, recently,
and when the insurance adjusters went up
TO make their survey they found that about
two dollars would cover all the loss.
Two tollar,' exclaimed the owner when
he heard the decision--T can't take no two
tollar.'
But you see for yourself that a dozen
shingles and an hours work will make
good all damages.
Gentlemen's you doan' put me of like
dot. When my vhife finds dot we vhas on
fire she screams boleece and murder und
falls down sthairs. Would you let your
vhife fall down sthairs for dot sum. If so
goes home nit you und sees der fun.
we do not insure husbands and wives,
but buildings, was the reply.
i know, but mein Oldest poy he runs
for der fire-box und falls a picket-fence
oafer und breaks his good clothes all to
pieces. Two dollarl Dot doan' bay me
fer coming here
Yes but we can only pay for actual
damages.'
Dots all yhant. Who stole my dog
When my house vhas ON fire 2 Dot dog ish
gone, und he vhas ten dollars wort
We dln't insure the dog
Und maybe you don't insure dem poys
who sat on der fence and called out :. dot
ole Dutchman's red nose has set his house
on frep Do you expect take such sass
like dot for two dollars? Und when der
firemens come here dey break nv clothes. ..
lines Gown mt der ladders, und dey spin
wasser all oafer my carpets. Two dollars!
Vhell, vhell you go right awhay from
here. und takes dot old insurance bolicy
und steps him into der mudt
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30
The Winter Palace.


The Winter palace in st. Petersburg
figures extensively IL tina NihilIst plots.
The palace is an imposing pile upon the
left bank of the Neva. Raaulli was the
designer ct the structure. The Winter
palace occupies the site, which, In the
time OF Peter the Great, vas the property
OF his high admiral, Count Afraxin, who
by his will left it to Peter II. After her
coronation at Moscow the Empress Anna
lived there for q time, but in about the
middle of the last century it was pulled
down and the erection of palace begun.
II was completed in the reign Of Catharine.
In 1887 it was burned to the ground but
IN less than two years the palace, as it
now stands, was finished. 1t is about
eighty feet in height and more than 45O
feet in length.
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30
stand arnl.

Some years ago, as two young gentlemen
were going home from party in Phila-
delphia, they were attacked BY gang OF
roWdies. The youths were brothers, and
noted for their skill in boxing. Standing
back to back, they knocked down their
assailants as fast as they came at them. In
few minutes the rowdies fled. Similar
tactics once saved two English anglers
from being bitten by pack of fierce dogs.
As they were passing farmhouse, q
large dog, whose barking and glaring eyes
announced his rage, dashed at them.
Catch up some stones and stand back
to back, or he'll worry us, cried the
elder.
Armed with as many stones as they
could pick up, they put themselves in po-
sition and waited the charge. But tho
dog did not attack. He evidently thought
the position zoo formidable for him to carry
by assault. After circiing round the men
twoor three times, he returned to the
farmhouse.
The anglers, congratulating themselves
On the success of their tactics pressed on
ward. They had just passed over the
brow OF hill when chorus of 'Yeir,
yelp, Yelpl' announced another and more
dangerous attack.
we are hunted, shouted one to the other
more stones, and stand firm, or we are
dead men,
Filling their pockets and hands with
stones, the two men again stood back to
back, and waited anxioGsly the attack. On
came the large dog, with four other dogs,
all open-mouthed and barking furiously.
They, too, had their tactics. They be-
gan by circllng round the anglers, and
gradually drew nearer and nearer.
A well-aimed stone struck the leader of
the pack on the head and rolled him over.
Another stone hut second dog on the side
and sent him cut of the circle bowling with
pain.
Then the pack halted, retreated some
distance, and again began to circle round
the men. Suddenly they went round and
round, until, seeing no chance for an as
sault, they went slowly off over the hill.
The anglers went their way, speculat-
ing as to the method by which the large
dog persuaded his four companions to join
him in assalllting his enemies.
The Virginia star., 1881-04-30

Because these junks may be here trad
ing with some of the islands but wait fer
daylight, and then perhaps we can tell
better
This was sensible advice, though the
skipper ordered the watch to be called and
the two big guns to be loaded and run out
of ports on either side, to be ready for the
Acknowledged thieves" as he termed them.
The wind was light, and as day gradually
dawned, it was as bright and beautiful 4
morning as had ever seen, even in those
lovely tropical seas. As the light began to
spread itself over and around the horizon
two more junks were discovered off the
port bow about three miles distant. 1t was
hard to tell what they were doing or in
tended to do. They had their bows head
ing the same direction as ourselves, but
with their mainsails hoisted and hauled
amidships, all their other sails being down.
The two on our starboard bow were anus
ing themselves by ''backing and filling,''
standing off and on" and executing
other nautical man@uvres, which alarmed
our skipper very much, and he gave orders
to run up the American flag and fire a
blank cartridge ut would" he said.
slet them know the invincibility of the
Yankees"
The chief mate smiled sarcastically as he
gave the order to prepare the starboard gun.
Now. the gun had been loaded with cylin-
der Of powder prepared by our skipper who
knew but little or nothing of ordnance, and
he had made charge of six pounds of
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23
Personal.

a. D. Smith, of Rochester, is registered al
the Clarendon.
W.B.C. Graham, L. Merritt, Duluth, al
the Merchants.
Hon. E. P. Barnum, of Sank Centre, has
room at the Clarendon.
Martin Hoag, Esq, of st. Louis, is among
the arrivals at the Clarendon.
G. S. Barnes and wife, Glyndon, are among
the arrivals at the Metropolitan.
A D. LaDue, of Milwaukee, is guest OF
Col McNamara, at the Clarendon.
Hon Thomas Ryan, city treasurer, of Hud-
son, Wis, was in the city yesterday visiting
his many friends.
James Stinson, Esq, of Chicago, one of the
heaviest owners of real estate in st. Paul, is
at the Metropolitan.
h. W. Swift, agent of the Uncle Toms
Cabin combination TO appear at the Opera
house this week, is at the Windsor.
At the Metropolitan H. c. Barker, New
York; S. j. Richie, Akron, o.; j. Stinson, D..
P. Vail, VIM. Woods, E. G. Truesdell, Chi
cago; E. G. Halle, Milwaukee.
At the Windsor: A. Archibald, New York;
w. W. Butterfeld, A. D. Ay res, WI. Latch
ford, Chicago; j. Maybell, Milwaukee; H. L.
Reed, New York; j. R. Lemard, st. Cloud.
Chief of Police Weber and Clerk Fairchild
returned last evening from their trip to Win
nipeg. They report that they had a royal
time in the Dominion, and will return the
compliment whenever they catch any Of the
Winnipeggers in st. Paul.
At the Merchants: T. r. McCauley, Fargo;
F. A. Joy, Sioux City; A. L. Ward, Fairmont;
R. A. Ruttan, Wlnnepeg; r. c. Smith. LIE
Sueur; Lieut.. D. Robinson, q s. A; D. Sam
pie and wife, Fort Benton; E. 8. Smith, c. G..
Smith, La Crosse; G. Solomon, New York;
Z. B. Strong, J. B. Wineman, Chicago.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23
REGISTER ON TUESDAY.

The Judges of Election are required
by law to meet in each election precinct
in the city on Tuesday and organize and
revise the poll lists. They are also re-
quired to register all those who apply to
have their names put on the list. Here.
tofore the Judges have been in the habit
of meeting to organize and hastily run
over the lists and adjourn for the day.
This, practically, reduces the time for
registration to one day, as, under the
present law, they have but one more day
for meeting 1t is proposed this year to
comply more fully with the law and keep
the registries open all day on Tuesday OF
the current week, and from to p. m.
in the evening
Voters should bear this fact in mind
and as many as possible avail themselves
of the first day. Last year, with regis
tration confined to one day aud evening,
hundreds failed to register owing to the
great crowd. In the evening there was q
perfect mob at all the registries and it re-
quired hours to reach the Judges. Many
gave it up and lost their votes on election
day in consequence.
The Judges should see that this is moi
repeated this year, by giving ample time
on Tuesday next, and particularly so in
the evening.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23
The protestant Orphan ASYLUM.

On Monday the lists will be placed IN
the hands of the collectors to solicit con-
tr1butions from our citizens for the sup
port of the Protestant Orphan asylum.
This worthy institution is now entirely
destitute of funds, and has been obliged
to ask credit for some weeks past, the
collections of last year not being able to
meet the expenses longer. Provision has
now to be made for carrying the institu-
ton over fifteen 15) months. There are
already forty orphaned children enjoying
its care, who would otherwise be without
food or shelter, and this number will nee
essarily be increased through the winter.
The managers earnestly appeal to the
generosity of our citizens to provide
them with means, by an economical and
prudent expenditure of which these
helpless and destitute human beings may
be furnished the necessaries of life dur
ing the approaching months of our rig
orous winter. Our townsman, Judge
Hale, before leaving for Europe, sent the
managers an unsolicited contribution of
$50. May his spirit of thoughtful char
ity be emulated by all his fellow citizensl
THE MANAGERS.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23
A Strange Phenomenon.

A curious phenomenon was observed
on Thursday evening at $40 to TAO
O'Clock, about an hour before the fire.
works were fired off. Although not so
brilliant as to attract general attention,
vet it was very interesting to those who
happened to see it. The sky at the time
was overcast with misty clouds, and the
heavens presented hazy appearance,
when family luminous streak of light
in the shape of a rod appeared in the
southeast, and in about five minutes dis
appeared and became invisible, only to
reappear in the northeast, and again in
the northwest in the same manner, and
lasting Just about the same length of
time. 1t did not have the appearance of
an aurora borealis, nor did it seem in any
way to be connected with any such dis
play. There was no change in appear
ance as long as it lasted, and it did not
seem to have been caused by any reflected
light, but perhaps by some electric dis
turbance in the atmosphere.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23
A LITTLE WAKING UP IMPORTANT


Il LITTLE WIKING UP IMPORTANT
IN ST. PAUL.
At times St. Paul does some things ex-
cellently well, and at other times she
don't. Some four years ago the st. Paul
Chamber of Commerce initiated a river
Improvement convention, which met in
this city and was productive of much
good In fact it has been bearing fruit
ever since.
This year the Chamber of Commerce
initiated another convention 1t passed
resolutions suggesting st. Louis as the
place and October as the time for the
Convention. These resolutions were
sent to the Merchants Exchange at St.
Louis, with request for action in the
matter. St. Louis did act, and as the
direct result of the resolutions of the St.
Paul Chamber of Commerce river con-
vention is to meet at st. Louis on
Wednesday of the present week. 1t
would naturally be supposed that the St.
Paul delegation would be entirely full,
but instead of that, the present indica-
tions are that St. Paul will be only con-
spicuous in the convention she initiated
by total absence
y delegation has been appointed by
the Chamber of Commerce and with rare
sagacity, no provision made for transpor-
tation. Delegates were found who were
willing to give their time and pay their
hotel bills, but when it came to investing
forty or fifty dollars in railroad fare for
the privilege of rendering gratuituos ser
vice to the public, 1t was almost too loud
call upon patriotism.
There were those who were stupid
enough to imagine that Bill Washburn
1.-THE exclusive Minneapolis congressman
would supply transportation over his
stub tail Minneapolis 6 st. Louis line,
and we understand St. Paul Inundated
herself sufficiently to ask the congress
sional bride glver to extend this cour-
tesy, only to meet with fiat refusal.
He has, however. placed a special
car at the disposal of the
Minneapolis delegation, and that precious
crowd will take free trip to St. Louis
to misrepresent the interests of all this
region, by preventing any hostile recon-
mendation relative 10 throwing sawdust
and mill refuse into the river, and also
secure, if possible, request for Con
gressional appropriation to be expended
in blasting out rocks on the
rapids above Fort Smelling. Every
one here understands this dodge.
1t is utterly impracticable to make navl-
cation to Minneapolis, and the sawdust
city understands this perfectly. What
they want is to have all the money con-
gress will give the upper river hroiors
aaoay, by the useless expenditure at the
point named, and thus, by indirection,
prevent any improvement of consequence
in the river between St. Paul and the
lower rapids. They tired this game at
the ST. Paul convention
four years ago and were ANONYMOUSLY de-
feated. They are now going down In
force in the free car, rendered by the
bride giver, who represents nothing but
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23

Minneapolis in congress, to repeat the at
tempt, and with St. Paul absent will prob
ably win. Only certain amount can be
secured for the upper river, and if that
can be expended where it is worth
less a6ose st. Paul, it prevents
this city, which IS the permanent head of
navigation, from securing the advantage
of any Improvement This is the point
the dog -the-manger gang are hoping
to make, and which is likely to succeed
unless there is an immediate and lively
waking up in this city.
What will st. Paul do about it!
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-23

dead great men, whose genius yielded
them scarcely more than misery IN life
that there might be, forsooth, an everlast-
ing memory of their work by enthusiasts
and Missionaries, when it couldn't do them
the least good.
Tacitus said of a mlser's lean horse
"What vast ideas he must have of oats =
l will wind up by saying: "What vast
ideas your men of fame must have had Of
bread and butter!'
Mrs. Harris may be truly called my
"aggrawator.