davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
Do Garter Snakes Eat Fish Z

Well, il you will allow me point
and consider crayfsh in the category, /
can answer yes. While on the Upper
Allegheny not long since I stepped out
upon q log which projected into the
river and began washing my hands in
the water. Suddenly perceived q
quick movement in the river just be-
meath my hands, which was followed by
the appearance of large, healthy cray
fish, which seemed to rise out of the
water in strange sort Of way, which I
could not understand, but in moment
more the mystery'was solved by the
head Of a snake popping up and show
ing that it had just caught the crayfsh
by the tail.
kept perfectly quiet, while the
snake watched me for a minute or two,
and then, concluding that 1 looked too
good-natured to hurt it, it commenced
on its meal. 1t was garter snake,
about sixteen inches long, and slender
for its length. 1 could not see what it
could possibly want with crayGsh, for
I did not suppose it was insane enough
to imagine that it could swallow such o
bunch of shell and claws. But it went
right at it as though it understood its
business. Swaying its head (which re-
mained on a level with the surface of
the watsr) from side to side, it worked
its jaws as though with suction mo-
tion, rubbed its throat occasionally
upon little stone in the water, and the
tail and part of the body of the crayfsh
was soon comfortably past the Rubicon.
But now came the Jug of war, for there
was the head and shoulders and huge
large claws which were now to be dis
posed of. The snake seemed to realize
that it had need of all its powers in order
to complete its enterprise. 1t paused
for rest and breathing spell, and 1
could readily imagine that it was spit
ting on its hands for the finish. Then it
commenced again, and such swelling
and swaying and comforting would have
made a circus clown sick with envy.
And all this time the poor crayfish
didn't seem to have the least interest in
the proceeding. 1t had probably been
crossed in love at some notdistant
period, and considered the world hol-
low mockery, from which it was a
blessing to be freed.
Gradually its shoulders were drawn
into the cavity, then its head sank slow
ly out of sight, and the last thing we
saw of that crayfish was one Of its huge,
sharp claws illustrating a dissoiving
view, as it was drawn into its living
grave. Then that snakes jaws closed
like rat trap; it worked its body, push
ing its victim down further-just as you
have seen boy work his throat when
choking on an overdose of dry sponge
cake-licked it's lips with its tongue q
few times, winked its eye at me, as
though to say, "There, you can't do
that, old man." and then wriggled away
under the log to digest it's well-earned
meal. l.-F0rest and Stream.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
Novel Fishing Lines,

from privately-issued report on
silk cultivation in the Chinese province
OF Kwangtung, we learn, says Mature,
that in the Pakhoi district, on ti.s
southern seaboard, wild silkworms are
found which feed on the camphor tree,
and their silk is utilized in singular
manner. When the caterpillar has at.
tanned its full size, and is about to
enter the pupa state, it is cut open and
the silk extracted in form much re.
semblng catgut. This substance, hav-
ng undergone process of hardening,
makes excellent fieh lines, and is gen.
orally used for that purpose in the
pakhoi district.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
Big Hend In Horses.

The so-called big head is disease of
the bony structure. 1t is not always
confined to the head, but may develop
in any part Of the skeleton. 1t consists
in gradual softening and enlargement
of the bones, which become spongy and
porous from want of proper nutrition.
It is % disease Of young animals, and
being mainly due to the malnutrition,
such animals should be kept on liberal,
wholesome and very nutritious food,
such as oats, barley and bran, mixed or
steamed, as chewing is often slow,
painful and difficult. During the sum-
mer season pasturage is beneficial. Lo-
cal applications, such as blistering,
firing, etc., generally prove useless, be-
cause the disease is of constitutional
nature, affecting the whole system.
For internal use tonic remedies may be
employed, such as drachm of peroxydo
of iron and two drachms each of pow
dered boneset and gentian, mixed to.
gether, and such dose given among
food morning and evening during every
other week. Such animals should not
be used for breeding purposes.-Praf.
rio Farmer.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
Farm and Garden Noter.

Don't use too much seed if you drill
in wheat.
To keep seeds from mice, mix some
pieces of oamphor with the seeds.
Mr.. Alfred Smith, of Monmouth, Me-,
says he can graft in every month of the
year and have the trees do we'll.
Mulching grape vines with corn
stalks, straw or grass will help them to
Withstand drought. If necessary they
should be watered.
1t is thirty per cent. more profitable
to premature and dispose of fattening
cattle at two years old, than to keep
them up to three years.
The wire-worm lives five years, and
changes its skin three times during this
period. 1t next appears as snap-beetle
to propagate its species,
Sweet oil and kerosene mixed, well
stirred, will free colt or horse of lice.
Horses are not often troubled in this
way, but they will be when the hen
roost is too close to their stalls.
4 New York farmer, who is also
practical sheep grower, gives the fol-
lowing as 81 cure for grub in sheep:
Turn into eacn nostril of the animal
affected half tesspoonful Of kerosene
oil.
The observations of Dumas, Payen
and Boussingault have shown the fact
that COW gives healthy milk in exact
proportion to the surplus of food be-
yond what is necessary for her own
maintenance. If the animal is kept on
food barely sufficient for proper nour-
ishment, the milk produced must be at
a Loss of animal tissue, with general
deterioration of the milk and also of
the COW.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
ATTEGANY COUNTY MARYLAND SATURDAY. NOVEMBER r. 1881.
Arctic Animals.

An Alaska correspondent writes
Among animals, the polar bear, pure
white in winter, is found on the sea
coast and in slightly-wooded regions,
but the variety is not abundant. The
small white rabbit, same as seen in the
Middle States, except in color, frequents
wooded regions along river courses and
is abundant. Reindeer were formerly
abundant on the sea coast and travelled
in immense herds, but since the intro
duction Of firearms these animals have
been destroyed in some localities and
driven from others, and now they are
found only in restricted localities. A
few years ago they existed in vast num-
bers on Nuneyak island, and the Indians
were in the habit Of slaughtering them
with senseless improvidence. They
were once so plenty and tame there that
they could be shot in numbers from the
huts of the natives. One traveller says
that he saw over 1000 fawn skins hang
ing up to dry in single village. Poison
is sometimes used in taking game-an
execrablepnctice. In the open through
out the interior country reindeer are
still found in small bands.
Moose are still found along the rivers
in the Yukon territory and in wooded
places. Their skins are used for cloth
ing they are thick, stiff and heavy be-
fore being tanned, but are rendered
soft and pliable under the manipulation
of the Indian tanners, who use the ami
malls brains in the operation.
The polar bear is found on the north
ern coast of Alaska. This huge animal
formerly ranged as far south as the
mouth Of the Yukon; and tradition has
it that one was once seen on st. Paul's
island in latitude fifty-seven degrees
north, supposed to have been carried
there on a floating ice-feld. In the
Coast mountains range cinnamon, black
and grizzly bears; but none of these
varieties are common here.
Back from the coast bears are more
numerous, especially the black on the
Upper Yukon, where many skins are an
nually taken. I gathered good deal
of interesting gossip about the manner
of capturing the bear. The natives give
the red bear, and especially the grizzly,
wide berth. One white hunter re-
ported seeing q band Of fifteen black
bears on Peace river, in the Hudson
bay country, feeding on berries on
hillside, and six in one place on the
Yukon, the present spring. The grizzly
is not frequently found, for the sufficient
reason, suppose, that he is rarely
"lost." The barren ground bear, a
smaller animal, dull yellowish-brown in
color, inhabits q wide, treeless region
extending from the western part of
British America to Alaska.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
Correspondence.
A PLEASANT AFFAIR.
ooFIr, Oct. 27th 1881

OCEAN, Oct. 27th 1881.
To the MINING JOURNAL:
Last Thursday afternoon an I'M
mense hustle was observable in the
homes of our quiet citizens and upon
inquiring we learned that the girls,
heaven bless EN-, were preparing for
the grand ball to be held at the Wage
Workers Hall that evening. AS the
silent shadows of twilight encircled
our little mountain valley and Queen
Luna appeared in all her majestic
beauty the boys accompanied by their
bellies mended their way to the GEN.
tire of attraction-the Wage Workers
Hall, to "trip the light fantastic" in
the stately quadrille or the giddy
waltz. The hall was brilliantly il
Eliminated and presented a beautiful
appearance. AS esrly as Z o'clock
visitors were present from Frostburg,
Borden Shaft, Pompey Smash, Iona
coming and Ocean and Others were
still coming. Ats o'clock the dane
ing started and was kept up until
daybreak. One thing was noticeable
the good order and kind feeling
that seemed to exist among all.
Everyone seemed pleased. The
refreshments were ample, and great
praise is due the following named
gentlemen who had the affair in
charge: Messrs. James Close, Miles
Durkin, Joseph McGinn, P. ]. Crea-
gan, and Nathan Arnold, Jr.
SpECTA AT0R
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
How Tacks are Made.

Described in few words, the process
of making tacks is as follows: The
iron, as received from the rolling mills,
is in sheets from three inches to twelve
inches wide, and from three feet to
nine feet in length, the thickness vary
ing, according to the kind Of work into
which it is to be made, from one-eishth
to one-thirty- second of an inch. These
sheets are all cut in about three-feet
pieces, and by immersion in acid
cleaned of the hard outside finty scale.
They are then chopped into strips OF o
width corresponding to the length OF
the nail or tack required.
Supposing the tack to be cut is an
eight-ounce carpet tack, the strip OF
iron, as chopped and ready for the ma
chine, would be about eleven-sixteenths
of an inch thick and three feet long.
This piece is placed firmly in the feed
ing apparatus, and by this arrangement
carried between the knives of the ma
chine.
At each revolution of the balance
wheel the knives cut off small piece
from the end of this plate. The piece
cut off is pointed at one end, and
square for forming the head at the
other. 1t is then carried between two
dies by the action of the knives, and
these dies, coming together, form the
body of the tack under the head.
Enough of the iron projects beyond the
face of the dies to form the head, and
while held firmly by them, lever
strikes this projecting piece into a
round head. This, as we have said be
fore, is all done during one revolution
of the balance-wheel, and the knives,
as soon as the tack drops from the ma
chine, are ready to cut off another
piece. These machines are run at the
rate of about $50 revolutions per min
ute. The shoe-nail machines, for cut
ting headless shoe nails, are run at
about 500 revolutions per minute, and
cut from three to FIVE nails at each
revolution. When we think Of the
number of machines being now run i'll
the United States, namely, about 1,700,
and of the quantity of tacks and nails
they can produce, it is as much of a
mystery where they go as it is what be-
comes Of the pins.
The tackmaker Of fifty or sixty years
ago worked as follows: He took small
rod of iron, and after heating it in a
charcoal fire, hammered it down sofas
to make a point; then piece was cut
off, placed in vice worked by foot
power, and the head formed by few
blows OF the hammer.
T1Lx II ~
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
The Great American Desert

Twenty years ago this was the terror
of the overland emigrant. 1t was i'm
possible to go around it, for it extended
from the Colorado to the Cascades. All
the routes that led to the land Of
promise crossed it, and it was soon cov-
cred with the bleaching bones of stock
and dotted with human graves. 1t is
about forty miles from the lower end OF
Humboldt sink to the Truckee river at
Wadsworth, and the name Forty Mile
Desert" given the stretch has become
known the world over. There is no
water fit to drink on the whole distance
The road lies through sandy brush
plain, extending several miles west OF
the lake, where it strikes an alkai des-
ert, in the center of which the railroad
has station that it appropriately calls
"Whita" Plains. This is the lowest
point east Of the mountains. Eight
miles further is Mirage station, which
might serve as a memorial to the un-
fortunstes who have been betrayed from
their proper course by the picture Of
running water, waving trees and fields
that existed only in the deceptive air.
Near the middle Of the journey is o
boiling hot spring at the foot of the
mountain and large beds of salt lie
near, from which B. F. Leete and the
Bonanza mines put up and ship
large quantities to market The deposit
has killed all vegetation for q
long distance around, leaving the flat
and lake bed as bare as floor. Be-
tween there and Wadsworth there are
some very odd formations. The body
Of the country seems to be light yell
low substance, probably diatomous, over
which lie high ridges Of brown hills.
The level places are strewn with heavy
rocks Of all sizes, as black as coal,
There is no timber anywhere in sight
and even the sage brush is of inferior
size. On either side are mon otonoua
brown mountains, carved and grooved
by centuries of wear and frost into
fringes of stony lace. The railroad has
made frequent attempts to get water
for its engines but without success.
They bored 1900 feet at Hot Springs,
but got only a brackish mixture of
liquid alkali. They haul water in tank
cars for their section men between
Lovelock's and Wadsworth's, and the
engines make the run with one tankful,
distance Of sixty-one miles. They
formerly carried an extra car behind
the engine with two wooden tanks to
draw from, but new engines have been
built with tanks that hold 3,700 gallons.
They frequently run seventy miles
without stopping, and Nick Cole made
100-mile run once. It is a very pleas
ant comparison for the rich forty miner,
who rides in palace car over the
ground where he walked along with
sore and tired feet, urging his oxen out
of the thirsty desert, half q lifetime
ago.-Reno men, Gazette.
Tjnns In n StudjO
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
Lions In a Studio.

A few days ago, says the London
Telegraph, as Herr Schweitzer, the prin-
cipal photographer Of Strasburg, WAS az
ranging bis atelier in the expectation Of
custom, the door was thrown open, and
an exceedingly handsome young lady
appeared on the threshold. Schweitzer
at once recognized his visitor as "Miss
Nina" the golden-haired, blue-eyed
"Lion Queen" of travelling menagerie
temporarily established on plot Of
waste ground outside the Metzger Their.
81 want to have my portrait taken, said
the fair damsel. ct am at your ser
vice; pray be seated" replied the pho
tographer, with deferential bow. "By
your leave" she reioined, transfxing
him with steely glance, "I am not
alone. Two friends are awaiting me
outside your door," So saying, she set
silver whistle to her lips and blew it
shrilly, whereupon two stately lions
stalked into the apartment, greeting it's
proprietor with salutation of growls
that made his blood run cold. At q
sign from their youthful mistress, how
ever, the formidable beasts sat down
quietly enough, and Herr Schweitzer,
gaining confidence from their peaceable
demeanor, proceeded to GROUP" his ap-
palling clients with trembling hands,
placing Miss Nina on sofa in semi
reclining attitude, with lion on either
side of her. All three preserved a
statuesque immobility during the ex-
posule, the result of which was a re-
markably fine picture, now adorning
the windows OF the leading stationer's
shop near the cathedral. Hundreds Of
copies have already been sold, and Herr
Schweizer's matpais quart dheure with
couple of loose lions is likely to prove
the most remunerative period of his
professional career
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12

DR.. Ochlschlager, Of Dantzig, has
found that salicylate Of sodium Is a
remedy OF great value in the treatment
of nervous headache, especially II given
in dose of one grsmme in the begin
ming of an attack. Il usually produces
drowsincss, and after Few hours the
paGsn. wakes up nefreshed and froe
from pain. II, however. often hjls to
produce hbis eheot in cases dependent,
on annmia.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
"The Way of a Serpent on q Rock.o

"Tne way OF serpent on O K0ck,"
The movement of snake in climbing
a perpendicular surface, as I have OBJ
served it, is vermicular, undulating
motion, not spiral, but straight up the
face of the surface. I have seen black
snake thus glide up beech tree with
that easy, careless grace of movement
which is Characteristic of that snake
when moving over horizontal surfaces.
The bark of the beech affords no in
equalities into which the edges of the
gastroslegal bands could be thrust claw
fashion, and / have no doubt that at
mospheric pressure is the force that
holds the snake against such surfaces in
climbing, sucker fashion, as the boy lifts
the brick with the piece of wet leather.
1 once know black snake to ascend a
stucco-wall to the second-story window,
and another saw go up to the caves Of
carriage-house to the swallows nest,
straight up the up-and-down boards.
have seen them glide from tree to tree
and leap down from near the top of large
trees. but never saw one descend by
climbing down smooth, perpendicular
surface. I have no doubt of their abil-
ity to do so, however. I do not believe
that this power is enjoyed by the cop
perhead or rattlesnakc. or any venom
GUS sort with which I am familiar, they
being heavy and sluggish in their move
ments. ] have seen them go up on
leaning trees and crawl into the foliage
of bushes, however. and Stream.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12

Among the early Romans kind OF
Fast, or annals, vss kept by driving
nails into the wall Of the temple OF
Minerva; and in public calamities, in
lime of pestilence, etc., a nail was
fastened in the temnle Of jupiter.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
uouseh old Hints.


Charcoal powder is excellent for pol
ishing knives.
II you flavor rhubarb pie with nut
meg it will improve it greatly, and make
it taste like fresh apple pie.
When making pies of canned pump
kin, use rs little milk as possible, then
one egg will be enough for pie, other
wise the custard must be thickened with
several eggs.
To obtain glossy skin Pour upon a
pint of bran sufficient boiling water to
cover it. Let it stand until cold and
then bathe the face with it, only patting
the skin with soft towel to dry it.
Black Grape, when wet by rain, is al
most certain to spot. Lay the Grape
whether veil or piece of trimming-on
table, and place piece of black silk
underneath the stains then dip soft
cameps-hair brush in black ink, and
carefully paint the stains over with it,
gently wipe off the superabundant ink
with piece of silk, and the stains, as
the places dry, will disappear.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12

A growing fashion is that OF inde-
pendent jackets made of stuff that can
be worn with any kind of a skirt.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12

There is strange over-supply Of
teachers in the province of Ontario. In
some cases forty or fifty applications
have been made by third class teachers
for situations with salary of not more
than $500 year. The trouble lies in
the easy rules which permit a young
person to take two months instruction
in the model schools, and then to enter
the profession, use it for a year or two,
and then leave it forever.
The tooth of mastodon, weighing
six and a-haf pounds, was found by a
little boy in the Kentucky river, at
Marion. Ky.. recently.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12

An African missionary claims that the
great desert Of Sahara does not exist,
and that the tract of land so called is
fertile enough to support vast numbers
Of elephants.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12

Bank clerks in Montreal are exempt
hDm Jury duty.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12
Farming by Telephone.

M. P. Dhameiincour., of HeIdebou-
Vile. France, makes use OF portable
telephone apparatus, with which he
directs works at distance on his farm,
thus saving time snd double necessity
for personal visit. His plan Is simply
70 have tripod carrying movable
roller, on which Is wound conducting
cable composed of twelve insulated
wires. Below this on movable board
Is small box, in which is placed a
telephone and bell. The system allows
the current to pass from the bell to the
telephone without using commutstor.
Thus, the telephone being at rest, the
bell is in connection with the line, and
when the telephone is in use the bell is
put out of the cirouit. Another tele-
phone and bell are fixed in the house
Of the farmer, with commutator.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-12

John of Abyssinia and Alexander OF
Russia are the two potentates whose
food is all tasted ere they parsake of It.