davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
DE-. CRAIGs REPORT ON THE BAPTIST
PARSONAGE.

The full text of Health Commissioner
Craig's report on the condition of the Bap
fist parsonage, dated Oct. %, is as follows:
The sad calamity which suddenly struck
down the Rev. j. B. T. Patterson, his two
daughters and a son so recently, has clio
tied much speculation as to its cause. That
the facts might be known / have. to-day,
in company with Messrs. M. D. Merrill and
G. e. Hawley, made second examination,
full and complete, of the premises where
the family had resided since June, 1881,
up to their removal some five weeks ago.
The parsonage was erected in 1879 and
is fine brick building, two stories high
and 34x36 feet on the ground. 1t stands
in the rear of the church edifice, which is
also of brick, erected in 1870, both stand
ing on good ground, and in good location.
Between the residence and the church,
nearly on line with the rear of the former,
well arranged cistern, with brick wall
to filter through, has been constructed.
Between the same, and nearly in range
with the front of the residence. a cess
pool six feet deep, five feet across, and
nicely walled with brick, has been put
IN. A six-inch square box pipe for over
flow leads from the cistern to the cess
pool. Eight feet four inches from the els
tern, an HIGH pipe ISduS lTOLu the Sink III
the kitchen. A larger pipe from the church
baptistry and spout for tub water from
the surface all connect with this s'box
pipe" for overflow water. It is laid
about three feet under ground and no traps
are in any of these pipes. just below this
connection, in the direction of the cess
pool, an obstruction in the box-pipe was
found, consisting of sardine box, some
rags, sand and other loose material. The
obstruction was so nearly complete that
much of the wash water and sink water
was turned back into the filtered part of
the cistern. thus rendering the water who'll
" unfit for use. 1t is understood the fam
ilv did use this water for cooking and
washing, not knowing of the bad condi-
ton of the conducting pipe concealed in
the ground. The cess
pool, intended for wash and sink
water only and covered over with earth,
stands thirty two feet from the cistern and
seven feet from the inside OF the cellar
wall. The pool is dug two feet below
the cellar bottom. The cellar
bottom is of gravel and appeared
quite damp at the point nearest the cistern.
The cellar is ventilated by three open win
dows and was free from any thing
tangible tending to cause or promote sick
ness, as were all the premises, including
the water closet, which is in the extreme
southwest corner OF the lot, on the opposite
side of the house from that of the cistern
and cess pool We could find nothing,
aside, from the cess pool and cistern, of an
unhealthy nature. With the pool filed
with earth, and a pipe from the sink to the
street sewer, with trap and an overflow,
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
DRAMATIC.
quarters.

The Whitley dramatic companv
sented at Wagner's opera house last a.. ~
ing to fair audience Jane Eyre s.,l
from the great English novel. writ,s'
Charlotte Bronte. The acting tbrouo,,.,
was good. Miss Ida Lewis in the title ~
showed herself to be good actress -,
well adapted to the part she took por,,,,
ing to good advantage the many trial, N
an orphan who is continually ner,acrJ
by an unnatural aunt, but who s,.r.
comes out victorious much to the ,se.,
discontinue. Carrie Carter as Mrs R..I
the aunt, carried out her part sdni,,B,
as did the entire company. To-Dipb n.
same company will present the most vo,
derful drama the world has ever winas.od
and which was played with such marked
success at the Union Square theatre N
Y, in seven acts, entitled the oTV.
Orphans" or "The Depths of Sister,
Love" Ida Lewis taking the part Of M
blind orphan. As this is one of the bss
plays of the company's repertoire, it is %
be hoped that they will receive a wan
welcome tonight
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
DID NoT PAN our WE'LL.

This morning Steve Hull swore out a
warrant before Squire Cropper for the ar
rest of ]. Roher on the charge of pointing
a horse pistol at him last Saturday night,
when Steve and his friend were trying to
force the rear entrance of the Belgian's
saloon. Mr.. P. O'Mara appeared for Roher
and District Attorney Parmenter for the
prosecution. The testimony was of such
a nature as to make it appear that the COM
plainant had, been having bad dreams or
something and Roher was discharged. The
worthy Squire would like to see the COM
plainant about $615 worth
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
A Rock Islander and Peggy
Wallace Join Issue on
the Shirt Question.
Health Commissioner Craig
Reports Respecting the
Baptist Parsonage.
The Bender Barn Burglarized
last night.
Citizens after Postmaster
Beardsley with Sharp
Sticks.
Plenty Of Bright News Items
of every Name and
Nature.
ssP. c.

"Once upon time" well-known Rock
Islander ordered several dozen shirts, of
genuine Belfast linen. the flap of each be-
ing ornamented with his initials Up. G., q"
handsomely wrought in silk. He was
quito proud of his shirts and frequently
boosted of their Celtic origin. One day.
however, he came to grief. A number of
the shirts which had been sent to the laun
dry, were hung upon the line and during
the night six of them mysteriously disap-
peared. In the immediate neighborhood
lived an old woman named Peggy Wallace
and it came to pass that she was suspected,
land not without reason, as subsequent
events proved,) of being the thief. Con
and the missing articles found in her pos
session. She was, of course, arrested,
taken into court and confronted with the
ttP. g." ornsmented evidences of her guilt,
but the sight didn't phase her particle.
She stoutly maintained that the shirts were
hers and when asked how they could be
hers with the letters t'P. G." on each of
them answered thus: "Shure an don't P.
G. shtand for Peggy Wallace? Av course
they do an if hadn't been sharp the ould
thafe over feminist the windy there would
ar walked off with my shirts. Aha, l
wonder did he take me for dang fule.''
Despite Peggy's brazen assurance she had
to surrender the '.P g." shirts and pay the
penalty of her cOnsummate knavery. But
poor .'P. G." was ever afterward known in
that neighborhood as Peg Wallace"
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
NUT FOR SOMEBODY TO CRACK.

To the Editor of the ARGUS:
Through your columns and in the in
terest of the systematized working of the
Rock Island postoffice, desire to ask why
in the name of common sense is there such
a fearful amount of looseness in the dis
tribution of mail matter in our postoff1ce?
Several days ago two letters were received
here for me. both legibly directed, one in
the care of the firm for which work, (the
direction as plain as copper plate,) and the
other with the number of the firms box, as
plainly written as anything ever was. Last
evening found both in the general de-
livery What excuse is there for such gross
carelessness? None whatever. so far as [
can see.
But mine is not an isolated instance, by
any means Complaints of this nature are
daily heard from leading business men,
whose mail frequently becomes most unac-
countably mixed, causing not only great
annoyance, but often positive pecunlary
loss.
IF Postmaster Beardsley is so very busy
in outside electioneering matters as to be
unable to personally attend to the duties
for which he is paid a good salary, and to
see that the work of his subordiuates is
properly performed at proper hours it is
high time that he retire from the position.
personally know that the business men
of this city are in no mood for farther rif-
ling, and unless there is Immediately rad
ical change for the better in the manage
ment of our postoff1ce the department at
Washington will be appealed to for aid.
T.
Rock Island Oct "a 1882
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
BURGLARY.

Upon visiting his barn at an early hour
this morning Mr.. Samuel Bender, of No.
ago Fourth avenue, made the astounding
discovery that at some time during the
night the barn had been burglarieusly
entered and a number of articles stolen, in
Guiding an excellent single harness, two
overcoats and lap robe. The work of
experimenting the thief or thieves has been
turned over to the authorities, but up 10
present writing there is no clue to them,
whatever.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
A TRANSFER.

A transfer was effected yesterday -,
by Mr.. Ed McGraw trades his liverv .,.,'
and house and lot in this CITY for aug aug
aud furniture Herewith out At A.
Iowa, Mr. G. w. West being tbo ~
party to the transfer. Ed leaves on g..
next for Algona, which is a town ~ I1 ~
population, where he will make h. e. ','N
home, trying his hand at the hotel br.; .''''
His many friends will wish him snoa .'''''
his new venture. Mr.. West bo.
charge of the livery already, and =. 'A''
comes here well recommended as A., ,..., "
man, we bespeak for him share - ,4''e
patronage of the public. He /, ., ~
hand in the business, having followosa ',A
connection with his hotel at Algons N
family win move to this city in a few A.
or as soon as Ed is established At II.
quarters.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24

being white as any black man evo-
Election only two weeks from ;. ,''
Candidates for the different Offices .ro S1s
ting as lively and nearly as thick 40 y s''
as election day approaches. 10y
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
NEW yEwELRY HOUSE.

Mr. Vim. Waltz of Wisconsin, is now
opening out a full line of watches, dia-
monds, jewelry, silver ware, etc, at the
old stand of Mitchell d Parsons. He in
tends to make Rock Island his home, and
solicits fair portion of the patronage of
this city and vicinity, and viii be ready
for business about Oct. Gath. diff
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
POTATOES

Central New York newspapers lately re
ceived, quote potatoes as in fair demand.
Holders ask from so to go cents a bushel
while shippers assert that they can get all
they want, of good quality, too for 40
cents In this city the choicest varieties,
peachblows for instance, readily bring 65
cents.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
BOOTS AND SHOES.

e. Turner The pioneer boot and shoe
dealer, has just received fine. stock than
ever of the latest styles in hand sewed
shoes for both ladies and gentlemen, also
all other grades which are offered to the
public, at very reasonable rates Call and
see the finest stock of boots and shoes in
the city. Oct1s ct
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
A CARD.

Having concluded to close business here
by New Years, TO move South on account
of illness in my family, therefore offer
nv entire stock of goods at and below
cost E ZELs
O02 CT
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
CHILRnEN,s cLoAKs.

On the 18th of last June NJ G. Mills
gave an importation order for a large lot
of children's cloaks, which have arrived
and are being sold rapidly at cost 24-d6t
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
WALL PAPER. WALL PAPER

sold at cost at Cary s. Stoltings. one block
sovih of the Harper House. A large
assortment to select from. Give us
call Sept22d1m
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
HATS AND UNDERWEAR.

IF you want to see the finest and largest
stock of hats, underwear and gents fur
nishing goods generally. call at Liberman's,
the halter. oct1Sd6t
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
HAND sEWED SHOES.

The only place in the city to buy genu-
inc hand sewed shoes for ladies and gen.
tlenen is at Carse d Reticker's. 24-d6t
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24

pipe for the cistern and the baptistry
water above, the whole premises are as
good in sanitary point of view as any in
our ethyl
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-24
CARPETS.

The latest patterns, finest stock and
lowest prices in carpets at @. G. Knell's.
Oct1S ct
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-10-04
TIE D.fbB TT TREE.

The most gigantic ornament OF tho
African forests, AID one Of the most in
the world, i, the h.oblb tree. The
sLort and islands If Like N ami were
studded here AMI there by single trees
or groups OF baobaEs, towering like
castles with their trunks and bare, leaf
! less arms above the other trees, 10 king
Somewhat gray and rough like granite
rocks, and then smooth and meta lic,
where the old bark re,ling off bad ex-
posed the new and allowed It's peculiar
coppery tint TO shine thr ugh, giving q
llr2e portion, according to tao light or
shade, rcd, Or yellow-gray. or deep
purple tone. No external attack-even
tre--seems tn iniure tins tree; It is not
easily injured tom within, and vii. Ii it is
cut down 1t coatlarles to grow in length
while lying on the ground, aud the
roots, which extend fifty yards hon tho
tru k, KEEP the IL vi alty.
Adaroon, i'll lis description of tho
baopab or niolllryhread tie vi S.ne al,
states lts dl'mct,r at thirty feef, giving
Il nety fact Oh circumference, ani q
height OF from sevcn,yhvc to eig tty as
the average size vi iuil-stosu trees. He
Enpposes maiy Of them to be as old as
the pyramids OF E Y,t. The spreading
br"nctlt S soa. ~tiul,s draop SO much with
their own weight, aud int Of the dense
foliage, that tie stem is hidden from sight
and only the enormous mass of verdare
Is see II, often l5v feet through and seven.
ty-hvc feet OF more IN hr.gHt.
ILeirolt Is .atab!e; the pull, Is sweet
and ut an agreeable flavor the mice.
whVn eZtr,ctgd AM mixed with surar.
forms beverage very useful in the
put I'll and residential fev,rs of the
country. Iho t.ult IS Transported into
the EASTERN ami sou hern lsa, b. of Afric,,
and the Arab, p",s II Oh Ia the cun.llr eJ
rom. MoGotco, wt.elce 1t iinls its WY
into Egypt. iho negroes take part Of
tue damaged fruit ana the iigueou, baf K
and buru In IN for the sake OF the ashes.
from wAlciI they Manufacture soap by
N as OF Palm OIL. Tney make IL still
mo sing ar use of the lr,iIk OF the
baobtb; they cXiusenpun 1t the bo, lies
OF those anIong tuem whom they con-
s.der worthy OF more than the ord Imry
homo Of scpulure. They select the
thu k of some DtoIab already alta ked
and followed out by i sec or fungi;
they increase tie cavity, and make in
the trunk a kind of c.arnber. i'll which
they susp nd the body. Ibis doue,
they close up the entrance of this
natural tomb with allu k. The body
b, comes perfectly, dry in the Interior of
this c.viiy, and forms IL peri ct mummy
without III ther p:eIarI.ioli.--A jJtrla
Of Wonders.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-10-04
CAUSE or mr. Ev ELLIYCH OFOCR
T..UT gcitS.

The exccllen Of trotters descended
from N1,ss niger, the sra to whom al.
most alttLe q M ricdu tr, tters tru. their
pedigree, is somet,m, attributed To the
fact AT lhi, iamutls sire hal in him a
strong cross OF Ba b, as di>tincuished
from Arab hluol TIN Dar'ev Arabian
ard the Gol"llhin Ar ,bian-whoss
b!ool appears III all the best r sh
race-h' 1895 of the last c,n'ury-ucre in
reality Barhs, AMI not A ahans they
came from Il ,ll'ary and Area, and not
from Arabia and Asa. Blr.ary is
rongh, stony, billy. intersec,ed with RI
vines, and covered in ma y laces with
Irickly bushes. The districts of Asia in
which the purest Arab horses are bred.
present, on the other hand, fiat or
slightly undulating su,iac s, with sea ty
vegetation, while Tor the host part they
are carpcted with thick lag, rs of s,nd.
In Africa the lorse. ming uaabIe to
gal op with SAT iy, accustomed himself
to tho trot, as nein the saft st and ,as st
gait, under the circumstances, and the
loptiun OF this action f,nc s him to
bend the knee and to develop the
mus les Which are thus ir nght into
pl Y. In 9th rworls, Bare ho Sos trot,
while Arabian horses g,!lop, because
nature imposes upon each the necessity
OF adapting Their action 10 the ground
in tho mldst OF which they are sevcraily
born.-L0ndon EIcll.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-10-04
ExrERIENcs kea.s lear school, but
tools Will learn in no other.
LIE NHEklN4.NN.

The two Sheridans were snpping with
me Que night II tie the opera, NJ a p, III i
when lon expected to ct into Parlia.
Ment.
81 Thin. father" said he, "thnt many
men who caled great pat. lots in the
H u,,se Of nnons are great iiumbugs.
For my @ part, if get into Parlia
m mt 1 W pledge myself to DO party,
but write .on my forehead, in legloie
characters To be let.
"And der that" said his father,
"write, UAfurnish.d. - Michael Kei.
H.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-10-04
THE MOSQUITOES OF LlPLAyD.

In these latitudes the srow has hardly
melted when the mosquitoes appear in
countless mul,itudes, and the people
have no rest night or day. In wooded
districts they ere n perfect plague in
July, after which gI,at pears This
bites very hard during the day, bue at
night leaves one in peace, for it never
enters the houses. Last comes a species
of sand.fly, which is so very disagreed
bic. / was surprised, at turn Of the
road, to see lack cloud. 1t vas q
swarm of mosquitoes, so thick that il
was impossible to see anything beyond.
l was hurryIng the horse through it,
when hc suddenly stopped, and then
saw three men working on the road
who had previously been Invisible.
This seems irc,e lille, bnt such are the
facts. jos fss,,n laughed, and observed:
"We have II saying here that when a
tray Ter comes he writes his name in a
I'D OF mosquitoes. aud when he comes
lack the iol owing year, he sees it
again. ~ The Lnnd If the Midnight
Sta.--Iuut u. Du LhuittM
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-10-04
CANINE INSTINCT.

A correspondent Of London paper
contributes another OF those remarkable
examples of so-called canine instinct
that arc SO often r, ported. He states
that he left his home iu Hampshire and
went by rail to Lonlon, and thence to
Norwood, taking with him black collie
dog that rode in the gnarl's van. A ter
he had been in tie last mentioned place
about week the dog disappeared.
Two days after he received letter from
home stating that the dog had arrived
there very foot-sore, hungry, and weary.
He states that the distance travelled by
the dog Was about eighty miles, and
that the road was absolutely unknown
to him. Similar stories to the above are
often published, aud it is likely that
many Of them are true. We are not.
however, just in believing that the
dog is such a knowing animal, sftr all.
1t is quitc likely that a dog his Lis eyes
open while travelling, and notices many
objects along the road. II all dogs
foand their way back to their old homes
we should he justified in giving them
great credit for III ir intel igenc-. But
such i, not the case. The columns Of
city papers alound in advertiser ents oil
lost dogs. They wander IL few blocks
from home ard cannot find their way
back. The writer OF this once had a
dog SO intelligent that 1t would carry
parcels H. The house it WAS ordered to,
AMI apparently understo d many words
in two languages, hut lost its way GO.
ing distance Of halt a mile and to,h
refuge ia the house Of stranger. Moth
ing is more common than for dogs re
markable Tor their intelligence to lose
their way in going short distances in {
large city. Hunters often complain d
losing their dogs. The number u dog
that lose their way is far greater than o
those that and their homes. - Aica0t
{ zvDs<&
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-10-04
THE LEsNIrG TOWER OF PISA.

A correspondent, writing OF the Lean.
ing Tower If Pisa, says that, whether by
&C. itlent or design. no one can now tell,
the inrlinatit CT the structure makes it
look and feel to the visitor as il it were
about to tall. 1t is $50 ct high aud is
tii,tern feet out of the perpendicular.
This is stael everywhere. and is no
doubt true, but l suppose there are
many persons Who, like myself. expected
to zee a building erect, the center OF
whose top was outside the center OF
gravity.
This is not the case by any means. It
is true that a RIPE falling from the CEN
ter of the top would strike the wall at
the bottom of the tower sil,. but the
rope would not fall outside the tower
wall In short time satisfied myself
and two other Wis tors OF this fact. The
apparent contradiction of the laws 1T
nature disappears. then, in a moment
Taking the building ms a whole-let-
ting liue fall from the center o.
the top-;f this Inc fell outside Of the
base in that case the huliing would
violate the law Of gravity If it re-
maine,l standing. bellows the nrchi-
tect planncd ills optical delusion.
There ara no signs Of any giving way Ill
the structure. No ciack or crevice gives
evidence OF rapid or slow settling of the
walls.
The rrchitect knew very we'll how
easily the eye can be deceived. The
fir,nness of the masonry, the gradual
ascent. the symmetry Of the whole,
prove beyond DOUBT that it was built
as it now stands. Ths walls below are
very thick, and unl 81 these should give
WY there is but one other method by
which the bui ding could be overthrow.
If the stones were to slip from their
places, then, little by Ii tie, it would he
dislOlged But the whole structure ID
keyed and ho ted aud cemented into a
solid mass. If il leaned nine feet moro
than it does, then it would fill, because
the sum of it's weight would fail outside
the center If gravity. The mystery di =
appears at onca when we examine it,
but the curious effect upon ones nerves
in making the ascent anil standing on
the top is naverthe ess real.