davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
Railroad Storm Brewing.

Chicago Herald: For some days past
it has been known that serious troubles
were brewing in the general offices of
the Chicago & Northwestern Road 1t
was stated that the ''strikeH of the pas
senger conductors on account of the new
general order requiring the issuing of a
receipt for cash fares to passengers, was
the main part of the trouble Yesterday
however, a Herald reporter learned that
there was still more back of this, and
that it affected the general officers them
selves. 1t is said that there will be
number of vacant shoes to be occupied
in less than month, and when the an
nouncements are made there will be
CONSERVATION The following are the
reported facts:
When Mr.. Laying. general superin-
tendant, was called from the Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne & Chicago road, where he
had held the position of division super
intendent, he at once inaugurated re-
forms of very startling nature. He
started system of managing trains
and crews that was not altogether liked
by train men. He soon incurred the
displeasure of Marvin Hughitt. general
manager, it is said, and it is reported
that since then there has been sub
daed war between the two. One of the
charges made against Mr.. Layng's
manipulation of the trains was that he
was so running the live stock express
trains between st. Paul and Chicaffo as
ty cause serious loss to shippers. This
has caused falling og in shipments,
especially as the M. Il st. p. road has
put on lightning stock trains that make
nearly twice as good time between the
two cities.
As a consequence, the statement is
made that the regular freight traffic
statement of earning for the North
western has fallen off. All these things
have worked around until it is rumored
that on May l there will be another
general superintendent appointed, and
that furthermore new traffic manager
will replace Mr.. III. G. Wicker, present
incumbent. Mr.. H. f. Inland is men
toned for the latter position. Mr..
Hiland is at present the traffic manager
of the st. Paul & Omaha read, the late
ly acquired possession of the North
western Company. He has the reputa-
ton of being fine manipulation of
Northwestern freight traffic. The en-
tire rumpus is creating a great stir in
local railway circles.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
An Explosive Establishment.

BIRMINGHAM, April 5.-The city po-
lice made raid upon a suspected local
ity in Ledsam street, lakewood, and
discovered Fenian nitro-glycerine fac
tory in full operation. They discovered
an apparatus for preparing and mixing
explosive compounds, constructed on
scientific principles. and with all the
cunning craft which clearly showed its
inventor to be not only thorough
scholar in chemistry and machinery,
but also an adept for avoiding notoriety
and preventing discovery Among the
noteworthy features of this place was a
shrewdly-deyised method for carving
the fumes up the chimney and consum-
ing the odors. 1t is learned that the
premises in Ledsam street were taken
two months ago by man named
Whitehead, an Irish-American, who
had a sign out in front of his place in
dicating his business as that of paper
hanger. Whitehead himself was taken
into custody, when the police made the
descent on the den, and is now in close
confinement. A considerable quantity
of nitro-glycerine was seized by the Of
ficers at the same time. Information
now in the hands of the detectives tends
to demonstrate that this place is the
central mandatory of explosives, and
the most important depot of all the in
fernal contrIvances in the Kingdom
Whitehead, who is described as man
about % years of age, dark complexion,
and with marked American accent,
has been in the habit of purchasing
supplies of nitro-glycerine and acids,
which are necessary to run the business.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
The Treasury Count.

WASHINGTON, April THE Chief
Clerk of the Loan Division, who is a
member of the Special Committee to
superintend the counting of the money
and other securities in the United
States Tresury, said this evening that
the count was progressing Slowly, but
satisfactory. The total amount to be
counted and verified is about 5000, 000,-
900. The work is done by force of
twenty-five clerks, under the direction
of the Committee. Ten of the clerks
are selected from the Secrctary's de-
partment and twelve are taken from
the Treasury proper. The money is
passed from the Secretary's clerks TO
Treasurer clerks for verification, and
to ensure absolute correctness, the
Treasury clerks are the representatives
of the new treasurer and are the last to
handle the money before it is returned
to Mr. Wyman's vault The work yet
to be done willconsume two weeks more
OF the total of $500, DOC, 900, there re-
mains yet to be counted about S115,-
600, 900 of treasury notes and silver and
gold certificates. The Chief Clerk
says that several shortages have been
discovered in the accounts, but none
cause any alarm. The largest short
age was found on Wednesday and
amounted to eleven cents. The
next day an overplus was discovered,
which reduced the shortage to cents.
At the close of to-day's work the net
shortage was cent in total count of
S485, 100000 The Chief Clerk explains
the shortage by saying that the regular
daily payments are being made from
the cash-room and when a coupon
worth S29 cents is presented, the Gov
ment keeps the half cent and pays out
but 80 cents. There are hundreds of
these transactions over the counter
every day. BY rule! of the Treasury,
however, all differences between tho
accounts and cash on hand must be har.
monized every night and n slight short
age is met by an unavoidable oyer-pus
in another direction. The Chief Clerk
says when the count is finally complet-
ed, the Committee will be able TO turn
over to the new treasurer everything
in shape of money or its equivalent be-
longing to the Government, even to
the uttermost farthng.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
Pension Fraud.

Our city was visited last week bv a
pension agent fraud. He came ''rigged
out in uniform with a shining detec-
tive star upon his breast, and claimed
not only to be government official,
but a particular friend of the soldiers.
He gave his name and title as Colonel
Bentley, nephew of the late Commits
sioner of Pensions. He ''put up'' with
mine host, Mark Terrill, and there met
two or three soldier boys, from whom
he obtained their discharge papers for
the purpose of securing for them back
pay due, land warrants, increase of
bounty, etc, charging each one the
small fee of two dollars for the valuable
service to be rendered. He went from
here to Linden, and duped some of the
boys there, taking the last dollar that
one of them had in the house.
In the meantime Deputy Sheriff Heal
ely and our Postmaster got on his track
and telegraphed to the special pension
agent at Madison, who came here on
the first train, and the next morning
started on the still hunt. 1t is rumored
that he caught him at Montfort. but the
report lacks conformation. Some of
our citizens say that he is the same
fraud who came here some eight years
ago, under the name of Fox, and Great
ed an excitement out in Waldwick, in
behalf of the King boys. He seems
lively kitten in his business The Chic
ago Times announced his presence and
works in Des Moines, Iowa, and within
30 hours he was with us. We hope
that the hand of justice has reached
him before now. But soldier boys
should stop and think that the govern
ment does not employ men to go around
and look up their wants. and for certain
fees" make promises to secure some
future benefits. Give such characters a
wide berth. Mineral Point Tribune.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
Closed lis y.abors.

The Legislature closed its labors last
week after a threa months session which
might well have been curtailed one-half
without any detriment to the state or
its interests. The important legislation
of the session is chiefly noticeable by its
successful envelopement in the mantle
of inyisibllity. As stated by CORES
pondent writing from the capitol some
weeks ago. the acts passed by one
house were killed in the other and
therefore nothing has been accomplished
and it might be added, such bills of i'm
portance as did successfully run the
gauntlet of both houses were quite gen
orally in such a shape as to leave
serious doubt as to their constitution
atty, or power to hold water. Two not
able instances of this nature were the
act passed to meet the decision of the
supreme court on the rights of electors
in villages and cities, and the act pro-
viding for the taxation of the palace
and sleeping car companies. Both of
these important measures are left at the
mercy of the courts and open to never
ending litigation.
Vicious and unwise as the BIENNIAL
session act was, there are times when its
faults become almost beauties and its
unwelcome provisions assume the guise
of blessings. Such is the case when we
remember that another reform legis-
lature is not possible for two years, dur
ing which time the people will quite
probably have regained their senses
and remedy the evils of the past session
by electing a Legislature of bonafide and
not veneered reformers, body of law
makers instead OF mob of irrespon-
sible tryos who know little and care
less about the real duties of legislating
for great state provided their pockets
are properly supplied with inkstands
and gold pens.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
Hazel Green.

Election day passed with no political
disturbances, and the poll list shows a
larger vote than has been polled here at
spring election for many years, and
the result shows that about . af and 'af''
of Republicans. and Democrats were
elected.
On Wednesday night, about eleven
O'Clock, fire was seen issuing from the
kitchen of Philip Shilliam's residence.
BY the timely arrival of many of our
citizens, who put forth their most siren
uous efforts, the fire was extinguished,
with much less loss than might have
been expected.
Mrs. Atkinson has been confined to
her house by sickness, for the past two
weeks.
Miss Bessie Crowle, teacher in the
public school at Lancaster, is at home,
visiting her parents.
Rev. w. J. c. Bond, of Dodgeville, is
visiting friends, in this place.
ID. b. Jenckes, one of Hazel Green's
rising young men, has gone to Bosco-
bel, to accept employment In the law
office of Boscobel's best Mayor, John d.
Wilson.
Charley Harper showed up here, last
Wednesday, after an absence up in the
county for some time, where he has
been holding teachers examinations.
Charley has peculiar knack of asking
qustions, which are harder to answer
than: Who struck Mr. William Patter-
son, OF where is Charley Ross? And he
is single, too! Why don't some of the
girls ''catch on?''
Mrs. James Rirkett is still Frustrated
upon bed of sickness.
John j. Crawford, who has been en-
crossing clerk, at Madison, the past
winter, arrived home, on Thursday last.
Miss Bell Andrew, who has been
teaching school, at Rewey, the past
winter, is at home, to spend her vaca-
ton.
MIR. Crawford Harper, who has been
teaching, in the Lightcap district, the
past winter, bid farewell to every
scholar and wiped his weeping eyes,
last Friday, it being the last day of
school.
Mrs. Henry Smitheran, nee Miss Dor
othy Farley, is visiting old friends, in
this city, preparatory to starting for
California, where she will make it her
home.
Ed. O'Neill was surprised. Last
Wednesday was his 43rd birthday, chad
he been woman, we should have
omitted the age parD and accordingly
some of our young men came down on
the place ''like wolf on the fold,n so to
speak, as surprise party. After as
sembling, we were invited into the din
lng-parlors, where a magnificent repast
had been prepared, under the direct SUI
pervision of MIR. O's queenly wife. Sup
per over, the remaining hours were
whiled away by speech-making, music,
presentations, fumigations, principally
fumigations) until about eleven o clock,
when all adjourned, wishing that birth
days would come as often as tramps.
| PERRY
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
Mt. Hope.

The extensive distribution of the Fair
lamb cans over such fair amount of
territory and to so many of the fair
sex, by the fair representative of
Geo. Snider's Creamery, has occasioned
quite fair amount of comment. This
Albert is no ''snide." We know him.
En- means more, and we know that he is
more fair in the creamery can business,
and more fairly personates the emblem
of innocence in the last half of the can
name than the first half of his own
name would signify. Ye fair dairy
folks, welcome him fairly; and more
than fair will be your treatment.
Mr.. Harper was ON hand the 10Th and
goth of March, keeping about 80 appli-
cants in hot water for two days. Wasn't
that grand, good spelling match, on
Monday night? | believe Mr.. II. re-
members his youthful days. Several
short speeches were made by parents in
the district; and, although Mr.. Harper
acted wrong in not allowing Phillips to
spell, the latter will forgive him, in view
of his Cthe Supt's) very able talk" on
education Come and talk to us some
more.
School closed, nominally, on Friday,
March 3Oth; but the pupils and teacher
had agreed upon an entertainment,
which was accordingly held on the even
ing of Monday, April End. The ca
pacious room, in the upper part of the
new building, was filled to its full ca
pacity. The exercises would, perhaps,
have been rendered somewhat smoother,
if more time had been taken in prepare
ton; but this time was necessarily quite
limited, as nothing was done at all I'M
til after Mr.. Harper's examinations, so
that we had about ten days. However,
everything passed off smoothly, not a
single blunder occurring.
A temperance drama, which was
specially arranged for this occasion,
nicely exempliiied the evil results of in
good cause when properly directed.
This play left a good impression.
'1We'll Camp Little While in the Will
derness," song and chorus, rendered
a-la-mode Tennesseeans. "A Natural
Spell" in which the spelling was done
by singing and chorus, a style quite I'M
usual, to say the least. The Ride to
Mauro," or, as the old lady repeatedly
states, ''she wants to go Tomorrow
but bothers the agent very great deal
about getting off today; and the very
laughable play of Mothers Fool,
wherein said fool proves himself to
be the sharpest one of all; and Mrs.
Bolivar's Quiltin', at which party they
''sassed'' one another for all that was
out, were among the most prominent
exercises of the entertainment, all of
which was very well received, as well as
others, which want of space prevents
enumerating. At the close of all the
performance which had been prepared,
an incident occurred, (which was not
on the program" Mr.. NJ. ID. Taylor
announced that: ave shall now listen
to some remarks by Mr.. Sandy Cairns
That gentleman requested Mr.. Phillips
to come on to the stage. The request
being complied with, Mr.. G. delivered.
in very able manner. the following
presentation address:
"MR. w b. PHILLIPS: j am here TO-
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12

The depreciation in value by the veal
Of circulation of the gold coinage of En-
gland is there exciting some discussion,
and it has stimulated Mr.. John Biddulph
Martin, of Lombard street, to make an
extensive investigation. He sent for in
formation to every bank, to some four
teen railways, tofifty postofices, and to
number of large wage-paying firms, and
he received 1902 returns. 1t was
found that gold coins miAted anterior to
1910 are now very scarce. The most
important fact established was that
most of the gold now in circulation is
more or less light in weight. Upon the
total number of the coins Of each year
since 1877 in circulation there is q
weight deficiency of "a, 900, 100 grains.
The mean loss of weight per coin
through the wear Of circulation is
0. 1925 grains. Mr.. Martin estimates
the loss on light gold Mt Ell lbs per
1000 sovereigns; the postoffice finds
it to be actually G12 los. On light hall
sovereigns the loss is much greater,
ranging in actual expense from Ell Is
to SD les on 81, 900 worth. Thus the
coin of the realm is in very bad way.
individuals bear the loss and not the
nation Mt large, the only loss of the
nation being the $4,000 depreciation
sustained by the postoffice. The brunt
falls upon the bankers, who do their ut
most to avoid paying for the recoinage
of sovereigns and half-sovereigns, and
are heavily loaded with coin for which
they can find little or no use. Their
plan has been to send down large
amounts of worn coin to provincial CEN
ters of business, where they sell it to
local bankers against ten or fifteen days
draft on London. The bankers put out
the coin among their wage-paying cus-
toners. The London banker loses his
fortnightly interest on the money rather
than incur the loss Of sending the coin
into the Bank of England to be clipped.
Mr.. Martin proposes that the state
should undertake the task and expense
of putting the gold currency upon its
proper footing and of keeping it there.
The first expense would be ESQ, 600.
The average life of sovereign is 17.9
years, and of a half.sovereign II. 6 years.
Mr. Martin suggests that an allowance
Of one grain on every sovereign of 20
years old and of half grain on every
sovereign of 10 years old, should be made
at tine expense of the state on the light
currency now in existense, leaving the
individual to bear the loss on light
coins of later date. He also suggests
the use of 81 notes. -Ne,g York Times.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12
County Court.

AT the regular April term of the
county court, held at the court house in
this city, Tuesday, April 3, Judge Nc
Gonigal presiding the following cases
were heard and considered:
Petition to probate will of William
Dewing, deceased. Notice of contest
filed and by agreement of attorneys
case continued to Fourth Tuesday of
April.
Petition to probate will of Peter Hoff-
man, deceased. VIII allowed and adj
mitte1 to probate. Henry Hoffman
appointed administrator with will an
nexed, bond fixed at $4,000
Petition for final settlement in estate
of Andrew Doyle, deceased. Accounts
allowed.
Petition for final settlement in estate
of Jonathan Allen, deceased. Accounts
examined, corrected, and allowed. Resi-
due, $6S3.52, paid to creditors on claims
allowed, twenty-three pei cent.
Petition for probate of will of Jacob
Twining, deceased, continued from
March term. No objections, will admit
ted to probate.
Petition for probate of will of John +.
Butte, deceased, continued from August
term. No objections, will admitted to
probate.
Petition for final settlement of estate
of Ambrose Thomas. Accounts ex-
amined and allowed. Executor dis
charged as to all except trust fund of
$4,000, interest of which to be paid TO
widow during lie, at death to be paid
to heirs.
Petition for administration in the es-
tate of Frederick Stuer, deceased. Sam
uel Barstow appointed administrator,
bond fixed at $1,000.
Petition for extending time to file
claims in the estate of John Corners,
deceased. No appearance.
GLiblOu lOI III IHC
estate of Frederick Fisher, deceased.
Frederick Shippner appointed executor,
bond fixed at $1,000.
Petition to probate will of Joseph
Club, deceased. No objections, will
allowed and admitted to probate. John
Schreiner and Oliver +. Club executors,
bond fixed at $4,000
Petition to probate will and appoint
administrator with will annexed in
estate of Jared Spaulding, deceased.
win allowed and admitted to probate.
Application to appoint guardian in
the case of Henry Fisher, insane. l..
G. Rogers appointed guardian, bond
fixed at $1,000.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-12

LOCAL MARKET, LANCASTER.

Nathan Cocker IS Of pure African line
age, black as ebony and of stalwart
frame. lie is now somewhere between
60 and 70 years of age and has resided
all his life in the lower part of the Tuck
ahoe neck, Nd. He he's no knowledge
of books-cannot even repeat the alpha
bet-but is much above mediocrity in
pointo intelligence ana cool, hard corn
field common sense as compared with
his race. When quite young he con-
ceived the idea of becoming fire. proof,
and before he was 25 he was veritable
fire-king. How he acquired the power
to perform the fcats Of placing his hands
and arms in vessel Of boiling water and
keeping them there for ten minutes,
licking a red hot shovel, holding in his
mouth molten lead and even swallowing
it, as well rs many others more daring,
without apparent injury, no one knows,
nor has he ever revealed the secret. In
fact it is doubtful if he can himself ex-
plain tho mystery but he can and does
handle bars of iron glowing with white
heat, eat glowing charcoal made from
hickory or oak wood, walk barefooted
on red hot bar of iron sixteen feet long,
with perfect GOODNESS and deliberation.
These facts are attested by many re
spectacle witnesses. He used to delight
in frightening the ignorant ana super
stitious country people. to whom he was
unknown, whenever he could find a
crowd gathered around the stove in a
village or country store, by stalking in,
opening the stove door and running his
hand down in the fire and deliberately
taking a live coal in his fingers and
place it in his pipe and walk of.
He was at one time on exhibition, and
his strange feats created considerable ex-
element, but owing to his dislike of no
toriety and his lack of education he soon
retired from the stage. His power of
resisting the effects OF fire is singular,
and has never so far as know, been ex-
planned, though he has been examined
by number of scientific men. Many
of the colored people, and, in fact, not
a few of the whites. who had been taught
by the crude theoloigans Of fifty years
ago to believe in personal devil with
horns, tail and cloyen feet, whose king
dom was the bottomless pit and who
occasionally treated his uaruly subjects
to doses of molten lead, firmly believed,
and perhaps some Of them still believe,
that Nathan was o sort Of breyet devil
himself Wilmington Netps.