davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
A Soldiers Bright Idea.

One day soon after Popos defeat at
second Bull Run and Chantilly apri-
yate soldier belonging to an Ohio
regiment sought an interview with his
Captain, and announced that he had
a plan for amilitary campaign which
must certainly result in crushing out
the rebellion. The officer very natur-
ally inquired for particulars, bnt the
soldier refused to reveal them, and
asked for chance to lay his plans
before Pope himself After some do
lay he was givena pass to headquar-
tiers. He did not get to SEQ Pope hut
after the Chief OF Staff had coaxed
and promised and threatened for u
quarter of an hour the Buckeye stood
up and replied
"Well, sir, my plan is for John Pope
and Bob Lee to swap commands, and
il we don't lick the South inside Of
sixty days you many shoot me for a
patent hay fork swintller!"
When he returned to camp he was
naturally asked what success he met
with, and lie ruefully replied:
"Wall, they had a plan OF their own.
What was il?"
"Why, they took me out and booted
me for a mile and half"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

The Senate yesterday passed the bill
authorizing the Secretary of the Navy
to issue proclamation offering re-
ward of $4,000, to be equitably paid
or distributed to any ship, or ships,
person or persons, not in the military or
naval service OF the United States
who shall discover or rescue or salts
factorily ascertain the fate of the Gree
ly expedition. The bill as passed
contains proviso proposed by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs that
such proclamation should not be made
in terms that would involve the Uni
ted States in any future liability be-
yond said reward, or that would in
duce any unprepared vessel 10 incur
extraordinary peril or risk also, a
proviso proposed by Mr. Hoar, that
the determination OF the Secretary Of
the Navy as to the right of any
person to said reward, or share there
of, shall be conclusive upon all par,
ties.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

The Vallejo(Cal )Times says: A la
dyin this city hearing an unusual com
melton in her poultry yard the other
morning, ran out and saw three roos-
ters making frantic efforts to extrieate
hen that had got her head fastened
between the boards of a fence in an
attempt to fly over it, while about
twenty old hens were walking and
feeding about the yard as unconcern-
edly as ifnothing unusual was going
ON. The action of the roosters may
be explained by the proverbial gallan.
try of the sex, while the hens were
probably taking quite a delight in
seeing the belle of the flock and ha-
ted rival effectually strangled.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Woman sarRage.

The joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution to ex-
tend the right of suffrage to woman,
reported favorably to the Senate yes
terday from the Committee on Wom-
an Suffrage by Senator Palmer, is the
resolution introduced early in the
session by Senator Lapham. 1t pro-
vides that the Legislatures ef the sever
al States be asked to ratify the follow
ing article which it proposes as an
amendment to the Constitution:
Section First-The right OF citizens
of the United States to vote shall not
be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State on account OF
sex,
Section Second-The Congress shall
have power, by appropriate legislation
to enforce the provisions of this arti
cle
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Hints I'm lightning storms.

Colonel Parnell, r. E., gives the
following useful hints to avoid being
struck by lightning. Garry as little
metal OF any kind on the person as
possible. Shelter inside the nearest
brick or stone building when the storm
approaches, If none near, stand still,
or better, lie down on your face, disre-
garding the rain, which acts as a pro-
lection. Avoid the shelter of trees or
doorways, under walls, caves, hayricks,
&c. Go into a stone house, but not
an outhouse, such as barn or stable.
Temporary shelters of this sort are to
be Stunned, especially if the building
is wooden. Iron issafer. In the open
low, dry, stony ground is safer than
high, wet, or grassy ground. Leeward
sites are safer than windward ones.
Field laborers should leave their tools
behind on seeking shelter. indoors,
the kitchen fireplace is to be avoided.
Choose room or passage where there
is no fireplace. Keep clear of walls,
especially outer walls. Keep clear of
metals, especially pipes; of wires, els
terms, window-bars, looking-glasses,
pianos, gilt frames, balconies, &c.
Close all doors and windows. Keep
the chimneys clean-the SCOT and
heated air draw the discharge, Paving
close round the walls guards a build
ing; so also do dry and well-drained
| foundations.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

AT Toledo sharp looking young
man boarded the Detroit-bound.. train
and after looking over the passengers
in one of the coaches he took seat
beside traveller with face as hon
est as four dollar bill. Just as the
train was about to start the young
man suddenly said:
"My friend, | am on my way tc
Detroit to see my mother die"
"Eh! that's too bad"
II haven't got any money with me
but will give you my watch for secur
ity if you will lend me $50 until VIC
reach Detroit"
"Lets see the ticker
The watch was galvanized affair
worth about fifty cents per pound
The man with she four dollar face ex.
amined it, shook it put it in his pock
ct. Then he slowly drew a $50 from
his vest pocket and handed it over tc
the young man. The latter simpl,
glanced at it, and then the two smiled
Then they shook hands. Then tht
watch and the bill changed back.
The watch was dead swindle ant
the bill counterfeit, and both belong
ed to the "profesh."
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Awakened by smoke and Fire.

ELLIOT Cry, Nd, March 2S.-The
residence of John Burgess, farmer
near Clarksville, some ten miles from
here, was burned yesterday morning.
The family consisted of Burgess, his
wife, five children, and William Groom,
eolored, and wife. The cause OF the
fire is unknown.
Groom was awakened from his sleep
by the smoke and flames and gave the
alarm. In attempting to rescue the
children Groom had to jump from the
second-story window and was badly
injured internally. Burgess and his
daughter, aged thirteen, were terribly
burned, the latter fatally. One of the
boys, aged eight years, perished in the
flames. He was seen hanging to a
blazing window-sill when the walls
fell. The body was recovered burned
to a crisp in the ruins.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Tribute Of Respect.

Amos Walter, respectable citizen
near Pilot Hill, Washington County,
died Sunday, March 29d, just as the
penciling rays of the morning sun be-
gan to beam over the earth. Truly
can it be said, "a good man has been
called to his reward"
The deceased was strict member
of the ecumberland Presbyterian church
at Philadelphia, Not only did he pro-
fess christianity, but by his walk and
Cody conversation, proved to all who
knew him he possessed the spirit OF
Christ. AS father and husband, he
was affectionate and kind, As was
stated by his pastor on the day of in
terment: "If he had an earthly idol
it was his wife and children"
To his bereaved family is extended
the deepest sympathy, yet they can
only be pointed to Him who has said
81 will husband to the widow, and a
father to the orphan"
He was a member of Masonic fra
ternity, and loved the tenets of An
cient Freemasonry, and practised its
virtues through life.
WHEREAS, death has again made
his alarm at our outer door, and took
our beloved brother, Amos Walter
from the lodge terrestrial to the lodge
celestial, where the Grand Architect
of the universe presides.
RESOLVED that III the dispensation
of providence We recognize the hand
OF God and say, "he doeth all things
we'll"
RESOLVED, we condole with the wife
and dear children who watched with
untiring patience at the bedside of oul
departed brother during the weary
seige of protractcd illness.
RESOLVED, that we as members oi
the mystic tie, will try to emulate his
example, that when our summons
come we may join our loved and lost
one in that city whose builder and
maker is God.
RESOLVED, as a tokep of respect tC
our departed brotbT, we drape oul
hall and wear fhe usual badge O.
mourning for thirty days.
RESOLVED, memorial page be SCI
apart on the records of Arcana Lodge
No. 4S9, these resolutions be sent tC
the papers for publication, and copy
to the family of the deceased.
d. w. WILLAMs,)
w. w. SMITH, Committee.
w. A. NELSON,
Limestone, March Oath 1854.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Emcitinlg BlOollsl.ed.


Norfolk, Va, March 2S.-The choice
bits of the Sherman, Danville and
Copian investigation have during the
week past been circulated among the
negroes throughout this State by the
Malone agents, and lin consequence
they have begun to show great excite
ment. Last night at Malone meet
ing a negro orator made furious
speech in favor Of following Malone
to the last, and closed by saying
"The way to vote is to put dynamite
and powder with the ballots" Great
excitement exists here among hlacl;
and whites over this speech.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Umclc Rafc and the Prairie
Wolves.

II clare to gracious, you folkses is
wuss'n prairie wolves at keep'n the
ole mans bow agoin," said Uncle
Rafe, as q bevy ofpretty young girls
and their attendant beaux gathered
about him in the big barn and insist
ed on his playing zone more" reel
~ never knew before that prairie
wolves were fond Of dancing" laugh
ed Bessie Haskins, the prottiest and
most tireless of all the dancers.
"Well, Miss Bessie, dey mayn't,be
fond O dancin', an den again dey
may wouldn't say nothin' on that
pint, but Is assurin' yes dey's fond OBJ
de music OBJ de ole fiddle"
allow did you find that out, Uncle
Rafe?" asked Bessie.
at was a many years ago, miss, an
swered the old white-haired fiddler !;
81 wasn't a young darkey eben den,
but was heap sight younger dan |
is now. My ole massa moved way
out in Missouri, in wildsome sort o.
country, where yc'd hey to trabel
maybe tree or fo' mile or mo- fore
yerd meet house."
"Id been ober to Squire Marcy's
farm one night playin up for dc dark
les ober dar, an it was sumfn past
midnight when | started on de track
for home. I'd got about maybe half
way or mo- when | heered howlin
right behind me, on u comm nearer
all dc time. / knowd what it was
right off, an eff yer tink | didn't do
some trablin den, yer don't knew how
much dis ere darkey'd objcck ter
maxim a supper of himsef for a pack
oh hungry prairie wolves. lifted
dose ole feet ob mine mighty libely !
can tell yer, an hardly tux time to
lay 'em down agin; but all de time
dose ere wolves KEEP gettin' nearer
an nearer; I'd nigh about giben it up
when spies what dey call a noun a
risin' right out ob de prairie"
81 made for dat ere noun, an gol-
ly de way | climbed up on it was a
caution. I'd jes got settin' up on top
when de whole pack Gums a rushin'
up wild dere tongus hangin outer
| dero moufs. Golly, wasn't dey disap-
pointed, an wasn't | glad | wasn't
down dere among 'em, an dey shinin
dere teet on dis darkey's bones"
"Dey stood aroun' for a vile, but
den dcy sort narrered i'll an set up q
howlin'. l hollcrcd, too, a-hopin
some one might be comm across dc
prairie, but no one showed up. Den
pulled out my fddle-I'd hung on to
it all de time-an' ! began to play, es
because didn't know what else to do
AS soon us dem wolves heared dc
music dey stood still an listened
Whenever I'd stop while, to sort a,
rest dis elbow OBJ mine, dey'd stake uI
dere howlin' agin, an | had ter kcer
it up til cPar mornin', when dey all
went away, an ia-lookin' back all de
time, as eff dey'd like to fotch me
along OBJ EN-"
"I've played many an many night
befo' an sence bat tell yer, chil'en
I'll neber forget dat ere Nights
! playin'."
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Victims ofTrichinOsfs.

PITTSBURGH, Pa, March 2S.-A mi.
croscopic examination of piece oI
Miss Mary Schulters' leg, who died
with SYMPTOMS of trichine in West
moreland county last week, showed it
to be full OF parasites, in all stages OF
development. Ludwig Schulters and
the Gale family, six in number, who
ate OF the pork at the same time as
Mrs. Schulters, are all in precarious
condition, and it is probable the
Schulters and four of the Gale family
will die. The former is in q semi.
comatose condition. He is unable to
swallow solid food, and cannot open
his mouth or move his arm from his
side,
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
PEPPERMINT
Covers a Heap Of Shortcomings, but 1t
Cannot Long Conceal Wife's
Habitual Drunkenness.


New YORK, March. 2S.-Roger M.
Sherman, recent Assistant United
States District Attorney in this city,
whose suit in Connecticut for divorce
from his wife, Florence B. Sherman,
was dismissed for want of jurisdiction
because of the non-residence of the
parties, has begun another action in
this city for a limited divorce.
In 1876 Mr.. Sherman married Flor
ence B. Bagley, daughter Of the late
Governor J. J. Bagley, of Michigan.
She left him in 1881, going back to her
mothers home in Detroit, and taking
with her her two children, boy and
a girl. In the Connecticut suit, which
was begun in 1882, Mr.. Sherman
claimed an absolute divorce upon the
ground that his wife was an habitual
drunkard, and that she had abandon
ed him. In the present suit, which
was begun in January last, he makes
the same charges.
The case was in Supreme Court
Chambers to-day, upon an order re-
quiring the defendant to show cause
why she should not be compelled to
produce the children in Court, and
keep them within its jurisdiction un-
til an adjudication as to who should
have their custody,
In his affidavit, upon which, with
others, the application was based, Mr.
Sherman says that on coming home
in the evening he frequent
ly found his wife in an apparently
weak condition, her breath smelling
strongly of peppermint, She told
him it was necessary to take it for
heart disease. He believed her, until
he found that she was a drunkard
He also charges that she loved anoth.
er man, with whom she has been ac-
quainted since her childhood. While
they lived together, during his tempo
rary absence, she discussed, he says
the qualities of the novel "Nana" with
her male visitors, and also spoke in al
indelicate way Of the marriage rela
ton i'll general.
Before marriage he did not love her
but was deceived and lured into be.
coming her husband through fraud
which was practiced upon him by her
mother, Mrs. Bagley. He charges his
mother-in-law with being responsible
for his wife's misconduct, and his own
unhappiness. She had told him, he
says, that she had always given hel
children liquor, and she endeavored
to bring his children up ON liquor, bu,
he had forbade it. 1t was her custom
to interfere in his domestic affairs
He formed great dislike to her be
cause Of her views upon religion ant
morality, and also because he had as
certained that she had disliked hel
husband. He is, therefore, the more
anxious, he says, to secure the custody
of his children, who are now virtual,
in her charge.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
A Hsit of Modern Superstition.

1t will be remembered that when
the verdict in the Guiteau case was an
nounced the prisoner leaped from his
chair and shouted: "God will punish
you for this" and then pronounced a
prophecy of vengeance upon his pros
ecutors, their witnesses and the jury.
Corkhill, the District Attorney, has
lost his Office, and is looking for some
thing to do. One of his associate
counsel took to drinking soon after the
trial, and is now drunkard. Two of
the jury are dead, two more have fail
ed in business, and another is hope
lessly insane. Three of the medical
experts who testified to his sanity are
dead, and n fourth has become insane.
And now in yesterdays papers it is
announced that j. w. Tilden, the
chemist woh discovered the poison
in the boquet Mrs. Scoville sent to her
brother the morning of his execution,
has gone crazy and been committed
to the Government Asylum for treat
ment.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

The Douglas Jerrold of a Yonkers
paper having stated for the entertain
ment of mankind that "the reason
kissing is so pleasant is because the
teeth, jaw-bones and lips are full of
nerves, and when the lips of persons
meet an electric current is generated" 4"
The Richard Brinsley Sheridan, of
Peck's Sun, remarks: "Yes, and it's so
confouhded cheap. You don't have
to have dynamo-machine nor bat
terry in the house, nor a eall-box, nor a
button to touch to ring up the central
office, and there is no patent on it,
and the poorest person in the world
can enjoy the electric current bet
ter than the millionaire, and it never
gets out of order. If Edison had
invented kissing, it would cost $1OO
year like the telephone, and then
extra kissing would be charg edextra,
and if you didn't pay for it they
would take out your kissaphone and
disconnect you from the central
Office.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Is Rugg Rose Ambler's Murderer.

New York, March 2S.-The belief
is gaining ground that the negro
Charles H. Rugg, who is under indict-
ment in Long Island City for the May
bee murders, is the man who killed
Rose Amber at Stamford, Conn. She
was killed in the same manner as the
Maybee women and it has been
learned that Rugg frequently visited
Stamford He denies, however, that
he had anything to do with Rose Am
bler's death. Detectives are at work on
this theory.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
shot anti lxiiled.

NEWPORT, TENN, March 31.-Short-
Iy after dark last night, within one
and a half miles of this place, w. C,
Fouler shot and instantly killed John
Rutherford. Rutherford and associ.
ates were engaged in rocking Fouler,
when the latter fred at the crowd,
killing Rutherford. Fouler has not
saen arrested.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

The last thing from an impassioncd
printer to his sweetheart; would
you were note exclamation and I q
parenthesis %"
Sign in the shop window; "Boy
wanted" Young ,eJe to her husband:
my dear isn't that too bad? ] sup
pose they have all girls"
"How is the earth dividcd?" asked
pompous examiner, who had already
worn out the patience of tho class"
"By earthquakes" replied one boy, at-
ter which the examiner found that
he had enough of that class,
Little Arthur has been to church.
"How did you like the sermon?"
asked his sister. "Pretty WELL" re-
spondcd the youthful critic. "The
beginning was very good and so was
the end, but it had 100 much middle"
Tommy went fishing the other day
without permission Of his mother,
Next morning n neighbor's son met
him, and asked: "Did you catch any
thing yesterday, Tommy" "Not till
got home, was the rather sad res
ponse
Horace Greeley, whose manuscript
was almost illcgibleuonee wrote;
"Woman now manage most of the
public libraries in Massachusetts, !"
and the compositors read j: : "woman
now worry most of their public babies
by mastication."
An old German merchant in tho
city was informed that lady had CALI
ed to see him i'll his absence. "a la
dy," he unused aloud-"a lady" Upon
an accurate description being given,
he suddenly frightened up and added,
"Oc, dot vas no lady! Dot vas my wife.
Warehouse near the centre of
country-town. Young lady customer
to shopman "Can you tell me where
the post7ofiice is?,' Shopman, eagerly
"It's at the other end of the town"
Young lady customer, innocently;
"And which is the other end, il you
pleaseY" Shopman bushes and
explains.
| A Refreshment-bar on northera
railroad is kept by a veteran baker.
A sprightly young traveller complain
cd of one of his pies the other day.
The old man became angry. "Young
man" he said, severely, 81 made pies
before you were born" YES" res
ponded the traveller, IL fancy this
must be one OF those same pics"
| "Are you having much practice
now" asked an old Judge of young
lawyer.
eyes, sir, great deal, thank you"
"Ah, Pm glad to hear it, In what
line is your practice particularly?'
"Well, sir, particularly i'll economy"
Jack had gone off and got himself
lost, and he also found himself and
walked home. "Are you not sorry
that you ran away and got lost?" ask.
ed the paternal ancestor, with a tone
of grief and reproyal. Il wasn't lost"
"But nobody knew where you was"
II knew where / was myself
| That settles it. A boy who knows
where he is himself can never get
lost.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

"You should not have stayed away
so long" she said in icy tones as her
theatre escort slid into his scat ten
minutes after the ring-up of the Sec
ond act. 4 ts
"Ou! Er--Excusc mel met my
friend Tom in the foyer and
"Was Jerry there too?" was her
artless interruption, rs she turned her
attentions to the stage.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

One serious objection applies to
both Arthur and Blaine as presiden-
tial candidates. Neither of these men
could carry New York. Even Mass
achusetts would be doubtful state il
either should be candidate.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
seven Murderer. Executed.

PLAeERvILLE, CAL, March 2S.-Fran-
else Perres was hanged to-day for the
murder of William and Jacob Wirses.
SAN BERNARDO, CAL, March 28.-
William r.. Mcdonald was hanged
to-day for the murder of Maggie
O'Brien, on January 30, 1883.
TOMBSTONE, ARIz., March go,
w. Sample, Dan Dowd, William De
lane and Dan Kelly were hanged here
at 10 :05 this afternoon for the Bisbee
murders.
COLUMBIA, S. c., March 2S.-A spe'
cia1 to the Register from Sumpter says
"Joe Howard, colored, was hanged to-
day for the murder OF Simon Gaskins
another negro, in March, 1888.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05

TIA man viii only start with a fixed
and honorable purpose in life, and
persistently attempt to carry it out to
the best OF his ability, undismayed by
failure or delay. the time may be long
in coming, but come it will, when that
purpose will be achieved, however
dificult it may seem at the beginning
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-03
A Wedding Tour in a Canoe.

Down the historic tide of Lake
Champlain, in the early days of sum-
mer that is to be, will float the fraiIest,
fairyest, stranoest bark that was ever
launched on the crystal waters. 1t
will be bridal canoe, fitted with sails
of silk, with nickel-plated paddles and
mast, and costing not less than s., 200.
In it young American gentleman of
wealth and leisure and his lovely bride
will make their bridal tour. The canoe
is to be what is known as shadow"
having keel-board and mast, so tt at
the happy voyagers can spread their
dainty sail and glide along unwearied
by the tolls of oar or paddle. They
will embark at River Park, on the Hud-
son river, sail up that noble stream to
Troy, where they will make a portage
to Lake George, and thence, with a
short portage over the dam at Ticon-
deroga, enter Lake Champlain and
court the summer breeze, with PROV
pointed for the queen city of the lake.
Every evening they will spread their
tent on the grassy slope of some lake
side grove, and while the jeweled fin
gers of the beautiful bride gather drift
WOOu IOf Cne feSpef OF IRE, the young
husband will make his way to the near
est farmhouse and dicker with the Ad-
olson county farmer for eggs and milk.
The exact date of their arrival at the
Queen city has not been announced,
and will probably be dependent in
large measure upon the kindness of the
weather clerk and the direction of the
wind. Should St. Adams still be in ex-
istence by the time they reach the city,
they will provision their craft at our
grocery stores, and cruise among the
islands of that unfortunate hamlet,
where they will stow their canoe aboard
a palace-car and steer for the headwa-
tiers of the Connecticut. Down that
beautiful river they will float at their
leisure, contracting sunburn, muscle
and health, and when finally they
emerge in the blue waters of the sound,
they will have their canoe put on the
deck of one of the steamers plying be-
tween Hartford and New York and SO
return to the metropolis of the western
continent Burlington (Vt.) Free Press.