davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31
SIEGE GUNS.
Practice by Cadets at the West Point Mill
tary Academy.

N&Ay A@@Ao
The artillery practice at West Point
during the recent commencement exer-
cises not only attracted much notice but
was clearly observed to be q drill in
which the spirit of rivalry among the
gray-coat gunners excelled that of any
other practice. 1t was also a drill that
old army officers delighted to look at,
and no spectator was more interested
than Gen. w. S. Rosecrans, the presi-
dent Of the board of visitors. He ar
rived early at each artillery drill and
departed only when it was fully COM
pleted, and when the cadet gupners
showed their proficiency in marks
manship by piercing the tar
get, and especially when they
drove a ~projectile through the bulls
eye, "Old Rosey" enthusiastically clap
ped his hands in approval of the shot.
On the Sd inst, the authorities of the
post gave a special exhibition of the
siege battery practice in honor of the
board of visitors. The regular spring
practice at the academy takes place in
the month of April, from the LIST to the
S0th inclusive. The pieces used in
the siege battery drill were thirty-pOund
Parrot rifles, manufactured at the Cold
spring foundry, being of the same pet
tern as those used during the war of tine
rebellion for siege work. The projec-
tiles we're of the Butler pattern, the
very best used in the service. The tar
get was set in the bank on the south
side of Target Hill, which is a mountain
of sand, and located under Grow Nest,
and between the West Shore railroad
and the Hudson river.
The target measured 16x16 feet, and
was made Of inch plank divided into
squares by horizontal and vertical lines.
These squares are marked upon the tar
get to facilitate the keeping of each
g~unner's score. During the firing an
officer is stationed in a convenient spot
with a telescope pointed directly on the
target, and as a shot enters it, and be-
fore the huge cloud of smoke obscures
the vision, it is recorded on the diagram
representing the target which the Off
Ger has before him. Each gunner has
a target of his own, and the diagram as
given is made up from those as taken
from the telescope record. As 500 as
a shot strikes the target the gunner who
made it is shown his individual target
with the position of his last shot only
marked on it. This is done for his
guidance for the next shot. He is not
allowed to look at the targets ofthe 9TH
er gunners so as to profit if possible
thereby. The pieces are pointed di-
rectly on the bulI's-eye of the target
each time, and all allowances for drift
or other deviations are made by the
rear sight or wind gauge. At three
quarters of a mile distant the boys can
hit the target nearly every time.--N.
Y. Herald.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31
Bridgeport, CT, Apr. IL, 1884.

Bridgeport, CT, Apr. IL, 1884
1 have been greatly benefited by Burdock
Blood Bitters. Two bottles entirely cured me
of the worst kind of dyspepsia. l tried many
other medicines, but entirely failed to get any
relief from them.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31
Dyspepsia.

Boston, Mar. 8, 1884
have used Burdock Blood Bitters for a Sc
we're case of dyspepsia with great success, and
can recommend it to any person troubled with
any form of dyspepsia.
JULIA BoYLKN,
Gibson Court, West Cedar st.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31

Fears of a disastrous panic have been
well nigh dissipated, but complaints
are frequent of a sort of s%tagnatiOn, the
offspring of fear and general distrast'
The relapse from a "boom" IS nota
pleasant thing, but it is inevitable,
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31
East Boston, Mass, Feb. II, 1884.

have been using Burdoek Blood Bitters for
a bad case of dyspepsia. The first bottle pur-
chased at B~radbury's drug store, Washington
St ire lieved me so much 1 procured the second
bottle lat Putnam's drug store, E. Boston)'
which has done me a great deal of good
ANNA FORBES, 8 Moore St.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31

Fifteen special agents of the Internal Reve-
nue. department have been discharged Two
Of the fifteen discharged are Burns and Ror,
of Kentucky. Another is a brother of ex-Ccm-
missioner Raunl and two others are ]. l,
Trumbull and Jasper Packard of Indiana.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31
Providence. R. [, Apr. 4, 1884

1 am using Bmdock Blood Bitters for Dys-
pepsia and have received great relief. Have
been seriously troubled with dyspepsia for five
years, and heretofore have not found relief.
CHAs. R. SWEET, 65 William St
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31

Boston's public school pupils cost last
year $50. 81 per capita in the high school,
$2S.42 in the grammar schools and
$1S.5 SO in the primary department
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31

The late Samuel NJ. Shoemaker, of
Baltimore, who died last week, left an
estate valued at about SO, O00, 900, all
made out of investment in the Adams
Express.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
Murder and Suicide n st. raul.

On Dayton's Bluff, St Paul, Thursday even
ing Capt Berger, noticed Margaret Messer-
schmidt bending over the PROSTATE form of her
mother, Mrs Catherine Messerschmldt, who
was lying in the lot half way between the two
houses Mrs. Messerschmidt was at once taken
to the house Of Capt Berger, but died ere she
could be taken inside. Her murderer was one
Joseph Cechura a furrier living at the house
where the deed was committed. He had re-
turned home, and after threatening to kill
his wife, who ran away, taking the
children with her, he locked all the doors in
the house, and thus imprisoned Mrs Messer-
schmidt and daughter In attempting to leave
the house, they were met in the hallway by
Cechura, who, armed with a nine-inch dirk
knife, attacked Mrs. Messerschmidt and
stabbed her in the back and breast. Tho
daughter braveiy attempted to arrest the muir
derer's hand and rushed between him and
her mother, when he turned upon her and
drove the knife into her right breast through
to her lungs
After committing the horrible crime the MUIR
derer went into his room and took poison and
died soon after He was a drinking man. spend
ing all his earnings for liquor and leaving his
family in want His family have been fire.
quently left without food for a day or more al
a time, and Mrs. Messerschmidt often. when
Cechura was absent, carried food 70 them
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
Crimes and Criminals.

O. B. Myres, New York tea merchant
hanged himself to bed-post in Mansfield,
Ohio.
The safe of John Collins, of the township of
Peck, Salinac county, Mich, was blown open
by burglars and $4,000 in cash and securities
stolen.
Edward Schwartz, one of Stanley's brokers
in Cleveland, was released from Jail on S., OOO
bail T. L. Moon, the other broker, remains
in prison.
Prof Joseph Irownsky, who was jailed at
Wabasha last week to await the action of the
grand jury for attempting to shoot a man at
Minneiska, has been released on a writ of
habeas corpus.
Joseph ]. c. Dougherty, commonly known
as "Honest Joe, > who for fifteen years has been
the chief of the money order division of the
Baltimore postofice, has turned out TO bea de-
faulter. SO far as known, his accounts are
short $1,000
Waldo Sibley, of New York, partner of the
firm of John S. Bremen & Co., drygoods com
mission merchants, Leonard, committed sui
eide in his private office by cutting his throat
with a razor. Sibley was found living dead on
the floor of his Office by Henry Noyes, son of
the junior partner.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

Samuel Francis of Jamaica, J. l., sues his
father for $4,000 His wife confessed the
other day that of fourteen children born in six
teen years all but the last were those of Francis
the elder.
Eight United States senator's, four candidates
for the presidency and other distinguished
citizens enjoyed the Farmers club dinner at
Marietta, Pa, in honor Of the infant daughter
of Col Duffy.
Joseph Betzler and wife of Beaver Bay have
been blessed with sixteen children in their
twelve years Of marriedlife There are among
them three pairs of twins, and last week an adj
diuon made its appearance in the shape of
triplets, who are all doing we'll
Six thousand military, including the Seventh
New York Regiment, with vast concourse,
participated in the ceremonies of unwilling the
statue to Gov. Buckingham at Hartford, Conn,
senator Hawley delivered an Grafton. Speak
er MORRISON presented the statue to the state
Gov. Walker responded
Col John P. Hatch, with seven companies
Of the second cavalry, arrived at Ceur d Alene
ON their way to take station in the division of
the Pacific The companies have marched
over land from Forts Custer, Ellis and Keogh,
and VIII now go from this place by rail to Fort
Ceur d Alene
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

About 2 on the morninr. of the 18th the Zoo
variety theater was dis covered on fire In a
short time the flame 4 enveloped the whole
puldine' ana eAten' Ied to three or four smaller
buildings adJolhl Ig, all of which were burned
70 70, the ground Firemen J. w. Mallory and
SlI. 'oa" Jer were struck by falling wall
SawyeL sy W. $ rescued, but will probably die
rom Z ao1l MS injuries Mallory perished in the
nalles. :. His cries were heaTt-rendering A
mn Illn' r named McCune was also struck by fall
III & walls, and persisted Both bodies were re-
covered about noon. The theatre was a three
story brick building, located on State street
The fire was undoubtedly the work of an incen-
diary, as the building was vacated some months
The loss is estimated at $4,000
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
Market reports.

ST. PAUL Wheat. No l hard, 9sas1. Oh .
No l, SIC; No. hard. 93c: No ?, SIC.
Corn, No ,, 52c; No. 8, 47Qd5Oc
Oats, No. Mixed 2Sc No mixed. 27c.
No white, 2S56c No 5 white. 29c
Barle,, No :, 55c No. extra 4sc. No 8
40c
Rye, No 2. 53c.
Baled Hay, wild, $3.50; timothy, $1,000
Eggs, 1318@l41lc
MILWAUKEE Wheat, No. 2, $3.50
Corn, No. 2 sec.
Oats, No 2, 321%(035c
Rye, No. l, Csc.
Barley, No ?, 6Oc
Mess Pork, s195O
Lard, $3.50
Butter, choice creamery, ls@2Oc; fair to
good, l7@lec; best dairy, 14CG15c
Eggs, 141S915c
0S6c .
Corn, 541{Cd55c.
Oats, 311Sc
Rye, 6513c
Barley, 62d65c.
Flax Seed, sL51@SL56
Pork, slSO0dS19OO
Lard, s7.50Gs7 42J%
Butter, creamery, 2Oa23c; dairy, ISCal9c
Eggs, Ice
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
The New POlygamy Bill.

The senate has passed tbs Mormon bill, but
mere IS very little prospect OF getting it
through the house. The bill embodies many
suggestions offered by the Utah commission
and by District Attorney Vantile, and is intend
ed to afford some means by which polygamy
can be punished 1t compels wives to testify
against their husbands as to the fact of ma r.
rage, declares children born in polygsmy le-
gitimate, and contains provisions, which II ia
hoped, will do something toward the ST. nnrese
sion of the evil Its provisions are exe eading-
ly stringent and would scarcely be to ,erafed in
state though it may answer in ferritoI.v
where congress has control The hill nassed
33 yeas to 15 nays. F'0eN
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

Alexander J. Defossey, former manager Of
an opera house at New Orleans, was arrested
in New York by the sheriff on a suit brought
against him by his wife for limited divorce.
She charges him with the abandonment Of her
about six months ago, leaving her without
money or means ofsupport Being unable to
furnish $1,000 bail, Defossey was sent to jail
When the estate of the bonanza millionaire
W. S. o'Brien, Of San Francisco was being ad-
ministered, a man named Patrick H. O'Brien
arrived, and succeeded so well in establishing
himself 70 be the brother Of the deceased that,
as stated at the tme, S750,O0O were paid him as
a compromise of his claim. Patrick died soon
after, and now comes John O'Brien, until re-
Gently private soldier in the Eighth infantry,
claiming to be a son of Patrick, and will COM
menee suit for his share or the S15O,OO0 al
legged to have been paid to Patrick H. 0'Brien
for his claim against the estate.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

The new civil service statute of Mas
sachusetts, just enacted by the legisla-
ture, regulates the minutest details of
appointment, promotion and conduct
in the service of the state and in all city
governments, and applies to clerkships,
police appointments, and all appointive
positions. One of its provisions is as
follows: mo person habitually using
intoxicating beverage to excess shall be
appointed to or retained in any Office,
appointment or employment to which
the provision of this act are applicable I;
nor shall any vender of intoxicating
liquor be appointed or retained" Sec
tion five provides that no recon-
mendation of an applicant for Office
from any member of the legislature, al
derman or councilman, except as to
character and residence, shall be re-
ceived or considered. No councillor,
member of the legislature, alderman or
councilman, or any officer or employe
of said bodies, and no executive or ju-
dicial officer, and no clerk and employe
of any sort, shall solicit or receive, or
be in any way concerned in, any politi-
cal assessment or contribution for any
purpose whatever. These provisions
are pretty strict and far in advance of
any other civil service rules of the couE-
try.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
The lack Of euideboards on country

The lack of guideboards on country
roads is a great source of annoyance to
everybody not familiar with their
routes of travel. 1t is simple thing
to make turn at corner when we
know which road to take, but not so
simple to go many miles or more and
find we are on the wrong road. All
roads are liable to be travelled by stran-
gers, and every place where two roads
meet should be furnished with guide
board. Strangers travelling on the
prairies of the Northwest. even in sec
tions long settled, especially where there
are no fences, suffer a good deal from
the lack of guides. Every town and
county should remedy this grievance,
and by doing so will benefit themselves
as well as the public. Guideboards are
necessary in summer, and in winter when
landmarks are obscured, are imper-
atively required. Let everybody help
to guide the traveller on his way"
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
Rail and River News.

The earnings of the Milwaukee & ST Paul
forfthe second week in June, 1884, aggregated
s434, 600 against S459 COO for the corresponding
week in 1888; decrease of S25,0 600. The de-
crease in the earnings from last year is due to
the falling off in Dakota emigration tarfic.
At meeting of the Union Pacific directors
Sidney Dillon resigned, and Charles Francis
Adams, who was elected president, accepted
the position. 1t was voted that in lieu of the
dividend payable July l, the sum OF $7l3,ol4
be paid from moneys in the company's treas
ury to the United States treasury to meet the
demand of the secretary of the treasury for
payments under the Thurman act, for the year
ending Dec. 81, .7-@.,
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

Amateur observers in astronomy turn
from the moon in the east to observe the
fine crescent of Venus in the west.
Both Jupiter and Venus are in the west,
far beyond the sun and receding from
us, andsthe other approaching that por-
tion of its orbit lying between us and
the sun. After this month there will be
an end of favorable observation of these
planet. Astronomers say look out for
meteors in the summer months, especi-
ally in August.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

Paul Martin is in Milwaukee's Jail three
months for kissing Miss Ernestina Curbis
against her say-so.
The Cincinnati bar has voted an appropria-
ton to prosecute T. c. Campbell, the attorney
who brought on the riots
Twenty-Five New York jurors decided Tues
day that Henry HAvemeyeT, one of the sons Of
the late ex- Mayor Havemeyer, is incompetent
TO manage his estate, which they estimated
to be OF the value Of 100000 Whisky did
it
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

In the popular estimate of slander
and slanderers London is evidently
very different from New York. In the
former city a broker circulated false
report concerning a prominent banking
house, and afterwards publicly apollo
gized and retracted all that had been
said, but he is not forgiven, and was
Missed on entering the London Stock
Exchange.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

Seventeen persons were seriously
poisoned at Pennsylvania recently by
eating ice-cream. The can in which the
cream was frozen was carefully exam
med and found perfectly clean. There
seemed to be no opportunity for any
poison to find its way into the cream,
either through the ingredients used or
process of manufacture. An ANALYSIS
by competent chemist disclosed the
fact that apartial decomposition of the
milk or cream had occurred, producing
an irratant similar to that found in
spoiled meats, which was the poison in
the present instance.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
Casualties of the W eek.

Henry Duncan, Milwaukeean, for joke
was charged by minstrel with being pick
pocket, and so frightened that he jumped
out of a car window near Fairview, n j. .
while going forty miles an hour He sur
wives.
On Wednesday morning at Owatonna, Mrs
DR.. Aiken arose from her bed, apparently as
well as usual In her walking across the room
she suddenly fell forward on her face, and ex-
pired instantly. 1t is about five years since her
husband died in the same manner.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
A new Babylonian exploring expedi.


ii 81 Ibo ;oc4oroo
ton has been prolecvgv. NJ
of the Rev. John P. Peters young
Episcopal clergyman, who was for
some time a member of the Yale Col
lege faculty, and a Hebrew scholar of
unusual attainments. He writes to the
New York Evening Post that one per-
son has provided the money necessary,
and the party will start this summer or
in the autumn. 1t is supposed that
DIR. William Hayes Ward, the learned
editor of the Independent, will have
charge Of the expedition. Its results
will be awaited with great interest by
scholars, orcheologists, and students of
the Bible.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

The long, cigarshaped steamers have
been eclipsed by the America which
made the shortest passage, and is broad
in the beam, and has engines of only
half the power of the Oregon and 9th
ers, and only uses half as much coal.
The runs of the America may be ac-
ceptional, but they show that the race
is not always with the long, narrow
boat.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
Foreign Flashes.

In the commons Fitzmaurice, under secre.
tary, in answer to a question by Arthur Arnold
regarding the alleged abduction of an English
citizen named Sheldon, il Kansas, stated that
British minister at Washington had been in
strdesed to act in the case some time before the
public report was received.
The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03

The population of the German En-
pire December 1, 1880, was As, 23S ,S29;
that of the United States same year,
49,369,7S5. By the ratio of increase
Germany should now have nearly 90,
900, 900 and the United States 5000,
900.
The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-05-17
THE LATEST DISCOVERY.

One hundred years ago moth
ing was known of the great dis
coveries, and inventions that now
astonish the world.
Thefirst President of the United
States never saw a steamboat
The Second President never
saw a railroad. Andrew Jackson
who died in the year 1845 never
saw a telegraph wire. Abraham
Lincoln died in the year 1865 and
never dreamed of such a thing as
the telephone.
Only recently has the world
been surprised by hearing of the
most wonderful discovery of the
age. The EUREKA ROACH
EXTERMINATOR. 1t never
fails to do its work. tits perfect
ly harmless and the only safe pre-
paration when you have children.
Ask your druggist for it, and
tell him you want no other.
45sItf
The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-05-17
NEVER TOO LATE.

Hewas quite late at arriving at soiree
given by a prominent belle, and he immediate
ly sought her presence to apologize. and said:
81 beg thousand pardons for coming so
Late
my dear sir, replied the lady, graciously,
mo pardons arc needed. You can never
come too Late
A man may smile and be villain still:
Nine times out of ten when man laughs at
eberything you say and smiles cherry time he
meets yer, he's got his eye on yer fer annuder
purpose worked once fer de laughenes'
man eber seed. When de crop wuz CROWN
he wouP come earoun', lean on de fence an
laugh. Oats de bes' man cher Seed
thinks l, "an' he gwne ter do squar' thing
by me-" When de crop wuz all gedered an
I went ter his house ter hab settlement, he
met me in de yard an laughed. Arter
erwhile we went inter de house an sot down.
De hawhaw want no longer heered; de smile
wuz all gone an blame me if he didn't
cheat me outen two bales o'cotton.-
kansaab 1rdrcller.
The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-05-17

WILMINGToN AND NORTHERN RAIL
w ROAD.
Trains leave Wilmington daily Except Sunday
from p. W. Il b. depot, at 100, a. H.; 255 4O sic
p m; arrive at Wilmington, Si5, 9.4s, IL &c. 6.I5
The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-05-17
HUMOROUS.

Precepts are az eazy to make az pills are,
and those who make the most pills take the
least ov them.
What is dude, anyhow" asked coun-
tryman of citizen. "a dude? Well, a
dude is an American dot who tries to pass
himself off as an English coclney."
as that about the right length, sh?"
asked the skillml barberas he finished cut
and back" was the response, "but | wish
you would make it a little longer on the
top"
An old miser in country village being
asked for subscription towards repairing
the fence of the graveyard, declined saying
81 subscribed towards improvin' that bury
in'-groun nigh on to forty years age, and my
family amt had 70 benefit yetr'
THE FIRST ONE.
Eyes, sir" said the politician to the eau
Gus manipulation, the Office should seek the
man'and not the man the office"
Exactly" answered the C. m.
''But in the case when the office starts out
to seek the man"
''Yes, SIR
81 want you to fix it so that will be the
first man that it finds"
Brother Garder suggested the following
points to be considered investigated and
promulgated:
/. Is it better to 60 without table butter
than to be without two big yaller dogs?
2. Isn't it possible to invent mince pie
with cabbage and carrots for foundation
8. Can't potato skins and apple parngs
be worked over into pudding for the chill
dren?
A. Do we cat more than is really neces-
sary? Isn't the variety greater than the
health demands? Don't the man who fills
up on pudding and milk feel just as good
half an hour after eating as the man who
Toasted at a first-class hotel?-Detroit Free
Press.