davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13
" BALL UP, THERE"
AN AUSTRALIAN STORY OF THE BUSH

AN AUSTRALIAN STORY OF THE BUSH.
'In lS- was Deputy Governor Of
Melbourne Gaol, and, upon one occa,
sion, having important business which
called me to Geelong, booked my place
on the mail car, which was the only
public conveyance available. and took
my seat on the box on one Of those de-
liciouSy balmly mornings so common
in that country but little experienced
here.
There were but three passengers the
car driver and guard, and we ratified
along at brisk pace, conyersing freely
upon various topics. Among others,
the yeXed question of Free Trade
versus Protection" supplied US WI
ample materials for animated disc
sion. Being a staunch Radical in ID
ties, was eloquent in favor of T.
former, and dilated freely upon II
numerous advantages enjoyed by II
"old country in consequence thereof
winding up my peoration by standing
up, waving my pocket handkerchief
and shouting at the top of my voice'i
free trade forever" when bang ping
ping. What could be the matter?
We were not long kept in suspense,
for two men suddenly emerged from
the bush with the cry which has sent a
thrill of horror to the heart of many
traveller in these regions, Ball up,
there, which is equivalent TO the old
highwayman S challenge, "Your money
or your life" The car driver mecani-
cally pulled up his horses, evidently
fearing a repetition of the revolver
practice, which might not prove so
harmless as the first, but |. perhaps
more from long acquaintance with the
class of men by whom we were assail-
ed than from indifference to danger,
seized the reins and whip from the
paralyze1 driver and lashed the horses
into furious gallop! ping ping "
went the bullets most unpleasanly
close to our ears however, we were
getting we'll beyond their reach, and
every bound of the infuriated animals
carried us further from danger, when
to our dismay, one of the wheelers
stumbled badly and was by reason OF
the great speed at which we were 60
ing, unable to regain his footing, and
after a short but desperate struggle,
fell heavily We hastened to dismount
in hopes of getting the poor animal
upon his legs and starting again before
the robbers could come up with us, but
we were disappointed, for we were
soon overtaken by them. The first,
powerful man, seized me roughly by
the throat and presenting his revolver
to my head. coolly informed me that
upon my making the slightest resist
tnce, he would blow out my brains
and suddenly releasing me from his
iron grasp, he, still keeping the reyol-
yer to my head, drew another with his
disengaged hand and covered" my
companions generally with it, with the
remark that his friend would now pro
ceed to business" at the same time
iocosely intimating that probably my
political opinions had undergone a
sudden change, and that l might want
little protection" which pleasantly
being so much to the point, notwith-
standing the serious aspect of affairs
caused a general laugh at my expense
Business was quickly proceeded with
by bushrauger No, ?. binding the car
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

A HUMANrelic ina remarkably good
state Of preservation has lately been
found at PompeH. 1t is described as
the full length fossil of a man who was
probably struck while in flight at the
time Of the destruction of the city
The features are well defined, the
mouth being slightly open. showing
the teeth in either Jaw; the hands are
perfect, and one is supposed to have
held two Keys, which were found close
to it, while the legs are spread out and
Slightly raised; the left member had,
however been broken
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

A young man resides in Chicago
whose heart is in the wrong place. He
is George Edwards, and his age
eighteen DR., Chavitt says that in ex,
amning the condition of Edwards's S
lungs he discovered that the heart
beats were only noticeable on the right
side lhey were perfectly natural,
and there were none on the left side.
Two other physicians corroborate the
statement and say that they think the
centre OF the heart is about two inches
to the right of the breast-bone. 1t was
first thought that it was a case of
aneurism' but an examination proved
that the heart was really on the right
side
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

"a curious instance of how a man
gets into the way of becoming a book
collector was that of a resident in Bos-
ton who started series of copy books,
but was sned by the originator of the
Spencerian system Of such books. In
order tenlake a good defense and show
that The Aanagers of the spencerian
syste~ not have prior right, he
beg-R k,llection Of copper plates
cor.E everything that could
help his Se, which he finally won. II,
was between three and four years a
his work and now he is most enthu
siastic collector of copy books of al
descriptions
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

The vane of the new Board of
rade building in Chicago will repre-
sent a schooner in full sail, not cut out
of sheet of metal, but made in every
respect like model. 1t is nine feet
'ong' eight feet high, and is built of
sheet copper throughout, 1t weighs
lose TO 200 pounds, and about 100
POUNDS OF ballast will have to be
stored IN its forward hold to balance
4, as the support goes into the forward
mast 1t will no doubt present a very
fine appearance provided it does not
occur to the beholder how absurd it is
for schooner to sail all the time
against the wind, for, of course, the
bowsprlt is made the pointer.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

All who have seen it must have OBJ
served the different shades of marble
in the Washington monument. This
seems to prove that different varieties
OF stone were used in its construction,
but such was not the case. All the
marble in the shaft came from the
quarries near Cockeysville, Md. The
yellow tinge of the section completed
prior to 1853 is caused by the oxida-
tion of the trace of iron in the marble,
and the part above that point, which
has been built since 1873, will eventu-
ally assume a like tinge of color. In
generations to come the whole shaft
will harmonic.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

The discovery in California lately of
considerable quantities OF the peculiar
stone used by lithographers is the sub.
ject ol much remark in the papers of
that State Heretofore the best litho-
graphic stones have been found at
Kelhelm and Solenhofen, near Pappen-
helm, on the Danube, in Bavaria; but
they nave been found also in Silesia
England, France, Canada. and the
West Indies. They are found in beds.
commencing with layers of the thick
ness Oh paper till they reach the di-
menSlons of one and several inches in
thickness, when they are easily cut.
being yet soft in the quarries, to the
sizes required for printing purposes.
a iot Of things are wanted for Alas
ka and Governor Kinkead Of that
Territory has been in WASHINGTON tolI
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

THEpreparations for thecold weather
in the Northwest are surprise to
visitors. Fur coats and caps are the
rule for everybody, the houses have
duplicate sets Of windows, with few
inches of air between; the stoves are
of enormoussize, often reaching nearly
to ths ceiling; and such a diversion as
sleighing IS scarcely known, as nobody
thinks OF spending time out of doors
for fun in winter.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13
TOPICS OF The DAY.

Italy is the land of criminals s,vs
the director aol general of Italian prisons.
1t has 325 prisons. with A constant
average population of 10000 offenders
against the law OF these over 6 ooo
are murderers. 10 other nation in
the civilized world has such large
proportion Of criminals.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-02-13

1t was originally intended that the
New Orleans exhibition should chiefly
commemorate the centenary. of the
first cotton expectation from the south
to England. Six bags, containing 400
pounds Of cotton, We're shipped from
Charleston to Liverpool just leo years
ago, and this event is stlI recalled bv
the great prominence given TO cotton
at the show.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12

the centre of this square the itldmi-
mated ice palace, up two streets on
each side marching TO strains of music,
1900 snow shoers in their picturesque
costumes bearing lighted torches, ar
range themselves in two long lines,
three deep, and at right angles with
the corner turrets. AT n given signal
off go Roman candles, containing
iRnum cradle colored balls, held by
each one. This is the way they storm
the castle, fire works from the inside
answering them, candles, rockets,
brilliant red and green and purple
lights, so that one half the palace
would be rosy red; and the other a
green at the same time rockets going
up from the highest towers you see in
the picture.
There is no roof to the palace, though
apparently so from the outside. This
lasted perhaps half an hour. Then
the torches were again resumed, and
off the SHOWS hoers marched for the
mountain, from the top of which, they
were To send off more fire works. We
had great difficulty in getting out of
the hotel, such a mass of humanity
surrounded it. Finally the porter who
had our valises after searching in vain
for sleigh, succumbed to the ''detilish
cold" We grasped our possessions
and soon reached the train, which was
not far distant.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12

incredible that a large number of lead
ing men in the county, some of them
friendly to me and some unfriendiy,
would be willing to put their money
into such an enterprise for my personal
benefit. ! cannot credit such disinter-
estedness. But, finally, have never
anywhere. under any circumstances, in
words, acts or writing, directly or in
directly, in any way indicated that j
was, or eyer should be, a candidate for
that office, or that l would like it, OF
that 1 desired any person or paper to
suggest it or advocate it. All that has
been said upon the subject either by
The Caledonian or by any other person
or paper has been said without sug-
gestiOn or act on my part to call for il
OF warrant it, and was and is as much
of a surprise to me as to anyone else in
the state. Yours very truly,
HENRY G. IDE.
81. Johnsbury, VT, Feb. B, 1885. ~
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
The Soudan War.

The fall of khart"um, and the re
ported death of Gen. Gordon Is an nm
fortunate result Of GladstOne's much
criticised Egyptian policy. The war
in the Soudan has been a very conpli-
Gated one for England and the results
far from satisfactory. The English
troops have fought very bravcly and
they have at their head the able Gen.
Wolsclcy, but the natives have ont
numbered them, aud it is probable
that khaTtnum was conquered by
treachery. Al present there is only
one course left for England, for a re-
treat would he humiliatiug as we'll Us
inpolitic. 1t is for England to re
enforce her army and punish the re
beilious natives This means addi-
tioual expense and loss of life, and
possibly disastrous failures. Italy has
offered to ard England in conquering
the Soudau, and il is To be hoped that
the war will he speedily brought to a
close. 1t is emily by rumor that the
death Of Chinese" Gordon has been
reported, and this brilliant general
may still he alive, hnt probably as Il
prisoner.
L. S.-Ncvs has been received that
Gen. Gordon was assassinated. See
latest news elsewhere.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
Chinese Gordon Killed.
In the Sack of Khartoum.
HORRIBLE ouTKAGEs BY THE TROOPS.

HORRIBLE OUTRAGES BY THE TROOPS.
Gen. Gordon is now known to he
dead. The news was brought to kOrtI
Tuesday Wv Coils. Wilson and Wortley
who had been fonr days on the road
from Gubat. The Mahdis troops gain
ed access to the interior of khartoum
January 26 or p. One of the treach-
erous pashas among Gen. Gordon's
forces marched the garrison TO the side
Of the town nearest Omdurman, saying
that the rebel attack was expected at
that point. In the mean time another
traitorous pasha opened the gates at
the other end and allowed the Mahdi's
troops to enter, and they easily cap
tured the town. Gen. Gordon's atten-
ton was attracted by a tremendous tn
multi in the streets. He left the palace
or government building, in which he
had made his headquarters, to ascer
tain the canse of the disturbance. inst
as he reached the street he was stabbed
in the back and fell dead. The Mahdi's
troops were soon III complete posses
sion of the place, including the citadel.
A fearful massacre of the garrison fol-
lowed. The scenes of the slaughter
are described rs surprising the Bull
garian atrocities and rivaling the worst
horrors of the SepOy mutiny. The
panic-stricken Egyptians were cap
tured i'll their flight and put to death
with the most fiendish fortunes. Some
were transtixed with spears and left to
bleed to death. Most of the victims
were mutilated in the most horrible
manner. Eyes were gOuged out, noses
slit and tongues were torn ont by the
roots. In many cases the mutilated
parts of the victims bodies were thrust
into their mouths while they were still
living. The massacre included many
non -combatants, and the Egyptian wO-
men were subjected to shameful indig-
mites. More than 100 women and
young girls were given over to tina
Mahdi's followers to be used as slaves.
After the slaughter many Arabs were
seen rushing through the streets with
tire heads. of Egyptians impaled upon
their spears. The next night was spent
in saturualia of blood and debauch-
cry. Since the capture of Khartoum
the Mahdi has repaired the fortifica-
tons aud has made the place well-nigh
impregnable. He has made it his per-
maneht headquarters and is said to
have an abundance of guns, small arms
and ammunition.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
English Defeat in Africa.
The Fall of Strong Post, and the OBJ
ject of the War.


News reached England last Thurs
day that Gen. Gordon and about 5000
soldiers of the English army had been
captured or cOrnered at KhartOnm, on
the Nile, 5000 miles from its mouth.
Gordon, an officer of the English army
reached Khartoum over a year ago,
and with his soldiers has held the place
ever since. against Ell Mahdi, COM
mander of the Mollammedan forces,
and pretending to be prophet, fore
told of Mohammed. Khartoum. is
about 1000 miles up the river, at the
junction of the Blue and White Nile
rivers, in S0udan, as any common
school geography will show. 1t is a
city of about 10000 inhabitants, and
at the junction of these two vast
streams, navigahle for hundreds of
miles, south and east, an important
point for the English to control, to
preserve their trade interests in the
Soudan and Rerbera, Abyssinia, Khar-
toum, Nubia aud Suakem, which ma
tons they have not got fully subjected.
English money has been put into trade
to a large extent and it must be pro-
tected, and with Khartoun in their
possession it would not be difficult to
do. so 1t was supposed. But HI Nah
di, the false prophet, rose up about 10
months ago and gathered thousands
about him and laid siege to Khartoum
last summer, thus coping up Gordon
and his men. The tail of the British
Lion switched around lively for time
and at last on Aug. ) last, Parliament
ordered Gen. WOlseley with several
thousand troops to hurry up there and
release Gordon. Favorable dispatches
kept coming back, but on Jan. %, the
advance of the army reached the wall
of the city and 10 and behold the rebels
Sprang up from within and began
firing. Then the army retreated over
300 miles and wrecked two of their
steamers. The news created intense
excitement in England and cabinet
meeting at once ordered reinfOrcements
to help the relief army, us well as the
troops, if any yet survive, in Khar-
toum. But it takes long while to
reach the head waters of the Nile, Gen.
Wolseley having started five or six
months ago. What has become of
Gen. Gordon and his army is yet un-
known.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
The Mystery in the Soudan

The Springfield Republican has these
comments on the possible fate ef Gen
Gordon and the unfortunate affairs in
the Soudan:
Any suppOsition as to the fate of Cor
don is now in order. He may have
done as he said he would and refused
to be taken alive. He may have gone
to the equator, as he threatened the
British war officer he would do if left
tO his own fate or finally, he may
have become IL MusSulman in his eX-
tremity, just as he proclaimed the re-
establishment of slavery some months
ago in order to get the merchants and
moneyed mon of Kharteum to advance
him funds for his soldiers. 1t will he
remembered that Gordon soon after
reaching khartOum made overtures to
the Mahdi, but the latter refused a
u Christian ally. For a man so &C.
centric and fanatical in religious mat
tiers, Gen. Gordon has or had good
deal of the fox in his nature. 1t is
known that he was thoroughly pnt ont
because the home government did not
send an expedition last spring. In
one of his dispatches he says: 81 do
not see the fun of being caught here to
walk about the streets for years as a
dervish with sandaled feet, and %.
W | will never be taken alive All
in all, the English will have some
difficulty after the excitement is over
to make first-class hero out of Gen.
Gordon. The very moment he arrived
at Khartoum, he went beyond the
lines of his instructions and began to
arrange for government of the Sou
dan, instead of retreat with the va
riOus garrisons, which he could prob
ably have effected with little difficulty
Il year ago. He even demanded a rnl-
or and an army at once, although
Gladstone had expressed his sympathy
for those SOudanese who were fighting
for restoration of their ancient autOn-
Omy. Gladstone wished to leave the
Soudan to itself Gordon did not, and
from this comes disaster and deep sus-
pense throughout the whole kingdom.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
Note and Comment.

The intrinsic value Of the silver dol
lar is now S3l cents. The attention of
congressman who are in favor Of nm
limited coinage is called to the fact.
II. DcSoto Money is the name of
Mississippi's candidate for postmaster
general. The Portland Advertiser
thinks Mr.. Moneys place is in the
treasury departments.
As we write. Gen. Gor,iun's fate is
unknown. In this connection it is
we'll to record here that Gen. Wolseley
wrote not long ago : 81 have person.
ally known only two heroes in the
course of my life. One was General
Lee the other is General Gordon.
A gentleman recently returned from
New Orleans says the exhibition is a
fine enc, but there is almost nobody to
look at it.
The New England Homestead is
making war upon the management of
the New England agricultural society.
The Oklahama ''bOomers' have con
CiUltu tiidb Auc HitStH'c VI thttVu
States troops meant business, and they
Immediately relinqushcd their posses
sion of land in Indian territory.
Generous B0stoniaus have contribut-
ell $500 TO the sufferers in the recent
earthquakes in Spain.
Among the hoped for enactnents Of
the present session Of congress is n re
duction OF newspaper postage tn one
cent pound
Another advance in civilization is
the reduction OF theatte tickets in a
New York theatre. The people are
beginning to get sick of paying fancy
prices for entertainments. and re-
duction in price in all the theatres and
opera houses is very desirable.
Two fires Within week at the gov
ment buildings III Washington may
well startle the nation TO realize the
fact that it i absolutely necessary for
government buildings 10 be absolutely
fire-proof.
The French cannot crow much ever
EugIand's war record after their own
disgraeefih warfare in Soutliern China.
American dyDamiters and their apol-
Ogists Will fipd the popular temper in
this country considerably quicker on
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
Fatal Accidents.
A Railroad Collision Which Kills Three
Men and Fires City.

a collision between freight and an
oil train on the iron bridge of the
Pennsylvania railroad spanning the
Raritan river at New Brunswick, n.
j., shortly before 3 u. m. Saturday, re-
suited in the loss Of three lives, the
destruction of two locomotives and I5
cars, the partial wreck of one span of
the bridge and the burning of two fac
tories, seven dwellings and one hotel
in New Brunswick The damage is
placed at between $SO0,n00 and 81
OD0, 900. An extra freight train from
Philadelphia, owing TO broken truck
stopped upon the bridge over the Rar-
it+au river for repairs. While waiting,
the through southern freight, which
left Philadelphia at 1890 p. M, came
dashing along through the city, and
not until he was within 500 feet OF, the
cabo0se of the extra train did the en-
gineer see ii. Brakes were applied.
but to no purpose. The engine of. the
southerR freight struck the caboose of
the extra train, telescoped it, and then
struck an oil-tank car, OF which there
were four attached To the extra. :.-...::.-.
An explosion followed and 10 cars
were thrown distance of Is feet, to
the street below, killing so horses
which We're en- route for Jersey City.
''Dumpyn Dempsep, a we'll known
Philadelphia character, was thrown to
the street and brsaed to crisp. Pat
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
Fatal Fire at Burlington.

One of the most disastrous fires which
have visited Burlington fer years came
Saturday afternoon in the burning OF
George r. Hollis spool and bobbin
mandatory. 1t originated in the
dry room and the flames bursting
through the walls III great fury were
the first intimation of danger. The
alarm was Immediately sounded and
the fire department responded prompt
lY, but the flames gained such head
way that their efforts could not save
the main part of the mill and their at
tenti0n was directed to the brick en-
CINE and boiler-rOoms. The fire gut
ted these completely and all were de-
stroyed save a second dry house on
the opposite side of the engine honse
from the mill. The fire department
worked until dark, combining the fire to
the engine-rOOms from the lumber
sheds surrounding the mandatory
The loss on machinery and stock is
$I2 1000; Insurance $500. The build
ing, engine and boilers belonged to
Lawrence Barnes and were valued ut
$4,000; insurance $3.50.
Almost at the beginning of the fire
as Second Captain f. =. Parker was
passing near the engine-hOuse the
front wall without warning fell out
and Parker was instantly killed. His
skull and right hip were fractured. A
boy named Kennedy had "a foot iniur-
ed in an alley between the front and
other buildings where hundreds had
passed back and forth, and it is a mir
acle that but one was killed.
Mr.. Parker was born in Westford,
was one of a family Of ten children, "a
years old, and highly respected. He
was head clerk in Turks clothing
store,