davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
The Effect ofthe Late Storm--Dlon,
the ,Bllliardist, Improving - A
Scotch Colony fer Florida, etc.

The Effect ofthe Late Storm--DIon
the B~illiardist, Improving - A
Scotch Colony fer Florida, etc.
NEW York, Dec. 10-The weather
continues very mild, with frequent
rains and almost continuous fogs
Navigation in the rivers and harbori
is well nigh suspended. The tele
graph lines in all directions have sui
fered greatly. Another cold wave i:
promised for tonight; meantime the
effects of the recent blizzard are being
told by captains of incoming vessels
The Schooner Relief, which arrived
yesterday from Jacksonville, Fla, had
two of her sailors swept overheard
and drowned. The ship Coronga, from
Liverpool, yesterday landed here the
crew, eighteen in number, of the Nor
weigiaD bark Nova, which was
recently, abandoned in a sinking
condition. The schooner E. A.
Warner was twenty-four days COM
ing from Baracoa with fruit, and was
so short of provisions that the crew
lived principally on cocoanuts, the
last four days of the voyage. From
all along the northeastern cost come
similar stories of wrecks and great suf-
ferings by crews.
Joseph Dion, the b~illiaTdist, who is
confined in BloOmingdale asylum, is
said to be improving and at present
seems perfectly a There is a bill
lard table in his room, on which he
practices for hours each day.
A large part of the Scottish
colony, whose purchase Of land
in Florida has occasioned some
comment in this city, arrived yester-
day on the Furnessia and will continue
on their journey to-day. The party is
u hundred strong. Being inter.
viewed, one of them said: "Our only
reason for leaving Scotland is the
agricultural depression there. We had
thought of several western States and
even California, but decided to give
our faith to Florida oranges"
A few days ago an unknown man
was taken in an unconscious state to
Bellevue hospital, where he died next
day. The body was removed to the
morgue, where yesterday it was
recognized as that of Joseph Mills, a
Wall street broker.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Filthiness of Library Books.
tChicago News.l

About 1000 volumes are condemned
a every year in the public library. Ninety
five per cent of these are works of tic-
ton. These books were formerly sold to
rag houses for old paper, but they are
now donated to hospitals and jails. They
are condemned because of mutilation,
either in the loss of leaves or DETACHMENT
by vandal scribblers. A great number.
however. are condemned because of their
filthy condition.
The utter fiilthiness of some books
after they have been in circulation several
years is almost incredible. Not only are
the covers and edges incrusted with dirt,
but the surfaces of nearly all the pages
are rendered almost illegible by reason Of
the accumulated CRIME. To add to this
the books are living, crawling entomolo.
gtcal cabinets. the specimens being col
lected from thousands of households in
the city. 1t is related that certain popu-
lar works of fiction are so alive that they
hop out of the shelves and visit each
other. Mr.. Wickcrsham, the secretary.
is authority for the story that "Uncle
Toms Cabin" has been trained to leave its
place and come to the desk whenever it ia
\ called for.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
A VOYAGE.

The Steamer Oconto Goes Ashore
on Charity Island--Narrow Es-
cape of Her Crew and Passengers.
DETROIT, Dec. 1.-THE steamer
Oconto, which was wrecked on Charity
Island, left Oscoda on Friday, Decem.
Der 4, at 4p.m., with twenty-three pas
sengers and a crew numbering twenty
five men. Shortly after she encoun
tered a terrible gale, and binding snow
storm. The sea was so kheaVy
that the boat would not answer
her helm, a great part Of the
time. The starboard bulwarks were
STAYED in and all the upper railing.
Two of the lifeboats and all the light
freight on the hurricane Geek were
washed away in a short time. The
vessel labored heavily in the trough
of the sea, until nearly midnight,
when a light, supposed to be Towas,
was sighted. 1t proved to be Charity
Island light, and in about fifteen min
utes the boat struck. One OF the crew
who arrived here yesterday says "As
soon as the boat struck, the crew be-
gan dealing out life p~reservers. After
we got ready for the ice bath, In
which none OF us could have lived if
teen minutes, we discovered there was
no leak. When day came we set u
colors at half-mast and began blowing
our whistles. About 10 o'clock we
sighted the lighthouse keeper and his
assistant IN shore. We got our small
metallic life boat over the side and In
it FIVE of US went ashore. There we
found two fish huts. We then brought
the passengers ashore. There we're
twenty-three in all. Two ladies and a
child were taken direct to the light
keepers house. The men began keep
ing house in the fish huts. They have
food enough to last them two or three
weeks, and plenty Of blankets.
Monday morning a party, consisting
of Frank Teher. an assistant engineer;
John Vanslyke, son of the owner of
the Oconto; Anthony Pitts, a passen-
ger, and four Of the crew, started for
the mainland, in a boat, and after a
terrible struggle in the ice succeeded in
making the shore, about eight miles
below Caseytille Monday night. Eight
more of the crew and passengers ar
&C East Towas yesterday after
noon, rowing in a yawl to Point Look
out and walking from there.
AT the time of leaving, they
had heard nothing of the fate of
seven of the crew, who, it is reported,
left for the shore on Tuesday. Those
remaining on the island have enough
eat for a few days, but are very
lownhearted. The life saving crew
rave started for the island from East
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
A PltIfuI Case Of Exposure.

BURLINGTON, Iowa, Dec. ia
pitiful case of exposure and suffering
was reported last night. A party of
French Canadians came to the city on
Monday last, consisting Of two men,
two women and a half dozen or more
children. ~bare-footed and ragged. The
party were travelling in two covered
carts, and had with them two bears
which the men gave exhibitions with
on the streets, while the women and
children solicited aims. The party
were en- route from the north to st.
Louis, and left on Tuesday for the
south. Yesterday two ladies passing
along the road, discovered the party
encamped in open tents six miles south
Of this city, where n Of the ONE
had given birth to a child. Both the
infant and mother were lying on the
bare and frozen ground. The ladies
had the mother and child removed to
a place Of shelter, but both will I'M
doubtedly die from their terrible ex-
posure.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
THE CAREER OF JUNGLE RzMus.p
Literary Success of the Funny Man Who
Deals with Negro FOLKLORE.
New YORK. Mail and Tvnrass

New York Mai and EXpres5.l
Mr.. Henry w. Grady, editor of The
Atlanta Constitution. who is visiting New
York, in an interview with a reporter
gave the following account of the circum.
stances that developed" "Uncle Re.
mus"
"LncIe Icmus, our other humorous
writer, was a freckled-faced, red headed
printers devil in q country Office. He
was the Consummation of LONELINESS and
very small in stature. He could not
reach up to the case to set type and had
to elevate himself on O box. Now and
then a quaint piece of humor would ap-
pear in the paper. 1t was finally discov-
cred by the editor that the little devil.
Harris, was the author, and instead of
writing 1t, Just set it up in type. The
true quality of the humor attracted The
Savannah News, and he was employed by
that paper and then by The Constitution
where he is now.
When he went to work on the latter
paper Old 81 was the funny writer. He
was Totf" and was unable to contribute
his usual stuff. We put Harris to writ.
ing for him, and not to hurt Mr.. Small's
feelings he took the name of Uncle Re.
mus omalls humor was of a political and
local nature; Harris dealt with the negro
folklore. Very soon Harris writings
were copied everywhere. He received Of
fers to write stories for magazines and
periodicals, The first he wrote wa
"Mingo. 1t was illustrated by Abbey
and published in "Harper's Christmas. ="
The price paid for it was S400.
A funny incident occurred in come
ton with this story. Harry came to New
York to talk to Mr.. Abbey about the il
Illustrations. Now. Harris is the most
timid of men. They concluded to give
him a social spread. He attended, but
before they sat down he said he wanted
to see about his overcoat. He went out,
got his overcoat, rushed off to Desbros-
ses street ferry and started for home, hav.
ing remained only two days His negro
stories arc published in book form by Ap.
pleton y Co. The Century publishes all
his stories. for each of which he gets
$500. In England, David Douglas re.
mits him $500 a year for publishing his
negro stories in book fern, though the
copyright law does not compel him to do
So. Douglas publishes his stoties In a
series called the American Classics, in.
Guiding the following authors: Bret
Harte, George w. Cable, Howells and
Aldrich. Indeed, to sum up, Harris re.
ceiyes 50, 900 annually from his books,
and a salary of So, 800 a year from The
Constitution.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
DARING ROBBERS
Attempt to Burglarlze the First Ma
tional Bank of Mount Pleasant,
but are Discovered and Driven of

WHEELING, W. VA, Dec. l2.-An
attempt to rob the First National
Bank, of Mount Pleasant, at an early
hour yesterday morning, was frus-
trated by an accidental discovery.
A number of young men were return
ing from a party and found a horse
and buggy standing unhitched in an
alley near the bank. Examining it.
they discovered under the seat a black
oil cloth bag, containing powder and
a quantity Of fuse. Their suspicious
being aroused by the discovery, the
party hurried to the bank where they
could detect footsteps and the sound
OF blows in the direction of the safe.
They proceeded to arouse the presi-
dent, r. w. Chambers, and cashier, j.
K. Radcliffe, and they hurried back to
the bank. By this time the burglars
had taken alarm, and emerging from
the building, covered the crowd with
revOlvers, made their way to the bug
gy and drove rapidly in the direction
of this city. The town was at once
alarmed, and while one squad of men
started in pursuit of the robbers on
horseback, another made an examina-
ton Of the bank. The outer doors of
the vault, which are four inches thick,
were found to have teen drilled and
blown from the hinges, while the
lock had been forced from the inner
door of half.inch boiler iron, and also
stood open. Within the vault
was a large burglar proof
safe, and the burglars were on
the point Of attacking this
when interfered with. They had evil
been at work for several hours
when discovered. The pursuit was
continued until the robbers abandoned
the buggy and took to the woods,
making good their escape.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Prize Tale Competition.
brooklyn Etgle.l

The Paris Figaro having started a prize
tale competition, the jurors, who were NJ.
N: Jules Ciaretie, F. Sarcey, and Auguste
Vitue, express their establishment at the
morose and lugubrious train of thought
generally manifested by the competitors.
Everybody seems to go mad and commit
suicide. The wonder is that people who
are reduced to writing prize stories have
not themselves gone mad and committed
suicide long since.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Be Warned

intime. Kidney diseases may be prevented.
by purifying. renewing, and ~inyigorating
the blood with Ayers sarsaparilia. When,
through debility, the action Of the kidneys
Is perverted, these organs rob The blood of
It's needed constituent, albumen, which Il
passed of in the urine, while worn ont
matter, which they should carry OIL from
the blood, is allowed to remain. BY the
use Of Ayers sarsaparilla, the kidneys
are restored to proper action, and Albu-
minuria. or
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

1t is asserted that the number of sheep
is diminishing in Europe. This is at
tributed to more land being brought into
arabic cultivation and cropped with roots
and forage plants. But the total amount
of meat and wool does not appear to have
decreased.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

The total circulation of the ~vernacular
press of India is estimated at about $50,
OOO-an amazingly low figure when com.
pared with the vast population among
which it circulateS The Hindus care
nothing for the date of a paper, and read
it as long as it holds together.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Another War In Passenger Rates
Threatenad.

ST.. LOUIS, Dec. 1O.-It was dis
covered yesterday that the scalpers
here were selling through passenger
tickets to New York for sixteen dollars
or two dollars less than the rate
agreed upon not long ago between
the general passenger agents. The
general ticket Offices then reduced
their rates to the same figures, and it
is generally thought here to-day that
this will furnish the starting point for
a rate war which will not be confined
to St. Louis, for the present rate of
sixteen dollars will force Chicago
down to fourteen dollars or less, and
Kansas City to a point six dollars be-
low its present rate. No one pretends
to predict when or where the end will
be, but all agree that even a lower
rate than sixteen dollars will prevail
until a new agreement can be made.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Cattlemen Still Occupying the
Oklahoma Lands,

LAWRENCE, KS, Dec. l2-In answer
to an inquiry, Capt. Couch, the Okla
homa boomer, who has just returned
from the Indian Territory, said: "The
cattle men are not all driven off the
Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservations
by any means. There are thousands
Of cattle in che Oklahoma country.
Indeed, senators are besieging the
department to allow cattle men to
remain with their herds, owing to loss
and Inconvenience in moving at this
season of the year. The cattle men,
in obedience to the presidents pro-
clamation and order, obeyed to this
extent: They removed from the
reservation their fat cattle, and ship,
ped 1t to market. Their young cattle
and cows pretty much all remain
there"
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

A boiler has been made in France in
which the metallic surface exposed to fire
does not touch the water. The boiler, it
is said, can not become red hot, but is en-.
yeloped all over by the same temperature
The vaporization is very great, and the
last drop of water can be converted into
steam without any danger of explosion.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

Rev. David Swing proclaims the fact
that putting an egg into coffee to make
1t clear is still an active humbug, " and
that although the nineteenth century is
nearing its close its blaze has not yet
shined into the coffee pot ="
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

In England whenever a politician does
anything which doesn't bear the seal of
approved precedent, which impresses the
people as rude or revolutionary, he is said
to be "Americanizing" English politics
just as we talk about "Mexicanizing" our
home politics
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Steamboat burned.

EVANSVILLE, Dec. l0.-The little
steamer Good Intent burned to waters
edge at L~ewisport, Ky, sixty miles
above here on the Ohio river. Tuesday
night. No lives were lost. Total loss
$1,000.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

The great triple toboggan slide that is
to be the joy Of the Saratogians during
the winter, is almost finished. 1t has
been graded for a distance of 1900 feet,
and is twenty-five feet wide. The grade
is one in four.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Arctic Expeditions.
Boston Herald.l

Secretary Endicott believes. with justice,
that sacrificing good mems lives in Arctic
expeditions whose results are limited to
obtaining materials for lectures and
curiosities for dime museums is a wicked
waste. Let him stick to it,
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Short Session Of the House,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-The speaker
laid before the house a large number
of executive communications, includ-
ing the annual report Of the attorney
general, secretary Of the treasury and
comptroller Of the currency. They
were laid OF the table for the present.
Mr.. Reed, Of Maine, offered resolu-
ton for the printing Of the compilaI
ton of the revision of the rules Of the
house of the thirty-slxth and forty
sixth congresses, stating they would
be- Of use In the discussion upon the
proposed change In the rules.
The resolution adopted.
Mr.. Bucks, OF Connecticut, presented
a resolution Of the Connecticut legisla-
ture, asking that a suitable law be
passed for the ascertainment and
counting the electoral vote.
Laid on the table, and at l2:20t the
house adjourned until Monday.
THE cigarette habit is alleged to ba
at the bottom Of the Servian i'll sue
aouo NN HM
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

Bogus dogs are frequently sold in New
York. A woman there bought an al
legged ecru poodle, which was afterward
found to be nothing but a common cur
~ingeniously covered with a poodle's skin.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
AutunlnaI COlOrs.


Those also are wrong, poets and all,
who attribute autumn's colors to the
agency of frost Leaves ripen, like
cherries and peaches. simply because it is
their nature to do so-and this ripening
may begin as early as July.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
An Address from the Archbishop
Of Cassel.

DUBLIN, Dec. 12-The Most Rev.
Thomas w. Crooke, Archbishop Of
Cassel and Emily, delivered an address
to-day. He warns the Constitutional
lists that the people may make reprisals
ut the next election, and that those
who force Others to dance will have to
pay the piper. In conclusion, he de-
nounced Catholics who supported
Orange candidates as worse than
Wings or Tories.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Coed to Pennsylvania.

A southern paper says that God is good
to Pennsylvania, for when the whales ran
scarce petroleum was discovered, and just
as cheap southern coal and good iron ore
threaten TO undersell the Pennsylvania
mines natural gas was found.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
What Few People KNOW.

Few people know that by setting a glass
fruit ar on a folded towel thoroughly
soaked in cold water, the fruit eau be
poured in boiling hot with no more danger
of breaking than with a tin pan.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

The English language contains over
39, 600 words, and yet when a man wishes
to stop a street car he can not think of
anything better to say than "Hil"
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Prevented

the disease from assuming n fatal form,
but was restored to perfect health. John
Mcclellan, cor. Bridge and Third sts.,
Lowell, Mass, writes: "For several years
I suffered from Dyspepsia and Kidney
Complaint, the latter being SO severe at
times that | could scarcely attend to my
work. My appetite was poor, and / was
much emaciated; but by using
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
A Negro InoendIary Lynohed.

KENToN, Tenn, Dec. 10-Atout
two o'clock Tuesday morning two
clerks in the store OF White & Boyle
were awakened by suffocating smoke,
and discovered the store to be on FIRE.
A thief had entered, stolen some goods
and then fired the house. By prompt
efforts the flames were extinguished.
Had the young men been a few
minutes later in making the dis
covery, they would undoubtedly have
been burned to death and the whole
business portion of town destroyed.
Soon afterwards Sam Fowler. a
colored ~ex-convict, was caught with
the stolen goods in his possession,
and he was promptly jailed. Yester-
day morning his dead body was found
dangling from a limb of IA tree, where
a mob during the night had hanged
him.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
Brights Disease

is prevented. Ayers sarsaparllla also
prevents Inflammation of the kidneys, and
other disorders of these organs. Mrs. Jas.
w. Weld, Forest Hill st., Jamaica Plain,
Mass, writes: "I have had a complica-
ton of diseases, but my greatest trouble
has been with my kidneys. Four bottles
Of Ayers Sarsaparilla made me feel like
a new person; as well and strong as
ever" W. NJ. Mcdonald, 40 Summer st.,
Boston, Mass, had been troubled for years
with Kidney Complaint. BY the use Of
Ayers SarsaparilIa, he not only
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18

Remarkable Memorial from the
North American Council OF Luna
tics.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. Dec. 10.-The
North American Union of Radicals,
with headquarters in this city, has is
sued a memorial to congress, asking
that the constitution be so amended as
to abolish the office of president. This
memorial proposes to vest the execu-
tive power of the government in aD
executive council. to be chosen by
congress. 1t is claimed that the presi-
dent is a king, clothed with greater
power than any European sovereign
except the Gar of Russia, and that
the legislative power cannot enlarge
or diminish the executive capacity.
The presidents powers are recited at
great length, and instances of despotic
authority are pointed out in detail.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
More Trouble Anticipated at Bevier.

BEvIER. Mo Dec. 1O-The warlike
preparations being made here for the
last week still continue. There are
two regular companies, composed of
white men, who drill daily with Win
chester rifles. 1t has been discovered
that an organized attack upon the
stockade is to be made Saturday night
if Mr.. LOOMS does not disarm his
men; this he positively declines to do.
He says he has discharged all the
roughs and disreputable characters
from the mines and those who remain,
he knows, will participate in no quar-
rel unless in self-defense. In antici-
patton of the coming conflict Saturday
night, several prominent families have
removed from here to Macon. Great
alarm and anxiety is felt among the
peacefully inclined, and they fear seri-
Gus trouble will follow Mr.. Loomis'
refusal to disarm his men.