davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
4 MODERN FISH STORY.
The Fate ola Hawk That Swallowed
an "AIiigator Cars

Indianapolis Sentinel.


About two years ago an old White
river fisherman told the reporter of a
singular occurrence which the latter
has so far forborne to tell. except to a
confidential friend, lest he might be
diScredited, and discredIt the papers
faithful accounts Of local incidents
But the frequency with which stories
of fish and snakes and strange freaks
of nature far more remarkable than
this, are repeated by the papers with>
cut any predatory expression or indI-
cations of distrust. encourages him to
hope that his modest and not extrava-
giant, though certainly quiet story,
will receive the credit it is entitled 10.
Particul arly since the general circula-
ton of the San Francisco Examiners
account of swelling fish" that blew
UP crane at Goose creek the other
day; and still more recently, the late
county recorders story of the cow
| that died on dynamite, as die any one
would expect she might in SUCH case.
At the time alluded to the venerable
and veracious fishmeran wash fishing
la the river below the mouth of Eagle
SiSCh, Oh q SIHSNOAy S1OpC VI Vic WCSt
bank. 4 fish hawk swooped down
into the sycamore about 100 yards
further down stream. The V. V. +.
saw nothing in his claws as he sailed
away, and supposed he had missed
his aim. Some minutes afterward he
saw the hawk Tapping it's wings
violently for moment rise a little
way into the air and fail in d hutter-
ing, helpless way, like bird mortally
shot; among the weeds on the bank.
Wondering at such an accident TO one
of the stronget~winged birds that flies,
he made his way through the weeds
and found it, with spread wings lying
on the grass. Partially covered by
{ the grass was a piece Of weed, he
thought, lying under or sticking In
the breast of the bird at the craw.
| Lifting it with his foot, he saw sharp,
spike .nosed FISH, very much like an
alligator gar" projecting three or
| four inches from the hawks "merry
thought" It was pretty nearly dead,
aAd ne cut the bird open and cut the
fatal b0rer out. It was covered with
greenish scales, which made him
think it a piece of weed, about eight
inches long, and as round in he body
as a gar" while the tip of his nose
was as sharp as the point Of a peggipg-
awl. and as hard, widening consider
ably towards the eyes. It had appar-
entity doubled up in the birds craw,
and by pressing it's tail against one
side had forced its spike out at the
side of the breast at the junction OF
tAe neck. It was the only fish of the
kind the man ever saw Or heard of,
unles it was a sort OF abnormal devel-
opment OF the gar pike" Not think
ing at the moment Of the scientific in~
rerest Of the incident and its victim,
and not caring TO String" the half
snake looking fish, the fisherman
threw 1t and the hawk into the water.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
A Model Wife.
Detroit Free Press

Jones vas we'll aware that his wife
was In the habit of rihing his pockets
when he was asleep, but, like wise
man, he kept silence on the subject
One night, however, he awoke and
caught her III the ACT.
''Har' he exclaimed, what are you
doing, my dear2'
The lady started. her cheek flushed,
the. pantaloons dropped FROM her grasp
anG she was about to make fun cons,
tess1on when a bright idea entered hen.
head. Recovering her composure she
said:
L was looking to see whether your
pantaloons needed any buttons"
They do, they do, my dear" he
exclaimed, springing from bed. need
ed 'em for weeks, months, and [ won
dered why you didn't sew 'em on; but
| waited, for was sure you would get
to 1t some time. And how kind of
you to get out of bed al this time of
the night to attend to 'em. Say what
you will, there's nothing III the world
like good wife. Let me turn up the
gas little, SOS you'll have all the
light you want IN sewing em on. Got
your needle and buttons? No. Well,
tell me where they are and I'll get
'ea for you"
Mrs. Jones proceeded to sew on tne
buttons, while her husband sat on the
side of the bed and encouraged her
with words of praise for her wifely
care and thought for his comfort. oc-
casionally remarking that go where
he would, he would always say there
was nothing IN the world like a good
wife.
Then he went to the wardrobe and
brought out several pairs of trousers,
a coat, two or three old vests, and a.
number of shirts, from ali of which
buttons were missing, and cheerfully
observed:
while we're at il We'll make night
of it."
Two hours later, when Mrs Jones,
with sigh removed the thimble from
her finger, Mr.. Jones patted her on tee
cheek and said:
II say it again my dear, say it again
that wherever [ go [ will make it
known, proclaim it from the house>
tops, shout it IN the highways aud by
ways, that wife who gets up In the
middle OF the night TO sew buttons on
her husbands clothes is a priceless
treasure, a crown to that husband, and
an ornament to her sex"
Then Mr. Jones, chuckling to him.
self, lay calmly down and slept the
sleep of the just.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
TIE CURSE OF DRINK.
The Inventor of a Noted Fire Extin-
guisher a Pauper.

Since last week the almshouse has
numbered among its inmates an old,
ray~headed man, of about 68 years
Of age, apparently In the last stages Of
chronic alcoholism, and presenting III
every respect the appearance of CONS
plete physical, ii not mental, decrepi-
tude. Yet. if the story told by the
aged paper be true, he has In times
past occupied far different position,
his name being familiar throughout
the length and breadth of the United
States as that OF the inventor of the
Ba9cock fire extlnguisher. To an in
| terviewer who visited him at the
almshouse he gave q sketch Of his life
history, beginning with his birth at
Rochester. n. Y, IL 1917, from which
place, at the age of 5, he removed
with his parents to Mount Vernon,
Iowa, and later to Mansfield in the
same state. At the age of 81 he grad
uated from the Pennsylvania univers-
ity Of Medicine. but did not practice,
entering instead into the mercantile
business. at first in partnership with
his father at Indianapolis, Ind. later
on his own account III Dayton, 0. He
was very successful for eight years,
but in 1854 his good fortune deserted
him, and after suffering number of
raverses he went into liquidation
Going TO New York he secured pos
ition as dry goods clerk and remained
there two years, during which time he
married. Going back to indianapolis,
he purchased with his savings an in
terest IN his fathers business, and for
six years was quite successful. At
the end of this time reverses again
assailed him, and ne retired from the
business with but 81, Coo
Willis in Indianapolis however, in
1860, he had patented the fire extin~
guisher, which grew out OF his expert
ments IN chemistry, for which ne
always had q taste, and after his
failure he endeavored to do something
III the way of disposing Of it, while
acting as travelling agent for some
Cincinnati tobacco and liquor firm,
but met at first with but poor success
However, about q year later, he leased
the right to manufac ture and sell the
extiaguisher to Peabody & Co.. OF
Chicago for i've years at S., 600 q
year and Immediately thereafter came
20 San Francisco. He ran the old
Buckeye Hotel, on Market street, for
a while, practicing medicine also, but
being burned out, removed first TO
Oakland and afterward to Petaluma,
where he kept 9 store for while,
finally failing. He retreaved himsef
by successfully specializing Ia Mon~
terey lands with his annuity, and
about this time lost his wife, which
bereavement Immediately preceded
the first step of his downward career,
since it led him to try and Brown his
sorrows in drink. Having once entered
upon the path of vice, he pursued it
to the end, spending the proceeds of
his annuities In drink. Before enter
ing upon the downward course, how
ever, with the money derived from his
land speculations he purchased farms
IL Yamhill county, Oregon, for his
daughter and each of his three soEs,
where, he believes, they are now Jiv-
ing 10 prosperous circumstances,
Though shame has prevented him from
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
The Depths OF Niagara.
Academy News.

The current Of Niagara river below
the falls ranges from ten miles an
hour TO two miles q minute. So enorm-
Gus is the volume Of water rushing
through this gorge that Lake Ontario
must necessarily empty herself once
IN every fow days. The great depth
Of Niagara's canon is almost beyond
conception. When the first railway
bridge was being constructed an at
tempt was made to fathom the river
directly below it. At the first trial a
large tin pail filed with stones and
attached to rope, was used; but IL
proved mere play thing for the rush
ing waters. 4 stronger rope was then
taken and a bar Of railroad iron
fastened to it. This actually foated,
owing to the fierce counter currents.
A few years ago the United States
Lake Survey took hold of the problem.
Using a heavy lead weight IL the form
of plumb bob, attached to a strong
but small cord, they found the depth
Just below the main fall to De 100 feet.
Some of the party engaged IN the
work were rendered deaf for several
days by the roar Of the falls which
was SO terrific that the lips even re-
fused to open and utter q sound. Be-
low the falls the stream rapidly in
creases in depth, becoming 1913 feet in
front Of the inclined railway. By
taking the width and velocity of the
stream into consideration it is possible
to compute lis depth which at some
places must be nearly 500 feet,
The depths of the whirlpool are
enormous and unknown. A cord one
thousand feet long was too short to
reach the bottom.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

the so, 900, 600, 900 of tons estimated by
the commissioners to 80, 900, 900, 600 of
tons extractable with our present
means; and we are bringing it to the
surface at the annually increasing
rate of 100, 900, 900 of tons per year.
The supply viii last our time, no
doubt; but centuries are but small
periods liz the life of a people, And it
IS easy TO sec that, on such informal
ton as we have, it is not for centur-
les IN the plural that our coal supply
Will hold but, If we continue its ever
increasing extraction.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

applying to them of late for assis
lance. He was first sent to the aims.
house three years ago, remaining for
six months, and beng again sent out
IN July of last year. Between times
he has wandered about the country,
and the writer remembers seeing him
III 1888, wandering about the streets
of Santa Rosa. Sonoma county, IN the
lowest stage of drunken pauperism,
his arrest for vagrancy etc., being
q regular weekly occurrence for some
mo nths.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
The Telephone for Long Distances.
New York Commercial Bulletin.

The utilization of the telephone for
commercial and business purposes is
making steady progress in other
countries besides our own Thus, the
fact is worth recording that the Off
Gals of the British postoffice have
been engaged In experiments for the
purpose OF ascertalnlng what may be
called the practical range" of the in
strument, and thus far with the most
satisfactory results. In this country,
trials of similar kind were made not
long since, it will be remembered, the
result showing the possibility of ex-
tending indefinitely the distance
over which the interlocutors
may converse together. The
places linked together in the
recent experiments in England were
London, Uxbridge, fifteen miles off,
and Liverpool. The distance between
Liverpool and Uxbridge, by way of
wires was 200 miles. This is the long
est distance over which experiments
have been made IN England, and some
doubts were felt as to the success Of
the experiment. It proved, however,
entirely satisfactory, and the officials
are quite confident of being able to
converse over double that distance;
the voices were not only audible, but
distinct. There is reason to suppose,
therefore, that the day is not distant
when London, Manchester and Glas-
cow and other large cities will be thus
within speaking distance OF each
other.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-04
BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
Harper's

TESTERS SECRET BY Mary Cecil Hay. tharper =
Franklin Square Ubrary)
THE MINOR PROPHETS. By the Rev: +. B. Pussy D. u
Vol l. svo, PIP. 427 Dunk "aghaisl
srupry TuousASp THOUGHTS. Being Extracts covering
A Comprehensive Circle of Religious ana u Adaco
Topics Edited by the Rev. Cansn H. u NJ. Spe e
and Others Vol 3. Svo, pp o2o. trunk was
nalls.) A.,
rur REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. BY the
Rev. Samuel Fuller, D. d. Svo, PIP 3eS. (ihoihas
Whittaker)
THE DUCHESS EMILIA. By Barrett Wendell. l0mo' pp'
241. Boston James R. Osgood * Coz
Author OF the twin and Wear Series" lZmo, PIP
332 (Robert Carter & Bros)
THE DIAMOND LENS By Fitz-James OBrien' i@mo'
pp 337. Paper Charles scribners sons1
The CARE OF dSFANTs ny soP Pna 'eAD'A'' A-' ~
An.yrMsoS,s DAUGHTER Poem. BY Denton ];
snider. I2mo, PIP. 239. Bsston; james H. ossoo'
& Coz - ,
THE STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH PROSE. BY John g. X.
NcElroy A NJ l2mo PIP oo9' "a " -
AMERICAN PREsBYTERIASIsM BY Charles o Augussg
briggs, ID. ID. Syo, PIP. 373. Charles serDner
Sons) w., q
LETTERS FROM HELL Given in English; BY "; j. -
with a Preface by George MscDonaiu, la" ~
l2mo pp. 34S. Funk WagnalsD
POLITICS AND ECONOMICS BY w. Cunnngnam -; a. a.
I2mo DID. 275. Qondon kegan Pau' FIehen
Coz -, .., ,-.o
by B. F. OConnor l2mo PIP Zoo' 'iiehi' N''' :"
aMoprHs p.rpAIus By Tom Greer. 16mo, PIP 2el
E. p. Dutton & COZ 49,.
rIny By Henry W. Cherouny. syo, PIP. Soo'
paper. (Cherouny Printing and Puoiisams |oni-
pany1 ~ ,.,1- =
ora LIVING WORLD An Artistic Edition Of the Rev J..
ooT "a Moods Natural History Of Animate Creation
P.viseS nv Joseph b. Holden, NJ. ID. 4to Paper.
Parts to 8. 6emar Hess)
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-04
LITERARY NOTES.

r.,.rronosed in California to form stock company
sor tie development Of The Overland Monthly in.o
= periodical Of exceeding strength and mnuence'
stated that the gazine is firmly established anu
ready for such Development
Professors e. T. Bartlett and John P. Peters, OF
Philadelphia are editing and arranging the serp'aie'
Cor voung readers with the purpose Of presenting the
sacred writing to them in as ineligible and instructive
form as may be practicable. They will be comprised
in three volumes.
The daughter of q welI-known Brooklyn man Is sara
IN have written society novel the characters VI
which have been drawn from members of her fathers
CONGREGATION 1t will soon be published by new
York firm.
Mr.. Henry James is the subject Of sharp article
,rb;cb anpears In "The Boston Spectator" MI
Jamesy it declares makes the serious mistake con"
mon with young literary gentlemen OF pene''ne '""s
the life of Fifth-ave. and Beacon-s Ia American NV
the only phase of American life worth writing ao'u'
There is life here Of which Mr. James is hopeiessiy
ignorant great busy, worka-day lie inli 0, human
activity and passion, and sentiment ana pa'nos "u
xyor and feeling and humble heroism and devotion |;
Gallant life stronc true energetic life that built the
country that has maintained it. that gave to even MI
Henry James the privilege and the honor lot which ne
ao.s not seem very eager to avail HIMSELF OF caihng
bimself an American; a life outside OF college Wills
and fashionable clubs and Back Bay conversaIioheS
Tho life of the people with s loves ana s'ruggies
homes and fears and its comedies and tragedes' Anu
fhis ia the life of which, If 1t is ever wrtteu' no
American novel of which We hear so much. must
deal and then Mr. James, if he lives long enough 70
read II, will know something Of what American iue
really is But Mr. James, we fear is hopeless dys-
peptic and can never bring his delicate 70
bear with such homely nutriment His America ~
bounded by ten minutes walk and bis people con-
verse out of dictionaries and weary us with rahscen
dental platitudes" And this from Boston,
The new number of The English Illustrated Maya
snen is hardly as successful its predecessors IN
matter Of engraving but its letterpress all
Nr. Archibald Forbes contributes an article III his
best vein.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-04
sifemtoais an6 Railroads.
1 BOSTON AND NEW-ENGLAND.
A. LOW RATES. -

A BOSTON AND NEW -ENULAND'
IA ~" INSIDE ROUTE
sToNINGToN LINE. 80, .., s,,,ar.
Steamers, leave from 49, N r. daily except sunusys
r. W. PoPPLE, General Passenger Agent
NALL RIVER LINE.-The Best sound Route
10 Ros on and the East. Low fares Large and power
a., steamers PILGRIM and BRISTOL from per ~ sof1n
piver daily isunays included commencing April ~ az pm
-'~' GEORG /. COMMON, General passenger ABsht-
pORDEN q LOWELL Agents New-f0tk
uARLEM RIVER BRANCH
Ill SrWYoRK NEW.HAVEN AND HARTFORD n n
Trains leave Harlem River station corner l3zaet ana
Incon.avs pcar Third Avenue Bridge across aos
eached by Third Avenue Elevated kaiQal) uhy eAV9yt
sundays $40 Gag 900 lo91 P PSo xcs oassnoy
fISond1 felha@ Manor and NcwRocheile conneotng Al
EewRochelo with trains for all points on We ms no y
The Nsw.York NewHaven and Hartford hairoa1 snU,9
1s and and saea Boston and ali pOns
Aansbt train for NewRoohec spd en intermediate sta
s.ons ne 5,le A. m daily except MONDAYS =, =.
sunday trains NewEoohee aud All inter- w
tom .. hsv hSU Vita way trains Central Depot and
amford and with express train to Boston shore ae
EHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD.-Passenge
d Ss q Gor x. E.. soa
Gavsriy ithaca dSncva Lyens buffalo and lac West Pull
man through coaches daily Local traus at and bsc
p Tor PASTOR Eehlsh'm and SSP sya n ,.,, =, :.
Ssyss Tor Msaeh Uhunk and Ha.eton, slo Am.
ssas's Ssssssa s~Ss ~ Ass & s ssfadrox. q. A.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-04
LETTERS FROM HE'LL.

With an introduction by GEORGE MACDONALD.
startling thrilling book, orthodox IN its views l2mo
cloth. 81.
This rapidly through IL editions in Germany
and wherever known has produced profound interest
Its mission question OF the intellect
please the fancy content the the artistic faculty Du 70
make righteous element OF horror and in this the
book is neutrality-suspicious. MACDONALD.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-04
10 PHILADELPHIA
VIA THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.
THE OLDEST ROUTE.
M AIMS EACH WAY WEEK DAYS AND 0 ON SUN.
~ DAY. . STATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA IN
oA'' NETWORK.

NETWORK.
express leave NewYork Desbrosses and Court
landt street Ferries, as follows: -, "a.
600 7:20 - $50 90 and 10 Iimited H. ll:iO m 5zS
$40 4:A0 D. 81 and and ~ night sundays eio
& 9Limitedl and l0 a. m; g. 90 anu D. m' ana IL
Trains leaving New York daily: cxcspt sunday t'2g
Trenton camden pr.ad stra.t s,a,,., psu.,.,,,,.
hipoi. Si5 $40 is5 except Monday 60 1880 500
I'm M s. 8 $3.50, TAO 7i5 ard l5 m. On sunday.
f2oi slb; 500. 4So 500 m; sS;2g iamlten ss9s
daily sxcep s4s ass and ga Brsedway Astor
House of pesbresses and ccrsSat sss Court
Bnschs Hotel Hobosen station Jssssy ci, srn nmsraaS
The New York Transfer Company Will cali for anu onooA
h.u~a "a from hotels and residences =, xuoon
CHAhGnss,nve ral Manager General Passr. gent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-04
THE NEW LINE
SEw.YoRK. PHILADELPHIA oRF0LK OLD POINT

'f1E NEW hANorrwrrU
,1iL,u vopx pHIIAi)ELPIIIA NORFOLK OLD POINT
WV COMFORT AND THE SOUTH.
HOURS FASTER THAN ANY OTHER ROUTE
The New. Philadelphia Norfolk Railroad Sonpany
now runs Fast Night Express between Newiof
and Cape Charles Trans leave Newly ors via PennsyyAn.
railroad 6:2o week days and p m daily arriving pm
POINT o. D. week tays and SEQ a ~ daily NOR
folk and 9:l5 m Sleeping cars through from New
York Charles and Parlor Car from Philadelphia vita
out parlors ar seats and seepng behs can
Company. r. u. cooKE, Genr Pass. and Freight Agent
H. W. DUNNE. superintendent
WEST SHORE pOUTE.
w VIA WEST SHORE OF HUDSON RIVER
All trains leave West &2dt, CortlAnd and Dcsbrossoss
Chicago, 40 Q m. - p. m. Pullman seepers through
81 Louis $500. g p. m Pullman sleepers.
Detroit. 10 m, 900 g =. m Pullman sleepers "A
m- $3.50. ssp m Sleeping and parior through
Syracuse, 7,lo 80 M $3.50, IS pm
Utica, 7:10. 40. ll;00 MT $3.50. g y. 10. - ,..S
Newburg Kingston. Catskt, Albany s7l0. 10 Il:0V
For Montreal and Canada East 1,o a m: s.sop
Hamilton. London, 10 $3.50. g .. Toronto 'oso
sSaiiy. othsr trains daily except sunday. "a
For tcket time tables sleeping sccommod4
tons nfomato9 sRpy Il oeicss Jsrssy CITY Ann BIZ
Station Hoboken, ll5 Wsshngtoyst Brookyn cour3;S
Annex once foot Futonats Newly ory, 81, 207 y6 Sl9
S6S Sol 90 lao. lS23 Broadway 7y7 ethave lag kaq
l26th st., 1881 Bowery, Penn. r. 8ta0nA foot q CQr
endt and Dcabrosess ss, aud West shore station
West t2dse baggage called for and checked from nosf
a9a fssdsnSea ordsHs es1 ps 20 g 9cass once -
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-04
PUsEYs MINOR PROPHETS.


Complete in two volumes. Vol l. now ready price 30
Vol IL ready April %.
PHILIP sCHAFF d. D.. New-Yorr, says: "Dr. Puseys
Prophets is practical and devotional as wen a.
learned and able"
WILLIAM NJ. TAYLOR, d. D.. saysi "Puseys scholar
ship is undoubed his learning extensive and his heart es-
pecay devou He 10 be his knees as he stuas
seeking only 10 know Gods meaning and desiring TO do
Gods will"
MORGAN DIX D. D., says; 81 consider this q most
valuable work 1 studied 1t with great pleasure and
profit"