davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-29
No Snakes in Florida.


The following, says the Gainesville
News, we clip from an old exchange,
The story is as good now as when first
told, and many, perhaps, never saw it:
& As the afternoon train on the Florida
Transit railroad slowed up to a water
tank where a creek flows out of dreary
cypress swamp and crosses the way, d
hunter in high boots and corduroy coat
with huge bag swung TO his large
shoulders, climbed out of the tall grass
and boarded the principal passenger car.
It was Prof. James Bell, the Smithson-
ian Institutions agent. The train was
full of people, who, for three hours, had
endured the innocent babbIe of two
guileless lard agents. They had learned
from these truthful real estate missona-
ries that alligators We're as harmless as
geese, and that there were fewer snakes
by far in Florida than in New York city
or Philadelphia. The Professor found
the one vacant seat and flung himself
into it.
"'Good morning, Professor an ac-
quaintance at the other end of the car
cried out to him; do you have any luck
catching snakes these days?'
And within five minutes 3Ir. Bell
was answering questions from nearly
every occupant of the car. Were there
really any snakes in Florida; was it safe
to go through the woods; how big did
shakes grow in this State; what sort of
snakes are common, here, etc, etc. Very
grac;ously the Professor answered them
all, and soon had betrayed himself into a
dissertation upon reptiles generally, till
in an absent way, just to illustrate a
point ne was elucidating, he unbuttoned
a capacious pocket in the skirt Of his coat
and drew out an enormous and newly
caught ''coach-whip, which he exhibit
ed to a throng of staring and excited
people. It's habits and peculiarities were
described, and he laid his subject on the
seat and from another pocket drew out a
number of chicken snakes and water
snakes of various kinds. Would they
bite? No, indeed they were harmless.
They look kind of 'erawly,' they are so
small He replaced them all and un-
strapped his game bag. Here we have.
he said, "a beautiful snake, naturally
tame and perfectly harmless. which anv-
body can play with. And he drew out
what is probably the biggest king snake
ever caught in Florida, nearly eight feet
/ inllength.
There was chorus Of screams. and
women and children, men even, fled tc
the farther end of the car During the
rest of the trip the disconnected Professor
sat alone, and when, at Gainesville. ht
rose to leave the train, little girls hiC
themselves behind their mammas anl
with fright.
CAS- a travelling Snowman I do no
seem to be a success. said the Professo
sadly to himself as he strobe towards HI
lodgings in Oak Hall.
A niece Of ex-president Van Buren,
an applicant for the postmastership q
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-29
PrcsiaentiaI Boards.

New York World.
Mr.. Cleveland is the only President
who has ever worn only a moustache,
with the rest Of his face smooth-shaven.
George Washington wore no beard.
John Adams had slight patch of whis-
kers in front Of each ear. The faces of
Jefferson, Monroe and Madison We're
smooth-shaven. John Quincy Adams
had light pair Of side-whisller5, which
followed the line Of his cheek bone. An
drew Jackson Wore no beard VanBureu
had thin side-whiskers, which IAN
around nearly to his nostrils. Harrison,
Tyler, Polk, Fillmore, Taylor and Buca-
anan were all smooth-sLaven. Mr., Lin
coin, when he first came to Washington,
shaved his beard and only let it grow du-
ring the latter years of his stay here. He
always shaved his upper lip. Andrew
johnson was assnooth-ahaven as q monk.
Grant wore a stubbly short moustache
and beard. Hayes and Garfield wore
long moustaches and full boards. Arthur
wore a small moustache and long side
whiskers.
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-29

A niece Of ex-president Van Buren is
an applicant for the postmastership of
Kinderhook. \. Y.
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-29
TELEGRAPHIC SPARKLES.
THE LATEST NEWS FROM ALI.
PARTS By WIRE AND CABLE.
DELAYED APPOINTMENTS.

" AoH4NNlONs A1dIGu lt.--kAiuOD5 OiC
nominations prepared for transmission
to the Senate to-day was that of Captain
William Valknar, of the Fifth Cavalry,
to be Major and Assistant Adjutant Cen
eral. It is said upon unofficial authority
that another Of the delayed nominations
designated Capt. George H. Burton, of
the Twenty Infantry, for the ap-
pointment to fill the vacancy of Major
in the Inspector Generals department
FIGHTING on YANKEE BEEF.
CHICAGO, Mars! 27.-The Armour
Packing Company yesterday received
another cable order from the British
War Department for 5000 additional
cases Of canned beef, representing about
6j0,0 ,000 ponnds, and another proposal for
10000 additional cases which, however,
could not be filed within the time limit
ed. The statement is made that the Or
ders already in hand have divested all
the establishments in this country en-
gagged in this particular industry of their
available stock.
STRIKERS USING DYNAMITE.
South Abingdon, MASS, March 81
The Windsor House, at Rockland, was
badly damaged this morning by an ex-
plosion of dynamite or nitro-glyeerine.
1t is supposed to be the result of trouble
between striking and non-union shoema-
kers. Several of both classes boarded at
the Windsor, and up to few days ago,
when the strikers left the house, the pre-
sence of policemen had been necessary
to prevent conflict. The scabs all re-
NAMED in the house when the policemen
were withdrawn. The explosion which
shattered the whole front of the build
ing occurred at 4:30 a. m.
WANTED TO BE COWBOYS.
CINcINNATI, March 27.-In one of the
public schools to-day teacher left her
class-r room for a moment, and when she
returned three or four of the largest boys
We're having mimic war, threatening
each other with large revolvers, while
the other pupils were paralyzed with
fear. As the teacher entered the room
the revolvers We're pointed at her. The
principal disarmed the boys, and the fa-
ther of one of them was sent for. He dis
armed his son, and two long bowie
knives were found upon him, while in
his desk were a couple more revolvers.
he said that two shot guns were con-
cealed in a convenient place. 1t was
then learned that four of the boys had
planned to run away in May and become
cowboys. and were collecting arms and
ammunition for the expedition. One of
the lads was to furnish money for the
trip, and he had arranged to sell his BIZ
cycle and one of his fathers coats The
boys have been taken from the school
and put to hard work.
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-29
characteristics of Smokers

A gentleman who is q great ''fumiga-
tor says that he has philosophical about
smoking with this result: IAN even
tempered, quiet man never goes to an
extreme in choosing his cigar. A nervous
man wants something strong and furious;
a mild man something that smokes and
nothing more There is a great deal in
the way men handle a cigar. If a man
smokes his cigar only enough to keep it
lighted, and relishes taking it from his
mouth TO cast a look at the blue curl of
smoke in the air, set him down as an
easy going man. He has keen peroep-
tions and delicate sensibilities. He will
not create trouble, but is apt to see it out
when once begun. Beware of the man
who never releases the grip of his cigar
and is Indifferent whether it burns or
not. He is cool, calculating and exact
ing. He is seldom energetic physically,
but lives easily off those who perform the
labor. The man that smokes bit, rests
bit, and tumbles the cigar more or less,
is easily affected by circumstances. If
the cigar goes out frequently the man
has a whole.souled disposition, is devil
may care sort of a fellow, with lively
brain and glib tongue, and a generally
fine fund of anecdotes. To hold half of
the cigar in the mouth and smoke indiff-
erently is a lazy mans habit. They are
generally of little force and their char
acters are not of the highest strata. A
nervous man, who fumbles his cigar a
great deal, is sort of pompiniay among
men. Holding the cigar constantly be-
tween the teeth, chewing it occasionally
and not caring if it is lighted at all, are
characteristics of men who have the te,
macy of bulldogs. They never forget
anything or let go their holds. The foI
stands his cigar on end and the expert
enced smoker points it straight ahead
or almost at right angles with his course
Such have been my observations Will
regard to smokers
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-29

The Springfield Republican compli-
ments Minister Phelps very highly. 1t
says that for years he has been ''the fin
est orator aud greatest lawer in Vermont,
Ia man of infinite wit and resource, and
semong aristocrats most popular. but
mong tbs sturdy republicans of Yer
pont the personi1cation of brain power,
fifth none of the desires of most men to
yEyin public favor"
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
Report of the Labor Bureau.

In his first annual report to the secre.
tary Of the interior, upon the operations of
the labor bureau since its establishment.
Commissioner Carroll ID. Wright begins
with statement OF the organization OF
the bureau and u review Of the line Of policy
outlined Tor tho conduct of it's investiga.
tiOns.
The principal features ofthat policy were,
a refusal to recognize parties, that the bu-
reau should be disconnected with politics
aud independent Of organization, whether
of workingmen or Of employers, and free
from the support Of economic theories, in
dividual views or class interests. The com.
missioner believes that this policy general
ly has been approved throughout the coun-
try. The Investigations outliucd related
to the questions Of industrial depression,
involvinga study Of their character, their
causes, and whether as to duration and pe-
riodicity they are all alike in great pro.
ducing countries. Such investigations in
cluded the question of the influence Of de.
pressions on the cost Of living, the extent
to which industries are involved, the cost
ol production as influenced by the usc Of
machinery and other kindred questions
Between March II and June 81, twenty
sDrcial agents were appointed, and ut the
close OF the fiscal year fifteen of these
agents were actively employed in the United
States and five in Europe, collecting tho in
formation required.
The results Of the investigations will be
embodied in the first annual report Of the
bureau, which will be submitted early in
the coming year.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
THE NEWS SUMMARIZED,
n. President Cali. For Me-, o,aora.

Sioux Fall. Leader: Delegate Clifford
has started for Washington in response
to letter requesting him to call upon
President Cleveland at an early date and
present Dakota's g claims for admission to
the chief executive of the nation. In re-
sponse to a query by the Leader represen.
tative. Judge Clifford stated that In his
Forthcoming message to congress the presi.
dent wished to treat fairly and intellieently
upon Dakota's claims for admission, and
that in order to do 80 he wished to learn
from the speaker all the points in connec.
tion with the constitution recently formu.
lated, and the popular feeling in South Da.
kota on the subject. Judge Clifford said
further that he believed IL was President
Cleveland 3 honest wish and intention to do
South Dakota justice. II hethousht IL was
best for Dakota to be divided, and the un-
questioned wish Of the people, no party ties
orinterests should have any weight with him
but that he would be guided solely by what
he considered was justice, no matter how
bitterly the Democrats might censure such
course. Asked for his lersonal opinion
upon the subject oi Dakota,s admission
this winter. Judge Clifford said that con.
grcss was bound to take action in the
matter, as it did not dare to ignore our
claims. He thought possibly an enabling
act would he passed, but under the most
favorable auspices Dakota would not be
admitted into the Union before next March.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
Dakota's Railway Commission.

The Dakota railway commission met at
Fargo, and prepared II long letter for Sena-
tor Cullom, as chairman Of the senate com.
mittee on inter state commerce. Further
action was taken upon the delay by the
Milwaukee 4 st. Paul in the construction
Of the ''Y" ut Aberdeen, connecting with
the Northwestern, and also upon the un-
willingness OF the Northern Pacific to pro-
vide depot facilities at Sypeston. The secrc-
tary reported that Assistant General Man
aser Odell had promised to stop all COM
plants at Lisbon by furnishing cars
to elevator and warehouse. as the needs OF
either demanded and the facilities OF the
road allowed. The preliminary report OF
commission was prepared. 1t will embrace
recommendations folp new laws upon the
following points:
Compelling railroad companies to put in
"Y'' at nll junction points; taxing gross
earnings OF sleeping car, telegraph, tcle-
phone and express companies; putting in
crossings in cities where ordered by the
commisslon; against elevator pooling and
giving power to make railroads put in
stations and dcpots were deemed necessary.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
Niel's Talk In Prison.

When Riel heard that his case was going
before the privy council he nodded sgniti.
cantly ut the absurdity of the proceeding.
What" he said, "has this English coun-
Gil to do with me? | look only to the
Canadian government for Ienicncy." A few
days ago, when Father Andre told
him OF the privy councils decision,
he said: III knew it already,
father. The spirit has told me ALL" Re.
plying to u question as to what he
thought OF it, he said: What else
could expect from John BuIl?" But, wink
ing nm eye significantly, he added: "rm
not dead yet" He continues to prophcsy
daily in his cell, and writes out, daily, vol
umes OF alleged communications from the
spirit world. The last prophetic vision he
had it was intimated to him that half
breeds would be SURPRISED how soon things
would turn in their favor. and that half
breed women would experience the change
first Half-breeds would progress fast, hut
they could not any more lead IL roaming
life. They must get ON to land and take
up homesteads.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
A Cir, Prevent. 4. Railroad wreck.

Des Moines Register: In conversation
With. w. johnson, engineer on the Osceola,
the reporter learned OF wonderful display
OF nerve and presence Of mind made
BY sixteen.year.old girl recently. AZ
No. 4, the afternoon freight on that
road, was rounding the curve near
Weeks, and ut the foot OF st. Mary's
hill, he saw the girl standing on the
track and waving a handkerchief fran.
tically for them to stop. He brought the
train to a stand.still as soon as possible,
being only about two car.lengths from the
girl when the stop was made. Upon in.
vestigation it was found that the outside
rail on the curve had been broken, and in
such way as to have made a most
disastrous wreck almost certain had
the train gone upon it at full speed.
Being upon a curve, it would have l,een i'm.
possible for him to discover the break until
too late to stop the train, and a wreck at
that pllce meant serious injury ifnot death
to the trainmen. This heroic girl had found
the break, and, seeing the danger it entail
cd, had stood bravely upon the track until
the engine was almost Mt her feet, do.
ing her utmost to save the lives OF those
on bonrd: The boys feel that they
owe their lives to her heroic action, and
are correspondinely grateful. The young
lady's name was found to be Miss Oleta
Schwartz, and her home is near the place
where she won her right to the title oi
heroine. 1t is the case Of another Kate
Shelley. though there were not SO many
lives ut stake, and the surrounding circupi.
stances were not quite SO frightful, and she
will long live in the grateful memories OF
the boys whose lives she inperiled her own
to save.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
The Public Timber Deprelation..

Washington Special james w. Harlan
OF Pottsville, Lawrence county, OAK. about
twenty-five miles southwest Of Deadwood,
is charged by n special timber agent with
cutting from government land 1,2OO Nor
way pine trees. This timber was manu-.
facturetl into 175,O00 feet Of lumber,
OF which Harlan has sold 100000 feet.
The attorney general will direct that suits
be brought against Harlan for restitution,
und the 10000 feet Of lumber rcma lining
and Harlans sawmill will be seized. The
lumber is valued at about $12n thousand.
There has been an increase of timber steal
ing OF late in the Black Hills, and an effort
will be made to put speedy stop to
it. 1t has been decided by Secretary
Lamar that some steps be taken to
prevent the Northern Pacific or its
lessees from cutting from it's granted
timber lands until the grant is settled. An
order will be issued in - few days forbi,l,ling
the company to cut timber on its own lands,
except where there is IL clear necessity for
roadbuilding purposes, until patents have
been issued for the land in question.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06

for horses in the vicinity of Chicago.
The carly- horn variety is principally
grown. They are preferred be-.
oause they can be ousily pulled from
the ground. The crop this season is
very large.
Prof. Lazcnby. of Ohio. does not be.
lieve that smoke will have sufficient
effect in protecting against frost to!
pay for the trouble of the application.
He has tried it on several occasions
and can not recommend it.
The export Of cattle from Montreal,
to Great Britain since the opening Of
navigation in the middle of July has.
been nineteen thousand head--iivej
thousand more than last year to the
sametimc.
There IS great excitement among
the farmers Of South Carolina about a
new forage plant called kafIir corn, {,
which was brought into tho state by u
man who stated that he was an Eyyp-
tian.
Paper is made in France from hop
vines. and it is claimed that the fiber
secured is the best substitute for rags
yet obtained, as it POSSESSES great
length. strength. iicxibility and deli
cucV,
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
Presidential Ilca,l,.

Washington's hair was long and
gray.
Garfield was bald and his hair of o
scm:-blondc color.
John Tyler was fine haired and ho
was a nc-looking man.
Jefferson had red hair and VIC arc
told that he was frccklc,.
William Henry llarr son combcd his
hair we'll to the front of his ears, and
he was gray at the time hc was elected.
President Lincoln did not pay mucl,
attention to his har and most of his
pictures represent it as rather long.
1t was dark and strait.
John Adams wore n wig, and his
son. John Quincy Adams, had tho
baldcst hca.i which ever rested on the
pillows of the White House.
Some of Jci!crs ms portraits repre-.
sent him with lns halr banged in front
and coming down over h forehead in
the style of the dude Of to-day.
President Arthur hal dark hair.
which was growing gray when he loft
the White House. lie kept it we'll
combcd back from his face and VOL
it short.
President Clcvcland's hair is brown
and thin. lie wears it short and
combs it up from his forehead. His
head is bald at the crown, and its
badness is sad to bc daily increasing.
Frank Pierce had thick curly hair
which fell down upon his forehead.
His head is bald ut the crown. and its
badness is said to bc daily increasing.
Frank Pierce had thick curly !lal1
which fell down upon his forehead, and
James Buchanan Kept his gray head
we'll trimmed. combing his hair SO as
to show to the full his high. open
brow. b.
Polk patterned after Jackson in
combing his hair straight back with
hardly a part. and both Fillmore and
Taylor parted their hair on tho left
side of the head, while Frank Pierce
parted his boldly on the right.
Everyone knows how Jacksou's hair
stood up all over his head rs straight
and stiff as tho quilts Of IL porcupine,
but all are not aware that he was as
gray as badger during his presiden.
tiai term. and bis hi. T. was as fine az
the thlnnest strands of spun silver.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
A Money.xaking Business.

Tho most valuable portion of our,
branch of the business, said a Wash
ington dealer in public documents, is
our collection of old house and senate
executive documents and reports of!
committees of both houses, tho copies
of which have long since been exhaust,
cd in the document rooms ut both ends
of the capitol. There arc constant
calls for these old reports and mes-
sagcs. Some old claim that has been
acted on in congress years ago will be
resuscitated aud then the report made
upon it by the committee will hc want.
cd. 1t cannot 10 found in tll. capitol,
as, it being an important case when!
first in congress, all cop es of the re-
port have long since been disposed of.
Then the seeker comes to me- lie often
finds 1t. too, and although 1t may be
Of no Importance to any one but him,
he is generally willin, :, to pay me u
good. fair price for it. always keep
u big stock OH hand.
remember just such II case which
had last winter. A man came hero
after report which had boon made
by tho committee on claims in tho
th;rty-s' xth congress. lIc wanted
copy of that report and had searched
the capitol and the state department
high and low. but not copy could he
find. A friend sent him to m,. Twas
about to let him go away without look
ing. when happily ! remembered that
when | first started in tho business l
purchased whole p 10 Of documents
and reports Of the thirty-sixth congress
from an employc of the capitol, who
wanted some money to get railroad
ticket with. l paid him $3.50 for the
lot. and could just remember having
stumbled over them n hundred times
since. told the gentleman to wait
while l climbed into tho attic. ut
once got the old bundle. AMI, after
half an hours search, found the ident-
ical report which the gentleman was
in search Of.
"How much?" said lie with Il smiling
face. Us approached hot and dusty
with the 60 documents.
"Oh, asyou please" SAT- 1. .What-
ever it is worth to YOU" Tho gentle-
man thrust two 32D bills into nv hand
and sailed forth " til his nose buried
in the mus'y but precious pub. doc.."
and said 10 myself: This is good
business"
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06
Criminal Calender.

Charles Collins was killed while robbing
an Omaha street car.
A scoundre. entered the stables Of Mr..
John Curtis u farmer of Middlctown, N. j.,
and stabbed fatally five valuable horses.
Francis l.. White was arrested in Boston
on a warrant charging him with the EN-
bezzlement Of S25, 900 worth of hides und
leather from Hiram Leonard Il Co
Lieut.. Thurston, of Company T., Six.
tecnth infantry, at Fort Mcintosh, Tex,
shot and killed Thomas Collins, proprietor
oi saloon. AS it was shown that he act
cd in sclf-defcnse, he was released on nomi
nal bail.
Leo Lesquereaux, the geologist who is
wanted in various parts OF the country for
variety OF offenses, and was recently ar.
rested in Milwaukee for Stealing IL number
Of valuable books from state normal
school professor at Whitewater, was SEN
fenced to three months imprisonment in
tho county Jail.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-06

In Mexico, as in the United States,
the truth is beginning to be recognized
that public lands are parted with by
the State far too easily. An attempt
to investigate recent sales by the
government has caused great excite
ment in the Mexican House of Depu-
ties, and popular feeling is running
high. Among all thegovernmental ex-
travagances of American States which
have been enacted during the last fifty
years none will seem more amazing to
posterity than the waste of public
lands. The United States, Canada,
and Mexico have been alike prodigal
in this respect, and all three countries
will some day wonder at the blindness
of their past policy in this respect.