davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
i Balloon Ascension.
San Francisco Call.

The air.shIp New Home formerly
called the City of London, was moor
ed in an open space on the south side
of the car-house. 1t contained 10000
feet of gas. The basket attached to
the balloon was quite a light one, and
contained, besides the professor and
young lady named Miss Ollie Wilson,
several thousands of advertising cir
culars, which were thrown out of the
basket when the balloon assembled.
At the advertised time the balloon
was cut loose from its temporary camp
ing ground and shot upward, taking
a nortwesterly direction, heading
straight for the Golden Gate, the
highest altitude reached being 8, 400
feet. The Professor tried several ele-
vations, in the hope of catching a cur
rent which would change his course,
but not succeeding in this he opened
the valve and let the balloon descend.
The balloon landed in the Golden
Gate Park, about one mile from its
starting point. The people watching
the course of the balloon, seeing it
about to land, rushed to the spot to
naeet the aeronouts with such enthu-
siasm that, as the professor jokingly
said afterward, he would rather land
in the midst of band of Apaches or
lot of hyenas."
The young lady who accompanied
tie professor acted with great GOODNESS
and succeeded in reac hing terra firma
safely. The balloon was uninjured.
The monster piece of canvas, after
having exhaled its gas was rolled up,
and the crowd dispersed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25

''In swimming down the river, /
could see the timber on the right and
left OF me, but could not make in to
the shore. About two miles above
Memphis was fortunate enough to
obtain large plank, which I drew
across the end Of the rail in front. I
held the rail with my feet and the
plank with my hands. I lay so near
the surface of the water that I came
near freezing. was rescued at Mem
phis, my rescuer being colored man,
! VINO picked me up in canoe and plac-
ed me on board a vessel. 1 was so
chilled from floating in the river a
distance of eight miles l could not
stand from numbness when rescued.
Besides, I had been scaided on the
back and bruised in the explosion,
and spit blood for some tine.
II never knew what became of the
man who occupied the berth with me
not been in the vessel long after hav-
ing been picked up till a man was
brought in. who was so badly scaIded
that the skin slipped from his should
ers to his hands, he was wrapped up
in oil, and he walked the floor in
agony for few minutes, and was
dead. A lady was also brought in
who had husband and several chill
dren on boord, and she was almost
Insane with grief. I think she never
heard of them. might refer to many
other heartrending scenes that were
witnessed by rescuers who picked up
the manned, scalded, half frozen sur
vivors from the river during the whole
darkness of that terrible night, and in
the gray of the following dawn. It
requires no stretch of the imagination
for the reader to realize something of
the horrors of the occasion. There
must have been three thousand on
board, fully two thousand of whom
were killed by the explosion, drown
ed, or met with death from exposure.
81 well remember my eight miles
swim, or rather float, on the river,
A mile or two below the scene of the
explosion guLboat passed us going
up the river, but it either did not see
the victims or did not stop to pick
up any, A little later I heard a horse
coming down the river. When he
came close enough [ saw balf-dozen
men clinging to him. I kept clear of
the horse, or rather the men, for fear
of losing my rail and plank. I was
finally overtaken by Jerry Parker, of
the I'd Michigan cavalry, who, for
quite distance swan by my side. All
knew Jerry, who was much of fav-
orite. At times several of us would
be close together, when Jerry would
cheer us by saying we would all get
out yet. Jerry was afoat on barrel,
and was among those rescued. A man
by the name Kibbe foated with me
for quite distance. He was cheer
Jul, except when talking about his
little girl. After the rescue we started
to Camp Chase, Ohio, first having
spent a few days in the hospital. At
indianapolis Gov. Morton, the great
war governor, stopped us as Indiana
soldiers, where kind treatment and the
sight of loved ones at home soon
caused us to forget in measure one
of the darkest and most terrible dis
| asters of war times.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
A Story of the Flood.
South Abingdon Reporter.

One of the most peculiar, and at the
same time truthful, anecdotes connec-
ted with the late flood, was related to
us by a gentleman residing in neigh
boring town. He had hen setting
on 13 eggs in the cellar of his house,
and thinking the water might float
biddy off, he left his work and went
home to look after his hen expectation.
Upon peering into the cellar he found
that there was about two feet of water
in it, and procuring a pair of long
legged rubber boots he explored for
the hen. With lantern in hand, he
made strict search in and about
the several apartments, but no tidings
Of the hen could be obtained. At last
he discerned biddy standing upon a
small block of wood surrounded by a
family of IL little blackeyed snow
balls. The raft was the only piece Of
wood floating in the cellar, and was
only large enough to accompany this
happy family.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
4 Chimes Vanderbilt.
Pail Mall Gas cite.

The Vanderbilt of China has lust
died and been buried. Not much is
known in Europe of his life; less of
his death; but his burial is reported to
have been most picturesque. His pal
ace of Hang Chou was a miracle of
luxury, and IN creating this banker a
Provincial Judge, and specially auth
oTlzlng him to.wear yellow Jacket.
the Emperor of China made him the
envy of all his other subjects. But
the glory of his funeral seems to have
surpassed the splendor of his life. The
whole city turned out to see the pro
cesslon. Nothing in Europe could
parallel it. First came a mob of cool
les weighed down with leafts on
which were written moral sentences
and apothegms. Then followed a pro
cesslon OF lantern bearers, supported
by a band OF musicians with gongs,
cymbols, and trumpets. It is hard to
conceive anything less funereal. A
hundred little boys came after the
band (this was the only item in SYM
pathy with Western experienced bran
dIshlng the arms (heraldic) of the de-
ceased, the boys were followed by the
bearers of his portrait. Groups of
guests next came in procession, some
IN white, some in scarlet, some in
yellow; then bearers OF lamps, ban
ners, parasols, and facs; next the
master OF the ceremonies, in white
robes, on white horse, preceding an
enormous tent, under which the rela
tives of the deceased moved entirely
hidden from public view, and last the
coffin, borne on the shoulders of
twenty-four men.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
Strength of the Knights of Labor.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat

In speaking of the great strike now
going on, and extending from ST.
Louis to the Gulf of Mexico the Glebe-
Democrat says:
It is ascertained from the most re-
liable sources that District Assembly
No, II, with headquarters in this city
has a membership of from II, 900 to
10, 600, and within a radius of 300
miles are about so, 900 Knights of La
Dor. Altogether In the country there
are, counting some newly organized
assemblies, about 100 district assem-
olles, some of which are very strong,
numerically considered. Some of the
district assemblies in the manufactur-
ing districts Of the east count up fully
$4,000 members, and of the total
membership Of the order various es-
Inmates are given, ranging from 500,-
600 to l, 500, 900. In close connection
with the knights OF Labor in this city
is the international Working Peoples
Association. which will give the
Knights of Labor their moral support
and, If necessary, material aid. Both
organizations are said to be in close
communion, and will act in concert
in any emergency that may arise.
The numerical strength of the Inter
national Working Peoples Associa-
ton has been greatly underestimate,
from the fact that they do not care to
let their exact number be known. In
the various groups of the order are in
Guided something like 10000 mem
bersbers IN this state and Illinois
alone. In this city and close vicinity
are probably 10000 men who are
members of organizations directly up
holding the strikers of District Assem-
bly, No. 101
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
ItCame True.
Hartford Times.

Mr.. d. A. Fillow bought lot of
rags in Westport and vicinity, and at
nighG, when he sorted them over,
found a gold watch and chain. a pair
of gold bracelets and pencil case.
cases. Mr.. Pillow made inquiries
which resulted in finding an owner
for the property. Mrs. Frederick
Wakeman, Of Westport, slowed her
valuables away in rag bag and her
husband told her that some fine day
she would sell the whole lot for
cent or two pound. She was posi-
tive she would not be so thoughtless,
but Mr.. Wakeman's prophecy came
true
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
SILVER PEG"
How a Famous Western Pro spector
Got His Nickname.
Pittsburg Commercial Gazette

Got His Nickname.
Pittsburg Commercial Gazette.
One of the most successful and
widest-known mineral prospectors of
the Rocky mountaing is George w.
Magee, or ''Silver Peg" as he is more
commonly known. He has searched
for hidden wealth all the way from
the northern boundary of Montana to
Mexico. There is hardly silver or
gold diggings between these two re-
mote points with which he is not IA
miliar. His almost uniform success
In finding silver has won for him the
first half of his nickname, ''Silver
Peg" The other half he wears be-
cause of his hobbl1ng about on a
wooden leg. It was before success at
tended him as q trapper that he lost
his leg. When ne first appeared in
the west he secuted, trapped, and
hunted for living. This was in 1849.
The rush to the California fields car
rIed him from his home at Tarleton,
Plckaway county, Ohio, when but 10
years old. He only reached the from
tier of Iowa until he became stranded
for want Of money, and joined a
company of trappers. For ten years
or more he hunted and trapped with
varying success. In the spring of
1862 he and 'Comanche Bill" Porter
were stationed at Fort Russell, in
Wyoming territory, as garrison hunt
ers.
About the last of April Magee and
Porter, with an eastern man named
Gilbert, left the fort on a buffalo
hunt. It was ON this trip that Magee
lost his leg and won the nickname Of
Peg" There preparations were
made for ten days hunt. They tray
eled directly north for two days,
when they entered a country that was
fairty alive with buffalo. They had
been killing about five days and had
as much meat as they could well car
ry back with them to the fort,
when Forter, who was some distance
away from the other two hunters,
sighted a band of Indians riding far
across the prairie. He Immediately
called the attention of the others to
them. A consultation was held and
the party concluded the Indians were
Sioux, who were friendly at that time
and often hunted in concert with the
whites. As the Indians drew nearer,
though, Magee had his suspicious
aroused, and warned the others to be
on their guard, as they might be hos
tile Cheyennes. AS they galloped
closer to the hunters the Indians
spread out like fan, until the hunt
ers were completely surrounded. Be
fore they had formed their circle tor
closing in, the hunters were mounted
and ready for the fight.
"Thev are twenty-three to our three
boys" said Magee, ''out we can at
least beat them to the fort" Then be-
gan one of the sharpest and longest
running fights that ever took place on
the plains. The hunters were about
| one hundred miles from the fort. Ly-
ing close to the necks of their horses
they rode straigt against the advane-
ing circle Of Indians. When within
one hundred yards OF the Cheyennes
they fired. One of the Indians in
front clutched vainIy at his horse and
then slipped from his seat. The cords
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
A SULTANA SURVIVOR.

Thrilling Experience of an Indiana
Soldier on the HlI-Fated Steamer.
Mr.. Perry Summerville, an unob-
trusive farmer residing near this city,
says the Indianapolis Journal, is one
Of the six hundred survivors of the
Inflated steamer, the Sultana, which,
having on board twenty three hun
dred union soldiers en- route home
from the prison pens of the south,
exploded her boilers and sank almost
instantly in the Mississippi, April ~,
1865. The explosion occurred at night,
the cause still remaining a mystery.
The fatality is one of the most disas-
troas of the kind on record, and forms
one of the saddest chapters in the his
tory of the late war for the preserva-
ton OF the union. Recently the sur
vIyors met at Fostoria, O., and effect
ed permanent organization. It is
their intention to hold annual reun-
ions.
Mr.. Summerville's story Is plain
recital of facts, but for that very rea-
son is one of the most interesting of
all the "reminiscences now being as
siduously garnered. in which the ro-
nance of the war shall be perpetuated
side by side with more technical his
tory. Mr.. Summerville was private
IN company z, 41st regiment, ID In
diana cavalry volunteers. His story
is SIS follows:
''.At my capture, near Stilesboro,
Ca. Sept. Is, 1864, was taken to
Cahawba prison, where I remained
for six months, when, with the rest of
the prisoners, [ was taken to Big
Black via Jackson, Miss, and ex-
changed. We remained in parole
camp, four miles from Vicksburg, for
week, after which we were put on
board the steamer Sultana at Vicks-
burg. Ny quarters were on the cabin
deck, on the guard, to the left hand
side, over and opposite the boilers.
We got TO Memphis on the eve of
April 80. There the steamer unloaded
large amount of sugar, after which
she ran up to the coal barge and was
taking coal. and that is he last l
knew until was Ia the river. In the
explosion ! was thrown at least a
hundred feet. sank once. Ny first
thought was that the steamer was
running too close to shore and that I
had been dragged off by limb. I
was very much excited for few mo-
ments, and commenced to swim to-
ward the boat and to call for help.
had not gone far till saw something
was wrong on board. I could see
steam and fire and hear screams COM
ing from the steamer, so commenced
to swim down the stream. | had not
proceeded far till the steamed
was ahame. / got hold of a
rail, which proved to be a great assist
auce. When the steamer took fire the
passengers jumped overheard. I saw
twenty or more jump at once. The
burning steamer, the shrieks of the
manned and scalded victims of the ex-
plosion the despair and confusion of
the hour were painfully wrought on
my memory, where they are to this
day in intense reality. | can not paint
the picture, and I leave it to the mag
nation of the reader.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
LEGAL ANECDOTES.
Wise, Witty and Pungent Sayings o
Bench and Bar.
Chambers Journal.

The writer remembers hearing of q
gentleman who, not wishing to pay
the legal and recognized fee for q
consultation with his lawyer, devised
an expedient whereby he expected to
gain the information he required
without the usual cost. He accord
ingly invited the man Learned in the
law to dino at his house on a partic-
ular evening, AS friend and old ac-
| quaintance. The lawyer gladly ac-
cepted the invitation, and attended at
| the house of his friend and client
| prompt to the minute. The CONVEX
| sation for some time was very general
and agreeable, and by and by the
shrewd client, by limiting and sug-
costing, at LAST drew the lawyer out
| into learned and explicit desserta-
ton upon the subject the host wished
to be informed upon. The client
pleased, satisfied and smiling. chuckl-
ed in his sleeves, thinking how nice
ly he had wormed out the advice de-
sired and pumped his lawyer free of
cost.
The feast over, the lawyer departed,
equally pleased. and both beng salts
tied, all went as merry as marriage
bell, but few days afterward the eli
ent received a letter from his lawyer
| informing him that the charge for
| professional consultation and advice
was Ii shillings and 4 pence, and
would he kindly attend to the pay
ment of the same at his earliest con-
venience. and oblige." The client
was wild caught in his own trap;
but, being determined to outwit the
lawyer and gain his own ends, he
forwarded to the latter bill for ''din-
ner, wines and accessories sup
piled" on the 10th inst, amount
ings to Is shilling and 4 pence,
saying that If he would set
tie the incfosed bill he should only
be too pleased and happy to settle the
lawyers little bill. The lawyer retort-
ed by threatening to commence an
action against mine host for selling
wines without license unless his, the
lawyers bill was Immediately paid.
Do [ need to say that the lawyer was
victorious?
When I was a boy, I heard of a
lawyer who was called up In the mid
die of a cold winters night to draw
out the will of an old farmer who
lived sone three miles away, and who
was dying. The messenger had brought
a cart to convey the lawyer to the
farm, and the latter in due time arriv-
ed at his destination. When he en-
tered the house he was imme diately
ushered into the sick-room, and he
then requested to be furnished with
pen, ink, and paper. There were none
in the house! The lawyer had not
brought any himself, and what was
he to do! Any leadpen ell? he inquir-
ed. No; they had none. The farmer
was sinking fast, though quite con-
scious. At last the legal gentleman
saw ehalked upon the bedroom door
column upon column Of figures in
chalk. These were milk ''scores," or
''shots" He Immediately asked for a
piece of chalk, and then, kneeling up
On the floor, be wrote out concisely up
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
BUTTONS, NEW AND OLD.
Odd Designs Which Have Gone Ont of
Fashion-POpular Buttons To-Day.
New York Mail and Express.

New York Mail and Express.
Zone trade which has seen a decided
change during the last twenty five
years is the manufacture of buttons, u
said manufacturer to d reporter re.
Gently. cat that time the buttons
used on dresses and cloaks were made
chiefly of metal, sometimes IN imita-
ton Of silver and sometimes of gold.
They were made very large; in fact,
larger than the present silver dollar.
Agate buttons were made In all col
ors, the puppies and reds predonainat,
ing, and they were used to adorn cal
icoes and chitzes. After these had
had good run smaller buttons were
made, and button made of lava be.
came very popular. At the same
time huge buttons of pearl had very
large sale. Then there were nickel
buttons decorated with designs OF
stars. Then came the queer brass and
glass buttons. The brass buttons
were made of open work, at the back
of which was placed piece of red
lining"
when did small buttons become
fashionable3"
About ten years ago. The most
popular were small pearl buttons.
They were then called shirt buttons,
and are now used for that article OF
dress. They were set very thickly to
gether on dress and for a time were
so small as to be scarcely visible. The
metal and glass buttons also decreas-
ed very materially in size, until the
rage for small buttons was as great as
the mania for large ones had been"
"Were not buttons representing
fruit once popular?"
Eyes after the craze for small
ttons. The fruit buttons were made
ou design of gooseberries, currants,
IN pberries, blackberries, and grapes.
rassses Of little currants used to fill in
Ma front Of ladies' dress, and great
the berries worn on silk attire used
to half tempt the unwary into taking
bite of the lucious fruit. Solid jet
balls, too, were used at this time and
formed trimming for dresses not un-
like the jets used nowadays. Those
now worn are selected with great care.
The colors of them must harmonic
with those of the dress, down to the
finest standings, and the style must be
fashioned according to the style Of the
goods used and the design of the toilet
followed. Street suits made of rough
goods are now adorned with buttons
of enormous size, mostly in bronze,
and decorated with various designs.
Some of them are medallion heads,
some in landscapes, some ia wheat
sheaves. Others are made of shell and
are many colored and brilliant; others
are limitations of canoes, and others
are curious imitation of gilt and sill
yer. The old-fashioned button-molds
have been revived In crotchet buttons
and will be used soon on black cloth
and silk suits. the gandiest buttons
used are the big gilt ones which are
usually affected by schoolgirls and
very young ladies'"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-25
4 THOUGHTFUL OLD MAN.
HE Relieves His Two Boys of an EN-
barrassiDg Race For a Wife by taking
the woman HIMSELF.

a
the Woman Himself.
An Owingsville, KY, correspondent
writes: The monotony of common
place affairs among the people of a
very quiet neighborhood several miles
from this place was somewhat relieved
by the announcement of a real roman
ce in their midst, In this neighbor-
hood aforesaid there lived an unas-
Stunning farmer and prosperous citizen
on the shady side of so years, widow
er, with two grown up sons, and who,
so far as the purposes of this article
are concerned may as well be called
Adams as anything else. The one
great difficulty in the way Of the hap
piness of this household was the want
of any female to administer TO their
domestic comforts. This was over
come by the employment Of fair and
buxom maiden of the vicinity, and
things went on swimDingly. Not
only was this so as regards their en-
CHANGED domestic fecility, but Cupid
also began getting in his work, and to
one unerring shaft directed from this
fair and comedy maiden's eyes, both
these sons aforesaid fell helpless vic
inns. The maiden noted and encour-
aged this. Thus matters went on with
varying fortunes, accordingly as op-
porJunity favored either sutton. This
rivalry, although waged in deepest
earnest was good natured and known
to all oucerned, and conducted upon
fair and honorable principles. The
young lady was perfectly willing to
AoI AIrr, ~Nr+ hut oln 1ry
did they watch each other, and so
closely balanced were they in her afec-
tons that neither could get an oppor
tunity to press his suit to fnality.
At length an emergency arrived for
one of the young men to go abroad on
a business trip, and the other too plain
ly showing his delight at this turn of
affairs, the father decided that no I'M
due advantage should be obtained
that both should 60 upon the same err
rand. The DISTINGUISHED fairness of
the old man, at this point, should be
closely, if not suspiciously, observed.
The young men went upon their way,
and in their absence the old gentle
man proposed, as a solution to the
lady's difficulty of arriving at choice
I'll hlS DUJS3 pIC bCtAO uluIs S1uu "
with his persuasive promises, and siren
tales of love, she agreed to ''pity the
condition of the poor old man." No
time was to be lost and as the boys
were gone with the horses, they start
ed out GA foot, and walked some IL or
Is miles to the nearest town, where a
conveyance was procured, which took
them hurridly to Aberdeen, O., and
Squire Beascly quickly made them
one.
1t is said by those who saw them on
their return that their coo1ng was as
gentle as mated doves in early spring
time. When the sons returned they
undertook to demonstrate with their
father on his unfair conduct, but he
simply cut them off with the option of
calling his wife mamma or hunting
another boarding house. Suffice is to
say that both remained under the par
entail roof, and this good lady sympa-
thizes with them as only mother
can IN their forlorn condition.