davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

The village of Cavendish, Vi, has
Just lost its oldest character in the
death of Dave Ordway, an old miller,
whose peculiarities were not altogether
cheerful. Years ago he had costly
coffin made for himself When it was
ready he paid a Clergyman 800 to
preach funeral sermon, and, laid out
in his coffin, was borne amid doleful
dirges down the aisle of the church to
the foot of the pulpit, where he lay
listening to his own mock obsequies.
This over, the coffin was placed in his
parlor, and remained there till the
time for its real use came. One of his
millstones now forms the base of a
quaint monument, bearing the follow
ing inscription-a little thing of his
own: Tho / am dead yet speaketh,
for here is rest upon this milestone top
| set this noble block to let the world
no what l have done
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

A little less than quarter of a CEN
tury ago two young men were associ-
ated together in a small California
town. One was a big headed, awk-
ward, lubberly, red-haired school
teacher from Maine, and the other a
short, wiry fellow with the CRIME of
the blacksmith shop apprenticeship
upon his hands Both were ambitious,
and don't know but that they talked
over their ambitions together By
the fires of the blackslnith's forge the
one studied at his law books, and at
night after school was over the red
headed Yankee did likewise in the soli-
tude of his chamber In short time,
however. the Maine Yankee went back
to his Pine Tree State. Twenty-Five
years went by, and now these two
young men again meet in Congress.
The Maine Yankee is Tom Reed, the
leader of the House. The blacksmith
apprentice is Louttit, one of the new
Republican members of the California
delegation.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07
THE CAPTAINS GHOST.

| About three weeks ago, the three
masted schooner "Wiliam H. Jordan, -
| Captain Trasher, arrived at Fall River,
Mass, laden with coal During her
trip the Jordan" damaged one of her
anchors, and the captain sent it away
for repairs. Two weeks ago Saturday
it was returned, and while superintend-
ing the unloading of the anchor from
a car at the dock Captain Thrasher
was thrown between the cars by the
sudden starting of the train and killed
The crew had previously been dis
charged, leaving only the mate, cook
and cabin boy aboard the schooner,
which lay at the iron works dock The
day after the Captains death the mate
seemed nervous, and looked as though
he had slept but little. The next day
he told man in the iron works that
he didn't want any more tricks played
around that schooner in the night.
Somebody was aboard last night" he
said. land kept me awake for hours
with the most outrageous perform
ances you ever heard. The boy and I
turned in about o'clock. | must have
slept two or three hours when awoke
suddenly, with a feeling that some
thing was wrong, and I heard the Cap
tain's voice giving the order: Take
hold of that anchorr | might have
thought I had been dreaming if the
boy hadn't heard the same thing He
said he'd heard a voice like the Cap
tain's, but supposed it must be me.
Just as | was doing again, heard
something going on up for'ard on deck
| thought it might be the cook wraslin'
barrels about, and paid no attention to
it until | heard fearful thump on the
deck. Then | sprang up and rushed
up the companionway and looked
around. couldn't see a soul on board,
and after waiting awhile I went below
and lay awake till daylight. When l
went on deck I found that the anchor
had been dragged from the bows aft
nearly to the waist. 1t takes a good
many men to handle that piece Of iron,
and how it got there | don't know
| The mate and cabin boy quit he yes
sci and left town after their second
nights experience. but the colored cook
remains. He edoes not believe in ghosts.
and says it was rats, but the mates
story has produced such an impression
that it is difficult to get "a new crew, and
several able-bodied men have refused
the position of night watchman, not
withstanding the inducement Of So a
night.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

Henry White, Secretary the Amer
lean Legation at London, has written
a letter concerning the large unclaimed
estates in England. in which he says,
the famous Jennens estate, to secure
which many persons in Philadelphia,
Camden, Trenton and other parts OF
New Jersey, have been making month
ly contributions for years has, long
since gone to the heirs at-law and that
there is no basis for the claim of
American heirs. Over 100000 have
already been spent in the efforts to
recover the estate, and an association
of nine hundred members is now fur
nishing $4,000 year for that object.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

At concert given at Charlestown,
w. Va. Thanksgiving evening, vio-
lin was used which at one time be-
longed to General George Washington.
This venerable relic is now the prop
erty of Mr.. Thomas b. Washington,
who received it frum Judge Bushrod
Washington at Mt. Vernon. A card
on the inside of the instrument shows
that it was manufactured by Jacob
Steiner, celebrated German work
man, in the year 1915. 1t is, therefore,
over 200 years old.-Hagerstolcn (Md.)
GLOBE.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

A child's head in state of petrifac-
tion was found at depth of six feet
by some workmen who were digging a
ditch along the railroad at Mill Village,
Penna., day or two ago. The ac-
count states that the forehead, cheeks
and nose were we'll shaped and per-
feet. The eyes were sunken, but per
feet in shape a piece was broken
from one ear, but the other was whole
and of good shape. The back of the
head was nearly all gone. The local
ity in which the head was found
abounds in mounds, many of which
have been uncovered, disclosing relics
of past age in the way of implements,
utensils and human remains.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

A few extensive contractors in New
York and Chicago control the business
of painting the huge signs upon fences
and barns The work costs from a
cent and half to two cents square
foot, and the bigger the sign the bet
ter. One at Newark, O., more than
500 feet long and containing but one
word, holds the American champion
ship at present.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

The statistics laid before the National
Butter, Cheese and Egg Association at
its late meeting in Chicago must have
made its members feel that they were
something more important than flies
on the country's coachwheel. 1t was
asserted in those statistics that the an
nual value of dairy products in this
country was $1OO,0O0,OOO greater than
that of the entire wheat crop, and $780,
100000 greater than that of the cotton
crop; while the amount of capital in
vested in cows was said to be greater
by $40,000,000 than that invested in
bank stocks.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

The town of Valley Falls, Kan, has
been torn up for a week by a whiskey
war, but the people have at last tri-
umphed and the liquor men are fugi-
tives On Monday, one Curtis, who
had been driven out of Muscotah and
Topeka. came to Valley Falls and an
nounced his determination of opening
a bar-room and gambling house. The
people rose against him. He was ar
rested, tried and acquitted on the plea
that he did not own the place. He
was then tried as a vagrant and again
acquitted He then announced his in
tention to open on Monday and kill
the firstman who interfered with his
business The people then held a
meetingand resolved that the bar-room
must go, A committee of twenty five
armed men visited the place, contis-
Gated the liquors, and stored them in
R. H. Crosby's bank. The doors were
closed and the proprietor fled, and
Valley Falls is now a prohibition town.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

A steam barge with tow left Buf-
falo for Bay City, Mich, on Thursday
night, and it is question whether o
vessel ever before left there for upper
ports so late in the season. The straits
are open for navigation through to
Duluth or Chicago, it is reported
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

4 Massachusetts man has invented
a machine which he says will tie a
square knot, hitherto regarded by in
ventors as beyond the power of ma
chinery.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

Ice men along the Kennebec and
Penobscot Rivers are preparing to
gather this Winters crop. If all the
Maine houses now empty be filled, it is
said the crop will be the largest ever
gathered in that section-footing up
far above 1000, 900 tons.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07

Twenty thousand dollars in gold coin
has been found on farm near Wash
ington, Ga. 1t is supposed to be a
part of the money of the Confederate
treasury.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1886-01-07
THE DISCOVERY OF MARL

Millions of tons of mari have been
used each year in New Jersey for the
past fifty years, and it's effects have
been found to be equal to the best
artificial manures. 1t is sometimes
hauled as far as twenty-five miles
in wagons, occupying two or three
days in making the trip for one ton of
mari Besides this there has arisen
within the past few years great de-
mand for mari outside of the State.
and it is shipped by rail to many places
both in and out of New Jersey long
distances from the places where it is
dug from the earth.
The marls found in the State differ
very much in quality, however, as well
as appearance, some being almost
worthless while others are rich with
the remains of decayed herb-eating
animals, marine reptiles and fish, The
deposits are stratified, the beds con-
sisting of what are termed upper, mid
die and lower strata, and it is from the
middle stratum or green mari that the
most valuable fertilizers are secured
While naturalists differ as to the
cause of the singular formation and
the theories as to its cause and origin
are innumerable. the story of the dis
Icovery of its value is almost untold
1t was related to a North american re-
|porter by an old Jerseyman who knows
the State and its people from its ear
liest history, personally and by the
Traditions of our ancestors Like many
IIother valuable discoveries, this one
was purely accidental 1t was made
/ by Sarah and Mary Inskip, daughters
of Abram Inskip, one of the old English
lIsettlers of New Jersey, who were play
ling at their homes on a road leading
from the present village of Marlton in
the direction of the Milford and Had
donfield road. The spot is in Camden
dounty, about a quarter of mile from
the Burlington county line, but the
house in which they lived has long
since been torn away, and the place is
now occupied by mari pits.
These two girls took quantity of
mari Or green sand as they termed
4 it. and laid it out in the form of a
pitcher on the banks of small stream
on which they were playing, and where
the mari strata cropped out at the sur
face As consequence the rank In
dian grass was killed out, and there
came up in its place a solid bed of
white clover The girls called the at
tention of their father to the strange
circumstance, and experiments were
made which soon established in that
community the value of mari as a fer
tilizer Philddelphid North american.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30
A Soft Coal Pool Now.

PITTsBURG, Oct. 2J.-The Post
today says: "a move is being
made by a number Of coal opera
tors who use the railroads, and who
have suffered to some extent by
the dulness of the past season, to
pool the entire soft coal production
of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West
Virginia. The movers in the pro
iect are not only of the prominent
coal producers, but also the repre-
sentatives Of the railroads carry
ing soft coal. The latter have en-.
tered into the negotiations for the
purpose of obtaining a settled per
centage Of the carrying trade. The
project. as outlined by an operator
who favOrs it, embraces the regula-
ton of the entire production, a
maintenance Of prices and of rates
for mining and the amount of coal
to be run by each firm. Several
operators who have steady trade,
established altar years of trouble,
are against any arrangement for
controlling the output of the mines,
and Will vigorously oppose it.
Among those who would be affect
ed are the operators Of the Balti-
more and Ohio, Pittsburg and Lake
Erie, Pittsburg, McKeesport and
Yougbiogheny, Pennsylvania com
panles' lines, Hooking Valley, Ohio
Central, and New York, Lake Erie
and Western railroads.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30
ATTACKING THE ADMINISTRATION.
REPRESENTATIVE TILLMAN, OF
SOUTH CAROLINA, CAUSES
A SENSATION.

a special from Charleston, S. e.,
in the Philadelphia Press of Satur-
day says: Congressman George d.
Tillman, Of the second district, de-
livered a campaign speech yester.
day at Johnston, which has caused
a sensation. Colonel Tillman, who is
democrat, began by expressing
the wish that he could talk cheer
fully to the people, but said he: "lt
| did you would know | lied. You
know that the political and indus
trial horizon is not bright" After
dilating upon the idea that "the
United States government has
usurped all power once vested in
The state" the speaker went on to
say that cotton brought eight cen Is
now, when it costs ten cents to
make it. He stated that tim es
were harder now than when Pre- 81
dent Cleveland was inaugurated.-
"Why is this ~ he asked. 81 main
tain that it is through the misman-
agement OF President Cleveland.-
We made a very unwise nomlna-
ton and election when we placed
him in office, but now we must
make the most of it. When Cleve-
land was elected thought we were
going to have a white mans gov
erment, but Cleveland still keeps
seven hundred negroes in fat offices
la Washington, and is still appoint
ing them, when there are hundreds
of our women who would be glad
to have places. lie appoints them
with the curses of every prominent
democrat in the District OF Column
bia. | maintain that President
Cleveland has not given us leglsla-
ton any more than he has given us
our share of the offices. Outside
of running republican ofliceholders
in South Carolina he has done moth
ing for the south. Cleveland is the
cause of the present industrial de-
preston. He has caused 1t by
holding taxes in the treasury, war
ring on silver and refusing what
law demands and allOws-to have
debts of the country paid In silver
instead OF gold"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30

men are afraid to take hold OF any
enterprise involving much money
for fear of the iriff beng takeh of
or reduced OH the article manufac-
tured, and thereby close down tho
establishment, and lose the money
invested.
Again look at the failures OF busi-
ness men since the present admin
istrati0n. How many do we read
of We kly, and how many did we,
and do we see in our own county !
-Four or five years ago such a ca
lamity was scarcely known.
Now it seems that men who are
allowed to think for themselves,
should vote for protection for them
selves, for their business interests,
for their families, and for the peo-
pie 10 general by voting for Gen.
John Il. Roller, Of Harrlsonburg.
FARMER.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30
ELAN VS.. LEE.
To the Republican and other rioters
Of the 18th Congressional District
Of Virginia.

To the Republican and other rioters
Of the 18th Congressional District
Of Virginia.
I have this late day consented to
be candidate for Congress in this
district, because every other Re-
publican solicited to assume the
position has declined It, and be-
cause the opponents of the Demo
cratic nominee have not even an
Independent Democrat in the field
to rally to. Declining the position
myself as long as there was pros.
pect that another would take it, |
come before you at the urgent re.
quest of many Republicans, to pre-
serve the organization and mordie
of the Republican party of this dis
trict, and for the still higher pur-
pose of giving all of you an OPP
pOrtunity of indicating and main
tanning at the polls the principals
and measures of which I, as rep.
resentative of the Republican par
ty of Virginia and the nation, am
a we'll known exponent. My po-
litical record is familiar to you on
all State and Federal issues. AS
editor of the Richmond Wing and
the State Republican, | have
wrought with all my might for Re
adjustment, Free Schools, Free Suf-
frage, Free Politics, National Amer
icanism, Protection to our indus
tries and resources, Federal aid to
our schools, and the repeal of the
Internal Revenue. If you are for
these, vote for them and me, and
not for any one whose only service
in behalf of any Of these (where
his antagonism is not open andpTo-
nounced) is but that lip.service to
which party and political expedi-
ency temporarily cOerce him.
Much more might be said, but
| have said enough, except one re-
mark beg to submit in defence OF
my Democratic opponent. Ills
supporters before three conventions
which finally resulted in his nomi-
nation (under a repeal of the an
Gent two.third Democratic rule OF
the district, Indignantly complain
ed that he was opposed "becduse he
qoaS a Lee.' This certainly was I'M
Just; aud now, if there be any OPP
position to him for this reason, |
must insist that it is as unfair to
hold him responsible for his name
and birth as it would be to so hold
me. Neither of us had any choice
in these matters, and sternly dep
precate receiving any advantage Of
him on either score.
No, fellow citizens, it is things,
not names; measures, not men
that should now guide your ballots,
and trusting that you will do your
duty on election day as becomes
patriots, | am
Yours truly,
w. G. ELAN.
Louisa county, Va. Oct. 90, '86.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30

We are opposed to degrading
American labor to the low level of
the miserable, poOrly-paid labor
that works in European mines, far
naces, and factories, and hence we
are opposed to the return to Con
gress of Col. G. T. O'Ferrall, whose
free trade principles must necessa-
rily result in just such degradation.
Courier.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30

General Roller is in favor Of the
passage of the Blair school bill,
which the Richmond WhiG a dem
ocratic organ, pronounces "the
noblest benefaction ever offered an
impoverished people," and which if
enacted into law will prove a bless
ing to thousands of children in
Virginia and the other Southern
states. The National platform of
the party whose standard bearer
G. T. O'Ferrall claims to be, pro-
nounces emphatlcally against the
Blair bill and all similar measures,
and if he is elected to Congress we
cannot rely upon O'FerralPs hon
est, hearty support of this measure.
For this reason we prefer Gen
eral Roller as our next representa-.
tive in Congress. Page Courier.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30
Communicated.
HARD TINES, Va, }
def % 1886

No doubt many farmers and 9th
ers have been Indifferent in this
congressional campaign as to yot-
ing in the coming election. Those
who have read of the opinions and
principles of the two candidates for
Congress should plainly see that to
vote for the advocate Of free-trade
Is voting to take money ont Of our
pockets. But to vote for the can
didate who has pledged himself to
vote and advocate the continuation
of the present taria, is voting to
make times Deuteronomy plentier,
wheat to it's normal value. Wheat
is now only worth about seventy
cents per bushel. Now TO vote for
free trade, to take the present tariff
OIL of wheat, would leave the price
of wheat at about fifty cents a
bushel. England can raise wheat
in India considerable cheaper than
we can any time, by reason of the
cheap labor there, and the rich land
in India that requires little or no
phosphates. Then to vote to take
off the tariff that England has to
pay would be voting to kill the
farmers wheat raising as dead as
sinking dog. Any intelligent
farmer ought to see that to vote for
e.trade, or for a reduction in the
tariff, by voting for tariff read.
ulster candidate, Is voting to make
wheat even lower than 1t is now.
Now turn to the laboring man
let him vote for an advocate OF free
trade and he will vote to shutdown
the factories, the furnaces, the
mines, and all such manufacturing
establishments that give employ
ment to laboring men. Then what
will the laboring man do?-go to
farming or work on the farm? Al
ready too many are farming to make
embarrassing pay; already too
many want work on the farm and
the farmer cannot hire because of
too low q price for wheat. Then,
certainly, it IS to the interest Of the
laboring man, as we'll as to the
farmer, to vote the protection or
tariff ticket-for Gen. Roller. Then,
too, by keeping the factories and
all public works open, the farmer
has the laborng men to feed, Civ.
ing him home market for his
products; while to close the factO.
ries, &C., would compel the labor
ing man to seek farming to raise
his own whear and vegetables. Men
who live near public works know
that they have a better market for
their products than those at a dis
lance. Therefore it behooves farm
ers, laboringmen, and all classes in
general to vote for protection for
by voting for General
Roller. We have had good, i'm
partial government for years past.
Men of free trade minds told the
people that plundering and all
kinds of unrighteous deviltry was
being INDUCED IN by the then gov
erning party. Has this been shown
aud proven to be trueY No; nor
never will it be. Not a better gov.
eminent or happier people conld be
found anywhere than the Ameri-
can people six, eight, ten and twelve
years ago. Have the people been
by the change in the adj
No; but rather
worsted, as any unprejudiced man
will say. Why is it sOl The only
reason available is the free. traders
''"tering with the tariff. Business
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30

LOUISVILLE KY, Oct. 25.-Al-
exander Hoard and John Paxton,
schoolboys and rivals in love, stood
in a store at New Frankford, Ind,
Yesterday. Their sweetheart, Miss
Inez Hollis, passed by going to
school. Hoard threw kiss to her,
and Paxton, enraged, knocked him
on the head with astick, fracturlng
his skull, and then stamped his face
TO q Jelly. Paxton seemed mad
man and foamed at the mouth, aud
before he could be captured, rushed
to the woods, waving his hands and
shrieking. Hoard will die. Both
are sons of prominent farmers CT
Scott county. Great excitement
prevails. The young lady remains
by the bedside OF her dying lover
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30

The President has granted a
pardon to Charles Thomas, color
ed man, now serving a life sen
tence in the Vest Virginia peniten.
tiary for a murder committed in
Arkansas about ten years ago.
The prisoner while enraged had
murdered a man for alternating his
wife's affections. Considerable
sympathy was manifested for him,
and strong appeal was made for
executive clemency. The PreSi-
dent in acting on the case, said he
was satisfied that the man had
been sufficiently punished for what
he had done.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30

Oh, yes, parentsl Walk right up
this way, and get those tree books
for your children which we demo-
Gratis promised you. The little ones
must be educated. Vote for us,
and you shall have the books, then
your children can attend school,
become educated and refined sons
and daughters of this grand old
Commonwealth, and you won't be
called upon to pay mary a red
copper for the books. We are
democrats, you know. Now, II
these lying republicans were to
promise you free books you could
put no reliance in the promise, but
as for us there can be no mistake
Our record shows that we never
fail to do as we promise. We are
democrats. --Er.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-30

A Chinaman, on his way from
Lewiston to China, carrying the
bones of his brother carefully pack
ed in a vaIice, stopped at Portland,
Ore, for a day or two to visit
friends. On his way to the steam
er the valise was stolen, and the
grief and Indignation of the pious
Chinaman we're intense. He was
about to offer reward of 91O0 for
the recovery of the bones, but his
wiser friend said that it was not
worth while, for the thief would
certainly drop the yalise as soon as
its contents we're known. This
was good advice, for the valise was
found, greatly to its owners de-
light. The thief had evidently
broken it open, pulled out the skull
of the dead Celestial, and then
dropped it and departed.