davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
FIRES AND CASUALTIES.

AN explosion in the Bessemer steel
works at Johnstown, Pa, fatally injured
half dozen men.
A fire at Bay City, Michigan quickly
destroyed the Griswold and Roberts ware
houses, the latter containing oil.
THE Enterprise distillery, at Pekin, Ill,
valued at 100000, was destroyed by fire.
AS the concern had been thoroughly boy
cotted by the whisky pool, it is natural
that the charge of incendiarism should be
made, although special policemen guarded
the building.
A $4,000 blaze probably incendiary
was visited on the Miller Match company's
factory at Akron, O., The Waterman was
asleep and was badly scorched The in
surance of $4,000 is equally divided be-
tween the Commonwealth, of Decatur, Ill.
and the Louisina, of New Orleans.
Four children of Mrs. Mary Mooney. of
Akron, Ohio, were burned to death on
Tuesday evening. The mother escaped
unhurt by leaping from a window with
her babe in her arms.
WILLIAM JOHNSON, aged seventy-one, for
fifty years an employe of f. W. Bird 81
Son, at East Walpole, Mass, was caught
in the main belt, which he was lacing, had
his arm torn from his body and was in
stantly killed. He leaves a widow, son and
two daughters.
WHILE "Uncle Toms Cabin" was being
presented Monday night at Westerville,
Ohio, fire broke out among the scenery,
causing panic. Thirteen persons were
burned or injured, one of them probably
fatally.
A. M. WOOD, well-known printer and
a member of the firm of A. M. Wood & Co.,
fell down the elevator shaft of the build
ing Nos. 184 and 1856 Monroe street and
was instantly killed. He had taken offices
in the building, which is not yet COM
pleted, and the elevator shaft is not pro-
tected by railing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
THE LATEST TELEGRAMS
WASHINGTON.

SEN BLAIRE introduced bill to restore
to officers of the army and their widows
and minor children the rate of pensions
they received prior to July %, 1866, at
which date certain classes of pensions
were reduced.
The Typographical Uniou of Washing
ton ordered an increase of from 40 to so
cents per 1000 ems from the daily papers
of Washington. The matter was laid be-
fore board of arbitration which decided
that the demand was not warranted. The
printers will abide by the decision.
The house of representatives passed a
senate bill to provide for study of the
effect of alcoholic drinks upon the human
system, and an appropriating $15O,000
for public building at Ell Paso, Texas.
A bill was introduced appropriating $780,
900 for a bronze monument in Washing
ton to the memory of Edwin NJ. Stan
ton.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
FOREIGN.

CHOLERA is reported to have broken out
in the French sea-coast village of Bret
agne and in the city of Marseilles.
The Spanish sanitary council has auth
orized the practice of innoculation dis
covered by DR.. Ferran in the event of a
recurrence of cholera in Spain.
The house of commons, after an excit-
ing discussion, resolved to devote four
nights each week to debate on the home
rule bill.
Mr.. Parnell has received a cablegram
expressing his sympathy from the Hi
bernian convention at st. Paul, MINES
Ota.
The French press, even semi-Official
papers, try again to stir up bad feelings
against Germany by charging Germany
with the intention to occupy Morocco.
This charge is without foundation.
A PARIS rObber who cOrnered a banker
in his Office and at the point of a pistol
compelled him to hand over 10000 francs
fed to Geneva, where he was promptly ar
rested by the Swiss police. The exploit
was bold one, and up to a certain point
successful, but this kind of crime can not
develop in Paris as it might if Paris bank
robbers were in easy reach of safe coun-
try like Canada.
NOTICE of a reduction in wages was re-
Gently given by the edge-tool firm of
Ward & Payne, of Sheffield, England, the
reason being the sharp competition of
German manufacturers. AS the work
men decline to accept the situation, the
prOprietors threaten to import workmen
from Germany.
The Pail Mall Gazette says Mr.. Cham
berlain, by his curt refusal to entertain
indirect overtures from Mr.. Gladstone,
through Baron Herschel, the lord high
chancellor, has closed the door to any
chance of reconciliation between himself
and Mr.. Gladstone.
BLAsT-FURNACE and rolling mill have
been erected lately in in Bogota. The
machinery was bought in the United
States, and it cost the owners as much to
carry this machinery from the head of
navigation, six hundred miles of the
Magdalena, as the purchase money and
the ocean freight combined.
The recent anarchistic assassination in
Chicago is bearing fruit throughout Eu-
repe, especially in Germany. In Berlin
the socialists are forbidden to gather on
the streets, to frem parades, or make
speeches, and everybody that desires to
police to do so. The Germans look upon
these two extraordinary powers with won
der.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
Charms.


From the English Illustrated Magazine
During our stay in Perugia we made &C
quaintance with We learned professor
of the university, who most kindly showed
US, not only very interesting and valu-
able collection of implements and other
articles beginning at the Stone Age, but
also a collection of amulets and charms
Some of these, especially those for pro-
lection from Tightening, are bits of pre-
historic stones and contain a grotesque
mingling of pagan and medieval super
stitiOn. A little case embroidered with
Agnus Del contained triangular stone
arrow head, and this used to be hung at
the bedhead of the owner between pictures
of saints. On the occasion of a storm
candles were offered before the amulet.
This collection of charms amounts to up
ward 40, and is so full of interest that it
would require many pages to do justice.
A very curious amulet was the fragment
of human skull inclosed in a little bra
elivuary, and considered to be sovereign
protection against epilepsy and kindred
disorders. Tradition said that This bit of
bone had belonged to the skull of a per-
son, dead some 200 years before, who
had worked SO many wonderful cures by
his skull in medicine and had lived such
a long and sanity life that he had been
loved and venerated by all, The profess
sor told US that it was not at all uncommon
when body was dug up in the course of
excavations to find bit of the skull
missing, and this amulet, doubtless, ex-
plainf the use that had been made of
such fragments. Another charm was
little cross of hollywood carved by
Capauchin frairs, which had been found
hanging at an old woman's bed-head to
protect her from the spells of witches.
She would only part from it on condition
that she might reserve some splinters of
the wood, so as to prevent the witches
from visiting her and tormenting her for
having parted from her safeguard There
were corals, too. of various shapes for
women and children, for safety in teeth
ing, for protection against nal occhio, to
stop bleeding, and, above all, for the cure
of melancholy. The dark stone with red
spots, which I have heard called in Eng
land bloodstone, is said to be infallible
In checking bleeding; it must be useful
in country where blood-letting and
leeching are still common and frequent
remedies.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
A Multitude of ailments.

The ailments which aff1ct the kidneys and blad-
der numerous, that merely to name them
would fill space far outrunnng the limits of
this article, suffice it to say, that they are both
Hostetter's Stomach Bitters is well adapted. The
stimulus which it leads to the action of the kid
neys when they are lethargc, serve to counterfeit
tendency in them to lapse, first, into state of
pernicious inactivity, and afterwards into one OF
positive organic disease, which soon destroys
causes death. A double purpose is served by
this depurent 1t promotes activity of the kid
neys and expels impurities from the blood which
have no natural channel of outlet except those
organs. Constipation, blousness, fever and
ague, rheumatism and dyspepsia, are also rem
edied by this medicine of thorough action and
wide scope.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
GENERAL NOTES.

THE next regatta of the Northwestern
Association will be held at Grand Rapids,
Mich, June IA and Is.
IT is reported that at the next meeting
of the Milwaukee Common Council an
ordinance will be introduced to repeal the
eight hour rule.
IT is rumored in railway circles that
the Wisconsin Central road will in due
time, share its entrance into Chicago
with the Santa Fe Air line from Kansas
City.
On farm near the scene of the Crouch
murders, at Jackson, Michigan, three
bloody shirts were, Monday, found buried
under stump. An investigation of the
discovery is being made by the sheriff.
The New York police force is to be in
creased five hundred men and equipped
with patrol wagons; and the New Yorker
who saves his head from the locust must
necessarily be very alert and agile indi-
vidual.
The Illinois State Medical Society open
ed at Bloomington Tuesday its thirty
sixth annual convention, President " A.
Byrd, of Quincy, in the chair.
A NEWSPAPER, called the Opera Report
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
A Few Pertinent Questions.
Detroit Free Press.

II has been a walkin' round on top dis
airth mighty nigh my allotted time" said
Brother Gardner as the band ceased play
ing, and yit some things are lust as
much mystery TO me as when / was bout
twenty"
How does it happen dat dey folkses
who am head-ober- in debt put on d,
moas' style?"
"Why am it dat de man wild head full
o brains mus play second fiddle to q
monkey wild pocket full o money? \
How does it come dat while we pro-
fess to lub our naybor, nuthin' tickles us
me- dan to har he has received a set
back and mus go and take some cheaper
house?
How am 1t dat de man wild de biggest
dlmun pin, an de woman wild de moas'
real lace on her dress, git shet of deir
counterfeit ,nickels sooner dan anybody
else?
"Show me party of fifty pussons gwine
TO make trip to Yurup, an I'll pint out
thirty-tiye who am stavin off creditors to
do it.
1--WE complain dat servant girls doan
know DER duties, an we eddicate our dar-
tiers to ignore Homework as beneaf 'em.
De hired gals of denext generashum won't
be to blame if de mix bread in de bath
tub and mash de 'taters wild a beer-bot-
tie.
''When de preacher gifts in de pulpit an
splains dat de African heather am pinnin,
fur tracksan' bibles we shell out de cash
wild hot fingers. When de wilder calls at
de front doah to inform US dat de chill'en
am cold and hungry an ragged we keep
de cash keerfully salted down, and wonder
If an autograph album wouldn't help de
family pull frew.
Seems to me as / lean on de fence an,
look ober de landscape, dat good sheer
of dis world am wrong end to. De shine
oh brass ketches de eve wher' silver am
unnoticed. A loud voice catches crowd
sooner dan sweet song. Society demands
dress coat an white shirt, an if dat
demand am satisfied nobody will OK de
wearer whether he has been in state prison
or de legislature! Let us now purseed to
dispatch de routine bizzness of de cav
enin."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

er, has made its appearance in the peni-
Tertiary, at Jackson, Mich, a convict
printer being the editor and proprietor.
The comments on the Management of the
prison have excited the ire of the ward
en-.
A CAR of the United States fish commits
sion has arrived at Portland Oregon, with
one million shad, to be placed in the Col
umbia and Willamette rivers. About half
the number were Matched from Havre de
Grace, Maryland, the e1eriment being
successful to an astonishing degree.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
The Smart Boy.
Harper'S MAGAZINE.

Their were two bright little girls off for
holiday with their Western uncle, a big,
good-natured man with diamond breast
PIN, and his YOluble son, lad about the
age OF his little cousins, whom he con-
stantly pestered by his rude and dominat-
ing behavior. The boy was a product
which 1t is the despair of all Europe to
produce, and our travellers had great de-
light In him as an epitome of American
"smartness." He led all the conversation,
had confident opinions about everything,
easily put down his deferential papa, and
pleased the other passengers by his self
sufficient known-it-aH air. To boy who
had travelled in California and seen the
Alps 1T was not to be expected that this
humble mountain could afford much en-
tertainment, and he did not attempt to
conceal his contempt for it. When the
stage reached the Rip Van Wrinkle House.
halfway, the shy schoolgirls were for in
dulging a little sentiment over the old
legend, but the boy, who concealed his
ignorance of the Irving romance until his
cousins had prattled the outlines of it, was
not to be taken in by any such chaff, and
though he was little staggered by Rips
own cottage, and by the sight of the cave
above it which is labelled as the very spot
where the vagabOn took his long nap, he
attempted to bully attendant and drink
miner in the hut, and openly Haunted his
encredulity until the bartender showed
him long bunch of Rips HAIR which
hung like scalp on nail, and the rusty
barrel and stock of the musket. The
cabin is, indeed, full of old guns, pistols,
locks of hair, buttons, cartridge boxes,
bullets, knives, and other undOubted relics
of Rip and the Revolution. This cabin,
with its facilities for shaking thirst on a
hot day which Rip would have appreciat-
ed, over hundred years old according to
information to be obtained on the spot,
is really of unknown antiquity, the old
boards and timber of which it is con-
structed having been brought down from
the Mountain House some forty years ago.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
MONDAY, May II.


,Senote-A bill was introduced by Mr..
Guenther, of Wisconsin, by request to
prevent prosecution under the protection
of the United States of fraudulent claims
against foreign government. Under the
call of the states among the bills intro
duced was as follows: Mr.. Boutelle, ap-
propriating $4,000 for the erection in
Washington of bronze monument to the
late Edward M. Stanton. After an execu-
tive session the senate adjourned.
RouSe-After the routine business in
the senate to-day, Frye called up the house
shipping bill, entitled bill to abolish GER
tain fees for official Services to the Amer
lean vessels and to amend the laws relat-
ing to the shipping commissioner, seamen
and owners of vessels. At 2 o'clock the
pension bill was laid before the senate.
The pending amendment was that hereto
fore offered by Sen. Van Wyck, providing
that no soldier under the act shall receive
less than IS per month. Sen. Blair
moved to amend the amendment
by substituting four dollars for eight.
Rejected. Sen. Logan moved an amend
ment providing that all persons hereto
fore granted under any previous act to
any soldier, shall, where less than So per
month have been allowed, be increased to
So per month, and no less amount shall
be allowed to any pensioner being sol
der under this or any previous act. Re-
jected yeas %, nays 81. Without further
action the senate went into executive ses-
sion, and when the doors were reopened
adjourned.
TUESDAY, May Is.
Senate Sen. Hale presented a memo
rial of the United States and Brazil
steamship company, the Pacific Mail
steamship company, the New York
and Cuba Mail steamship company,
the Red d Line steamer company, the
New York and Havana, and the Mexican
Mail steamship company. In presenting
the memorial Hale remarked that it de-
MED squarely what had been stated in
certain newspapers, namely, that at
tempts had been made to improperly in
fuence congress in favor of what is call
ed the subsidies. The pension bill
was then laid before the senate.
Sen. Cullom thought it was the duty of
the government to put on the pension
roll all soldiers who were unable to take
care of themselves, without requiring
them to prove that their disability was in
CURED in the service. If some such bill
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

The problem has puzzled many why
the pieces of wood, sawed from the same
section of a tree, should possess very va
ried characteristics when used in different
positions. For example, gate post will
be found to decay much faster if the butt
end of the tree is uppermost than would
be the case if the top was placed in this
position. The reason that the moisture
of the atmosphere will permeate the
pores of the wood much more rapidly
the way the tree grew than 1t would in the
opposite direction. Microscopical exam
ination proves that the pores invite the
ascent of moisture, while they repel its
descent Take the familiar case of a
wooden bucket. Many may have noticed
that some of the slaves appear to be en-
tirely saturated, while others are appar-
emily quite dry. This arises from the
same cause; the dry slaves are in the po-
sition in which the tree grew, while the
saturated ones are reversed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

The Sante Fe route promises to be-
come one of the most gigantic railway
systems in the country. 1t is pleasure
to note its growth for Wisconsin men are
largely engaged in pushing the enter
prise; in doing this, they are not resort
ing to the ordinary tricks ofwatering
stock and boycotting weaker rivals, but
proceed on legitimate business princi-
Piles. As already announced the Santa
Fe people will soon build an airline
from Kansas City to Chicago, in which
latter city they will probably share ter
miual facilities with the Wisconsin Cen
trail, the remarkable nrowt of which road
is also a source of great qualification to
the citizens of this state. The Sante Fe
will then have complete sweep of prop
rietory tracks from Lake Michigan to the
Gulf of California and San Francisco,
with close relationship to the Mexican
Central.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

sentative woman Of Maine. She lives in
Skowhegan, and superintends a farm of
200 acres. Last summer, besides doing
her homework, she made butter and
cheese to sell and picked and canned
more berries than any one else in that
neighborhood. Through haying she
MIXED four COWS every night and took all
the care of the pigs and hens. She lives
five miles from the church, but she goes
there regularly every Sunday. She reads
the paper daily, and is a well-informed
and vigorous old lady.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

A GIRL from Bath, Me-, had the scarlet
fever while at boarding-school. She re-
covered and went home, and trunk con-
tanning clothing worn while she was i'll
was put away in the garnet. Six months
afterward two little children playing in
the garnet opened the trunk and took out
some of the clothing. In week both
were taken very sick with scarlet fever,
and one died. No other persons in the
neighborhood were i'll.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

The women of the Salvation Army in
Bristol, Conn, have armed themselves
with cayenne pepper to throw in the
faces of the rufians who are accustomed
to annoy them in their street parades.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

BARRIERS near Mono Lake, California,
whose water is heavy with salts of borax
and sodium, use it as natural shampoo
ing water, to the satisfaction Of their Gus
toners
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

DURING the last twelve months the out
put of coal in Great Britain was 159,351,-
Ais tons in which 52O,652 golfers were en-
Gagged
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

The largest pumping engine in the
world is used to pump water in Pennsyl-
vania In one minute it forces 10000
gallons of water out of a mine to height
of $50 feet That engine should be sent
to Washington, and an attempt made
with it to pump congress dry. There
does not seem to be any hope that con-
gress will talk itself to death.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

Atlanta is the third largest snuff market
In the world. London comes first. New
York next, and Atlanta third. Lorillard
sold 308. 900 pounds of snuff in the citv
last year and other makers about 100000
pounds. One house there sold $4,000
pounds. In Mocon Lorillard sold 175'OO0
pounds.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

STATISTICS compiled by the national
employees during the course of one year
lost $3,711,OOO in wages. AS the entire
number of strikers is estimated at 228,
1873, the total loss of wages on the same
basis was probably upward of $13,O00,-
900. Whether or not they gained thirteen
million dollars worth of benefit from the
years strikes might be a proper matter
for the consideration of the strikers.
In Mississippi, merchants are obliged
to pay a license fee, called privilege tax.
A large number of them have long been
delinquent. The Legislature, year ago,
passed an amnesty act extending the time
for settling up until June Ii next, there
by restoring the delinquents to their full
legal rights under the laws of the state;
which they were previously denied. The
cOnstitutionality of this amnesty act was
questioned, but the state supreme court
at Jackson decided that it was legitimate
legislation.
A GOOD many people will be surprised
to learn that the biggest building in the
United States will be the City Hall of
Philadelphia, now in process of construc-
ton. Between eleven and twelve millions
of dollars have been expended upon it
since 1872. 1t is estimated to cover $500
more square feet than the capitol at
Washington. The tower on the north
side will be surmounted by statue of
Penn, and its extreme height, when COM
pleted, will be 535 feet. 1t has now
reached height of 27O feet.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27
Entertaining the Governor.
Estelline Oak. Bell.

Governor Pierce and the other terri
torial officers are making a trip in south
ern Dakota. Yesterday morning they
were in Watertown. They were staying
at the leading hotel when citizen of that
place called to see the governor. He was
shown in and said:
Governor, I see you are making visit
to this part of the territory"
eyes, sir
Il suppose you're having pretty good
timen
''Yes, 1 have enjoyed myself so far"
II calculate they try to entertain you at
all the different cities you visit?"
sob, yes, each place has made it very
pleasant for u.s."
"Of course, and Wintertown amt going
to be outdone."
Il suppose not, it is very enterprising
town."
''You bet it is, governor And I'm
going to do my share, too. Now I'll tell
you my scheme: I've got horse tied
down at the door that's deceived lots of
good judges on his age and to make it in
teresting for you and seems you're the
guest of the city, I'll bet you 81 that you
can't tell how old he is the first time YOU
look in his mouth! Here's my money.
We'll put it up with the auditor, know
him. Come on down, governor, and
blamed if I don't hold old Jacks mouth
open for you while you look at his teeth"