davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
Remarkable Surgery.
Inter Ocean.

Officer Chas. Whitney, one of the vic
Tins of the dynamite bono, was yester-
day the subject of one of the most radical
and extreme operations known to scien-
tific surgery. Whitney, on the night of the
haymarket riot, besides receiving other
injuries, had a cash cut in his breast by
disconnected particles of the exploded
bomb. He was taken to the hospital and
made such favorable progress that within
mOnth he was transferred TO his home
at No. 429 Robey street. Here, too, he
made rapid strides, and at one time it was
supposed he had completely recovered.
About two weeks ago, however, a sudden
and very ominous relapse set IN, and the
policeman's life has since by turns been
given up and despaired of. Yesterday an
operation was performed upon him
Three times only in the history of surgi
cal jurisprudence in this conuntry has a
like measure been resorted to. In all of
these cases the patisnt left the operation
table for the grave. Whitney's breast
wound had completely healed up. A cur
sorry examination as to what allied the rap
Mn E 9scnPs Tss MAGE a fRaofp f Fiat
particle of the casing of the bomb had
PASSED through the breast-bone, opposite
third ribs, had detected slightly toward
the left, and was then resting an inch
from the covering of the heart THE peri
cardium. At every heart beat the poison
Gus metal was being drawn nearer that or
gan. 1t was literally eating it's way into
Officer Whitney's heart. DR.. Murphy
hurriedly sommoned DR.. E. w. Lee, and
the delicate task of boring hole through
Whitney's breast-bone, as with all auger
begun. The policeman was put under
the influence of either. Taking trephine
capeble of chiselling hole five-eights of
an inch in diameter, DR.. Murphy began
his work. It took just eight minutes TO cut
a hole through the breast-bone, which at
this iuncture was nearly an inch thick.
The button-shaped opening readily dis
closed to view the piece of shell, which
was deftly fished out by the aid of a pair
of tweezers. Already it had imbedded it.
self in the fatty outer coating of the
heart. It was conical-shaped piece of
metal, composed of copper, zinc, and lead
in about equal parts. Had DR.. Murphy
not acted promptly in the matter the
probabilities are that at this writing Off
Ger Whitney would have been the ninth
on the list of deceased victims Of the 4th
of May. He is doing well.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
Liberty's torch Lighted.

The grand pyrotechnic displays that
were to have been the final event in the
ceremonies of the unwilling of the statute
of Liberty, but were postponed on &C.
count of the weather, took place Novem-
Der L. The fireworks were dis played on
Liberty and Governors Island, in con-
junction with the illumination of the war
vessel. The wonderful effects we're wit
messed by a tremendous concourse of
people. who thronged every inch of space
that afforded view of the two Islands.
Prong pity at 80 O'Clock a red light and
maroon signal were given from the
stone balcony at the top of the pedestal
on Liberty Island. In an instant the
whole harbor for miles around became
Respondent with a multitude of variegat-
ed fires, burned on the Notifications at
the base of the statue and on the ram
parts of Old Castle William, on Cover
nor's Island. At the same time the fleet
of war vessels appeared brilliantly illumi-
mated. The yards were manned by sail
ors. While the Illumination of the fleet
and the two islands was in progress
row of lights crept slowly along the sea
wall of Governornor's Island facing the
Battery, and soon the entire area was
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
Indian Education.

Superintendent of Indian Schools Riley
has returned from visit to the reserVa-
tions in the West and makes decidedly
encouraging report as to the success of
the educational branch Of the Indian
bureau the past year. The increase In
attendance has been very large and
number of new schools have been opened.
Upon the general plan of Indian educa-
ton, he says: 81 am satisfied that the ru-
dlments of English education are that we
should conhne ourselves to in this matter,
and beyond that we can not successfully
go. We can not teach Indian boys agri-
culture at either Carlisle or Hampton. for
the agriculture of Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania is so vastly different from that of
Arizona and Dakota that it serves no pur
pose. Higher education we have found
to be practically valueless. Suppose we
educate a young man in medicine, of
what use is he upon being sent back TO his
tribe? He can neither earn living nor
support others. The motive of Indian
education at present is to make the In
dians self-supporting. [ see stronger
reasons every day for compelling the In
dams to take lands in severalty, and after
they have been thus started to reduce "a
lions and gradually impress upon them
the necessity for becoming self support
ing. We can probably do better for the
Indians by devoting more time to teach
Ing them agriculture and simple trades,
and the woman needle and homework,
than by any system of higher education.
That will naturely follow. We must raise
education in the estimation of the Indians
until young man can enter school with
out fear of that ridicule which an Indian
breads more than anything else"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
Tied Up the Gas.
Chicago News


''They almost always want to blow out
the gas" said hotel clerk, ''but that old
fellow" pointing to an old gentleman sit
ting in the window, twas smart enough
to know that was not necessary. When
he woke up this morning about 5 O'Clock
he opened his door and began calling for
the porter. One of the bell boys went to
him and was told to bring up a piece of
rag. The boy procured it, and, anx-
ious to know what the man wanted, he
hung around the door. There was faint
odor OF gas pervading the premises, and
as the boy looked through the key-hole
he saw the old man mount a chair and
unwind home-knit wooden sock from the
gas-burner and then wind the rag tightly
around it in place of the sock. Sorry to
trouble you,' he said, when he came down,
'H~t tho raslzy thing was leaking, and /
wanted to use my sock. 1 guess I'd a
been smothered If L hadn't K1tuer traced
the smell to that thing and then struck
the idea of stopping it by winding some
thing around it. He was taken upstairs
and showed how the 'pesky thing worked
but was not satisfied, and insisted that it
was "a burned sight safer to tie the thing
up"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
The Angel and the Brute.
Washin gtou Critic.

She was young woman in Washing
ton for the season, and was very fond of
narrating her conquests and speaking of
her powers over men.
He was a bachelor with a heart of stone
and cheek of cast-irOn.
They were talking of love and matri-
mony and cognate subjects.
Give been engaged six wesks, Mr.. x, y
she said, with refreshing candor in view
of the fact that the announcement had
appeared in the society news the next
day after the proposal.
"Ah?" he said, with a rosebud smile
wreathed around an Interrogation point.
"How charming"
"Delightful, Mr.. X.," she continued,
radiantly. "He was an old friend of our
family, and he was SO persistent. How
long do you think kept the poor, dear
fellow waiting for his answer" and she
giggled real swell giggle.
"Um-um," he cogitated, as if calculat-
ing an equation of time between sun
dial and Waterbury watch. "Um-well,
I should say a minute and a half; posi-
bly, two minutes"
There was an abrupt termination to
the conversation, and the brute was left
alone in the alcove where they had been
talking.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
s Fighting Teacher.

In the primitive days of methodism it
required not only preachers of sterling
piety and Christian courage but also
physical strength. The late Rev. Cam
bridge Graham was noted not only for
the excellency of his Christian character,
kindness of heart, and forbearance of
spirit, but for his great physical strength,
says the Altoona (Pa.) Tribune. The lat
ter characteristic was never broght out in
his ministry except when no other re-
medy was left him. In his early ministry
he was sent to Hancock circuit, in one of
his appointments a family father and
sons) who were noted as DULLES, as dis
turbers of methodist meetings. While
Mr.. Graham was holding meetings on one
occasion there two of the mans sons be-
gan their usual series of interrution. No
rebuke h any effect upon them, and
finally the preacher elected them from
the house. They went home and told
their father of the treatment they had
received at the hands of the new metho-
dist preacher. The old man was terribly
indignant at Mr.. Graham and vowed to
chastise him the next morning. Bright
and early, gun in hand, he appeared at
the farmhouse where the preacher was
stopping. Mr.. Graham was out on the
porch performing his morning ablution-
the man of the house being over in an
adjoining feld-when he was saluted by
the irate father:
"You are the new methodist preacher?' '
Eyes, SIR" replied Mr.. Graham.
He then narrated what he had done to
his sons the previous evening, winding
up with the declaration that he had come
over to whip him."
"Whip me?" said the preacher in a
tone of surprise.
eyes, you.''
Wall,'' caId the rreaot10r, walt until
got through washing"
In the meantime the old man had set
down his gun and prepared for the
struggle. Mr.. Graham approached him
in the kindliest manner, repeating; ooh,
you don't want to whip me-" and with a
manner that practically disarmed his
antagonist Drawing close up to him he
placed his hand on each of the old gents
arms. It was like the grip of wise.
$50 you want to whip me-" as his grip
frightened, and he began to sway the old
man back and forth. He was like an in
FAINT in the preachers grasp and writhed
in mortal agony as the grip frightened on
his flesh, and the shaking became more
vigorous to the chorus: $50 you want to
whip me! Why I'll shake you to shaw
ings!"
The fight was all taken out of the man,
and he begged to be released, promising
for himself and sons that there should BE-
no futher molestation of methodist meet
ings in that neighborhood. The preacher
accepted his promise and released him
and gave him some kind and good ad-
vice.
The old man, thoroughly crestfallen
passed the man of the house, who was
out in the field trembling for the safety.
Of the preacher, and saluted him with
the remark:
II believe that preacher would fight"
There was peace at the preachers
place thereafter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
A. 7. Stewards Body.
New York World.

w. A. Croffut, editor of the Sunday
Post, tells to-day the following story of
the return of the stolen remains of the
late A. t. Stewart. He says he had the
the story from a member of the Hilton
family at dinner party. Essays; at was
a couple of years anterior TO that, / think
my informant said, that the bones were
finally ransomed. Judge Hilton persis-
tently refused to consent to it, and at last,
when Mrs. Stewart declared herself unable
any longer to carry the burden of the
CHASTITY thought that the remains of her
husband were being carried around the
country by gang of thieves, she defied
her lawyers scruples and concluded nego-
tiations.
''Mrs Stewart gave $4,000 instead of
$4,000 at first demanded. The bargain
was made through a lawyer who seemed
to have no other briefs, and who probably
got a good fraction of the swag. The
ghouls insisted that the money should be
delivered to them on a lonely hill In
Westchester County at the dead of night.
Thither, in accordance with their direc-
tions, relative of Mrs Stewart journeyed
alone in a wagon, which he drove himself.
At a spot in the country road which had
not been designated or described the
driver was suddenly halted by masked
horseman. This mysterious messenger
led him through by-lane TO the hilltop,
where, after certain precautions to insure
their safety, they received the $4,000,
examined it, and then dragged bag OF
bones from another buggy near by and
surrendered it to the keeping of the soil
tary traveller. Before they disappeared
down one side of the Hill they commanded
him, on peril of his life, to turn about and
descend the other slope He did as he was
hidden and got to New York before morn
ing.
1.-THE next night the bones were COM
mited to the vault under the great cath
edral at Garden City, which had already
been connected by a secret wire with
chime of bells sure to ring and alarm the
town if it was disturbed. So now the mortal
remains of the great merchant millionaire
and those of his patient, enduring, frugal,
and afectionate wife of sixty years rest
side by side"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
To the Last.
London Standard.

Somebody told the story of Hugh NJ,
who died in Durham 40 years ago. He
was a determined man and very penuri-
Gus. He died at an advanced age. On
his death bed he kept his right hand close
ly clutched. As he drew his last breath
he frightened his hold. Everybody knew
what he held. It was the key to the chest
in which he kept his gold. As his nerve
less hand Enclosed the key dropped from
it and clattered against the bedside. As
if to hold it even after his soul had pass
ed away, the miser had tied the key about
his wrist by strong cord and had grasp
ed it as long as life remained. He had
wanted to take his gold with him. They
buried him as he was, with the key to his
money chest dangling about his wrist,
and to-day the key is in his grave turned
to rust probably.
"And what became of the old mans
gold?"
80, the heirs took care of that just the
same"
''How did they get at it?"
They split open the chest with an
ak and divided the gold and left the
miser sleep on with the key about his
wrist"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
East Indian Tea.
Science.

The island of Ceylon is becoming an
active competitor in the tea market.
Formerly it was great coffee growining
country. In the year of 1877, the exports
of coffee berries were $4,000 cwt.; the
quantity declined to 310,922 cwt., in 1885,
and the estimate for 1886 was 200, 900
cwt. This falling off was the result of
competition in part, and was partly due
to the ravages of a coffee insect. The
planters made haste to substitute another
crop, and in the present year had 100000
acres under tea, which area is rapidly in
crsasing. The tea plant fourishss there
from the seaboard to an altitude of 5000
feet in the interior. The export crop, for
1887, is estimated at 100000 pounds,
and, for 1888, 25,OOO,OOO pounds. The
value of exports, in 1885, was 100000
pounds sterling, while China sent out T.,
100000 and India 100000. The Cevlon
tea brings, at wholesale, in Soudan from
% to 40 cents pounds, and housskeepers
can purchase what is called an excellent
quality" for half dollar. The tea plant
mostly used is a hybrid of Chinese and
Assam stocks.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
Married Under Difficulties.
New South Wales Standard.

On the banks Of the Murray River,
which separates Victoria from New South
Wales, Presbyterian minister had his
charge, his flock, his residence being on
the Victoria side, and portion of his
congregation residing on that of New
South Wales. In the course of events a
young lady of his people was to be mar
r1ed; but, with the fancies that young
ladies so often indulge in, she would be
married in her fathers home, which was
on the New South Wales shore, and by her
pastor, who, as it appeared, at the last
moment was only registered to tie the
nuptial knot in Victoria. Here was a
pretty fix; the hour had come-and the
man. Moved by the tears of the lovely
suppliant the minister was equal to the oc-
casion. 1t appears that the whole of the
waters of the hurry River pertain to
Victoria, so, obtaining boat and put
ting therein all his paraphernalia, and
books, and other instruments requisit
for the performance of the ceremony, he
put off from the shore. The young lady
and her friends came to the foot of her
fathers grounds, and the party standing
on the shore in battle array, the marriage
service was duly performed by the min
lister in the boat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
JAPANESE FOLKLORE.
The Wind Imp and the Thunder Cat Unlucky
Days.
Overland Monthly.

A familiar sight in front of Japanese
temples is an immense figure of the
wind imp and another of the thunder
cat" The wind imp has huge bag of
compressed air on his back. By holding
one end, loosing it or removing one
hand from it, he may make the wind
gentle breeze, tempest or tornado,
at . hi S pleasure. Travellers over
long and tedious routes often have their
faces bitten or torn by the wind imp as
he passes, though to them he is invisible.
The thunder cat carries on his head five
drums fastened together. with which he
makes thunder. He often esUapes from
the cloud to the ground, doing terrible
mischief. When a victim is killed by
lightning it is because the thunder cat
has leaped upon him.
Another of the supernatural beings who
infest the earth is the kama-itachi, in the
form of weasel, who tears and lacerates
the faces of human beings with sharp,
invisible, two-edged knife. If one slips
on the pavement, or among the sharp
pebbles of the garden paths, or up the
mountain side-which,, because of their
awkward clogs, is of frequent occurrence
it is the-itachi that made him fall and
if cut, it is the imps sharp knife that did
it.
The Iappa is another imaginary enemy
who appears to man in the water. He
has the claws of a tortoise and the body
and head of a monkey. He delights to
seize unwary victims, especially promis-
ing boys who invade his kingdom.
The dead are always placed with their
feet to the south. Therefore people will
not sleep in that position. L noticed
with much interest a diagram of the
points of the compass hung upon the
cealings of hotel sleeping rooms, and the
same in private dwellings, to aid the
traveller or the unwary in avoiding this
! ill-omened position.
| Certain days are very unlucky. Seeds
will not sprout if sown on such days. On
one of these the head must not be washed
or the hair will become red, color OF
which they have great horror, as per
| tanning to evil spirits and bad men
such as English snobs. Indeed, any
color of hair but the blacklist black Is
! intolerable.
Children must never measure their
height, nor place any burden upon the
head, or they will be stunted, and for 6
| man to be understood according to their
standard)is a grief and misfortune. Be
| fore con ps0 OF sun or moon wells
are carefully covered to prevent poison
falling into them from the sky. devil
| is supposed to stand between an angry
husband and wife. Children are taught
that when they tell lie al
imp will pull out their tongues, which ex
erts most wholesome restraint. Wher
deformed child is born its parents art
charged with some special sin.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
A Bogus Proposal.

II used to think that Gus Simpson was
a real nice Dung man, but [ just hate
him now" said one young lady to an
other.
"Why, what has he done?"
"He's treated me shamefully; that's
what"
'In what way?"
"Why, the other evening, at a party I
said to him, Let's eat a philopena, and
if you say yes or no to any of my ques-
tons I'll owe you box of candy and if
L say yes or no you'll have to give me a
box"
"Then what?"
"After the party he took me home and
all the way there he talked just as sweet
as could be about love in cottage and
men should not live alone and all that.
And when we got to the front gate he
said:
Fannie, I have waited for this OPP
portunity long time; will you marry
me?'
I whispered yes in a low voice and
Here her sobs choked her voice
"And what did he do them" inquired
her listener eagerly.
'He-just- hollored 'philopena! with
all his might. That's what he did," and
she wept afresh and would not be COM
fOrted.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18
THE EXPRESS-ROBBERY.

Frank James Receives a Mysterious Letter
Detectives Still at WOOk.
Frank James, the -trainrobber, re-
ceived the following letter, containing
four new bank bills:
Frank James, ESQ.,
DEAR SIR: Please accept the enclosed
as a memento of the late Frisco train
robbery of October 25th.
Yours truly,
JIM CUMMINGS.
The enclosed consisted of four unsign-
ed National-bank notes made for the
Merchants & Planters National Bank
of Sherman, Mo. The notes were one
$40 and three so bills, the latter of which
had not been detached from each other.
The letter was written in an evidently dis
guised hand and was mailed from st. Joe
Nov. 3.
. Man ag Ramse ell. Of tsut the express com,
said that the detectives were already fol-
lowing up the clew contained in it, but
he did not know whether the money stol-
en- Oct % contained that received by
Frank James or not. He would ascertain,
however, as soon as possible. He had
two theories in regard to the affair. The
real robber had sent the letter to turn
suspicion on James and put the detec-
tives on the wrong trail, or else some
oyerzealous detective really thought Jim
Cummings and Frank James were one,
and wanted to see what effect the recep-
ton of the letter and bank notes would
have upon him and what disposition he
would make of them. The matter would
be investigated, and might lead to some
interesting Developments.
Superintendent Damsel and Robert
Pinkerton, the detective, visited the
grand jury room in very mysterious
manner. No definite information regard
ing the object of the visit can be obtain
ed, but the inference is that they either
asked the jury to indict Fotheringham
the messenger who was recently robbed,
warrant for his arrest. His mother is
at st. Louis, and it is understood
or requested the jury to issue bench
that she will take legal measures to pro-
cure the release of her son from the Gus
tody of the express people, and to pre-
vent this it is presumed the express Of
fcials took the action they did.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18

and GO into the seal fishing business on
his own account. The old man
told his son to go ahead and he
would back him. Jimmie went
to Port Townsend and negotiated for
the Lottie, agreeing to pay $1,000 for
her. He reported the matter TO his faith
er, who went out and dug up the neces-
sary money. Jimmie got white sail
ing master, employed an Indian crew,
and during the sealing season succeeded
in catching 700 seals, for which he re-
ceived nearly $4,000. When hop-picking
commenced Jimmie loaded his schooner
with Indians and sailed with them to the
hop regions. After landing them he an
chored his schooner in the Duwanish
river. Two or three large-sized sealing
vessels are now owned by theInd1ans
of the Neah Bay tribe.