davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
,A Flearful DEATH.

5gi A young Portuguese farmer named
Joseph silva, while cutting hay In 3
field near Centerville, Cal, says the sSsn
Francisco Chronicle, encountered 9 large
rsttlesnake, which he struck with hisI
scythe aud stunned. Silva supposed
that he had killed the reptile and picked
it up by the tail to'cut of the fattles,8
He used a knife that was somewhat dull
and, holding the snake almost 1t arms
length, hacked at the cartilage connect
ing the rattles with the tailseysral tim@
without severingit. To accomplish his e
purpose more easily he gripped the snake
by the body, and, as the knife penetrated,
at the last effort, the yenomons creaturs
doubled and struck him on the littlo'
finger, burylng its fangs deep In the
flesh. The boy shook the snake of, and
without an instsnt's hesitation cut the
finger off at the middle joint, below ttel
place where the reptiles teeth had
entered. Even then his nerve did not;
desert him, and he made his way home.
ward, considerable distance. Here be
drank, large quantity of whisky and:
had his bleeding finger bandaged. HA
felt no ill.effects from the bite Of tnsi
snake, and on the following "Wednesday
his curiosity led him to search for thu;
piece of his finger which he had left IN
the field beside the dead body of tho
snake, which he killed after the amputa-
ton. He found the finger black ana;
rotting with the poison it had absorbed
and, without consideration Of the con-;
sequences, handled it. By some means
the virulent poison came in contact with
his wound, and that night he died n
horrible agony, decomposition setting II,
before the breath left his body.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
The Bug that Cuts Up Metal.

Mr.. William Beutenmuler, the ento-
mologist of the American Museum OF
Natural History in Central Park, New
York, at the last meeting of the New
York Microscopical Society, stated that
the American Museum had just received
q specimen of the curious metal cutting
Yucatan beetle, the Zopherus. Down in
Central America, where the beetle has
its home, it is known as the "maqueche.' y
Not long since, many newspaper para
graphs were current about pretty
beetle which the Southern ladies were in
the habit of wearing on the corsage,
where it crawled at will, held by a
tiny gold chain. This beetle is the
maoueche. It is perfectly inoffensive,
has no. odor, and does not deface OF
stain the most delicate fibre. The
adjusting of the golden harness is nice
operation, the metal being soldered on
il. The harness consists of girdle
about the insects waist-between the
thorax and abdomen-to which above
and below is joined a slender band
passing over the posterior portion of the
body, Iongitudinally, while small chain
is attached to this harness by little
staple, which chain terminates in hook
or pin to fasten in the bodice.
By many Mexicans the insect is re-
garded as an amulet or mascot and is
usually highly priced by foreigners when
obtainable. Parties who have owned
insects of this kind have often attempted
to maintain them on sugar and water,
but the beetles always perished in short
time. But if fed on decayed wood, which
is their natural food, they may be kept
alive and thriving for more than a year.
The wing covers or shell of the beetle
is exceedingly hard. Its color is light
chocolate shade, and when full grown it
is about an inch and a half long. In New
York it was stated that this beetle can
cut through soft metal, and this fact is
one of the most interesting about 1t.
When placed in glass Jar covered by a
thin pewter lid it has been known after a
few hours of chipping and cutting to
make hole sufficiently large to allow it
to pass through.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Perpetual Supreme Court Messengers.

Every Justice of the United States
Supreme Court selects his own clerk, but
he must take the messenger bequeathed
to him by his predecessor. The Other
Justices all feel that it is due to them
that a new and untried messenger should
not be brought into their confidential
circle every time there is change upon
the bench. -. =. ...-
When Mr.. Waite died his messenger
continued in bis old place, serving the
bereaved family and making himself
handy around the court. As soon as the
next Chief Justice qualities this mar
will 90 to the apartments of his new
masters with his shaving, backing and
brushing outfit, and will proceed to dc
his duty in spite of any spartiality that
the new-fedged jurist may entertain fol
an old servant.
Justice Matthews did not understand
this rule and precedent when he first
came to sit on the bench. He arrived in
Washington late in the evening and took
lodgings temporarily at hotel. The
moment he stirred in his chamber the
next morning he heard rap at his door.
On responding a very respectful and
busiuesslike darkey walked in with his
arms full of toilet tools.
II didn't ring" the new Justice said
mistaking the intruder for an employe o.
the house.
"No, sab; but I thought you NIGH
need some barbering. I'll brush youi
clothes, sab, and shine your boots"
"You needn't mind, SIR" the Justict
said severely, as he still held the doc:
open. ''My valet will attend to that. ,
"'scuse me, MIR. Justice, but I'm you
man."
"What is the matter with you3 Leave
the ROOM"
"'Scuse me, Mr.. Justice, but I wa
left to you by Mr.. Justice Swayne, auc
the clerk of the cote ordered me to re
pote to YOU this mawnin'"
He knew his duty and the tradition
of his place, and he stuck to them and tt
the reluctant Mr.. Matthews. He is witt
him to this day.-Boston Globe.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Intelligent Dogs.

Senator Kenna and Senator Black
burn are great sportsmen, as every one
knows. Each is the owner of pointer,
the relative merits of which they are fire.
quently engaged in discussing in the
cloak.rooms of the Senate, much to the
annoyance of their more staid col
leagues. The other day Eenna said to
Blackburn, lighting fresh cigar:
"Joe, you may talk as much as you
like about your dog, but. mine won't 60
out with me when the cartridges don't
tit my gun" ,...
An audible smile went around the
room, and everybody thought: ''Well,
for once, Joe Blackburn has been beaten
at his own game" The junior Senator
from Kentucky, however, was equal to
the occasion. He looked at Kenna for
q minute and then quietly remarked {:
"Well, Kenna, I admit that your dog
exhibits an intelligence almost akin to
reason, but don't mind backing mine
against him. was in the fields one day
with that dog, and man 1 was not &C
ouainted with came along near US. My
dog pointed at him. I called to that
dog, but nothing would induce him to
move. So I wentup to the stranger.
"s sSir, I said, would you oblige me
with your nameT"
Certainly replied the stranger /;
my name is Partridge.'"
Without another word Kenna took
Blackburn's arm and both disappeared
in the direction of the Senate restaurant,
followed by the shouts of their friends.
Chicago Herald.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
A Hired Redskin Patricide.

Champo is the name of San Carlos
Indian, who recently visited San Fran
cisco as witness in murder case. He
is shrewd, sharp, cunning Apache, and
is the same Champo, who, when General
Crook was establishing the San Carlos
reservation, for a bribe went out from
San Carlos into the San Catalina noun
tains and brought in the head of his
father, who was one OF the chiefs of the
San Carlos Indians who refused to sur
render to Crook. The heads of three
other chiefs were brought in at the same
time, four in all. They were delivered
to General Crook in barley sacks, and
the savages received their coin. Champo
doesn't like to talk about the subject
now, as he has become shomewhat civ
ilized, and the thought of having been
hired to murder his father for reward
doesn't give him much pleasure. Son
Francisco P1St.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Driving Down the Logs,

Comparatively few people living in
this city realize what takes place when
the logs cut during the winter are driven
downstream in the spring. When the
s'drive" takes place the logs mingle pell
NELL with each other, at least to such an
extent that no effort at separation is
made, till the logs reach the booming
grounds at the mouth of the river.
Hence, one man is generally given tie
ssdriving" of all the timber there may be
in the whole length of the river. When
the .'jam" is broken and the drive begins
it may have from forty to fifty to a
hundred miles to come before reaching
the sbooming grounds, very much OF
that distance being over water of all
degrees of breadth, totally obscuring the
normal channel of the river. When the
logs reach the boom they are assorted by
means of the marks upon them. AS the
food in the spring does not last very
long, a full third of the drive is fre-
auently left stranded, while the driving
crew" attend to the main body of the
timber, leaving behind what constitutes
the s'rear." When the river has receded
to its natural dimensions, the summer is
frequently passed in the work of floating
the stranded timber, and very frequently,
from the lack of water, large portions OF
the timber is chung up" till another
seasons food will start them sailing.
In the upper portions and branches
of numbering rivers, succession OF
dams are built by which the water is
retained sufficient for "food," which
generally takes place twice day stimuli
taneously with all the dams. These
dams are so placed as to wash down
stranded logs to deep water, where
they can be regularly ''driven" to
their destination. Very many thou
sands of dollars are invested by lumber
men in these dams, without which it
would be impossible to secure the full
slog crop" This improvement is one
of comparatively recent date. It is not
so long ago that the spring freshets were
the sole dependence for bringing down
the logs. The drivers sleep on board q
shanty, where they also eat. This is
fioated downstream with the logs and
constitutes the mems home during the
months that the drive is in progress.
To ''birl" log is q peculiar amuse.
ment of the "river driver" Two of
them will stand on log out in deep
water, and by treading it violently with
their spiked boots set it rolling with
the greatest rapidity. The game is won
BY the one who succeeds in "birling''
the other into the river.-Oshkosh, Ris. }
Northuestern.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
And turning, he strobe away across

And turning, he strobe away across
the prairie.
The crowd that soon gathered in the
Jumbo Saloon was less noisy than usual; {;
they wanted to hear what Colonel Bend
erson would say, but that gentleman
did not seem inclined to talk.
''Mebby made mistake" was all
he said.
s.Few of US would do as the SLOUGH
did," said Pierce Fanshaw. 81, for
one, would not die for anybody but my
self" -..
s'Thcre is verse in Scripture"
began Mr.. Arthur Lemon, of Boston.
"And with which it will doubtless
surprise you to learn that I lam passably
familiar" interrupted Pierce Fanshaw.
"'And greater love hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for
his friends. ."-Frank Leslie's.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
THE TWO WORDS.
One day a harsh word, rashly said,
nron an evil io,1rnay sped.

One day a harsh word, rashly said,
Upon an evil journey sped,
And like sharp and cruel dart,
It pierced fond and loving heart;
It turned friend into foe,
And everywhere brought pain and woe.
A kind word followed it one day,
Flew swiftly on its blessed way;
It healed the wound, it soothed the pain
And friends of old were friends again;
It made the hate and anger cease,
And everywhere brought JOY and peace.
But vet the harsh word left trace
The kind word could not quite efface;
And though the heart its love regained
It bore scar that long remained;
Friends could forgive but not forget,
Or lose the sense keen regret.
Oh, If we could but learn to know
How swift and sure our words can 60,
How we would weigh with utmost care
Each thought before it sought the air,
And only speak the words that move,
Like white winged messengers of love!
Il. E. Dickegna, in Globe
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
A Broken Household.

'sMartha," said a minister to his wife,
81 have some sad news to break to you,
and you will need all your courage to
bear the burden OF this crushing and un-
expected blow"
''Oh, John," she exclaimed, ''and we
have been SO happy in our home and
our children!"
II know it, Martha" he responded,
hoarsely, 'but whom the Lord loveth
He chasteneth."
"John, DEAR" she said, with true
wifely courage and devotion, "tell me
what it is, let me share it with you"
ga donation party."-Lys.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
A Cure for Emperor Frederick.

Among the packages brought in from
Mexico recently to Ell Paso, Texas, by
the Wells Fargo Express Company was
q cubical box about one foot each way,
weighing thirty pounds, addressed to
"His Majesty Frederick ILL.,, Emperor
of Germany, King of Prussia, Berlin,
Germany" When opened by the Gus,
toms officials the box was found to con:
tain four quart-bottles of dark k-colored
LIQUID carefully packed in chaff. Each
bottle was wrapped in tissue paper OF
red, white and green, the Mexican ma.
tional colors, and piece of ribbon OF
the same patriotic colors covered the
cork of each bottle. The liquid was
stated to be an Indian vegetable juice
prepared by the d;scoverer and sent from
an interior city of Mexico to insure a
speedy cure of the sick monarch is taken
according to directions The sender
pays all express charges and custom duty
-Mw York World.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
A Psalm Of Trade.

"Tell me not in mournful numbers, "
Advertising doesn't pay;
For the man non coHlpos nlentis
Who would such absurd thing say.
"Life is real! Life is earnestm
And the man who hopes to rise
To success in any calling,
Must expect to advertise.
"In the worlds broad field of battle,
In the conflict of real life,n
Advertising is the secret
Of achievement in the strife.
"Lives Of rich men all remind us
We can make our own sublime;"
And by liberal advertising
To the highest summit climb.
"Let us then be up and doing"
In this sheet our ads. insert;
"Still achieving. still pursuing"
Business then will be alert.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
CURIOUS FACTS.

CURIOUS FACTS. IS
Europe is to have an exhibition III
parrots. 1SSs IS
A Georgia man has celebrated his
golden wedding with his second wife,.
Rev. David Smith; 104 years old, Esas..
preached Methodism for ninety.two;
years. 5a 80 5tS Z, 80 ~
A New York paper tells Of q Harlem
woman who has a double row Of teeth
while her son has no teeth at all.
The cowboys have fred so many bullets
into telegraph poles in certain districts
in the West that gust of wind snaps
the pole short of, and much trouble re-
suits. 81 Y
There is q acouple in Wilkes comfy,
Ga, who have been married about forty:
years, and during that time the wife has
never asked the husband for any money
except 10 cents. S;
Mr.. Ish, of Waco, Texas, wears as rs
watch-charm a bit of ore dug two thou;
sand feet below the surface, and that
assays two thousand two hundred dol
lars worth of gold to the ton.
The '.mountain jungIes, = whers the
tiger has his home, and from which hej
comes down to carry off people OK
domestic animals, have no trees other
than low scattered bushes Or rock. sz
The study OF birds has become 4 seris
ous recreation in one of the large schools:
nf Roofov, nv, a O. 4 <,s S,r<I IN,
opera glasses and learn to distinguish
different species and to notice ;theis3'
ways. &. y 5i
Pullman, the Palace Car man, has ilis
vented palace street cars with reversible
seats aud a centre aisle as In passenger
coaches, and proposes to upholster them
like vestibule cars and make smok king
rooms. .zs 81 &c
A French engineer has recently M!
vented an improved key which sim
plifes and renders listing the turing of
stringed instruments The yiololcel llists
of the Grand Opera at Paris have had
them adapted to their instruments
Mr.. Denise, Of Dayton, Ohio, Vl,o
died the other day, IS said o.haye bssH
worried to death BY the accidents dr.
,coyery that his wife, q few months 3D.:
fore, had been buried while Ia q stateof
trance, and, when too late, reviys
Deering (Me. people were amazed ats|
seeing what appeared to be 8 llumiintoaa u
cloud floating high up over their sheads
about ten o'clock in the evening Ar
investigation made from a ROOT showed:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Makes the Whole World Kin.

Fat tramp-"Can't you lend poor
feller bein' dollarW - .
American youth-"Get out. You
look as if you'd had five square meals a
day all your life. You're not hungry"
=. ''No, sir, Pm not hungry nor thirsty
either. do odd jobs around free lunch
saloons for livin', but I amt got no
money to see the baseball game to-day" "
"Poor fellow! Here's dollar. -
Omaha World. ..
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
He Captured a Squaw.

After the defeat of Burgoyne, a de-
tachment of soldiers, which had been
sent to the American army from Luncn-
burg, Mass, returned, bringing with
them three young squaws, who were held
as hostages for white people captured by
the Indians. A number of soldiers and
young officers were then waiting in
Lunenberg to be sent where most
needed.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Growing Old and Feeble.

Brown-''That note I hold of yours,
Dumley, is long overdue. Can't you
take it up, as I need some money!"
Dumley-"Wcll, n-no, can't at pres
ent. Why don't you get it shaveda"
Brown-"rve tried to, Dumley; but
the brokers all say they wouldn't even
trim its whiskers. up. II. Welch.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
A Mysterious Isle in Far Away Sea

"Ever been to Johannes Island9" said
a naval officer on leave of absence to q
New York Telegram reporter. '..
.."Think not; where is it9 Any where
in the Sound7" ....
"Not exactly. It's one of the Comoro
group" ..'.-...
"And where is the Comoro group3"
"The Comoro group is of Madagascar,
that is from 200 to 500 miles off
Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean. Gil
mate tropical; verdure magnificent; air
spiced and dreamy. White men idle;
niggers not very busy; women drowsy
and half dressed"
"What took you down there2"
"Oh, you know some United States
ship is always slipping through Gibraltar,
creeping down the Mediterranean, sliding
through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea,
skirting down the coast of Africa and
then shooting across to Rio or Monte
video. They follow one another, man
after man, as we used to say when we
played marbles. We got through in the
Alliance early this year, and another
vessel is doing the same thing this very
minute. It's our Governments method
of notifying the world that there's a
civilized Power in the Western hemi-
sphere"
"And do they all go to the Comoro
Islands," ...
,'tNo; think not. We went there
looking for a slave ship. Odd, isn't it2
1t was our business to look up Yankee
schooner that was said to have been
carried off by her master, Yankee sailor,
and sold to DR.. Wilson, former surgeon
in the United States Navy, who was
charged with using her in the slave
trade. Queer story for the year 1888,
isn't it? Further, we wee ordered to
seize her by force if necessary wherever
we should find her, provided it was safe
to do so, and send her back to this
country with prize crew." ....
''Did you do ita"
s'We found her, but we didn't seize
her. She was under British protection
at Mauritius, but you ought to see Will
sons place on Johannes. He's been liv.
ing there like prince for I don't know
how many years, with absolute power
of life or death over 700 to 500 slaves
and dependents, with thousands of acres
in sugar plantations and NO rival but the
Sultan, who has twice as many slaves as
Wilson and I don't know how many
wives. Wilson lives in bungalow,
which is a one-story house with wide
verandas, hammocks, great fans run by
little niggers and every conceivable
luxury Of the tropics. He has ice the
the year round, makes the best and cool
est cocktails imaginable, gets the New
York Herald, two or three English
papers, all the best. American magazines
and no end of new books. Once
month he sends little steamboat of his
own to an island 800 miles off to bring
over his mails" 49,
"'Keep harem2"
"Well, if he does, it wasn't on exhibi.
ton" 20
'sAnd did he use the Yankee schooner
in the slave trade7"
"Blest if know; but he said he
didn't, and he treated US with the hos.
pitality of prince"
Sand, of course, you didn't disturb
him2"
"Yes, we did: We sent dozen men
over to one of his sugar plantations; tore
away three or four copper boilers which
we insisted belonged to the schooner and
carried them off to South America.
Then we took parting drink with Viii.
son and left him to his grievance and
his tropic paradise"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
HOW He Would Like IL.

HOW ne WOuIu like IC. :
'I thinkI will have some photographs
taken, John, said lady to her husband.
"Have you any preference as to posi-
honm -
"Yes," he replied, after sufficient con-
sideration. 'tIf you were to have your
picture taken, dear, while in the act of
sewing buttons on my shirt, it would be
counterfeit presentment that I could
contemplate with good deal of pleasur-
able motion. ."-Harpsr's Bazar.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Destination About the Same.

'sMy friend" he said to young man
who bore signs of dissipation, "do you
realize that the road you are following
leads eventually to death2"
"Er--well, yes, SIR"
> "Aye, it leads eventually to death
And do you know where the road of So
briefly and virtue leads TOT"
"Yes, sir; that leads eventually to
death, also. ."--Lye.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
The Same "Feller."

Young lady-"I heard somebody kiss
you in the dark hall last night"
Maid-''You got kissed. too"
eyes, but that's the young man to
whom am engaged to be married. There
is no harm in that" .....a-.
sTm glad to hear it. He was the
young man you heard kissing me in the
hall last night"
Young lady faints.-2sras Sitings.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Painful Suspen Sc.

'G say, Jones, do you know much
about Griggss"
ssNo, but shall this afternoon"
''How's thatf"
81 lent him two dollars yesterday, and
he promised to pay it back at o'clock
to-day."-Epoch. .t.;.;.. "
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04

Carlyle once said that one advantage
of having a machine instead of o human
being for a servant was that the machine
could not talk back
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04

The new St. GATHERINGS Light, Isle of
Wight, will be the most powerful elec-
tric light in the world.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
Not asSonester.

NOT g. Song Ster. u
Ella-"Are you fond of birdsl"
Jack-'I adore them" ..
Ella-"Which is your favorite singing
bird2" !
Jack-"The bird I love the most
doesn't sing"
Ells-''Ah, what is it2"
Jack-"Quail on toast. "-1Sd.Bits.