davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
GRANTS EoRTY-Two PLANS.

''The road to glory is not a path of how-
ess" says French pfoverb. Affairs seemed
Is hopeless as well could be at Vicfsburg,
lust before Grants successful move down the
river On thu Louisiana shore to New Car
thage The newspapers of the time are full
OF bitter denunciations Of Grant and his
Vicksburg failures. The Confederstes were
boastful ana full OF confidence up to the end
Of April, 1853. But Grant never gave up.
His mental sufsefings at this time must have
besn very great, seeing as he did every plan
fail st Vicksburg, and hearing and reading
tie abuse heaped upon him by paper war
rins both at home and IN his own camp.
But whatever torture he endured mons
we're informed Of # He simply did the bese
he msw and hung on his logged deter
minaE1on impaired ftself to portion OF his
soldiers, at least. A Union private soldier
Wa captured BY the Confederates during the
Deer Creek expaditicn, the last one before The
Gnccefnl move down the river.
AsCrufadAra8e off1eer Questioned the cap
tive 1n40R soldier IS follows:
'sh6sSthe devil Is Grant doing herei
WAatdoee be expect to dor
sostaks Vicksburgss replied the soldier.
ssV5e1t. hasn't the old fool tried this ditch
Ing nd banking bEstnass I've times already 8.
"Yes,n repated the private. 'sbus he has got
thirty Ssven more plans IN his pocket-"
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30

labor. The national administration is
grieYously at fault for its failure to
guard against the degradation of Amer
lean labor. The republican party de-
mands further legislation to prohibit
the influx of pauper and criminal i'm
migrants whose incoming brings on our
working people competition both I'M
Just and disastrous.
Eighth-In view of the recent reve-
lationS, showing the abuse of our natur-
alization and immigration laws, we de-
sire and urge a thorough revision Of
said laws, in order that our country
and fellow citizens may be protected
from the pauper and criminal classes
of other countries.
Ninth-We favor the enactment of
prison laws, which, while providing for
the employment of prisoners, shall
prevent the product of their labor from
competing with that of the wage
worker.
Tenth-Believing that our canals are
most important factor in preserving a
wholesome, competition in the carry
ing trade of the country. and in main.
tanning the commercial greatness OF
our state we endorse the pol
| icy which has been established by
successive republican legislatures OF
| improving canals. thus maintaining
their efficiency as regulators of freight
rates and securing to the empire state
the commerce to which it is entitled.
| The reading of the platform by Chair
man S. E. HayDe was received il
silence by the convention but wheI
/ Chairman Bachelor put the question
there was terrific shout of yeas, anC
the convention adjourned sine die.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
EoLLowlNe rAE cRAckEas.

The projected movement Of the Union gun
boats and transports past the Vicksburg bat
teries on the might OF April 10 was supposed
to have been kept profound secret. Espe-
ciai pains had been taken to conceal the pre-
paEztions, even from the gunboats' crews,
lest the wind should blow the news untimely
TO the Confederates at ViclZsburg.
On<he afternoon OF that day private
soldier, q merry, dsvl may care looking
freshman, presented himself at McPhersonis
headquarters with an urgent request to see
the general Everybody was admitted to
see Mcpherson, and the private was soon in
his presence, with a profusion OF bows and
military salutes.
''Wen, my man, what can do for you'll"
asked Mcpherson
''I'ye called gineral, to ak the privilege Of
going down the river wild the thransportS.
'' Transports IN exclaimed Mcpherson.
''Who told you any transports were going
''Well, giHeral, nobody towld me But
I've kept me Weather eye open, an see the
motions ,guin' on wild the boats, and I've
called TO put in me apphcashun to go in
them
sBut even il thsy. do 60, they'll be shelled
your head blown on It's dangerous
'TYes, know, gineral But Begin your
pardon, sir, I've noticed that where the
crackers 60 the byes always follow, an I've
made up me mind I'D a good dale rather ride
than walk
The Irtshnlan got his wish
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
MCPHERSON.

Eyes" said Gen. H'akenlooper. ST was for
a fact, through the Vicksburg campaign.
al was chief engineer of McPhersonis corps
there, and saw much of Mcpherson and
Grant both during tho siege. have seen
many army officers, but never one like
Mcpherson. There never was anybody Ike
him. Young, handsome and full of enthu-
siasn, he was the idol OF his soldiers They
would have died for him any moment.
EYou never saw anything Hike It at his
headquarters He seemed a brother or .
simple, good comrade to his officers He was
one OF ourselves
az cannot describe to you the feeling we
had for him. 1t was something more than
the strongest friendship between man and
man. Well, I'll tell you, it was like this ::
If, instead Of being man, handsome. bril-
liant and sweet tempered as he was, McPber
son had been all this and been a woman be-
sides, a bright, magnetic woman, drawing
all hearts to her, you can fancy how men
would have loved him. Just like that was
my love for Gen. Mcpherson
The general paused a moment and dropped
his head Memory was busy weaving in his
brain the images of twenty-five years ago.
Looking up presently he spoke again, in other
tones:
: "one thing happened that sAIl always
be sorry for. 1t Is the only thing In the years
I knew Gen. Mcpherson that have TO re-
greet. Ihad been out all day hard at work In
the line Of my duties. I came In late to head
quarters, and felt as though was too tired
TO move.
81 thought would go to bed early. ! did
so, drawing my blankets up around me. But
had no more than touched the ground and
got quiet when Gen. MCPHERSON called mo:
"'Oh, HickP
'Now, I heard him, and Pm ashamed to
remember it, but for the only time in my hfe
didn't answer. / lay quite still. There
were others about the quarters who had been
doing nothing that day. Let the general call
one of them, I thought to myself
''Perceivtng did not answer Gen. Strong
spoke up for me and saidi Kick has been out
all day and is Just in. suppose he's asleep
"'Oh, yes said Gen. MCPHERSON, 4 snip
pose he Is. He must be tired, poor feflowl
didn't think Of that
"Then the general called some other officer
and sent him on the errand- And lay still,
and Mcpherson never knew but was asleep.
But was ashamed of it next day and l have
been so ever since. might have answ cred
him, might have gone out into the night
again, tired as was.
mcpherson was killed not long after that
and shall always carry with me the regret
| full recollection that once my general called
| me and did not answer"
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
PsnsiDls 70 the Last.

BosToN, Aug. 27.-Hon. John Z.
Fitzgerald. collector and custodian of
the pOstofice building, has issued the
following in offset to the circular sent
tine postofice employees by the demo
cratic state committee: :
To the employees in the collectors de-
partment in the Third district of
Massachusetts,, and to those in the
custOdian's department of the post
Office and sub-tTeasury building:
Boston. Mass, Aug. I'll am in
formed that circular has been sent to
all parties in the departments above
mentioned, requesting contributions
to political campaign fund. This is
to inform all interested that the same
has been done without the sanction of
the collector and custodian. and every
enllloye is hereby Instructed that faith
fuIness in the discharge of his duty
will be the best Recommendation for
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
cooNsNIN,s ToWER.

Union sharpshooters in the rear of Vicks-
burg played no small part in the drama of
the siege. One of these, a private soldier,
was noted throughout the whole Seventeenth
army corps.
He was an unerring shot, and wore a cap
made of raccoon fur. From this he was
called "Coonskin" the corps through, and
wherever he was woe to the Confederate head
that appeared above parapet.
"Coonskin" went out once in the night
time, crepe up toward the Confederate de
lenses and built himself a burTow in the
ground, with peep hole in it. There he
would frequently take provisions with him,
bury himself in this burrow and stay several
days at time all alone, watching for and
shooting Confederates.
At length he built ''Coonskin's Tower"
The jackson and Vicksburg railway had
been torn up for miles in the rear of Vicks-
burg, and railway iron and cross ties lay all
Aboai6
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
stnlan Mnnaz Raonvered.

WICHITA, Kas., Aug. 25.-One of the
Kassebaum brothers, of Topeka, who
was recently swindled out of 81 400 by
an ex-cowboy, of Arkansas City, named
Burress, who sold him herd of cattle
in the Indian Territory, which belong
ed to some other man, was in the city
to-day and was fortunate enough to
receive in the Adams Express Office
here "A Satchel containing 5000 of the
money. The satchel was addressed to
a sister of Burress at Topeka. Burress
disappeared Immediately after receiv-
ing the money from Kassebaum, but
this find will give the officers a clue to
work on, as some accomplice must have
forwarded the bag and money from
Arkansas City.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30

GEN. SHERMAN AND THE DRUMMER BOY.
When the assault on Vicksburg on the 10Th
Of May was at its height, and 1 was in front
near the road, this lad came up to me
wounded and bleeding, with good, healthy
boys cry: 'tGen. Sherman, send some cart
ridges to Col Malmberg; the men are nearly
all out" what is the matter, my boyf'
''They shot Ene in the leg, sir; but can go to
the hospital. Send the cartridges right
away.n Even where we stood the shots fell
thick / said I would attend to the cart
ridges; and of he limped. Just before he dis
appeared he turned and called as loud as he
could, "Caliber SAP
What arrested my attention then was, and
what renews my memory Of the fact now is,
that one so young carrying musl1et ball
wound through his leg should have found his
way to me on that fatal spot and delivered
his message, not forgetting the very import
ant part even of the caliber of the musket,
81, which you know Is an unusual one. /
warrant the boy has In him the elements of
man.-Letter to SECRETARY Stanton.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
A Bank Wrsoker Arregtsd.

NIAGARA, Ont, Aug. 27.-E. Strach-
en- Cox, the eX-Toronto broker, who
was instrumental in bringing about the
failure of the Central bank of Canada
through his dealings with it, and who
was arrested here last evening, had
crossed the Niagara river on a flying
visit when an officer approached HIM.
He resisted arrest and was aided by a
man named Moffatt of Yacht Rivit,
who choked the constable. Several
other persons from the yacht also as
sisted Cox, but their interference was
of no avail, as the policeman was rein
forced by several other persons
who were standing around. AS soon
as the yachtmen saw Cox taken away
they hoiSted sail and left.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
STARVATION.

The straits to which the Confederates were
reduced for food before the surrender seem
startling even to this day In America, where
none need go hungry. 10 husband the sup
ply Of food within the walls, after VickSburg
had been invested by land and water, Penn
berton ordered all horses and mules, except
three teams to a regiment and the mules
necessary for food, sent outside the lines.
Those that were left lived on cane tops and
mulberry leaves, and at last on mulberry
leaves alone.
The soldiers subsisted on corn meal and pea
meal, and very little Of that At last the
pea meal became 30 dissasteful to them that
they could eat It no longer. It proved I'M
wholesome besides Then they were allowed
TO boil the peas and eat them thus.
Every day o number Of mules were killed;
the meat was cut into strips and issued to tia
men This was their only fresh meat.
Rations became scAntier and scantier,
until June q, Gen Pemberton received an
anonymous letter signed 'sMany Soldiers, "
telling him his army was ripe for mutiny
unless it could be fed The letter contained
these remarkable words:
'sOur rations have been cut down TO one
biscuit aud a small bit Of bacon per day,
scarcely enough to keep soul and body to
gether. much less TO stand the hardships We
are called on TO stand We are kept Close IN
the trenchesday and night, not allowed tc
forage any at all, and even II permitted therS
Is nothing TO be had among the citizens
Men don't want 70 staFve and don't in
tend to. If YOU can't feed Us, you had bettel
surrender u.s. ] tell you plainly men are no
| going TO lie here and perish"
HOSTING THE STARS AND STRIPES.
At 10 O'Clock on Independence Day the
] Confederate soldiers at Vicksburg began
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
Cable Conductors Caught.

KANSAS CITY, Aug. 27.-Tbe officials
of the Kansas City Railroad company
have recently received information
that has exposed scheme among con-
ductors that has defrauded the COM
pany out of a large amount of money.
1t is the old scheme known as the
"brother-in-law" racket or dummy bell
which is attached inside the vest and
which is ruBg instead of the regular
bell. Ninety conductors are en-
plOyed and on receiving the in
formation the officials put thirty de-
tectiyes at work. The result of the
investigation was appalling to the
company. 1t was found that a
majority of the conductors were
using the bogus bell. 1t has leaked
out that a large number of the ap-
parently green hands who have come
from the country were in fact old con-
ductors from eastern cities where they
had piled their nefarious actions sue
cessfully. 1t is estimated that the loss
has been fully 800 per day. No ar
rests have yet been made, but war
rants will be sworn out this afternoon.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30

The Union force was over half a mile away
from the fort, down in the bottom. Fort
Hill commanded every foot of ground for
miles around. Nevertheless Gen. Hicken-
looper made his plan. It was predicted that
he would fail HE never can do 1t In the
world, said the Jobs comforters to one an
other. But Gen Hickenlooper knew him
self Mcpherson knew him, too, and gave
him free card to do as he liked.
A little after the middleOf May, one black,
silent light, his sappers and miners began
digging in the earth at the Union camp.
Shovel, pick and basket took the place Of
musl1et and cartridge box. As soon as the
mine was sufficiently advanced the men dug
IN the daytime, and day and night the work
Progressed. Relays Of men relieved enc an
other by day light and torchlight until
thirty days and nights had been told OF that
battle summer of 1863. To dig through !, 900
yards OF earth is no child's play.
Calculating with his engineers eye and
brain the exact center of the foundation Of
Fort Hill, Gen. Hickenlooper directed his
paSsageway thither, far underground. Three
galleries led in different directions from the
main mine. Safety fuses were laid through
all, so that If one failed another would catch
flame.
So far Then came the most difficult part
of the work 1t was easy enough to dig; but
the earth must be put back again, solid as
before. 1t must be rammed tight. It must
be confined in its place by heavy timbers.
Whyl Because II the passageway were left
open or loosely filed the exploding powder
would simply blow out through the mine and
not injure Fort Hill at all. Its force must
be turned upward
The mine was finished, the passage wa
closed solid as human strength could make
Il. Only the deadly fuse ran like fire snake
along the bottom of that hidden way.
Twenty-Five hundred pounds Of powder were
within the mine.
No hint OF the work had reached the Con
federates above at Fort Hin. Mcpherson had
advanced his works so near that their can
non were useless and disabled, and they
could do no more than to pick of unwarJ
Federal soldiers by sharp shooting.
June IS wns the day fixed for blowing VI
Fort Hill. 1t was so important an undertak
ing that the word OF it was passed all along
the Union lines. At IL o'clock firing ceased
and from right and left long lines Of blu
coats poured into McPherson's encampment
The order was that soon as the explosion
took place, in the Generalization that fol
lowed among the Confederates, Union sol
diers should rush in in great number, and
general assault be made.
For days and weeks a bombardment hai
been going on. Now suddenly all ceased
The unearthly stiffness was horrible and OF
pressive. The ear had grown used to tn
sound of shot and she'll so that It was not dis
turbing But the Elenco-thAt seemed t
appall like the shadow OF . falling doom
Three O'Clock was the hour for the explc
sion. A brief minute or two, or perhaps
was three minutes before that time, the fus
had been lighted Would it burnt Wo0l
il do its workl Fifty thousand men wer
asking the question.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
"wHIsrLlNe DICK. .

The relioand "Reminiscences hunter at Vicks-
burg Is always taken to hill q little in the
rear Of the city. This hill is pointed out to
him as one OF the most interesting of the
historic spots around the city.
Here" says the guide, twas planted
'Whistling Dick the largest Confederate
gun OF the hill batteries"
It had history of its own. When the United
States government blew up the navy yard at
Norfolk, April q, 1881, there were left unin-
jured 1 200 first class cannon. These were inn
meaiately taken possession Of by the Confed-
crates and shipped to various points on their
lineA Many Of them went to the gulf, to
the Mississippi and Red rivers.
One OF the largest was mounted in q hill
battery at Vicksburg. It was trained 50 accu-
rately as to do great damage to the investing
Union army. It was the heaviest mounted
gun there, and as its huge balls went whiz
zing through the air, It became the terror OF
Grants force. They gave it the name of
''WhiStlsng Dtck.n For weeks Admiral Por.
ter's fest tried to dislodge it in vain.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
THE OAK Tree AT vIcKseuRa.

There was q historic apple tree at Apo
mAttox, where Lee surrendered to Grant At
Vlcksburg thsre was historic oak tree.
Under this tres Grant and Pembsrton held
the parley that resulted in the surrender Of
Vicksburg.
July s, 1868, Pemberton sent o note to
Grant regrettlng the ''effusion Of blood, /" and
asking for the appointment on each side OF
three commissioners to arrange for the capt.
ulation Of Vicksburg. Grant replied in q
brief note, in which occurred these words,
since become historic:
"The effusion Of blood you propose stopping
can be ended any time you choose by theun-
conditional surrender OF the city and garri-
SON"
At 10 O'Clock In the morning OF July
white flags appeared above portion Of the
Confederate works, and firing then ceased.
At 8 O'Clock OF that day Grant and Pember-
ton INST by agreement at q spot in front of
McFherson's headquarters on hillside, q
fswshundred feet from the Confederate lines.
ThSktree near which they stood was a stunted
oak. Grant in his memoirs writes OF this
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30

Where was Gen. Hickenlooperl His rep
utation as an engineer depended on the ex-
plosion of that mine. At = point well towards
the front he stood, watch In hand, after 6r~
ing the fuses He leaned carelessly against
structure called "CoonSkins Tower" His
face was white, his features were tense, but
his manner was wholly cool and calm. He
was yet lord of himself, as he counted the sec
ondR
One minute to thresi The generals eyes
were hxed ON his watch as though every
thing else had faded from tho earth save his
pair of eyes and that round white dial Half
q minute to threei It seemed an eternity.
A quarterl Three sscondsi Three o'clOcki
Would it got
Then before the eyes of those who watched
Fort Hill rose bodily into the air. Not rap
idly, but slowly at first; the whole solid
earthwork, not dividing or falling to pieces,
not yet. They saw daylight underneath yne
mass. A great mass of snow white smoke
filed the space. Higher still rose the lost
fort, like phantom in air. The blue coats
heard noise, but not much; nothing like a
great explosion.
Then Fort Hill began to fall to pieces, still
rising in air. It assembled 160 feet. Then the
fragments of it seemed al at once to fov'
over and -outNard, like thu falling waters OF
a vast fountain. Men, horses, bits OF earth
and walls, guns, caissons and timbers, fell
asunder to earth from the descending streams
of that awful fountain.
Gen Hiekenlooper had not miscalculated-
Sixty Confederates were blown up and
killed by the explosion of Fort Hill. A negrC
In the fort was thrown up in the air with thu
rest. He was blown far out beyond the hill
and actually dropped alive and without 1
scratch within the Union lines, present sem
to the Yankees by the grim humor Of gun
powder. The soldiers declared he muss hav'
ahghted upon his head when he came down
and 80 escaped unhurt The black man thu
strangely preserved became Gen. Logan
body servant, and served him through hi
after campaigns
The instant Fort Hill rose in the air lin
OF flame twelve miles long burst from tn
guns of Grants army. The destruction o
the fort was the signal for q general assault
The assault was tremendous one, but uE
successful, except far as the possession o
the crest OF the hill and the great ruin wher
Fort Hill had been
'.Hickenlooper was happy that night, An
well might he be- writes Gen StronS. "Fo
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30

thirty days and nights he had worked In the
trenches With tireless energy and sleeple8
vigilance he had lAbored In sunshine and
pelting rain, morning and evening, at all
times he could be found at his post, and never
knew when he slept"
Gen HicAsnloopsr, the hero Of Fort Hin.
Il living In Cincinnati now, q quiet man,
with q handsome gray bead, q keen sdarkseyS
and . manner full OF nervous energy. In
his cfv1 capacity he Is president OF the Gin
cinnaH GGaitghf company. Many q time
"old boys" from various parts OF the Union
drop In at bis once to talk over war tfme4
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
Aa ClicagO.

CHICAGO, Aug ~, 1SSS
HoGs-Receipts. 10000 head; market fairly
active and 5o1l0c higher; light, s55005.50:
rough packing, s5s595.g5. mixed, e5.OOBs.40:
heavy packing and shipping, S6.0JM660.
CATTLE-Receipts. Iz.000 head: weak: ma
tive beeyes, $!00<56.40: COWS ard mixed, 81 80
oslo. stockeFs and feeders. s2.500j20; Tex
ans. - .50d37G
and sc lower; native muttons, s3O004.E 50;
westerns, S33g9S.sO: Texans, se.1083de; lambs
a .00lb500.
WaEAr-weak and lower: No. 2 red, cash
925<c; September, 925<c: October, 9is<c-
CoRN.---.Easy: cash, &c; September, and DC
o1Ts-steady; cash. sc; September. 245.c;
October, AsSc.
RYE-SIc.
BARIEY-EOmfHal-
PRIZE TIlEOTHY-ei.15.
WHsEKF-&L20.
FLAx-&l.H.
PoRk-iL.oser; cash and september, si4.aO;
LSRDt-Firm; cash, September and October.
s95Stk.
SHoIsT RIRs-ss az September.
BgTTER-Firm; creamery. 15Ge1; dairy.
EGGs-FErm; lie.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-08-30
Paid with a Bogus Check.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, Aug. IA man
calling himself e. Z. Burnes, repre-
sentiEg himself to be lawyer for Saw
age q Green of South Omaha, Ne
braska, bought 1873 steers from Cum
ningham 81 Haas of st. Paul. Burnes
presented draft on Savage s. Green
for So ,374.29 in payment for the steers
He then disappeared and sold the
steers, realizing a nice sum by the
transaction, although he could afford
to sell them at a loss, as the draft
which he gave proved to be absolutely
worthless. Savage s. Green disclaim
having any such man in their employ
and knew nothing of the transaction.
1t is supposed that Burnes returned to
Omaha,