davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-01
BUFFALO BILLS FATHER.
A FrOntiersman Whom the Indians Looked
On as an Evil Spirit.

On as an Evil Spirit.
An old-time resident of Denver, b
day or two since, related an incident
of the original Buffalo Billn Cody,
father of the present famous Snowman.
which has never been in print. Ole
man Cody was a prominent figure on
the plains in an early day, being the
owner of an extensive trading post on
the Arkansas, in the vicinity of old
Fort Larned. Late in the sos he re-
ceived information that the Indians
proposed to clean out his ranch, which
was an extensive adobe building sur
rounded by a stockade. He did not
pay much attention to it, but the same
news continued to reach him, and was
at last confirmed by the arrival of a
large band of Cheyenne and Arapahoes
and Kiowas, who camped on the OPP
posite side of a deep arroyo from the
trading post, across which the military
authorities had erected a bridge for
the passage of supply trains.
The savages pretended to be very
friendly and wanted to trade, swapping
furs and skins for ammunition, but
their real object was to burn the post
and carry away Cody's scalp as a
trophy-a fact of which the old 'front.'
iersman was well informed through
the spies whom he had among them.
The place was well armed, but not suf-
ficiently manned to resist the attack OF
so formidable band of red skins, and
Old Bill cast about to SEQ what he
could do to protect himself. In the
stock yard of the fort was an old how
ltzer which had been abandoned by
some of the plains military expedi-
tions, and this he carried up to the top
of the post and placed it so that il
would sweep the bridge, He had
plenty of powder, but no other ammu-
milton fit to load it with, and so he
charged the gun with old mule shoes,
nails, bits of iron and similar truck.
The cannon loaded, he awaited de-
velopments. Early one morning he
observed an unusual movement in the
camp of his pretended friends, and
soon, fully armed, with war-paint on,
the savages made dash toward the
fort. Cody was at his howitzer. match
in hand. The painted devils crowded
the long but narrow bridge, and just
as the foremost reached the nearest
bank he discharged his gun at clear
range Of the bridge. There was a
wild howl of disappointed rage,
vision of dead Indians tumbling in the
arroyo, of legs, and arms, and heads
lying around loose without claimants,
and fleeing and frightened savages es-
Gaping from the fatal bridge. Cody's
single shot had saved his post, and he
was always thereafter left in peaceful
possession of his ranch. Just what
struck them on the bridge the Indians
never knew, and the survivors of the
fatal charge always entertained the
firm belief that Buffalo BilI'' was in
league with the evil spirit, and, as
such, a person to whom it was safe to
give wide berth. Denver News.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-01
WIZARDS OF THE EAST.
Feats of Anam's Magicians Which Throw
Hermann Into the shade.

Feats of Anam's Magicians Which Throw
Hermann Into the Shade.
While travelling through Anam, in
Cochin China, with party of German
officials, we stopped one night at an
inn, where made the acquaintance of
a company of native magicians, who
CHANGED to be resting there. They
numbered four men and two women,
all very small save one man, who was
quite gigantic. Telling them that
was greatly interested in legerdemain,
and something of an amateur, I soon
won their favor. In response to their
urgent request endeavored to give
them an exhibition of my skill.
Though / may safely say, without any
vanity, that at that time was the
equal of any magician in this country,
and had tried conclusions with them
all in private, these wizards of Anam
exposed my tricks in every instance
and laughed at me heartily.
One of these was begun by the giant,
who threw great coil of ribbon far up
toward the sky. As it uncoiled in mid
air small hawk seemed to be hberat-
ed from it, to seize the ribbons end in
its beak and to fly with it In a cloud,
which apparently proceeded from the
ribbon itself, and was caused, pre-
sumo, by something burning along it's
surface. From this cloud there now
slid to the ground snake, frog and
smiling native baby, which one OF
the women caught in her arms and
held out to the astonished crowd. All
the magicians save the giant now left
the place. The giant then sat upon
the ground and completely concealed
himself beneath large umbrella, ex-
acting from me promise TO removes
at the expiration of five minutes by my
watch. When took up the parachute
the giant had disappeared, though the
earth where he had sat was perfectly
solid. Returning to the inn, we found
our giant serenely smoking on the
porch, and when handed him his um.
brella he opened it with a quick jerk
and disclosed my watch and chain,
which I had not missed, hanging
one of its sides. Cor. Providence Tel
egram-
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-01
A Smart Milkman.

''The milk that l got of you this
morning soured."
''You didn't get it of me, ma'am.n
''Wen, Bridget did. It's all the
same.
No, it isn't ma'am. She's so ugly
that she'd make any milk sour. Now,
as you are very handsome, why, when
you get the milk, ma'am--"
Il didn't think of that. I'll get the
milk myself after this. Epoch.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-01
KIND WORDS.

O, keep not back kind words, pray,
From those who journey day by day
With US along life's rugged way.
They come with help in time OF need,
Ana every one becomes a seed
That grows into a helpful deed.
You may not see, / may not know,
The deeds TO which our kind words grow;
But they are never lost, know.
Sometime and somewhere we shall find
All kind words gathered, as men bind
The wheat, and leave no sheaf behind
And from that storehouse OF good deeds
Grown from all kind words scattered seeds
We each shall draw to suit our needs.
They cost US little; grudge them not,
But scatter them in every spot,
And brighten with them many a lot.
-Eben E. Rexford, in N. Y. Ledger.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-01
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Three Sailors Repulse a Hundred
Desperate Savages.

Under Pretext of Friendship the Blood
thirsty Demons Get Alongside a Help
less SehoOner-Aid From an
Unexpected Quarter.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-01

in 1860 the ladies Of the country
wore 81, 464, 900 worth of wire in their
hoop-skirts. =
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
TIE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.
Medical Journal Thinks This Country
Will Not suffer Greatly.

Medical journal Thinks This Country
Will Not Suffer Greatly.
Tho Medical Record, in speaking about
the epidemic influenza, says that this dis
ease travels rapidly, and has been known to
make all Europe sneeze within six weeks.
1t used to be thought that this disease moved
in cycles of 100 years. Although such an
idea has long been abandoned, it is a curl
GUS fact that the influenza prevailed in
America 100 years ago, and DR.. John War
ren, in a letter to DIR. Lettsom, says that
''our beloved President is now recovering
from severe and dangerous attack"
In 1880 an epidemic started in China. It
reached Russia in January, 1881, and by
MAY it had spread to Western Europe. but
it only reached this country in January,
1882. and then prevailed but slightly. A
severer epidemic started in Russia in De-
cember, 1886. and rapidly spread over Eu-
rope, but America was not affected. About
ten years ago an epidemic prevailed in the
United States. North America, however,
does not seem to be very favorable to the de-
velopment of epidemic influenza in its worst
forms, and it is not likely that we shall have
a severe visitation.
The disease is not dangerous, except some
times to children or the aged. 1t is believed
to be due to some micro-organism that floats
in the air and infeets the human system, but
is generally killed in so doing, for the dis
ease is very slightly, if at all, contagious.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22

known to all acquainted with geography,
that the earth revolves about the sun, with
the north pole pointing in the direction of
the north star, that is, that the axis of the
earth leans over from the perpendicular
23& degrees and maintains this position in
all parts of the orbit.
This statement requires some limitation.
Astronomers and geogrsphers uniformly
teach, that the pole pointG toward the pole
star, and that the axis of the earth, is
parallel to itself, in all parts of the orbit
This is not strictly true since procession
causes the axis to be constantly deviating
from this parallelism. During the 25, 800
years, the north pole sweeps round through
AZ degrees of space, by a motion similar to
that of the hands of a clock and not per
saltum. Hence, while such statement is
true enough temporarily, = is not true for
secular periods.
. From this statement, it will readily be
seen that for one-half the year the north
pole points toward the sun, and for the
other half points away from it. During our
summer IN the Northern Hemisphere the
pole points in the direction of the sun, and
away from it in the winter. But we are
now having our winters while near peri
helion, or nearest point to the sun, and our
summers while away at the other end of the
earth's orbit. Now reverse these conditions,
or conceive them to be reversed, as they
will be in 900 years by procession, and
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
A DOG HIRES A CAB.
The Clever Ruse of a Pet to Get Carried
Home.

OASNS@ -
Home.
Someone, writing to an English paper,
tells this story of clever dog: "You know
how much 1 rush about in hanson cabs, %
said the narrator, land Scott, my Icollie
dog, always goes with me. We travel many
miles in a week together in this way, but
on one occasion I was walking and missed
him. Search was in vain. The crowd
was great, traffic drowned the sound
of my whistle, and, after waiting while
and looking elsewhere, returned to my
suburban home without my companion, sor-
rowful, yet hoping that he might find his
way back. In about two hours after nv ar
rival hanson cab drove up to the door, and
out Jumped Scott. The cabman rang for his
fare, and, thinking he had somehow cap
tured the runaway, 1 inquired how and
where he found him.
'Oh, sir, said the cabby, st didn't hail
him at all; he hailed me. I was standing
close by st. James Church, looking out
for fare, when in jumps the dog. Like
his impudence, SAYS I. So shouts through
the window, but he wouldn't stir. So gets
down and tries to pull him out, and shows
him my whip, but he sits still and barks, as
much as to say, Go on, old mani AS 1
seizes him by the collar read his name
and address. All right, my fine gentle
man, says 1, TIL drive you where you're
wanted, dare say" So shuts the door,
and my gentleman settles himself with his
head just looking out and drives on till
stops at this here gate, when out jumps
my passenger, a-clearlng the door, and
walks in as calm as though he'd been q
liar fare" ~
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
STORY OF A WELSH GIANT.
he Threw a Man nnd His Donkey over a
High Stone Wall.

He Threw a Man nnd His Donkey Over a
high Stone Wall.
Sir Nicholas Kemeys, Bart, of Cefn
Mably, was accounted one of the strongest
men Of his day, and a tradition of him, cor
roborative of his great strength, still exists
in Glamorganshire. The story runs, that
one summer evening as Sir Nicholas was
walking in the Deer Park at Cefn Mably
with some guests, an athletic man leading
an ass, upon which was his wallet, ap-
preached. and, respectfully saluting the
company, said he humbly supposed that the
huge gentleman he had the honor Of ad-
dressing was the strong Sir Nicholas
Kemeys. The stranger, being answered in
the affirmative, declared himself noted
Cornish wrestler who had never been
thrown, and that having heard from a
Welshman, whom he had met at Bristol, of
the great bodily strength of Sir Nicholas,
had made this journey to see His Honor,
adding that if it we're not asking too great
a favor, he trusted Sir Nicholas would con-
descend to try fall with him. The baro-
net, smiling, assented, but advised the Cor
nishman first to go to the buttery and get
refreshment
The Cornishman declined with many
thanks, saying he was quite fresh; SO they
fell 20 wrestling, and in moment the
Cornishman was thrown upon his back.
The baronet, assisting him to rise. asked
him il he was now satisfied of his strength.
The reply was, Not unless you throw me
over the park wallp The tale continues to
say that this request was readily complied
with, when the unsatis6ed wrestler en-
treated that Sir Nicholas would throw his
ass after him over the wall, which was &C
cordingly donel
A place is still shown in the ancient park
wall as the scene of the exploit. A fine
picture now at Cefn Mably. in the posses
sion of Colonel Kemeys-Tynte, represents
Sir Nicholas as of great stature and appar-
ent gigantic strength. He was subsequently
killed at Chepstow Castle, in defending it
against the troops of Cromwell, having
slain many OF the enemy with his own
hand in the sortie in which he fell.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22

gan for any one year; then the equinoxes for
the following year will not begin att this point,
but will be deferred until the earth advances
50.1 seconds of space or q, 900 miles further
forward. The same will occur the following
year and for all subsequent years, until the
equinoxes will have completed the entire
circuit of the heavens. This will require a
period of about %, SEQ years, when the equi-
noxes will be restored, and similar series
of changes commence to move. But what
we are most interested in, are the effects
upon the earth, as the result of this move
ment.
1t will be remembered that the annual
motion of the earth, or its motion around
the sun, takes place in an oblong or clip
tical orbit, and that there are two points in
the orbit unequally distant from the sun,
the one, the perihelion, being about 8, 3,0OO,-
900 miles nearer the sun than the other, the
aphelion.
Now, if this difference in the distance of
these two points was double what it is the
globe would be unsuited to life such as now
exists upon it, because the climatic condi-
tions resulting therefrom would be so in
tensifed in their extremes as to utterly de-
stroy all forms of organic life. We know
by experience that if the summers were
few degrees hotter and the winters few de-
grees colder how animal life would suffer
and existence be jeopardized thereby. and
such extremes would follow any increase in
the eccentricity of
THE EARTH'S ORBIT.
Now at the end Of IL 900 years, procession
will produce the same changes in the sea-
sons of the earth, as an increase in eccen-
tricity, which, as already said, would
extinguish all forms of life. To make this
fact Ineligible to those unacquainted with
the science of astronomy, 1 shall endeavor
to be as explicit as the circumstances of the
case will allow. It is conceded, that there
are some points sufficiently recondite, to re-
quire an effort of thought, to grasp, tits
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22


In the year A. D. 1900 our winters began
in perihelion. Then, of course, they were
of the mildest type. Since that time, how
ever. procession has carried the earth for
ward, so that the winter now begins at a
point 1000, 900 miles farther forward in the
direction of the aphelion, and, of course, as
we are approaching the aphelion, every
winter must intensity, as the result, in a
very small degree, but will not be appre-
cable to our sensations until after the lapse
of ages. In 6, 400 years the seasons will be
advanced three months Winter will begin
September 81; spring, December %; sum-
mer, March 81; autumn, June q. At the
end of Il, 800 years the seasons will be re-
versed. The summer will be in December
and winter in June. Autumn will be in
March and spring in September. The north
pole of the earth will point toward
the sun in perihelion and from the sun in
aphelion. The summers will occur while
the earth is at the perihelion, or near
est point to the sun, and will
be many degrees hotter than now,
while the winters will occur at the
aphelion, or farthest point from the sun,
and will be so intense that solid ice-cap
from the North in the form of vast glaciers,
thousands of feet thick, will creep down
perhaps as far as the southern boundaries of
pennsylvania, and in Europe and Asia, to
the north boundary of France and China,
destroying all life in its advance. This,
repeat is no fancy sketch. Geology points
out indelibIe evidences of those periods
which have taken place in times past, en-
craven upon the solid rocks of the globe,
such periods being known as the glacier
periods. 1t was during the last Of those
periods that the mammoth mastodon and
many other abnormal types of animated ex-
istences, which inhabited the primeval
earth and whose remains are now found in
fossil state, were destroyed.
The existence 'of these facts in science,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
TELLING STRANGERS AGES.
Not as DimcuIt as it Seems Affer You
Know How.

Not az DiGIcult as ir Seems After You
Know How.
Punxsutawney Spirit.1
''Give me list of the names Of the men
in any city or town in this country, and
without ever having seen or heard of them,
I will tell you half their ages" said .
prominent citizen yesterday.
How can you do that?" asked an in-
credulous bystander.
'Simply by the initials of their names.
In the first place you must remember that
about half Of the male population of this
country have been named after Presidents of
the United States or candidates for Prssi-
dent, and all you have to do is to know
when these Presidential candidates were at
the zenith of their popularity OF course
exceptions must be made of George Wash
ington and Andrew jackson, for people
have not quit naming their boys after these
nlustrious men to this day."
'For instance, here is the name Of W. II.
Johnson-William Henry Harrison was
elected President in 1886. consequently Mr..
johnson is about 50 years old. Here is W.
Scott Smith-Winfeld Scott ran for Presi-
dent in 1852 Smith is therefore about 81
years old. The next name on the list is A.
L. North-Abraham Lincoln was elected
President in 1860. Mr.. North is therefore
about % years of age. Now take the next
NJ. f. Smathers. Millard Fillmore was a
candidate for President in 1856. NJ. T.
Smathers is therefore, in all probability,
about 80 years old. And so on. By study
ing the Christian names of men you can
figure out the ages of many of them very
closely"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
CONSUMPTION,

IN its first stages, can be successfully
checked by the prompt use Of Ayers
Cherry Pectoral. Even in the later
periods of that disease, the cough is
wonderfully relieved by this medicine.
at have used Ayers Cherry Pectoral
with the best effect in my practice.
This wonderful preparation once saved
my life. had a constant cough, night
sweats, was greatly reduced in flesh,
and given up by my physician. One
bottle and half of the Pectorai cured
me."-A- J. Edison, M. D., Middleton,
Tennessee.
"Several years ago I was severely i'll.
The doctors said was in consumption,
and that they could do nothing for me,
but advised me, as last resort, to try
Ayers Cherry Pectoral. After taking
this medicine two or three months I
was cured, and my health remains good
to the present day."-James Birchard,
Darien, Conn.
"Several years ago, on passage homo
from California, by water, I contracted
so severe a cold that for some days
was confined to my state-room, and
physician on board considered my life
in danger. Happening to have bottle
Of Ayers Cherry Pectoral, used it
freely, and my lungs were soon restored
to q healthy condition. Since then 1
have invariably recommended this prep
aration."-J. B. Chandler, Junction, Va
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
HUNTING A LOST GOLD MINE.
A Party of Adventurers Looking for the Lost
Adams Placer Beds.

Old man Adams, of the 'Lost Adams
gold diggings. with party of adventures
from California, who have a physician
with them to look after the old mans
health, arrived at Navajo Springs, on the
Atlantic and Pacific road, few days
ago, and after nights rest left for a
hunt for the diggings. Mr.. Adams is
now under the impression that the lost
mines are about 12O miles south of Gallup,
and the Californians are accompanying him
with view of ascertaining the truthfulness
OF his story. He claims to have encountered
near the Arizona-NeW Mexico line placer
beds of fabulous worth 20 years ago, but
was prevented from working them because
of the hostile Apaches that have operated
through that region until five years ago.
No less than dozen large parties have at va
rious times been out in search of these gold
fields. but without result.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
BOXED SENATOR GORMAN's EARS.
When the Veteran DOOrkeeper,C Captain Bass
seIt, Did the CuminE.5

When the Veteran DOOrkeeper,C Captain Bass
seIf, Did the Cuming.5
Washington Post.i
"DO you remember Senator German az
page in the Senate, f" asked Post reporter
of Captain Bassett, who for half century
has been familiar to visitors at the Capitol,
having had supervision over the pages for
the Senate for nearly that length OF time.
Remember him." answered the captain
with something of sparkle in his eye..
I've boxed his ears many time. He was
one of the bad boys. I remember that Sem
ator Beck had young German before him
one day giving him lecture about some
thing. He called me over to him and said,
See here, Bassett, have just been telling
German that if he doesn't behave himself
frst-class after this, I'll have to get you to
box his ears When a page young Cor
man was up to all sorts of pranks that the
Imagination could contrive. He was very
energetic and never seemed too tired, how
ever long the session may have been strung
out, to enter into mischief of some kind"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
A Wild Excuae.

Journal Of Education.1
The following is an exact copy of note
of excuse recently received by teacher in
a city school:
Miss T.-Please excuse Louis for being ab-
stand because he whence with me TO the ball
a Monday night and cep him home from
school that he could rest himself
MRS. A.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22

rejected it. There seemed to be no neutral
ground. Scarcely any could be found, who
had not made up their minds and were just
as ready to express decided opinion of
their views, whether for or against the
theory. Scientific men went over to
Mr.. Darwin's views bodily. But few
escaped the contagion. There was one, how