davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
The Ancient Ratterinp- Rams.

They exerted greater power than any
gun or cannon invented up to the year
1860. These battering-rams were
probably as effective in knocking
down wall or staving in the side of q
ship as the best modern cannon, but
for making a breach, the guns are far
superior. Such was the solidity and
thickness of the walls Of Jerusalem
that, Josephus tells Us, it took all of
one night for an enormous battering-
ram to dislodge four stones!
Vitruvius has left us the description
of a ram weighing $50, 900 pounds; but
probably the most celebrated OF all am
cient moving-tower rams was that con-
structed by Demetrius Poliorcetes at
the siege of Rhodes. The base of the
tower was seventy-five feet square.
The ram itself was an assembly of
large square beams resting on wheels
in size proportional TO the weight of
the structure. and all riveted together
with iron. The felloes of the wheels
were three feet thick and strengthened
with iron plates From each of the
four angles Of the tower large pillar
of wood was carried up TO height of
80 feet, and these pillars were inclined
toward one another The tower had
three stories, communicating by two
staircases each. Three sides of the
machine were plated with iron to pro-
tect them against fire. In front OF
each story there were loop-holes,
screened by leather curtains, TO keep
out darts. arrows, etc. Each story was
provided with machines for throwing
large stones and darts; and in the low
er story was the ram itself, thirty
fathoms long, and fashioned ut the end
into an iron beak, o." prov. The en-
tire machine was moved forward by
$500 soldiers.
But it can easily be understood ttat
among so many men some must be
more or less exposed to the enemy's
darts and arrows; and so 60 drive the
enemy from the walls and open places
to break the roofs OF his houses, and
otherwise annoy him, machines were
necessary for throwing missiles, from
small darts up TO huge powders, From
Ancient and Modern Artillery" by
Lieutenant w. Il. Hamilton, in St.
Nicholas for April.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
Three Kinds of POps.

There are three varieties of popping
the question now in ogue-the pop
hesitate, the pop deliberate and the
pop prccipitate. New York inclines to
the hesitating pop. Philadelphia has
long favored the deliberate pop, so
much so that courtship has been known
10 extend almost from the cradle to
the grave before the preacher got a
job. Years are sometimes consumed
in studying out each others pedigree.
But in the west it is very different.
There the pop precipitate reigns and
it is no uncommon thing for a woman
TO get an offer on sight. The other
day in st. Louis Boston widow found
husband in an hour. The Arkansas
man who popped meant business, and
gave her a minute to decide. West
ward tho hope of spinsters takes its
WnV.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
British Army Equipments.

A great sensation has been caused in
England by the somewhat startling dis
covery that all the uniforms and ac-
coutrements Of the British Army are
made In French convict prisons. and that
men have been sent over from England
TO teach the prisoners how to finish them
off in good shape. When this is taken
in conjunction with the fact that all the
bayonets and swords used by Queen Vic
toria's soldiers are imported from Ger
many it must be admitted that the
British manufacturers have some ground
for discomfort.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23

sting screw, furnished with twelve
threads to the inch, thereby enabling IT,,
by the one revolution, to open or close
the oritce, so that the rifle was thereby
capable of being discharged, it had been
claimed, as rapidly as Halls UGited
States nintlock carbine. The acceler-
ating screw constituted the breech OF
the piece. only instead of being hori-
zontal, as is usually the case, it was YER
teal. Had there not been as many as
twelve independent threads to the screw
it would have required two or three
revolutions to close the orifce of the
breech-loader.
1t may be fairly claimed that the in
ventor of the Ferguson breech-loading
rifle Of 1850 was three-quarters of n CEN
fury in advance of the small-arms ord
nance Of the period.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
A GREAT DISCOVERY.
Apparently Harmless Symptoms
Prove 10 be a Mine II
Danger.
Some Scientific Facts which Are
Arousing the Commv 1ity.
The True Source of Heart Disease and
ApOplexy Made Public.
A Terrible Danger That Can
BE Readily Avoided.
HOW 1T MAY BE DONE.

There is no fact now more certain than
that sudden deaths are not caused by heart
disease, apoplexy or paralysis, but
by other infrmites Of which death IL only
the final stage And physicians and scien-
fists all agree that rheumatism in some one
Of its many forms is this cause which has
stood in the background so long and caused
so much misery. Any man, woman or child
troubled with the slightest muscular rheu-
matism is in danger, and danger from
which instant escape is imperative. A man,
well known in this community, awoke with
a feeling of pam in his muscles He took q
cold bath, thinking the reaction would
drive the pain from his system. 1t did drive
|. il from his limbs, but it went to his heart
and before night he was dead. This is only
one of many similar cases. They all show
the necessity of driving rheumatism, which
is a blood disease out of the blood, and for
this purpose no modern discovery has ever
equaled Hibbard's Rheumatic Syrup. Mr..
G.. ID. DEMO of Jackson, Mich, who was
paralyzed on one side, was completely cured
by its use, and believes he would have been
in his grave today If he had not fortunately
learned of and taken this great remedy.
Should anyone who reads these lines be
afflicted even in a slight degree by any
rheumatic trouble, we would earnestly
warn them against a delay which may
prove fatal.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
THE CAMP FIRE.
The Battle Of Apia Bay-The First
BreechloadeT,
The Battle or ApIa nay.
March 10. 1889.

March 10, $780,
The portfolios black looked over the bay
To the ports on the other side;
And the gun in each grim square portfolio
dim
Is guarding natica's pride.
Two fleets are they In an alien sea,
And whether as friends or fees,
TAU the diplomats prattle decides ttesr
battle,
Nor sailor nor captain knows.
But strange to each is the sun that starts
The pitch in the white decks seams,
While the watch, half-dozing with eyes half
closing,
Go home IN their waking dreams.
And strange is the land that lies shout,
And the folk with faces brown,
To the Pommerland boy with the yellow
beard
And the boy from Portland town.
And each locks over the bay to each
Is the end Of it piece or WARP
And the wish that's best in each brave young
breast,
Is the wish for arun ashore.
Death came out of The sea last night
Death is abroad this morn
The water is over the war-ship's PROV,
And her snowlwhite sails are torn.
And the bright blue waves that leap to
catch
The CLINT OF the tropic sun
Roll overhead. and beneath are the dead,
For the battle Is fought.and won.
There's the Pommerland boy with his yell
low beard,
And the Maine b,2; bearded brown;
And there's weeping sore on Pommerland
shore:
There are tears in Portland town.
o ships that guard two nations pride,
Death had no need for We!
They went to their fate through no man :
hate
Deaths servant was the Sea.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23

IfrtTadition and circumstantial evidence
can be relied on, Maj. Ferguson was
empowered to arm and drill his troops
according to his own ideas. Maj. Fer
gueon entered the army in Flanders at
the age of Is. Those who support the
claim that breech-loader was used up
on American soil, many years before the
birth at Sommerda of the inventor Of
the Prussian Nicholas Dreyse needle
gun say that had Ferguson lived
it was his purpose to place in the
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
FIRST BREEcH-LoApER USED IN WAR.

FIRST BREECH-LOADER USED IL WAR.
wound. Oriskany was riAemans bat
tie; that of Kings mountain, Oct. Z,
1850, was another. The latter was the
turning-point of the war at the south.
At Kings mountain n eech-loadng
rife was used. The arm was the inven-
tion of Maj. Patrick Ferguson, British
officer of the Seventy-first regulars.
This is the first instance where breech-
loading rifle was used as a weapon of
war upon the battlefield of any country.
Maj. Ferguson was defeated, killed and
buried at Kings mountain, and perhaps
it Svas fortunate for the American troops
that he was. The arm devised by him
has been photographed. One of these
rifles was captured by Col. Isaac Shelby.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
Changeable Weather.

Mrs. Blinks-You're not going out IN,
those thin clothes and with no over
coat?
Mr.. Blinks-Why, yes. 1t is as
warm and balmy as day in summer.
You'll repent it.
Nonsense; I'll risk it."
Mrs. Blinks Ga few minutes later)-
What are you back for?
my buffalo-skin overcoat. The
weather changed before ! got TO the
street cars." Chicago Herald
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
BERDAU's sHARp-sHoorrRs. 1862.

from this spring and thrown around by
revolution, a plug descended from the
the upper side of the barrel sufficient for
The insertion of ball and cartridge or
Dose charge. The plug was an accelsr-
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
Announcements for the summer.

Harry, where shall we go for the
SUMMER"
Harry-Isn't it rather early to talk
of thatP
"Well no. / must begin to make my
plans at once"
"Well, decide yourself You did last
year, you know. just pick out place
again where we will escape every
human comfort-and that will meet my
notion of a summer resort exactly
Chicago Heral
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
Drunken Freak.

a drunken tinsmith at Warasdin.
Hungary, assembled the lofty steeple of
the Franciscan Church by means of the
lightning conductor, and stood upright
on the cross at the top. He remained in
his perlIous position for fully fifteen
minutes. and delivered speech to the
crowd that was watching him from be-
low. Afterward he calmly descended
70 the ground without being in any way
hurt
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
The button Bill.

The Illinois bill making il a mis1e-
peanor for any one not member Of the
G. II. to wear the badge or button Of
that society has become a law.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
Report on Women's Work.

The late congress authorized the pub
LEGATION OF the fourth annual report OF
the Commissioner OF Labor, which deals
exclusively with the condition of thu
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
The First BreechIoader.

ut the battle of OrisiIany, Tryon
county, n. ", Aug. 6, 1777, bluff old
Gen. Herklmer formed his men in a
circle and paired them off so that one
man could watch and shoot whilst the
other loaded The general calmly pro-
duced his Undertook and smoked his
pipe after lac had received his death
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23

ployed is generally happy. II you are not
happy it may be because you have not found
your proper work We earnestly urge all
such persons to write to Ii. F. Johnson d
Co., 1909 Main St, Richmond, Va, and they
can show you a work in which you can be
happily and profitably employed.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23

rSFANTRYMAN, 1776. INFANTRYMAS, 1870.
hands Of his troops breech- loading rife
with a variety of Improvements now
considered as Of "a recent aud modern
invention. The length of the rife was
fifty inches; weight only seven and one
half pounds. The gear sight was so ar
ranged that by eleN2ting 1T it was adapt
ed to ranges carrying from 100 to 500
yards. It's greatest curiosity was the
arrangement for loading at the breeoh.
The guard plate which protected tho
trigger was held in position by 8 spring
ut the end nearest the butt. Released
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23

Massachusetts has q, 600 scholars in her
evening schools
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
WHY YOU SHOULD USE
SCOTS EMULSION
OF COD LIVER OIL WITH
HYPoPHosPHITEs.
1t Is used and endorsed by PhJ-
sicidns because it is the best.

H % uSCh oHU CHttOFoC" W II ~
sicidns because it is the best.
It is palatable as Milk.
t is three times as eficacious as
plain Cod Liver Oil.
It is far superior to all other So
called Emulsions.
It is a perfect Emulsion, does net
separate or change.
It is wonderful as a flesh producer
It is the best remedy for consump.
ton. Scrofula, Bronchitis, Vast
ing Diseases, Chronic Cough and
Colds.
Sold by all Druggists.
ccOTT A. BOVINE CHrMIsrs NJ v.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25
Vermont Troops to go to New York.

The commissioners appointed by
Governor Dillingham; to represent
the state of Vermont and arrange for
proper representation of the nation
al guard at the centennial celebration
at the Inauguration of General George
Washington, which occurs in New
York on April 80, have completed ar
rangements for the transportation of
the entire militia force of the state
comprising twelve companies of in
fantry, the light battery and band;
the whole constituting a force of
abont 767 officers and men. The
troops propose to furnish their own
ratiens for the four days trip, and
will also contribute a large share of
the expense, as we'll as volunteering
to serve without pay. The commits
sioners say they shall need some
5000 to make up the amount neces-
sary to meet the expense, and as the
legislature is not in session, of course,
they are left without adequate funds
At this date almost every state in the
Union has reported that they will be
represented with troops on this occa-
sion. 1t therefore becomes necessary
to appeal to the patriotism and liber-
ality of our citizens, and they call
upon the sons of Vermont to main
tain the honor and reputation of the
Green Mountain state. They ask
prompt attention to their request, land
direct all subscriptions to be sent to
VIM. II. Gilmore quartermaster-ge
eraD treasurer, Fairlee, Vt. With
the consent of the donor, subscrip-
tions to this fund will be duly ac-
knowledged through the columns of
the state press.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25
A Firsrate Appointment.

The nomination of Mr.. Whitelaw
Reid to the French mission is a fit
ting recognition of his position and
services as the editor of the Tribune
for so many years. 1t is a just COM
pliment to journalism in general and
to the Tribune in particular. 1t is
personal compliment that is entirely
deserved. 1t is selection that will
commend itself to the best newspaper
men and politicians of both parties.
The fact that there has been SO
common an expectation that the Eng
lish mission would be offered to Mr..
Reid is complimentary to him, but
does not justify the assumption that
any consideration of q personal char
acter to him prevented his receiving
that honor. If, as seems to be un-
derstood, the president insisted that
the minister to the court of St. James
should be an able and experienced in
ternational lawyer, there are obvious
reasons why this point should have
been made. Our relations and con-
troversies with England have been
such that our minister to that country
can not be too fully equipped with a
thorough knowledge of all the facts
and the laws and treaties and previ-
Gus negotiations and settlements that
will have to be considered and refer
red to in any complete and satisfac-
tory settlement of the outstanding
questions and contentious between
the two countries. 1t is because of
these considerations that the sugges-
tion has been naturally made that
Senator Evarts would be appointed.
The French mission will be one of
unusual Importance this year. The
relations between the French repub-
lie and this country are liable to be-
come very much strained, and Mr..
Reid's judgment, tact, and natural
diplomatic qualities will be of great
service. The great Paris Exhibition
will make the French capital the CEN
ter of European interest, and Mr..
Reid will be admirably qualified to
make the American Legation a most
attractive rendezvous for Americans
and source of influence in behalf
of American interests represented in
the exhibition.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25
The Small Salary of Senators.

The resignation of Senator Chace
upon the threshold of his second term
of six years has aroused renewed in
terest in a subject that is bound to
receive early and earnest considera-
ton in Congress. Senator Chace in
private, gives as the reason why he
can no longer serve his state and
country as a legislator, that the COM
pensation of a senator was not suffi-
cient to warrant him In longer neg
lecting his business. He has express
ed the opinion that he is considerably
poorer for his legislative experience
than he would have been had he re-
mained at the head of his business
and directed it during the past II or
10 years. He is one of the largest
cotton manufacturers in New Eng
land, and several times during the
recent tariff debate in the Senate,
evinced his familiarity with that
subject in its relations to the industry
to which he was interested, and gave
valuable assistance to his republican
colleagues in the discussion of the
Senate substitute for the Mills bill.
The question of increasing the COM
penSatiOn of congressman has been
receiving the earnest attention of SEN
ators especially of late, and there is
an overwhelming sentiment among
them in favor of making the salary of
congressman $4,000 year instead
OF $4,000 as it is at present. Mem
bers of the House of Representatives
while thoroughly in sympathy with
the senators on this point, are not yet
ready to 60 the full length desired by
them, fearing a repetition of the out
break visited upon the Congress Of
1913 for its action on the salary ques
ton. But it is argued by the advo
Gates of the increased salary tba
what the people were indignant abou
then was the "back pay grab fea
ture, and that if the increase wer
made to date from the end of the SIS
Congress there would be no seriou
opposition to it.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25

1000 tons each. One of these will
be big ship, and the 5,300-ton ves-
sci will be bigger than anything we
now have afoat. Then there are to
be very fast ram for harbor defense,
a cruiser of the Vesuvius class, also
very fast; two small cruisers of POO
tons, and last, but not least, sub
merging armed steel cruising monitor
of 3 200 tons.
The speech made by Secretary Ira
CIV at the Hamilton Club last Satur-
day evening is sufficient evidence, if
any were needed, that the depart
ment, while he is its head, will de-
vote its energies to the completion of
these plans and the creation of a navy
which may enable us to make our
selves respected in all quarters of the
world. He has magnificent oppor
tunity, and no one who knows him
can doubt that he will use it magnifi-
Gently. At the end of four years he
may be able to say that he found our
navy wooden and left it steel.-MaI
Dc Express.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25
The New Navy.

There are now in the service of the
United States four or, perhaps, five
ships that can be called modern in
material and design. None of them
are line-of-battle ships, and none of
them are meant for a stand-up fight
with such a ship; but they could, in
a pinch, make things unpleasant for
any but the strongest class of foreingn
vessels, and in cruising, the service
for which they were intended, they
would no doubt prove highly effective.
Before the present Secretary of the
Navy retires from Office it may be
reasonable expected that our fleet will
contain about thirty more war vessels,
majority of them rather small, but
of great efficiency in the service for
which they are intended. The new
gunboat Yorktown has already had
her trial trip, and seems to have prov
en- herself a success. The Charles
ton, at San Francisco, is practically
complete, and will be ready for sea
in a short time. The Baltimore is
also nearly ready. The reconstructed
old monitors, Miantonomoh, Puritan,
Terror, Monadnock and Amphitrite,
are expected to be ready for service
within the year. The new battleship
Maine has recently been begun at the
Brooklyn yard. The Texas, the ship
which is to be built on English de-
signs furnished by the Barrow Ship
building Company, is begun. The
cruisers San Francisco, Bennington,
Concord and Philadelphia are in
course of construction.
In addition to these vessels, pro-
vision has been made by the last two
Congresses for twelve additional
ships. Two of these are to be steel
cruisers of 5000 tons displacement
one a steel cruiser of $500 tons one
! of 1900 tons, and three gunboats OF
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON. Mar. 18Th.
Missouri seems to have a large
slice of official pie and to be holding
out her unoccupied hand while she
ever and anon takes the slice out of
her mouth to cry for more. Chauncey
J. Filley is running like two-year-
old, although he has not yet made
up his mind what to expect. He did
wish to be consul-general to London,
but the president ''jest actually laff-
ed" and Mr.. Blaine told the delega-
ton bluntly that the position was not
in the market. From that it would
appear that John c. New has secured
the place, though Mr.. News friends
swear that he is booked for the Aus
trian mission.
Vienna is the gayest, not to say
most reckless, capital in Europe, land
few years there would be season
of paradise, of a certain sort. The
The consul-generalship at London is,
however, not to be lightly estimated,
although the social position is below
that of an ambassador. All the de-
lights of the worlds greatest city and
the ease of official position beyond
the reach of small office seekers pre-
sent themselves. And then the emol-
mystery, amount to 100000 or S40,-
900 year. Really | am unable to
see how a man who has always been
as generous to himself as Mr.. New,
can find it in his big Indiana heart to
refuse the position-if he can get it.
1t appears this morning that Presi-
dent Harrison will appoint ''Corpor-
aP' Tanner to be commissioners of
pensions. If so, it will be his first
appointment of a candidate that has
not the solid support of his state del
egation for a purely national office.
Last week Tanner friends felt this to
be his fatal weakness and really more
! of an injury to his cause than the
charge that he was mentally and
physically unable to perform the du-
/ ties of the position. Major Poole, his
| Syracuse opponent, had developed
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25

The danger point in Europe just
now is the Danube. Austria is mass
ing troops on the Servian frontier at
Bahia, Semlin, and two other equi-
distant points. Tugs and barges are
held in readiness to transport troops.
The railway authorities at Temesvar
and other functions have been order
ed to provide transportation for 20,-
900 soldiers at twelve hours notice.
Meantime the proposal to reduce the
Servian army one-half, and the cor
dial personal relations of eX-King
Milan with the Emperor Franz Josef,
seem to indicate that the recent abdi-
cation of the former was part of a
deep-laid scheme to defeat Russian
intrigue by facilitating the occupation
of Servia by Austria. This is serious
news, if true. Russia will not toler-
ate any further encroachment, on the
part of Austria, upon the Balkan
States. Russia has behaved with re-
markable patience while her rival,
occupying Bosnia and Herzegovina
in accordance with the Berlin treaty
for percification purposes merely,
has contrary to that treaty, made her
occupation a practical annexation.
She will put up with no second ex-
pertinent of the kind. If Austria is
determined to have Servia, she must
fight for it; and the first movement
which she makes, therefore, to cross
the Danube, will precipitate the long
DELAYED European war.