davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
The National Capitol.

THE Samoan conference has practically
finished its labors. The protocol is drawn
up, will be signed on the 8Gh inst, and
the American commissioners are prapar-
ing TO return home.
The president has appointed Charles
L. Knapp, of New York, to be consul gen
eral Of the United States at Montreal,
and Alexander Reid, of Wisconsin, to be
consul a. Dublin.
SIR JULIAN PAUNoEFoTE is making a
good impression i'll Washington, and
seems inclined so admire America and
Americans.
JUSTICE GRAY, of the United States su-
preme court, and Miss J Jeanette Maths ws,
daughter of the. late Justice Matthews,
we've married Wednesday night at Wash
ington, D. G.
PRIVATE SECRETARY HALFoRD received
telegram Wednesday afternoon from his
wife at Altoona, announcing that Mrs.
Lew Wallace was with her and safe.
The secretary of war denied the ap-
plication of Capt. Huntington, of the
Milwaukee Light Horse Squadron, for
permission to camp with Co. I, First
Regiment Cavalry, next August.
IHE secEthiry OF war mas ueclaeQ 20
purchase as new site for Fort Omaha
tract Of land of $40 acres, about eight
miles from Omaha, which can be had for
about So, 900.
AT the request of Secretary Proctor,
Gen. Townsend (retired) has officially
identified the large flag now on exhibi-
ton in the secretary's office, as that which
draped the casket of President Lin
coin.
The result of the Armes court-mertial
has been announced. The court found
him guilty and sentenced him to dismis-
sal, but President Harrison COMMITTED
the sentence to confinement within such
limits as the secretary of war may pre-
scribe for five years, and the deprivation
of his rights to wear his uniform during
the same period. This does not deprive
him of his salary.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
1t Burned Like finder.

STEVENS POINT, June 6. Three per sons
burned to death in the st. James hote,
In this city, destroyed by IRE las
night. The bodies have been recovered
IN badly charred condition, nothing
but thsir sexes being recognizable. It
seems that Charles Oatball, the night
clerk, and Maggie Reilly, servant, had
escaped to the fret floor, but afterwards
returned to the second floor to get their
clothing. The position in which the bod
les were found, within about five feet from
window, with one of OatbaIl's
arms still about the girls neck, Indicates
that he had made nobld attempt to save
the life of the young woman, to whom he
was engaged. The other victim, Miss In
gerberg Dyreson, the pastry cook, was 81
years of age, and has two brothers living
in this city and one sister living in New
Hope. Her remains we're found several
feet from the others. Catball was about
25 years of age and has been employed at
the ST. James aud Commercial hotels for
several years. His home was near Am
herst. The home of Miss Reilly is near
Briggsville, Marquette county.
4 jury was mpaneled this morning,
and aftea viewing the remains and scene
of the fire adjourned until Monday morn
ing at 9 o'clock. The fire originated in
the oil room at s O'Clock last evening,
but whether caused by lamp exploding
or otherwise is not definitely known.
The hotel belonged to Garrett Clary.
Mrs. Hogan, the managers wife, saved
the life of her baby by throwing it out
Of a second story window, after which
she jumped into the arms of those. who
were waiting upon the outside.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
The Effeet in Business.

New YoRK,-R. G. Dun il Co.'S
Weekly Review of trade will say: The
calamity at Johnstown has seriously in
terupted business at many points. Other
disasters by food in Pennsylvania, Mary
land, New York and the V1rginias have
involved enormous loss of property, in
terrupted traffic even more than the
blizzard of last year, and entirely changed
the situation In the eastern lumber, coal,
iron and steel trades. Producing com
panles of the first importance have sud-
IDENTITY ceased operations, and their orders
must be filled by Others or delayed. The
flooding of the coal mines cuts off sup
plies of fuel for manufacturing works,
and the stoppage of the Cambria mills
and furnaces, which produced yearly over
100000 tons of iron in various forms, will
affect the trade for some time. The des-
truction of more than forty bridges,
about half of them on the Pennsylvania
Railroad, besides many locomotives, cars
and miles OF track, creates sudden de-
mand which is felt in all iron and steel
markets. Vast quantities of lumber have
been swept away, and thousands of houses
and other buildings must be quickly re-
placed with vast quantity Of supplies
and stores. It is impossible as yet TO
estimate the effects in various branches
of trade, but the demand for many kinds
of iron and steel products is already felt
in frmer tone aud Advancing prices.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
The Life INSURANCE Phase.

The assessment insurance societies are
sure to sLff@r intellectually by reason of
the fearful. loss OF life in connection with
the Pennsylvania floods. Even the best
of these associations, those conducted By
secret friendly societies, cannot help feel
ing seriously the financial calls certain TO
be made upon them, while those conduct
ed only upon mere commercial basis
must fare still worse. The criticism so
often made that those socities have moth
ing, or Dext to nothing on hand with
which to inset losses, but must depend
upon the contributions OF survivors to
pay death claims, many now perhaps be
strikingly verified. PeDrsy l7ania has
been quite headquarters for Ehe5e Or
CARNATIONS, and II probable that some
of them have lost so many members that
payments of any material value to the
benefciaries will be out of the question,
though it is sincerely hoped such will not
prove to be the case.
The standard "old line" companies
need not be included in this apprehen-
sion. Their legally reserved wealth, al
ways in readiness for the payment of
claims, is dis5ursed continually at an
average rate of one and a half million
dollars per week, and though the horrible
death loss at Johnstown and vicinity will
no doubt call for unit sual payments they
will all easily be met by the regular
companies.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
The Azores.

The islands extend in en- oblique line
from northwest to southeast, between the
parallels of 81 degrees and 40 degrees
north latitude, an between % degrees and
81 degrees west longitude. Geogra phic-
ally they may be divided into three
groups: the first Or easterly group com
prises st. Michael's and st. Mary's; the
second or central group contains Ter
ceira, Graciosa, ST. George, Pico, and
Fayal; while the third or westerly group
consists of the lonely little islands of
Flores and Corvo. They are all very small
places; very good walker might almost
go round the biggest of them in a day.
Every inch of them with the exception
of curious little bit of st. Mary's, has
been fuaed and burned and charred out
of all resemblance to anything we have in
this part of the world save forge heap
or Stag hill. Each little island presents
a solid front of hard, black lava against
the ,ravages Of the great ocean which
thunders at the base of cliffs and preci-
pices hundreds of feet high. Even on
the stillest day the black rocks are edged
with an ever-moving fringe of white surf,
which leaps up against their obdurate face
or sullenly moves in among the caverns at
tHelE Dtl5e. MdFVelOuely Ierblle, TOO, are
these islands; almost anything will grow
there if it can but manage to get shelter
from the violence of the winter winds.
The hills of pumice and cinders are green
to their very tops with cedar and Juni.
per and tree-heath; the lower lands and
less exposed places grow rich OF maizs
and grain, beans, tobacco, and sweet po-
tatoes; in every little glen may be seen
the bright green shleld-shaped leaves of
'enhamo," together with enormous pend
ant fronds, six and eight feet long, of the
Woodwardia fern, springing from a car
pet ankle deep, of the densest and green
3st lycOpodium. The lava walls which
inc the RI ads and mark off the fields are
green ard gray with moss and lichen.
Here AID there are broad banana leaves,
and the crumpled leaves of 'nispera" peer
above waving rows of cane stalks. The
Stands are rich in all manner of kindly
,ruits. The vine and fig tree struggle in
Ill directions over the stony sides of Pico;
here are pumpkins anc pine apples, pas
iol flower fruit and pomegranates; the
peaches are as plentiful as the blackber-
les, and oranges and apricots are to be
lad for the asking.
Paradise and groves
Elysian Fortunate Fields-ike those of old
Sought in the A atlantic main.''
Good Words.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
CURRENT SUPERSTITIONs.

The funeral procession must not GROSS
river.
The last name dying person calls is
the next to follow
a olsh-cloth hung on door knob is a
sign OF death in family.
Inc corpse must not pass twice over
any part of the same road.
To dance on the ground Indicates dis
aster or death within a wear
whoever works on a sick PERSONS
dress, be or she will die within a wear.
If hoe be carried through q honse
some one will die before the year is ont.
1T thirteen sit at table the one who
rises first will not live through the wear.
The person on whom the sxas rs .
dying person last rest will be the frat IN
die. "
whoever counts the carriages at
passing funeral will die within the wear
To break looking glass is a sign of
death In the family before the wear
closes.
The clock should be stopped at the
time of death, as its running will bring
i'll luck.
If one dies, and no rigor mortis ensues,
1t indicates speedy second death in the
family.
If a hearse is drawn by two white horses
death in the neighborhood will occur in
month.
1t is unlucky in funeral for those
present to repass the house where death
has occurred.
If rain falls on a new, made grave there
will be another death in the family with
in the year.
If the grave is left open over Sunday
another death will occur before the Sun
| day follwing.
To keep the corpse in the house over
Sunday Will bring death in the family
before the year is out
1t is unlucky to pass through a funeral,
either between the carriages or the files
of mourners on foot.
If rain falls into an open grave an
other burial in the same cemetery will
occur within three days.
At funeral entering church before
the mouruers means death to some of the
entering party.
To put on the bonnet or hat of one in
mourning is the sign that you will wear
one before the year is out.
If any one comes TO funeral after the
procession starts another death will
occur in the same house.
Ia Switzerland, if grave is left open
over Sunday, it is said that within four
weeks one of the village will die.
If, during sickness, pair of shears be
dropped in such manner that the point
sticks into the floor, it indicates the death
of the sick person.
When woman who has been sewing
puts her thimble on the table as she sits
to eat, 1t is sign that she will be left
widow if she mGrries.
A common saying in England is:
Happy is the corpse the rain falls on"
This belief exists also ii the United
States. Thus it is said that if rain falls
at the time IF the funeral it is sign that
the dead has gone to heaven.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13

ments have been ordered to select the
participants, numbering twenty in all.
: UNITED STATES CONSUL MASON. of Mar
settles, writes to the State Department
that the effects of the general and unre-
strained absinthe drinking in France are
now recognized as forming basis of one
Of the gravest dangers which threaten the
physical and moral Welfare of the French
people.
DETROIT, Mich.-The heavy fall OF snow
for this season of the year is reported
from several parts of the state. At
SchooIcraft the snow is four inches deep,
while at Portland and Flint the average
depth is two inches, but owing to the
heavy wind it has drifted to much great
er depth. Damage to cropsls very great.
BARABoo, Wis.-The hardest frost of
the prevailing cold spell fell here We'd
nesdey mig ht, and reports from different
sections show that the corn and grain
crop is entirely ruined. The tender vege-
tation was all cut down, and in some local
tiles ice formed one-eighth of en- inch
thick.
The council between representatives of
the Sioux Indians and the Government
Commissioners, relative to the proposed
sale of certain portion of the Sioux res
ervatioL for settlement, was opened at
Rosebud Agency, South Dakota. on Tues
day afternoon.
FIVE thousand men are now engaged in
the work of cleaning away the debris and
searching for bodies at JOhnstown. The
indications are that the estimate of u 900
to $4,000 will not exceed the actual mum
Der of lives lost when ell is known. The
militia is in possession of all the town
and its approaches, and sight-seers and
curiosity seekers are debarred from enter
ing. Good order prevails 9ni the home-
less and destitute are being cared for as
amply as possible.
A Boston man invited some twenty
friends to dinner the other day, and ex-
hibited q cooking apparatus on which "a
dinner of several courses had been pre-
pared By himself in a short time, and at
cost of only 1 cent for fuel. The process
of cooking was free from fumes, and
these present were delighted With the
machine. 1t will doubtless be called the
patient cook, and will be welcomed in
place of the ordinary two-Iegged pruvi-
sion spoilers who infest the average
| household.
SPEAKING CT the Prince of Wales an
American newspaper man now Ia London
says: "PersOnaliy there is not better
fellow Warrington Broadway. He is an
all-rOund man, and his accurate knowl
edge on all sorts of subjects is simply
| phenomenal. Talk with him on yachting,
hunting, sport of any kind, the theater,
current literature or art, and he is thor
Oughly posted. Home and foreign poll
tics he has at his fingers ends, and he
knows what is going on all over the
world. He would make an ideal editor.
He is an interchangeable worker and he'd
be whole staff in himself"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
A Considerable Governor.

There is well authep ticated old story
of Governor at one of our penal settle
ments, who, having ixed the date when
two of his convicts were to be hanged for
stealing, remembered few days before
the date named for the execution, that he
had an important social engagement for
that same afternoon. He sent for the
men and explained to them his difficulty.
at cannot matter much 20 you" said he,
"whether you are hanged on Tuesday or
Wednesday next. 1t Is, however, matter
of some moment TO me, and you would
greatly Oblige me If you would consent to
be hanged on Tuesday instead of Wednes-
day, as named in the Gazette" The men
were inclined TO stand on their rights, sc
he told them to think over the matter.
They came to him the next morning and
agreed to his wish on certain terms,
which he readily accepted. The condi-
tions were SO much rum and so much to-
bacco for each day previous to their exc
cution. A few days thus rendered happy
were better to them than one more day of
dreary existence on prison fere.-Gen.
WOlseley in the FOrtnightly Review.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
JnhnStnWn as it Was.

Philadelphia Record: Johnstown, the
scene of the foods greatest havoc, is. or
rPther was, a fourishIng city of about
$4,000 people, in Cambria county, at the
foot of the western slope OF the Ale
ghany mountains. It lies along two swift
streams, Conemaugh river and Stony
creek, and stretches for quite distance
along narrow valley. The Conemaugh
is damned in the middle of the cisy for
commercial purpose, and in the days. of
the canal traffic Johnstown was one of
the most ina portant points of 1t, being
at the head of the western division. The
canal still remains and carried a large
amount of freight between Johnstown
and Pittsburg.
The greater bulk of Johnstown popula-
ton was employed in or dependent on
the Cambria iron works, whose immense
establishment overshadows all the other
industries of the place. The region
round about furnished excellent soft Goa,
limestone and fire-clay, and these advant-
ages have SO helped the city that the iron
works which were the eity's particular
pride, were probably the largest indus
trial establishment in the country.
YOUNGSTOWN is rather an old town, having
been settled in 1871. Conemaugh, which
was also swept away, was a suburb of
JohnstOwn, lies TO the east of it, and IVES
largely settled by the employees of the
Pennsylvania railroads repair shops.
Cambria City, which was also ia the track
Of devastation, lies just west of Johns
town, about a mile away. Johnstown
supported sixteen churches. an academy,
convent, two daily and four weekly pa
pers. Its increase in population within
the last few years has been very rapid,
and the city was never SO prosperous and
it's prospects never so bright az when the
food skrnnk If
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13

INFORMATION from Bonny river is that
the natives of Opobo and the oannibals
IF Creeka are as savage as ever. A short
time since soma merchants went to trade
with the Creekas, who invited them to
land. One hundred and thirty six of
them were killed. The Creekas-men,
women and children-ran through the
town drinking human blood out of the
mugs thai they carried. At the Ju-Ju
house the head men held a festival, at
which the flesh of the victims was the
chief dish, while some of it was sold to be
dried and eaten at leisure. The Ju-Ju
men always keep human flesh in This
house.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
Ridden hr Witches at Night.

le superstition of the negro is char
acteristIc. Il manifests itself in almost
everything the darkey does. A practical
illustration of the 5uperstitions of darby
living on Major Bacon's place will serve
to show that they have not yet given up
many Of the old theories. Maj. Bacon
has little Texas pony that for some
time past has been very poor. One of
darkies on the place, named Jim Fort, and
calling himself DR.. Fort, said the horse
was being ridden by Witches at night. He
was asked to explain how he knew such to
be the case, and promptly said that the
tangled condition of the maue betrayed
1t. He was told to cure the trouble if he
could, and at once began to comb out the
name. Ridiculous as it may seem, as
soon as the doctor" began to give his at
tention to the horses main, the animal
began co gain fesh.-Albany (Ga.) News.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
News in Brief.
LEONARD SwETR the celebrate law
yer of Chicago, died Oh Sunday last.

LEONARD SwETR the celebrate law
yer of Chicago, died Oh Sunday last.
NAVIGATION in Chesapeake bay is badly
obstructed by drift material, and naviga-
ton is almost at standstill.
The lowest estimate now made of the
loss of life in the Johustown calamity
places the number at not less than 5000
20 10000.
MRS LEW WALLACE was not lost at
Johnstown as first reported. The gen
eral reports she "came out of the Johns
town calamity safe"
AT the annual meeting of the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railway, held in
this city Wednesday the old Board of
Directors were reelected. The annual
statement shows deficit of $847, 234.2 %.
THE visible supply of grain afoat and
III store as reported by the New York
Produce Exchange Monday, Is: wheat,
20,205, SIC bushels; oats, $685., O32 bush
els; rye, 1,103, 450 bushels; barley, 49,
$50 bushels.
The total contributions of Chioagoaps
TO the flood sufferers relief fund, report
ed to Mayor Cregier up TO noon of Sat-
urday amounted to S81,165,63, of which
$60,500 has been allowed TO Philadel-
phia.
TIE Modoc indians were once savage
fighters. During the past dozen years
about half the tribe have been converted
TO Christianity. One chief is a Quaker
preacher, and gives every evidsnce of
being a sincere Christian.
PEBKIoMEN JUNCTION, Pa, claims TO have
the youngest telegraph operator in the
world. He is boy of eleven years, who
began manipulating the keys when only
three yeaIs old. He is an expert oper-
ator.
Mr.. AMAsA SrRAGUE, elder brother of
the late Governor William Sprague, of
Rhode Island, and once the owner of
S10,O0O,000, has just accepted an election
TO the Office of Sheriff of Kent county in
that State, an office worth $500 or $500
year.
The dam g short distance above Clean,
n. Y, which is the largest artificial body
of water in the United States, and which
is used by sportsmen for purposes similar
to that of the great dam which wrecked
Johnstown, is said to be in an extremely
unsafe condition, thereby placing the
Genesee valley in danger of Just such
calamity as befell the Conemaugh valley.
The competition of distinguished
narksmen in the army will take place
this year at the Bellevue Range, near
Omaha, Neb., commencing on Aug. 81,
and will be conducted by Major Guy Y.
Henry, of the Ninth Cavalry. The com
handing officers of the different depart
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13

Associated press correspondents DR..
Sweet said: "Prospect Hill is
full of pneumonia with some diphtheria
and measles. The hospital is full TO
overlooking, with ~ cases on the outside.
They are almost all severe cases of pneu-
monia. There is every condition needed
for the spread of disease, and l fear an
epidemic.
DR.. Darlington also reported several
cases of pneumonia, having found them
on the hill pear Morrellville. A pair of
human feet were noticed sticking from
river bank near Kernville today. gang
of men soon unearthed the bodies of two
men and one girl, all in a good state of
preservation.
JoHNsTowN, June This community
is IN wild state of excitement as the re-
suit of the recent food. The blame of
the entire affair has been placed upon the
South Park hun ting and fishing club, and
so asgry are some of the people in this
vicinity that trouble is feared for w. S.
Bayer, superintendent of the cot
tages on the lake. Already several
of the pretty villas have been broken
into by marauders and the furniture de-
molished. Boats owned by the club have
been stolen in broad daylight and re-
duced to kindling Wood by the Infatuated
crowd crazed by liquor. The fellows who
broke iuto the cottages haven Ut been
discovered 1t was evident that robbery
was not Intended for the mischief was
purely wan.om. Affairs at present are
assuming serions aspects.
The coroner's jury that has been in
session several days at Nineveh termina-
ted Its labor this afternoon, The verdict
has been fully prepared and only lacks
the signatures Of the jurors before being
given publicity. It it understood that
the jury, after reviewing at length the
successive breaks and careless repairs of
the dam in past years, declares the exec
utiVe committee of the South Fork Fish
ing club guilty of gross, if not criminal
negligence.