davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
How Gold is Shipped.

When one recalls the fact that millions
upon millions of dollars in gold annually
seek Europe to provide for the necessities
gold is shipped to Europe becomes an in
teresting one The Bank of America is
the largest shipper of gold from New
York, and indeed from the United States.
Shipments are made in stout kegs, very
much like the ordinary beer keg. Every
one contains $50, 900 in coin or bar gold.
The latter is the favorite for these ship
ments, since the government permits the
sub-treasury to exchange coin for bar
gold, as coin, in a single million dollar
shipment Is liable to loss by abrasion of
from eight to twenty ounces, or from
$12S to $500; while the bars only lose
about three-fourths of that value Where
coin is sent double eagles are preferred.
They are put in stout canvas bags, each
one containing 1876 double eagles, or
5000; and ten bags fill each keg.
About the only precaution taken against
tampering with kegs, is a treatment of
leg ends technically known as ''red tap
ing" -Four holes are bored at equal in
tervas in the projecting rim of the
stdNCo ubONS Viz hSo 10 luu
through these, crossing on the kegs
head the ends meeting at the centre,
where they are sealed to the head by the
hardest of wax, and stamped with the
consignor's name. The average insur-
ance is about 81, 500 per 81 900, 900.
Then there is an expense of about So per
keg for package and carriage aboard
ship, or $500 for the same sum and the
inevitable loss by abrasion, whatever it
may prove to be. There are great Wall
street firms shipping from $25, 900, 600 to
$40, 900, 900 annually. Some of these
have for years insured themselves, and
assert that the saving has been sufficient
to replace loss of 1000, 900. These
are large figures, but this has become
country of large figures and affairs
American Banker
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
A Bankers Experience With Brig.
ands.

Signor Arrigo, one of the wea!thiest
bankers and most extensive landowners
of Sicily, has just effected his
felease from captivity of twenty-one
days in the mountains by the payment of
a ransom of one hundred thousand dol
lars to the brigands who had kidnapped
him. Twenty-one days had elapsed be-
fore the negotiations on the subject were
completed, and during this time the cap
tive millionaire lived in mountain cave,
sleeping on bundle of hay, and forced
to content himself with diet of black
bread, fruit. and cheap, but very pow
erful Marsaa wine. On the day of his
release, be had not gone far when he hap
pened to meet a patrol of three carabini-
eri. SO ragged, unkempt, and generally
disreputable did he appear to them, that
the worthy gendarmes were convinced
that he was one of the band of banditti
for whom they were hunting, while he
was equally confirmed in his belief that
the gendarmes were nothing but brig
ands in disguise. 1t was not until the
police-station at the gate of Palermo was
reached that the carabinieri became as
sured of his identity and consented tocut
the cords with which they had secured
him. Argonaut
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Making Camphor.

Camphor is made in Japan in this way
After tree is felled to the earth it is cut
into chips, which are laid in tub over
large iron pot partly filled with water and
placed over a slow fire. Through holes
in the bottom of the tub steam slowly
rises, and heating the chips generates
OIL OF camphor. of course the tub with
the chips has close-ftting cover. From
this cover bamboo pipe leads to sue
cession of other tubs with bamboo con-
nections. and the last of these tubs is
divided into two compartments. one
above the other, the dividing floor being
perforated with small holes to allow the
water and oil to pass to the lower COM
partment. This lower compartment is
supplied with layer of straw. which
catches and holds the camphor crystals
that are being deposited as the liquid
passes to the cooling process. The cam
phor Is next separated from the straw,
packed in wooden tubs and is ready for
the market. The oil is used by the ma
tives for Illuminating and other pur-
poses.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Hunting Alligators in Mexico.

Mr.. Joseph Smith has arrived at Calves
ton, Texas, from Tampico, Mexico, in the
schooner Garnerk. which he had chart
cred to bring to that port cargo of alli-
gator hides. Mr.. Smith was asked why
he went to Mexico to hunt alligators and
replied: "Alligators are becoming so
scarce in parts of the United States in con
sequence of their skins being in such de-
mand that many persons have engaged
in alligator hunting as means of max
ing money. | learn that in the vicinity
of Tampico there were plenty of them,
and my information proved correct. The
alligators had never been hunted by the
Mexicans but soon had them at it.
" At first shot at them, but a Mexi-
can conceived the idea of harpooning
them and carried it out so successfully
that we followed that method. | was
down there eighteen months, and during
that time 1 secured hides to the amount
of $4,000. 1t is quite exciting to take
sportsman's lamp, quietly sneak along
the river bank, and, finding one of these
monsters lying at the waters edge, har-
poon him. 1t takes a steady and quick
eye to strike him right and strong arm
to hold him after he is harpooned |
found no trouble il getting along with
the Mexicans and enjoyed my stay very
much. y Picayune.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Race Between an Air Ship and a
Train.

AS the Spencer war balloon, in recent
ascent from the Royal Military Exhib-
ition, now being held in England,
reached Plaistow a train was passing
through bound at Shoeburyness. On
the arrival of the train at Shoeburyness,
to the surprise of the guard, the balloon
lists were quietly waiting for him to take
them and their machine back to London,
the balloon having accomplished the
journey in twenty minutes less than the
train, says an exchange. The voyage
through the air was very interesting, and
when at an altitude of 1900 feet, as re-
corded by the aneroid barometer, the
throbbing of the steam engine could be
distinctly heard, also the report of q
sportsman's gun, accompanied by the bark
of a dog The travelling was at the rate
of about twent, five miles an hour, but
to the aeronauts the balloon was appar-
emily stationary, and it was with great
surprise that, on emerging from the
clouds, they found what distance had
been actually covered New York Tel
egram.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Why Do The Heather Rage.

Not long ago the British ambassador
at the Persian court publicly presented
a copy of the Bible to the shah. At once
there was an outburst of rage among the
Mohammedan population and the guard
of the British legation was doubled |!
What is the matter with the Mohamedans2 2
Suppose the Persian ambassador should
bring a magnificent copy of the koran to
the queen of England or the president of
the United States and suppose the Chi
nese ambassador should follow with the
writings of Confucius; suppose someone
else should present copy of the book of
Mormon and others should bring volumes
containing the writings of Zoroaster and
Buddha; would there be riot or an earth
quake2 All these gifts would probably
be received with thanks and perhaps de-
posted in some great library and left to
slumber there in peace till disturbed by
the research of the curious. Christianity
Uan afford to hear what men say and read
what men write. 1t can tolerate free
speech and free discussion. Its foun-
dations are too broad for panics; but
when the Bible appears on the scene it
seems to just set the devil crazy to do some
thing to oppose it. Armory.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Singing Psalms.

In singing the psalms, the old custom
was for the clerk to read each line-some-
times two lines before the people joined
in with the music. This practice is sup
posed to have originated in desire to
assist members of congregations who
were unable to read. 1t began in Eng
land, and by -and-by it was taken up by
the Scotch people, who, instead of look
ing at it in the light of convenience, be
gan to consider it matter of principle !,
so much so that when efforts were made
to abolish it great opposition arose and
many people left the church.
1t is told of an old widow at Tarbolton,
in Ayrshire that, though living by her.
self, she went through the form of family
prayers every day. and read aloud to her
self each line of the psalm before singing
it The celebrated DR.. Chalmers related
on oneoccasion his own experience of try
ing to abolish this old practice at Kilmeny.
There was one old lady who stoutly
maintained that the change was anti
Scriptural. DIR. Chalmers took an carly
opportunity of visiting her, and on in
quiring what was the Scripture of which
she regarded the change as contra
vention, at once was answered by her
citing the text, Cline upon line" 1t
is told of Scotch precentor that one
Sunday, going through the psalm in this
old fashion, he stopped to request some
members of the congregation to allow
lady to get into pew, and then went on
to read the next line of the psalm, Nor
stand in sinners wayw-[All the Year
Around.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
A Substitute for Gunpowder.

A Paris newspaper, the Paix, states
that French scientist has made dis
covcry which is likely to revolutionize
the art of war NJ. Paul Clifford has
found out liquid gas, which can be
used to propel bullets, cannon shot, or
shell. The Chamber of Commerce of
st. Etienne has been so impressed by
the value of the discovery that it has
conferred upon him gold medal and
more SUBSTANTIAL reward of 10000 francs.
A small steel receptacle is placed under
the barrel of the rifle containing 300
drops of this liquid gas. At each pull
of the trigger one drop falls into the
breech of the barrel behind the bullet,
and contact with the atmospheric air
causes it to volatilize instantaneously and
with force of expansion exceeding that
of gunpowder, and drives the bullet be-
fore it with equal or greater velocity
than gunpowder. No sound or smoke is
produced. Il London Standard.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
ASBESTOS AND ITS: USES.
A Queer Mineral Which Serves Not
a Few Vegetable Uses.

''Here is towel that is never washed
and yet is always kept clean," said a
chemist to Star reporter, handing to
him at the same time what appeared to
the eye and touch to be nothing more
nor less than a piece of coarse cotton
toweling.
''What sort of laundry do you send it
to9' was the natural query.
"This kind, " replied the man of sci
ence, going over to the corner of his la
boratory and stuffing the towel into
small stove that was burning
brightly there for chemical purposes.
81 understand, said the visitor. "You
never use such towel more than once. {"
"Iou are very much mistaken there, p"
responded the chemist. 81 use such
towels almost forever, and they almost
never wear out.n
With that he lifted off the lid of the
stove again and took out the towel with
the tongs, dipping it in cold water and
then handing it once more to the news
paper man.
"Why," exclaimed the latter. 'it is
not even injured What is it made OFF,"
''It is made of rock" answered the
chemist, 'but a very peculiar kind of
rock-so peculiar, indeed, that the an
clients supposed the stuff of which this
towel is woven to be of vegetable ma
ture. They used to wrap bodies that
were to be burned in cloths made of the
same flaX-like substance in order to keep
the ashes from being lost among the
charred wood of the funeral pyre. Also
they used it for napkins and for lamp
wicks.n
''But what is it called3"
"You have often heard of it under the
name of asbestos though very few peo-
pie apparently have any notion as to what
it really is. Enormous deposits of it exist
in Canada and elsewhere. 1t is form of
very hard rock called hornblende and
is found in strata of fibrous consistency
readily divisible into silky strand resem-
bling flax. This likeness has given it
the name of earth flax You can see
for yourself from this towel how much
it looks like vegetable fabric when
woven. An asbestos towel may be used
for pretty nearly the same purposes as an
ordinary towel, and, when it is dirty, all
you have to do is to throw it into the fire
and rake it out after little while per-
fectly clean"
''Is asbestos used for any other pur-
poses in these days2"
ooh, yes. 1t is employed for roofing
material, boiler felting, paper stock and
in the mixing of tireproof paints for stage
scenery. Also clothes for fremen and
gloves to handle red-hot iron with are
made of it. Sometimes the mineral is
found in thin sheets of interlaced fibres,
known as mountain leather Elsewhere
it is not infrequently procured in thick
sheets, and in that condition is called
mountain cork. ~ Washington Star.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Care of the Teeth.

Perfect cleanliness is essential to the
preservation of the teeth. 1t is the stern
opinion of a leading dental surgeon in
this city that if the teeth are kept clean,
free from Judgments of food, tobacco,
and sugar granules, the decomposition of
which produces decay of the dcntine,
teeth would never need repairing. After
each meal the mouth should be washed
with tepid water and a soft brush and all
particles of food removed by quill and
dental floss or sewing silk The inside
of the teeth need more attention than the
outside and if the brush cannot be
handled freely use a soft cloth to prevent
the accumulation of tartar. A few drops
of myrrh used on a wet brush once a
week will harden the gums and swceten
the mouth. Pins, knives and gold tooth
picks are very bad and should never be
used, save in the interest of the dentist
If the quill is not available and regular
pine splinters are beyond reach, whittle
a match
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Scotland's Old War Song.

AT meeting of the Town Council of
Edinburgh, the Lord Provost said that at
present there was for sale the original
manuscript of "Scots Wha Haze" and it
was in danger of going away out of the
country, but the Council could purchase
it for $40, and he thought it would be a
great pity that it should be lost to Edin-
burgh. 1t would be great shame that
the great war song of Scotland should
pass to other lands, and he moved, there
fore, that the Council should authorize
the purchase of the song. Councillor
Auldjo Jameson said he thought it was
just that it should be known that that
monument of history had been purchased
by Scotchman (Mr. Kennedy, banker,
New York;, who desired that, before re-
moving it to America and placing it in a
museum there, the metropolis of Scotland
should have the opportunity of purchas-
ing it at the money he paid for it himself.
The Lord Provost said he thought they
were extremely indebted to that gentle
man. 1t was then agreed to purchase the
song."-[Public Opinion.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
To Loosen Glass Shoppers.

Hold the bottle or decanter firmly in
the hand or between the knees, and gent
ly tap the stopper on alternate sides,
using for the purpose small piece of
wood and directing the stroke upward.
Plunge the neck of the vessel into hot
water, taking care that the water is not
hot enough to split the glass. If after
some immersion the stopper is still fixed,
recur to the above process. Pass piece
of list round the neck of the vessel,
which must be held fast while the list is
drawn rapidly backward and forward.
Take steel needle and run it around
the top of the stopper in the angle formed
by it and the bottle. Hold the vessel in
the left hand and give it steady twist
with the right, and it will very often be
effectual as the adhesion is frequently
caused by the solidification of matter
only at the point nearest the air. If this
does not succeed, put few drops of oil
round the stopper where it enters the
glass vessel and then warm it before the
fire. When thoroughly warmed tap the
stopper of the bottle on alternate sides as
directed above. Repeat this operation if
necessary.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
England's Beauties.

The farfamed beauty-and it still ex-
ists-of England is only to be found in
the middle and lower classes. The aristoc-
racy are absolutely ugly in the general
sense, and the ugliest of the lot are the
maids of honor generally in attendance on
Her Majesty. On the other hand, the shop
girls, the mattresses and barmaids of Lon,
don are often absolutely beautiful in both
face and figure. The trim black dresses
which they wear, free from trimmings or
adornmcnt of any kind, and their show
aprons only enhance their charms. The
contrast sometimes of bevy of WAITING
woman in attendance at one of the great
mansions is so strange that one begins to
wonder how it is that the lady cannot dis.
cover the secrets which enable her maid
to possess and preserve her good looks
philadelphia Times.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
FOREIGN FIENDS.
Numbering Travellers by Means OF
Opium and Chloroform.

The New York Sun writes about the
gangs of miscreants who travel over the
European railroads offering drugged re-
freshments to travellers of opulent ap-
pearance. If the traveller refuses the re-
freshment, the robber waits for an oppor-
tunity to hold chloroform under his
nose.
An overdose of chloroform, which re-
suits in death, is not unfrequently ad-
ministered, and the murdcrers are never
caught. On one French railroad two
travellers were found dead from some in
explicable cause in one day. The deaths
were attributed to apoplexy or heart dis
ease, but there is very little doubt that
the deceased persons had fallen into the
hands of the chloroform gang.
There are also opium gangs, whose
work is less deadly, but not less effective
from the robbing point of view. The
members of this gang are provided with
cases containing cigarettes or cigars
soaked with opium, which they offer to
passengers they intend to rob.
The methods of these ingenious vii
lains are apparently borrowed from the
East, where ingenuity in crime has been
highly developed during period of sew
eral thousand years. There poison pure
and simple is used.
The following notice has recently been
posted in all the stations of the Eastern
Bengal Railway:
Travellers are warned against accept
ing liquid or solid refreshment from per-
sons unknown to them, as many persons
make trade of poisoning travellers.
They first enter into conversation with
the latter in a sarai or elsewhere, and then
endeavor to gain their confidence by say
ing that they are to be travelling compan-
ions to the same station. When they ar
rive at place suitable for their designs,
they offer the travellers poisoned food, or
poison the drink or food which the trav-
clers are about to take; then they make
their escape after plundering them.
Sometimes they throw poison into the
water of the travellers as they draw it from
the well; at other times, they poison
sweetmeats bought at bazaars, or else
ready cooked food"
This is certainly the kind of literature
calculated to interfere with the monotony
of travelling for those who are alone, sep
arated by thousands of miles from their
families or friends. The knowledge that
such notice is considered necessary by
the railway company would scarcely reas-
sure those families. The rapid progress
which the Bengalee has made in learning
the English language has opened up a
new field of industry to him.
1t would be worth while for the French
and other police to inquire whether the
chloroform and opium gangs do not
themselves hail from the East. The de-
velopment of this branch of crime in Am
erica is next in order. The place is get
ting two crowded for road agents and
oldfashioned highwaymen.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
Russian Growth in Asia.

At this moment, a quarter of century
since the capture of Tashkend, the Rus
sian possessions in Central Asia already
extended over an area of 30, 600 square
miles, rich in fertile oases, and counting
population of about three million in
habitants.
The respect of property and legality
have been introduced into that country.
The population, harassed by desfotism
and plumber, now reposes undor the
scepter of the white Tsar."
The works Of peace and commerce are
rapidly developing, aided by the cseation
of railway which unites Samarcand to
the Caspian Sea- The agricultu al ex-
hibition at Tashkend has just demon
strated with evidence what Russian dom
ination has done for the country.
And all this is due to the intrepidity
and heroic patience of handful of sol
diers led by Tchernaieff. The wars of
Central Asia, like those of former days
of the Caucasus, were an excellent school
for the Russian troops; not only did
they form men but they created brave
officers. The names of Tchernaieff, Sko-
belief, Kouropatlline, Abramoff, Colo
vatchoif, Kolpakovsky, etc, are there to
prove the fact.
The capture of Tashkend was no small
thing when one thinks that detach-
ment of 1,30O infantry and cavaliers,
backed by ten pieces of artillery, besieged
such large town, having circumfer-
ence of sixteen miles and over 100, 900
inhabitants, sixty-three cannons, defend
ed by IL garrison of 10000 men. The
fight in the streets lasted two days. The
Russian troops took over fifty barricades,
sixty-three cannons, sixteen large ban
ners, several thousand guns, thirty six
tons of powder, whereas they lost in all
only 157 men.'-[New York Mail and
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14

comes from Chicago, where, it is said, a
gigantic scheme is on foot for irrigating
over 800, 900 acres of desert land in
Southern California. This is to be accom-
plished by impounding the waters from
the mountains in immense storage reser-
voirs, whence it will be conducted to the
land by system of pipes, bitches, and
fumes. This is just what has been done
at Riverside, Redlands, Los Angeles,
Pasadena, Fresno, and score of other
places, where the results have been most
gratifying and the profits ample San
Francisco Chronicle.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-14
A Shrinking Desert.

Already the area of California's desert
lands is shrinking like the waters of Lake
Tulare, and it will be only few years
before it will no longer be seen on the
maps of the State. Every day people are
finding out that desert does not mean
Ereclaimablei and that underneath
the gray and drab desolation of
these lands lies the richest of fertility.
All the elements of productiveness are
latent there, and only need the revivi-
fying influence of water to wake into
activity and usefulness. Eastern capital
lists have not been slow to see this and to
act accordingly. The latest evidence