davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

ancs was that Of q huge sea OF name,
sweeping in vast breakers and pillows
over the doomed city. A square Of
substantial buildings would be submerged
like a child's tiny heap of sand upon
the beach Of the ocean. Often the de-
Vouring element seemed TO the Mortified
spectators to take personal form, and
sweep mockingly down upon piles Of
massive marble, which seemed to disap-
pear In the twinkling of an eye.
Including streets, an area of three and
third square miles was burned over.
The number of buildings destroyed was
more than 1900, while 1OO,0 900 people
were rendered homeless. About 200
persons lost their lives. It is estimated
that the actual property loss, not includ-
ing depreciation of real estate or delay
ing Of business, amounted to nearly
$500, 00O, 900, upon which comparatively
little insurance was recovered.
So remarkable is the energy of the
people Of the Garden City, that business
was not long interrupted. Residences
were turned into stores, wooden build
ings were extemporiZed, and before the
first snow of winter had fallen trade
began to assume something of its wonted
proportions. About three years later,
July IA, 1874, another great fire swept
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

Perhaps something of prophetic vision
was given him, and he saw picture Of
what the sWampy morass about him
would be at the end Of two centuries of
time.
In 1900, Illinois and Indiana were or
ganized together into the Indian Terri
tory, with the seat Of government at
Vincennes, Ind. In 1904 frontier mill
tary post was established at Chicago,
and a block fort erected, and named
Fort Dearborn, after Gen. Henry Dear
born.
The same year came John Kinzie, an
Indian trader from ST. Joseph, on the
Michigan side of the lake. He pur-
chased and repaired the old cabin of Au
Sable, residing there with his family.
Upon the breaking out Of the war with
England in 1912 the Indians took to the
war-path, and through their usual
treachery succeeded in massacrfng over
fifty people at Chicago, including a num-
Der of women and children.
In 1916 the fort was rebuilt, and occu-
pied for twenty-One years. 1t was de-
molished in 1856.
A number of people are still living in
Chicago who were there when it was in
corporated as city in 1897, and there
are few much older residents.
@Old settlers picnics" are annually
held. There one may hear many anus
ing and startling stories of the olden
time. 1t seems incredible, but it is true,
that within the memory Of men now hv-
ing in Chicago, where stately build
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

over the devoted city, destroying sixty
acres, or eighteen blocks, in the heart Of
the city, and about 81, 900, 600 of property.
The "great fire" ruined thousands Of
people, and broke up and forever de-
stroyed no end of happy homes. So far
as the city was concerned, however, it
proved a substantial benefit The Chi.
cago Of ante-ire days contained many
handsome and costly buildings, but they
were interpreted with others of poor.
kind, the entire effect being in no sense:
striking. The Chicago Of 1890 is the
fnest-built city of America, and, many
well-informed people say, of the world.
Progress and improvement is now,
more than ever before the watehword.
Buildings to which the Chicagoan point
ed with pride dozen years ago are now,
being torn down, to be replaced with
magnificent structures Of from twelve to,
sixteen stories in height.
In many regards Chicago leads all
competitors. Its manufactures are
enormous. It is the greatest grain, cat
tie, hog, cured meat, and lumber market
in the world. As railroad center it has
no rival on the globe. Its system of
parks and driVeWays leads those Of the
entire earth.
1t has one great advantage over the
older cities. This is unlimited space,
which enables industrious and thrifty
workers of all kinds to possess houses of
their own. The city at present includes
TIA square miles within its limits and
bids fair to extend them before many
years have passed by.
To enumerate the remarkable institu-
lions Of the Chicago of to-day, with its
!, 100, 600 people, would require volume
or a long series of articles. After all, writ
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

ings now stand, wild animals were
hunted and shot. In the early
days the prairies were infested
with wolves, and wolf hunts upon ground
now covered with fine residences are
prominent among the memories of the
early settlers.
From 1910 the growth of the city was
steady and rapid. In 1850 it contained
20, 965 people, which, in the next decade,
great stimulus to Chicago, not only add
ing to its population but vastly increas-
ing its manufactures and commercial
Importance. In 1870 it had passed the
three hundred thousand mark and taken
its place among the foremost cities of the
country.
AS the great civil war is used as a
point of time from which the most of our
people date and antedate events, so the
Chicago fire has provided the residents of
the city with starting point from which
all historical occurrences and private ex-
periences are reckoned.
Great in her successes and trium phs,
Chicago is not to be outdone even in her
misfortunes.
On the night of Oct. sth, 1871, the
kicking of a COW overturned lamp in a
stable in the West Division not far from
the river, and kindled the most disas-
trous coRfagration of which the annals
of history make mention.
The preceding day the greatest fire in
the history of the city had swept away
several blocks in the West Division, but
this had been lost sight of and forgotten
in the awful holocaust which ensued on
the sth and 9th.
At midnight of that dreadful Sunday
the flames leaped across the river and
assailed the commercial quarter of the
great metropolis. Despite the frantic
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

efforts of the brave fremen, its course
could not be stayed. 1t soon burst all
attempted bonds of restraint, and, like
an insatiate demon, swept on, through
blocks devoted to squalor, vice, and pow
erty, to the brick and marble palaces
beyond.
So rapid was the march of the fire
fiend that within two hours long lines of
magnificent "fre-prOof" buildings had
gone up in flame and smoke, and down
in twisted iron and broken fragments Of
brick and stone At o'clock the Court
House, with its Invaluable records, sue
cumbed to the enemy, the great bell
pealing what seemed a parting knell as
it went crashing down.
From this moment the city was doom
ed. The IRE swept on, crossed the river
to the northward, and devastated the
section lying along the lake for dis
tanee Of two and half miles.
As q spectacle, it was, beyond doubt,
the grandest as well as the most appal-
ling ever presented to the eyes Of mortal
From an elevated position the appear
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13
THE DREAM OF Ia SALE.

being soon overdone, or the interest of
the public becoming satisfied, much less
cloyed.
Chicago began life as a city in 1887. 1t
had population of ALTO, which, at the
taking of the sixth national census, in
1910, was found to have increased to
4,479, or about 100 year.
In the fifty years which have elapsed
since the latter date, it has doubled eight
times, and left margin of about so, 600
besides Taking this item into account,
its people have doubled every six years
since 1910. This advancement by a geo
metrical progression (by multiplication
rather than addition) breaks all the rec
ords of the world, and discounts the
widest dreams of all the enthusiastic
bubble-blowers and boomers who in the
past have predicted her mighty future.
Chicago is now the first city of the
nation in point of area, the second in the
matter Of population, and the third in
nothing of Importance.
The first white resident of Chicago was
negro from San Domingo, named Jean
Baptiste Point au Sable. This Hiberni-
cism has been attributed to one William
Caldwell, local celebrity of later years.
jean Baptiste was a politician, and that
Of no mean order, so far as his ambition
was concerned. His first scheme was to
14BI4blabc u1uSCil VIII bl6 1nQldnS, De-
come chief, and, planting a colony of
his own native San Domingoans, rule all
as grand sachem, and attain perhaps
to the title of king. Failing in his am
bitiOn, as scores of would-be politicians
have, before his time and since, he
abandoned his cabin on the river, with
drew in disgust from the scene of his de-
feat, and ended his days at Fort Clark,
now the city of Peoria.
Au Sable arrived in the summer Of
1779. Before that time the site of the
future great city had been several times
visited. Probably the first man to ar
rive was missionary priest, Pere James
Marquette, who came in 1873. Seven
years later arrived an Indian trader,
Robert O. LaSalle, in whose honor was
named the street at the head of which
the Board of Trade now stands. AS
LaSalle and his companion approached
IN an open boat, he exclaimed: HAlready
I see the countless millions who. will
some time inhabit these fertile valleys. =
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13
Bottled SUGAR.

The author of under the Punkah"
tells an amusing incident or his life in
India. He had given to a tame mon
key lump of sugar inside a corked
bottle. The monkey was of an inquir-
ing mind, and the effort to get at the
mystery the sugar-nearly killed
him. Sometimes, in an impulse of dis
gust, he would throw the bottle clear,
out of his reach, and then be distracted
until it was given back to him. At
other times he would sit with a counte-'
nance of the most intense detection,
contemplating the bottled sugar, and
then, as if pulling himself together for
another effort at solution, would stern
" take up the problem afresh and gaze
into the bottle. He would tilt it up
one way and try to drink the sugar
through the cork, and then, suddenly
reversing it, try to catch the sugar as
it fell out at the bottom. Under the
impression that he could catch it bv
against the glass In futile bites, and,
warming to the pursuit of the revolv-
ing lump, used TO tie himself into regu-
lar knots around the bottle. Fits of
the most ludicrOus melancholy would
alternate with these spasms of furious
speculation, and how the matter would
have ended it Is quite impossible to say
But the monkey got loose one night
and took the bottle with him; and it
has always been q delight to me to
think that whole forestfuls of monkeys
have by this time puzzled themselves
into fits over the great problem of bot
tied sugar.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

more and read them attentiVely. They
are tho footings-the last unoficial-of
the population of the city Of Chicago,
taken from the United States Census
Reports Of the years 1910 and 1890, re-
spectively. Between them lies an in
terval of only one half century, half
century of such marvellous growth and
wonderful development as to well nigh
make one doubt the evidences of his own
senses, and imagine it a section of that
long past age when genii waved magic
wands and palaces like that of Aladdin
rose to perfection in a single night
Chicago is at present, and for three
years and more to come will be, for that
matter, cynOsure for the eyes Of the
entire civilized world. In 1893 the
Worlds Columbian Fair will be held
there, and all previous international ex-
positions completely eclipsed.
But amid the brilliancy and wonders of
it all, the city itself will stand out as the
greatest of all exhibits" Many pens
are writing accounts of the rise and
progress of the famous city, and many
pencils depicting the magnificent work
Of her architects and engineers, yet
there seems no danger of the matter
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13
IT READS LIKE FICTION.
MARVELS SUGGESTED BY THE
CENSUS REPORT.

The Phenomenal Growth OF ChIearo-Pou-
ulotion Which Increases by AIultfpIica-
ttOn,NOt AdditiOn-DOublingE Eight Times
in Fifty Years-Living ChicagOans Hunt
ed Wolves in the Present City Limits
The Great Fire, and the Wonderful City
Which Resulted from It-AIany Things
In Which the Worlds Fair City Leads
the Universe.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

ABLES of sta
ltistics have come
to be regarded,
and very proper
ly it would seem,
as the driest Of
all reading mat
ter. If any of
our readers, how
ever, in obedi-
lence to q custom
which ha 8 as
sumed the force
o I habit, have
skipped" t b Q
two lines Of fig
ures given above
and designed as
a text, or more
properly theme,
for the present
article, they will
do well to look
them over once
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

ingconveys but poor idea of the situation.
To fully appreciate or even realize the
immensely and grandeur of the city by
the lake, it must be visited by all who
desire to keep, in any sense, abreast of
the wonderful march which our ciViliza-
ton is making in these latter days.
DWIGHT BALDWIN.
CHICAGO, Ill.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-13

as trouble the world would be full Of
rOund-shouldered people.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-06-26

have read. with very great interest, the
speech of my namesake. Gen. Curtis. on
the abolition of capital punishment. When
quite young man was for two or three
years member of the Massachusetts legiS-
lature. Ultra a-cOnServative in most of my
opinions, was then opposed to the abOli-
ton of capital punishment in cases OF muir
der. l have considerably modified my
opinions on the subject
1t has become quite apparent that the
death penalty does not operate to prevent
deliberate murder. Homicide under great
provocation. or perpetrated in what the law
denominates ''heat of blood" is not likely
to be prevented by any kind of punishment.
| do not say that l should be in favor of the
abolition of capital punishment in cases of
deliberate murder, unless the law which
changed the punishment should at the same
time substitute imprisonment for life, and
do much more. In cases of conviction of
murder in the first degree and of imprisOn-
ment for life there must be careful and
perhaps expensive system of religious,
moral and intellectual instruction provided
for the convict, and there must be proper
means provided for the exercise of the par
dOning power in cases where it is fit that it
should be exercised.
state should take him in hand and prepare
him to be proper subject for the exercise
of the pardoning power; or if that is never
to be exercised in his case, Christian mo-
tives should lead Christian state to help
him to proper sense of his crime.
The disgusting spectacle of public execu-
tiOns, as now conducted, however they may
be regulated, and the apparent futility of
all efforts to make the convict exhibit and
feel repentance which will probably in
sure him safe passage from the gallOws
into the kingdom of heaven and bring him
in proper attitude before the Almighty,
all are just so much acting as the feelings
of superstitious people demand.
There ought to be long interval. in
most cases. in which the murderer can be
made into new being, if society is to do
its duty. 1t will not be enough to substitute
Imprisonment for life in the place of the
death penalty. The convict must there
after be treated as a ward of the state. for
whose reformation it is responsible. e.-New
York Sun.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-06-26
saltwater, Minn, Thursday, June 20, 1890.

tiOn from anything that had as yet been
produced in England or France. 1t was con-
structed chiefly of glass; the portion taking
the place of the glass or sulphur sphere be-
ing glass cylinder supported by glass
tubes with spheral metallic ends upon which
was borne the metallic knobs attached to
either end OF the cylinder turned by a crank
and taking the place of the iron rod as an
axis mentioned in connection with the other
machine. These upright glass tubes we're
attached to square table. two other tubes
were then attached to the table on both
sides of the cylinder, and upon which rested
two metallic cylinders with spheral ends of
the same length as the glass cylinder; to one
of these was attached a cushion pressing
against the glass cylinder. From the other
metallic cylinder projected number of me-
tallic points. This machine allowed in
creased facilities for the study of the vitre-
GUS and resinOus. negative and positive
electriciteS. both of which were yielded by
the metallic cylinders. and illustrated the
fact that one electricity is never produced
without the other. LEONARDUs.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-06-26
Grading and Classification of Prison
ers I'm all Prisons a Vital Necessity.

Grading and classification of Prison.
ers In all Prisons a Vital Necessity.
There was never more pleasant but de
luding fiction than that phrase which so
frequently finds place in Fourth of July
and other patriotic orations, viz. "All men
are born free and equal" In every phase
of nature-whether in animal, vegetable.
or mineral wOrld-in our daily and hourly
experience, whether as individuals or as
members of great community. the very
idea of equality is antagOnstic to our dear
est interests, and diametrically opposed to
truth and common sense. Search the wide
world through and you will not find any
two members of the human race equal or
exactly alike in physical strength, mental
calibre or moral forces. One man is spe-
cially fitted by nature for mechanical pur-
suits. another is distinguished by admins
trative ability, others excel in commerce,
science. legal acumen, etc.-each man fill
ing his respective place in the wheel which
moves the nation and the world.
1t is for want of perception of this great
fundamental truth in mans "make-up''
that the numerous grand and noble schemes
for the regeneration of society and the dim
mutton of crime have so utterly and in
glorlously failed. They have looked upon
man as ''mere machine"-and when from
Ignorance. accident, temporary disarrange-
ment, or other cause. that machine has not
answered its required purpose or has ''gone
wrong" they have thrown it aside as
worthless-or. what is still worse, have de-
creed the annihilation or extirpation Of the
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-06-26
Electrical Science.
SECOND PAPER.

Throughout the eighteenth century we
find many learned men experimenting with
and developing the science of electricity.
The most important discovery during the
first part of this century was that of the
Leyden jar by MuschenbrGck 1852 1761) :,
who was the first expermenter in this sci
ence to receive an electric shock. The ex-
pertinent by which he received the shock
was conducted as fOllsws: With the object
of collecting and retaining electricity for
future use, Muschenbr9ck. with two as
sistants Allaman and Cuneus, had taken
an electric machine after the pattern of the
one mentioned in my first paper on this sub
ject. substituting glass for the sulphur
sphere. then suspending gun barrel hori-
ZOntally by means of two silk threads al
lowing one end of the gun barrel to come i'm
contact with the glass sphere, ard allowing
brass wire to project downward from the
other end of the tube into glass bottle held
in the hand and partially filled with water.
then. VIII le the assistants operated the ma
chine. he brought his empty hand to the
gun barrel and by this produced electric
sparks. from the fact of the two currents Of
electricity having met at that point. Imme-
0lately on the prOOuctlOn OF the electric
sparks. the bottle he held in his hand was
broken and he received shock that as he
says. ''struck him with so much violence
that his frame was shaken as if by a light
ming stroke" This experiment was soon
known over all Europe. and in time. was
made by many people to experience the SEN
sati"ns produced by it. This discovery was
made at Leyden in 1746. by Muschenbreck
although some writers ascribe the discovery
to his two assistants Allaman and Cuneus.
William Watson. writer on, as we'll as
an experimenter with electricity. also con-
structed an electric machine about this
time, 1850, different in form and cOnstruc-
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-06-26

to the first grade with all its privileges; but
that. on the contrary. persistent disObedi
ence or INSTRUMENTATION should be punished
by removal to the third grade-frOm
which a restoration to his previous status
could only be gained by uniform good con-
duct for period of twelve months.
The distinguishing marks of the several
grades should be as follows First grade:
All the privileges available to lite in the out
side world. consistent with his detention
within pr son walls; taking his meals in
company with the fellow members in the
grade; and the chance of parole or ticket
of leave. in order of priority. The dress
should be neat. and entirely distinct from
prison uniform. Second grade: Ordinary
cit zen's dress; special privileges in diet
study. recreation. etc.. and certainty of ad
vancement to first grade after the lapse of
given number of months. Third grade: A
striped or prison uniform; ordinary prison
diet. and exclusion from the usual privileges
of the institution.
Such system would necessarily include
adequate educational privileges, instruction
in some trade aid in finding employment
after discharge from prison. etc.; and
would call for. as an essential cOrOllary,
the adoption of the indeterminate sentence
In lieu of the present inquitOus arrange
tucIlCS VI maximum ana minimum sentences,
which accOrds to the judge such danger
Gus and unjust power.
After all. the only principle which can
conquer vice and control crime is the COM
binatiOn of judicious firmness. practical
sympathy, broad humanity of purpose.
and careful maintenance of the feeling of
personal honor and indomitable courage in
the prisoner. Even the most abandoned
and brutalized men become as docile as wax
under such treatment. If the officials per-
sist in treating the prisoner as unworthy of
credence, and divested of all proper feeling,
he will speedily merit the unworthy opinion
formed of him; if, on the contrary, conf
dence is placed in his word and intentions,
and he is now and then encouraged by
words OF cOmmendatiOn, the mans self
| respects sustained. his manhood vindcated,
and powerful incentive afforded him for
continued efforts to reinstatement and per-
manent reform.
The adoption of the principle of grading
and classification of prisoners in all penal
institutions IS the only effective and practi-
cal solution of the all-impOrtant problem
How to diminish crime. and eventually
decmate the criminal population"
CharlestOwn Prison. Mass. F. j. G.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-06-26
Rewarded.

Now comes the time when good old Farmer
ClOvertOp fills the soul of his son of twenty
years with joy and gladness. that spurs him
on to his utmost endeavOr by saying:
Nov, Jake. my son. you lick in like
good fellar fer the next few weeks and hoe
that ten acre lot - corn AL over couple -
times. and clean evry d-rnrd weed out o.
the garden and turn over ten or twelve acres
o. that sod. and g't the Winter fire wood all
cut. and make me Il coup I" hundred good
oak rails and when the Fourth % July
comes. you kin call on your dad fer seventy
five cents to go to the ce"hra "n and do
as you're mind to with: YES ,ou kin. All
work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
'cordin to my way O. thnkin and blamed
if you shan't have little y both. Puck.