davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11
1t is from this accident that the mine gets

1t is from this accident that the mine gets
It's name
These mines present no top ores similar to
the Eastern Vermilion mines and the
Gogebic range, but have regular float
ledge of from 30 to 80 feet deep before the
shalt gets down to anything settled. The
Diamond mine explorations to date show an
iron formation over 700 feet wide, and thus
far without the discovery of any indication
OF hanging wall. for which constant search
has been made. The underlying rock is a
quartzide, which will be the foot wall. 1t
is thought by an experienced miner well
qualified to judge that the richest ores at
this point will be found in the swamp below
at depth of from 250 to 800 feet, the upper
levels presenting the poorest results. The
general trend seems to be southeast and
northwest with dip south by west. The
country is nothing like so rugged and hilly
as that along the Eastern Vermilion range
about Tower and Ely. In fact, it scarcely
looks like a mining country at all.
SNAP SHOTS AT DEER.
Ny only companion on the trip. to the
Diamond mines was a lumberman named
Foley. Together we trudged the forest path
way. In shady stretches the snow still
fingered and upon it and in soft places we
frequently saw the tracks of deer, and twice
the great round spoor of the giant moose.
Upon our return trip three magnificent deer
bounded gracefully across our path, not
stones throw off, when we were within the
plated area of the village of La Prairie,
and in view of and not quarter of a mile
from its depot and houses. NY first thought
was to shoot, but I had only a revolver.
Then thought of my camera which my
companion carried. The sun was high and at
my back. Owing to our proximity and the
clear sunlight the hair upon their tawny
sides was distinct and fairly sparkling.
Their "cotton tails" jerked saucily about.
The buck was without horns, this being the
moulting season. Two does were his COM
panions. They looked at us as they ran.
Holding the camera high above my head, I
snapped it Just as the deer were entering the
adjoining woods. Alas! it was too late. The
plate when developed failed to give any but
the slightest outline of the deer, mingled
and shaded as they were in the edge of the
underbrush. and the opportunity of life
time was gone.
PLENTY OF OTHER GAME.
Besides any quantity of deer, the prints of
whose hools along the railroad track outside
of the ties, frequently saw from the end of
the slow-moving Duluth and Winnipeg
train in coming up, there are moose and
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

carbon. bear wolves and foxes in abund-
ance, together with great variety of other
game The Indians have killed an un-
usual number of silver gray foxes this win
ter. A young man was telling me of seeing
five big timber wolves one evening last
winter about dusk, some two miles out ot
town, and of his whipping up his horses and
getting into the village as soon as possible,
with his hair fairly lifting his cap off his
head. The fish stories hear would, it sent
East. destroy MY reputation ever here
after for veracitv.
The pretty village of La Prairie is advan-
tageously situated. Last Christmas 1t had
a half-dozen buildings, which included a
hotel, store and hospital. To-day it pos
sesses above forty, and the number is
rapidly increasing. At a census taken the
other evening, with view to Incorporation,
it numbered about 300 souls. Not half of
them, however, were actual residents. II
has a very large floating population, as it is
the distributing point for supplies to lum-
Der district which this season cut 125, 900, 900
feet.
LA PRAIRIE's FLOATING POPULATION.
There are frequently several hundred lum-
bermen In town, sometimes 800, and there
have been as high as 700. When they
crowd in like that they come for "blow
in" at the end of the seasons work, and
make Rome howl" Over 4, 900 lumber
men pass through here in a season. The
leading hotels here have at times accom-
modated" $50 each.
The largest store at La Prairie is said to
have done business of 5000. 900 since last
September. The town has six saloons and
two dance houses. The latter are hidden in
the woods to one side There is often a
pretty rough and drinking element in town,
and stranger around after dark had best
be little careful. Mr.. James Smith is the
original platter of the town, to which, how
ever, four other plats have been added by
different parties, in one of which Governor
Pillsbury is largely interested; but as to
these Mr.. Smith says he is the central sun
and they the outer satellites. .
A good idea of La Prairie, in particular,
may be gained from Mr.. Smiths house and
surroundings. It is a log house, and the
oldestsand warmest house in town, in token
of which latter point thrifty house-plants
were shown me that had lived therein all
winter. The others are of unpainted boards.
The streets don't appear distinctly to the
eye, although on the plots they are plain
enough. In actual reality the stumps are
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

pretty much everywhere, the houses dropped
down anywhere, and the streets are-well,
somewhere, between just where is uncertain,
especially after dark. In the main part
OF town I stopped down and found
Wlntergreen berries, arbutus buds and low
nuckieoerry bushes. A Duluth real estate
man bought some property here last fall,
put up several small stores, sold off enough
land TO pay for the buildings, gets a large
monthly rental, considers himself 81, 500
ahead, and is well pleased with pretty La
Prairie.
THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS
Thirteen years ago this place had more
actual residents than it has to-day, but they
were OF another race and color, and known
as the Rabbit tribe of the Chippewa Indians.
and numbered 300 souls. Their log cabins
and bark wigwams clustered along the
north shore of the Mississippi, Just below
the present village OF La Prairie. At that
time, so MIR. Charles Leeman, who lived
here then, tells me, they were industrious
and prosperous About II years ago Q
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

sorrow past, present and to come, rushed in
upon her heart. Taking her bag, she made
herself as tidy as she could. Then she
stepped outside the station into the deserted
street, and, finding a space between the
houses, watched the sun rise over the wax
ing world. It was her last sunrise, she re-
membered.
She came back filled with such thoughts
as might we'll strike the heart of woman
about to do the thing she had decreed. The
refreshment bar was open now, and she
went to it and bought a cup of coffee and
some bread and butter. Then she took her
ticket, not to Bryngelly or to Coed, but to
the station on this side OF Bryngelly and
three miles from it. She would run less
risk of being noticed there. The train was
shunred up; she took her seat in it. Just
as it was starting, an early newspaper boy
came along, yawning. Beatrice bought
copy of the Standard out of the one and
threepence that was left of her money, and
opened 1t at the sheet containing the lead
ing articles. The first one began, ''The most
powerful, closely reasoned aud eloquent
speech made last night by Mr.. Bingham,
the member for PilIham, will, we feel GER
tain, produce as great an effect on the coun-
try as it did in the House of Commons. We
welcome 1t, not only on account of its value
as contribution to the polemics of the irish
question, but as positive proof of what has
already been suspected, that the Unionist
party has in Mr.. Bingham young states
man of a very high order indeed, and one
whom remarkable and rapid success at the
bar has not hampered, as is too often the
case, in the larger and less technical field of
politics."
And SD on. Beatrice put the paper down
with smile oftriumph. Geoffrey's success
was splendid aud unquestioned. Nothing
could stop him now. During all the long
journey she pleased her Imagination by
conjuring up picture after picture of that
great future OF his, in which she would have
no share. And vet he would not forget her;
she was sure of this. Her shadow would go
with him from year to year, even to the end,
and at times he might think how proud she
would have been could she be present to
record his triumphs. Alasl she did not re-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11
WORKING THE CHANGE RACKET.
The Corner Grocers Selected Victims b.
Rather Clever Artist.

The Corner Grocers Selected ms Victims by
Rather Clever Artist.
Occasional reports, mostly from corner
groceries, have been coming in the past
week or two of attempts to defraud by
means of the change racket. A tall and
rather neat-looking individual, perhaps 25
years of age, will step in and buy some
trifing article, perhaps cigar or banana.
He offers SO or $40 bill in payment. The
grocer skirmishes in his money drawer for
the change and lays it before his customer.
The latter starts to pick it up. selecting the
largest bill in the pile, when he suddenly
remembers that he has smaller change him.
self.
He fumbles about in his pockets, keeping
up running fire OF delightful conversa-
tion, meanwhile disposing OF the grocer's
bill and producing, say a s. bill. In the
confusion nine grocers out of ten forget the
missing bill, and are not enlightened until
the accounts of the day are figured up at
night. The fellow ran across one grocer
last week who was up TO the trick and he
only got his legitimate change. Four or
five hours later. when the grocer was out,
the fellow returned and tried the same
game on the clerk, but tie latter had been
posted and wasn't caught
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11
PROFITS IN BEER.

The Size of the Glasses Has stea dily
Diminished of Late.
"I'm awfully glad we have more drinking
places now," remarked a hale and hearty
old gentleman who has been thriving on
beer for 10. these many years. Asked to ex-
plain, he said the saloons which had a
monopoly of the business last year had not
been satisfied with their enormously in
creased profits but had reduced the size of
their beer glasses.
"You only get thimble full of beer now
adays." said he, "but these new saloons are
doing better. There's one over there that sets
up the old-fashioned glasses and besides that
the barkeeper will ask whether you won't
have schooner That sounds like old
times. Glasses have been growing smaller
ever since we drank beer in America out of
the old-:ashioned mugs we know now only
from old pictures"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

usually low, being only about SO feet across,
owing to the water being held back by three
Government dams above to await the open
ing of navigation. 1t is expected that there
will be an iron drawbridge thrown across
the river at La Prairie this season. River
steamers, up to It's tons burden, come up to
Grand Rapids. The Andy Gibson, 12O-
ton boat, was tied up at La Prairie over
winter, and was just being gone over pre-
paratory to the new season.
There are no scnoolhouses or churches at
La Prairie yet, although there is Presby-
terian organization and occasional preach
ing, and they are now endeavoring to get q
pastor.
ANOTHER QUAINT VILLAGE.
1t is beautiful walk of about two miles
along the river bluff to thequaint village of
Grand Rapids, with its ancient looking log
houses. It Is considerably older place
than La Prairie, and has more pictur eso1
situation. 1t is hilly and nearer the river,
over which a new iron drawbridge was
thrown last summer. Almost all the build
ings are log houses, except the new school
house, which is striking exception, and I
am told cost about S. 900. A large q nited
States flag was floating from its tower and
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11


some hundred miles to the northwest from
Duluth, there is being developed new
iron district which is just upon the brink
of production. 1t is located in what is here
known as the Western Mesabi country.
The Duluth and Winnipeg Railroad Com
pany, after great fight for the opportunity,
is building through and opening up an i'm
mense country, abounding in mineral, tim
Der and other natural resources, to the
northwest and between Duluth and Winni-
peg.
Your correspondent has just returned
from the iron development in question,
known as the Diamond mines. Some idea
of its isolated character will be gained by
the statement of the miners that last sum-
mer there was three months when they
didn't see another face beside their own.
THE PRoGREss ALREADY MADE.
The railroad company is ready and de-
sirous of running branch from La Prairie
ent to the mines this season, and will do so
Just as soon as the parties operating the
mines can show them that they have such
sufficient showing of ores as will insure
immediate and adequate shipments. The
owners OF the Diamond iron mine property
are Messrs. Richardson, Smith and War
ner, capitalists from Minneapolis. They
have recently given an option until June
on the property to the well-known prac-
teal mining operator, John Paulson. OF
Minneapolis. He has placed Charles Nc
Gregor. who has had 20 years experience in
the Michigan mines, upon the ground in
charge as mining captain, and operations
are being pushed as rapidly as possible. 1t
Is stated by prominent parties that the op-
tion is upon the basis of $50, 900 in cash and
the privilege of working the mines for 20
years at 40 cents a ton royalty.
Lately their pump broke down, and the
large amount of water prevalent at this
season has delayed the work in some partic-
ulars. Captain McGregor saws that, with
the railroad branch completed, needed heavy
machinery could be brought in and they
would be shipping 250,O00 to 300, 900 tons
inside of the next two or three years.
PLENTY OF CONFIDENCE.
Mr.. Richardson stated to me that if Paul
son didn't accept the option and take the
mine and push it, he had other parties
standing ready to do SO. 1t may be said
that Messrs. Richardson, Smith and Warner
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

I accom- plisned in its order. She looked at
the letter. 1t was, she thought, the last
token that could ever pass between them on
this earth. Once she pressed it to her heart,
once she touched it with her lips, and then
she put it from her beyond recall. It was
done; there was no going back now. And
even as she stood the postman came up
whistling, and opening the box carelessly
swept its contents into his canvas bag.
Could be have known what lay among them
he would have whistled no mors that day.
Beatrice continued her journey, and by
o'clock arrived safely at the little station
next to Bryngelly. There was a fair ar
Coed that day, and many people of the
peasant class got in here. Amidst the con-
fusion she gave up her ticket to a small
boy, who was looking the other way at the
time, and escaped without being noticed by
a soul. Indeed, things so happened that
nobody in the neighborhood Of Bryngelly
ever knew that Beatrice had been to Lon
don and back upon those dreadful days.
Beatrice walked along the cliff, and in an
hour was at the door of the Vicarage, from
which she seemed to have been away for
years. She unlocked it and entered. In
the letterbox was a postal card from her
father, stating that he and Elizabeth had
changed their plans and would not be back
till the train which arrived at $50 on the
following morning. So much the better,
she thought. Then she disarranged the
clothes upon her bed to make it seem as
though it had been slept in, lit the kitchen
fire, and put the kettle on to boil, and as
soon as it was ready she took some food. She
wanted all her nerve, and that could not be
kept up without food.
Shortly after this the girl Betty returned.
Her sister was much better, she said, in an
swer to Beatrice's inquiries, and she went
about her duties in the house quite uncon-
scIous that Beatrice had been away from it
for the whole night
When she had eaten what she could-it
was not much-Beatrice went to her room,
undressed herself, bathed, and put on clean,
fresh things. Then she unbound her lovely
hair, and did it up in a coronet upon her
head. It was fashion that she did not
often adopt, because it took too much time,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11
THE FIRST STEEL PENS.
| Considerable Mystery as to Their InveniIon
nud Mamma cture.

Considerable Mystery as to Their InveniIon
and Manufacture.
Twenty years ago there were three men
living who could have answered the ques-
ton, When and by whom were steel pens
invented? These three were Josiah Mason,
John Mitchell and Joseph Gillot. OF these
the two later died and left no word. The
other, Sir Josiah Mason, left on record that
his friend ana patron, Mr.. Samuel Harri-
son, made a steel pen for DR.. Priestly about
the year 1880.
But though Mr.. Harrison may have good
right to what glory there is in this fact, it
does not appear that he had anything to do
with the manufacture of steel pens by me
chanical appliances-that is, by machinery.
This question is involved in as much obscur-
ity as is the invention of printing, and, like
that invention, has been surrounded with an
atmosphere of myth.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

made quite a pretty spectacle. A church
fund OF Sc, 900 has been secured here and the
people hope soon to build. I took pho
tograph of the bridge and the Mississippi at
this point. 1t seemed scarcely possible that
the gravelly creek before me was the great
Father of Waters. I also took a picture of
a group of Indian women and children
seated in front of the postofice.
There is a great deal OF country up here
and much of it is rich in. vast resources and
possibilities. To look ahead and picture its
progress after it has had the time and
chances which the East has, is to dream of
wonders past all present belief. Especially
is this true of that marvellous region about
the head of Lake Superior.
ORLIN M. SANFORD.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

member that when al is lost which can
make life beautiful, when the sun has
set and the spirit gone out of the day, the
poor garish lights of our little victories
can but i'll atone for the glories that
have been. Happiness and content are fral
plants, which can only flourish under fair
conditions. They will not thrive beneath
the gloom and shadow of a pail, and when
the heart is dead no triumpbs, however
splendid, and no rewards, however great,
can compensate for the utter and irredeem-
able loss. She never guessed, poor girl, that
time upon time, In the long years to be,
Geofrey would gladly have laid his honors
down in payment for one month of her dear
and unforgotten presence. She was too un-
selfish; she did not think that a man could
thus prize a woman's love, and took it for an
axiom that success in hiewas his one real
object-a thing to which SO divine gift as she
had given Geoffrey is as nothing.
At Chester Beatrice got out of the train,
and posted her letter to Geoffrey. She
would not do so before because it might
have reached him too soon, before she had
finished. Now it would be delivered to
him in the House after everything had been
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11
THE CULTURE OF PEARLS.
How the Chinese Bore Holes Into Mussels
npd Drop Pellets Into Than.

How the Chinese Bore Holes Into Mussels
nnd Drop Pellets Into Them.
The production of pearls by assisted propa-
cation is curious industry, which has
been carried on more successfully by the
Chinese than by any other people. They
take the mussels from their beds, and, pry-
ing open the shells, or boring holes through
them, insert small molds or beads 80 that
they will lie in the soft flesh. The animals,
being unable to expel these foreign bodies,
Immediately begin to cover them with
nacre, as described in the natural pearl
making process. In year a complete coat
ing is formed, but the beauty of the pearl is
greatly enhanced by allowing it to remain
undisturbed for two or three years.
These pearls, however, are seldom perfect
in shape, because it is almost impossible to
obtain or manufacture kernels of fawless
spherical form. The deposit of nacre, of
course, follows every inequality Of surface
in the artificial molds.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11
CHAPTER XVIII.

WILL WALL pOh 1OOs
Beatrice drove back to Paddington, and
as she drove, though her face did not
change from its marble cast Of woe the great
tears rolled down it, one by one.
They reached the edeserted-looking station,
and she paid the man out of her few remain
ing shlllings-seeing that she was a stranger,
he insisted upon receiving half crown.
Then, disregarding the astonished stare of
the night porter, she found her way to the
waiting room, and sat down. First she took
the letter from her breast and added some
lines to it in pencil, but she did not post it
yet; she knew that if she did so it would
reach its destination too seon. Then she
laid her head back against the wall, and,
utterly outworn, dropped to sleep-her last
sleep upon this earth, before the longest
sleep of all.
And thus she waited and slept at Pad
dington, while her lover waited and watched
at Euston.
At she woke, and the heavy cloud of
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11

saloon started at Grand Rapids. Others
followed, and four years ago they started in
at La Prairie. The Indians got to drinking,
and finally even sold their horses for liquor:
Whisky did the rest. They ran down and
ran out until the remnant reduced to about
40 individuals, recently removed some 20
miles down the river.
visited the graves of the Indians. A
dozen or 15 have wooden covers, some like
a little house. They chose beautiful spot
for their last resting place. At their feet
below is the deep, dark current of the
Father of Waters. Behind the field at
their back was the great pine forest. Across
the river in front is a mixed growth of ever
greens literally sprinkled and lighted up
with poplars and white birches. Under the