davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11
AGED INDIANS.
Remarkable Longevity of the Ma
tives of Southern California.

The early inhabitants of Southern Cal
ifornia, according to the statement of
Mr.. II. II. Bancroft and other reports,
were found to be living in Spartan con-
ditions as to temperance and training,
and in a highly moral condition, in con-
sequence of which they had uncommon
physical endurance and contempt for
luxury. This training in abstinence and
hardship, with temperance in diet, COM
bined with the climate to produce the
astonishing longevity to be found here.
Contrary to the customs of most other
tribes of Indians, their aged were the
care of the community. DR.. w. A.
Winder, of San Diego, is quoted as say
ing that in visit to Ell Cajon Valley
some thirty years ago he was taken to
a house in which the aged persons were
cared for. There were half dozen
who had reached an extreme age. Some
were unable to move, their bony frame
being seemingly anchylosed. They were
old, wrinkled, and blear- eyed; their
skin was hanging in leathery folds about
their withered limbs; some had hair as
white as snow, and had seen some seven
score of years; others, still able to
crawl, but so aged as to be unable to
stand, went slowly about on their hands
and krees, then limbs being attenuated
and withcred. The organs of special
sense had in many nearly lost all activi-
| ty some generations back. Some had
lost the use of their limbs for more than
q decade or a generation; but the organs
of life and the ''great sympathetic" still
kept up their automatic functions, not
recognizing the fact, and surprisingly
indifferent to it, that the rest of the
body had ceased to be of any use gen.
Grafton or more in the past. DR.. Pal
mer has photograph (Which 1 have
seem of a squaw whom he estimates to
be one hundred and twenty-six years
old. When he visited her he saw her
put six watemelons in a blanket, tie
it up, and carry it On her back for two
miles. He is familiar with Indian GUS
toms and history, and careful cross
examination convinced him that her in
formation of old customs was not OBJ
tanned by tradition. She was CONVEX
SAINT with tribal habits she had seen
practised, such as the cremation of the.
dead, which the mission fathers had
compelled the Indians to relinquish.
She had seen the IndiaLs punished by
the fathers with foggings for persisting
in the practice of cremation.
At the mission of San Tomas, in
Lower California, is still living an In
diana photograph of whom DR.. Remon-
dino shows, bent and wrinkle, whose
age is computed at one hundred and
forty years. Although blind and naked,
he is still active, and daily goes down
the beach and along the beds of the
creeks in search of drift-wood, makingit
his daily task to gather and carry to
camp fagot of wood [Harper's
| MAGAZINE
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11
Railroad Ties.

The wooden ties now in use upon the
tracks of the United States number 515,-
S32, 018. The average life of wooden
tie in this country is six and half years.
Every year, therefore, calls for 80, 000,-
900 new ties. The interest IN this sub
ject is well shown by the fact that 491
patents have been issued in this country
to inventors of substitutes for wooden
ties. One ingenious individual has pro-
tected an idea for glass ties. An
Englishman has taken out letters in his
own country, the United States, France,
Belgium and Spain for tubular tie
made of concrete or some other compost
ton to be cast around a core of wire
netting.
One proposition is to manufacture
rails, ties and other articles of trackage
from composition of paper pulp, sill
cate of soda and barytes. The proper
tions are 500 parts pulp, % parts soda
and 10 parts barytes. Two inventors
working jointly have evolved the sug-
gestion of terra Gotta or earthenware
pyramids to support the rails. The
pyramids are to be connected by iron
metal ties. An earlier device is con-
crete tie with wooden blocks inserted
for the rails to be spiked upon.
The idea of metal skeleton or frame
work tie, covered with concrete OF arti-
fetal stone, comes from France to be
patented. Concrete blocks, with cork
plates for the rails to rest upon, are sug-
gested Concrete chairs and blocks and
of fibre coaked with as
phaltum and shaped by pressure were
among the earlier designs. But of the
491 patented substitutes for wood, all
but eleven are metal.-[ Atlanta Consti-
tuition
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11
The Cardiff Giant Humbug.

One of the men who made fortune
out of the Cardiff giant humbug nearly
twenty years ago died in New York re-
Gently. His name was George Hull.
He was formerly tobacconist in Bing.
hamton, and was the author of the
fraud, which he engaged an italian
stonecutter of Chicago to carry out. A
large gypsum slab was obtained in Iowa
and cut into the form of a gigantic man.
The stone was artiticially colorcd, to
give the appearance of great age, and
then buried in the vicinity of Cardiff,
where it was accidentally (of course) dis.
covered and exhumed, and exhibited
about the country as n prehistoric figure.
The imposition was so clever that many
scientific men wers deceived by it.
! CHICAGO Herald
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11
Largest Farm in the World.

In the extreme southwest corner of
Louisiana, says Spare Moments, lies the
largest producing farm in the world.
Measuring one hundred miles north and
south, and twenty-five miles east and
west, it is owned and operated by syn
dicatc of Northern capitalists. The
], 800, 900 acres of the tract were pur-
chased in 1883 from the State of Louis
lana and from the United States Gov
ernment.
At that time it was vast grazing land
for the cattle of the few dealers of the
neighborhood, over 80, 900 head of half
wild horses and cattle being thereon
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11
THE DEAD PAST.

Why cherish dream that is ended?
Why look down to the vista of years,
But to suffer "a long buried sorrow
To open the wound with new tears
1t is over; forget it-as useless
mo matter how anxious we bel,
To try to go back ana recover
A pearl that is lost in the sea.
Why waste precious moments in thinking
Ofscenes that were beautiful then?
Why linger DER graves that hold treasures,
They neer will return us again?
Why wish for our youth and its gladness,
When from sorrow and care we were free?
When tits gone from our grasp, gone forever
As pearl that is lost in the seal
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11

'Rastus, does the alligator open his
mouth up or down."
II dunno, boss; amt never waited to
see."
LIVING AND DYING.
Sanso-Old Brown lived long, but his
last years were spent in poorhouse.
Rodd-Then he lived long and died
short, eh2
VERY LIKELY.
"Charley growls because his uncle is
so close"
"He'd get pretty mad if his uncle
were to open his window and look about
for some fresh heir, just the same"
HER LAMP WAS BURNING.
"Why burn your lamp so late, my friend,
Into the dawning dayG"
Because" quoth the girl graduate,
"This dude won't go away"
A FINE LINE DRAWN.
Mrs. A.-Does your husband believe
in corporal punishment in the house
hold?
Mrs. B.-Only to a certain point.
He's always whipping the children, but
he thinks the dust should be got out of
the carpet by moral suasion. i Chicago
Post.
A MEAN vILLAGER.
Mrs. Doublehouse-Jak our darter
wants cabinet organ.
Mr.. Doublehouse-Wa I'll git her
one. l don't like those new neighbors
of ours fer n cent. Il Good News.
ALAS! YES.
Strive as we may, We never can
Tell who are happy, who forlorn;
The cutest little shoe of tan
May hide a very painful corn.
Il Yenowine's News.
PROOF AGAINST TINE.
She-They have discovered some wood
in Egypt which is said to be 1900 years
old. | wonder what kind it is2
He Gmperturbably)-Ch of
COURSE Washington Star.
THE JUDGES ERROR.
Magistrate Surveying the prisoner)-
All! plain drunk, sec.
Prisoner with dignity)-No, shir; !;
fancy drunk, shir. Had noshing but
champagne, shir.-l Judge.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11
An Immense Steel Structure.

The great steel bridge across the Co
umbia river at Vancouver, British Co
lumbia, will be "A mammoth concern. 1t
will be G,000 feet from the Washington
to the Oregon shore. 1t will be double
tracked, with roadway on top fol
teams, and will be erected upon pncu.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11

l came back to life in the caboose of
the freight train. Fred was few feet
away, and we were both soon able to
listen to the strange story of the stolen
car.
The train had been stopped at both
ends by gang of masked desperadoes,
three of whom took possession of the
engine and gave orders to suit them
selves.
The train was broken in two, and the
forward part, with our Car attached, was
run few yards beyond the switch that
operated a two, mile siding which ran
back into lonely spot among the
mountains.
Then the train was backed with
sufficient speed to send our car-whch
had meanwhile been uncoupled-far out
on the siding. The train was then
joined together and the engine er ordered
to go ahead at full speed.
This command he obeyed to the letter
until he reached small wayside station
! where plenty of volunteers were found
to come back to the rescue--and their
arrival was well timed indeed.
Two of the robbers were dead, and
from one who was wounded information
was received that led to the capture o.
many of the gang.
How they ever discovered that tn,
money was in the freight car was nevel
ascertained, though it was probably
through the treachery of some rail
road employees, for the robbers did no
hesitate in picking out the car that con
tanned the booty
Fred and l were all right in day OF
two, and week later we received a
substantial recognition of our bravery,
as the superintendent was pleased to call
it, that went far to make amends for
our terrible experience.
Ponto, l almost forgot to say, was
rescued from the burning car. The bull
let had glanced from his skull, only
stunning him, and he was as lively as
ever the next day.-LThe Argosy.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11

weapons on the spot, ready for the first
man that would make his appearance.
Meanwhile the other door was being
slowly battered in, and soon gaping
hole was chopped through. We in
out effect, to Judge from the fierce wells
| that responded.
The situation was becoming more crit
| ical, for two or three rifle barrels were
thrust in from both sides of the car and
the bullets whistled uncomfortably close
to our heads. The rascals dared not eX-
pose themselves sufficiently to take aim
and our return fire did them no damage.
Then u long arm reached in and at
tempted to snatch the bar which offered
| the main obstacle to the breaking down
| of the door. Before either Fred or !
could fire, Ponto sprang forward and
seized the rufiian's hand in his sharp
white teeth.
We heard quick report, ayelp of
pain, and then poor Ponto dropped back
| on the floor to all appearances lifelcss.
Enraged at the death of the dog, Fred
emptied his revolver at the hole, to what
purpose we could not tell.
After that hostilities ceased for little
while, though the axes still tore away at
the door and the gaping holes grew
larger and larger.
I" smell smoke, said Fred suddenly.
"Do you ?"
eyes" ;" l replied, 81 detect it
plainly" and as we looked at each other
in sudden alarm, we heard sharp
cracking under foot, and red flashes of
light were visible through the flooring.
The miscreants had set fire to the end
of the car, with the intention Of driving
us forward within range of their MUIR
derous weapons.
We lost hope hen and there. We
could take our choice-death by fire or
by bullet. There was no other alterna-
tive
The flames enveloped the end of the
car with amazing rapidity, until red
tongues were licking the inside timbers
and the boards were hot to the touch.
Our skin seemed to be blistering, and
the smoke poured round us in suffocating
whirls, but we still held our ground,
knowing that to advance meant certain
and speedy death.
Outside the axes were still going
ldDlIly, anu lllt SlilOhC VIC saw
one of the doors tumble with crash in
to the car. A moment later the second
one dropped.
The robbers could almost place their
hands upon the chest now, but still they
hesitated to enter.
Then burst of flame came Kissing
from the bottom of the car, and with a
loud cry Fred fell over.
Hardly conscious of what was doing,
grasped him by the shoulders and
dragged him foot by foot toward the
open door, yet expecting every moment
to be riddled with bullets.
heard wild yell from outside, and
then a rattling fusillade of rifle shots. |
thought was shot and wondered vague
ly why l did not fall, and the next
thing I saw was a familiar face sur
mounted by blue railroad cap peering
into the open doors.
"Thc money is SAFE" said the man to
some one behind him, "but don't see
either of the poor fellows. Pm afraid
they're done for"
tried to cry out but the sound choked
in my throat, and then l must have
tainted dead away.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11
NOT FOOLHARDY.

"Rastus, does the alligator open his
mouth up or down."
II dunno, boss; ! amt never waited to
see y
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-11

ANOTHER HoRRoRl
A seedy old tramp at Cape May,
Turned in for a snooze in the hay,
But his nose, being bright,
Caused the hay to ignite,
And there was the Dickens to pay!
BULLS REASON.
"John," said the brokers' wife, "the
paper says the Stock Market Staggers'
what makes it stagger2"
"Because," returned John ruefully,
"nearly all the stocks have taken drop
too much. y New York Herald.
THE WHY OF IT.
81 like the novels of Besant and Rice !;
they'll live. They're the kind that
stick. "
eyes; like pitch"
'Like pitchf'
"Of course; because they're btu
en- Judge.
wITHERING.
Sanso-I make it a point to learn
something from everybody | meet.
Rodd-Ah! You must be a recluse.
REVENGE IS SWEET.
Sanso-I say, old man, don't venture
on that ice. You will break it.
Stoutly--That will be but just. The
ice broke me last summer.
RATHER HARD ON HIM.
Mr.. Fuller to Clarence -four years old
Why, Clarence, how much you look
like your father.
Clarence (resignedly)-Yes, sir.
Everybody says that, but don't think
l deserve it.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-05
An Important Industry.

AUGUSTA, Ga, Sept "A company has
been formed here to work the fibre Of the
cotton stalk into wrap for cotton bales.
The capital stock Of the company will at
the beginning be $500 900, but the charter
gives the privilege Of increasing this to
$5,0O0,0O0 The process will necessitatc
decorticating machines near the fields
where there is supply of clear running
water Here the stalk is quickly changed
into batting. and can then be balcd and
shipped to the factories, where it will be
spun and woven, after which ii is ready
to be rolled and sent to the market. Until
beyond question it is settled that cotton
stalk bagging is in every way acceptable
and desirable as covering for the tlcecy
staple the operation will be confined to
Augusta. But it is claimed by those in the
secret that but one season will be re-
quircd to demonstrate this fact. num-
Der of these decorticating machines will
be scattered about in the counties in
Georgia and South Carolina convenient
to the Augusta factory. The cotton stalk
yield of field, it is calculated, is sufficient
to cover three-years Weld of cotton on
the same area. Abiding to the organiza-
tion of the company, the Augusta Chroni-
Gle says: SIT will be grand day for the
South when the cotton stalk can be decor
ticated and made up into Il flexible and
durable fibre"
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-05
----s6 -
SETTLED AT LAST.
The mississippi Constitutional Convention
Settles the Suffrage Question.
Jackson Specially

JACKSON, Miss, Sept 3.-The COM
mttec on the elective franchise practi-
cally completed rs labors to-day. The
plan Of the suffrage agreed upon embraces
the modification of the Australian-b ballot
system known rs the Dorch law. resi-
dence Of two years in the state, OF one in
the voting precint, the prepayment Of a
poll-tax Of 81. and qualified woman SUI
fragc based upon the possession by her,
or husband if married, Of real property to
the value of 5000.
The property qualification has been
abandoned, and m educational qualfca-
ton is provided for limited to the ability
of the voter to understand the constitu-
ton when read to him.
The convention met at $3.50 p. m, and
under the call of the counties number
of resolutions were read and referred.
The committee Oh convct's asylum sub
mittcd its report, which was made a
special order for next Tuesday. 1t pro-
vides that on and after January /, 1895,
the practice of leasing or hiring convicts
in the state shall cease forever. 1t also
provides for the abandonment of the
present state penitcntiary and the estab-
lishmcnt of a prison farm in its stead.
A reformatory school, constant separation
of the sexes and the keeping of Juvenile
offenders from association with hardened
criminals are also provided for.
LArER.-To avoid division over the re-
port of the committee, the convention
agreed to dispose of otner parts of the
report before taking up that relating to
woman suffrage.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-05
ROBBED AN l.. & n. TRAIN.
Highwaymen Hold up the Train and Rob
the Express Messenger.

MOBILE, Ala, Sept. 3.-(Special. THE
north bound, was held up near Pensacola
Junction, forty miles above Mobile, by
Robbers, who entered the express car and
compelled the messenger to turn over the
contents of his safe. 1t is not known at
this time the extent Of the robbery. After
having secured the valuables the robbers
escaped to the woods.
The first news Of the robbery received
in Mobile by the railway officials was very
mcagrc. The train was held up about
half n mile above Plantation Junction and
the people there knew very little of what
occurred, for the train was delayed seven
minutes only and there was not much
chance of learning what had occurred.
LArER.-A party has left Flomaton, and
another posse has left Mobile in pursuit of
the robbers. Some surprise is expressed
here that the robbers selected this partic-
ular train, us it is well known that the
other trains carry the most Of the express
money, No. &, the robbed train, CARRYING
very little at any time and small amount
on this occasion. II is said RUDE Burrows
was recently seen in Florida, and there is
q possibility that he ordered the assem-
bling of his gang at F!omaton and joined
them there to superintend the proper con-
duct of affairs. but this robbery looks
more like the work Of the celebrated Cap
tain Bunccr.
Careful examination by express officials
shows that only u portion of the packages
in 'he express safe in the car which was
robbed on the Louisville & Nashville this
morning was taken and the loss is not
nycr S9N0
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-05
No Compromise.
twashington Specially

Senator Wade Hampton is not disposed
to accept the decree of the recent demo-
cratic conference held in Columbia as a
final solution of the political problem in
South Carolina. Referring to the subject
yesterday he said the reports Of the recent
conference were misleading, and no COM
promise had been reached. On the con-
trary hostilities between the Tillman
and anti-Tillman factions are going on
with the same vigor as heretofore. The
real fight, says Senator Hampton, will
take place at the nominating convention,
September 10. The chairman Of the reg
ular democratic state committee and the
opposing chairman, selected by the Till
man faction, will each claim the right to
call the convention to order, and cons
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-05
NEWS FROM ROME.
Singular Complications In the Imperial
Clty-A Crisis and q Scandal.
fNew York sun,s Rome Letter. |

The financial situation in Rome is grow
ing daily more serious and sensational
The development that is predicted is the
collapse of the fortune of Prince Schirra,
the great Roman noble. Schirra, during
the building movement in Rome, mort
gagged his estate, which is valued at 2O, 0O0,-
900 francs, for 100000 francs, and since
the financial crisis finds it impossible to
redeem his property. The bankers who
hold the mortgages at seven per cent are
pressing him for payment; so that, unless
lie obtains assistance soon, crash OF one
of the Oldest Roman families must ensue.
This catastrophe will be of more than To-
cal interest, since it will probably involve
the breaking up of the well-known Schirra
gallery of paintings, which contains the
famous Violin Maker" of Raphael.
An incident of this possible calamity is
the difficulty that has arisen between Pre-
mier Crispi and the leading Italian Jour
nal, the Tribuna, in which Schirra is 4
large owner. 1t il alleged in Ministerial
circles that Crispi has letter from the
editor of the Tribuna making Il proposal
for an alliance which the Premier declined.
Crispi has threatened the Tribuna with
the publication of this letter, and that
journal, az matter of retaliation, sent
agents to Palermo, where the present
Nine Clispi formerly resided, to look up
her antccedents. These agents profess to
have discovered that the lady, who was a
widow when she married Crisp, had lived
with him before the death of her husband,
and the Tribunu promises to make things
unpleasant for the Premier aud his wife
unless the compromising letter of its ed
itor is returned. The present Nine. Crispi
is the third wife Of that gentleman, and
lie was obliged to make threats to enforce
her reception at court, particularly us 10
man society is not positive that death or
aw has divorced him from the other two.
.ipropoS Of this circumstance, it is re-
lated that when Crispi called the recent
travels of the Prince of Naples ga voyage
in search Of wife, the Queen placidly
remarked that 1.-THE Prince, ut least, was
not searching for three" Crispi, in con-
sequence, is not in favor with the Queen;
and the Roman people are indignant be-
cause he has appointed royal commits
soner to conduct their municipal affairs,
and dismissed the town council of Rome
by reason of pitched battle in that body,
brought about and largely participated in
BY the Duke of Sermoneta, one of the
richest and possibly, ablest noblcman in
Italy, who is well known throughout Eu-
rope as the former president of the Italian
Geographical Society.
The present conditions in Rome have
been brought about by the extravaganza
of the administration Of the vast public
works, that have brought SO many thou
sands of laborers to the city. The gov
eminent at present has not money enough
to continue these works; and, unless some
plan is devised to meet the situation, a
great financial crash must soon result.