davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1891-04-13
THE FUTURE FUNERAL.
1t Will Be Abolished and Superseded by
Cremation.

1t Will Be Abolished and Superseded by
Cremation.
"The time Is coming" said an undertaken
of this city the other day. when pee pie
will cease to go to funerals in troops, and
when the friends Of the deceased will take
farewell OF his remains at his home, instead
Of following him to the grave as they
do now. This will be a decided
change for the better. Funerals as
now coniuctei are very foolish and
meaningless performances. They bring dis
comfort to all who attend them, and in many
cases they do positive injury. Think of the
thousands of people who catch their deaths
of cold from standing shivering around an
open grave and from sitting for hours in
carriages, travelling at snalTS pace for
miles into the country. OF course, the time
is not far distant when burials will be
largely superseded by cremation.
'On the whole, | am disposed to regard
cremation as a blessing. People are opposed
to it now because they think that it is I'M
natural and horrible. 1t is simply an assist
anee to natures work: it does neatly and
quickly what nature accomplishes after a
long time and in very unpleasant fashion.
| wonder if people will ever realize that
when human being dies the body which he
leaves behind him is not himself. There is
no more relation between man when he
is living and when he is dead than there
is between any living thing and piece of
clay. But we have not reached that age
OF civilization when the popular mind can
grasp this fact. When we do there will
be very different funeral ceremonies from
those now in vogue. and other methods of
dispoSing of the dead will change ma
terially."-N. Y. Telegram.
The morning call., 1891-04-13

hospital gangrenous symptoms appeared in
the left foot and he was again compelled to
60 to the operating table. This time the
surgeon took off the left leg at abont the
same point where the other had been ampG-
tated. Before he had recovered from the
operation the fatal blood poisoning reap
peared in the stump of the right leg. Then
the surgeons were about ready to give him
up, for he had a heart Affection, which, in
his weak condition, rendered it impossible
to administer anesthetics without certainty
of death. 1t was therefore decided not to
operate
When the situation was explained to Ro-
bollo he insisted that the operation should
take place without an aesthetic. He
didn't care for the pain, he said, and the
surgeons might go ahead as fast as they
pleased. He was so determined in the
matter that the doctors decided to try it.
They took off the right leg at the hip-1oint,
and Robollo not only bore it without faint
ing or shrinking, but he grimly watched the
surgeons at work and even attempted
to assist them in some details. The
doctors. said it was the most wonder.
every witnessed. Even this was not the
end of the poor fellows sufferings. No
sooner had he partially recovered from the
last awful experience in the surgeons
hands than the same condition of things
presented itself in the left leg. That also
was taken off at the hip joint in the same
way. Kobolio lived through it. His Won
derful pluck never deserted him for an in
slant. He got well and nearly two years
ago he was discharged cured. He retained
his health until attacked by the grip
about two weeks ago. and the disease
finally conquered him. He had a comfort
able little property Of his own, ami he
earned a partial living by selling trinkets.
He never tired of cracking his favorite
joke when asked how he was doing in bust
ness or otherwise. His reply always was:
ooh I can't kick,
The morning call., 1891-04-13
Went Rack for His Coat.

Tom Fitch, the orator, amused party of
friends at the Palace last night by relating
"reminiscences of his Arizona experience.
"Now there" said he, lis my friend,
Judge Fitzgerald, who was sent out from
Mississippi to occupy the Federal bench at
Tucson. The Judge, you see, believes in
maintaining the dignity of the court at all
times, and when he first opened court at
Tucson he was unaccustomed to the ways
of the country. On the first day of his III
cumbency a juror appeared in his shirt
sleeves. The Judge eyed him sharply for
moment and asked in his severeSt tones;
"'Where is your coat, sir?'
"'At home, your Honor.
"'Then go and get 1t at once, SIR Then
turning to the others: The Court wishes to
say that no juror or witness will be allowed
to appear in this courtroom in his shirt
sleeves. Mr.. Sheriff, see that the juror goes
for his coat at once
The man disappeared and was seen no
more that day. Eight days later he re-en-
tered the courtroom with a coat buttoned
to the chin and the perspiration pouring
from him in streams.
"'Where have you been, STRIP demanded
the Judge, as his eye lighted on the man
standing before him.
49, Well. your Honor retorted the Juror,
when l came before you last week, you or
dered me TO get my coat. l was conn elled
have just walked back
The Judge turned his back to the court
room to laugh, and from that time on the
question Of apparel was overlooked
Knew His Position.
"When l visited the Sandwich Islands,"
said John n. Morton at the Occidental yes
terday, 81 made the trip down on the
steamer that carried David A. Mckinley
when he went first as American Consul to
Honolulu. Mckinley, you know, is an
inveterate smoker, and it was his custom to
smoke in the cabin. Early on the trip the
captain sent tho steward to tell the Consul
that smoking was not allowed in the cabin.
The message was delivered, and the effect
was that Mckinley grew angry"
".DO you know who l amp" asked the
latter.
No, SIR was the reply, but I am SIM
ply obeying the captains ORDERS
You are, ehg' calculated the now en-
ragged Consul.
"'Well, you Just go back to your blasted
captain and tell him that am the American
Consul, sir, and that / propose to smoke
where please, by the eternal
Mckinley, was informed, was not dis
turbed again on the trip
The morning call., 1891-04-13

train had come, saying out" meaning that
the train had passed and the block was
clear.
This crude experiment of blocking trains
proved so successful that II was gradually
extended from Trenton to New brunswick,
and afterward over the entire main line of
the road. In the early days If lailroading
the necessity If some such method OF signal
ing was apparent as the following inc dent
related by veteran telegraph operator will
illustrate:
large quantities of old rails to Trenton. One
night the operator at FOur-mlle Tank,
point four miles west of New Brunswick,
reported that he failed to see the red light
on the rear car of an extra"
At that time freight-trans carried no sucn
thing as a caboose, but as means OF pro-
lection a brakeman rode on the rear car
with red light. On the night in question
the train was stopped at Monmouth juno
ticn and the conductor, who was riding on
the engine, was asked II he mad MS 1ull
train. After counting his cars he reported
eight of them missing, and upon lnquirlng
as to their whereabouts he was Informed
that he would find them between Four-mile
Tank and New Brunswick, and was told to
side-lrack his train and go BACK WIN MS
engine for the stray cars.
Notice was telegraped to the night Wash
ingtou express at New Brunswick, where it
and with great caution. and it would ind
portion of the extra. which had broken in
Two between the block stations, for which
the engine of the freight was returning.
The Washington Express reached the de-
tached portion of the freight train first, and
found the brakeman seated on the rear car.
When asked why he had not come down
the track to flag the following train. he re-
piled that he thought the engine had
Stalled around the curve, and was waiting
for his train to proceed.
Very little was done to improve the block
system until 1878, when the PENNSYLVANIA
adopted it on the main line Of the Pittsburg
division. The form of signaling used here
was a disc or banner, and the distance be-
tween the towers was of considerable
length, depending, Of course, upon local
conditions and emergencies. These methods
have now been almost entirely replaced by
the standard semaphore, which is an abSo-
Lutte necessity when any form OF interlock-
ing is required.
AS an invention TO facilitate the rapid
and safe movement of trains, the interlock-
ing pneumatic switching and signaling sys-
TEN, now in use by nearly all important
railroads in the United States. as 1t has long
been in England, must stand next after
air-brakes. Signals fall naturally into two
great classes-those which protect points OF
danger and govern the movements Of traius
The morning call., 1891-04-13
The Home Team Wins Hands Down
~. noIooaIr

The Home Team Wins Hands Down
Against the Co1oneIs.
SAN JOSE, April 12.-About 1000 people
witnessed the San Joses give the Colonies
hard rap on soft diamond at SAP Jnse
to-day. The day was all that could be de-
sired for ball-playing. A thin sheet of clouds
obseured the sun, and light breeze gave
pleasure to players and spectators.
The Oaklands were not in it from the first
inning, when they became "rattled " over
four runs recorded AGAINST them, although
by a magnificent double play, which nearly
terminated in triple, they won prolonged
round of applause from the unprejudiced
audience. 1t was an exciting game until the
sixth inning, when even Tip" gave up all
hope of overtaking "the babies" although
the Colonies worked hard every minute OF
the two hours of the game.
Neither Harper nor Stephens pitched
good game, three men having been given
bases in the fifth by the San Jose pitcher,
and three of the San Joses doing the pedes-
trian act on Stephens in the seventh:
1t was smuggling game and hits we're
numerous.
Lehman came in for well-earned applause
in the fifth, by taking two fouls. A conye-
nient wood-pile in the right field gave STALL
ings a home run and sent in Everett from
second IN the fifth, and the crowd arose IN
their seats and yelled with delight.
Tip" O'Neil worked hard and vainly en-
deaYored to rattle Harper, thereby causing
the kindergarten contingent to guy the
much-abused captain of the Colonels, who
was glad to pay his entire attention to the
game, give up his tactics and not reply
again TO the kids.
Colonel Robinson took his defeat phio-
sophically, remarking that the tables would
be turned before the week was over.
Fogarty came to the front with three we'll
timed base hits TO his credit. and the grand
stand recognized his efforts.
The Colonels are well pleased with their
reception in the Garden City, where a good
play receives deserved recognition although
it may be recorded against the home nine.
The score:
The morning call., 1891-04-13
In yards, and those which keep an interval
of space between two trains running on the
.01r

in yards, and those which keep an interval
of space between two trains running on the
same track.
In its simple form the semaphore consists
of board about three feet long, pivoted on
post. This board Is called blade and has
two positions to which II may be thrown
automatically or by an operator in a tower
three-quarters of mile away.
Behind the pivot ON which this blade
works is a heavy casting, which carries
colored glass lens, either red or green, red
being the universal danger color, and green
the color Of caution. The danger position is,
with this blade, horizontal, while clear
track is indicated by dropping 1t 10 an angle
of sixty degrees. There is nothing very re-
markable about piece of board arranged to
wag up and down on pin stuck through
post, but it is wonderful how much brains
and talk have been expended in getting these
boards to wag tremendously, and 10 con-
vincing railroad officials that plain board,
having two possible positions, is a better
protection for trains than any more cOmpli-
Gated form of signal.
All trains on the local system of the
Southern Pacific at Oakland are controlled
by the block system of signaling but not in
its simplest form. Upon good authority it
is declared to be the most complicated sys-
tenn now in use. 1t Is rare combination of
all the simpler methods of signaling,
marvel of ingenuity, and is called the cleo
tIIC pHtuiDdtIC UlOck system, III WHICH, as
the name would indicate, three forces are
used-electricity, compressed air and water.
Trains on this system arc handled from four
towers, and after passing these signal sta
tons coming In they are no longer under the
care of a train-dispatcher, but fall under
the caution of the towerman, who is respon-
sible for their safe arrival at destination.
The four towers referred to on the local
system are situated as follows: No. 1, at
Oakland Pier, controlling passenger yard
and all main line and local trains after leav-
ing West Oakland; No. 2, at West Oakland,
at the commencement of "fll' leading to
the pier; No. g. at Webster-street crossing,
controlling bridges. and No. 4, at Six
teenth-street depot. Trains coming in over
The morning call., 1891-04-13

j. W. Conger of Fresno is among the
guests at the Lick. He is brother of the
present American Minister to Brazil.
when l was last in Washington" re-
marked Mr.. Conger yesterday, Il was walk
ing along Pennsylvania avenue one day
when we CHANGED to meet Mr.. Blaine on his
way to his Office. 1t was just at the time
when it was so persistently stated that the
Secretary's health was i'll precariOus con-
dition. He stopped to greet my brother,
who presented us, and when DR.. Rush took
Mr.. Blaine's hand the latter suddenly
asked, with peculiar twinkle In his eye:
Doctor, what do you think of my condi-
tion?'
"The doctor replied that he saw no bad
symptoms, and we passed on. Rush then
told us that in holding Mr.. Blaine's hand he
tested his skin by rubbing it with his fingers,
as that was an infalIble method of deter
mining the presence of the disease which it
was claimed Mr.. Blaine was afflicted with.
The latter had detected the intention in an
instant"
The morning call., 1891-04-13
MEN ABOUT TOWN.
Short Stories Gathered From the
Hotel Corridors.
A Pleasant rnnovation-He Was Not On Duty.
where the Corn Goes-Caused by Joke.
Blaine's sagacity.

Carpers can no longer find any excuse for
the statement that San Francisco lays be-
hind her sister American cities in the march
of progress. In one essential, at least, she
has outstripped all rivals and deserves the
warmest commentator of every man who
has the best interests of humanity at heart.
1t has been discovered that two Of the lead
ing Darber-shops of the city have inaugu-
rated new rule which will bring infinite
relief to tho weary. They have decided
that employees must not converse with Gus
toners, and all successful applicants for
work are required to pledge themselves not
to violate the injunction under any circum-
stances. Already there is stir among the
BARRIERS, and some of them have deserted
their posts of duty to seek employment
where they will be allowed TO discuss the
weather and the latest prize-fght without
the fear of being discharged.
The morning call., 1891-04-13
The Temptation Was Too Great.

"a few years ago" said Captain Young of
the Pilot Commission yesterday, eve elected
as Public Administrator of Sacramento
County young man named Dye, who at
the time Of his nomination was superinteGd-
ent of Sunday-school. He was regarded
very highly and up to that time his charac-
ter was held as blameless. just after the
adjournment of the convention met him on
the street, and as we passed along one of
Dyes friends stopped him to congratulate
him on his nomination. In Jest the FRIEND
said, Dye, when you are elected you had
better hire some killers TO make business
for your Office
soon after his election wealthy woman
was killed and man named Tullis was
found murdered. Some weeks afterward
an attempt was made on the life of a rich
farmer named jackson, and Nose Drew.
who was then Sheriff of Sacramento County,
succeeded in arresting the would-be assas-
sins. The latter confessed, aud stated that
they had been employed by Dye. All were
tried, and Dye was hanged. He stated be-
fore his execution that his downfall was due
entirely to the chance remark which had
been made to him by his friend"
The morning call., 1891-04-13
BORN.

HUDDLESTON-In this city, March rs, 1891, to the
wife of Matthew J. Huddleston, daughter
RYAN-In this city. April H. 1891. to the wife Of
Thomas L. Ryan, daughter.
MEDCRAFT-ln this city, April TO- 1884, to the
wife of X. G. Medcraft,
wIGGIN-ln this city. April IL, 1891, to the wife
Of w. H. Wiggin, q son.
HENRY-In Oakland April 6, 1891, on board the
ship Jabez Howes. tothe wife OF Captain Fred
erlck T. Henry daughter.
COVINGTON-In Oakland, April 6, 1891, to the
wife of s. c. Covlngton. daughter.
SHAFER-In Los Angeles. April 8. 1891, to the
wife of Frank II. Shafer, daughter.
HOFFMAN-On Potrero Heights, this city, April
10, 1891, to the wife of Frank Hoffman, son.
The morning call., 1891-04-13
A Parallel to Mr.. BIair's Case.

Apropos of Mr.. Blair's appointment to the
Chinese mission, the interesting fact is re-
called that the late Alexander II. Stevens
was once formally denounced by his con-
stituents in Georgia for having recon-
mended prominent scallawag politician of
that State, who rejoiced in the name Of
Scruggs, for the position Of Consul to Can
ton, China. Mr.. Stevens was unmoved by
their fierce threats of vengeance, however.
Go ahead and pitch into me all you like"
said Mr.. Stephens; "when you get through
l will make my speech. l will ask my peo-
pie whether they prefer to have Scruggs in
Georgia or Scruggs in China, and have no
doubt about the reply they make" This
country for his eonntry's eoodSRostnn
Herald
The morning call., 1891-04-13
REMARKABLE FORTITUDE.
Both Legs Amputated without the Use
of Anesthetics.

Both Legs Amputated Without the Use
of Anesthetics.
A man, who the doctors say possesses
greater physical courage than any one who
ever came under their observation, was
among the victims of the grip who die d
this week. His name was John Robollo,
and his crippled figure has been familiar
sight for year or so on the west side of
town, says a New York correspondent Of
the Chicago Herald. Four years ago Robollo
was man in rugged health, almost a giant
10 strength. He was employed as block
cutter in a wallpaper factory. More than
than three years ago bit of brass filing be-
came lodged in some manner in the big
toe of his right foot. Inflammation set in,
but Rob0llo would have nothing to do with
doctors. Blood poisoning in a mild form
supervened, and Robollo made up his mind
that the toe would have to come off. He
performed the operation himself without
fiinchDg. and ligatured and bandaged it SO
as to control the hem0rrhage. A few weeks
later inflammation from his wound spread
and gnngrene set in. Then he applied to
the surgeons at Roosevelt Hospital for
treatment. They found it necessary to take
off the entire foot Immediately. Even that
did not avail, and few weeks later another
amputaton was made above the knee. He
was discharged apparently cured.
But. the poison in Robollo's system had
apparently not been exterminated, for
three months after his discharge from the
The morning call., 1891-04-13
TEMBLOR SENSATIONS.
Tropical Residents Have Become Used Z,
Their Queer Feeling.

Tropical Residents Have Become Used to
Their Queer Feeling.
To the average resident of the temperate
zone an earthquake is rare and terrible
event, creating more CONSERVATION than any
other visitation Of nature. In the tropics
however. particularly in Central America.
1t is wonderful how easily the residents be.
come accustomed to these shocks, which do
not come, however, wholly without warning.
You are sitting on a piazza of a hot after
noon, chatting with ycur friends, when sud-
denly the sky seems to grow hay. the
crows stop cawing and the buzzards quit
fighting in the street, says the New York
journal. There is general rush. and.
though you may not know what is the mat,
ter, you cannot help feeling uneasy.
The old natives say, eve are going to
have little shake" and then the house
begins to rock, the tumblers fall off the
table, yOl feel deadly sick at the stomach
and think it is all over. The sky clears. the
crows begin their noisy screams and the
buzzards resume their quarrel. over the
street Offal.
There is something inexpressib]y terrifv.
ing, however, about the trembling of the
earth. The slightest oscillation will
awaken the population of tile whole town.
but unless some considerable damage is
done, everybody goes to sleep again as
matter of course.
The morning call., 1891-04-13
r B

ta) Pot signal. (bbbl semaphore signals (cc)
Signal levers. (ddd) Switch levers. (18l Cross
over switch. (l9) Derail switch.
dies or levers, which can be turned from
side TO side with rs much ease as the keys
of a piano can be depressed. There are
forty-eight of these handles or levers, WHICH
work an equal number Of switches and Sig
nails.
Turning one of these levers admits co M
pressed air to the end of a pipe containing
water and instantly the pressure Is trans
mitted to valve at the switch or signal to
be moved. Directly above the row of levers
is diagram of tracks operated, also con-
tanning miniature switches which move
automatically, the movements conforming
TO the movement of the switch in the yard
below. thus enabling the operator to see at
glance the condition of his yard at all
times.
The tower machine in Its relation to
switches and signals acts in precisely the
same manner as a combination lock, aud the
arrangement is so made that the movements
are mutually dependent upon one another,
making it a mechanical impossi bility to give
signal which may lead to All accident, for
the same lever which would give a safety
signal would also lock the switch over which
the signaled train must pass.
For instance, train Is moving toward the
pier on Track and warns the tower-man
of its approach by automatically ringing a
bell over the lever machine. If the track is
clear 1t is possible to give this train safety
signal. If by any oversight the operator
fails to note an obstruction and attempts to
give safety signal by throwing over Lever
he finds that it will not bulge, and if
moved at all will only go to position
throwing the signal to danger and stopping
the train.
As an auxiliary to this system by which
the signals and switches are operated from
a tower, the automatic block signals are
used. The normal position of the automatic
signal is at safety, while that of a signal
controlled from the tower is mt danger.
Under the automatic system the yard is
divided into "blocks -, of 1900 feet each.
At the C mmencement of each " block "
signal posts are erected. one for each
block" and each post carries two sema-
phores. When the upper semaphore iro-
jects at right angles from the post it indi-
Gates that train is on the next "blocl,"
and, whenever it projects in this way, the
lower arm is also set at danger or caution.
AS train leaves the block thus pro-
tected, the upper signal falls, but the lower
one stands at caution, and remains in that
position until the next block is passed
and the train is two "bocks" distant.
Each signal is connected with counter
poise, SO that when left to themselves the
counterpoise drop and set them al the
danger position, or at right angles to the
sustaining post For specific example suppose