davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03

He Corners the shoestrins Market and
Makes nBB,OOO I'm Three Months.

He Corners the nhoesftnE mnrhc< anu
Makes $4,000 I'm Three Months.
A coterie OF travelling statesmen in
the lobby OF the Palmer House, Chi
cago, were discussing the subject OF
fortunate investments and enter
prises that have proved unusually
profitable when one OF the gentlemen
remarked: "The queerest case that
ever knew OF this kind was that OF a
boy at Andover, Mass. The young
ster was the only son OF an old cobbler
who had mended shoes and boots all
his life and had saved enough to buy
a modest home and to lay up small
balance In the bank. The old man
died awhile ago, leaving everything
TO his overgrown, gawky, shiftless
son.
"The latter never did days work
in his life, and as soon as he found
himself the possessor OF the little
shoe shop he at once commenced cast
ing about for purchaser. He soon
converted his property into cash.
Then he went down to a suburb OF
Boston to talk with the manager OF q
large factory that turns out about
half OF the shoestrings made in thi;
country. The youngster contracted
| for the entire output Of that shoe
string. factory for one year! Then he
went to another large mandatory at
Newark, N. j., and secured similar
contract.
These two institutions are the
only shoestring factories in America.
The shoestrlng business for the ensu-
ing year had been cornered, excepting
the goods that were already In the
hands OF wholesale shoe men in New
York, Boston and Philadelphia. The
young Spectator invested his cash in
buying up this stock, and within a
few weeks had everything in his own
hands. This was a corner which the
trade had not foreseen. Shoe dealers
throughout the country who had
ordered their usual stock OF goods
were horror stricken to learn that
there was a shortage in shoestrings.
Well, now, shoestrings are very small
things, but they are quite necessary
to the shoe business. Within three
months the Andover boy sold his con
tracts with the manufacturing con-
Germs at net profit of S55, 900, and II
he had had nerve enough to continue
the fight he undoubtedly would have
made double that amount. "-ChicagC
| Mail
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03

denotes which might otherwise result
in grave harm Indeed, attention TO
diet, with little letting down OF the
average csrebral activity, profession
al, business or domestic, will general
ly insure a comparative immunity
from attack.
Acute rheumatism often gives rise
to permanent heart trouble. Chronic
rheumatism, on the contrary, may be
healthful in cases OF heart disease.
For instance, enlargement OF the
heart tends to increase until II
reaches the dangerous limit. The
PATIENTS safety depends largely on
his training himself 10 such habits. as
reduce strain on the heart, rheumatic
joints in the lower limbs are an adj
mirable aid In this respect. The
former rapid movements cease. A
fatal running to meet the cars or the
ferryboat is out of the question.
The rheumatism is an uncomforta-
bic companion, no doubt, but 1t may
help to long life-a decade or more,
perhaps, beyond the three-score and
ten.-Youth's Companion.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
LocArroN or PLUMB ISLAND.

Americas harbors and the protection
from bombardment OF Its greatest cites.
Ag.ance at the map accompanying this
article will show the location and STRAIT
egIc Importance OF the new mortar bat
teries.
They will command not only the deep
water pocket that would allow an IRON
clad to approach the shore from
the ocean, but In the longest ranges
OF its guns tan defend the channels
of the Narrows against the entrance
of the foreign hostile feet TO the New
York harbor. In case fleet or war
ships succeeded In entering the lower
bay 1t could join In the gxand conflict
that would arise when they met the guns
OF the forts that stand at the entrance TO
the upper bay
The Plumb Island n ortar batteries are
to be arranged in two Notifications OF
earthworks standing side by side and
facing the ocean at southwest angle.
Each fort Is to be 60Ox40O feet, accord
ing TO Cen. Henry c. Abbott, president
of the hoard of engineers, in whose ONCE
the plans havo been prepared The
ramparts OF tho forts arc. 10 be thirty
five feet above ebb tide, and the guns
will rest on u body of cement raised ten
feet above the low water.
The interior of each fort Is to be d.
vided into four pits, each containing
four OF those terrible engines of destruc-
ton. l2-inch howltzers. The guns will
be fired out of great well, as the Garth
walls of the fort VIII rise twenty nve
feet above the level on which the can
mons arc operated. The mortars Will
thus be entirely invisible from the ocean.
in the deep pits the guns VIII be per-
| fectly protected from tho impact OF the
shot thrown by the enemy, as tho
mounds CT earth forming the ramparts
are to be OF a thickness impenetrable by
| any known projectile Within each pit
is 10 be storage magazine for powder.
protected by masonry and earth, and
| there are to be extensive magazines Tor
| high explosives, located at some distance
] from the batteries The powder maya
| zines for each battery will hold 100 tons.
! In the rear two forts will not be par
Quoted, but will be lett open.
The thirty-two great guns Tor the two
PLUMB Island batteries are 10 be OF tho
new pattern OF tive ve-inch mortars
known as howitZers, OF which successful
tests have been made within the last ten
DAYS at Sandy Hook They are breech-
loading, and constructed on the built up
plan, steel lined, rite bored and steel
hoped. 1t is much longer than the old
pattern of mortars and is capable OF ex-
treme accuracy in firing. The pro &C.
! tiles for one of these monster cannons,
which, dropE ed on the deck OF the best
armored ironclad in existence, would
pierce the entire ship, is of solid bulk OF
steel three feet long, weighing 625 pounds
and costing S3CO Eighty pounds OF
powder will drive this large protectilo
eight miles The gun will also throw
shells containing high explosives. by
this means it can drop enough nitro
glycerinc on ships deck 10 scatter. an
ironclad into 10000 pieces.
1t is one Of the new twelve-inch how'tz'
ers whose defamation during its test ar
ing shattered windows six miles away
and VIII CHI with q single shot has de-
troyed 60. OOO worth of armor plating.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
A Cnld-nloodca Husband.

A coroner sees many curious sights.
Deputy Coroner -- was telling
of a circumstance that came under his
notice recently that surpassed every
thing ever heard Of in the way or
heartless indifference. He was called
To investigate a case where a mans
wife had died very suddenly. 1t was
plainly a case OF heart failure, but the
husband insisted on an autopsy. He
not only wanted the autopsy. but he
wanted TO sec it performed. The body
was placed on table and the doctor
began work. The husband watched
every movement very closely. Finally
the liver and heart were exposed and
the heart was found TO be greatly en-
larged. The husband, more deeply
interested than ever, stepped forward
and took hold OF the heart with his
fingers.
ut made my blood run cold" said
the deputy, 'and pushed the man
away He seemed to resent the cor
oner's action very much and insisted
on knowing what caused his wife's
death. The doctor explained that II
was caused by an enlargement of the
heart.
.wall, by thunder!" unused the
man, II don't understand that.
supposed big heart made folks gen
erous like, but that woman was th.
dumdest, stingiest critter l ever saw.
st. Louis Star.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
seal Poachinp.

Here is the method employed by
the hunters of British Columbia who
poach upon the sealing grounds:
When the schooner sights a seal the
little boats are lowered: A hunter
armed with two shotguns and a rifle
and two sailors to pull the boat take
their places and the hunt begins. The
boat is pulled quietly toward the ami
NAL. In nine cases out Of ten the
seal takes alarm and dives out Of
sight before the boat is brought close
enough to use the guns with effect,
and in no case does the hunter shoot
unless he feels sure OF his quarry.
The seal when shot at once COM
mences to sink, and the boat has to
be pulled rapidly up to it, when the
body is -gaffed" and hauled aboard.
This is repeated as long as seal can
be seen. In many cases only one or
two will be killed during two days
hunt, while at other times as many as
twenty will be taken.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
A CITY OF RUNAWAY HORSES.
Dangerous Character OF n Stroll I'm Bangor
The wild Maine Colt.

Dangerous Character OF a Stroll In Bangor
Tho wild Maine Colt.
The report OF the statisticians that
more lives are lost in the United
States every year through runaways
than by railroad disasters will be
readily believed by Maine people, for
in that state the runaway horse often
causes more fatalities in a single
month than can be laid to the railroads
for the entire year. Almost every
other man in Maine owns horse of
some kind, but only small proportion
of the owners are horsemen, and the
horses for the most part are a Wild,
unframed lot, easily frightened by the
breaking of breeching, tug or
whiffletree, or by any OF the numer-
Gus little accidents that are liable to
occur at any time, Thousands Of fine
colts are raised in Maine, but few of
them are properly broken, with the
result that the state is filled with I'M
manageable, dangerous horses.
Bangor has long been noted for the
runaways that occur almost daily i'll
it's streets, and so pronounced has the
nuisance become that in certain local
titles pedestrians are in more danger
than they would be in crossing West
street or Broadway in New York.
Bangor is the center Of a large farm
ing district, and hundreds Of un-
trained colts and green horses come
into the city every day from the sur
rounding country. AT this season OF
the year several hundred farmers
teams are daily huddled together in
the open market places OF Pickering
and Haymarket squares, and when a
runaway occurs there the results are
disastrous. The principal streets OF
the city are traversed by an electric
railroad, and the cars on the line,
with their peculiar noise and occa-
sional emission Of sparks, are the pet
aversion Of the country horses.
1t is no unusual thing to see horse
or pair of horses, attached to a
heavy cart, go tearing along one OF
the crowded business streets, wreck
| ing carriages and knocking down re-
| destrians in theiS path, and perhaps
| finally taking to the sidewalk and
crashing through the front of shop.
Four and five runaways frequently
occur in single day and the exciting
events are fruitful source Of items
for the local newspapers. Occasion.
ally human life IS sacrificed. Within
year two Of the most eminent
lawyers of the city, the Hon. Lewis
Barker and ex-Judge James f. Raw
son, have met their death in the
streets from runaway horses, and
matters have reached such a stage
that promenade in saw-mill is a
safe undertaking compared with
stroll in Bangor's business streets.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
The Pig In China.

Chinese life is perpetual surprise.
Mans most faithful four-footed friend,
the dog, is relegated to the outcast
world and his place filled with the
more edible pig. Under these aus
pieces, the dog reverts to the ancestral
wolf, and is hardly distinguishable
from that disagreeablo brute, viii
the hog becomes distinguishes
member of society. Every Chinese
porker has name, and answers it,
especially when called to meals, as
promptly and knowingly as a we'll
trained watchdog. He lives with the
family, and sleeps either on the foot
of his owners bed or else in the baby's
crib. After breakfasting en- famille,
he sets off on a constitutional walk
through the city and suburbs. He
makes calls upon other pigs of equal
social standing, invades and robs every
garden whose gate may be open, and
usually refreshes himself by a walk IN
the surf on the beach, where he
whets his appetite with a dozen
oysters on the whole shell and few
defunct fishes.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
usinf,l AiIments.

The value of cow-pox, voluntarily
as a protection against SMALL
pox, is generally recognized. The
same principle has been successfully
extended to some Of the worst dis
eases among animals, and it isexpected
that it may yet be applied In the case
of some virulent human diseases.
In England govt is very prevalent
and painful disease. In this country
it is less common. Our climate in
clines us to excessive mental activity.
AS a result Of this the brain appropri-
ates nervous force at the expense OF
digestive system, and so disposes us
to dyspepsia; but dyspepsia compels
its victims, in spite of themselves, to
indulge somewhat sparingly In rich
food, in the too free eating Of which
govt originates.
or the two diseases, dyspepsia is tC
be preferred. 1t seldom interfere:
with the days work, and, except II
very obstinate cases, is almost certain
70 be relieved by proper diet and ex
ercise.
Sick headache may often be count
ed In the class Of helpful ailments
though 1t is q "bitter pill" Their
are two forms OF It: enc has its pri
mary source in the brain, the othe
| in the stomach. In both cases Their
| is commonly some neutrality-suspicious.
to the disease, but the exciting caus
| Is overwork; of the brain in one case
OF the stomach in the other.
The headaches necessitatc occa
sional rest, while the dread OF ther
acts as a constant check upon ter
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03

A Rsrormeo Prussian soldier Who Believes
In Dress Rsform and simple Religion.

A Heformeo Frussian soldier Who believes
In Dress Rsform and a simple Religion.
Johannes Guttzeit, the so-called
apreacher OF nature" who attracts
considerable attention In the famous
old city of Leipzig, is an ex-Prussian
army officer, who has taken up. his
abode in that hotbed OF German So
cialism. He is q tall, handsome man,
and he affects a curious costume
which excites amusement and aston
ishment alike in strangers. His
shoes are heavy and low cut; dark
gray wooden stockings reach to his
knees; his trousers OF white wool
cover the upper part of his legs, while
broad, loose gown of the same ma
terial falls almost to his feet. This
gown Is fastened about his body by
two long rows OF buttons and waist
girdle OF cloth. On his head, from
which long hair falls to his broad
shoulders, he wears at times a crown
of leaves.
Guttzeit was born in Kocnigsberg,
Prussia, in 1853, and was a member
of wealthy family. He early showed
liking for the life a soldier and en-
tered the army in 1871. For a num-
Der of years he served as a lieutenant
and differed little from his comrades.
At the end of that time, however, he
determined to quit the service In
order to give to the world his relig-
ious and sanitary theories. He advo-
Gates return to the simple life In
vogue in the days of the apostles and
is a strict vegetarian. He is a dress
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
coney Island Cannon.


The engineering department OF the
United States army has perfected the
last details OF the pans for q work OF
vast Importance. as IL will complete the
defenses OF New York harbor against
any known power Of war These plans
are for a great fort OF modern mortar
batteries, TO DO constructed facing The
ocean and defending the broad gateway
OF the harbor. The land on which this
fort will stand lies at the east end OF
Coney Island and has been purchased by
the Government for 800, 900.
For many years tho engineers OF the
War Department have been casting
solicitous CLAN es at the most dangerous
omission in the line of de.onses about
the ocean ontrante TO New York har-
Dor, rendered every year more danger
GUS by the improvements in carrying
capacity and destructiveness OF the guns
placed on ships OF war This danger is
q secret from no fore gn power. The
Coast Survey charts in currency all over
the world show 1t at a glante and in
graphic figures. Iesidcs the two or
three narroW channels that are navig'
able through the entrance to New York
harbor, in the waters between Coney
Island and Sandy Hook, there Il pock-
ct of deep water approaching the Long
Island shcre from the ocean, some miles
east of these channels, that Is navigab.e
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
any vessel, whatever may be her

to any vessel, whatever may be her
draught.
BY means OF this deep pocket man
of.war could arrive at safe anchorage
in Rockaway inlet. Less than six miles
away from this anchorage are the out
lying wards OF Brooklyn, two miles
further is the East River, and another
mile beyond is the heart of New York
City From this inlet hostile ironclnd
could lombard Brooklyn and New York
with a destruction unparalleled in the
history of bomba-dment, and there
could be no effective reply to this at.
tack Fort Hamilton and Fort Wads-
worth, guarding the narrows between
the upper and lower bays, would be
nine miles away from the disturber,
safely anchored in Rockaway inlet, and
these forts have no armament that
could throw shell such distance.
In 1882 Gen. John Newton and body
OF engineers from the army made a
critical examination Of this pocket with
a view to perfecting the defenses of the
great twin cities They found that this
deep water could be brought under
effective fire in circle having Plumb
Island in the center with radius OF six
miles They recommended the acquisi-
tion of Plumb Island bv the Govern
ment and the immediate construction OF
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
A KING CRAB FROM JAPAN.
He Is Eighty Years Old and Has Stretch
of Eleven Feet.

The king of crabs ornaments the
cabin of the British steamship Eu-
pirates, which arrived from Japan
with a cargo Of tea, says the New
York Recorder. He Is the biggest
specimen of his kind ever seen in New
York, and is known as a lion crab.
Capt. James Edwards, the commander
Of the Euphrates, and his crew had a
lively time in capturing the crusta-
cean.
He was seeL when the vessel was at
Hakodate, Yezzo. Efforts were made
to capture him alive, but he fought
so valiantly that he lost his life in his
struggle TO escape. He was pdlled
aboard and stuffed rs a curiosity, and
now occupies place against the wall
Of Capt. Edwards cabin, with an in
scription in Japanese above, which,
translated, means n thousand miles
in thousand minutes" He will be
taken to the London Geological gar
dcns. He is valued at $3.50.
In his native element the crab was
Of deep green color, but in death he
became red. The body is round, re-
sembling that OF turtle, and is I
inches thick and 40 inches in circum-
ference. There arc 10 legs, the for
twurd oncs -rneusurtns- f.-tnrisos- -is.
length and the hindmost pair 20
inches. The pincers of the forward
legs are each inches in length; the
first Joint is % inches, the second 8
inches, and the third % inches in
length. The distance from claw to
claw measures IL feet.
His appearance indicated that ne
might have made a fierce battle fol
his captors and afforded food enough
when killed for the entire ships com
pany. One of the sailors, a japanese
named Karena, explained that the
lion crab is very rare specimen anc
difficult to capture. He Is supposed
to move at the rate of mile min
ute, and is held in reverence by man!
Of the religious sects in Japan. Id
grows an inch every year, and thi
particular crab is supposed to hav
been nearly 80 years old at the tim
Of his deceaSe.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
The Caravel santa Maria.

Among the Columbian Exposition
attractions is to be fac-simile or the
carayel Santa Maria, in which Column
bus sailed. 1t is proposed to have
this caravel as nearly exact as posi-
BILE. It will be manned by Spanish
sailors in the costume of the time or
Columbus, and it win be rugged with
the same sort OF rigging that he used.
There will be on board copies of the
same charts that he had; fac-similes
of the same nautical instruments.
The crew will be of the same number,
and it has been suggested that TO car
ary out INC truth or history tncrc
should be in the crew an Englishman
and an Irishman, for, according to
Nayarrette. the eminent Spanish his
torian, William Harris, ali English
man, and Arthur Lake an lrishman,
were members of Columbus crew.
There will also be notary on board
wearing the ancient costume, and
representatives Of all other function
aries who accompanied Columbus.
1t is proposed to have this vessel
make its first appearance at the grano
naval review, which Is TO take place III
the harbor OF New York, where the
little ship will be saluted by the mon
strous cruisers Of modern invention
representing all the navies OF tn
world. At the close of the naval review
it is proposed to have this vessel trans
fcrred, with ceremony, by the repro
sentatives Of the Governmental Spain
to the President of the United States
and then have it towed through tn
lakes and Wclland Canal to Chicago
where it will be one of the most In
teresting features OF the exposition
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
A Feminine Triumph.

Old Lady-No use talkin', used
TO say this higher education OF gals
was all folderol; but 1 see / was
wrong. There's my grandfather, for
instance. She's just wonder.
Friend--I understand she grad
uated with high honors.
Old Lady-Yes; graduated from
Vassar, and she kin do what neither
her mother nor me could ever hope
to do IL our lives depended on 1t.
Friend--Indeed! And what Is
that?
Old Lady-She kin tell the time a
train is goin' to start by lookin' at 9
railway guide. -New York Weekly.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
Ride and Tie.

"Ride and tie" is an old Salem say
ing. Two men would start out on a
Journey with one horse. One would
ride apecifled distance, then, dis
mounting and tying the horse, he
would walk on to the next changing
place, where he would find the horse
tied and waiting for him, having been
ridden there by the man who started
out afoot. And so the whole dis
lance would be traversed, each one
riding and walking in turn. The
item "Ride and tie and go to Boston"
is found in an old account book, at a
charge of -four and sixpence."
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-03
Old Aztec Mines.

A grnp Of old Spanish or Aztec
mines have recently been discovered
at Las Placitas Of this county, about
twenty miles from this city, says an
Albuquerque New MeXico) cores
po:ldent OF the ST. Louis Republic.
So many years have elapsed since
these mines were worked that all
trace Of their history has been lost
and the present inhabitants OF the
country know absolutely nothing
ap Pros Issei,d recently got on to the
trail of what they thought was some
thing good, and by pushing their In
vestigation came upon unmistakable
evidences of what were undoubtedly
once rich workings.
A very extensive system OF under
ground work has been brought to
light. The mineral discovered, while
not of the highest grade, is rich
enough to pay handsomely, and runs
generally from $50 to $50 to the ton.
The remains have been found in sew
eral places of what were once furnaces
for smelling the ore. There are also
large quantities of Stag, and in sever
al instances have been found what
are clearly remains Of implements
used by the workmen.
But what will still be more inter
esting to the general reader Is that
these explorations have developed un'
mistakable evidences Of the fact that
the work on these mines which was
performed nobody knows how many
centuries ago, was brought to sum
mary conclusion by an earthquake OF
general upheaval of some sort, for moi
only are the mine workings, smelters
furnaces, ETC., buried under some III
teen feet of earth, but there have beer
found on the same level the ruins o
what was once an aqueduct for bring
ing water to the camp from a sourc'
about ten miles distant.
The camp of Las Placitas, referred
to, is on the eastern slope OF tn
Sandia Mountains, about twenty mile
from Albuquerque, and promises u
become one of the most interesting
fields Of archaeological research We
discovered in this country.