davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1891-12-26
I" SPARE THAT TREE"
The Happy Chance That Preserved II
Grea. ManZnnita

The Happy Chance That Preserved the
Grea. Manznnit
A happy chance has preserved the giant
manzanita of California which represents,
no doubt, says Garden and Forest, the
growth of centuries, for the manzauitas are
usually slow-growing plants. The great
scar of the wound made by an ak on it's
trunk shows how near it once came to
death. Years ago wood-chopper in the
employ of the Napa Valley Wood COM
pany had begun to cut i. for fuel;
man passing by purchased its life
by the payment of s., and so saved
plant which is, in its way, as in
teresting as any of the great trees of
California, and in doing so earned the graf
itude of every lover of trees. not only in
California, but in all the civilized world. 1t
was DR.. c. NJ. Hitchcock who did this good
deed. If he is still alive he has perhaps for
gotten all about the great manzanita and the
81 which he gave to ransom its life. But
his connection with 1t must not be forgot
ten, and we should like to see placed on the
tree tablet which should rerite its history.
The preservation of such trees is matter
Of public congratnlation, and the memory of
the men or women who preserve them may
well be kept green as an example worthy Of
imitation by all broad-mnded and iutelli-
gent people.
There is famous red oak tree growing in
Dedham, Mass. one of the finest of its race
in New Eng land, which also owes its life
correspondent says, 10 the timely appeal OF
a man who appreciated It's value. This was
Thomas Motley, the father of the historian,
whose country place joined the land on
which il stands. 1t had been doomed TO
swell its owners wOOdpile, but MIR. Motley
gave him $40 and the oak was spared This
wise action of pubic-spirted man de-
serves to be generally known. and some
public record of the fact should be made,
so that every man who passes by the tree
may be moved to follow so good an example.
No one can see this great tree without being
impressed by its grandeur and charmed by
its beauty, and every one who knows the
story of its rescue will feel more profoundly
grateful that it is still standing.
The Dedham oak now belongs TO a rich
man. a lover of nature and of trees lie
can earn the gratitude Of all other lovers of
nature il he will cause to be placed on it
some permanent memorial of its danger and
its deliverance. The love.o trees and the
veneration for those which have attained
great age or unusual size is not a distnctively
American trait. 1t is one, however which
every lover of his country should encourage,
and for this reason the action of DR.. Hitch
cock in saving the great manZanita in Cali
fornia, of Mr.. Thomas Motley in saving the
great oak In Massachusetts, deserves to be
placed on record as worthy examples which
others would do well to emulate.
The morning call., 1891-12-26
A THIEF,S PUNISHMENT.
Kicked Out of Store Over n Horse
Back Iuto the Mud of tho Street.

Kicked Out of Store Over n Horses
Back Iuto the Mud OF tho Street
Guns flashed in a mild sort of way and
for moment there was intense excitement
in a. G. Spading 6 Bros store at los Madi-
son street, says the Chicago Herald. Sud
denly a short man, held in grip by a sturdy
| salesman, was propelled across the side
walk in front If the store, and his strus-
Cling body was hurled over the back of a
horse into the snow and slush. Spalding' s
had been visited by a kleptomaniac, who
was caught in the act and summarily kicked
out of the place.
The man who handled revolvers which
belonged to the ilrm walked into the store
early in the afternoon and asked to see
some of the best weapons in the house
The would-be customer was short, stOcky
man with a red mustache and pointed
Henry the Eighth beard. He was we'll
dressed, wearing a long overcoat with deep
pockets, and a plug hat. An array of re-
vOvers was laid before him, but he had a
rare choice and could not be satisfied. The
salesman hurried away to bring out more
guns, and while he was away the stranger
slipped couple Of Ievolvers into his deep
pockets. But the keen-eyed cashier saw
the kleptOmanac. He's got two re-
yOlvers! screamed the girl.
There was rush of heavy feet, and a
haIt-dozen men surrounded the stranger
"WhatSh matterY" muttered the bearded
stranger.
But George May, the big salesman, swung
him around and demanded the return OF the
revolvers. The stranger protested that he
had none. May dipped into the pockets Of
the big coat and hauled up the revolvers,
the stranger still declaring that he had not
taken them There was an angry alterca-
tiun and the statesmen were hurrying their
man toward the street and the patrol-box
when he begged to De let go.
81 was drunk and didn't know what | was
doing" murmured the man piteously He
begged the big saeman to let him pay for
the revOlvcrs. and in earnest of this lie put
$50 bill on the counter They took him into a
back room. where he gave his name as ". }.
Braun. The salesman refused to let him buy
| the reyolvers in that way, and the klepto-
| maniac then offered them $50 to drop all
| prosecution. AT the mention Of a tribe
big George May caught the man by the col
lar, lifting him up until his toes just scraped
the floor and ran him past the counters TO
the sidewalk. AS the two reached the street
May swung his football boot and made a
clean drop kick with the kleptomaulac. AS
the latter rose in the air May helped him
higher with his hands over the back Of a
horse standing before the door. Braun
| yelled with fear as he went face over, but
| his cries were drowned as he fell foremost
| into the mud. He fled like hare down to
| Dearborn street and disappeared, follow ed
| by jeer from the statesmen and the angry
| glare of the crossing policeman.
The morning call., 1891-12-26
A VALUABLE INFANT.
Tho Best Position on the Staff OF Hhii-
sdeIphia journal Awaits Him.

Tho Best Position on the Staff of Phii-
adelphia Journal Awaits Him.
II the editor of the Hanover Pa) Ad-
vance is not a modern Ananias Mr.. Joseph
Rckrode, who lives near the Red Hill
schoolh0use, in Oxford Township. Adams
County. is the father Of most remarkable
child, says the Philadelphia News.
The infant prodigy is twenty months old,
bat according to the Advance has been a
plain taker for year. But what is par
ticularly wonderful Is his apparent gilt OF
second sight.
Awaken him at any hour of the night. ask
him the time, and without any hesitation he
will tell 1t to the minute without seeing or
hearing clock or watch.
One night recently he awoke, and calling
to his father, who was asleep In the same
room, he cried:
Papa. tomorrow you viii have to go to
Bonneauville, because your uncle has just
died."
On the next day Mr.. Rickrode was in
formed of the death of his relative, which,
upon inquiry. was found to have occurred
at the exact time the night before when the
child had announced it.
A child nth talents like those should not
be permitted to waste its sweetness in the
backwoods. A stupendOus salary awaits
him at this office, where he can make HIM
self useful IN many ways.
twenty-months-old infant who can
give inside pointers on President al nomi-
nations, on coming earthquakes, cyclones.
Billiards, foretell the departure of the grip
and predict the occurrence of the thousand
and one events of journalistic Importance.
can have the most comfortable chair the
sharpest shears and the longest lead pencil
in this office.
Mr.. Rckrode Jr.. may state his own
ter ms with the assurance that they will be
Instantly accepted, and may start in on his
duties at once by telling US what we are 60
ing to get for Christmas.
The morning call., 1891-12-26
BOGUS MINERAL WATER,

Manufactured Spring Which Deceived
Doctors and Duped the Public.
An extraordinary swindling enterprise,
built on the success of tie sale of German
mineral water. has just come to grief &C.
cording to a Munich special to the Chicago
Herald, involving hundreds of stockholders
in heavy losses. A few years ago a civil
engineer named Bertsch conceived the idea
of manufacturing mineral spring. lie
purchased tract of land in the town of
Tolz, on the liar River, twenty-five miles
from Munich. Through this territory ran
a small stream, which the engineer damned
up and then conducted through hidden
tunnel. At its point of Issue he constructed
q deep well, filed 1t with rocks and allowed
the water to bubble up, giving it the ap-
pearance of natural spring. The water
he treated freely with chemicals, announced
the discovery OF an iodine spring, got
advertised extensively in the papers
1t was named the Kaiser Spring,
and company was formed with Bertsch at
the head to exploit it. The fraud was a
success from the start Capital poured In,
and hotel and villas were built. The
Kaiser Spring was visited by thousands of
invalids, and its waters were sold throughout
Europe. Bertsch was becoming rapidly
rich. and the enterprise promised to make
everybody connected with it wealthy
Suddenly the bubble burst. Owing to
the suspicious of one of the Board of Di-
rectors an investigation was made, and the
origin and character of the "spring" ex-
posed. Bertsch sought to escape, but it
was too late, and he was arrested this week
Bertsch was In the habit of doctoring the
well early in the morning and at night,
when unobserved. The leading phi ysicians
and chemists of Munich and Berlin analyzed
the water. and extolled it to the skies. There
is nodoubt that Bertsch compounded skill
full mixture. No small part of the revenue
while the scheme lasted was derived from
bathers. Thousands of visitors paid marks
apiece for baths in the remarkable water.
Thousands ofcases of bottles of the precious
The morning call., 1891-12-26
IN DEATHS ICY CLASP,
An Aged Mother Nearly strangled by
Her Dying Daughter.

An Aged Mother Nearly Strangled by
Her Dying Daughter.
One OF the strangest affairs ever heard of
has occurred at EliZabethtown, an insignifi-
cant hamlet on the OHIO River, ten miles
below Cincinnati. The McDale family has
lived for years in the most abject poverty.
The mother is past so. Besides her the
family consisted of a son and daughter.
each about 60 years of age. The son is
veteran and greatly enfee6led by wounds
received In the war, aggravated by INSULT
Gent and Indifferent food. The mother and
daughter slept together. the mother being
very feeble. The daughter was the most
robust of the children. The family
retired as usual and the son noticed moth
Ing out OF the ordinary until early 10 the
morning, when groans from his mothers room
called him there to witness q bloOd-curdling
sight. During the night the sister had been
taken mOrtally i'll. In her despair she
caught her aged mother in her arms and
plnloned her tight against her breast At
the same time the mothers head had been
pulled down under the covers, and partially
bent downward, causing partial suff cation.
The horror of the situation had caused her
to faint, and while thus unconscious the
daughter had died hugging the mother
The icy arms had stiffened in death and the
aged victim was held as If in wise. Help
was summoned, but it required the united
strength OF two men to remove the dead
woman's arms and release the mother, who
Is so low from the shock and choking she
received that 1t is scarcely probable she can
recover.-Glob Democrat special.
The morning call., 1891-12-26

Mrs. Rebecca Seth, widow of Thomas
Seth. the Oldest person in Cecil County,
died recently at the home of her son, John
Seth, at Baldwin. Md. Mrs. Seth. whose
maiden name was Huyser, was born
October 9, 1885, in Springfield County. Pa,
and at the time of her death was in her
one hundred and fourth year. She came to
Baldwin just after the late Daniel Lord
completed the cotton-milis in 1S47, where
she has since resided. She was married at
the age OF 80 and was the mother of fifteen
children-siX sons and nine daughters-the
grandmother Of forty, and the great-grand-
mother of thirty-nne. Her father was
Drum Major in the Revolutionary War,
having served under General Lafayette, and
was enc of those who escaped death at the
Paoli massacre. and died at the age of 100
Her husband served as a private In the war
OF 1872 and died at the age of 81. Her
grandmother died at the age of 104. Mrs.
Seth, although having been blind for the
past fifteen years. had enjoyed good health
up to within the past year. She was II mem
Der of the Cherry Hill Methodist Episcopal
Church for sixty years.-Glcbe Democrat
The morning call., 1891-12-26
RACES 4ND THE LOTTERY.
They Have Proved the Ruin of n Hill
erio Trusted Book Il aener.

Ihey nave Proved the Ruin OF n Hith-
erto Trusted Book-keeper.
Edward Thiemann, book keeper, IS years
old, living ut 20 Schaelfer street, Brooklyn,
was arraigued in the TombS Police Cont,
says the Eagle, on charge of forgery, pre-
ferred by Emil Steffens & Co.. photographers
of 81 and 60 Spring street, New York. The
prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was held
in $1,000 bail for trial. Thiemann has been
employed by Steffens & Co. for two years,
and the firm reposed every confidence in his
honesty and fidelity. He received salary
of $50 a week. For some time past Mr..
Stetfens has been noticing that many of his
customers we're unusually backward in their
settlement of bills, and he spoke to THE
mann about 1t. The latter replied that the
money would be all right. but lie would
write to the parties, requesting payments
as soon as convenient Thiemann, 1t is said,
would open the letters, abstract the checks
and then destroy the letters. Then he would
forge the Endorsement of Steftins & Co. on
the checks and get them cashed, appropriate
ing the amount. When arrested Thiemanu
confessed that he had been forging indorse-
ments on checks since last June and had
appropriated in this way about S656. The
firm claims, however, that his stealiugs will
aggregate at least $1,000.
Thienann has a wife and three children
He says that he has lost heavily betting on
the races. A large quantity Of lottery tick
cts were found in drawer of lis desk
The morning call., 1891-12-26
A DEAD FACE.
1t stares at the World for Two Days rom
an Omen Window.

1t Stares at the World for Two ID rys rom
Open Window.
In window on the top floor of an old
fashioned three-story brick house at 6i5
Greenwich street there appeared face on
recent Monday morning that attracted the
attention Of passengers on the Ninth-avenue
elevated railroad train. The guards noticed
It first about daylight. An elderly man in
his shirt sleeves appeared to be kneeling be-
side the open window In the room. Although
it was cold morning his head was uncov-
cred. His eyes seemed to be staring intently
across the street.
When these same guards made their next
trip past this house the elderly man was still
staring across the street. The guards
watched him all day Monday, and specu-
lated as to what he was looking at.
The uptown elevated track runs yery
close to the window. and even after it be-
came dark on Monday evening the guards
got glimpse of white face staring out
Into the darkness.
On Tuesday morning they were all on the
lookout for their "old man." as he had been
dubbed, and found him In exactly the same
position, with his chin resting on the back
Of his hand.
When Deputy Coroner Donlin boarded an
uptown Ninth avenue elevated train at
Houston street yesterday afternoon guard
Lecosnized MIN and said: There is a
funny thing just above here, doctor. A man
has been staring out Of window for two
DAYS, and don't think he has moved"
DR.. Donlin stood on the, platform and
looked at the window as the train went by.
He saw the pallid face staring out with un-
seeing eyes.
Why, that mans dead, ;" cried the doctor I:
that's not the face Of living man."
Dr. Donlin got off at Christopher street
ana went 10 the house, few doors south of
Inc station. The door was open, and when
ne reached the top floor he found that the
front room was locked. He forced open the
door and found kneeling at the window the
corpse OF an elderly man dressed In shirt
and trousers. The eyes were wide open.
Inc man had gray mustache. His hands
were clutching the wlndOw-sil and were 40
stiffened by death that the body was re-.
moved with difficulty. Dr. Donlin discoy-
cred that death had been caused by asthma
and hart disease
1t was the body of Richard Harvey. An
ifon-roofer, 81 years old. Harvey served in
the navy during the war and was consid-
cred well-to-do. Mrs. Lizzie Harvey. his
wife, went to Reading, Ohio, last Nav tn a.
tend the funeral OF her mot her and take "a re-
OF her etgh:y-year-Old father, Charles F,
Liemann. Mr.. Lienann has considerable
property In Reading, and as soon as he
could dispose OF 1t ne Intended to come 10
New York with Mrs. Harvey
Richard Harvey had been living alone and
cooking his own meals. On December 11tt
he deposited $50 in savings bank. BE
complained of his asthma on SATURDAY.
When the housekeeper found his dOol
locked ON Monday she concluded that he
bad gone away for visit. 1t is supposed
that while suffering from asthma on Sunday
night Mr.. Harvey partially dressed himself
and went to the window for aim Y. Sun
The morning call., 1891-12-26
KNOCK ED OUT,
A Pugilisps Wife Gives Him the Liyeliest
Set-to of His Life.

A Pugilisrs Wife Gives Him the Liveliest
Set-to of His Life.
A sensational and bloody scene was en-
acted in Room % in the st James Hotel.
Springfield, and James Daily, a somewhat
celebrated pugilist of the A fter Dark show
that appeared at the Grand Opera House.
got the liveiest set-to of his life. He spent
the afternoon with local sports in going the
rounds Of the city, particularly In the in
spection OF dogs and horses of local renown.
He visited several kennels and stables where
favortes are kept
When he returned his wife was furiously
angry, and as soon as he entered his apart
ment the amazed pugilst was confronted by
fuslllade OF glass that kept him lodging
for five minutes in way that Sullivan could
not make him do. His greatly enraged wife
hurled glass after glass at him, one finally
striking him in the mouth and cutting an
ugly circular cash that required six stitches
to mend 1t. Mrs Daily, who4is a handsome
brunette, has since left for Pittsburg. Daily
Is still in the city and did not accompany
the show to Anderson, Indiana.-Spriugfield
Special TO Cincinnati Enquirer.
The morning call., 1891-12-26
NAVAL JOTTINGS,
A Strike of Apprentice BOYS Settled
With Fixed Bsyopets

Strike of Apprentice Boys Settled
With Fixed Bsyonets.
Strikes are very easily settled In the
navy. Very recently the $50 naval appren-
tice boys at the training station on Coasters
Harbor Island refused TO scrub hammocks
because the water was icy and the air
freezing. Lieutenant-C Commander Lyons.
In the absence of Captain Bunce. called out
the marines, who. with fixed bayone Is,
forced the boys to scrub.
The Secretary of the Navy has in his re-
port renewed the effort to eliminate the title
OF Commodore from the service. He recon-
mends that the titles oil Vice Admiral and
Rear-Admirai be- substituted for those of
Rear-Admiral and Commodore.
Assistant Surgeon G. +. Stokes, detached
from the Iroquois, has been ordered to duty
ON Thursday at the Mare Island hospital
A bill is already in the Senate to transfer
the revenue cutter service to the Navy De-
partment
The morning call., 1891-12-26
When Men Acted Like Brutes

A curious story, that illustrates the ne
culiar passions of bygone generations, is
told concerning the removal Of the colored
Children TO the Orphans Home, now at
Forty-fourth and Harvorford streets, In
1860 from the old building on Pine street.
In that year the anti-slavery agitation had
reached its climax. To be seen will colored
children was exposing ones self to the ac-
cusation of kidnapping. The populace
Ing. In order to avoid all fear of molesta
ton or danger of more serious copse-
quences, it was decided, after solemn con.
ference, to place the children in covered
wagons aud have them lie down SO that
hothlng suspicious could be observed. This
course. was accordingly puIsued.-Phila.
Record
The morning call., 1891-12-26

calmly walked off with them. The father
of the young highway robber was inter.
rupted in his talk by being smartly banged
on the legs with the brilliant furniture, Of
which the truckman was trying to obtain
possession, The child braced himself against
his parent and held on tight, the truckm
swore and the WOrth-street man tried yainly
to undo the little clinging fingers. Finally
the child began to cry, but never loosed his
hold. The father pulled out a fve-doliar
bill, tossed ii to the wrathful carter ard
hurried down the street in the wake of his
triumphant offspring. who had again demon.
stIated the superiority Of mind over matter.
N. Y Press
The morning call., 1891-12-26

yer's eulogy, II never used pass in my
life. | was not aware. either, that it was
customary for &c. tlemen thus 10 travel
gratis" Bless your soul. Bishop" replied
MacVeagh, " of course it's customary; and
l shall take great pleasure in using my In
tuence to procure you apass over the Penn
sylyania road at any time you desire-n
you'll use yours in return to obtain for me
the same privilege over the road in which
you are interested" There must be some
misunderstanding here" murmured the
Archbishop, after pondering few seconds
over MacVeagh's remark 81 am not inter
ested in any road that you'll ever be likely
10 travel over '-Philadelph Record.
The morning call., 1891-12-26

fluid were exported. A soap. known as
emperor Soap" and said to be made from
the sediment of the water, was recently
placed upon the market and gained ready
sale. One Jewish capitalist, rather noted
for his caution. thought himself lucky be-
cause he had obtained a ESQ, 900 interest IN
the concern. Another invested 5000
The exposure of the swindle was indirectly
brought about because OF quarrel between
Bertsch and bis brother-in-law, who was a
Director in the company, in regard to d.
vision of the spoiis. The dissatisfied rela-
tive, failing to obtain what he considered
fair share, made threats which came to the
ears of innocent Directors and led to an In-
YeStigation.
The morning call., 1891-12-26
The Bishop Was Speedily Cared.

A noted English Bishop had for years
nursed the fear that he would some day be-
come paralyzed. On one occasion at a
dinner, he suddenly interrupted the guests
at table by enchanting that his worst fears
had been realized at last; that he was
paralyzrd in his right leg; that he had been
pinching his thigh for some moments, and
was unable to detect the slightest feeling
A lady sitting next 10 him assured him that
he was mistaken, for it was her leg he had
been pincning instead Of his own, the silk
of the lady's dress being difficult to detect
from the silk of the Bishops robes. He was
Of rod
The morning call., 1891-12-26
A Baby Turns Highway Kobber

In Franklin street cart broke down and
deposited on the sidewalk twenty-four of
the most charming little red chairs that ever
delighted child's heart, and a child han
rened along Just at the right time 1t was
sturdy little bit of humanity about years
o!d, and IN charge OF compound father.
VINO had turned away To chat with q big
wooden importer from Worth street. The
child possessed himself of two chairs aud
The morning call., 1891-12-26
OBITU AIRY
WILLIAM PEASLEE.

William Peaslee, a native of New Hamp-
shire, aged IS years, died at Napa on Thurs
day morning. and was buried yesterday
lie was a prominent citizen. and came to
this State in 1852. A singular coincidence
worth mentioning. is that he and Abram
Norton, who came TO California together aud
were wrecked in the same vessel, the North
America, died within a few hours Of each
nthnr
The morning call., 1891-12-26
MRS. MARGARET STANLEY.

Mrs. Margaret Stanley. the mother of
Mrs. l.. j. Rector. who died on Thursday in
Oakland. at the residence of her daughter,
crossed the plains In 1S45 and spent the
winter of that year. at Suffers Fort. She
afterward went 10 Oregon, where she re-
manned until 1890. She was So years of age.