davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-15
HELP wANrED-rEMALE

FfF.I4F 5NM
WAMTED-GlRL FOR fELLOWSTONE
w park; fare paid; also man and wife. Chan
dior, 81 Edwards strect.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

through the torpedo case and down as
far as the powder. Here were fixed two
thin glass cases, one twice the size of
the other-the outer containing lime, the
inner sulphuric acid, into which the per-
pendicular rod passed. A conclusion of
one Of the cross pieces near the surface
81 the water pushed the perpendicular
rod out of position, the sulphuric acd
case was broken, and the acid, acting
upon the lime, created intense heat and
exploded the powdes.
This was the most common form of
torpedo, but it was extremely uncertain
in it's action, for wetting the powder
would of course destroy the efficiency of
the machine for damage.
Its uncertainty, therefore, has led to
experiments in another direction. Boats
have been constructed for the purpose Of
towing torpedoes, an exceed ngly in
genious towing apparatus, composed of
light beams and rigging, keeping the
torpedo at respectful distance on the
boom. A light swift boat towing one of
these machines, which may be exploded
either by contact or electricity, is an oX-
ceedingly formidable antagonist, but the
danger of foul ng and the possibility of
the towing apparatus breaking or get
ting out of order, SO that the vessel runs
risk of striking her own torpedo, have
proved powerful obstacle against a
general adoption of the towing system.
A new plan suggested some years ago
was that of operating the torpedo by
means OF boom carried directly in front
of the boat. This is now deemed the
most reliable method of torpedo attack,
and every European navy is provided
l. 4. <H@ l. IL
boat is a small, light craft rarely more
than sixty feet in length and sometimes
not exceeding fifteen, but provided with
a powerful engine. At the end of long
pole projecting from the bow the torpedo
is borne, at distance which does not, it
is true, prevent the crew of the little yes
sci from running considerable risk, but
the risk of the occupants of the little
boat is trifing compared to what is in
Cured by the crew Of the vessel against
which the torpedo is directed. Torpe
does designed for this use are generally
Of iron, in the shape of cigar, in order
that they may the more readily pierce
the netting with which men-of-war are
now always provided. The torpedo
service is extra hazardous; no insurance
company would issue a policy on the
life of man who enlisted as one of the
crew on torpedo boat. but the fact of
it's danger does not deter men of daring
from attempting what seems to be the
Impossible. and in every torpedo boat
will be found men willing to sacrifice
their lives in order to blow up an enemy's
ship. The lightness, swiftness, noise
less motion and awful destructiveness'ef
these little crafts render them the most
terrible adjuncts to naval force
1t is possible that in the future still
more dreadful means of offense will be
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

entrance into harbors otherwise almost
undefended. The results. were by no
means commensurate with the outlay,
for the casualties to vessels were not
nearly so frequent as had been hoped,
but the dread of torpedOes often pro-
tected harbor better than the torpe-
does themselves, for ON more than one
occasion a Federal fleet hesitated about
forcing an entrance for fear of these ter
rible engines of destruction.
The first care Of naval force when
entering strange waters was to send
does. This was done sometimes by care
fully rowing along and examining the
depths with a water telescope to ascer-
tain the whereabouts of the mines.
Sometimes, however, two boats at a
AconSiderable distance from each other
would drag" for torpedoes. A strong
rope fastened to the stern of each was
allowed to drag beneath the surface in
sort of loop, and the boats being rowed
in the same direction, hidden torpedoes
were frequently caught. and harm 'essly
exploded by the loop. When not thus
dealt with they were drawn up with a
tenderness of handling that might be
expected from their character and
transported to the nearest beach, where
sometimes adventurous persons at
tempted to extract the exp osive device.
Generally, however, when several had
been gathered in the same spot field
piece at safe distance was trained on
the pile and with a single shot the tor
pedoes were all exploded.
Between 1865 and 1870 there were still
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

ing for several days, as in the battles OF
the Wilderness, they occurred nightly
during the continuance of the engage
ments History also shows that during
the Mexican war many battles on the
arid plains Of Mexico were followed by
copious rainfalls, a condition previously
almost unknown in some of those locali-
ties.
Gen. Daniel Ruggles, of Fredericks-
burg, Va, was among the number OF
those who observed the regularity OF
this phenomenon or rainfall after bat
ties, and soon after the close of the wal
he applied for a patent on the idea OF
"producing rainfall arti fcia'ly by means
of explosions in the upper air" Gen.
Ruggles ideas were crude, but he OBJ
tanned his patent and thereby the eXclu-
sive right to the wholesale and retail
trade in the artificial transforms in this
country. However, when Congress took
up the matter and began to talk Of in
vestigating the subject Gen Ruggles
freely surrendered all his rightssh favor
of the government
After Gen. Ruggles had taken out his
papers the subject of artificial rainfall
received little attention for twenty years
or mole, but as the grain and cattle in
terestss extended into the semi arid re-
gions of the West and Southwest, the
possibilities of the subject began to be
discussed, and many of the prominent
farm and ranch owners OF the West
were soon convinced that the scheme
was we'll worth trial G. Il. FarWell
and Nelson Norris of Chicago, both Of
whom are largely interested in stock
lands, took the matter before Congress
and by dint of earnest agitation OBJ
tanned last year an appropriation of
81, 900 for use by the Department
of Agriculture in prosecuting inves-
LEGATIONS in this line, and the last
Congress added 81, 900 to this sum for a
series of practical experiments. At the
urgent request of the friends of the
scheme Gen. Robert G. Dyepforth con-
sented to superintend the Investigations
and experiments.
A series of tentative experiments were
first prosecuted near Washington at
which number of prominent officials
and scientists were present. At the time
of the operations in the District of CO.
lumbia the explosions produced great
alarm throughout the suburbs, and a
petition was Immediately presented to
Unc,e Jerry Rusk praying that he re-
move "his dynamiters" to region more
remote and secluded, and an arid spot in
Texas was selected.
The mode of operation which General
Dyrenforth adopts is to form a @line of
battle" covering position about three
miles long and two deep Along the
front Of the line giant powder is fired
from mortars, and bombs of "rackarock"
mixture are exploded. Behind this a
second line is formed, consisting of fifty
cloth kites held by electric wire and
bearing loads of dynamite. The dyna-
mite is exploded when the kites are high
In the air by means of cap and an
electric current which is passed through
the wires. The dynamite is suspended
from tho kites by wires of a length
sufficient to prevent the kites from be-
ing injured by the explosions.
A third line is formed behind the kites
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

the force of the latent heat released in
the condensation of moisture, grows into
storm center.
The second theory is that continuous
series of explosions Jars together or ag-
glomerates the particles of moisture in
the air into rain drops, which are pre-
cipitatod to the ground. The effect is
evident after heavy clap of thunder
and has been repeatedly produced by
General Dyenforths party, heavy show
ers having been shaken from light clouds
from which no rain had been falling.
To produce this effect the kites are used
with dynamite cartridges attached.
Gen. Dyrenforth does not claim that
he has fully demonstrated the practical
bility of producing rainfall artifcially
at all times and under all conditions, but
it seems certain, from observations
made, that his operations have exerted
marked influence upon the condition Of
the weather and produced definite prac-
tical results in the midst of the arid
@Staked Plains" of Texas.
In the third place it is believed that
the FRACTIONAL electricity which is gener-
ated in the Earring of the earth and air
at the point of the operations and so
creates a magnetic field into which the
particles of moisture are drawn and
gathered. The explosions on and near
the ground are especially calculated to
secure this result
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

consisting of explosive balloons Of 10, IL,
and 20 foot diameter charged with oxhy
drogen gas, which is one OF the most
violent explosives known to science
Ten to twenty of these balloons are in
the air at once each containing from
500 to 5000 cubic feet of the explosive
gases. The conclusions from the explc-
sion of one of these balloons is so great
that it must be allowed to rise to a great
height in order to prevent injury to the
operatives and surrounding objects.
The explosion is produced by means of
electric wires or by time fuse so regul-
ated that the explosion will take place
when the balloon has had time to reach
the proper altitude, which varies accord
ing to conditions, from 1000 to 1000
feet
In charging the balloons with the
gases the empty envelope is first spread
on the ground and filled one third full
with oxygen. This is done by attaching
the balloon by a hose to retorts filled
with chlorate of potassium and manga
nese. The retorts are then subjected to
intense heat in oxygen furnaces con-
structed for the purpose, when oxygen
gas is generated and passes through
lime-water wash into the balloon.
When the balloon is one-third full it is
detached from the oxygen apparatus
and connected by pipe with one of the
large hydrogen generators, which COM
pletes the imitation. The hydrogen gen.
orator consists of large tank half-full
of water and iron behring's turned from
cast-iron projecties in the navy yard at
Washington. Into this sulphuric acid,
or vitriol, is slowly decanted. The acid
separates the water into it's gases, n.y.
drogen and oxygen, and the iron takes
up the oxygen, allowing the free hydro
gen to escape through pipe and wash
barrel into the balloon, which is held
captive by netting attached to sand
bags.
The observation ascents are made in
balloons of twenty feet diameter. The
balloon is held captive at height of
1000 feet by strong cable while the
meteorological in the basket commune
Gates the readings of his instrument
through a telephone to those on the
ground below. The cable is then let go,
and the balloon rises to the height Of
over two miles, and then descending
lands the occupant at a distance of sew
eral miles from the starting point. A
carriage has already started from the
headquarters, however, and the aero
nautical observer is seen riding quietly
back on terra frma, with his balloon,
folding basket, ard instruments safely
packed away.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10
Torpedo Warfare.

The invention of the torpedo, says the
GEobe-DenlocrGt, is ascribed to one David
Bushnell, an American, who, about the
year 1776, devised an internal machine
for the purpose of destroying British
man war on the American coast The
attempt proved failure, having no
effect save that of frightening the crew
almost to death; but. not discouraged,
he made second essay in the same line,
this time not far from Philadelphia
While the British were holding that city
Bushnell, with the assistance of the
Continental forces, prepared number
of floating topedoes partly filled
with gunpowder, and with slow fuse
attached These were set adrift in the
river above the city with the hope That
they would float down among the vessels
of the British feet and effect consider
able destruction. Unfortunately, the
fuses were all too short, the kegs ex-
ploded in front of the city and at a con-
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

Three closely. related principles Of
theories are recognized and acted upon
by General Dyrenforth and his party in
their experiments, which, stated briefly
and bereft Of technical terms,
are as follows: First, most rain
storms have their origin in the
mingling of different currents Of the
upper air strata, some of which are
warm and moisture-laden lin any localf-
ty) while Others are much cooler. AS
soon as these currents begin to mingle,
the warm, moist current is cooled and
it's moisture is thus squeezed out of it as
from sponge. This moisture first be-
comes visible as vapor or "cloud," and
finally condenses into rain. The process
is progressive one. and will generally
multiply upon itself from very small
beginning. The immense air waves
produced by the explosion of the bal
looms at high attitudes start this ming
ling of currents which, progressing by
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10
Produced by Man.

Scientists, farmers, and ranchmen,
and in fact the entire reading public,
have recently had their attention CEN
tered on Texas and the successful oper-
ations Of the Government rainmakers
The cowboys of the "Staked Plains" of
that State have been treated to free
exhibition of fireworks such as has sell
dom if ever been eeualed in the Lone Star
State. The coyotes and antelopes have
been scattered in terror by this terrific
cannonading of the experimenters, and
to the JOY of the ranchman copious rains
have fallen on the parched prairies of
the Llano Estacado, breaking drought
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

clads by means of torpedo. The posi-
bilities of this formidable weapon were
thus demonstv atad, and when the En-
glish iron-clad fleet, at the command of
Lord Beaco1sfe!d, moved through the
Dardanelles and anchored in the Sea of
Marmo a, the greatest fear entertained
was that of toi pedoes, and not a night
passed without every precaution being
taken. by means of nets, patrol boats,
and brilliant lights, to insure the safety
of the vessels. j
Thus it was that Bushnell's powder
barrels with slow match attached gave
place to much more scientific devices.
The torpedo of the civil war was ordina-
rily sheet-iron tank in the form of a
conical pyramid with a ring at the point,
through which passed rope fastened
beneath to heavy stone which served
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

of long duration and averting the dis
tress and suffering which would have fol-
lowed few more weeks Of dry weather
Before the close of the late war, it be-
came so conspicuous fact that heavy
rain would almost inevitably follow a
hot engagement that the storm was
fully anticipated, and was regarded as
one of the factors in the case to be con-
sidered by leader when forming his
plans upon the eve of a battle. In most
of these cases the storms began about
twelve hours after the heavy firing, gen.
orally arising in the night following the
Battle, and in cases of continual fight
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

found in the sut marine torpedo boats.
OF these, many have been devised, but
none as yet have proved com pletei7 sue
cessful No matter how sa se their mech
anism appears to be, something gem
orally happens; the boat goes down once
too often and never reappears. If the
submarine boats should reach perfec-
ton, ironcIads would be useless. No net
would afford projections; surface torpedo
boats would stand idly by while the sub
marine engine affixes torpedo and re-
tires, leaving it to explode, perhaps
many hours later. All the precautions,
indeed, would be valueless against boat
that travels beneath the surface, and
perhaps, if perfect boats of this kind are
made, naval war will become SO dan
gerous that the fighting will all be done
on land.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

some feet beneath the surface, point
downward; the powder was in the lower
portion of the tank, while more than
half of the upper part was left empty
to insure greater buoyancy. From the
center of the upper face projected a
straight iron rcd, which at the top bore
two or more cross pieces, also of iron
and at right angles to the rod. The low
er end of the perpendicular pass3d
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10
TO BLOW UP WARSHIPS.
THE TORPEDO MAY RENDER
IRON-CLADS USELESS.

The First Torpedoes-A British Scare at
EhiIadeIphia-"The Battle of the Kegs
-Chivalrous Scruples to the TOrpa-
do-The Terrible Engines of the Pres
ent Day.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

less. In the Russo Turkish war tor
pedoes were used by the Russians, both
in the Black Sea and on the Danube, to
prevent the movements of the Turkish
feet, and two Lieutenants in the Rus
sian service achieved distinction by de-
stroying one of the best Turkish IRON.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10
HOW THEY MAKE RAIN.
RECEN-' EXPERIMENTS WERE
SUCCESSFUL.

The PraeticabiIity of the Theory Said to
Have Been Demonstrated-Three Close
ly Related Scientific Conditions Which
Are Recognized and ACTED Upon by the
Experimenters
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10
WISCONSIN'S RECORD.
FAITHFULLY TOLD IN READA-
BILE SHAPE.

Cbild-Wife's CompIaint-Indian Horse
Thieves Caught-New Church at Superior
An Incendiary Insane-Diamond Rob-
berry Story from La Crosse.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

as anchorage The torpedo of itself wal
of every size, from that of an egg to
monster engine or feet in height and
containing from 100 to 500 pounds OF
powder. The torpedo rested in the water
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

81 THINK mistook my calling" said
the young man, when his opponent laid
down four aces.-WGSbiqlgt07 Star.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

however, they decided that the best use
they could make of it was to put it in
torpedoes, and placed it where the
Union vessels might receive the benefit
Of it in case they attempted to force an
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-10

further improvements in torpedoes, and
in the Franco Prussian war the French
fleet was kept from the German ports by
the gene al dread of torpedoes, dread
none the less real if sometimes ground
Der fortschritt. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1891-1915, 1891-11-19
Ncneite 9fadridten oes Muslanoes.

8crlin, IA. 9fou. Die 8aroni1,
pon Maloiee, Die morgmatif6e Gjattin
bes 6erSo9s 9uowis BON 8aier'l lit 9e>
itorben. Die Dame, ein friiberes Sri.
Dfenoel, gcbortc uiele Sabre Ser Wfiinz
Dcner gibne an, 81 beren beitcnGraften
sableno. Sbretpe9en leiitete oer 6crso9
gu gllniten leines Sruoers &arl alf bas
Grbredt Ser;i6t.
9ambur9, Ia. Nou. Snportelre
tit ameritanilden probuetcu beboupten,
oaB man ii6 in Geamtcnfreijen 9esen
oqs alnerifaniibe SGmein pcrlD,poren
babe uno ioll@c geridte nit Sc;u9 ouf
Grtdmois III llmlauf iebe. s}ene Sm>
porteure MAIDEN geltenb, oaB Set eiuii9e
SAT- bon Tri6inolis, wclber lebtbiu 9ez
neloet plroe, Oem @e'1uB beinabe roben
oel,tl@en Sdweineneildes susui6rciben
mar, baB 9emiie 9camte ober bas 05cz
rii9t ucrbreiteten, Ser Tau lei bur9
amcrifanii6es S6weinefeil6 4erbeisez
fHbrt worben.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-07
LITERALLY TORN TO PIECES.
A Man Who Tried to Remove an UneX-
plOded Dynamite Charge.

A Man Who Tried to Remove an Une1-
plOded Dynamite Charge.
LEADvILLE, Colo, Nov. IA terrible
accident occurred at the Busk tunnel,
near here at IL O'Clock Thursday night.
The news was at once telegraphed to
Leadville and corps of physicians was
sent over. They found that one man had
been instantly killed and five others terri
bly, injured, two of them fatally. The ac-
cident occurred at the heading of the
Busk tunnel where eight men were at
work drilling. A shot of giant powder
had failed to explode. and one of the men.
attempted to remove it,
The Names of the Victims.
A terrible explosion followed. Bob
Wilkinson was nearest the hole, and was
instantly killed, being literally torn to
pieces. Five others were seriously hurt.
The two of them most seriously hurt were
Ray Bailey and Gus johnson. johnson
died at 8 o'clock D. m. The others in
jured are as follows: A. S. Stewart, injured
internally; Robert Swan, right leg broken
and internal injuries; Jack Scott, both
legs broken add badly cut about the head.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-07
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA.
How 1t Is Affecting Our Trade with
That Island.


WASHINGTON, Nov IA statement
made by the Ward line OF steamers of
shipments from York to Havana for the
two months during which the reciprocity
treaty has been in operation shows that
the shipments of articles embraced in that
treaty have been at least three times as
great as before its negotiation. Among
the articles are the following, the first
figures giving the shipments in the two
months of 1890 and the last of 1891.
Potatoes-29,a a34 bbls., against Sc. 1877 bbls.
lard-l1, 533 tierces. against Is, S45 tierces;
lard-9S0 cases, against 5,793 cases; hams
y, ,322 tierces, against 1855 tierces; her
ring-1,OSO boxes, against I3. 353 boxes
pears 322 bbls., against 3,476 bbls.;
oats-l50 bags, against 1854 bags; apples
-16S bbls against T. 500 bbls.
The Prospect for Flour.
The stea mship company reports that
since the treaty went into effect it has had
to charter three extra steamers, besides
the regular sailings, and that every ship
without exception has gone out full. The
shipments of machinery for the manufac-
ture of sugar have been greater than ever
before known. The company repo rts that
the leading provision merchant in Havana
estimates that when the treaty provision!as
to the reduction of the duty on -four takes
Place Jan. 1 next the imports from the
United States to Cuba will reach /, 900 900
barrels per annum, or more than double
the present consumption.