davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1891-08-31
WEALTH THAT TOOK WINGS.
History of Harriet Hubbard Ayers Man
sion in Jacksonville. Florida.

History of Harriet Hubbard Ayers Man
sion in Jacksonville, Florida.
There are very few people In Jacksonville
who know of the fine Riverside property
and uncompleted mansion of Harriet Hub
bard Aver, the famous manufacturer of
hair restorer, cosmetics, etc., and of the
strange misfortune that pefell the house of
Aver that led to the cessation OF work on
this $4,000 mansion when SIS. 900 had been
spent.
Just two miles from the courthouse, on
Commercial street, in Riverside, this prop
erty is stu ated. The lot, over two hundred
feet front, Is well shaded by beautiful hick-
ory, cherry and maple trees aud moss-em-
bossed oaks. 1t runs back 400 feet to the
river, and has water frontage of two hun
dred feet
The house is an elegant three-story struc-
ture, designed by Mrs. Aver herself, who
Intended it for winter home in which she
could entertain her friends with all the lux
ury that wealth can buy. Half vi the first
floor was devoted to a theater hall 6Ox3O
feet. In one end is magnificent fireplace,
incomplete, while on the stage there is one
of smaller dimensions. The ceiling, paneled
with handsome yellow pine with rich mold
ings, is supported by sktllfully carved pill
lars. From this hall beautiful stairway
leads to the roomy chambers of the floor
above. The house contains in all twenty
five rooms, besides a number of baths. 1t
was originally a ten-rOom house, the prop
erty Of Senator Call. A basement for the
culinary department is arranged beneath the
house and q dumb waiter connects it with
the pantry and dining-room above. Wide
halls. running north and south and east and
west, are upon each floor, and a wide OBJ
ServatOry surmountS the housetop, from
which magnificent view of the St Johns,
stretching southwark and northward of the
city to the east, and of the pine lands TO the
west can be seen.
Mrs. Aver built wharf at which yachts
and steamers could land and had designed a
splendid stable, to be stocked with bloOded
horses. An artesian we'll was to be driven,
as the fountains and pipes running here aud
there evidence.
But suddenly there came crash in the
great business house of Aver, and 1t was
thought that but little would be saved from
the wreck. That was about nine years ago.
Had the failure been delayed six weeks
longer the mansion would have been COM
pleted.
There are all sorts of strange stories about
the failure. Some say that the reckless ex-
travagance OF Mr.. Aver, caused by his in
fatuation for women, sank hundreds of
thousands. AT any rate there was great
scandal, and then Mrs. Aver carried her
there things grew worse. Mr.. Aver got in
an intrigue with French woman of rare
beauty, and one morning Mrs. Aver awoke
and she was husbandless, and then the
crash came.
She hastened back to America and foiled
a scheme TO use her money for the payment
of her husbands debts. She gathered up
some of the remains and the uncompleted
Southern mansion of Mrs. Aver is now beg
glng for purchaser at $4,000. just think
of it. How have the mighty fallen,-Jack-
sonville (Fla) Times Union.
The morning call., 1891-08-31

lives and property of foreign subjects.
have 100 men at the consulate and many
refugees are aboard The Provisional Pres
ident is here"
The following dispatch was received
this afternoon by Montt, one of the Con-
gressional envoys:
IQUIQUE, Aug. 29.-The Junta of the Con-
gressonal movement is en- route TO Santiago
Today. ERRAzURIz
The dispatch from Admiral Brown to the
Navy Department was the only information
received here to-day by Government. officials
of the situation in Chile. Nothing further
has beeu heard from the Consul at VAL
paralSo since his dispatch announcing the
surrender of that city TO the insurgents.
Nor has anything been received from Min
lister Egan at Santiago. 1t is believed by
the officials of the State Department, that
Notwithstanding dispatches to the contrary
that Santiago is still in the hands
of Balmaceda. They base this opinion
on the fact that the department has not
been informed by Egan of its capture. They
say he wogd certainly have notined the
department. had the city been surrendered,
as there Is no interference with the cable
line via Buenos Ayres as far as the depart
ment Knows. 1t is reliably reported that the
Chilean Minister received word to-day that
Balmaceda is still in possession of Santiago,
and has not fled. The only news received
here by the enVoys of the Congressional
party besides dispatches from IQuQue was
message from Lima stating that Santiago
is IN the hands of the Congressional party,
and that they have established temporary
authority looking to the safety of persons
and property, and that Balmaceda's where
aD0utS are unknown.
The morning call., 1891-08-31
at Rockrort yesterday by log rolling over
him and breaking his neck. He leaves four
children in Allenford, Ontario.
MAY LOSE A SUBSIDY.
A Steamship COmpany's Quarrel
With San Salvador.

Among the passengers on the City Of New
York which arrived yesterday were Senior
Ernesto Vernier and Senor Vincente Con-
Zalez, Of San Salvador, who are visiting the
city to effect a restoration of the health of
the former. They are staying at the Occi-
dental. and discussed Central American
affairs with CALL reporter yesterday, Sc
cundino Apac volunteering his services as
interpreter.
"a leading topic in San Salvador at pres
ent." said Senor VeInier, 's the incident of
The steamer City of Panama. There is much
indignation over the action of Captain
White, who had on previons occasions eff
fected the escape Of political prisoners, al
though his action in those instances was
not resented. When the steamer few
weeks ago cleared without proper papers,
to accomplish the escape of a convicted
criminal, who was under sentence of death
Tor murder, the people were so angry that
The local authorities took the matter up.
The Government has announced that, in
consequence of the occurrence, the contract
now held by the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company for carrying the San Salvador
malls Will not be renewed upon its eXpira-
tlon next year. The subsidy paid the COM
pany Is large annual payment and will be
awarded TO another line.
CONSTRUCTION work is being pushed rap
luIy vi tuc OOfeluHleul IdlITOduS. All Dul
twenty-four miles of the line between Son.
sonati and San Salvador, distant ia miles.
has been completed, and the contractors
have Just commenced the road between
Armiona and Santa Ana, which will be
foriy-two mites long. On the railroad from
San Salvador to Ceiba, the workmen are
excavating tunnel out of solid rock, which
will be almost mile in extent.
Public matters are quiet in San Saliva
dor. There is no turbulence among the
people. who are strongly in sympathy with
Carlos Ezeta. the President. He is encour-
aging public improvements and is au ex-
emplary official. In the neighborng coun-
try OF Guatemala, the people are much
excited over the approaching election, which
will be held in about three months.
There is much public opposition to the
reelection of President Barillas, who repre-
sents the Conservative party, but the edu-
Gated classes are generally expected to side
with the Liberals Three men are spoken
of in the latter party. General Reyna Bar
rios, who Is now in the city, Minister Mon
tufar and Jose Yerena. Barrios is very
popular, and as he is the strongest candl-
date, lie will probably be the Liberal
standard-bearer. His election would be
almost certain if the voice of the people is
alinW ed tn he hpard -
The morning call., 1891-08-31
THE PARENTS LOCKED UP.
Mr.. and Mrs. Handbook Accused OF Kill
ing Their Eldest Daughter.

Mr.. and Mrs. Handbook Accused of Kill
ing Their Eldest Daughter.
Canada is just now agitated over mur.
der mystery as sensational as any of those
that have appalled, the people of the United
States in recent times. The scene OF the
tragedy was Farbank, a village not far
from Toronto. A year ago Edward T.
Handbook, postmaster and merchant
Seat0n, started branch store there and
placed his eldest daughter in charge. The
father, mother ana their children spent part
of the time in one town and part in the other
going back and forth as inclination OF bust
ness moved them
The other morning Mrs. Handbook and
her twelve-year-old son started for Seaton,
leaving Mr.. Handbook and Sophia at Fair
bank. Just before noon the former ran
from the store and called to some neighbors
to come over. saying that Sophia was hurt.
The women who responded t6 the appeal
found the girl face downward on the dining
room floor. The blood flowed freely from a
horrible wound in her head, and there was
trail of gore leading to the trapdoOr of the
cellar twelve feet away. Sophia died tn at
night. The doctors who were summoned
declared that her skull had been smashed
with hammer. and the coroner's jury. the
foreman of which is pastor of the church
attended by Handbook, returned verdict of
murder against some person unknown. The
father made the following statement:
" entered the house shortly after my
wife left for SeatOn village, expecting to find
my accustomed cup OF tea ready. 1t was
not, and seeing my daughter busy I went
out again to my hoeing in the garden. l
went into the house again. / cannot tell
how long was absent. and nearly fell over
the PROSTATE body of my girl. The room
was rather dark, the blinds being down;
and thinking she had tainted l got basin
of water with which to battle her head. AS
soon as l lifted her head l was horritied to
discover ragged hole in it, and that it was
covered with blood l Immediately sum-
moned assistance. 1 cannot imagine how
my daughter came to her death, except that
she must have struck her head against the
uplfted trapdoor while she was walking to-
ward 1t, probably carrying pail of butter
in her hand"
Detectives took up the case. They
learned that Sophia, who was % years old
and engaged to be married, had $1,000 insur-
ance on her life and owned the Farbank
store. They also discovered that her father
needed exactly $1,000 to satisfy the importu-
nate demands of some Toronto creditors.
Then they talked to little Daniel Handbook
and learned that his parents had ordered
him to keep quiet" He would say little
more, but the authorities thought the evi-
dence strong enough to warrant the arrest
of Mr.. and Mrs. Handbook on the charge Of
murder.-U tica Observer
The morning call., 1891-08-31
A CRAZY NEW YORKER.
He Tries to Shoot His Wife ON
Board Steamer.

II don't want to see that woman or her
children; she is not my wife, and the chill
dren belong to my brother" Thus spoke
Richard O'Neil, one OF the passengers that
arrived on the Pacific Mail steamer City OF
New York yesterday morning.
II am not crazy. let me 60" he shouted TO
the police officers who had him in charge at
the Pacific Mail Dock waiting for the patrol
wagon Which had been sent for to take the
man to the Home for Inebrates.
Further up the wharf stood the mans
wife and three babies, the oldest not yet six
years of age. Tears were in their eyes as
they saw him placed in the wagon and
driven away between two stalwart police
men. The officers of the steamer placed the
poor wife with her little ones in hack aud
they were taken to the Cosmopolitan Hotel
Oil Mission street.
Mrs. O'Neil was seen by CALL reporter
last night, and told sad tale of the cruel
treatment she had received at the hands of
her usband, who, she thinks, brought her
and her babies to California to desert them.
He may be crazy, but l DOUBT It." she
exclaimed. He is deep scheming man,
ana would not hesitate to leave me penni-
less here or anywhere else. We were mar
ried seven years ago in New York, and for
time he was kind and good to ME and we
were very happy. My husband is steno-
$50 week. He worked for one firm nine
years, but Mt last threw up his job to come
to San Francisco. His brother is William
Lane O'Neil, well-known New York law
yer, whom | never saw but once in my life,
yet my husband accuses me of living with
him. and said l had him hidden away on
board the steamer.
Several times before we left New York
he threatened to kill me and the children.
On the trip from New York to Aspinwali
he acted very strange, and hardly spoke to
me or the children. After leaving Panama
he became worse, and again threatened to
shoot me, but he was disarmed by the cap
tain's orders. Then he swore he would
throw the children overheard, and J. was
afraid TO move out Of the cabin
O'Neil is member of the Masonic fra
ternty, and is also an Odd Fellow and For
ester In one of his crazy spells he threw
several Masonic emblems overheard, took
all the photographs out of his wife's album,
and putting them in the baby's chair,
dropped the whole lot over the side of the
steamer. He refused to give his wife any
money, although she says he must have a
large sum on his person. and she is entirely
without funds.
O'Neil will be taken before the Commits
SIOuerS of Insanity TODAY.
The morning call., 1891-08-31
SHE WENT TO SLEEP.
How Mrs. John Saw the Burglar an,
Didn't Scare Her Husband.

How Mrs. John Saw the Burglar and
Didn't Scare Her Husband.
A well-kpown North Side lady recently
had unique and noteworthy experience.
She, with her husband and children. occu-
The other night she arose about o'clock, as
her custom is, to prepare some food for one
of her children, and left her husband sound
asleep in bed. She went into, the next
room, lighted tile gas and began to- mix the
Cruel. In the middle of the preparations
she turned suddenly and saw a man in the
parlor, which was dimly lighted by the gas
in the room in which she was. Naturally
she was greatly alarmed, and her first I'M
pulse was to shrek aloud.
NO" she said to herself, 81 mustn't
scream. What l ought to do is TO pretend
that haven't seen him, aad then go back: 20
bed and wake my husband"
This plan she unfalteringly carried out,
though her heart beat like a triD-hammer
and she could hardly breathe. Apparently
uncOncerned, she finished her task. This
took about FIVE minutes, and then, lowering
the gas, she walked into the bedroom and
got into bed.
"Now," she thought. "the burglar is prob
ably watching me, and if | alarm John now
the man will know 1t and escape. l think
I'd better wait a few minutes and throw
him off his guard"
In the morning it was found that burglars
had entered the apartment a Nj carried away
absolutely everything of any value. Mrs.
John had actually gone to sleep while she
was throwing the burglar off his guard
Chicago Post.
The husk of Indian corn is being used for
The m nf nan
The morning call., 1891-08-31
OHIO'S OIL GEYSER.

Flowing at the Rate of 10000 Barrels of
Petroleum iu Twenty four Hours.
Ohio has the biggest oil we'll in the United
States il not in the world, and if permitted
to flow to its full capacity it would mora
than fill two of the monster $1,000 barrel
tanks every twenty-four hours. This great
oil geyser is located in Hancock County,
just four miles south of the town of North
Baltimore.
The well has just been drilled In, and
when at depth of thirty-five feet in the
sand a strong gas pocket was struck, and the
we'll showed for a gas-producer of about
1,250,OOO cubic feet capacity. Gas was not
what was wanted, however. and the drill
was sent eight feet deeper, which made the
total depth in the sand forty-three feet.
When the pool was struck the oil started
flowing, and connection was made through
n two-inch line from the casing head to q
600 barrel tank, which was filled with good
clean oil in precisely ninety minutes. The
company then learned that they had drilled
into wonderful lake of oil, and it was also
discovered that ordinary tankage facilities
were far from sufficient, and work was at
once begun on another 600-barrel tank. At
the same time several donk ey pumps were
started and pipe lines were laid, while con-
nections were being made to the main line.
On the afternoon OF the same day it was
decided to take the tools from the hole, and
thousands of people, having heard of the
gusher, 1iocked in from all directions to see
the famous geySer opened up. At about
o'clock the engine was started and the tools
were gradually being brought to the sur.
face. The drillers were being drenched
with oil, which flowed all over the derrick.
When the tools were within few hundred
feet of the surface the rope commenced to
slack and the drillers, after reversing their
engine, made for place of safety, as the
tools were being lifted from the we'll by the
heavy pressure of the oil. 1t was thought at
the time that the rope had broken and the
tools been left in the hole, but the drill was
found sitting beside the casing in the rig. AS
soon as the tools were out solid column of
far above the derrick, where it spread in all
directions. There were two two-inch lines
connected on the casing.
1t made as beautiful sight as any one
wished to see and it thrilled the hearts of
the oil men who witnessed the sight with
delight to know that they had looked upon
what was probably the largest oil well ever
completed on the globe. An effort was
made to shut the well in, and eight men
worked for nearly two hours until they sue
ceeded In getting the we'll under control.
Afterward it was turned into a 600 barrel
tank through two-inch line, running the
tank over with roily oil in sixty-three min-
utes. The well, at the rate 1t flowed throug h
the casing for the space of time it was
| opened, would in twenty-four hours pro-
| duce good 10000 barrels of roily oil. max
| ing nearly double the size of any well ever
| completed, not barring the Russian wells
| Commercial Gazette.
The morning call., 1891-08-31
FIREFLIES SACK A TOWN.

Millions Of the Flashing Insects Go
Through a Pennsylvania Village.
This town was night or two ago treated
to a most remarkable and beautiful specta-
Gle. says a Dunbar Pa.) correspondent of
the Philadelphia Times. Shortly after dusk
the people were surprised and puzzled to
behold what appeared to he a cloud of light
come sweeping up from the woods lying
back of the town, but on reaching the
streets 1t was seen that the light was occa-
stoned by an immense swarm OF tirefies.
Ihis swarm, numbering millions, dispersed
itself through the village, Illuminating
everything with light more golden than
that of day and warmer than the moons
cold beams.
People recognized each other without diff
Guilty and the print of a newspaper was to
be read with ease. The houses were filled
with the darting, flashing insects, which
seemed to be panic-stricken from some
mysterious cause. Lamps were eXtin-
guished by the swarms and carpets ruined
by them as they were crushed by the foot,
while delicate plants and flower beds were
destroyed by the weight Of the clustering
flies.
1t took several hours for the swarm to pass
through the town, but 1t slowly disappe lred
in the direction of the river, lighting the
fields as it went, alarming the country people
as 1t approached, and arousing the cattle and
poultry, which seemed to mistake it for
dawn. Nothing being seen of it next day
and no report of IL being seen elsewhere
having been received. it is believed that it
gradually dispersed itself over the marshes
Where the insects came from is also a mat
ter oil conjecture, as we'll as the reason for
the sudden invasion. On the morning after
their visit they were found in drifts under
the hedges and fences and against the sides
OF the houses, while quantities of provisions
lett exposed were destroyed by their pres
elce
The morning call., 1891-08-31

and Bert Rusk. The quartet went down
the. river on the boat. She tells the re-
mainder Of the ste q rs follows in her petit
ton as set forth in the New York Press:
John Keys has been guilty of extreme
cruelty toward her in this: That ON the dav
following said marriage lie took her, in COM
pany with other persons, upon boat and
started down the Ohio River. That while
near Lawrenceburg, Ind, her husband,
john and one of the men did kill and mur-
der one of the party; that Immediately
after the killing her husband threatened to
take her life if she ever divulged the fact OF
said killing
Both Rusk and Keys have been arrested,
tried and acquitted on the charge Of killing
Billy Fee, whose body was found in the
river, each charging it to the other. Their
whereabouts is unknown, but the body of
the murdered man is buried under the will
lows near Bonneville, KY. where it was
taken from the water by searchers.
The morning call., 1891-08-31
THE WHITE HOUSE.
1t VIII Be a Beautiful Place When tho
Decnrufnrs Get ThrnnnI,

1t VIII Be Beautiful Place When the
Decorators Get Through.
The decorators engaged in renovatIng the
White Rouse expected to complete the work
by the 1st of October. An unexpected de-
lay has occurred, however, as the principal
decorator is i'll. All of the most delicate
work is yet to be done In the green parlor
and the State dining-room, while the walls
OF tie vestibule are waiting to be orna-
mented. as only the chief decorator can
ornament them. He has been for over
a week and his absence has greatly re-
tarded the other work. Among the perma-
nent portraits of Washington and Lincoln
to be painted on the wall over the manteI
pieces, the picture OF Washington is to be
taken from llfe-siZe portrait of "The Fa-
ther of His Country" which hangs in the
east room. The head and shoulders of
Lincoln will be painted from a steel engray-
ing which is said to be the best likeness Of
him ever made. The outlines for these
drawings are already distinguishable on
the walls, and the hourishes and other orna-
mentations which are to surround them
have been penciled off. The effect it is
said, will be beautiful and in striking cou-
trast with the meaningless and artleSs col
orations which previously disfgured the
main entrance to tho Executive Mansion.
The repairs in the green parlor and the
state dinng-room are progressing rather
slowly, but the effect promises to be grand.
The artist has originated new color for
the dining-room which he describes as a
happy blending of the colors derived from
Tea and coffee. The effect is rich shade of
salmon, shaded off from deep tint into a
delicate orange color as the top of the cell
ing is reached. There is sufficient figuring
in the work to relieve the monotouy of too
much brilliant coloring, and it is expected
this room will be greatly admired when fin
shed. A most delicate shade of green is be-
ing used in the green parlor. but the work
has not advanced far enough TO give fair
idea of what the effect will be. 1t was iil-
ing state entertainments, but the time is too
short, so that the work will have to 60 over
until next summer.-Washington special 10
Globe Democrat.
The morning call., 1891-08-31
Chaunoex Denew,s Wonderfnl Yacht,

On one of the late boats coming over
from Weehawken last evening were two
ladies and a gentleman. who had evidently
been out on pleasure bent. They were well
dressed, and stood on the forward deck of
the boat enjoying the fieecy clouds and the
CLINT of the moons rays on The placid bosom
of the Hudson.
1t should be mentioned that they were
colored persons.
AS lie ferry-boat passed steam yacht
that lay at anchor in the river the escort of
the party remarked:
"This vote belong to Mr.. Chauncey De-
pew, [ believe. If l ain mistaken it is the
same vote dat he took de Presiden' down
to Mexico in when lie went down there this
spring. | have frien' who is employed on
here Of ain mistaken, aud he tells me dat
they don't drink nothing but champagne on
her. They put it in desc water-coOlers, and
when YOU wants drink you turns de fau-
Get. De reason you can't see nobody on her
is cause dey's eaten so much dinuer dey
can't get Up the ladders to de deck"
Another object attracted t,IeIr attention
just then and Mr.. Depew's wonderful yacht
was fortunately lost to yiew.--N. Y. Com
mercial.