davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29

the prize. Each goes to work and follows
the wanderings of his strand in the seeming
ly inextricable mass OF bewildering twists
and turns and colnrs.
It's great fun to watch the busy prize
seekers. At first it seems deliciously silly /;
but the philosopher foTgetS the fun of it as
he marks how each one works according to
his temperament With what zest and en-
ergy and enthusiastic haste one grabs the
string and follows it's lead with eager eX-
pectancy. With what slow. deliberate in
quiry another pursue the windings of his
strand? With what doubling timidity and
misgiying another hunts for his prize, ask
ing numberless questions and having to be
helped by his comrades in the knotty places.
But cobweb parties are not intended for
the entertainment of philosophers, but to
while away an evening in novel and pleas
ant way. And they 40 50.
The most indifferent are piqued to action
by having the thing they wish just within
possible reach. AT the end each one has
his prize as n satisfying result of his labors,
no matter If he found it behind clock
after many times wandering about the room
he first entered, or whether after skirmish-
ing downstairs into the cellar, up again,
down and up the hall. and upstairs TO the
garrett and down again to the drawing room,
to find the end Of his apparently endless
strand that led him into diverse places in
diverse ways fastened to gem of picture,
which he is privileged TO take away with
him to his own dOmicile, and tell ever after
what time he had finding it at cobweb
party-Dorothy O. in New York Herald
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29

train dispatchers. This is during working
hours, and when the men are employed
near the wrecking outfit. At night the case
is little different, as Waterman always on
duty at the yard telegraph Office is obliged
to call the men from their homes, but even
this does not require a longer time than
twenty minutes as rule.
w. Is. Ludlow, master car-repairer at the
West Oakland yards, who has had twenty
Tour years experience in the wrecking SER
vice. and through whose courtesy the ma
terlai Tor this article was obtained, tells
story which will indicate the kind of men
selected for work in the department of rail-
reading.
Some time ago." said Mr.. Ludlow, ga bad
wreck occurred up the road at about s 30
O'Clock in the evening. / happened to be in
the office when the dispatch came. and at
once sent the Waterman to call up the crew.
Between the hours of and o'clock p. VI.
1t is always difficult to make up my force
with dispatch, for the men have lett the
yards and have not retired for the night,
consequently it is q matter Of guess-work as
to where they can be found On this par
ticular night the watchmaD returned after
few minutes saying that only three men
could be found. He next visited several
lodge rooms, but met with no better sue
cess, ana came in very much puzzled. /
happened to think of a Methodist prayer
meeting which was being held at private
house not far from the yard, and directed
my steps thther. 1t found eight Of my best
men at the meeting and the crew was
quickly made up and sent OUT
The Division Superlnten dent has charge
of the wrecking crew when present, which
is seldom, on the Southern Pacific system,
though in serious cases this official is usually
on hand. In his absence the Master
Mechanic takes charge and when it is not
convenient for him to act the Master Car
reparer directs the work.
On the Western Division of the Southern
Pacific the wrecks which occur from time
to time are always left to the clever judy
ment of Master Car-repairer Ludlow,
whose twenty-five years experience in this
work emlnenty qualified him for the duties
incident to this department
Upon arriving at the wreck the men are
not allowed to leave the train until the
person in charge has carefully observed the
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
The RAILROAD
WRECKING SERVICE.
A Department Of RailrOadilg Of Which
Little Is Known.
How Trains Are Made Up and What They
Carry-selection OF Crews and Methods of
Operating at the Scene of Accident.

Railways have been known since the days
OF the Romans. In those times the tracks
were made of two lines of cut stones, which
gave way to iron rails only about $50 years
ago. when the use of this material be-
came extended. Iron rails we're first used
ON tram roads, constructed for the purpose
OF carrying coal from the mines to places of
shipment.
Ihe Invention Of the steam engine in 1878
by James Watt suggested to mechanical
engineering the idea of possible steam To-
connective, but it was not until 1904 that the
first Steam locomotive was put in operation
by Richard Trevithick on a model circular
railway in London.
Alter few trials, however, a decidedly
diseouraging fact revealed itself, one which
delayed the perfection OF this great inven-
ton twenty-five years and also killed the in
yentor, Turilhck. The machine could not
make steam and therefore could neither at
tain a high rate Of speed nor draw heavy
load.
The trial at London was a failure and
Trevithick died of broken heart, but his
efforts in applying steam to locomotion had
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
GILT HAIRPINS.

Large Numbers Are Lost by Blondes in
the New York Elevated Cars.
She was a big, tall blonde, with square
shoulders, narrow waist, patent leather
shoes and swagger air that would have
taken the train along by itself. She got in
the car at Twenty-eighth street, got off at
Fourteenth street and between the two sta
tions she picked up four hairpins from he
cross seats of the ear and hid them in her
taffy-coored back hair. The big brakeman
in charge of the car said TO a New York
Telegram reporter while he stood near the
platform: Did you see the big blonde
pick up the hairpins2 Well, there are q
great many women who do that same thing
every day. and there are some of them thai
We know simply because they seem 10 find
pleasure in taking odd hairpinS and using
them
Are there SO many hairpins to be found
on the elevated cars?" asked the reporter.
why, their name is legion,' said Ned,
=" and most of them are TO be found either
early in the morning or late in the after
noon. 1t is peculiar how many of those
same hairpins, which are found all over the
car seats, are the gilt ones used by blondes.
1t is generally supposed that there are three
brunettes to enc blonde, yet il is a peculiar
fact that we pick up more haiIpins for the
use of blondes in the elevated cars than We
do black ones, and that is the reason that
the lady who just got out of the car.found
so many hairpins that she could USE"
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29

situation and decided upon course Of
action. Then orders are given and every
man silently commences work. There is
no confusion or mistaken application of
tools or timbers. Every man knows exactly
what he has to do, and the appliance best
adapted for the purpose.
The main thing at wreck is to clear the
track for traffic as quickly as possible re-
gardless of expense. A delay of few
hours is often a greater loss than the cost of
hundred cars, and consequently cars
slightly damaged are thrown TO one side
and blocked up until such time as they may
be repaired and put on the track without
interfering with the running of trains.
When cars are so badly smashed as to be
beyond repairing they are thrown from the
track and set on fire. for, according to a
custom with railroads, nothing is ever left
after smash-up to tell the tale. Not
splinter or piece of iron is ever left by a
wrecking crew to tell the story Of an acct
dent the night before
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29


farther south a lower thermometer pre-
vailed, which, though not particularly dis
agreeable in itself was made more SO as
the barometer began TO accompany it. We
were now of Terra del FuegO, and as it is
generally stormy in this quarter we were
slow in becoming alarmed, but as the wind
and waves increased in violence we saw
that il was no ordinary storm. Everything
was put in order. Still many OF US could
not help feeling shaky as the wind howled
and the waves laShed themselves with a
demons fury. The storm ragged for twenty
four HOprs, but aid no greater damage than
Shaving IN two boats.
We were now fairly on the broad Pacific,
though the storm had carried Us many miles
farther south than necessary in turning the
Cape. Sailing up the coast we arrived at
IalcahUana, Chile, at that time a place
much frequented by the whaiers of the
South Pacific.
Leaving Talcahuana we cruised farther up
the coast, touching at Valparaiso, CallaO.
Payta, in Ecuador, Panama, Realejo, in
Nicaragua, and Acapulco; then crossed
over to the Sandwich Islands, making more
or less Of stay in each place.
From the Islands we returned to Val
paTaiso where we were met by the slOOp-of-
war Lancaster, bearing orders for our return
home. We were overiayed at the news
Sea life had grown mOnOtODous and every
one h0mesiek. There was great enthusiasm
manifested when the cdpStan bars We're
manned and the anchor run up to the tune
Of " Homeward Bound"
We had heard nothing as yet Of the dark
clouds lowering over our land. The pOliti-
cal arena had been in a turmoil for some
time; acrimonious discussions had been
growing more and more hostile, but no one
realized that the climax was so near at
hand. Wholly unaware of the condition Of
things. we welcomed the order for our re-
turn with the happipst anticipati0nS.
Leaving VALPARAISO We had pleasant
weather around Cape Horn and up the At
lan,ic coast to Rio again, where we stopped
a few days for coal and fresh provisions,
and arrived in due time at the Norfolk
Navy-yard, Virginia. Here we were tenn
porarily housed at the Marine Barracks at
Norfolk for n few weeks, when we were
paid off and sent to Washington. After a
few months service there l On the mean
time having been promoted TO the rank of
Sergeant was ordered to join the Marine
Guard Of the old sailing frigate Cumber-
land, then fitting out as flagship of the
West India Station at Kittery, Me. We left
Kiitery bound for Vera Cruz, with orders to
put in al New York. On the third day out
at 10 o'clock in the evening we saw vessel
on fire. TIE grandeur Of the sight is indie
scribable. A boat was sent 10 the vessel,
bur no signs of life were discovered.
We had been at Vera Cruz but a few
weeks when orders arrived for our return
10 Norfolk. On OUT arrival we anchored off
the town and found tile people in the great
est excitement. Evidences in unmistakable
signs testified that the smoldering spark
was about TO burst into flames, and Just two
weeks after our arrival the first gun was
fired which shook the nation to its very
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29


into an H0ncIdd
foundation. The incidents relative to the
firing on Fort Sumter, President LincOln's
call for 1000 volunteers, the magnificent re-
Spouse, and other details connected with
the opening of the war are matters of his
tory.
On the breaking out OF hostfites we i'm
mediately moved up ON our anchorage op-
posite the navy-yard. where we destroyed
all the stores and ammunition, throwing
many brass howitZers and other munitions
of war into tile Elizabeth River. Some time
after dusk or the evening OF this day, while
engaged in our work OF destruction, a sus-
picioHs looking steamer was seen coming up
the river toward US. All hands we're at
once sent to quarters, and the guns trained
on the stranger Nearer and nearer she ap-
preached. Was she friend or a rebel ship
from Richmond? She was now quite close
to us. but In the darkness we could not make
her out. The gunners stood with the Ian
yards ia their hands awaiting the order to
fire. Suddenly shout arose from the
stranger which removed all doubts. The
gunners only hesltated 10 draw breath and
wipe their damp fOreheads, when from the
Cumb erland a cheer went up which startled
the midnight air and echoed far away among
the Virginia hills. The stranger proved TO
be the United States war-ship Pawnee, with
a regiment of Massachusetts soldiers.
We then recommended our work of de-
struetiOn, burning all the ships lying at the
yard, among them the old Columbus, the
irigate Brandywine, the sloop-of-war Ger
mantown Gust ready for sea-, the Pennsyl-
vania, and, last of all, the Merrimac, which
we burned to the waters edge and sank
As / watched the fierce flames consuming
the fine ship. which had been my home for
many months, and saw the curling wIeaths
Of black smoke, mingled with sparks,
ascending high into the sky, which was lurid
from the pending confagration, my mind re-
yerted to the happy days of yore. Again we
were on the blue Pacific, sailing slowly be-
fore gentle breeze; now we were in
fierce tornado, and the angry sea was roll
ing mountains high; now we we're lying in
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29

simple process as to require no care. the
method of brewing. he says the tea leaves
should be put into an earthen or agateware
pot never use metaD and stand ON the back
Of the stove until thoroughly warmed.
Then Kissing hot water, which has been
freshly boiled. should be poured in, and the
stove for ten minutes, where it will keep
hot but not boil. AT the expiration of that
time the tea will be perfect. but if it is de-
sired to keep it so the liquor must be poured
off into another vessel, so as to separate it
from the leaves, which after awhile would
give off an astringent element. In serving
the cups and the cream should be warm,
and the cream should be put in the cups be-
fore the tea.-Pittsburg Dispatch.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
TALKS FOR BOYS.
Kill
By Colonel Thomas ". Knox.
CAPTAIN Kidd,s Treasures.

Captain aiuu'5 treasures
A few months ago an enterprisng stranger,
sojourning in village near the eastern end
Of Long Island, hit upon device for raising
money. He spent days and days exploring
certain parts of the shore, where tradition has
it that the famous pirate, Captain Kidd,
buried q portion of his treasures previous to
his arrest and trial for freebooting. After
month or SO devoted to mysterious ex-
plorations and digging here and there in
the earth, this enterprising genius, whose
name was Morton, caused it to be
whispered about that he had found
Kidd's bank of deposit and secured some of
his coin. W hen addressed on the subject,
he was very reluctant to talk, and his re-
luctance only whetted public curiosity. The
report of his ''tind' was confirmed by the
woman at whose house lie boarded; her pry-
ing eyes had looked upon dozen or more
silver coins of very ancient date in his room,
and their antiquity was further evidenced by
their blackneSs through long disuse She
whispered the momentous secret, and one
day, while he was detained elsewhere by
convivial companions, his room was eX-
amined by two or three men who had aD-
pointed themselves a committee OF inyesti-
cation. They saw and handled the coins,
all of them bearing date of the seventeenth
century, the period in which Kidd's plracies
were committed. Excitement ran high, and
then further questioning led Morton to tell
his story.
He said he had learned from a rudely
drawn map, which came into his possession
through descendant of one of Kidd's men,
the locality where the treasure lay, but the
map was not sufficiently explicit to define
the spot within hundred yards or more.
Consequently, he had been compelled to dig
in many places. He had finally found the
aerosit, but was only able to take away a
few of the coins, as he reached the treasure
tily filled the hole, and since then he has
not been able 10 90 to the spot in cOnSe-
quence of being so closely watched. He
knew there was a large chest, or the remains
of one, and that it appeared to be full of
fered to sell half share in the find for
$1,000, just for the sake of security, though
he would not take $4,000 or even $4,000 for
the whola of il
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
WOODBURYS
FACIAL SOAP
For the Skin and Scalp.

The result OF 90 years practical experience.
Highly Endorsed by the medical profession; I'M
equaled as a remedy for eczema, scald-head, oily
skim pimples, flesh worms, discoloratOns ugly com
plexion etc. indispensable toilet article, and
a sure preventive of all diseases Of the skin and
scalp.
1t removes dandruf and seurf and produces
healthy action of the scalp, thereby promoting the
growth of the hair and preventing its falling out
1t is invaluable for use in the nursery, in ailayins
itching Inflammation and preventing milk crust,
scald- head rashes; account Of its disinfectlnt
properties it prevents and destroys all unpleasant
odors prevents diseases, ETC., and may be used with
impunity the most delicate skin
For SHAvISG-lt prevents BARRIERS itch, eczema,
ringworm, and all infammatory affections Of the
face and is healing soothing and refreshing.
Theatrical people will find 1t excellent for wash
ing of paint and makeup.
At Druggists, or sent by mail, soc.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
The Frustrating Shocks

or maarial fever not to be counteracted by quiz
nine with any degree of certainty, or for any
length of time The eradication and prevention OF
diseases Of a miasmatic type are. however, ascei-
tained possibilities Long experience has shown
that there is infinitely more preventive efficacy in
the fine botanic medicine Hostetter's Stomach Bit
tiers, than In the alkaods drugs and poisons which
were formerly the only recognized means of remov-
ing and anticipating attacks OF fever and ague and
bilious remittent. When the system has been de-
pleted by periodically recurring paroxysms, this
agreeable restorative renews the FUND of energy.
and is not only positive specific but repairs the
damage to the general health inflicted by all
febrlle complaints partaking OF the malaria char
acter. IL
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
HE OBEYED ORDERS.

New Parents Discovered After Twenty
five Years Absence.
A New England romance says that twenty
five years ago boy living in New England
village was sent for pint og milk.
He hid
The can
Beneath
A stone,
Directed
His course
To the
Nearest wharf,
Shipped as
a cabin boy
And went to sea.
Years passed by. In far-away and for
eign country he lived, and by well-directed
energy amassed vast wealth.
The other day lie returned.
He stood again in his native village.
lie found tie can where he had MD it.
He procured a pint of milk.
He went to his old familiar boyhood's
home, entered, and in hesilating and
trembling voice, said:
Father and mother, here'S your milk
lie was given warm welcome, but he
noticed there was change in his parents
appearance they had not the old familiar
look
He questioned them; explanations fol-
lowed:
Shortly after his sudden and mysterious
departure from home his father died and
his mother married again. Then his mother
died and his new father married again.
Thus on his return the wandering boy
found the dear old home as he had left it,
the only difference being that he had new
father and a new mother
Verify, truth is stranger than fiction.-EX.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
Tea at Its Very Best.

a tea expert says that pound of tea will
furnish 500 cups Of liquor, if it is made
properly, but that the maximum benefits of
the leaf, both in the matter of quality and
quantity, are seldom enjoyed because of the
general ignorance Of what appears to be SO
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
"HAvEN'T TIME TO DO IT."

Those Who Make This Absurd Plea
Really Have Nothing to Do.
Busy people always seem to have plenty
of time. Their day is only twenty-four hours
long, yet out of that twenty four hours
1440 moments-they find space for an as
tonishing amount OF work. They are never
afraid to undertake new thing They
have always few minutes to give to a
friend. They will secure an hour for some
congenial occupation, says Harper's Bazaar.
1t is to the busy men you go, asking can
they take a part in this new project.
Certainly; state what you would like done,
or how YOU wish it. and they will lend
hand. Why, if you so desire, they will take
time to tell you just how you ought to
begin. and how to manage it. And when
one piece of work is accomplished they pass
to the next with perfect readiness, and
calm confidence in their own ability.
Yes, strange to say, the PEG lie who never
have time TO do anything are those who
never have anything to do. They would
start this scheme, take part in that transac-
ton, if they only had a little more time.
They would be glad to pay these calls, only
too delighted to give that help, to learn a
language, or TO read a book, but they cannot
make the time. And while they lament
their lack of it, all the time they had is gone
and their plans are still unfinished.
After all, what more time have the busy
than the idle? Has not each of us to-day :?
Has not each of us all the time there is?
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
a Slight INSTRUMENTATION.

The hopes of the villagers were high, and
it was proposed to raise the $1,000 among
them at once. The matter was under dis
cussion in the village store one evening, and
the coins were freely passed from hand to
hand as indications of the genuineness of
the discovery. Nobody doubted the truth
of the strangers story, which was confirmed
by the rude and very ancient map which
had guided him in his search. A young man,
whose head was filed with tales of the Pirate
Kidd, but VINO was unusually well versed IN
history, was allowed to look at the coins. He ex-
amined them attentively, and suddenly re-
marked that it was very strange that one of
them was dated 1899 Captain Kidd was
pirate in the East Indies said the young
man, lin the year 1857 and '9S. Then he
came back to the West Indies, where he
was in April, 1899, and he was in Boston,
where he was arrested in June of the same
year. Now | don't see bow it was possible
for dollar which was coined in Spain in
1899 to be sent TO the East Indies so that
Captain Kidd could capture it in that year
and get to the West Indies by April, or
to Boston by June" A light dawned upon
the listeners. and the stranger said he would
go to his boarding place and bring docn-
ments that would satisfy everybody. He
left the store hastily. and was not again
seen by any Of the villagers. His scheme
was well planned, and would quite likely
made the blunder just described of lnclud-
ing coin of 1899 in his recollection. The
bright young man who remembered what
he had read and reasoned therefrom is now
regarded with great respect by his elders.
DeIusion Well Established.
There are few decisions that have had a
longer and more persistent existence than
the one referring to Kidd's treasures. Down
to within very few years men have
learned by dreams or in other mysterious
ways of the locality where the alleged pirate
has passed in which some one has failed to
spend time, money and muscle in delying
for them. Yet history establishes it very
clearly that the only treasure which Kidd
buried was on Gardeners Island, and this
on board his vessel, TO about $4,000,
was secured by the Earl of Bella
mont Governor of the British colonies
in New England There is no reason to be-
lieve that he buried money anywhere else,
and it is certain that Kidd was never at
many of the localities where men have
sought to find his concealed wealth. Kidd's
trial for piracy was VIGOROUSLY unfair, as
he was allowed no counsel, and was not per-
mitted to call any witnesses in his defense;
he protested his innocence to the last, and
he was convicted rather for the murder of
William Moore than for any direct act of
freebooting The old song by which he is
better known than anything else calls him
Robert Kidd, but his name was not Rob-
ert al all. 1t was William, and. according
to history, he was the son of Scotch cler-
gyman, and began the life OF sailor at
very early age.