davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

Our preliminary exhibition of NEW SPRING
DRESS GOODS last week unqualified success
and as cur stock has been greatly augmented by the
arrival of IMMENSE EXPECTATIONS during the past
few days we this week have the pleasure of inviting
our patrons and all other admirers of beautiful fabrics
10 call and inspect an array of NEW STYLES AND
NOVELTIES IN SILKS AND BLACK AND COLORED
DRESS GOODS that is without peer in this market
and more than maintains the enyiabIe reputation
gained by our house as HEADQUARTERS FOR FASH
IONABLE DRESS GOODS.
Our Well-knOWn low prices prevail throughout this
magnificent display, which embraces all the newest
and most beautiful productions in designs, cOIorings
shades and effects, as well as MANY SPECIAL Now
ELITES In WEAVES INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST
TIME THIS SEASON. a few of which we present below
i'm connection with attractive array of EXTRA
SPECIAL BARGAINS TO BE OFFERED THIS WEEK
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

an armor against which the smooth bore
projectile broke and erumbled into n thou
sand pieces. The rackiDg theory was out
of dat e. What we now required to keep
pacs with the times was gun which would
hurl its projectile with such tremendous
force that it would tear its way through the
thickeSt armor and carry destruction to the
very yitals of the ship.
Slowly and carefully was this gun planned
and designed; step by step, in the face Of
many discouTagementS, was il built until
to-day, as in 1864. We have outstripped all
the world. Lieutenant Colonel Hope of
the British army has recently declared that
''the built-up gun of the United States
Navy, as turned out at the Washington Gun
Foundry, is the most perfect gun in exist
enee."
a sketch of the place where this gun is
officially stamped and approved before be-
ing issued to the service will, therefore, be
of;interest. All the guns that are manufac-
tured foT the navy are sent to the naval
proving ground at Annapolis for trial. This
ground, which comprises some ninety acres,
Is situated on the Severn River almost or
pOsite the Naval Academy with which place
communication is held by steam launch
which runs at regular hours. In its earlier
DAYS the station was known as the Expert
mental Battery, but the development IF the
new armament lifted 1t from its expert
mental stage, and in 1884 its title was
changed to that OF the Naval Proving
Ground.
Landing at the long, whitewashed wharf
that stretches far out into the river aud fol-
lowing the fOot-path along the bluff in
few moments one is in full view of almost
the entire working portion of the grounds.
A few plain houses here and there, some
iron targets and old armor plates lying
about; near the middle Of the ground long
shed covering some mounted cannon with
number of stretched wires leading to the
chronOgraph-r0Om,a mOnstrous gun lying
prone upon the ground. high earth butt
and a scattering Of trees IS the general ap-
pearauce presented by the proving ground.
The house well Up to the left is that occu-
pied by the gunner and lie is the only Off
Ger that lives on the ground. OF the two
houses near the river one contains the ma
chine-shOp and carpenter-shop, while the
other is the chronCgraph-house, and con-
tains the BOulenge Instruments.
AL the guns sent here from the Washing
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
TRAFFIC. IN OPIUM.
Crusade About to BE Organized


A Crusade About to BE Organized in
This City.
From general announcements in several
quarters of the city, it appears that an or
ganized crusade is about to be conducted
against the impor tation into and the sale OF
prepared opium in the territory of the
United States. 1t is intended to have the
various bodies, both commercial and relig-
ious, memorable Congress to pass pro-
hibitory law. Senator Heacock has pre-
scented the following resolution, which was
referred to the Committee on Federal Rela-
tiOnS:
RESOLVED, That our Representatives in Con-
structed 10 use all honorable means TO secure the
shall absolutely prohibit the importation and
and provide for its destruction whenever ana
wherever found In the United States. and which
shall restrict the importation of crude opium TO
medical PURPOSES only, and regulate the stle
thereof aud to so frame the law that the strin-
gent enforcement of its provisions can be ef-
lected.
Resolred, That his Excellency the Governor,
tons 10 our Senators and Representatives IN
Congress,
These resolutions have been reported upon
favorably and passed the Senate unani-
mOuSly.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

suchlike abnormalities, the tallest woman I
have ever seen. She is also extremely slen-
der, thinner than Bernhard used to be,
more wiIlowy than Kathryn Kidder. When
hoop-skirts went out of fashion, along in
the sixties, she tried dispensing with them,
but could never bring herself to step in
such beanpole guise outside FER own cham
ber She experimental brayely with all
sorts OF starched and stiffened draperies to
get some waving and rustling of vines about
her bare uprightness, but nothing but the
hoop-skirt met her sense of the prophecies.
She wears very small ones, and the expedi-
ents to which she has been put to procure
then, In the quarter century of their obso-
leteness would make you laugh. had time
to rehearSe the story, until the tears came.
The house which for the las. few years has
supplied her orders has charged good round
sums for them
Mrs. Cleveland has worn some handsome
dresses in which to receive the people bid
den to the receptions which she been giving
to Miss Jane Meade Welch, the clever young
woman who, under her agis, is to head the
new crusade against Anglomania. One of
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

Election of the shot from the line of fire,
while another with watch marks the time
of flight.
Two more observers with theodolites, one
on the opposite side of the river aud the other
on the battery side, cut in the splash OF the
projectile in the water. From the data thus
obtained two range tables are afterward
made up for each caliber, one for an initial
velocity of 100 feet and one for 1000 feet.
The battery for the experiments with
rapid-iring guns is located near the chrome
graph-rOom, ar consists merely of heavy
platform to support the mounts of the guns.
Here are tested and compared such guns as
the Hotchkss, Maxim and briggs for We
locity, penetration and rapidity of fire. This
class of gun constitutes what is known as
the secondary battery on board ship.
Small arms which are to be tested for ac-
curacy OF fire are mounted on II rest placed
on permanent platforms. These platforms
are nj intervals of 100 yards in total range
of 700 yards.
To ascertain the effect of a bursting
pl0Slon-chamberh has ben sunk in the side
of the hill. Its interior is lined with iron
plates, and entrance to the chamber is eff
fected through an old turret-gun port. The
she'll which is to be experimental with is
suspended from an eye-bou in tie top of
the chamber, and having been filed with an
electric fuse is fired by means of 4 dynamo.
GUn-cRrriageS are also tested for strength
and steadinesS, the time required for load
Ing and firing in different positions, and the
action of the carriage when fired at extreme
elevation or depression.
GunpOwder is submitted to two tests-one
to determine its ballistic properties and the
other its physical The magazine in which
is stored the gunpowder is on the bank OF
the creek, some distance from the main bat
terry, and the dynamite house, where the
dynamite and other high explosives are
kept, is in remote and upfrequented por
ton of the grounds.
The question of another location for the
proving ground has long been under consid-
Grafton by the Ordnance Bureau. but de-
siTable site was not obtained until recently,
when a tract CT land about thirty miles be-
low Washington, on the Potomac River was
selected and Will probably be opened for
work in a few months. The great distance
over which the guns had to be transported
has always been a decided objection to the
present location, but perhaps the most seri-
GUS enc is the long and tedious delays in
the firing of the guns over the water range,
occasOned by the presence of the many
small boats that frequent those waters.
Besides the proving of service guns, ex-
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

ton foundry are transported by water and
landed by such appliances as may be at
hand from the scow on the dock. One looks
in vain for the heavy derricks and trans
porting Trucks that are 10 be seen in similar
stations, for here ali the work is done with
jacks aud gun trucks, with man and horse
for the power.
The gun, having been landed, is par
buckled up the hill, and finally transported
and mOuute1 on the velocity battery, which
is that covered by the long shed near the
middle of the ground. Here it is that the
maiE portion of the work is done. The
platform which holds the guns IS constructed
Of heavy beams, bTaced with diagonal braces
and securely anchored to old, condemned
cannon. The Bureau of Ordnance requires
that four rounds shall be fired from each
gun with the regular service charges; that
the chamber pressure shall not exceed fiji
teen tons to the square inch, and the initial
velocity shall be 1000 feet per second. 1t is
also required that one gun of each caliber
Shall be loaded and fired for ten rounds as
rapidly as possible. The initial velocity Is,
as its name implies, the rate of the bod, at
starting, or the speed of the prOjectile the
first second after leaving the muHle of the
gun, and the chrOnograph is the instrument
employed to measure this velocity.
The manner IN which this work is accom-
plished is roughly as follows: Wire frames
are placed at certain distance from the
muZZie of the gun and at known distances
from each other and connected by circuit to
the chronOgraph in the chronugraph-room.
The gun having been fred, the pr0iectle
breaks the circuit of the first frame aud re-
leases a tube which has been held in position
by an electro-magnet. BY the breaking of
the second frame a knife-cut is made upon
the falling tube, and thus the distance it has
fallen in the interval Of time the projectle
has taken to pass between the two frames is
ascertained. With this distance the initial
velocity can be taken from tables already
computed.
The bore and chamber of the gun are care
fully examined before and after proof by
means of the star-gauge, which IS simply an
instrument for measuring diameters.
Opposite, and about 800 feet from the We
locity battery. is the great earth butt into
which the projectiles are fired. Its dimen-
siOns are 100 feet long, 90 feet high and 20
feet thick. After the butt is well filed with
shot and she'll they are all dug out lest some
prOjectile might be DETECTED in its flight, and
Il IS work Of no small magnitude to care
fully turn over this mass of earth aud ex-
hume the heavy projectiles.
When 1t is necessary to range gun it is
done either at the velocity or range battery
down 10y the waters edge. The angle for
certain ranges at a specified initial velocity
having been computed the gun is laid at
three angles of elevation. One observer is
stationed in the rear of the gun with a
theOdolite, or plane table, to notice the de-
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

periments of some sort are always in prog
resS at the grounds, among the most notable
Of which in late years has been those with
the Clark DETECTING armor, the Pittsburg
caSt-Steel gun and the competitive armOr
tests.
The Clark armor was intended for use on
monitor turrets, and was to be built in a
shape, so that the pr0jectiles would
always strike at an angle and be DETECTED.
a section OF this armOr having been set up,
three shots. with an initial velocity of 1870
feet, were fired at it from Il 10-inch gun, by
which time the aTmOr was so completely
nicked that further trial was abandoned.
In November of 1883 cast steel Bessemer
gun, manufactured by the Pittsburg Steel
Casting Company, was sent here for trial.
The result of this trial was awaited with
much interest by ordnance officers, many of
them being of the opinion that the cast steel
gun would pass the test in a satisfactory
manner, although with the great majority
the cast steel gun was regarded with no sort
of favor.
The gun was mounted under the velocity
battery shed and preparations made to fire
ten rounds with a charge of 49, pounds of
powder. At the first round the gun burst
and completely wrecked the shed under
which it stood. The breech OF the gun,
with the breech-plug still remaining securely
locked, was blown $50 feet 10 the rear, aud
a large fragment OF the muzzle. weighing
600 pounds, was found 80 feet away.
September, 1890, when the nickel steel, all
steel and compound armor-plates were sub
jected to the most complete and exhaustive
tests. The trial took place in the presence
of the Secretary of the Navy, board of ex-
pert naval officers, representatives, of the
different armor plate manufacturers and
distinguished officers of both branches Of
the service.
Five shots in all were fred at each plate :;
four from a siX-tnch gun at each corner of
the plate. and one from SeYen-inch al the
center. The result was TO completely de-
molish the compound armor-plate, and to
prove the marked superiority of the nickel
over the all steel.
Few persons rsalize the care and labor
necessary to build frame work and back
ing which shall successfully hold the target
against the tremendous blows of a 1901 pound
shell thrown with an initial velocity OF 2OO0
feet per second. striking with an energy of
2200 foot TONS and in most of the trials else
where 1t has been necessary at some period
to interrupt the experiments that necessary
repairs might be made to the wood or earth
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

an edging Of silver lace for a setting to her
shoulders. When the butler forgot himself
| ana said word to his assistant IN English
| Instead of French, she smiled, and her teeth
| were white and even.
Dresses are notable for divers reasons ::
some because they are costly, some because
| they are simple and some because they are
| worn by notable women. Often it is, odd
| enough, an actress who makes n success of a
| frock simple enough for a schoolgirl. Do
| you remember the exclamation of a gifted
Frenchman, ste. MousSene on es-tu ?"
| Wen, st. Muslin has come back to us, and it
was in white muslin that young actress
| recited to lot of notable men and women
last night Whitcomb Riley's little poem of
the girl who lost her lOver-by marrying
him. The muslin was gathered about her
neck like the guimpe of three-year- old; at
the waist it was SHRED like child's Green
away and girdled with a white ribbon
whose sash ends carried pocket; below
the waist it fell straight and long to the feet
without adornment. The sleeves were gath
cred Mt the wrists. and from the shoul-
ders hung floating oversleeves. why,
| thought" said the girl-she's barely 20
sit was pathetic" as roars of laughter
greeted the verses, thu most pathetic thing
in the world"
People make much this winter of the gor-
geousness of Mrs Astor's entertainments
She is equally gorgeous as to her gowns.
There is a Fiftn-avenue mOdiste who has
asked me once or twice TO come to inspect
them, as they lett her hands with the little
refitting necessary after their stormy Allan
tic voyage. Here are one OF two Of the toll
cts / have lately seen:
A silver gray satin with court train; this
was cut as stately princess robe, the long
folds breaking into white lights, as the
moon shines sometimes-be begging its pardon
for the comparis0n--on clouds. Heavy gold
arabesques formed rich border overlapping
the front of priceless lace tlounces. The
polonaise bodice did not reach higher than
the arm its and was cut away in front in
quaint curves, with arabesque edgiDgs, leav-
ing narrow side pieces filled in with lace,
which also draped the top of the bodice and
made the short puffed sleeves. On the bosom
was a many-petaled lace rose, meant to
twinkle with huge diamond dewdrops and to
bear in its heart a great diamond star. On
either shoulder and un the left hip. catching
the lace draperies, were other lace flowers
meant also 10 carry many and large dia-
monds.
A second toilet was a superb amber vel
vet, with train and edged with sable. The
front was amber satin richly embossed with
pink Puritan roses. This costume also was
cut in princess fashion, the velvet bodice
fronts meeting in point on the bosom and
then cut back, each side in Il triangle to the
hip and then forward again, the sides of the
skirt meeting for minute under the clasp
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
GAS ASPHYXIATI0N.
A Servants Fatal Nap While Reading

Servants Fatal Nap While Reading a
Novel.
Annie Drossell, servant. employed by
j. Hammersmith at 1908 Geary street, was
found dead in her room at o'clock yester-
day morning. Her death was caused by
gas asphyxiation and was an accident.
When Mr.. Hammersmith arose he knocked
vigorously on the door of her room but re-
ceived no response. The odor Of escaping
gas was noticed by him, and, fearing that
something was wrong, he forced the door
with Ratchet. The girl was found lying
dead in bed with novel by her side.
She had gone 10 sleep while the gas was
burning and through some unknown cause
the fame was extinguished. 1t is supposed
that air or water in the pipe put out the
light. The deceased had worked in the
house for several weeks and knew how to
handle the gas. She was % years old and
native Of California. Her remains were re-
moved TO the Murgue
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
TOILETS THAT
ARE NOTABLE.
Some That Prank Their Brief Hour in
the Giddy WhiTl
Before Lent Comes and Stills Their Gayety
Frocks Simple and Gorgeous as Worn by
Kew York society's Buds.
f@ecial TO THE SUNDAY CALL.

NEW YORK, Feb. ., 1S91.-There are many
pretty dresses to look on! Let Us enjoy
'hem before Lent cuts short the vision. One
SAT near me at dinner the other evening.
LIS wearer reminded me of CabanePs Birth
OF Venus" why, save that she was plumpy
ia!f could not tell Probably it was some
thlhg about the flesh tint and texture Her
mar, instead of floating on the waves dishev-
eco, was bound with gold fllet 1t was
yellow chestnut hair, and before the filet
was adjusted it had been pulled down in
loose, curling meshes about her temples and
over her ears. 1t was gathered into knot
pehlnd. Her face was that of woman from
louisiana, for she had sweet, smiling,
heavy lidded eyes. Over her forehead was
a Jeweled butterfly.
her frock was low enough to display
smooth creamy shoulders, butthe sleeves of
oroWn!sh-gray game were dusky clouds that
oDscured the arms. 1t was very French
lrock. and gave me an odd sensation. as If
the Venus or lotus-eating maid out of Will
lam Morris poems had reused herself to be
draped in Paris for masquerade. She had
draped herself in silver silk, Powered with
crimson, the long princess robe opening over
front of dull pink hung with silver lace, and
over corselet of piHkish velvet. There was
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
Young Debaters.

The Hastings Debating Society has in
stalled the following named persons as
officers: President, Peter A. Bergerot of
1882; Yice-President. Charles J. Comyns of
man Of 1893; Financial Secretary, e. NJ
Warner of 1893; Treasurer, d. G. Cupples
OF 1893; Sergeant-at-Arnls, Leon Samuels Of
1898. A debate followed upon the resolu-
toT" That the Lodge Election Bill would
be beneficial to the country. the affirmative
1892 and Reed of 1888; and the negative /:
Brobeck of 1892, York Of 1892 and Hill of
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08

| her costumes is a Russian brocade in copper
| color, figured with damask roses and dark
green rose foliage. Mrs. William c. Whit
ney was her guest the other afternoon in a
handsome visiting gown Of pale fawn-col-
Ored silk with fronts embossed in brown
With this worn three-quarters length coat
of deeper fawn, whose Valois collar of
brown and gold passementerie opened over
acleam silk plastron. There were pulled
sleeves of cream and faWn and hat of
fawn- colored felt trimmed with ostrich tips
On the bosom was quaint clasp of amber
and gold.
The trousseau of Miss Louise Shepard,
who became Mrs. William Jay Schieffelin
on Thursday. contained many pretty dresses,
but none, perhaps, prettier than what our
English cousins call the brides going
away gown. This was a white and gray
seagull combination in tailor cloth. braided
over with silver and having Roman cor
sage-that is having the lines running hori-
Zontally about the figure from under the
arms and having heavy silver cords over the
arms. There was an odd drapery from the
hips, with silver bands as border.
Another lretty gOing-away dress finished
this week was creamy nuns gray cloth,
cut in perfectly fitting princess frock,
edged with gray velvet bands. The plain,
smooth bodice, long over the hips and laced
behind, had closed sleeves, half-hdden IN
der high shouldered cape. which cut the
figure straight across the back, depending TO
the waist exactly. but did not come forward
in front beyond the shoulders, contenting
itself with forming straight and voluminouS
sleeve draperies. This cape was braided
with velvet and had a gray feather neck
ruching
The winter streets are pleasant to the eve,
with the soft yet brilliant tiuts of women's
cloaks and gowns. Now one passes red
coat" whose tightening and Frightening
effect against gray sky, bare trees and the
unhappy bedrabbled snow of the city is
most cheerful. Again, one passes a tall girl
in a veil fastened to the edge of her hat AMI
falling to the bottom of her coat, though
that be long. The veil is of fine black tulie.
though have seen it OF silver or even pale
yellow. With the yelled maiden walks one
in ''charioteer' cape, shaped like that of
an old Roman warrior. The stuff is dull
crimson cloth, and one front is much longer
than the other, and is thrown like a scarf
over the left shoulder. Here comes hat of
silver felt bent into three very deep archng
rolls in front, loaded with white ostrich
plumes. and fastened to the head With a
jeweled stiletto, the top Of which is of old
silver. ELLEN OSBORN.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
Trusted. hut Not Ennest.

Thomas Lorrigan, who for some three
years has been an employe of A. Cohen. a
ieweler, at a Sixth street, was arrested yes
teTday by Officer Grant at Benicia and
brought to this city He is charged with
grand larceny, and on Tuesday his alleged
companion in crime. NJ. Il. Dugan, was ar
rested. and part of the goods found in his
room. Lorrigan had already decamped with
the rest
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
Harris Also ueIa for TriaI.

Charles Harris was held to answer
charge of an attempt at burglary By Judge
Joachimsen yesterday. He is confeder-
ate Of j. Mahoney, who was caught in the
room of Lieutenant Harrison at the Ross
more House. Mahoney has also been held
on char &c of burglary
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-08
Died at the HosnitaI.

John Hoveis, sheep-herder, had been
sick for some time before being removed
yesterday from the Hotel Rhein to the Ger
man Hospital, but soon after his arrival at
the hospital he died. The deceased was a
native of Germany and aged IS years.