davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-10-06
For. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,
STEPHEN II. ALLEN,

For Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,
STEPHEN II. ALLEN,
Pleasanton, Linn county.
For Governor,
L. D. LEWELLING,
Wichita, Sedgwick county.
For Lieutenant Governor,
PERCY DANIELS,
Girard, Crawford county.
For Secretary of State,
r. S. OSBORNE,
Stockton, Rocks county.
For Auditor,
VAN B. PRATHER,
Columbus, Cherokee county.
For Treasurer,
w. II. BIDDLE,
Augusta, Butler county.
For Attorney General
j. Il. LITTLE.
Olathe, johnson county.
For Superintendent of Pubic instruction,
II. n. GAINES,
Salina, Saline county.
For Congressma At Large,
w. A. HARRIS,
Liuwood.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

Belle Island, Andersonville and Milan we
had mighty poor fare. Throughout my
prison life managed to get enough to keep
me alive, and during the latter part OF it
succeeded in getting a number OF extra
rations. While 1 was In Andersonyllle,
every now and then we would have new
patches of men come into the prison. got
in the habit of getting near the gate when
these new companies came in, and as they
marched up would fall into line and give
a fictitious name, and thus become registered
with them. Then, when that hundred was
up for roll call and for distribution OF
rations, would appear and answer to this
name and get my ration. In another hum
dred I answered as John Tarsney and got
ration there, and continued this until at
last I was drawing five different rations,
which, in addition to my own, was six, and
I not only kept myself but poor fellow
soldier who was too sick to play the same
game. 1 was one of the first men in Ander-
sonville and Milan, and I saw that these
companies in which registered were far
enough apart so that could skip from one
to the other and answer my name in all. L
began to fatten up, and was doing splendid
ly when number of the other prisoners got
to playing the same game and the authori-
ties discovered u.s."
Impersonated q Dead Man.
''What was the story of your escape, Mr.
Tarsney ?'' 1 asked.
SIT was curious one," replied the Con-
gresham. According to the records of
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

known as hydrophidae, and vary from
s to II feet in length. The cobra
di bapello of India is an exceedingly ven
omous snake, but I do not think that its
bite is more deadly tnan that of our rattle
snake or copperhead. One reason why there
are SO many deaths in India from the bite OF
the cobra is because the natives are not only
reckless, going about with bare feet and
legs in the haunts of the reptile, but when
once attacked very little, if any, treatment is
given to counteract the effects of the poison.
The whole question, however, is relative
one, and depends upon the condition OF the
snake when it made the attack, where the
victim was struck, and the subsequent
treatment If the poison fangs penetrate
through bootleg or portion of the cloth
ing, some of the venom will be removed.
If the fangs strike portion of the body
near which the circulation is active the re-
suit is usually fatal termination. The bite
of large rattlesnake or copperhead Is
much more to be dreaded than that of a
small one, for the larger the snake, the larger
the secretion of poison.
When n Snake Is Shedding.
sit is an old notion" continued Superin-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

and
the
dthathe
to
the
to
in
of
tdandad
by the especially This
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

poorest, the diseased. the lame, the halt and
the blind were picked out for exchange. I
was too fat to get among that number, and
I had no idea that 1 would be taken. The
night before the exchange was to be made,
in walking down the hill, which was on one
side of the prison, I heard voice. 1t was
about dusk. looked, and on the ground
was an emaciated soldier who had attempted
to drag himself across the stockade, but had
fallen and was helpless. I lifted him up,
gave him something to drink and made him
as comfortable as I could. I talked with
him, and he told me the company that he
belonged to and all about himself He told
me he was to be exchanged on the morrow,
but with his consumptive cough could see
that ne would never get to the North.
A Novel Path to Liberty.
"He gave me the number of the company
he was in in the prison and the name Of his
sergeant, and after doing what I could for
crossing the camp saw what remained of
him. He had died during the night and he
was little more than skeleton. As I
walked away from him the thought came to
me that 1 might get out of prison in his
place and at once went to one of my friends
and told him my scheme. / wrote out my
own name, my regiment and my company
on a piece of paper and pinned it on his
coat, then my friend, Johnny Campion, and
myself lifted him up and carried him and
placed him among the dead bodies at the
side of the gate of the prison. This was the
custom and the bodies were regularly car
ried out and buried and the names upon
them were recorded among the dead of the
prison.
81 then went to the sergeant of my own
prison company, and arranged to have him
report me dead. He agreed to do so, and
went to the sergeant of the company to
which the dead man belonged and tried to
get him to let me pass out in this man s
place. He at first refused, and wanted to
put in one of his own friends, but told him
that the scheme was mine, and that would
expose anyone else who tried to be ex-
changed under it. I gave him an old silver
watch which had with me, and was soon
ready for the exchange. I made myself look
If anything more ragged than ever; I drew
in my shoulders, affected an extravagant
limp and succeeded in passing the officers.
Almost Failure After All.
"But I had to pass second examination,
and this time I came near being caught. I
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

it was his duty to call the roll three times q
day and to issue rations. Around the tents
and inside the stockade there was a rope
tied to posts which we knew was the dead
line, and the man who passed this rope, or
even touched it, knew he would be shot"
"What were your rations?'
s'They were not very fattening," was the
reply. 'Tn the morning we got from three
to five pieces of hard tack and piece of
meat about an inch wide and two inches
long At noon each of US got about half q
pint of pea soup, which was brought around
In barrel and ladled out, and for supper
we had a little mush or rice, which was also
served from barrel AT first the feeding
was not SO bad, but later on when the prin-
ciple Of retaliation was carried out, they
cut us down to a pint of meal and half
pint of pickle per day. This was terrible,
and it was done in retaliation, so they
claim, for the treatment of the prisoners at
Andersonville. Many of the prisoners then
got the scurvy and we all became emaciated
We were under fire at Morris Island tor
more than 40 days"
Captured just at the Close.
Perhaps the most distinguished prisoner
among the members of the House was Cen
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

tendent Brown, 'that the bite of snake is
much more deadly when it is shedding its
skin than at any other time. 1t was sup
posed that there was some mysterious con-
nection between this process and the virul-
ence of the poison. The secret is this:
When snake is shedding it is blind for
two or three days, owing to the skin of the
head coming forward over the eyes. Dur
ing this time it cannot strike its prey as it
usually does, and, as result, there is
greater secretion of venom in the poison
glands st the base of its fangs and the vic
tim of the attack receives larger dose
than he probably would any other time"
''Whisky is an antidote for snake poison,
is it not?'
'No, sir. 1t is popular fancy. but not a
fact" said Mr. Brown. "Whisky is what
might be called bridge used to carry the
victim over the dangerous period. The
general effect of snake poison is that of a
powerful depressor of the nervous system,
with reflex action on the heart and respira-
tory organs. Alcoholic liquor has q con-
trary effect, and while the poison carries the
vital energies below the normal, alcohol
brings it back. Too much whisky, as a
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

"Why, here's what / mean; it's very
simple. Tompkins is a blacksmith; has a
family, works for wages, and hard, too
fooling around won't furnish the bread.
Suppose it should turn out that by the
death of somebody in England he is sud
denly an earl-income $500, 1000 year.
What would he do?"
"WeIl, II suppose he would have to de-
cline to-"
"Man. he would grab it in second"
"Do YOU really think he would?"
'eThink?" don't think anything about
it; I know it,"
"Why?"
"Why? Because he's not fool
$50 YOU think that if he were fool, he"
"No. L don't. Fool or no fool, he would
grab 1t. Anybody would. Anybody that's
alive. And I've seen dead people that
would get up and go for it. 1wOuld my
self
This was balm, this was healing, this
was rest and peace and comfort.
''But thought you were opposed to no
bi1itles.'
sTransmissible ones, yes. But that's
nothing. I'm opposed to millionaires, but
it would be dangerous to offer me the posi-
tion."
ssYou'd take it?"
81 would leave the funeral of my dearest
enemy to go and assume its burdens and re-
sponsibilities.
Tracy thought awhile then said:
81 don't know that 1 quite get the bear
ings of your position. You say you are op-
dosed to hereditary nobilities, and yet if
you had the chance you would"
''Take one? In minute 1 would. And
there isn't a mechanic in that entire club
that wouldn't There isn't a lawyer, doctor,
editor, author, thinker, loafer, railroad
president, saint-land-th isn't human
being in the United States that wouldn't
Jump at the chance"
"Except me" said Tracy, softly.
Except YOU" Barrow could hardly get
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

| the words out, his scorn so choked him.
And he couldn't get any further than that
form of words; it seemed to dam his flow
utterly. He got up and came and glared
upon Tracy in kind of outraged and unap-
peasable way, and said again, Except
you" He walked around him, inspecting
him from one point of view, and then an
other, and relieving his soul now and then
BY exploding that formula at him, sfExcept
you" Finally he slumped down into his
chair with the air of one who gives it up
and said:
''He's straining his yiscera, and he's
breaking his heart trying to get some low
down job that a good dog wouldn't have,
and yet wants to let on that if he had
chance to scoop an earldom he wouldn't do
it. Tracy, don't put this kind of strain
on me. Lately, I'm not as strong as L
was"
"Well, wasn't meaning to put strain
on you, Barrow; I was only meaning TO in
innate that if an earldom ever does fall in
my way"
'sThere-I wouldn't give myself any
worry about that, i'll was you. And be-
sides, can settle what you would do. Are
you any different from me?"
''Well-no."
care you any better than me?'
"O-er-why, certainly not
care you as good? Come
'tIndeed, 1.-The fact is, you take me so
suddenly"
Suddenly? What is there sudden about
it? 1t isn't difficult question, is it? Or
doubtful? Just measure US on the only fair
Gnes-the lines of merit-and of course
you'll admit that a journeyman chairmaker
that earns his $40 a week, and has had the
good and genuine culture of contact with
men, and care, and hardship, and failure,
and success, and downs and ups and ups
and downs, is just trife the superior of a
young fellow like you, who doesn't know
how to do anything that's valuable, can't
earn his living in any secure and steady
its seriousness, hasn't any culture but the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

Of the Philadelphia society, he is consulting
zooloCist Of the New national 70 logical
Garden at Washington. His speci tlty IN
biology has been the study of snakes and
reptiles, in which department he stands con-
fessedly at the head in this country. He
has studied the Ophidians not only in cap
tivitv, but in their native haunts, pretty
much all over the world, and two Of the
most conspicuous objects in his private Office
in the old John Penn mansion, in Philadel-
phia. are two large glass jars securely sealed
and filed to the brim with all manner of
specimens of the serpent tribe. Several
months each year are spent by him usually
IN some of the widest portions of the conti-
nent, and he has but recently returned from
: two months vacation trip along the Rio
Graude in Northern Mexico and Southern
Texas.
Il obtained nv information about this
wonderful snake from a Texan guide dur
ing my recent trip to the Mexican border,
che continued with smile. "As you will
understand do not wish to be held respon-
sible for the statements of man whom
met but casually, and about whose veracity
and the quality of the whisky he drinks, 1
am IN profound ignorance, although have
4 private opinion upon the subject.
Greatest Snake Yarn on Record.
''The section of country extending from
the Gulf to the Pacific, between the 29th
and 3Oth degrees of north latitude, is the
most prolific in snakes of any on the North
American continent. 1t is almost sub-trop-
jcal, with long warm summers and short
winters. The guide had an inexhaustible
fund of stories about the Frio serpents
One of his tales was to the effect that when
be visited certain point along the Rio
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

artificial culture of books, which adorns but
really doesn't educate-eome. If wouldn't
! scorn an earldom, what the devil right have
| you to do it?'
Tracy dissembled hi, joy, though he
wanted to thank the chairmaker for that last
| remark. Presently thought struck him,
and he spoke up briskly and said:
"But, look here, I really can't quite get
the hang of your notions-your principles
if they are principles. You are incon-
sistent. You are opposed to aristocracles,
vet you'd take an earldom if you could.
Am to understand that you don't blams
an earl for being and remaining an earl?''
81 certainly don't.
"And you wouldn't blame Tompkins, or
yourself, or me, or anybody, for accepting
an earldom if it was offered?"
'Indeed 1 wouldn't"
'rWell, then, who would you blame?"
''The whole natian-any bulk and mass Of
population anywhere, in any country. that
will put up with the infamy, the outrage,
the insult of q hereditary aristocrscy which
they can't enter and on absolutely free and
equal terms.
"Come, aren't you beclouding yourself
with distinctions that are not differences"
'Indeed, am not / am entirely clear
headed about this thing. If 1 could extir-
pate an aristocratic system by declining its
honors then L should be rascal to accept
them. And if enough of the mass would
join me to moke the extirpation possible,
then should be a rascal to do otherwise
than help in the attempt"
ST believe 1 understand-yes, think
get the idea. You have no blame for the
lucky few who naturally decline to vacate
the pleasant nest, they were born into, you
only despise the all-powerful and stupid
mass of the nation for allowing the nest to
exist"
'Thst's it, that's it You can get a sim
pie thing through your head if you work at
it long enough.
Thanks"
"Don't mention it. And III give you
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

large number of persons well know, the
morning after, has depressing effect, aud
If an overdose be administered the result
will be to aggravate and intensity the orig
inal trouble. The great danger in the use
of whisky in snake bites lies in carving its
effects beyond the stimulating and exciting
stage. Quite a number of remedies have
been suggested in such emergencies, among
them being the hypodermic injection Of
ammonia permanganate of potash, and ja-
borandi. Personally, I know nothing of
the efficacy of these drugs. While I have
frequently been bitten by non-venomous
reptiles, have never felt the fangs of a
venomous snake"
Wedding Spoils Discovery.
"Thus far there has been no antidote dis
covered for the Genealogical effect of rep
tile venom. DIR. Stradling did great deal
of experimenting with snake poison, and
claimed to have discovered an antidote.
To demonstrate the efficacy of his discovery
he allowed himself to be bitten on several
occasions, after he had prepared himself,
with no serious results. / presume he
would have carried his investigations to
successful issue, or endedin killing himself
had he not got married. His wife refused
to let him continue his experiments, and SO
he abandoned his researches.
fsThat there is an antidote for the bite of
the most venomous snake, there is no doubt.
It is possessed by some of the aboriginal
people of South America, Africa and por-
tions of the United States The Zuni In
dians of Arizona, hold an annual snake
dance at which they not only handle the
most poisonous snakes, but hold them in
their teeth during frenzy of excitement.
They prepare for this horrible festival bv
taking an antidote, or rubbing themselves
with some vegetable compound. i do not
think that there has been a single death
among the Zunis recorded from a snake
bite during one of these dances. Surgeons
in the United States army have endeavored
to obtain their secret, but without avail"
'sHow do you extract the venom of a
snake for examination or experiments"
asked Superintendent Browns visitor.
Robbing a Snake of Its Poison.
"Keeper johnson in the reptile house is
quite an expert at that kind of work, an
swered Mr. Brown. "He has pole about
six feet loug, with broad strap passing
over one end and through staple on the
other side, and running the full length Of
the stick. The strap forms loop which is
passed over the head, of the snake, and
drawn tight. The snake is held firmly by
this apparatus until the keeper can reach
down and catch him behind the head with
his lett thumb and 1orennger. "A sHgnt
pressure forces the mouth open, and then a
small porcelain cup is pressed against the
root of the reptiles mouth contracting the
glands and forcing the venom to run down
the grooved fangs. When rattler's mouth
is. closed its poison fangs lie close up against
the upper jaw bone. By wonderfully
delicate bit of natures mechanism when
the mouth is opened the fangs are forced
down into an erect position, the action at
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

the same time contracting the poison glands
and forcing the secretions to flow the in
slant the reptile strikes at his prey"
Have you ever experimental with the
Gila monster?"
Personally, have not. Some time ago
we extracted some of its venom for the use
of DR.. Weir Mitchell, of this city. There
is no question that it is a venomous reptile,
though not highly so. The experiments of
DR.. Mitchell show that birds and mammals
treated with hypodermic injection of the
secretion suffer from it toxic effects. There
is little to be feared about the reptile, for it
is sluggish and not disposed to bite.
a Pointer for Schenlcy Park Managers.
A visit was paid to the reptile house,
which, by the way, is the finest building of
its kind in the world. The glass cages per-
init a full view of every movement of their
sinuous and Shiny inhabitants The alli-
gator tank is in the center of the building,
while in all the 1nterstices tropical plants
spread their broad leaves
There" said Superintendent Brown,
pointing through heavy plate glass above
which was card marked, 'Do not touch.
Poisonous" and behind which q small,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

change and was at the North. The man I
represented was John Frantz, of Company
X, of the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Regi-
ment"
Chased by Bloodhountls.
Some days later they heard the baying Of
the hounds who were on their track. They
were at this time near a river and they
jumped into this and swan to an island
which was covered with bushes. They
crawled painting in among these and lay
there while the hounds beat up and down
the banks but failed to locate their trail.
After their pursuers had gone away they
crawled out and made their way North fol-
lowing the North Star and at last getting
into the Indian Territory.
'eThe next day." said Mr.. DUNCAN, "w e
pushed our way on northward and we were
almost famished, when we saw an Indian
hut I picked up copy of Virgil, which
was lying on table, and looking in the
front of it found the name of man with
the words Marietta, o. under it. 1t
seems we were in the hut of civilized In
dian who had gone to school at Marietta.
He got US up good dinner and took us to q
trail leading over the mountains into Arkan-
sas Here we were captured by bush
whackers and handed over to the Jail at
Washington, Ark. 1 had knife which 1
carried in my boot leg. We made file of
this and filed one of the bars of the Jail
window SO that we could slip it down and
crawl out. Now the thing of it was to get
a rope and we bought one for S. pretending
that we wanted it for game The last
man who got out scraped the wall with his
foot and the guard heard him. The result
was that We were captured after lively
run.
Cut Hole in His Car.
Representative Grady, of North Carolina,
was captured at Arkansas Post by General
Sherman. He attempted to escape by cut
ting hole through the box of the car, but
this was discovered and frustrated. Repre-
sentative Kilgore, of Texas, was carried to
Camp Morton at Indianapolis, and thence
taken to Camp Chase and to Fort Delaware.
At Fort Delaware he planned to jump into
the water and swim to Delaware City. One
or two men did get away in this way, but
General Kilgore was not among them, and
he remained in the fort until he was ex-
changed.
Representative Andrew Stewart, of
Pennsylvania, entered the army as pri-
vate and came out of it an assistant ad-
jutant-general. He was confined in Libby,
Macon, Charleston, Columbia and other
Southern prisons for over year, and can
sing the whole gamut of prison woes. John
r. Fellows, OF New York, describes the life
at Johnson's Island as not at all bad. They
had lectures and schools and different kinds
of games Colonel Fellows at one time was
a part Of an amateur troupe there that gave
the old-time farce of "Box and Cox"
FRANK G. CARPENTER
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

Quiet DOdt WHICH S''SS, "
carried us North. The families of Davis
and Clay were taken North with us, and
Mrs. Davis had little Winnie Davis with
her. She was then baby and I had her on
my knee during great part Of the voy-
age and helped to take care of her as the
nurse had been taken away from Mrs.
Davis"
II roomed with Alexander Stephens on
the steamboat, continued General Wheeler,
sand 1 found him very gloomy over the
prospects AS for me, I felt happy and I
thought is was grand thing that I had not
been taken prisoner before and felt relieved
that the war was over. Mr.. Stephens told
me that for himself he expected a long If
not q perpetual imprisonment. told him
there was no danger of his being ill-treated,
that he had numerous friends among the
North and that they would not harm him,
Whatever they did with the rest of us, on
account of the speech he had made for
the Union before the war. I then asked:
We'll, Mr.. Stephens, if this is to be your
fate, what will be the fate of President
Davis?' A look of horror came over his
face and he raised his hands. Don't speak
of it, he said. His fate is too terrible to
think Of >"
How Tarsney Drew Big Kations.
talked with Representative Tarsney, Of
Missouri, about his experiences He said:
'The rations we received were miserably
small and Of the poorest quality, and at