davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
OUR new SHIPS OF War.
Rapid Progress in the Work
of Construction.
The Harbor Defense Vessel Monterey Is
Now Nearly Ready for Her
Trial Trip.

Work on the United States warships at
the Union Iron Works is progressing with
great energy.
Protected cruiser No. and the great
bastle-sbip Oregon are emerging from the
skeleton stage and beginning to assume ship
like proportions.
Cruiser No. will appear when COM
pleted much like the Charleston or san
Francisco, but the Oregon is altogether diff
ferent in shape and build. The ends of the
latter craft taper off sharply and she looks
much like prodigous cigar. Her stem and
stern posts have at last been set in place,
and now the outside plating of the monster
is being rapidly proceeded with.
The most remarkable feature of the Ore
gon is the twin tubes in which the propel-
Ter shafts are to run. The tapering lines o
the stern made 1t impracticable to run the
propeller shafts inside The hull, as in the
case of the other warsnlps, so that at least
thirty feet OF each propeller shaft has to
project. In order to protect the shafts and
to give them their necessary bearings two
great tubes are built out from the hull, to
which they are attached by pOnderous
steel castings, which are made Of the finest
metal and highly tested in order TO endure
the enormous strain to which they will be
subjected through the revolutions of the
Work on the coast protector Monterey
has been pushed at rapid rate lately, and
she now appears. even to an unprofessional
eye, something like what she will be when
completed.
The barbette plates which protect the
base Of two gun towers are in place and
workmen are constructing the foundations
for the great 12-inch guns which are TO DO
be placed inside.
The stanchions for the life chains aud for
supporting the awning tina. Is to cover the
decks are all in place and the ponderouS
smokestack is all but finished.
The ship has lately received a coat of
Iaint.
When the protected coming tower arrives
1t can be at once adjusted, and oil that Will
then remain to complete the vessel will be
the placing in position of the vertical plates
OF the gun towers and the reception of her
armament.
1t Will probably be four months before
she will DO ready for active service, though
in an emergency this time could be consd-
eraby shortened. 1t is thought by Naval
Constructor Steele that a trial trip will be
made in the near future, just as soon as the
gun towers and the protected coming tower
are placed in position, and in such an event
the weight of the armament would be COM
pensated for by the temporary expedient
OF a corresponding weight of castiron.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04

PENDANTS and conduct him into the presence
of the censor. who again reads the sentence.
Once more the principal TeIireS aud changes
his clothes. The second censor is called
the principals second, not his eXecutioner,
but tie same meaning is attached TO the
word employed as we attach TO the term
second in q duel. The first seconds duty Is
to cut off the mans head Immediately he
has disembOweed himself; the assistant
second, for there are always two, IS TO hand
the prisoner tray with the dirk with which
the act is performed. The seconds also
hold up the severed head in order that the
witnesses may be satisfied that 1t is the
right man. a white screen is set up TO con-
ceal the corpse, incense burned and the
ceremony is ended.
Some OF the directions are most infinitely
exact: "01 rising. after the ceremony, the
chief witness should step ont with his left
foot and turn to the left. If the ceremony
takes place out of doors the chief witness
should sit upon box. And may
hitch his trousers up slightly. but on no &C
count may he do so ii 1t is in the palace.
Sometimes the prisoner bares the upper
part OF his body and sometimes he does OF,
but he is always careful TO tuck his long
sleeves under his knees so that lie may not
be disgTaced by falling backward.
When man is requested TO act as second
ii is a great honor, and he must neither
smile nor look distressed, but simply and
should be used. never the seconds, $50 that
if the second makes a mistake or bungles he
can lay the blame upon the sword" for as
this quaint manuscript adds. surely every
one should be able to cut off head" very
often the ceremony Of DISTINGUISHING was
only nominal, and we are told there are
three correct moments when the second
may cut off the hea6-frst, when the pris-
Oner leaned forward to take the dirk or just
when he was about to insert the dirk, or,
third, at the moment of insertion.
If the principal was Of high rank the sec
ond held the sword alOft; if principal
and second were equals it was n ed mid way
If the second was Of higher grade than the
prisoner, the weapon was allowed to drOOp
The second should kneel on one knee
until the proper moment, then spring TO hls
feet and give the blow. Sometimes a far
was handed the condemned man instead OF
a dirk. particularly if he was inclined to be
troublesome, in which case it was the duty
Of the seconds to stab him TO death.
Mr.. A. 3. Milford, secretary of the Brit
ish legation, has given az account of PROB
ably the only official hara-kiri ever wit
messed by Westerners. The criminal was
that retainer Of the Prince OF BiZen who
ordered some natives to fire upon the for
eign legations, and the execution was or
dersd by the Mikado himself. This was in
February, 1868, and took place in Buddhist
temple at half-past 10 at night. Milford
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04

decorated with quotations from the sacred
books, were hung four SIX Gags, which
were afterward placed on the grave. Nhlte
curtains were draped round the inclosIse
and white edged mats spread upon the
ground over the leather catpet. II the exc
cutiUn was at night four tall white silk lam
terms were used. Sometimes a room was
built for the purpose, but this was not con-
sidered at all The proper course TO pursue,
as ii was only done when the ceremony
should have taken place in the palace ltself
and II looked as If the daimio in charge
wished TO avoid having the rite IN MS
castle. If the prisoner WAS to die lmmeui-
ately the reeeptioD-room was the chamOer
in which etiquette decreed the dread deco
should be performed.
''In modern days" says rare and curious
old manuscript translated BY an English
author, "the place OF hara-kiri is always.
without regard to rank, eighteen feet
square. TIE condemned man sits in the
center facing the witnesses. In some cases
the seconds turn their backs TO the witness.
1t is open to question. however, whether 1t
Is not breach of etiquette. II the cere-
mOny takes place in a room, two thick, red
rugs should be placed on top OF the Ordl-
nary mats in order 10 prevent the blood from
soaking through. Behind two white paper
screens should be placed dirk upon
tray, a bucket TO hold the head, pal OF
water an incense burner and basin. Ii a
SamuTai has to perform hara-kirl by his
feudal lords command, it should be done IN
one of the lesser palaces of the clan. as the
principal palace being near the Shoguh
castle IL is disrespectfulto him TO have an
execution so near his august presence. II
retainer is suddenly ordered to commit
Seppuku on a journey the lord should hlfe
him a temple for the purpose and mats Oh
skin should be spread down with the iur
turned the wrong way.
In the same manuscript the followine
procedure is given as the only correct one
when the execution is ordered by the GOV
ernment when a man has been ordered
by the Government to diSembowel himself
tie public censorS who have been appointed
TO act as witnesses write to the Prince who
has him in charge 10 inform him that
they will 90 to his palace on public busl-
ness The first censor, when all IS reaay,
reads the sentence and departs, while the
second censor stays to witness its eXecu-
ton. After the reading Refreshments are
offered, which all must decline. Every one
Who is present or connected with the cere-
mOny wears the Japanese ceremonial dress
-KamashimOhakRmo which is stamped
with the wearer's crest In five places
The prisoner, who in the meantime mas
been notified OF the cens0r's arrival, should
have a complete change of clothes handed
him on q large tray. Six men act as at
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
Books Received,

s'The Sunny Side OF Politics." compiled
by Henry Frederic Reddall. st. Paul: The
Price McGilt Co. For sale at Bancroft's.
THE Last Tenet Imposed Upon the KHAN
of TOmathoz," by HudOr GenOne. Chicago
Charles ii. Kerr 81 Co. For sale at Ban
croft's
Lessons From the World of Matter and
the World of Man." by Theodore Parker.
Chicago: Charles b. Kerr Il Co. For sale
at Bancroft's.
Saddle and Sentiment" by Wenona Gill
man. New York: The Outing Company,
limited.
Handbook of University Extension" ed
tied by George f. James. Philadelphia:
The American Society for the Extension OF
University Teaching.
'Berris." by GATHERINGS Maequoid. New
York: The National Book Company.
"a Modern Dick Wilmington" by James
Payn. New York and London: John A.
Taylor Il Co.
"People at Pisgah." by Edwin W. San
born. New York: d. Appleton Il Co. For
sale at BancrOft's.
Jacks Father" by w. E. Norris. New
York: Lowell. Coryell & Co.
"Cross- Currents" by Mary Angela Dick
ems New York: D. Appleton Il Co.
political Handbook" compiled by W. G..
Distumell. San Francisco: The Hicks
Judd Company.
"a Dictionary of American Politics." by
Everit Brown and Albert Strauss.
''The Lost Heress." by Mrs. Emma d. E.
N. Scuthworth. Philadelphia: Il. B. Peter
son & Brothers.
"The Soul of Lilith," By Marie Corelli.
New York: Lowell, Coryen 81 Co.
esquire Kate" by Robert Buchanan.
New York: Lowell, Coryell II Co.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
nara -KIRI IN JAPAN.
Suicide Made an Elaborate
Ceremony.
-ANFXTRAORDINARY CUSTOM
Tie Story Of the For;y-ssven Loyal RoaiDs
How Official Executions are
Managed.
Written for TIRE MORNING CALL

All 1.-THE world over suicide Is only too fire.
auently the last resource Of disappointed
humanity; those who have lost their for
tunes. their sweethearts. or sometimes only
: their tempers. resort to IL, and in Paris
there is a story current that an Eaglishman
once killed himself because the waiter
at restaurant forgot TO put sugar in his
tea. Among the Germans self-murder has
been seriously advocated on wholesale
scale by such gloomy philosophers as Scho-
penhauer and Hartmann, but few nations
have, like tie japanese. raised the deed to
the status of an elaborate ceremony, an
honorable and highly commendable method
of shutting off this mortal coil.
-. Seppuku is the word in use among the
japanese themselves, but hara-kiri or kara
.isthe term best known TO the western world
= The latter means. literally, belly-cutting,
though 1t is frequently translated and
SPOKEN Of nnder the more euphonious phrase
'happy dispatch" For centuries disem-
boweli1g has been the native method OF
committing suicide. This extraordinary
custom, which gradually arose during the
middle ages, had its origin in the desire OF
: defeated warriors TO save themselves from
falling alive into the hands0 of their enemies.
= In course Of time If a member OF one OF
the various military classes was Ia any way
disgraced il became almost obligatory up
on him to commit hara-kiT, by which act,
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
THE AUSTRALIANS BARRED
They Will Be Taken Back.
Home.
Tbs MOnowars Passengers Denied a Land
ing, as They Were Likely to Be
Public Charges. - =.

Eight poorly clad natives of Australia
sa: on the deck of the steamer Monowai
yesterday afternoon and shivered in the
wind
They were the ones referred to in yester-,
days CALL as having been lured fromtheir
homes under contract. -..:
They are not the best examples Of the
race to which they belong. and, taken all in
all, are not repulsive in appearance. = The
women have modest faces, and sat eating
from basket Of grapes which had been
sent them by passenger on the steamer.
They wore plain calico dresses and straw
hats seantily trimmed with blue ribbons.
One of them spoke English fairly WE'LL
ana between bites at a big peach which she
held in her hand she expressed desire TO
return to her home.
Il worked in a private house in Sydney"
she said in her peculiar way. and my hus-
band got me 10 come 10 America. They.
will not let US land here, and now we Will
go home again. | am so glad, for / do. 10!
like this strange place" =
Her husband, sinewy, dark-c0mplexioned
man. with very fiat nose and a black
curly beard, lounged against the rail of the
steamer and looked out across the bay. On
his head he wore a battered sea cap, and
his body was incaSed in a heavy flannel
shirt. His feet were bare. Near him lay
a boomerang, the weapon of his race.
He smiled not unpleasantly as one of the
officers Of the vessel gave him plug Of
black tobacco.
mo like this country" he said abruptly.
white man tell US lot of lies and we come
here with him. We not allowed to go
ashore, and now we get back home: No
come here again. and then he turned away
and paid no further heed. -.
This morning immigration Inspector Nc
Pherson went aboard the Monowsi and
looked at the odd crew. He questioned
them closely. and decided that they cams
under the law prohibiting the importation
of contract labor. He ordered them tore
turn TO their homes, and notified the owners
of the vessel that a fne of $1,000 would be
imposed for every one of the Australians
allowed to escape
The result will be that ell will be- taken
on the return trim
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04

However .heinous his crime, It was consid-
cred that he had rehablitated his reputa-
ton and indicated his right to be regarded
as an honorable man. During the -Ioku-
gawa dynasty hara-klTi was raised TO the
status Of an official punishment and about
1900 \. D. mobiles and gentry OF the rank Of
daimi0 and samuTai who committed crimes OF
apOIucal or personal nature which ala not
degrade themfrOm their rank became eXemp!
from the jndgnlty Of suffering by tue hand
OF the common eXeeutoner, but instead
were officially ordered 10 perform hara-klri'
time and place being carefully notified TO
the condemned man and proper oihclalS
sent To- witness the event
~: Every japanese boy Of good family was
taught from his earliest infancy to regard
. seppuku as his only honorable recourse II
disgrace attached itself to him.
In an ordinary case Of suicide, '..p.y De-
cause a man fett the sung OF dishonor, or
was 50 OverpOweTed by grief as to wish an
end to his existence. Il was customary, aud
indeed is so yet for the victim to betake
himself to the tomb Of his ancestors and
there commit the deed. For example,
IN one of the best known national
historical romanceS Of Japan re-
tainer named DauyemOn WAS sent by
his lord TO exchange hostages with
an enemy. DanyemOn being too credulOus
was cheated of his hostage, and the story
recites that, seeing he would be enormously
0utnumbered if he attempted to fight, and
feeling that after being so cheated he would
be put TO shame before his lord, Sarawa,
Danyemon went 10 the burial-place OF his
ancestors and diSembOweled himself in
front Of their graves" Probably the great
est number of people who ever committed
hara-kiri at the same time was the forty
seven ronins, whose tombs are yet to be
seen at Takanama, suburb OF Toxic, IN
the Sengakuji, or Spring-hil Temple.
=. The story of the "FOrty-seven Loyal
ROnins," as it is called, may fairly be en-
titled the great national story OF Japan. II
has been dramatiZed and is played every
wear by the great japanese actor Danjuro.
. These famous ronius, who are regarded ss
heroes and martyrs to duty, have a shrine
erected in their honor near the temple, IN
which are images OF the f0Tty-seven and the
man whose death they avenged. One daimiO,
named AsanO Takumi, quarreled with an
other called K0tSuke-nO-Snke, who finally
eDeompassed the formers death. Forty
seven of the murdered mans retainers
bound themselves by an oath to ayenge
their lords death. When they had accom-
plished their purpose the whole f .rty-seYen
went TO the tomb of their laie master, Ia
kum and all, one after another, committed
suicide by disemhowelIng themselves.
These rOnins receive almost divine h0nors
and are Landed by native chrOniclers as
belonging to the very highest and most
exalted type Of heroes. Every sixty years
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
A Broken. Reed, Indeed.

This and no mistake, is the individual whoss
stamina has waued TO such low ebo, for want of
ericient tonic, that he would certainly topple
over and fracture something II bulky SUBJECT such
fat vile, for instance, lean npon him:
Build up. ys lean. pithIess and streagthless with
Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. which will enable you
to eat and digest heartily, and thus acquire flesh
andvigor The fortress of life VIII speedily eapltI-
late to. the grim scythe-wleIder, DEATH If
you don't. Nervousness. sleeplessness, biliousness
constipation. malaria. rheumatic and kidney trouble.
all eonquerabe by this superb restorative of
health and vgor In connection with the use Of the
Biters it would be well for the debilltared invalid
TO study the wants OF his enfeebled stomach with
view to the selection OF the NEST dgestb articles
OF diet. SO
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
HE LOOKED REAL TOUGH,
And he Felt and Acted the
Way He Looked.
A Third-street Episode That Resulted From
the Too Lavish Indulgence in
Btssism Liquor.

He looked tough. and evidently felt as he
looked.
He stood on Third street in front of Kelly
& Crimmins' saloon.
He had been drinking boss liquor; had
been CONVEX sing with the bartender Of the
bosses; had even caught glimpse of Boss
Crimmins, and was feeling altogether like a
boss himself
His diamond was as big as his nerve, and
his nerve was measuTeless. He looked
drunk and talked with hic His knees
were unsteady and his silk hat shaded one
eye more than the other.
He lacked enough liquor TO put him to
sleep, yet his Jag" was altogether too yigor-
GUS to permit his native modesty to assert
itself
He leered a little and lolled good deal.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.
THE LEADING CUTTERS,
618 and $40 Market St.,
PHELAN BLOCK.
N3I SuTuTh
Story of a Lost Race" and the author ia
\ Qanar z q Dag of MinneannIis
PH L An BLDJl
ly31 suTuTh

Story of Lost Race" and the author ia
Oscar F. G. Day of Minneapolis.
Thoughtful and progressive American
women will be greatly interested in SYM
postum on Dress Reform" in the Arena
for September, prepared under the auspices
of the National Council of Women of the
United States. The president OF the coan-
Gil, Mrs. May Wright Sewall, contributes
the opening paper. Other contributors TO
the symposium are: Mrs. Frances f. Rus
sell. Jeuness Miller. Elizabeth Smith Mil
Ter and Frances NJ. Steele.
The North American Review for Septem-
Der is charged with articles by distinguished
writers, covering a wide range of the
thought and activities OF the day. This
Review, by means of papers from those
whose words are recognized as authorlta-
tive, is eminently successful in giving TO
the public an analytic and thoroughly salts
factory discussion OF all significant move
ments, and in this view its pages are indis-
pensable t0.the student of the times
The Magazine OF American History for
September is delightful number, admlra-
bly, illustrated. The editor writes the open
ing paper, Progression In Steam Naviga-
ton. lS07-1s92," which is crowded with in
formation and suggestion and will interest
all classes of readers in all chimes where
the steam whistle is heard.
The latest number of Current History.
/ covering the second quarter of 1892, is q
wonderful example Of what can be done to
compress within the limits of a magazine of
ordinary size all that is essential in the
vast amount of reading matter which has
appeared during the past three months
bearing upon the international. political,
labor, anarchist and Other movements in
this country and abroad.
The September issue of Scribner's Maya
zine may be called an American number.
Every contribution is by an American.
In Outing for September Lieutenant W.
L. Hamilton, U. 5. A. concludes a most in
teresting treatise on the Military Schools
of the United States" The uDquestionable
value Of the schools and their desirable in
duence upon our growing nation are pointed
out in a manner which cannot fail to be un-
derstcod.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
An Intelligent bog.
Nav or9 Sun.

A family In Staten Island has a dog that
seems 10 show a distinct: reasoning faculty:
The dog had long been aecustomedto take.
morning walk with a member of the
family, but was not permitted to accom-.
pany his friend to church,. The animal
soon seemed TO understand that one day IN
seven he must remain at home. and the con-
clusion was that he could count. 0ne Sun
day morning. however, the dog SURPRISED
every one by joining the family on the
way to church. The conclusion was that
he had forgotten until it was called to mind
that the church-bel had notrung that morn.
ing. The: dog evidently associated the
sound of the bell with the fact that be was.
not to accompany his companions as usual.
and when the bell did not sound g saw no
reason for: omitting his usual walk. -.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-04
A FINANCIAL CRISIS.
The Barring Failure Set In Motion
Wave Of Disaster

Bankers Magazine.
It will be Two years in November since
the collapse of the house Of Barring set in
motion what has been aptlY termed "a
wave of disaster" which has flowed TO every
shore Country after country has since ex-
perienced tremendous financial crisis. The
Argentine Republic has met with terrific
blow. from which it cannot hope fully to
recover in less than quarter of a century.
Brazil has been hard hit commercially
and financially. Uruguay has experienced
serious banking crisis. Portugal is bank
rupt In Australia the financial crisis has
been exceeding severe and prolonged, and
thousands OF firms have failed, many banks
have suspended and trade has been demon.
allied. In Cape Colony that tip end of the
huge African continent. where England
rules the bankers and merchants have gone
through a general liquidation. And now a
disastrous crisis is felt in the greatcom-
meTcial cities Of the Chinese coast, Hong
Kong and Shanghai. In these cities the
depreciation of property is cOnservatfvely es-
tmated at So, GOO, GOO. The banks are loaded
with commercial paper, the value of which
no one can estimate. For several
years past there has been regular "boom"
In HOng-k0ng in the formation of COM
panies To carry on all sorts of business in
North Bornen. the British Straits Settle
HtntS anu IoHquIn' n laIBt amount OIL
capital was subscribed By the British mer-
chants and bankers OF Hong Kong, which, as.
is well known. Is one of the dependencies
OF the British crown. But the companies
organized did not produce returns, and the
people who had borrowed money OF the
Hong-Kong banks to invest in the shares of
these COMPANIES could not meet their obi
cations. Two months ago the New Oriental
Bank closed its doors, and one other inst-
tuition, the Bank Of China, only managed to
pay dividend by oyervaluing its stock OF
silver