davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

conQueror Of Peru, has such peculi-
arities as to warrant scientists In
forming the lowest opinions of his
moral character. One bump pro-
claims him murderer; another, thief;
ridge verifies all the stories of Las
Casas of his cruelties to Indians; a
hollow shows where his bump Of
philanthropy fell in. His skull has
even the notorious @fossa of Lom-
broso," which," says Mr.. Reno
Bache, modern criminologists have
never discovered except In confirmed
and habitual enemies of society"
The incident, interesting in itself,
illustrates the futility of the old saw
that dead men tell no tales Obvi-
ously II a man values his posthumous
fame, he should find out about his
genealogical development during life,
and IL the testimony of his skull is
damaging, he should provide for in
cineration, which once for all pulver-
ICES all astrological evidence beyond
the possibility Of restoration.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
A will-o'-the-Wisp.

OF course you know that real
will o'-the-wisp is the effect Of hydro
carbon gas generated by decomposing
organic matter in marsh and In a
state of combustion. But did you
know that you could produce this
phenomenon in your homes? Take
an open-mouthed glass jar and place
some baking soda in the bottom,
over which pour little diluted sui
phuric acid, muriatic acid or strong
vinegar. Then the jar will fill with
carbonic acid gas.
Now lower a lighted candle into
the gas until it goes out, leaving the
top of the flame still burning upon
the surface of the invisible gas. The
flame will be fed by the gases coming
from the smoldering wick. This
will-o'-the-wisp lasts but short
time, but it may be reproduced by
raising the candle until the wick re-
lights, then lowering 1t again. In
order to make a success Of this ex-
pertinent see that the air of the room
Is very still.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

THE State of Florida is now
thanks to the decision of Jackson
vile jury-the promised land of the
prize fighters Thumper Corbett has
been acquitted of engaging in a
fight by previous arrangement" with
Thumper Mitchell. The encounter
was purely accidental. That is, Mr..
Corbett, happening to stray into a
pavilion where several thousand peo-
pie were assembled, CHANGED to en-
counter Mr.. Mitchell, who was wan
dering aimlessly about, clad in pink
trunks and fighting shoes, and fell
upon him and beat him. That is the
nominal sense Of the verdict. OF
course everyone will know its real
meaning. The people Of Jacksonville
made some money by reason Of the
crowds that flocked thither to see the
fight They have hopes of getting
more fights and consequently more
money in the future. Therefore they
are willing to make justice farce,
and a dozen of them have shown
their willingness to perjure them
selves in order that prize fighters
may not be frightened away by the
courts. The Jacksonvillians are a
frugal and thrifty race. They will
manage to make ends meet If the
general public continues to patronize
the ring.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
HARLAN was comparatively sober

HARLAN was comparatively sober
at the time, and no extenuatlng cir
cumstance appears in his favor" says
a dispatch from Jefferson City, Mo-,
telling of the killing Of Charles w.
Moore. Harlan did the killing. The
dispatch seems to imply two things
that Mr.. Harlan is usually drunk, and
that If he had been in that condition
at the time of the murder he would
have been held innocent of all wrong
doing. They must have an original
system of justice at Jefferson City.
The consumption of unlimited whisky
apparently absolves citizen from liza
bility to punishment under the GRIM
inal statutes. A gentleman who
thirsts for his neighbours life need
only to fill his system with stimu-
lants, whoop two or three times and
then 60 cunning. II he kills his man
the community will blame the whis-
ky and acquit the marksman. Sa-
loon keepers will find much to COM
mend in this theory, but 1t is hardly
fair to gentlemen of sanguinary in
stincts who don't like whisky. They
should, in justice, be allowed to load
up on morphine or hasheesh, in order
to claim the customary exemption.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

BERNARD GILLIAN men WHOM L pub
into CARTOON" said Mr.. Gillian, as
he sat lately in his Office, hard at
work on humorous effort an fact,
both Democrats and Republicans at
Washington send me their photo
graphs promptly upon my request for
them, although in some cases they
are aware that their features will be
reproduced ridiculously. A cartoonist
who does not descend to personal
abuse never makes enemies. That is
MI experience. In a cartoon, by the
way, it never pays to have for the
central idea anything but a late
popular catch. There was a time
when took some scene from Shaks-
peare or grouping out Of the
classical mythology. But / discov-
cred that the people were not inter
ested. Then j had recourse to popu-
lar crazes. / utilized the returning
ball, the optical spiral which, when
shaken, seems to move, the pigs In
clover and even Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-
ayr Such things are timely, even II
not highly intellectual"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
PoLAcK IMMIGRANr's KNIFE.

with. The blades of these knives
are not more than three inches in
length, while the handles are not
more than half an inch long.
1t would puzzle any one to whom
it had not been explained, to know
how to make use of one OF these
knives, but, held in the manner shown
in the cut, with the short handle in
the middle of the closed palm, the
knife blade protruding between the
first and second fingers, one of these
Polack knives would be formidable
weapon "for jabbing," as the inspec-
tor who captured the one from which
the sketch was made, put it.
One Polish immigrant who was or
dered sent back nearly made his es-
cape from the room in which he was
confined, not long ago, by the vigor-
Gus use of the blade on the putty
that held the wiDdow-panes in place
In the sash. He would have had
nothing but his labor for his pains
had he succeeded in getting to the
ground, for the Waterman outside
would have been sure to see him, and,
even If that official had been care
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
DEATHS ON THE RAIL.
History OF 1903 and Analysis of the Fata
Accidents.

History of 1903 and Analysis of the Fatal
Accidents.
Complete returns have been made
of the number of railroad accidents
in the United States in the year 1893
in which human life was sacrificed.
The report shows that the year was
one which will be memorable for the
frequency of disastrous accidents and
the number Of passengers killed in
them. In 1856 nineteen more people
were killed by the railroads than in
the previous year. This unfortunate
condition of affairs is generally at
tributed to the Worlds Fair traffic,
but the records Of a number Of roads,
which carried the largest proportions
OF passengers to the Fair without in
juring one OF them, show that the
cause OF the accidents which did
occur must be attributed to the GRIM
inal carelessness Of the roads them
selves and the recklessness of their
employees. With proper safeguards
thrown around the traffic and proper
watchfulness on the part of officials,
the whole Worlds Fair traffic might
have been conducted without injury
to a solitary passenger.
The total number Of accidents in
which life was lost or serious personal
injuries were inflicted during the
year was 2,307, against 1927 in the
previous year. Last year the num-
Der killed in train accidents was SOL,
as compared with 672 the previous
year. OF those killed 178 were pas
sengers, 424 employees and eighty
nine other persons. The nature Of
accidents in which these fatalities
occurred was: 996 collisions, 1922
derailments and ninety-nine other
accidents. In the collisions 381 per-
sons lost their lives; in the deraif-
ments, 262, and In other accidents,
forty-eight. In addition to these
fatalities 1854 other persons received
injuries of serious nature. OF these
1,243 were employees, ], 240 passengers
and l0l other persons. The total
number killed and injured during the
year was 1925. These figures take
no notice whatever OF the number
slaughtered during the year at grade
crossings. When that is included
the number of fatalities would be at
least doubled.
Eight Of the worst accidents Of
the year occurred in two months,
beginning Aug. %, when the Worlds
Fair traffic was at its height. These
eight accidents caused the death Of
10 persons. They occurred at
Dykeman's, Long Island City and
Chester in August; Colehour, Man
teno and Kingsbury in September;
Jackson and Nicholas In October,
and were brought to an end by the
disastrous rear-end collision on the
Rock Island at Chicago in November.
1t will be noticed that the largest
number of accidents was from derail-
ments. These were caused by broken
rails, loose or spread rails, broken
bridges, defective switches, broken
wheels, broken axles and similar
causes, the great majority Of which
could have been avoided by due care
and watchfulness on the part Of the
companies. The 996 collisions were,
If possible. still more inexcusable.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

INVENTIVE genius has not stopped
with the pneumatic tire on the sulky
and bicycle, but has been busy with
the work Of perfecting ball bearings
with such success that few days
since astreet car, which was equipped
with the latest inventions in ball
bearings, that would do away almost
entirely with friction, was drawn a
distance Of several hundred feet by a
single man Juggling gently at three
strands Of ordinary sewing-thread at
tached to the car. Perhaps more
interesting experiment was that of a
carriage manufacturer, who put an
other style Of ball bearings upon the
wheels of a large coach, to which
four horses we're ordinarily hitched.
Then he took trained dog, and har-
messed and hitched him to the pole,
when the dog drew the huge coach
easily around the yard. This sounds
like fancy, but it is a fact.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
They Loved Well.

The strangest test of will power
and endurance ever made was in
Mexico, the characters being Mexi-
can woman and an American man.
They were lovers, and the girls
parents refused their consent to the
union, insisting that she should
marry wealthy Mexican sutton.
At the suggestion Of the girl they
agreed to die together, and to test
the strength and endurance of each
others love they choose a means of
suicide unlike any ever dreamed of
before.
Food and fruit were placed on a
table in the center of room, occu-
pied by both, the girl having escaped
from her home, but being unwilling
to elOpe with her lover. 1t was
agreed that they should starve to
death with plenty before them, and
should either succumb TO nature and
partake of the food-then both were
released from the bond Of death
but there should be an everlasting
separation.
For twelve days they endured the
pangs Of hunger without murmur
or thought Of wavering from their
purpose to die together. The twelfth
day the father OF the girl discovered
her whereabouts, and, breaking the
door, they were carried out, too faint
to stand alone.
1t took them several days to re-
cover their strength, and when they
did they were married.
This is true statement, and the
American is living with his Mexican
wife to-day.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
Heat of the Body.

Perhaps the most wonderful phe.
nomenon connected with the bodily
temperature is the preservation OF its
general level under all external cir
cumstances Of heat and cold. This
power seems to exist in man in a
higher degree than in most other ami
mails, since he can not only support
but enjoy life under extremes which
would be fatal to many. The ac-
counts Of degrees of cold frequently
sustained by Arctic voyagers are al.
most incredible. We read of tenn.
peratures 80 degrees, and even 102
degrees below the freezing point. On
the other hand, IN the tropics the
temperature often rises through a
large portion Of the year to 10 de.
grees, or even higher, and we know
that workmen can remain 10 furnaces
at temperature or 300 degrees or
more without Inconvenience. In all
these cases the air must be dry and
still; similar extremes Of heat or Of
cold, accompanied by moisture, would
prove intolerable. -Fortnightly Re-
view
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

The following interesting story of
how canary was cured of home
sickness was told by w. G. Evans:
Not long go my wife purchased a
canary at a bird store. 1t had been
accustomed to companions of its kind
at the store, but at our house it was
entirely alone. The pretty little
songster was evidently homesick. 1t
would not sing, 1t would not eat, but
just dropped and seemed to be pining
away. We talked to it, and tried by
every means in our power to cheer
the bird up, but all in vain. My
wife was on the point of carrying the
bird back to the store when one day
a friend said: give him a piece Of
lockingglass. Acting on this sug-
gestion, she tied piece of broken
mirror about the size Of mans hand
on the outside of the cage. The lit
tie fellow hoped down from his perch
almost Immediately, and, going up
close, looked in, seeming delighted.
He chirped and hoped about, sing
ing all the pretty airs he was master
of. He spends most of his time be-
fore the glass, and when he goes to
sleep at night he will cuddle down
as close to the glass as he can, think
ing, very likely, that he is getting
nearer to the pretty bird he sees so
often. - st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22


There's a queer little man. lives down the
street
Whore two of the broadcast highways meet
In queer little house that's half of It
glass,
With windows open to all who pass.
And low little roof that's nearly fiat,
And chimney as black rs papa's best
hat
Oh. the house Is built on the funny plan.
Because It's the homo OF the pop corn
man!
Row does he sleep. II he sleeps at all?
He must roll up like a rubber ball,
Or like q squirrel. and store himself
All huddly-cuddly under the shelf
II he wanted to stretch he'd scarce have
space
In his bare little, spare little. square little
place
He seems like rat cooped up in can,
This brisk little, frisk little. popcorn
man
/ know he's wise by the way he looks.
For he's just like the man I've seen in
books,
With his hair worn OFF and his squinty
eyes,
And his wrinkles, too-oh. 1 know he's
wise
And then just think of the way he makes
The corn all jump into snowy flakes.
With u apop, pop. pop!" in a covered pan.
This queer little, dear little. po p corn
man!
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

How DESPERATE a man becomes
when he is hungry and cold is well
shown by the recent situation in
Pittsburg. Because of the great de-
mand for work there at 81 day, the
City Employment Committee issued
an order that only married men
should be employed. The unmarried
men were allowed to starve and
freeZe-not, we suppose, on account
OF any prejudice against celibacy in
the minds of the officials, but for the
reason that at least two persons would
subsist on the proceeds Of every dol
lar. Now mark the result: Without
the slightest hesitation every indi-
gent bachelor in Pittsburg grasped
the matrimonial horn of the dilemma
and unfaltering made haste to pro-
cure a wife. Even wedlock seemed
better than starvation to those dis
tracted men; bravely they sought
and courageously endured it. But
their courage was as nothing to the
courage. yes, the heroism, OF the
women who consented to marry them.
The women probably were neither
freezing nor starving. 1t was not
suffering that scourged them into
the yoke. They bowed their heads
to the yoke because they knew they
owed duty to society, and with the
spiritof Jeanne dare were resolved
to perform it, cost them what it
might. Who, after this, can say the
age is degenerate? Who, after this,
can say we have no heroes-and no
heroines?
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
Simple Enough.

AS a change from the story of Co
lumbus and the egg, which may now
very properly be laid aside until 1892
draws near, an incident related by
a French man of science, and vouched
for by him, may be told. This gen.
tleman relates that he was at his
work before glowing coal fire when
some one tapped at the door, and a
young girl, belonging to family who
lived in the Stat" above him, came In.
Sir" she said, would you kindly
lend me live coal or two to start
our fire with? It's gone out"
Certainly, my dear" said the sa-
want. "But you have brought moth
ing to carry 1t In. Take my shovel. T"
"Oh, no, sir" answered the child.
Il will carry the Goals In my hand. I"
ain your hand? What do you mean?
You'll be burned"
"Oh, no, sir. Ill show you how"
The child dipped up some ashes
from the CRATE and placed them in
the followed palm OF her left hand.
Then with the tongs she laid two
burning Goals on the top of the little
heap OF ashes Then she bowed,
smiled and went out, bearing her
Goals unframed.
"Well, WE'LL" said the man of science
to himself. "Here I've been study
ing natural philosophy forty years,
and never had the wit to do that"
Whether he ever repeated the ex-
pertinent on his own account we are
not told, hut IL young readers are
tempted to do so we should advise
caution.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
The Ruling Passion.

Edith, who is eight years old, was
invited to a children's party. Her
blonde hair is perfectly straight, but
was becomingly arranged, and she
started of evidently pleased with her
personal appearance. On her return
her mother asked, "Did you have a
nice time, Edith?"
There was moments hesitation,
and then the little girl RESPONDED,
EYES, had good time, but l should
have had better one IL 1t hadn't
been for my hair
"Why, Edith, what was wrong with
your hair?"
swell, 1t don't curl, and all the
other girls hair was kinky. l sha'n't
go to another party without my hair
can be fixed in kinks.
The next week, when another in
vitation came for the little girl, her
hair was curled and fluffed out in the
most approved style. Then her
mother led her up to mirror and
said, There, Edith, what do you
think OF it?"
Edith regarded herself soberly for
a moment and then, turning slowly
around, she said, "Its vain, but 1
like it."
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

NOT only the curious but the ludi-
crous spectacle is presented Of British
merchants thanking the American
admiral at Rio Janeiro for what GER
tain British newspapers are ranting
and raving about. British merchant
vessels at Rio, suffering for water,
unattainable except by naval escort,
appealed in vain to Britannia's
deputy wave-rulers. Necessity forced
them to supplicate relief from the
American commandment, and it was
promptly rendered. And now here
is sample of London newspaper
comment: at is the duty Of Eng
land to demand an immediate
apology for Admiral Benham's extra
ordinary conduct"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22
An African King.

After Emin Pasha had learned Of
the fall of Khartoum and the con-
quest of the Soudan by the Mahdists,
he gave up hope Of being able to de-
fend the Equatorial Province with
the force at his disposal. To rescue
the Egyptians who garrisoned the
various posts was now his first duty,
and he began to make his plans for a
march to the sea. The only practical
BILE route appeared to be through the
kingdom or Unyoro, which bounds
the Province on the southeast. Ac-
cording he sent his medical officer,
Vita Hassan, with valuable presents
of ivory and other things, to the
king of the country to obtain permits
sion for the passage of the troops
through his dominions.
This African monarch, who was
named Kabarega, though In outward
appearance mere savage, showed
that he possessed some of the quail
ties of a successful ruler.
Among the presents sent TO him
was little box which had come from
Mambettu, country In the extreme
western part Of the Province. When
the king noticed that it was made Of
a single piece of wood, he was very
much pleased with 1t, and asked the
envoy whether he thought that his
subjects were capable of initiating
such work.
Il answered him." says Vita Has
san, "that the Wanyoro had no ex-
perience In such work, and that 1t
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22


would be- very dinlcu,t for them TO
do 1t as well as the Mambettp, who
were skilled In fashioning out of q
block of wood the most varied and
difficult objects. In really artistic
manner they are able to make dishes.
plates, bowls. stands, aud even Turk.
ish jugs with their long and crooked
necks.
"The Wanyoro, on the other hand,
understood the preparation Of skins.
This Is their speciality, as wood
working Is that of the Mambettu.
My words aroused the jealousy Of
Kabarega, and he counted on his
fingers to five, and then said, On
this day. pointing to the fifth fin
ger, come here again, and / will
show you whether or not my people
can make box like this
"On the fifth day the Wanyoro had
succeeded, under the most frightful
threats of the king, In manufacture
ing similar box of perhaps even
better construction. Full of pride,
Kabarega showed it to me with the
words, What use is 1t being king
IL cannot get my subjects to make
everything which wish?'
"'But what II you desire some
thing which Is beyond their ability
or their knowl0dge?'
There is no need of that, for /
have not lost my head; I shall never
bid them fetch me the neon, but II
1t is thing which is not beyond our
power, l cannot permit that they
should give up at the first difficulty.
"For negro king this seemed to
be very reasonable, and 1 bowed my
assent"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

the whole interior of the lamp can
be produced for a very short time
without having the lamp connected
to any source of current by wires,
etc. This interesting experiment
may be performed in any ones parlor
without any appurtenances other
than an incandescent lamp, a dark
ened room and mechanical power in
the shape of two unobstructed hands.
The lamp is grasped about as shown
in figure j, at its lower end, with the
thumb and first finger of the other
hand partly and gently encircling the
bulb of the lamp at its upper end
not holding the lamp so firm as to
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

BILLIE CROwELL- CIOSe IrItnu OF
Reeds. A. w. Bradbury, In st.
Louis paper, says concerning Tom
and Billie: Zone day, l remember,
Tom was leaving his room, when he
met Crowell just outside the door. 1
do not know what passed between
them; at any rate, Crowell was a
cturdy, athletic chap, handy with his
ists, and-biff! he suddenly let out a
Highlander which made Tom stag
ser. The row continued for some
time, and Tom was fully and finally
licked. Remember the incident?
Well, guess Tom does."
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-22

learn any bad words?" "No, mummy,
l always took it out of the room
when pa was sewing button on"
Yesterday" said my doctor, Il made
an effervescent draught for little
fellow l was attending. He had had
a good deal of medicine during the
last week or two, some of it not the
daintiest; so / mixed him dose as
treat. There, Jacky, my boy said,
presenting it to him, there's drink
fit for the gods. Don't you think,
he said, siding up to his father, that
the gods had better have it?'" BY
the way, you remember the story Of
the selfish little chap who, being
asked for bit Of his apple, refused
to share it and went on eating, and
then being appealed to for the core
said there was not going to be any
core to that particular apple. Well,
he has been heard from again. He
had eaten his apple on this second
occasion when he proposed to Mabel
to play Adam and Eve. Mabel con-
sented. "Very WE'LL" said Willie,
snow then begin-tempt me with
your apple"