davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
AN OLD swIyDLE REVIVED.
Sharpers I'm Spain Endeavor to Bleed
Soft-Hcarted Americans.

NEW YORK, Dec. 6.-Ex-School Commits
sioner John b. Oelkers. of Newark. made
public here to-day the story of an attempt
to swindle him by a clever syndicate OF
sharpers In Spain Their operations are
said to be worldwide and consist in work.
ing on the sympathies OF Catholics in other
countries through the medium OF mythical
priests in Spain. Mr.. oelkers first heard
of the affair last May. when
he received letter from BARGE
Iona. SPAIN 1t purported to come from
distant relative. who signed himself "Jo-
seph Oelkers." and stated that he was .
political prisoner in the Barcelona fortress
and would never leave the place alive. He
feared the Spanish government would con-
fiscate his estate. which was valued at
$4,000. and leave his only child. a girl OF
fourteen, named Mary. destitute. IL Mr..
Oelkers would take charge OF the girl the
trust TO his care the $1,000 which would be
in trust for the child until she reached her
majority. She was at present in a convent
Mr.. OelkerS remembered hearing his
father tell OF an uncle who left his home IN
Germany many years ago and had never
been heard from again. Mr.. Oelkers sur
missed the writer of the letter must be
son of this man. His friends thought the
letter genuine. and advised Mr. Oelkers to
teal After considerable correspondents
Mr.. Oelkers wrote TO the American consuls
in Spain. A reply was received pronounce
ing the entire matter swindle.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

Of Dr. Parry's farm. hence mere gate
ground, with a big red gate on 1.-The Ma
tional road not then called Washington
street. and like gate on the Michigan
for ingress and egress, but the public also
used the road on condition the gates were
kept properly closed the State seeing TO
all necessary repairs. After such use
few years the State built a fence some
seventy feet in from its west line and took
away the gates, and thus South State street
was opened. all on the States land Al
most identical were the steps taken to open
a street from the National road to the lands
belonging to the Panhandle railway In
stead OF buying right of way through the
Johnson farm, which would have cost sew
eral hundred dollars probably, the man.
agement of the institution were prevailed
upon to give road along the east line
OF the land belonging 10 the State, far
enough back to reach the Panhandle's land.
What is the use OF asking the Attorney
general or anybody else about so simple
thing? The process is easy-just take II.
1t belongs to the state. Who cares? Evil
IDENTIFY. so much of the States ground as
is used for State street Is unreclaimabe by
the statute of Limitation, and so Is. prob
ably, the slice off the east side. 1t would
be q great outrage on private rights TO re-
quire the adjoining lands to give half the
road, when the State can wen give II
all, and the Encouragement will not
trouble himself TO reclaim what has been
flched from the State nor to prevent
like filching now. L. l.. SEE.
Tn
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
REED AND lHrTT.
How the Maine Man Took Occasion ID
Befriend n New Member.

New, York Mercury. aass
The gossip which emanates from Wash
ington TO the effect that Congressman Hit.
of Illinois, hopes to become Secretary of
State 'in Tom Reeds Cabinet Is q re-
hinder of the way in which Reed and Hit
became acquainted. 1t was one chilly
morning in winter when the big fellow
from Maine was riding to'the Capitol In a
street car. pa. 49,
BY his side sat a man who was making
an apparently. vain effort 70 find nve-cent
ductor, with some show of impatience
stood in front of the embarrassed passen-
ger waiting for the fare. The passenger
was nervous, mortified and red in the face.
Reed took in the situation at glance.
and also guessed rightly that the man was
a new member of the House. Without say
ing word he thrust his hard into one OF
his capaciouS trousers pockets and pulled
out a nickel. This he passed over to the
embarrassed passenger. *
1t was accepted with thanks and apollo
giles, the expression of which was met by
Reed with good-natured. Don't mention
it," or words to that effect.
The incident, which had amused all OF
the passengers not concerned In IT., mad
seemingly closed, when, a moment later,
Reed dropped the newspaper he had been
reading and looking the beneficiary of the
ive-cent loan straight in the eye, asked,
with an apparent seriousness of express
sion and q characteristic drawl. DO you
expect TO work that racket through the
winter" Everybody in the car heard this
and everybody, including the victim of the
pleasantly, laughed Immediately.
The latter was Congressman-elect HIT
Reed and Hit have been stanch friends
since.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

There can be no doubt that the
President has thrust into the midst of
his demoralized party another bone of
contention in his message. namely, the
retirement of the greenbacks by bond
redemption. Ali, or nearly all, of the
Eastern Democratic papers have heartily
Endorsed the Presidents position. They
are demanding that it shall be an issue.
In the Western States the Democracy
is hostile to such a policy. For years
ii has been next-door neighbor to the
greenbacks. They were solid against
specie resumption, and time and again
they have in their platforms demanded
a larger volume of money. If this ques
ton should come up in the Democratic
national convention it is altogether
probable that it would cause a fresh di-
vision and add to existing contentious.
At the present time there is no promi-
nent Republican paper which advocates
anything like the plan proposed by the
President. They do not believe in the
redemption of the greenbacks with
bonds, but in a gradual contraction, If
it shall be found that they are used to
draw gold from the reserve.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS.

Frederick Remington was a clerk in an
express office before he essayed art. and
the first products of his pencil were pur-
chased by the Century Magazine.
Mark Twain is TO receive $1,000 for
course OF ten lectures in London. His
Australian tour has been interrupted by
an attack OF illness in Melbourne.
The tailor wasp when needing a piece OF
leaf TO line it's net. always cuts it's pat
tern in an exact circle. These wasps have
often been watched, but have never been
known TO mistake the size, to cut the pat
tern over again or to spoil a leaf.
Says Dr. Everett Hale: when Canon
Farrar left US some years ago-a most
charming and intelligent visitor-he told
Phillips Brooks that he was going TO give
a farewell lecture on his Impressions of
America. Brooks. who was a thorough
American and a person OF excellent com.
mon sense. said to him promptly: Don't
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
WAS A BUSINESS LETTER.
Incident of Observation-Disclosures Suft
Against Simon Cameron.
New York Press.

Everybody remembers something about
the breach Of promise case brought against
old Simon Cameron In Washington few
years before his death. The plaintiff.
sprightly, vivacious young woman. called
on more than a score OF reputable lawyers.
but failed TO induce one TO take her case.
Finally she succeeded In securing coupsei.
The defense, being made aware or her long
search. decided to place some OF the re-
the woman had no standing. one OF these
was the famous Ned Hay. Wasnlngton's
tireess entertainer. bon yiyant and Wit.
Asked III he knew anything OF the case. ne
replied that he had refused 10 act as counsel
for the young woman because he had seen
a business letter from her TO senator Cam
eron. On the cross-examination the letter
referred TO was produced BY the plaintiffs
counsel. Hay identified IL. and the lawyer
began to read Ii through. Ii was love. love,
love. from beginning TO end-"deary.
honey" darling" angel. sweetheart.
II believe you said that was a business
letter." said the lawyer, looking quizz caily
THAT is what said" Hay replied
The reading was continued. ana from time
to time the same remark was made 10 Hay.
who invariably returned the same answer.
At last. Just about the time when The court
was beginning to make believe that Hay
had been mistaken. the lawyer reached
the last sentence. which was an appeal for
money. when he read II Hay shouted:
That's business"
The Judge came within an ace or falling
off the bench In III or laughter, and the
entire courtroom Joined In the hilarity-
Hay always had dramatic way OF doing
things.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

The result Of the increase of the SAL
airy OF the county attorney by the Re-
publican County Commissioners will be
watched with interest. If. under any
pretext, more than the $500 Is paid for
legal services b. the county the commits
sioners will be denounced, as they will
richly deserve Heretofore. Democratic
commissioners have voted their attor-
ncys about $500 for their services, but
under one pretext or another nearly
double that sum has been paid out. The
taxpayers are weary OF such perform
ances. and scores voted the Republican
ticket TO have a change for the better,
which was promised In the platform
II the County Commissioners refuse to
pay more than the $4,000 for legal SER
vices they will have made a change for
the better. The compensation is high,
but there will be no cause of complaint
II IL stops there
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

During our civil war the Spanish gov
eminent issued a decree forbidding the
building. arming or equipping of priva-
teers in Spanish ports. and also forbid
ding any privateer. either federal or
confederate. from remaining in a Span
lsh port more than twenty-four hours.
At Havana. however. an order was is
sued that vessels OF the confederate
States are allowed to enter Cuban ports
under their own flags, to discharge and
take cargoes away and do all other
things OF business necessity. with the
same privileges as favored nations" If
the United States were now to issue a
similar order regarding Cuban insur-
gent vessels 1t would be construed as an
act of war
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

Representative Overstreets bill abol-
tshing the payment of pensions 10 pen
sioners in person at the agency and
substituting payment by drafts entirely
II one which should become law. 1t has
received the Endorsement OF the Indiana
Encampment of the Grand Army and of
many other veteran organizations Now.
thousands of pensioners residing within
fifty or a hundred miles of agencies pay
out at least per cent OF an ordinary
pension In railroad fares and other ex-
penses connected with travelling to and
fro to receive their checks-for all are
paid by check. A larger part of those
who are the victims OF appetite desire
TO be paid at the agencies. so they can
have q better opportunity 10 indulge.
AS the result. scores waste a pension
which is needed BY families and them
selves for the necessaries of life. In
creasing feebleness makes those who
are paid at the agencies the easier vic
tins OF thieves and pickpockets. II all
pensions were paid through the malls
all Of these evils could be avoided. Such
payment will not. probably. materially
affect the working forces OF the pension
agencies. but II 1t did It would be OF no
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
TROTTING DECISIONS.
Cases Decided by the National Board
of Review.

OF Review.
NEW YORK, Dec. 6.-The board Of re-
view Of the National Trotting Association
this afternoon announced the following de-
-cisions of the court:
The case Of the st. Stephens Driving
Park Association, of st. Stephens, New
Brunswick, against George Carvill, of St.
John. New Brunswick. was decided against
Carvell. The application of A. w. Nc
Kay, of Columbia, Tenn, for removal
of the suspension for himself and roam
stallion blue Ridge was denied. w. T..
Crostwait, Lexington, KY. APPLIED for relief
of suspension for nonpayment of entries at
Evansville, Ind, on the ground that the
association was defunct and had not paid
its bills. The board held Crostwait Liable,
as he had made the entries and one OF
the members suggested that 1t was the
forced the association into insolvency. b.
L. Birney. formerly of Wilkesbarre, Pa,
applied for the return OF fine OF 500
Finger Morgan Patchel- The board re-
duced the fine to $780, In the case OF the
n. T. A. vs.. c. A: Brown. Philadelphia,
Boy the board ordered that the horse
be expelled and the owner suspended I'M
til the recording fee is paid and all un-
n. +. A. VS.. Matthew Tanner and John
Marsh, Albany, and br. IN. "Phillis
Wilkes" alias "Trlfe." Tanner sold the
horse to Mr.. Chas. Weiland. of New York,
a green horse without record or n
name. The horse started at Rural Grove
and won first money under protest that
she was ''Phillis Wilkes" the PAGER. Tanner
was expelled and the mare reinstated on
payment Of recording fee and the refunding
of the money won by her TO the secretary
for redistribution In the ELLA Madison
VS.. 'GerEart'' case the board instructed
Secretary Van Muse 10 pay the $500 be-
ing the amount of the match money to
the National Trotting Association and the
case will be continued until the next meet
L. ,i-,,axr
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

Persons interested in homing pigeons may
remember that several years ago pigeon
liberated in this city made a journey direct
to Philadelphia in remarkably quick time.
The pigeon was called Garfield" and it
was the first bird in the United States TO
have a record for over five hundred miles.
The descendants of this bird are now to
be used as messengers between a silver
mine in Mexico and a town one hundred
miles distant in Arizona, which is the near
est railroad and telegraph station TO the
mine. The only means of communication
now between the two points is by wagon
road, which takes two days travel. With
pigeons it is expected to reduce the time 20
less than two hours.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
No More Shouting at Fires.
1oct0, Cnocfa1

AS means of increasing the efficiency of
the Boston fire department, movement is
now on foot to have orders at fires trans
method of shouting, which has often proved
more or less Intellectual in the din of a
battle with the flames. A year ago tests
were made with this new electrical method
of connection with. the engineer at the
steamer by the nozzlemen. no matter how
far away they may be. A week ago the
mechanism was thoroughly tested and Col.
Russell was so favorably impressed with
it's Importance that he decided to put 1T into
practical use. Each section of hose is
fitted with a complete double line of wires
i'm the fiber of the jacket, and by an in
genious arrangement in the couplings and
the pipe the electric circuits are made per-
feet There is a press button set in the
base of the pipe and pressure upon 1t
by the finger is responded to by small
steam whistle located on the engine. BY
means of a code of whistles. numbers be-
ing used, the nozzlemen can talk to the
anpiuepr
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
That there should be a street from WASH
ington street south to the Michigan road
along the east side of the States Deaf and
Dumb grounds requires no argument For
that matter. there should be three or four
between State street and the first crossing
now east OF II. How TO get all of these it
is not easy to say, seeing that the rail-
road owns a strip along its right of way
for half mile or more. and does not want
to be disturbed in its possession. But
there need be no difficulty In getting a strip
from the States land. Fifty years ago the
land of the State was separated from the
adjoining farm on the west by a common
worm fence on the line. 1t soon became
desirable to have q passage through 1t. but
not street or road that would take any
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

remarked regarding the Republican can
didacy for President that much viii
happen in the six months between now
and the national convention. and the
atmosphere will clear wonderfully in
the meantime" To this the New York
Morning Advertiser pertinentIy remarks
that the presidential Warwicks would
do well TO keep this observation in
mind" In fact the Warwicks may ruin
the prospects of several now promising
candidates before the grass is again
green.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

Nr. Holman, longtime member of
Congress. professional economist, watch
dog OF the treasury and great objec-
tor. has opened an office in Washington
and offers his services as a prosecutor
OF claims. Hereafter his strident voice,
II heard In the capital at all, will be
heard In the lobby, and instead of say
Ing Il object" it will be heard urging
the payment of claims as unjust, ana
exorbitant as any its owner ever object
ed to- Mr.. Holman's change of front
goes far to confirm lons-standing sus-
picfon that he is a venerable fraud.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

Captain Andrews. of New York, who
was an excise commissioner and later
STRENGTHENING commissioner under
Iammany. was expelled from the Loyal
Legion because he accepted bride OF
$500 for saloon license. retained $500
OF a large pension collected for an Off
Ger. and borrowed $1,000 from contrac-
tor under him without any agreement of
payment. If charitable and patriotic
organiza tons would adopt this example
bribe-taking and like irregularities
would be less frequent
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

do any such thing. In the first place. you
have no impressions. and in the second
place, they are all wrong
Junius Dana, who is by two years the
junior OF Charles A. Dana, lives quietly
at Warren, o., where he is a director in
a national bank. His life has been a very
active one and typically American. Junius
Dana is frequent visitor to New York
and a special room in his brothers house
Is ever at his disposal.
The young Czarina declines to smoke.
like the majority of ladies in Russia. She
has requested her ladies' in waiting not
to come near her if there is the flavor Of
tobacco about their clothes, and her I'M
perial Majesty is credited with the observa-
ton that a cigarette in a wonans mouth
Is as bad as an oath IN q mans Most or
the grand duchesses of Russia smoke.
Mr.. John W. Mackay. the millionaire.
claims that he can run, jump or hop against
any other millionaire in the United States.
1t is. however. well known that in his early
days, when he was engaged as miner,
Mr.. Mackay was noted for his athletic per-
formances. He is powerfully built, with
bold eyes, strong and aquiline nose and
heavy. square Jaw which warns stran-
gers of his character.
The Empress of Austria intends giving
up much of the violent exercises which she
has persisted in for so many years, and is
about to assume role that her age sug-
gests as more suitable. Her health is very
uncertain, and her figure. upon which she
prided herself, Is losing some of its beau
ties of contour. Her Majesty at one time
boasted of waist Of only twenty inches
in circumference-the smallest in Europe
and claimed that Ii was not the product of
a corset, but Of swinging by her hands
from a trapeze bar. $50
Miss Ellen Emerson says that she re-
members we'll the day when her father,
the Carlyle Of Concord, set out to pro-
pose marriage to her stepmother. ''The
liveryman seemed to know she adds.
that 1T was a special occasion, and the
horse and buggy which he gave father
were made garnish by a pair of bright
yellow reins. Poor father looked so dis
concerted. He pleaded gently for some
thing less conspicuous but the man was
obdurate. 1 can see him now, driving off
with those glaring reins hanging loosely
over the horses back"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

The growing frequency OF lynchings
and Of attempts to take prisoners from
the custody OF sheriffs has been much
commented on Of late. but no person has
proposed as heroic a remedy for the evil
as the Governor OF Virginia. In a mes
sage to the Legislature he recommends.
first, the passage OF an act requiring
every county or city TO pay into the
treasury of the State. for the benefit
of the public free school fund the sum
of $500 for each thousand of its popula-
ton. not exceeding ten thousand, for
every lynching which may occur within
its limits. the same to be provided for
in its next annual levy. He further
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

The Board OF Education OF New York
has decided to provide for the opening
OF cent savings banks in all the public
schools Of the city. There are now
twenty such banks in operation. and
their success has been such as to justify
extending the system. Nothing that
children learn in the public schools is
more important than economy and
thrift. and any plan that will inculcate
these virtues is commendable. In most
cities pupils in the schools form spend
thrift habits by constantly patronizing
neighboring shops which allure them
with all kinds of tempting trifies.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

The New York Sun. after scanning the
social statistics, thinks there are far too
many bachelors in the State and says:
when a reasonable bachelor of mar
riageable age is i'm love with thoughtful
splnster who reciprocates his affection, and
when there Is no legal. moral, mental or
other barrier to their marital union. they
ought 10 get married, and that with the
approval of their parents
As general proposition this seems to
have a fair degree of applicability to other
States than New York.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07

journec to-day. after fixing the machine
mining scale. which doe not differ ma
terially from the old rate. An arbitration
was appointed as follows: Operators-G-
W. Schlendeberg. +. +. Young. John Blythe.
Roger Hartley. Frank Osborn. and J. c.
Dysart, alternate Miners r. II. penna.
John II. Cairns. William Warner, George
Wilson and Edward Mckay. This commit
tee viii have absolute control OF the dis
trict. and it's decisions In all differences
arising shall be binding on both sides.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
The Presidents English.
The Bookman.

The Bookman. of course. has nothing to
do with politics. but if President Cleve-
land keeps on splitting his infinitives We
shall have to oppose him on a purely liter
airy issue in case he should be candi-
date for third term A state paper from
his hand is almost certain to- display this
literary crudity, the last two instances be-
ing found in his general order on the re-
tirement of General Schoield and in his
Thanksgiving proclamation. What bad
example for the young-the head of the
Nation wantonly rending apart an innocent
infnitive, and cruelty jamming an adverb
between its dlsiecta membra-