davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16
A plain Case 81 Pushoncv.

About the next news we got from the
old lady H~asseltine she come up power
full student and unexpected like at the
Buclalew plnce-the hrst settlement
on this side Of Caney Branch. Andfrom
what I can hear and pick up around
amongst the women folks. she had left
the mainest part Of her clothes down
there on the branch-hangin around
promiscuous in that terrible tight-eyc
thicket, the canebrake and the bamboo
briar patch.
OF course, that was nothin' to me and
none Of my business, but mother told
me that Sallie Virgins told her that
Rosebud Buckalew told her that tho
poor old soul had one shoe on when
she come mp at the Buckalew place.
And Bunk Weatherford was IN the
crowd which went down there after
the skeleton, and Bunk says there was
enough calico hangin' around on the
briars and cane and in that tight-eye
thicket to make : new bed quilt.
It was the foilowin Thursday before
the old lady got well enough to return
back home, and ms and mother went
over there the next day to comfort and
condoIe with her as best we could.
II had ketched three mud cats, fou
red ~pearches, seven hornyheads and one
skeleton, Rufus, and it was then high
time for me to take out and quit" say.
the old lady to me. and right then she
went sweatin great drops Of perspira'
ton as big as your fist. II had ketchel
everything ia the waters Of Caney
Branch. from Z speckied trout to 4
blunt-tail moccasin. but up to that da,
/ never had pulled on the line and came
forth with 8 human skeleton, and Il
was Jest simply one TOO many for me
OF course, I knowed 1t wouldn't bits
nor sting, but the looks and the thoughts
Of the thing, Rufns. was more than
could stand. Naturally, Of course.
tore out Of that place. IT. was a plail
Ease Of purhency. Rufua. Twas bleedgel
70 come o1t from there"
cont make out like it wan right
yon understand, 20 think funn.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

him. The men had bandages around
their heads; their faces were scanned
with court-plaster, and the boy had
strips Of court-plaster upon both hands
ard across the bridge Of his nose.
$50 this is the boy who saved the reg
istered pouch, is it?" said the postmas-
ter-geperal, looking kindly at Aleck.
"That's the boy" replied the registry
clerk, who then related the details Of the
story, and toldsof their arrival in Wash
ington that morning upon the relief
train sent to the wreck. The great man
listened attentiyely, and seemed much
interested in the account Of Alexis
scramble after the treasury pouch.
But how did this boy happen to be
in the postal carp" he asked. Then
Aleck in q straightforward manner
told his story, from the time he had re-
solved to try to get his uncle's pension,
and in simple language pictured the
trouble hanging e the Nebraska
ranch. "And now I've come to WASH
ington to try to find some one with in-
f~luence, to help our pension case along"
said he, in conclusion.
"You shall have it, my boy" said the
postmaster general; and he took
Alexis hand in his own and pressed il
warmly. Then he told his messenger
to call his carriageand drove with Alecll
to the pension bureau, where they
were Immediately shown into the pres.
ence Of the commissioner Of pensions,
There Aleck had TO tell his story over
again to the commissioner.
"And, now, Mr.. COMMISSIONER said
the postmaster general. " ask you to
take up this pension case as favor to
me. This boy has saved the govern.
ment $500, 900, and it is IS little as we
can do TO help him in this way"
The commissioner said he would bs
glad to do so, and promised to have Mr..
J~enifer's claim examined at once.
That same night AIeck left for home,
travelling in q Pullman car and on q
pass which the postmaster general pro
cured for him. There was great rejolc'
ing in that little home IN Nebraska
when he rcturned; and when, one week
later, Mr.. Jenifer's draft came and was
cashed at the bank, the first money used
was to buy Brown Bess from Mr.
Brand.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16


Isueed the money answered Ale
ehekang back 3 sob.
81. Brand came ont and looked as the
horse. After some further talk the
bargain was concluded, and Aleck
started out Of the post Office with four
fys-dollar bills. Before be reached the
door. however. he turned and saids
AAfr. Brand, is your son George still 9
postal clerk on the railway"
eYes, Aleck. His run, as they call
II, is from Chicago 20 Pittsburgh,
As Aleck left the post office he passed
By his pony, still hitched to the racki
and Brown Bess neighed ID an inquir-
ing manner as he went down the street,
as If to say: "Whcre are you going
without me, Aleck2"
But be hurried on without looking
/. back. Reaching home, however, he
slipped in the back way, and. climbing
into the loft OF the barn, lay face down
in the hay, and cried as IL his heart
would break as he thought Of the empty
stall below him.
Great was the establishment Of Mr.
Jenifer that evening when his wife re
vealed to him Alexis plan; and when
the lad laid the four fve-dollar bills OF
the table before him his surprise was
complete. Far into the night they
talked it over, for il was a momentum
step in a young boys life. Finally Mr.
Jenifer settled it. sri let You 60
Aleck; it's to save the ranch, and maj
God. bless You, boy"
On the evening Of the third day nftel
the sale of Brown Bess, Adeck French
was ut Chicago in the Office Of the di
vision superintendent of the railwa.
mail service. George Brand, the post
masters son, was with him, and the:
were anxiously awaiting a reply iron
the gray-haired, stern looking oficia
who sat at the desk before them.
1T is very unusual to permit anyon
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

vt s ~ "a -.
In the beginnin to start with, bright
and early Monday mornin old Misses
Hasseltine took up q fool notion all of
. anddent that it was Jest about her
time Of year to 60 = hshin. Consc-
quentially she went out behind the gar
den and dug some earth worms and
caught a few crickets and put EN- in
her gourd and lit out for Caney Branch.
Twas out to the lot tendin to the stock
that mornin when the old lady come by
our house, with her fishin pole in one
hnnd and her bait gourd in the other.
burnin the wind and splittin the big
road wide open for Caney Branch. She
was in such a tremendous big hurry to
give them fish q chance to bite till she
didn't even slow up at the front gate.
'SThe early worm fetches the fish,
Rufus says she, in passin by, 'and
/ told the girls to have the grease hot
when / return back home."
1t was then three days and nights
that / never laid eyes on Misses Hassel-
tine, butin the main time before the sun
went down that day everybody in the
whole settlement had heard the news
in regards to her fshin trip down on
Caney Branch, and the great gobs d
sorrow. and confnsionment which filled
that poor old lady's cup to the brim
pressed down and runnin over.
From general appearments and al
the surroundin circumference Of th,
case, it would seem like the old lads
I so = As4a ~4ho- - ---4 1--fs- a--s
and caught somethin which she didn'
need in her regular business. In nshil
and foolin around she had finally a
last worked her way and wedged her
self into 8 tight-eye thichet in the mos
lonesomest place on Caney Branch
And now presently it como to pass tina
she got her hook hung where as she Sc
back and pulled and pulled till sh,
pulled out q human skeleton. The thing
was as natural as death, and every bone
was there from skull to toes.
Well. to be certainly OF course oil
Misses Hasseltine didn't go way Of
down here on Carney Branchby her lon,
self ishin for the bones Of dead men
and she didn't need any human skele
tons to speak of on her string. Where
as, she throwed down her fshin pol
and dropped her bait gourd on the spo
and tore out Of there. And she didn'
fool Off no time pickin her way GU
neither. She jest naturally hit the grit
and hit it q movin. There was tina
tight-eye thicket all around, a big cane
brake on one side Of the branch and
great mass of bamboo briars on tn
other. But old Misses Hasseltine sh
tore ont Of there.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

Ensct 81 4 vivid Flash y EaghtnlnG Some
Years Ago.


Erect 81 q Vivid Flash ~ AaghtnlaG Goauo
Years AHn.
The universal popular interest in Che
recent photographic discoveries recalls
4 peculiar incident thab occurred m
Fairport several years ago, exciting
much local comments at the tine. bat 81
generally regarded s. simply 81 une
plainable freak 81 lightning, shat s.
far as IL known II was not
any scientist for inveatiea
q violent electric storm
mer s frame house on the
West street. in Eaifmpnk
BY lightning, Its chimney moiiAh
and some damage done q inside 81
the house. IL ~ also believed THAT
tree in the yard nea4 r8s house was
struck, but this cannot Be accurately
stated.
In an upper front room ~ the house.
which sEas then nearly a new one.w was
a blank white wall. opposite the 60o
windows which faced the street looking
eastward. On this blank waII was III
once found an exact picture of the out
side front Of the house. just as it APP
peared from the street. The picture
was perfectan distinct as photograph
on a negative. The wonder yves visited
by scores Of persons, including the elder
pupils OF the Fairport school, and for 4
few days afforded . topic Of consersa-
ton, but it soon faded, and scarcely OUT
lived the ~pfoverbial mine days" Of q
popular wonder" 1t disappeared from
tha wall without even. SO far as Is
known, being copied or its record kept.
Now comes up this suggestions Was
not that picture projected on the wall
by the action OF electric light, or X-rays.
or, in other words, was It not veritabla
radiOgraph, produced By the force d
the X-rays without the aid OF any
Crookes tubes or other scientific appli-
ances for its Developments Another
mystery about il Is that tho outside %
the front Of the house should have been
~delineated. Perhaps, however, even ~
this early stage Of this wonderful dis,
covery, some o. our scientists may be
able to explain Tie curious points, and
they are many, about this incident, still
wen remembered by many people I'll
Fairport some OF whom could doubt.
less give the story with fuller detaih.
than have been here Nritten.-Roches
ter On. Y.) Democrat.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16


passed down ~ him 6 saw WlB HnleH
&c soon severed the beam that held
him. Scramhlins Out 81 fopnd him-
self on top u The ruins IF the mail E
end The baggage ear. The engine and
two car had jumped the track and
rolled down q steep e1nbanAument. bpt
the breaking Of the coupling had kept
the remainder OF the train 81 the tfac
The engineer and fireman were badly
hurt. and every man in the baggage and
mail cars had been bruised and
scratched; bnt fortunately an had been
dug out Of the wreck.
Ut was none too soon. for the wreck
had taken IRE, and D end was now
blazing briskit. While the passengers
ana trainmen were grouped around
Aleck, who was the last one taken ont.
the registry clerk came up to them cry
ing: "Oh, where Is that registered pouch
with the treasury money! There are
100000 in that wreck
Like a flash Il came to Aleck that the
pouch was near him when the car rolled
over. Without a word he dropped back
into the hole from which he had just
emerged, and in a moment he was crop
ing for the pouch.
It was not so darn down there now;
for the burning w~reckage, not 20 feet
away, cast a rudy glow through the
mass Of twisted iron and splinteredwood
By this light he finally saw the pouch
beneath a heap Of sacks, and began
Juggling and hauling at the pile. He
had heard the crowd above shouting t.
him to return, and saw the flames lick
ing up the infEammable wreckage Close
at hand. At last he loosened the pouch
and in another moment had clambereG
out Of the hole, dragging the bag afteI
him.
The postmaster-general at Washing
ton sat in his office talking to four mel
and q bow who were standing befor,
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

IA the g~reatest plenty, and the ground
tors up ae with 3 bear light for miles
around.
White people there was trouble last
week, and the most loFeIiest strip Of
country on the broad bosom Of the
earth went heels over appetite into the
most goneleyest confusionment you
ever heard tell Of or read about uers
hapa. Il would seem like everything
come crooked and went twistin-feet
foremost catawompused and wrong
side up with care.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16
He was ! brute.

1t was in the train, and he was trying
to read. There was the usual variety
Of passengers, and among them q lady
with q very sprightly little girl thathad
blue eyes, a head Of glistening gold, and
an inquisitorial tongue, She piled him
with questions end toyed with bis
watch chain. The mother. who was q
widow, fairly beamed upon him. He
was becoming nervous, and, turning TO
the mother. said: MADAM, what do
you caIl this sweet little darling7" The
widow smiled enchantingIy, and re.
piled, with a sigh: "Etbel." PLEASE
cali her, then" It was said quietly
enough. but for q moment the other
passengers half hoped there would be
an accident or something to relieve the
Observation-Disclosures Enquirer.
Ito dream Of flying indicates greal
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16
az nldn,t nrlna -.

@IIow much fur a PHOTOGRAPH" be-
queried as he entered the room st the
head Of the stairs.
~My dear sir, you have made q mis-
take" replied the occupant Of the Of
Ace. "This Is dental Office. while the
photographer IS next doot.r
"Oh, you pull teeth2"
"Yea, sir"
"How much2H
FIFTY cents apiece"
"Well, 60 ahead and yank out one o.
two. It's about the same to mem-Del
troit Free Press.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

Among the novelties in watrpnoofs
IS a skirt jacket and hood. which win
be appreciated bywcmen obliged - ba
out in all weathera. There IS q nesw
waterproof Tor coachmen, eontFiFed
with q slit in 'front.' covered Nv > hap.
through which reins pnsa and the hands
are perfectly protected ffgm the sni
IN. X. World.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

Wcnf turns nef
self loose for d
high heel tirae
But when the
day and hour
have come %
pass. and sire
does slip the hri
die, You can
stand from I'M
der and watch
the fur hy.
There will be
blood and hair
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

mo bandit fierce, no tysant mad
with pride. no governed hermit rests
self-satisfed. who most to shun or hhta
mankind pretend. seek an admirer al
would hx a friend.-Pop@
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16
sQUIKB Rufus SANDERS.


hit aint very zgequentn his day and
g~e4eraiion that che Rocky Greek settle
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

Ito dream Of flying indicates great
increase in wealth.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-16

The postmaster-general at Washing
ton sat in his Office talking to four men
and a boy who were standing before
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
Canadian Poachers.

The Canadian government and Ex-
ecutive Agent Fullerton. of the state
game and fish commission, are going
to work hand in hand to prevent il
legal fishing on the international
boundary. Just at present, Eastwood
and Crane lakes and Lake of the
Woods are the scenes of the most de-
liberate violations of law. Gill nets
which are prohibited by both Mimi
esOta and Canadian laws, are used, and
Hunters island affords quite haven
for the poachers. The fish caught are
mostly on this side of the boundary
line, and shipped into Canada. only to
be reshipped directly to dealers in this
country.
The Canadian government is as
anxious as are the Minnesota officials
to prohibit this wanton destruction
of fish, and the cooperation of the
Canadian minister of fisheries has
been obtained. Mr.. Fullerton made a
trip to the boundary the last week for
the purpose of obtaining information
for laying before the Canadian govern
ment.@N ews Tribune.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
Killed at the Pioneer.

August Morrelli, aged 46 years, a
native of Italy was fatally injured at
the Pioneer Monday morning atabout
10 o'clock by fall of rock on the rock
dump on surface. 1t seems that he
with several others was engaged in
some filling on surface with rock from
the dump. In the work of loading,
they had dug in little distance and
while Morrelli was near the top caved
and caught the unlucky man about
the body, breaking his ribs and in
juring him internally. He was taken
to the hospital but expired before
many minutes.
The funeral occurred yesterday from
the Catholic church, Rev. Father
Buh, officiating and was largely at
tended. large procession following
the remains to their last resting
place. He was man respected by
his neighbors, a hard worker and
loving husband and father. A wife
and eight children mourn his demise.
three of whom with their mother
were present at death, five being in
the old country.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
barrow ATLANTA Constitution

barrow. ATLANTA CONSTITUTIONS
"a ruinous fall in prices followed
the characterization of iron and has
continued for upward of 1000 years.
/ have calculated the losses entailed
upon the honest people of this world
by that ruthless act, but the figures
are so enormous 1 fear revolution
will ensue if the people learn how
greatly they have been robbed But
facts are facts, and the best way to
right wrong is to meet it squarely.
The loss is S21 900, 900, 900, 600, OOO, OOO.-
600, oOO, O0O, OOO,0 OO.' Coins Financial
School,
In conclusion, | insist that the
free coinage of pig iron will do every
thing that is claimed for silver and
infinitely more. The people will be
rich and prosperous. The once poor
man can pay his debts with his old
stove. Railroads can declare divi-
dends on old rails and wornout roll
ling stock. The smaller boy can pick
up old nails and horseshoes enough to
support his family. In fine, poverty
and debt can no longer exist
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
Shooting Tournament.

Sunday the Tower gun club went to
Two Harbors where a tournament
was to take place between the
Central club, of Duluth, the Two
Harbors club and the Tower club.
A pleasant time was had and a very
satisfactory meet INDUCED in. There
were "a marksmen, divided into
squads of six each. The conditions
were 25 birds per man from unknown
angles. The greatest work of the day
was done by Maxfield, young shot
that joined the club only this season.
He brought down % out of possible
Is birds and surprised the veterans.
The next two highest records were
those of Shell and Sachem, both of
the Central club and both scoring 81.
The score was as follows. The
initials after the names standing for
L L
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
Whom it Would Help.

This free silver idea if put into
practice, would be fine thing for the
millionaire silver mine owners. You
see they are now selling their silver
for IS cents per ounce, which is all it
is worth in any market in the world.
Under the Is to ratio making six
teen ounces of silver worth as much
as one ounce of gold, they would re-
.ceive S1.29 cents per ounce. 1t takes
no very lively imagination to see how
this would help the silver barons.
Any man who possesses money could
go to Mexico, or any other silver pro-
ducing country, buy it for 10 cents
per ounce and take it to the govern
ment mint and get it stamped at the
l6 to 1 ratio. He would then take
his money away and do business with
the people, hiring men, if you will,
and paying them in this silver.
Now the poor man, whom it is said
this free silver would help, could not
go to Mexico to buy silver, nor could
he buy it from any other source, for
the very good reason that he has no
money to invest. His mission will be
to accept the silver dollars in ex-
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
Louis Vintz, Wisconsin lumber

Louis Vintz, Wisconsin lumber
man, has removed a single circular
mill to >VermilOn lake near Tower.
The plant will have capacity of about
6,O00,0 600 feet per season. 1t is under
stood that it will do contract saving
for the current season at least. 1t is
said that the first contract includes
the manufacture of 100000 feet of logs
running only four to the thousand
feet, the best logs ever put in in that
section. 1t is estimated that about
800, 000, 900 feet of timber tributary to
Tower and Ely is owned by home
steaders. This, however, is probably
a faulty statement, for strong holders
have large possessions in that part of
the district.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
An Enjoyable Evening.

The entertainment by Messrs.
Dodge and Nolan at the Opera house
Friday evening was the best of nature
ever produced in this city. The at
tendence was not as large as the en-
tertainment warranted. Those who
were present, however, are loud in
their praises of the combination. Mr..
Dodge is tragedian who in no dis
tant day is destined to make mark
in world. His rendition of the scene
in "The Bells" was pronounced by
all. the best they ever witnessed. Mr..
Nolan, as reader and impersonator
kept the audience in good humor dur
ing the entertainment. They have
been greeted with fair houses through
out their travels and in many places
they have been requested for return
engagements. We would safely
assure the gentlemen a larger house
should they again decide to favor this
city with their presence, The enter
tainment given Friday evening was
under the auspices of the local order
of X. o. T. M. who are to be cOngrat-
ulated in having given to our people
an opportunity of attending an enter
tainment of the character given by
Dodge and Nolan.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29

attend the Republican county con-
ventiOn to be held in Duluth to-
morrow, were without particular in
terest, only one ticket being in the
field in each ward. In the first ward,
P. r. Vail, A. d. Ellefsen and 1. A.
Norberg were elected on a straight
vote. In the second ward HI. c..
Kelley and James Carey were elected
and in the third, Jos. Skala and HI.
B. Sturtevant will represent the ward.
The delegates leave tomorrow morn
ing for Duluth.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
The Local Newspaper.

The Importance of supporting the
local newspaper is not felt as keenly
as it should be by the jewellers in the
smaller cities and towns. The news
paper is in reality as important a fac
tor in local prosperity as the church.
Its influence is brought to bear for the
benefit of it's locally in many ways
that the church does not compass.
The intelligence and relative posi-
tion of one town as compared with
Others is to be accurately guaged by
the quality of its newspapers and the
amount of confidence they inspire.
The newspapers of town usually pre-
sent good evidence of the moral stand
ard which governs it; for that newspa-
per which gives its constituency what
that constituency demands is the only
kind which has stability.
a town which can show well sup
ported newspaper, means town whose
inhabitants are quick-witted people of
keen, active interest of what concerns
them and their neighbors, while one
in which newspaper drags out wear
lily generally argues itself the abode
of people with sluggish livers or torpid
temperaments, to whom the world pre-
sents little interest beyond the limited
experience Immediately bounded by
their own senses.
The excuse which is sometimes Of
fered that the local paper is not of suf-
ficient interest to warrant the expendi-
ture of the small price of subscription,
should avail these short sighted moles
nothing. Such people should be told
to patronize home industry and foster
its growth into more pretentiOus af-
fair by their encouragement. News
paper men are not slow to respond to
encouragement: in SO cases out of
hundred their hearts are in their work
and they need but the sign of dispo-
sition towards it to call forth their
best efforts.
The newspapers status in town is
an index to most of those qualities by
which one judges of it's desirability as
a place of residence and it's commercial
prosperity.
1t is the positive duty of every man
to help make his town known, increase
its prestige and add to is reputation
of being live, wide-awake place, by
subscribing to the local newspaper
Newspaper maker.