davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
Old FiddIe-maker
With an Odd
History
His Canary Died
He Lost Ambition
and Ceased to
Work

All summer man made fiddles in the
back room of a house just off Fourth
avenue, near Twentv-fourth street, says
the New York Sun. Another man who
occupied back room in another house
used TO watch the fiddle maker from his
window. A birdcage hung in the fiddle-
makers window and yellow canary
hoped and chirped and sang during the
day as the old man polished the wood
work. When the fiddle was ready for the
strings the old man tied them with thum b
and finger, and then when they were
properly adjusted he would take bow
and draw it over the catgut until the
sound satisfied his ears. Then he would
play and bend his neck and act as if his
soul was entranced. When he finished
the canary would nearly always dance on
its perch and sink until its notes filled tn
area back of the house, and the dwellers
in the vicinity would put out their heads
and listen.
That was satisfactory to the fiddle
maker. He would put the instrument
into box and 1t was ready for the mar
ket. II the canary did not sing the old
fddIe-maker would unstring the catgut,
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

hour. At other places the physicians did
not know whatito make of me nor could
they understand how l lived. have been
a puzzle to every one who has seen me.
left the Philadelphia on the 18th of last
month, and few nights previous to this,
after we were all paid off, was arrested
for eating seventeen glasses in ten hours
and was told l had to stop eating the
glasses on board of the ship, as the Gov
ernment could not afford to keep me on
such food. and that there was nothing of it
in the contract.
Ordinarily l feel well and sleep well as
any hale and hearty man, and | never ex-
perience any aches or pains unless it be
toothache after eating bread, which seems
so much harder to bite than glass"
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
In Vintage -Jime
on the Barbaru
Coast
Grapes Not Pressed
by White Feet
Of Laughing
Girls

Artists of every country have exhausted
their resources in typifylng on canvas
the beauties of the vintage. In al
lands where the grape is grown the hills
covered with vines and dyed by continual
tints contrasted with the purple and
amber of the grape afford such wealth of
var iegated color as to charm the eye of
the peasant, as well as the cultivated
sense of the artist. The joyous vintagers
with their baskets of fruit and happy
countena noes add to the beauty of the
scene and make a subject which the
sublimest artists of the age delight to
portray.
What contrast. therefore, these happy
pastoral scenes of Spain and Italy present
to the commonplace aspects of the vim
tage in our own Latin quarter of the Bar
barry Coast Even the most imaginative
can extract no romance or beauty from
the way the juice of the grape is extracted
by the Italians on their own domain.
First. the grapes, instead of being con-
veyed to the press in baskets borne on the
heads of laughing boys and girls, are
packed in commonplace boxes, crushed
and wrinkled in the handling and
dumped into an improvised cask until it
is nearly full. Into this climb couple of
stout, big-footed natives of Italy with bare
feet and legs and there they stamp just so
long as a bit OF juice remains in the grapes
to be crushed out.
Occasionally one or both of the wine
makers steps out OF the cask and walks
around the yard for awhile or goes to
neighboring saloon for a pot of beer.
Then he jumps back into the press again
without taking the trouble 10 wash his
feet and begins stamping the grapes as be-
fore.
This method of making wines is cheap
and primitive, but it might not suit a
connoisseur. To our adoptei citizens. how.
ever, it seems to be all right, and if they
are satisfied and no one else but them
selves drink wines made in this fashion.
who has the right to complain? As one
of them remarked, ooh, that is all right;
when the wine ferments the dirt all falls
to the bottom"
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

Eight years ago Congressman w. c.
Whitthorne, chairman of the House Naval
Committee, introduced bill in CONGRESS-
for the establishment of naval reserve
1t was received with much favor by Off
GERS of the navy, and tour States at once
took active steps to organize naval militia
battalions. Unfortunately for this bill,
which met with such lublic favor, Mr..
Whitthorne's illness and death postponed
action and it was not until three years
later that it was finally passed in form
not as comprehensive or far-reaching as
the framer OF the bill designed it to be,
but at any rate it recognized the naval
. militia as branch of the navy and small
appropriations were made for its use.
Besides the naval rilitia already organ
lied in several States Che law of 1891 pro-
vided for the acceptance of steamers to
carry United States mails, that they
should be built with view of being SER
viceable to the Government in time OF war.
1t was very economical measure, which
secured, without cost 20 the Government,
fleet of steamers suitable for auxiliary
cruisers, and for which privilege European
countries pay subventions amounting to
many thousands of dollars annually.
While Congress was wrestling with the
subject, and finally succeeded in getting
something for nothine, the navy officers
were busy in inspecting every steamer
that could lay any claim to being enrol ed
as an auxiliary naval vessel, and by 1890
the Navy Department was fully informed
of the strength of the mercantile marine
as a naval auxiliary.
Since 1891 Congress has annually appro-
priated $751; 900 for arms and equipment of
: the naval militia, and small as this sum
is the organization has grown in the sew
eral States, as shown in appended table /:
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

rub.the wood and replace the strings and
try again and again until the canary did
sing. If the bird refused after several
trials the old man would throw the instru-
ment aside and begin on another. One
day the old fiddle-maker was not at his
work, the window was not raised and
there was no birdcage to be seen. Nearly
q week went by and the situation remained
the same.
The man at the window opposite, who
had watched the work all summer, walked
around TO the front of the house in which
the old fiddle-maker had his room and
asked for the landlord, and inquired of
him what had become of the old fiddle
maker and his canary.
They've gone," was the reply. THAT
is, the old man has gone. He came to
work one day and found the canary dead,
and he put it In little box, tied up his
traps and gave up the room. He said he
didn't think he could ever make another
fiddle, for the bird was the only critic he
had upon whom he could rely. He said
when it refused to sing at his playing that
the fiddle was no good. never knew any
name for the old man except Johanis.
Whether that was his family name or
otherwise l never learned. 1 asked him
once, and he said it made no difference,
and / always made out the receipt for his
rent to Johanis. Sometimes he slept in
the room on cot and then he would go
away and stay some other place.
''He was not very communicative, but I
learned little of his history by degrees.
He was member of an orchestra in vi
emma, and his wife was a singer. He
showed me her picture once, in an old
fashioned breastpin. She was young
when the picture was taken and must have
peen a beautiful woman. He used to
write her music and always played for her
when she sang. I never could learn from
him anything about her fate. Whether
she died or whether she left him remains
a mystery to me. But he told me one day
that the canary belonged to her, and that
he brought it to this country; that the
canary was his inspiration-I think that
is what he called it-and when it died it
seemed to be all up with the Old man.
That is all know about it,"
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
In Pride and Power on Every Sea
Old Glory Yet Shall Float

Annapolis graduates who have gone into
civil pursuits, and from the many who
have served an apprenticeship in the train
ing and other vessels of the navy, the
country is far better prepared for war than
it was thirty-fve years ago, and the same
conditions apply to the ships available.
Our makeshift navy of 1S61-65 had to deal
with an enemy without navy and It's
functions were chiefly blockade duty.
There are at the present time about eighty
steamers available for auxiliary war ves-
sells with speeis ranging from 90 to II
knots. and about 200 from II to 8 knots
speed: In time of war at least one-half of
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
Died as He Lived.

The machinery of the big mill stopped
with sudden and horrible jar and jerk
and the workmen pulled out the crushed
and bleeding form of one VINO was 6
stranger to them all.
"Are you badly hurt2" inquired one.
II fear am groaned the unknown.
~ am dying"
"Shall we send for your friends? Quick,
tell US your name.n
"Oh, never mind, he answered. II am
all alone in the world and nv name doesn't
matter. just say l died incog." And a
grim smile illumined his face as the spirit
OF the professional humorist took its
flight with his last supreme effort. -
Judge.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
It Costs the Man
His Job in the
Navy
An Eccentric Appetite
Which Cra1od for
Uncle Sam s Gut
Glass

Edward L. Geatins. ex-member of the
crew of the United States steamship Phila-
delphia, is a much worried man. His
trouble arises from an eccentricity regard
ing the quantity and variety of the food
he consumes. Not that he is too fastidious
iu this regard or that, to use common
expression, he possesses a beer income
combined with champagne appetite. He
has assured his messmates, and through
them the world, that the famed feasts of
Lucullus convey to his mind no example
for him to emulate, even if he could, and
the gustatory creations of Briliat- Sava-
rim would not tempt him.
To all outward appearance Mr.. Geatins
is much the same as other mertals, but in
what the late Silas Wegg would call his
'inards" he differs. This fact has
brought him into collision with the United
States Government, for, disdaining the
fare provided by Uncle Sam and served in
the forecastle, Mr.. Geatins appropriated
and masticated no less than seventeen cut
glass tumblers belonging to the officers
mess. Having performed this feat in the
record time of ten hours, he looked to a
paternal government for approval. He
didn't get it, however, but in lieu thereof
received his discharge. 81 had to quit eat
ing gless, said Geatins, because the Gov
eminent told me they couldn't afford it.
Besides" he added with fine sarcasm,
''they said it wasn't in the contract"
Having quit the service the ex-sailor is
endeavoring to turn an honest penny by
exhibiting himself as the only genuine
glass-eater in the United States. To a
CALL correspondent he thus unbosomed
himself: Eyes, I'm not sorry / quit the
service, as on account OF my diet am
really not fit for hard work. Do 1 eat
anything elss2 Oh, yes; coal, sand, iron
clippings and wool. Then 1 take four
eggs and cup of coffee every twenty-four
hours, but l cannot eat the crust of bread
or any kind of meat. Take yesterday as
an example of my daily meals. l ate
three glasses, four ounces of coal and four
spoonfuIs of sand. Day before / was feel
ing pretty hungry, so | managed to get
away with five glasses and the same pro-
portion of sand.
How long have l kept it up7 Just
twelve years, and until three months ago
was capable of eating olher food. Since
that time, however, my diet has only con-
sisted OF glass, ETC."
THE CALL correspondent offered Mr..
Geatins cut-gIass vessel, which he con-
sumed with apparent gusto. A plateful
o. sand and coal vanished in similar
manner, whereupon he declared himself
considerably refreshed.
In reply to further queries be said:
have been examined by professors in
Berlin and Heidelberg, London, Philadel-
phia, New York. st. LOUIS and Chicago.
IA oeriln they gave me twenty minutes to
tive ailer per ormance of eating my
sua, 1000 OF glass, sand and coal. In
A-0'oon l was given the chance of an
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
Diamonds in Hard Steel.

In recent number OF the Complies
Rendus occurs a very interesting COM
munication by M. Rossel on the presence
OF diamonds in certain very hard steels
1t was shown some few years ago by that
indefatieabIe worker, M. Moissan, that
when iron at an extremely high tempera-
ture was saturated with carbon and then
cooled under high pressure, portion of
the carbon separated out in the form of
diamond. 1t occurred to M. Rossel that
the necessary conditions for the forma-
ton of these minute diamonds are full
filed in the manufacture of very hard
steel, and he has found in the examina-
ton of large number of samples that
such minute diamonds can actually be dis
covered in the steel by dissolving in acid
and subsequent treatment of the insoluble
residue. The crystals, which present all
the chemical and physical properties OF
the true diamonds, are of course ex-
tremely small
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
When Uncle Sam Arms Merchantmen
His Prestige to Maintain

it is, though, as compared with Great
Britain and France. The coasting steam
ers on the Pacific, especially those of mod
ern build, are but little, if any, inferior TO
the ocean steamers selected, such as the
State of California, Queen. Santa Rosa and
others.
The batteries which the st. Louis and
st. Paul will carry will consist of eight g.
inch rifles, six 6-pounders and four ma
chine Guns. The Paris and New York are
to carry twelve 6-inch rifles and twelve
machine guns. As an indication of what
may be expected from these vessels it is
only necessary to compare them with
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

ditiou of Illinois and Michigan, with 1885,
is in locality where our navy cuts no
figure and naval reserve on the Great
Lakes will be very serviceable in event OF
war-more indispensable in fact than on
the seaboard.
Much vet remains to be done by the
Federal Government toward making the
naval militia useful, for the annual cruise
for week or less in a regular ship-of-war
is wholly inadequate for the object in
view.
; With the nucleus of volunteer navy
personnel which in time of war can and
will be augmented by thousands from
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

Glass houses of very substantial kind
can now be built. Silesian glassmakers
are turning out glass bricks for all sorts of
building purposes claiming ior them such
advantages as variety OF shape, free trans
mission of light, strength, cheapness and
general adapta ability. Where complete
diffusion of light is needed, as in factories,
conservatories, courtyards, etc., they are
specially suitable.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

bravely, and the congratulations which
followed the revelation of his real convic-
tions partly recompensed him for the
dark days when friendship waned and
long eluded him like the feeting lights OF
the swamp lands.-New York Sun.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
officers and Men.
STATES.

The naval militia of Texas existed only
one year, and in California, owing 10
chickering's among the Officers, there has
been q reduction in numbers. The ad-
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

these $50 steamers could be fitted with
guns, but as yet the Navy Department
has selected only thirty-two for which
batteries are to be made ready and put
a way for an emergency.
Those selected are as follows:
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
PACIFIC COAST STEAMERS.
Built. Tons. Speed.

All of these steamers are in the ocean
trade and do not comprise the full extent
of our resources in that direction, small as
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

The French people still fight an average
of 1000 duels every year.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-26
BATTLE is IMMINENT IN EGYPT
Mad Bishara VIII Resist to the Ut
most.

Miowera, near DOnSola, VIA Kerma. on
the Melt would appear from the re-
ports of the scouts who have been follow
ing the trail of the dervish force which
retreated from El Hafir that an important
and decisive battle for this stage OF the
campaign will be fought tomorrow morn
ing or a little later.
The Anglo Egyptian expedition is now
encamped here awaiting early dawn, in
order to move upon the positions occupied
by the enemy. Miowera is situated about
five miles from Dongola, and unless the
unexpected happens the strengthened
dcrvishes i'm the DOngOla district VIII be
entirely overthrown. Spies I'M the employ
of the intelligence department state that
Wad Bishara has decided to resist the
Anglo-Egyutiau advance 90 the utmost
and has threatened with death any of
his followers who retreat. The report
that Dongola had been reoccupied by the
dervlshes is incorrect. The AboulIa this
morning returned TO Dongola upon the in
structiOns of Kitchener and commenced
bombarding the forts and eartlworKs- The
fire was kept up on them until the for
mer We're dismanued and the earthworks
were rendered comparatively useless.
Therefore. even should the dervishes sue
coed In reoccupying the place they viii
find little to protect them against the
fire of the Anglo-Egyptian forces.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-26
KOBE IS WIPED OUT
CITY or THE MIf<ADO VISITED
ny DESTROYING ELEMENTS.
Thousands of Lives Lost and Hosts
of People Are Rendered
Homeless.

San Francisco, Sept. 22--The city of
Kobe, Japan, was recently wiped ont by
disastrous corflasration on August -
and floods, storms and earthquakes
caused the loss or 800 lives and the de
struction of milnons OF uonars worth Of
property IN northern Japan.
The steamer Doric from the Orient
brought news Of a series Of catastrophes
that have befallen the mikado's realm,
that are unprecedented in its history. In
Gifu prefecture, 1000 homes We're blown
down and along the Haii-Gawa 400 per
sons lost their lives. The severest storms
occurred on August 80. Along the lsat-
sugawa "a lives were lost.
The great flood was preceded by Sc
we're earthquake. Then followed down
pour such as has never been experienced
lefore on the island. The European res
idents were panic stricken and sought
shelter in the highlands.
The Minatogdwa overlooked its banks
at midnight of September 26 and the wat
ers inundated the streets and fields,
sweeping away SOC houses and drowning
800 people at Kobe After II hours work
the broken entertainments We're repaired
by sand hugs.
The fate of Kobe was made worse by
fire breaking out ana famed by high
wind, spread over the entire city. One
thousand nine hundred blocks including
226O houses and u So-downs were ue-
stroyed totally. and 10 houses and two
police boxes one ire brigade station, four
temples and enc theater. The burnt
area comprises 10 streets. The total dam
age by fire was 1000, 900 yen.
In Rokugo district September p,
terrible series of earthquakes shook the
country. Nine people were killed there.
and more than 40 at Hataya, Senya,
Taganashi, Yokohori, Yokozawa. Nagash-
ida, Shimzu and Futiki. where the disaa-
ter was especially great The hills az
Senya cracked Fires broke out here
and there, water gushed out in many
places and the rumblings continue.
At Obenai II persons were killed.
At Rokugo the people killed number
more than 20 and the houses overturned
ahou; 1000
ferryboat at Hizuma capsized and 70
Japanese and whites lost their lives.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-26
Many Democrats VIII Work and
Vote for the Senator.

Boise, Sept 22.-The announcement that
Senator Dubois will be nominated for gov
ernor by the silver republicans next Sat
urday is received with much enthusiasm
throughout the state 1t has given heart
to the workers, ana the Mckinleyites are
feeling correspOnmngiy DIue. The OBJ
ject in running Dubois for governor Is
simply as an Endorsement of his campaign
for the senate, and 1t Is said that Willis
Sweet will be asked to take second place
on the ticket. In other words, it is the
same as running Sweet for governor.
The campaign is well under way, and
viii be prosecuted vigorously. Dubois Be-
rah General Parsons, Sweet, Congress
man Wilson, Jim Hawley, stalwart
democrat, and other prominent speakers,
will make a thorough canvass of the
state. A promising feature is that many
democrats are enthusiastic for the new
ticket. State Senator Watt for secretary
OF state. and Tim Regain for treasurer.
who was delegate to the Chicago con-
vention. will bring a great number Of
democrats to its support
The silver republican county convention
adjourned today to await the result Of
the state convention. A strong ticket will
be put up. Sheriff Moseley and eX-State
Senator Costen, democrats, will be placed
on the ticket. and 1t is believed this coun-
ty can be carried for Dubois.
The Evening Mail changed hands today
and came out under the management OF
the silver republican state committee. 1t
is much needed to answer the misrepre-
sensations of the McKinleyites.
Chairman Patrie returned to Market
Lake today. He says a full delegation
will come from the southeast to the state
convention, and that a new ticket will
give satisfaction to that section
Secretary Walsh wired from Seattle that
he would be here Thursday. 1t is under
stood he approves the new move, and sc
far as lies in his power will absolve the
members from the arrangement entered
into with the populsts. He has lost pa
tience with the latter, who would not
even grant him the courtesy of an Off
cial hearing.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-26

that the close Of the year 1896 shows the
largest membership in the history of the
association. In 1889 the association had
n60 members. This was the maximum
number until the present time. The
membership had shrunk as low as 1898
and the ass )ciation, by the secretary's
report, has made a net loss of 4l2 MEM
bers from 1889 to and through 1895. Since
September l. 1895. 645 have been added 10
the list and AZ lest a large proportion OF
tho latter having been either assigned
or llquidatcd.
F. w. Hayes, president of the Preston
National bank CT Detroit. read the re
port Of the committee on express money
orders. There was no discussion and
an adjournment was had for the day.
ALL LIKE THE NEW DUBOIS PLAN
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-26
NATIONAL CLUB GETS THE FIGHT
COrbett and Shar&ey to Meet Under
Their Auspices.

San Francisco, Sept. 22.-There has been
"A contest between the National and the
Eureka athletic clubs of this city to
which shall handle the Corbett-Sharkey
fight. The pugilists signed for a fight to
a finish, but yesterday the Eureka club
obtained from the board of supervisors
a permit for 1O-round contest between
Sharkey and Corbett on Thanksgiving
evening. The Eureka club offered $4,000
for the purse. The National club had
supposed it's previously made offer OF
$4,000 had been accepted by the princi-
pals.
Today the National club received tel
egram from Corbett stating that If the
National club would deposit $4,000 for
10-round contest with A. NJ. Lawrence as
purse-holder he would start at once for
this city, and would make no terms with
any other club.
The National club replied at once tina
the $4,000 would be deposited with MI.
Lawrence who is news editor of the TX
amlner
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-26
BANKERS ARE FOR GOLD
THEY so DECLARED IN 22D ANNUAL
SESSION AT ST. LOUIS.
They Respect some silver Men for
Their Sincerity in Honestly Al
vocnting Dishonesty.

ST. Louis, Sept. 22.-There assembled
at the Olympic theater today represen-
tatives of more wealth than ever before
came together in this city al one time,
It was the first session Of the twenty
second annual convention Of the Ameri-
can Bankers Association. Delegates
were present from all parts Of the coun-
try, representing at least one billion dol
lars. The convention will be in session
three days. There will be a general dis
cussion of reports and matters pertaining
to banking.
About 200 delegates assembled at the
Olympic theater at 10 O'Clock. President
Il. II. Pullen of New York called the con-
vention to order. Mayor Wallbridge de-
hvercd an address of welcome. w. n.
Thompson. president of the st. Louis
clearing house welcomed the delegates