davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
Haunted nv n Voice.

Joseph Knecht, 73 years old, vet
eran of the late war, was found lying
dead in a barn. A few days ago he
purchased 10 cents worth OF arsenic
and said he was gonig to kill himself.
but nobody believed him. In connec-
ton with the circumstances OF Knecht's
death II Is said that when he was a SOL
der In the war for the union a rebel
shot one of Knecht's comrades. This oc-
Cured near the rebels home and
Knecht vowed revenge. Going to the
house with loaded gun he New the
rebel in the presence of his wife and
family. The woman screamed when she
saw her husband killed, and her voice
had such an unearthly sound that
Knecht said II always haunted him and
he was going to kill himself in order to
get away from the result Of his cruelty.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
VAN TAsSELL's TEA.
His Fortune Was Told but Not By His
Fiancse.


Fiancee.
Young Van Tassell's fiance was still
in Boston, which may have accounted
for that young mans presence In Misc
Bessie Travers' little den, which opens
directly from the Travers parlor. says
the New York Mail and Express. 1t
would be difficult to imagine any thing
more stiff and awesome than the Trav-
ers parlor, or anything more graceful
and charming than Miss Bessie's little
den, unless, perchance, 1t was Miss
Bessie herself. Young Van Tassell has
of late been in the habit of dropping in
to see Miss Travers at about tea time.
Just why he does this he himself could
not explain, but Miss Travers knows,
and there are moments when a queer
little triumphant smile fiickers over
her lips. and the very faintest, prettiest
blush imaginable creeps up from her
neck. dying her charming face deli
cate pink.
Last night the young man strolled
into the little room and found Miss
Bessie sewing. No one else was there.
Van Tasseii has been wondering of late
how he always happens to find his
friend alone when he drops in for tea.
There always used to be a crowd there.
tits warm, isn't it?" said Van Tas-
sell as he dropped comfortably into an
easy chair, which. by some accident,
had been placed Just where he could
get the best view of Miss Bessie, who
was sewing on some dainty trife.
Eyes" said Miss Bessie, without look
ing up. Heard from Kittie lately?"
YES" said Van Tassell, shortly; II
had letter this morning. What have
you been doing since l saw you last?"
II think Kitty is quite the prettiest
girl l know" said Miss Bessie.
do you?" said Van Tassell. when
are you going to let me teach you to
ride bicycle?"
docs Kitty ride?"
NO." said Van Tassell, "she does
not. I say Bess, do you remember
when you used to ride on the back step
Of my velocipede?"
YES" said Miss Travers demurely.
II wonder II Kitty ever did anything
like that?"
II wonder" said Van Tassell.
1--WE used to have pretty good times,
didn't we. dear boy?" said the girl.
"Awfully jolly" said Van Tassell.
Miss Bessie sighed very gently. A
sigh should not be overlong.
1--WE are grown up now" she said
gently.
"Will you have tea?" she continued,
putting away her work.
Tell my fortune in the tea leaves"
commanded Van Tassell as he put
down his cup.
'If can" said the girl. II don't
know how far / can CO."
''rm very anxious" said Van Tasseu.
"The future is a sealed book"
That's the right phrase" said the
girl, laughing.
II see dark woman" she began, as
she peered into the cup. That's Kitty:
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

Of Japanese fiocked to see 1t. Its own
er grew rich, and his specimen might
have continued to furnish evidence oil
the truth of some of the astonishing
folklore tales Of the masses had not
the fact that 1t was q swindle been
proved BY the authorities. AS 1t was,
the excitement over IL was immense.
Here Is what the Japan Weekly Mail
says OF It.
"A most ingenious swindler recently
met with well-merited punishment at
the hands of the Kumamoto police au-
thorities, after having for more than
three months done a roaring business
by imposing on the credulity OF the
Kyusha people. He exhibited what he
was pleased to call the skeleton OF
demon. and has been convicted OF
most daring duplicity and sent up for
a long term to a place where flesh and
blood demons are Of not infrequent oc-
currence.
"His name is Michigami Kataro. his
native village Bingo, his real profess
sion that of paper-hanger Being
dissatisfied with the profits derived
from honest trade, he conceived the
idea of manufacturing a demon OF the
good old-fashioned Shutendoji type, be-
lieving with justice that he would
make a fortune by exhibiting so rare
and noteworthy an object. His pro-
fessional skill stood him In good
stead in carrying out this plan, the
ingenuity displayed being we'll worthy
a better scheme.
"In manufacturing the huge skull ne
used the crauial bones OF horses and
oxen. These he Joined together most
deftly by covering them on the inner
side with skin taken from the stomach
of an OK. Horse teeth inserted the
wrong way were placed In the demons
mouth, giving the skull most fero-
c,ous expression. Two horns remain
I'D TO be soldered on in strict accord
auce with the received traditions OF
demons in Japan. and here again the
horns of an OK were put In requisition'
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

through her education, greater
strength of will, and impulsiveness. It
was apparently her jealousy which
prompted the self-destruction. She
wiiled TO die In the same way and at
the same hour with Bessie Youngren.
ana her will was accomplished. The
younger girl was Of a weaker nature,
yet she dared follow her companion
even into death.
nay Mogstsd was a student. She
had applied herself earnestly in a six
months course in midwifery under
tutelage OF Mrs. Margaret Seehuus, No.
lzo Center avenue. She passed exam
nations with credit 1t is claimed, I'M
der the supervision of the State, en-
titling her to diploma for practical
work. She worked industriously and
showed enthusiasm for her chosen
work. Her instructress says she was
the brightest member of her class.
The young woman's parents were not
happily mated. and in recent years
nave dwelt separately. Yet both
showed great fondness for the daugh-
ter, Thus Miss Mogstad came to visit
a good deal at her cousins. In way
the foungren's home became her own.
Mr.. Mogstad betrayed his daughters
board cheerfully and himself select
cd two or three boarding places for
her. During her course of study the
young woman dwelt part of the time
with Mrs. Seehuus. Only recently she
took up her abode at the Peterson
home, where she induced her cousin
Bessie to come and become her room
mate. After fitting herself to be self
supporting Miss Mogstad had met with
but a single discouragement-e
ment did not come to her as much as
she expected.
Ray" Mogstad was born in Calu-
met, Mich. She attended the schools
there. Several years ago her father
took her on a visit to Tronhjem. Nor
way, where lives her uncle, Elias Mog-
stad, who is reputed to be wealthy. She
spent a year and half there and re-
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

OF the scaffold He went toward II.
had been planned to sustain his feet
on the voyage TO death and exulted as
the boards creaked under his weight
in the voyage OF freedom. He lit a
match when he reached the scaffold
and took his bearings. In front of
him yawned the trap. 1t was open.
and the wind swung the platform with
moaning noise. He climbed to the
railing and, like a monkey, swung his
feet up to the cross pieces under the
slanting roof. The mud stains on the
pillars show as plainly as words can
tell every step he took, every effort he
made.
Perilously, posing himself on the
slender scantling Shepard pulled him
self upon the roof OF the scaffsld. and
thence swung to the twelve foot Spruce
street wall surrounding the jail.
dropped to the street and vanished as
completely as though he had been
swallowed up by the earth.
All this did not occupy at the out
side over fifteen minutes. Shepard
must have had start of at least three
quarters OF an hour before his escape
was discovered by Reed. II took an
other half hour for the stupefed jailer
and his adjutants to get through their
heads what had happened and make a
sufficient notification to the police de-
partment.
Shepard is the confessed murderer of
Thomas Morton and Lizzie Leahy. The
Leahy woman was his mistress He is
a desperate criminal and has never
been known to show fear.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
A CITY PASTEL.
Pictured In the Dens Where Editors and
Proof-readers Toll.

Proof-readers Toll.
Once upon time a wealthy proof
reader who possessed an entire box OF
matches was accosted by an INDECENT
editor who wanted fire for his pipe and
possessed nothing but copy of the
"Light of Asia" The proof-reader
thus importuned declared he could give
his comrade no assistance, as his
matches were hard come by and he had
nothing but a good. fat salary between
himself and heartless world. The cd
itor declared he was in the same fix,
and the proof-reader relented and gave
him one measly fugitive match with q
head on II that was so small it was
only pimple.
This match" said the editor as he
struck 1t, (which you have so gener-
ously donated to the relief of suffering
humanity has effected a marvellous rev.
olution in society for so small thing.
l recollect my grandfather telling me
Of the trouble they used to have in OBJ
tanning lights in the old days. How he
would sit up In bed while grandma
would paddle around in her pretty bare
feet hunting the flint on cold winter
mornings, and how when she had
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

and there is a blond young man; that's
you; and there's another woman. l
wonder who she can be?"
81 wonder, too" said Van Tassell.
IL can't tell you any MORE" con-
tinued the girl, because it is so abb
surd."
go on, please" said Van Tassell.
THE young man doesn't really care
for the dark girl" said Miss Bessie.
Now, don't you see how silly 1t is?'
Van Tassel said nothing. Sometimes
this Is wise.
And, although he doesn't know II,
the other girl likes him-a little. Isn't
1t perfectly foolish?" and the young
woman blushed gently.
"Oh. suppose so" said Van Tassell.
"And-and. l guess that's all / can
see," ended the girl.
II wonder who that other girl is?'
said Van Tassell.
II wonder" said the girl.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

knew there was an opening under the
wall leading TO the yard around the
Jail. He dropped into the hole and
made his way to the place where he
knew the opening should be.
There was no particular difficulty
In getting into the Jail yard. Four men
OF the size of Shepard might have
squeezed through the hole at once.
Shepard must have brought a
change Of clothes with him, for he di-
vested himself of his trousers while in
the sewer trench. twelve feet below the
surface of the yard. He laid his dis
carded pantaloons carefully on a sup
porting beam. Aided by the beams he
climbed to the surface Of the yard.
Down near the morgue when the light
ming flashed. he could see dim outlines
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
THE DEMON THAT SCARED JAPAN.

found It while she was knocking a
spark out of the old flint and steel he
was sure of another half hours nap.
Wow! That Internal thing burned my
fingers. Gimme another match"
mot to any extent" replied the opu-
lent proofreader. "lf you had spent
the time you wasted on that chestnut
in lighting your pipe you would have
been out OF the woods. You can either
hunt a flint and steel or procure light
from one of Mr. Edison's candles."-
Chicago Dispatch.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

.ne poison when Bessie embraced him,
anu ne believes-he is sure-that the
siris meant that caress to be his death
warrant.
rejecting the proffered caresses,
'onnson paced the floor. Miss Mog-
s'au said she felt ailing and threw
nerseif upon the bed Bessie Yorni-
sren also complained and reclined on
.ue ped. They died on the way to the
morgue.
investigation into the lives of both
s elrls deepsns the mystery. The Grim
MAJ quality is absent. 1t is a record
OF respectability.
Nachel Mogstad, called by her famil-
.ais Ray" who was jealous of her
souS'ns growing affection for Christie
pner Johnson. was Bessie's elder by a
s sear, being Is years of age. She was
e 'nan year older In leadership
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
the Japanese.

In the olden times In which, accord
Ing to native tradition, the demon ex-
listed, 1t was possessed Of enormous
strength, a voracious appetite and a
pestilential breath. devasting a dis
trict with even greater dispatch than
the plague.
1t il supposed to have had real ex-
istence and to be extinct only in the
sense that we know the dodo to be ex-
tinct. Hence there are many natives
OF Japan who believe that there is a
possibility that one remaining speci-
men Of the demon may be discovered in
some remote place where 1t has been
concealed for many years.
Therefore, the skeleton, fabricated
by an ingenious japanese fakir
aroused great curiosity, and thousands
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

"The thorough preparations being
completed. he set out on a swindling
tour and earned a substantial sum by
exhibiting his handiwork.
But fate was lying in wait for him
at Kumamoto. The fraud was detect
ed and the swlndling three-the skele-
ton, the document and the man-were
impounded and imprisoned. The man
made a clean breast of it, giving a
minute description OF the manner in
which he had made the skeleton, to
the delight OF the Kumamoto police.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
Another RalloonIst Killed.

Hiram II. Cole. 26 years of age. a
professional aeronaut. living in Big
Rapids, Mich, fell thirty feet from his
balloon while making an ascension at
a Grand Rapids suburban resort Sun
day evening and died shortly after. A
high wind blew him against building.
severing the trapeze ropes, letting him
fall
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
After Sermon They Drew Knives.

During religious services in the North
White River church near Farmland.
Ind. an old feud between a constable
and crowd of roysterers cropped out.
and there was general fight, in which
knives were freely used. John Moser.
one of the principals. is reported to
have been fatally stabbed by John
Jameson while several others were cut.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

One of three burglars shot Policeman
Bish. who discovered them trying to
enter a building in Denver. A crowd
chased the murderer, who ran to an
clubhouse and hid In straw. When he
was cornered he shot himself to escape
sure lynching.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
ESCAPED THE MOOSE.
ST. LOUIS MURDERER SAWED
HIMSELF OUT OF JAIL.
Csed 1t as an Instrument TO His Liber-
y- One of the Most Sensational
Prison Escapes on Record -Murdered
Two Persons.

OBLE Shepard is a
name of more than
usual dignity. 1t is
a full, round har-
monious name and
it's bearer might be
expected to be a
light in the land.
On the contrary, it
is owned by the
man who is the
hero of one of the
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

Hustler-why don't you go to work
and show people there is something In
you? Laziman-wouldn't an ocean
voyage answer the same purpose:-
Louisville Truth.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
DEMON MAIDEN JAPAN
sUPERsTITIous oRIENTALs DE-
CEIVED.
Became Rich In Three Months-Crsn,aI
bones of Horses and oxen, Horses
Teeth and a Steers Horns Used to
Make tho Skull.

he skeleton of a
demon" was re-
Gently placed on
exhibition in ia
pan. 1t was ex-
hibited over half of
{ h Q g m p 1 re, and
caused an immense
sensation wherever
1t was shown. The
demon" Is [ h e
great bugaboo of
the Japanese.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

PIN and white is an essentially sum
merry combination for han deeora''o'
In country houses.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

Tourist parties OF women cyclists are
to be feature of the English highway
saia summer.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

Never wear cotton In the ears II they
are discharging pus.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
MRS. VANDERBILT GONE.

Wife of a Member of the Famous Family
Has Mysteriousiy Disappeared.
The friends of Mrs. Jacob II. Van
derbilt. the young wife of a descendant
of the Vanderbilt family, are wonder
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15
GIRLS DIE BY POISON.
.-ee,E YOUNOREN AND RAY
MoosTAD WERE SENTIMENT
TALISTS.

finally Agreed to Emit Their Lives and
r,,.d TO Take the Lover Along with
,,.m-Unusuai Features In n Chicago
Tragedy.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-15

STR ANGE COM
partnership. origi-
nally gu 6 h I
about by klnship
between two chill
dren. grown into an
infatuation be-
tween girls just en-
tering womanhood,
and threatened
with dissolution by
the intrusion OF a
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-06-19
Harder Than Ebony.

Several species Of ironwood have
long been known and widely used on
account of their extraordinary weight
and hardness, in the manufacture OF
such articles as axles and plows 1t
is claimed, however, that these IRE
entirely surpassed by a certain tree
found in Northern Transvaal, regard
ing which NJ. Baisaux, at present tray
cling in South Africa, has transmitted
a note to the Geographical society of
France. The wood is a sort of ebony,
and SO excessively hard that it cannot
be cut in the ordinary manner except
when green. When mature and dry
it resists every known tool and blunts
or breaks the finest tempered steel. 1t
is apparently almost impregnable
against fire, as it required a fort
nights constant burning to reduce the
trunk of one of the trees to ashes,
and, although heavy, it is said to be
considerably lighter than steel or iron.
Invention
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-06-19
DERELlCTS IN THE ATL AMTlc,

One Wreck That Has Been Floating
Around for Nearly Three Years.
The report that the famous derelict.
the Fannie f. Wolston, has been
sighted again, this time about 25a
miles east Of Norfolk, awakens fresh
interest in the champion and record
breaker among existing wanderers on
the sea. This schooner of Bath, Me-,
was wrecked more than two years
and eight months ago, and has ever
since drifted in the Atlantic, making
a total course of many thousands of
miles. About two months ago she
was sighted not very far appnren tly
from her present position, but the in
dications are said to be that, as she is
now OH the eastern edge of the gulf
stream, she may float with it up to
the transatlantic steamer line, and
SO be a still greater peril 10 naviga-
ton.
The history CT that vessel alone
would form a sufficient argument for
carrying out promptly the proposed
'ystem of international police for the
destruction of dangerous derelicts.
1t was shown by the commissioner of
navigation in his last report that in a
period of five years there had been
332 known derelicts on the Atlantic
coast of North America. besides 625
wrecks whose tracks were not marked.
On the pilot chart for one month
nlone forty-fve derelicts still afoat
were marked, OF which more than
half appeared to be in the path of the
transatlantic steamers. Of course
many have a short career, as they
speedily break up or sink, but the ex-
%perience of the Wolston shows how
persistent is the peril in some cases,
for she is only n of q large number
known to keep awash for years.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-06-19
PHELPS IN BERLIN.
~ Entertainments We're the Talk :,
tho Whole Town.

~ E-ntefeainmonts We're the Talk 81
= Whole Town.
Bcrliners will neve cease talking
Of the manner in which Minister
Phelps procured a handsome resi-
dence right in the heart of their cap.
'tai and within gunshot of the Linden
not 2 small undertaking in q city
where the private houses can be-
counted On the fingers of one hand
and where everybody lives in fats.
The only suitable house, for which
Mr.. Phelps had offered an annual
rental OF 100, 600 marks, was u~navaila-
bic, owing to legal difficulties, and
though the court, the foreign office
and his friends of t.ae diplomatic corps
assisted in the search, no other dwell
Ing tit for his purpose could be found.
With the practical ideas of an Ameri-
can, and regardless of cost where the
proper representation of his country
was concerned, Mr.. Phelps then de-
clded to create the right kind of q
house if he could not find it ready.
He leased the upper part of a new
"eN ~ ANOuS' w 1LllCIll SUEdSSC, ana
at once commenced tearing down and
r. bulldlng until a typical American
home had been established, which on
account of its amplitude and accessi-
bility to light and air, became the
talk of the town.
The entire American colony was in
vited for the opening, and thereafter
the minister's residence was never
closed against any Of his countrymen,
rich or poor; indeed it became the
Mecca OF many a poor and struggling
artist or student, and none left it
without kindly advice and-where
Observation-Disclosures aid. During Mr..
Phelps tenure of Office in Berlin the
number of American students there
trebled, while many distinguished
and wealthy Americans, attracted by
the fame Of his hospitality, removed
from Paris and other towns to tha
German capital.