davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1896-01-03
our Rutland Items.

An old lady went ipto local savings
bank Wednesday and presented a book
that she had taken out over twenty
years ago. She said that she had de-
posted $500 in the bank at that time
and had been told by friends in New
York State, where she lived that the
account had outlaw ed. A clerk ex-
amined the book and found that the
! last entry had been made in 1873. He
figured up the interest which amounted
to little over $1,000 and handed it to
the depOsitOr, together with the $500.
The old lady was OverjOyed and con-
cluded that she would leave the money.
She refused new book saying that the
old one was good enough for her. The
woman had not been in Vermont since
the last deposit was made.
Beauford's Black Prince, the crack
American mast.ff was sold recently by
Mr.. WInchell of Fair Haven to Norman
Higgs, the British fancier. 1t is under
stood that the price was 5000. Beau
forts Black Prince is a dog of great
dignity, with a particularly fine head
and mask. American faheiers will
watch with interest to see whether he
wins as many honors abroad as he has
in this country.
William Dunbar, of Tinmouth recent
ly captured a lynx in a trap. When
found it was alive and very lively.
The year 1895 had its share of deaths
among the great ones of the earth
Of the political leaders who have passed
away are Walter q. Gresham, secretary
of State, Allen G. Thurman of Ohio,
Ferdinand de Lesseps, the great French
man, NicOlai de Giers, one of the great
est of Russian premiers, StanislauS
StambulOff of Bulgaria, Lord Randolph
Churchill of England, Frederick Doug
less, the cOlored leader of this country,
ex-President Peixoto of Brazil, and
Sergius Stepniak, the NihilisC agitatOr
of Russia. In the field of science and
scientific education the world has lost
Thomas Henry Huxley of England,
Louis Pasteur of France, ex-P President
julius II Seelye of Amherst. Prof.
James d. Dana of Yale college and Sir
Henry Rawlinson, the English scholar
and geographer. Among the literary
workers who have died are Prof. J. X.
Seeley of Cambridge, England. Troi.
Won Sacher. .Masoch, Gustav Freitap,
Heinrich Won Sybel, the German histoT-
ian; Hjalmar Hjorth Boyeseu. Rev. DIR.
Sebe Smith, author of America
Alexandra Dumas fills and George Au-
gustus Sala. The greatest soldier who
died was Marshal Canrobert of France.
From the ranks of royalty there have
died the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia.
ex Khedive Ishmael Pasha of Egypt
the queen of COrea, King Menelek Of
brukaba, sultan of Yohore.
and Margaret Young, queen of the
Mauna group of Samoa.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

The old man appeared, and after taking in
the situation, remarked: Il believe it is
going to blow; look for q safe anchorage"
and disappeared down the hatch that led TO
his cabin. The face of the Lieutenant was
a study. "Boy, send the Boatswain aft" Mr..
Piper called "all hands 10 tack ship" As
soon as the manuyer was effected We were
standing-in for shore with the object of
shutting her out from the entrance Of the
harbor or running her down il the attempt
should fail; anything to prevent her escape.
We literally flew, and quartering the seas
on the port tack, our decks were washed
from forecastle TO quarter deck, and the sea-
sick recruits in the gangways had 10 be
moved TO the gun deck and matches battened
down to prevent the drowning out the fur
naces under our boilers. 1t was getting
near noon, and we were closing on the chase
like hawk on d barnyard fowl.
The First Lieutenant stood on the bridge,
trumpet 10 hand, the Signal Officer coming
the wheel, with q Quartermaster and .
brawny forecasile man holding the spOkes.
The excitement was intense. Pass the word
to stand clear forward. But as we were not
at quarters, every vantage point was taken
to watch the moment OF collision, rs il was
patent to all on board the privateer did not
| mean TO surrender or strike his colors.
We were hardly thousand feet apart,
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

1t Was Question of Who Was the Others
Prisoner Until the Fight Was Over.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: It was
during the fight at Burkittsviile, Va, just
after Sharp>buIg. The Johnnies, overpower-
ed, fell back up.the bill, firing upon our men
from behind Rocks aud the natural defensive
positions presented by the ground until they
reached their Srt,ilery, where they made q
more decided stand. Their rifemen took
advantage Of every possible cover of ledge
and rock and tree.
When Slocam's Division had become
actively engaged Brooks's and Irvine's Bri-
gades of Snith4rs Division. were sent forward
and bore partdn THE final struggle. Han
cocks Brigade WAS held IN re. ervs.
Alter a sharp action of three hours the
crest was carried, and 400 prisoners, 700
stand of arms, one piece of artillery, and
three colors were the prizes OF the Union
army. Our loss was l13 killed, 418 wounded
and two missing.
While climbing over q ledge slipped and
fell Is or 90 feet between two rocks. Rapid
as had been my tumble, / found myself
preceded by Confederate soldier For an
instant we giared angriiy at each other, when
the reb burst out laughing, saying: Were
both in fix. You can't gObble me and
can't g0bble you till we know which rs going
to lick Let's wait until the shooting is
over, and if your side wins l am your pris-
oner and if we win you are my prisoner
The bargain was made; but didn't that reb
feel cheap when he found I'd won him.
J. j. NJ.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

lib. storm staysail and close-reefed fore and
maiisails set, and the smoke pouring frem
her funnel, was our new Confederate cruiser.
Our drums beat TO quarters, but the sea
was running SO higbs that nc gun could be
cast loose and we had to content ourselves
by acting consott to her until the ocean
would rut on more peaceful mood.
The Chesapeake, Tor it was she, did not
appreciate our attentions. and changing her
curse made in shore, heading Tor the Bay
of Fundy. But smoke away to the west
ward warned her from that track, as the
little Ella, for her own saaety during the
night changed her course, aud III ade for in
shore to be ready tn make port if the
storm got worse. Being swiIter vessel
Than the Confederate, and sighting her at
about the time we did, she ur-helm and
made direct for her, and cutting loose one of
her pop-gun carronades fired shot to lee
ward to notify the Commodore.
Then commenced race-the Chesapeake
to get into British waters and the ganboat
to head her off and drive her out to Sra, so
that sne would drop inio our hands alive.
Our vessel sheared off seaward 10 not press
The chase too hotiy, so that the Ella could
get 10 windward of her, and size Was doing
it splehdidty.
The Chesapeake saw her danger and the
Capt ain gave up the atiemnt 10 make a port
on the south side of Nova Scotia, aud keep
ing her distance from she fell off boldly
10 leewsrd, bat holding her huff she was
ready at apv moment TO change her course,
a. circumstances called tor, and it was plain
to see she had not much dr. al OF us, AS her
Commander was an ex-U. S. Naval officer,
and he knew it was utterly Impossible to
hoff in q framaninil that
surrounded us.
We had no trouble in keeping abreast OF
her. though from the everlasting cloud that
poured from her smoke tunnels. she was
doing her uttermost. The seas would ,o'pe-
times lift her until her copper sheathing
couid be seen almost to her keel, and we
could see she had rugged preventive braces
and false stays, so that her maets would stay
in her steps as long as her canvas was held
by the bolt ropes.
Land, bo, dead abe d !" The lead could
| not he used, as no living soul could breathe
in our chains to take sounding-. Knowing
What, water we drew, the ship had 10 fall OF
to leew ard to clear the banks. and the en-
federate held her course, which every mo-
ment carried her further from us.
The Ella had no pilot, but her Commander
was volunteer officer and knew the ground
and kept boldly on but in attempting to get
closer to what he considered his prize he
carried away his foremost and all his for
ward sails, and the time lost in cutting
away the wreck was improved by the Con-
Tolerate to such advantage that when the
Ella took up the chase the Chesapeake had
, forged good league ahead and was making
C,pe La Have, at the entrance to Shslburne
| Harbor.
She'll escape us, confound ber!" heard
the First Lieutenant say. MIR. Watson
| asked the Commodore to come on deck.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

"All hands TO shorten salt" was the
bosrse shout of the Boatswain Mates, after
their whistles had ceased. Lay aloit, you
topmen; man clew-lines and ieech-lines !;
stand by your mast men TO settle away on
your halyards; all ready fore and aft"
Then ensued a scene. Some yards had
no men, as the recruits that were billed to
man them knew nothing of seamanship, aud
it took. in that icy rigging, a hardy, reckless
Jack TO lay out on q royal some $50 ieet
from deck. We got in, after q struggle,
royals and iopgallanis, but could not send
the yards down from the fact that the new
yard ropes froze in the shease block.
Close reef your topsails." Then came
the iug-of-war. The ponderous sails had a
spread of so feet and rise of 40, all new
canvas and stiff rs an oak plank. But by all
top-men manning yard at a time all three
were close-reefed, our courses taken in aud
the vessel got in shape as tar ~ possible
with our force.
Whilst aloft we could discern on both
weather and lee beams and dead ahead
steamers on the same course as we were
steering. They were small craft, from their
rigging-tbe skirmshers of tile seas.
shot was fired from one Of our Lght carron-
sdes 10 draw attention. and Immediately tie
Signal Officer aud QusrLes msslers were q
NUrk.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
Soldiers. EQUALIZATION Bill.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: It seems
that there should be bill presented to
Congress to the effect that the pay that the
soldiers received for their services in the
army should be made equal TO 100 cents for
every deprecated dollar paid them for such
services, placing the deficit at 40 per cent.
We received an average of perhaps 60 per
cent. on the dollar, or its repre- entative.
And at this late day it would seem that the
Government could and should issue for this
specific purpose its bonds to each soldier for
the whole amount due him as such deficiency
made payable or redeemable at some stated
time, but bearing interest at a reasonable
rate with interest payable annually until
such bonds shall be redeemed, and in case of
the death of the soldier holding any OF such
bonds, together with all interest due
on such bonds as shall hereafter become
due, shall be paid to his legal heirs without
process other than acceptable proof of such
soldiers death.
/ believe that bill of this nature would
be but Just treatment toward the man who
served his country in its hour Of peril, and
that it would strengthen the Nation that
would at least pay to them what is justly
due them. We did not hesitate or complain
when paid in such money, for it was not
dollars and cents that caused US to enlist In
the army, and the man that would intimate
such thing 10 fool and liar, or both.
But now, after 80 years and more have
elapsed, and we are passing down on the
slope of the path of life, if we could stoop
down and pick up a penny here and there
that had been placed there by a loyal people,
given 10 us ont ofitrs,por,ion that was simply
withheld from Us until such time when it
h. l,o
old boys in blue would arise and call blessed
the Nation that 80 hOnored its defenders.
These bonds should be non-transferrable
and not subjected to liens OF execution
HENRY M. LAMB, CO. E, 1st Ind. Cav.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

The two small steamers on our beams
headed toward us, and changing our course
q few points to the eastward the whole force
of the wind came over our quarter until the
huge frigate seemed to fy. and the spray
from her sharp bows few to her forelop cross
trees.
B-fore SHUTDOWN we overhauled the vessel
ahead, which proved to be the Ella and
Anna, an ex-blockade runner, captured and
changed into q. S. gunboat We passed
her swiftly and dropped her astern, and
from our ioretop, when our quarterwa'ch
was ordered at shutdown, We could see that
the Commodore had spread a broad ciew, and
if we held on till the morning watch moth
ing of any size of vessel could escape rs
from Cape Ann to the Gut of Canso.
At eight bells in the morning watch the
look out on the foretopyallant crosstrees sang
ont Sail, hot" Where away?" called
the Officer of the Dick. Broad on our
weather bow" "What does she look like ?"
A steamship making black smoke" How
is she headlng?D "Our course" "Thats
heri"
And sure enough, some two miles OF,
plowIng through the heavy seas, with her
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE LIBRARY.
A Weekly Series Of Historical Textbooks.
ALREADY ISSUED.

No. STATISTICS OF THE Containing the number troop
relating
L.NeoLMs wofDs-1ns Gettysburg Address, Second INAUGURAL
MISCELLANEOUS MEMoRAMDAMD1ass Of ab the great
heoehon fnySoogea
officers killed on both Sides
PENSION STATSTICS-Number on the roll each Glass; Ok
No s. HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.
By
Emancipation
illustrate
No. s. PRESIDENT MONROE AND HIS poSIHINE -. By
Cieelands Portrait
uNnTEp STATES aRmYBy
of
the various
Island from Discovery
of
NO 10. THE LIFE OF MAy.-GEN. GEORGE =. IHoMAs:i--
By
Cumbel and
II. OF MAJ. VIM. MekINlEY-By John McElroy In
Platform Republican
happy interesting modern
TO BE ISSUED.
Ms 5s @ & @ M G @ o1 M events
OTHER NUMBERS OF GREAT INTEREST uLh F0LL0u
10 Six Of The
Address, NATIONAL TRIBUNE Warrington O
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

les! With Win, ladsl Lift her, my
boys!n and the vineyard whaler, ~ he knelt
in the stern. gripping the tiller handle with
ono hand aud the boats gunwale with the
other, knew that if he lost control for an IN
slant it meant death to all. He seemed TO
me, with that bold smile on his face, the en-
bodiment of manly fearlessness.
In five minutes We rounded the rock on
which the Lighthouse stood, and shearinE in
under the lee 0fo& bowlder, landed. we
looked at each other as the officer and Nc
Gilvray started up the bluff to the light
house. Not remark was made, but the
confidence that service on the ocean begets
in the minds Of sesmen towards each other
was not misplaced, and the deep voice OF
Bill Gardner asking for some dry tobacco
seemed little deeper, whilst he was trying
to loose the ice that formed on the whiskers
that adorned his chin.-JOHN BRoGAN,
Bloomington, Ind.
ITO be continued
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

our lofty sides looming high in the air,
looking down on the little steamer, who
never deviated . point from her course,
when, with signal from the Lieutenant,
our helm was put hard down, and falling of
quickly, we gave shear 10 port
We held our breaths waiting for the
crash, when blast from = speakipg-trum-
pet on the Chesapeake rang out: "Luff, you
can! Luff, you may!"
Whirling on her keel on the starboard
tack, she cleared us, with the loss Of her
spanker BOOM Some said they heard a
cheer from her decks as she passed. At all
events, as she came up on the other tack.
with her booms swinging, the rebel flag was
defiantly faun,ing from her spanker-gaff.
Orr sheer carried US clear away from the
Confederate, and directly onto the Ella.
For five minutes it took the most desperate
exertions to keep from fouling or running
her down, bnt getting clear she forged
ahead and resumed the chase, whilst the
Chesapeake doubling Cape Sable, taking the
wind dead astern, her fore and aft sails
close-reeied, wing and wing heading due
north for Halifax, and scraping the shore as
she went
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
Didn't Hit Him.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having
read your open letter in last weeks issue to
erring comrades, think you hit the nail on
the head. While it does not hit me it does
hit great many. A great many have been
kicking themselves for the last three years
for voting as they did. II Bryan should
win there will be more of them kicking
themselves for the next four years. have
always voted as shot, and expect to az long
as I live. I do not expect any favors from
the party that fought and helped conquer
at Appomattox. / hope every comrade will
vote for Comrade Mckinley, and not allow
themselves to be fooled this year.-H. J..
SHAPLEY, Co. M, 9Th Ohio Cav, Copopa,
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
New b. I @, station in Baltimore.

The new Passenger Station Of the B. & O.
r. B., at the intersection of Mt. Royal Avenue
and Cathedral street, Baltimore, Nd, was
opened for business September 1st.
The new Station, which will be known az
Mt. Royal Station is one of the finest build.
ings of its kind in kmerics. 1t is located in
the residential section of the city, and is easily
accessible by Street Railway service from all
parts Of the town. Camden Station will re-.
main in use as heretofore, and all trains run.
ming over the Philadelphia Division will stop
At both Stations All tickets to or from Balti.
more will DO honored to or from either Station,
aud baggage Will be checked 70 either Station
ct the option Of tho passenger.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
A Welcome Visitor.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Ma
TIONAL TRIBUNE is welcome visitor every
week, and has been for several years. Its
pages are read with much pleasure each
week. We think you, are doing good
work but some would growl aud complain il
they had all the wealth of the world before
them. How any man who was IN service
during the late war could vote for BRYAN
and the old gang is beyond comprehension.
They deserve all the hard times in store for
them, should he be elected. We are for
Old Glory, Mckinley, Sound Money and
Protection, and adherents to The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE. Long may yon live to publish it.
Mrs. j. w. Forsyth, Butler, Mo.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
A NATTER OF HISTORY.
Battery A, 1st III. L. A., Said to Have Fired
the First Shot.

Battery A, LIST LII. l.. A., Said 20 haVo rireu
the First Shot.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having at
various times seen In your columns articles
claiming that such and such organization
fred the last shot in the war of the rebellion,
thought it might be interesting to know
who ired the first shot. claim that Bat
terry A, 1st Ill. L. A., fred it from field
piece.
Battery was an old artillery company
of Chicago, belonging to the State Militia,
commanded by Capt. James Smith. Under
the Presidents call tor $4,000 troops Gov.
Yates called the battery into service, and in
| IL hours, April 16, 1861, its ranks were re-
cruited to the maximum, in which was our
| Bewly-elected Commander of the Grand
Army, F. S. Clarkson.
On Sunday, April 81, 1861, we left Chicago
with the Ellsworth Zouaves and two other
| companies of infantry, reaching Cairo the
| 22d. One gun was stationed on the extreme
point OF the levee, where the Ohio and Mis-
| sissippi unite.
The duty of the battery was to bring-to
all boats passing downward, for inspection
for contraband goods. On April "a the
steamer Baltic disregarded the Summon and
a solid shot was fred across her bow. She
hove to. This was the first shot from a
feldpiece fired by volunteers in the war.
The next day Capt. Smith, with an infantry
detachment, on a small steamer, and one gun,
captured the steamer G. E. H,ilman, loaded
with contraband goods valued at 100000
Thus Battery A was one of the earliest at
work on the big job, and one of the last to
get through, aud her services should be
written for your columns by one more COM
petent than the writer of this sketch.-H.
Z. BREWSTER, Go. E, LIST Ill. L. A., MARI
boro, N. II.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown. From
that time until the close OF hos;iiities it Wa
almost continuously at the front, participate:
ing in nearly all the battles OF the Army Of The
James under Butler and Ord. Marching
and fighting were kept up until Lees sus-
render, in which the regiment took part
The total enrolment of the 55th was 1.756 I;
killed and died of wounds, POS; died Of dis
ease, accidents, in prison, ETC.. I'll making
the total number of deaths 479. The regi-
ment lost $50 killed or wounded during the
ii months preceding Lees surrender. Col.
Richard White. brother of Gen. Harry White
was the first commander. 1t was one Of the
300 fighting regiments.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
OF Interest to Coin Collectors.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: desire tc
say to those who are interested in collecting
ancient foreign copper coins, that have one
said to have been once in the possession Of
Gen. George Washington, aud to be over
1000 years old. Ii came into my possession
through one OF the late Comm0dores Of the
United States Navy. / will sell said coin
for $1,000. 1t can be purchased through
the American Express agent locatad at Saco
City, Me-, who has seen and handled said
coin.-EDwIN WILLIAMS, Justice Of the
Peace for the State OF Maine, p. o. Box
1914, City of Saco, Nc.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
A Correction.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In an aTti.
Gle over my signature with the caption
Notes of Surgeon" in your issue Of Sept
10, the opening paragraph is sadly garoled
perhaps only an accidental result Of the
abridging editors blue pencil.
What l intended to say was, that "my
personal observation in war time" in the
West was coninsGto the period from April,
1862, to Decenb be-, 1868, after which was
transferred to the North Atlantic Squadron.
GEO. HOPKINS, M. D., National Soldiers
Home, Virginia.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
Likes the way We strike Back

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Nick Pitts
Post, 65, has 40 members, and !, think, with
the exception OF one, are all for Mckinley.
like the way you answer those Silverites
who strike at you. They don't seem to
come but once.
We have Sons Of Veterans Camp at
Sardis with As members to begin with. Our
Commander is L. G. Brandon, and he is
doing good work.-H. G. RUTH, Adjutant,
Ruth, Tenn.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
From California.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: You are
all right and the rest are all wrong. If tae
old soldiers don't vote for Mckinley and
Hobart and stand by their standard bearer,
they don't know what they are doing Here
is one who will vote for Mckinley and Ho-
bart, if there is not one more in the whole
country.-JosgPH MARTIN, Co. ID. LIST VT.
Cav, Past Commander. Mariposa Post, lis,
Department of California and Nevada, Mari
poaa (al
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
Likes the Editorials.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: like your
editorials on the money question. The
Bryan forces are quite strong here in the
West, but l think good majority Of the
old vets will fall into line all right.
As our train pulled out from ST. Paul on
Sept. 4, on st. Paul & Sioux City line, a
straw vote was taken, which resulted: Nc
Klnley, 416; Bryan. 70; Palmer, 6.-SAMuEL
BROOKS, Co. II, 49Lh Ind, Adrian, MINI.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As it ha9
been some time since you received any word
from me, / thought could not put few
minutes to better use or spend the price Of
two-cenr stamp than by writing. There 10
but little business here at present, but
good deal of talk about the financial ques-
tion; but do believe that dear old Ken
lucky is going to cover herself all over with
glory by giving Mckinley, Sound Money,
and Protection q rnuslng majority next No
vsmber.-T. T. BALBURN, Lebanon, KY.