davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
A BLoODLEss BATTLE.
How the Federa1s Were Deceived by
Trio of Confederates.

How the Federa1s Were Deceived by
Trio of Confederates.
I will give you an account of battle
which historians and bookmakers have
not noticed, said Judge Reagan of Texas
in recent lecture. On one occasion a
detachment of the. Federal army, under
the command of Colonel Grierson, unex-
pectedly approached Richmond from the
northwest and opened fire OH the city.
The shell only reached the Government
stables on Bacon quarter ranch and
did little damage. On hearing the guns
and knowing we had no troops IN
that quarter, Mr. Mallory, the Secretary
OF the Navy, and myself, mounted our
horses and galloped out to learn what IL
meant. The residence OF Colonel James
Lyons, one of the most prominent citizens
and lawyers of Richmond, was in the sub
urbs of the city in that direction. We had
a line OF earthworks, which lay between
the FederaIs and his residence, which
were not manned. When we got in sight
of these earthworks we saw Colonel
Lyons riding up and gdown the line. Gal
Looping up to him we inquired what he was
doing.
He answered, Commanding the forces, ="
and said, Reagan, you command the
right ana I will command the center. g"
We rode along the earthworks, pointing
and gesticulating for some time, as though
giving directions to our forces. The firing
finally ceased and the Federals drew off
through fear that we had force concealed
waiting for them. If they had known 1t
there was nothing TO prevent them from
marching into the city. Though this was
a bloodless battle it was an important VIC
tory for the capital of the Contederacy.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

italian style of changing gardens" Some
of this work is really beautiful, although
the greater portion of it has been neglected
and allowed to go to ruin.
The most artistic of these old walls is so
located as to be almost concealed from
view. 1t belongs to the Wilson residence
on the corner of Stockton and Pine streets,
although it cannot be seen from the front
of the house. To get good view oft it is
necessary to go to the corner of Bush and
Monroe streets and look up toward Pine.
The wall is on the right hand side, and the
portion shown in the accom- panying pict-
ure is Certainly the most beautiful garden
wall in the country
1t rises abont thirty feet from the side
walk and the top is surmounted by rail-
ing in the Italian style of architecture.
Planted Just behind the railing, so that its
branches hang over, is a hedge of cypress.
The whole length of the railing is twined
with ivy that hangs down over the wall in
the most graceful manner
The general effect of this combination of
beautiful forms and colors is most pleas
ing. The dark cypress stands out in bold
relief against. the sky. When the sun
strikes the wall the effect produced makes
the place look like some famous spots on
the shores of the Mediterranean
OF course the immediate surroundings
are not what they might be. The old
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

Gently, and Maud Huth has been singing
at the neutrality-suspicious. houses the
song II Cares for Nobody" " the chorus of
which has helped to m AXE it very popular.
The old-fashioned negro melodies were
generally OF plalntlve character, based
on such pathetic episodes in the home life
of the Sunny South as the Slaves
Dream" or Liza Harris Escape" Col
ored men and colored women were repre-
sented as sitting in or about the cabin or
the lowlands of the plantation, either be-
moaning their fate or ,smothering their
regrets in music. Afterward, when the
song-and-dsnce men began, as an out
growth from the minstrels to appear on
the variety stage with black faces, the ne
gro music with which the New Y York pub
lie became familiar was of the big Sun
flower" or "Shoo Fly" variety. But since
the close of the war and the permanent
establishment in Northern cities of
the colored population, not as fugitiyes
or transients, the intricacies and the at
fractions of the cake walk have come to
be understood by white patrons at
theatrical entertainments, and cake walk,
nowadays, draws usually a big crowd.
From the cake walk, has come, logically,
the music of the cake walk, with peculiar
type of song which has ''honey" or some
thing similar as its melodic trademark.
At the present time the supply of such
songs by no means. keeps pace with the
demand.
While it has generally been thought
necessary on the stage for men to blacken
their countenaEces with burnt cork and
grease paint in order? to maintain the illu-
sion of negro character delineation, it has
never been thought necessary or even de-
sirable for actresses playing similar char
acter parts to do likewise, except, of course,
in such plays as Uncle Toms Cabin,''
wherein negro character is presented in
its entirety and not in a fragmentary way.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

Brunlees and Fox were the engineers, and
the total cost, including approaches, was
FL, ,25O,000.
A word may be here given TO the now
neglected and abandoned projected chan
mel tunnel to connect England and France
ginning of this century, but in which
nothing was done until 1881, though bor-
ings have since been carried on for dis
tance of 1000 yards beneath the sea from
the Folkestone side, the usual rate of
progress being fifteen lineal Yards day.
Beneath the Hudson River at New York
partially constructed subaqueous tunnel
now lies drowned, an attempt having been
made to drive a double tunnel through the
mud and silt forming the river bed. but in
1880, when about 100 yards had been COM
pleted, the water burst in, and twenty men
were drowned, and though the works
were afterward resumed, considerations
abandonment. Had it been finished
the tunnel would have been a mile
in length. Another abandoned tun-
mel is that commenced in 1872 by Cheese
borough, when be began tunneling beneath
the Detroit River. between Canada and
Michigan, but which had to be abandoned
owing TO continued eruptions of water
after some 600 yards of headings had been
driven. Other famous tunnels are the new
Croton aqueduct tunnel, which is Is feet
inches IN width and height, from the Cro-
ton dam to the reservoir in New York.
which is 33A miles in length, and was
carried out at the rate of one and a quarter
miles per month, all through rock; the
Hoosac, 25,Os0 feet in length: the Nochis-
tongo. q, $50 feet in length; the Sutro,
81, 120feet long; the Riquivel, lS,62 feet in
length: the Nerthe, 15, ,153 feet in extent.
the Blaizy, 13,455 feet long, and the
Thames and Medway, which runs for
length of II, $50 feet. The carrying out of
the above tunnels has been among the
grandest engineering triumphs OF the
world, of which those of the nineteenth
century have more than passing reason to
be proud.-London Standard
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
Ex-Governor Colcord of Nevada
Thinks White Metallists Are
:. .Scarcer.
HE. AGREES WITH woLCoTT.
His Interesting Story of the Political
.. and Mining Development on
the Plateau.

Ex-Governor r K CoIcord of Nevada
was among the arrivals at the Palace yes
terday. He has:been examining a mining
property about. fifteen miles from Mari
posa, in Mariposa County. Others are
associated with him, and the mine may be
bought, but.it is not certain yet.
The Ex-Governor says that Nevada is,
after all, as prosperous as some parts of
California. He has extended his trip as
far. south as San Bernardino. Mariposa,
he says, is prosperous. 'I refer to the
town. he said. at looks clean and pro-
gressive. 1 found the mines there looking
pretty well. was there thirty-six years
ago, and had never been back till this
: trip
He is the owner OF mining property at
: Silver City, on the extension of the Bruins
WICK lode, and this he is now developing
with. good results. The Governor thinks
the Brunswick lode ought to turn out WELL
as the Comstock. people have outlined
plans to.develoR it.
1--WE have now turned our attention
almost solely to gold mining" continued
he; las silver:no longer pays. Our people
were forced to do this. The result has
been that great many little gold mines
have been developed.
: "As to politics in Nevada, it is all one
way there; for almost every one is pro-
nouhced for silver. Nevertheless, Re-
publican delegation will be sent to ST.
Louis.
-. Our convention will meet May g. We
are entitled to six delegates to the National
:: Convention. suppose our people will be
. for Mckinley 1 am not going to St.
Louis. as delegate myself. 1 told our
people didn't care to go.
-. 81 am not the uncompromising silver
advocate that many of our people are.
agree with Senator Woicott that probably
the best thing that can be done is to stay
inside the Republican party and work as
:: persistentlyas me can there. 1 am salts
fled that even California is split up on that
question.
=, II believe not over half the people here
are for silver, and as for the strength of
the Silver party over the country 1 think
it is falling away and getting weaker rather
than increasing. 1t looks to me so, there
.foreI think it wise for us to pursue the best
: course we can, recognizing the situation. 3"
- The Ex-Governor is vice-chairman of the
Republican State Central Committee of
Nevada. He has had more or less to do
:, with politics there for many years. He
Will probably leave for his home in Carson
: to-ripht =
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
to its history, how it was caught and the
danger attending such feat.

to its history, how it was caught and the
danger attending such feat.
The devilfsh is quite numerous in Mon
terey Bay, but they are not often landed
in the bay of San Francisco. They are
usually found among the rocks on the
coast and generally where the rock-tish are
caught. A strong line, with numerous
hooks attached, is cast among the rocks
along the sea coast, and in this way the
devilfish is bated and caught.
at would be the end of a man once
caught in the tentacles of the devii-fish, I"
said an oldtime fisherman yesterday, "as
he is a dangerous enemy to encounter
among the rocks. This fellow having been
hooked was landed after hard struggle.
The deviltish usually fights while there is
life in him.
There is quite demand for the devil
fish as an article of food" continued the
fisherman, "but the meat is very tough
and requires to be boiled in water long
time before serving"
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
THE ONE DESIRE.

OF all the threads Of rhyme which have sp un,7
shall be glad if Time save only one.
And would have each word to 10y belong
A ly ric like bird whose soul is song.
There is enough of grief to mar the years;
Be mine sunny leaf, untouched By tears,
To bring unto the heart delight. and make
All sorrows to depart, and Joy to wake.
No sermon mine to preach, save happiness;
No lesson mine to teach, save Joy TO bliss.
Joy-'tis the one best thing below, abo We
The lute's divin est string, whose note is love.
Century.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
Meaning of state Names.

Alabama is believed to mean 1.-The land
of rest" though one authority claims the
name means a glade or thicket of trees.
Illinois took its name from the illinois
tribe of Indians, VINO in turn were really
the Illini or Illiniwok, "the men,"
Kentucky is native name and means
bloody ground. Many conflicts took place
there in early days.
Oklahoma means "the beautiful land, "
strange to say. 1t consists of prairie.
The name Oregon is derived from the
Spanish oregano, "wild marioram" or
wood sage" which grows abundantly in
that State.
Rhode Island may have taken its anne
from the ancient island of Rhodes, or
from the name of an early settler. but it is
probable the name came about because OF
the fine anchorage or roadstead between
the island and the mainland.
Wisconsin takes its name from the Wis
consin River, which was derived from
Wiskonsing, "wlld running channel" be-
slowed on it by Joliet.
Montana means land of mountains.
Maryland was named in honor of Queen
Henrietta Maria, being called Terra Marie
in the charter first given.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
GIBRALTAR A STRATEGIC POINT.
1t Is of the Utmost Importance to the
English.

Gibraltar (about 1000 miles from Eng
land) is of immense Importance as being.
the great watch tower from which the:
movements of warships can be observed
and telegraphed as they pass into and out
of the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover,
situated as it is near the flank of our
trade routes both TO the Cape and to the
West Indies and South America, it is the
point at which vessels would naturally call
for news orders, coal and protection during
the continuance of war. When you con-
slider that in every second of time twenty
tons of shipping go out or come into our
home ports, and that, as matter of fact,
the stream is continuous and never ceases,
and that the value of the sea-borne trade
OF the British empire is calculated at
1890 600, 900, of which about f250, 000, 600
neither comes to nor goes from the United
Kingdom, it seems difficult to exaggerate
the value of the fortress of Gibraltar or to
realize the congestion of British shipping
which might seek its protection in war.
1t has at present no drydock. It's garrison
consists of seven companies of artillery,
four companies of engineers, and three
batteries of infantry. 1t is the meeting
place of our Channel and Mediterranean
squadrons. The roads do not afford safe
anchorage in all winds. and an enemy
could conceivably shell them if he
mounted heavy guns on Spanish SOIL
National Review.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
THE EMPTY NEST.

Blue, blue the sky, and glad birds sing:
So clear is Natures whispering
That my soul can hear the llly-bells ring.
The blades OF green and virgin grass
Caress my footsteps they pass;
But my sad soul chants a Requiem Mass.
Sweetly fresh the soft wind blows
With perfumed message 10 budding rose
Making its petals soft unclose.
To-day there is no grief or gloom
In Natures voice, nor sound Of doom3
But oh but oh ! that little tomb.
1t stands between me and the light:
'Tis all my dreaming in the night;
It shuts Gods sunshine from my sight
/ know He doeth what is best,
And angels lull my own to resi-,
But oh the little empty nest
MRS. c. w. KNOX
San lose April 80, 1885,
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
Capture of a Huge Devil-Fish
in the Bay of San
Francisco.
CAUGHT AMONG THE ROCKS
The Great Fish Was Hooked by a
Fisherman and Landed After
Hard Struggle.

A monster of the deep was exhibited at
the Clay-street market yesterday. 1t was
caught i'll the bay of San Francisco by a
fisherman. The monster was devil fish
the octopus caught in the waters of the
Pacific.
The fish weighed in the neighborhood of
100 pounds, and was of brown-gray color
1t had long fangs and the venomous
teeth that characterize the monsters of
the sea. Passers-by tarried to inquire as
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

THE IBIBLIoPHILE-J. w, City. The Baron A.
de Rothschild, the noted bibliophile, resides
in the city of London, England.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

FOUR DOLLAR PIEcEs-G. A., City. The minti
of the United States never issued for circula
tion any coin of the denomination of 81.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

THE GRAND ARMY-w. A. s., Fresno, Cal. The
annual session of the Grand Army of the Re-
public that was held in San Francisco was held
in August, 1886.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

AsHURsT COLONY. G., City. You can OBJ
tain all the information you desire about the
Ashurst Colony by writing to the secretary at
Kirkwood, Tehama County.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

THE CUBAN WAR-Reader of THE CALL, San
Jose, Cal. There is no place in San Francisco
where person may enlist as volunteer TO
fight for Cube
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

A TEN DOLLAR GOLD PIECE. A, City. There
is no offer of a premium for $40 gold piece
of 1S43 Dealers in old coins offer them for
from S13 so to $l5.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

JOHN BROWN JR.-D. R., City. John Brown
Jr., son of John Brown of Hsrper's Ferry fame,
died in Sandusky May 2, 1895.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

GREENBAcKs s-J. NJ, Dimond, Alameda
County, Cal. At no time during the war and
up to the time that specie payment was re-
sumed did greenbacks keep up their face value.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

PENsIoNs-E. w., City. An old soldier of the
army OF the United States, who is resident of
foreign country, can draw his pension the
States.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
AN: ARTISTIC
STONE WALL.
It BELONGS TO AN OLD RESIDENCE
: ON PINE STREET.

= w IN Z = INI-I-
In no city in the United States have so
many beautiful stone walls been built as
in: San Francisco. This has. of course,
been. due to- the fact that many of the
streets,are hilly. Most of the architects
of the present day lay out gardens in hilly
places In the form of terraces, as in the
Towne residence on California street, but
the men who did the work here twenty
FIVE or thirty years ago were given to the
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

JULES VERNE-Certes, Hslfmoon Bay, San
Mateo County, Cal. Jules Verne is still living.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

PRoTEsTANTs-W. C. A, City. The term Prot
estant at this time is generally applied to those
Christian bodies which are descended from
the Reformation of the sixteenth century and
opposed to the Roman Catholic and Greek
churches.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

To PRESERVE CoLoRs-Mrs. A. R., City. 1t is
said that the following method will preserve
the colors of merinos, mousselines de laine,
gingham, chintz and printed lawns: Before
washing any colored fabrics it is recommended
to soak them for some time in water, to every
gallon of which there has been added tea
spoonful of ox-gall. A teacupful of lye in
pailful of water is said to improve the color of
black goods when it is necessary to wash them.
strong clean tea of common hay will pre-
serve the color of French linens. Vinegar in
the rinsing water viii preserve the color of
pink and green goods and heighten these
colors, and soda answers the same purpose for
both purple and blue, The eolors of these
fabrics may be preserved by using strong
milk warm lather of white soap and putting
the dress into it instead OF rubbing it on the
material and stirring into the first and second
tub OF water large tablespoonful of ox-gall.
1t is said that the color of calico can be pre-
served as follows: Dissolve three gills of salt
in four quarts OF water; put the calico in while
hot and leave it till cold, and in this way the
colors are rendered per armament and will not
fade by subsequent washing.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

SUB-TREAsURY CHECKS j. A. H, Vallejo,
Cal. Checks drawn on the United States Sub
treasury at San Francisco must be cashed there,
as they will not be honored at any OF the other
sub treasures
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

A FRENCH COM. P. J. A dix centimes
piece coined in 1853, during the reign OF
Napoleon III, has no special value except such
person would be willing to pay for it as q
curiosity. The coin is not quoted by dealers.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

In the ant hills of South Africa have
been found suspension bridges, passing
from one gallery to another, and span.
ming gulf more than six inches wide.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

buildings near by are ugly in the extreme.
but if one can manage to forget them the
wall is well worth looking at.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

that 600 rounds are fired per minute. The gun
can be turned in any direction by means of
crank and the rate of discharge is controlled
by chamber, ingeniously contriyed so that
the gun may be fired rapidly or slowly as de-
sired. The recon drives the barrel back three
quarters of an inch, and it is this reooil that
controls the mechanism of the gun and makes
the discharge continuous
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

MUST HAVE LICENsE-A. C. A., Kelseyville
Lake County, Cal. In San Francisco, and. in
fact, in all parts of the State of California, a
person must have license to peddle anything
not advertise places in this City that sell tin
foiI
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

SERPENT's TEETH. W.. City. Serpents have
sharp-pointed teeth, smooth and arched
toward the throat Most of the venomous
ones have. however, in place of teeth in the
upper jaw, two fangs, through which the
poison is injected i'll a wound after bite.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

NUMERATIoN-A. NJ, Agnews, Cal. According
to the custom prevailing in the United States
and in France ], 500, ,0O0, 900 reads one billion
five hundred millions; according to English
Enumeration 1t reads one thousand five hun
dreds OF millions
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

Nor ExEMPT-U. s. D., Selby, Cal. Persons
in the employ of the United States Government
are not by reason OF such employment ex-
empted from the payment of poll tax in this
insane people, idiots and California Indians
not taxed
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

vesuvius, the famous Italian volcano, is
1892 feet.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

Italy exports 4so,ooo,OOo dozens of eggs
each year.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

Is A LorTERY-Subscriber, City. Any club
that is organized for the purpose of paying so
much a week or month and tnen draws num-
berS Tor the purpose of determining who shall
law that declares it is unlawful to dispose OF
property by chance.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

PREMIUM ON A DIME-Subscriber City. There
is no premium on dimes coined in the United
States during the year 1894, except those
coined in the mint of San Francisco and none
your time looking for dime of 1894 that was
minted in San Francisco, you will not find one
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

FOREIGN PARENTAGE-Mrs. IT, City. If child
is born of foreign parents in the United States
that child is an American by birth. If within
d year that child should be taken to foreign
country and be brought up there it would on
arriving at majority. have TO decide which
citizenship 1t would adopt, that of the father
or that of the land of birth.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

HFLAes-J. K, City. The law of this State in
regard to flags applies only to military COM
panies, which are not permitted to parade
with any flag except that of the United States
or that of the State of California. There is no
law that requires a society having flag of its
an American flag or an American streamer
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

DURRANT's TRIALs-Corresponden Sulphur
Bank, Lake County, Cal. Durrant having been
convicted of the murder of Blanche Lamont
and having taken an appeal, no further steps
will be taken in his case until the Supreme
Court decides that appeal He is charged with
the murder of Minnie Williams, but whether
he is to be tried for that crime will depend on
the result of the appeal.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03

PALIsADEs-G. H. T., City. The Palisades is
the name given to a long bluff or precipice
which extends along the west shore OF the
Hudson River in Rockland County, New York,
and Bergen and Hudson counties, New Jersey.
II is formed of basalt or trap rock, is nearly
straight, eighteen miles long and in some
places 4S0 feet high.