davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
MISCELLAyEOU Us.
Warrant Omeers In tho Navy.

To THE EDITOR OF The rs The last
number OF the Naval Register" showed that tho
United States navy has on the active list "a
boatswains, Al gunners. 80 carpenters. and IT
sailmakers. These constitute all tho warrant
officers in the service. About three times these
numbers are needed.
A warrant officers position is practically as
secure a. that of a commissioned officer. but his
maximum rate OF pay is less. and he does not
enjoy all of tho social advantages that are &C.
corded to q ward-room officer. On the whole.
n warrant officers billet is a desirable one,
especially when on shore duty. and the exist
ence Of warrant rank Is n good thing for the
service in that 1t provides promotion for worthy
enlisted men. The sea pay Is 81. 200 per annum
cessive periods OF service. until, in twelve
years from date of appointment, It becomes
$1,000. Warrant officers perform much us-.t /
work on board shin. and their intimate practi-
cal knowledge OF the shin and the men enables
them to replace commissioned officers in case of
emergency. In fact. il there were more war.
rant officers the limo officers would he re-
now falls to their lot. A Lieutenant who stands
niGht watch, which can be Just as we'll per-
formed by n warrant officer. or even by n petty
officer. cannot be blamed for growing at his
fate, especially as during the day he has his
division TO drill and 10 kept from making up
lost sleep.
Or ench ship there must be several thoroughly
educated line officers for the important duties
devolving upon them. but the watch standing,
and even some of the drilling. might be done by
gunners, ~ooatswains, and carpenters.
PRACTICAL.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
THE TRUE Walt HHITMAN.
His Personal characteristics as Described
by an Iutimnte Friend.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: "Walt
Whitman the Man." by Tom Donaldson of
Idaho, OF tho Clover Club, OF the Smithsonian
Institution. OF the Federal Land Commission,
of the Indian census, of the Tariff on American
Art, OF the Blaine campaign, OF the CAtlin Gal
lery, and OF several other more or less eItraor-
binary undertakings and enterprises. receives
scant Justice at the hands OF the reviewer In
THE SUN as to Its chiemerits, 1t seems to me.
Your reviewer peremptorily disposes of Dom
aldson's book, apparently because the Phila.
delphian had little real sympathy with or ap-
probation for his (Whitman's) writings"
knew Walt Whitman well for sixteen years,
and Donaldson for nearly that time. ! don't
suppose that either Whitman or Donaldson
would assume that the latter had a great deal OF
sympathy or appreciation for Whitman as a
poet, and. II you stop to note 1t. you will see that
this Is not claimed. for the title OF the book Is
walt Whitman the Man." and Donaldson
gives but one short chapter to Whitman the
author. But they had much real sympathy for
and appreciation of each other. / maintain
that whoever wants to know Walt Whitman the
man must read Donaldson. and I have reason to
know that Whitman himself, so far as he had
any desire in the matter. would 30 desire. In
fact Donaldson's biography Is. as the diploma
fists say, inspired"
You Will see from letters which | enclose that
1t was Whitman's desire. on occasion. that l
should write about him. and perhaps ] may be
pardoned for saying that the old man at tho
time said tta his desire was because he thought
| understood his poetical purpose and him per-
sonally. ! never did write about him, and don't
propose to now. except briefly, and to say that
whoever wants to know Whitman tho man
must go to Donaldson's hook, because Walt
knew just about what Donaldson would cay. and
approved Of 1t, as far as he would approve of
anything OF tho sort, which was not very
highly. knew II, because Walt In effect told
mt 30. Moreover, DOnaldsOn's literary artless-
ness and l0rInlessDess were Just the sort OF
thing 10 suit WhitmaI,w who had an uncOnven-
uonal dislike for form IN other mems work, as
we'll AS In his own.
The Whitmanites. like most fadGists. like tho
devotess Of Jones Very, William Blake. or Ar
thur Hugh ClonRh, are In such deadly earnest
over their peculiar discovery OF their author's
p~oetical gifts that they place him on a pedestal
20 high that they lose sight OF the one great
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
Tho Battle or Cedar Greek.

To THE EprToR OF THE suS-str: I delayed replying
tow" OF the Union Club. as I fully expected that
there were still enough survivors OF the Sixth and
Nineteenth Corps who would have been willing to
como forward and by their testimony remove tho
slur that had been cast upon both them and their
commander.
Az n friend Of Sheridan. I yield to none in admira-
tion OF him; still. I would not sock TO glorify him at
the expense of tho gallant Officers and men whose
common bravery raised him to the height which no
now occupies as one OF the foremost soldiers OF
American history.
Gen. Wright, the commander OF the day. still 1ives.
Gen. Getty, Gen. Frank Wheaton. and Gen. Louis
Grant are also, / believe. alive. DIR. Stevens. the his
torIan OF tho Sixth Corps. is the accepted authority on
this subject. II all these fail w. will then furnish
him with the details.
Regarding the statement OF wv" that the confed.
crates occupied the camp OF the Sixth Corps, II must
be borne In mind that two corps could hardly hold q
position Intended for three: and n fank movement
had to be made in order to gain a position favorable
for q fresh attack.
In my previous letter I stated that Gen. Wright
~"commanded both In the nnai charge and In VIC
tory" Your compositor made II read that Wright
commanded In tho nrat charge and In victory.
An ADNIRrR OF SHERIDAN. but A LOVER OF THE TRUTH.
New YoRK. Dec. 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27

The Plight OF the British Ship amoenA In
- Gale on Cape Horn.
From the san francisco Examiner.

From the san francisco Examiner.
The British ship Samcena zane into port early
this morning from Swansea. England. after q
voyage lasting so days. we'll trimmed and in
perfect order, little looking as though she had
passed through storms that for nearly two
weeks left her all but a wreck in the stormy
seas Off CAGE Horn. For three days she was on
her beam ends with her starboard rail under
the water and bows buried deep in the seas.
while all hands worked beneath her matches
trimming Ter shifted cargo.
The gale commenced on Oct. /. when the
vessel was In latitude 51' south and longitude
come from almost every point OF the compass.
All the while The storm kept increasing in VIC
rapid succession struck the ship almost broad
side, and, breakipg over her decks. filled her
her decks a squall struck her square abeam
and the two forces combined rolled her over
TN she lay almost on her side with her ward
arms dipping In the water. 1t was an anxious
moment for the crew. Every instant the big
vessel threatened to ~capsize. Then a huge
wave struck her almost full astern., lifting the
vessel till she plunged her bows deep under
the water. At that moment tlere was a roar
and n rattle from below her decks as her coal
cargo shifted. and the big ship lay with her
star rail under. the water and ner stern
pointing up in The air at such hn angle that
only hope OF thc.crew was to get into the hold
and shovel her coal cargo back from whore 1t
bUlIJeu unu TlEDJ lHo NtSscl DdCh ON IN even
keel. For three days they worked. the cook
AMONG the rest, who could not even he spared
long enough to prepare meals for tho men.
Hard tack was passed around to tho sailors rs
hey labOred.
With the vessel buck on an even keel the
men were given comparative rest, but II WAS
not until eleven days after the commence
mcnt of tho storm that the gales moderated
sufficiently for any canvas to be spread on
the ships spars so that she could be headed on
her course again. The long hours of work and
the continual exposure TO the weather had told
m the mon and when fair weather main nv
o"ed the vessel eiLht Of her crew were in the
ship's hospital. Their legs and arms were
swollen. H. was not until the vessel reached
the warmer ATTITUDES of the equator that they
recovered sufficiently TO attend TO their duties.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
THROWN BIZ 4 NATURAL oArAPuL
A wildcat Dashed TO Its Death in an Ode
Manner In . Pennsylvania Forest

A wildcat Dashed to Its Death In an Odd
Manner In . Pennsylvania Forest.
A wildcat was killed in an odd manner near
Little Flat Settlement. Pa. last week. Tho
cat was not Q very largo one, being a yearling,
and was inexperienced or.it would be alive
to-day probably.
Baxter Johns, who lives on Gallo Brook,
chopped a big hemlock tree down in the noun
tain behind his shanty. and the tree In fall
ing took with It q small second growth birch
six inches through at the butt The birch was
bent down in a curve and was held b It's top.
Some time that night q RABBIT went under the
hemlock TO browse, and the wildcat winded It
and began to stalk along in the hopes of getting
close enough for q spring. which It did after
era wiling along with its belly in the snow for
O dozen rods.
When It leaped It made q mistake by plune-
ing down through. tho birch TOP. The plunge
loosened the branches as II they had been hair
the wildcat with It. The cat was thrown
against n spruce tree three rods away and had
It's wnole side smashed in and then fell to the
ground and after a few struggles died, and was
found on the following day by Johns.
The rabbit jumped twelve feet down tho
mountain the first time. and AS far several
times after then, sliding three feet over an icy
place. and did not stop on the ha. II lie that the
woodsman followed II. That fact makes
Johns think the rabbit was scared by the &C.
currence.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
N ULIsTIC DOCS.
Hunters That Go In Search OF Gamo whsl,
In Their Dreams.

Hunters That GO In Search or Game While
In Their Dreams.
Tho story in THE Sun OF the Denver woman
who has been sleepwalking in a way to aston
ish folks reminded q group OF sportsmen who
were sitting in a Broadway gun store last Mon.
day of 'cvaral instances when dogs. or cats,
had done Inns almost as remarkable. One
OF the stories was TOLD by a man who has used
a pointer in hunting Quails In the South.
He was q fine dog. Seth was" the sports.
man said. He could wind a quail further or
road one faster than any other dog / ever used.
and he was so steady that ono couldn't see him
breathe. He was n great dreamer and used 20
do all sorts of things. One night he lay do wn
before the fireplace on a bear skin l got down
In Missouri. | was sitting over by a table in q
comfortable chair reading some, but stopping
to think about my hunting trips more. The
wind outside mado a fellow thankful he was in
n house. 1t whistlcd so cold like. The wind
quieted down little and then Seth began to
get uneasy. He began to kick and whistle
with his half-oren lips. Pretty quick no got
IN and began to creep across the floor foot by
foot. going slower and slower. Then he
ss0ppef a snoke s'i to h III AS n ppS'' he a W pSln. as np ever Ho !
looked about him.; then with, hanging head
came over to where l was sitting and put his
head onto my lap attSr I'd petted him a little"
A man who as hunted deer with dogs in
Minnesota told about = big white and black
blOllch HhuUu tuNI no usCu III MS SIDTI.
Zone night" he said. I'VE were sitting or
l~ounginR before n big log fire in camp up on a
lake, ] Won't say where. because theresa LIT II
game there yet. Old Rove Vas lying a little
ways from the fire. snoring as all hounds do.
when he suddenly jumped to his feet md be-
gan to SNUFF around. We could see he Was
asleep by his eyes. He ran here and there and
then struck the trail sam, my PARTNER. had
made while dragging n doe in that afternoon,
ana away he went IN full cry. Whom he was
out of sight in the brush beyond the fire light
Bill gave q yell for the dog to come hack-he
was afraid the dog would get lost. But the
dog kept on and was out OF hearing beyond a
spur of a mountain in a few minutes. Three
days later the, dog had not yet returned TO
,amp. Bill and ! went still hunting to another
lake ten miles away, intending to stay all
night. but we didn't. We found Seth lying
beside u brook seven miles from camp half
starved. with rios showing-like ones fingers.
We fed him all the stuff we had 10 eat and
then led him to camp. We tied him up nights
after then"
feet in their slecp or whine and squeal. A few
had seen dogs lying on their side barking as II
in full cry after q fox or rabbit. and one had n
half bulldog that used To have a light about
one night In six. doubling up ana rolling over
oy itself. or with IA rug in its ia
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
HORSE AND PAoUGn GO THROUGH
The Accidental Discovery OF Deep Cavss1
In Pennsylvania.
Nrom the Philadelphia Press.

BELLKFoNTE, Dec. 24.-An immense cayo Was
discovered In a field near Pine Grove yesterday.
The discovery was accidental and came so sud.
denly that a large ploughing horse was precip-
where II WAS dashed To death Oh a projecting
edge of rock.
On Wednesday Boston Campbell was out In
a field near his home. He had a two-horsO
team with him and was working hard to finish
the field before dark. About 4 o'clock In the
afternoon. when he was driving his team d.
rectly through the centre OF the field, he felt Q
violent pulling on the reins which he held In his
hands. Looking up to see what WAS wrong With
the team. he was struck dumb with fear to find
madly tearing across the fields, but the other
one was nowhere In sight. While Campbell
stood. looking In amazement at what had hap
pened, the plough which was lying at his feet
also disappeared.
Campbell was thoroughly frightened by this
number of men were soon at the scene whore
the horse and plough disappeared, hut all they
could see was a great yawning chasm. A derrick
was erected over tho opening, and with a rope
and lantern Levi Morrison. a pluoky young
farmer, was lowered down into the dark re-
before Morrison could find a firm footing. Here
he found the horse lying dead on an immense
ledge OF rock, which proved to b6 hut u spur
projecting out from the side OF the cave. Nor
rison gave the signal again to lower linn, but
after going nifty feet further down. the rope
gave out, and he had to be hauled back without
having reached the bottom Of the cave.
Morrison says the cave Is fully 300 rect deep.
ana that the sides are coated with Rllstening
stones and crystals. After n direct descent into
northward through lodges OF solid rock; Run
ming water can be distinctly heard. ara there
Is every reason TO bel eve that the underground
stream ID very near TO n great cave.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
GEN. MILESS OWN STORY.
a FAMOUS SOLDIERS REMINIs-
CESCES OF 4 STIRRING oAREER.

Eroa che Counter TO the Command or the
Uaited states Army-Despernte Wounds
In the Civil war-Many Victories Over
Lndiaus-The Successive .Overthrows of
the Cheyennes, KIowas, and Cosanches,
the Sioux and Their Allies, the Mes
Ferees. tho Bannoeks. and the Apnches.
The book Of personal Recollections' which
aon. Nelson A. Miles has written and the wer-
ner Company has published, traces the main
features in the life of the only Union volunteer
soldier who ever rose TO tho head of tho
United States army. And although tho book
Is sinRularly reserved in some respects, the
strictly personal references to the four years Of
the civil war occupying only q few pages, yet the
reader cannot fail TO zee that the high place
reached by Gen. Miles was splendidly won.
Tho first Of his ancestors In this country was
the Rev. John Myles. who came from Wales,
was the pastor of the first Baptist church in
Massachusetts,, and also carried on q school
''for the teaching of grammar and arithmetic,
and the tongues OF latin, Greek. and Hebrew,
also how TO read English and to write" In
King Philips war his house was fortified. and
he was Captain of the local company formed
TO defend It. His son Samuel was graduated
at Harvard College in 1884, took orders In
England, and on returning to Boston became
rector of Kings Chapel while still q young man.
In 1883. and 30 continued tweney-nine years.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
TOPICS OF HI DAY.
POLITICS OF rHB DAE.
Gen. Hamilton on Mr.. Choate.

III ~ ~ OSNSNN
To TIM EDITOR OF THE sUNASr; The Union
League Club has put up Joseph II. choate for
Senator.
In tho great time of trial when was his voice
heard
He WAS silenti He ought TO transpose the .
at the end of his nome for the first vowel. You
can see the point. He downed my son. the late
Robert Ray Hamilton, for the Assembly of the
great State of New York, for one year.. because
he objected to any Mayor OF New York nity hav-
ing n million of dollars to spend for street clean
ing without some honest check upon the expen-
diturc OF so great q sum. Tho Mayor was then
aDemocratio Mayor, and no doubt party, but
more truly honesty, had to do with the suRRes-
ton of Robert Ray Hamilton. But his suRges-
ton prevailed. The Board Of Health, II l be not
mistaken, was appointed censor of the expendi-
ture Of that million Of dollars
Choate downed him for one year, only one
year, on the pretext that Robert Ray Hamilton
was initiating against the poorl When did q
Schuyler or n Hamilton initiate against the
poor7
have seen q mortgage drawn by my grand
father, Alexander Hamilton, covering what IL
now an immense property. His fee So; Choate's
with the transposed letters would have boon
$4,000 or $50, 900. am Scotch by descent and
"bluid i Is thicker than water" even IL It IL dead
blood turned to dust
We Scotch forgive, but we "dinna forget .
mean wrong"
Nearly 10 years old. I spoke for our country
and our dear Gag until nearly dead.
Senator Platt organized the late political CAM
paign magniicently.
The old fogies of the Union Club to tho con-
trary notwithstanding, Plat is the man for me.
There are many Assemblymen who remember
the late Robert Ray Hamilton. Dead. he
speaketh. ! also haveeome friends and am not
yet dead. SCHUYLER HAMILTON,
Major-Goneral Volunteers. U. 8. A.
NEW YORK, Dec. rs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27

from the Pal MaH Ga,eits.


From tho time. less than sixty years ago.
when the first steam vessel crossed the Atlantic,
the evolution OF the marine engineer has been
RAPID. but his Is the one class OF marine crafts
man that above all others has kept pace with
the dev .lopments OF this fast-speeding age. and
lie stands to-day the most finished product OF Il
century that has created more new types and
more new occupations than ans that has pre-
coded IL. The marine engineer to-day IL more
important than any deck officer. but his i'm
pnrtaDce Is as little recognized by the nOn-sea-
iaring man rs his identity Is concealed from
tho view of those who travel in ships. Down
in The bowels Of the vessel. he controls not
only the propulsion, but the steering. light
ing, pumping, anchOring, and ventilation of the
modern marine structure, and on the warship
he Is even responsible for tho manipulation OF
heavy guns. The eyes that steer the ship are
those Of the officer OF TIE watch, but the brain
that guides the ship to her destination and reg
mates her internal economy IL the brain of tho
marine engineer. His 10 the real responsibility.
and, we are afraid. his il the !enst share Of tho
honor that il given 10 those who serve their
country or their employers with courage and
devotion on the sea.
All the world heard OF the gallantry Of Capt:
Kane OF the Caliiope IN working his ship out OF
who heard OF tho struggle of the engineer
officers with the machinery down below, and
how many know oven the names OF themf
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
Physical Culture In tho Public Schools.

To THE EDITOR OF THE sUS-Sir: Against tho whole
sale ~demna OF physical culture In our public
schools expressed In two communications In THE Sun
last week ! wish TO enter a respectful but emphatic
protest. Whether or not the new method OF ex'
ercise will prove a failure remains to he seen.
Some form of regular and systematic exercise ia q
part Of the curriculum in every well regulated private
school. and that. not because It Is n - fad. or will
take well with the parents but because II has come
to he recognized as essential 10 the mental rs wei
as physical well-being. o. the scholars, shall those
VINO from choice, or force OF CIRCUMSTANCE attend
( be possible to give Z TO them say,
Teal cultur Is Thoroughly established in the pub
lie schools OF Boston, Chicago. 81. Louis, and Milwau.
kee. Why not In New No-S2
on several occasions | witnessed the graded gym
nastlcs as practiscd In n number OF the schools OF THIS
city for tho last few years, and from these o0serva.
Iconcluded that the systrnI was eminpntiy prac.
tical. Why It was deemed wise TO discontinue It, !
have failed 10 learn. Al amy rate, lot us 90 forward
by Developing the present. past, or some new method.
DEC. "a. A PARENT.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27

when Last Seen It Was Sailing the Sea,
on . Gull Under n Jury Rig.

when Last Seen Ht Wac Sailing the Seas
on q Gull Under n Jury Rig.
Tho London FS,ld tells this story: "A rat
was caught alive on board a British naval vessel
in q trap. and the beast was thrown from the trap
into the water without being killed. A large
gull that was following in the wake Of the
ship to pick up scraps OF food thrown over
board by the steward stopped several times,
endeavoring to pick the rat NJ. Once the
bird got too close to the rats jaws and the
beast grabbed II by the neck. After a short
fight, the rat succeeded in killing the bird.
When the gull was dead the. rat scrambled
upon the birds body, and; hosting one wing
seeded in steering for the shore. Whether the
rat reached shore or not is n question. since
the ship soon got ont OF sight OF the skipper
and its craft"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
Limited

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sfr: TnE SUNS pan of
having all public frRnchise o, sold at public auction Is
all right SO far as It goes, but don't you think that
after the Word auction there ought to be inserted tho
words " for a term not exceeding twenty-five years."
or some other fixed period : | doubt II the authorities
OF any city or town have the right TO lease or give
away 10 any individual, company, or corporation a
franchise for the use oi a public street, dock, or other
punt property forever.
i think II the case ever comes fairly before an hon.
est. Intelligent court OF last resort IL will be SO held
DEC ~. iSvA AMERICAN.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
A GREATER rELLOWsTONE PARK.
An Effort TO Get Congress TO Make n Pre-
serve OF the Jackson's Hole Country.

serve OF the JHcksOn's Hole Country.
There is a great tract OF land south Of the
National Park which sportsmen
wouid like TO see adued to that preserve. 1t
lie commonly known as the Jackson's Hole
country. and there are found moose. elk. deer,
antelopes. bears, and the small game and big
fish which 20 to make a region enjoy able to
the naturalist. But the beasts and birds are
being shot down ruthlessly by market hunt
ers and men who call themselves sportsmen.
The Senators of Montana and Idaho are said
to DO In favor Of adding Jackson's Hole To the
present para, withdrawing IL from so, tiers,
protecting IL from hide and trophy hunters,
The great valley Ms on the south west the
range OF the Tetons; to the east are foothills
crested with pines; on the north is the great
mountains, with such valleys as the Teton
Basin between. The Forest and Stream saws:
Truly this 10 q region worthy TO be pre-
served in It's native wildness, a region value.
less for settlement but priceless as . park n
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
Mus, Gu. Ice When No Chinook Blows.

''V"' ~ morning OreDOnidn-
Here Is an III wind. and a chinook at that. A.
Winans went TO Hood River at he beginning. Of
the cola snap and put everything in share for
pnttihg up io,OOO tons OF ice, The snow WAS
cleaned oil the ice and IL was al! marked OIL and
steam got up IN boilers at the elevate whom tho
chinook struck It. and In a few hours the ice
was gone.