davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning times., 1896-04-22
SUGAR IN SUPREME COURT.

BOWERS Decision of the Bounty
Claims to Be Argued Today.
The cases coming up from the Federal
courts in Louisiana involving the pay
ment of the sugar bounty ciaims held up
by Comptroller Bowler will be argued in
the Supreme Court of the United States
today.
For the claimants, Mr.. Joseph 81. Choate
and ex-senator Henderson will appear;
the governmen Mt and Mr.. Bowler, it is ex-
pecied, will be represented by Solicitor
General Conrad and Assistant Attorney
General Whitney.
The morning times., 1896-04-22
Asks for a Receiver.

George B. Rose and other stockholders
IN the Granite State Provident AssJciatfon
of Manchester, N. H., filed a petition yester
day with the court In equity asking for a
receiver for the concern.
The morning times., 1896-04-22
TWO WIVES GIVEN DIVORCE.
AlbertaSuita nd lisa abeIIe Rudd Relieved
of Matrimonial Bends.

Judge Ha gner signed two DEGREES yes.
terday granting divorces, in both TO wives.
Alberta Suit married George T. Scott
June 20, 1871. On May 12, 1875, he de-
serted her and has now been gone for over
twenty years. When last heard from he
was in Seattle, Wash. She filed suit for
divorce October IL, 1895.
Isabelle Rudd was granted a divorce
from Theodore II. Rudd cn the grounds OF
cruelty. Suit in this ease was begun June
4, 1895.
The morning times., 1896-04-22
Movements of warsbins.

The cruiser Philadelphia reached San
Pedro, CAL. from Santa Barbara yester-
day. The Thetis arrived at Mare Island
yeste rday. The armored cruiser Maine
arrived at Norfolk yesterday from Hamp-
ton Roads
The morning times., 1896-04-22
knights Of Malta smoker

Arrangementshave beer made by Crusad de
Commandery, No. 1 so, H. and l. o., knights
OF Malta, for the smoker and banquet
to be held at the eon.mandery hall next
Monday
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11
A Wonderful New Light.

Quite recently there has been brought
out by the French navy mysterious de-
vice known as ala raiiere," or the "rat-
trap light" 1t is thing OF small dimen-
sions and is placed on the deck of the ves-
sell 1t throws out an electric light that
can only be discovered dead ahead. La
ratiere is constructed as follows: A square
box has within it at one end concave
mirror, in front of which is adjusted an
arc light. The light is focused upon
plano-convex lens placed midway OF the
length of the box, so that the rays of light
are projected through silvered tube as
bundle of parallel rays By the sides OF
the outer end of the siIvered tube are
placed two prisms, one of red and the
other of green glass. and through which
portion of the light passes in divergent
rays. At a distance of several miles the
light of la ratiere appears as a small point
and consequently difficult OF detection to
those not knowing the quarter In which
to look for it. Its detection is thus re-
duced to a minimum, as it can only be
seen within radius of few feet at such
distance.
The use of the red and green rays are
for the purpose of enabling the vessel to
whom the signal is intended to know in
which direction to steer so as to come
within the zone of white light should the
white ray disappear. By means OF this
invention night signals can be made when
flashlights and rockets might be useless
or liable to betray the position of the feet
to the enemy. 1t can also be used as
guide to a squadron in line, with all
other lights out, in dangerous attitudes,
as it cannot be seen either to the right or
left, but only dead ahead or dead astern.
The French Admiralty attaches great im-
portance to this light, and has taken
extraordinary precautions to guard it
against discovery. THE CALL for the first
time makes public its nature. For pur-
poses of maintaining the projection of the
light upon horizontal plane, which
otherwise would be disturbed by the toss
ing and pitching of the vessel, the lamp
is arranged to float in vessel containing
mercury, while an electrically connected
compass maintains the azimuth direction
OF the light at any set angle.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11
A Novel Theory Regarding
the Shapo Of Comets

In January, 1S46, peculiar thing hap
pened to Biela's comet. 1t appeared to
separate or split into two distinct comets
of unequal brig During February
the lesser of the two increased in bright
ness until it became equal to its COM
panion, and then began to grow fainter,
until in March it disappeared entirely,
although the comet continued visible
nearly month longer. Now, how shall
we account for this apparently awkward
fact in very simple way?
The answers is this: Bieia's comet was
what astronomers would call "binarv"
that is to say, it was double, or had two
nuclei which revoive about a common
center. The telescope shows us illustra-
tions both in nebula and in binary stars.
When the nuclei are in the same line of
vision from the earth and appear
superimposed, we see one comet.
When by reason of their motion
they appear to separate, we see two
comets with the phenomena pre-
cisely as described. Such system is not
SO staple as a wheel with single nucleus,
and when this comet appeared in 1852.
divided and with the brightness changing
do IL OuSn IL W. tAiS Wao pOoltAfCiy Abo Adoe
appearance.
But Donati's comet in 1853 presented
some entirely different features. Its tail
was marvel of beauty and appeared to be
spli. diagonaly into many stripes of nebu
lous matter which had no nuclei. Most
curious of all and most puzzling were two
great streamers which emerged from the
head In nearly straight lines, although
the "tail' proper was curved. How will
our guess apply to this problem? II one
tail should be curved, why was the other
tail straight? The answer must be simple
if it is to be true.
Let US look to the nebule for an answer.
Surely there must be one that can suggest
the answer. Indeed, there are several;
they are known as spiral nebule, and look
like great Fourth of July pinwheels.
Some of the spirals or spokes will account
for the curved TAIL and other spokes will
make the straight tails if viewed at an
other angle, which must of necessity be the
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

DIAGRAM illustrating the binary nebulse sys-
tenn which showed as Biela's comet. The
nebulous "wheels'' are shown in two positions.
The arrows show the directions to the earth
and the sun.
character. 1t must exist in conformity
with the great law which rules all the
atoms in space. How does this law mani
fest itself to US as we are able to see it ?
We see that every solid. such as planet,
is spherical in shape. We know that
every system is great fat wheel" and
that "a wheel within a wheel" is sim ply
a planetary wheel within a solar wheel
We know also that the bodies which are
not solid-the nebulous masses in space
appear of various shapes, but that those
which have definite shape are also great
fat ''wheels."
The more dense they are the nearer to
the spherical shape they become, and we
are safe ID assuming that the first point
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11
Soma Secret Appliances
for Modern Warfare

But very few of the many readers of
The CALL know anything about the con-
struction and operation of the numberless
little appliances that are used in modern
warfare, for the reason that such informa-
tion is kept secret, because the knowledge
OF the operation confers upon the nation
possessing it an advantage over other less
wise nations.
One of the greatest difficulties in Sc
curing accurate gun fire at sea has been
the want of definitely fixing the distance
of the object fred at. Heretofore the de-
termination of distances at sea has been
matter OF personal judgment and liable to
error. Now the navy employs met cd
OF ascertaining distances very much like
that used by astronomers in escertaining
the distance OF the stars; mathematical
operation by which the problem of
parallel is solved. 1t is based upon the
well-known rule of plane geometry; that
given the angles at which two sides of
triangle subtend from a known base line,
the length of the perpendicular is easily
computed.
When the occasion arises that the COM
mander of one of Uncle Sans warships
desires to know how far distant is a vessel
the electrical distance indicator" is
brought into requsition. Two officers take
their places, one al eac end of the ship.
These officers are provided with a form of
telescope called a theodolite, which is
mounted upon a vertical axis so it can
swing from side to side Underneath the
theodolite is semicircle OF German silver
wire, and light spring attached to the
end of the theodohte presses upon the
wire. Atany convenient place in the ship
is placed a specially constructed gaIvano-
meter, and conducting wires connect
small battery with the galvanometer and
with each of the theodolites. Now German
silver offers very great resistance to the
passage of the electric current, and as
each th"odolite is swung over the semi
circular German silver wire when the
officer points his theodolite to the distant
vessel the resistance to the electrical cur
rent is increased or diminished. This cur
rent is at all times circulating round the
galvanometer coils, and consequently the
DETECTION of the galvanometer needle is
governed by the amount of resistance
fixed by the movements of the two
theodol Instead of the galvanometer
scale being divided into degrees, as is the
usual way. it indicates feet, and the needle
points unerringly to that mum Der indicat-
ing the length of the perpendicular OF the
triangle, of which the distance between
the two officers is the base line, and the
distant vessel the vertex of the other two
sides
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11
An Intelligent Torpedo.

A very important feature in naval war
fare is the torpedo. By his device 1t is
possible to fire large charges of ex-
plosive underneath a vessel. Torpedoes
are of three kinds-fxed, mobile and auto
mobile. The irst-tae fxed-consist of
receptacles containing eunpowder or other
explosive, and are anchored at the bo to N
depth, and consequently its approach is
of channel or harbor. They contain
fuse and are connected with the shore bv
an electric wire, so that should an enemy's
vessel pass over them they may be ex-
ploded by the operator on the shore send
ing a current of electricity through the
wire. The second class OF torpedoes are
fired from tube by compressed air. OF
this class the Whitehead is a prominent
example. Nearly every warship is now
fitted to use these deadly and destructive
missiles. This torpedo is about six feet
long, made of bronze or copper. 1t carries
several hundred pounds of explosive, and
contains small engine actuated by COM
pressed air, for the purpose of driving tue
propeller with which each torpedo is
fitted. In operation the tube is pointed
toward the vessel it is desired to destroy
and the torpedo elected from the tube by
powerful charge OF compressed air.
Just as the torpedo leaves the tube
trigger is released, bringing into play the
little air engine within the torpedo, which
assists in maintaining the velocity of the
torpedo. They are fairly accurate for a
few hundred yards only and are not
adapted. to long-distance work. Once the
torpedo leaves the tube there is no means
of controlling the direction of its fight.
and the accuracy of its course Is depend
ent upon the care with which it is aimed
and the nature of the water currents it en-
counters in its passage. The third class
the auto-mo5ile-is torpedo that con-
tains propelling mechanism and steer
ing gear that are controlled from the deck
OF the vessel or the station on shore from
which the torpedo is fired. In some in
stances the motive power is carbonic acid
gas or compressed air, though generally it
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

What is a comet? Why does it have a
tail? Why does this caudal appendage
nearly always point away from the sun?
How can it be switched about the sun at
perihelion like an enormous sword and
still hold its shape? The strain would be
sufficient to break solid steel
All theories that have been advanced
have been rejected. No one pretends to
be able to prove any feature of the phe-
nomena presented. The field is wide open.
and any one has a right to guess. Suppose
we do some guessing and at the same time
use a little common-sense-very common
sense, indeed, for it is not very scientific
nor hard to understand. Every truth is
simple enough when we know it, and it is
quite possible that if we proceed on very
simple lines we may arrive at a great
truth.
To begin, the comet is not privileged
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

value. The little valley. only twelve
miles flom Los Angeles. is also wonder
full health resort, and though as yet some
what inaccessible except to equine motor
power, has been penetrated by several
wealthy men of Southern California, who
have built magnificent residences there,
by several sanitariums and by many fruit
growers.
The projected electric railway is to run
from Los Angeles via Glendale and
Verdugo Park through the Verdugo
Canyon into the valley of La Canada !;
along the valley from northwest to south
east, emerging in the vicinity of the
Devils Gate at Arroyo Park; thence
to Pasadena and back again to Los An
geles. Thus sort of belt line will be
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11
1ented Caste the Protected Electric Line From Los Angeles
and Doxric (-,to

For the same reason that the spokes of
the wheels, the spiral nebule, are also
covered and for the additional reason that
it takes light time to travel. The speed
of light is enormous only to our finite
comprehension-;t is slow in comparison
with the immensity OF space. This can
be easily illustrated by the stream of water
issuing from garden hose when the noz-
zle is suddenly turned TO one side.
But the speed of the water stream near
the nozzle is greater than away from it.
Quite true. but If sound travels faster
through dense mediums might not the
same be true of light?
The fact is that if any particular comet
be taken as an example. a nebul@ or
wheel can be found or constructed in imag-
inat:on which will perfectly account for it.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

PIECE OF WIRE bentto show two spokes OF
q spiral nebul8 which has twisted or vortex
shape. Viewed from the side one spoke is
curved and the other is straight.
nificantly upon our guess, and that is that
these condensations appear to move away
from the head with an increasing velocity.
This is exactly what they ought to do from
the nature of the spiral.
There is one feature common to all
comets which absolutely disproves all for
mer theories, and yet, singularly, proves
our guess to be a good one. A comet ap-
pears to get smaller and its tail to get
shorter as it approaches the sun, but
when it is leaving the suns neighborhood
the reverse appears to take place. If this
phenomenon results from the difference
in the intensities of the light of the sun
and the nebula it is evident that this diff
ference increases as the nebula approaches
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

COMET RoRDAME and plan of that portion OF
the spiral nebul@ which gave the effect as
shown.
formed, or, moreI.properly speaking, an
arc line.
1t is designed to utilize the two branches
of the Terminal Railway, as now con-
structed; that is, the branch which runs
from Los Angeles to Altadena, via Pasa-
dena, and the branch which extends to
Verdugo Park, via Glendale, will be con-
nected by an electric band. From Yer
dugo Park to La Canada, the Verdugo
road will doubtless be available. The two
rail lines. starting from common center
at Los Angeles, are not unlike the radii
of circle, diverging at about an angle OF
45 degrees, and the proposed line connect
ing them will thus form the arc.
DR.. J. D. Hineman, the inspirer of the
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

of manifestation of the solid body is near
the center of the wheel. ALI this seems
perfectly natural and no ones feelings
are hurt up to this point-but we can
not stop here. We must reason o little
farther.
A comet is nebulous body, and there
fore is ''wheel."
II does not look like wheel?
We do not see all of it; no more than
we see all of the moon Illuminated when
it is new. We see only such portions OF
the wheel as the sun permits us to see.
Can this be demonstrated?
Let us take ball of white-hot iron iato
the bright sunlight. 1t appears almost
black. We place it in the shade and it is
luminous. We then take two white-hot
balls and place one in the shadow of the
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

enterprise, is resident of Arizona, man
of wealth and the representative of other
Eastern capitalists, all of whom seem to
have faith in the growth and commercial
importance of Los Angeles.
DR.. Hineman recently had a conference
with I. e. Gibbon. vice. president of the
Terminal Railway, and it is now under
stood the Terminal Company is willing TO
entertain a proposition looking to traffic
or other arrangement which will facilitate
the execution of the plan as has been
roughly sketched.
]. Henry Dockweiler. formerly City En-
gineer of Los Angeles, has been retained
by the Eastern capitalists TO make plans
and otherwise assist the contamination of
the work, for which he is eminently fitted
by reason OF his intimate acquaintance
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

dame was also spiral. whirling nebula
or wheel, and that its plane when ex-
tended happened at that time to Intersect
the sun.
The spiral was very distinct, and several
of the "spokes" were intersected by the
shadow of the head. We would therefore
expect that if the nebul@ revolved per-
ceptibly these condensations of lllumi-
nation would appear to move away
from the head, and this is precisely what
did occur and was observed on July 13.
The same phenomenon was noted in
Swift's comet in April, 1892, and in
Brooks comet in October, 1893. There is
also another fact which bears very sig
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

case. This is made simple by assuming a
vortex motion or shape similar to pro-
peiler or windmill.
We all know that in perspective the
shapes of the blades--or spoKes, as we
have called them-are different. 1t will
be conceded that we view all bodies in
space in perspective; just as we do objects
upon the earth. In fact most of these
nebula are seen at an angle and appear as
ellipses or nearly fat disks.
Now let US apply our guess to the comet
Rordame. which appeared in the western
sky in July, 1893. Its tail was very well
behaved when first seen. but few days
later it presented a decidedly broken ap-
pearance with bright, irregular patches OF
light like lesser nuclei along the tail.
The explanation is that the comet Ror-
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

the sun and decreases as 1t leaves it.
Therefore the result would be as de-
scribed.
One might speculate indefinitely upon
the details of the relations between
comets and the nebul@, but the intelligent
readers can do this for themselves, and it
is unnecessary to fill space with further
illustrations. We all know what small
sunbeam shining into a dusty room looks
like, and il is poor law that is not
universal. If the dust was self luminous
it would be visible to US everywhere in the
room excepting in the sunbeam.
Astronomers are In general very fair
minded men, and if our guess appears to
them to be true one they will be glad to
say SO, even if it comes from very humble
astronomer. FRED Ct. PLUMMER.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

completely masked to the enemy, who has
no knowledge Of the presence of the de-
structive machine until the occurrence of
the fatal explosion.
This torpedo would seem to be endowed
with almost human Sentiency. tits under
the absolute control OF its operator, who
can cause it to sink or rise at will and to
move in every desired direction, and it
communicates to the operator continu-
ously its exact position as to depth, direc-
ton of movement, lateral drift, etc. 1t
also tells him when it contacts with the
enemy and the character of the contact,
whether it is at the side OF the enemy S
vessel or beneath it. Of course the man
ner of operating so valuable an arm of
warfare is preserved iealously guarded
secret.
Magnetic Attraction Used.
Advantage of magnetic attraction is had
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

are provided with flags or disks. so that
the operator watching them may see the
direction the torpedo is moving and SO
intelligently guide it to the object. Un-
fortunately, what is visible to the operator
is liable to be seen by the enemy. and the
success of the attack is thereby jeopar-
died to that extent; for if the torpedo is
discovered by the enemy it may be de-
stroyed by him before it can perform its
purpose. Qui e recently there has been
invented a naval torpedo which NOV at
all times below the surface at any desired
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

is electricity. The torpedo carries cable
several miles in length, which is paid out
from the body of the torpedo as it goes on
its way.
This cable consists of a number OF insu-
lated wires, over which electric currents
are sent by the operator to control the
mechanism of the torpedo and SO direct
its movements, making it go ahead or
astern, or stop. and steering 1t to the
right or left. The torpedo is almost sub
merged and carries couple of rods pro-
iecting above the water. the tops of which
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11
the Beautiful
Valley Of La Canada

The recent telegraphic news from Los
Angeles to the effect that an electric line
is projected into La Canada Valley was
not of startling interest to the public in
these times of political strife. TO few,
however. 10 whose ears LA Canada" has
definite sound, the news was received
with much pleasure. 1t means the open
ing of an almost matchlessly pictur-
esque territory, where olives, oranges,
lemons, and, in fact, almost all
fruits, attain wondrous growth and
flavor and a corresponding marketable
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

other. The ball in the shadow is lumi-
nous and the other is not. Suppose we
could construct great fiat, whlrling
nebula composed of white-hot bullets,
ana that the bullets were most dense or
nearest together at the center OF the wheel,
and then suppose that We could present it
edgewise to the suns rays. What would
we see? A comet, to be sure, for the CEN
trail mass or nucleus would cast a shadow
back over a portion of the wheel, and
every white-hot bullet in that shadow
would appea luminous.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

to construct machine that indicates the
presence of vessel in close proximity
that otherwise by fog or mist would be
hidden from view.
Curious electrical devices are also en-
ployed bv means of which any action on
board ship, such as the course steered, the
rate of speed, the direction of the wind,
and when in action the firing OF the bat
teries, are insiantaneously indicated to
the commander in his cabin and also auto
matically recorded upon the log.
f. NJ. CLOSE, Disc.
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11


the contin uation of the "spokes" toward a COM
mon center.
But there are objections to this?
Of course there are.
All comets are not the same In appear
ance?
That is also true of nebule.
All comets do not have tails?
Nor do all "wheels" lie in the same
plane. The suns rays must strike the
wheel on the edge to produce the longest
tail, and if they strike the wheel from a
vertical direction there might be no tail at
all.
But some comets have more than one
tail?
That is true. but it is also true that some
wheels have more than one spoke.
Why are the tails of some comets curved
The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11

stork has human heart. When one of
these birds builds its nest upon house
top they believe the happiness of that
household is insured for year.