davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01

made great effort to control himself
and make his draw. 1t was a white
bean.
Anderson came next, and he drew his
death-warrant, as did also Bagley.
Then IL men drew white beans in sue
cession- When it came to my turn,
there were two blacks and IS whites
still left in the cap. / drew black
beam That fact did not shock me, us
L had almost expected my iIl-luck from
the start, but it hurt me when the men
almost applauded- Only one to thir-
teen now,
1t was a singular fate which left
that last black bean in the hat Thir-
teen names were called off, and Is men
stepped up and drew, and each and all
drew white. 1t was the death-warrant
of the only man who did not put his
hand in the cap As soon as the draw
ing was over the 81 fortunates shool,
hands and congratulated each other,
and smiled and laughed. That was
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01

surgents on the war-distrac island of
Cuba.
On the northwest coast, about so
miles from Baracoa there is a natural
cove, we'll sheltered by fringe OF noun
tain pines, and it was the aim OF our
captain to reach this cove, where the Gu
ban patriots had for weeks been expect
ing assistance from their sympathizers
in the United States
For two days we lay off at a safe dis
lance from the shore, awaiting an OPP
portunity to clude the vigilance of the
Spanish gunboats, and run in, when,
through dense fog, we discerned the
outline of government cruiser beariug
directly for us.
1t was impossible to escape, for our
steamer was as slow as a tortoise, so
resolved to fight. We knew that cap
ture meant death, and we, therefore, de-
termined to sell our lives dearly. The
conflict lasted only Is minutes, and we
were boarded and captured, after we
had slain six of the crew of the Spanish
gunboat.
Our force consisted of 80 men; that of
the enemy was treble ours. In six hours
we went ashore, at little village called
Paramento, close!yguarded prisoners.
For II days we bore our captivity
with much anxiety, for we had not been
informed of the fate in store for Us.
On the 18th day an officer entered the
large room in which the 3S1of US were
confined. called on us to pay strict at
tention and announced that we were TO
be taken out and shot on the morrow.
An hour later he returned to explain
that he mad made u mistake. The NOR
ciful Spanish government would be sat
isfied with six lives instead of 50. We
had killed six of the crew OF the gun
boat, and it was to be life for life.
Gentlemen, it will be by lot, of
course" he continued, as he bowed and
smiled, land / am here to oversee the
drawing See! 1 have here 80 white
beans and six black ones. l will put
them in a cap, and each gentleman will
step up and draw as his name is called -
When he had announced that all
were to be shot, 1 heard no lamenting
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
HOW GUNPoWDER is MADE.
The Part That Each of the Three Ingre-
dients Plays.


dients Plays.
GunPowder then steadily developed
as mechanical skill constructed better
and better weapons in which to use it,
until to-day it has reached a perfection
of manufacture for various purposes
which allows it's effects to be foretold
in any weapon, even to the time it
takes a grain to burn, and to the dis
lance it will drive shot.
Roger Bacon's gunpowder was made
of saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal. Salt
peter is chemically called inter, and is
a natural product found bedded in the
earth in different parts of the world,
chiefly in India and China. Sulphur,
too. is found in natural state in many
volcanic countries like Sicily, while, as
is well known, charcoal is made from
wood or woody substances by heating
them almost to a burning heat in an
alright vessel, thus driving off every
thing in them but carbon.
Saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal are
still the only ingredients of the gun
powder in common use, although a new
gunpowder made of different materials,
is undergoing successful experiment. A
mixture of saltpeter and charcoal alone
would form an explosive, and sulphur
is added chiefly to make it plastic, or
capable of being pressed into cakes and
shapes All three ingredients have to be
purified by the most careful chemical
skill before they are combined. Then
an exact proportion of each has to be
measured out according to the kind of
powder to be made.
For the gunpowder generally used
you would find in every 100 pounds, if
you could separate the ingredients, rs
pounds of saltpeter. Is pounds of char
coal and ten pounds of sulphur; but it
would be almost impossible to separate
the ingredients, for they are not merely
mixed together as you might mix pep
per and salt, but they are ground and
rolled and stirred and pressed together
by special machines until they are al
most sufficiently united to form single
Iew substance.
This mixing process is called ''tritu-
ration" and the powder is thus made
into the form of big cakes, called press
cake. and then broken up, and screened
into grains of special sizes, or ground
to the fine powder used for shotguns
and revoivers- The large-grained pow
ders are still further stirred together
until the grains become highly glazed,
and these are called cannon powders. 4
lighted match may be held to a grain of
cannon powder and it will be found al
most impossible TO set it on fire, but
once ignited it flashes off very suddenly
and vioiently.-Lieut. John NJ. Ellicott,
in ST. Nicholas.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
HUMOROUS.

The Tall Man (angrily)-"TH get
even with you, sir" The Short Man
(easily)-s.You will have to get down on
your knees to do it.'-Boston Courier
Pop, what do you mean by a we'll
known man?" "a well-lSnown man,
my son, is one in the crowd about whom
everybody asks who he is-"-Yonkers
Statesman.
Tommy--Paw, what is a designing
villain?'' Mr.. Figg-.Oh, the descrip-
ton would apply to one of those poster
~ lists about well as anything.
indianapolis Journal
-Fuddy = ..PostIethwait is very
proud of his ancestry Why, he goes
hack to the pilgrims" Duddy-"Yes,
but, unfortunately, he doesn't stay with
Transcript.
-Rugby-"Our landIady is one of the
most expert caIculators in town." VIII
l,ins-''Is she?'' Rugby--Yep. We had
beans for dinner to-day, and she asked
me how many I would have."-Cleve-
land Plain Dealer.
Deacon Jones--@I trust You always
observe the Sabbath" Stakeholder
''Well, used to; but of late years find
it more entertaining to observe the way
other people observe the Sabbath than
to observe it myself. ''-Boston Trans
cript.
Mrs. Wriggles-''The rain is spat-
tering right through this umbrella all
over my new hat" Mr.. Wriggles-"I
know it. 1 got badly fooled on that
umbrella; but I picked out the best
looking handle in the rack. '"-Somer-
Vile Journal.
Talking about chickens" said the
rural citizen who habitually exagger-
ates, I've got the most remarkable hen
in the country "a good layer?'
That's her strong point. Why, SIR"
he said. getting excited as he talked.
"that fowl, sir, lays hens eggs as big
as nes."-Washington Star.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
A Unique Fence.

Years ago, when Thomas Thacher
built his great Colonial house in Rox-
bury, Mass, it was one of the grandest
houses in town. Mr.. Thatcher thought
it would be a fine idea to have a con-
tinual fox hunt on his grounds, and he
conceived the idea of having the fence
running up over the terrace in front of
the conservatory represent the chase
One of the men in the foundry followed
out his suggestion, and the result was
the most unique fence in the world
The fence is of iron, painted in natural
colors, and consists of low running
vines and branches which just BRUSH
the backs of seven hunters racing for
dear life up the hill. The dogs are
about five feet apart. The last dog is
still little distance from the fox,
which has looked back for a moment
to see how near his enemies are.-Chi-
cago Chronicle.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01

only natural. After the first ebullition
of feeling they turned to give us-the
six doomed men-their heartfelt SYM
pathies- We were not removed from
the room. They would come for US
soon after daylight.
What were our feelings? The first
sensation was that of a man comm 6
to after a fall which, for a minute, had
deprived him of consciousness. The
next was to doubt if we had not been
asleep and dreamed it all. After that
one man sat down in corner and wept.
y second lay at full length on the floor
with his face to the wall. A third
cursed and inveighed and hoped fo-
vengeance.
For most of the six the hours slowly
passed. 1 was still sleeping when the
soldiers came to march the six of US
out to the execution ground. We SHOOT;
hands all round, but only here and there
did one of the men trust his voice to
speak to us. Those who were to live
seemed most affected. Their faces wers
very pale and their lips quivered.
Two by two, with soldiers on each
side, we walked with heads up, bu.
had no word for each other. There
were scores of spectators to see us, but
we kept our eyes to the front.
Halt! We have reached the grounds
L had thought of the six of us standing
in front of the six new-made graves
but there were neither graves nor cof
fms. They stood us with our backs
towa.d a brick wall, and we knew il
had been made for just such occasions
as this.
Gentlemen, your eyes-the blind
fold!' said a lieutenant, as he came for
ward with several men behind Kim.
The last thing 1 saw was platoon
of "a men forming in front of us-four
to man. For perhaps ten seconds
shrank at the thought of the bullets
striking me. For perhaps ten more l
prayed that they would make sure work
of it. My hands touched the hands of
the men each side of me, for we were
not bound. 1 said "good-by' to each,
and they returned it. and heard the
others speaking a last farewell word.
1 heard the last man walk away when
the last victim had been blinded.
heard the platoon moving up nearer.
heard one street boy shouting to ar
OF her that the soldiers were about to
fire.
There was deep silence for n few sec
c,ids, and then heard advancing foot
steps.
Some one seized my arm, ard I was
led away to the right, and the hand
Eerchief removed. 1t was the -licuten-
ant again, and he turned me over 20
two soldiers with the remark:
HE is but boy, and the governor
his sentence. Take him back
to prison.
L had not gone 200 feet when there
was a crash of musketry and my five
comrades lay dead at the base of the
wall. Was 1 rejoiced? Strangely
enough. no-not for hours and hours
] had been so near death that 1 was
dead to myself and all around me.
Two months after, through the in
fluence of the United States consul at
Havana, a relative of my father, 1 re-
ceived pardon, and was not long in
returning to my home in New Orleans.
N. Y Weekly.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
USED A SQUIRREL FOR BAIT.
Californian Pulled a RattIesnake from
His k6Ie with a BushytaiI.

- a
His Mole with a Bushytail.
81 have always been an enthusiastic
lover of the rifle said ex-senator
Sprague at Sacramento the other day,
land during my hunting ips through
the mountains have had numerous en-
counters with rattlesnakes, some of
which were simply hair-lifting, and I
think I can safely lay claim to having
killed the largest rattlesnake ever seen
in this portion of the state.
1T was on the headwaters of Cash
creek, in Yolo county My brother
and I were returning to camp after an
unsuccessful trip for deer, and dis
covered the snake curled up in a recess
among the powders that Uttered the
canyon we were passing through.
GAS it was impossible to get a shot
at the snake, owing to it's sheltered po-
sition, procured pole and stirred it
up. After rafting angrily for few
seconds it came out and threw itself
into the creek, swimming handily.
with its head and six inches of its body
out of the water. We shot the snake,
fished it out of the creek, and found that
it weighed "a pounds and had 10 rattles,
several having evidently been taken Off
Another occurrence is seemingly i'm
possible of belief, yet 1 can vouch for
the truth of the story. Once while
hunting in the sink of Cash creek my
attention was called to the peculiar
action of ground squirrel I watched
it minute and then shot it, Hurry
ing TO the spot, nearly stepped upon a
large rattlesnage, which had evidently
been engaged in charming the animal.
''The snake turned at my approach
and escaped down a squirrel hole. The
thought struck me that possibly could
attract the snake out of the hole by
means of its intended prey, so cut the
squirrel open with my hunting knife,
put rough stone in its interior to give
it weight, took piece of Irvine and tied
it around the body of the squirrel to re-
tain the rock, attached it to the dried
limb of a tree and inserted it in the
hole.
1.-The squirrel slipped out of sight,
and shortly afterward when attempt
ed to withdraw it 1 found that my
scheme had been successful.
1.-THE resistance of the snake was
simply wonderful, and 1 had to exert
considerable strength to pull the rep
tile out. When it came out, it was with
a jerk, and to prevent it from striking
me in the face, L threw it over my head
The end of the limb snapped, and the
snake flew through the air and lodged in
thicEet of bucithorn brush, which it
was impossible for men to penetrate,
end so the snake escaped.
1.-The following summer, while hunt
ing in the same vicinity, shot a large
RATHER, and noticing peculiar swelling
in the body, / cut it open, and found in
the interior the same rock had placed
in the body of the squirrel, which L
identified by thread of quartz running
through it, the only difference being
that all the sharp angles were worn
away. the stone being perfectly smooth,
probably from the effects of food di-
Gestion during the year.''-San Fran
cisco Call.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01

On the contrary, men moved about say
ing that it was what we had been ex-
pecting, and that we would die like
men. Lips were compressed, but 1 did
not see one pale face. This new an
nouncement created something like st
panic. Only six were to die. Thirty
1.-TWO would be sent to prison. but all of
%them would live to see home and friends
zagain. In 60 seconds the face of every
man was CHASTITY. In two minutes all
were trembling Mild-eyed men glared
ssnbout them like wild beasts driven to
bay, and there were lips which bled
from the hard-set teeth.
Gentlemen, my clerk will call the
,roll, and you will draw the BEANS" said
,the officer, as he made ready. Each
man must show his bean as he draws.
and those who draw black ones must
stand over by the windows Now, then.
+. are you ready?''
The clerk could speak and write
F. English, and he had our names in al
piabetical order. The first name called
was that of Arson. and he hesitated
~ few seconds before advancing. Did
pycne hope he would draw a black
bean? I believe that every man CT US
hoped so. It would better our own
. chances
The man walked slowly forward,
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
Something serious.

Servant-Please, sir, don't you think
I had better go for the doctor; Master
Johnny says he feels SO bad?
The Governor-Oh, that's nothing;
he's felt bad before this, hasn't he, and
got over it?
YES, sir; but not ON half-hol1:
dayi'I-Tit-Bits.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
Young seals Afraid of the Water.

Young seals do not know how to
SWIM They have to become gradually
accustomed to the water. either by en-
tering it to paddle about themselves. of
by being carried into it in their moth
er's jaws They have great fear of the
waves that break into foam, and as soon
as they see one approaching take to
flight in terror, and do not turn round
until they have assembled to a very hig;,
place above the sea--St. Louis Re
pE6l.c-
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
ON THE VERGE OF DOOM.
BY SELWYN LABADERE.

WAS only 10 years
of age when, crav-
ing a little excite
ment, 1 left m Y
home in New Or
leans, and enlisted
in the cause of Gu
ban liberty.
In a few days I
was on a fourt h.
T a t Z S t e a m : T,
freig n tie d w i t b
arms. a IN IN u II l.
t i o n a n d provi-
sions. intended for
the use of the in
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01
Col. NOTING peiinitIon OF Luck.

There is no such thing as luck, :"
said the late Col North once Every
body in the world has chances Yes,
everybody, from the working collier
who strikes a seam of coal which was
never thought of by tie mining engi-
neer, to the colliery prop rietor who gets
information regarding that seam and
resolves to work it, What people call
luck simply means that man sees
his chance, holds on 80 it, and at the
right moment works it for himself.
sLuck?' Nonsense, Luck is simply
the faculty of Selling passing oppor-
tunities-''-SanF Francisco Argcnaut.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01

His Significant Statement
Johnny, were you ever whipped at
sehool?'
.Only by the teacheri"--Indianapo
Journal.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01

The title of emperor is of such ex-
allied dig nifty as to outrank that of roy
atty. AD emperor is the supreme head
at couDt-ies, some or all Of which a-s
governed by kingA
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01

BY Jove the stranger and the poor
are sent. and what to these we give t.
Jove IS tent.-Homer.
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09
GALLoPING DICK.

A series of stories dealing with the possi-
BILE adventures of humorous highwayman
in the days of Charles II of England forms
the contents of small volume bearing the
title of "Galloping Dick" The tales are
all of fantastic character and are written
in style just quaint enough to suggest
the mode of speech common in England in
those days. There are six tales in all, but
have no connection with one another fur
ther than that they are told by the same
person, Richard Ryder, otherwise Gallop-
ing Dick, and relate some of his fantastic
fortunes in pursuing his calling as gen
tleman of the road. The stories were
originally published in the New Review
and the Chapbook and are already known
to a wide circle of readers. Even
to those who know them. however, the
new volume will be interesting, as all the
tales are well worth reading twice, taking
rank in fact among the best short stories of
the day. ["Galloping Dick" by H. B.
Marriott Watson. Chicago: Stone e.
Kimball. For sale by William Doxey;
price cloth 81 251
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

1929 he established an iron foundry at Fair
field, Colum biana County, Ohio. For twenty
years William Mckinley Sr. was interested in
iron furnaces at New Wilmington, Ohio. From
Niles he moved to Poland because of the edu-
cational advantages of Poland Academy.
Shortly after he was associated with S. o.
Edison, uncle of Thomas Edison, to construct
iron furnaces at Black River now Lorain. In
1869 he moved to Canton with his family, in
tending to retire, but he enjoyed and managed
iron interests at Caseville, near Saginaw,
Mich, up to 1876, when he retired. He kept
track of his business with exactness up to
three weeks of his death, which took place
November "a, 1892.
William Mckinley Sr. was a man of char
acter and of the highest integrity. His habits
were frugal and regular; he was hard and
constant worker. While at times it was
struggle TO provide for such large family
(nine children) he conscientiously performed
what he believed was his duty and made
every possible sacrifice to educate and make
useful men and women of his children. In
all this he was more than seconded by his
noble wife, McKinleys mother. whose maiden
name was Nancy Campbell Allison. Mrs. Nc
Kinley was one of those rare women who are
destined TO shine in all sorts of good and use
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

Ohio's Presidential candidate; in the Sec
ond he considered himself bound to the
cause of Harrison. In each case fidelity to
his trust and to his friends caused him to
put aside the Presidency.
Twice declares the biographer, "had
Mckinley put from him nomination
which would have been purchased at the
expense of broken pledges
Mckinley is of Scotch-Irish descent.
James Mckinley, an emigrant from the
north of Ireland, who at the age of II
years, crossed the Atlantic with his rela-
tives in small sailing vessel at the begin
ming of the last century, was the father of
David Mckinley, the great-grandfathe of
William Mckinley. David Mckinley, as
shown by records in the Pension Bureau,
re-enlisted seven times in the War of the
Revolution hence Mckinley comes from
good fighting stock. AS to his parentage
we quote the biographer:
Niles is small Ohio city, and at the time
of the birth OF William, January %, 1S43, his
father, William Mckinley Sr., was managing
an iron furnace there. The McKinleys in
herited not only fighting qualities but the
skill OF iron manufacturing from their revolu-
tionary ancestors. The father took naturally
to this occupation and followed it until 1876,
when he retired. This was his business in the
early part OF the century at New Lisbon. In
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

ful work, whether in pioneer life or amid the
comforts OF our modern homes Mckinley
owes much to this good mother All the chill
dren were instilled with sound Christian ideas
OF life and with patriotism and love for their
country which made no sacrifice for it too
much. Moreover, the mother was an intel
lectual force and encouraged boys and girls
alike in their studies, and was ever ready to
surrender her own personal comfort that they
might equip themselves as thoroughly as pos
sfble for the battle of life.
Here we have a strong force in the develop
ment of the young mans character Many of
the wholesome traits which in after wears en-
deared the soldier and statesman to comredes
and fellow-countrymen may be traced to the
early teachings of the mother, who lives
to feel proud and happy over her sons achieve
ments. That her son should have won fame
is undoubtedly source of qualification and
pride to the mother; but her real happiness
comes from the TACT that he is man of honor
and integrity. To this plain, sweet simple
pioneer mother, who has experienced much of
the hardships and struggles of early Western
life, with q large family and limited means,
the fact that her son William is q man of high
principles and patriotic instincts and has
never ceased to love and cherish her is a
greater comfort than the fact that he may
some day occupy the White House.
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

The Allisons originally came from Eng
land. Abner Allison, in 1898, married
Ann Campbell, who came of Scotch-Ger-
man family, and these were the parents of
the mother of Mckinley.
referring to the regiment in which Nc
Kinley enlisted and to his military record
we have this from the volume:
The Twenty-thira Regiment was oficered by
three men whose alter prominence made this
command one of the most noted in the war.
The first colonel was w. S. Rosecrans, after
ward General Rosecrans, captain whose re-
nown is now worldwide, and whose services
later in the War of the Rebellion were import
ant in its suppression. The first lieutenant
colonel was Stanley Matthews, afterward Sem
ator from Ohio and Justice of the Supreme
| Court OF the United States. The first major
was Rutherford B. Hayes, afterward a general
OF great ability, thrice Governor of Ohio and
President of the United States
The official records indicate that McKinley's
military life and advancement were most
creditable. They show that William McKin-
ley Jr. enlisted as private in Company of
the 1wenty-third o. V. l., June IL, 1861; that
he was promoted to commissary sergeant April
10, 1862; that he was promoted to second
lieutenant of Company d, September %, 1862;
that he was promoted to first lieutenant of
Company E, February z, 1868; that he was
promoted to captain of Company G, July 20,
1864; that he was detailed as acting assistant