davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15

began to pick trays CHI rkens of. He shot
seven OF them in such rapid succession that
Gray told him 20 stop shooting. rs he had q sure
thing This nraged Kellogg beyond measure.
into his gun and rainincd 1t down himself.
Then lie tonk deliberate aim at n coop OF chick
ems not over five rods distant. and before he
could be stopped let drive at II. she oh Spring
field belching forth such a tremendous volley
that twelve of the fowls were either killed or
wounded. and the coop torn open SO that the
rest were set free.
Gray now declares that he will hold no more
Thanksgiving shooting matches. hrCnnse there
is no money in them in these fnnl'-ifnding times.
But his friends say and hope that he will not
allow his time-hunored practice 10 lapse.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
SNu,KS FOND OF oNK BEES.
Plan by Whici. the Beasts Get the Husects
without Bring Stunr.

PORT JERvIs NoY. l4.-"Never before in my
memory have skunks been 50 numerous In Sui
iivnn county ms this year." said William
Cuirnrs of !iorkland. 1--WE killed no fewer
than tw"nty-onc of them myself the present
season, and IL ;hcy cont on as they have been
doing for tho past month. | vii! more than
douhlc that number. You see, | keep bees"
continued Mt. Na.Ines, ana skunks are very
fond Of bees. 1t do:'t make any difference 10
lh'i' whether tlieS are dead or alive; they seek
them lurl the SAME.
"~nne people are skeptical when tell them
tbal "A sknnH don't mind tnckling n hive of live
honey bees, but ITS III" truth all the same. for /
hay" O"ch y close observer nT these animals.
and when ! raw my I"ts disappearing from
some unk hown cause | kept walch, with the rs.
suit MA fhund II To hc the work Of The skunk.
J WAS mach interested in the method by which
the Nkunks %capturoi the insects without bang
stuas, They irSt pick ed up ali the dead brcs
which lay outside the hive. and then nelL their
tails 10 the entrance. TINS lad the effect OF
hr'gihg oNt the honey makers, aud in their
efforts [" sting they became entunRleI in Ihs
LONG hairs "f 'hr skunk's tail. and were then
there skuEks ALL be tonnd in plenty -
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15

There are lAO.c ducks AMI su"-c IN Barne1Rt
Bay. around The inlet, at the present time. than
have been known for year. aid the reports are
to til. effect that rcdhcads. cuuhead.. widgeon,
teal. and broadnills are plentiful. They are fat
AS butter. owing to the great quantity OF
yonng rnussels along shore. Ore professional
shot sends word that from Cedar Creek to the
Clam Islands there are blocks of them. but that
they rise at a passing boat and away they GO.
The best cunning up to date has been at the
Sedge Islands. and some fair bags have been
made on favorable days. This Is about the
only place worth visiting. Geese are appearing,
and t"o canvasbacks, very scarce here. were
shot last week. Long Island reports are also
good. especially from the lower ED OF the
island. at Good Ground. and around there. while
the Great South Bay promises to provide great
sport as soon - h" wea Ter freshens IA little.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
THE OUTLOOK FOR DUCKS.
BIRDS IN GREAT NUMBERS, BUT
TEhY WIND Just hOW.

More Ducx~ About B~arncEnt Than In
Many fenrs-S"w Devices for the WId
Fowi-r-The Latest Fashions In the
Weapon, Designed FOR ID TEX shooters.
Although the duck-shootinG season opened In
October, little has been done so far by the aver.
age wild fowler, for the reason that the birds
are yet too shy and cannot DO persuaded to en-
dure the sound Of n gun without rising in
'Ocks. and then gooh.hy to them for the day.
Reports from almost all sections give promise
Of nm unusually fine season when once the
abundant food supply is curtailcd and the birds
receive a little of that bnfcttnc by wind and
water which incline them to accept more readily
the conditions that make the harvest for the
wild fowler.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

science did not trouble us any over The
shooting. In the sand. under one of them,
We found a loaded pistol. and on another
a long knife. We dug a trench in the
sand and gave them a rough burial, and
then We had only to wait to see what
h SI turn ut Coombs was sure Hobbins
and would return by night and he was
right about II.
just at sunset two schooners came sailing
In. and we judged the number of men
ABOARD OF them to be at least sixty They
began firing on us before they were fast
to the wharf. and the girl was called down
from above to help defend the barricade.
Coonlbs was as cool as IL going about his
everyday duties, and, except that her lips
were bloodless and ner eyes shining the
girl showed no signs of nervousness. After
not fire for quarter of an hour the
wreckers suddenly swarmed over the bull
warks and charged us. We began dropping
them at once, but the weight of numbers
sent them forward. and presently dozen
OF them were pulling and tearing at the
harricade and firing at us through the crew
ices. Coombs was wounded in the side the
girl In the shoulder and 1 got a bullet in
the mouth, which passed out through the
right cheek. None of US knew that we were
hurt, however, until the wreckers had been
driven back. They left five dead and seven
wounded men on the sands, but were per-
mitted to gather up the latter and take
them aboard. This had only been accom-
plished when both craft set sail and made
on, and that was the last we saw of them.
We wondered at their going until we climb
ed over the barricade and found Hobbins,
among the dead. He was the ruling spirit
among the lawless fraternity, and when
he went down they were panic-stricken and
could not get away fast enough We had
killed ten men and wour ded eleven that we
knew Of. AS afterward aScertained, the
number OF wounded amo united to seventeen,
three Of whom died later on. We were left
in peace when the schooners sailed away.
snd when the government heard of our de-
Tense each of US received a medal and an
official letter Of thanks. / was picked I'D
by the tender on her next trip and never
saw Coombs or his daughter again. They
were there on the island when the great
gale came on, and after the gale no island
was to be found
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
A MARRYING PARTNERSHIP.
Which United Couples In Very Firm
Bonds.

While in town the other day Allen Weir OF
Olympia drifted into a reminiscent mood
and told the following to the Seattle Post
1ntelligencer man:
"A lank raw-boned Georgian named
Shaw, who lived at Dungeness, in Clallam
county, in early days was justice of the
peace. In the course of his duties as squire
many ludicrous incidents happened. He was
very illiterate man. and talked habitually
in southern negro dialect. Upon one occa-
sion Shaw was called upon to officiate in
performing a marriage ceremony, uniting
his partner. Thornton. in wedlock with a
fair widow. The affair was public and ex-
cited much interest. 1t occurred on Sum
day afternoon, when everybody for miles
around had come to town.
SHAW had creased his boots in honor of
the occasion, and wore his brand-new
buckskin 'galluses' conspicuously. Before
commencing the ceremony he impressively
removed an enormous quid of tobacco as a
useless obstruction to free articulation,
hitched up his pants and sailed in. Trans
fixing the culprits with his eagle eye, he
sternly ordered them to stand I'D which
they proceeded to do in fear and trembling.
The large audience was on tiptoe of expec-
tatlon, and the GREATNESS silence was
pfoken by Shaws pompous inquiry of the
groom as to whether or not he intended to
take this hyer womern as his lawful welded
Wife etc.
Thornton, who was little slow, and had
the appearance of bashfulness, shifted I'M
easily from one foot to the other, and finally
said that he guessed that was the calcula-
ton.' Upon receiving satisfactory answers
to similar questions from the bride, Shaw
stretched himself to his full feet 2 inches
OF height, and. after surveying the crowd
impressively, proceeded to declare in awful
solemnity: Now. therefore, what me and
God hev Joined together let no man put
asunder.' AS nobody offered to put them
asunder after that they at once began to
live happily ever AFTER"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

and, in spite Of his fleight-of-hand, he
would have less chance to presto-change
them into his hidden handy pockets. The
adoption OF chips makes necessary cash
busy banker. in making change. Lending
money to likely players at usurious rates
Is also one of the Industries Of the club
and Casino proprietor. He would naturally
rather lend in chips, because they cannot
get away. And finally Europeans. at least,
will bet higher with chips than with bank
notes. AS 30 the croupier, his unique mis-
sion Is to rob the banker. Does the banker
franc chip. 1t is almost impossible to catch
croupier in the act The robber, his eye
fixed on the unfortunate banker. chooses
the moment when the latter. anxious and
third card and mentally balances the
amount of money on each side of the table.
May Manipulate the Cards.
1t Is always the banker who is thus rob-
bed; but as the banker changes continu-
ally, yet 1t is always one Of the great outside
public, who is robbed as though by pick
pockets. Did 1 say the banker is always
one Of the great innocent-mnded public?
Not always The Casino and club proprie-
tor can also hire and introduce Greek"
or flosophe, and pay him as high salary
as an opera tenor; or the cunning-handed
expert may slip in himself with his mark
ed cards. with the connivance Of croupier
or even more humble assistant. Baccarat
is peculiarly open to trickery in this re-
gard, beca sc no box" has been invented
for 1t. as in faro, and the back of each
card Is seen by the banker before being
dealt. To those who know what second
dealing is-they call it filage, whence the
filosophe in French-no further explana-
ton will be necessary. The French govern
ment has Its inspectors in all these casi-
nos, but how can a two-dollar-a-day In
spector detect fraud quicker than the keen
eyed, If believing, public2
The public wishes to believe that all is
fair, and hopes on always. Yet 1t is only
natural that it should yearn for roulette
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
The White House of Mexico,

From the Ladies' Home Companion.
General Porfirio Diaz and his family have
two places Of residence. The Castle of
Chapultepec Is the white House" of the
nation. and lies two miles from the City Of
Mexico. 1t IL occupied by the family dur
ing the rainy summer season only the dry
winter season being passed, for greater
convenience, at the private residence own
ed by the president on la Gale de la Ca
dsna. in the capital. and which counts
as part of the 100000 of wealth
held by the head of the Mexican
nation. Chapultepeo is probably the
finest official residence on the continent
and it was for this property that it Is COM
mcnly reported the late Mr.. Jay Gould Of
fered the Mexican government close to
SO, 100000 in Mexican silver asa southern
resort for himself and family, but which
was promptly declined. The approach to
de la Reforma, the magnificent boulevard
laid out by the Inflated Emperor Maximil-
Ian and his now mentally deranged queen,
the Empress Carlotta. The Paseo, with
and Avenida Juarez, connect Chapultepeo
with the national palace on the Plaza
Mayor, three miles distant in the city.
The walls of the rooms of state in Cha
the coat of arms of the republic of Mexico.
heavily hand invoked with the same ma
terial. and all the other tapestries are Of
the finest quality. the same costly rule
applying to the general furnishings Of both
residences Of the president. At Chapulte-
pee many Of the pieces Of furniture in use
have come down from more than three
centuries ago. while each succeeding ad-
ministration during that time has added
some touch or other to the palace home of
the Mexican ruler. There are priceless
paintings from the royal galleries Of Spain
and Europe; furniture with its pearl mo-
safes and gold and copper inlaying, costing
fabulous sums; rugs from the orient,
splendor, and many tons Of the finest Of
italian and native sculpture In statuary
and massive urns Of finely grained marble
and alabaster. Yet the general arrange
nisbings exceedingly well distributed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
DEFENDING THE LIGHTHOUSE
By G. B. LEWIS.

Copyright. 1890. by the Bachelor syndicate)
was a small island OF the Florida peninsu-
la known as Shark Island. and on this was
a lighthouse to warn vessels on the Florida
reefs. In the spring of 1861 q terrible gale
blew for three days and nights and when
1t had ended Shark Island had been wash
ed away and the water was ten feet deep
on it's site.
From 1S4S to 1858 the lightkeeper on
Shark Island was a man named Coombs.
He was a widower, and his only child was
daughter named Kate. She was four
years old when he took the light. and in
1883, when he died, she was fourteen, and
had not been of the island half a dozen
times In her life. Coombs had been a sailor,
and was rough and uneducated, but he had
brought a woman to the lighthouse to be a
companion to his child and educate her up
to certain point In July, 1858. this wo-
man died while on a visit TO the mainland.
Two weeks later a ship was wreck ed off
the island In gale, and among the wreck
age driven ashore was big trunk, contain
Ing about thousand dollars In gold. Those
were the palmy days OF the Florida wreck
er. who was little better than Malay
pirate. In following up the wreck they
somehow learned of the gold and they at
first proposed to share it with Coombs and
ed to hand over any part Of it they plan
ned to take all by force, but at the muzzle
Of rifle he drove the gang Off the island
Two days later the lighthouse tender Morn
ing Star made the island on her regular
monthly trip to leave supplies, and l was
one of her crew. The gold and a lot of
other stuff picked up from the beach was
taken aboard, and l was left behind 10 Sc
cure whatever else might be thrown up,
and also to aid in protecting government
property should the wreckers call again
and proceed to violent measures They
were a class Of men feared on shore and
sea alike. and in a dozen instances on that
lonely coast had driven out the ligh.keep-
ers, extinguished the lights and made of
with the supplies. 1 was given two mus
kets and plenty of ammunition, and as
Coombs had rife and his daughter a
shotgun, We considered ourselves pretty
well armed against an attack
For three days all went we'll. Coombs
was inclined to be silent and taciturn. and
his daughter shy and suspicious but we
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

thing at Enghien. and. indeed, 1t was
pleasant to sit beneath the trees and
listen to the excellent orchestra. All
around were decent m.ddle-class French
families, little boys and girls. young men
and maidens, and their kind, indulgent
parents There was no beer guzzling, as
IN a German garden. Nearly every one
was taking orangeade or ginger pop or
coffee. The young ladies were sweet and
modest, the young men mild and worthy,
the married couples arch and tender, the
old folks somnolent-benevolent. The
afternoon was passing gently by. Then
ell at once smart young man came out
on the Casino porch and rang an ordinary
dinner bell. Immediately we all jumped
up. the young and old. the great. and
OF imbeciles rushed blindly to their fate.
Was it to play or only to seer I was well
posted on the banks Terrific II per cent ad-
of time l had lost seventeen francs. A
nice middle-aged lady at my side lost
twenty fraEcs, burst into tears and left
the hall A little girl Of fifteen sulked
some more two-franc pieces. A young
married couple quarreled in full public
And TWO old gentlemen had words as to
which had spoken for the last remaining
ticket of a certain race.
Where the little horses steal their money
from unthinking trippers, the baccarat,
en'hroned at every beach and bath and
spring relieves the more leisureiy and
N6ieiiSi SheStS VI tue HOtelS ana Villas.
Bsccarat is the most honest looking of
ell banking games In this, that the bank"
changes frequently from hand to hand and
any one may take it who bids high
enough. The Casino simply furnishes the
hall and utensils and contents itself with
rake-off' or kitty" which does not
amount to per cent. Any one may bid
for the bank. 1000 francs. 5000 francs
the highest justifyfng his bid by producing
the capital and playing it against the
two sides of the table Of which he forms
the head or center.
Playing Baccarat.
The banker deals two cards to each side
of the table and two to himself, each side
winning or losing independently against
him. The best combination Of cards is to
have the number 9, which may be formed
by 81, 3-6. SAGE or 8. and any picture
card. Only the unit counts in the addi-
ton. SO that 8 and 5. for example, which
add up IA, count only 4.
AT or you throw down your cards,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

play the little horses. Insignificant resorts
Ike Enghien, six miles from Paris, have
the eight-zero roulette to tempt the Sun
day .ripper
The hippOdromes or little horses give the
best Illustration of the height of the gam
bling fever among the French. Originally
they were tolerated because they were look
ed on as pastime over which no one
would risk more than few francs. At
roulette, which is forbidden, there are thir-
ty-six numbers and zero. The bank pays
thiTty-fye for one when your number wins
tfus having for itself 1-3I advantage or
3-l1l. that Is TO say, .rifie less than 3
per cent ON the simple chances Of ed and
black, only half the bet Is taken when the
zero wins, so that the banks advantage Is
Teiuced 10 IL per cent. This advantage Is
not considerable. but IL is so real ard in
dlsputable that IL produces enormous
profits. The refait al trente-et-ouarante
which game is also forbidden in France,
gives an advantage 10 the uank Of 1-3 per
cent But here are the Innocent little
horses freely running in the territory Of
the republic There are nine numbers, and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

there anything to be concluded from 1t?
Nothing. If during the last hundred years
black Is really in retard thousand turns,
1t may very well continue In retard ten
turns more. There Is then no reason to bet
on the black. But I have still less reason
10 bet on the red-if believe in equiIb-
rium-because the red already seems to be
ahead
There are some who seek to let their
money lie and win four times, doubling it
self each time. They lose, generally if
teen times in sixteen. There are those who
bet against a color coming out four times
in succession, doubling each time until
they win. They usually lose only once in
sixteen times-though it Is true in that one
time they lose what they had gained be-
fore.
All the turns are new. The last turn
gives no light upon the present; the pres
ent gives no light upon the next.
The players OF parlois often lose little
sums with the faint hope of gaining great
ones; the payers of martingales gain little
sums frequently. to lose their total back in
g bad run. In the fulness of time every
thing finishes by equaHzing itself, except
expenses. salaries and the profits Of the
refait and the zero.
STERLING HELLO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08

attacked he should do his best to beat them
on. Hobbins laughed q wicked laugh and
returned to the schooner, which. you will
understand. was within pistol shot OF US.
Above her rail we could see the men maxi
ing preparations, and all of a sudden nine
or ten OF them. led by Hobbins In person,
mace a. dash for US. They had arms IN
'heir hands and murder I'm their hearts
ana We did not hesitate to fire The girl
nate Killed man from one of the win
dows COMBS killed another and the man
! aimed al went down with a bullet in the
mp. Our Nolley stopped the charge and az
the gang halted the keeper seized an extra
musket and wounded another man. Those
who could use their legs FASTENED aboard
81 the schooner and two or three minutes
later sharp fire was opened on us ali
along her port rail. We retired into the
lighthouse and let them waste their lead.
though We could easily have picked of
the rail.
The fusillade against us was kept IN
LOT quarter OF an hour. and then Hob
pms waved handkerchief and demand
ca 70 know IL We had surrendered Cooml6
replied that We had not, and did not nrd.
pose to. and gave them liberty 10 remove
their wounded 10 the schooner This offer
Trey took advantage Of and also gather red
up the weapons OF the dead, and for an hour
after they returned aboard everything was
quiet. During this interval the daughter !
came down stairs TO ask what the next
move would be- She had killed a man 1
hrins only one shot, and she had heard
the awful threats uttered by Hobbins. I.
out she was not even nervous over tho
situation. I had been biting NV lips and
ieeling weak in the knees, and her cool
ress put me to the blush Coomhs said
the wreckers would come again, and that,
having entered upon the fight they would |
nang by US for days II necessary Tho
hght was one which had long interferedi
with their piratical operations. and now
they would seek to destroy il and secure
revenge at the same time. The second !
attack was made without warning and
was participated in by all the men ahos I'd
the schooner. 1t was well for us that We
We're on our guard. About twenty men
came dashing at lis. cheering and yelling. 4
l had two muskets and a pistol Coomhs Al
rifle and pistol. and the girl a doubls-i
barreled shotgun. Some of the men reach
ed and sought to tear away the barricade
but they could hot stand cur fire Three
were killed in their tracks and two badly
wounded, and again they sought shelter
ABOARD the schooner. While they were
retiring Coombs leaoed the barracks and
secured a shotgun, two rifles and a lot
or ammunition, and though fired at before
he got back he untouched Ten min
utes later Hobbins asked for permission
to remove his wounded, and this being
granted he no sooner had them aboard
than he sailed away. When out of gum
shot We went out to examine the dad
They were a tough looking lot, and con.