davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-18
Alabama Gas Fixture
and Plumbing Co.
PHONE 2le
~.zvss,v--IS2O SECOND AVE.
11-2-tf. *
PAYNE PURLOlNED
PINT OF PEANUTS
ALTERATION OF PETER PIPER WHO
PICKED PEPPERS.
In a Fair Way To Be Rivaled by an Indict-
ment Returned by the Circuit
Court Grand Jury.

The famous ALTERATION of Peter PEPPER,
who picked peck of picked pepper,
stands in fair way of being riyaled by an
"alliterated indictment" which was re-
turned by the circuit court grand jury
which is now in session.
While it is questionable whether Peter
Piper really picked the peck of picked
peppers there is little doubt that,
"Jake Payne purlolned a pint of
parched peanuts from Peter Pam
tazIa, the personal property of the
said Peter Pantazia."
The Indictment was issued after a ma
ture consideration of the evidence.
Perhaps Paynes plan was to purchase
the peanuts, but the preponderance Of the
proof points to pilfcring on Payne's part.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-18

opinion as to whether the city would at this
time be justified in purchasing the electric
light plant"
B. B. Hudson said ut is doubtful aues-
ton to my mind whether the city is so sit
uated, financially, that it could afford to
go further in debt in order to purchase this
plant. But, on the other hand, the city
is paying too much for its lights and
water.
1T seems to me that some steps could
be taken to reduce. these prices. If there
is no way other than by buying up these
plants, the sooner the city begins to do
SO, the better"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-18
MRS. WlNSLowS SOOTHING SYRUP

Has been used for over FIFTY YEARS
by MILLIONS of MOTHERS for their
CHILDREN WHILE TEETHING, with
PERFECT SUCCESS. 1T SOOTHES
the CHILD. SOF'TENS the GUMS, AL
LAYS all PAIN: CURES WIND COLO.
and Is the best remedy for DIARRHOEA.
Sold by druggists in every part of the
world. Be sure and ask for Mrs. Wins
lows Soothing Syrup" and take no other
kind Twenty-Five cents a bottle.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-18

Papers of incorporation of the Mary
West Gold Mining company have been
filed in the probate office by s. s. and w.
w. West. The purpose of the company is
to mine and sell gold and other mineral.
The capital stock is placed at $4,000, di-
vided into 100 shares of 800 each.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-18
CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARK
Has a Lighting Plant Valued at $4,000
Which Furnishes M6 Lamps.
COST OF OPERATION $s,O47 YEARLY
Mr. Bowron Makes Comparison Between En-
glish and American Cities-Too Much
Politics on This Side Wtu'd
Possibly Interfere.

The question of municipal ownership
of semi-public corporations has been an
exceedingly live topic in Birmingham since
the resolution introduced by Alderman Alt
man and passed by the city council
Numerous statements of other cities
which own their own lighting plants have
been brought forward, among them the
statement of the running expenses for the
lighting plant in Little Rock, Ark, for the
year 1896.
The Little Rock plant is composed of one
brick building. -40x6O feet; four 6O-light Fort
Wayne Wood dynamos, 914 ampere, three
years old: two Hamilton Corliss engines,
125-horse power each-No. l engine is three
years old and No. 2 is nine years old rour
boilers, of which three of them are used
Nos. and boilers are nine years old, NOS.
8 and are six years old. 1t has about
forty miles of wire. which is from three to
nine years old. Cost of plant, $35,O0O
Cost of Operation
The following is the report submitted by
the city electrician to the city council for
the cost of operating the plant during the
war
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-18

This amount divided by the number of
lamps gives $3.50 per lamp per year.; 1913
per lamp per month, or 9-5 cents per lamp
per hour.
The above statement does not include in
terest on plant or depreciation; no charges
are made for clerk hire, water taxes or
rent of ground as they are included in the
fixed charges of the city. which would not
be increased or diminished If the city had
no electric plant
Experience of English Cities
In discussing the question, Secretary
Bowron, of the Tennessee Coal and Iron
company, said: 1.-THE experience of the
English cities has shown beyond the
shadow of doubt that the municipal own
ership of all semi-publc corporations is a
decided success. 1t is fair that all corpora
lions that have to tear up the streets or
put wires over the streets should be under
the control of the city.
"But the situation in the English cities
Is entirely different from the American
cities in one respect, There a capable man
is put at the head of one of the public cor
porations, and he holds this position as long
as he remains capable to do So But in the
United States politics plays too prominent
a part to make municipal ownership as
much of a success as in England. With
every change of administration, to say
nothing of every change of party, a new
set of officers would be elected to run the
city's different plants.
'Some American cities, 1 understand,
have learned to avoid these errors and are
making success of their different plants
The sooner the people of Birmingham de-.
eide to run their municipal affairs in a
business-like way and on a permanent
basis, and after that, the sooner they ac-
quire their own electric light plant, gas
plant and water works, the greater will
be the progress and development of the
CITY,"
Would BE Source of Revenue
Former Mayor A. o. Lane said: "As a
general thing, will say that am in favor
of municipal ownership of the water, gas
and electric light plants Under proper
management, these plants would undoubt-
eddy be a source of revenue to the city.
But whether 1t would be wise for the city
to purchase the electric light plant now,
1 am not prepared to say. The cIty's pres
ent Indebtedness, the cost of the plant and
the cost of operation should be taken into
consideration. and am not sufficiently in
formed on these subjects to express. an
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30

loud were the praises sang by the men
in laudation of the handsomely arranged
tables.
After all had partaken with relish of
the bounteous repast the evening was
given over to social enjoyment. There
was music. singing, recitations. speeches
and dance or two. An excellent orches-
ira, especially selected for the occasion.
was in attendance. and to its accom-
paniment many. we'll rendered songs
were given. Among the many who sang
were Miss Irene Lyons, Dan Lyons, Jack
Hammill and a dozen others whose
names We're not ascertained. Master
MCGOWAN recited in a manner which
elected the greatest applause. Remarks
appropriate to the occasion were made
by President Dolan. Vice President
Crimmins, Treasurer Leonard. Score
tary Lynn. Architect Smith and many
others A few waltzes and reel or two
were intermingled with the many good
numbers on the programme.
Great credit is due to the committee
of arrangements, consisting OF .nessrs.
Brigham, Shable and Wilson. These gen.
tlemen labored hard and earnestly to
make the occasion a successful one and
for confederation of the statement that
they succeeded beyond their expecta-
tons, it would only have been necessary
to have attended the session. The men,
bers and their friends remained at the
hall until late hour, and when 1t came
time to go home they did so with the
memory of a most enjoyable evening
indelibly impressed upon their minds.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
THEY ARE SLICK AGAIN
Last Nights Frost Makes the
Sidewalks Slippery.
OUGHT TO BE CLEANED OFF
Many Failed to Take Advan tage OF the
Mild Weather TO Sweep OF the
Slush and Now 1t Is as
Bad as Ever.

To-day the sidewalks in front of many
of the business houses in this city VIII
again be as slick as glass. In the
Stndard a few days age was published
in full the ordinance relating to the
duty of tenants to keep the sidewalks in
front of their places of business free
from snow and ice. A great many heed
ed the suggestion and Immediately
cleaned the snow off. Others, however,
neglected to do so, and in many places
the walks this morning are as bad as
ever.
Following the publication of the side
walk ordinance and the accompanying
suggestions there came chinook which
reduced the frozen snow to a SOFT ana
slushy mass which then could easily
have been removed. Still some failed TO
take advantage of the mild weather,
and as a consequence last nights cold
snap has again frozen the slush into
a hard substance. the surface OF which
it is next to impossible to stand upon.
Had the chinook been taken advan-
tage of and the melted snow swept OF
the walks the people of Anaconda could
this morning walk about without rear
of falling and breaking their bones at
every step. The police authorities did
not strictly enforce the sidewalk ordi-
nance during the rush of Christmas
trade as they considered 1t an neon
yenience for some of the merchants
Now, however, there is no longer TINS
excuse and the matter should be at
tended to without delay.
1t cannot be foretold when some one
may slip on the icy pavement and the
fall result in serious injuries. One such
case would cost more than would be the
| cost of having men to clean every side
| walk in town twice over
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
STARTED THROUGH A JOKE
Sensational Rumors of a Bold
and Daring Robbery.
DENY KNOWLEDGE OF 1T
Was Said That the ST Lawrence Had
Been Hell Up, but the Bartender
in Charge Says He Started
the Story as Josh.

Yesterday rumors were afloat which
had for their subject a bold and sensa-
tional robbery by masked men of
saloon on East Park street. The fact
that the robbery was said to have oc-
Cured on last Friday night, and that
no word of the affair had reached the
police, was considered rather remark
able. but such thing have been. and
there might be reasons for keeping the
matter quiet.
The story as told the reporter was
that on Friday night. at late hour.
two masked men walked into the back
door of the st. Lawrence saloon on
East Park avenue and lined up in front
of the bar, with guns pointed at the
man in charge. II was said that they
proceeded behind the bar and touched
the till for something like $l25. and also
relieved the bartender Of his gold watch
and chain and SIS in cash. The man
who told this to the reporter said that
his informant was a man whom he had
no reason To consider other than truth
full and who was in position to know.
Ii had been told to him on Saturday
morning, the day after the robbery.
Last night the reporter visited the
St. Lawrence saloon and inquired of the
man in charge if he was the bartender
who had been on duty the night OF the
robbery.
IN hat robbery asked the par
tender.
The robbery that occurred in this
house on last Friday night" said the
reporter.
"Oh, there was no robbery at all.
That story started through me The
till refused To open that night and
! somebody asked me what was the mat
| ter. and | told them that the house had
been robbed and a lot Of other stuff.
/ We joshed "A lot of FOUNDERS with the
| story just for the fun of the thing. and
/ that's all there's to it, There was no
robbery at all: it was all just josh.
/ And that was all that could be learn
ed Of the story Of the bold robbery
wherein two masked men had secured
such a clean haul.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
OLDEST or oHlo's CoNVlCTS.
He Re-Entcrs the World at the Age of
Eighty.

Columbus. Dec. 29.-Ralph Winters
gill, the Oldest convict in the peniten-
tiary, will be the recipient in the morn
ing of Governor Bushnell's Christmas
pardon. He was received Oct ), 1878,
to serve a life-term for second degree
murder, and is now so years old. His
second wife was the victim of his
crime.
They were married early in the sew
entities, and each contributed family
of children to the union by their former
marriages. Trouble soon began. The
wife claimed he did not do his part to-
ward making the living, and he did not
approve her methods of managing the
household affairs. The trouble finally
resulted in a separation. Their diner
ences were patched up and they lived
together again. WintersEill, however,
became suspicious of his wifes relations
with a couple of men living near them,
and he became very jealous and for
babe her having anything whatever To
do with them. She paid no attention to
his commands and continued her ac-
quaintance with them. The day on
which the crime was committed VIM
tersgill and his wife went into room
together, and after being there short
time she ran screaming from the house
and he after her Following her out or
the house he caught her and cut her
throat causing death in a few minutes.
He then turned the weapon on him
self and cut his own throat so badly
that for several weeks il was believed
he would die After recovering from
the self-infcted injuries, Wintersgii
was placed on trial at the May term,
1878, and convicted of murder i'll the
first degree. The defense was his men
| tai condition. Governor Bishop later
committed the mans sentence to life
! Imprisonment. and he has served many
years behind the penitentiary walls. In
! 1892 the state board of pardons recon-
mended a Communication of his sentence
| but no action had been taken until to-
! day Wintersgill will not return Il
| Columbia county. but will go L
/ Pennsylvania, where he will spend the
| remainder of his days with a son,
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
ELECTION PROCLAMATION.

Whereas. the board of county COM
missioners of Deer Lodge county. state
of Montana having considered il adyIs-
able that a court house and jail should
be constructed. built and completed at
the county seat for Deer Lodge county,
state Of Montana. at as early date as
possible and there being no funds now
in the county treasury belonging TO said
county available for such purpose, the
board further considered the question OF
making a loan for such purpose. and
thereupon determined that the amount
necessary TO be raised by such loan for
such purpose would be 100000. and
therenpon an order was made by said
board submitting the question of making
said loan 10 the electors of said county
for their approval, and an order was
made appointing. calling and fixing q
special election in said county for that
purpose en- Tuesday, the 18th day OF
January. 1898.
A special election is therefore hereby
proclaimed in said county upon said
date for the electors of said county to
vote upon The question of said loan.
Done this the 18th day of December
y r.. 1897
A. NJ. WALKER. Chairman.
JOHN d. ROM,
Board Of County Commissioners Of Deer
Lodge County. State of Montana
Attest NJ. MARTIN. County Clerk
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
O, JOSS, BE MERClFUL!
The Heather Chinee scared to Death by
the Approaching Eclipse of the sun
and the Emperor Bellows.


Washington, Dec. 2a.-The state de-
partment has just received a copy.
through United States Minister DENLY,
of the recent curious decree issued by
the emperor of China to fend off the
wrath of Providence as indicated in the
eclipse predicted for New Years day.
The document is pronounced by experts
TO be a masterful exhibition of typical
Chinese craftsmanship in the existing
critical condition of affairs in the celes-
tial empire. The decree reads as fol-
lows:
According to the Chunchiu fspring
and autumn. it has been stated that an
eclipse of the sun on the first day or
the year betokens an impending calam-
ity. Hence the sovereigns of every
dynasty which precedes us have always
made it a point, whenever an eclipse or
the sun is prognosticated, To undergo
establishment and humble themselves
before heaven in order to avert the
wrath from above.
I'm the case of our own imperial
dynasty, for instance, during the retgns
of their majesties Kang Hsi and Chen
Lung 1662-1794). there We're observed
two eclipses of the sun which fell on
a New Years day, and now, according
to the board Of astronomy the first day
of the twenty-fourth year of our reign
(22nd January, 1899, there viii yet he
another eclipse of the sun. We are
filled with forebodings at this news and
hasten to seek within ourselves for sins
which may have thus brought the wrath
of high heaven upon the land We fur
Their command that the ceremonies of
| congra tulations usually held on New
Years day in the Taiho throne hall be
curtailed and only ordinary obesances
be made. the place being changed to
| the Chen Using throne hall instead of
| the Taiho throne hall. The banqeut
| usually given to the imperial clansmen
/ on New Years day must also he
stopped, and when the eclipse occurs
/ let all members of the court wear SOM
Der garments and assemble in the inner
| palace before the altar set up to heaven
/ to pray for forbearance and mercy 70
/ the country at large. This is so far as
| shall concern ourselves to show our
desire to propitiate high heaven. but
as her majesty, the empress dowager,
is older and a senior, it is but right the
/ full ceremonies be observed in paying
the courts obeisanees on New Year $
day to her majesty. Let all the yamens
| concerned take note"
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
THEY PLEAD NOT GUILTY
Claude Weymire and Frank Fell
Up Before Judge Donoghue.
HEARING SET FOR FRIDAY
Weymire Offers to Plead Guilty to a
Charge of Petit Larceny. Saying He
Stole Only $40 = Complaint
Charges Grand Larceny.

Claude Weymre and Frank Fell. the
two youngsters who robbed the Yukon
restaurant of its cash box and contents
and then skipped out to Butte, We're up
before Judge Donoghue yesterday aft
ernoon for pleading. A charge of grand
larceny had been filed against them and
to this they pleaded not guilty.
When called upon for his plea, young
Weymire stated that he would plead
guilty to having stolen $46, but that he
would not plead guilty to having taken
$55, as alleged in the complaint. The
prosecution could not see it that way,
and the hearing was set by the court
for this afternoon at o'clock.
AS the amount alleged to have been
stolen is more than $50, the crime is one
of grand larceny, and the boys eager
ness to plead guilty TO a charge of petit
larceny gives the prosecution hopes
that the charge of grand larceny may
be made to stick, and the prisoners
bound over to the district court. When
asked what he had done with the SAG
he confessed to have taken, Weymire
said that he had given Fell $21 of it
and had retained $25 for himself. lie
begged that his mother. who resides at
Livingston, be not made aware of the
fact of his arrest, as he said that she
was sick and that it was for her relief
that he had taken the money.
Fell, or Hill, as his name was at first
understood to be, is said to be a thor
ough incorrigible. He himself has
boasted to the police that he was once a
member of the famous Chambers street
gang of toughs of New York city, and 1t
is also said that he has served much
time in the reform school. Weymire
says that it was Fell who urged him on
to the deed; that he at first had intend
ed taking only one dollar, but that Fell
had persuaded him to take the box and
all of it's contents.
1t was learned yesterday that had the
robbery been committed an hour or 50
previous to the time of the steal, the
robbers would have secured not only
the $50 or $50 in silver but also roll
of bills containing something like $500
Mrs. Webbing. the wife of the proprie-
tor of the Yukon, had however, taker
the bills out of the money box and
secreted it just before the money was
taken, and thus saved it.
Judge Donoghue yesterday, by con-
sent of attorneys, postponed the hear
ing of the demurrer in the Chinese
opium selling matter until next Friday
at 2 o'clock. The hearing had been SCI
for 2 o'clock yesterday.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30

Nnxal iianrns.

Washington, Dec. ea.--The necessary or
ders were given at the navy department
to-day for the changes in command
caused by the approaching retirement Of
Admiral Selfridge. at present command
ing the European station. The admiral IS
detached from his command at Genoa
on Feb. . and with his staff eonststts <
Of Lieutenant ]. J. Hunker and l. NJ n
ant Russell. is ordered home q mmod
Howell i detached from the command II
the League Island navy yard Jan. IL, arid
ordered 10 sail on the Werr from Nv
York for Genoa. whore he VIII relieve
Admiral seifridge Of the command 81
the European station Feb =
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
DELAYED trains.

A slight wreck of freight train near
Warm Springs last evening delayed the
Montana Union train from the West
for period of nearly six hours. The
cause of the wreck was the breaking
in two of a Northern Pacific freight
train, and the rear end coming In COLI
sion with the head end, which had
slackened speed too suddenly. The
damage will not be great, and the only
inconvenience resulting from it will be
a delay of some hours to trains going In
either direction.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
TWO ALARMS.
The Fire Department Called Out 10 "A
Couple of Little Blazes.

The Fire Department Called Out 10 "A
Couple of Little Blazes.
The fire department was called out
early yesterday morning by an alarm
of fire in the Copper City store. The
department responded promptly, but
upon arrival il was found that the
fire had already been extinguished, and
that no damage had bee done. the
cause of the fire was the crossing OF
two electric light wires in the clothing
department of the store. The sparks
emitted by the contact were taken up
by some dry evergreen decorative fes-
toons, and carried with great rapidlty
along the lines of the infiammable ma
terial. The clerks, who had just ar
rived. jerked down the burning mater
ial and threw it into the street. No
damage was done.
On Tuesday afternoon the depart
ment responded to an alarm of fire
from the corner of Park avenue and
Birch streets. In this instance the fire
originated from a defective fiue, and
was put out before any damage was
DONE