davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

in the exquisite grays and reds and black
of the lichens dotting our table-cover. or
crusting the surface of the higher rocks
and the branches OF oak and hazel every
where about US. The hchens love pure
air and are never found where the atmos-
phere is tainted. They derive all their
nutriment from the air, through the
moisture therein. The plants are the
only really self-supporting things in na-
ture. They not only support themselves,
but the whole animal world, for they man
ufacture the food which we consume and
form the wood, the coal and the peat
which we humans burn for artificial
warmth. Even these primitive forms of
plant life are OF great use to mankind.
The lichens here are beautiful enough to
justify their being, but they furnish US
with many Of our most valuable dyes, and
their nutritive and medicinal properties
have long been known to man. Modern
science is inclined, it is true, TO regard
their medicinal value as somewhat apo
cryphal, although Iceland moss is still a
popular article of the druggists stock-Ts-
trade. 1t is constant and useful article
of food in the country whence it derives
its name, as is also the well-known rein
deer moss" and many other lichens OF
the far north. Solomon in all his glory
would have presented far less brilliant
appearance had not the rich scarlet and
yellow and purple pigments derivable from
the lichens been known to the ancients.
The quaint, picturesque growths are
perennial sort of things. The moss on
this green stump is probably thing OF
yesterday, but the llchens may have been
about the edge, exactly as they are grow
ing to-day, since the tree was cut down,
some fifty years ago. The plants nave
this popularity of growing with great ra-
pidity for time and then remaining sta
tionary, apparently changeless, sometimes
for centuries Then under some recur.
ring atmospheric condition, they will sud-
denly revive and grow again. Even speci-
mems that have for years been kept
within doors will sometimes do this on re-
exposure to moisture and fresh air, so
miraculously persistent is life in this little
organized vegetation.
Transparent, SOFT amber-colored masses
of iust-forming lichen hang from dead
oak branches, and pulling up a handful
of moss a little while ago / exposed the
heads of half dozen baby toadstools.
Just getting ready to face the world. TINY
were perfect toadstools, utvery tiny-kt
ready by good forty-eight hours to s.
pear in public.
We may not wrest from nature all her
secrets, but We cannot go to her in simple
ness OF heart and come away empty
handed. That which battles us does but
make us love her more, for something of
her teaching lies hidden even in the mys-
terry. ADEL1SE KNAPP.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
IDyLS OF JHE CALIFORNIA FIELDS
The NatrasatLarge Expaates Eoqueny the Subject Of
Small Beginnings

TSEeERE in the canyon I have come
@e upon a great redwood stump, level
NSHS as table, smoothly covered with
an emerald cloth of short, thick moss and
set out with tiny lichen cups for the fall
ries' afternoon tea. The guests have not
arrived, so there is no reason why We
should not sit down and study the texture
of this fairy ia BILE cloth-more beautiful
than any fabric that ever came from the
loom.
The MOSES are always lovely and invit-
ing in their sugge stion of GOODNESS and
rest. but TO me they never seem SO charm
ing as in the early spr ingtime, wien
everything is small and fine. They are so
closely associated with the beginnings of
things that one instinctively looks for
them when the out-ot-doors year is new.
They belong TO the earliest states of life
and played an important part in the great
physical drama enacted upon this earth
ere man appeared. They followed closely
upon the heels of the primitive vegeta-
tion-the alg@ and fungi. The very low
est orders Of plant life are found in the
sea. After these we find the MOSES and
lichens, and proceeding upward come
upon the ferns, the palms and at last the
stately pine, the latter a genuine tree,
which the palm is hot. We may trace the
origin of all back to the primeval green
scum that gathered on the surface of
water before any other life appeared.
Thus ancient is the origin of the deIi-
cate table-cloth here that feels like fine,
soft plush beneath my hand. Its history
is as honorable as it is ancient; its Office
in the economy of nature as useful as it is
humble. It is a history of faithful, con-
slant service, an Office of attendance upon
the beginnings of life. of preparation for
and protection of things destined to higher
uses than itself. The mighty ferns, the
giant horsetails of the carboniierous age
were useful in purifying the primeval at
mosphere and rendering it fit to sustain
animal life, but before these could grow
at all the MOSES had 10 make ready for
them. They did in that early age ex-
actly what we see them doing to-day.
When the driving winter rain beats down
upon the sides of the canyon the earth
would be carried by it into the stream be-
low, did not the thick, soft moss, growing
everywhere about US, catch the water, like
great sponges and soak it up before it
can rush down the steep inclines, washing
the surface to bedrock. The moss spreads
over earth and rocks and PROSTATE trees.
1t carpets the soft. boggy places with a
green surface that binds all together, and
by the aggregate forces of its frail life pre-
vents landslides. Ii we try to pull up
some of it from the ground here We shall
see how tenacious is the hold it main
tains. Yet how tender it seems. In
heipht hut n N IN nfiuitasimoI fracfinp of -
inch, 1t shows under my pocket magnify
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
morning.
Small Beginnings

ing-glass mass of tiny, green, starlike
growth, with almost imperceptible, hair
like roots, yet it does giants work. This
starlike form is characteristic of primitive
growth. 1t persists in many plants, and
we sae it in number of the low orders of
animal lie that inhabit the sea. We may
note it in forming crystals of ice and in
the snowflakes
But our moss performs still an
other service than protecting the earth
from the soaking rains. 1t prepares the
way for othsr vegetation. Here upon
these great masses of rock it has grown,
piling up upon itself until it has formed
thick, moss-covered mold, and growing in
it are number of plants-iris, soaproot.
wild begonia and half a dozen other things.
whose seeds have found lodgment in the
moss and grown down through il to the
solid rock. See where this soaproot has
wedged itself into q cleft of the rock itself.
These growths will in turn pass AWAY
leaving their roots and stocks to bind the
soil still more closely together. Wind
blown dust and bits of earth will LODGE
against them and be held by them unt,l
future generations may plow and cuIti-
vate rich loamy fields where now with
my bare fingers l can scrape ayav the
thin leaf and moss mold to the bare rocks.
Thus much on the surface about our
pretty table-cloth, but about the MOSES
themselves there is much to learn that
well repays study. There are so many
varieties, from the microscopic liyerworts
that cover walls and moist stones to the
branched leaf mosses often several inches
IN helghL Ihe immense peat bogs of the
old country are largely thick growths of
Dog moss, the green moss on the top being
merely the tips and branches of the orig
inal plants, long since dead and incorpor-
ateo with the substance OF the peat. This
Is singular characteristic of many moss
growths. Some, perhaps most varieties,
propagate by spores. but others grow by
the branches travelling off from the parent
STOCK and being separate plants, as some
higher orders of vegetation send out "run-
ners" that strike down and root inde-
pendenuy of the parent.
We may learn much of and about
even these humble green MOSES, but
We shall miss the highest lesson of all five
fall TO see and realize their beauty, for
this, after all, is the one thing We humans
can bring to nature. The brutes have
dim perception of her usefulness, but
only man knows that she is beautiful. and
he learns the lesson only as mis- awakened
soul acquires the power to see. 1t re-
quired all the life and learning that has
gone before US to bring you and me to the
point where we know that these little star
like mossheads are beautiful, yet
If we get simple beauty. and naught else,
We get about the best thing God iQVeQtS.
a We find even more than in the MOSES
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

death. The boat, rolling in the trough Of
the sea, flung them off as often as they
bestrode her, for there was nothing by
which they could retain their hold. At
last one seid he had "had enough" and ,
with farewell message, gave up, leaving
now only the mate, Johnson. and the
boat-steerer.
With words of encouragement to each
other, these two continued the fight.
After great difficulty Johnson managed
to shove the plug out of the cardboard
strake," and then was able to keep his po-
sition across the keel Of the boat by in
serting his right foretnger-his compan-
ion holding on to him. The bIackness of
night over and about them; the eternal
swish OF water ready to engulf them as it
had enguIfe their companions; no signs
OF help. Still, they clung and hoped.
ALI at once Johnson felt his comrades
grip slacken, as with a moan the man fell
into the sea. His first impulse was to at
tempt rescue, but he found that he
could not now detach himself from his
place-his numb finger had so swollen
as TO completely block the hole. He,
"the last of six,' was left alone. So the
night dragged on.
On the Derwent diligent watch was
kept up through the hours of dark
ness-'the vessel making short boards to
windward the while. Lights were burned
and guns fired at intervals. At first signs
OF daylight eager eyes restIessly swept the
horizon. 1t was nearly noon when one
of the lookout men reported large num-
bers of birds ahead, almost in the vessels
course. Then they sighted dark object,
which was at first mistaken for a whale.
As they got closer they made it out to be
a boat with figure astride it. 1t was
Johnson, franticaily waving his free arm
and yelling to frighten the birds, which
every now and then swooped down at him,
A boats crew was soon to his relief, but
before they could remove him they had to
chop the plank to release his finger. He
could not have fallen off had he wanted
to.
1t was thoroughly unnerved man they
received on board. Now, that tine worst
was over, Johnson became like a fright
ened infant, sobbIng convulsively and
talking incoherently, and clutching and
holding on to everything within grasp as
they bore him along the deck. He
thought of and knew nothing beyond
holding on for dear life, and his arms had
to be secured ere he could be carried down
the narrow mpanionway which led to
his berth.
He pulled round-though he lost his
faithful fnger-and fastened to many
another whale.-Tahune Linah in Sydney
Bulletin.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

out with the butt ends of their carbines.
Handcuffed and pushed about by one and
another we reached the bottom of the slope
where prison van was waiting us-a vile
box. without ventilation and full of ver-
min-into which, we were thrown and
dri ven TO Bastia, escorted by gendarmes
with drawn swords.
A nice position for Government Of
fetal!
1t was broad daylight when we reached
Bastia. The Public Prosecutor. the colonel
of the gendarmes and the governor OF the
prison were impatiently awaiting us.
never saw a man look more astonlshed
than the corporal in charge OF the escort
as, with a triumphant smile, he led me
10 these gentlemen and saw them hurry
toward me with all sorts OF apologies and
take off the handouts.
What Is it your" exclaimed the Pub
lie Prosecutor. Have these idiots really
arrested you? How did it come about
what is the meaning of it?'
Explanations followed. On the previous
day the Public Prosecutor had received
telegram from Porto Vecchio. informing
him of the presence OF Quastana In the
locality, and giving precise details as to
where and when he could be found. The
name of Porto Vecchio opened my eyes;
it was that travelling companion OF mine
who had PLAYED me this shabby trick
He was the Prosecutors deputy.
But, my dear sir" said the Public
Prosecutor, "whoever would have expected
to see you in shooting costume in the
house of the brigand's cousin! We have
given you rather bad time of it, but l
know you will not bear malice, and you
will prove it by coming to breakfast with
me-" Then turning to the corporal, and
pointing to Matteo. he said: Take this
fellow away; we will deal with him in the
morningn
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

tney had no money they played for their
pipes, knives, sheep-anything.
L watched the two men with great in
terest as they sat opposite each other,
silently playing the game. They watched
each others movements, the cards either
face downward upon the table or carefully
held so that the opponent might not
catch glimpse of them, and gave an oc-
casional quick glance at their hand"
without losing sight OF the other players
lace. was especially interested in watch
ing Quastana. The photograph was
very good one, but it could not reproduce
the sunburnt face, the vivacity and agility
OF movement, surprising in man of his
age, and the hoarse, hollow voice peculiar
to those who spend most OF their time in
solitude.
Between two and three hours passed in
this way, and L had some difficulty in
keeping awake in the stuffy air of the hut
and the long stretches of silence broken
only by an occasional exclamation:
"SeventeenP "Eighteenr' From time
to time was aroused by heavy gust of
wind or dispute between the players.
Suddenly there was savage bark from
Bruccio, like cry of alarm. We all
sprang up, and Quastana rushed o1t of
the door. returning an instant afterward
and seizing his gun. With an exclama-
ton OF rage he darted out of the door
again and was gone. Matteo and 1 were
looking at one another in surprise, when
a dozen armed men entered and called
upon US to surrender. And In less time
than it takes to tell you we were on the
ground, bound and prisoners. In vain 1
tried to make the gendarmes understand
who was; they would not listen to me-
That's all right; you will have an oppor-
tunity of making an explanation when we
get to Bastia."
They dragged us to our feet and drove US
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
THE FIRST MATES LOST FINGER
Thrilling Tale Of Whaling Cruise That Ended Long Night

- HEY had risen" whales-a perfect
EhTc school of them-miIes ahead, early
t}EgS in the afternoon. The Derwent was
a ''ciean ship" so there was hurry to be
away after the fish" even though It
meant lohg pull to windward Two
boats lowered. the first and second mates
in charge, respectively. There was little
wind, and, but for the long ocean swell,
the sea was calm.
hard tug at the oars brought them up
with their prey. Both boats were soon
'fast" and travelling swiftly away in con-
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
Of Horror

of the other boat, which, when last seen,
was miles away, but still fast"
The mate had hitched on to a regular
tartar, which, when struck, had started off
by sounding till nearly all the line
was out. Then he appeared on top again,
but before they could haul UP to him he
WAS of once more at racing speed. drag
ging them away from the ship. So the
conflict went on. AS the afternoon drew
10 close the question of cutting clear was
discussed, but the majority applied the
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

was closing in and, strain their eyes as
they might. they could see nothing of the
ship. Then they attempted to right the
boat to ascertain tne extent of the dam
age. This cost another life, one of the
hands disappearing suddenly. With the
fear OF sharks in their hearts. the three
who were left clambered on to the boats
bottom. Then came the struggle with
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

rally, the whale came straight at the boat,
scattering occupants and gear in the sea.
It was his last effort-the final. A swirl
OF foam beaten, blood tinged water, and
the fish fioated dead.
Only four OF the crew came to the sur.
face-the other two were not seen again.
Probably stunned or entangled in the
gear, they went to their last account With
a struggle. The survivors held on the up
turned boat ana reviewed matters. Night
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
JOHNSON, FRANTlCALLY WAVING HIS FREE ARM"

trary directions, in tow of big whales.
The second mate was fortunate; he soon
killed his fish, and proceeded TO tow the
carcass 10 the ship. which had worked up
within three miles of them when they ad-
n1inistered the coup de grace. By the
time they got to the vessel 1t was dark,
and, in the excitement of securing the
whale alongside, those on board lost sight
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

There are said to be 200 women in New
York who go to Europe twice year to
buy their dresses. The number Of men
who cross the wa ter for their new ward
robe is much greater, as many men take
the opportunity OF running over to Eu-
rope for rest, recreation and business all
com bined.
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

YANKEE whalers' dctum, "a stove boat or
dead whale" and held that the fish
could not last much longer, and that
the night being fine, the ship would
soon pick them up. 1t was nearly dark
when they got up to him and made play
with the lances till he "spouted thick
blood" Then came the furry and
short, mad rush. Ere the crew could pull
The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

The Bengal tiger, though only four
feet high, is from eight to nine feet in
length. A specimen Of this size will
weigh 500 pounds.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18

Perhaps the greatest curiosity in this
uncanny land by the Colorado river is
what the naturalists in California call a
lake of ink. Scientific journals have dis
cussed time and again what this lake of
ink really is. 1t is a great pool of black
writing ink more than anything else. 1t
is situated about half a mile from the
large volcano just described and lies flush
with the ground. 1t is about an acre in
area. The surface of the lake is coated
with gray ashes from the volcanoes TO
the thickness of about six inches. and the
explorer in those parts who is not look
ing out for this freak of nature would be
very apt to walk into it.
The Indians have score of horrible
legends about bad red men who have
gone down to frightful deaths beneath
the ashes. Surveyors have found that
the lake is 300 yards deep in some places
ard no bottom can be found in others.
There is nothing but theory as to the
one seems to know the component parts
of the acre of black fluid. The Indians
say it is composed of the blood of bad
Indians. who are suffering in their hell
amid the volcanoes.
Samples of the lake have been brought
examinations. 1t has been found good
for common drinking purposes. Cotton
goods that have been soaked with the
strange black fluid keep their color for
months, even when exposed to the sun,
and the goods have a stiffness that is
somewhat like weak starch. A gallon of
the lake fluid was sent to the Smithsonian
Institute at Washington the other dav
for analysis There is a lake of some
what similar fluid in Nicagarua and it is
close beside group of ancient volcanoes.
The black fiuid in Nicaragua is deadly
poison l. has never been satisfactorily
analyzed.-Los Angeles Correspondence
Chicago Record.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18

proved positively that Wesfervelt took
him into the house where some rela-
tives of the Moshers lived Old Mr..
Ross was so we'll convinced that the
bones found in the basement of No. So.
Grand street were those of Charley that
he stopped spending large sums of
money in following up the many clews
offered him afterward in various pearfs
of the world. And the bones were sent
on to Philadelphia.
So the mystery is unraveled at last
Ellsworth MoSher, son of Gilbert
Mosher. the man who told the police
who the abductors were, would not re-
veal the confidence of his dead father
until Charley Ross father was dead,
too, knowing that che little bones found
in the cellar wall were those of the
stolen baby boy, - is not hard to de-
duce the story of his death. When
MoSher and Douglas, the bold spirits of
the infamous gang, were gone, the
frightened remainder, probably the
woman and her brother, were left with
the child on their hands. They did not
dare to restore him, for detection could
hardly fail, and they were not bold
enough to continue to look for the
ransom money. Probably Westervelr,
from his connection with the police, felt
that the blood money would never be
paid. So, to save themselves, the
remnant of the kidnapper gang muir
dered the baby boy and his bones in
the cellar, which kept their awful
secret well enough to save them from
the galloWS
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18
OREGON SHORT tINEw
.ATrRo<


Trans arrive and depart 1t Salt Lake
CITY udiIy as follows.
Gin Effect March 1s. 1879
ARRIVE.
TOM Snicago, Omaha. ST Louis.
c fA14ns sSa Cry CRY. Denver. Park
From Helena. Butte. Portland. " -
ss,,1 r,r,sncisco, Ogden and in
e rom san Francisco, Cache VAL
icy. ogden and intermediate
From Chicago. Omaha. ST. Louis. ~ p'0'
Kansas City. Denver and Og-
'FTe% Frisco. Milford and inter. '
Fr meoiate Points ;........--.-.:.- s:ls am
EN-; Sanpete Valley and inter
fooele ssz Garfield Beach,. $50 pm.
Sq gaD Ss,es ~; Omaha. Dsnvsr.
s and Earl I ~ St Louis. Ogden
Fer S.css San Francisco. Ogden. ~" IN
,o Sscne Valley and intermediates
For 'nt o,d:n -...;...;.:.......-.:. 500 an
Fo POINTS ..,.....-..-......-... 400 pm
Portisnd' any s ssn i Pga5ci BSste,
.F Seph; sanpete Valley. tao am
Frisco and intermediate points 600 ma.
T Mixed tTair for Garfield Beach,
sTreIee ana Terminus ---.-...... -:45 am.
Sunday Auii osAy e&ceps
.Daily except Sunday.
iy except Sunday south of Juab.
uChrTY TICKET OFFICE Under Masonic
~, Iail. corner Second South and West Tenn
Telephone No. go
railroad and Steamship Tickets ON sal.
10 al parts of the world
= uliman Palace Car ticket office.
r; w; ECCLES. d. E. hurley
Sen- III Mgr. Gen. Pass. q Tfckst iet
w. H BANCROFT.
Vice-Pres. and Cen Mgr.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18

Trains leave and arrive Salt Lake City
as follows:
On effect March 16. 1879
Leave.
.'The Overland Limited" for
Chicago, st. Paul. ST. Louis.
Omaha. Kansas City. Denver
and Park City...............7:oo q n
."The Fast Mall" for Chicago.
St LOUIS, Omaha, Kansas City
and Denver. ~ p. n.
..The Overland Limited" from
Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha,
Kansas City. Denver and Park
THE Fast Mall" from Chicago.
ST. Paul. st. Louis, Omaha,
Kansas City and Denver. $3.50 a N.
CITY Ticket Office. POI Main Street
Telephone No. e65
Only one night on the road to Omaha,
two nights TO Chicago and ST. Louis
Other lines one night additional
The Union Pacific is the only line
through the above points without change
of Of cars. and the. only line operating Buff
fet Smoking and Library Cars and Pull
man Dining Cars, with II and II hours
nIickest time to Missouri River and Chi
cago. respectively.
II. NJ CLAY. General Agent
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18
THE COLORADO MIDLAND r. r.

Vile Cripple Creek. Colorado Springs.
Denver and all points east Only lins
running THROUGH CHAIR CARS;
EVENING trains This line. in connection
With the Rio Grande Western. reaches
Denver earlier than any other line via
SsIsved trains. Take the Colorado Mid
land and save time and enjoy the finest
-ide and grandest scenery in Colorado.
For full information call on any r @.
W. Ry agent. or
u p A Gen. Agent
0enver. Colo. Salt Lake City.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18
UTAH CENTRAL R'Y.

General Office 2o2 Nottingham Building.
DAILY TRAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Leave Arrive
S. L. City, s: a. m. Park City 1890 a. m.
Park City 400 p. m. S. L. City. 6:15 D. m.
Depot Main and Eighth South SITS
]. McGregor. Clarence Cary, Receivers
F. E. Shafer. Genertl Freight and Pas
senger Agent.