davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-02-08
ATKINSON ACCEPTS.
HE YIELDS TO THE CALL TO BECOME A CANDIDATE
 FOR MAYOR.
His Acceptance is Short and to The Point. and Purely Busi-
 ness Like.

Wednesday, DAILY GRAPHIC con tained call, ndmeronsly signed by business men, upon Alderman T. B. Atkinson to become Il candidate for Mayor of the city of Pine Bluff at the ensuing city election, April the '. This call Mr. Atkinson has had under advisement for the past two days, and this morning handed in to the press his acceptance Of the same. The call is as follows:
 A Call.
 PINE BLUFF. Ark, Feb ,, 1897 To Mir. T. B. Atkinson.
 We, the undersigned voters, citi- zens and business men of this city, would respec fully ask that you sub nit your name as candidate for the office of Mayor at the April election. Believing you have a thorough knowledge of city affairs, and well qualified for discharging the duties, we pledge you our sup
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-02-08

Go to 4. J. Mitchell for your news papers, periodicals and magazines. dtf
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03

arts upon, might return to the gypsy witch
in whose interests he was acting.
But before they put their plan into exc
cution, they determined to consult their
few friends and advise the Rev. Mr.. Jones.
They sent a polite note round to him, ana
invited him to supper. But the reverend
gentleman replied that If they didn't mind
he would prefer to come to tea. He didn't
know what peculiar manifestations of fe-
line eccentrfcity Peter might indulge in for
his benefit, and he preferred that sort of
thing in the daylight. After nightfall, 1t
had more painful effect on the nerves
PVnctually at $3.50. which had been the
tea hour of the Misses Shoosmith as long
as they could remember, the Rev Mr..
Jones arrived at the Hermitage. But he
was in a state of quite unusual excitement
He had been to the reading room or the To-
cal Mechanics Institute, and there he mad
seen, quite by accident, an advertisement
in the Daily Telegraph. He had borrowed
the paper and brought it with him. This
was the advertisement he read aloud 10
his hospitable hostesses.
Lost, on the 10th of March, large
black cat. Has three white hairs on his
tail. Anyone having found cat answer
ing this description who will communicate
with w. W., liza, Duncan Terrace, lsling-
ton will be recompensed for his trouble
should the animal turn out to be the one
w. w. is in search Of.
Now. Peter had arrived mysteriously at
the Misses Shoosmiths residence on the
18th of March, two days after this black
cat had been lost, and Peter had three
white hairs on his tail.
"Its the catg" exclaimed Miss Deborah.
VERY likely" said Miss Jane.
mo doubt about itp said the Rev. Mr..
what shall we do?" said Miss Debo-
rah.
write at oncer' said the curate; "or.
better still--you are going to town. Call
at Duncan Terrace and see w. w. your
self"
ooh I do hope it is Peterp exclaimed
Miss Deborah. You can't think what a
relief It will be to us to get rid OF him with
out resorting to violence" :.
Two days afterwards Miss Deborah, ac-
companied by her sister, knocked modest
~ at the door of No. liza, Duncan Terrace,
Islington, and, being admitted, said they
had called in reference to an advertise
Inent about cat
They were shown into the front parlor,
and presently a pleasant middle-aged gen.
tlernan. with a smooth face and droll
expression, came in
Come about the cat, have you, ladies'?
Well I'm w. w, and I've lost one-black,
three white hairs"
I'VE have cat IKE tnat, salu Mlss
Deborah. "It strayed into our house at
Hendon on the 18th Of March. But how
are we to know that It Is yours2'
"Well, my cat isn't an ordinary cat. Say
does your cat stand upon his hind legs
and Sparkle this?
Mr. w. w. suited the action to the
word.
"Oh, yesp' exclaimed Miss Jane, "and
stands on Its headV'
"And walks on it's hind legs OH the
clothes-lnep said Miss Jane.
That's my catl" cried Mr.. W. w. La
dies, where is hep
"At home at HendonT
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03

"Then, If you'll allow me, I'll go and
fetch him at once. OF course, I-er--shall
be verify glad to--er-pay any expense you
may have been put to in coming here"
"Oh, no-not at all!' exclaimed Miss De-
borah. 1--WE shall be only too glad to
get rid of him, for he has terrified US
out of our lives with his extraordinary
behavior" Then, with blush, she added,
1--WE really began to believe that he was
an evil spirit"
''Ha, hal l don't wonder at itr' laughed
Mr.. w. w.
but how does your cat come to do these
extraordinary things?" asked Miss Jane,
that Peter was an ordinary cat and not
witch's familiar.
"Well, 1 can soon explain that to you,
ladies. You see, I'm Whimsical Walk
err If you know anything about CIR
cuses you've heard of me. You've heard
Of my donkey. train animals. had
Peter a kitten, and l trained him. There's
nothing l haven't taught him to do In the
circus line, short of cracking a wheeze-
beg your pardon, that's circus lingo, and
means making a joke. Well, just as I'd
trained him to perfection and was going
to show him for the first time at Heng-
lers circus-'Whimsica Walker and his
marvellous performing Cat-blowed IL he
didn't take stage fright, and directly /
took him out of his basket and brought
him into the ring he gave a wild yell and
bolted-bolted out of the ring and out OF
the building before anyone could stop
himm
''Then Peter-is-a--a performing cat9"
That's it, ma'am-trained by yours
truly, Whimsical Walker"
"Ohw exclaimed the Misses Shoosmlth
both together, with great sigh Of relief.
Mr.. whimsical Walker recovered his
cat, and Peter is-or has been until re-
cently-performing his marvellous feats
before the crowned heads of Europe; and
the Misses Shoosmith returned to their
villa residence at Hendon with a great
load lifted from their hearts, and a great
shadow lifted from their lives.
And when, on the first evening after
their return, the Rev Mr.. Jones came in
and took tea with them, he beamed at
them trlumphantly, and looking at Peters
vacant chair, exclaimed:
"Ah, my dear, good ladies, you see
was right after all. The idea of a black
being possessed of supernatural gifts or
in any way Connected with the powers Of
darkness is relic OF barbarism-a Pagan
superstition"
All the same he had felt quite as UNI
comfortable as the two old maiden ladies
themselves about Peters peculiar per-
formances until the mystery was cleared
up.
(The End.)
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03
(The End.)

President Kruger has the same num-
Der of grandchildren as Queen Victoria,
but they are not sprlnkled over the
thrones OF Europe.
Queen Victoria is said to be worth
more than 500, 100000 which she has made
by saving and interest out of her annual
net revenue of 100000.
Sir Julian Pauncefote. the British am
bassador, surprised the crowd In the SEM
ate restaurant the other day by making
his lunch off half dozen plain crackers.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03
HIS CHILD A MONKEY.
Commanders BOOth-Tucl<er Rescues
Little Girl From n Hard life.


New York Letter In Baltimore American.
Commander Booth-Tucker and Brigadies
swift OF the New York Salvationists can
show you little girl attending one Of this
grammar schools of this city whose father
deliberately so stunted her growth and
mistreated her In other respects that he
was able to use her to beg pennies as a
grind-organ monkey, without people who
saw her suspecting that she was other
than the beast she represented.
IL was down In the Kentish hop fields OF
England that Brigadier Swift found tho
pltlabie little creature. The child was
then, as nearly as could be guessed, abouc
3 years old. She was dressed In a dirty
red jacket, trimmed with lace and Shin
ing buttons, like the typical hand-organ
monkey. Her diminutive body moreover.
had been squeezed into the skin of a real
monkey. 1t fitted down closely over the
entire face, leaving only openings for the
mouth and nostrils, and two holes sur
rounded by hair. through which pair OF
eyes peered. Originally the monkey skin
had been made to cover the hands and
feet, but had worn away leaving the tiny
members bare, save for the thickly-en-
crusted filth and dirt that covered them
almost beyond recognition. The monkey
skin upon her body had become worn
bare In spots, and, besides, was moth
eaten, and had been dinghy patched, but
the ape-like tricks which the child had
been beaten into acquiring readily divert
ed attention from these defects
She could climb a table leg as nimbly
as any monkey ever exhibited, and there
was contrivance by which she could
move the tail that was attached to the
monkey skin she wore. II was dreadfully
fatiguing work for the withered little mid
get to move this tail, and out OF all the
horrors OF her life, the memory of the
half-fainting efforts to do this still come
back TO her as among the most vivid OF
her child memories. The estimable parent
who maintained his valuable existence by
thus exhibiting his offspring had to starve
her. and had fed her on gin from child
hood in order to repress her unhlial ten
dency to outgrow her monkey skin; and
he knew that this could not go on for
ever without killing her. SO he was try
ing TO get as much out OF her as he could
while she lasted
During the summer the father and his
girl-monkey tramped II alone, and once
In while, by way of variety, the father
let her out of the monkey skin and sent
her begging from house to house, with
instructions to steal whatever she could
lay her hands on. In the winter the two
Joined a company OF men who played a
sort of pantomlme, the father assuming
the role and costume OF horned devil
The girl-monkey appeared with him, and
relieved his heavy villain part by her ap-
legs, nibbled the nuts that were handed
her. and begged pennies by passing around
the little red monkey cap she wore.
Brigadier Swift found her and readily
got her away from her father on condition
that he not be prosecuted, adopted her
as her own child and brought her to this
country.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03
The DEMON CAT.
BY GEO. r.. SIMS,

Of
"Dramns of
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23

then Jarmen took the stand and narrated
his romantic story which was told in The
CALL to-day. Jennings looked at him
carefully as the District Attorney drew
from him the details of his tramp with
Jennings, during which the latter advised
him to follow a life Of crime as being far
more preferable to working for living.
AS Jarmen told ab ut the empty revol-
yer and how en- several occasions Jen-
pings threatened to shoot him with it, the
prisoner laughed audibly and seemed to
consider it fine Joke.
Nothing could be funnier than Jarmen' s
description of his refusal to kill the
jennings had stolen a fat hen from a
neighboring ranch. Jarmen told the
court that he was so tender hearted that
he would not step on a frog, and that it
was utterly impossible for him to kill
poor little chicken.
Jennings first took up a stone and told
. Jarmen to smash the chickens head, and
when he refused he was tod that his own
head would be smashed ii ne did not COM
ply. Jarmen then admitted that he was
so fearful of the consequences of jennings
revolver and the rock he held in his hand
that he consented to wiring the chickens S
neck. He gave the court a graphic de.
scription of his position at the time and
took care to state that nothing could have
induced him to murder the chicken had
he known that the gun was not loaded
The iewelry found in the barn and in
Jennings pockets admitted of no defense,
and Judge Pimentel held the prisoner to
answer in the Superior Court for burglary
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23

families; we find husbands for wives,
wives for husbands. parents for children
and children for parents. Only recently
case came under my observation which
illustrates my meaning, and it is a sample
of number of others. An application
was received from lady who applied for
q widows pension. She gave the name
of her husband, his service, company and
regiment. In looking into the claim it
was found that the husband was alive and
drawing a pension through the pension
agency at Chicago. The woman, who re-
sides in Massachusetts,, was so informed.
Immediately came a reply from her
asking the address of the man, which was
furnished. A correspondence ensued be-
tween them, and when they satisfied
themselves that they were on the right
track they arranged a meeting. The man
thought that his wife had died, and at the
close of the war entered the regular army
and went West. The woman, not hearing
from the man, became convin ced that he
had been killed or had died. She was un-
officially informed that he had died in a
hospital, and supposed it was fact. In
the meantime she had married again.
Her second husband died, and had been
dead over ten years when she applied for
pension.
''Another case call to mind is that Of
soldier who originally lived at Niagara
Falls. He went in the army and served
under Sherman. At the close of the war
he settled in New Orleans. He had posi-
tive inform alton that his wife had died,
but he never was able to get any informa-
tion as to what had become OF his three
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23

The figures for 1895 are given in round
mum bers, but the difference in either was
not over few hundred dollars at most.
Looking back over the totals of former
years, 1t is seen that the amount of pre-
miums received in 1892 was 81, co., ,460, and
the losses paid only 81, 727, ,908, being a
ratio of 1873. Then fire insurance busi-
ness was nearly the same in risks written
as in 1895, but owing to reduction of rates
the premiums received were nearly double
those of 1896, while the loss ratio was little
more than half In 1894 the totals of pre-
miums received was So 337, ,060, losses
paid $2,S15, $40; loss ratio 444 But the
next year the insurance compact went to
pieces, and with it rates were demoralized.
The premiums received in 1895 were nearly
one third less, being only %,704, ,5S4, the
losses paid were, however greater, being
81, $50, ,672, and the ratio in consequence
went up to 60.6 per centum. This ratio
has been steadily advancing sine 1891 till
it has reached pretty near the limit where
profit ends.
While the decrease was quite general,
there are few offices which show de-
cided i'm mprovement, and they were leaders
in the fight. Rolla V. Watts, Brown &
Sons, Robert Dickson, H. K Belden and
L. Edward Pope, all came out of the year
with large increases in business, though
CT course the profits were not SO large as
they might have been.
The chart of the Pacific Coast business
for 1896 appeared yesterday as compiled
by the Coast Review 1t shows a decrease
In the amount of premiums received of
Just ~, QUO, 900 in the fire insurance busi-
on the coast. The figures are as follows:
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
Premiums for the Coast
Shrink Nearly Two
Million Dollars.
General Falling Off in Volume
of Business and Profits
DemoraliZed.
Losses Pad Remain Nearly as Large
as Ever and the Loss Ratio
Increases.

The local fire insurance men have been
brought to a realization of the demoraliz-
ing effects OF cutting rates indiscrimi-
nately. They have gone through a year
that gave but small profit, and now that
the years business is published in statis-
tical form there are many surprises all
along the line. These long rows of figures
show that in California alone the fire in
surance business dropped off last year
more than 81, 900, 900, or about one-fourth.
The general managers of the different
fire insurance companies engaged in busi-
ness in California make annual state
ments for purposes of taxation and other
reasons. These figures are collected into
statistical form, showing the business for
the year ending December 81, but they do
not appear until near the end OF the fol-
lowing month.
On this occasion considerable curiosity
was manifested in the results, as for some
months past agents quite freely stated
their opinions that the showing would be
of such nature as to predict the with
drawal of several small companies from
the Pacific Coast, owing to the losses con-
sequent upon the bitter warfare among
agencies. And now that the tabular state
than one insurance man asserts to be well
founded) to the effect that some smaller
offices are on the verge of closing, and
thereby leaving the field to their more
wealthy and powerful rivals.
One feature OF the years business and
changes is strongly presented in the sta
tistics, so forcibly indeed as to cause sur
prise. 1t Is the effect of companies closing
their general agencies here and making
the Pacific Coast tributary 10 Chicago. or
part of that territory. The business sub
jected to this test is seen to have suffered
heavily. The coast field was not remuner-
ative enough for them to continue fine
offices in San Francisco with general man
ayers, so expenses were curtailed and
affairs managed from Chicago. But this
plan caused trouble; delays were fire.
Quent; dong business with manager go
far away from the scene did not prove
pleasant or successful.
The two home companies, although
doing conservative business. fell behind.
The Fireman's Fund dropped from $275,-
900, its 1895 total of premiums received, TO
sos, 900, and the Home Mutual went from
$122, 900 to $l08074. In each case the loss
ratio to premiums was higher than in
1895. But, then, all the companies suf-
fered.
The following table will show the dimi-
mutton of fire insurance business in 1896
through cutting rates:
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
OCEAN TRAVEL.
PlC1Fc COAST STEAMSHIP co.

CLEANERS LEAVE BROADWAY AEa.
~ wharf San Francisco, follows: 3Z
For Mary Island Loring, Wrangel. juneau, Kill
lisnoo and Sitka (Alaska), at A. NJ, Jan g. "a
For Victoria and Vancouver (B. C.), Port Town
send, Seattle. Tacoma, Everett, Anacortes and
New Whatcom (Bellingham Bay, Wash.l A. II
JAN 4, 9, ii, 19, "a 29 and every fifth day there
after, connecting at Vancouver with the G. p. r
R., at Tacoma with N p. r. r., at Seattle with o.
N. Ry., at Port Townsend with Alaska steamers.
For Eureka Arcata and Fields Landing (Hum.
boldt Bay), str Pomona P. NJ, Jan. 4, 8, H. 16,
20 "a. % and every fourth day thereafter.
For Santa Cruz. Monterey, San Simeon, Cayucos
Port Hartford (San Luis obispo), Gaviots, santa
Barbara, Ventura, Hueneme, san Pedro East san
Pedro clos Angeles) and Newport, at A. NJ
Jan. 2, 8, 10, a. Is, %, 26 80, and every fourth
day thereafter.
For san Diego, stopping only at Port Harsord
(San Luis Obispo), Santa Barbara, Port Los An
geles. Redondo CLOS Angeles) and Newport IL
AN. Jan. A. g. IL. 16, 20 "a 2S, and every fourth
day thereafter.
For Ensenada, San Jose del Cabo, Mazatlan, La
Paz and Guaymas (Mexico), steamer Orizaba, 10
A. n. 25th Of each month.
The Company reserves right to Change steamers
or sailing dates. Ticket ofiice-Palace Hotel,
New Montgomery street.
GOODALL, PERKINS & CO., Gen1 Agents
10 Market ST., San Francisco
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23

children, except that they had been sent
to an orphan asylum. He did not know
in what State the orphan asylum was To-
Gated; neither did the children know
whether their father was dead or alive,
though from what they had been able to
pick up in the way of information from
time to time they had concluded he had
passed to the other side.s
at happened that the daughter of the
soldier not only grew up 10 be beautiful
woman, but had married a wealthy man.
She wrote the War Department to learn
of the whereabouts of her fathers grave,
but there was no record of it. She then
wrote to the Pension Office for the address
of man she had heard served with her
father and who at one time lived at Niagara
Falls. The ending OF it all was that the
children found the father and the father
found his children. There are hundreds
OF such cases, though, of course the num-
ber of them is becoming smaller as time
passes There was time in the history
of the Pension Office when such cases were
OF frequent occurrence. - Washington
Star.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
EXCESSIVE POLLTAX.
Assessor Dalton Makes Public Littl 9
of His Experience.


OAKLAND, CAL, Jan. 22.-County AS
SCISSOR Dalton sincerely approves of the
bill now before the Legislature to abolish
polltax. He gave the following interest
ing little interview:
There should be q radi ical change in the poll
tax law as it now stands or the Senate COM
mittee bill should pass, for now 1t makes fish
of one and meat of another.
We probably collect in Alameda County
$40 900 IN polltaIes. One-ffth of those liza BILE
TO the tax cannot be reached, The money so
raised is placed In the State school furd, and
if the tax were done away with it would make
it necessary to add about per cent to the
general tax
sSI believe that So is too much. When the law
was passed times were better than they are
now and So then was not as much as 81 is at
the present time.
The Tax Collector has an opportunity to OBJ
serve some of the hardships inflicted. man
who has a wife and family to support and
earns only 50 day for work when he can get
it can Ill afford to part with his 81. The law
is mandatory, we must collect or seize, and we
have succeeded in reaching some this year for
the first time.
Taken as a whole believe that the tax is
too heavy as 1t stands and by raising the
money by property tax we would relieve
many from hardship and be more just in our
laws.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
May Be Disbanded.

ALAMEDA, CAL, Jan. 22.-The COM
plant filed with the Board OF Trustees last
Monday evening by Chief Krauth OF the
Fire Department, charging the volunteers
result in the disbandment of some of the
local companies. In speaking OF the mat
ter to-day Trustee Leydecker, chairman of
the Committee on the Fire Department,
said: 1--WE pay these companies $50 per
month out OF the city treasury. and what
do they do with it? l say this: If the
volunteers can't show up at fires, why not
disband themP" A meeting of the FORE
ton with tie Committee on Fire. Police,
etc., will be held, when the whole matter
will be gone into thoroughly.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
HELD UP BY A WOMAN.
Threatened to Shoot Two Detectives
Who Invaded Her House With
subpoena.

OAKLAND, CAL, Jan. 22.-There was
an exciting incident this afternoon in con-
nfction with the johnson case. Detec-
4yes Shorey and Williams went to the
rAsdence of Mrs. R. B. Davis, on Kirkham
street, to compel the attendance of Mrs.
Davis daughter as a witness.
When the detectives reached the door
they found it locked, but soon discovered
that Mrs. Davis was at home. They sue
ceeded in entering the rear door, but
found the next door locked. By the use
of pass Keys they opened this and also an
other floor and were about to open a
fourth when Mrs. Davis appeared.
The woman was violently angry and
held up six-shooter. Don't come an
other step or 1 will shoot" she said.
I'VE are officers of the law" said Detec-
tive Shorey, and as he spoke he and
Williams sprang at the woman and after
a hard struggle disarmed her. Mrs. Davis
was then placed in custody and charged
with resisting officers and exhibiting a
deadly weapon. On examination it was
found that the pistol was fully loaded.
After disarming Mrs. Davis the detec-
tives found her daughter locked in the
closet Both were taken to the City Hall,
and their cases will come up in the Police
Court to : morrow. Mrs. Davis is the
neighbor of Mrs. Troy, and the two
families have made more history during
the past two years than any dozen estab-
hshments in West Oakland. AS result
of their feud a high fence taller than
either house now separates the property.
DR.. Sharp was admitted to bail to-day
in the sum of S8000 W. M. Kent, E.
Bishop, Charles Ratio and f. s. TAFT are
on his bond.
The examination of John Howard, who
i4eharged with Sharpe with the death OF
lss Johnson, commenced to-day and
Eyought out some interesting testimony.
MRS. Lizzie Keith and Mrs. Mary Van
Zandt testified to certain conversations
held between Howard and the dead girls
sister while they were both confined in
the City Prison. They said that Howard
begged the girl to stick by him, to which
she replied that she had a good mind to
tell the whole truth, as both she and
Howard knew that he was guilty. On
cross-examination the women stuck to
their story.
Mrs. Charles Johnson, mother OF the