davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
IN A TIGHT PLACE.
Engineer Attacked by Rattlesnakes While
Expecting His Boiler to Explode.

Engineer Attacked by Rattlesnakes While
Expecting His Boiler to Explode.
Patrick L. Fennell, an engineer of VIII
Transport, Pa, recently took charge Of q
sawmill In the forest some miles from his
home. The mill had not been in operation
for some time, and it required several days
to clean 1t. Then Fcnnell started o fire in
the furnace and prepared for business. He
was called to some other part Of the mill.
and when he returned to the engine he saw
that the steam gauge registered ITO, al.
though the boiler was tested only to 100
pounds and was supposed to work with 20
to 90.
In his excitement at the peril Fenpell
slammed the door of the engine house and a
latch on the outside dropped down, max
ing him q prisoner. Paying no attention
1osthat, he started for the safety valve. II
bad become rusted and refused to work.
Catching hold Of pipe he started to swing
himssk into position to reach the valve
when be noticed a rattlemake hanging 70
the pipe. He jumped back and landed on
something which yielded under his IT.
II proved to be another snake. -
The ire in the furnace had warmed the
walls Of the engine house and roused 4 den
Of rattlers and several Of them were ready
for trouble. Fennel seized an iron bar
and attacked the snakes, finally killing all
Of them He then loosened the safety valve
and released the imprisoned steam. The
gauge Registered 100 pounds, and in . few
moments more there must have BEEN an
expIosion that would have wreoksd IL
b9z1dng and psrhaps dllsd several n. !.
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

and stones all bedded together. The ma0
was fully two feet long. Ny heart gave q
leap of exultation. Instead of hurling IL
at the turtle, reached out with It and
managed to scrape that precious handspike
within grasp.
Just at this juncture the turtle de-
cided to take hand. I had given the
signal to be hauled mp, and now could
feel Larry tuggirg energetically at the
rope. Tho turtle left of fooling with the
tube, and, padding down to see what was
making such a commotion In the water.
he tackled me at once.
As 1t happened, however, he took hold
OF the big copper nut on the top of my
headpiece, and that was too tough q morsel
even for his beak, so that all he could do
was to shake me a bit. With him Mt nv
head and the clam on my leg and Larry
jerking on my waistband you may i'm
agine could hardly call my soul my own.
However, began jabbine with my ha l.
spike into the unprotected parts of e
turtles body, feeling around for * ne
vital spot. In moment the water as
red with blood. All I could do was to
keep on jabbing as close to the neck I
could. and the turtle kept chewing at le
copper joint.
81 believe it was the clam that belred
me most effeotually in that struggle. You
see, that grip On my leg kept me as steady
as rock. If it hadn't been for that, the
turtle would have had me end over end in
no time. As it was, after few moments
Of this desperate stabbing l managed to
kill my assailant, but even in death that
iron beak Of his maintained its hold on the
copper nut of my helmet. Larry had to
slash of the heavy creatures head with a
hatchet."
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
THE CH!PMUNK.~
How He Rouses Himself and wslcomsp
the Spring.

How He Rouses Himself and Welcomes
the Spring.
As the woodchuck sleeps away the
bitterness Of cold, so in his narrower
chamber sleeps the chipmunk. Happy
littlo hermit, lover Of the sun, mate Of
tho song sparrow and the butterflies,
what goodly and hopeful token Of the
earth's renewed life is he, verifying the
promises Of his own chalices, the squir-
rel cups, set in the warmest corners of
tho woodside, with libations Of dew and
shower drops, Of the bluebird's carol,
the sparrow's song Of spring!
He comes forth from his long night
into the fullness of the sunlit day, to
proclaim his awakening to his summer
comrades, o gay recluse clad all in the
motley, jester, maybe. yet no fool.
His voice, for all its monotony, is in
spring Of gladness and contentment,
whether he utters his thin, sharp chirp
or full mouthed cluck, or laughs chit
tering mockery as he scurries in at his
narrow door.
He winds along his crooked pathway
Of the fence rails and forages for half
forgotten puts in the familiar grounds,
brown with strewn leaves or dun with
dead grass. Sometimes he ventures to
tho top rail and climbs to o giddy ten
foot height on tree, whence he looks
abroad, wondering. ON the wide expanse
Of an acre.
Music hath charms for him, and you
may entrance him with q softly whis-
tied tuue and entice him tn fro1io with
q herds grass head gently moved be-
foro him.
When tho fairies have made the white
curd Of mallow blossoms into cheese for
the children and the ohipmunk, 1t is q
pretty sight to see him gathering his
share handily and toothily stripping off
tho green covers. filling his cheek
pouches with the dainty disks and
scampering away to tho cellar with his
ungrudged portion. Alack tho day
when tho sweets Of the sprouting corn
tempt him to turn rogue, for then he
becomes banded outlaw, and the sud-
den thunder Of tho gun announces his
tragic fate. He keeps well tho secret Of
constructing his cunning house, with
out show Of heaped or scattered soil
at its entrance. Bearing himself hon.
estly and escaping his enemies, tho cat,
tho hawk and the boy, he lives long
day Of happy, inoffensive life. Then
when the filmy curtain Of the Indian
summer falls upon the year again he
bids as long good night. Eng
land Fields and woods."
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

PENED."
myself. / reasoned that while was of an
extremely peaceable disposition 1 couldn t
tell when somebody might give me occa-
sion to defend myself. felt that there
wasn't one chance in 1000 for me to get in
to rough and tumble scrap, but thought
might as well be prepared in case the
unexpected did happen.
"Well, I was pretty good pupil. put
on muscle and science, and finally Joined
an athletic club. Wien there wasn't O
single member of the club who would
stand up against me, began to long for
more worlds to conquer.
"As I said, there wasn't one chance in
1000 for man Of my disposition to get
into a row, but do you know that very
fact began to gall me? used to think,
looking at some husky fellow:
My! Don't I wish he'd tackle me-!
Wouldn't I give him a surprise party,
though?',
"But nobody ever did. And there I
was, as thought, able to lick any ordi-
nary man out of his boots! Itwas Just like
having present of a fine shooting outfit
on the condition that you were not to leave
the city limits.
"There went around just aching for q
fight. I found myself elbowing people,
treading on their toes, making remarks on
their personal appearance-anything that
might induce the ordinary man to square
of at me.
"You know you can't go around that
way many weeks without being accommo-
dated. found my man one morning by
slipping into q car scat while he stood be-
fore 1t parting his coattails ready to sit
down.
II never will know just what happened
next. Everything was too sudden. The
first thing knew he had his hand In my
collar and was pulling me up against big,
pile driver fist which was making about 20
revolutions q minute.
Then somebody was sprinkling water
In my face. learned afterward that the
fellow was one of the worst brusiers in
town, and that ho had q contempt for all
rules of boxing. His motto was to lick
man before the man could get on the de-
fensive. I've never boxed any since. I'd
be better looking now if I'd never boxed at
ALL"
As he smiled, it was noticed that four
teeth were out in the front of his lower
Jaw.
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
THE HAMMOCK RIDER


non nars whlcn run the length of each
side Of the car. A cover is seyved IN one
side and almost covers the ends, the seved
ed ee being placed toward the engine, so
that the wind pressure will keep out the
dust as the car speeds along.
But tie interest in Jack is not only due
to his peculiar mode of travel, but also to
the fact that his life i'll fits q man of his
characteristics. During the recent CAM
paign he attracted considerable attention
as q stump speaker, and by his ready wit
he has gained friend in almost every
town he has visited. Neither working nor
begging. he procures bis meals and shelter
by dint of clever invention and repartee.
Jack studied in Chicago at the Rush
Medical college, intending to make med
icine his profession, but he prefers his row
ing life and declares he Is ''the happiest
hobo in the world.
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
A Pearl Divers Perils.

Charles @. d. Roberts, in his book
"Around the Camp Fire." tells a good
story Of a pearl Divers perils. Tho diver,
Al johnson, suddenly found his foot
caught In the grip of monster clam. His
steel handspike had fallen where he could
not reach it, and he resolved to give the
signal to be pulled up.
"Just as had como to this resolve" he
continues, "a black shadow passed over
my head, and looked up quickly. 1t was
q big turtle. didn't like this, I can tell
you, but kept perfectly still, hoping the
newcomer would not notice Inc.
"He padded along very slowly, with
his queer little head stuck far out, and
presently he noticed my air tube. 1t
seemed to strike Linn as decidedly queer
My blood fairly turned to ice in my veins as
I saw him paddle up and take hold of it in
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
Nailed the BIKE Thief.

A pretty story of the bitter bit comes
from Paris: A few days ago bicycle was
stolen from the front Of a cafe on the
boulevards. Prompted by a happy inspira-
ton, the owner put an advertisements in
the Gaulois, stating that he desired to
purchase a machine, and describing pretty
accurately the one he had just lost. The
plan was perfectly successful, for next day
the thief appeared wanting to sell the ad-
yertiser's bicycle, and was promptly hand-
- evoE 30 ths poliaa
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
AN INGENIOUS TRAMP.

'tJack the Hammock RIDER Travels In
Comfort and Lives by His Wits.
A queer character is "Jack the ham,
mock rider," who is now touring the west
in his own peculiar style. Jacks ham
mock is Of his own construction and bears
the mark Of considerable ingenuity. 1t is
designed to fasten under a sleeping car to
aid Jack in beating the railroad. The
hammock is made of heavy canvas, quilted
on the inside and fastened to q stout stick at
each end. Two large iron hooks project
from the wooden rods and by these he at
taches his novel resting place to the two
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
Catch Fish with Wheels.

A curious plan for catching fish Is
used ON the Columbia river. A number
OF wheels are set up in the middle Of the
stream, which, as they turn round, catch
mp the fish and cast them into troughs
By tho river bankA The salmon arc
then timed and sent all over the world.
A much a. Eve tons weight Of fish q
day has thus been taken.-Kansas City
Star
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
Chance. For Success. In Iarr. Cities.

Chances For Success In Large Cities.
In solving Problems Of Young Men"
Edward W. Box, in The Ladies' Home
Journal, replying to an inquirer. con-
tends that opportunities for promotion
Gin business) arc more numerous in
largo cities than In smaller communi-
ties. but they are not better. "There
nro moro chances in the larger cities,
but likewise there are more applicants
for tho cbanccs Salaries may be high
er in tho centers. bus 90. GOO. il the cost
Of living. Things always equalize them
selves. To my way Of thinking. mod
crate business success In . small COM
munity means moro to . man in point
Of living and absolute satisfaction than
agreater success in larger city"
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
STIRRING ADVENTURES
Taken From Recent Works Of
Fiction and Travel.
FIGHTING A BEAR IN THE DARK.

A Mastery Description by Gilbert Parker.
A Pearl Divers Fight With a Turtle.
Himalayas.
Seldom does one find a more thrilling
scene than that in Gilbert Parker's
"Pomp Of the Lavilcttes'' in which Tom
Ferrol is locked up in dark warehouse
with a murderous bear.
"He ran suddenly to the center Of the
room, the candle still in his hand, and
turned to meet his foe. It came savagely
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

For eighteen months have been we'll. Al
though q years of age can go where wish
and sleep all night and wake up 40 cheer.
ful as a babe and completely rested
Dr. Miles Remedies are sold by all drug
gists under positive guarantee, first bottle
benefits or money refunded. Book on Heart
and Nerves sent FREQ TO all applicants.
DIR. MILES MEDICAL CO., Elkbart. Ind.
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

Others and O number
OF remedies, spending
n large amount of
money. but finally be-
came SO brd that IL was
unsafe for me to leave
home. I commenced
using DR.. Miles Heart
Cure two veara aea
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

Between Carthage and Stislingville,
In Jefferson county. n. y. there is a
stretch Of country where the sand drifts
like snow. making great banks and
binding tho eyes Of those who look up
wind It is desolafe. barren region,
where the soil IL only - deep q the
roots Of the grass.
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

UV VEART DISEASE is curable. For over
forty years." writes Daniel Myers Of
Two Taverns, Pa. on Aug. TO- 1885,
II suffered with heart disease. First slight
palpitation. gradually growing worse. Then
shortness OF breath, sleeplessness. smother.
Ing sensations and much pain In the region
OF the heart alarmed me and I consulted n
physIcian. Receiving no benefit tried
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

sH0A AhOONU THE CANT fIfE.
g.ngerly fashion with his beak. Luckily
he didn't think it would be good to eat,
but knew that II he should bite it
would be dead man in about minute,
drowned inside my helmet like q rat in .
hole.
I'm my desperation stopped down and
tore with both hands at the shells and
weeds for something might hurl at the
turtle, thinking thus perhaps to distract
his attention from my air tube. But what
Do Jon supposs happenedf Why, SO
sesdsd N pulling Up . sssat luaap Z shslls
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

Just try . 10 cent box Of Casearets,
the finest liver and bewsl regulator
ever made.
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
This Connection It May Be Said

That an advertisement containing the
fewest words is often the most striking,
and that the most grammatical is not
always the most attractive. Common
sense and truthfulness should be
kept in mind. The ad that is the best
in all respects the most striking, origi-
nal and most likely to carry conviction
with it, will win the prize. Competitors
will bear in mind that the "ad" should
be prepared as though it were to be
used in New York papers for the pur-
pose OF attracting factories or residents
to Rock Island. The lad" is to be what
IS know as display advertisement in
other words one to be set in large bold
type to attract attention.
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
WAS LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.
when He Got n, He Was Moro TAnn
Sat sed

when He Got 1t. He Was Moro 1Ann
Satisfied.
boxing lessons arc all right AZ exer-
cise, be was saying measuredly, "but
TOR peaceable man to take them up on
the suppoeition TINT the knowledge might
come IN handy some time In q scrap
don't do it; that's what ] say."
A little buzzins of dissent from his
companions caused him to continue.
II used to be as quiet q duck as you
ever saw. wouldn't have hurt a man. q
feeling for anything, and the idea Of men
fighting with their lists was intolerabls to
me.
But one night CHANGED to see an ex-
hibition in which two clever fellows
spared for points. 1t was very exciting,
and in week was taking boxing lessons
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24
On the Following Conditions

q The contest is open to any resident of Rock
Island, male or female
~ Only one ''ad' will be considered from each
contestant.
% The advertisement must not contain more than
one hundred words
~ The contest opens Tuesday. May I8, and closes
Saturday, June 5. at p m All lads" must be at The
ARGUS office by that hour.
% Every "ad" must bear the full name and ad-
dress of the contestant and the number of words contains
TO- The award of the prize will be made by COM
ttee OF three composed of T. H. Thomas Charles Buford
and Prof. J. E. Gustus of Augustana college,
% The winner will be given order for s. worth
of books of his or her own selection
Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-24

In order to bring before the people axA
generally better conception of Rock
Islands advantages and to cultivate
taste for well written advertisements
The Argus Offers a Prize Of S. Worth Of Books
For the best display advertisement
calculated to induce the location of
residents or factories in Rock Island
The contest to be conducted
The times., 1897-08-08

q story than anything heretofore done
We present Mr.. Stimsons portrait this
morning. Frederic Jesup Stimson was born
IN Dedharn, Mass, July 20, 1855. He pass
cd his hoyhood III Dubuque Iowa; went to
school in Dedham, Mass, and Switzerland,
and graduated from Harvard College in
1876 and law school 1878. at that time
he was one of the editors of the old
Harvard Lampoon, and wrote with j. T.
Wheelwnght ''Rollo's Journey to Cam
bridge" ''"Guern dale" which he nearly COM
plete1 before leaving Cambridge, was pub
lished in 1882, and followed by Mrs.
Knollys'' and First Love Letter. two
widely-copied magazine stories. The for
mer preceded by year or more Tennyson's
poem on the same plot. "Stinnson's Law
Glossary had before been published by
Stimson was assistant attorney general of
Massachusetts,, and since then has prac-
ticed law in Boston and New York. The
first volume Of this 'monumental'' work
on American statistics and constitutions
appeared in 1886, and this year ne put
forth two important contributions to tie
law of the labor question, in which he is
deeply Interested His works of fiction,
necessarily written In periods OF leisure,
he takes sometimes years to execute and
mature; but has written some novels in
the fifteen years since "Guerndaie,r be-
sides The Kings Men," written in COL
laboration with J. B. O'Reilly, Robert
Grant and J. T. Wheelwright, This novel
was not, however, q success. Mr.. Stimson
is also at work on a thoughtful book to
be called The Ethics of Democracy, :, parts
The times., 1897-08-08

in his own neighbor, Will Gillette, who acts
them with such delicious abandon.
Firstlet him speak of this particular story
for himself: This being an age of womanly
endeayor, il was pleasant to chronicle IN
The WIdo WIS Cruise the very Sue
cessful endeavor of a good woman, not only
TO rise to the Level OF the male maritime
yarn, hut to soar above it and to look with
pardonahle contempt upon certain persons
OF the opposite sex, who had underesti
mated her mental grasp"
But Stockton did it. He inspired the
four captains with their whoppers, and it
was his malicious spirit of revenge and
playful anticipation of Joyous results upon
the reader that sustained him in the words
he put into the widows mouth.
Briefly, the Widow Ducket and her COM
lanion, Miss Dorcas Noteworthy, one even
ing entertained four transient sea captains
at supper, and listened 10 their stories af-
teFward, while they sat on the front stoop
and smoked their pipes. Soon after the
conversation began it reached that point
at which Capt. Bird thought 1t proper to
say that gTea tmany strange things happen
To seanen sailing on the sea which lands
people never dream of. 1t only needed
the widow TO remark: such as any thing
In partic ular?" to plunge Dorcas into
expectancy, and the captains into their
yarns. Now here is the challenge that
four more delightful lies were never told
than were told by these four captains.
saving always the widow IS reJoinder, which
eelipses anything.
Capt. Bird told how whale once struck
The times., 1897-08-08
An Eavesdropper.

Speaking of Horatio Seymour at the
Cogburn Club last evening, the old politi-
cal member was reminded of the following
anecdote, which, he asserted the governor
used TO tell on himself:
II had just taken my seat in the railway
carriage when / noticed two ministerial
looking men in front of me- said the gov
ernor. 80 DO you know this Horatio Sey-
mour?' asked one. No, came the answer,
although have seen him. Have you? Then
1 pray You to tell me how he looks
Well, he looks what he is-a great drunk
ard answered the one who had seen the
governor.
'''Ah,' said the questioner sadly. it's q
great pity that he should be governor 1
understand that he owns an interest in
more than half the rum-shops in Utica. ;
Yes was the response, and he has to
look out for them in the morning, as he is
always too drunk in the afternoon to
attend to that or any other business
pricked up my ears" concludedtbe governor,
s.for was curious to know what h ad caused
these two to 60 for me so severely Pres
emily 1 discovered. Have you seen his
Thanksgiving proclamation?' asked one.
Yes, and 1 think it scandalously infidel
so do T. And yet that proclamation vas
written by the rector of the leading Episco-
pal church in Albany. Utica Observer
The times., 1897-08-08
English LiheraIitr.

Live heroes, when they serve in the
ranks, can always count on shabby treat
ment from the British authorities. When
the transport ship, Warren Hastings, with
LAG souls on board, went ashore on the
rocks of the island of Reunion last Jan
uary IN pitcb-dark night with heavy
sea running, all England rang with praise
OF the bravery and discipline of the troops.
who stood drawn up in companies on the
deck III the women and children were
saved. and then went ashore as they were
told off. Many of the Officers were then
mentioned in orders, and some were pro-
noted All the soldiers and their families
lost all their baggage. After six months
the war department. allows each man Sc
to renew his Tit, and each family So. so
as COMPENSATION for lost property.-New
York Sun.
The times., 1897-08-08

One of the most industrious and scholarly
Of Scotch archaeologists is DR. w NJ. Ram
say, OF Aberdeen University. He is also
theologian of note and an historical stu
dent of wide research. His works include
a history of the church in the Roman En-
pire before A. d. 20, and an account OF
st. Paul, the traveller and the Roman citi-
zen. To these important and muchvalued
writings he has now added his Impressions
OF Turkey" gathered during twelve
years wanderings in Asiatic Turkey and
Asia Minor
The book comes with opportUne timeli-