davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02

ed to pay taxes until some heir came to claim It.
 Last week pale-faced woman, whose every movement spoke of long endured and great sorrow, registered at the now metropolitan Anderson House, which stands on the same spot once occupied by Squire Jim's" primi- tive tavern. She is perhaps 60 years old, though her silvery hair and care worn expression gave the impression Of 70. On the register she inscribed: Mrs. Annie Welland, Northampton Mass" While curiously enough the old mill sign Is plain: Annie Welland Mills" Mrs. Welland tells her story this way:
 Just after the close of the war. while living in Boston, I met and was married to Frank Welland, a Lieuten- ant In the Federal army. His home was at Northampton. where we at once moved. He had been wounded during the war, and had just recovered after long attack of brain fever. He was heir to a large fortune, a portion or which he insisted upon making over to me. The rest he converted into gov ernment bonds and carried In a large cane made for that purpose. We had lived together but few months when Frank was again afflicted with brain trouble. One of his Authorizations was that he had charge of a large mill which he must run without help. One day he disappeared, and though have spent thousands of dollars and travel. ed all over the country, could find no trace Of him. In June of this year came to the Tennessee centennial. While in machinery hall one day I heard two men who were looking at the milling machinery exhibits talking of the old Annie Welland mill I ask ed them where the mill was located, and they told me the story of it's build Ing. l haStened to Dickson, and am now satisfied that my husband and Frank King are one and the same. How he got to Dickson will. perhaps. never know. 1 shall not do anything with the mill. He must have named 1t from the memory of his love for me. and it shall stand as he left 1t until time or accident has worked It's de- struction."
 Mrs. Welland has gone home, after ordering a monument placed at the head of her husbands grave Mean while, the old mill stands bleak and bare, its timbers falling away, It's doors and windows gone, a habitation for rats and mice, bats and owls, a ghost ly, weird skeleton, rising high in the midst of progress, itself an echo of the mysterious man who builded to his own deat ., and the lifelong heart sick ness of a loving woman.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02

rights. How had they dared to thus invade my premises without permis- sionf l learned who the owners were in the East and sent them bill of $500 for dockage. Their reply came through a representative, who wanted me to settle for a trif1e, but I would hear to nothing but the full amount. There was principle involved that I would not sacrifice. He left with the threat that would never get a dollar.
 "I bribed the man in charge of the raft to notify me when 1t was to be moved and as soon as I heard from him l had the sheriff there to make a levy. had check for $500 as soon as 1t could be got to me. It proved the thin edge of the wedge with which I entered into the business that made me rich. Six weeks later discovered that the raft had not been on my land at all. It was forty feet beyond my line. But what could do, with my money tied up in an investment? So I said noth ing."-Detroit Free Press.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02

Thirty-one years ago the own or Dickson, Tenn, was 9 village ol eie'- en houses, with a population or tnlrty- seven whites and fourteen negroes. II was Just such 6 hamlet as can yet De found alopg the rapidly extendng branch lines Of the Louisville ana Nashville Railroad system; rough board houses. rzJ fences around small garden spots, an SX1Z depot and post office and the inevue ble tavern--a log structure containing two rooms ana an attic, presided over by Old Squire Jim Dickson, whose wife furnished ac- commodationS 10 the few travellers who by chance came that way. Squire Jim," as he is yet called, was the origi- nal settler, the leading man of the set clement, and dealt ou. such justice and legal opinions as were necessary for the maintenance Of tIe peace of the village he had founde7 and which was named for him.
 Three times a week z train would come out from Nashville. i0rty miles east of Dickson, and go town the crooked tracks of the Nashville, Chat tanooga and St. Louis Rail-oad to JohnSonville, on the Tennessee River. The arrival of a train toy no means a certainty on any particular day) was signal for Dickson's entire popula- ton to gather al the little depot and postoffice to await the opening of the mail. The train usually consisted of three freight cars and the still flmiliar caboose, with its rough YoodeI seats, cook stove and hunks for the crew. In this passengers were hauled, ana many were the jars they received.
 It was seldom that a stranger stop ped in Dickson, and the advent of one always created excitement. But one day man stepped of the Nashville train and inquired for q tavern He appeared to be about 10 years of age, was neatly dressed and was peculiar in that he talked only when 1t was un- avoidable, brought with him no bag gage and carried 9 cane nearly two inches in diameter and apparently very heavy. Squire Jim" answered the strangers query and led him to the tavern, where he gave his name as
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
The Circle of a Rainbow.

The earliest attempt at explaining the phenomenon of the rainbow and its cir. cular form was made by Aristotle, who over twenty centuries before the birth of modern science, gave a correct ex- planation. He observed that from a glass globe filled with water and set in the sun certain colors were always returned at certain angles with the course of the suns beams; and he properly explained the circular form of the bow, by saying that If the sum- beam passing through the observers eye be taken as an axis, and the globe be revolved round this axis, and at the same distance from 1t in all parts of its course, the same colors, preserving their angle with the direction of the sunbeams or of the axis, would be visible through all parts of this course; and hence 1t followed that a rainbow would result if there were globes enough, and so placed as to reflect colors at the same time from all parts of an arc of such a circle"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02

Frank King, paid in advance for stay of three months, and requested that he be left to his own devices and not ask ed to join in any of the convivia1 af- fairs for which the Equire's hostelry was deserv vedIT famous.
 Down in what is now a tIiclzly pop ulated residence district there is a spring that furnishes water for half a dozen factories and their employees. At that time 1t was surrounded by a dense growth of underbrush and was a fa- vorite spot for hunteR, game of all kinds abounding. 10 this spring Frank King would go every morning, rarely returning for dinner. and frequently staying there all night. He carried with him nothing except his cane, which, indeed, was never out of his reach. Squire Dickson spent many hours guessing what night be the busi- ness of his reticent guest At last, con- yinced that 1t was his duty to investi- gate. he sad 5ue evening;
 "Nr. Kin. We want to know what brings you to Dickson and why you go so frequently to McFarland's spring"
 "Well. sir" replied King. Pm go- ing to build the biggest flour mill this side of New York.
 He said no more. bu, began writing letters to lumber and machinery houses In the East. the destination Of which Squire Jim" shrewdly guessed at the postofice. In a few days workmen ap- peared from Nashville aud he gan the laying of q foundation that covered half an acre King directed operations, knew just what he wanted and how he wanted 1t done. Car loads of lumber and machinery began to arrive, and every man and team for miles around was engaged to help build the man. moth mill. Even Squire Jim" left his tavern to the care Of Mrs. Jim and ac- cepted a situation as boss carpenter on the new mill It was a big under taking, and attracted attention from all the papers of the State. lien be- gan flOcking to Dickson. and other smaller industries were commenced. Meanwhile King remaiut7 non-com- initial. He had no friends. uo visitors told his business to no one a nd said nothing of his former life. His work men were paid weekly. and nIs supply of money seemed inexhausuble. No one could tell where 1t came rom, and finally 1t was accepted as natter of course, though one or two detectives came from the city to take a look at the man whose past was so we'll con- cealed. IL December, 1897 the mill was completed. 2. this time Dickson could boast of d population Of nearly 300, with a brick church and school, all the result Of Kings mill No sooner was the fnal touch Of the painters brush apple to the huge sign that covered the entire fOur-stOry front of the building than King gave up his room at the Dickson inn and moved into his big creation. It vas not known when the mill would start. Everything was in readiness with the reception of engaging help and obtaining pro
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
Trinity County.

Hundreds of prospectors are now rushing into Trinity county, and 1t IS probable that a considerable portion of those who are unable to get away to Klondyke this year will drift into these northern mines. The excitement was caused by the publication of story re- garding a rich pocket of gold taken out of Coffee Creek by the Graves brothers. The find was said to amount to $42, ,O00. Others say that this was an exaggera- tion, but even should 1t be true, 1t does not by any means follow that other prospectors are going to be as fortunate.
 Trinity county is undoubtedly very rich in gold, having produced some- thing like $10,OOO, ,0O6 worth of the precious metal during the past fifty years. In early years the shipments from Trinity went as high as from $4,- O00, 900 to $5, 900, 900 per annum. Most of this gold, however, is hidden away in the quartz, and 1t takes hard work to recover it. Even when gold ledge is found, large amount of capital is needed to open it. Those who go to Trinity county and are disappointed will, it is true, be far better off than those who go to the bleak Klondyke country and fail to strike it rich, but still, there is no reason why anyone should rush off, even to Northern Cali fornia, with mistaken ideas ot picking up fortune on top of the ground. For every man who makes a strike there will be 100 failures. At the same time, for the experienced prospector or even for the "tenderfoot," who is willing tC work and wait, there is certainly nc better field than in California.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
A Shelter For Los Angeles.

The Bishop Register, Inyo county! says: "A smelter in Los Angeles would have a monopoly of the vast ore de- posits of southeastern InyO, if there was some way in which the ore could be got to the smelter. People who claim to know say that in the rich fields in which lie Darwin, Ballarat, Pana- mint, Modoc, and other localities there are deposits of low-grade ore sufficiently large to keep smelter going for years. The only way that thousands of tons of that ore can ever be profitably worked is through cheap transportation to extensive reduction works-in short, railroad tapping the country. Until it becomes possible to ship in this way, probably millions of dollars will lie un- touched, and only the richer, and usually smaller, properties can be successfully worked"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
TINES AND MINING.
Another New Cyanide Process.


 Every few months the announcement is made of the discovery of a new cya' hide process. Like the new dry-washers that come out so frequently, most of these processes prove to be deficient Tn some necessary quality when they are tried on a practical scale. The latest to he drought forward is the following, tbe description of which is taken from the Mining and Scientific Press:
 "Dr. Keith, formerly of this city, now of London, claims to have invented a cyanide process, in which, Tn the dls- solyinp process, he adds to the solution of potassium cyanide a certain quantity of cyanide of mercury. He states that he finds the best results obtained when the solvent contains 0.05 per cent oi potassium cyanide, and OOPS per cent cyanide of mercury This mixture oi cyanides, he claims, operates faster than the simple potassium cyanide: The process for the recovery of the gold from the solution is an electrolytlc one. The gold and the mercury are deposited together upon amalgamated copper piates. The amalgam so deposited II then scraped off, and the gold recovered bv distiIling off the mercury in thu usuaI way. The anode IS not allowed to diD in the cyanide solution, but If placed in q separate compartment ano surrounded with q solution of alkaline salt, so that the cyanide dces not be- come decomposed. The electrO-motive force of the current need not be mere than half volt, and the current density on the depositing surface may be as low as 0.56 ampere per square foot"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02

duct to grind. Men had asked King for work and had been told that he had sufficient help. One venturesome far mer offered to sell him wheat, and was told that none was required.
 It was three days before Christmas, 1867, that King moved into his mill. He barred the doors and until New Years eve was not seen or heard. At just F o'clock New Years the town was startled by prolonged whistling from the mill. Running to the scene the astonished natives saw great vol tunes of smoke pouring from the chim- neys and heard the rumble of mach1n- cry, although not light appeared. The great mass of machinery continued to run until morning. This was repeated every night for a week, and still no door was opened.
 Then one night all was quiet. The next day Squire Jim" got together crowd of men and broke down the door of the mill In the engine room they found the lifeless body of poor King, twisted around the piston, torn and maimed, his hand still grasping the valve, where he had bravely shut off steam after being caught. On the floor lay the familiar cane. In his pocket no letters were found, and in the mill he had created he had died, a mystery to the world, perhaps a mys- tery to himself. At the inquest the cane WAS examined. It was hollow. and in 1t was found 5000 In United States government bonds. This was evidently where his money had been taken from to erect the mill. The jury gave verdict of accidental death, and at the head of his grave yet stands a rough stone, upon which are cut these words:
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
Cases of Fire in Theaters.

Mir. Sachs details the causes of fires in 193 cases which have broken out at the back of theaters. Forty-four have been due to defects In the gas installa- tion, 37 to open lights, 32 to defects In heating apparatus, 31 to fireworks. IS to lamps, IT to explosions, to defects in the electric installation and a simi- lar number to gases. In the case of 769 the time of outbreak Is reported FOrty-two per cent. occurred in the night, 24 per cent in the daytime, IT per cent. within two hours after a per formance and 13.5 per cent. during the progress of an entertainment. Of the total number of outbreaks chronicled 584 have occurred in Europe Q39 in Great Britain) and 531 in the United States. New York has the largest pro portion-41 fires at ? different estab- lishments- London comes second with 35 at 27 establishments and Paris third with 31 at 2S establishments London Saturday Review.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
4 GIRLS FOLLY.
How a Vain, Frivolous Creature An.
 noys All Companions.

How a Vain, Frivolous Creature An.
 noys All panions.
 The following is a genuine extract from a letter written by a Western teacher while travelling in Europe year or two ago:
 There are six of us, all teachers. We joined a party of tourists, as we are forced to count even the farthings closely. None of us have been abroad and as we have but four weeks on this side, we begrudge every minute in our eagerness to see and hear, and to store up invaluable memories for the future. I've are greatly hindered and an- noyed by young girl, who, with her mother, belongs to the party. She is a commonplace person, with neither beauty, nor talent, nor charm. But she Is possessed with an unsuitable desire to show off,
 "I try not to see her, but it Is impos- gible to be blind or deaf to her, or to ignore her. We went to St. Peters to hear the great Gregorian chants,
 
 ican but once in the year. Miss Blank kept up @ shrill whisper during the en- tire service.
 ''I went to the little circular chamber where the Apollo Belvedere stands alone, to study his highest expression of the pagan conception of divinity, and there, before its white, awful beau ty stood Miss Blank, posing and gig gling for the benefit of two conterlptu- ous Italian officers.
 "We drove through the vast solitude of the Campagna, with its ruins and tombs peopled by the ghosts of an- cient Rome, and Miss Blank during the entire way talked of the gown and hat that she wore, simpering and chatter ing to compel our admiration. There is nothing in the world so beautiful or so sublime as to make her forget for one moment her silly little self"
 We copy these severe comments be- cause Miss Blanks offense is unfortu- nately too common among even sensi- ble girls. It Is not always due to van ity, but to an eager, almost pathetic, hunger for admiration and love. Such girls are sometimes quiet and natural in their manner at home, but at the entrance of a stranger become affect ed, giggle and talk shrilly, like ill., trained actors on the stage.
 If a girl has merit or charm, apprecia- tion will surely come to her. Let her wait for them to be sought and found out. A wise old Scotchman says, "Gin your wares are good, dinna cry them in the market too loudly or you cheapen them"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
Strange Indian Venoearce.

In the course of the investigations re- ferred to in the preceding paragraph, pr. Calmette discovered the nature of a mortal poison which some of the na- lives of India employ to kill the cattle of their enemies. The poison Is applied to little pointed rods inserted in the end of short stick, which can be conceal ed in the hand. Approaching the cattle, the pOIsoner slightly scratches them with the venom-charged points. The ends of the little rods break off and re- main in the wounds, which are barely visible. pr. Calmette found that the poison was extracted from a kind of bean, growing on a leguminous plant known botanically as Abrus precatori- us. This poison Is called abrin, and is almost as fatal in its effects as the most violent serpent venom.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
His RrotherlY Love.

An apostle of brotherly love of Wich- ita. Kan, went to Topeka to lecture, and this is the way he talked: "Why, If a hare-brained, silly, mimicking, foolish, sleek, well-groomed dancing man should waltz around ballroom with his wife, would hunt him up the next morning and kick him around the public square, if I could do 1t. If l couldn't do 1t would hire the biggest darky in town to do 1t for me. It would h.a dono"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
How a Rich Man Started in Business

How a Rich Man Started in Business
 'I made most of my money by hard knocks" declared the old resident who has no financial troubles even in these dubious times, ''but I once made some very easy money just when was sore ly in need of 1t.
 'T had managed to buy a little stretch of lake shore with the idea of disposing of it as summer resort. No one was looking for that kind of an in- vestment and had dead duck on my hands. happened down there just at the breaking up of winter, when I had nothing else to do and no money to do 1t with if had. There was big raft of logs tied up at my beach and 1t had been there since the late fall; at least, that is the view took of the situation. It was 8 bold violation of private
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02

It is proposed to reopen the famous Cinnabar quicksilver mines, back of Santa Barbara. They have been closed for twenty years.
 Report comes from Carrvville, Cal. to the effect that II. v. Osborne, late of the Express of Los Angeles but now special correspondent of the Examiner for the Trinity gold fields, has bought a mine for $5000 and bonded another prop erty for $50, ,000.
 The Armagosa, which is located seyenty-five miles north of Daggett, IS an interesting mine. It has been work ed for over half a century. In the office of the company are old implements that were found in the mine when 1t was recently reopened. There are also some large chunks of ore, showing free gold in liberal quantities.
 Jamestown and the surrounding country is excited on account of the rich strike in the Tanzy mines, operated under lease by Colby and Beckwith. The mine is located on the mother lode, near Sonora. The workmen struck a Docket, and in ten hours they had taken S9I .000 in gold from the pocket, and there is said to be much more to follow.
 There is great activity at Acton, in the northern part of Los Angeles county, where the Red Rover, the Deepest mine in the county, has developed into something like bonanza at depth of 700 feet. It is estimated that there will soon be over three hundred miners reg ularly employed in that district, and steps are being taken to lay out town site. Acton is only sixty-six miles from Los Angeles.
 Some San Francisco men have decided on rather novel way of securing gold in the Sacramento river at Bedding. They will stretch a wire cable across the river, and miners clad in complete diving suits will obtain support while they go down into the river and work the bed thereof. They hope to obtain considerable gold dust from the creyices in the bedrock at the bottom of the stream.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02

Serpents Not Proof Against Venom.
 pr. Calmette, who has made a study of the treatment of snake-bites with antivenomous serum, has lately discov- cred, contrary to his first opinion, that venomous snakes and other reptiles are not proof against serpent venom. A much larger quantity of the poison is' however, required to Kill them than to kill other animals.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
CarbOruudum.

Among the industries supplied with electric power by Niagara Falls Is the manufacture of carborundum crystals. These are formed by the reduction in electric furnaces of a mixture of sand, coke, salt and sawdust. The beautiful blue crystals are afterward crushed to powder, which is used as an abra- sive, like emery or corundum. Carbor- undum is remarkable for its hardness, in which property 1t almost if not quite. equals the diamond.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-02
Something New in the Stars.

It would hardly occur to any one, except an astronomer, to search among the stars for a new chemical element. Yet the much-talked-of helium was de tected in stars before 1t had been found on the earth, and in the corona of the sun there appears a gas which has not been identified with any ter restrial substance. Lately 1t was dis covered that star in the constellation Puppis, and a few others, exhibit strange spectral lines, which were at first supposed to belong to yet another new element. But more recently req son has been found for thinking that the strange lines are due to hydrogen in some extraordinary condition, only attained in those particular stars.