davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22

Emanuel Lasker. the worlds chess
ehamion. has proposed the presentation
of a testimonial to William Steinitz, who
SO long held that distinction,and a COM
mittee is to be formed in London to do
this. Steinitz is now in Vienna.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22

John w. Guiteau, brother of Presi-
one of the big insurance companies in
the country and lives in New York. Mr..
Guiteau is one of the high priced en-
p1Oyes, and gets salary of IS, 900 or
SO 600 per year. He is a most estimable
man.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22

Every chicken imagines that the
neighbours garden affords the best
WOrms.-AtchisOn Champion.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22

Francis H. Piermont, who was COVER
nor of Virginia during the war and who
is called the father of West Virginia, .
is living at his home in Paramount
Marion county w Va. He is SO years
old, and though he is feeble his health
is good and his mind is clear
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
STONE FOR THE BREAKWATER
Harbor Commissioners hsps citing Quarres
Near San Pedro and Santa
Monica.

Los ANGELES, CAL. Jan. 8.-Ths Gov
eminent commission TO select a harbor
for Los Angeles appears TO be particularly
interested in sscertaining where the stone
to build the breakW alter is to come from,
and is making a systematic inspection of
all the granite quarries in this region.
To-day the Commissioners visited sew
eral quarrIes on the Santa Fe line, but
from what has leaked out they have found
no stone superior 10 that found on the
Terminal road, near Aitadena.
Secretary Pratt this evening stated that
to-morrow the board would visit the
Catalina Island quarrles. There is said to
be an inexhaustible supply OF granite
there belonging to the Wilmington Trans
portation Company. This could he de-
livered by water TO either San Pedro or
Santa Monica at a minimum cost for
freight and handling.
The commissioners will remain at the
island until Monday. Next week they ex-
pect TO have the results of the borings at
San Pedro well completed, and then will
turn their attention to investigating the
bottom OF Santa Monica Bay. So far the
experimental work at San Pedro fully
confirms the statements made by the San
Pedro engineers.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
EXPLOSION NEAR BAKERSFIELD.
Two Men Lose Their Lives in the Maith1
Wells of the Sunset on
CompdnK

BAKERSFIELD, CAL, Jan. San ex-
plosion OF gas occurred at the Sunset Oil
wells, about fifty miles southwest of this
place, late yesterday afternoon. Charles
Lathrop and Peter Mckinnell, each about
so years old, lost their lives.
These wells or mines yield maltha, or
liquid asphalt. At the Sunset property
there is shaft $50 feet deep. Frequent
deposits of gas are encountered in these
wells and the Sunset men had been pro-
vided with safety lamps on this account,
but they refused them, preterring open
candles.
An air-blower is also kept in operation
al the time to keep the shaft and drifts
clear OF obnoxious gas.
The men had been at work but a short
time when an explosion occurred, which
was felt at the mouth of the shaft.
No answer coming to calls through the
speaking-tu two men went down.
After going thirty feet they came back
and reported that the gas was too dense to
proceed further. Then J. B. Hunt, the
manager, was lowered to the bottom of
the shaft, where he soon found the bodies
or the two men.
Whether they died from the conclusion
of The explosion or from inhaling the gas
was not learned and will not be deter
mined until tomorrow, when the bodies
will reach Bakersfield The remoteness
of the locality and the entire absence of
communication make it impossible to
learn full details.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
VINEYARDISTS DEFRAUDED.
Declare They Have Not ReceWed Pay for
Crops Sold to Certain

FRESNO. CAL, Jan. S.-A number of
yineyardists in various portions of the
county claim they have been bilked by l..
E. Karr, and are talking of instituting
criminal prosecution. The amounts out
of which they were defrauded were small,
but they aggregate a considerable sum.
Karr is at present in Riverside, engaged
in fulfilling an orange-picking contract.
Karr is IN the business of picking fruit
by contract, devoting himself to grapes in
this county in the summer and to oranges
in the southern part of the State in the
winter. He confined himself mostly to
the second crop of grapes while here.
During the season just closed he bought
the crops IN a number of vineyards in the
county, agreeing to pay the owners when
he should get his returns from the
wineries. He would bring large force of
men to pick the grapes and then haul the
fruit away. After this he rarely returned
to settle with the owners OF the vineyards.
When found and asked for an explanation
he would invariably say that ne had not
yet received any returns.
Karr's operations here on this line are
said to have been quite extensive. They
have not been confined to the season of
1896 alone, but it is said that be failed to
pay for the crops of several vineyards the
year before
Karr had a large force of pickers in his
employ during the past season in this
county. and they had to take extreme
measures to get their wages. They had
what they considered good reasons to
believe that he was trying TO blk them
also; but if he had any such intention he
was not successful in carrying it out. The
settlement was effected a few weeks ago
at the ranch of Mrs. Captain Smith, about
five miles north of Sanger. The Iaborers
took forcible possession of their employer
and made him prisoner in an outbullding.
They kept him there over night, and upon
his refusal to yield in the morning they
made prepare tons to give him coating
of tar and feathers. He then signed a
check for the men 8 wages.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
ing from Elk Grove when his horses took
fright and overturned the rig. Archer
never legained consciousness.
SAN DLEG0S WATER FETE.
arrangements already Under Way for the
Aquatic Carnival on Washing
TINS 6IrfHGGy


SAN DIEGO, CAL, Jan. 8.-A meeting
was held at the Chamber of Commerce
this evening to arrange for holding the
Midwinter Water Carnival on Washing
tons birthday. in honor OF Admiral
Beardslee of the North Pacific squadron,
who will retire from the navy next
summer.
The flagship Philadelphia, coast defend
erS Monterey and Monadnock, fish COM
mission steamer Albatross, coast survey
Thetis, gunboat Adams, and perhaps the
battleship Oregon will be in port at the
time, and it is intended 10 make the occa-
sion the grandest III the history OF San
Diego Bay.
The general plan. as finally decided
upon, is 10 have military and naval pa
rade on the afternoon of Saturday, Feb
ruary 20, with bali at Hotel Coronado IN
the evening.
Excursions to the various points OF in
terest calculated to best please the many
visitors who will be in the city will be
made the next day.
Monday. February %. will be saltwater
day. There Will be aquatic sports, yacht
races and other fun on the bay IN the
forenoon and afternoon, winding up with
carnival on the bay at night.
The beautiful. effect of the carnival on
July last is we'll remem bered, and 1t IS
hoped to eclipse it, not only the splendor
OF lights, but in the number OF particl-
nants, the music and the general Gayety.
To get the preliminary work we'll in hand
a number of committees were appointed.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
A PORTLAND GAMBLsR'S FAIL.
From Prosperous Sport and Bad Man
With Pistol He Becomes
BUnko Shnrp.

PORTLAND. Or, Jan. S.-"Sandy''
Odds, who up to eight years ago was one
of the most prosperous gamblers
in the Northwest, was arrested last
night for bunkoing John Wohrly, a green
farmland from New Whatcom, out of $40
in card game. He is in Jail in default of
$25 bail, pending his trial Tomorrow
afternoon.
In 1889 Olds shot down in the street and
killed Emil Weber, another well-to-do
sport here, without moments warming.
Odds first shot brought his victim to the
ground, but not content with that he
stood over Weber's PROSTATE form, EN- ptv-
ing every chamber OF his revolver into the
dead man.
Weber had great many enemies among
the Portland gam blers, and the impress
sion was that Odds was nerved by them to
commit this atrocious crime. Be that as
it may, the secret is an open one that
prominent gamblers here spent thousands
of dollars in his defense, engaging the best
legal talent in the State.
Olds had three trials before Criminal
Judge Stearns, who twice sentenced the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
AN INNOCENT OULPRIT.

1t Fires the Alarm Gun at the Wrong
Time and Stirs Up ort and Town.
Cape Town, South Africa, claims the
honor of possessing the smallest creature
ever known to have been gunner in the
royal artillery, or any other artillery. At
the castle, Cape Town, it appears there is
a magnificent gun worked by electricity
used for giving the midday and evening
time, according to the Brocton Times.
One day the military and civilians of
Cape Town were surprised to hear the gun
go off at 1880 O'Clock in the morning.
The general commanding the station sent
to inquire what such irregularities meant;
the brigade major did the same. The
commanding officers of each regiment and
battery stationed at Cape Town sent
messengers, but no one could be found
upon whom to lay the blame. The Off
Gals could give no explanation; they were
as much surprised as any body.
The general in command OF the station
became furious at such an unheard of in
fringement of discipline. He was sure
there was encouragement somewhere or
the act could not have been possible.
Strict search was ordered to be made, but
although the order was carried out to the
letter the culprit remained undiscovered.
Then when the search had been practi-
caIly abandoned Inc HtLIe gunner was &C
cidently discovered and arrested. There
be lay inside the instrument that trans
mits the electric current from the Royal
Observatory of Cape Town to the great
gun. This instrument is called a relay,
and is in the central telegraph Office of
the station. The action OF the current go
ing through the instruments main moves
a sort of light tongue, which is so finely
set that the slightest touch will affect il.
the tongue forces the current into what are
termed the time fuses, which ]. fire the gun
at the castle.
Right ms de the relay was found the
little gunner. He was discovered by an
official who was examining the instrument,
and who was surprised to see inside-a big
brown spider. In its explorations within
the instrument the spider must have
touched the tongue sufficiently to move it,
and thus fred the gun.
The general sent the spider to the Cape
Town museum, where it is now 10 be seen
with card underneath emitting it 1.-The
Little Gunner" and giving full account
of its exploit with the Cape Town mid
day gun.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
Picturesque Wales.

All along the fields of Wales stand ruins
and castles crumbling to decay. Owls
boot and ivy clam bers in the grass-grown
cham bers and rugged turrets, as they have
done throughout many hundred years
Old towns sleep at the foot of old hills and
the footsteps of strangers walking through
quaint, irregular streets call ancient
danes to ancient doors to peep curiously
forth upon the passer-by. The country
abounds in charming subjects for the
artist-the castle standing in the marshes,
the alehouses and taverns, old-fashioned
characters smoking long pipes, shepherds
with their sheep dimly seen in the noun
tain mist, lonely fishermen exercising
their patient craft, people in outlandish
garb crossing fords on their way to market,
small hamlets with their modest mills,
larger villages where the idiers gather on
summer evenings at the crumbling. stone
bridges; here the memorial of some
famous battle ground, or some abbey or
monastery of thirteenth century archi-
lecture; there the residence of some
wealthy squire, with green acres and
noble trees; and, above all, bare, bleak
hilltops add just the requisite touch OF
severity TO the aspect, 90 say nothing of
the grotesaue legends inseparable from it
ALL Even the topography OF the country
is grotesoue 1t has sometimes been said
that the founder OF Welsh geographical
names must have taken all the letters of
the alphabet, drunk many tankards of
cwrw da. then kneaded the letters in a
very confused manner and thus given
them to the world. But even a Welsh
baby can pronounce Cymreigyddion, and
no one in the country thinks anything of
LANG E.-Buffalo Commercial
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
HIGH SEAS SWEPT THE DECK.
Ship AgapaHthUs Encounters Squalls on
the North Pacmc-Fears for
the Tacoma.

SEATTLE, WASH, Jan. S.-The British
iron ship Agapanthus. Captain Robert J.
c. Tod, of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha line,
arrived this evening twenty-.our days
direct from Kobe, Japan. Doub less no
craft in recent years had so tempestuous
a voyage ana at the same time made port
without loss of life or more serious dam
age TO the vessel
From the Japanese coast to Cape Flat
terry the Agapanthus encountered squalls
of hurricance force.
The Agapanthus sailed from Kobe on
December Is, celebrating Christmas day
with full-tiedged hurricane, lasting with
terrific violence from l to 6 in the morn
ing, and with greater or less fury until the
middle of the afternoon. The vessel was
at the time in 1920 north latitude and
173 40 east longitude.
TIE wind quickly whipped from south
west TO northwest and carried away the
boom guy. the sails being set. Both
booms were sent flying across the deck
from port to starboard, unshippine a
heavy derrick. They were snapped in the
middle and the pieces carried into the sea.
In getting before a sea, Captain Tod
stated, the ship rolled to an angle OF forty
i've degrees, first to one side and then to
the other. Two great iron derricks weigh
ing each over three tons were tossed about
the deck as if made of the lightest pine.
The bulwarks and stanchions were stove
in and broken and the rails were under
water. With booms and heavy anchors
flying about the lives of the seamen be-
came greatly imperiled, but no one sus-
tanned serious injury.
On New Years day the Agapanthus
was overtaken by second but less vio-
lent hurricane. During the worst of The
storm the boatswain was struck on the
heal by q stay sail block While very
seriously injured, he will probably re-
cover.
Captain Tod said that in all his expert
ence as seaman be never saw seas run
higher than during the storms encoun-
tered by the Agapanthus. Time and
again it seemed as though the vessel
would be broken 10 pieces.
The steamship Tacoma of the Northern
Pacific line, bound from China 10 the CITY
of Tacoma, was no doubt overtaken and
possibly disabled by the hurricane encoun-
tered by the Agapanthus. Tits now three
days overdue, and considerable anxiety as
to the yes sel's ability to weather such a
storm is being felt in shipping circles.
1t is perhaps not so strong or seaworthy
vessel as the Agapanthus. The latter
brought about 1900 tons of Japanese mer-
chandise, and will return with 5000 tons
of steel rails, cotton and -four.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
OIL CLAIMS TO
Be DEVELOPED
Fresno Capitalists Invest
in an Enterprise at
Coalinga.
Wells Will Be Sunk to Tap the
Beds of Petroleum in the
Foothills.
Their Product TO Be Brought to Mar.
ket Through Piping Miles in
Length.

FRESNO, CAL, Jan. S.-Articles of in
corporation are being prepared in this
city for new oil company which has been
organized within the past few days. 1t is
TO be known as the Home Oil Company.
and the following are its officers: Presi-
dent, G. w. Terrill; vice-president, l. F.
Poston; treasurer. C. NJ. Kilbourne; sec.
rotary. K. w. Brown; manager, Captain
Frank Barrett.
The new organization proposes to de-
velop an oil claim in the foothills in the
southwestern portion of the county, To-
Gated about nine miles above coaling.
The company is said to have some excel
lent prospects, its claim giving indications
OF good mineral value, and boring will be
begun at once. The machinery is already
on the ground, and it is the Intention to
push the operations with vigor.
The company intends to construct a
pipeline from its wells to point on the
Southern Pacific Railroad, about mile
south of Coalinga. Captain Barrett was
yesterday granted permission by the
Board of Supervisors to lay the line along
the county road. II will be nine miles in
length and large enough to convey big
stream of oil. 1t will be the first pipe
line for the transmission of oil in the
county. No pumps will be required, as
the pipe will be laid SO as to take advan-
tage of the law of gravitation, the wells
being situated about 700 feet higher than
the railroad. The company wall deal ex-
clusively in crude oil, and does not in
tend, for the present, at least, to build a
refinery. a ready sale for the petroleum
on board the cars.at CoalInga is expected.
Captain Barrett is the principal owner
of the new enterprise. The stockholders
have invested considerable capital in it,
and it is understood that Eastern capital
SITS are also interested.
The Sunset Oil Company, which owns a
tract of 1880 acres north of Alcalde, has
begun work in earnest. a lot OF new
machinery arrived on the ground last
Saturday, and preparations are being made
to bore for oil. The company will start in
with a ten-inch drill, and will bore down
1000 feet. The machinery is the finest that
could be bought, and as soon as the derrick
that is being erected is in working order,
drilling will be commenced. a water
plant has already been put in. The
refinery in this city will start up soon
New machinery Will be added and it's
capacity increased. 1t will manufacture
all the different products OF petroleum,
and The company expects excellent returns
on its investment.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
DEATH at sdN QUENTIN.
HOW. Stephen g. Botcers Suc7unlbS
Henri TrnlihIn

Hot. Stephen G. Botcers Suc,umbs to
Hart Trouble.
SAN RAFAEL, CAL, Jan. S.-Hon.
Stephen C. Bowers died at San Quentin at
an early hour this morning.
Mr.. Bowers was conspicuous charac-
ter, as well for his qualities of head and
heart as for his immense physique. His
death was sudden, being caused by fatty
degeneration OF the heart.
MIR Bowers was native of Tennessee
and bore arms for that State in the Rebel
lion. He represented Marin County in
the Assembly in 1888 and acquitted him
self with much credn.
He was prolific writer and contributed
much readable matter to the press. He
was good hearted man with great talen s.
deficient in qualities that win in business
He is survived by widow and several
children.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
BARK ANDRINA
ALMOST LOST
Anchors Let Go With the
Shore a Hundred Feet
Distant.
Captain and Crew Launch the
Lifeboats and Desert
the Vessel.
Return the Next Day and Set Sail
Just as the Remaining
Cable Parts.

PORT ANGELES, WASH, Jan. s.-The
four-masted British bark Andrina, Cap
tain b. Y. Smith, arrived here to-day in
tow of the tug Tyee. Captain and crew
are thankful that they are in port again,
having narrowly escaped going ashore on
the Vancouver coast, near Cape Beale, on
Wed nesday.
The ship was deserted by its crew, and
only by great good fortune was it saved.
Captain Smith says that for four days he
had seen neither sun or stars. During
the entire tine they were surrounded by
dense fog.
At noon on Wednesday the cry,
Breakers ahead p was the first warning
he had of the dangerous position OF his
ship.
A heavy..sea was running at the time,
and an attempt to wear ship proved
futile. Two anchors were let CO. and as
the big vessel rounded one of the ca bles
parted, leaving the Andrina within leo
feet of the shore and in immediate danger
of the parting of the other cable.
Captain Smith says the breakers were
running lofty feet high, and as he saw no
possibility of saving his vessel, it was de-
cided to launch the boats and attempt to
reach shore.
Two boats were capsized as soon as they
were launched, but finally the crew of
thirty-three men succeeded in getting into
two lifeboats. The boats filled before they
reached shore and several of the men were
washed overheard, but they were rescued
by their comrades. A landing was at las
effected and that night the sailors took up
their quarters under ifeboat.
In the morning the weather had mod
Grated, and as the ship still held to its re-
manning anchor the captain anu crew
again put off and after some difficulty sue
ceeded in getting aboard. Captain Smith
says that at this time the ship was cut of
danger. but its perilous position was made
known on at:emp ting to raise the second
anchor, for the chain parted, fortunately
not until sails were set, enabling them 70
make away from shore.
The tug Tyee shortly after appeared on
the scene and took the Andrina in tow,
bringing it 10 port.
The Andrina registers 2542 tons and is
among the largest British sh ps that visit
Puget Sound. 1t came direct from Aus
tralia in ballast and will wait here for
orders.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09

murderer to death. In each instance the
Supreme Court reversed the judgment and
Oils renamed in the CountyJa Jail here uutil
1891, when he was granted change of
venue to Washington County, where he
was convicted of granddaughter.
The presiding Judge sentenced the de-
fendan1 to one years Imprisonment in
the penitentiary, and. oddly enough, the
same Judge sent up poor man for three
years for stealing two salmon.
For time after his release from the
penitentiary 1.-THE boys" gave O!ds bit of
a helping hand, but when they grew
weary of viewing him in the light of mar
tyr and he was left to shift for himself his
downward career was creased one-that
is to say. his dress grew shabby and
thread bare; he was seldom seen on the
street with his former companions, and,
in fact, he suddenly grew old and friend
less in appearance.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
W.vrsr Mast Send Good N..o,.

News will tomorrow publish dispatch
from Madrid, saying the postponement of
the usual meeting Of the Cabinet on Fri
day caused q great deal of uneasiness in
the Spanish capital, and gave rise to ru-
mors that a ministerial crisis is imminent
1t is considered more likely, however, that
General Weyler has been ordered to send
the Spanish Government good news at
any cost before the next meeting of the
Cabinet
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
Guests OF Souto Rorboro.

SANTA BARBARA, CAL, Jan. 8.-The
social season opened here tonight with
ball and banquet at the Arlington Hotel
in honor OF Governor Atkinson OF Georgia
and party and the officers of the coast de-
tense vessel Monterey, now in Santa Bar
bara channel. Governor Atkinson will
leave tomorrow for San Francisco. where
he will remain for few days before going
East
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09

LOS ANGELES CAL, Jan. s.-John
Swanson, blacksmith, AZ years old,
com mitted suicide this afternoon, shoot
ing himself with shotgun. Swanson
arose early this morning and taking his
gun loaded it with two cartridges, and
while he lay upon bed braced the gun
against his knees, lay back on pillow
and pulled the trigger, the muzzle OF the
gun being in his mouth.