davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
Soldiers Beds.

The soldiers bed varies notably in the
different European armies According
to nr. Viry the following are the princi-
pal varieties, In which, perhaps, We may
see the reflection of national characters
tics. In England the bed In hard; the
soldier lies on thin mattress that rests
on canvas stretched over frame. In
Spain the soldier mas only straw bed,
but he is allowed tesides this pillow,
two sheets, two blankets aad covered
quilt, sometimes even cover for the
feet. 1t is almost sy5aritic. In Germany
and Austria he has simple straw bed,
with one or two covers, neither sheet nor
mattress Ia Russia, until reosn thy, the
soldier slept with his clothes on, On
camp bed: but now ordiaary beds begin
to he used-the result Of contnct with
more civilized countries After this, it
can not he doubted that the French SOL
dier's bed is the best of all with its wood
en- or iron beistead straw bed, wool
mattress, sheets. a brown wooden coverlst
and an extra quilt for cold weather.
Thus the BED of the French sol Tier is the
softest of all soldiers beda, as that Of the
French peasant is Acknowledged also to
be- the best of all European countries.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

The following are few that have been
recently brought to notice:
The Chinese gentleman, meeting a
friend, shakes his own hand, and in
qulres in the most complimentary terms
about his friends health. The friend
shakes his own hand also, and answers
that he is well. but calls himself the
most abusive names he can think of. AND
they pass on.
The French and Italian gentlemen kiss
and embrace their men friends when they
feel great delight at meeting
The American fool grasps his friends
hand at the level with his hat, and gent
ly jiggles it.
The politician, just before election,
meeting voter. slars him vigorously on
the back, and shakes his hand at the
same time. The Gambler Islanders rub
noses, and, if their welcome ia very
hearty, they each hold their breath for
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

they must he good sen going craft, and
equal to similar vessels in foreign navies
For this reason, the utmost care was OBJ
served In designing them, ana when oom-
rlete, it is believed they will be superior
to anything of the sort afloat.
By composite gunboats is meant TINT
the steel framing and plating is covered
to above the water line with four inch
planking, which is partly of pine and
partly of teak. In addition there is an
outside shield of copper and this COM
bination, it is believed. will enable the
gun boats to remain at sea or occupy a
foreign station for long period of
time, without the necessity of docking
for the purpose of cleaning the bottom.
The engines of each of these boats are
built from new designs which have met
with the highest approval of the naval
officials. Those engines are
of the triple expansion, vertical, direct
action type. They have high pressure
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
a few seconds. and then give q most
alarming sniff, thereby showing great
pleasure at meeting you.
CURIOUS CLOCKS.
Elaborate and Whimsical Designs for
Time Pieces.

The origin of the clock is unknown,
but such timepieces were known in Italy
as early as the tenth century Some
think they were first invented by the
Saracens. From that time many elabor-
ate and whimsical designs were con-
structed, and those which were skilfully
and wonderfully made brought fabulous
prices. An old italian soldier, who
served prior to 1850, constructed one of
the most curious of these BY its nechan-
ism the figure of tortoise was made to
drop into plate of water, having the
hours marked on its rim. The figure
would float around and stop at the proper
hour, telling the time like "a learned
pig A lizard also was made in the
same time-keeper to ascend a pillar on
which the hours were marked and point
out the time as it advanced. A mouse
did the same thing by creeping along an
hour marked cornice. The figure of a
golden cock that tapped its wings twice
with the approach of the hours and
crowed twice was also a popular favorite
for ancient timekeepers
OF the various specimens that might be
given of early designs of the clock makers
art, not the least interesting are the
several types of lamp clocks. One of these
was of a kind quite common in the seven
tenth century, and consisted of a lamp
burner placed at the base Of a glass oil
receptacle mounted vertically upon a
suitable standard. The oil reservoir had
OH 10 10
and showing the hours, beginning at four
O'Clock in the afternoon, at which time
the lamp was to be lighted in winter, and
ending at O'Clock in the morning. The
lamp being lighted, the gradually de-
scending level of oil, as combustion pro-
ceeded, marked the hours. Another de-
vice-of later origin, dating back to the
beginning of the present century-util-
lied the same principle. 1t consisted of
two communicating oil chambers, super
posed by clock dial. In one of the cham
bers was placed night lamp to illumi-
nate this dial, and in the other was sus-
pended float from cord that passed
around small pulley. The latter was
mounted on horizontal axis ending in
the centre of the dial. The float of
course, descended as the oil was con-
sumed, and carried the index hand along
with it, thus marking the hours precisely
as in the case already cited. At their
best, these timepieces could have had
only an Indifferent degree of accuracy
yet they probably served their purpose
well, and certainly are interesting at the
present time as illustrating some of the
expedients adopted by mechanicians of an
earlier pr iod.-Commercia Advertiser
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
PORTLAND MAINE SATURDAY

Babcook and Wilcox tyre. In the other
will be Scotch boilers fitted with the
Howden system of forced combustion.
Persons who are not gifted with mechan-
ical minds do not at first comprehend tho
difference, but II they will remember the
discussion that has heen going on for a
long time as to the efficiency Of big CHM
neys, it may be brought home to them.
A forced draught is draught that Is
formed artifoially. The ordinary draught
is that which has been trusted to Eefore
the forced draught question came up
and is o t the same sort that is made in
the stove, when the damper is open and
a simple current of air permitted to pass
over the fire and up the chimney. Arqu-
ment has waxed warm over this question
OF draught, and so it will be seen the
gunboats are to really solve what seems
very important problem to every ono.
When ready for sea in addition to the
coal capacity OF 600 tons, each gunboat
will carry on It's trial tho following
weights or the equivalent thereto in adj
dition to the weight OF the completed
hull. the machinery and the spare parts:
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

- inch cylinders. There are also inter
n'ealaoe pressure cylinders IS IA inches,
anu low pressure cylinders of 26 inches.
l. ne s6foke OF all pistcns is is inches.
Hhen running at full speed. the engines
Hie calculated to make about 800 revolu-
lions minute and this with q steam
pressure OF $50 pounds. This is the or
olnary maximum number of revolutions
and high pressure. If necessary it is
possible to do better than this without
crossing the danger line. These engines
will lie built with much more than usual
care. They are very compact and their
frames are entirely Of bronze. The main
effort has teen directed toward making
them strong in every particular and every
portion of the machiuery will be sub
mitted TO the most severe tests before te-
ing placed in position. The Pacific coast
ship-builders feel no little pride in the
fact that they have been permitted to
construct the first gunboats of this sort
ami are confident that no i'll luck will
attach TO them as seem to pursue the
Massachusetts, the lyn and Texas,
the war vesses g to whinh the eastern
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
The Little story Teller.
(The Lounger in the Critio.)

(The Lounger in the Critlo.)
! am always interested in youthful
prrdigies, though l do not approve Of
them. There Is something very sad to
me in the little brains that are busying
themselves with reading and writing
when they should have no thoughts
above mud pies. l know OF few more
pathetic poems than Austin Dobson's
"Child Violinist," and of no more
pathetic character in literature than Sir
walter SootI's Pet Majorie, made famous
by Dr.. John Brown. Now comes another
clever little girl from Chicago, Myra
BradweI Helmer. whose short stories
have recently been published and sold
for charity This child is now little
over Z, but she was only 6 when she
wrote these tales. II talked it." she
says in her preface, land mamma wrote
it down for me just as 1 talked It,"
"Grandpapa" had the book printed for
her, and 1t earned $500 for "the orphans
and sick babies" One dollar was de.
voted to the Eugene Field monument.
Little Myra is quite as amusing as Mar
JUElo LII Ouo SUUEy sue U6llS
how typhoid fever broke out among the
fairies. When the fairy doctor came he
told the fairy godmother all about ssmi-
crobes Bnd germs, and told her 20 boil
the water" The fairy godmother was
not inclined to take as law and gospel
all that the doctur said. and asked il "a
hair was sidewalk for a microbe'' To
this the doctor eyasively replied, "Oh,
no. They are much smaller This was
too MUCK for the fairy godmother, who
wanted to know elf the germ had the
fever why didn't the fever which killed
little boys and girls, kill the germ? And
If the germ didn't have the fever, how
could 1t give the fever-how could q
thing give thing it didn't have?" The
fairy Doctor, taxing refuge in evasion,
ans wersd, Nobody knows but God. !"
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

iof the furnishing and equipment of n
vessel OF war form by no means tie least
costly features.
READERS of this article who have been
ABOARD the New York, the Charleston,
Jus YORKTOWN, or the San Francisco, and
managed to visit the sacred precincts IF
'he officers quarters, know that first
CLASS war vessel is furnished luxuriously.
No6hlng in the way OF luxury or comfort
"h1ch any of the four vessels mentioned
contain will be omitted in fitting up the
neeilng or the Marietta. The quarters
LUZ the crew aud officers are triiie
sp'aller than aboard the cruisers or bat
tleShlps, but they ME very snug and ship
sn@pe' The vessels, complement consist
ol the commander. ten ward room officers,
IL" sallors and ten marines.
large portion of the machinery of
the sanhoats is already In place and the
ooiiers are fitted in each of the vessels.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

form distinctive feature of tho United
States navy, for the reason that they
are the first two steam crafts of the kind
in the government service which have
been fitted with twin screws. Their
spread of canvas will be small, but their
power for speed is expected to exceed 70
knots.
The Wheeling and Marietta are what
are designated as light draught composite
gunboats, each OF them being of about
1000 tons displacement. They are two of
series of six authorized by the act Of
Congress of March, 1895. 1t was the pUr-
pose of this act to provide for the CON-
struction of small fntilla of gun boats
which should be equally available fo.
home or foreign duty. In other words,
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA.
The Author of the Song Tells How He
Wrote 1t.


The story sof-the way i'll which Sherman
marched to the Sea-. is told by the author,
S. H. NJ Byers in a letter to Current Litera-
ture
"Sherman's March to the Sea" was writ
ten by me in little tent while was pris-
oner of war one cold January morning at
Columbia, S. G. had gotten all the news
of the March could from a colored man,
who brought wood, etc., into the prison
stockade. He also brought me an OCCASION
al newspaper (rebeD wrapped, or rolled,
inside a loaf of bread. One night while
walking up and down the prison pen in the
dark was rejecting on the great cam
paign. Early the next morning, lying on
my cold.bed of straw, put my thoughts of
the night before in verse, not dreaming
that it would ever be heard of again. A
comrade in the prison composed music for
it, and in day almost / was the most IA
nous man in prison. 1t was sung, copied,
recited, by everybody there, and soon a
comrade carried it through the rebel lines,
and the song was taken up by the whole
of Sherman's army. 1t was sung in nearly
every theatre in the land, and would have
been sung in Ford's Theatre the night of
Lincoln's assassination had it not been fort
that dire event. The song secured me at
once the friendship of the great Sherman
a friendship that lasted till his DEATH. He
gave me q place on mis- staff, and when the
war was over he was instrumental in having
me appointed to the foreign service of our
country. My new book, as you know, Is an
application of the song into narrative
epic poem of the great march. The original
song gave its name to the campaign. have
jotted all this down for you in haste, as
am leaving in an hour for my home in Des
Moines S. II. NJ. BYERS.
MI. Byers was born in Pulaski, Pa, in
1888. On his fathers side he is of Scotch
Irish extraction and his mothers grand
nephew of the great jurist, Chief Justice
John Marshall. While he was quite young
his father removed to Iowa, and the COM
mon schools furnished the only education
which he received. At the outbreak of the
Rebellion he went to the front in the Fifth
Iowa Regiment of Infantry, one of the hard
est fighting regiments of the West In a fierc
charge on Missionary Ridge he was captured
and kept in Libby and other prisons of the
South for fifteen months or more. He es-
capped twice, but was retaken. In third
attempt he succeeded in getting away and
reaching Sherman's army.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

Ordnance, guns and ammunition, 70
tons; equipment, 35 tons: boats - and
outfit, tons; crew and effects. Is tons;
provisions and clothing, 20 tons; miscal-
laneous stores, 90 tons. The total
weight OF all referred to viii, it is be-
lieved, give displacement of 1000 tons.
Considering their small dis2lacement
the gunboats are being fitted up In the
most elaborate manner. Nothing that
finds place in a first class war vessel will
he omitted. The government furnishes
the masts, spars, sails blocks, boats, an
chors, chains and other CABLES, rigging,
galleys, cooperage. portable furniture,
carpets, curtains. ordnance and ordnance
outfit, mattresses and orockery. This is
"A very important fact to he builders,
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
IHE WHEELING .5esI Before LIE LAuNcH.

ship builflers have pinned their faith.
Ihe dimensions of the gunboats are.
length on load water line, ia feet Team
on load water line, "a feet, draught, nor
NAL, from under side of keel, 10 feet.
By load water liue is meant the water
line of the vessel when she has on board
her full armament, officers and crew.
The displacement is, as stated, about 4C0O
tons. The armament consists of six
inch rapid fire guns, four FOUNDER
rapid fire guns, two FOUNDER rapid fire
guns. The magazine of each gunhoat
will contain 900 round ammunition of
for the inch guns, 1000 rounds for the
FOUNDER guns, 100 rounds for the /
Founders.
~ An interesting fact in conneat!on with
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
a Valuable Prescription.

kditor MORRISON q Worthington, Ind,
SUM- writes: You have valuable
prescription IN Electric Bitters and l
can choerfuIly recommend il for Consti-
patton and sick Headache, and as q gen
eral system tonic it has no equal. Mrs.
Annie Stehle. 2625 Cottage Grove Ave,
Chicago, was all run down; could not eat
nor digest food, had backaohe which
mover left her and felt tired aud weary,
but six hotties of Electric F3itters restored
her health and renewed her stregth.
at q. S. Goods, Drug store, 577 Con-
gress street, under Congress Square
Hotel.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

the coats is that they are to end heated
discussion which has been going on for
sou.e time in engineering circles, by set
Ting the question as to the efficiency Of
two distinct types of boilers and two
different methods of appl, ing for ced
draught In one of them will be in
stalled tho water tube boilers of the
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

aSan Francisco, May 1-Workmen ars
as busy as bees at the yards of the
Union Iron Works fitting for sea tho gun
boats Wheeling and Marietta whiol were
launched March 18Th These boats will
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
Love Is 2 Thief.

LOF6 I5 y IHIeI.
You deny that loves theft
I will better your belief.
II he be an honest chap,
How, pray tell me, doth it hap
That he laughs as robbers will
At the locllsmith and his skill?
Detroit News.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
Located.

Samanthy--What was the blew that
most killed father?''
Rube-Guess it was when he blowed tbs
gas out.-Brooklyn Life.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

Most amusing are the styles of saluta-
ton in different countries, and also very
interesting, says Harper's Round Table.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
A Wise Fish.

Hewitt-How did you feel when you
were seasick?
.Jewett-As if the whale knew his bust
ness when he got rid of Jonah. Truth.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08

1t is expected that the formal trials Will
take place about May 18th. Both cr"ft
were launched together and 1t ls the
present intention to test them at the same
time.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-08
TWO NEW GUNBOATS.
Tile Wheeling and Marietta Are
Twin Screw Steamers.
SOME DEPARTURES FROM OLD
STYLES OF CONSTRUCTION.

They Were Built on the Pacific Coast and
Are Models of Excellence AS Small
Ships of War Designed For Special
Service.
The herald., 1897-11-28
Court Notes

A jury in the federal court disagreed
again yesterday in the case of the Ba-
kersfield Japs, G. Tanaka and X. Kanda
The trial was on the third Indictment,
charging them with conspiracy.
James A. Bone, native of Scotland
was yesterday admitted by Judge Allen
to citizenship, upon proper showing be-
ing made. In the same department John
w. Russell, native of England was
admitted to citizenship.
John H. Tietjen, a stairbuilder and
mechanic, yesterday filed his petition in
insolvency. The liabilities are set at
$2J20.6S and are made up of household
necessaries and $2005 borrowed money.
The real and personal estate valued
at 1895, incumbered to the extent of $685.
]. C. Harris, who escaped from the
custody of one of the city constables
about a week ago while en- route to San
Bernardino to answer the charge of
Jumping a board bill, has been recaD D.
tured. Harris was caught at the Needles
and last evening was safely lodged in
the county Jail.
The examination of Charles Wilde
on the second charge of altering checks
on the American Fraternal league, of
which he was secretary, was begun yes
terday morning. Only Mr.. Sewer, the
handwriting expert, testified, he stating
that the amount of the check had un.
doubtedly been changed from S5.65 to
S155.65. The further hearing of the case
will be held on December /.
The herald., 1897-11-28
THE COMPTON CASE
Ware Again Gives States Evidence
Against His Old Companion

The worst that can be said against
Charles Compton, with regard to his con-
nection with the Green forgery, was
said yesterday by Ware
Ware was upon the witness stand al
most the entire day, being subjected to
long and exhaustive examination.
His story in the main was identical with
that told by him at the previous trial of
Davis. Throughout the prolonged cross
examination he kept perfectly cool and
collected, and only once did he find him
self in what might be termed a tight
place. He testified on direct examina
tion positively that Compton forged the
signature on the Green deed. Mr.. Shinn.
reading from the transcript of the pre-
liminary examination, read his state
ment that Neal drew the deed and that
Shields forged the signature, and asked
him If he had so stated. Ware evidently
did not know what to say, so he eouivo-
Gated and replied that he didn't under
stand the question. Beyond that he
would not commit himself until the
court interposed, and then. after much
demur, stated that he didn't know what
he had said at the preliminary eXamina-
ton, but if he had said that Shields
signed it he had stated what was not
true, for as a matter of fact, Compton
had done so.
Throughout this trial there has been
little Of exceptional interest. All the
facts haG been previously we'll threshed
out and no surprises have been sprung
by the prosecution nor are any promised.
But the links of evidence have been knit
closer and so far the case is blackening
against him.
The herald., 1897-11-28
New Suits Filed

Nellie e. Grasty VS.. Elias Ayers ct all
A suit to obtain deed made by plaintiff
to defendants to lot Is, block l, of the
Byram. Patterson & Miller subdivision
of the Childs tract, that it be cancelled.
Leticia c. Doyce VS.. Hattie L. Wells ct
ala suit to quiet title to 16O acres Of
land in township 8.
Application of church-The petition
of the Congregational church of Comp
ton for leave to sell real estate. The land
consists of fifty feet of the church lot
for which SIS has been offered.
Bernardino Guirado VS.. Charlie Fook
ct ALA suit to recover S1700 on note,
$40 attorneys fees, and order of sale
against certain land on Apab blasa street
to the land owned by the orphan asylum.
The estate of E. Norman deceased =
The petition of the public administrator
for letters of administration. The estate
is valued at $500.
The estate of George Eichelberger, de-
ceased-The petition of the public ad-
ministrator for letters of administration.
The estate is valued at s132.
The estate of Herman Schlegel, de-
ceased-The petition of Susana Schlegel.
the widow, appointing John Furrer, her
son-in-law, as administrator of the es-
tate.
Hooker & Brown ct al. VS.. T. Fellows,
Mrs. A. j. Miller, ct ALA suit to recov-
er $40 from Fellows and s155.40 for a
second plaintiff, on liens, S100 attorneys s
fees, costs and decree of sale against
premises on lot l, of the Marlborough
tract
The herald., 1897-11-28
FOR NINETY DAYS
Turner Will Illuminate Over His
Ill-Luck

Lou Turner, the man who escaped
from the officer while being brought
from Whittier to this city and jumped
from the train, being recaptured again,
was before Judge Smith yesterday to
answer the charge of assault to kill
Assistant District Attorney Williams
stated that in view of the fact that the
defendant had been crippled he was
willing to have the charge modified to
simple assault. and to this Turner
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to
ninety days in the county Jail.
The trouble in which Turner became
involved happened in this WISE Frank
Peyton and some companions were
walking along the streets of Whittier
and met Turner with a companion and
two young ladies. The latter were laugh
ing and chatting together. and when
the hoodlum gang passed they mocking-
ly initiated the laughter of the Turner
party and made some remark Turner
turned back and proceeded to thrash
Peyton. But victory does not depend
on the justice of cause, and Turner
finding that Peyton's fifty pounds ex-
ira weight hopelessly settled the matter
drew out small knife and slashed his
opponent For that he is now in jail.
"A touch of romance is given to the
case by the fact that yesterday morning
after sentence had been passed and
Turner passed out of court in charge
of deputy sheriff a young and very
pretty girl pressed forward in the cor
rldor and shook him warmly by the
hand