davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
GREELY ON ANDREE'S TRIP.
He Says the Possibilities of His Sue
cess Are Small.


Nearly all officers of the army have
some specific scientific subject that
they follow so closely as to amount
almost to a "hobby." Some of the
brightest scientists of the country are
to be found in the army, and while as
rule their study does not follow q
general course, yet it is the specialists
that are the moving element in the
world of thought whatever the subject
may be. AT the present time the Off
GERS of the army are watching with
more interest than one would imagine
they would the outcome of Prof. An
drees efforts to fathom the mysteries
of the north in balloon. A few days
ago the Evening Star, of this city,
printed a letter from Gen. Greedy on
this subject. Gen. Greedy is of course
considered an authority on the SUBJ
iect of Arctic exploration, and his let,
ter for that reason will be read with
no small amount of interest, says the
Washington correspondent of the Mil
itary Gazette His letter is as follows:
1t is possible that Prof. Andree may
have reached the north pole or its vi
cinity. Telegraphic reports, as far as
| have seen, state that he started with
a south wind of % miles an hour. The
chances of such n wind blowing 600
miles etraight to the north pole are,
however, very small, as it would be an
extraordinary meteorological phenom-
enon such as has never accompanied
any storm. My opinion ON Andree's
projected expedition and his probable
return were expressed at the sixth in
ternational geographical congress in
July, 1895, in London, where | debated
the subject publicly with Prof. Andree
and also discussed the chances with
him privately. He admitted the ex-
treme hazard of the project, which |
strongly outlined.
/ pointed out that, even should he
reach the pole, he could hardly ex-
pect to find his south wind continuing
across the pole for thousand miles,
as a north wind.
/ urged that his chances of attain
ing the North American coast were in
fnitely small, as the observations at
Lady Franklin bay, Gri2nell Land and
Point Barrow, Alaska, showed that the
winds were almost constantly from the
south, while strong north winds were
almost unknown. Andree replied:
"Then l shall expect to land somewhere
on the Siberian coast" lie also ex-
pressed again his determination to go,
and his confidence of returning safely.
Prof. Ekholm, who accompanied An
dree in his unsuccessful attempt oflast
summer, declined to go this year on
account of one of the dangers that |
urged upon Andree-the permeability
Of the balloon, which allows gas to
escape constantly, but which Andree
claimed to have overcome. While be-
lieve that Andree viii never return, yet
experience teaches US that miraculous
things occur daily.
A W. GREELg.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
RUFUS SANDERg.
THE SEA IN FLAMES.
Natures Grand Illumination for u
Russian Grand Duke.

When few years ago some of the
Russian grand dukes honored Baker,
a town on the Caspian, with their pres
ence, the governor had naphtha thinly
poured over the surface of the sea for
a very considerable distance.
At about nine o'clock in the even
ing the infammatory substance was
ignited and a blush confagration
spread itself over the waves of the
mighty deep.
To increase the splendor of the scene
slight breeze arose, the sea became
agitated and the pillows majestically
heaved without any too violent commo-
ton. Such a matrimonial alliance, If
l may use the term, of fire and water
was perhaps never before witnessed.
The flames literally danced on the
waves, blending all their magic beauty
with the splashing restlessness of their
limpid antagonist.
The dark green color of the Caspian
shone by the reflection Of the subdued
light riding boldly on the very foam
OF the surface. At length the gale in
creased, the naphtha covering became
more and more broken, and the glow
ing carpet extended over a great dis
tance of the sea, gradually assuming
the aspect of so many jack-o'-lanterns.
A may ballet of gradually extin-
gushing will-o'-the-wisps closed the
wonderful spectacle.
One hour after its commencement
the watery element had resumed its
sway, and the sea again lay enveloped
in darkness.--Chicago Inter Ocean.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18

had the most serious troubles, and their
complications brought in Presidents
Adams and jackson, John Marshall.
Joseph Story, William Writ John For
sythe, Andrew Piekens, Gen. Scott and
Gen. Gaines-al of whom took an ac-
tive part in the negotiations. This Gen.
Gaines was a friend and military COM
panion of Gen. Andrew jackson in the
Indian wars, and was the husband of
Myra Clark Gaines, who had the long
and famous lawsuit against the city
of New Orleans. Fort Gaines in Georgia
was named for him, and l suppose that
Gainesville was also.
Then there were many notable In
dians and halfbreeds, such as John
Ross and Alex McGillivray, William Nc
Intosh, Chilly Mcintosh, all of Scotch
descent. The descendants of the Ross
family and the Mcintosh family are
domieiled in the Cherokee nation and
still are leaders of the tribes. They are
all well educated. and | am not afraid
to say that the Mcintosh girls are the
most beautiful specimens of woman-
kind | ever saw, that is to say except
some. Moore's Lalla Rookh was not to
be compared to them. They are the
only haf-breed children l met in the
nation who did not have an excess of
high eheekbones.
Now, although these CherolSees, 49,
900 in number, went west against their
will, and 1000 of them died on the way,
yet it was a good move for them, and
they made good TRADES 000,0 900 and
7,000000 acres of land-the finest lands
ON the continent beautifully wooded
and watered, and, what is worth still
more, they live in peace with the outside
world. Here they were always in con-
fliet, not only with the whites, but with
themselves, for they had two chiefs who
did not work in harmony, for one was
a Scotchman and the other was not.
Sidney Smith said that Seotehmen were
generally right, but when wrong were
the wrongest people in the world, and
no argument could turn them. The
word Scotch" "scotch the wagon"
came from their rstubbornness. But they
were true to faith and principle Every
signer of the Meeblenburg declaration
Of independence in 1775 was a Scotch
man, or, as they are now generally
called, Scotch -Irish," that is, Scotch.
men who removed to the north of Ire-
land. 1t is very strange that so many
of them came to this wild country and
mingled with the Indians and married
their daughters. There were the Rog-
ers brothers on the Chattahoochee who
took Indian wives. They were good
men, good citizens and well educated.
My wife, when girl, used TO visit their
girls, and was fond of them. You can
tell a Scotchman as far as you can sec
them, for they all have auburn or light
hair and blue eyes and forid complex
ions, and are generally tail and
straight l don't believe that George
Adair is full-blood ON both sides, though
he has all their good qualities, except
their religion. l am only n half-breed
myself, which is all the better for my
wife, for as it is, she can make me do
ms she pleases, and | can make her do
she pleases, too, so it's all right, and
peace reigns in the household.-Bll
Arp, in Atlanta Constitution.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18

to open up the future hereafter for us
and take money or old clothes for her
pay. But | told her from judgn the
future by the past, would ruther not
know anything about 1t. And besides
that the dry drouth had played ruina.
ton with the crops and the committee
ON appropriations was for retrench-
ment and reform.
But | then went on to tell her If 1t
was clothes she wanted she ought to go
on over the creek and stop by at the
Redman place. Miss Bithy Redman is
the most fxyest old maid in the set.
tlement. Two or three times she has
thought she would get married, but
that was all. Somehow her weddi8
cake never would cook right done, and
it is all dough till yet. Yetin the main
time she has got the clothes to put
on-sill1s and satins, and muslins and
poker dets, and ribbons and laces till
you can't rest for the finery-clothes
enough to make her weddin garments
and keep her Sunday appearments for
20 years to come.
So the old fortune teller woman
didn't do blame thing but amble
on down the road and across the creek
to the Redman place. From one of the
boys that night l found out that she
had told Miss Bithy's fortune and got
full change of clothes.
"Gimme your alapaca dress (good as
new) and l will tell you whether any
man person throws his shadow across
your future path" says the fortune
teller woman.
The naked thoughts of a man per-
son put Miss Bithy into a high futter
and she come forth with the alapaca
dress.
"I see the shadow Of man person
across your path" says the fortune
teller woman. "Gimme your Sunday
shoes and let me tell you whether he
will ever come and pop the question"
The dim vision of such thing as
weddin match-with her own fixy self
as the blushin bride-was a blessed
plenty for Miss Bithy. And it fetched
them Sunday shoes.
81 see him comm down the path
says the fortune teller woman-"a
spare made, dark-complected man, and
he limps little with his left foot"
That was a good description of
Squire Noogin-which the squire's wife
died last year and they tell me Miss
Bithy has had her line out and the
hook well baited to catch him. 1 have
no oearthly doubts but what the lonely old
thing was all but ready then to go off
in dead faint.
''He will pop the question:" the for
tune teller woman went on, "Now
gimme your new Sunday hat and let
me tell you when you two will be one"
And that didn't fail to fetch the hat.
Then the fortune teller woman told
Miss Bithy that she would git married
and mate off with the dark-complected
man in the year 1890. If she had but
only thought about it in time and fixed
the weddin day along in the comm fall,
I'll bet by gracious she could of got
every blame female garment on the
Redman place. AS it was the fortune
teller woman come prancin by our
home the next mornin with Miss Bithy's
Sundayest clothes on, and the laces and
the ribbons fyin in the air.
And as for Miss Bithy-well, she is
still single, but still silly and still hope
full.
PTTFIrS GANDFR0
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
In Cyclone Streak.

This time last week L didn't know
blessed bit more than you about
what was goin on over there in that
rugged strip of country which they
call Cyclone Streak. But soon Friday
mornin little Bunk Weatherford rid by
to tell us that they would have a big
picnic and public speakin in Cyclone
Streak that day. Nothin must do but
what 1 must go, and so consequentially
/ went with him.
Well, first and last, have lived long
time, been about considerable and seen
a heap of sights. But that was the
gonebyest, hottest day, and the blam-
dest, most hottest place | have ever
driv into, l do believe. White people,
if dirk knives and six-shooters don't
grow on the trees in that country I'll
be essentially fimfamed if l can tell
where they come from in such alarmin
plenty. And bless the heavens if it
don't look to me like you could take
and saw up the rotten logs over there
and squeeze out moonshine whisky by
the gallon.
1t was ruther late when me and Bunk
driv up that day and they had already
opened the performance. But in the
mainline it would seem like they had
got up a red-hot disputation and some
of the delegates had bolted the con-
vention. One half of the crowd want
ed to put up six of their most ablest
young men-three to the side-and
debate the great question as to who
discovered America, whilst the other
side wanted to hire a pair of fiddlers
and adopt a platform in favor of free
and unlimited good time. That was
the snag on which they first tore the
blanket, and all but tore up the bosom
of mother earth with a anonymous re-
port in favor of free fight. When we
Iriv up the fddlers were playin little
patches of some lively old tunes like
"Cotton-Eyed joe" and "Mollie Put
the Kettle On" and "Soapsuds Over the
Fence" whilst one-half of the crowd
went on with the dance. Clost by Gus
Harkins had clum into wagon, opened
the debate and was holdin forth on the
mainest questions: "Who discovered
America - Christopher Columbus or
George Washington?"
As time wore on the dancing waxed
fast and furious, and the speakin
waxed loud and louder. 1t was then
four bits with one and 80 cents with
the other as to which could kick up the
most fuss-two fiddlers with their fid-
dies OF Gus Harltins with his mouth.
BY and by the thing got so sulfurious
hot till somethin had to blaze. The
fire broke loose out in the edge of the
crowd, and when The dust riz and the
smoke cleared away there was wound
ed-6; dead-0; badly skeered-217.
When Bunk Weatherford come by
that mornin he fetched the news that
they would have dinner on the ground.
But | didn't see no signs of kitchen
physic. All l could see was people
and empty bottles and six-shooters.
Consequentially when l come to think
about it. if | had any business to tend
TO it was here at home, and l hadn't
lost nothiu over there in Cyclone
Streak.
When me and Bunk hooked up and
driv off they hadn't yet settled the
great question as to who discovered
America. But Bunk lowed it didn't
make a durn bit of difference with him
whether it was Christopher Columbus
or George Washington or Andy Jack
son. lie was In favor of the resolution
to return back home. And come with
him.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18

voice unto me and spoke with fear and
tremblin.
Andy's horse was standin hitched to
the rack in front of our house before
sunrise that mornin and me and him
had struggled down there under the
hill, where the old spring bubbled up
and the wild flowers lifted their bright
and bannered bosoms to the sun.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
Hard TO Please.

The son of a well-known Providence
lawyer came home at the end of his
first term in college exulting in the
fact that he stood next to the head of
his class, says an exchange. His father
was less easily satisfied. What Next
to the head?" he exclaimed. What do
you mean, sir? I'd like to know what
you think l send you to college forl
Next to the head, indeed! Humph!
I'd like to know why you aren't at the
head, where you ought to bel" The
young man was naturally crestfallen,
but upon his return to college he went
about his work with such ambition that
the end of the term found him in the
coveted place. He went home very
proud, indeed. 1t was great news.
The lawyer contemplated his son for a
few moments in silence; then, with a
shrug of his shoulders, he remarked:
"At the head of the class, eh? Humphl
That's a fine commentary on Brown
universityi"-St. Louis Republic.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
The onlyest Moonlight Ride.

You have already took your seat
with pen in hand, as it were, and writ
up the roarin big meetin which Blev
Seroggins brung on with the widder,
Dolly Mayfeld, and them three love let
ters down at old Sweet Water that Sun
day evenin," Andy went on, CROWN
pale and trembly. But in regards to
that onlyest moonlight buggy ride
which me and the wdder took-I do
hope and trust and pray you will sing
the song soft and low. Mind you now,
there amt blame thing touchin that
moonlight buggy ride which am sorry
about and would ruther take back.
And what little you and Blev know
about it-ali that the people around
Sweet Water have heard or said or
thought or now think they know
would never make me lose marry lick of
sleep nor miss a meal of victuals.
But, Rufe Sanders, women are tre-
mendius jealous things. Poor as am
with the long dry drouth on hand
and nothin but hard times ahead
wouldn't have the news of that moon
light buggy ride reported back in full
here in the Rocky Creek settlement
for the best young mule in the country.
Don't sing that song any at all scarcely,
Rufe, if you can keep from it-but at
any rates, sing it soft and low"
/ could shet one eye and see that my
fellow servant and side partner was in
a peck of trouble and so bad ratified till
lie didn't hardly know his own name
for certain. But l told him that went
down to the Sweet Water meetin pur-
posely to hear the news and spread
il abroad. That was meat and bread
and plain business with me. l had writ
up Blev Scroggins and the gay and
gorgeous wilder, them magnolious love
letters and the stormy session of the
committee which they brung on, and l
didn't raley see how l could leave out
the moonlight buggy ride and save my
self.
And yet still that want all. Andy
Lucas is my friend in feeble, general
way. l have no doubts but what he
thinks more of me than any livin man
person in the round discovered world
exceptin Andy Lucas. But with him, in
trade, horse is horse and man
is a man. If he didn't swap the socks
often his own dear father and brother
it would be from the fact that he never
got a good chance, and dadblame him
he has Jest naturally burnt me up in
n trade more than oncst. 1t was now my
time of year to bring the gifted grand
son of old Hiram Lucas down to rock
bottom, and he couldn't do a conti-
mental thing but stand still and sWal-
low the medicine. l had the delegates
by a whalin big majority. l had the
under holt and the dead lock- 1t was
Charlie at the rat hole and Katy by the
door. So l could only look up through
the trees and smile and shake my head
With that Andy come and laid his
long bony arm on my shoulder ana
said his nravers like little man.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
The Horse Traders Prnyer.

"You can tell everything you know
and give out all the scandalatlous re-
norts YOU ever heard concernin me up
70 the time we went down to the Sweet
Water meetin, and if l live long enough
I will weep great gobs of grief Wheh
Won die and plant some flowers on your
crave to keep in mind them golden, hap
pv DAYS which me and you have spent
together. But if you love me Ike L
love you, Rufus, ruther think you VIII
leave out that famous moonlight buggy
ride, or sing the song mighty soft ana
low. If YOU had any kind and tender
regards left for the widders and the
orphants 1 raley don't believe you
would sing that song at all. hyou had
married one of these little peart-mo-
toned women, with black and hashy
ewes. | know most hellatious well you
wouldn't. For women are tremendous
Jealous things, Rufus.
"Oncst upon time me and you were
dirty little shirt-waist boys together
Rufe." and with that By gracious
| could see the salt water back up into
Andv's ewes. "Many and many's the
dav that we have ranged the woods and
fields together, and stole watermelons,
0, maybe slipped off to the mill pond
snd went in swimmin-me and you to-
pether. We have built futter mills IN
the same old spring branch, made irog
houses and cut summersets in the same
sapdbeds. and went TO school together
TO the same schoolhouse, and fell IN love
with the same girls, and courted ana
carried on, and missed our lessons and
took our lickins-me and you together.
Many and many's the clost place l
have pulled you through Many and
rsny's the bad and scandalatious
scrape I have caught you in and never
made a newpaper outen my mouth to
spread the news abroad.
Remember these little things, Hu-
fus. Remember likewise, also, thatthis
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18

general public too in
fernal well to suit
me. If you are bound
to sing a little songia
regards to that fa-
nous moonlight ride
sing it soft and low,
Rufe,-sing it soft
and low" Thus and
SO Andy Lucas, the
natural-born horse
frodar Iifta1 -, I.a
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
she COT the CIothe..

One Of these old female fortune tell
ers come through the settlement the
other day and tried der very levelest
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18

Now under the general circumfer-
ence of the surroundin circumstances
l didn't make no promise nor pass my
word to Andy as to whether l would or
whether | wouldn't. | have no earthly
doubts but what you mought maybe
love to hear the news touehin that
onlyest moonlight buggy ride. And don't
you believe but what | would love the
best in the world TO turn loose and tell
the story. Every time 1 think about
it have got to do one of three things
bust, or die, or laugh-and l do mortal
ly hate to go out to the lot or slip off
down in the woods paster and do all
the laughin by my lone self.
But for the sake of the widders and
the orphants-and in remembrance of
them brighter and better days which
me and Andy have spent together-so
long as life shall last will never write
and tell a dadblame thing about that
onlyest moonlight buggy ride.
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
Well Dried Out.

"smith has considerable dry humor
IN him"
at ought 20 be. It's old enough
Philadelphia North American
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18

is my own and native land. Every hill
and rock and yalley--eyery COW park
and every pig trail for miles and miles
around is dear to my eyesight and fa-
milieus to my wayward feet. Here is
where ! was borned and bred and
brung up, and here hope to find lit
tie patch of earth wherein to lay me
down to sleep when the boot money is
all spent and the natural-born horse
trader turns his toes up to the hog weeds
and the daisies. But in the mainline
if nothin else will do but you must give
the names and tell the story of that
moonlight buggy ride the show is now
out and the monkey is dead. This
country will soon be too crowded like
and hot to retain my manly form and
rugged presence. Then the foxes
would have holes to hide in when the
pack were in full cry, and even the rain
frog could find hollow tree to build
his home and sing his songs in, but An
drew Jackson Lucas-the grandson of
old man Hiram Lucas-would have no.
where's to set his foot or rest his head in
peace. Mind you that, Rufus. Think
about the little home over there across
the creek, where l git my board and
clothes and have my washin done
where everything from the baby in his
cradle to the horses in the stables
knows my voice and looks to me for the
wherewithals of life. Remember the
widders and the orphants, Rufus. Re-
member, too, that fair female women
are tremendous jealous things, and
don't tell anything for certain about
that moonlight buggy ride"
The Van Buren press., 1897-09-18
TELLS THE NEWS.
The "Onlyest" Andy Lucas Saws
His Prayers.
sage OF Rocky Greek Talks Lightly of
a Famous Moonlight buggy Ride
with the "Gay anS Cor
geous Widder."

You know too blasted much, Rufe,
and you love to tell it forth to the
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
NOT THE LOWEST BID.
Commissioners Claim Levey Bros
Figures More Satisfa

The printing firm of Levey Bros G. Co.
yesterday furnished the County Commits
sioners bond of $4,000, and was formally
awarded the contract for furnishing the
county printing for the next year. While the
commissioners admit there were bids low
err than that furnished by Levey Bros. &
Co., they say the figures furnished by this
firm appeared to be the most satisfactory.
The contract of the successful bidder
amounts to $S,294.63. The company filed a
the prntne tf For The cHnnfu a. cost Of
per cent. less than the work has been fur
nished for the last two years. The print
ing this year has cost the county about
$1,000. The bid submitted by w. B. Bur-
ford, it is claimed, was less than S.. O00,. fig
ured on the basis on which the commission
erS let the contract.
County Attorney Hovey said yesterday
that although there seemed to be dissatis-
faction among the other bidders, a repre-
sentative of the Hasselman Printing Com
pany. after seeing the Levey Bros. e Co.
bid, declared he had nothing further to say.