davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

fire. Even under such crude manage
ment the mining Industry of Honduras
has been immensely profitable. The
country Is dotted with holes full OF
water which with simple machinery
would be paying investments. | saw
much machinery rusting on the noun
tain sides which enterprising men had
been unable 10 transport over the mis-
cradle paths. In Comayagua | saw sill
yer chlorides that ran over $23, 600 to the
ton. How rich that ore was may be
appreciated when IL Is known that pure
silver is worth cnly $4,000 To the ton.
But very few traces of gold have been
found on the Pacific slope of the cordil-
leras The mountains are tipped up
toward the Atlantic and. as one goes
down 'he steep inclines. the different
stratihcations are easily distinguish
able Gown TO granite. In the Indian
towns On the Atlantic slope the women
on Sunday mornings wash the sand and
gravel in rough appliances called bat
teas" and. with any luck, secure "A sufil-
cient quantity of gold in few hours 10
support them for week. Another diff
Guilty is the scarcity OF labor and it is
fact that good mines are more easily
found than men TO work them.
The natives seem 70 have noambition
to acquire wealth. They build their
thatched houses in banana and palm
grove and appear 10 regret that they
are put TO the necessity and trouble OF
plucking the fruit which grows before
their door once when inquiring my
way T. n ford across a swollen creek |
asked an Indian who was swinging la
zily i'm his hammock TO show me its d-
rection He was too tired" he said,
and 81 did not persuade him to set up.
Not being willing TO risk crossing with
out a guide. l camped there for the
night, and saw plainly my host had no
reason 10 trouble himself for 81. Be
hind his hedge OF giant cactus he had
about 300 chickens, many pigs, his field
of corn and plantains all around ia
every stage of ripcning. He knew moth
ing better than his own condition and
was satisfied with his lot. | bought
from him fer $l2 i'm silver two ounces
of washed gold which had been taken
from a creek close by. The particles
were in size from the head of a pin to a
small pea. but OF an excellent color |
afterward sold the gold on the coast for
double what l had paid.
AS a general rule the aboriginal in
hsbitants have been much changed by
300 years of contact with whites and by
the Spanish conquest, yet among the
settlements on the eastern side and not
far from Tegucigalpa | passed through
communities which have retained 10 a
surprising degree their most primitive
customs and in which the aboriginal
blood has suffered scarcely any If, in
deed, the slightest. intermiXture. The
native language quite holds its own,
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

cents) "A day. and during the infrequent
intogmi sions Of intornccinc troubles he
gladly rests his sword and gun against
n tree 20 take mp the occupation OF car
rylng banana branches from the cars
90 the vessel at the rate OF cents an
hour
a very fair idea OF the life Of the peo-
pie and the richness OF the country can
be gathered from the following account
of a recent trave,cr I'm that region:
From TeguciGnlpa 30 the north and
eastward one passes through the old
mining districts where even today may
De- seen ruder machinery than on the
Pacific slope I'm iSi9. Very few Of the
mines ere opened and developed on
any system. Shafts of course were dug.
but the drifting in most cases was 80
faulty as 10 miss the vein When they
struck water, the mine was abandoned
through lack of pumping machinery.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

and in Honduras, as in the high coun-
try Of Guatemala, | observed the prefer
ence for the Indian tongue. These In
dians are the hereditary enemies Of the
Sambos. ar Mosquitoes, who years ago
drove them from the coast by forcing
them into slavery Their necessities are
very limited The women dress I'm a blue
cotton cloth skirt woven by themselves
from peculiar native cotton which
grows. and the plant does not die. II
has "a hard stony seed in the interior or
every boil OF cotton, which Is picked
when II attains about the size of a wal
nut.
These people practice what they re-
member OF the Catholic religion, every
community having a church with the
efflgy OF the patron saint, before whom,
on feast days, they place their burning
candles and offerings Of fruits. When
boys attain the age OF II they are privi-
legged 10 select a maiden Of IL for a
wife. When the selection is made and
ratified by the parents OF both parties.
the couple go 90 the house of the
grooms father TO live. Until the son is
able to support his bride he works for
his father on wages until he can build
a house FOR himself There is no cere-
mony The mutual agreement of all
parties concerned Is all that rs neces-
sary. after which they are regarded as
man ana wife
These people have great respect for
the authority Of the general govern
meut. and there is mo- greater event in
their lives than the visit ~ the 'iefe
pOlltico' OF their department. Ills stay
Is usually three days, ana Is u season %
feasting and presenting complaints and
petitions for his action. which he set
ties with the authority of a car.
In the intervals between the official
visits all questions between individuals
are decided by 'alcaldes.' or justices
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25
DOMINGO VASQUEZ. EX-PRESI.
DENT OF HONDURAS.

From my observation | believe the peo-
pie of the country are commencing to
see that political changes, on no matter
what beautiful promises, are powerless
TO effect the regeneration of the coun-
try, and that in general there is a
strong feeling growing in favor OF emil
grants who seek employment and for
tune within its limits. In many in
stances her rulers In former times. for
selfish motives, have put every obstacle
in the way OF the Improvement and ed
ucatiCn of the people that they might
fill their own pockets from the public
revenue but now all that is changed
and a desire for colonization and pre-
dominance of white blood obtains.
THE government has established
schools for Indian children which are
fostered with the greatest care, and
even i'm remote towns OF small popula-
ton one con es across schools for arti-
sans thoroughly equipped and under
good masters. and unless I had been as
sured that some Of the exqusitely de-
signed furniture which | saw was the
work Of Indians, / would have believed
IL TO have been made i'm the finest man.
ufactories OF the United States. With a
position unequaled a climate adapted,
as one might say, TO every caprice. the
finest forests Of the earth, untold min
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

ideas, with disastrous results to him
self.
The inhabitants speak a patois Of the
Spanish language. and as yet no Eng
lish speaking people have found il prof
table 10 establish broad commercial re-
lations with this wild domain. In Hon
duras, with a population Of about 5OO,-
600, so would be a fair estimate OF the
number OF Anglo-SaXons.
Many OF the better class travel some
what extensively and are both edu-
Gated and entertaining companions.
The dethroned President Nasquez Is a
highly accomplished man. as are Presi-
dent Borlla and number OF his Cabi-
net most Of whom received collegiate
education I'm the United states or Eng
land. The government invites imm.-
grafton by generous offers OF land, a
fun title to which Is granted by con-
gress, continuing good through all
charges in presidents and STATS. Mr..
Valentine b. especially conspicuous FOR
the zeai he, eNerts In securing conces-
si5ns from the government TO all re-
sponsible American citizens wishing to
locate there. Ills Endorsement b. the
open sesame to the powers i'm charge.
Honduras rs very fertile in two things
revolutions and bananas. OF the lat
ter there are no vast plantations. but
each and every adult native raises seV-
eral or more hunches for shipment. 10
rs q game OF chance 10 risk your al In
banana grove. because bfeeze a.
gentle as a Kansas Zephyr would blow
~ down lille a good healthy wind that
would scarcely make the coattail 81 a
Kansas real estate man stand at right
angles would transfer The entire plan
tation from the valleys depth 20 the
mountain fOrs
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

beginning at an altitude Of $4,000 feet.
Here the scenery is grand beyond de-
scription and the vegetation dense and
lofty.
Mere lapse Of time hardly touches this
people. They have deficd many CEN
turtles. and only now in the mad rest
lessness of the progress of this century
do they begin TO falter. Many of the
presidents have been educated abroad,
and General Bogram, during his in
cumbency, tried the experiment of Civ
ing tho press freedom of speech and
otherwise conforming TO American
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

The name OF this ancient mining town.
so puzzling 10 tongues unaccustomed 10
the Spanish, Is easy enough 10 pro-
nounce when one gets used 10 it--as IL
spelled -goese-ee- -ghal-pah. accents
ing the fourth syllable I'm the aborig-
inal language II was two words. which
signifed mountain OF silver and
well indeed has Il deserved the appella-
ton. on this elevated plateau, 5000
feet above sea level. it is built upon
and completely surrounded hy mines
which i'm former times yielded glorious
ly of the precious metal
Their are three pretty parks beside
the Plaza Moyo all adorned with flow-
ers and statuary. There are two banks.
the Banoo Centro Americana and the
Banco Nacional Houdureno, and paper
money does not circulate in the counr
try. Three newspapers are published in
Tegucigalpa-La Nacion, weekly, and
La RcpuoliCa and La Gaccta, both
semiweekly. There are two universities
several colleges and $40 public schools
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

though near one deserted mining town
/ could trace a tunnel which was un-
doubtedly built TO carry off excess OF
water, as was the idea Of the Sutro tun-
mel i'm Nevada. The crushing. except in
one mine owned by an English COM
pany, is done with heavy rolling stones.
moved by OK power, after which the
amalgamation process is gone through
with on a cement patio, as they dry
coffee, and then the product reduced by
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

Of the peace. selected from among them
selves. and no such thing as an appeal
from their decisions Is ever heard Of
Ostensibly the laws OF the state are fol-
lowed, but the alcalde court is one Of
equity. and as few OF the judges can
read or write the state laws are not
consulted to any great extent.
"When a presidential election occurs.
or an election for congress, these inno-
cent people vote according 10 the advice
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25
Syndicate Of W/eaAhy An1eucuus
Takes Control Of HouaMrus.
The Valeut1ue Company NH Rule the Country
and Transact .AH Public
Business.

rob or steal except i'm a petty way. The
Rosario mines. located far away from
the railroad line. have taken out about
81. 900 900 of ore since 1858 and brought
IL by mules through the dense noun
tain paths TO a point OF shipment with
out ever being interfered with. These
mines have an office in New York, and
at one time ar. Valentine was their
manager.
Some of the peaks in the great noun
tain ranges are forever clad with snow,
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

sibility for the foreign debt of $25 00O.-
600 owed in England and will compro-
mise or settle With the foreign cred
itors.
The expenses Of the Honduras govern.
ment are about $l000,000 a year. and be-
ing relieved OF the expense OF handling
the revenues there will be more money
or other things. When once the syn
dicate gets control of the custom houses.
"A stop will at once be put To smuggling.
which is at present very prevalent
along the coast. and IL will also abso-
lutely pTevel~ any future revolutions
This will do away with the need OF
armies and reduce the expenses The
syndicate has also large land and min
ing grants. and as soon as II gets
through with thefdimculties OF the rail-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

little one'D, Is even smaller Durinl
the rainy season. however. both ar
greatly increased. The fine archeC
bridge Of brick and white sandstone
which connects Tegucigalpa with It's
suburb. Comayaguaita, as the Brook
lyn bridge connects New York with It's
auxiliary, is really an imposing work
Of art. one never tires Of lounging up.
on it's parapet and watching the law
enderas at work below.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

they receive from the capital, and such
advice is regarded as an order.
What with indigo. gold washing ma
hogany cutting and the carrying trade
considerable money comes into their
hands but religious and civil feasts
come around with such frequency-and
they celebrate them all in drinking
bouts and other eXcesses-that the end
of the year finds them with as little
money as they had in the beginning
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

tions TO the syndicate. The latter will
begin operations by oct. 1, when 81 000,
coo is to be paid 10 carry on the ex-
penses of the Honduras government,
ana the government is to turn over to
the syndicate all its revenues, and the
latter is TO control all the custom
houses, etc. to reimburse itself Some
of the money has already been paid
The syndicate also agrees to relieve
the Honduras government of all respon-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

finest mansion having been recently
constructed by the Honduras Uouisi-
aua) Lottery company after its eNpul-
sion from Louisiana. Puerto Cortez Is
the principal port of the republic and
the only one having wharf. That it
should be so aboriginal is somewhat sur
prisins when the fact Of its proximity
10 the thrifty. active United States Is
taken into consideration This port Is
only S25 miles from Port Tampa and
approximately the same distance from
New Orleans and Mobile, yet many Of
the Interior natives are clothed only
with heat and humidity and spend their
entire lives i'm Incidence. living upon
fruits and the reptiles beasts and birds
50 abundantly furnished by nature.
These primitive people, however. never
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

York has acquired great concessions in
Honduras and will complete the railroad
from Puerto CorteZ TO the Pacific coast.
The syndicate has practically bought
out the republic of Honduras. The rail
road was begun by an English company
10 years ago TO run from Puerto Cortez
TO the Pacific, but has never been com,
peted.
The Honduras government has agreed
TO surrender all it's governmental func-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-25

T rs not often
that a national
government puts
itself in pawn,
but the Central
American repub-
lie of Honduras
recently made a
deal with a
big syndicate Of
American capi-
talists that prac-
tically amounts
10 the same
thing.
The Valentine
syp6icate ofNeKN
Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-15
NOTICE TO NONRESIDENT LANDOWNER

Notice is hereby given to Harshfield, whose
place OF residence is unknown, that at the
June session of the Commissioners Of Wash
ington County, Ohio, w. ID Winland and 9th
ers filed their petition for the alteration of II
county road as follows: beginning at stake
marked "a" in the center Of the Crooked Tree
and Macssburg road on the line between Noble
and Washington Counties and running south
-asterly direction through the lands of j.
Harshtield, Alice Craig w Nj. Atkinson and
j. w. James to the line between the lands of
w. NJ. Atkinson and ]. Scarberry; thence
in an easteriy direction near the line between
the lands of ). w. James and j j. Scarberry
to the Duck Creek road; thence south to the
Macksburg and Lowell road to a stake marked
"B'' and there to terminate.
That viewers and surveyor of said road
were appointed by said Commissioners to
meet at the beg ming of said road, on TIE 9th
day OF November, 1897, at 10 o'clock a. m, TO
enter upon the discharge Of their Duties
Oct.Ist'97-4t W. A. PATTERSON
County AudttGc.
Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-15
LUMP JAW.
The Disease Has Appeared
Among Cattle in Manitoba.
Importation Of Cattle Into the Unit
ed States Will BE Stopped.
NJ. Maertens, Distinguished Russian Jurist,
An Authority ON International Law,
Selected as Umpire In the British
Venezuela Boundary Question.

WASHINGTON, Oct. lathe depart
ment of state has been informed by
the United States consul, M. Nj. Duthe,
N AWinnipeg that there has appeared
among cattle in that section disease
known as ''actinomycocis" commonly
called lump jaw" which has been
placed on the list of infectious or con-
tagious diseases by the department of
agriculture of Manitoba. He further
states that a large number of poor,
cheap cattle are being shipped to the
United States for grazing purposes and
advises cattlemen, on the frontier, to
look out for the disease and that the
importation of cattle be Immediately
stopped.
The British-venezuela Boundary Dispute.
The international court of arbitra-
ton, which is to pass on the British
Venezuela boundary, has been com
pleted by the selection of NJ. Maertens,
a, distinguished Russian jurist, as UNI
pire, and arrangements are being made
for the assembling of the court at Paris
during the late summer or fall of next
year. In the meantime the briefs of
great Britain and of Venezuela are be-
ing prepared, but none of the papers
have yet been submitted. NJ. Maertens
will aot not only as umpire, but also as
president of the court.
The announcement that European
umpire had been chosen was made in
these dispatches some time since, but
the name had been withheld until the
e IA lD.,, ,.,1
for NJ. Maertens' service as arbitrator.
Great Britain and Venezuela each sub
mitted list of distinguished jurists
who would be acceptable to it as UNI
pire. These embraced the most noted
men of Europe, but it is a tribute to
NJ. Maertens that his was the only one
on the lists of both countries.
NJ. Maerten's reputation as an au-
thority on international law is world
wide and has led to his frequent selec'
tion as arbitrator and umpire in inter
national differences. He is an official
of the Russian foreign office, professor
of international law at the University
of st. Petersburg and author of Maer-
tens Treaties, the standard book af
reference on all the treaties of the
world. Little doubt is felt as to his
acceptance.
Prof. Maertens was one of the dele
gates named by the Russian govern
ment to represent it at the approach
ing conference to be held in this city
to consider the conditions of seal life
in the North Pacific. 1t is understood
that his selection as the fifth arbitra-
tor and head of the commission
makes it impossible for him to par
ticipate in the Washington conference,
so that the Russian interests in the
meeting probably will remain in the
care of Mr.. Botkine and the two del
egates who will sit with him.
Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-15
Some Plain Facts.

Grave errors, injustice, wrongs Of
greater or less degree, arise from lack
of knowledge of the truth, and more
frequently from deception.
The most infamous case on record
of deception and injustice is the at
tempt to demonetize silver as a money
of final redemption in the United
States.
There is no learned judge, skilled
lawyer, or court of justice that is
capable of reconciling the effort with
the constitutional laws that govern
the issue of money in this country.
The people have been deceived,
officials in power, chosen to admins
ter justice under the laws, have
ignored their sworn duty, and given
aid to the scheme that has paralyzed
industry, reduced property values
one-half, and beggared millions.
There is no authority of law, either
specific or by inference, by which
gold alone is made the only money
with which to discharge debts, either
public or private. The effort to
make it SO is unconstitutional and a
national calamity.
Plain and ample information, facts,
and truth, concerning this almost sue.
cessful scheme to corner the wealth
of the people, is now being printed
in the Cincinnati Enquirer, a news
paper which the combined power of
money has failed to muzzle or buy.
The Weekly Enquirer is only 75c.
year. The address is
Enquirer Company, Cincinnati, o.
Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-15
Followed His Sweetheart.

ToRRINGToN, CT, Oct. 14.-The body
of Herman Fincher, u years old, was
found in the woods Wednesday. He
had committed suicide by shooting.
On the body was found a photograph
of Martha Trepiow, his sweetheart,
who committed suicide a few months
ago by taking carbolic acid, and also a
clipping from local paper describing
her funeral Miss Trcpiow killed her
self because her parents objected to her
contemplated marriage to Fincher.
Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-15
After Train Robbers.

FoRT SMITH, Ark, Oct 14.-Inspector
IIoucll, of the post Office department,
has been notified that the men who re-
Gently held up and robbed "a Rock Is
land train, are in hiding about twenty
miles from Tulsa, l. Z. Houck and
other officers left Tulsa Wednesday for
the scene and thinks he will succeed in
capturing the desperadoes. The in
spector has ascertained the identity oi
the men implicated in the robbery.
Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-10-15
Road Notice.

TON COUNTY, OHIO:
We. the undersigned citizens residing in the
vicinity OF the road petitioned for below,
hnaoiy pray your y,aS hnaSrapie eroSy oSay that you
follows:
Commencing on the lands OF j. p. HeldmAn.
about one-quarter mile southwest OF said
Heidman's residence. at the Ridge road thence
In a Westerly dsrection through said lauds;
thence through the lands OF John Riemensch-
neider, william Mericle and Dr James Hadley,
70 the Road along Fifteen Creek, and there To
terminate, about one-quarter mile south al
the Baptist Church. All the above described
lands being situate in Liberty township
Washington County, Ohio.
j. p. HELDMAH.
j. RIEhsCHERIDER,
Principal Petitioners.
Oct Q ,p7.lwka