davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19
The Enchanted Mountain.

In the western part of New Mexico lies
the Mesa Encantada, recently mentioned
in news columns. a famous rock of mighty
dimensions rising hundreds OF feet above
the level of the surrounding plain and
apparently inaccessible to man. For
many years the scientists OF the country
have disagreed as to whether the summit
of the mesa was inha bited by prehistoric
Indians or not, and few months ago
Professor Lbbcy o. Princeton University
scaled it with much difficulty and reported
that he had found no signs thereon that
led him to believe it had ever been
occupied.
Professor Hodge has just gone over the
ground covered by Professor Libbey, and
more. too; ;or he returns, as already
reported, with the statement that he has
found numerous arrow-heads. pieces of
ancient pottery and stone axes on the
sunni nit, all OF which lead him to suppose
that the plateau was for time the home
of Indians. In this supposition he Is
supported by Charles T. Lummis, the we'll
known writer and traveller, who has lived
for years among the Indians of that
ne Ugh borhoodi and who states that their
legends all point TO It's former occupation.
According TO Professor Davidson, how-
ever, who is as we'll acquainted with such
matters as any of the other gentlemen
the mere discovery of few potsherds and
such things means nothing at all.
s'The mesa" he said, 'has probably
been used as an outlook place in times
when warfare existed among the neigh
boring tribes. In the early history of the
country the villages of the Indians were
scattered all through the plains, and in
case of trouble the first thing they would
do would be 10 send their scouts to some
point whence they could view the sur
rounding district for miles and signal the
approach or close proximity OF an enemy.
The Indian climbs high mountains when
he is out hunting for the purpose OF spot
ting his game, and it is even possible that
these relics were left there by peaceful
hunting party.
"Such places are not so difficult to scale
as you would imagine. An Indian goes
up them in his bare feet as easily as you
would climb stairs. A little niche is
enough for him if he just gets his fingers
and toes into it, and if he'wishes to he
can place sticks in the holes and draw
them ont as he ascends. That is probably
how this mesa was climbed, and, had
people lived on it permanently, we should
certainly find some traces OF their steps.
.All along the line OF the Atlantic and
Pacific Railroad you will see just such
formations. and if any of them were ever
inha bited ruins are to be found on them
still. They canot be entirely effaced.
'As 1 said before, l think that, the
legends of the indians and the late finds
to the contrary. the mesa was never in
ha bited. And further investigation
would probably prove my supposition to
be correct
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

te-s at Angel Island become overcrowded.
Along both sides of the deck amidsbins
there are rows of staterooms. In tba
afterpart there is bathhouse and laun.
dry. The old galley is still in conditi,,
for duty and only needs a cook and
something to cook to provide food for the
hungry.
The old Omaha is doing more fighting
now than she ever did in all her career
She was built in Philadelphia in 1869 and
put in most of the years OF her service on
the China station. She has been in nearly
every port on the Pacific side of two con-
tinents, and on many occasions her
presence has proved powerful persuader.
The tonnage of the Omaha is 260O. She
Is built of wood, copper bottomed, is fitted
with the finest material obtainaDle and
cost over 81, 900 0O0
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19
QUEER FREAK OF A HERMIT. !.
S in an Old Quarry Magazine and Sleeps
on Keg Of Blasting Powder.

Most likely he is asleep. But whether he
is or not he is sure TO be lying down, with
the keg of powder under his head for a
pillow. If he is awake he is sure to be
putting at large pipe regardless OF the
danger.
1t takes little nerve to remain around
at such a time for what if the keg should
explode? Console yourself with the fact
that you would know nothing of II. You
would be dead before you knew what had
happened.
Some might think that the old man is
only playing a game. and that the terri
ble-looking keg is empty or at least con-
tains something else besides powder. But
you are at liberty TO investigate. Old
Peterson will not object.
A careful examination will disclose the
fact tnat the key is full of something, and
as thu leaden seals of the powder-mill
have never been broken the evidence will
be satisfactory for any nervous person.
Old Peterson looks upon the keg as his
most useful piece OF furniture. What
would he do for pillow if he did not have
it2
In the dismal old magazine, with hardly
enough room to turn around, the old man
spends most of his time. A short distance
around the hill he has rugged up sort OF
outdoor stove where he cooks-that is
when he has anything to cooB. The old
man says that he lives on pension OF $l5
every three months which he gets for past
services in the German army. A. brother
of his collects it and sends it to him adj
dressed TO San Francisco, where he col
lects.
INC, am not afraid of the can of pow
der" the old man said. ut cannot hurt
me unless it is my time TO die; and if it is
my time to die will die, anyhow, even
if the powder was not within thousand
miles OF me.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

You may not think this is so. but l
do, because l have been all through the
wars and seen men killed by the thou
sands. One man will get killed by stray
bullet the first day be comes into the
ranks Another will stand in front OF a
Gatiing gun and be uniniured. IL is one
mans time and not the others.
''It is just that way with me. If the keg
of powder is going to explode within five
minutes and my time has come it will kill
me- II not, won't be here or will escape
by miracle.
See Il is safe to handle this as l wish.
Now, watch, will knock some fire out OF
my pipe on to the side of the keg."
But if the old man did as he said no one
besides himself saw the act, for he was
alone.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

Instead she is fighting plagues-killing
microbes and saving men instead OF kill
Ing men and breeding microb And
now she rides peacefully at anchor in a
beautiful bay instead OF being battered
around the world.
Brie fly speaking, the man-of-war Omaha
is now q plagu ship, and also a floating
disinfecting plant. She is the only float
ing disinfec:ing plant belonging to the
United States, and the cnly Instance on
record where an old warship was made to
do this work.
1t has been known for some time that
this work was being done by the Omaha,
but just how it was done has never been
made public. Through the courtesy of
Dr. Rosenau a representative of The CALL
visited the vessel last week and saw all
the complicated machinery necessary to
make Gisinfection perfect and absolute.
The way the vessel has been fitted up for
the comfort of such passengers as might
be detained upon her is most interesting.
There is only one way of getting on
board of the Omaha, and that is to be
taken out to her on the quarantine launch
Bacillus. People going to her side in
The Omaha is lying just four miles from
the ferry landing at Tlburon.
On approaching the Omaha the most
impressive fact is her great size. She
rises out of the water as high as two
story house.
A casual examination of the Omaha
shows her to still be in a fairly seaworthy
condition. Worse vessels make the pas
sage around Cape Horn every month in
the year. Down in the hold there is not
a drop of water TO be seen. The bilge IS
almost as dry as the cabin. She has not
been entirely dismantled. Her lofty spars
were all pulled down long ago, but little
change has been made in her hold. The
engines and boilers that took her around
the world are still in position and only
need a little cleaning and the application
of fire to make them once more throb
with life.
Down below everything is much as it
used to be. The rooms OF those OF the
crew that were located here are almost
as they were when the ship was aban-
doned. On the tween decks, though,
there is big change and most distress
ing one. 1t is still the same and yet dill
ferent 1t is like "a banquet hall oe-
serted" The wardroom and the admi-
rails cabin are silent now, and spiders are
spinning their webs in the corners that
once echoed with the voices OF manly
men. The chartroom is now only a
closet, but still retains certain musty
odor, a relic of its former great impor-
tance.
But in the captains room there is a
great change. 1t is still inhabited-not
by the captains ghost, as many may sup
rose, but by the keeper OF the vessel, an
old seaman. In this room he eats, drinks
and sleeps.
1t is on the gun deck, though, that the
greatest change has taken place. One O.
the old crew coming aboard would never
recognize it, No more can he look up at
the lofty spars and hear the wind piping
through the rigging, for there is q root
overhead, and the general effect is that OF
large hall.
Here the disinfecting plant is located.
The distinctive machinery is at the bow.
1t consists principally OF sulphur
burning furnace and a formaline gas
apparatus.
The sulphur burning furnace consists OF
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

two parts. In one OF them fire is built,
and an ordinary chimney carries the
fumes to the outside air. The other part
OF the furnace is literally an oven for
burning the sulphur.
Sulphur is an almost perfect germicide,
but the great difficulty attending its use
is that when lighted in closed room it
soon burns up all the air and for want of
oxygen goes out before its work is accom-
plished. To overcome this, DR.. Rosenau
has had the apparatus constructed on the
Omaha.
This furnace is first heated red hot. An
airpump is then started. Sulphur is then
shoveled into the red not furnace, and the
airpump exhausts the fumes and forces
them through pipes to where they are
wanted.
When a steamer is to be disinfected she
is first relieved of all her passengers and
bedding at the quarantine station and
then towed to the side of the Omaha. By
closing portfolios, matches. windows.
companion ways, ETC., the vessel is made
as alright as possible.
Pipes from the sulphur furnace are then
connected at convenient places and the
work proceeds. The sulphur fumes from
the furnace are literally forced into the
ship, so that every nook and crannie is
reached. This is kept up for over an hour
and the sight is a pretty one. Although
the ship is closed as tightly as possible
she cannot be made alright ana. as con-
sequence. fumes rise from hundreds or
places and climb skyward in graceful
streams. These fumes ara almost a yell
lowish gray in color and have much the
same appearance as the smoke from a
smelter Whoever happens to be within
half a mile of the locality puts in his time
coughing.
Should the ship be particularly suspi-
cious the dsinfeoting operation is pracr-
cally repeated with formadehyde gas.
This is SO powerful that it Will kill germs
on the inside of a bale OF hemp. DIR.
Rosenau has tried this and knows that it
can be done. All germs must and do die.
When ship leaves the side of the Omaha,
after a four-hour siege, there is not the
slightest possibility that she is contain
mated. She can then proceed to dock
without spreading an Oriental plague
The gun deck of the Omaha is pest
house" and can be used in case the quar-
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

mark left by the workmen Of an aban-
doned quarry.
Climb up to this place, and on the side
of the hill, about 100 feet from where the
work was carried on. there is small hut
with an iron door. This was the magazine
when the quarry was in working order.
Here all sorts OF explosives were stored,
and the iron door was to keep out people
who might be tempted to investigate.
This place is now old Peterson's home.
The quarry was abandoned long ago and
by some hook or crook large keg OF
blasting powder was lett behind when all
tools were removed. For a long time this
invitation to Immediate death kept people
away from the locality. None could tel
at what moment the explosives would go
off
This. however, had no terrors for Peter
son. Just when he came is not matter
of record. He says he has been there for a
long time. And he expects to remain for
long time yet.
Take peep into the old fellows den.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

Once warship; now plague-ship.
That Is the past and the present position
OF the United States steamship Omaha
For some months the old vessel has been
lying in the bay just off California City
and doing noble work toward keeping
plaques out of our country.
As the still handsome craft rides at an
chor on the smooth surface OF tie water
her appearance Is greatly at variance
with the purpose Tor which she was built.
But after all she j. fulfilling her mission.
She was built for fighting ship. and she
is fighting. 1t is true that her builders
nodded her to fight battles on the seas.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

THINK of using a keg Of blasting
powder for pillow! and not only
= using it for pillow, but keeping it
around ycur house all the time. Ot
course you would not think of doing such
a thing, bat there is a man who lives in
the Contra Costa hills back of Oakland
who does Just that
He Is Ralph Peterson and he is known
as a hermit. His home is about two
miles almost due east from Mills Semi
nary. 1t is easy to reach this place if you
can climb hills. But you might as well
know beforehand that when you do get to
the place the old man will not be glad to
see you. He objects to visitors.
By following the eastern fence OF Mills
Seminary to the base Of the hill, and then
commencing to climb. a quarter of an
hours work will take you to the top of
the ridge. From here old Peterson's
home can be seen. It does not look like
human habitation. On the other side OF a
valley there can be distinguished large
gray spot on the mountain. This is the
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

race E Reynolds charsJ JFo hbcydeB
hou hh knows that chances will ohck
settled dbsodq " things bq bosihn max akgeaes
d
gae
H n
de n in Ry
v convince hu u becoming h speeds %
ndE Each ~ W b of dbuSw haGrkae either il
maem mdameera sci arr tires fO Onruber
pnemtcn tire is qud ST ersreup eaae
qp straps h
br 90 OF
uharda p h hohaem audyoth
onsohen enhe whehf he @ i i am
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13
CITY CHAT.

Round about my days cntwine.
Mem'ries Of, Oh what . time'
Front street Joys make life sublime;
There found my valentine.
OAu.Aa.a nA Is nlr{oa If ia prfaf ~ IA
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13
Avsluabls Prsscrsps,oa.

Editor Morrison, Of the Worthing.
ton. Ind, Sun, writes: "You have q
valuable prescription in Electric
Bitters. and I can cheerfully recon.
mend 1t for constipation and sick
headache, and as general system
tonic 1t has no equal" Mrs. Annie
Stehle, 1926 Cottage Grove avenue,
Chicago. was all run down, could
not eat nor digest food, had back.
ache which never left her and fell
tired and weary, but six bottles Of
Electric Bitters restored her health
and renewed her strength. Price 81
cents and 81. Get . bottle 1t Hart,
q Ullemeyer's drug store.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13

cars. Il viii take shout . month to
get out the order.
II Mayor Knox could manage "a
divert his attention from trying to
get reelection long enough to have
the crossings cleaned, to ssy nothing
Of streets and walks generally. there
might b less people to condemn the
failure Of his administration.
A down town teamster. hot under
the collar after being snowballed BY
some boys on lower Third avenue.
hurled . chunk Of coal against the
west plate glass wiA4Sw Of Emil
Koehler's drug store. The glass was
shattered, and Is win cost the team
ster $50 to replace it.
Johnny Jones says he has . whole
car load Of A No. / secondhand
goods Just received from Chicago,
consisting of 500 yards Of carpet
and bedroom suits, aud that he will
and must sell ct ridiculously low
prices in order to make room for
more. at his beautiful new location.
l19 Eighteenth street.
]. Grant Beadle. superintendent Of
construction at the Western Illinois
hospital for the insane at Wstsr-
town, and Miss Anne Walworth Mat
thews, Of Galesburg. are to be mar.
ried in that city Wednesday evening.
Feb "a. ct the First Presbyterian
church. Rock Island friends have
received Invitations to the wedding.
Judge PlSAsants in the circuit
court this afternoon granted DEGREES
in the divorce cases Of Mary Hoodals
W. Alexander Hoodals and Mary NJ.
Hsdley W. Benjamin w. Hsdley.
Maj. Beardsley appeared for both
women, Mrs. Hoodals charging i'm
pudence and Mrs. Hadley adultery.
Court was adjourned until next Sat.
urday.
Canton Star 8. 1. o. O. F..
visited state encampment s, at
Davenport. last night. in full uni
form and assisted in comforting the
royal purple degree. after which the
Daughters of Rebekah served fine
supper, which was enjoyed very
much by all present. After supper
short speeches were made by visit
ing members. and than the members
enjoyed . dance with the Daughters
of Rebekah.
E. E. Parmenter has returned from
Galesburg. where he attended the
meeting Of the republican judicial
committee, which decided not to call
convention until the legislature
has taken action on the reapportion-
ment bill. The primaries can be
held - late Is May 1; the county con-
vention May s; judicial convention
June 5, thus leaving the required 80
days before election. Col. Henry
Curtis. c. l.. Walker, and Adair
Peasants also attended the meeting.
The Henry county grand jury has
ignored the accusation, of DR.. Cora
Emery. of Geneseo. against Mrs.
Hiram Wil3ox wife Of the cashier of
the First National bank Of that place.
DR. Emery said Mrs. Wilson stole hez
pocketbook last February from the
reception room of the Geneseo
house. She finally had Mrs.
Wilson arraigned before justice Of
the peace. Mrs. Wilson waving ex-
animation and agreeing to appear
before the circuit court. which she
Of course will not have to do now.
The Geneseo Arena says the whole
affair was blackmailiog scheme to
bleed the wealthy bank cashier
through his wife
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13

A young Eoman about to be presented q
court receives the fullest instructions - to
her behavior. She b told how to dress; how
to manage her tYain; how to courtesy COZ
Iectly. Every incident Is carefully rehearsed
% that she may commit NO blunder in the
presence Of royalty. If all this trouble 10
worth while for the satisfaction of one brief
moment, how infinitely more important It 10
that young girl about to enter into the
sacred precincts of womanhood, should be
properly instructed in all that concerns .
lifetime Of possible happiness, OF possible
misery.
Every mother ought to zee to It that her
daughters are healthy and strong In Q wo-
manly way. She ought to make them aware
that any neglect OF irregularity Of the spe.
cial functions of Womanhood may result in
lifelong weakness and disease.
Any mother or daughter may write con-
cerning these delicate ailments, with the
utmost confidence to Dr. r v. Pierce, chief
consulting physician to the Invalids' Hotel
and Surgical Institute, of Buffalo, N. Y.
Her letter Will be answered free Of charge
with suggestions for se1ftreatment 1t home,
bywhich these complaints may be overcome
without need of mortifying examinations.
Dr.. Pierce has had over thirty years e.
perience in the treatment Of Women's dis
eases, and 10 an eminent specialist In this
paxticu1ar field Of practice. His Favo6iAe
pTeocIiption " cures completely and perma-
neatly The most obstinate cases Of feminine
weakness and disease. It heals al indanea
conditions, Strengthens and tones the nerve
centres and the entire womauly organism.
For prospective mothers and nursing
mothers, the "Favorite Prescription b .
perfect strength sustaineT.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13
me aacInsyre-R,ck stock.

No plan has yet been decided upon
for the disposition of the Mcintyre
Reck Dry Goods stock. now in the
possession Of Mitchell & Lynde. Mr..
Mitchell stated today that nothing
would be done this week, of course,
but that early next week some course
might be determined. A number of
outside claims came into the hands
Of local attorney firms today.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13

Mem res OF, IN Wnob tIWe
Front street Joys make life sublime;
There found my valentine.
Season Rsvelries Of Bsrrister-Bard.
Ugly valentines ct Taylor's.
Special music sale at Tsylor's.
Valentines, valentines, ut Taylor's.
Extra lunch at Henry's place to-
night.
The condition Of Mrs. Marcella
Reidy 10 unchanged.
Music, the latest. three sheets for
Is cents. at Tsylor's.
Pig lunch at T. d. Eagal's Elk "a.
loon Saturday night.
J.P. Hubbell is confined to his
home by the Ia grippe
Davenport has laid out IA blocks
Of paving for next season.
Mrs. c d. Gordon 10 improving
from severe attack Of grip.
G. j. Searle attended the Mar
qustts club banquet in Chicago last
night.
B. +. King, freight inspector at the
O., Is around again after an illness
from grip.
Fine masquerade suits for rent At
Ottesen's, 222 West Second street,
Davenport.
Four hundred pounds of brassea
were stolen from the c., B. & Q
round house last night.
The stage Of water at the Rock ISL
and bridge at noon was 1880 and
falling; the temperature AZ.
Rev. H. Cannon has returned
from Joliet. where he was called to
attend the funeral Of his aunt.
Judge Adams was down town to-
day for the first time in . week. He
has b en- laid up with the grip.
Miss Vida Dsyes. of Wooster.
Ohio. who has been visiting Mr. and
Mrs g K. Hou-el, left tuday for
Fort Wayne.
+. W. Mckee. ysrdmaster for the
Rock island. is laid up ut his home
a. the result of fall which he sus-
taired yesterday
The Marin Rifle club had q prac-
tice shoot yesterday afternoon. The
honors were divided between Capt 8
Edwards and Phil Mitchell
J. W. Atterbury. Of Chicago. pres
ident Of the Social Purity society,
will speak at the Y. M. G. A. mems
meeting tomorrow afternoon.
DR.. Henry d. Steele, eye, ear, nose
and throat specialist. Glasses prop
srly fitted. Rosenstein block, Fifth
avenue and Fifteenth street, Moline.
Hon. William McEniry has returned
from New Orleans. whittier he accom.
panied Mrs. McEniry and children,
who will make visit with her folks
there.
". II. Cation leaves tonight fol
Chicago. whence he goes later on u
Pittsburg. where he 10 entered In ths
prize tournament. which opens
Feb. 20.
The Gordon house has changed
hsnds Louis Hartman disposing o.
his interests to Charles A. Hayes, o.
Sears, who takes possession March /
The deal was negotiated BY Attorney
LudolPh.
THE ARGUS has received hand
some 81 d conveniently arranged cal
endar for 1897 with the compliments
OF NJ. E. Chapman. district manage
In Rock Island for the Mutual Lii
Insurance company. Of New York.
The Sylvan Steel company has r.
ceived an order from the Cudah
Packing company. Of Omaha. for tn
making Of 1900 arch bars, who
are used - braces under railroad DO
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13

Away.
II you want to quit tobacco using
easily and forever, be made we'll,
strong. magnetic. full Of new life and
vigor, take No-To-B ac, the wonder
worker that makes weak men strong.
Many gain ten pounds in ten days.
Over 100000 cured. Buy No-To- BAG
from your own druggist. who will
guarantee . cure. Booklets and sam
pies mailed free. Addres Sterling
Remedy company. Chicago or New
York.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13

Reserved seats for the Lambert and
Balm glove contest ct Davsnport
Monday evening. Feb. Is. nov on
sale ~ the Eldorado, 116 East Third
street. Telephono l30.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13
Plsss, Pilasi Pliss.

DR.. Williams' Indian Pile Ointment
will cure blind. blesding, liberated
and itching piles. It absorbs the
tumors. allays the itching at once.
acts - . poultice. giving instant re-
lief. DR.. Williams Indian Pile Oint-
ment is prepared only for piles
and itching Of the private parts. and
nothing else Every box q guaran-
teed Sold By druggists or SAINT BY
nail for 80 cents andti per box.
WnLIAMs Af'o. Co.. Props Clsve-
land. Ohio. For sale By Ill drug
gists.