davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
Not Like PunkinviIIe.

1t was late in the afternoon and a con-
tinuous flood of humanity poured into the
IL station.
She was very polite old lady, triae
deaf, and unused to city ways.
young man." she began, coming to the
left-hand side of the window.
You're out of your turnr' yelled the
ticket agent, shipping off tickets at the
rate of sixty ships minute, and manipu-
lating the flood of small change that came
pouring into his window like a seventeen
handed ogre.
You'll have to take your place in line,
madam" cried the gateman.
And, without word of protest, the old
lady allowed herself to be thrust into po-
very few minutes she had reached the
window again.
the same tone of voice as before, and at
the same time placing three parcels-a pot
ted plant, an umbrella and a huge gripsack
upon the small shelf in front of the win
dow, Il want to go up to my daughter S
house. Her name is Mrs. Summers-Mrs.
Charles Summers. I've got her address
right here on this letter. and I'll read it to
you, SO that you can tell me the nearest
station to it. Two hundred and'-I can't
see very we'll, the light is so poor-.two
hundred and eighty-seven East Eighty
eighth street Now, L want you to-
'Eighty-sixth street is your station an
swered the agent hurriedly;. and, passing
out ticket, Money, please"
How much is the fare to Eighteenth
street," placidly inquired the old lady.
"Eighty-siXth street: cents!' yelled the
agent, dancing upon his stool in wild ex-
citement, while the whole waiting line
groaned in concert. But the old lady was
perfectly cool and collected amid the gen.
eral excitement.
II understood you to say Eighteenth
street before" she continued genially, at
the same time very slowly extracting a %
bill from. out the small change in her
pocketbook. You must excuse me for
misunderstanding you, but 1 am Il trifle
hard of hearing. 1t runs in our family,
although my daughter, Mrs. Summers,
does not seem to have 1t, but she always
did take more after her father than me-"
She carefully smoothed out the bill and
ing of remedy. hastily counted out the
necessary change and showed It toward
her. The old lady added 1t all together
herself slowly, and carefully examined
each piece in order to be sure of its gen.
uineness.
the street below and traffic was at Il
standstill for blocks around. Vituperation
and kicking filed the air from those igno-
rant of the real cause of delay. Even
those at her very elbow had commenced to
lose the very little patience they ever
possessed.
When does the next train leave, young
MANI she questioned placidly, as she
started to remove her varied impedimenta
from the shelf.
He was tempted to say that she had
missed it, but feared the result: and upon
informing her that 1t was just about to
start, and she must hurry If she wanted to
catch 1t, the old lady gathered up her
skirts and sprinted for the platform in "A
style calculated to make a professional
runner wilt with envy.-New York Journal.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17

the Kansas market. he will probably be
in a position to organize crude talent
trust.
The selection of the date will also meet
with the approval of those communities
which, having escaped the seventeen-year
old locust and the army worm. have now
to face the Parsons political orators. In
April. eggs are cheaper than in almost any
other month. and 1t IS quite likely that the
farmers of the West will feel disposed to
greet the crude talent with such a greeting
as is customary to be offered to strolling
players or orators whose efforts do not
please Western audiences. BY April 2. or
tsereabouts, the crude, crystallized cor
sairs of the Vrooman school will probably
resemble a batch of omelet souffle.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
Jim Duncan Could Talk.

From the Detroit Free Press.
The crowd had been talking of eloquent
speakers. and Ingersoll, Bourke Cochran,
Depew, Talmage and other notable orators
had in turn been champicned by their re-
spective admirers. The old cattleman had
listened to 1t ALL and when the talk tagged
little he asked If anybody present had
ever heard of Jim Duncan. Nobody had
L never heard of any of the fellows you
mentioned" said the old cattleman, but
l wouldn't be afraid to back Jim against
any of 'em fer persuadin' ways. Jim Dun
can was talker. I'll tell you what he did
one time just as a specimen. There was q
fellow named Bob Harris moved to Alli-
ance-that was the name of the town-and
he had young wife, and seemed to be
pretty well fixed. One day Harris was
killed uptown in a row. Some five or six
of us got together and tried to figure 1t out
who was to break the news to his wife.
Squire Irwin, our justice of the peace was
the Oldest one among us, and we wanted
him to go, but he said he'd rather face
grizzly bear than to take such news as that
to a woman. Finally we pitched on Jim
Duncan to go and tell her, he bein' so
handy with his tongue. and Jim said he
was willln' to do his best. He kind of run
his fingers through his red hair. hitched up
his cravat and went into Mrs. Harris
house while the rest OF us waited at the
corner In about fifteen minutes Jim came
to the door and called Squire Irwin in. We
lowed the widow must be cuttin' up real
sharp. In ten minutes more Jim came out
to us.
q" How'd she stand it, Jim?' we asked.
q I guess it's pretty well smoothed over
says Jim, and Mrs. Duncan and me would
like all of you to come in and have some
refreshments
Jim Duncan shore had persuadin'
tongue
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
POLICE BOARD MEETS.
Days without Pay-Charges
Against SandersOn.

At a meeting of the board of police COM
missioners held yesterday afternoon the
case of officer r. NJ. Wright, who was sus-
pended January 2 for being intoxicated on
his beat was heard. The officer was sus-
pended for thirty days without pay.
2. a. McKenna, who has a Yooming
house at 800 Union avenue, filed charges
against Depot Detective Sanderson, claim
ing he called his house disreputable and a
den of thieves. The matter will be looked
into next Saturday. Detective Sanderson
is employed by the Union Depot Company,
but carries Metropolitan police commits
sion.
Remonstrances against saloon licenses
being granted to Mike Doran and John
Fallon, who petition for saloons at 2429
and 2427 Holmes street, respectively, were
heard and the matter continued one week.
The evidence of the saloonkeepers will then
be heard.
The license of R. Waxendorf who has
had, for the past two years, the manage
ment of the saloon at 2O14 Wyoming street,
was revoked. Waxendorf has operated a
tough joint, where fights and brawls are
OF frequent occurrence, and the board
deemed it unwise to grant him another IL
cense. This is the saloon in which John
McShane was killed several years ago in
cold blood.
The board issued ninety saloon licenses.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17

cial design, to Company K. by ]. K. Burn
ham, in whose honor the company was re-
Gently named "The Burnham Rifles" The
presentation will take place with military
ceremonies and the company will be in full
military dress.
After the presentation the company will
give an exhibition drill. The Third Regi-
ment band will furnish the music for the
occasion. and eachs lady present will be
presented with a sheet of music, "The
Burnham Rifles" a march composed by
Professor II. o. Wheeler, director Of the
band and orchestra. Following the cere-
monies of the presentation and drill, the
evening will be given over TO dancing.
Company X. or the Burnham Rifles, is
well known to be one of the best drilled
companies in the country. 1t won first
hcncrs in the prize drill at St. Louis last
year, and captured the prize of 5000. de-
feating the crack National Rifles, of Wash
ington, D. c., and all the other leading
companies of the United States that en-
tered the contest.
The following committee is in charge OF
the flag presentation: Captain c. Z. Wa
gar. First Lieutenant z. z. Denslow. Sec
ond Lieutenant f. A. Thompson, Sergeants
George McGinnis. ]. r. Moran, f. w. Hard
castle E. H. Clifford, and Private Walter
Gresham.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
PRESENCE OF MIND.
Evidence That She Had Kept Cool in
an Emergency.

From the Washington Star.
Mr.. Torkins is fortunate in having been
a6le al ct to educate his wife t. to an APP appreciation
dent devotee of the camera. he has in
spired her with the same artistic enthusi-
asm which he feels when he has secured
an especially beautiful or unique picture
1T is too bad for US to miss all the skat
ing" he remarked We're not so old as
joymentS that the season affords.
Il don't know how to skate, was the
answer. But don't let that make any diff
ference to YOU"
Il shouldn't think of leaving you be-
hind" he rejoined, gallantly. Its not a
matter of any Importance, and we'll say
no more about it.
Now, We can get TO the pond before sum
set. III dress myself warmly and go with
THAT won't be very exhilarating sport
for you"
in watching YOU"
That'l be sure to amuse you.
Besides" she went on, never needing
the sarcasm, Il can ia Ike the camera with
me and be on the lookout for something
new to photograph"
They set out, and in short time he
was lightly skimming over the ice, while
his wife stood admiring the grace with
which he moved. They had sought 4 less
frequented part of the pond, and there was
no one to warn him that he was approach
then crash, and in moment only II
Jagged hole in the ice gave evidence of Mr.
Torkins' whereabouts. Some men who had
heard him cry out as he went down came
hurrying to the rescue, and 1t was not
long before he was at home.
Il must say he remarked when he was
beginning to feel comfortable once more.
that women haven't much presence of
mind"
81 hope his wife answered. that you
don't intend that remark to apply to me-"
Il certainly do"
But what ground can you find for such
an assertion, Charley? This afternoon"
Yes; this afternoon is what 1 have
reference to. You never thought of getting
a board and showing it out to me or any
of those things that you read about its
being the proper thing to do in case of ac-
cident. So far as 1 can. remember you
didn't even call for help
Charley, I have always heard that men
find fault when they are not well. l sup
pose l ought to make allowances. but I
can't help feeling hurt when you say
lacked presence of mind If there is any
thing l did have it was that. 1 may not
have done just what you expected. But
and she gave an affectionate glance at the
camera, on the mantelpiece, Il got a
splendid snapshot of you just as you were
going under the water"
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
STORY OF BURGLARS.
What Does Not Happen as Often ms 1t
Should Happen.

From the Washington Star.
The wind was blowing a gale, bringing
snow sprinkles. which beat on the win
dows and ratified through the leafless trees
as If the hunters of the night We're shoot
ing the air full of birdshot while in a
cozy corner sat q retired police officer who
listened at the cracking elements outside
and shivered to himself just to emphasize
the fact hat he didn't have to go out into
that sort of thing any more forever.
81 remember" he said to a reporter,
''that it wasn't just such a night as this
when I had the most powerful argument
maxim, Too many cooks spoil the broth
1t was an unusually dark night though,
and as 1 pulled along the rough street in
the suburban ward where my duties led
me when / first came on the force I felt
that a polceman's lot was not a happy
one, though at that time that very truth
full little poem hadn't been thought of
though all of us knew the facts very well.
At the country end of the street the houses
were far apart, and the last one was big
one and was occupied by rich family
Il had been expecting that some night 1t
would be raided by burglars. who know 81
good thing when somebody tells them
about it, and l was pretty sure they knew
of the fine things in that lonesome house
which were portable and negotiable. In
deed, all of us, burglars and police, knew
about it, and my instructions were to be
extra careful on dark and ugly nights
For the same l also received S. a month
from the owner. But nothing on earth
'sot' on doing a thing, and so on this night
! was not greatly surprised in approaching
the house to hear pistol shot and a cry
of alarm.
II hurried to the place and at the upper
window l saw the head of the owner of the
house. and he called to me to hurry around
to the back window, as his son had shot a
burglar there. / went, and at the foot of
a ladder l found the body of a man. The
son was at the top of the ladder and said
he had shot him as he went down. l turn
I ed him over and found he was still alive
with bullet hole through his chest Death
came soon. though not before he told US
he had killed some one in the house.
This created panic, and the members
of the family left the burglars side and
rushed into the house. for they thought 1t
might be some of their own household
But it was not, for the man whom they
found with the knife wounds all over his
chest and neck was evidently another
burglar, and the two had met there unex-
pectedly, and one had been killed by the
other without knowing who his victim was
We supposed this to be the case, as vio-
lent struggle had taken place, which had
awakened the son. who killed the burglar
who was trying to escape after he had, as
he supposed. killed one of the men of the
house he was robbing."
"Ughl" exclaimed the reporter, as he
buttOned up his great coat to keep out the
winds and SHOWS he was compelled to min
gle with on terms of closer intimacy than
he liked, and the policeman shivered again.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
AMUSING MOCK TRIAL.
"A. j. EppersOn Found Guilty of the
Blue Cut Robbery and Sem
fenced to BE Hanged.


The warwick Club enjoyed a diversion in
the way of entertainment last night which
was at once unique and full of the witttest
and most humorous repartee that the club
members could command. The entertain
ment consisted of a mock trial, the state
of Missouri VS.. A. J. Epperson, who was
arrested and brought to trial on the charge
of being the leader of the Blue cut train
robbers For this trial a temporary but
realistic court room had been arranged in
sonnel Of the court was as follows. Charles
d Findley, Judge; q. p. Motley, sherim; A.
] Epperson, the defendant: Van +, BOOT
the attorney for the Defendant; II. ",
Brown and Bruce Dodson. the attorneys for
The whole proceeding of the court was
such as would have turned the counsel and
Jury in "Pudd' nhead Wilson" green with
envy-at least that was the opinion OF the
members of the club who were fortunate
enough to compose the audience. Ihe
trial was replete with assumed but most
amusing gravity on the part OF the court
and innumerabie errors In the mislnterprSe- pre-.
tation of the law, which the judge slowly
read from a large volume on metaphysics
which was laid open before him on his
desk. 49,.
frequently went to sleep amid the long
and tedious grind of the examination OF the
witnesses" and the sheriff had repeatedly
to cry out "Awdah in de coat in order TO
subdue the hilarious laughter which fol-
lowed some of the rulings of his honor, the
iudpe when the attorney for the defend
ant ignorantly made some breach OF court
etiquette.
The result of the trial was that the de-
fendant, Mr.. Epperson. was found guilty OF
robbing the Alton train at Blue cut ana
condemned to be hanged, the hanging 10
take place next Saturday night
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
ALMOST sUFFocATED BY AMMONIA.
PeriIOus Adventure of n Workman in
Newark Cellar.
From the New York Sun

From the New York Sun.
A diving helmet came in handy yesterday
for trip into a cellar in Newark. \ work
man had been sent TO fiN an ice machine
which Alexander fraud recently placed in
the cellar of Peter Murray's saloon on Mar
ket. Louis Fisher, the workman acciden-
| tally broke one of the connections and the
| cellar became flooded with the highly con-
| centrated fumes of anhydrouS ammonia.
| Fisher fled and the cellar was shut up.
| Then he telephoned to the shop for q boy,
| an air pump and helmet. They came to-
| gether and, donuing the hat, Fisher went
| downstairs to fix the broken valve while
| the boy pumped fresh air into the cellar
| Fisher complained that the air of the
| MIA. and sent the boy 10 corner At the
| foot of the inside stair. where the air was
| SO pure that the boy could breathe easily
| and at the same time supply Fisher with
something besides ammonlacal gas. Every
| thing went we'll until somebody opened the
| door leading from the head OF the cellar
stairs into the saloon.
| This created Il draught which carried the
| ammonia from the rear of the cellar 10 the
made him vince. Fisher found that he was
getting more ammonia than air throuSh Il
] the hose and rushed toward the open air;
! but was nearly overcome before he reached
| it. the boy having been driven away from
| the pump. The fumes of ammonia howeo
! into the saloon through the cellarwaS. and
! in less than a minute score of people
! We're weeping. Fisher made another dive
| with an air supply from the street and
| an hour or more the saloon was barely ten
| antable. Murray spent most of the after
| noon explaining to his customers, who oD-
| ieCted TO the OdOr.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
Land Free to Settlers.

From the Chicago Post.
The so-called free homestead bill which
passed the senate Friday is Il measure Of
no small importance to the people of the
West. In its original form, as passed by
the house of representatives, its operation
was limited to lands acquired by the fed
eral government from Indians in Okla
homa, but as amended in the senate 1t
opens indiscriminately to free settlement
all lands recently purchased from the In
dians. 1t also releases from the obligation
of payment all those who have heretofore
settled on any of these lands.
According to the estimate of the land
office, the number of acres involved is 49,
252,5 ,54l, and at the prices heretofore estab-
lshed these lands would have yielded the
treasury over SIS, 600. 900. The majority of
Western congressman and senators favored
the bill on the ground that it was merely
Il consistent application or extension of the
general homestead policy of the govern
nent. 1t was also claimed that the lands
were mainly arid, and that the settlers
could not pay anything for them above
customary fees to the local land officers
without destroying the possibility OF earn
ing livelihood.
On the other hand, the opposition, which
was chiefly confined to representatives of
the East, although Mr.. Villas, of Wiscon-
sin, vigorously supported II, insisted that
there is vital difference between the prin-
ciple of the homestead laws and the prin-
ciple of the present bill. These Indian
lands actually represent an outlay of over
S2S OO0,O00, an outlay made by the govern
ment with the expectation and understand
ing that the sale of the lands on reasona-
ble terms would at least save 1t from loss.
The bill, argued the opponents of the pro-
posal, simply provided for a gift and sur
render of S35, 100000 in money at time
when the treasury was not in 4 position
to be eXtravagant and so reckless of
proper sources of revenue.
There is no doubt that the distinction
emphasized by Senators Villas and Platt
is valid and reasonable. The homestead
policy does not mean that the government
in addition to such land as it has, is to buy
lands from rightful owners and bestow it
gratis on would-be settlers. Even If the
government were rich and the treasury
approved. 1t would logically lead to the
insertion of planks in Populist and other
platforms demanding that the government
shall purchase land from those who have
too much and give 1t as a present to the
unemployed or landess.
But if there were special and peculiar
reasons for giving these Indian lands
away, If it is true that the lands are arid
and Improbable to purchasers, then the
bill cannot be regarded as a pernicious
precedent, and congress is not open to
criticism. The bill was not party meas
urc. and there were equitable and reason
able considerations on either side.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
January JinEles.

oh. the summer rose is bobbing
On the airy winter hat,
And for warmth the cabby's jumping
With will;
While the bulldog is hobnobhing
On the snowdrift with the cat
The toboggan's humping, humping
Down the hill.
Oh, the winter wind is whining
Round the chimney with u vim,
Ger the ice Matilda's tripping
On her toes,
And with eyeballs shining, pining,
See yon little skater skim,
While the hide is rudely ripping
From his nose,
From his nose,
While the hide is rudely ripping from his
Oh, the golden corn is popping
With an efferveScent bang,
And the merry blaZes ripple
On the rug:
And on fairy seas I'm Hopping
Like a blithe ourang-outang,
While dream about the tipple
In the jug.
There's Shanghai rooster nesting
On the spinal of the COW,
And the crust the sparrow dirkles
On the jump,
And yon little urchin wrestling
With his romping bowwow-wow
Sees the milkman as he circles
Round the pump,
Round the pump,
Sees the milkman as he circles round the
pump.
Pile the logs upon the blazes.
Let them sizzle with a sizz.
While within the chair that's easy
l repoSe.
Oh. float through fairy mazes,
Like the berry on the fiZZ.
When the summers breezy, greasy
Zephyr blows.
While the wind is weirdiy whining
Through my music-haunted dream.
Ring the sleigh bells ding-a-linglets
On the street.
Oh, the appiejacks combining
With the water now a-steam,
And I'm happy from my ringlets
To my feet,
To my feet,
And I'm happy from my ringlets to my
feet
r.. K. Munkittrick, in New York Journal
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
CAUSED AN HOURS DELAY.
Line Train at Second Street
and Grand Avenue.

Car No. 6S, of the East Fifteenth street
line, was struck by an east bound Air line
train at the crossing at Second street and
Grand avenue yesterday afternoon about
o'clock. The car had nearly cleared the
track on which was the train, when it was
hit and the rear dashboard was the only
thing that suffered save the traffic of the
whole Grand avenue system. The car was
lifted from the track by the Air line train
it and again get the cars on the West
port, East Fifteenth and Holmes street
lines running. Cars were backed up clear
to Ninth street from Third and Walnut
streets, and hundreds of people stood in
the rain waiting for the cars that were SO
delayed in coming.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
LEAD DEATHS AND FUNERALS
NATHAN DREIFUS DEAD.
He Lived I'm Kansns City TNenty-four
Years and Was ut One Time Assoc
cIated With Buffalo Bill.

Nathan Dreyfoos, an old resident of Kan
sas City, and intimately known to all the
sporting fraternity as Pap Dreyfoos,"
died at his home Gle East Fourteenth
street, at l2:15 o'clock this morning, after
ten weeks suffering from dropsy. He un-
derwent an operation u week ago, but, de-
spite the constant medical attention of
Drs w. +. Kuhn and George HALEY, he
continued to grow weaker until his death.
His wife and eight children survive him.
They are: Isaac, Ben f.. Sam, Harry,
Adolph. Mrs. Frank Rcnholdt, Mrs. Clar-
ence Bell, all of this city. and William w.
Dreyfoos, of Billings, Mont. Burial will
take place in Elmwood cemetery, but as
yet no funeral arrangements have been
made.
Mr. Dreyfoos was 81 years of age and re-
sided in Kansas City twenty-four years.
For many years he was engaged in the
cigar and tobacco business but retired a
few years ago. He was associated with
Colonel w. i. Cody. better known as Buff
falo Bill. and William Hitchcock, well
known as Wild Bill. in the early days of
the West before the advent Of the rail-
roads Together they conducted immigrant
trains across the plains and mountains
10 tho Pacific coast. He assisted Buffalo
Bill in laying out the town of Ellsworth,
kaS.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17

Monday evening, January 49, at the Col
lege Avenue mission, Mrs. Fluhart will
talk on Child Life in Greece" Mrs. Flu
hart has lived in Europe for several years,
and will speak of her own work among the
children. Two solos will be rendered by
Miss Frances Laura Denny. Miss Denny
Richardson. The address will be given for
the benefit of the Yeager school library.