davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

this life of dissipation we again de-
sired to travel After visiting
Belgium and England we boarded
a steamer for New YORK City ar
irving there on the 18th of July.
We had already spent the greater
portion OF the So. 900. Then we
commenced our journey across the
United States, visiting Chicago, St.
Paul, Helena, Portland, Sacre-
mentc, San Francisco, Los Angeles;
Ell Paso, Salt Lake City, Ogden,
Omaha, Council Bluffs and ST.
Louis. In the latt city we
spent the remainder of our money.
Each one. having ten dollars, we
took the Frisco line on foot, pass
ing through Missouri, Arkansas,
Indian Territory and Texas, and
followed the Texas Pacific as far
as Mexico, where we rested a few
days. All along the route we tried
to get work, but failed. There was
nothing for strangers to do. 1t is
in this manner that we reached
Lafayette on January 2, 1897.
Knowing SO many people there we
thought it would be easy to find
employment. We knew that we
were risking our necks, but being
SO mlSeTaOle, ana not care very
much.
The day after our arrival at Col.
Boucreaux's we received visit
from the sheriff who arrested us and
conducted us to prison, and being
Intercepted by Sheriff Broussard
and others, we confessed our crime,
and the same day we were conveyed
to New Orleans for fear of mob
law.
We remained in the city month
and half and on the 10th of Feb
ruary, 1897, we were brought to
Lafayette for trial. The trial was
fixed for the 18TH of February but
postponed to the 25th. The trial
lasted two days and half a night
and we were condemned to hang
after eloquent pleadings of our
attorneys.
We are now awaiting the day Of
our execution, thinking that it is
hard to die SO young, but Gods
will be done.
To Mr.. Thomas Mouton, March
3, 1897.
ERNEST BLANC,
n. BLANC.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

of God. I'd, Sheriff Broussard will Alexis.
sd, Ernest with Deputies Israel Prejean and
Alex Biilaud.
The two brothers walked up the stairs
with firm tread. When they reached the
summit of the scatfold they knelt when they
were blessed by Father Knapp who recited
the act of contrition with them.
Ernest then in a clear, we'll modulatcd
voice, addressed the crowd in chaste French
the substance of which was the caution to
young men to avoid evil books which might
have tendency to start them on the down
grade of a criminal career, asi it had done for
them. He counseled them to follow strictly
the tenets of religion and the advice of their
parents.
AS soon as Ernest concluded his remarks,
Sheriff Broussard adjusted the fatal moose
around Ernest's neck and then he placed it
around Alexis; he quickly covered the
brothers faces with the black caps, tied
their legs. and before many were aware of
it, the engine of death was set in motion
and two lifeless bodies were launched in
space.
The drop fsll at 2:1o and at 2:I4 all
muscular tremor had ceased, both necks
being dislocated by the fall. They un-
questionably lost all sensation the moment
the drop was sprung. The slight bodily
movement of the bodies 70, four minutes
after being mechanical. The last mech
anical spasmodic movement of Alexis was
stifening of the right arm.
AT s:25, IS minutes after the
drop fell Coroner n. r. Trahan
Drs. Webb and Mouton, pro-
nounced Ernest and Alexis Blanc
dead and the bodies were lowered,
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

up Il poor chap who on his knees before
them. This picture they showed to Mr..
Simeon Degnaud, but upon this gentleman
turning away with apparent disgust, they
both assured him there was no intention of
reproducing anything like picture of their
crime, and on Mr.. Begnaud's advice they
tore it up. They answered all questions
quickly and intelligently.
When urged TO lie down to get as
much rest possible to prepare for the Or
deal they had to go through the next day,
they insisted on sitting up and chatting until
after I o'clock in the morning. Even after
retiring they spoke and joked with each
other until exhausted, when nature threw
around them the mantle of charitable OBJ
liviOn.
They told the sheriff t., arouse them at
a. m. which he did, but they begged to be
allowed to sleep a little longer and they
dozed off until $500. They did not break
bread until they received holy communion
at O'Clock. Then visitors began to arrive
and the scenes of the day before COM
menced. They were perhaps a trihe less
full of levity, but they still INDUCED in
humorous sallies. Their color became
little heightened towards noon, but they yet
manifested from the time Of their arrest.
AT one o'clock Father Knapp, Domini-
can friar, who is holding 4 mission here,
came in to render the last sad rites of con-
ISOLATION of mother church. The father,
who is exceedingly handsome, made the
scene the impressive. His stalwart
figure, clothed in cossack, his classic face
bearning with kindness and humanity, will
Ha no r<,f
the lips as if impellel by inward prayer,
asking, doubtless, the Great Jehovah to par
don the youthful criminals and temper the
morbid crowd was noticeable.
When Father Knapp arrived the prisoners
were about to take bath, which they did
with. scrupulous care, washing their feet and
bodies in tub. They put on neat garments
which She riff Broussard had provided for
them, and when dressed they were very
handsome pair of young men. Being
offered collars they refused to put them on,
Alexis saying that he did not want to place
any obstruction in the way of the rope. A
short while after Father Knapp entered the
cell and remained with them.
At 1:45 Sheriff Broussard read the death
warrant. They listened to that document
with perfect coml,osure. Under the tu,clage
of Father Knapp their face, lost of
their lcvity, although Ernest frequently
smiled while talking, and Alexis eyes
maintained tneir glitter and his voice it's
usual vivacity, the only evidence of any
unusual strain was an occasional gulping on
the part of Alexis though lump formed
in his throat, while Ernest was observed to
n,osten his lips with his tongue.
At 2:o4 the march to the gallows began,
in the following order. 1st, the holy man
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

u.s." we responded; then entering
the store we bought pack of to-
baccO, stating that as we worked
all day we could not come earlier.
We conversed upon different sub
jects before ala opportunity pre-
scented itself for an advantageous at
tack, he being behind the counter.
We were about to leave when the
idea came to our mind to ask him
to show us some rat traps, for
which he had to come from behind
the counter, and now the OPP
portunity for which we had
long awaited came. He showed
us the traps, and after explaining
how to use them he leaned against
the counter. His back was turned
to us and when he turned around he
found himself facing the revolver
and dagger of Alexis. He was so
surprised that he leaped towards US
in vain effort to disarm us. "Do
not move. If you do you are
dead" Ernest replied pointing his
pistol closer to his head. Paralized
by the fear Of being shot or pierced
with a dagger, he remained quiet.
1t was then that Alexis shut the
door which was opened. We then
told him: Now, MARTINI, all tn at
we want is that you open your safe
in order that those crisp bills may
pass from your safe into our
pockets" Without saying word
he walked to that small piece of
iron furniture, whose contents have
excited more than one human
mind. Five minutes later the safe
was opened and it was with some
difficulty as he trembled very much
before he found the combination.
1t was then, without flu ther to do
about the money, we began to tie
his hands and to cntwine his body
with calico TO make him more Sc
cure, and after conducting him to
his room we tied his feet and made
him sit on his bed. l remained
near the bed, the pistol in my hand
watching every movement of the un-
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

placed in collins and carried to the
courthouse where, upon examina-
ton by DR.. Irahan and his assis-
tants, it was ascertained that their
necks had been disloCated.
With the exception of the detach-
ing of a plank, which the Sheriff
Immediately replaced, there was
nothing to mar the harmony Of the
dismal scene.
Thousands were admitted to view
the bodies as they lay IN front of
the courthouse in their white
covered pine collins. The discolo-
ration Of their faces had commenced
to pale and to assume the waxen
hues of death.
During the afternoon the bodies
were taken to the Catholic church
and were given decent burial.
Too much credit cannot be &C
corded Sheriff Broussard, who, in
the conduct of this case from the
inception to the end, carried out
every detail SO successfully. His
dealings with the large crowd
were characterized by frmness and
goodhumor. The law prohibited
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

The following is a literal trans
SCRIPT given by the Blancs to Mr..
Thomas Mouton. 1t was written
by Alexis and signed by both. 1t
is full history Of the crime and
sketch of the murdercrs:
SUNDAY, Feb. IS, 1897.
At this mom=nt I am incarcerated
in the Jail at Lafayette. Through
the bars Of my cell 1 am able to see
only a small spot of the green
earth. The weather is beautiful;
the sun lights the town with its
golden rays, none of which shine
on me, confined in my dismal cell.
But why are we here, without hope
and with the scaffold as the only
alternative 1t is because we have
committed a crime, the penalty of
which we must pay with our lives.
A few years ago, it vas in Paris,
France, that our beloved mother
breathed her last after long and
painful illness. Poor mother !!
How she must have suffered, if
from her heavenly abode she looked
down upon us and followed us
through our lives. we were lCll
alone on earth, two unhappy or
plants with no parents to guide us.
We were then, one 16 and the
other IS, years old. By the sale Of
a few househ old articles we realized
position we decided to leave France
there. We journeyed through Bel
and Anvers, and finally boarded a
steamer bound for New York where
we landed on the 24th Of August,
1898.
Immediately after our arrival
there, the love for adventure took
possession of US and having enough
money we departed for St. Louis,
passing through Norfolk, Cincin-
natl, indianapolis and Louisville,
arriving at St. Louis, where we
soon spent all our money. Being
penniless, we entered upon a life
Of privation and misery. For two
months we had little to eat and
sometimes nothing at all. After
several efforts to secure employ
ment, a farmer near St. Louis gave
us work and home; we remained
there all winter. With the ap-
proach Of spring, our adventurous
spirit again took possession of US,
and not having been paid in money
we did not care to remain where we
were. Then we packed our be-
longings and left for New Orleans,
and month later reached that
city, having suffered much from
cold and hunger. But in that
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

Princes, and loaded with gold, we
made our triumphal entrance into
Paris, where we lived as MILL on
aires, rode fine horses, visiting all
the theatres, and continuing to in
dulge in good wines and assoCiating
with pretty women. Soon tired of
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

a public hanging and he performed
the execution in private, as far as
it was humanity possible to do SO. The
wall surrounding the scaHold was
IA feet high, the upper halves of
the bodies of the criminals being
visible n great load has been
lifted off the sheriff's shoulders.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03
The Gra:ldsst Reueiys

Mr. X. b. Greeve, merchant, of
Chilhowie, Va, certifes that he
had consumption, was given up to
die, Sought all medical treatment
that money could procure, tried all
cough remedies he could hear of,
but got no relief; spent many nights
sitting up in a chair; was induced
to try DR.. Kings New Discovery,
and was cured by use of two bot
ties. For past three years has been
attending to business, and says DR..
Kings New Discovery is the grand
est remedy ever made, as 1t ha;
done SO much for him and also3 for
others in his community. DIR.
Kings New Discovery is guaranteed
for coughs, colds and consumption.
1t don't fail. Trial bottles free at
VIM. Clegg's drug store.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

Your smiling countenance is az
ways agreeable to Leon Plor~kY.
Give wirr r Gait.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

If you need any printed station~
cry, we would like to furnish you
with some Of it.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03


The Peoples Cotton Oil Mill
closed very successful. season last
Wedne sday at IL O'Clock. For five
months the mill was run day and
night with very few stops. The
officers and stock h olGers Of this
company have every reason TO be
pleased with the first season of
their mill. Not only theses who
re pecuniarily interested in this
enterprise but every resident Of the
town has been benefited by tie
operation of this manufa cturc.
The sum of $3.50 has been paid
weeEly in salaries and wages alone,
to say nothing Of the money dis
bursed for seed. The cotton seed
Oil mill has been source of con-
siderable revenue to our people and
it should crafty everyone interested
in the welfare OF the town to know
that it is an assured success.
Manager Biossat informed The
Gazette that i. is the intcution Of
the company to- enlarge the ware
houses 50 that enough seed may be
had to enable a longer run next
season.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

Buy your drafting, window shades
and curtain poles from NIouton s.
Hopkins.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-18
KlOndike Development Companies.

"There are other ways to get rich out of
the Klondike mines besides going there"
This is the improving text of a pros
pectus of one of the so-called "Develop-
ment Companies" that have sprung into
existence,or at least into appearance,d dur
ing the past month. II would be flattery
to call these concerns mushroom COM
panies, because even mushrooms have
local habitation and possess some value.
Tho Klondike development companies
evidently have neither. They are bot
toned on the broad principle that the
race of fools is perennial, and on the ap-
proved maxim that the fool and his mon
ey are soon parted. When they adver-
tise that there are ways to get rich out of
Klondike without going there they have
a subjective meaning exclusively. The
only persons who will ever get rich in
that way will be the promoters Of the
companies and the only mine they will
ever develop will be the public credulity.
Look at the facts. 1t is impossible that
any company should have had agents on
the ground of the pretended develop
ment. That is fraud to begin with. So
some of them add Trading to Develop
ment. The "Klondike Gold Mining and
Trading Company" has an attractive
sound, because a company can begin to
trade even if it has no mines or mining
claims. The promoters can swap jack
knives in their own offices. That would
probably be the least harmful trading
they could engage in, and involve the
smallest percentage of loss to their dupes.
One company pretends to be building
five steamships on an island near the
mouth of the Yukon, which are to be put
in the service Immediately. Everybody
ought to know that shipyard is the first
requisite for ship building, that there is
no such thing in Alaska, and that there
has been no time to bring together the
material, the machinery and the work
men for shipyard since the Klondike
excitement began. Such a shipyard
| could not have been started de novo on
the Delaware river in that time. Tho
| ground could not have been cleared fol
one. Very few if any of these KlondikC
development companies have any capital
or offer to the public any names which
are guarantee Of either capital or re
spectability. All Of them have a shady
out-at-elbows, Montague Tigg aspect
The public should let them severel,
alone, and the Post Office Department
should issue fraud orders on them as fas
as thoy can be spotted-NeiO York EUen
ing Post.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-18
L. j. HOPKINS.
sHERIFF's SALE.

DY VIRTUE of writ of Veudi.
ID Ex. issued out of the Court of
Common Pleas Of Forest County, Ponn-
sylvania, and to me directed, there will
be exposed to public sale or outcry at the
Court House in Tionesta, Pa, on
MONDAY, AUGUST SO, A. D., 1897,
at l o'clock p. M, the following described
real estate, to-wit:
SAMUEL CRAWFORD VS.. w. G. cow
AN and j. L. COWAN, late partners as
w. G. COWAN & SON, Vendi. Ex.,
No, l6, August Term, lSg7.-T. f..
Ritchey, Attorney.
All the right, title, interest aud claim
of the defendant of, i'm and to the undi-
vided one-sixth of all that certain tract or
piece of land situate in Howe township,
in the County of Forest, in the State of
Pennsylvania. described in the patent
thereof as follows:
A rain tract of land called Greenfield,
situate in the late purchase, Northumber-
land county, beginning at post, thence
by the Holland Company's land west
five hundred and forty-three perches to a
beech thence 10y vacant land south three
hundred and six perches to beech
thence by said vacancy and Jeremiah
Warder II Company's other land east
| five hundred and forty-siX perches to a
post, and thence by said Warder Il Com
DdliN ) lhIu HOIll lnIte uuluItu anu SIN
| perches to the beginning. Containing
nine hundred and seventy-nine acres,
| twelve perches, and allowance of six per
cent. for roads, &c. Which said tract
was surveyed in pursuance of warrant
number three thousand eight hundred
and three, (3S03) dated April the eighth
4. D., 1888, granted to the said jeremiah
| Warder IL Company said patent recorded
in Patent Book az, }" No. 26, page 433, in
the Surveyor Generals office Of Penn'a.
Three old houses and one stable thereon
erected.
one-sixth of all oil, gas, coal and min
| erals reserved.
Taken in execution and to be sold as
| the property OF w. G. Cowan and J. l..
| Gown, late partners as w. @. Cowan Il
Son, at the suit of Samuel crawford.
TERMS OF FSALE.-Thc following mus,
| he strictly complied with when the piop.
erty is stricken down:
! l. When the plaintiff or other lien cred
itors become the purchaser, the costs on
the writs must be paid, and "A list of the
| liens including mortgage searches on the
property sold, together with such lier
c. editors receipts@ for the proceeds o
the sale or such portions thereof as he
may claim, must he furnished to the
Sheriff.
,. All bids must be paid in full.
3. All sales not settled Immediately viii
be continued until o'clock p. M, of the
same day of the sale, at which time al
property not settled for will again be pu
up and sold at the expense and risk o
the person to whom first sold.
@See Purdon's Digest, Ninth Edition
page 466, Smiths Forms, page 3SI,
FRANK p. WALKER, Sheriff.
Shoriff's Office, Tionesta, Pa, August 0
1897.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-18

NOBODY can tell what will be the
fate of the Administrations currency
reform bill. 1t will certainly pass
the House, which is the only branch
of Congress the Republicans control.
Probably it will be defeated in the
Senate, but if it is defeated the Re.
publican party will not be response.
BILE. The way for the gold Demo.
Gratis to get the currency reform they
want is for them to pitch in and help
the Republicans to carry the Senate
as we'll as the House.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-18
sHERIFF's SALE.

DY VIRTUE of writ of Fieri
ID Facias issued out ofthe Court of Com
mon Pleas of Forest County, Pennsylva-
mia, and to me directed. there will be ex-
posed to sale by public vendue or outcry,
at the Court House, in the Borough of
Tionesta, Forest County, Pa, on
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2S, A. d., 1897,
at l o'clock, p. M, the following de-
scribed property to-wit
ELIZABETH SUFFER-, Executrix of
II. SUFFER-, deceased, VS.. MICHAEL
FALLER, Fieri Facias, No. II, August
Term, 1897, (waiversJ J.-Samuel d. Ir-
win, Attorney.
All the defendants interest in a certain
piece or parcel OF land, situate in Tiones-
ia Township, Forest County, and State of
Pennsylvania, described as follows
Bounded West by Joseph Faller; North
by land now or formerly Gilmore; East
by other part of No. 1884, and South by
land unknown. Being the same lot in
No. 1924 assessed on the Seated list OF
Tionesta Township as so acres in the
name of Michael Faller, and which he
partly improved, about Is acres of which
is cleared. Said 50-acre lot being part
of Warrant No. 1924 as aforesaid
Taken in execution and to be sold as
the property of Michael Faller at the suit
| of Elizabeth Sutter, Executrix of IL.
| Sutter, deceased.
| TERMS OF SALE.-The following
must be strictly complied with when the
| property is stricken down:
l. When the plaintiff or other lien cred
| itors become the purchaser. the costs on
| the writs must be paid, and list of liens
| including mortgage searches on the prop
! erty sold, together with such lien credit.
| or's receipt for the amount of the pro.
! ceeds of the sale orsuch portion thereof as
he may claim, must be furnished the
| Sheriff.
2. All bids must be paid in full.
3. All sales not settled Immediately viii
be continued until 2 o'clock p. M, of thu
next day, at which time all property no
settled for will again be put up and solo
at the expense and risk of the person Il
| whom first sold.
See Purdon's Digest, Ninth Edition
page 4S6 and Smiths Forms, page 3S4.
FRANK p. WALKER, Sheriff.
Sheritfs Office, Tionesta, Pa, August
1897.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-18
TRIAL LIST.

List of causes set down for trial in the
Court of Common Pleas of Forest County,
Pennsylvania, commencing on the Last
Monday of August, 1897.
/. w. j. Bleakley, Trustee, VS.. AIDA
o. Dingman, NJ. w. S. Dingman and d.
S. Knox, Executors of Jasper II. Ding
man, deceased. No. %, November Term.
1896. Summons in Assumpsit.
2. Alexander Fitch VS.. A. II. Dale, sur
viving partner of the late firm ]. H. Ding
man and A. III. Dale, doing business as
Dingman IL Dale. No II, August Term.
1896. Summons in Assumpsit.
3. w. w. Lewis VS.. ID. w. Clark, Def't
and Harriet NJ. Cook, Terra Tenant. No,
II, August Term, 1895. Scire Facias Sur
Judgment.
4. William II. Frost, PHI, VS.. Bert
May Term, 1897. Issue Joined.
8. T. j. Fleming VS.. Lettia Fleming
No. s, November Term, 1896. Divorce
Issue joined.
6. VIM. j. Roberts, Assignee of Eliza.
beth Allender, who was the Assignee o
Jas. II. Brennan, ct al, VS.. Geo. w. Arm
strong, Administrator of Caroline Arm
strong, deceased, and Geo. w. Arm.
strong. No. II, November Term. 1896
Scire Facias Sur Mortgage.
7. Belle Schillinger VS.. A Abraham Shine
II. X. Shipe, Alphonso Shipe, Charles l.
Shipe and a, Shipe, Guardian of EllenoI
NJ. Mercilliott, daughter of Daisy /. Mer
elliott, deceased. No. 81, Februar,
Term, 1897. Eiectment.
s. Belle Schillinger VS.. Susanna c
Mensch and j. II. Mensch. No. SO, Feb
ruary Term, 1897. Eiectment.
8. Alexander McCue, j. 3. Agnew
and o. w. Proper, VS.. Mary Osten, wild
ow Of Henry Osten, deceased, Henry Os
/ ten, Nathan Osten and John Osten. Nc
| 3, May Term, 1889. Ejectment.
10. l.. Hammond and A. Sperry, doin
business as l., Hammond Il Co.. use q
! National Bank of Cory, Pa, VS.. @. w
| Amsler, los. Campbell, E. E. Amsler, Id
| Miller, doing business as Amsler Bros
& Co. No. 8, May Term, 1896. Sum
mons in Assumpsit.
Attest, JOHN Ii. ROBERTSON,
Prothonotary.
Tionesta, Pa, August 7, 1897.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-18

ALAsKA's placer mines will do we'll
to come near the gold production in
the early days of California. In
1S4S, the year of discovery, Califor.
Mas placers yielded s5,OOO,OOO; in
1849. s29.OOO,OOO; in 1850, $50, ,OOO,.
900; in 1851, s55,OOO,OOO; in 1852,
s6O,O00,OO0; in 1858, $4,000, 900.
In 1861 the placers were still yielding
S40,000.000. Between 1S48 aud
1896 California has added to the
worlds gold supply $1,2S1 .115,6O4
and its annual yield now is S15,OOO,,
00O Alaska must not yet insist thai
it is a second California.