davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
Early Marine Engineering in the
 United States

In 1880 gongs for the engine room were unknown, and in many of the boats, when the pilot was in his house Qf there was one) or on the deck over the engine room he would signal to the engineer by the strokes of stick or cane upon the floor of the house or deck. All boats, of course, carried bells, and by them all notices of de- parture and of arriving were made known, and all salutes between boats were given by their bells. To blow steam. as is now done by whistle, was intended to be a challenge or an insult.
 In July, 1887, e.-e first steam launch, the Sweetheart, 8 feet in length, feet 3 inches of beam, and 8 feet depth, engine by 12 inches, wheels 3 feet inches in diameter, and boiler horizontal fire tubu- United States Navy Yard, New York, by the writer, then Chief Engineer of the navy, was completed, and on her trial and succeeding trips around the city of New York was saluted with the bells of passing steamboats and cheered by peo- pie, who rushed to the ends of the piers to witness the novel sight. She attained a speed of S.5 miles per hour. The engine was subsequently, transferred to the United States Naval School at Annapolis
 Fuel, up to the year 1886, was wholly pine wood, though about that time some owners of steamboats commenced experi- menting upon the practicability of using route of six or more hours could not have the capacity in her fire room to contain all the wood required, and was compelled to pile it upon her side houses; and such boats as were on a long route, as from New York to Providence, were compelled and upon leaving the city had somewhat the resemblance of a floating woodward Charles H. Hasswell in Cassiers Maga- zine.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
A Sergeant,s Opinion.

On recent trip West we rode for many miles, in sleeping and dining cars. with an intelligent young man, a sergeant in an Ohio regiment, going home on sick fur tough to recuperate. While mourning his forced inactivity during the war, he spoke most plainly and positively of the real reasons which underlaid many of the complaints as to the treatment the troops received. Most prominent among them was the lack of discipline in many of the volunteer regiments, brought about large ly by the unwise mingling of officers with their men when off duty. Some of those in command would, perhaps naturally but very unwisely, participate in athletic games and sports during hours of idle ness, and then be surprised that their commands, when on duty, were looked upon as being more in the nature of ad- vice than an order to be unquestionably obeyed. The remarks of our soldier friend were in accord with universal experience, which has ever shown the importance of keeping up most rigidly the lines which divide privates and officers, If that disci- pline is to be maintained upon which the safety and well-being of all depend in war.-Episcopal Recorder.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
TWO FURNACES WERE USED
HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF
 PAPERS DESTROYED.
How the Company Prevented an Ex- animation of Its Records by the Board of h.
 quiry.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CLEVELAND, Dec. 23.- -Eyidence was obtained from additional witnesses to-day to show that books belonging to the Standard Oil Company had been destroyed on November 20 and 21. The first witness examined before Notary Mason to-day was George Fields, who was said to have sent employees of the company to the general offices after the books that were alleged to have been destroyed.
 Fields said he was employed in the car shops of the Standard. He said he was instructed by telephone to send two men to the general office.
 Moran said he was sent by Fields to the general offices on November 19 after boxes of books and papers. Ed ward O'Hea and McInerney went with him and Harry Gabeline and Henry Schaf came in the afternoon. Moran said the boxes were about four feet square and weighed about 300 pounds. He said that the hallway was so mar row that he lowered them to the ground with block and tackle through a win dow. The boxes were lowered upon wagon and taken to a storehouSe on Independence street.
 Moran said that on the following Monday morning the general office tele- phoned to the car shops for two men. McInerney and himself were sent. On that morning they took some boxes from the storehouSe to the river pump house. He did not know whether they were the same boxes that they had got Saturday. They took the boxes to the furnaces and burned the contents. He admitted that he had talked to Attorney s. H. Tolles of the Standard in regard to the destruction of the books.
 On cross examination by Attorney Tolles Moran said that he knew a lot of books and papers were burned a year ago, but he did not help burn them. Books were burned on Saturday in the car shops and on Monday in the pumphouse. Nobody said anything to him about the matter.
 Several other witnesses appeared to- day, but their dispositions were not taken. Constable McMahon was sent to subpoena several bookkeepers and clerks employed at the Euclid-avenue offices, but came back with the report that he had been unable to find any of the men he had been looking for. effort was made to-day to sub- pena Secretary Squire of the Standard Company and Frank Rockefeller, but neither could be found.
 The taking of depositions was contin- ued until o'clock tomorrow morning.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
WILL WEIGH 15o TONS.
Giant Scales Installed in the Govern
 ment Gunshops in Washington.

Everybody is perhaps aware that the large scales upon which the entire freight cars with their loads of many tons are weighed are considered inn mense, but with all their immensity, Uncle Sam has gone all the railroads in the country one point better by install ing at the navy-yard one of the largest pair of scales in the country. This machine can outweigh the largest rail- road weighing machine by fifty tons, and it's results must be accurate to a pound, while railroad scales are con- sidered good if they approach any where near fifty pounds of being cor rect. The new scales are placed on the track going south from the great gun shops and just opposite the forge shop. They are AS feet long and 12 feet wide, and rest upon a cement base built upon long piles. The ground is somewhat low, and it was necessary to utilize the services of pile drivers to se- cure a stable foundation, which is one of the requisites of an accurate weigh ing machine. The cost was about $1200
 Much of it's fine and sensitive balanc- ing apparatus was manufactured for special use in the new machine, and the completed structure is considered a model and marvel of modern mechan- ism and American ingenuity.
 In order to illustrate the accuracy of the counterpoise of the machine to a reporter the Superintendent of Yards and Docks picked up a half brick which was lying on the ground near by and tossed it on the huge platform of the machine. He then consulted the long brass lever in the reading box along the side of the scales and found that the record of the brickbat was just pound.
 Turning to the reporter he said that the machine is so sensitive that it can weigh anything from a pound of sugar to a trio of thirteen-inch naval guns, and weigh them accurately, though it will probably eke out a long existence at the famous gunshop without having the chance to weigh an ounce of the former The capacity of the new scales is 150 tons, or double the capacity of the old scales, which have just been replaced. A thirteen-inch gun weighs about fifty-five tons, and it may be readily seen that the new scales can weigh two of the monsters, reclining on a forty -eight-foot car track, and not tax its capacity to any great extent. All the big guns of the new navy will be weighed upon these colossal scales.- Washington Times.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
A MUSICAL MECHANIC.
Carpenter Who Did Not Comprehend
 Halevv's Inducement.

'The Queens Musketeers,'' which is again a great Partisan success, was nrst brought out at the Opera Comtque, when Halevy was distinctly down on his luck Indeed, he was counting upon the suc- cess of his new work as means or get ting his affairs into order again, says l; P. O'Connor in the London Sun. He had taken the very best of care with 1t, eliminating every phrase and every bar that smacked of the commonplace. Espe. cially-and here lies the whole point of the story-he had been at infinite pains to avoid repeating himself, and to strike out every motif that might lead his critics to accuse him of plagiarism from his former operas
 The rehearsals went on capitally; the artistes were delighted with their parts. Everything foretold success. One day, as he left the theater after rehearsal and took a stroll along the boulevard, he heard somebody whistling tune near him. He listened in amazement, for it was 8 tune that he recognized only too we'll. Heavens! it was just the air of the song which he had written for Captain Roland in his new piece.
 from memory He went up to the whist Ter, worthy workman, who was still continuing his tune, and asked him what on earth he was whistling.
 My friend, you are surprised said the man, "and no wonder. Do you know that there is not another man in the streets of Paris who could whistle you that tune?"
 "Why?"
 'Because it's song that nobody knows yet
 "Indeed?"
 Certainly, because 1t is in the new piece that they are rehearsing at the Opera Comique''
 "A-a-a-ah!" said Halevy, with a deep sigh of relief. But how on earth is it that you know it?'
 Well, because was putting up a par tition yesterday in the opera house-I am a joiner by trade, you know-while the song was being sung.'
 'The deuce!" said Halevy. "I did not think 1t could be learned so easily. Look here my friend. there is a louis for you, and do not whistle it any more"
 Why"
 Because I am the author of it."
 "Oh," said the musical carpenter. And as he went away he muttered to himself:
 He is a queer fish. Why don't he give me the 20 francs to keep on Whistling it?,
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
WHY THE CREW GREW FLESHY. Phenomenon Explained by the Pres
 ence of Much Arsenic Aboard,

The German bark Zion, which ar- rived at this port recently from Fowey, England, brought a rather peculiar cargo. It consisted of 1900 casks of china clay, but in addition there were on board 300 casks of arsenic. This part of the cargo had a remarkable ef- feet on the crew.
 The fact that arsenic as well as strychnine helps the formation of adj pose tissue when taken into the hu- man system in minute particles is well known, and both drugs have become favorite tonics for convalescents. On board the Zion the men slept very near the large array of barrels containing the drug. They were stored in the hold, near the forecastle, and partially exposed to the rays of the sun, which streamed in through the open hatch. When only about a week out from port one of the crew mentioned to his messmates that peculiar and inde- scribable odor was coming from the casks containing the drug. It was not long after their attention had been called to it that they all noticed the same thing, and, strange to say, mo- ticed 1t all the more forcibly week later. Several of the German tars be- came aware of the fact that they were greater extent than when they shipped Many others, as days went by, became abnormally stout, in vast contrast to the former slim appearance which many of them presented before the land was left. One man gained, it is said, twenty-five pounds. Others were affected to less extent But the ag- gregate weight put on by the entire crew was little less than 400 pounds.
 Several of the sailors are known here and they are said to be scarcely recog- nizable when contrasted with the old days. The entire sudden taking on of
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
American Farmers slandered.

The London Spectator says: You can not rid the average American farmer of money are plenty times will be good. |" The average American farmer deserves a better reputation than this. He showed in the recent election that he does not think silver and paper money in abund- ance necessarily make good times In that election he declared that silver and paper currency need bracing up, and that gold must be used to do the bracing. The farmer voted for the preservation of the gold standard It was the farmers vote which saved the gold standard from as sault in the next House O Representa- tives. If the farmers had been faith less to the cause of financial sanity the Republicans would have been beaten in the election. In the manufacturing and commercial region the Republicans lost ground. They gained ground in the az ricultural districts. When the Specta- tor digests the recent election returns from the Western States it will have a higher opinion of the American farmer. St. Louis Globe-Democrat
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
A FLOATING EXPOSITION.
The Shipload of Its Products Which Austria Will Show in the
 Orient.

Austria Hungary lags behind in the race for foreign trade. Hungary is given to agriculture, and her manufactures are inconsiderable Austria lacks the coal and iron that add so much to the wealth and industrial activity of Germany. Most of the manufactures of the empire are pro- duced in the rugged parts of Austria proper, and though in variety and volume they fall far below those of Germany the country Is capable of much larger produc- trade.
 o The latest effort in this direction is the floating exposition, which is to start from Trieste in December. It will spend the next six months visiting all the leading ports of India and the Orient and few A large M steamship % has @ been iic chartereG eales from the Austrian Lloyds Steamship Company, and the imperial Government RaS o sra 5 the enterprise tbG with visited are the Piraeus, Salonica. Constan- tinople, Smyrna, Alexandria, Massowah, Alden, Bombay, Colombo, Calcutta, Ran goon, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon. Bata- via, Cebu, Manila, Canton, Hongkong. Swatow,. Annoy, Fuchau, Shanghai, Wei Hai Wei, Cheefoo, Port Arthur, Nagas alxi, Kobe and Yokohama.
 The ship will carry samples of Austro- Hungarian products, and .ne entire ves- sel, fitted up with booths and lighted by electricity. will be a vast storehouse of exhibits. Each exhibitor Will pay accord ing to the space ne occupies, and thirty or forty experts will accompany the floating tO SlNe LS eApOSlIlOn will be free to all, anu its arrival in each port will be announced in advance in the newspapers and by posters and circulars. Catalogues printed in four languages will be distributed Fratuitously and the agents on board may receive orders, but can SC only at the prices fixed by the ex- hibitors. An ice machine will be on board to insure the freshness of all the products, particularly the wine and beer.
 This enterprise is not original with Aus tria. It was tried with success by SWitz- erland years ago. The larger country may well take other lessons from the little republic, for Switzerland, an inland state, dependent upon for eign ports to receive and dispatch all it's imports and exports of commodities, is, in proportion to it's population, one of the Sun
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
WERE ROBBED OF VOTES
LYNDON, CoNANT AND AGGELER
 GAINING.
Disclosure of an Organized Attempt to Count Out" James H. Camp bell for District
 Attorney.
Special Dispatch to The Cali.

SAN JOSE, Dec. 23.-Interest is in creasing in the contests over the cleo tion of Sheriff, Treasurer and City Jus tice, and the disclosures thus far made indicate that fraud was perpetrated by the gang" at the last election. The count is progressing very slowly, but two precincts having been tallied to- day. At this rate three weeks will be required to recount the county. In the Second Precinct of this city, Lyndon gained ten votes. The net gains of the contestants in the three precincts of the city counted are as follows: Lyndon (Sheriff). 12; Conant CTreas- urer), 3, and Aggeler (City Justice), 4.
 If this ratio keeps up these officers will win on the vote of the city, and it will not be necessary to count the outlying precincts.
 An organized attempt to count out James H. Campbell, the Good Govern ment- Democratic nominee for District Attorney, has come to light through the contest. The ballots of the First and Second precincts show that B. A. Harrington, Rea's candidate, was given 35 votes he was not entitled to. The Third Precinct will show about votes counted illegally TOT Herr1nSton. The
 gang" made an especially hard fight to elect the District Attorney, and it was reported fraud was perpetrated in the hope of accomplishing it.
 Last night Harrington secretly filed a contest of Campbell's election, but knowing ones declare it will never come to trial, now that evidence of fraud has been unearthed. The peti- tion, which is signed by L. O'Neal, ai- hot z Campbell that should have gone to Harrington. The matter was up be- fore Judge Lorigan this morning, but no date was set for the hearing. Campbell was given the certificate of election on majority of 39.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
BOB BLANKS WILL DIE.
Kentucky's Governor Refuses to Re.
 prieve the Negro.

FRANKFORT, Ky. Dec. Ex-Governor Bradley tonight refused to extend elem ency in the case of Bob" Blanks of May field, sentenced to be hanged on February 23 next, thus closing a rather sensational chapter in Kentucy history.
 Blanks. negro, assaulted Teenie Bay ley, a 12-year-old white girl, in Graves County, in January last. He escaped into Illinois, and Governor Bradley made requistion and had Blanks brought to Louisville. On the date of his trial the adjutant general, with a company of State troops, accompanied the negro to Graves County, remained there until the case was ended, and brought the prisoner back to Louisville. He has since been in jail there, and will not be taken to the scene of his crime until a few days be- fore his execution.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
Mrs. McKinlev,s Joke.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Mrs. McKin- ley is saying some bright things these days. The other evening the wife of a prominent citizen of Washington, while visiting the White House, happened to mention that she had received basket of mushrooms from an unknown source, and, fearing that they might not be gen. uine, had taken them to the market where she usually bought her vegetables and had them carefully looked over be- fore they were cooked.
 What were you afraid of?'' inquired Mrs. Mckinley.
 T was afraid we might be poisoned and die.
 q thought you were a Presbyterian '' retorted the Presidents wife, land that Presbyterians never die until their time comes. ."-Chicago Record.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
Railroad Company to Dissolve.

A petition for the dissolution of the Visalia Railroad Company was filed in the office of the County Clerk yesterday. The dissolution of the corporation was deter mined upon at meeting of the stockhold- CTS held on the 22d inst. The petition for dissolution was presented by the direct ors of the corporation-H. E. Hunting ton, J. Kruttschnitt, William Hood, B. A. Worthington and w. G. Curtis. No reason for the application for dissolution Is given.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24

avoirdupois is attributed to vapor, which, generated by the action of the sun on the casks, was inhaled by the seamen as they slept and acted in pre- cisely the same manner which it does when given as a tonic in a prescrip- t1on. Captain Hammes, who slept aft in the vessel, entirely removed from the arsenic, does not show any effect of the halation.-Philadelph Times.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
Fusion in the Pottery Trade.

discovery has been made which will revolutionize the whole of the porce- lain and pottery trade if successful. It is that the clay, instead of being nodded wet and baked, can be fused by means of an electric furnace and cast in molds exactly like castiron. If the mold Is sufficiently smooth inside no glazing is needed, but should any be required powdered glass is sprinkled over the surface of the casting while it is hot enough to fuse the glass.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
ADVERTISEMENTS. ''AtSL0ANE'S"

Mahogany Finish Table of stylish design. At $3, 3,OO
 Large selection of Solid Mahogany Crotch Veneer-top Tables in new Colonial de- signs at greatly reduced prices.
 Fine selection of Rush Seat Rockers of the latest designs in either Tobacco Oak or Mahogany finish. ..$7.50 Each
 Ladies' Inlaid Mahogany finish Rockers with hand somely upholstered seats and backs. .SI2.00 Each
 Gentlemen'S large Easy Chairs and Rockers, uphol- stered in the latest styles of Velour. .SI4, co Each
 A large line of Three-piece Parlor Suits. ts................ From S25.00 per suit
 Immense selection of Book cases in Ouarter-saWed Oak. hand polished, which we offer at. .Sl0.00 Each Open Evenings Until Christmas. V. &J SLOANE & CO.
 Carpets Furniture Upholstery 641, 643, 645, GAY MARKET STREET.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24

PARK POLICE-O. S., City. A person desiring information about the park po- lice force of San Francisco should make application at the office of the park po- lice in Golden Gate Park. There all in- formation as to qualifications will be fur nished.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
To Cure a Colo in One Dsv

ake Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets An
 'uggists refund the money if 1t fails to cure c. The genuine has L. B. c. on each tablet
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

DATING BACKS, Vacaville, Cal. The answer to your question about dating back a mortgage was answered in this department October b of the current year. A mortgage may be dated back. The question of date is only effective from the time of delivery.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24

THE VOLUNTEERS-An City There is no volume published of the ma tivity, age, birth, etc.," of the volunteers. Such record is in the shape of muster rolls in the different States Coffee of the adjutant general from which men vol unteered, and at the War Department in Washington D. c.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24

pack. This department has not the space to give the rules for playing these ses games but they can be found in Hoyles GaIies' latest edition, which can be obtalned TOT q small price from dealers. There are ilso games of solitaire played with marpiess, which can be obtained from dealers III toys.
 WASHINGTON ELECTION-N. J. M. Santa Cruz, Cal. To obtain the numpeI U. votes cast for the candidates for Unlteaa States Representatives from the state oa Washington you will have to addIeSSS a letter of inquiry to the Secretary of state of Washington.
 THE FIRE LIMITS-A. o. S., City. The fire limits of San Francisco are as fol- lows: Commencing at the intersection or the shore line of the bay with the east erly end of Greenwich street, west to Sansome Sansome to Broadway, to Pow ell, to Sacramento, to Stockton, to Sut- ter, to point on that street 206 feet west of Powell, thence westerly to OFarreu street, to Mason, to Ellis, to Taylor, to Eddy, to Jones. to Turk, to Leavenworths to Golden Gate avenue, 137:6 feet east or Larkin street, thence north to McAllis- ter, along McAllister to Polk, to Hayes, to Van Ness avenue, to Fell street, to Franklin, to Page, to Cough. to Market, to Valencia, to Herman, to west Mlsslon, and Mission to Ninth, to Minna, to sixth. to Howard to First, to Folsom, to Steu- art, to Howard, to the bay thence north erly and westerly along the water front more minute description by metes ana bounds see the ordinance of the super visorS, Mo- 2927, in General order or the Board of Supervisors.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24

FREE LICENSE-W. M, Oakland, Cal If you desire to obtain a free license in order to peddle you must make applica- tion to the Board of Supervisors, and if that body deems your case a deserving one you will no doubt obtain such a license. What your rights are will be explained by the party issuing you the license,
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-24

ANARCHISTS-H. B. H., Campbell Santa Clara County, Cal. In Russia the agitators against the Government are called nihilists and not anarchists, though both classes are formed for the same purpose-the destruction of an existing Government. In Russia people of all classes have been charged with being ni- hilists, men of high standing as well as those of the lower classes.