davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11
A SERMON At A POKER TABLE

be the missing half eagle, and ii was
thai the money had been
brushed from the table by accident.
Then mutual apologies and express
sions Of respect and esteem followed
between the two men. a drink was
taken all round and the game re-
sumed.
A broken-off story by Curly" was
scarcely recommended when a man far
gone i'm liquor reeled into the room.
and. staggering up To the bar, de-
manded a drink. The landlord was
absent at the time, but his daughter.
a kindly-faced girl of Is or l6 years of
age. who happened to be standing near
The bar. with genuine California can
dor. said: You have a too much
bad whiskey already: YOU cannot get a
drink here"
Al this the man commenced to as
sail the girl with "A perfect shower OF
epithets. but i'm an instant n OF the
teamsters called "Posey' spranE up,
seized the man, swung him to the door,
and, opening il. hurled him clear over
the broad porch into the night. At
that moment the ~fandlady entered, and.
seizing one of Posey's hands in both
of her. exclaimed. oh, Posey, Posey.
| owe you ten thousand hanks for that
noble deed
without the change of a muscle Po-
sey answered: "A Thousand viii do.
my good Woman a thousands plenty
for carrying a small load of freight
like that. He's bulky, but ne don I
weigh much"
But the episode furnished excuse for
a drink all around. and the drinks were
repeated until some of the men pres
ent had too much aboard. At last
Curly, the stage driver, proposed that
a literary society should be organized;
thai every nan in the room should join
IL, and that when "A member was called
upon he should either tell a story, sing
a song or treat the crowd.
An uproar of approval followed. the
| cards we're put away and the fun com
menced. ! was one OF the first called
upon, and TO manage the matter in the
easiest way possible babe the landlord
set it up" for the boys n given then
| cigars also. At his they demanded
my name and elected me "A true gentle
man and thorough old Californian 10y
reclamation right there n then. a:
a bystander expressed II. in spite OF
his store clothes and or'nary looks"
The followed such stories as Were
never told outside OF California, such
songs as are only heard on the turbu'
lent frontier and frequent drinks.
All through the evening a young man
almost a boy. indeed. had been sittinl
alone in one corner OF the room. HI
was pale and ~frail-looking, and haC
sat as IL half-stupehed amid the revel
never once moving except when tn
rufian had insulted the ~irl. when h
sprang 10 his feet. but the big teamste
was too quick for him. and so he quiet
ly settled back into his chair. At last
one Of the men. excited with liquor
struck the youth upon the shoulde
and said. rudely: Come, p~ale-face.
song. a story or a treat"
The young man rose TO his feet an
said, quietly: Il annot sing. | can
not tell stories and 1 do not drink"
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11
A Horrible Story of Treachery and Coward
ice on the Part of the Crew of a
Wrecked French Frigate.

ain Chaumareys crept through a port
hole of the main cabin and dropped
into his gig. which was waiting to re-
ceive him under the ships stern.
At length a degree of order was re-
stored on deck. and those who could
not gain n place in the boats sullenly
embarked on the raft, and all was IN
readiness for the start. Tn original in
tention was to head for the shore OF
the Sahara desert. there make "A land
ing and follow the coast around to
Fort ST. Louis, at the mouth of the
River Senegal.
No sooner had they put off from the
ships side than 1t was discovered that
the spars and %planking of which the
raft was made had been fastened to-
gether without care or judgment, but
the center part of ii offered a safe foot
ing. and even here there was the con-
slant danger of slipping through the
great gaps which had been left be-
tween the planks. while the waves
rolled over it from all sides. Notwith-
standing its insecurity. $50 persons,
mostly soldiers, were compelled to en-
bark upon IL. The first plan had been
to heavily provision the raft. which
was to be towed by the six boats, n
from which they would draw their sup
plies from time to time, as necessary.
Just before the boats put of from the
snip $ SIDE, one OF lne raIt unNllhlk
passengers. a NJ. Coneard, had inquired
whether the provisions were placed
upon the raft, for IL was so closely
packed with human beings that Ii was
impossible TO see what Ii held. An Of
ficer from the deck of the Medusa had
answered him that he himself had di-
rected the disposition OF the provisions.
Who is to command u.s." NJ. Coneard
had asked. Il am to command you.
| returned the officer, and with this lie
on his lips, he had stepped into one Of
the boats, and given the orders for all
to pull clear of the wreck.
The raft was taken in tow. Ii plunged
heavily along in the rear of the six
boats. half submerged, and many of it's
passengers standing to the waist in
water. This continued for a matter of
| some two eagues.
J What followed was later claimed to
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

you, old Grimes, you miserable mule
beating infidels," said Posey.
The young man had II delightful
| voice, was a beautiful reader, and. as
he proceeded. the interest in his mar
| rative increased. He e on:
Some who were miners would work
all day and at night spend their last
| shekel in a game which, in Judea. was
| known as cinch."
That's you. Mike Graley and Dan
McNaughton.' said Posey: you dis
reputable poker-playing frauds
Again the reader proceeded: Some
| desired to be considered dangerous men
| and fighters and would seek difficulties
| with the men their interiors, physically,
that IL might be told in the different
| mining camps of Ophir that they were
desperate men with whom none might
trine.'
That's you. Sam Brown, you cow
| ardly buffer" interrupted Posey.
! And some" continued the boy.
''grew vain of foolish exploits ana
learned to expect praise for only doing
their duty"
Il guess that's me-" said Posey'
You are given to such thoughts some
times, you know you are, you Dig UNI
thinking ruftian.'
almost all learned to drink OF the
iuice of the Upas tree. and when under
it's influence they were guilty OF UNI
manly and disgraceful acts, whlch
would have grieved their friends IN
Jerusalem sorely had they deemed such
a thing possible"
That's us, said Posey, anu "
shame ii Is. too a.,
The bow continued to read: And
there locked To Ophir strange women
from Arabia. and Egypt. and INDIAN
and other lands, and beguiled the Is
raelites. and made them forgetful Oh
their duties and their vows"
"That hits the most of us. too, l
guess" said Posey.
Still the boy read AS the years
rolled by the men grew more and more
groveling. until at last they forgo' 10
mark the beautiful sky. the delicious
earth. the wealth of trees and flowers
the birth and death Of seasons. rlnal-
lv the ships were loaded and Were
about To sail for the holy mother lahd'
Then the men focked around the YES
sells and desired To embark. But the
seer stood upon the trands n pau'
them stand back. TO one he said: you
forgot wife and parent in search ol
stolen pleasures here: you are no more
worthy To speak the hallowed name Vi
home. nor to kiss hips which are pure.
ITO another he said: You nave
spent your time in revels. and YOU
body is filled with diseases. which yo'
brought upon yourself; o are among
the unClean and nave no right TO e
back and become a burden and expens'
to your friends
To another ne said: You haN'
debased your mind here. you a nc
longer see the beauties upon the earti
or in the heaven. how could you ntlS
approach the splendors OF the tempe
Of our mighty solomon"
And so austere and pitiless. th'
seer read the sentences one after an
other: the ships cast off their lines
hoisted their sails and put to sea, car
rying back but a chosen few of all wh'
had come in them.
And those who remained never saw
the glorious temple which was thei
peoples pride. never looked upon IN
white walls. the sculptured columns
the lofty arches. the beautiful gates
nor saw the sunlight as il flashed oael
from the roof OF FURNISHED gold. The,
witnessed none Of the magnifcence @
its dedication; inhaled no breath OF IL
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

on the 18th of June. 1S16, the frigate
zfedusa commanded by Captain
Chaumareys. cleared from AK, for the
African coast. Her mission was to take
possession Of the colonies there which
the English had seized eight years be-
fore. and which, by the terms of the
treaty of 1915, the latter couniry now
returned to France. In addition to her
regular crew. that of a frigate OF the
first class, the Medusa carried civil ana
military officials for the restored col
onies and $50 soldiers.
She entered the tropics July l. As
she crossed the line discipline gave way
10 the license that sailors of the old
uayies always expected at the equator.
Neptune a come over the side and
taken control. When the Medusa went
aground on the banks of Arguin. after
some bungling seamanshtp which only
served to fasten the frigate the more
hopelessly on the sunken reefs. her Of
fcers decided hat it would be impos-
sible to get her afioat.
The frigate had six boats. These.
however. were not adequate for the
occasion. n II was decided that a RAFT
should be built for the accommodation
of those who could not be carried in
them. The sailors accordingly set
about the construction OF a raft 30
feet long and 25 feet wide. When the
raft was completed. the order was Civ
en- to quit the wreck. Some show OF or
der had beer maintained up to this
point. This now gave way to a scene
of the widest confusion. A rush for
the boats was made by all hands. Those
who reached them first refused to share
sheir chance OF escape with their fell
lows. though the boats were not filled
90 their utmost capacity. With boat
hooks and oars they beat Off those who
sought to force their way in.
1t now looked as II a fight was i'm
minent. as the men who were exclud-
ed from the boats armed themselves.
declaring their intention to taking sum-
mary vengeance on their more fortu-
nate comrades unless fair play was
had.
While the riot was at its height, Cap
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

afresh. The fight lasted throughout
the entire night, and on the morning
of the fifth day but 80 men remained
of the $50 who mad originally embark
ed upon the raft. The number was still
farther reduced by the death of one of
the men, who succumbed to eXhaus-
ton, and later in the day two soldiers,
who were discovered trying to tap the
only remaining cask of wine, were
thrown overheard.
The survivors We're all in a frightful
condition of weakness and exhaustion,
but of the ~, who now remained, 10 re-
tanned a measure OF strength. This
they put to a characteristic use. They
decided that their IL companions were
so far d~ebilitated hat they must inev-
itably die. and that to share the stores.
principally wine. with them was only
~jeopardizing their own nance of escape
to no purpose. AS a result of this cold
blooded reasoning they thrust the help
less II from the raft into the sea. The
Is now determined to construct a small
Ter raft, whose course they could di-
rect. They passed three days of suf-
fering and misery while engaged on this
task. on the 18th of July, that is, the
18th day that they a been without
food, a ship was sighted, She bore
down on them and proved to be the
Argus. The famished wretches were
taken aboard of her, where they learn
ed that the six boats had reached the
African coast in safety, and that their
crews had made their way to Fort st.
Louis. the port from which the Argus
a sailed. VAUGHAN KESTER.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

any sudden uncomfortable instinct of
self preservation.
Amid the frenzied yells and impre-
cations of those aboard the raft, the
boats pulled away, and n by one
slipped from sight below the line OF the
horizon.
The un%fortunates on the raft now
made a thorough examination of their
frail and clumsy craft. Ii was found
that IL was without provisions other
than two or three casks of wine, "A box
Of spoiled sea biscuits and a very Ut
tie water. As they had not touched
food i'm 10 hours the bread and a ra-
ton of wine and water was served.
The first night came of stormy, ana
the position of the castawayS was one
of the utmost danger. Absolutely inse-
cure and worthless. the raft threatened
TO go to pieces with each sea that
struck II. 1t lived out the night. how
ever, though when day dawned 1t was
found that II men had been crushed
to death between the open timbers,
while several more had been swept
overheard i'm the darkness.
A day of horror passed. and then
night came again, more frightful than
the first. The waves constantly Tapped
of their victims and the castaways
were so closely huddled together at the
center of the raft that several OF tneir
number were literally smothered to
death. So imminent did their destruc-
ton seem that some of the soldiers In
"A frenzy preached the wine and fell Ia
drinking. A species of insanity sue
ceeded drunkenness. and i'm their rage
and fear they fell to cutting the cords
that bound the spars and planks to-
gether. A general fight followed. The
more rational undertook the defense OF
the raft and sought to preserve II from
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

The deuce you can't and won't"
said the miner. What kind of a white
livered monkey are you. anyway"
and. turning to the crowd, continued:
Il say. boys. what do you think of this
rooster? He can't sing, can't spin a
yarn and don't drink"
A general howl followed this out
burst. and the crowd gathered menac-
ingly around the youth.
Curly. the stage driver. here inter
fered and said: Young "A better
reconsider: the boys dom like it; try
a story, or try a song, or order the
poison"
"But | don't drink" said the youth.
II cannot sing and | canine tell sto-
ries," and as he spoke he turned a full,
fearless face upon the excited CROWD
A murmur of disapprobation began,
and one rusty miner was calling atten-
ton to a ''city chap as was too proud to
go chats with common miners and
teamsters.' when the big teamster.
Posey. with a wave of the hand. stopped
him. and, marching up to the youth,
said: Il think there's a misunderstand-
ing here. If you don't sing, nor tell
stories. nor drink. your education has
been badly neglected for some kinds
of business. sure: but think il over for
a minute; you might do something else,
perhaps
The young man looked down for a
moment. and then. looking up. said: IL
might read you something which. per-
haps. would answer in lieu of song or
story"
Il knowed 1t" said Posey. Il knowed
there was game in him when he jumped
out of his chair a little while ago, when
the loafer commenced to insult the lilly.
Room here, and a light for the boy to
read ~"
The crowd fell back. half morose and
half respectful. \ candle was brought,
which Posey claimed the responsible. y
of holding. The boy drew a little NoI-
ume from his pocket. looked over the
crowd for a moment, then opening the
book. examined il for "A moment, as II
to n the place. and commenced:
when the great and wise king Solo
mon dispatched his fleets 10 ophir q
gather gold and gems and rare wood
FOR the temple which he was building
he sent with them a seer to mark tht
conduct of his men. that each Nigh
be rewarded according 10 his merits
When the land of Ophir was reached
some of the men vent at once to t.,
mines To dig gold; some were employ" ,
with trains Of Camels, TO freight mer'
chandise and food To the mines: som,
/ WITH swirl uib~tlltbdll AtIAAtu wv N
press n gold dust tive the mines
and the Seashore. Some kept inns, lnt
gathered many shekel by disposing oi
bad food and furnishing poor beds 4
the miners
That means YOU. landlord" sale
Posey. interrupting.
The boy continued: And the sceI
watched all these men in their daily an,
J nightly empluyments \ toOok notes
Of their lives. Almost every one haC
left father, mother. sister or sweetheart
in Jerusalem and. mid tears and an
guish Of parting. had promised 10 b.
faithful TO the end. But some had for
gotten their promises when far away
Some would spend whole evenings n
discussing the merits Of their respective
dromedaries, and would do this nigh
after night until they did not have a
idea above the brute over which the,
had control"
That means you, Jake Farren. an,
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11
will have none of them if I can help

will ave none of them if l can help
it,"
In case the sewing-cooking PROPOSE
ton is adopted by the board, upon what
other work will the innovation be a
draft?" was asked.
That is difficult to say" replied Mr..
Brennan, although l presume it will be
c~arried~os at the expense of chemistry
or physiology or both, In any event,
/ would not favor going below the sew
enth grade"
do / approve of sewing and cook
ing in the public schools? OF course
do" said II. H.. Gross. w shall ask
for an appropriation of $4,000 to carry
on this work, and we hope our plans
will be approved by the board of edu-
cation. However, ! am not in favor of
fads any more than Mr.. Brennan. L do
believe, nevertheless, that it should be
the purpose and object of the board to
give the children of u school oppor-
tunity to prepare themselves for real
life. Every girl ought to know how to
do plain sewing and to cook a meal.
whether she launches out in life as a
mistress of a mansion on the lake shore
drive or whether she presides over a
cottage in the poorer sections or our
city.
Here we are spending a large sum
of money every year for in
German. / think it costs us 50 a pupil
who studies German, and yet only a
comparative few are able to speak or
write the language, and most of these
are members of German families. We
spend $3.50, 900 a year for sentiment, for
tina is practically what the study OF
German at this time amounts to, so
far as the ordinary school boy and
girl are concerned. Now, why not
spend $25, 900 for instruction in cooking
and sewing? The boys have their man
ual training schools; why not give the
girls a chance?"
There is no reason why this work
should not meet with success said
Mrs. Frake. chairman of the commit
tee. 1T is the sense of the committee
that the work shall be practical
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

be an accident by ONE. intention by
others: the lire which held the cap
;ain's boat to the main cable To which
the raft was attached. broke. or was
cut. This served as the signal for one
of the basest and blacklist acts OF
treachery ever recorded anywhere-in-
conceivable as ii may seem, the five re-
manning boats, obeying n common
impulse, cast loose from the cable.
At the time of this desertion calm
weather was prevailing. The sea was
as quiet as the traditional mill pond,
while the coast of Africa was known
To lie but II or Is leagues off, indeed
land was sighted by the boat crews
that very evening. 1t is clear they
were not forced to their selfish act by
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11
TRAGEDY Of THE "MEDUM" RVALD THE " BOURG0GNES"

destruction at the hands Of their IN
sane fellows. Clubs, swords and knives
were used by both parties. while two
men who had been particularly active
in the effort to sever the ropes were
thrown overheard.
The riot was finally quelled. and both
sides lay down to sleep. The peace
was short. At midnight the
wretches made a second attempt TO de-
stroy the craft. and a second fight en-
sued. When day broke il was found
that 81 men had either been killed out
right or else pushed overheard TO
drown. while many more were suffer-
ing from POUNDS and bruises.
on the fourth day. as ii came to-
ward evening, the trouble broke forth
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

On the Honcut, 2:30 a. m.-Dear Po-
sey: l could not exchange your mule
for another until l reached this point.
1t is only IS miles. Your mule is not
a first-class saddle animal, but will do
in an Yours truly,
The Son of a Clergyman.
p. ST. thank o for holding the
candle and for the double eagle.
Posey read the note aloud, looked
again az his wearied mule and said:
Boys, look az old Buck. and never
again trust a man who cannot sing.
cannot tell a story, and don't drink"
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11
Blood

fSwift's Specific) is the only remedy
which can eradicate Contagious Blood
Poison. 1t is guaranteed pureiy Vegetable.
Book on self-trestment mailed free by
iwift Specific Company, Atlanta, Ga.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

To remove flower pot stains from win
dow lodges rub the stains with a little fine
wood ashes and afterward rinse with clear
water.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

Playing cards were first printed about
1850. 1t is estimated that the present an
nual output exceeds 1000. 900 packs.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06

him. His widest farces have in them an ele-
.nent Of sober reality. In other words. Mr. Stock
ton keeps just abreast of the experience OF the
public In THE Great Stone OF Sardis" he shows
lis usual ca ltion. No doubt the discovery OF the
North Pole as he accounts for it in his narrative,
would never be achieved in just such way: no
doubt the march Of science will stop far short
even two thousand years hence-of the goal at
which his hero arrives between the covers OF
this book but it Is quite plain that the tale would
never have been written If Nansens exploit had
not turned mems minds anew toward the Arctic
region, and IL the world were less mad than 1t
is on the subject Of Y rays bacilli and similar
landmarks OF civilization. 1.-THE Great Stone OF
Sardis" In short, weaves the speculations OF
modern scientists into a web Of broad farce.
and the result Is. to say the least, curious. We
may say, too, that it is funny-in parts-but 1t
cannot be said that Mr.. Stockton in this latest
production of his has reached quite the standard
illustrated by his most noted books. Mr.. New
ellis pictures for the story delightfully."- con.
caived