davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-02-16

MIS-. W. SdulSCule, MIS-. LAWS
and Mrs. Denbo, prominent society
ladies, Of New Matamoras, were in
our city yesterday, the guests of
Mrs. Jas. McCutcheon, of Wells
street.
Hon. John A. Howard, one Of
West Virginia's leading legal lights.
is in the city today, and it is cur
rently reported that he has been
employed to prosecute James H.
Strlckling.
Miss Belle, daughter OF ]. M.
Ullom, the we'll known lumber
dealer, of the Brooklyn addition, is
suffering from a severe attack of
tonsilitis, which has kept her out of
school since the holiday vacation.
1t is reported that Mr.. Jack
Crotty, the we'll known contractor,
has purchased the Dan Wallace
property on South Wells street.
Ambrose II. Weaver, of the Oil
Well Supply, has returned from
the wilds of Peasants and Richie
counties Ambrose looks somewhat
fatigued, but otherwise he is o. K.
Jno. Fisher returned this after
noon from the Richie. county oil
fields.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

of Letters wheat deal
But graver contingencies threaten
involving all the nations of Europe. In
diplomatic circles it has been felt for
some time that the collapse of the
Triple Alliance was approaching. and
the recent events in Italy have dealt
the final blow Italy's prestige abroad
is so shattered, and she is torn with
internal dissensions to such an extent
that her value as an ally to Germany
and Austria is practically nil. The
Triple Alliance has ceased to be the
most important factor in the European
situation. Just how the European
powers will be grouped in the future is,
of course, not known, but from present
indications it is possible that an alli-
ance Of the three empires of Russia,
Germany and Austria may take the
place of the Triple Alliance. France,
whose tie to Russia is rapidly beooIn-
ing looser will probably combine with
those countries whose peoples are more
akin to hers--viZ., Italy, Spain and
Portugal-and these two groups Of
powers would have bond in their
common hatred of Great Britain.
Thus are the policies and destinies Of
great nations affected by-what was
originallv-so insignificant circum-
stance as a corner on wheat.
In England the direct effect has been
nothing more pernicious than an adj
vance in -four while in the United
States we have happily escaped with
the comparatively slight harm of the
closing down of four Of Milwaukee's
big flour mills.
In view of the dire effects of the mod
ern practice of making the exchange
of the essentials of life a gambling in
dustry, it is interesting to revert back
to the old days when there were no
corn exchanges-when the farmers Of
Old England used to bring into London
their wagon loads of wheat by road,
and personally expose it for sale on
Cornhill. A shortage in those days was
met with prompt and efficient meas
ures, and no thrifty farmer or broker
was permitted to take advantage of a
public misfortune. If the country mag
istrates did not stop them beforehand
and make them sell, whether they
would or not as was one of the COM
mendable little ways the country
magistrates had in those days, they
were sure to be mobbed at Stratford;
and so furious was the struggle to get
the wheat that 1t often got spilled upon
the ground. trodden under foot and sat
urated with the blood Of those who
were fighting for it. Things are not
SO picturesque or honest nowadays. A
modern shortage in wheat is more gem
orally ruse to exact higher prices.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

official list Of the persons killed by the
military during the uprising at Milan
alone gives 70 killed outright and seven
more who died in hospitals, making the
total number so. The wounded num-
bered 63, the majority of whom will die
of their injuries owing to the unusually
disastrous effect of the bullet used.
These projectiles by the way, were the
now famous Mauser bullets, the same
as were used by the Spanish in the re-
cent SkirmSh with our marines at
Guantanamo, and which gave rise to
the belief that our dead had been bar
barously mutilated with machetes. The
murderous execution of this projectile
and the frightful tortures undergone
by It's victim-in many instances re-
sulting in raving insanity-has aroused
a protest against it's use in military
circles all over Europe, with the prob
able consequence that it will be de-
barred by all civilized nations. The
charge on the mob at Milan constituted
the first occasion on which this bullet
has been used in actual hostilities and
the effect was so horrifying as to sicken
the most callouS- hearted soldier.
Experience showed that when struck
at distance of from 500 to 900 yards a
skull and it's contents would fly off in
small pieces in various directions. The
explanation of this effect is found in
the tremendous speed at which the new
bullets travel. When opposed by a
strong object the bullet imparts it's
movements, converted now into mole
cular movements, to the opposing sub
stance, so that in the case of a skull
the brain matter seeks to escape in all
directions, and consequently bursts it's
casing. In the case OF all rioters shot
through the head almost the same eff
feet was noticed, the skull stood open
like the lid Of box, and the brain mat
ter had escaped through the opening it
had made. When the bullet struck a
muscle it passed straight through, but
when it was resisted by bone substance
the latter was shattered and the frag-
ments sent in all directions. The con-
sequence is that ali those who were
shot in the arms or legs had to submit
to the amputation of the wounded
limb, while wounds to the hip invaria-
bly, prove fatal
The bread riots in Italy and their
consequent disasters were the primary
cause of the resignation of the Ministry
and the formation of a new Govern
ment on May 81 last. Now we hear
that the new Ministry has formally re-
signed office, and that in Italy 1t is gen.
orally conceded that the resigna ton
foreshadows grave events.
So much for the direct effect on Italy
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

and infantry, preparatory to its being
stormed by our infantry the next day.
After shutdown the StCrming party of
infantry Irregular troops) passed our
battery to take their positions for the
night so as to be ready for an attack in
the morning. Captain Drum and First
Lieutenant Benjamin of my battery
and myself spoke to and encouraged
their friends and their gallant com
rades as they marched by us. All were
confident of victory and all were cheer
full except my friend Lieutenant Can't.
He was particularly dependent and in
reply to my salutation exclaimed, with
farewell wave of his hand Good by,
Porter, l shall never see you again
His words were prophetic. Among
the very first of the brave fellows who
led the storming party was Lieutenant
CAN'T, fearlessly facing the fate he had
predicted. He was one of the first of
our men to be killed.
THAT night Captain Drum, Lieu
tenant Benjamin and myself were sit
ting in Captain Drums tent. Captain
Drum was quite Respondent, and his
appearance and features denoted that
he had experienced a premonition of
death. Finally he said to me:
" Porter, 1 wish you would go out for
through the fight tomorrow and /
want to arrange with Benjamin. who
will be my successor, my private af-
fairs. and ! want to be alone with him.
benjamin shared Drums Fremont
ton and he answered, oh, Drum, let
Porter remain. / too, expect to be
killed in the battle Tomorrow
II had no such feeling and I re-
sponded in as cheerful a tone as pos
sible. Captain, don't borrow trouble.
AS | do not anticipate any injury, I
think you had better tell us both your
wishes. He was persistent, however,
and l left the tent and never knew
what his last wishes We're
THE next morning and after the taxi
ing of Chapultepec we moved along the
narrow road leading into the City of
Mexico at the fortified gate named
Carita de Belin. in the middle of which
was the arched aqueduct that supplied
the city with water. 1t afforded us
some protection from the sweeping
direct and also flank artillery and in
fantry fire of the enemy. On the way
l was struck by a spent cannon shot
and knocked from my horse, being rem
dered temporarily unfit for duty. Drum
at once rushed to me and picked me UP
exclaiming:
Hello, Porter, you said nothing
would happen to you; don't be too
sure
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

Don't fear for me- l answered. I
hope you won't meet with any worse
accident
But he was still certain that he
would be killed, for he replied, Good
by, l shall not see you again And he
bravely rushed on to help gain the vic
tory we sought, despite the conviction
that he would be a victim.
Though delayed but short time by
my fall when l had remounted and
joined my battery 1 found the Carita de
Belin in our possession and our bat
terry in advance battering the citadel
held by the Mexican infantry and ar
tillery, whose fire; but 200 yards away,
was concentrated upon the guns in
charge of Drum and Benjamin. AL
most Immediately our battery was
crippled. Drum and Benjamin and
First Sergeant Baldwin were mortally
wounded and twentyseyen out of the
thirty men were killed or wounded.
On the eve OF the battle of Marengo
General Dessaix had a >presentiment
that he would fall next day. 1t proved
true, for he was shot through the heart
during the thick of the fight 1t can
not be charged that this presentiment
on the part of General Dessaix was born
of an undue fear, for all the honors
showered upon him by Napoleon were
won by bravery In battle. He had
fought with great bravery and honor,
particularly in Egypt, but for the two
previous years had not been in any of
Napoleon's European battles. The
night before the battle of Marengo he
remarked to several of his staff who
had gathered about him, Something
will happen to me tomorrow. 1t is q
long time since l fought In Europe and
the bullets here don't know me any
more" He then arranged his affairs
with the same care as though on his
death bed. Next morning he in
structed a member of his staff not to
leave his side, as he wanted his body
cared for. 1t was only a few hours
when the officer was called upon to as
sumo that duty, for General Dessaix
was shot through the heart.
A parallel case to this occurred dur
ing the rebellion. The gallant soldier
poet, General Lytle, predicted his own
death at Chickamauga, and like Gen
eral Desaix requested a member of his
staff to remain by his side during the
battle so that his body might be cared
for. When General Lytle's brigade
came up into position he called to his
side his favorite de-de-camp, Lieu
tenant ]. N. Trumbull of Company E.
Thirty-sixth Illinois, and told him that
q great battle was about to be fought
but that he, himself, would be killed
After giving other instructions he said:
"Trumbull, I want you to stay by my
side to-day, for I feel that this is my
last battle will surely be killed. Stay
by me every moment" His words were
prophetic.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

"HESE closing years of the nine
teenth century are marked by
many striking and curious So
cial phenomena, but without
doubt the most remarkable
of them all is that of the all-potent
power and far-reaching influence which
has been impaired to so commonplace
a commodity as wheat. More than the
DEGREES of Kings and Emperors and the
will of mighty governing peoples
is the humble grain of our fields fac
tor in influencing the general condition
of mankind, and in a measure shaping
the destiny of nations. In the rise and
fall of young Letter and the part that
wheat played in his meteoric career, we
have a startling exemplif1cation of this
truth.
At first glance the story Of Letter re-
solves itself into nothing more than a
passing incident common to everyday
commercial life-the incident of man
making millions in a few hours by
shrewd dealing, and losing them again
lust as quickly But in following causes
to effects we find that the GENERAL
shortage of wheat consequent on the
corner" manipulated by Letter was
the direct cause of bread riots in many
parts of Europe; of a dreadful slaugh-
ter of human beings in hungry Italy;
the overthrow of two Ministries, and
the indirect cause of the approaching
collapse of a great international alli-
ance. Thus does the proverbial staff
of life." in the hands of INSCRIPTIONS
spectators operating under laws pecu-
liar only to the commercial system of
our age, become an instrument of dis
aster and death.
Letter made his money in conse-
ouence of the foreign demand. The
scarcity of wheat in France, for in
stance-and Italy may be taken as be-
ing similarly affected-is shown by a
statement made by George French,
Letters manager. He says that a syn
dictate in France cabled to him for as
much wheat as he could offer. Letter
offered 100000 bushels at 2S francs,
which they considered a prohibitive
price The syndicate, however, snapped
at 1t and asked for more which was
withheld. for speculative purposes.
The subsequent bread riots all over
Italy are now matter Of history. An
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

his officers; sixth, his unusual pro-
cedure in dressing in his snowy uniform
and his manifest desire to die in the
insignia Of his rank.
Another death which aroused no end
of discussion among those who firmly
believe in premonitions of death was
that Of General Custer at the massacre
on Little Big Horn. Not only is there
evidence to show that Custer felt some
thing of the kind on the eve of his
DEATH but 1t is related that his little
daughter, though miles and miles
away, on that eventful afternoon ran
screaming to the house from the gar
den, where she had ',een at play, saying
she heard her papa calling for help as
the Indians were killing him. When
the death of Custer later became
known and this incident was recalled,
as near as it could be estimated the
hour of Clusters death and the alarm
of the child conceded to a minute
George L. Kilmer in writing of Gus
ters probable presentiment of death,
says:
up to that time Custer had shown
himself a man of extreme, not to say
morbid, reticence. He never unbos-
omed himself to his officers, but made
his own plans and exacted obedience
from Sll about him. But upon this cam
paigR when his doomed command
reached the borders of the territory
where the hostiles were known to be,
his self-confidence fed and he suddenly
fell back for reliance upon somebody
else Officers who were with him at the
time declared that he was no longer
Custer. his brusque and aggressive,
even rasping, manner and tone diSap-
peared and he became subdued and
conciliatory. He even went farther
than that He showed himself depressed
and seemed to want to appeal to those
about him. When the council broke up
Custer requested all the officers to
make to him then, or at any future
time. any suggestions they saw fit. The
unusual bearing of their leader made a
great impression upon the officers, and
as they walked away from the general
bivouac one of them exclaimed: I be-
lieve that Custer is going to be killed
because I never heard him talk that
way before.
General Fitz-John Porter relates a
triple case of presentment which
came under his observation during the
Mexican War.
1T was at the siege Of the City OF
Mexico On September IL, 1S47, Battery
G. Fourth Artillery, of which 1 was Sec
ond lieutenant, with heavy guns, had
fired all day at the Castle of Chapul-
tepec, defended by Mexican artillery
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

TINE Associated Press dispatches,
in telling of the death Of Hamil-
ton Fish Jr, sergeant of a COM
pany of Roosevelt's Rough
Riders in the advance on San
tiago de Cuba, say:
Fish had a presentiment of his
death in battle before he left San An
tonic for the front. While chatting
with a party of friends at the San An
tonic Club a few days before he de-
parted he expressed the belief that he
would be killed in the first fight"
There are a number Of such instances
on record when men have received in
tuitive forewarning of their death in an
impending battle, and such forebodings
were quite common and pretty gener-
ally believed in by both officers and
men during the War Of the Rebellion.
Such instances form one of the stock
In trade stories at the g. A. r. gather
ings.
One Of the most remarkable instances
Of this kind, remarkable because of the
complete details and their fulfllment,
was the forebcding of impending death
that came over Lord Nelson on the eve
Of his famous victory at Trafalgar. If
ever a man deliberately planned to die
mid a blaze of glory 1T was Nelson.
On the morning of the battle he APP
peared on deck dressed in the SNOWY
uniform and insignia of his rank.
Some cf his officers demonstrated with
him, in that his attractive uniform
made him a conspicuous target for the
bullets Of the enemy if engaged at close
quarters. Nelson replied:
In honor l have won them, in honor
= will die in them"
In support Of the theory that this re-
mark was not mere bravado, but the
result OF genuine presentiment of
death, there are the following we'll
established facts: First, Nelson had on
the. night before arranged all his
private papers; second, he had pre-
pared all the documents relative to his
fleet in way that would indicate that
he expected them to fall into the hands
Of a successor; third, that night he
added codicil to his will; fourth.
while in London, on an absence from
his fleet shortly before the battle he
gave directions hurrying the compile
ton Of a coffin which he was having
made out Of the wood of a mast of the
ship L'Orient; fifth. his bearing toward
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

~ ERMAN sentiment we are apt to
think unanimous in favor of Spain.
| j But the lesser press, which we do
not often see here, reveals different
side The drawing from Simplissimus,
which we reproduce, is from distinct
ly radical point of view, but it is
keen comment on the attitude Ger
many is likely to take. To the victor
belong German laurels, and to him
alone p,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17
90 5000 Q Q
PRESENTIMENTS OF DETTH IN WAR;


tn HE Associated Press dispatches,
in telling of the death of Hamil-
ton Fish Jr.. sergeant of a com
pany of ROosevelt's Rough
Riders in the advance on San
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

IN HESE closing years of the nine
tenth century are marked by
many striking and curious So
cial phenomena, but without
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-21

glasses OF you and although the work
required OF me since purchasing them
has been unusually hard.yet IT has sur
prISed and gratifed me 10 learn that
my eyes seem stronger and my vision
clearer than for many years before
a J FELT
Lieutenant Governor and present Edit
or OF the AtchiSOn Champion
Both Don and Lucille MuIvane have
been fitted with glasses by Prof sam
uels and recommend his work very
highly.
Mrs T. Crouch. who is a dressmaker
at 1880 Polk street, suffered for six or
seven years from a bad case of catarrh-
After taking various treatments she
finally decided to try Prof SamueIs-
After three months treatment the ca
tarrh was entirely cured, and although
that was three years ago it has never
returned
Robert Inman. son Of Major Henry
Inmau, was for some time almost blind
He tried oculists and doctors without
number After treating with Prof Sam
uels few weeks his eyes were not only
cured. but his general health and ap-
pearauce was so improved that many
Of his most intimate friends hardly
knew him
It is useless to add more Professor
SamueIs treats all kinds of diseases
through the eyes only Office SOC kan
sas avenue. over the Hub Clothing
store
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-21
WILL BE HELD IN TOPEKA.
PopuIist State Committee Decides on
This City for State Convention

The PopuIist state convention will be
held in Topeka on June Is, as foreshad-
owed in the State Journal last evening.
After hearing the claims OF the four
competing points, Topeka, Pittsburg,
Wichita. and Hutchinson, from 1 o'clock
until O'Clock yesterday afternoon the
PopuIist state central committee went
into executive session and after cOusid-
cradle baIOting decided on Topeka as
the place of holding the convention.
The vote stood TOT, Pittsburg being
Topeka's rival
The securing of the convention is al
together due to the efforts of the Tope-
xa Commercial club, which some weeks
ago appointed a committee with NJ. D.
Henderson as chairman to work for the
convention The committee was au-
thOrized to offer the state central COM
nittee a hall music, printing and other
neceSSar1eS If Topeka was settled upon
A large delegation of Commercial club
members and business men of this city
went before the committee yesterday
afternoon in behalf of Topeka. and
speeches were made by Capt J. G. Wa
tiers. Mr. NJ D Henderson, Mr. A A.
GODDARD and Mr. F + Close The
speakers urged the selection of Topeka
simply because OF its advantages as
convention city
In the delegation were Messrs- E H
Crosby, Otto Kuehne, D. J. GreewaId.
NJ d Henderson. c. S Elliott. A A
Godard r. S. Brigham. Abe Steinberg,
J. G. Waters, G P. Adams, w H Davis.
H V. Hinck1ey, c. A Fellows and
number OF others
Representatives of PittSburg, Wicl1i-
ia and Hutchinson were heard after the
Topeka men. The Pittsburg men urged
the selection of that city purely for po-
hticaI reasons, limiting that unless the
convention was given PittsbUrg it
might hurt the interests of the POpuIist
party among the miners in era wfOrd
and Cherokee counties Mr. c. G
Clemens, supreme court reporter, who
made a trip through the mining terri
tory of the two counties not long ago
spoke in favor of Pittsburg, stating
that it was the duty of the POpuIist
party to recognize the miners by Civ
ing that city the convention.
Postmaster Tom Fitch of Wichita and
Chairman Frank Nighswonger of the
Sedgwick county P0puIist central COM
u1ittee made addresses in favor of that
city. and E G. NettIeSon of the Hutch
inson Gazette presented the claims of
q hi
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-21
a SORT OF BURSTING UP
A Lingering Signing for the Which
ness of the Too, That Way
You Know

A short time ago Insurance Comrnfs-
sioner McNau announced that the
Economics Savings and Progressive So
ciety OF Kansas City, Mo, was not
authorized to do business in Kansas
Today he received a letter from the
manager of the society reprOaching
planning why the organization should
have a right to do business in the
state regardless of the insurance de-
parrmeut- This explanation is nothing
short of a statement that the society
is the advance agent of the millennium
It reads as follows
Think Of a power rising in the
midst of men as a new born 1unnfnary
which moves with it's own momentum;
shines of its own light, warns of its
own heat, and blesses it's own innate
purity, and you have the visible symbol
of the Progressive Movement 1t IS
to reveal itself in the physical, the
spiritual the intellectual and the
moral phases of life. 1t is to establish
a society in which there will be no
poverty. 1t will give as from the hand
of God It is q social individuality, a
general soul, a universal thought. It
is truth revealed God, however, men
loved It's final accomplishment is the
growth of the soul We must deal with
idea of the impossible, remem berIng
that the soul of man is Gods plant,
and to stand in the light of its growth
is a theft of more than the worlds val
ue the crucifixiOn of God in man, the
murder Of Immortality I have here
given the general sentiment and some
thing of the hope that is within US I
can give you the work in practical de-
tail if desired
But after reading this convincing ex-
PLANTATION, hard-hearued Commissioner
McNaH dictated letter stating that
the revelations of truth and the growth
Of the soul under the AUSPICES of the
society could not continue in Kansas
unless the insurance laws were COM