davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14
MONET TO BURN.
TAs New American Mortar Battery a
sandy Hook.


Tho new model American mortar
battery rs now installed at Sandy
Hook presents many novelties. We
might say. in the art OF ordnance
hitherto unpracticed. says Leslie's
Weekly. When the sixty mortars are
fred at once Sandy Hook will be Q
new rival to Vesuvius. And as each
shot is twelve inches In diameter and
weighs half ton. one can see what
an annoying thing 1t will be for an
enemy's fleet to encounter our NOR.
tars on q summers day. These bark.
ers" are to be put In one circuit and
fired from armored turrets placed in
out-of-the-way localities that COM
mand full view OF the approaches to
New York harbor from the sea. Ane
as the channels are spaced on into
imaginary squares, the officer. with his
plane tables and range finders. simply
follows the enemy's boats with his
telescope. When the instrument To-
Gates the fleet on q certain square the
telescope connects a circuit that fires {
pit previously ranged on that certain
square. AS these pits are deep in sand
surrounded by natural scenery. 1t is
hard even for Sandy Hook officer
to go on shore and locate one. The
only weak spot is the Atlantic high
lands. from which, II an enemy should
capture 1t. the shelling OF the Hook
could be done. But to take the high
lands would be very ditiicult. 1t Is
intended that the mortar shells shall
be fired into the air At such an angle
that they will drop upon the enemy's
decks. No ship has yet been built that
can resist such an attack. Curiously
enough. after they have been fred, you
suddenly see them at n great height.
sailing along like n flock OF geese.
They as suddenly disappear in midaiI
and strike at your feet almost the sans
time. AS each discharge costs abou,
$4,000 for the entire sixty pieces. one
hours active work foots up cost OF
$1.oo0.000. for days work. $4,000. 900
One can therefore see Uncle Sam has
powder to burn.
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14
GOING TO HUNT FOR ANDREE.
rhe Expedition of Walter weIiman VIII
Start for the North.

Start Tor the North.
New York. May G.-rhc Journal and
Advertiser says:
Walter Wellman will start Tuesday
on another expedition in an endcavor
to reach the North Pole. He hopes also
to determine the fate of Anlrcc, who
has not been heard from since two
days after he stepped into his balloon.
Mr.. Wellman Will carry with him the
good wishes and generous contributions
of President Mckinley, Senator Mark
A. Hanna, Ambassador Hay, President
Morris X. Jessup of the American Mu-
scum of National History: the officers
of the National Geographical Society.
William X. Vanderbilt. j. Pierpont
Morgan and number OF others.
June 18th he is to meet mt Tromsoc.
Norway. Lieutenant Il. B. baldwin of
the United States Weather Bureau,
who served as meteoro!ogist on the
first Pcary expedition: Professor James
ii. Gore of the Columbian University,
Washington, ID. c., who Is to make
pendulum observations, Querof Har-
Ian of the coast survey and DIR. Ed
ward Hofna of Grand Haven. Mich
igan, the physician and zoologist. The
patty, well equipped with crew, dogs,
sledges. provisions and scientific in
strumcnts. will sail for the Arctic re-
gions June Goth, on the ice steamer
FritjOf.
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14

ago. and up to the last year. Bill Smith
could get drunk and roll in tho soft
mud anywhere west of Kings highway,
but recently granitoid sidewalks were
put down in his locality. and Smith
went home drunk hve night in success
sion. and each night he had a new bump
the size of hens egg on his head.
Bill Smith simply had to quit drinking,
else he wohld have butted out his
brains on these granitoid sidewalks"
Globe-Democrat.
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14
THE NEW YORK.

slight elevation above the sea. but the
conflguration Of the harbor 10 such n
to give t!.s batteries on them COM
manding position Stretching back
from these batteries are towering hills.
and itswas believed the guns had been
mounted somewhere there. concealed
by the shrubbery. The New York led
the way into the bay of MatanEas. The
Puritan was q few hundred yards
astern on the port side. and the Gin
cinnati remained behind . slishtiy
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14
Eieph.n. E1eeutloner from India.

Mr.. Hagenbeck OF Hamburg, the
eminent importer Of wild animals. has
Just bought very remarkable ele-
phant, aged eighty. This animal is
asserted to have long performed the
part Of an executiouer. In the district
of India whence 1t halls the people are
prohibited by their religion from put
ting a criminal TO death. and. therefore.
Il II arranged that the criminal to be
executed places his head beneath =
stone, on which the elephant treads
This venerable execationer is going to
Berlin.
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14
|A1TLE OF MATANZAS
LASTED JUST EIGHTEEN
SHORT MINUTES.

- Sew York. Cincinnati and Puritan
>iisneed the Spanish BATTERIES In
buick orsier-Description of the fir.,
engAScment of the War.
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14
Han,... Sell. III. Yacht.

Cleveland. Ohio. May G.-The splen.
did steel steam yacht Comanchc,
which was built by the Globe iron
works for ii. NJ. Hanna in 1896, has
been bought by the government. The
vessel was examined by naval officers
about ten days ago and the deal has
Just been closed. The Comanche -
1876 feet over all. 165 feet on the water
line, % feet beam and II feet deep.
She can be made ready for sea in a
short time and will not have to be-
altered to get through the canals to
the const. She has made tile trip to
the coast several times
Mr.. Hannn paid approximately $780,.
OCC for the Comanche. The amount
paid by tine government cannot as yet
be ascertained.
Miss Helen Gould, whose offer Of
La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14

Miss Helen Gould. whose offer Of
100000 to the government was de-
cllned. has decided to equip three coin.
panies OF cavalry to send to Cuba.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
Brigandage in Italy.

Italy Is land of secret societies formed for the purpose of defeating the ends of justice. and all attempts te root out the evil have been unsuccess fui. The Mafia, which has often pur sued Its victims even across the ocean. has just given another evidence of its vitality In Sicily. The daughter of an Englishman was kidnapped and ran. somed for S2O,Goo by her father. Four of the conspirators, being dissatisfied with their share of the booty. were Xecutcd'-buried al!ve-by order of the council" Chance led to the dis covery of their bodies and of some cir cumstantial evidence which enabled the authorities to make some impor. tant arrests. But 1t is not likely that this will bring about a change.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
HOUSED THE IRiSHMANS IRE.
Jealousy of His Own Prowess Loses
 Him His Case.

A group of CougrcsSmen were tell. ing stories in the cloakroom of the House the other day. One of them, q lawyer. told thls experiences:
 In the town where first began the practice of the law there was an Irish man. Patrick Mcdonald, whom every. one called Pat. Now, Pat was a good. hearted fellow, but he didn't get along very well with his neighbors.
 There was an easy-going fellow in the same town by the name of Wheel ocli. He was born in 1S+O and his par cnts named him Harrison. In country towns the people are familiar with one another to the extent that names are abbreviated or paraphraStd Every one knew this man as Hat Wheelock
 Well. Wheclock and Pat had some words over horse trade. The lan- guage used was more expressive than elegant. According to Pats version of the affair Hat threatened to break his face Any way. Pat went before q justice of the peace and made affidavit that he was afraid that Hat would do him bodily injury.
 Hat. of course. was arrested. He got me to defend him. When the ease WAS called Pat took the stand and related the story of how Hat had threatened to injurc him When he was turned over to me for croSs-eXamination 1 began:
 Now, Mr. Mcdonald, you say you are afraid of your lifeY
 "'I am, Sor,' was the prompt reply.
 "'Then you admit that Mir. Wheelock can whip you, do you|
 His Irish was up in Il flash.
 Not by d-n sight, sor; can whip half dozen like him.
 ''1hat's all. your honor. I said to the justice, and he dismissed the case against Wheelock. k.'-Washington Star.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
one. It was the Murder of n Wife

one. It was the Murder of a Wife
 With accuracy l went into each startling detail. and aS 1 wrote down the hloodthirsty words l saw that Thy anger for my wife was melting away, even as the beauty of the story grew underneath my fingers. When l had finished l saw that l had achieved what would be the greatest work of my life, and that hOnors would come to me from the public who would read my story.
 When l had laid down my pen l sighed sigh of relief.
 "'I could not do that again for $1,- O0O.' said aloud. No. l repeated, as walked through the hall, still intent with the plot. no. l could not do that again for $1o.OOO.'
 Did you speak. sirY inquired q Wo- mans voice.
 "'Who k thatT I asked
 "'It k I-Ellcn, the cook. l heard somebody walking around. sir, and l came 10 see who II was
 "'All right. Ellen said; it is I. Go back to bed And Ellen. who sleeps in the basement. went back down the basement stairs.
 Rounding ID the staircase, l threw open the door of my wlfe'S room and stepped inside. A moment later l was pulling the bell franticaly and shout ing for help.
 There upon the edge of the bed lay my wife with the blood dripping from her head and heart. She was uncov- cred. with one arm hanging to the floor. Her countenance waS fearfully distorted She had been cruelty mur- dercd stabbed in the head and heart. Stabbed to death by the hand of q mid night assassin.
 "ln il moment the room was filled with frightened servants and l was sending them In every directlon-for physicians, policemen. nelghhors.
 But there was nothing to be done. She was dead. That much We all saw at d glance. Her head was slaShed al- most beyond recognition and the hand that had done it was a desperate one.
 Fl was too dazed that night to con sidcr But the next day when the in- quest was held l saw the awkward position in which l was placed. The coroner. in his search of the premises. came upon the manuscripts lying upon the little table in my writing room and there. word for word. lay before him the act description of the murder of my wife. just ns II was, in my manu- script. If had killed her before wri- ting could not have written down a more accurate account of the details
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

The rest you know. My arrest, i'm priSonment and impending trial fill the newspapers. l am a doomed man. Nothing on earth can save me. The testimony of Ellen alone would convict me. No chain of circumStantial evi- dence was eyer more closely cntwined around an unfortunate wretch like me"
 l must confess that when I came out of the Tombs that night I was puzzled The awfulness of the story and the cer- tainty of conviction were all that could bring to mind.
 As We stepped down the stone steps the clock in the TombS was tolling II.
 "Driye me to the home of Franklin Jarvis l said to the lawyer. Let me in the front door and leave me. Come back for me in one hour"
 1 hardly knew what intended to do, although my mind was full of vague suggestions. As the front door of the fated house closed between me and the street a shver ran over me in spite of my many experiences and I walked softly the full length of the hall and seated myself in the little writing room.
 Taking up pen and ink. took the blank sheets of paper before me and began to write as though 1 were living the night of the murder over again. As I wrote I turned and laid the sheets one by one upon a small Cairo stand back of me. which had evidently been
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

used for that purpose, for there were blotters upon 1t.
 Scarcely had l written n page when I thought l heard behind me stealthy step. On the second page I heard 1t again. This time there were whispers. l listened and heard a voice say, For the loyyo God. can It be he2"
 l sprang to my feet and turned around.
 A loud shriek rose to the ceiling and out upon the hall floor there fell q heavy weight. II was man and over him bent woman.
 You scared him almost to death, sir said she. ''I told him that 1t was only one of them detectives that they are always sending here. but the back of your head looked so much like mas ter's that II scared him most Ia death"
 Why should that scare himf' ask ed.
 Sure sir, l don't know, but lately he has been like, like"
 At this moment the man opened his eyes.
 Forgive me, forgive me-" he cried.
 T have dreamed of 1t day and night, forgive"
 T will forgive you nothing" said l, until you confess how your curiosity made you creep up behind your master that night and read what he was writ Ing. Confess how you went upstairs and killed your mistress and robbed her of her jewels; confess how you hid after the others were called and pre- tended to be asleep; and confess how you have allowed an innocent man to suffer for your crime"
 Truly frightened now, the wretch told how he overheard the quarrel on the morning and how he had planned the murder of his mistress. And how and by what dastardly means he had found the very description of the mur- der before his eyes and had followed 1t out with awful correetncss.-Chlc Chronicle
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
Set on Fire by the Waves.

On the western coast of Ireland, al Ballybunon. the sea set fire to the cliffs. For centuries the great Atlantic rollers had been breaking them down and making great Assures in them. In their depths were masses of iron, py- rites and alum. At last the water pen etrated to these. and a rapid oXidiza- ton took place, which produced heat fierce enough to set the whole cliff on fire. For weeks the rocks burned like a regular volcano. and great clouds of smoke and vapor rose high in the air
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
THE MURDER OF A WIFE.
Ii: Esl

gan, have been employing my spare time ill a little amusement whicn have very rigidly kept srcret from my friends. 1 have been writing stories During these periods when my wife and were cStraugrd aud neither of lis would humble ourselves enough to make the first approaches. have With drawn from home. and. taking up my quarters in q hotel. havr amused myself evenings writing fiction. This has been my paStimc, aS other men drive horses or seek the billiard rabl". My stories have been in print and lenhtlcSS you, Mr. Martinut. have reaI many of them under an assumed name. My wife knew of my little pa~fimr and ridienlrd il. When wrote at home l could only do lt in the still hours of the night when she was asleep.
 Last "Wednesday morning at tn" breakfast table my Nifr. who had been eNtraVagant of late. brought up the sub iet.t of Il residence uptown. She want cd Ia be opposite Central Park and To ride with the sWcll> al Fifth avenue I opposed her and >h, rctorfcd sharply.
 You will regret lhis. 1 said aS rose from the table. 'luu may regret il sooner than you think. By God l criel. as the memory "f the things she
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

had said swept over Ill" anew, I wish could go away and never see your face again.
 "Of course l Was sorry for the words as soon as l had said them. and during the day squared matters with my con science by sending q basket of flowers to her. I even notified a real eStat" manager that l was in the market for an uptown residence
 "I WAS detained that night at my office. and when reached home fhP church clock opposite was tolling the hour of II. l went softly in at the front door, and knowing that my wife would be asleep at that hour walked through the long hall to little study situated at the rear end of the hall. Here stood a small writing desk. and here l knew l could be alone for an hour to quiet my mind from the business events of the day and to indulge in my favorite recre- alton of story writing.
 "A plot had come to my mind as ! came uptown in the ears. and l resolved to write 1t while it was fresh A flat tering letter from publisher who had accepted my latest story made me re- solve to supply him with another as soon as possible.
 "'This time my wife shall know of my work and be proud of it. I will enter society and court the litterati, while she enjoys herself with the but terfiies,' I said to myself, smiling, as ,ltY,,nJ ,,,,- mn, in tha iDly
 ''The plot of my story was singular
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
The Mnines Men.

pea.h came out of the black nights deep Nud s,eered for hattieship's side; HEt never a man of the sailor clan
 Looked on the Deathman's ride. The Kansan lad and the Hampshire boy, And the boy from Tennessee. With never fear that death was near, Swung into eternity. Nor flag, nor shot, nor battle cry,
 Nor strain of the nations air Bro,,r into the gloom of the sailors doom, Nor yet a priestly prayer. There looks a face from far-away home. With eye bent on the sea. For the Hampshire Jack who'll ne'er como
 back.
 Or the lad from Tennessee. Not theirs was the glory of battle,
 No victory crowned the day, But a nation weeps that the dark sea
 keeps
 Her dead beneath the bay. Mexico Two Republics.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

Looking mo straight in the eye and beginning at the very beginning. Franklin Jarvis told me his story:
 "I am manufacturer of dress goods" said he. My business carries me down into Barclay street and the lower quarters of the town. and on that account l rise early every morning. For many years my wife has not break lasted with me.
 We were married fifteen years ago and our story is an old one. We mar ried in poverty and Were happy. We grew to wealth and were indifferent. When fortune began To smile upon Us my wife became ambitious and longed to shine in the social set of which we had read only q little and in gilded paragraphs.
 "I opposed her and We quarreled. sometimes gently, but more often bit terly. Our words at times rose high. and when. as on n recent occasion, she showed great eXtravagance in her at tempts to get into high circles. I would leave the house and not return for a week at q time. Thus 1t grew steadily on for the last five years, getting worse and worse.
 ''I will tell you now said he. hesi- tating and half apologetically, that for the last five years, since our trouble be-
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
Where Water Is Peddled Like Milk

In Arizona there is town where, be cause of the aridity of the region and the dryness of the climate. water is peddled in the streets like milk ant carried from house to house in canvas sacks on the backs of burros or pack mules.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

When young man proposes to a girl she is usually about as much surprised as n presidential candidate is when he is officially notified of his nomination.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

Everyone has something ancestral, if 1t Is nothing more than q disease.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
NE night. iuStas il was growing dusk and the lengthening shad-

dusk and th" lengthening Shad- - oWs brought weird memories to me. was disturbed hy the rattlng ot q cab which stopped at thr door with a loud "Whoa" from the driver and pull that brought the horse on it's launches.
 .A man sprung out of the cab. and. hastily running up the steps. pulled flanticallN at the door bell. Although + Wa> nearly dark l had time to dis tngui>h the features of one of the lead ing lawyers of the city.
 As my servant showed him into the front parinr by fhr window of which WAS >'i.ns, hr came forward. and, graspu- He by both hands, said: MT. Marfiunt. We nced no introduction: We both know eacu other professionally so well faat Il per>onai acquaintance k unneet>>arF."
 mofjoued him to chair. "I will be seated. said he. but only iong enou-h ior you To set ready Ia go with me. want you to &o to the TombS. My client. in whose behalf have called To see yuu. k there. He k in thc shadow of the galloWs. The nou>e k around his neck.
 II .s uo unusual thing for mr to pa called by Il professional man, and there fore l @aV" no thought to tslc ease aS We were rattliu@ through tAe streets, but thr impaIieure If II" lawyer Wa~ such that he would hot allow the cal- man tu >laekrn. eycn npnu the slippery pavemrnfs. We were nearly thrre be fore h. mentioned tu,. case. He seemed unable to tali from ucrvou>ueSs. When the shallow of the Toiahs fcll upon tllr cab E" turned Ia me and said:
 T can tell you only one thing about the cast; my client k innocent That k absolute. In his confession to me he could explain nothing; he only knoM s that he k innocent
 With this brief prelude followed my guide up fhr stairs leading to Inc Tombs and into the SomD"r gallery tHat runs along murderrr>' row. In the last cell, surrounded by not more fhan ten Squar" feet of space. sat my man. He occupied a wooden char. and when tar turnkey unlocked the door he gave no sign excepting la bury his head deeper in his hands and groan.
 At glance saw that he WAS a gen tlcman. He was Il man in the prime of life. not oyer In, we'll dressed ciean- Shavcn and hand>omc This saw in spite of the dark gloom upon his coun- tcnancc. for never in my life had seen such abicct despair shown in the face of human being
 Al thr sound of the lawyers voice he lifted up his head. and at the mention of my name q ray of hope seemed to come across his countenance. He rose, shook hands with Us both. and beck Oned u> To seats on his rude cot
 Now" said the lawyer, leaning back and leaving Us face to face together. tell Mr. Martinot everything that hap pened that night and conceal nothing from him. Tell him just as you hay" told me-"
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

Our best friends are apt to appear bad In amateur theatricals.
Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06

If a snowball is thrown Into a crowd of boys, it always hits a sissy.
Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-12-08
SCIENTIFIC CONSCIENCE.
An Intcrc.ting Ta'- of Two Gcoio-
tistH and an Exceedingly
gPautifui Fossil.

HAPPENING tU huu" two men who we're
deeply ultr, ,t,d IN zoology and who did nat
know each 9th IA DvtruIt man brought the
two SCIENTISTS together recently at the house
ol one or them and then lett them to enjoy
She urra~Inu. \ day OF Two later he met the
host III the oi7y and heard tins strange story
from hun:
We'll, Mir CoopCr. that was d fine man you
brought cut to SEE me the other night fine
man. Why, he : is crazy about geology as |
am, u not 4 tTIilr CTIXIcT. We sat up to-
s thrr until after midnight. looking over my
specimens aud talking about them. and IN
En.u" down To see ms cdSoS. lie tells me he
his almost hauhruP'cd himself mdulgIng
hl4 taste Tor rare and beautiful fossils. \
funny thing happened the other night, too;
he q great one that man, On my library
table ! had one remarkably beautiful fossil -
too 'hUI," to bC hidden away IN a ease aud
Yet too valuable to he left lying around.
needn't tell You what IT was, Tor You don't
know one iIum another. Your friend does,
however, and he returned again and again
To- admire this particular specimen. III
course. | rulovrI his enthusiastic apprccIa-
tIounfr II. nnd when hc was about to go SAID:
MIR. Badger. YOU admired this fossil 80 much
| N going To give myself the pleasure al part
ug with 1t To- YOU. Please add IT to your col
lection. 80 saving. extended my hand for
the fossil. and behold IT wasn't there
On the table aud under the table looked,
behind tn" Lamp, and under papers no ios-
~ q mysterious disappearance. ! felt non
pu~~rd and looked At my guest. lie looked
Sh,,pl~h, iuublcd in the inside of hi- Sacque
coat aud sand: Well. I'm glad YOU are going
To give mr that fossil | already had it in
my pocket.
Il, had often done the same trick my
sell couldn't utter a word of protest.
well. well said. take it along and
heartily welcome
I've annexed fossils myself Art has no
conscience. Detroit Free Press