davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
HOW TO MAKE A GIFT.

A certain New Yorker, whose in
come permits the qualification of his
generous impulses wanted to send a
substantial gift TO an old friend, a
clergyman, whose small parish in a
distant community vouchsafed nim
more of love and reverence than sal
airy, says the New York Times. IL
am going to send B. $780," the New
Yorker announced to his wife one day
in December.
Are you?" she said. I'm glad"
Then after minute she asked: How
will you send it?"
by check, of course" was the re-
ply. How else could II"
But the wife demurred. 1T seems
little too-too sordid, doesn't 1t, for
man like Mr.. B.? Let me m,.n.
age, may II" and the husband con-
scented.
On Christmas morning a registered
express package was delivered at the
little western parsonage to Mrs. B.
She opened 1t wonderingly and found
little fiat box. Going further, mat
OF silk paper was removed and a
dainty Booklet of Christmas remem-
brance was disclosed. This was taken
out and admired and the card beneath
1t read for the givers. Something still
showed under second mat of paper,
and, when that had been put aside,
there, fitted neatly in the bottom OF
the box, were five tiny silken bags,
each tied close with a little bow OF
ribbon. Bach contained a $40 gold
piece. This was the wife of the New
Workers. delicate way OF eliminating
the check element.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
BESSIE'S GREAT SACRIFICE.

The stockings had been hung up and
the little ones gathered around the
hearth to hear mamma tell the story Of
the Babe Of Bethlehem. Their small
faces expressed profound sympathy
when they heard how the Son OF God
was born in stable. how he lay on
a bed OF straw, how he shiyered In the
cool December night and how his life
was In danger from the wicked Herod
Little Bessie seemed to be particularly
impressed. She said noting. but one
could see that she was thinking hard.
When, half an hour later, mamma
came 70 Bessie's bed to kiss her good
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
THE BEST PRESENT.

The best of all gifts at the present
time is yourself, Make yourself In
some way more pleasant and helpful
to others. You may have been neg
lectful of them; be mindful hence
forth. You many be quick in temper
and have spoken hastily; put on re-
straint and speak kindly now. Re-
strain all evil habits and make your
self JOY and help to others. They
will bless you.-United Presbyterian.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS.

The ideal Christmas Is found not In
the land Of flowers, but in the snow
bound, rugged country OF the north
Without, keen, frosty air, long
stretches OF hills and meadows covered
with snow, ponds and lakes incrusted
with ice; within, roaring fires OF
hickory wood, halls ringing with the
shouts OF children and tables heaped
high with the good things OF life
these are the conditions which seem
essential to the complete enjoyment OF
the great feast day OF the church.
New York Herald.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

of course" he said, reflectively, |
am not making any complaint about
1t. All desire to say is that | can't
understand 1t" You cant understand
WHAT" inquired his wife. why you
can put gilded spheres and gaudy fab
RIGS all over Christmas tree six leet
high and four feet thick for rs cents,
when 1t costs at least SIS to trim a
bonnet four inches in diameter.
Washington Star.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
UNSUITABLE.

Magistrate-Why did you commit
this unprovoked assault?
Prisoner wanted to get my picture
In the papers.
Maglstrate-Well, will you be good II
let you go?
Prisoner am afraid not. | now
want to kill the artist who made the
picture.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
VICTORY.

With glitterIng retinue the yictori-
Gus pro-consul returned 70 Rome.
He was met at The gates by the con-
script fathers.
lie was voted a triumph.
He was attended through the streets
by legions OF soldIery, and no chromos
were allowed TO rush up and kiss him.
That Il, they did these things better
In those days. Detroit Journal.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
RACE FOR HISTORY
STORY o. THE TROUBLE FROM A
SOUTHERN STANDPOINT.
NO NEGRO DOMINATION

That Seems to be the Slogan OF the
Whites in the Carolinas--F ack
Rule Declared to be Ignorant and
OppreSSive--An Editors Offensive
Article.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
TOO SUGGESTIVE.

Don't spell 1t Xmas. Il is too sug-
gestive OF the good x dollar bills that
we're broken and wasted.-AtchisoD
Globe.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24
:ne1r time of the press representatives.
Quick Work OF omccr..

Havana, Feb. 1S.-The Maine, at the
time of the explosion, was at anchor
about five hundred yards from the ar
senal and some two hundred yards
from the floating dock. The explosion
put out the street lights near the
wharf and blew down telephone and
telegraph wires in that vicinity. The
first explosion is said to have been
caused by over six hundred pounds Of
gun cotton, and the subsequent explo-
sion is alleged to have been caused by
shells and cartridges.
Lieut.. Wainwright, of the Maine, was
half-undressed at 9:45, and was smok-
ing in his cabin, next to that Of Capt.
Sigsbee, it is said, when the explosion
occurred and put out the electric
lights. Wainwright then lit match
and went to Capt. Sigsbee's cabin. The
captain, it appears, had been thrown
from his bed but was uninjured. They
both went on deck and gave orders to
flood $500 pounds Of gun cotton which
was aboard. The order was carried
out, but the men who fulfilled 1t never
returned. Havana, however, was saved
from a still more terrible explosion.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24

cial state of mind, and, realizing from
the events of the day that the court Of
inquiry is the sole dependence in the
search for the cause of the Names
loss, the naval officials are now re-
signed to await the results of that in
quiry by a court named by the navy
department. No kilograms came and
all that could be CLEANED was denial
Of some absurd story or other that had
crept into print or become current Cos
sip. All the news of the day came in
the late afternoon in the shape of Capt.
Sigsbee's report of the authorization Of
the funeral of his dead sailors and Gen.
Lees graphic story of the terrible
struggle for life in the dark hull of the
Maine. The officials of the navy de-
partment devoted the day to the effort
to correct the lists of living and dead;
to answering frantic Geographic APP
pcalS from relatives of men on the bat
tlcship, and last, but not lca2t, in meet
ing with unwavering courtesy and pa
thence tho exncting demands uDon
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24

no secret cabinet meeting; that nothing has
taken place in the cabinet that the public have
not been informed about; that the whole policy
OF this department has been to give the public
all the dispatches: that the department has no
more knowledge on the subject of the cause of
the disaster or even Of the circumstances at
tending 1t than have the public, and that the
report that Capt. Sigstee had warned the de-
partment that the Maine was in darsar from
out foundation. no such report ever having been
received from him or anybody else
The secretary also denied briefly and
comprehensively wild rumors that he had
requested the chief of police Of New York
to guard the Vizcaya, and that he had
selected Constructor Bowles to go to Ha-
vana and raise the Maine. The last work
of the day for him was to consult the
representatives Of the wrecking compa-
MES, who probably will have charge Of
this work, and endeavor to arrange for
both Of them to work together so as to
secure the use of each peculiar plant and
to save time. The secretary, when asked
what was the departments estimate of
tho conduct of Capt. Sigsbee in the terri
BILE situation in which ne had been placed.
replied:
l think 1 express the feeling OF the presi-
Sigsbee has conducted himself as an officer of
our navy should. He was the last to leave his
ship when she went down. His dispatch to me
that night was complete. Since then I have
thought of no question Of fact to ask him
which is essential to the situation and which
he could answer. which is not covered by that
dispatch. Its tone, too, Is that of a discreet
and level-headed man who realized the inn
preston any word from him at that time would
have on the public mind Nothing is harder
than for naval officer to lose his ship. SO that
have great sympathy for him. await, with
confidence. further reports.
During the day the department was
in receipts Of a number Of kilograms
from different parts CT the country
asking in behalf of the relatives of the
dead sailors that their remains be
brought back to the United States for
interment. While no decision has yet
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24
OFFICERS WERE THREATENED.
IndiSDutabIc Evidence That the
Names Officers Were in Hourly
Dread of Being Blown Up.

IndiSputable Evidence That the
Names Officers Were in Hourly
Dread of Being Blown Up.
Washington, Feb. 20. - Secretary
Longs utterances and all iutimations
coming from an administration source
tend TO show the president and his
cabinet believe the Maine blew up be-
cause of an accident. The anonymous
circular of warning thrust into the
hand Of Capt. Sigsbee, which the latter
sent to his wife, and which was pub
lished in several newspapers this morn
ing, excited senators and members of
congress and increased the opinion in
those quarters that the Maine met her
fate as the result Of the act of a Span
lard. There is indisputable evidence
that the officers and crew Of the Maine,
including Capt. Sigsbee, were in hourly
dread of being blown up. Expressions
of officers of the Maine and of other
naval officers in the last forty-eight
hours that the explosion was an acct
dent are taken with grain of allow
.anee. Sentiment was keenly aroused
among senators and representatives by,
the publication of the Sigsbee circular
threatening the destruction of the
Maine
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24
SPANISH WARSHIP ARRIVES.
The; Eizcaya Arrives OFF New YOr
and Genes to Anchor

The; Eizcaya Arrives OF New York
and Genes to Anchor.
New York, Feb. 20. - The Spanish
warship Nizcaya arrived off here and
came to anchor outside the bar
Rear Admiral Bunce has given final
instructions to Lieut.. John A. Dougher-
ty, who will have charge Of the patrol
tugs. 81 in number. to guard the Span
ish cruiser during her stay in this vi
entity. Lieut.. Dougherty will have en-
tire charge of the patrol. which will
consist. besides four tugs, of two police
patrol boats. AS soon as the Vizcaya
drops anchor in the upper bay OF in the
North river, Lieut.. Dougherty, in full
uniform. and representing Rear Adj
n,iral Bunce, commandant of the navy
yard. New York, will board the
cruiser and convey the usual courtesies
extended foreign vessels Of war enter
ing an American port and will also ex-
pain what the patrol is there for.
When the officers ard the men of the
Vizcaya heard the startling news OF
the disaster to the American battleship
Maine and the downfall Of ex-Minister
de Lone they broke into Il wild uproar
CT talk. For couple of minutes all
discipline on the great warship seemed
to vanish. Men rushed below to tell
their comrades in the lower deckes.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24
LAX DISCIPLINE.
Sp6 niSh Naval Attachc Gives His
Opinion ON the Cause of the Maine

Spanish Naval Attachc Gives His
Opinion on the Cause of the Maine
Disaster.
New York, Feb. 20-The Herald says:
Lieut.. J. G.. Sobrai, naval attache of
the Spanish legation at Washington,
was in the city yesterday actively CO.
operating with the authorities in pre-
pairing for insuring the safety Of the
Spanish battleship Vizcaya during her
stay in this port.
Lieut.. Sobrai was asked for his opin-
ion as to the cause of the explosion of
the Maine. His reply was: II know
the cause Of the explosion, but cannot,
divulge it." He was pressed for fur.
Their information on this point, and he
finally replied: ut was the result Of
an explosion inside the ship which took
place in one If the forward magazines.
The fact of the matter is that the disci-
pline and the watch observed on the
ship We're very lax. This, as one Eng
lish newspaper the other day declared,
is the case on American warships gen.
orally. These sort of things havefoc-
CURED on previous occasions on
American war vessels" =''''''
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24

Washington, Feb. cO-Secretary Bliss
is in receipt of a letter from Gov. John
q. Brady of Alaska descriptive Of the
laWless condition of affairs at Skaguay
and Dyea. 1t was referred to at the
cabinet meeting when Alaska affairs
were under discussion, and was con-
sidered sufficient justification by the
members for the dispatch of additional
military force already ordered to be
sent to Alaskan territory. The follow
ing is copy Of the letter:
"News from Skaguay by the steam
beat now in port is serious. The Unit
ed States deputy marshal has been
shot dead in the discharge of his duty.
Another man was killed at the same
time at the same place. Recently the
steamers have been carrying great
lists of passengers, many of these be-
ing gamblers, thugs, and lewd women
from the worst Quarters-of the cities
from the coast. They have taken in
the situation at Skaguay and Dyea,
and appear to have combined to carry
lingsNith a high hand. The best
people at these places are powerless
because they have no municipal form
Of ~gQyerpment. The United States
marshal IS powerless because he can
appoint only a few deputies, and when
they undertake to act they are singled
out at a target by this rpffianly ele-
ment. One of this class was tried in
the United States district court last
December for the killing of United
States Deputy Marshall Watt and was
acquitted by the jury in the face Of
nnSttivo Tn, foo ~ IN,
1iuences seem to be Joined hand-in-
hand and will surely go UNPUBLISHED
Unless the government takes immedi-
ate action and provides the necessary
force at Skaguay, Dyea" and other
points. Congress should grant imme-
diate relief so that both naval and mil
itary officers can act when requested
by the civil authorities. The United
States marshal should have patrol
vessel at his command with necessary
accommodations for eight, OF ten dcpu-
ties and a proper armament. l do not
see how he can perform his duties as
executive officer of the court unless he
has such means of locomotion always
entirely at his command. Two weeks
ago or little more, a gang of men
commanded Capt. Patterson, of the
steamship Alki, to discharge the ma
tivcs who We're handling the freight OIL
the wharf They attacked those ma
tives and beat them cruelty in the face
of the deputy marshal. The captain
was obliged to compromise with them
by paying them so cents per hour for
work OH the wharf, but he insisted that
the natives should work on the vessel.
am sorry to report that the court
house at Juneau has been burned to
the ground. SO far the winter has been
remarkable for mildness and this
tends to bring the crowds sooner than
they We're expected
The letter was dated Feb. 5.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24
PLOT AGAINST LEE.

Proclamation Expressing Bitter
ness Tow ard the Consul General.
Tampa, Fla, Feb. 2O.-Thc Havana
horror and the suspicious it has
aroused shows up bitter proclamation
secretly circulated IN havana some
time ago Of plot to blow up Gen. Lee
and the consulate. The following is a
literal translation Of the proclamation:
"Spaniards! The time has arrived
when the patience of the loyal has
vanished before the decided protection
which the Americans lend to the bands
of turbulent foragers who lay waste
our country. Death to them! The
moment has arrived to lower the colos
sal head of the Americans and prove
to them that our uncomfortable nation
can reach the doors Of the capital at
Washington. demand PREPARATION for
the grave offenses which they daily
inf1ict upon us. expel. YES. eXpel. with
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24

The wounded sailors in the HAVANA
hospitals, on the Spanish flagship and
elsewhere, when not in condition to be
brought back to Key West will be
carefully looked after by Miss Cara
Barton, who has been given carte
blanche to buy any and everything
necessary, food, clothing, delicacies
and hire the nurses and physicians.
The wounred able to get across to Key
West will be taken care Of in the ma
rine hospital there. The sound sur
vivors will be quartered in the SPARE
army barracks there.
AS for the Maine herself, notwith-
standing discouraging reports from
Lieut.. Hood as to her condition. the
navy department will make the effort
to raise her. They say they are bound
to remove the hull from the small hnr-
Dor in any case, and it may be as easy
to raise her as it would be to destroy
the hull and machinery by the use of
that this work can best be done by
private wrecking corporations, and ne
gotiations are already afoot for placing
the contract, based OH work by the
day, at an estimated cost of 100000.
Spanish Sympathy.
New York, Feb. 1S.-The Herald cor
respondent ut Madrid says: Yesterday
all the political asperities were swept
away in the general wave of sympathy
at the fate of the poor fellows of the
Maine who have lost their lives and
those who suffer from their wounds.
Early in the afternoon kilograms
that came from Capt. Gen. Blanco and
the harbor master at Havana were at
once forwarded to Minister Woodford,
accompanied by letter expressive of
deep sympathy from the minister for
the colonies, Senior Moret, in the name
of all the members of the government
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24

than they. Fire engines came bound
ing down the narrow streets from no
one knew where and going no man
knew where. All the populace turned
out, and the t5rongs gradually trended
toward the water front, but for half an
hour or more no one in the midst Of
that jostling, pushing, half-craZed
crowd knew aught Of
The Awful Tragedy
that lay just beyond. The streets be-
came congesrc;l, and one had hard
task to force Ills way through. The re-
port was first that the arsenal had
blown up, and then it was said that the
Spanish man-of-war had torpedoed the
Maine And this was while the men OF
the Alfonso XII. were struggling in
the work of rescue. The Ward Line
steamer City of Washington and the
cruiser We're the first to reach the
scene, and their crews did all tnat
could be done to rescue the drowning.
Three boats from the Maine We're there
too. In fact, there were more boats TO
pick up swimmers than there We're
swimmers to be picked up. Some OF
the survivors were brought to the land
ing place there and turned over to the
tiremen, who carried the wounded on
stretchers to hospitals. Others We're
brought alongside the City Of Washing
ton, and still others We're carried on
board the Alfonso MI.
The wreck took fire and burned the
long night through. When broke the
solemn, plying dawn. dark wreaths OF
smoke were still curling upward from
the shapeless mass. At sunrise all
flags in the harbor were at half-mast.
The News in Washington.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE appalling
nature of the disaster and the gravity
of the situation that woul>i arise should
investigation give basis for the under
current of suspicion of treachery and
foul play that ran through all minds,
had a SOLDERING effect upon public men
of all shades of political opinion. Pub
lie men expressed their opinions with
reserve when approached for inter-
views. but everywhere there was a dc
mand for an investigation and full de-
tails, in the light of which the horror
may justly be viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly sum-
married. the general opinion OF the ma
iority Of the naval experts in finding 1t
imDossible lust now to state the cause
Of the destruction Of the Maine. There
arc a great number of theories. but
most of them are of character that
makes it easy to prove or upset them
Dy a single investigation by a diver:
Secretary Long has taken immediate
stems to make this investigation. He
telegraped Admiral Sicard at Key west
to appoint a board of naval officers to
proceed at once to Havana, employ
divers and generally to make such in
uuiry as the regulations or the navy
demand shall be made in the case of
the loss of a ship. The large majority
of naval officers are inclined to the
belief that the explosion resulted from
epo1 taneous cmbustion of coal bunk
or. the overheating of the iron par'l-
tions between the boilers and the mag
azine or from the explosion of boiler.
though the last theory 1inds little sup
port.
rhe disposition of the, survivors
Can't. Dickens, acting chief OF the nav
igation bureau, has arranged for as
well as could be frop, this distance.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24
HAVANA STILL MounNs.
Work of Succoring the Living aud
Caring for the Dead Continues.
Havana, Feb. 20, - Havana still

Work of succoring the Living aud
Caring for the Dead Continues.
Havana, Feb. 20. - Havana still
mourns with the American people.
Since the funeral ceremonies the city
has removed the outward signs of grief
but the work Of succoring the living
and caring for the dead whose bodies
are recovered proceeds unremittingly.
Every care is shown the survivors.
Capt. Gen. Blanco and the officials
continue to cooperate with Capt. Sigs-
bee and Gen. Lee. The messages re-
ceived from Spain and the United
States showing that the action of the
Havana authorities is appreciated
gives satisfaction to the officers, who
are making further efforts to anchor
ate the condition of the survivors.
Statements from Madrid and Washing
ton published here to the effect that
many people in the United States be-
lieve the explosion was accidental CO.
incide with the opinion held by the
Spanish officials, and the excitement
which followed the disaster has sub
sided into quiet waiting.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24
THE LATEST FIGURES.
Official State ncnt Places the Num-
her of the Lost Mt 24G

OmC11l SUIT IlACCS the NuM.
Der of the Lost at GAG.
Washington, Feb. 2O.-The navy de-
partment has compiled the following
summary showing the total results of
the Maine disaster from all available
official information up to the close of
the department last night:
Total officers and men on board the
Maine, 800; total officers. 2G; total
men, 800; total officers saved, "a; total
men saved. 76: total officers lost, @:
total men lost, 246: total officers in
jured. .; total men injured. 81; doubt.
full men, Z. The seven men appearing
as doubtful probably represent that
number or less whose lives have been
saved but who cannot be identified ut
present OH account of errors in the
transmission Of kilograms. The 81 ap-
pearing as injured are included in the
Is appearing as saved Two men re-
ported as having died in hospital are
included in the total of 246 appearing
as having been lost.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24

out delay. Consul General Tee, who.
with his family, is nothing more than
the miserable secretary Of the bandits.
Away, away with the Yankee con-
sulate protector of criminals Of the
lowest degree. Every moment the ac-
ton of justice is impeded by Ameri-
can interference. Are we to continue
our liberation? No. no, 4 thousand
times. no! Consul General Lee, when
the stupendous explosion, comes that
will carry CONSERVATION to the whole
city, if you have strength left. it would
be well for you to HE yourself to your
cGuutry and relate what has happened
to- you. Long life to Spain! Long life
to Spanish Cuba! Death to our enc
ininSt',