davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
A FORTUNE OVERLOOKED.

The Unexpected Find Made by the
Executors of a Washington Estate.
"You may talk about the wonderful
discoveries Of gold In the Klondike re-
gion," said q lawyer a few days ago,
but one Of the richest gold finds Of
the year occurred right here in Wash
ington. l will not mention names, but
the gentleman referred to was known
all over the country before he died as
one of the wealthiest pension agents
and publishers of the present day.
"a short time after the captain q will
call him captain throughout the story
died, his executors were engaged in
making an examination Of his effects.
His will had been carefully drawn and
all of his real and personal property
his relatives and friends, according to
his last wishes. One day in clearing
out the safe In the building which
still bears the captains name an old
chest was discovered in one Of the dark
corners of the vault 1t had been there
for years, and was supposed to contain
only some plates and drawings of war
pictures, used in connection with book
Of war stories. The executors had
passed the old chest by without exam
lining its contents, supposing, Of course,
that 1t contained nothing but the plates
and drawings, as indicated by the
marking On the outside. One Of the
clerks engaged in the work had curl
osity enough to take a peep into the
chest. When the loose drawings were
removed sight met his gaze that fairly
took his breath away. There, nesting
among the sheets Of war pictures, and
at the bottom of the chest, was an Inn
mense pile Of gold coin, which, when
counted, amounted to something over
$4,000.
''There were gold pieces of every de-
nomination, from 81 to $50. The dis
covery was SO unexpected that the -ex-
ecutors were at loss for some time to
account for the pile Of treasure. The
latest will was carefully scrutinized,
but nothing in 1t could be found rela-
tive to the unlooked-for gold deposit.
Various theories were advanced to ex-
plain the accumulation of coin. and 1t
was finally concluded that the captain
had followed the example of other eau
tious capitalists during the last raid on
the treasury gold reserve, and boarded
the amount found in the chest. The
coin looked as though 1t might have
been dropped into the chest carelessly,
for the various denominations and dates
were in happy confusion. The execu-
tors were unable to account for the
omission of the gold pile In the will,
for although the captain was a great
spender, he usually kept a clear ac-
count of his securities. 1t Is possible
that he may have been quietly engaged
in boarding gold pieces for a number
of years prior to his death, and when
his fatal illness came on he may have
forgotten the gold lining to the old chest
containing the war pictures. OF course
the gold was carefully counted and en-
tered up as a very desirable part of
the estate" - Washington Evening
Star.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

$7,20O,OOO; purchase negotiated by VIM.
II. Seward.
Area in square miles, 531, 400.
Population census Of 1900 3O,32O, of
whom but 4,416 were white, s,4OO Es-
kimos, and 1875 Indians.
Principal cities, Sitka (the capitaD,
Juneau, Wrangel, Circle City.
Principal rivers, the Yukon (more
than 1000 miles long,, the Kuskok-
vim, the Colville and the Copper.
Principal mountains, Mount Logan,
altitude 1880 feet; Mount st. Elias,
1s,100; Mount Wrangel, 1850 feet.
Principal products besides gold, furs,
fish and lumber.
Principal occupations Of the people,
hunting and fishing.
Gold first discovered in 1879.
Product Of gold in 1896, $4,67O,OOO.
Klondike in English Is Deer River.
Estimated product of gold to date,
$3O,0OO,OOO.
Scene of the present excitement Is
along the upper Yukon and its tribu-
taries.
Distance from Chicago to the Klon-
dixie gold fields, via the Yukon, is
about $500 miles; via Chilkoot Pass,
1000 miles.
Time to make the trip by either route,
thirty days.
Cost of the trip, about $500.
Travel possible only in June, July
and August.
Climate in winter severe In the ex-
treme; winter beginning in September.
During June and July continuous
daylight, during December and Janu-
ary continuous night.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
The Pony Express.

At first the schedule was fixed at 10
days, an average of eight miles an hour
from start to finish. This was cut
down to eight days. requiring an aver
age speed Of 10 miles. The quickest
trip made was in carrying President
Lincoln's inaugural address, which was
done in seven days and II hours, an
average speed of 1917 miles per hour,
the fastest time of any one rider being
100 miles, from Smiths Creek to Fort
Churchill, by PONY Bob," in eight
hours and 10 minutes, or 14.7 miles
per hour. Considering the distance
and difficulties encountered, such as
hostile Indians. road-agents, foods, and
snowstorms. and accidents to horses
and riders, the schedule was main
tanned to an astonishing degree. The
service created the greatest enthusiasm
not only among the employees. but
also in the ranks of stage employees,
freighters, and residents along the
route. To aid PONY" in difficulty
was privilege, and woe be to the man
who would so much as throw stone in
the way.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
"sLEWED THE MUzzLE OF HIS GUN 70 THE RIGHT"

more nervousness than any of the rest.
When at length we moved by the left
flank for quarter Of mile and then
dropped down to open fire and hold our
ground, Davis was the man on my left
and as I loaded my musket I noticed
that he was firing high. Five minutes
later lieutenant came creeping along
in rear Of US and warning each man to
aim low. l heard him cursing Davis,
and twice after that, ere we fell back,
l saw the man firing into the tree tops.
The enemy crowded US back day by
day and mile by mile, and there was
fighting over every foot Of the high
ways. We had fierce grapple at Fair
Oaks. and again at Savage Station, but
all knew Of Davis was that he was
with US. 1t was only when weturned at
bay at Malvern Hill that found my
self beside him again. He had been
three times grazed by bullets. and that
was proof that he had stood up to a
soldiers work. Our regiment was sta
toned at the base of the hill, strung
along in the bed of dry creek, and the
banks gave us protection and rest for
our muskets. AS the enemy came
swarming across the open every man
was fair target. I had fred three or
four times when my musket fouled, and
as waited to clear 1t l watched Davis.
He was firing over the heads of the
enemy by thirty feet. Our position was
one which could not be carried. The
enemy realized this at last, and the
battle began to die away. On our front
we had only dead and wounded men,
as far as we could see, and all firing
had ceased, when a man suddenly rose
up from the ground about pistol shot
away and stood staring at us. A thou
sand men shouted at him to come and
surrender, but after a moment he turn
ed his back and began moving away.I
do not know why any Of the hundreds
of men who had him in range did not
fire, but they did not. Some were even
cheering the man, when an officer Of
artillery jumped down among Us and
shouted:
"Shoot him-shoot him-why don't
some of you bring him DOWN.
His words were heard by fifty men,
but not gun was raised. The officer
was storming at us when Davis sud
denly lifted his musket and fired, and
the retreating man flung up his arms,
whirled about and sank down Curses
and groans followed, and Davis threw
down his gun and hid his face In his
hands and sobbed.
"A splendid shotr cried the officer,
"and II I were your captain you would
be corporal tomorrow
Davis had done a strange thing. We
looked at him and wondered over 1t.
The heat Of the battle was yet strong
gpRn US, but the killing sf the man
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
seemed little short of cold bloodes muir

der.
did kill-kill him ~ asked Davis of
man beside him when he could con-
troll himself.
Yes. you shot him dead, the poor
devil Why didn't you let him get
away?"
You have all been down on me be-
cause 1 wouldn't KILL" moaned the
shooter, as he hid his face again.
That night we fell back to the James
River. In the darkness and confusion
commands were mixed up, and it was
night again before the company roll
was called. Private Davis was among
the missing. He had survived the bat
ue-the retreat was unmolested-if
alive he was bound to find his command
within a few hours. And yet he never
found 1t. When the returns were made
up his name was placed among the
dead. He had been disgraced because
he would not kill. He had nerved him.
self up at last to fire upon a human
target-and then? We spoke his name
IN whispers after that, and said only
good words for him.-Charles B. Lewis,
In Denver News.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

A pen carrying a small electric lamp
to prevent shadows when writing has
been patented in Germany.
Chileans never enter or leave coach,
street car or other public vehicle with
out bowling to all its occupants.
A Brighton England young man has
killed himself because his wife made
fun of him for kissing the servant girl.
1t is estimated that since the begin
ming of the historical era IS, 200, 600
persons have perished in earthquakes.
Ornithologists have discovered that
crows have no less than p cries, each
distinctly referable to a different ac'
tion.
The wages of Cinnamon in Annoy
are SIS month, which is 10 per cent
above the average wages prevailing in
China.
The first Ohinaman to offer his SER
vices as a soldier in the present war was
Ong @. Tow, wealthy merchant OF
Santa Ana, California.
The nests of the termites or white
ant are, pIOpOrtloheu W TIC CLIO anu
weight of the builders, the greatest
structures in the world.
There was sold In London the other
day a manuscript in the autograph of
William Cowper, comprising the varia-
tions made from the first edition of his
translation of the Iliad.
The artificial serum Of common salt
and cooking soda (sodium chloride and
soadium carbonate) is used by an Italian
specialist, DR.. Tomasoli, for the treat
ment OF extensive burns.
When liquid air, containing from 40
to 80 per cent of oxygen is mixed with
powdered charcoal 1t forms an explo-
sive which is said to be comparable in
power to dynamite, and can be explod-
ed by means of a detonator.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

his head and was looking at the officer
over his gun. At the end of quarter
Of a minute he dropped 1t again. 1t
was his duty to kill, but this was kill
ing in cold blood, and he had to have
O few seconds to nerve himself up.
Back went our eyes to the officer. He
was slowly sweeping the glasses
across a front of half mile, and l
wondered If he would drop them as
the bullet struck him, or whether his
fingers would clutch and hold them the
tighter. My heart came crowding into
my throat as watched and as the sec
onds passed, and at length l heard the
man on Davis left shouting at him:
"Shoot! Shoot! Why the devil don't
you drop that officer?"
I turned to look at Davis, and as !
did so he slowed the muzzle of his gun
to the right and fired into the bushes
A few seconds later the officer lowered
his glasses, and swinging them in his
hand and perhaps humming tune,
he slowly disappeared into the bushes.
Later in the day, when Davis singular
action had been reported, the captain
said to him:
"Davis, I can't believe you are cow
ard, because you went down on the
skirmish line to be shot at, but when
you had an enemy fairly under your
gun. and an officer at that, why didn't
you bring him down."
81 was going to, sir. but IL
couldn't" was the reply.
"But they were shooting at you to
kill"
Eyes, know"
The captain could hardly reprimand
man fer not killing an enemy as he
would have shot down a rabbit, and
there was no one to hint that Davis
lacked courage. The incident was for
gotten after q little. and such was the
soldiery conduct Of the man that he
was made corporal. When the enemy
withdrew behind the works at York
town to bar McClellan's road to Rich
mond he covered his wings with
sharpshooters, and our officers were
their special target One day, as three
companies of US were dragging up some
of the heavy slege-guns to be put In
potion, major and q private were kill
ed by sharpshooter who was located
in a tree top. He could be plainly made
out, but the range was too far for our
army muskets. A Bcrdan rifle was sent
for, and when it arrived our captain
put it into the hands of Corporal Davis
and said:
"You are by long odds the best shot
IN our company. With dead-rest over
that log you can tumble that man out
Of BIS tree"
Davis hung back and turned pale.
Just then q brigadier rode up to give
an order, land-his horse had scarcely
come 10 aiha.t, when a bullet from the
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

ua marched to the front; IL
brought our muskets to an aim US
we caught Sight of the enemy ZOE tne
| first time. We had become soldiers 10
march, fight and Kill. 1t was to De look
ed upon as a matter Of business, as
we'll as patriotic duty. The sooner
the strength of the enemy was exhaust
ed the sooner we would have peace
We thought that every man IN COM
pany &c" had the same feelinS-to XIII
but we had not been long at the front
when we found an exception. A score
of skirmishers were ordered down In
front of the regiment to feel the
strength Of the enemy in the fringe Oh
bushes along a creek. Ambrose DAVIS
was one of US. He was man OF 5o-
a plain, every day man who had laid
down the tools Of a mechanic to take
I'D the musket of a soldier. He was not
given to enthusiasm, but he was an obe-
dent soldier and the best shot In the
company. AS we clambered over the
fence and took "open order" on the
broad field which dipped down to the
creek, the enemy In the fringe had a
dead rest on every man. War with
them also meant kill. To kill one of
half million men means little, and yet
1t means kill. Zip! Ping! Zip! 1t was
not firing by file-it was not firing by
volleys into a battle line half hidden
in the smoke, but every bullet that came
pinging was meant for an individual
soldier.
We crouched down and ran forward.
We zig-zagged to right and left. We
took the shelter Of every knoll, brush
and stump. The enemy had to develop
his strength to check US. In front Of
Davis was an opening in the fringe
q spot where a farm road crossed the
creek. The enemy to the right and left
Of this road was using the bank Of the
stream as breastwork and we were
firing a good deal at random. An officer
suddenly appeared in the center Of this
opening, and raising a pair Of glasses
to his eyes he took cool survey of the
regiment far back of US on the hill. He
was within pistol shot Of Davis and
he must have known it. and yet he
stood there as cool and calm as you
please to take his chance. It was
sheer bravado. Four of our twenty had
been killed, and the enemy was seek
ing the lives of the rest I was to the
right Of Davis and could have almost
hit the officer with a stone; the man
on his left had just as fair a target.
He was not our game" however-he
belonged to Davis. We saw our COM
rade thrust forward a barrel Of his
musket and bring his eye down to the
sights. Then we watched the officer to
see him throw up his hands and fall.
Thirty seconds passed away, and we
glanced back at Davis. He had lifted
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
Lotteries i'm old Havana.

In Havana the strangers attention
is arrested by the venders OF lottery
tickets, who stand on the street corners
with pair of shears in one hand and
sheets of lottery tickets in the other,
ready to cut off any number for buyers.
They are very adroit, and are apt to
persuade the cledulous that they will
draw fortune in the scheme. These
licensed lotteries are one of the great
evils there, especially to the Spanish
people, who seem to be born gamblers,
and for whom the chances of dice,
cards, and lottery tickets appear to
have an irresistible charm, all classes in
Havana dealing In them habitually.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
PROGRESS OF cATAPHoREsls.
Medical Illustration of Whit Can Be
Done With Electricity.

Medical Illustration of Whit Can Be
Done With Electricity.
In dentistry no subject is more dis
cussed than the painless filling and
extraction of teeth. Regarding the
former DIR. Thomas III. White, when
seen in his Office at 2711s Morrison
street, near Fourth, said:
That teeth can be filled absolutely
without pain is a positive fact, which
is demonstrated most every day in my
office. Teeth that are SO sensitive that
the patient cannot endure an instru-
ment to touch them can be made thor
oughly insensible to pain or feeling in
from 10 to 30 minutes, and can be
then filled or treated with ease. Yes,
electricity is great boon to mankind.
Just think of taking the nerve out of a
tooth in 10 minutes from the time of
the application of the electricity with
out the slightest knowledge of it by
the patient" The late method of
SIiidge work invented by the brother
of DR.. White Is great improvement
on plates.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

Foreign authorities assert that tuber.
culosis is prevalent in all countries, ir-
respective of climate and other condi-
tions. In Europe Professor Leyden
states that it is responsible for at least
1000, 900 deaths annually.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
ortetn of a Time.Honored Phrase.

Origin of a Time-Honored Phrase.
The doornail in earlier times was the
plate of the door upon which the old
fashioned knocker struck to arouse the
inmates Of the house. AS the plate or
nail was struck many more times than
any other 1t was assumed to be more
dead than other nails. Hence the
phrase Dead as a doornail." If the
old ideas are to be revived, as now
seems possible, the phrase may soon
have a present application.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

There is more Catarrh in this section of the
country than all other diseases put together,
and until the last few years was supposed to be
incurable. For great many years doctors pro,
remedies, and by constantly failing to cure
with local treatment, pronounced 1t fncurable.
Science has proven catarrh to be constitu-
tional treatment. Halls Catarrh Cure, m an
ufactured by F. J. Cheney Co., Toledo, Ohio,
is the only constitutional cure On the market.
1t is taken internally in doses from 10 drops to
q teaspoonful. 1t acts directly on the blood
and mucous surfaces OF the system. They offer
one hundred dollars for any case 1t fails to
cure. Send for circulars and testimonials. Ad.
dress, FL. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, o.
Sold by Druggists, 75c.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

Coronium, chemical element hith-
erto found only by spectroscopic exam
ination in the suns corona, has been
found by Professor Nasini,s I'm the gases
given off by Mount Vesuvius. 1t is
supposed to be much lighter than by
drogen.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
REDUCTION IN BICYCLE PRICES

1t is said that western capitalists are con-
company. which hopes to make frst-ciass
wheels and sell them as low as $40. Whether
this be true or not, the fact remains that Hos
letters Stomach Bitters is first-class remedy
for the stomach, liver and blood, and the price
puts 1t within everybody's reach to be well and
strong. For fever and ague 1t is specific.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

THE time necessary for the conver-
sion of forest tree, or a part of it,
into printed paper in recent test
made in Germany, was two hours and
35 minutes.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
A Thorough Sport.

The Deacon-"Young man, don't you
know that there's a rainy day coming?"
Spendthrift-'Mehby there is, but
I've got S. that says the weather man
won't call the turn. Come. now, if
you've got any nerve show your
money -
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

That double faced stuff with strik-
ing plaid ON one side and downy white
on the other, makes a most surprising
jacket, and walk through the country
light thus attired. The jacket is made
plaid side out, though the inside of
the collar, the revers and the straps
show white. 1t Is double-breasted and
warm enough to make one long to face
a blizzard in it.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

The application of the motor to the
bicycle has been tried, but as yet with
no great success. 1t seems to be evi-
dent that vehicle that cannot stand
alone is not adapted to sef-propulsion.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

A French army surgeon claims sew
eral advantages for bullet of COM
pressed paper covered with polished
aluminium, the chief being that the
wounds are surgically clean. healing
with little risk of blood poisoning
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

The use of oxygen gas, either pure
or diluted with pure air, is regarded
by DR.. George Stoker, of England, as
the speediest method of healing
wounds,
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

Naturalists have ascertained that
scorpions and certain kinds of spiders
are able to make peculiar noises to
warn an enemy that an attack is at
tended by danger.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

A curious fact has been noted by
arctic travellers. Snow, when at very
low temperature, absorbs moisture and
dries garments.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

In Sweden there are floating canner-
les. They are small vessels which fol-
low fishing fleets, and men on theIn
can the fish while they are fresh.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
Laree Cofree Plantation.

The largest coffee plantation in Bra
I'll, and perhaps in the world, is the
Dumont plantation, established by 6
Frenchman In the state of Minas Ger
aes. The number of coffee plants IL
1895 was 4,71S,000.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

In Persia bonfire plays an import
ant part in the marriage ceremony, the
ceremony being read over in front of it.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

Electro magnets capable of picking
up load not exceeding five tons are
used by an Illinois steel company to
transfer steel beams or plates from one
part of the shop to another
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07
Latest for the Toilet Table.

The newest arrangements for Mi
lady's toilet table is that tiresome arti-
Gle, hair receiver, or rather a new
variation on it. 1t is of chased silver,
gilt lined, and there's a hole in the
cover into which lost locks are thrust.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

The Japanese are curiously alike
physically. Recent measurements
taken of AN infantry regiment showed
no~Varia.ion except two inches ia
In weight.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

"a M
3 3 ""apA SOLDIERS TARGET. .q|l~ e e
q M


ACH man, as he
signed his name on
the enlistment roll,
ra:sf,2ed that war
mea Mt fight, and
that fight meant
kill. This idea was
further drilled into
us in camp; it form
ed the basis of the
colonel's address as
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

Seymour Keyes, a postmaster al
Mannheim, N. Y, has an apple tree
which was brought from Holland in
the 18th century. 1t still bears fruit.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

1 never used SO quick q cure as Piso's
Cure for Consumption.-J. B. Palmer,
Box HI, Seattle, Wash, Nov. 25, 1885,
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-07

In Sweden there are floating can
neries. They are small vessels, which
follow fishing fleets, and men on them
can the fish while they are fresh.