davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14
London News.

Happy marriages are commonAr n ~
land and Wales than in any other cysr-s
II the statistics of divorce are any e-sl
r.on. These statistics AT least show III
comparative few marriages ara 40 al
happy rs 10 occa sion an appeal 10 q. u
vorce courts. John Macdonei the eaax|
OF the Civil judicial Statistics, has ss,,I
to that publication the results OF a so-sx,l
statis;ician's inquiry, showing the pruVsl
ton Of divorces 10 every thosaad us,I
riages IN various countries. In Swiizeriss.|
they were 10. in France they wers Il n
RosImania ~. in Prussia Is, In the vhss|
German empire Il, in Denmark IL Ia ri
land u. in Belgium II. in Sweden lex AL
IL 900. and in Austria under A.S. b, 4
England and Wales they were wei r
per 1,ep-;hat is. i6. The figures a.
Russia are given IN form unavaIAoa Al
comparison. as tho country il divided :,
into religions. Catholic divorces are nassl
ally as low as o.. divorces OF or.hca|
church people IL. and Protestant, dlscs|
81. Mr.. Macdonell has supplied the m
her Of divorce petitions In the Auxrx1r|
colonies for every 10000 population Al
cording 10 this there Is A remarkable al
ponderance of divorce In New South Seal
Wales. For eS.5 petitions granted In sr|
colony there were only 10 granted IN se|
toria. in Western Australia. 81 In y~|
Zealand. 81 in Tasmania. i.s In South AL
tralia and / in Queensland. There 81
also been n great Increase In recent vs,|
In the number of divorces and separsrx.|
In the Australian colonies grouped q \
whole
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

which is the chief shipping port OF the
best nitrate fields of the world. ] have
Travelled from here 10 some Of the richest
fields and have spent a day at the great
nitrate oficina of the Aqua Santa Com
pany which has a capital OF s3es.9s and
which produces millions Of pounds of nil
rate month. But before I describe the
method Of getting this product out Of the
earth. let me show you where these win
eerful fields are In the first place. the
word fields is misleading Ii conveys the
idea OF fences and fixed boundaries. The
nitrate fields are scattered over the des-
ert, and their only boundaries are white
posts al the corners Of the different prop
critics. Outside OF these there are no
marks There is not enough waste wood
In the whole desert 10 make a line
fence about city lot. There is not
blade of grass, and with the exception
Of here and there a scruoby tree, all is
bare, gray. desolate sand, with here and
there CLINT OF white where the salt
rock has caught the rays Of the sun. There
are few more barren places in the world
than the Chilean desert. The coasts OF the
upper part Of the country are as bleak as
the most barren parts OF the Rocky noun
tains, and this sand and rock extend In
land almost to the tops OF the Andes.
Along the coast there is a low range of
foothills rising in places to the height Of
g. mile and more above the sea Beyond
this there is rolling valley which runs
from north TO south, and or the other side
of this valley the foothills OF the Andes
begin. II is along the western edge Of this
valley that the nitrate is found. In some
places Il is not more than fifteen miles and
in others as far as ninety miles from the
sea, but the deposits all lie along the west
ern edge of the valley. forming a strip OF
an average width Of about A mile and rum
ming irregulariy. as have said. from north
to south to a distance OF more than 300
miles. In some places the deposit Is four
miles wide, and in others X plays out al
together and crops out some distance
further or. In some fields the nitrate rock
lies on the top OF the ground In others IL
Is found from thirty to forty feet below
the surface, with Ii stratum of salt rock
on top of it. The nitrate itself Is seldom
found pure in nature. though much OF the
rock contains from 70 TO 60 per cent Of nj
trate. The Antofagasta rock does not con-
tain more than IA per cent Of nitrate, and
other fields vary with the nature OF the
deposit. i. Is the getting the nitrate rock
out OF the earth ard the extracting the
pure nitrate salts from ii that constitutes
the immense industry of the pampas or
nitrate feds. As to where the nitrate
comes from there are a number OF theories
One Is that the desert was once the bed Of
an Inland sea, and that the nitrate came
from the deoayng Of the nitrogenous sea
weed. Another theory is that the ammo
MA rising from the vast beds OF guano on
the islands off the coast was carried by
the winds over the range of hills near the
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

as a good housewives kitchen. The gun
ner's gang on board each vessel is always
at work securing, polishing and brighten
Ing. The guns are taken apart at stated
intervals. and the intricate mechanism OF
the breech given special attention. 1t Is
worth a gunner's warrant TO have a spot
OF rust discovered on the bright work Of
piece Of ordnance under his charge.
This strict care tends 10 foster a peculiar
affection OF the men for their guns, and
they grow to speak of them as animate
beings. There is hardly gun in the navy
but has pet name. and in time OF battle
like that of Santiago, there is actually a
rivalry between the different crews as to
the successes of their special pets. II the
casual visitor to one OF the big warshps
careessly places his hand upon one OF the
shining big beauties" or leans against
its polished sides, he will find the salty
tar who has that special piece In charge
glaring at him in silent rage IL the deck
officer Is about. If that officials eye Is
turned the other way. the gunner will
resent the unconscious sacrilege with a
picturesque and piratcal flow OF language
that makes the offender move TO safe
distance. But II one manifests a friendly
interest IN learning about the good record
of the gun he will find that there is no
surer or quicker road to Jackies heart
and that he can be eloquent by the hour
In praise of the fine points OF his favor
ties.
All this is wisely ordered The Amer
lean system OF gunnery in all It's details
stands vinGicated and upheld before the
world, and In future years when the his
tory OF this war is treated lispassion-
e,ely, a prominent niche will be reserved
for that peculiar product Of Yankee in
genuty and wisdom-the man behind the
gun. H. II. LEWIS.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14
7 HE MZAN BEHIND THE QS7QyM

their steel shells. ard occasionally
deeper roar from the thirteen-inch mon
sters would give a might.er volume to
the din
II vas after one Of the latter shots that
the forward turret Of the Oregon echoed
with a rousing cheer. Charlie. the young
seaman gunner. had just dropped the
firing lanyard from his hand. and Il WAS
seen that the Colon's coming tower was
In ruins. He told me before he pulled
the lanyard that he would fetch it," ex-
claimed one OF the guns crew admringly,
''and he 3D.
These shots absolutely marvellous I'M
der The circumstances. were fired Dy men
repre- senting the two extremes Of the
service The old gunner's mate gained his
skill through years Of experience; the sea-
man gunner, scarcely of age was the
produc. OF a modern system Of training.
But both were American gunners, and
that term means something these days.
Training Of Yankee Gunners.
Eigbty-six years ago Great Britain.
then "a now ore Of the great powers Of
the earth, discovered that Americans
could win naval battles B}it the English
historians grIvely decided that il was. 10
use Hume own words. because OF a
secret Ar, in gunrery"' How our gallant
forcfathe.S Who manned the Constitution
and the United States would have laughed
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

sea and there condensed settled and uni
ted with other chemicals of the soil 70
form the deposits and stu third Is that
the electrical discharges of the Andes, COM
hined with the elements o. the air 10 make
nitric acid This acid was carried down
through the ages in the foods OF the An
des and was deposited on these beds in
the form OF nitric soda None OF these the
cries are entirely satisfactory. and as yet
no one has absolutely solved the problem
as 10 whence the nitrate comes.
How Nitrate Ii Mined
We shall see how nitrate is mined by a
visit to the great pampa OF Tamrugal
This pampa or field has sixty miles OF
ofeinas and nitrate fields. A railroad has
been built through it to carry the nitrate
to the seacoast az Iquidue, and upon it has
grown up vast factories, towns OF CORFU
gated iron huts. in which the tens Of
thousands Of workmen employed in the
business live, and the homes of the scores
OF well-educated Europeans who live here
and manage the properties. Leaving
1quique the railroad carries you ND the
hills and brings you right into the nitrate
fields. You are soon in a plain abou:
twenty miles wide. with low hills rising
upward on the right and the left. On the
side OF this plain nearest the sea the earth
looks as though il had been plowed by
giants, and ii lies n mammoth clods OF
all shapes and sizes. This is the nitrate
fields, which have been or are being work.
ed. The rest of the land Is bleak bare
sand. There is no vegetation and TO sign
of life Of any kind. All is sand. salt rock.
ana amid the clods nitrate rock which is
called caiche. 1t IS \ soluble rock of diff
ferent colors. In some places 1t is almost
white and looks like rock salt. In others
IL is yellow. violet and green. The strata
OF nitrate usually lie two feet or more
under the earth. and there is often salt
rock or conglomerate above ii. The meth
Cd OF getting il out is TO bore round hole
about foot in diameter, through the up
per crust and 10 extend 1t down for a few
inches Into the soft earth below il. Now,
into this hole boy Is let down. He scoops
out a pocket for the blasting powder and
arranges the fuse. He is then pulled out
and the fuse is lighted. An explosion fol-
lows. 4 great ye.lcw cloud of smoke and
dust goes up into the air and the earth is
broken up for a radius Of about thirty feet
about the hole. The nitrate rock Is now
dug off with picks and crowbars. 1t lie
broken into pieces of thirty pounds or less
and is loaded upon iron carts 10 be taken
to the factory. Each OF these carts win
hold three tons OF rock. and each Is haul
ed by three mules. the driver sitting up
on one Of the animals.
At the Factory.
The caliche or nitrate rock is taken in
these carts from the fields to the oficina or
factory. THIS usually stands in the midst
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14
His Skill and Devotion Wins Big Naval Victories;
Peculiarities Of tbs J&ckies Who Nan the -
Big Guns Of Our Fleets,

~9 HE other day little girl living
on one of Brooklyn's streets
glanced from the window. then
i turned and. ciapping her hands.
called out. Papa. papa. quick.
There gees man IN bite clothes with
great rolling collar ana n round cap. And
he has one or as arias tied up. Who
Is hep
The father saw that il was a wounded
man-ot war's-maa brought north from
Santiago TO- treatment. lie answered MS
child. and there WA eaten IN his volce
* he sail gently, That g one ~ he
nagon'a heroee. Hftlr ou> he has Tough;
for 1T and suffered for IS ans ne helped
&c wiu ou~ battles. tie ~as ore Of the
msn hehiad the guns"
This Is only ono If many recent In
stances illus;Estins tbs changed attitude
in which Jacki~ - viewed BY ,he folks on
shore. \ few months aso taese tafs tired
she streets Aas,y aasl 81 pairs without re-
ceixlus I cheer wave of the hand or
even a glance except from some citizen
who accompanied bic look with a shrng
ana the words. spoken cCatenaptu0uS3y.
"TIunph, some more sailors ashore
supposc ;hfy VIII b. in tho lookup before
morning"
IT,. magic Of war and its victories has
worked ,hie transformation. Glorious trf-
unph in combat; Bravery In battle, Sac
rj;ice and suffering Honorable wounds -
ceiTsd while lighting Tor ta1 dag. These
have made Aevo-s ot m raru whom many
worthy cs' svu~ N.Y. Nar }ncsnea 20 de-
srise a few nioniAs aeo
There Is an cid E0rner's Fnate ON the
tattleshiT oregon who has been in the
rervice fer over tel:tv years. tie polished
ana cared to- fass ntfT-tgas-h SY1taofn a~sr.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

at the careful study which has been taken
10 save every cent in product and labor
throughout the works. IL was indeed a
lesson in economy, and when l referred 10
II Mr.. Thunderstorm said: 1.-The nitrate
profits Of today are a question OF small
savings. We make so much that the diff
ference OF a cent IN the cost or a quintal.
or 1W pounds. Is an important item. 1t
would. in fact, mean 10 US a saving OF at
least 100 q month" Mr.. Thunderstorm
also showed me how the iodine Of COM
merce is made from this nitrate liquor IL
Is an element separate and apart from the
nitrate of soda and IL forms another valu-
able product of the nitrate fields. 1t Is
precipitated in tanks by means of bisul-
phite Of soda. and is drawn off in the shape
of dirty black powder. The powder is
washed and filtered and is thea put into
iron retofts and heated. X soon turns 10
vapor which Is conducted into pipes of
fire-clay, in which as IL coolS il changes
into crystals OF beautiful violet color.
These are packed UP and shipped 10 our
country and TO Europe. The sale OF iodine
is monopoly in the hands OF Antony
CRIBS & Co, Of London. The different
companies have formed a trust which con-
trolls the product Of the world and dictates
just how much each factory may make
every year. The price is now, am told. S
pence per ouncA
What II Costs to Make Nitrate.
People who think that money is easily
made in nitrate are much mistaken. The
business requires large capital and the
most careful management. The tvices of
nitrate lands have steadily risen Of late
years and today the only properties to be
gotten outside OF those In the hands of the
seventy-nine factories which are now in
existence are from the Chilean govern
ment, which only sells at auctions. which
are periodically held. The last auction was
held in 1884. when 1000 acres were ap-
praised at 81 .5o0oG0. and sold. l believe.
for mere than their appraisement. An
other property was appraised at S9UeU.eo0
of our money. There is limited demand
for nitrate OF soda, and while IL is believed
that the amount in sight will last the world
at the present rate for fifty years and
more, the Chilean government Is anxious
not to ruin the business out OF which Il
gets so great revenue by throwing more
lands just now on the markets. Even after
the land is bought it costs An enormous
amount to establish nitrate factory. Take
that OF Aqua Santa. 1t has q capital of
100000 in gold. and Ii pays dividends OF
10 per cent, or 100000 year. The factory
alone cost s655,o00. and in addition there
has been PUTIN a Westinghouse electric
plant at a cost OF $1,000 more. 1t has
buildings which cost s2la0 900, and its water
supply costs $4,000. II is now employing
500 hands who receive $50 900 a month and
1t supports about the works a colony of
more than 5000 souls. II owns a railroad
to the seaport of Caleta Buena. which port
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

Done" was the prompt reply. Ten
minutes later the old gunner's mate
squinted his eye along the sight. signaled
the man az :he training lever to ease OF
q Little. took the range from the Officer
IL charge 90 the division. then gave the
firing lanyard n quick Jerk. When the
smoke lifted the eager watchers saw n
great yawning hole In the port bow of the
Aimlranre oQuend0
A cheer came from the men In the sur
RET. and the old veteran glanced triumph
au;ly toward the seaman gunner. The
latter's turn soon came. The cquenio.
battered ard helpless. drf,ed ashore in
flames. The Oregon, accompan Sd hy the
Brooklyn. sped after the feet-foolei
Coiou, The rapd-firs batteries OF both
Anne ~tcar ships ratified ara shricked after
the fugitive. The ejEht-inch guns rumbie1
an uaceasing chorus a. they belchel forth
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

recovered from their shock after the an
initiation Of their ships. one of them-the
executive officer of the Maria Teresa
exclaimed to Lieut.. Commander VAIN
wright of the gallant little Gloucester:
''Madre de Dos, You Americans shoot
three shots TO our one. And you hit every
time How do you do il? What is the
secret?'
IL is no secret was the reply. We
keep our men constantly at practice.
They are at the guns day after day. week
In and week out. And we train them I'M
der service conditions with the regulation
charges and projec4les every three
months"
The Spaniard was astounded. You fire
real shots?" he exclaimed. 1T costs very
much"
In that last sentence will be found one
of the most potent reasons for the defeat
OF the Spanish naval vessels during the
present war. And if the details Of his
tory be carefully searched. the loss Of the
Armada and the whole series of naval dis
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

also belongs % IL. and from w,s..
ats nitrate. Like all Of the Asr.a-s- - x e
large store connected visa
and great part Of the wages =. ~
are spent upon the ground.
Cities In the Des>v,
This is only one OF the srea, .r.s..
nsents which the nitrate rock h.,
a desert. II has built numerous -.
tories and i, Is NON keeping ten,
sands Of men at work. An a,,.
rate railroad there are towns c,,..
houses of corrugated iron. with so,..
stores. and at the seacoas, mis-,
anything. more barren and se..r,.,,..
the nitrate he.ds themselves -
number OF thriving cities. all ~ 49,.
pend entirely upon these nit-a,a a
Take Iquique, for instance. !, 80.
edge % the sea, right under ,ha
hills which fringe the eoas,- 'A7tI
blade OF grass about II. ana ~,
az water, save taat which Is 49,
in ships or in the iron pipe linz
hSe miles long, with which y
connected with the springs OF pira
interior. still. Iquique has d an
and. next 20 Valparaiso. II Is ~ -
thriving seaport in Chile. I, ~,
streets. telephones and electric H.
a street car line. with Chilean rnslsss
conductors Il has newspapers -
and as good an English club az v,a -
find along the west coast OF s,s.s -
Tea. 1t has good stores and n,arks., ~
though II produces almost nothing ~, =
rate Of soda. II has everything ero- =
outside, and you can live as well has ~
have as great a variety OF eating :. =.
place in South America Anrofa,..e
though not as large as IQuique. Is -
equally well favored. and there ara , ~
dozen other ports here in the deser. -
are nour!shed by the business OF u.a.,.|
and shipping nitrate Of soda.
FRANK g. CARPENTER
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14
Paul Jones' Example.

Paul Jones' Example.
Paul Jones. before he made his famous
cruise along Engiani's shores In the Bon
homme Richard, took his vessel to SEA
and practiced jealousy at the guns for
several weeks. He was the pioneer OF the
present American system OF naval gun
merry. Thirty-rlve years later. when the
staunch old frigate United States sailed
away on the cruise that was destined To
bring her everlasting fame. her crew va,
composed Of shay pshooters- men who could
hit mark with the ease OF a frontiers
man potilng a squirrel.
In shat saTa w1r to" only Vessel whlc.
suffered an tgnominious defeat was the
Chesa peake, and she was manned. rOt by
Americans, but by \ crew picked III from
the scum Of the water rront-bea CHI
conlbars and foreigners all. Through the
changing years from that time until the
present hour the man behind the gun IA
the American navy has been trained and
watched and guarded carefully IS a
mother does her offspring. He Is taught
that he guns OF the fighting battery must
ne regarded az the apple Of his eye and
that their care should be his first cons.d-
Grafton.
Affection for the Guns.
visitor 10 one OF our warships will
ind The various guns - spotiessiy clean
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

An Old and wsltTred Remedy Mra w,n.iev..
soothing syrup has been used for over Fifty Years
0y Al hons o! Mothers og their Children while
F.e tnlng wi.o perfect Success It sootbes the
ohaic soitens the Gums Aiiays al Pain: cures
Winc Cole, And IL the best remedy for DiarrhoeA
SOLO oy sSosStsa IN every PAgt o. she world. i3e
sure asd ask for hrs wsnsIow's SOOTHING syrup
and taxs other kind.
TWeaty.Ave Cents q Dottla.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

asters experienced by the Spanish flag
during the past centuries can be lad 20
the fac: that hey have been parsiTonious
in expenditures and c!lstory IN training.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

WAGNER'S band, Madison park this
afternoon
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14

- HE other day little girl living
on one of Hrooklyn's streets
glanced from the window. then
i turned and. ciapping her hands.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-12-22
"THE wAssAIL BOB"

rections, one to the Asa gods in heav-
en-, one TO the Frost giants, and the
third to the underworld.
In the far East, Japanese sacred
books. written a dozen centuries ago,
relate how the gods pulled up by the
roots on the mountain Kager the Saka
tree, on the branches of which they
hung Jewels, a mirror and blue and
white peace offerings to the shining
goddess of the heavens.
The Hindoo P~ariiata and Kalpavris-
ksha yielded all the objects of the de-
sires of gods and mortals. and so, too.
did the Iranian HaGvisptokhm, the
tree OF all the seeds"
At cremation ceremonies in Bud
dhist Siam a framework representing
a tree, to which are tied lines and nut
shells containing money and lottery
tickets. occupies a prominent place. and
after the rites these fruits" which
are called ~"karaphruk. are scrambled
for by the crowd.
In Upper India the scavenger caste
carry In professions, in honor OF their
god Zahir, a bamboo framework deck
ed with bright colored cloths and pea
cock feathers, and hung with fans and
punches of cocoa nuts.
Lucian described trees covered with
ornaments and sacred attributes which
were brought each year to be burnt
offerings to the goddess Atergatis at
H~ierapolis of Syria; and be told also
of great trees, loaded with goats. sheep.
garments and gold and silver objects
which were burned before the Syro-
Pboenician gods.
Conventional, OF ''made-up" trees
arr pictured on Babylonian cylinders,
and one of the bilingual hymns trans
lated by Prof. Sagce describes how the
place OF the Tree" tof which these
pictured trees were undoubtedly sym
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-12-22
TIE YULE LOG

Christmas day In the primitive
church was always observed as the
Sabbath day. and, like hat preceded
by an Eve, or Vigil. Hence our pres
ent Christmas Eve. On the night of
this Eve, people were o to light
up candles of an uncommon size, cali
ed Christmas candles, and lay a log OF
wood upon the fire, called a Yule LOG
or Christmas block, TO illuminate the
house, and, ss il were, To turn night
into day. This custom is still kept up
in the north of England. The size of
these logs of wood, which were in
fact great trees, may be imagined from
the fact that in the time of the civil
wars of the last century, Capt. Hosier
burnt the house of Mr.. Barker of
Haghmond Abbey, near Shrewsbury,
By setting fire 10 the Yule log. At
the bringing in OF the Yule log al
Christmas Eve In the ancient castle OF
England, the great hall of the castle
was p~rofusely decorated with ivy arc
holy berries. As 0 O as the log was
lighted the Christmas festivities be-
gan. The servants were then given a
general holiday and did not 20 TO bed
at all. but rambled about until the
church bells called them to prayer at
IL o'clock. The word Yule signifies
Christmas, which was called in the
Latin or Western church the Feast OF
Lights. because they used many lights
or candles at its celebrations Ia Ecnor
OF Christ, the Light of all Lights.