davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1898-08-07

the EXTREMIST nicely of reading which
the instrument supplies, we should be
able to read the decinaton of q star
to this degree of refinement.
The process of reading the stars is
exciting and interesting. The observer
sets the telescope carefully before ever
the star comes into the field of view,
and reads his seven microscopes. Then
he climbs up narrow wooden staircase
and watches the star transit nearly half
across the field. Then comes rush, the
observer swings himself down the lad
rapidly upon the star itself, clamps it
again, filings himself on his back on a
bench below the telescope, and does ii
so quickly that he is able to observe the
star across the second half of the field.
There is no room for dawdling, no room
for making any mistakes; the stars nev-
er forgive; ''they haste not, they rest
not" and if the unfortunate observer
is too slow, or makes some slip in his
second setting, the star cold and ineXor-
able, takes no pity, and moves regard
lessly on.
1t will be seen that a considerable
amount of work is involved in taking
a single observation of star place. But
in making star catalogue it is always
deemed necessary to obtain at least three
observations of each star, and many are
observed much more frequently.
The herald., 1898-08-07
SHAFTER'S BROTHER
Is Customs Agent at San Antonio,
Texas

In an unpretentious cottage in this city
reside very near relatives of one of the
men who is Just at this juncturs making
history for this nation. The cottage in
question manifests the patriotism of its in
mates. for at full mast on their staff above
it floats two United States flags. 1t con-
tains the family of j. n. Shafter, who is a
brother of Major General William r.
Shafter, in command of the troops now
making the active campaign against San
tiago.
]. n. Shafter Is the customs agent of the
Mexican International railway and his
Headquarters are at Cudad Porliro Diaz,
Just opposite Eagle Pass. His family con-
sSts of himself. his wife and a son. the
latter aged 16 years. The family have re-
sided here at intervals for the past fifteen
years.
Mr.. Shafter was not In the city YESTERDAY
when a reporter called, but Mrs Shafter
was at home and received him very courte-
ously. She stated that Texas had been
their home for many years and that the
family was educating their son here until
such time as he could go to West Point
where they expected him to receive a mill
tary training that will fit him for military
service for his country. She stated tina;
she and her son had seen General Shafter
when the latter came through this city in
May en- route from San Francisco to Flori-
da.
She stated that General Shafter regard cd
Texas as much his home as his native state,
The herald., 1898-08-07
Modern Bullet Wounds

The study of the effects of the modern
bullet wound has brought to light some
interesting facts bearing more par
ticularly on the relations of caliber
to velocity of transit, in which the de-
structive tendency of the latter Is mark
edly shown. Both the Spanish and the
American armies are supplied with rifles
of practically the same caliber, and the
comparison of results can be estimated
only in connection with the rifle wounds
made during our civil war by the MIME
ball. In the small-bore arms the initial
velocity is in definite depree proportion
ate to the shortness of range, although
not much essential difference is noted
in results within a distance of 500 yards.
Obviously the direct penetrating power
of these missiles is greatly increased,
they scarcely ever lodging. but almost
invariably passing entirely through the
body. The wound of entrance, in ac-
cordance with the ordinary rule, is small
and clearly cut, that of exit being large
and ragged. The latter condition Is
shown in a very striking degree as to
size and laceration on the side of the
damaging effects of the small bullet. The
exits of the modern missiles are sur
DflSlnBly large, Que uOuDtlCsS W tlle ue-
gree of resistance to the velocity. Con-
sequently when bone is struck the COM
minution and laceration are correspond
ingly extensive and destructive. In
brain wounds the skull is for similar rea-
sons extensively shattered, the brain
substance in the track being reduced to
a pulp by the expansive force of transit.
Judging from these facts. as verified
on the field of Guantanamo by Assistant
Surgeon Van Duser, u. S. N, the only
comparative safety was guaranteed by
simple flesh wounds in which no con-
siderable extent of tissue was involved.
Fortunately there has been no opportuni-
ty for studying in our own sailors the
wounds of larger dimensions caused by
shells and flying splinters of wood and
Steel but those from which the wound
ed sailords of Cervera's ships suffered
are said to have been terrlble.-Medical
Record.
The herald., 1898-08-07
SHAFTER WANTED TO FIGHT
He Dared the Desperate to Put UP His
Hands Like a Man

Lieutenant John M. Lally of Boston, who
served for five years in the west with Gen.
eral William r. Shafter, tells some interest,"
ing stories about his old commander,
In 1852 General Shafter was colonel Of the
First infantry, stationed at Fort Davis.
Texas. One day two desperadoes came into
the fort. They had quarrel and drew re-
volvers. The fellow on foot shot the othey
fellow from his horse. General Shafter
was sitting on the porch. The soldiers
were scattered in groups watching the fight
Suddenly they saw the general jump from
his chair, pull off his coat and throw his
hat on the ground. The next minute he
was seen running across the parade ground,
rolling his sleeves up as he ran. On reach
ing the scene of the quarrel he called one OF
the men by name. "What do you mean by
coming into my fort to fight? I'll give you
all the fight you want. Throw down your
gun and square off with your hands like
man." The desperate was amazed.
'Ill put you in the guard house II you
don't fight" the general cried. The des-
perado would not fight, SO he was hustled
off to the guard house, and his companion
who had his right hand shattered by bull
let, was placed in the hospitaL-New York
World.
The herald., 1898-08-07
RING WITH A HISTORY
Once the Property of Franklin Pierce
and Worth $4,000

The ring treasured by the descendants of
Franklin Pierce, president of the United
States, is interesting for several reasons.
For one thing, it weighs nearly pound.
1t was presented by his friends in Califor-
nia and Is unique among rings, having no
equal In the world. 1t is of gold dug from
California mine, the circular portion is
cut into squares, which stand at right
angles to each other, and each is embe,-
lished with an odd design, the entire group
representing a pictorial history of Califir-
MIA
There is a grizzly bear in menacing at
titude; deer bounding down a slope; an
enraged snake; a soaring eagle and a sal
mon. Upon another square is an Indian
with bow and arrow, and a native noun
taineer on horseback throwing his lasso.
Next peeps out California tent and a
miner at work with his pick. These designs
are surmounted by two American flags,
with the poles crossed and groups of stars
in the angles. The part CT the ring re-
served for the seal is covered with a deeply
carved plate OF gold, with California arms,
surmounted by the flag and inscribed
with Frank Pierce" in Roman characters.
This lid opens with a hinge and shows
gold into nine separate compartments, each
containing pure specimens OF the varieties
of ore found in the state.
The inscription within reads: Presented
to Franklin Pierce, the Fourteenth Presi-
dent of the United States" The ring is
'-alued a $1,000. 00.-Phiadeiphia Inquirer.
The herald., 1898-08-07
London's New All Red Waterproof

Londons newest fashion fad is the
bright red satin coat. And strange tore
late, it is not coat for dress occasions,
but for rainy day wear. Not only is it
brilliant in color, but it Is conspicuously
odd in shape. Unlike the conventional
waterproof cloak, this new rain protect
or is short. 1t Is copy of what in Lon
don just at present as the Johnnie
more familiar to Americans, however, as
the little sack coat. 1t hangs full and
straight from the collar, back and front.
1t reaches merely four inches below the
waist line, and therefore as rain pro-
tector is entirely impracticable. 1t is a
jaunty coat, though, and is made with
bishop sleeves and a high storm collar.
Very thin red rubber is used for the lin
ing. So far only a few of these unique
waterproofs have been seen in New
York, but the importer says that the
cherry red macintosh promises to be
all the vogue in the fall. The ungainly,
loose-hanging sack coat is the rage in
London for all sorts of occa asions. 1t is
made of pique, duck and linen for outing
wear, and for formal events it appears
In black satin with effective creamy lace
revers. Sometimes it is cut short just
above the waist line. and then again it
is long enough to be called three-Quar-
ter length garment.-New York Journal
The herald., 1898-08-07
Eagles as Anglers

Down among the oaks and other timber
that lines the shores of Merrymeeting bay
a colony of eagles have lived for genera
tions. During the summer months they
subsist largely on fish. The mode of pro-
curing them is very ingenious. Most any
day they may be seen perched on a conve-
nient stump or bough near the waters
edge, like gray, grim sentinels, silently
waiting for something to turn up. That
something Is a fish-hawk, and when he
makes his appearance and slowly circles
around in search of bis prey the eagles eye
is following him, and when at last he sue
ceeds in bringing up a fish the eagle starts
in pursuit. Being swift of wing he soon
overtakes the hawk, which makes slight
effort to get away, but without avail. The
eagle scales under the hawk, which by this
time becomes so thoroughly frightened
that it drops the fish, which is easily caught
in the talons of the eagle, which flies swift
ly to the shore and devours the stolen meal.
-Kennebec Journal.
The herald., 1898-08-07
SENTENTIOUS

Some guns kick-revenge is one of them.
A poor picture is not helped by being
put in a good light.
The man is usually in the right who
owns himself in the wrong.
He who always complains of the clouds
receives little of life's sunshine and de-
serves less.
The mind, like the lens, may be con-
cave and scatter brain power, or convex
and concentrate it.
When the X-rays are so perfect as to
reveal a mans thought there will be a
radical change in thinking.
Giving an inspiration to another is
like filing a lamp with oil-some time
the light will brighten a dark corner.
The man who denounces the existing
order of things should speedily suggest
some means of provement.-Ram' s
Horn,
The herald., 1898-08-07
RAPID-FIRE GUNS
What Distinguishes Them From the
Slow-Fire Cannon

Rapid-fire guns are just now much
talked about, but most people have only
a vague idea of what they are. Probably
the general idea is based on the Gatling
gun. People who take the eating gun
as a type of rapid fire" suppose that all
guns called by that name are merely ma
chimes for showering rifle balls. But this
is a complete mistake. There are rapid
fire guns with diameter of six inches
that throw shells weighing 100 pounds.
Mere size has nothing to do with the
classification into rapid-fire and slow
firing guns. The Engineering News ex-
plains the matter as follows:
The essential difference is in the meth
cd of loading Instead of opening the
breach and inserting the projectile and
the powder separately, the latter in a
bunting bag, ammunition for rapid-fire
gun5 is now prepared as for small arms,
the ball, powder and firing primer being
united, the powder in q metallic case at
tached to the shot and the primer in the
center of the base of this case. There
are number of types of rapidflre guns,
differing in the way this fixed ammuni-
ton Is fed to the gun and fired. The six
FOUNDER (224-inch caliber) rapid-fire
guns of the Hotchkiss, briggs Schroeder,
Maxim. Nordenfeldt and Sponsel types
can discharge one hundred shots in 4
minutes 2G seconds, 4 minutes 951a sec
onds, minutes Al seconds and minutes
5612 seconds, respectively, or twenty to
twenty-five shots per minute, with ac-
curacy of aim. Without attempt at ac-
curacy of aim the rate can be increased
to thirty or thirty-five shots per minute.
With f1ve-inch rapid-fire guns, or fifty
Founders, thirty-six shots have been
fired in one minute.
The herald., 1898-08-07

name of Almagest, The Greatest" re-
manned for fourteen centuries the one
universal astronomical text book.
A modern catalogue contains, like that
of Ptolemy, four columns of entry. The
first gives the stars designations; the
second an indication of it's brightness;
the third and fourth the determinations
of its place. These are expressed in two
directions, which, In modern catalogues,
not in Ptolemy's, correspond on the ce-
lestial sphere to longitude and latitude
on the terrestrial. Distance north or
south of the celestial equator is termed
"declination." corresponding to the ter
restriai latitude. Distance in direc-
tion parallel to the equator is termed
right ascension" corresponding to ter
restrial longitude. For geographical
purposes we conceive the north to be en-
circled by two imaginary lines at right
The herald., 1898-08-07
NOT MUCH AT FIGHTING
George Decker Relates a Yarn Con-
ceruing "Dadn Clarke

There was quite bunch of ball players
at the west side clubhouse the other day,
when St. Louis made the Orphans look like
selling platers. OF course they were talk
ing shop land among other things the boys
discussed was the recent assessment of a
fine against Dad Clarke, the pitcher for
the Louisvilles. One of the men from the
Missouri town remarked that Clarke had
been fined and suspended for thirty days
for some offense against baseball law.
"What did Dad do? Slug Pulliam,
Clarke or some of the directors?" asked
Pete Daniels.
mo; I'll copper Dad every time he
starts in a fight" said George Decker. 'T
have a private bit of dope on Dads fight
ing ability that makes him several shades
worse than Sailor Brown, the man who
fought in every township in the United
States and is still maiden
dad must have shown you something
awful" said Daniels.
1T couldn't have been worse" continued
Decker. "Amos Rusie and myself saw
Anson's father-in-law, a man over 65 years
of age, give Dad trimming. 1t was this
way: Dad was with the New Yorks then.
He was on the 25-cent gate that day. An
sons father-in-law was in charge of the
gate. Dad wanted to pass in some friends.
Ansons father-in-law wanted them to go
to the grand stand gate, where they would
get the best, and told them so. Dad
wouldxt have it, He said something about
Anson's father-in-law being too d--n fresh.
After the game the old gentleman gave
Dad a call. They tangled up under the
seats. The veteran had all the best of
Clarke. Amos Rusie wanted to let them
go on, but 1 split 'em out. No. Dads bark
is a great deal worse than his bite. Chi
cago Chronicle.
The herald., 1898-08-07

having spent so many years here. His
most active service tht he had in the army
until the present campaign with the excep-
ton of his participation In the late war
was In this state. He first acquired famo
in Texas as an Indian fighter in the early
7Os and was stationed in Texas for long
time. He was stationed for a long time at
Eagle Pass and subsequently at Fort
Clark, at which point he was relieved by
the then colonel, and since General David
NJ. Stanley, now the governor of the Sol
diers' Home at Washington.
Mrs. Skaters son, Earl, is very bright
youth, and shares the patriotic proclivities
of the balance of the family. He is said to
possess many Of the attributes of his uncle.
William r. Shafter.-San Antonio Ex-
press.
The herald., 1898-08-07
Advantages of the Open Door

The largest and most profitable British
trade is with nations having no political
connection with the British people, but the
American people are invoked by the advo-
Gates of ''the new national policy" to be-
gin where experience has taught the Brit
ish nation to stop. 1t is not proposed to
extend the area of commercial freedom
and remove the grievous obstacles to trade
in protective tariffs and navigation laws,
but to give the Philippine Islands new
master under a slightly different method
of protectionist eXtortion. This is not
progress. but a reversion from high polit.
ical ideals and n reaction that would lead
to decay.-Philadelphi Record.
The herald., 1898-08-07

of the consultations lived in 40 degrees
north latitude, and stars within 40 de-
grees of their south pole never rose
above their horizon, and consequently
were never seen, and could not be
mapped by them.
These old workers gave us the constel-
lation groupings and names which still
remain to us, and are still in common,
everyday use. Their work affords us
the most striking illustration of the re-
suit of procession, but procession itself
was not recognized till nearly three thou
sand years after their day, when mar
velous genius, Hipparchus, established
the fact, and built himself an everlast-
ing name by the creation of a catalogue
of over one thousand stars prepared on
modern principles. That catalogue
formed the basis of one which survives
to us at the present time, and was made
some 1850 years ago, by Claudius Ptole-
my, the great astronomer of Alexandria,
whose work. which still bears the proud
The herald., 1898-08-07
IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Oscar Williams, consul of the United
States at Manila, has secured one of the
guns of the Reina Christina and has pre-
sented it to his home city of Rochester N.
Y. 1t will reach Philadelphia about Nov.
1st.
Charles Warren Stoddard says that when
he and other white men went to the IIa-
waiian islands thirty years ago the native
girls ran and climbed trees looking down
upon them in amusement and amazemcnt
because they thought the white men had
been peeled.
Rev Samuel Small, the famous evengel-
ist, who has been appointed q chaplain in
the volunteer army, has been desirous of
such a position ever since the war COM
menced. and 1t is said that he hopes to get
an appointment in the regular army after
the war is over
lieutenant Heidi of the Sixth regiment
was in West Point for two years. but was
forced to resign on account of trouble with
his eyes. After having them attended to,
he determined to work his way through the
army and enlisted private in the ranks
He passed the regular examination for his
lieutennnCY.
When Sir William 1iarcourt was a young
man he once paid visit to Lord Reacons-
field. or, as he was then. Disraeli, and on
Sunday went with his host to the village
high church. "My friend the vicar" said
Disrael. in explanation of that function
arys high church tendencies. twill take
what | call Il collection and he calls an Of
fertory; and afterward what I call plate
and he calls an almsdish will be placed on
what I call table and he calls an altar"
On the day of Gladstone's funeral ar
ranEements were made In the little village
of Lower Cutting to ring muffled peal In
memory of the deceased statesman. The
bells were muffled and all was made ready.
but not one of the ringers put in an ap-
pearance. A local paper explained the mex t
day that all the landowners of the neigh
borhood are Tories. and that the bellring-
ers, who belong to the laboring class would
have become marked men by taking part
in such manifestation of respect for the
grand old man.
The herald., 1898-08-07
Thei Letter Wheat Deal

First wheat bought April 2, 1897, at 7o5S
cents.
Lowest price paid for any wfea tai in the
deal, 64$. cents on June 49, 1897.
Price advanced to $1S5, May 10, 1898.
Largest interest at any one timex IS ,000,-
600 bushels.
Largest amount of cash wheat owned,
IA 900 600 bushels.
Total wheat exported and sold, 80, 900, 900
bushels.
Largest profit on any one account, So cents
per bushel
Total estimated profit on May 81, 81 4,5o0,-
900.
Average pront per month (up to May 81,
1899, s321 400
Average profit per day for fourteen
months ending May 81, 1898, s10,710.
Average profit per hour for fourteen
months ending May 81 1898, SAG.
Average profit per minute for the four
teen months ending May 81, 1898, 81 .5O
Collapse of the deal, June 13, 1885,
Total net loss (estimated, June 10, 1898,
So 900 900.
The herald., 1898-08-07

divisions upon it so that the exact amount
of it's movements can be told. Each of
the six screw heads will be read to the
one five thousandth part of a division
of the circle: in other words, to the one
hundred thousandth part of an inch.
Using all six microscopes, and taking
their mean, we are able to read to the
one hundredth Of second of arc. If,
therefore, the observations could be
made with perfect certainty down to
The herald., 1898-08-07

angles to each other-the one, the equa-
tor, marked out for us by the earth itself;
the other, Longitude nought," the merid-
Ian Of Greenwich. fixed for us by general
consent, after the lapse of centuries, by
a kind of historical evolution. On the
celestial globe in like manner we have
two fundamental lines---one, the celestial
equator. marked out for us by nature;
the other at right angles to it, and pass
ing through the poles Of the sky, adopted
The herald., 1898-08-07
OBSERVERS NUMBERING STARS
Work That Going With the Aid Of Monster Telescopes
While the World Sleeps

3, When the world sleeps and darkness has
drawn veil over our cities, one variety of
soientists is most wide-awake. Giant tel
mers at the midnight skies and the starry
armament is searched for secrets hereto
fore unrevealed. The oft repeated question
what do they do in those mysterious OBJ
serVa tories where monster telescopes bring
the planets so near the EARTH" is not so
easy to answer. for few spectators are priv
neged to be present during astronomical
researches. We have secured an answer to
IT, and are indebted to E. Walter Maunder.
the well known astronomer and fellow of
the Royal Astronomical society, for the
following valuable contribution to scientific
literature
The herald., 1898-08-07
Idealism and Realism

"My dear" said Mrs. Wederly, "what
is the difference between idea1ism and
realism?"
"Idealsm," replied Wederly, "is what
we experienced during our engagement"
"Yess," said she, land realsm?"
ooh" he replied, that's what we are
up against now. Chicago News.
The herald., 1898-08-07
Small German Interests

Amid all the talk about German interests
at Manila it Is well to bear in mind that
there are only four German trading houses
in that city, that there is no direct line OF
vessels between Germany and the Philip
pines, and that no cargoes are ever sent
from either country to the other. 1t is one
thing to protect existing interests. 1t is
another and very different thing to try
to establish new interests-New York
Trii
The herald., 1898-08-07
An Exclamation

'I wonder why Spanish aristocrats
have so many names?" said the inquis-
tive citizen.
II suppose" replied the suspicious per-
son. ''it's merely to give people to whom
they owe money more trouble in making
out the bills s"-Washngton Star.
The herald., 1898-08-07

The Spanish Wav

"Stand by your guns!' the captain said.
Stand till the last brave man falls dead"
For well the captain knew that day,
That Spain owed eight or nine months
pay
To each of those ragged, bleeding men.
And never wanted to see them again!
= md lil.,.
The herald., 1898-08-07

LONDON, July 25.-(Special Core
spondence to The Herald). The deter
mination of time and the observation of
the weather changes are duties the i'm
portance of which readily commends
Itself to the general public. 1t is easy
to see that in any civilized country it is
necessary to have an accurate standard
OF time. Our railways and telegra phs
The herald., 1898-08-07

he absent, and under his touch the
agonies of many soldier were assuaged.
New York Evening Sun.
The herald., 1898-08-07

But few people impair their eyesight from
looking on the bright side of things.
The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-11-12

out of the question, owing to the poor
ranges. Even the mountain ranges,
heretofore as good as could be desired,
have been short this season. Flocks
which have come out of the mountains
in poor condition have found their home
range killed out by drought, and great
many owners are already feeding hay.
Nearly every band that has passed
through northern Grant county this
year chow unmistakable evidence of
having had to hustle to live.