davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14
F0ILING A TORPEDO PLOT.
But for Some New York Soldiers They
Would Have Killed Thousands.


Would Have Killed Thousands.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There be-
ing so much said about tofpedoes at this time,
/ wish to tell of an incident of the late war.
On the morning of July II, 1864, II tor
pedoes were found by six men of Co. L, 18th
y. Y. III. A., who were at the time on de-
tached service and acting as the crew of the
gunboat Parke, of Gen. Graham's naval bri-
gade. The torpedOes had been brought across
the country from Richmond, Va, apparently
on wagons, as the boats containing them were
cllafed by something resembling the action of
whe is.
These torpedoes were turned over 10 Gen.
Butler, and it was reported at the time that
they were laid in the James River near
Dutch Gap. and when the rebel ram Drewry
made an attempt to come down to City Point
she was blown up by one of these.
! was one of the party who found the tor
pedoes The Parke, manned by Co. l., 18th
n Y H. A, was moving up the James in
the night of July Is, and when about oppo-
site Westover, which is above Fort Powhatan,
and near Windmill Point, as we called it,
the Quartermaster on duty observed some
thing in the water, and reporting the same,
Capt. Fitch ordered part of the crew to go
ashore in the lanches. Lieut.. Hart or Lieut.
O'Malley commanded the party. When they
reached the shore they were fired upon, and
returned to the gunboat in the stream. They
were ordered ashore again, and remained
ashore all night, securing the country for
miles around, but did not find any armed
men.
Returning in the morning they fingered on
the shore before re-emharking, and while
lingering there the six men strolled down the
beach, and in Il elump of bushes drawn up
out of the water were two boats and raft
containing the torpedoes. They had anchors
attached to them. like a graphing iron used
in searching for drowned persons.
In the stern sheets of one OF these boats we
found 4 rife loaded, and two pieces of bread
and piece of bacon (sandwiehl, which did
not reveal the sign of bite on its surface
One OF the beats had number on it, being
marked g No. 2, new, and the paint chaied.
Now, how did they get there?
In answer 10 request from Gen Grant,
thousands of men We're being sent up the
James to the front near Petersburg and Rich
mond. The rebels devised a plan To eut Off
some of these and were about to anchor these
deadly weapons in the James River on July
Is during the night In the actof laying the
tOrpedoes the rebels were frightened ashore.
aud when we landed that night gave Us a
parting volley and led us into the country,
and would have succeeded in another attempt
probably but for this stroll OF Serg't Bauman.
the writer and four others.
After we found the prize the rebels were
seen about mile distant ON horseback. and
very much excited Rev. W. III.
LANING, Co. l., 18th n. y. Fl. A., Dover, n. j.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14

| 1t did not assume 10 place the response
bility. That remains to be fixed.
In any event, the destruction of the
Maine, by whatever exterior cause is a
patent and impressive proof of state OF
things in Cuba that is intolerable. That
condition Is thus shown to be such that the
Spanish Government cannot assure safety
and security To a vessel of the American
Navy in the harbor of Havana on a mission
of peace and rightfully there.
turther referring In this connection to
recent diplomatic correspondence, a dis
patch from our Minister to Spain, of the
26th ultimo, contained the statement that
the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs
assured him positively that Spain will do
all that the highest honor and Justice re-
cure In the matter of the Maine. The re-
ply above referred to of the 1st ultimo also
contained an expression Of the readiness of
Spain to submit to an arbitration ali the
differences which can arise in this matter
which is substantially explained by the
note of the Spanish Minister at Washing
ton of the 10th instant. as follows
AS to the question of fact which springs
from the diversity of views between the
report of the American and Spanish boards
Spain proposes that the fact be ascertained
by an impartial investigation by experts,
whose decision Spain accepts in advance"
To this have made no reply.
WANTS POWER TO END HosTrLITIEs.
The President then makes a request of
Congress. He says:
The long trial has proved that the OBJ
iect for which Spain has waged the war
cannot be attained. The fire of inSurrec-
ton may fame or may smolder with vary
ing seasons, but il has not been and il is
plain that it cannot be extineuished by
present methods. The only hope of relief
and repose from a condition which can no
InnppF ne endured the enforced pacifio.-
ton of Cuba. In the name of humanity,
in the name of civilization, in behalf of en-
American interests which give
US the right and the duty to speak and to
act, the war in Cuba must stop.
In view of these facts, and OF those con-
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14
THE FIGHT 1T INDEPENDENCE.
A Woman's Prompt Action Aided the Union
Charging Column.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Being an
interested reader of your valuable paper, par
ticularly the Fighting Them Over columns,
which you so generously set apart for the use
of the old boys in giving thei: experiences
| am prompted to give my experience in evil
dence of what Comrade w. Ii Smith of Co.
NJ, 18th Mo- Cav, says of the part taken by
that regiment during Prices raid.
shall confne myself to the fight at Inde-
pendence. remember we'll that the 18th Mo-
Cav. led the advance in that fight, and we
were deployed as skirmishers driving the
strong line of rebel pickets away from their
food, nhi:h we hastily grabbed and ate as we
went on fighting
About this time the rebels opened with ar
tliery from town, sending shot and shell into
the timber where we We're. A perfect shower
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14

is of Tie Of
which have occurred frequently OF late during
he embrogio The
the gallery looking diagonaly
the the the background
wi noticed the Speakers ces with the clerks in front
OF which the
dooar the side the Democrats
gallery devoted nem crs families ard
and the public,
excitement the foor Immediately above
Speaker is the press gallery filled with The skilled gentle
send by telegraph TO the Journals they
OF These
MAX members Congress 1t
of entirely OF their presence.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14
TO CURE COLDIN ONE DAY

Take Laxative BrOmo Quinine Tablets All
druggists refund the money if it fails TO cure.
25c. The genuine has l.. Is. Q. on each tablet
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14

In fact than half the
speeches delivered in reality ~ ~
lhe faithful of
vital up for discussion ne Chamber
interest DF the members manifested by
'front.' 1i the Speakers desk at the which
generally bar OF House, in
Always IND u1t to understand how the
excited and all to speak time when it is well
known that only tc recognized
mt on by the Srealcr
the use assemblies that the wild
on the part OF tn ma ory OF those present
however, has been
hand OF the Gar has the ask of maineninp
senbance Of order and surrressng be heard
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14

4 medicine that will cure such severe
sickness as alluded to below is equally
effective in reaching and overcoming the
numerous ailments so general at this season.
aud which unless promptly removed are
liable to result in illness of an obstinate
nature. g 4 stitch in time" etc. was
never more aptly applied. Read Mr.. Ham
mond's letter.
liable Grove, H.. Feb T. 1893
&C. l. Hood Il Co, Lowell, Mass:
'Gentlcmcn Several years ago was taken
with what the doctors pronounced rheumatism
and scrofu!a Ny limbs became drawn up
and suffered great pain. remained in this
condition for about six months when running
res broke out on cach side Of my thighs and
Oh my wrist
Pieces Of Bone Came Out
Of the sores on my thighs, and physicians be-
iieved fEe lone was diseased aud thought a
surgical operation would lie necessary.
was then a perfect wreck and suffered un-
toid misery. did not have any appetite
aud my Sleep was much disturbed. was un-
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14
Pieces of Bone Came Out
Hoods SarsaparilIa

is Americas Greatest Medicine because when all
fail Sold by all druggists 81 six for So get Hoods
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25
Washing Milk Vessels,

All through the warm weather, par
ticular care is needed to cleanse yes
sells that have contained milk If any
particle of milk is left in the crevices
or corners of vessels, it will sour and
affect any milk that is afterwards
added. Many people in cleaning milk
from vessels wash them first with
scalding hot water. This is a mistake.
The hot water only coagulates the al
bumen, causing it to stick more close
ly to the sides of the vessel. If it
be of tin the securing of the milk soon
eats through the coating of tin, and
causes rust on the iron beneath it.
What we call tin is merely iron with a
very thin tin coating. No such vessel
is tit for long use, as the tin will wear
through, and all the more quickly if
the coagulated albumen, made by hot
water and milk, requires hard rubbing
to remove it. The right way to clean
milk vessels is to rinse them we'll with
cold water, and then scald them, to
destroy any germs that the cold water
may have left.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25
Suicide in Japan.

Hari-kari is a Japanese word for sui
eide by disembow elment. This horrid
practice formerly prevailed among
high officials and members of the mil
itary class when unwilling to survive
some personal or family disgrace, or
in order to avoid the headsman' 8
sword after having received sentence
of death, BY committing hari-kari the
culprit cleared his character and his
family was not disgraced. In the lat
ter case the act was performed in the
presence of witnesses, and was ac-
companied by elaborate formalities.
At the momentthe suicide ripped open
his abdomen with his dirk his head
was struck off by the sword of his
second, who was usually kinsman or
intimate friend. Hari-kari was first
instituted in the days of the Ashikagu
dynasty, 1336-1568 A. d.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25

the capital, is also convict settle
ment. 1t is beautifully clean, and
possesses good government officials, a
hospital, schools and church. The
Spanish residents have usually num-
bered about twenty, and the regular
soldiery about 200, all quartered here.
The militia, comprising about all the
male population, is commanded by
native officers. The civil government
is similar to that of the Philippines.
Postal communication has been quar-
terly.
When first discovered the Ladrones
had a population of about 10000.
Not one of the original race survives,
and the islands are peopled chiefly by
Tagals and Bisayans from the Philip
pines, mixed descendants of South
American Indians, colony of Caro-
| line Islanders who founded Garapan
| in the Island of Saipan, and numerous
Chamorro-Spanish halfbreeds. The
! census of 1888 reports population OF
6476 in Agana, and total OF 10, 172
in all the islands, 5034 being males
5139 females. There are eighteen
schools in the Island of Guam. Only
ten per cent. of the Ladrone Islanders
are unable to read and write. Spanish
is the recognized language; but many
of the natives speak little English.
The climate is good and equable; sew
enty degrees to eighty degrees
Fahrenheit is the range f the ther-
mometer.
The present population are de-
scribed as wanting in energy, OF IN
different moral character, and miser
ably poor" They are descended il
part from the original Inhabitants,
called Chamonos, and from the Mesti
zos, mixed race formed by the union
of Spaniards with these natives.
On the island called Suypan colony
from the Caroline Islands, which lie tc
the south of the Ladrones, was estab
lished some years ago. These people
are the most active and enterprisine
inhabitants of the Ladrones.
Spain has derived no revenue from
these islands, and has done little to
civilize the people. At one time a
few small schools were started, but
they were soon abandoned.
In 1856 an epidemic destroyed one
third Of the population.
August and September are the hot
test months, and the rainfall in the
summer months is very heavy.
Agana, the capital. is we'll built OF
timber, and many of the houses have
tiled roofs. There are twenty small
villages on the islands.
So little has been done to civilize
the people that they live in about the
| same primitive fashion as character
lied them when Europeans first visited
them.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25
Managing a Swarm of Bees.

Swarming in moderate degree will
not affect the work of honey making,
but usually one swarm from hive
should be all that is necessary for
each season. Swarms can best be
handled by homemade swarming
box. which is simply light box Of
convenient size with handle running
through both ends. A cover should
be provided for fastening over the top
when necessary and few holes made
in the box for ventilation. When the
bees swarm keep quiet until they alight
in convenient place, then hold the
swarming box under the cluster, shake
OF some Of the bees into the box and
most of the remaining ones will fol-
low. Take the box of bees to the hive,
which has been previously prepared
for them, shake out a few at the en-
trance, and the rest will follow them
into the hive. Small portions of the
swarm may have clustered away from
the main body, and all these should
be gathered so as to make sure of the
queen bee, which must be in the hive
or the bees will not stay.-Atlanta
Journal.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25
Preparing the Soil for Fan Wheat.

Wheat following potatoes generally
results in heavy crop, and as the
price of wheat will probably remain at
paying figure for some time the
ground now in potatoes may be profit
ably used for wheat in the fall. If the
potatoes have been we'll cultivated no
additional preparation of the land
will be necessary for the wheat after
the potatoes are dug, with the possible
exception of gong over the ground
once with smoothing harrow.
Doubtless the best preparation of
the soil for wheat crop is to turn
under clover field, grow potatoes on
it, and follow in the fall with wheat.
The cultivation of the potatoes will
put the soil in good condition for the
wheat, which will receive the benefit
of the plant food in the clover from the
moment the seed wheat is put in the
ground.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25

others hold that they are an offshoot
of the Japanese.
Gobien, the French writer, who
studies the people on the spot, says Of
them:
"The natives are not so dark as
those of the Philippines, and are larger
of body than the average European.
They lived on roots, fish ana fruits,
and were extremely active and quick.
Many of them lived over 100 years. I"
Another French writer says that he
saw them dive and swim so we'll that
they caught fish in their hands under
water.
In character the Ladrones are gay
and amiable, loving pleasure, and
spending much of their time in out
door amusements.
The women are usually lighter in
color than the men, and many of them
are extremely beautiful, with luxuriant
hair reaching almost to the ground.
The Carolines are like the Ladrones,
only more extensive in number and
ar :, and densely populated. The
islands are widely scattered into three
great groups, the eastern, western and
central. Spain originally claimed all
the groups, but Germany recently
took the Marshall Islands. The cen
trail or main group, now belonging to
Spain, comprises forty-eight smaller
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25

feats which seem almost supernatural.
However, it remained for Mr.. Will H.
Barnes, of Sioux City, Iowa, to train
an animal which was generally con-
sidered to be the dullest of quad
rupeds, namely, the elk. His efforts
have proved beyond doubt that the
elk is by no means lacking in in
telligence, and his famous diving elks
elicit admiration and wonder from all
who see them perform. Mr.. Barnes
secured the elks when they were
young, and though it required un-
limited patience, he finally succeeded
in breaking them in harness. While
training the elks, the owner noticed
that they seemed utterly Indifferent
to what height they jumped from, and
he then conceived the idea of teaching
them to dive. The process was a
slow one, but now, after two years Of
labor, they have attained marvellous
degree of ability in this feat, as they
make headlong plunge of fifty feet
into a tank of water. Herewith is
presented cut representing the elk
making the dive. AS will be noticed,
the animal makes headlong plunge
with his feet extended.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25
Flowers of the Yard.


How much the beautiful flowers
brighten up a home. Even small
bed of pinks or asters or garden pc.
tunias will give farmhouse all air OF
refinement and make it look, as one
little maiden said, cas- though some
body lived there"
One of the prettiest screens that !
ever saw was bed of old-fashioned
morning glories. There was space
about ten feet in length, between the
clothes-line post and the 'big gate"
post. This vas spaded up, making a
long narrow bed, and planted with
morning glory seed. Wires were
stretched across from the tops of the
posts, and carpet warp strung from
this wire to the ground made a suit
able support for the vines, where they
ran riot, their dark green leaves
forming beautiful screen, that every
morning was covered with the sweet,
bellshaped blossoms in which the
red, white and blue of our nations
colors were represented.
This bit of beauty cost but small
amount of time and labor, but gave a
large amount of pleasure not only to
those whose home it adorned but to
all who passed that way, especially in
the morning.
The people who lived on the next
farm "did not have time to fuss with
flowers" but they spent time
enough admiring these morning
glories to have cared for some
some of their very own. When fall
came they were presented with gen.
erous supply of seed of each color,
but whether they use them or not re-
mains to be seen. The plants were
protected from the ravages of the
hens by network Of brush laid over
the bed
If one really wants some flowers
and must have the hens about, few
light brush, if carefully laid, are a
good protection until the plants are
large enough to protect themselves.
Last summer 1 saw a large dry
goods box placed in yard, filed with
soil and bright with beautiful bios
SONS.
The hens "got a notion of gimp
ing, or flying, on to the edge of the
box and then revelling in dirt bath
when the plants were small. A piece
Of lath was nailed at each corner of
the box and some fence wire was
fastened about five inches above the
top edge of the ! OK and this baf1ed
the hens. The plants grew and throve
and delighted the hearts of all who
saw them. Lillian Mcintosh in Farm,
Field and Fireside.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25

tato this poisonous principle Is devel.
oped by sunlight. Green potato tops
are poisonous to certain extent, and
the tubers, when they are greened by
exposure to sunlight, are so acrid and
bitter that it is impossible to eat
them.
But in modern growing of potatoes
the set is or should be planted from
three to five inches below the surface.
If it is hilled up at all the hilling
should be done before the potato is
up in the process of covering. The
ridges thus made ought always to be
leveled before the potatoes are up.
After this is done the best way to
cultivate potatoes is to run the culti-
vator through them twice week, OF
after every rain, but only to the depth
Of an inch, or if the weather is dry,
even less than this. Shallow cultiva-
tion does not disturb the roots, and
and can be continued even after the
vines are large enough to lop ovsr
and cover the ground between the
rows. While all the surface soil may
be dry, that beneath it will hold
enough moisture for the growing po
tatOes. American Cultivator.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25
groups, making total of four or five
hundred islands.

groups, making total of four or five
hundred islands.
Among the products of the country
are rice, corn, wheat, sugar, cotton,
tobacco, indigo, bread fruit, castor
oil and kindred necessaries of life.
| Among the curious natural features
are the palm trees, that produce vege-
table ivory; banyan trees that grow
downward, the seeds being planted
by birds high up in other trees, de-
posted in bark and crevices, sending
down rootlets to gather sustenance
and moisture from the soil.
Another tree bears fruit so often
sive in odor that no man not in pl ac-
tice can endure it, but once in a
mouth the fruit tastes so delicious y
that he cannot stop eating until it is
devoured.
The women of the Carolines are neat
and attractive ut home or among their
cocoanut trees. The men are indus
trious-everywhere displaying ingen-
uity and gentle thrift.
The Caroline Archipelago consists
Of thirty-six minor groups, of which
the nine following are the principal
The Palaos or Pelews, Yap, Uluthi,
Uleai, Namonuito, Hogolen or Ruk,
the East and West Mortlocks, Bonabe
or Ponape, and Kusaie, otherwise
called Ualan or Strong's Island.
The Pelew group contains some zoe
islands and islets. The principal isl.
and is Bad-el-Thaob, which in area is
equal to all the restput together. The
most important of the others are Kor
ror, Uruk, lapel, Malk, Peleleu and
Angaur. The population of the Pc.
lews is estimated at some 5000, but is
probably much more. The language
is very peculiar and bizarre Malayan
dialect, somewhat akin to that Of Sulu
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-25

Archipelago. The principal products
are turtle shell, copra and beche de
mer (Holothuria), which in the Chin
ese markets brings as much as $400
gold per ton.
There is always civil war going on
in the group between the various
tribes, and q firm hand is needed to
keep things in order there. Captain
Butran, of the velasco Qately sunk at
Manila) who visited the group in 1885.
gives these natives good name. Cap
tain O'Keefe, however, wealthy
trader of Yap, gives them doubtful
reputation, putting them down as q
folk of piratical and turbulent charac-
ter.
The enormous quartz wheels, the
famous and curious stone money of
Yap in this group, were quarried in the
Island of Kokial In olden time there
was great commercial activity here,
and the Yap and Pelew folks went on
extended voyages of trading and con-
quest. Bab-el-Thaob is rich in good
timber. Great quantities of yams,
bread-fruits aud cocoanuts are grown.
Alligators are found in some of the
creeks, and peculiar kind of a horned
frog, There are two kinds of snakes,
which the natives called Bersoiok and
Nguus, both somewhat venomous.
There is abundance of good pasture
for horses and cattle. Goats are plen-
tiful, probably introduced by the early
Malayan settlers.
The Spanish have done next to moth
ing to show their occupation, and
everything goes on much as before.
There is no Spanish garrison. The
country is we'll worth opening up to
honest and energetic trade.