davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
ON A MAN-OF-WAR.
just What Jacks Daily Life Is Aboard
the Receiving Ship and While at Sea.

Philadelphia Press.
The man who enlists is usually without
dollar in the world. Within few minutes
in debt to the Navy Department $40.03, the
price of his outfit. This outfit is delivered
to him by the paymasters clerk or yeoman,
after the recruit has been measured by the
Bertillon system, and he proceeds immedi-
ately to put on his new togs. His blue uni
form he finds lacks one feature. There is
no ribbon around the cap showing IN gilt
letters the name of the ship to which he
belongs. That will not come until he is as
signed.
Meantime he need not worry about the
figure he will cut with his friends, for he
will not have shore leave until he has
may be in four months, and it may not be
in five or six. Forty dollars is a big debt
when your pay is only SIG month:
Breaking the landSmen into duty a
receiving ship is not a disagreeable business
on either side. The men, as rule. are
enthusiastic about the service, and though
hazing is permitted. The fare they get is
quite good-better in fact than they can ex-
p The :. raw recruit has to earn this food and
his SIG pay by cleaning the decks polishing
the brasses and doing other plain work
about the ship. and by practicing the in
fantry drill and the setting-up drill every
day. But for the most part, the period Just
after enlistment Is a period Of idleness. The
is educated in the language of the bells, the
boatswains whistle and the bugle; but be-
yOnQ IndL ne Is hot kept very OuSy. II he
is an enthusiast, though, as most raw re-
cruits are. he welcomes the day when he
is assigned to duty, and. singing his ''ditty
bag over his shoulder, he starts away, with
squad of blue jackets, TO take the train
for Norfolk or whatever the point may be
at which his ship is waiting. There he goes
aboard, reports and is entered on the list
of the ships crew
fixed number OF men is assigned TO
each ship-so many landsmen. so many or
binary seamen. so many seamen, and SO on
through all ratings. There is always a
small shortage. due to deaths and deser-
tions. Each landsmen when he reports for
duty is assigned to one of the four or five
divisions aboard the ship. He is taken be-
low, shown where to find his hammock
and where to sling 1t and the locker in
which TO stow his clothing. He gets rib
bon with the name of the ship which he
i puts on his cap and ne is ready for his
duties.
These are simple at first. He assists In
coaling the ship. He is assigned to a place
In gun crew and he learns all the duties
at the gun, but particularly those which
are to fall TO him. He Is told TO keep a Ger
tain part of the big gun clean. this being
known as frightening He learns all the
drills including those with Side arms, piss
tolls and broadswords. All this drilling and
breaking In is done by the petty officers
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

PORTLAND, Ore, March 1.-THE Vol
& zwicker iron works to-day received or
ders from the Navy Department to rush
work on torpedo boats Nos. IS and u, which
are under construction at their ship yards
in this city. The boats are now almost
ready to be launched and 1t is probable
they can be completed within two months.
The plans and model for the third torpedo
boat. No. 20, to be constructed by VOL q
wicker are ready, but the plates for the
hull have not yet been completed.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

CHICAGO, March 15.-Ex-Assistant State
Attorney E. s. Bottum died to-day Of
Brights disease. His age was forty years.
Mr.. Bottum was chiefly celebrated for his
successful prosecution of Prendergast, the
assassin of Carter H. Harrison, sr.
DETROIT, March 15.-The remains of
Mrs. A. Platt only sister. of General Alger,
secretary of war, arrived here to-day, ac-
companied by members of deceaseds fam
lily. The funeral will be held tomorrow.
CHICAGO, March 15.-Jacob Beidler, the
owner, died to-day He was born in Penn
sylvania in 1915.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
Enlisting Men at JeHersonviIIe.
naoinl tn the Indiananolls journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind, March 10,
Capt. John C. Warner the well-known pen
sion agent, to-day opened a recruiting sta
ton and is signing men who willing to
fight Spain. He will accept only able
bodied men. between the ages of twenty
one and thirty-five years. As soon as one
hundred men are secured the company will
tender its services to the government, with
a request that it be placed in commission
at once Edward Mitchell, a prominent
young attorney Of Corydon, has been in the
city for several days. He is organizing a
company in Harrison and Floyd counties,
and was looking after its interests here
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

NEW ORLEANS, March 15.-An enlist
ment Office was opened here this morning
at the custom house, in charge of Lieuten-
ant Commander Hawley, Chief Engineer
Webster and Surgeon Persons. Long before
the Office was thrown open several hundred
men had gathered before the doors, and
throughout the morning the crowd in
creased. Among those who presented them
selves the enliSting officers find an album
dance of good material, and all applicants
Were subjected to rigid examinations. The
promise is that the desired complement of
men for the navy will be easily obtained
here
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
Aurora Borealis at Hagerstown.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
HAGERSTOWN, Ind, March 15.-An au-
rora borealis of unusual extent and brill
liancy was visible here last night. The
phenomenon lasted about three hours and
was witnessed by a large number of people.
The prismatic colors at times reached from
the horizon almost to the zenith, and the
surrounding country was flooded with rose
colored light which made even small OBJ
jects visible at distance 1t was the most
remarkable and beautiful display ever seen
here.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
INTERSTATE BALL LEAGUE.
Members Meet and Put Up "a Forfeit
of $500 Each.

SPRINGFIELD, o.. March 1.-THE in
ferstate baseball league met here to-day
and each club placed $3.50 in President
Powers hands as it's forfeit. The league
was divided into the western and eastern
divisions. Grand Rapids, Fort Wayne, To-
ledo and Mansfield constitute the western
divisions; DAYTON, New Castle, Youngstown
and Springfield the eastern division. The
schedule was adopted for the season TO
open IN the eastern division towns. The
ciubs ali agreed to instruct their managers
not to allow players to question any de-
cislon Of umpires. S. L. Nelson, Of SPRING
field. and c. J. Strobel, of Toledo were APP
D0inted a committee on transportation TO
make arrangements for all the travelling of
Tire league during the season. The mag
mates were banuueted by the local club to-
NIGHT
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

Mechanism OF the Defenses In Many
American Harbors.

American harDOFS.
WASHINGTON. March 15.-Many of
the harbors of the United States now
contain submarine mines and the ordnance
and engineer officers of the government
are now making ready to plant many more
in case of necessity. Submarine mines are
of a number of varieties, but the simplest
is that known as contact mine which
explodes on impact with object. in
anchoring these mines, care must be taken
that they are not too near the surface when
the tide is low. An immersion of at least
ten feet is necessary to give the charge
sufficient force to destroy a heavy ship.
There is another kind of mine called the
electric contact mine, which is fired by an
electric cable leading from the shore.
When an enemy is in sight and friendly
ships are passing in and out of the harbor,
the torpedo may be arranged so that if
the mine is struck it will not explode. This
is done by an arrangement of the firing pins
on springs, which causes them to return
to the proper position in case they are
accidentally driven in
Another type of mine is that known as
the observation mine, in which the firing
mechanism and mine proper are in separ-
ate cases. Whenever the firing pins are
driven in the signal circuit is closed and a
bell rung at the shore station. Underneath
each bell is d key for closing the frlng
circuit. The observer, standing at q Key
board, on seeing a certain bell ring, knows
that the buoy above the corresponding mine
has been struck, and Immediately ne
touches the proper key thus closing the
firing circuit and causing the mine to eX-
plode. 1t is not necessary in using TINS
type of mine for the observer to see the
enemy at all. The mining caSemate may
be in a bank on shore where it would not
be possible, in fact for the observer to
see the enemy. He simply watches the
keyboard and waits for a signal.
From five to seven mines usually consti-
tute a group, and groups are placed IN
two or more lines a rule so that Wnen
a ship passes between the groups on one
line it must certainly pass over the mines
in the next lines. All mines are located SO
that the explosion of one group will not
affect the adjoining group.
Ground mines have been used in water
six feet deep, and for this depth charge of
gun cotton equivalent to 4,S00 pounds or
powder was required. The system by which
ground mines are fired is simple and in
genious. Two observers are employed TO
determine when the enemy is directly over
the mine Two stations are utilized, with
an observer on each, provided with a tel
escope fixed on a vertical pivot, permitting
it to swing toward any point of the horizon.
points toward the mine the break in the
electric current at that station will be
closed.
Submarine mines are loaded with such
high explosives as gun cotton, dynamite, or
explosive gelatne, all of which are superior
by moisture. The enormous pressure
necessary to blow a hole through a for
midable vessel has been estimated to range
from 5000 to 1900 pounds per square inch.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
FOR A CoLFAx STATUE.
Gen. Wallace Assists I'm Movement
to Raise a Fund.


to Raise Fund.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
SOUTH BEND Ind, March 15-Gen. Lew
Wallace, of Charlottesville, appeared here
tonight as a friend of the late Vice Presi-
dent Schuyler Colfax, and in an interesting
address paid high tribute to the character
and memory OF the great statesman whom
South Bend honors. The Commercial
Athletic Club, of this city, hopes to erect
Colfax statue, and some months ago it
fnaugurated a movement with this object in
view. Mr.. Colfax was prominent and en-
thusiastic Odd Fellow and he promoted the
growing order, Daughters of Rebekah Be-
cause of this the club hoped that each lodge
in the country would contribute something,
be it ever so small amount, to the statue
fund, and that the required amount of
$4,000 would be raised speedily. While the
movement was inaugurated some time ago,
to-night's entertainment in the Oliver Opera
House was the first concerted effort to raise
the nucleus and fair sum was realized. A
musical programme was given, but General
Wallace's address was the principal feature
of the occasion.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
DE. Curtis,s church Free Of pebt.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
COLUMBUS, Ind, March 1.-THE last in
debtedness on the NJ. e. Church building
here was Cancelled to-day, and the edifice
that was erected in 1884 is for the first time
out of debt. This result is largely due to
the efforts of the pastor, Rev. George l..
Curtiss DIR. Curtiss, who was formerly
professor in De Pauw University, is now
travelling abroad. The papers showing the
mortgaged Indebtedness will be kept until
he returns, which will be the latter part of
April, when jubilee meeting will be held
and the documents will be burned with cere-
mony. The church, which has a member
ship of about 500 soon expects to secure a
deaconess to assist the pastor
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

ST. LOUIS, March 15.-The breeders law,
under which poolroom cases have recently
been tried, has been declared constitutional
by Judge Hirzel. in the St Louis Circuit
Court, at Clayton The decision was rem
dered in response to a demurrer filed by
counsel for the defendants in the case of
the State VS. George Enrich eft al, the
managers of the Brooklyn Turf Exchange,
IN which the court was asked to quash the
indictments against them for pool selling.
Judge Hirzel refused, and the accused will
have to stand trial.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

CIMARRON, Kan, March 15.-With the
wind blowing forty miles an hour prairie
fire has been raging within sight of this
place, sweeping everything before 1t. Thou
sands of acres of pasture lands have been
burned off and reports are coming of losses
of live stock and buildings, but so far no
loss of human life has been heard of. At
one time the wind changed suddenly, driv-
ing the flames toward the town, and it took
hard work on the part of large force Of
men with teams and water wagons to pre-
vent the towns destruction.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
whist Chnmpions pefeated.

Special 70 the Indlanapons JOURNAL,
NOBLESVILLE, Ind, March 15.-Roy G.
Caylor and Frederick Alexander, of this
city, who held the Heron trophy as the
champion whist players of the State for
fifteen days, We're beaten last night by o.
K and George Farmer, of Sheridan Tne
game was played in the rooms of the Com
mercial Club and the visitors won by net
gain Of four points. Caylor and Alexander
won the trophy at Indianapolis about two
weeks ago. According to the rules of the
State Association, a game for the prize
must played every fifteen days.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
WOODEN MILLS BURNED.
Loss over $4Oo,OOO, and Over 1000
EmuIoyes Out of Work.

TROY, N. Y. March 15.-The Victor mills
of Cohoes, a nine-story brick structure,
burned to-day. They are aid to have been
the largest wooden mills in the United
States, employing over one thousand oper-
$500 600 covered by insurance.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
VIII Have Paved Sidewalks.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
HAGERSTOWN, Ind, March 1.-THE
City Council has just passed an ordinance
authorizing the building of two miles of ce-
ment sidewalks and 1000 feet of street paw
ing This is the largest contract for street
work ever authorized by the Council, and
when the job is completed will give the
town more miles of cement sidewalks and
improved streets than any place of equal
size in the State. Every principal street in
the town is improved, and mud is an un-
known quantity.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
"Bumblev Bees Thawed out.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
MORRISTOWN, Ind, March 15.-Forty
bumblebees, alive and active, is a sight not
often seen at this time of the year; but e.
farmer brought this number to the post
office this morning, and they are now on
exhibition there. They were found under
a log, and of course, numb with the cold,
but soon recovered when taken to a warm
room
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

BOSTON, Mass, March 15.-One of the
finest auroral displays seen In many years
flashed and glowed in the northern heavens
for an hour or more tonight During the
display all the telegraph lines in New Eng
and were seriously affected. The phenom-
enou were observed with much interest at
Harvard observatory, a number OF Prof.
Piekerings assistants making notes OF the
display. An observation OF the sun this
noon disclosed three or four gigantic spots,
denoting violent erupfiors, which fact gives
additional ground for the theory that the
aur0Fst Ia closely connected with disturb
ancee on the sun.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

New York Tribune.
A law has just been passed in France for
bidding anyone to give solid food of any
kind to infants under year without the
written authority of a qualified medical
man. If there were similar provision for
the protection of infants elsewhere those
frequent verdicts of "ried from improper
food would not be returned. In France.
too, the long rubber tubes to feeding bot
ties are forbidden under heavy penalties.
Everywhere people are warned not to use
them, the reason being that 1t is impossible
to keep them properly sterilized.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

NEW YORK, March Representative
of the government visited Fort Wadsworth
and have secured valuable land adjoining
the new Notifications. Extra gangs of me-
chanics and laborers have been put to work
with orders to rush the completion of the
three heavy batteries, which when COM
pleted will mount the heaviest disappearing
guns in New York harbor.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

ST. LOUIS, March 15,-Manager Tim
Hurst and the st. Louis Browns left here
to-day for West Baden Springs. Ind, where
they win put in several weeks practice be-
fore the National League season opens.
The first game win be played here on april
l5 with Chicago. 1t was rumored again that
Chris Won der Abe is no longer owner of
Inc p. LOUIS bIo|hs, ana that the team
Cincinnati baseball magnata, Both Won der
Abe and President Muckenfuss deny the
story emDhatically
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

dispatched early in the day to Key West.
This is the first shipment of the 400 tons of
powder which the Navy Department di-
rected to be forwarded from this yard. A
six-inch breech-loading rifle intended for the
cruiser Philadelphia was shipped to San
Francisco by an arrangement that will get
Ii to Mare island almost as soon as If ii had
been sent by the express train. Fourteen
mounts for five-inch guns were hoisted on
board the cruiser Chicago and large force
in place.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

postponement was secured by Senator Nc
Emery Joining with the majority of the Re-
publcans, and that Senator Chandler voted
with the opposition for immediate and indie
pendent inquiry.
The committee to-day authorized a favor
able report or the amendment to the naval
appropriation bill, appropriating eco for
a naval training station on Yerba Buena
island California
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
RETIRED SEA CAPTAINS DEED.
Shot the woman with Whom He Lived
and a CrayOn Artist.

NEW YORK, March 15-John A. Peter
son shot Henry Pohl, crayon artist, and
Mrs. Leonora Faulkner this afternoon in
his home, in Brooklyn. He fired one bullet
into PohPs neck and then turning the
weapon OH the woman shot her five times.
Neither can survive. Peterson lived with
Mrs. Faulkner who Is said to be the
widow of an English sea captain. Peter
son, who had been out, returned and found
Pohl in the house with Mrs. Faulkner.
without waiting for an explanation he shot
the man and woman. Peterson, who is q
retired sea captain. was arrested.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
Pinnist Hofmnnn Injured.

NEW YORK, March 16.-The Times says
that Josef Hofmann, the pianist, met with
an accident recently, while a bike ride.
and. as a consequence, Mr.. Thomas has
been compelled to cancel dates in Philadel-
phia, Baltimore and Washington. Holman
sustained injuries to one of his feet and one
of his hands, which, however, it is hoped,
will not prove serious
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
Ordered to Command the Oregon.

SAN DIEGO, Cal. March 15.-Capt.
Charles N. Clark, commanding the coast
defender Monterey, has received telegraph
ic orders from Washington to leave at once
for San Francisco to take command of the
Oregon. The orders were to use the utmost
dispatch, and Captain Clark will leave for
San Franciso tomorrow morning.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
now the Australia Was Saved.

LONDON. March 16.-The Daily Chronicle
PUBLISHES under reserve" another version
Of the story Of the alleged narrow escape
OF her Majesty's ship Australia, in the
Solent from a disaster like the Names.
According to this q reserve man fired
pistol at box of fuses close to the open
The fuses ignited, but a seaman rushed in
st the risk of his life and removed them
h11rn5nU
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

Wiliams's general dry goods and grocery
store was burned together with John Bow
ems residence and most of his household
effects. Bowen's loss was about 50 500, with
81 500 insurance. in the Home of New York.
Williams's loss was about 81 800 with 500
insurance, in the Hanover of New York,
and $500 in the New York Underwriters.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

DENVER, Col, March ia troop of
cavalry, composed entirely of women is a
Colorado possibility in the event of war
with SPAIN Mrs Martha A. Shute will or
ganize the troop. She notified Acting Gov
ernor Brush of her intentions and he adj
vised her to consult with AdJutant General
Moss. Mrs. Shute is secretary of the State
Horticultural Society. She is q fearless
equestrienne and handles gun or rifle very
dexterouSlV
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

NEW YORK. March 15.-It has been def
nsteiy settled that the Brooklyn Baseball
Club viii start out this season with new
grounds. The new park is bounded by Third
ana Fourth avenues and First and Third
streets Twenty-Five thousand dollars will
be expended IN putting Il In proper order.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
Fornshen a Candidate.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ANDERSON, Ind, March he. E. Form
shell, of Elwood, who achieved fame in the
last Assembly by presenting the anti-high-
hat theater bill, announced to-day that he
was a candidate for reelection.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
BOY Beats out Another's Brain.

CARROLL, H., March 15-Perry Gardi-
ner enticed VIII Rogers into an unoccupied
building at Pulaski, H., and beat his brains
out with a club. He then escaped, although
officers are searching for him. Gardiner
and Rogers We're playmates aged sixteen.
and took this means of avenging 1t.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
How Land Has Declined.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
GREENCASTLE, Ind, March 15.-The A.
j. Farrow farm, east of the city, was sold
to-day to w. A. Durham and e. r. Black,
2S0t acres for $45 an acre. This land, which
is among the best in the county, at one time
sold for $l00 an acre and later at $50.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind, March 15.-
The Republicans have nominated a city
ticket, as follows: Mayor, l. F. Whitesdes;
clerk A. H. Bamber; treasurer, E. Il. ia
cobs; councilmen, Charles Strauch, Frank
Dietz, Henry Holzbog and William Sam
uelS.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
GREENCASTLE, Ind, March 15.-Put-
namville, which was at one time the coun-
" seat of Putnam county. was visited by
q serious fire this morning. The village is
one OF the old landmarks OF the National