davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07
DANGEROUS COUNTERFEIT.
Bogus silver Certificates For 800 which
Defy Detection.

Washington, Jan. 4.-One Of the most
dangerous counterfeits ever discovered
has made its appearance. John Cramer
of the subtreasury at Philadelphia
brought to the secret service bureau
five 500 counterfeit silver certificates
with the head of President Monroe.
Their general appearance is excellent,
and, after close examination, the OFF,
cials of the treasury cash room were
undecided as to their genuineness, and
only after the notes had been soaked in
hot water when the two pieces forming
the front and back came apart, were
they convinced of the fraud.
On examination of treasury cash an
other of the spurious notes was dis
covered. The notes brought over by
Mr. Cramer had been turned into the
subtreasury by two leading banks and
the Philadelphia custom house, which
had received them as genuine.
A description of the notes has been
wired to agents of the secret service ev-
erywhere with instructions to be on the
lookout for persons attempting to pass
them. Inquiries also have been sent to
all the leading cities as to whether any
Of the notes have appeared other than
in Philadelphia and Washington, and
the best men in the service will be put
on the case. Following is a description
of the note as furnished by the secret
service:
The note is of the series of 1891, check
letter d. face plate 1, Tfllman. register;
Morgan, treasurer; portrait, James
Monroe. All numbers so far seen begin
with 345. The most marked differences
between this note and the genuine,
however, are found in the seal and the
numbering, the counterfeit being a
shade lighter than the genuine and the
genuine slightly different in formation,
Especially is this true Of the and 4,
In the figure 3 the lower loop does not
extend up as far toward the center Of
the figure as In the genuine, and in the
| figure the space between the base and
the center cross line is narrower than
/ in the genuine. One Of the principal
points Of difference, however, is that the
new counterfeit is one-sixteenth OF an
nch or less shorter than the genuine.
In view Of the dangerous character OF
the counterfeit, Secretary Gage decided
to stop issuing and TO call in all S1OO
silver certificates, OF which there Is
about S26O0O.0OO outstanding. These
will be exchanged for silver certificates
Of smaller denominations and the plates
destroyed. AS soon as new plates can
be engraved a new series will be issued
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07

even during the China-Japan war was
there such united feeling as is now to
be observed among the educated Chi
nese and masses. Japan is stirred up
by news from Peking saying that be-
yOnd doubt Russia and France are ac-
lively conspiring to procure the DISMISS
al Of Sir Robert Hart, the English di-
rector of the imperial Chinese customs.
The procedure followed resembles that
pursued with reference to McLeavy
Brown in Korea. 1t is believed that
the Russian and French influence will
prevail, as both powers are bent on se-
curing the dismissal of Sir Robert Hart.
There will be at least n reorganization
of China's customs service and a di-
vision of the offices between powers in
proportion to the trade of each country
with China.
A number Of newspapers in Japan and
the Chinese maritime ports express the
belief that the partition of China among
the powers is Inevitable.
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07

Philadelphia. Jan. Judges Penny
packer. Wiltbank and Sulzberger have
appointed appraisers to pass upon the
assets Of the defunct Chestnut Street
Trust and Saving Fund company, which
closed its doors with the failure Of the
Chestnut Street National bank, The ap-
pointees are Louis s. Fiske. a wool mer-
chant; William B, Hackenberg. a silk
dealer, and Major William H. Lam
bert Of the New York Mutual Life In
surance company and president of the
board Of charities and corrections. In
connection with the banks affairs de-
positors representing nearly $500, 900
have assented to the plan OF settlement.
and about 70 per cent Of the trust COM
pany depOsitors has also assented.
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07
Ii HUNG CHANG RECALLED.
The Great Chinese Statesman and DipIo-
mat Again In Power.

Inc Great chinese Statesman and Dtplo-
mat Again In Power.
Tacoma, Jan. 5.-The steamer Indra-
pura has arrived from Japan. bringing
the latest mall advices regarding the
oriental situation. Ii Hung Chang has
been recalled to power at Peking, the
emperor and the inner council desiring
his assistance in the diplomatic crisis.
Ii Hung Chang recently started for his
estates on account of i'll health. He has
now returned to Peking, and the gov
ernment has taken up for serious con-
sideration his memorial on the military
and naval defenses of the empire. This
memorial was prepared on Earl LIS re-
turn from America and Europe, but re-
mained pigeonholed until now.
Thousands Of troops are being recruit
ed in the interior. and it is intended to
double the number of battalions in all
the Chinese maritime provinces within
30 days. The emperor has received
many secret memorials regarding the
defense Of the empire from high mill
tary and civil officials throughout
China. All China is awakening. Not
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07

Columbus g.. Jan. 4.-The eombina-
tioh OF ten anti-Hanna Republicans
with the Democratic members succeed
ed In organizing both branches Of the
legislature yesterday In the interest Of
the opposition 10 the election OF Sena-
tor Hanna by vote Of Sc 10 81
Despite the defeat OF the Hanna men
In the orssnization' OF the legislature.
they are confident of winning oR the
Joint ballot for senator when It Is taken
next week, The anti-Hanlh people are
equally confident Of defeating Mr.. Han.
ma. though a definite agreement as TO
candidate seems not to have been
reached.
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07
FARM NEWS.

Regular subscription price, 80 cents
Farm News now reaches more than $4,000
families. 1t holds this large and loyal fol
lowing of subscribers, because they regard
it as one of the chief essentials of their sue.
cess in farming. 1t keeps in touch with the
most progressive agriculture of the day
it is scientific in its spirit, and at the same
time is never obscure in its meaning, nor
stilted in its style. It's the kind of paper
the farmer values i'm his every day work,
because in it he finds what other successful
farmers are doing, and how they do it. It's
16 pages contain no dead weight no
"1llers." Every line counts If you know
anything about the farm and farm life,
examine Farm News and you will under
stand how much its subscribers appreciate
it. And it grows better every number,
Compare it with any other farm paper and
it stands ahead in practicability and real
value.
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07
a,rard.. rLftlsth Apnlrer.ary.

Philadelphia, Jan. 4.-Girard college
celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with
an elaborate programme Of exercises,
Addresses were made last evening by
Mayor Warwick, Congressman Rroslus
and officials Of the institution. and there
was number OF vocal and instrument
al selections by pupils. The event Of
the celebration was an oration delivered
by Speaker Thomas b. Reed.
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07

Houston. Jan. 4.-Ex- Governor Law
renee S. Ross died at his home at Col
lege Station, aged so. He was a cele-
brated ranger during the early days OF
Texas and attained the rank of briga-
dier general IN the Confederate army.
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07

Maryaville. Cal, Jan. s.-In the foot
ball match between Marysville and
Wheatland clubs Clyde MAXWELL OF
Wheatland had his backbone. broken,
and recovery Is Impossible. helbeinE to-
tally paralyEed.
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07
WoMANkINp.

Regular subscription price, SOC. A hand
some 2O-page magazine containing stories,
poems, sketches, bits Of travel. and such
general literary matter as appeals most
strongly to the average reader, who wants
pure and wholesome literature of the en-
tertaining kind. Its practical departments
devoted to the kitchen, the flower garden,
the care of children, dressmaking, home
decorations, etc, are greatly valued by
every woman who has ever read them. Ex-
tensive improvements have been made in
Womankind during the past year, and as
a result its circulation has been increased
from 10000 to COCOA growth that could
only possibly be obtained by giving the
people what they want. We invite COM
parison of Womankind with other papers
of its kind
Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-01-07

San Quentin, Cal. Jan, l.-fheodore
Durrant aas again been removed to the
death eell TO await the hour Of his exc
eptiol4 which has been dxed for 10:s0
a, N. $ap. I.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

was famous. And the inevitable result
soon made itself felt. Nature began to
put in a protest against this disturb
ance of her balance. This wholesale
destruction of the insectivorous birds
and beasts, besides affecting various
industries directly, as we have indi-
Gated, led to an excess of injurious in
sects which also commenced to affect
industries. Various insect pests ap-
peared, particularly the pimento borer
and the cattle tick, which in short
time created a grievous menace to the
pimento plantations and the stock
farms throughout the land.
BY the year 1890 the situation had
become so grave that the government
appointed a commission to inquire into
the matter. They were unanimous
against the mongoose, and, whilst Civ
ing him credit for his services, decided
that his evil deeds counterbalanced
them. 1t was proved that besides de-
stroying animals, birds, reptiles and
their young ones aud eggs, the mon
goose had by his adGptability become
omnivorous, and, the meat menu de-
clining, was making himself a pest to
the fruit farmers.
But no action was taken on the re-
port, and in a few more years the tick
plague was destroying the cattle whole
sale, whilst the mongoose himself was
creating havoc among the fruit planta-
tions and rendering the Jamaica peas
ant homesteads desolate. A commits
sion was appointed some time ago to in
vestigate the tick trouble. but nothing
material came of that, either
What might have been the fate of
the island had things gone on thus it
is not pleasant to contemplate. But ma
ture is no blind force. Behind her
stands her Almighty Lawgiver, whose
fiat is that justice lie tempered with
mercy. And in this case nature is
righting matters in a marvellous way.
Mr.. j. +. Duerden. the curator of
the Jamaica museum tells me that an
other, more hopeful and proba bly, the
last, phase of the question has been
reached. Recently the mongoose itself
has decreased very noticea bly,. and the
results are shown in The reappearance
of species supposed to have been ex-
terminated. There is not nearly the
same outcry against the loss of pouI-
try, domestic animals and fruit as for
merly, and he is convinced that the
maximum influence both for good and
for evil of the mongoose is passing
away in jamaica.
But the story points a moral, I re-
peat, of which the world may well take
heed. T. p. PORTER
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04
KILLING THE PIASA BIRD.
The order of Red Men from Spring.
field Repeat the Curious In
dian Ceremony.

An unique spectacular programme
was lately carried out oil the grounds
If the Piasa Bluffs, Chautauqua, by
the organization of Red Men from
Springfield. The exhibition was pan
tomimic portrayal of the old Indian
legend of the original Piasa bird, which
is supposed to have once lived in this
region. The story told is of huge
bird so great that its wings gave the
air vibrations like the tones of thun-
der, its talons and beak and pow
erful body foamcd the river, dashing
the waves against the rocky bluffs like
the modern dynamite of the American
navy-an enemy so furious and de-
structive and ready to devour that the
Indian tribes suffered the loss of many
of its braves. At last in council a sac
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

ritice was agreed upon to save the
tribe. The son os the chief was to offer
himself In great sorrow the Indians
assembled to witness the sacrifice, and
if possible to do battle to save their
youthful chief. In the final struggle
the bird was pierced by arrows, and
the boy delivered. For centuries, it is
aaid, many tribes came from distant
hunting grounds to feast and return
thanks.
Everything on this recent occasion
was as like as could be to the story.
a huge bird of monstrous dimensions,
of fearful form, It's tail that of a great
serpent, it's face slightly human, with
horns like an antelope, body like both
bird and beast, its wings black and
widespread, its limbs and talons The
eXaggeration of any and everything
large and strong and cruel, was start
ed across the valley from the highest
rock on one of the adjacent bluffs, sus-
pended on wire. The Red Men, with
their war whoop, rushed to attack this
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04
EFFECT OF WEATHER ON FISH.
Why Trout Rise Merrily In the Midst
of Storm and SuIk When the
Water Is Quiet.

If trout rise merrily in the very
midst of a storm, why do they invaria-
bly, sulk when the thunder is only lin
the air?" The explanation is simple,
but it occurred to me only the other
day, says the London Review. Trout
sulk when the storm is gathering from
the cause which makes men at the club
decline to look at the billiard cues dur
ing the same weather. The atmosphere
lacks oxygen, and therefore all SEN
tient life is languid. When the light
ming has come the sultriness is dis
PEELED; fish and men have something
more cheering than carbonic acid gas
to breathe; both are in a humor for
food or play.
The same reasoning, l think, ex-
plains why, as a rule, II is necessary
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

the saving to plantations, directly
traceable to the diminution of rats.
amounted TO an enormous round sum
almost equivalent to the actual losses
annually incurred before the animals
introduction.
So far well. But nature had been
outraged The mongoose proved-as
may have been foreseen, only that it
was not-a deadly foe to other in
digenous species besides the rats. So
long as his obvious natural foe, or
rather victim, survived, well and good.
But as the mongoose increased and the
rodents decreased to the vanishing
point, the former had to adapt them
selves to other diet-and they did,
with facility that soon rendered
them a greater menace to the island
than the rodents ever were.
And now for the aftermath. Poultry
rearing was one of the most important
of the minor industries, and it was to
the domestic animals that the mon
goose first turned his attention after
the rats failed to supply his necessi-
ties. And dolorous was the destruction
that he wrought. Entire poultry yards
were wiped out, and the industry wax
seriously menaced. But once on
new scent, the mongoose-perhHp
fortunately for the island-became
more and more catholic in his taste
and did not proceed to eXterminate
the various indigenous species one by
one with the answering determina-
tion with which he had followed up the
rats at first. 1t soon became apparent
that other groups were diminishing.
particularly the birds and reptiles
and this opened up another phase of
menace to the island, in the form of a
threat against the very "balance of
nature" itself, which was only too
swiftly and fatally realized.
The story from this point onwards Of
the dcpredations of the mongoose, from
scientific point of view, would be too
lengthy and lacking in popular inter-
est to be gone into in detail. Suffice it
that in a surprisingly brief lapse of
time the five species of snakes and %
of lizards common to the island had
been practically cleared out of exist
ence. Here and there individual speci-
mems were occasionally found; but as
occupants of the island they had dis
appeared. The same applies to the croc-
odiles, which had been formerly abun-
dant in the waters Of Jamaica. Sim
ilarly with the land and fresh-water
tortoises, and, above all, with the fa-
nous sea orgreen turtles that gave life
to an important industry, to the eggs
of which the mongoose took only tCo
aptly.
The island was getting in bad way,
truly. But this is not all. The birds
suffered as much, especially the nu-
merous ground birds for which Jamaica
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

William E. Curtis, who has been a
good deal of a globe trotter, writes
from Washington to the Chicago Rec
ord: Il observed phenomena at San
Juan, and the same at Ponce de Leon,
for which have never been able to OBJ
tain a satisfactory explanation. The
old negresses who sit around the mar
ilet place and the shady street corners
selling dulces from large baskets are
habitually smoking long black cigars,
and they put the lighted ends in their
mouths. Why they do so and how they
can endure it are mysteries that could
not be solved, but it is nevertheless a
fact and custom that is unique in
Puerto Rico"
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

country is only now beginning to mani
fest signs of recovering from the dis
astrous industrial effects.
Jamaica welcomed the mongoose
with open arms, for the losses incident
to the rat plague, including the cost of
the important trade of "rat-catching,'
itself half million of dollars, amount
e. 10 a ruinous annual aggregate. Nor
did the carnivore disappoint the most
sanguine expectations. The animals
increased and multiplied marvelously,
and in ten years time the island re-
sounded with the praises of the mon
goose.
BY that time the dreaded rats had
been practically eXterminated. The
mongoose had done his work swiftly
and thoroughly. DR.. Morris, then di-
rector Of the government botanical
plantations, now of Kew in London,
was authority for this, stating after
an otlicia! investigation that the re-
CULTS were most satisfactory and that
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

TO have ripple if you are to catch
trout. The accepted explanation is
that the ripple conceals the casting
line, leaving visible to the fish the flies
alone, but one has only to use ones
eyes to discover that that is no ex-
planation at all. Even in a gale, if
there is no sunshine, the gut is as east
ly visible to the human eye as it would
be in a dead calm, and to what the hui
man eye can see in the water the trout
is surely not quite blind. No; trout
rise in ripple more rapidly than in a
calm simply because the wind is oXy-
genating TIE water. Whose doubts
this is invited to make an experiment.
Let him put half dozen live trout into
a pail of water. Within an hour they
will be sickening; some of them will be
near death and turning on their backs.
a few quarts of water plunged yard
or two through the air into the pail
will make all the trout revive as if by
magic. The fish want oxygen just as
the fellows at the club on sultry aft
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

islands most important and promis-
Jag domestic industries have been
nearly ruined and incalculable finan-
cial damage inflicted on it-all because
an ignorant but elf-opinionated
sugar planter laid the fiattering unc-
ton to his soul that he had discoy-
cred a royal road to saving his cane
pieces from the depredations of rats.
Fortunately, nature is a benign me ther
whose chastisements are inflicted in
loving kindness rather than anger and
never exceed the bounds of necessity.
Hence, the crisis over, the disturbed
"balance of nature" is now calmly but
certainly readjusting itself. like the
needle of a shaken compass. But the
facts of the case, briefly stated, will
be found of general interest as well
as serving to furnish warning to
other countries and future genera
tions.
\ quarter of a century ago Jamaica
was still flourishing sugar island, al
though the advancing shadow of the
substance of European bountyfed
sugar that has since fallen on the
West Indies with more or less fatal
force even then trailed up over her in
dust rial outlook. But in those days
the planter had other and more i'm
minent cares than the bounties, none
of which was more formidable than
the plague of rats that threatened de-
struction to his cane fields. Jamaica,
especially, was overrun with the crea-
lures. They svarmed over the land
like locusts in Africa, until the very
existence of the sugar industry was
imperiled. In those days it had hap
pened that in a single night a score of
acres of magnificent cane fields had
been laid utterly waste by an invasion
of the rodents-so, at least, | lave been
told.
At any rate, the plague was formid-
able enough, and in 1872, ali normal eff
forts having failed to reduce the evil,
one of the foremost planters, Mr.. w.
B. Espeut, conceived the brilliant idea
of pitting the mongoose against the
rats. And he carried it out; with what
result it is the purpose of this story
to briefly set forth. The rats were
wiped out, indeed; but so, also, was to
a most alarming extent the fauna of
the island, what is called in natural
istic parlance "the balance of nature"
receiving so rude a shock that the
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04
STORY WITH A MORAL
Remarkable Natural History Phe-
nomena in Jamaica, w. l.
How IA Sugar Planters Experiment
Upset Natures Balance and Nearly
Destroyed the Cattle. and
Poultry Industries.

Especial Kingston Uamaicai r,etter.l
Jamaica has passed, or IS pass
ing, through the experience ,cat de-
served to have world wide pub
licity, both on account of its in
trinsic interest and because it
points a significant moral as well as
adorns a tale well worth the telling.
1t is story of mans short-sighted
tampering with nature under the spur
of the immediate exigencies of his own
narrow interests, and natures mex
orable reprisals in her inevitable eff
forts to recover a rudely disturbed bal
ance.
As will be seen, in this struggle be-
tween man and nature some of the
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04

Ponce, Porto Rico via ST.. Thomas,
d. w. L., July 30.-Ponce surrendered
to Commander &. IL. Davis, of the aux
iliary gunboat Dixie, on Wednesday.
There was no resistance and the Amer
leans were welcomed with enthusiasm.
Mai. Gen. Miles arrived here in the
morning with Gen. Ernst's brigade
and Gen. Wilson's division, on board
transports. Gen. Ernst's brigade i'm
mediately started for the town of
Ponce. three miles inland, which capit-
ulat%d in the afternoon.
The American troops are pushing
towards the mountains and will join
Gen. Henry with his brigade at Iauco,
which has been captured by our
troops.
A fight before the latter place on
Tuesday was won by the American
volunteers. The Spaniards ambushed
eight companies of the Sixth Massa-
chusetts and Sixth Illinois regiments,
but the enemy was repulsed and
driven back a mile to a ridge, where
the Spanish cavalry charged and We're
routed by our infantry.
Gen. Garretson led the fight with
Inc llltn llOIll 1lIlllOlS anu hdSSdCIlt IL
setts and the enemy retreated to
1auco. leaving four dead on the field
and several wounded. Not one of our
men was killed and only four were
slightly wounded.
The Porto Ricans are glad the
American troops have landed and say
they are all Americans and will join
our army.
The roads aIe good for military pur-
poses. Our troops are healthy and
Gen. Miles says the campaign will be
short.
Gen Miles has issued a proclamation
to the people of Porto Rico in which
he says the American forces have
come to occupy the island and that
the people are released from allegiance
to their former masters, and that the
largest measure of liberty will be
given to the inhabitants that is con-
sistent with a military occupation.
1is says all property rights will be re-
spected and existing laws continued.