davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-03-17
EVIL IN NEWSPAPERS.
[FrOm The Minneapolis Progress.

A reader of the Progress calls at
tention to the fact that daily paper
announces the early publication of
stories 'of thrilling, interesting charac-
ter, founded upon murders and lowest
Crimes" and says: ''Shall our citizens
allow such reading in the home? 1
trust some expression of rebuke will
appear in your excellent paper"
The stories referred to have such
titles as: 'The Murder of Mistress.' %
"a Deliberate Crime," "a Railway
Murder" can Irish Crime" "The Dals-
ton Murder" "The Wimbledon Muir.
der" "Baby Farming Crimes" etc.
The objection by our correspondent to
such features is we'll taken; yet these
stories of crimes and criminals of
other days are among the more re-
spectacle features of criminal sensa-
tions which are daily pictured in the
public press. In certain class of
metropolitan journals there is base
rivalry in the sensational exaggeration
of all criminal happenings. These
journals have already gone to such ex-
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-03-17

in between the casing of the rudder.
and had broken arm.
l watched my chance and when she
raised on sea l ran forward under
the top gallant forecastle, where
found two men. But the sea had got
there before us and had wet and
jammed everything up in the eyes of
her. We could not get light and it
was so dark you could not see your
hand.
In the meantime the Captain came
in and asked: "Who's here?" We an
swered giving our Names The second
mate was the Captains son and was
one of the eighteen that were lost.
When morning came it was raining
hard, and this had knocked the caps
Off the sea, so we dared venture on
deck to catch the dripping rainwater
from the yards to drink, and to wash
the Captains wounded face, for one
of his eyes had been torn out, though
he had stood there all night without
saying word.
AS the day advanced and the rain
beat the sea down, we went on a voy.
age of discovery about the deck. 1t
was ticklish job as the bulwarks had
been washed away and the yards were
swinging at will, liable to fall at any
time; if you slipped you were in the
drink.
Jammed between the pumps we
found the Chinese cooks dead BODY
and the ships chronometer. How it
got there without being broken is a
mystery. We took it forward and one
of the men put it in his clothes bag.
That day we were taken off by the
crew of German barque and were
landed in Queenstown: from there we
were sent to Liverpool.
Here we got a sample of English
justice. Carr, the sailor who had the
chronometer, took it to a pawnshop to
sell. The pawnbroker offered him
twenty pounds for it but Carr wanted
thirty, as it would bring one hundred
pounds when new. When Carr would
not sell it for twenty pounds, the
pawnbroker called a policeman and
had him arrested for theft on the high
seas.
Carr was brought before magistrate
and when asked what he had to say in
his own behalf, replied: "your honor,
if hadn't took it, it would be keeping
time for the fishes now." The magis-
trate stopped him by saying: "That is
no way to answer the court. If you
brought it ashore, you should have
given it up. give you six months at
hard labor"
That meant the mill-a hell on
earth-and was all the reward poor
Carr got for his shipwreck and refus-
ing to let the fishes have a timepiece
on st. Patrick's Day. SINBAD.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-03-17
Written for The Prison Mirror.
ROBBING THE FISHES.
A Shipwrecked Sailors Tussle with
Piscatorial Property and English
Justice.

On st. Patrick's Day, 1872, the writer
was at sea on the Henry M. Stanley,
of st. John, n. B., bound for Liverpool
with cargo of deals. We were water
logged, were exhausted from pumping
and had run up signal of distress.
Several vessels were sighted but they
all passed us by. AS night came on
the Captain called us into the cabin
and said: "Men, she can not sink, but
these seas will break her up; so in the
morning we Will take to the boats. In
the meantime l will read a chapter
from the bible, as think this is a good
time to pray"
But alas! Out of crew of twenty.
two only four got the line. Before the
Captain finished reading the chapter
there came one of those large seas that
are an occasional dread in the north
Atlantic ocean, and it swept the cabin
from the deck.
When found myself was jammed
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-03-17
CRIMINALS.
[From The Minneapolis Housekeeper.] u

Voluminous as is the writing on the
occupants of state prisons and conf
dent as have been the platform pana-
ceas of the current generation, the
rolls of convicts lengthen with every
day. Philanthropists have tried to
help the offenders, the worst of them,
and in doing so have wrought largely
and necessarily in the dark. We are,
perhaps must ever be, in the state of
pupilage. The last word, confounded
with the latest word, has been spoken
thousand times, yet the wise word of
the latest sage is no sooner spoken than
contradicted.
Superintendent and chaplains tell
us OF criminals. Tell us what they see.
And what do they see? And whom do
they see? The criminal in prison and
his conduct there. This affords one
kind of data, but is it not reasonable to
assume that, as rule, criminals at
large and criminals in prison are un-
like in important particulars? Ad-
mitting that men may change or be
changed anywhere, is it not notorious
that criminals are deceiving the sharp
est officials every day, and prison board
as well, so that every day offenders of
the worst sort are pardoned and immedi-
ately resume their lawless career {?
Yet there is no little talk which, if it
were evidence, would show that the
ancient philosopher could have found
an honest man had he gone to prison
to seek him.
Criminals, as body, are not babes,
nor feebleminded. They are moving
daily without observation among law
abiding citizens. They are more or
less intelligent and educated. Many
of them have sound opinions on the
graver public questions and are able
to defend them. They who doubt this
may learn the truth by visiting the
places where su \ persons may be
seen. 1t is not easy to find them at all
times, nor is it easy to meet them on
familiar terms, but he who has good
sense and the courage of a worthy
motive may get near enough to learn
that many criminal has in him the
sufficiency for good and able citizen.
ship.
TO arrive at all approximate judg-
ment of the intellectual capacity of
the criminal, it is helpful to consider
that almost all the crimes are against
property; over ninety per cent. One
authority says that the native intelli-
gence of this class will compare favor
ably with that of the average run of
people. Nearly 81 of the large num-
ber read and wri19 very we'll, and some
of them, though very low born, had
made such use of the school advan-
tages of the reformatories and prisons
that they read through more volumes
of philosophy and history than even
the usual college student, and were
able to converse we'll on what they had
read.
AS concerns the moral sense of the
criminal, there are those who may be
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-03-17
HEREDITY OR WHAT?
From st. Paul GlObe.l

There is a very general disposition
to shove off onto something or other
responsibility for the results of our
own actions. One favorite shift is luck,
another is "mysterious dispensation
of providence" and another is hered-
ity. The last was the subject of pa
per presented to the meeting of the
Associated Charities. 1t differs from
the attribution of conditions to luck
and to providential dispensations only
in its semblance of a scientific attitude;
at base it is the same. 1t is only a more
refined, elevated, intellectual way of
accounting for conditions 1t tries to
make answer to that twin problem
Whence, whose brother is Whittier.
When we know whence we came we
will know whittier we are going. Mean
time we guess. Heredity is one guess
and poor one. Atavism is one phase
of it, the temperance of ancestors.
Heredity is always fault bearer. 1t
is made to excuse delinquencies in
thief or drunkard for his father or
grandfather was thief or q drunk
ard. 1t never accounts for what men
esteem good. No one was ever a great
orator, scientist, author, physician,
minister, inventor or mechanic, because
his father or grandfather was one.
''It is natural for us to expect that
when we sow wheat we shall reap
wheat" predicates the paper read at
the meeting This is an attempt to
reason from an analogy that is not
universal. For single illustration
showing its happiness, if we plant an
apple seed we should just as naturally
expect to get tree that would bear
the same kind of apples. But we never
do. We get tree that in leaf, bark,
and form is an apple tree, but we get
very different kind of fruit: rarely
better one; sometimes one as good, oc-
casionally worthless one. So with
other plants. What kind of wheat we
get, what kind of apples we pick, what
kind of men and women we have de-
pends far less on ancestral conditions
than on the environment during the
developing period. The paper on hered-
ity and pauperism struck the truer
note, truer of all phases of the subject.
The mission of social organization is
to provide the suitable, favoring sur
rounding for the development of the
mysterious character germ; environ
ment that will foster the good and i'm
pede the bad traits in it. Likewise is
this the duty of every individual men,
ber of the organization, both to those
germs for whose introduction he or
she may be responsible, and to those
others to which one owes only the
common obligation of common hu.
manity.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-03-17

If one by some experience
His neighbOr has not had,
Has learned lesson that prevents
His ''gOing to the bad,''
Need he for this much credit take,
Or pose as mentor for its sake?
1t one through accident of birth
Has wealth at his command,
So 'mOng the noble ones of earth
He easy takes his stand,
Need he for this much glory claim,
Or ask that honor gild his name?
eOr if at birth some lucky star
In high midheaven shOne
So naught could come his life to mar,
And failure be unknown,
Should he of man high praise receive,
If he some fair success achieve?
If in the way one walks, there come
Nothing that one to tempt,
If from the foes that harass some
He finds himself exempt,
If cold and hunger are unknown,
And bread is never turned to stone.
IL careful hands remove each thorn
Lest it should pierce the feet,
And joy with every rising morn
Springs up his life to greet,
Shall he expect much praise to win,
Because perchance, he did not sin?
But If with angry Snarl and growl,
The wolf hangs round the door.
If fortune wears fOrebOding ScOwl.
Deep lining more and more,
And riches on fast hurrying wings
Take flight, the while foul slander sting.
If friends forget their loyalty.
And foes bring bitter hate,
If help that might of service be
Comes always just ''too late,''
If evils on each other crowd
Till darkness doth the soul enshrOud.
If Satan, biding we'll his time,
Approach with speciOus grace,
And, taking attitude sublime.
Makes eager haste to place
His hidden snare, with skill complete,
In pitfalls for unwary feet.
If, working so gainst fearful odds,
One gaineth victory strong,
IT, smarting from the goading rods.
His life is free from wrong.
Then he may claim the victor's crown
Aud after strife, in peace sit down.
The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07
THE ILLINOIS FLOOD.
FRleHTFuL LOSS OF LIFE BY BURST
4-~- ING OF A LEvEE.

The Waters of the swollen Ohio Conn
pIetely Inundate shawneetown Scores
Were Drowned and Hundreds Rendered
HomeIess-Peop1e Near Starvation.
Shawneetown, Ills, April 6.-Twenty-
three known dead, a possibility that
the list may reach 30, 1,500 people in
actual need of the necessaries of life,
200 people homeless and damage to the
amount of $200,0 ia the net result of
the food which swept through this
place late Sunday afternoon. Not one
of the bodies has been recovered, and 1t
is not likely that there will be until the
waters subside, which will be in ten
days or fortnight.
There is no danger of further dam
age to the town, unless more storms
should set in and even then it is diff
cult to see how matters could be made
worse than they now are. The entire
town is buried under 10 to Is feet of
water, with the exception of the houses
on the embanlSment Immediately front
ing the Ohio river. All of these have
water in the cellars or to the second
story. The water has rapidly receded.
The flood at the time the damage was
caused and the people were drowned
was not over three feet in depth. 1T
rushed in with such violence. however,
that people were caught waist deep in
the stream and hurled together and
smothered before they could rise.
Wide Area Devastated.
The entire country north, south and
west of Shawneetown is covered with
water and locomotion in all directions
is almost impossible. In the township
Immediately north of here there was not
sufficient dry ground yesterday for
single polling place, and there was,
therefore, no election. and the officers
will hold over for another term.
Many instances of heroism were per-
formed by the townspeople in rescuing
their fellow citizens. Prominent among
the leaders in this work was Lloyd
Rowan, who with skiff saved "a peo-
pie by his own individual exertions.
Frank Robinson, Marshal Callicot and
William Vaughn all did heroic work
with skiffs Callicot is the son of
Washington Callicot and was within 90
feet of his father and mother when they
were drowned He made desperate eff
forts to reach them, but they were
borne down by the flood and did not
rise again.
The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07
DoINGs OF CONGRESS.
The Proceedings of Senate and House
During the Past Week.

Washington. March 31.-The Cuban
question did not come up in the senate
Yesterday though great crowds were
present in expectation of an exciting
debate. The Alaska civil government
bill was passed. Mr. Wolcott criticised
Secretary Gage in a short speech on the
currency question. In the house reso-
luton recognizing the independence of
Cuba. offered by Mr.. Bailey, the Dem
ocratic leader was ruled out of order
by Speaker Reed. whose decision was
sustained by vote of 1S0 to 1885, Con-
sideration of the naval appropriation
bill was resumed
Washington April LIN the senate
the resolution calling on the president
for the Cuban consular reports was re-
committed to the foreign relations COM
mittee Mr. Allen (Pop) of Nebraska
made a speech for Cuban independence.
The sundry civil appropriation bill was
considered, but not passed. In the
house, while the naval appropriation bill
was under consideration, there was an
exciting discussion of the Cuban ques-
ton. in which Representatives Johnson,
Grcsvenor and Bailey took the chief
parts Mr.. johnson made a strong plea
for peace, which was greeted with
Kisses from the galleries.
washington, April I'm the senate
yesterday Mr.. Lodge withdrew his reso-
luton providing for the purchase of the
Danish West Indies in order to secure
harmony, much opposition to the prof.
ect being manifested. In the house the
naval appropriation bill was passed,
with the number of torpedo boats and
torpedo boat destroyers increased to II
each and the provision for three battle
ships retained.
Washington, April SIN the senate
yesterday Messrs. Perkins, Clay, Man
tie and Rawlns spoke in favor of inter-
yention in Cuba. Mr.. Perkins directly
charged that Spain was responsible for
the blowing up of the Maine. In the
house there was a brief debate on the
Cuban question, in which Speaker Reed
was compelled to threaten to clear the
galleries, on account of the demonstra-
tion aroused by Mr.. Bailey's speech.
Washington, April 6.-In the senate
yesterday Messrs. Chandler, Turpie,
Turner. Harris and Kenney spoke in fa
vor of an immediate declaration of war
against Spain In the house several
private bills were passed, among them
one to pay $33O,000 to the heirs of John
Roach. The Cuban question did not
come up.
The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07

200. rne contraction in the loan item
represents to considerable extent liq-
uidation at the stock exchanges and
the sale of sterling exchange collateral
but back of it all there has been the
strong tendency to fortify against the
uncertainties of the future.
What is true of New York banks is
generally true of banks throughout the
country Their policy for six weeks has
been to prepare for a strain, and it
would seem that they are well provided
for all contingencies.
Proposed Contingent Special Taxes.
1--WE have been looking into the OPP
Grafton of the internal revenue act in
force in 1866. 1t produced during that
fiscal year revenue to the amount of
1910, ,000 900. OF course it is not probable
at all that there would be a return to
the heavy taxation of those times. We
would not have to make the effort now
to raise 1910, 900 a year that was
made in 1866. We have doubled in popu-
lation since then and more than doubled
in wealth.
'The internal revenue schedules in
force at this time subject to taxation
distilled spirits, fermented liquors, to-
bacco and snuff, oleomargarine, filled
cheese, opium and playing cards. These
items the last fiscal year produced S147,-
0OO, 900 in revenues. An addition of 81 a.
barrel to the tax on beer would add
S35, 900 900 a year to the public revenues.
A slight increase in the tax on tobacco
and return to the system of special
taxes and licenses in vogue few years
ago would contribute much to the rev.
enues without greatly adding to the
burdens of any one.
"a stamp tax on bank checks and
drafts, mortgages, deeds, receipts, etc..
would not be greatly felt. The internal
revenue receipts, amounting to $310, ,000,
600 in 1866, included $73,000,000 in round
figures from incomes. The balance was
made up by taxes on articles and occu-
pations which included almost innumer-
able items. But without the necessity
of resorting to great majority of
these it is probable that the govern
ment revenues, in addition to the aid
from internal revenue sources might be
sufficiently augmented by small taxes
on tea, coffee and spices. These items
might easily be made to raise S35,0O0,0OO
per annum.
s'The most available tax for immedi-
ately increasing the revenue, however,
would be tax on beer. The govern
ment machine in this line is so we'll or
ganized that if an additional tax of 81
a barrel on beer were to be authorized
this afternoon, tomorrow morning the
government would begin to be in re-
ceipt of the additional tax. 1t would
mean simply the placing of two stamps
on the barrels where one now is placed"
The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07

uuestionab1y prove that Spain pur-
chased mines for that purpose. The firm
of Lattimer, Rhodes & Clark, electrical
engineers. during 1SS7-SS filled large
order for Spain for lot of mines in
which were used 1415 tons of gun cotton.
The work was done under the surveil-
lance of General Fernandez and Cap
tain Bustamento.
The latter was then the head of the
Spanish torpedo school. BY the order
of these officers the mines were divided
into four consignments-for Havana,
Ferrol, Cadiz and Cartagena. The mines
were manufactured under the direction
of ]. P. Gibbons, after Gibbons patents,
which are described in Slemen's book
on torpedoes and mines.
Gibbons, from whom the information
is obtained and who furnished Lieuten-
ant Commander Colwell with a written
statement of the above facts and out
lined his theory of the explosion which
wrecked the Maine, was then employed
by the firm as superintendent of the
torpedo department He also says
similar lot of torpedoes was manufac-
tured for Spain in 1886.
The manager of the Westminster En-
gineering company which is the sue
cessor of the aforementioned firm and
with which Gibbons is connected, con-
firms the latter's statement as to the
manufacture of mines for Spain. Glib
bons, who is former sergeant of en-
gineers and a government Inspector of
torpedoes, believes the Names first ex-
pIosion was caused by what is tech
nically called a q ound mine. contain
ing 500 pounds of gun cotton, several of
which were manufactured for Spain.
He has experimental with these mines
largely at Portsmouth and says that,
once laid. they retain their properties
for so years.
In addition Gibbons asserts that it is
absolutely impossible for them to ex-
plode accidentally, as the electric cur
rents for their explosion are formed
only by the manipulation of compli-
Gated keyboard especially devised to
prevent accidents Three keys are nee
essary, which are always kept in the
possession of different officers, and even
if an outsider obtained possession Of
them it would be impossible to manipu
late the keyboard without instructions.
Gibbons further says the mines and
their connecting cables are numbered,
and he asserts he will be able to identi
fly them if any part is secured.
The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07
New York Appropriates 81, 600. 900.

Albany April 1.--For the second time
in the history of the state of New York
its governor has felt called upon to ask
the Legislature for an appropriation for
war purposes. Governor Edwin D. Nor
gan of New York city was the first, and
his call came during the War of the
Rebellion. Governor Frank s. Black of
Troy is the second, and his necessity
arose from the threatened war with
Spain Governor Morgan called for So,
500 900. and personally raised the great
er part Immediately from his own pri-
vate resources, for the need was i'm
perative. Governor Black, in special
message, asked for but $1,0O0,000 and
that as an emergency fund to obviate
the expensive necessity for reconvening
the legislature should the situation re-
quire The 81, ,000,0 900 was voted and the
bill signed in one hour and twenty min
utes from the time that the call came.
This was practically the last act q
the legislature of 1898, as it shortly aft
erward adjourned sine die.
The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07
1T WAS A NINE.
Additional Proof That the Maine Was
Blown Up by Spaniards.

London, April 5.--Details have been
obtained of the manufacture in this
country of submarine mines in London
for Spain. which was first brought to
the attention of the United States en-
bassy on March 5.
Lieutenant Commander J. c.. Colwell,
the Gnited States naval attache, has
since Investigated the matter and has
made report on the subject to the
United States government. The facts
learned strongly tend to show that Ha-
vana harbor was mined, and they un-
The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07
THE SiNEWS OF WAR.
Treasury Department. Doing Its share
Toward the Nations Defense.

Treasury Department Doing Its share
Toward the Nations Defense.
Washington, April 6.--sWhile the ma
Wy and the war departments have nee
esSarily been much in evidence in the
making of preparations for the possibly
impending conflict between the United
States and Spain,' said Assistant Sec
retary vanderiip. "the treasury depart
ment has not been behind in giving
close attention to what is quite as es-
sential as battleships-namely. ths ma
tional finances as they relate to war.
! when war comes, new influences op-
crate upon the public revenues The
first boom Of cannon is call for in
creased resources. and is likely to be
followed by a sharp decrease in ordi-
nary receipts.
Fortunately at no time since the
civil war has the United States treasury
occupied so strong a position as it does
now, with the exception, possibly. OF
the surplus days of 1885-1890 The cir
culation statement of the treasury de-
partment issued April 4. shows that we
have an enormous stock of gold in the
country. almost $3.50. .00O.OOO OF this
amount thes United States treasury
holds SITS, 100 net gold. We are $75,-
100000 abb the traditional reserve
maintaine n.r the redemption of the
United S&Es notes and the notes OF
1890, and~the tendency is toward an
increase at the rate Of 100000 day
About 10 per cent of the customs re-
ceipts are being paid in gold.
Since the disaster to the Maine in
Havana harbor banks throughout the
whole country have quietly pursued q
policy which, without disturbing busi-
ness, has made them financially strong
(not less important to the country's
welfare than impregnable fortifications
and coast defenses).
Since Feb. 10, the week of the Maine
disaster, the New York banks have re-
auced their loan accounts by $50, 100000
and at the same time they have in
creased their specie holdings by 5000