davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-02-27
THREE LIGHTNING STORIES.
Drunmers Told Them. and Each
Was Good One
CFrom the Denver Republican,

(From the Denver Republican,
A party of commercial men lounged in
the easy chairs in the rotunda of the
Brown Palace Hotel last evening.
"As L was going to remark said the
cologne man, q 1 was travelling in Texas
few years ago and spent day or two
at place where a gang of men were
building new railroad. There were at
least two hundred of them. On this par
ticular day thunder storm came up and
a bolt of lightning struck almost in the
center of the men. A dozen or more of
them were stunned by the blow and
knocked down. One man, who was stand
ing very near where the bolt struck, had
his clothes burned a little. He was all
right in a few minutes and went about his
work. About quitting time he put his
hand in his pocket to look at his watch
and, much to his surprise found his pock-
ct empty and the bottom of it torn out
He went back to where he fell when the
lightning struck and found rough
chunck of silver, all that remained of his
watch The bolt from the lightning had
evidently melted it, and burned it's way
through the pocket, and fell to the
ground
IF that story won't convince you on
the spot, / have one that will said the
pork packing man of Kansas City.
Before | go further let me state that
this story is an actual fact and no fool
ing. In Arizona last summer. Mrs. III. J.
Allen, wife of the financial agent of the
United Verde mine, was seated in a room
with another woman sewing. thunder
storm was raging outside. when suddenly
a clap of thunder came and flash of
light which blinded the woman sewing
After they had recovered from the shock
Mrs. Allen found that bolt had come
down the chimney, and as Ii flew across
the room it brushed against her back
hair and melted all the pins that had held
it up few minutes before. A further
investigation revealed the fact that the
bolt had struck the corner of bed in the
adjoining room. shattering the wood
Strange as it may seem, Mrs. Aliens hair
was not even Singed."
The other members OF the party moved
uneasy in their chairs. excepting the Chi
cago man. Turning to his companions,
he said:
while in Georgia a few years ago last
spring darky was struck by lightning
and lives to tell the tale. He was riding
home across q cotton field during th1n-
derstorm when bolt of lightning struck
him between the shoulders. 1t ran down
his back, burning a whole in the saddle.
killing the mule under him. He fell off
the mule and walked home in the rain,
the loss of his suit of clothes,
which had been badly torn by the light
ming. Upon his arrival home, when he
went to change his clothes, his wife made
the discovery that the lightning had made
a white stripe down his black back He
carries that mark to this day
The times., 1898-02-27
He Took a Long Smoke
iFrom Parsons Weekly

A gentleman well known in turf circles
made a curious wager in the year 1860.
in which he backed himself to smoke one
pound weight of strong foreign regaIias
within twelve hours. The conditions We're
that the cigars should be smoked one at
a time TO within an inch of the end. the
backer of time. as in the case of some
pigeon matches. finding the weeds.
The match was decided on Thames
steamer plying between London and CheI-
sea, the smoker taking up position well
forward of the bows. where he caught the
force of the breeze that was blowing.
The cigars ran hundred to the pound.
so that about eight an hour had to be
consumed to win the wager. A start was
made at 10 o'clock in the morning and
the affair was finished after . in the even
ing.
In the course of nine hours and twenty
minutes eighty-six cigars were fairly
smoked the greatest number consumed
being in the second hour. when the
smoker disposed OF no fewer than six
teen. At the eighty-sixth cigar. when
fourteen only remained to be smoked the
backer of time gave in, and the latter
puffed the remainder away at his leisure
in the course of the same evening.
The winner subsequently declared that
he had not experienced the slightest diff
fculty unpleasantness during the
whole time he WIS blowing off the weeds
The only refreshment taken during the
progress OF the match was a chop at
o'clock, the eating of which occupied
twenty minutes. and a gill and a half of
brandy in cold water at intervals
throughout the day
The times., 1898-02-27
A Plan to Steal S9o.OO0,0c0.
H., IL, Ill Nfn1 l.roAt.. n

(FrCm the Pail Mail traZette.i
When a Bsrtiner wishes to describe any
thing as particularly secure he says:
"As safe as the war treasure in the JUL
ius Tower at Spandau." There, behind
triple-barted doors lies deposited under
the strictest military suarG the els. 000.-
0G0 that was weighed out from the French
indemnity and put aside as a war chest
for the next campaign. And yet this
treasure a thief has planned to steal lie
is no ordinary thief for he has already
succeeded in breaking through the strong
guard that watches over the HohenZol-
lern Museum and in carrying off several
objects of value This expert burglar.
katz by name was caught SellinG. some
of the museums treasures, and was
charged before the courts. found guilty
and sentenced. On an appeal doubts
were raised as to his sanity. and ultI.
mateIy Katz was sent to iunatic asy-
lum.
During the proceedings on appeal the
prisoner, to prove his sanity laid before
the judges an elaborate plan he had form
ed for breaking into the Julius Tower at
Spandau- The president of the tribunal
retorted That is idiotic.' but Katz ar
gued the polut. anG proved that he un-
derstood what he was talking about.
This dangerous individual is now in an
asylum, but as he is very calm and col
lected. he probably will not be detained
long: and what viii happen the: TO the
wa: chest of GIS, ,Dd0 000?
The times., 1898-02-27
A Woman With q Check
From the New York SUM


A r1iddle-aged spinster who wore glass
es and whose voice was thin, stepped up
to the paying teller's window in Brook
lyn bank and holding out check, said
imperatively:
Please give me the money for this
check"
The teller saw that the check was
drawn on a Western bank sand made pay
able to Mary Eliza Smith" or name
like that.
What is you name, madame" he ask
ed
"Is that any business of yours, sir?''
returned the woman.
Certainly il is. or / shouldn't ask it,
said the teller. still in doubt.
We'll, you can read it on that check
then
You are Mary Eliza Smith, them" said
the teller still in doubt
Yes, j am, and teacher in the pub
lie schools. i have no time to prolong
this conversation. young man. and | will
be obliged to you for the $50 mentioned in
that check
"Have YOU an account here?" asked
the teller
Indeed I haven't: 1 would not have if
L could. Why, j never saw such an in
quisitive young man.
But l don't know that you are Mary
Eliza Smith,"
indeed" said the woman, with elabo.
rate scorn. Il have told you that I was
several times. Now, young man, want
my money
Il can't cash that check said the
teller.
why not? This is bank isn't ite"
Yes. but YOU must bring some one here
to identify YOU
Identify me. Me, Well, well, young
man! Is the president here?'
Yes. madam: he is back i'm his Office"
And before the teller could send warning
to the president Miss Smith bounced in
to his office. She told him that she had
been insulted, and that she should sue
the bank
You pretend, sir" she said, that this
is a bank. A hank is place where checks
are cashed. i offered a check here and
that fresh young man wanted me 10 tell
him all about myself and have some one
The times., 1898-02-27
THE LORDS PRAYER BY BOOTH.
The Impression the Recital Made
on His Auditors.
from the Kansas City Times.)

From the Kansas City Times.)
Il think. said James O'NeilI in his
talk about the Booths 1.-The most thrill
ing experience L ever passed through was
in New York city one time when quite
by accident number of foreign diplo-
mats from Washington, a few American
statesmen, some prominent New Workers,
and one or two of us, professionals were
gathered together in a smoking room of
the Fifth Avenue Hotel when somebody
asked Booth, who by the merest chance
happened to be here, if he would not
repeat the Lords prayer for the as
semblage. | was sitting not far from the
tragedian when he fixed his eyes upon
the man who made the request. / think
that it was Lord Sackeville- West, at that
time British Minister to the United
States, and | shall never forget the pc
culiarly searching expression that Booth
shot out of his dark eyes. They seemed
to penetrate the very soul of the man at
whom they were directed, and then, as
if satisfied resumed their wonted vacu-
Gus density.
I'VE We're all breatkless with anxiety,
at least / wa. for seldom would he ev-
er recite, walked to little cleared SPACE
at one end of the ROOM and began a re-
cital that even after these years makes
me thrill through and through. He said
Our Father and never before had those
two words been clothed with the maies-
ty and reverence with which his look
and tone enveloped them. And then he
carried us into celestial regions our
spirits seeming to leave our bodies and
to follow his behest; he lowered us into
depths too dark for Dante's genius to
conceive or Dore's pen to portray; the
power eNerted over us was simply un-
natural. His musically resonant tones
sounded slowly through the room and
as he swayed his 1.-THE body We uncon-
sciously followed his motion. 1t was
something horrible, beautiful terrible.
faseinating-I cannot find words in the
language to express it. There are none
II would not go through the scene
again for thousand worlds. and yet if
l had the opportunity 1 would brave any
danger to hear it once more. Do you
understand? Those few score words as
delivered by Edwin Booth We're the most
powerful argument for Christianity that
/ ever heard, and could every being on
the face of the globe have heard them
there would no longer be atheism Booth
strobe out of the room when he finished
and n simultaneous sigh of relief arose.
while without a word We stole away
singly and on tiptoe. and 1 do not believe
that any of US think of that thrilling
evening without a shudder. He was a
great man.
The times., 1898-02-27
A Trolley Through the Air.
(From the Chicaeo News.I

tfEuiu lDS NultdSt NtN=-f
In ages to come this present period
will be referred to not as the electrical
age. or the age of brains and commerce,
but it will be embalIned in the minds
of men as the trolley age Gaping the
perfection of the trolley comes the
aerial galloway OF electric carr ageway
on a rope.
A clever expert. Richard Lamb writ
ing Of the aerial galloway. recently
spoke of it as the solution of a battling
problem. Large expenditures of thought
and money has been made 10 devise
means of transportation that can dis
regard the insurmOuntable difficulties
of some surface roads. such as
excessive grades too much bridging. or
too great cost for roadway. The nat
ural suggestion has been to make the
roadway through the air, and airshipS.
flying machines and suspended cable
ways have been sought for to solve the
problem.
Macauley wrote: "Of all inventions,
the alphabet and printing press except
ed, these inventions which abridge dis
tauce have done most for civiliza-
ton"
The most difficult problems of today
are those of abridging distances. With
all the expenditure of life and money
that has been put into the endeavOr.
man has not as yet even been able to
traverse this orb of the universe upon
which We are living. and with untold
riches as the goal thousands stop with
in n few hundred miles Of the KIOndike,
at the first short pass, to await less
hazardous season to risk the journey.
There are millions of feet of valuable
timber in Swamps standing within
rifie-shot distance of convenient points
practically unObtainable. The miry
soil makes regular roadbeds too expen-
sive, and it has been as impossible 20
get teams into the swampS as to get
the logs out. 1t was to solve this par
ticular problem of abridging distances
that the electric galloway was built.
The times., 1898-02-27

identify me into the bargain. Why. | was
teacher in the Brooklyn schools before
he was born.".
But you see madam. you have no ac-
count here said the president 'and we
don't know YOU. We have no means of
knowing that the check is good
why. the idea,' calculated Miss Smith.
do you suppose arr forger?"
No. madam. but as a matter of pre-
caution must ask you for some iden-
tification."
Indeed, ] would not so humiliate my
self" said Miss Smith. haughtily- II will
go to another bank and see IL can find
gentleman who will respect lady" and
out she walked.
The president OF the bank was the man
who told this story. and he has since
learned that the woman Is teacher In
Brooklyn school.
Some women have queer ideas about
banking he added.
The times., 1898-02-27

The tired woman who finds every seat
occupied by husky fellow whose man
ners have been msiaid could pick up that
magic fork. slide the trolley along until
her victim was in range. and then sud-
denly lift him out of mis- seat with about
a thousand volts of lightning.
And il would probably prove effective
also in eliminating other nuisances and
defects of the street car system. The
man with the garlic breath. the fellow
who allows his umbrella to drip in your
lap, the chap who tramples upon your
feet and the woman who holds "a dozen
hairpins in her mouth while she rear
ranges a refractory switch, might be
forked into oblivion. At amy rate the
scheme has possibilities which should not
be overlooked.
The times., 1898-02-27
An Electric Fork for Footpads.
rrom the Chicago Times-Herald)

Qrom the Chicago Times Herald.)
An inventive genius in Media, Pa, has
rugged up a device which he confidently
predicts will put an end to street car
hold-ups. He is conductor on an cleo
trio line, and has lined the interior of
his car with wires charged with cleo
tricity. Along these wires runs a small
trolley device, which is intended to be
kept in his hand constantly. no matter
where he may be in the car. 1t termi-
mates in fork-shaped metallic rod, and
with this rod 1t is proposed to electrocute
any daring footpad who attacks the car.
Perhaps this might be efficacious in
discouraging highwaymen-we don't know
about that-but why limit it to footpads?
The times., 1898-02-27
Fatal Knowledge
lEIrorn thc CEhinarn Nnws !

Y 'N7I4 'IIS NI1IVaEV -Nt"s.I
After he had kissed her and pressed her
rosy cheek against his and patted her
soft round chin, she drew back and
asked:
George. do you shave yoarself?'
Yes" he replied.
Il thought So she said. Your face is
the toughest ever
Then she stopped. but it was too late
and he went away with n cold, heavy
lump in his breast.
Arizona republican., 1898-02-09
- - cure Liver Ills; easy to Hoods Pills take. easy to operate. 25c.

a look that is not of the effete east.
 The handsomest man in the senate today is Penrose of Pennsylvania. He is only 37 years old, and, though much admired by women remains obstinately a bachelor. He is very tall and broad, but he carries himself badly, being somewhat hunched about the shoulders. Penrose was graduat- ed second in the class of 1881 at liar yard, his brother Charles, who mar ried a Miss Drexel, at Philadelphia, taking the first place. Henry Cabot Lodge of Nahant, Mass, is the swell est looking man in the upper house. Though now AZ years of age, he has retained the youthful look of ear Her days to remarkable degree. AL lison of Iowa, is the most distin guish- ed looking senator, and a handsome man at that.
Arizona republican., 1898-02-09
ANOTHER CRITICISM.
A Musician Takes Issue With Sempre
 FideliS.

Editor Republican, Sir: Among Sundays musical notes by the instruct i've and entertaining music raconteur appeared an article which speaks of Miss Messengers harp solos as fol- lows: But we should enjoy hearing her in selections which would give her more opportunity to display her ex- ecutive powers" Miss Messenger $ first selection was from Von Weber's "Oberon,' including most of the themes introduced in the overture of this great opera, composition which has been given the place of honor on programmes of the greatest symphony crchestras, and a work which ranks as one of the grandest in the literature of music. This piece was selected to dis play depth of feeling, power of touch and singing quality of tone
 The second was the famous "Ma a- zurka" by Schneider, one of the most
Arizona republican., 1898-02-09

l brilliant technical compositions writ ten for tho harp, and one which is at i tempted but ny virtuoso, as it abounds in every variety of difficult | lingering. This, Miss Messenger studied under the composer, and chose | it for her second number to show her brilliancy, clearness and finish of ex- ecution.
 As lovers of classical music are al ways in the minority, unless at a re- cital of the classic or a chamber con- cert, Miss Messengers encores were selected to give pleasure to those who delight in hearing the sweet, old mel odies as well as an occasional popular song. In this. Miss Messenger felt that she was pleasing all, as the great est critics find pleasure in the simplest pieces rendered with a purity of tone and expression.
 Take Arthur Pryor, one of the great est trombone players, who has been with Sousa for several seasons; his first selection is one of almost impos- sible difficulties; as an encore, he usually plays some popular ballad like "Only One Girl in This World for Me" The first satisfies the critics that he is great artist, while the en core gives pleasure to all. Patti will i be heard in the mad scene from Lucia" the piece de resistance of most singers, and in Home, Sweet Home" the same evening.
 When such great artists will lend their magnificent powers to render one of the simplest ballads, how tire some it is to hear an amateur sing about Eyes Like the Dreaming Dew or Come Where the Mists Are Sleep ing" Those who have seen the phe- nomena of sleeping mists" o1 dreaming dew' will, of course, ap- preciate hearing such facts sung tc music, but such are few in the average audience
 Most amateurs training will not permit them to attempt the classics and they disdain to follow the ex- ample of the great artists in studyine the simpler music with earnestness. sc they compromise and bore their pa tient friends and good natured audi ences with songs and compositions similar to the above mentioned themes | by mediocre composers, or they get hold of some dry music with one of the great names tn back it, forgettine that even the greatest composers have written some extremely dry and tire some music and that one must use | judgment
 As to Miss Messengers solos their place is so firmly established among the great compositions that the de- 1 rogatory voices of a thousand critics metropolitan or provincial. could not move them one iota; as to the encores they demonstrate that she is thor oughly at home on the concert stage and understands pleasing her audi ence, whether with the purely classical popular or both combined.
 A. MUSICIAN.
Arizona republican., 1898-02-09
CHARACTERS IN CONGRESS.

There are lots of freak in the new congress. Some of them are members notable chiefly by reason of great wealth or ether enviabie-c character isttcs. Others are specially eccentric in personal appearance and dress or demeaECr. Picked out here and there the most striking points atort them afford much that is interas.ing and even amusing to the observer.
 The present house of repre senta- tlves has probably more rich members than any of it's predecessors from the beginning of the government. Penn sylVania, New York and particularly Massachusetts, are sending wealthy men to congress nowadays: the poor men come from the south and wsst. Charles IF. Sprague of Massachusetts leads the plutocrats. He married Miss Weld Of Bosom, who brought him about S15,000.0OO. Some say it was only s10,000,00O, but even the latter sum may be considered fairly decent dover. Mir. Sprague is a new man in congress, and is only 40 years old. He has taken Levi P. Morton's g house on Scott circle, which is the finest residence for entertaining mr. poses in Washington.
 Another rich man from Massachu- setls is William c. Lowering, 1xho is likewise serving his first term in congress. He made hIs money by the manufacture of cotton goods. J. J.. Belden of New York is worth S4.OOO,- coo or $5,000,00O. invested in hotels and all sorts of enterprises. It is said of him that he has the Midas touch, and that everything he handles turns to gold. Hit of Illinois is probably as rich as Belden; he got his money with his wife. The Hitts do much enter tainfng in Washington, and are popu- Par in society there
 Over in the senate end of the capi- tol is to be found quite a number of millionaires, of course. When a man gets everything else that he wants in this world he is apt to covet a seat in the upper house of congress, and so there is tendency on the pant of great wealth to gravitate toward that body. Turner, the new senator from Washing gton, is appraised at about $4,00O,000, invested in gold mines.
Arizona republican., 1898-02-09
DECIDED BY THE COURTS.

An agreement of continuing part although known to the creditor, is held, in National Cash Register com pany versus Brown (Nfont.), 37 l.. R. A. 515, insufficient to make the retirin 2 member mere surety so that a release of an attachment upon sufficient prop erty of the continuing partner to pay the debt will release the retiring part ner.
 A statute giving a lot owner the right to build one-half of a wall not more than IS inches wide, upon the land of his neighbor. and recover from the lat ter one-half of the expense whenever he uses the wall, is regarded, in Swift versus Calnan Qowa), 37 L. R. A. 462, as not free from doubt as to it's validity. but is upheld as an exercise of the police power, in view of long recognition and enforcement.
 A statute allowing a city to acquire water plant only by purchase from private parties, if it has given them a .ontract or franchise for a water SUD- ply, is held, in Helena Consolidated Water company versus Steele (Mont) ;7 L. R. A. 412. to be in violation of q constitutional provision against levy ng taxes upon inhabitants of a mu- licipality except for municipal pur- ioses, and also a provision against inn 'osing a liability in respect to transac- ions or considerations already past.
 An express company delivering a 'ackage of money to an inpostor who epresents that he is the consignee is 'eld, in Pacific Express company yer us Shearer GID, 37 L. R. A. 177. to be .ot relieved by the fact that the impos- or telegraphed for the money in the !ame of the consignee and himself re- eived the reply, although the sender of he money believed the telegram came from the person whose name was signed to it. The authorities. which are somewhat in conflict as to the ef- feet of delivery by carrier to an inn postor, are reviewed in the note to the case.-Chicago Daily News