davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

and kindly feeling. originally implied
nothing of the sort. 1t expressed al
most the reverse: IL was the crowd OF
triumph over a fallen foe.
Such is its nature still among savag
and barbarous peoples. and its unex-
pected manifestations are occasionally
very startling. Dancing on the body
of a Frustrated enemy is to them hilar-
ious business; the writing of a victim
under torture is the funniest thing
Imaginable: a new device for torment
is a clever jest: the inficting Of a
CHASTITY wound as some poor wretch
runs the gauntlet makes them yell with
glee. The things that shock or horrify
or disgust the civilized man are about
the only things worth laughing at from
a savage's point of view.
With the exception. therefore. OF
rough practical jokes. which may pos
sibly wrinkle his stolid features with
a momentary grin. the barbarian has
no appreciation OF civilized humor; he
can't see where the fun comes in II
nobody Is hurt. This was c~uriously H.
Illustrated no long ago when a consid-
cradle number of Cinnamon went to q
New York thea:er to see a burleaue
performance When the American part
of the audience laughed. the delegation
from Chinatown sat with farces abso-
lutely blank; but the homer any hint
of brutality. tragedy. OF tears appeared
on the stage. their heavy features
lighted and were wreathed In smiles. 1t
was a strange thing to witness. but IL
was all in perfect keeping with the
cruel instincts of their race-just ~
the Cuban incident was In keeping with
the cruel instincts of h Spaniard. For.
indeed. the Spaniards are the Chinese
of Europe, both In cruelty n back
wardness.
Even the knowledge hat he is him
self to be the next victim does not spoil
the fun of a cruel spectacle for a bar
barian thoroughbred. Here is an in
stance:
A number OF Siamese. who a beer
engaged in a bloody revolt. were cap
tured red-handed and sentenced to
military execution. A platoon of SOL
diers was drawn up with loaded mus
kets. before whom the doomed men
were led out in squads of Ave or six TO
be shot. while those who were waiting
their turn stood by under guard, look
ing on. When the first volley was fired
the victims. torn by the storm of bull
let's. leaped into the air with violent
contortions and fell dead. And this. 10
the poor wretches who were about to
go through the same experience.
seemed so fine a show and SO excruci-
atingly funny that they were fairly
convulsed with laughter.
Such Is the humor OF savages and
such, doubtless. were the beginnings of
mirth the world over. Strange as IL
may seem. there are many hints of this
~barbarous origin in the fun of the most
highly civilized. We no longer laugh
at really tragic occurrences. IL is true,
for other and more humane emotions
are too strongly excited. But IL we
chance to see a ridiculous mishap which
does not quite rise to the digni6 OF
tragedy-an accident by which some
one is greatly in-convenienced and an
noyed without being seriously injured
the remnant OF the savage breaks loose
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

armies, entered and left Washington.
went from Richmond to New York and
London, returned to Washington and
elbowed the union generals and knew
every crossroad and hiding place in
Northern Virginia and Southern Mary
land. Now we come to John Wilkes
Booth. i loathe him. In the first place
Booth was never introduced 10 me by
DIR. Mudd. as stated in magazines and
newspapers. He came to me with let
tiers from trusted friends, and later he
unfolded to me the great abduction
plan and asked my cooperation, be-
cause, ne said. / knew every byway
and hiding place in Virginia and Mary
land. For those very reasons i told
Booth the plan was impracticable. and
explained to him how ii would be i'm
possible. or nearly so, i'm the first place,
to get the presidents person out of
Washington. and how. ever if this were
accomplished, 1T would be impossible to
get him into the South.
He did not seem to take kindly to
my criticism, and said a good deal
about being willing to die for the South
Inc about his determination to remove
such a tyrant as Lincoln from the path.
He was unquestionably insane when he
shot Lincoln No man In his right
mind would nave done IL. The South
lost it's best friend when il lost Lin
coin. He understood its conditions and
the character of it's people as no man
did before or has since. Booth was the
South's worst enemy, although he was
sincere i'm wanting to aid her. After
the conversation with Booth 1 dis
missed the matter from my mind and
went to Elmira, N. Y. to get the lay
of the prison at that point. was on
my way from Elmira to Albany when
I first learned of Lincoln's assassina-
ton. / was shocked, and my CONVEX
sation with Booth Immediately re-
CURED to my mind. The next day. en-
route from Albany to New York. i
bought a paper and read that a re-
ward of S25, 900 had been placed upon
my head for my alleged connection
with the affair. The offer was dead or
alive.
Il left the train and took the first
one north-bound that came along. L
had plenty of money. Late that night
I crossed owe into Canada and that
was the last time l saw the United
States until / was brought back on a
m~an-of-war two years later. At Que
bee I remained five months secretary
in a monastery. l went eventually to
London. thence to Paris and on to
Rome. where I enlisted in the papsi
zouaves-under the name of Matson-
TO light the Garibaldians. i was finally
betrayed by a man who claimed to be
my friend. i was arrested and prepa-
rations were made to TAX me to Rome
under heavy guard. The arrest was
made at a monastery situated on the
side Of a mountain. the west sid Of
which was directly over a precipice
over 100 feet high. A wa four feet
high guarded the court yard 1 was
placed in the center of the guard We
cached the court yard. N running
quickly across the yard. ] jumped into
space, doubling my legs under me as 1
did 90. About IS feet from the top OF
the precipice there was a bare ledge
of rock about four feet broad. BY good
luck / landed safely on that ledge. I
was knocked seuseless. My break had
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

I'VE landed in New York in 1867 and
i was taken direct to Washington. My
trial lasted 81 days and over 800 wit
nesses were examined. The jury dis
agreed, standing eight for acquittal and
four for conviction. l was let out on
s25. 900 bail. but the case was never
called again. My counsel was Genera
Merrick and John q. Carlisle. In my
trial the testimony of Louis j. WEIGH
mann. the only other living man direct
ly or indirectly identified with the great
tragedy, was outrageously false from
beginning to end. Moral cowardice was
at the bottom of II. The morning after
Lincoln's assassination a great many
people We're arrested. Welchmann was
one of these. In order to get a confess
sion from him a rope was placed
around his neck and the other end
thrown oversa beam. Under such pres
sure Welchmann made up his story out
of the whole cloth and stayed with II to
the last"
Christopher c. Ritter, in the state
ment which he says has the warranty
of truth because he lies dying. says
that. having formed the acquaintance
of j. Wilkes Booth in Germany and
having later cemented the friendship in
America, when both were ardent sup
porters Of the ~confederacy, he was on
April 3. 1866, in Washington, introduced
by Booth into the order of the knights
OF the Golden Circle. Ritter says that
he soon noticed that there was a circle
within a circle and that this inner or
ganization had some great duty to per-
form. On April 10 ne says he was ap-
preached by Harrod, who asked him to
Join the inner circle. saying that It's
purpose was the kidnapping Of the presi-
dent. Ritter refused. he says, n
nothing more was said to him.
On the night OF April II. he says that
Booth came to him for money. appear
ing much excited. and asked him to be
In his room at 10 o'clock. Five minutes
after the appointed hour Booth rushe
into the room. Il ave killed Lincoln"
Ritter says Booth exclaimed. Il have
this night done a great deed. for hu-
manity." He ordered Ritter to get
horses. and his friend obeyed. Ritter's
recital of the escape into Virginia
shows q. least his close knowledge of
events which did transpire. He says
that, having discarded their clothes for
the garments of some plasterers. they
drove for the house of DIR. Mudd. but
lost their way and finally found shelter
on the Thomas Jon place. There they
remained several days and opened Sc
cret communication with Washington.
Becoming worried over some papers he
had left behind i'm his clothes. Ritter
affirms that Booth sent word to Ed
ward Fox. fellow conspirator i'm Wash
ington. to put OF the clothes and. in
company with Harrod. came to meet
Booth and Ritter in Ricnter's barn. IS
miles away. The date set was April %.
Booth leg was paining him. but Rit-
ter says that on the night of April %
he pu; him on a mule and started with
him for the barn. In crossing q river
the mule had to be abandoned. and a
few miles further on Booth declared
that the limit OF his endurance had
been reached They sought refuge In
q place known as Elixabeth's hut.
They were there the next morning.
declares Ritter. when they learned that
Booth was supposed 10 have been killed
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

In us and we laugh till the tears come.
Why else are we amused when ve see
a well dressed man thrown sprawline
in the mud. or deluged with dirty water
from an upper window, or driven up a
tree by a cross dog or an ugly bull, In
might be multiplied without
limit.
II is noticeable hat children often
laugh at things which do not amuse
adults. but on the contrary shock n
pain them. That Is because the child's
finer sensibilities are as yet imperfect
ly developed; he is still near the savage
stage. There is a very prevalent senti-
ment to the contrary. but this II the
fact.
In proportion as men become truly
civilized. however. their sense of hu-
NOR becomes refined. and they revolt
at any suggestion of brutality. Yet II
is worthy of remark that the gentlest
among us are frequently unused at a
picture or a story representing things
the actual occurrence of which would
shock us greatly. Even here our fun
shows a faint reminiscence OF it's cruel
origin.
All of which goes to show that moth
ing betrays the latent savage in us like
a laugh.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

By oficials of the government In the
attempt to get Information from his
lips is most emphafically denied by
him. He asserts that the officers read
lily saw that he was involved through
the trickery of others, and that he will.
ingly assisted in clearing up the trail
for them. He told what he knew at the
trial and he convicted the assassins.
Mr.. Welchmann has declared that un-
der no circumstances will he be dragged
into a controversy to-day regarding &C
tions which were sustained by the IA
at the time of the trial.
John II. Surratt. who escaped sum-
mary treatment by flight from the
country. who. after a series of wild adj
ventures. was captured in Italy nearly
two years later. and who. after . sec
ond escape. was later arrested in Egypt
and brought back to America for trial.
has been persuaded TO open his lips
that, on this subject, have been sealed
for 30 years. The story. with its
charges against Louis j. Welchmann.
its contention of personal innocence.
and its marvels of exploits. is given
speaks entirely for himself.
Il was Is years OF age and was
studying at st. Charles college when
the war broke OUT" he say Il was a
hot-headed rebel IN dearly loved my
native state. At college l met Louis j.
Welchmann. my nemesis. a man who
has done more than any one being on
earth to blight my name. my family
and myself. Though l was but l6. l
soon became convinced that my place
was I'm the ranks of the confederate
army. and I went TO Richmond and
entered the secret service bureau I'M
der General Wilder. My life from then
until l was brought back a prisoner
from Alexandria. Egypt. charged with
the murder of the president, was. one
series Of hairbreadth escapes. When I
look back on the risks ! ran and the
desperate chances I took. i fail to see
how / could have been so foolhardy. i
went i'm and out of the line of the two
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

IF you DON'T TAKE THE BTAHO.
ARD YOU DON'T GET THE NEW0
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
CRUELTY BETRAYED
By THE LAUGH.

My attention was recently drawn to
a large picture in one of our newspa-
pers. 1t vas rather sensational in
character and represented q. Spanish
soldier %grinning with amusement at the
vain efforts Of a fool American" to
assist an emaciated Cuban child that
lay dying on the hot sand, MORALLY
hacked by the machete. This soldier
had taken no part In the killing. He
was simply tickled at the spectacle:
his shocking tragedy was to him a
joke.
Whether the peculiarly atrocious in
cident which prompted the picture was
fact or fake. h scene is characteristic.
Nothing so unmasks the face Of cruel
~ as its laugh; n there Is a rea-
son for this as old as the human race.
1t is rather curious. though no espe-
cially fattering TO u remote ances-
tors.
The truth Is. the laugh. which is now
SO closely associated with good humor
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

been so sudden every man had been
taken by surprise, n though they had
time to shoot me down. they did not
gain possession of their senses soon
enough. They saw me on the ledge
and began firing down on me. ! man.
aged to drag myself out OF range while
the bullets were fiattening on the ledge
intentionally neal my head l worked
my way down the precipice n struck
the Italian road"
Mr.. Surratt was not destined to re-
main long free. He ran into a camp
of Garibaldian soldiers and was nearly
killed before he could convince them
that III was a deserter from the papal
guards. whose uniform he still wore.
The Garibaldians. however. proved i'm
the end his friends and assisted him to
escape to Naples. He took ship there
for Alexandria. and while on board he
became satisfied the detectives were
following him. He determined that he
would no longer resist arrest.
IT was tired" he said. of being a
man without a country. Accordingly
when reached Alexandria I went tc
a hotel and registered by my right
name, went out and sat down on the
porch and waited for some one to come
and arrest me. The next afternoon
glanced down the street and saw a
squad of cavalry approaching. The cav
alcade stopped at the hotel and a gen
tleman got out of a carriage. He was
Consul Hale. Coming up to me he asked
IL / was John II. Surratt. ] told him
VAS. l was chained and taken to Mar
settles. where a United States feet was
waiting my convenience. When we en-
tered the harbor and ! saw that fleet OF
splendid vessels with the stars and
stripes flying from. every ship / cheered
/ was proud of my country. l was
taken aboard the admiral's flagship
When he saw me he said, so you arr
the desperate fellow we have beer
chasing around the world. Why, YOU
are only a beardless boy
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

In RIchter's barn q few hours before.
Fox. who vas marked with the same
peculiar scar in The back of the neck
and who. moreover. was lame from the
recent kick Of a horse. is said by Ritter
to have been n man killed by Har-
rods side. The remains were badly
burned in the destruction Of the barn
and the identification was dinicuit.
though II the end considered positive.
On May 6. Ritter concludes. he and
Booth sailed from Philadelphia for Bra
zil. where. according to his story. Booth
is to-day Mr.. Enos. a well-known act
or. He asserts also thai welchmann is
known to him and that both were
Knights of the Golden Circle-Chicago
Chronicle.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
Oregon's Travelling Mountain.

From the New York Tribune.
There is a mountain of dark brown
basalt on the Columbia river nearly
1000 feet in height and stretching along
the stream for six or eight miles.
When the white settlers first came
into the country h Indians told them
this mountain was travelling; hat some
day IL would 10 across the Column
bia and form a lake which would reach
from the cascades to the dalles. VIA
the Indians said has been found true
in some respects. The mountain Is in
motion. Its movement is forward and
downward. The railroad builders who
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
The Oldest hank Note.

The oldest bank note probably I'm ex-
istence is preserved In the Asiatic mu-
scum. st. Petersburg. 1t dates from the
year 1899 Il. G.. and bears the name Of the
imperial bank. date and number Of issue,
signature of a mandarin. and contains a
list of the punishments inflicted for for
gerry of notes. This relic is probably writ
ten, for printing from wooden tablets is
said to have been introduced in China in
the year 1GD II. e.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

constructed their line along the base
found the tracks continually forced out
of place. In some places IN movement
has amounted to eight N ten feet In
a few years. biologists attribute the
phenomenon to the fact that the oun
tain rests on "A substratum of conglom-
crate. or of soft sandstone. which is
steadily being washed away by the
current OF the big river.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

In the Grand Court at the rams mississippi Exposition looking east from the
island whhho ccupiest he centerof the lagoon. one is impressed b. the arsuca ar
ehhectural effects before him When the great overnnen building with its mas
se dome m thanking cohonnades was built at the west end overlooking the
Court was thought difficult In view of thu factth that a viaduc at the east aus
onnec the bmn ant main tracts to finish tst end in a ike artistic nd imposing
ann nut the architects happily solved the difficulty in making the vaduct not
onya thing of beauty nd usefulness, but me oil the most artist concetso on the
oun N vistorm may g By boat the entire length of he basin from the Gov
ings.A Arriving at the east end he will see a auuf greer var Using in ter
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
ONE RNJOYO

Both the method and results when
Syrup of Figs is taken; it is pleasant
and refreshing TO the taste. and acts
gently yet promptly on the Kidneys,
Liver and Bowels, cleanses the sys-
TEN e~ffectually, dispels colds. head.
aches and fevers and cures habitual
constipation. Syrup of Figs is the
only remedy of its kind ever pro.
duced. pleasing to the taste and ac-
ceptable to the stomach, prompt in
its action and truly beneficial in its
effects, prepared only from the most
healthy and agreeable substances. its
many excellent qualities commend it
to all and have made it the most
popular remedy known.
Syrup of Figs is for sale in so
cent bottles by all leading drug
gists. ANY reliable druggist who
may not have il on hand will pro-
cure it promptly for any n VIII
wishes TO try it. Do not accept any
substitute.
CALIFORNIA re SKRUP ca
san FRANCISCO cal
LOUISVILLE. ~. Aew roex X
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-17
CUBAN THIEF KILLED BY SENTRY.

Santiago de Cuba. Aug. II delayed in Trans
mission). n).-Early this morning Cuban was shot
nv n sentry who caught him stealing commits
sary stores at the dock. Yesterday il was dis
covered that enough goods had been stolen to
make three carloads. which had been taken
out surreptitously to the Cubans in the field
The man under suspicion returned to the wharf
last night evidently with the intention OF con
tinuing his thefts. but he was warned off.
This morning he was again found there
When the sentry challenged him he ran re-
fusing TO obey the order to halt. AS he was
likely to escape the sentry fired and killed him.
The occurrence is regretted by General Wood
and the American officers generally. but II VIII
probably have a salutary effect. as raids on the
commissary and the medical and Red Cross
stores have been altogether too frequent TO De
tolerated any longer.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-17
ORDERED OUT OF SANTIAGO.
ALLEGED ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY MEMBERS
OF THE SECOND REGIMENT OF
I5MTTNES

Santiago de Cuba, Aug. lG.-General Smarter
to-day ordered the ID Volunteer Regiment or
immunes 10 leave the city and go into camp
outside The regiment mad been placed there as
q garrison. to precerye order and protect prop
erty
There had been firing OF arms inside the town
BY members Of this regiment without ORDERS so
far as known; some OF the men have INDUCED
In liquor until they have verged upon acts Oh
license and disorder: the inhabitants. in some
quarters have alleged loss OF property by force
or intimidation and there mas grown up ieei-
Ing Of uneasiness. If not Of alarm.
General Shafter has therefore, ordered tnls
regiment into the hills. where discipline can be
more severely and rigidly enforced
In place OF the "a Volunteer Regiment or I'M
nunes General Shafter has ordered into the
city the Sth Illinois Regiment or colored troops
In whose sobriety and discipline he has con-
ndence. and Of whose sturdy enforcement OF or
az no doubt is felt by those in command.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-17
CATBARIEN BONBARDED.
NEWS OF PEACE PUTS AN END TO THE
MANGROVE'S ATTACK

Havana Aug - delayed in transmission -
Oficial advices from Caibarien. on the north
coast. about five miles from Remedies report
that the United States gunboat Mangroyc
formerly the lighthouse tender bomharded the
town on sunday from 10 o'clock in the morning
until after in the afternoon. firing eighty seven
shells at the fort and village The Spanish
gunboats Cauto and Intrcpido assisted by the
gunboat Herman Cortes. replied to the fire the
Herman Cortes receiving three shells. one -
which damaged her engines The garrison sus-
tained no loss and no damage was done 10 the
village.
At 30 the Spanish gunhoat Cauto. with
flag Of truce communicated ~ the Mangroyes
commander the Information that orders had
been issued FOR a cessation OF hos,ilities. and
that the
The commander Of the Mangrove delivered 70
the Spanish officer with the flag OF truce the
following acknowledgment written in English.
OF the notification
Sir: have received to-day from you a com
muncation informing me that peace has been
signed between the United States and Spain.
will deliver this communication to my chief com
mander at the first opportunity"
The Spaniards Oh board the Cauto were
treated to refreshments and cigars by the Amer-
cans
The Mangrove aground for a time on
Sunday, inside the port. awaiting high tide to
float her of