davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
LEFT HER COUNTRY LOVER.
Miss C~hapmnn's Wild Flight Through
Several States With MOdern
knight Errant.

Miss Flora Chapman. of Saltville. W.
Va. recently had a visit from a bold knight
errant. who, in the short space Of twenty
eight hours, a wooed and won her and
carried her off as his bride In spite of the
bloodthirsty opposition of a Jealous rival.
The knight errant. as he would have been
called in the days of chivalry, is Judson
w. Hughes, an erecting engineer of Mans
field, o., and the couple told at Braddock,
Pa, the romantic story of their wedding.
Two weeks ago Mr.. Hughes was ordered
to Saltville to superintend the erection Of
some boilers for a salt manufacturing COM
pany. At that time the thought OF marriage
was far from his mind. The town rejoiced
occasionally in the inevitable church So
cials, one of which Mr.. Hughes attended.
An acquaintance. Foster Burgess, a sew
ing machine agent, pointed out to him the
belle of the village. Miss Flora Chapman.
The young lady was beautiful and taste
fully attired. After observing her and her
escort a few moments he saw that she
was visibly annoyed by the attentions of
turning to Burgess, he asked for an ex-
PLANTATION of this evident aversion of the
belle to her fellow" as West Virginia
counting nomenclature runs. Burgess said
the man had the reputation of being a
fighter, and it was understood that he had.
by intimidation. obtained Miss Chapman's
consent to a marriage, which she invaria-
bly, postponed when the date fixed by him
came around. Burgess said the girl was
not soon relieved from the disagreeable
situation she might marry the man to get
rid of him.
Hughes resolved to save the girl II she
was willing to be- saved. A meeting was
arranged by Burgess. It was at this in
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
A S%HOPLIFTING STICK.
Captured by Detective Miller in the
Hands Of an Ingenious
Thief.

In the possession of the four men who
were recently captured by the Philadel-
phia police was d curious stick wrapped
up in newspaper.
The stick is about as long as n lady's
parasul. 1t is made of metal and looks
as if 1t were a part of the steel rod which
constitutes the handle of a later-day UNI
brella-
ON one end is skiilfully fixed a small,
sharp pointed piece of brass in the shape
OF a scoop or gouge. and directly above is
another piece of brass working on a hinge
like arrangement capable of shutting down
on the scoop. thereby preventing anything
which had slipped on ii from slipping off
again.
At the other end is the lever which oper-
ates the hinge. 1t is connected to it by a
wire running through the hollow metal
stick On this same end is a little wooden
bail, or knob, which is used TO prevent
the hand of the wiclder from slipping off
the instrument when he is working if.
The moduS operandi of this ingenious
continuance in the hands of the thieves
was very unique. With a piece of news
paper wrapped about it il looked like an
extremely inoffensive package. 1t took two
men 10 work it. One would carry the stick
and the other would act as Il reservoir
for the stolen property.
on entering a store the man who car
Tied the newspaper bundle would select
& watch or a diamond ring. and pointing
out some article back II 1t would Withdraw
the stick, dropping II on the article that
first caught his eye. The scoop would catch
# up and the guard let down by the lock
would hold IL fast.
Concealed in the torn end of the wrap-
ping paper he could easily and quickly
transfer il to a catch vest pocket or a fly
pocket of his accomplish. brushing him
Will the end Of the stick as he did so,
once the watch, or whatever II might be,
was hanging on the end of the stick over
the waiting pocket ii was but the work
OF a moment to release the spring and
allow ii to drop OFF in safety.
The best working grounds for a, tool OF
this kind were the show windows and
trays Of a jewelry store. In walking In
or out of a store they always had to pass
the show windows. There II was that they
did the most successful work. II was sim.
p.icity to rest the torn end of the pape
wrapper against anything and map 1t VI
g. easily.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
ABOUT TELEGRAPH COPY.
Some of the Puzzles That Come Ur
for the Editor to
solve.

From the Nineteenth Century
Occasionally a sub-editor IS driven to dis
traction in making out and rendering in an
Ineligible manner some Of the copy"
which reaches him by telegraph. I remem-
Der once seeing the sub-editorial staff of a
newspaper put to their wits end In trying
by Sir William Harcourt of the vendors
OF gloves In the West end" Everyone
agreed that the right honorable gentleman
could not have used such an expression;
that ii was a blunder which had creps
In during the transmission of the speech
by wire; and when they were about to give
the solution up in despair. someone, In q
moment of inspiration, suggested that it
must have been the frequenters of clubs
in the West end" 1t turned out after that
also seen a sheet of ''fimsy'' on which the
~telegraphist. failing to understand the SEN
tence. in a speech. Peers are not pariahs."
~footnote had suggested parishes"
The great bulk OF te~IeGraphists are. how
ever. most competent and Intelligent, and
ignorant blunder of that kind are exceed
lngly rare. But once an operator. in an ef-
fort to decrease his labor. was responsible
for an amusing rendering OF a speech by
schoolboys. and the expression my dear
little children" occurred so frequently that
the clerk in telegraphiug it used the word
kids" But he forgot to instruct the oper-
ator at the other end of the wire to tram
scribe Children" for kids" The speech
was sent to q London morning paper; and
was noted for the simplicity OF his Ian
guage, concluded that kids" was pure
Anglo-Saxon. MY dear little kids was
accordingly allowed the glory of print.
and copies OF the newspaper are still pre-
served as curiosities-
During the last session Of parliament q
member asked whether the special mission
to the Emperor Menellk would have tho
effect of opening up Abyssinia to British
trade. and in the report telegraphed to .
provincial paper Mr.. Curzon was made TO
reply that he had no doubt the Lord"
would look after that. The Subeditor,
without doubling for a moment that thu
government was sustained by the subIimest
faith. ventured to question the accuracy of
the report, and the result OF his investf-
CATION was the substitution of Mr. Rudd..
who headed the mission. for the Lord"
as the friend and advocate OF British enter
prise
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
ANOTHER WEDGE IDEA.

for this purpose. The device consists of two
wedse-shaped sides having their upper
edges formed into a track for the locomo-
tive wheels. These sides are carried on
aAles and wheels. The central shaft has a
pulley on each end. Gables are secured near
the ends of the sides, whence they pass
ever rolls on the journal blocks in such a
way as to raise the structure on the sup
porting wheels. An arm secured to the
central axle has its end held by a latch
from which a cord runs to the lower end
of a lever pivoted to the front of the struct-
ure which projects forward in position to
be struck by another train or other OBJ
struction. In this manner, when a col
lision occurs the lever in front is struck and
releases the givoted latch which allows the
cables. thus lowering the structure upon the
tracks. The device is propelled ahead Of
the locomotive by a bar which has a notch
in its forward end to engage with a pin
on a shaft mounte in the rear end Of the
arti-collision device. This shaft has a rope
wound around it so as to hold the pin
on the shaft from turning, the other end of
this rope being wound on a drum on the
central shaft. Thus. at the same time that
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
Musical Asylum.
From Harper's Weekly.

To the charitable institutions which owe
their existence to musicians and their
wills-as in the instances of Rossini, Meyer
beer. Verdi and many more-iS now to be
added the new Asylum for Homeless Chill
dren. and its "creche." founded by the
late Leo Delibes, the eminent French com
poser. though the careful observance OF
his wishes by his widow. Mime. Delibes-
Denain. The establishment, formally ac-
cepted by the municipality of the city of
VAN HhT,S' ITS Fee endowvment sf n sif POOP or ab 10 ph sm
900. The building IS Il perfectly appointed
one in the suburb acknowledgements. and
sioners and guests. 1t is a pleasant
thought in hearing "Lakme'' sung. or in
being entertained with the liveliness and
grace of the ballet "Coppelia." that its com-
poser's name is cut over the door Of the
"Asile Leo Delibes." and that royalties on
tho composers best scores and percentages
on their innumerable French performances
have kept little Paris,ans from brutality,
vice, disease, and the streets.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
A WESTERN HUM0RIST.
His Mission Is to Brighten Up the Corn
Belt, in Which He Shines rs .
Second eugene Field.

Belt, in Which He Shines al =
Second Eugene Field.
From the Minneapolis Journal.
A. L.. Bixby, known as "BiX" or doc"
is hired to be the humorist and semiphil-
osopher of the Nebraska State Journal:
| He comes so near earning his salary that
| this article is thrown in as a little boom
| on the side for the doctor without pay or
emolument of any kind from him.
Blk" is the Eugene Field OF the corn
daily and nightly to make the people
laugh, sometimes succeeding in doing so
beyond his widest expectations. He mas
even gone so far as to get out a book
which has sold out. When Mr.. Bixby's
muse gets numbered he does things ike
The sleigh bells Jingle in the air
hear them with a sigh
Reminding me of days more fair.
Those happy days gone by.
When with the girl away back there
1.-THE one I loved the beso
We rode behind the old gray mare
She droveI did the rest.
Again, when the Salvation Army struck
Lincoln, the sound of the big drum was
sufficient to furnish q basis Tor these
lines:
Summer is dead and the breezes are blowing
Cold from the lands OF the storm king afar;
Soon on the streets twill be drifting and showing.
Filling the highway and stopping the car;
Soon will this troublesome journey be enaed,
Soon will | climb up the gold standard stair.
Soon with the angels will this voice be blended.
Singing away like a bird over there.
Elegant thoughts of a genial hereafter
Keep me from faiting as onward l ny.
Waking the echoes from ceiling to ratter,
breaking great holes in the dome OF the sky:
Nothing on earth I am certain can harm me.
Nothing confuses. though what will may come
See? | belong TO the Salvation Army.
! am the rooster that carries the drum.
AS a philosopher, Mr.. Bixby says: when
a newspaper writer has become known as
a funny man and feels that he has a
reputation to sustain as an alleged humor-
list, he occupies an embarrassing situation.
People expect a great deal of him, and are
harsh in their criticisms IL he fails to meas
ure up to their expectations.
No matter how prosy he may feel. ne
is supposed to write stuff that is bright.
His hand is thought to be an ineXhausti-
BILE reservoir of liquid merriment. and he
only has to turn the faucet and let II
flow. 1t is. indeed. n pleasure to be able
to see the ludicrous side of life. and have
the faculty of giving others word pictures
of the same view. People ought to laugh
more than they do. There is sorrow enough
in the lives of all without adding to it
with prosaic literature and long-faced ser
mons that make one chilly in their solemn
recital. 1t isn't always easy to say things
guaranteed to provoke a smile, and when
prose fails 1t is often easier to break the
rnonotony with at least an effort to build
e~pigrammatic verse"
MIR. BiNby's childhood home was in Min
ncsota- and the state let slip n good thing
when she let Mr.. BiXby emigrate with
out protest.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
SOME MISFIT INVENTIONS.
INDIVIDUALS WHO TRY TO IMPROVE
RAILROAD SERVICE.
Schemes to Avert COllisiOns-Whcn
Two Trains Meet One Will BE
Carried Over the Other-TO
Avoid TelescOpinE.

When the genius of the inventor Is I'M
tempered by knowledge he may go to great
lengths, and it is not to be expected that
an art as important as the equipment OF
railroads is without examples of misguided
invention. says the Railroad Gazette. There
is given herewith a few studies of misguided
inventive geniuses. taken from the records
of the patent office.
Perhaps the schemes for preventing COL
lisions are among the best examples. A
device is shown by which a truck is made
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
a STRANGE PLACE OF REFUGE.
The Woman With the Umbrella whom
a Crowd of Spnrrows Took
Advantage OF.

During the snow furry that fell IN New
York on Saturday. there were some lit
tie sparrows that got mighty tired OF the
storm. and sought refuge from II IN a SIN
gular fashion. There were six or eight OF
them In a party, and for awhile they SEEM
ed to ave a good time of IT: frisking about out
the street and taking a snow bath IN tho
gutter now and then by way of diversion.
But when they got tired they Nv were = h s,srd
fence near by, and sat with their tiny
heads together making plans.
Presently there came along a. woman
carrying an umbrella. That was the birds
opportunity. With one accord, they made
a dash at the woman, half-scar1ng her to
death, you may be sure. dived under the
umbrella and perched themselves comfort
ably on the ribs out of reach of the storm.
After the first fright was over. the woman
seemed to appreciate the situation. and did
her part most nobly. The last seen of her
she was going down the street carrying the
birds in safety. Whether her blindness
extended beyond her own threshold or
whether she partook of a sparrow pie for
dinner is not known.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
The Body Dispensed With.

II think the body can be dispensed with. :"
suggested the chairman of the committee.
ITS not necessary to have it before you"
THE body is dispensed WITH" ordered
the coroner.
Now, you must call me as Witness sug-
gested the chairman again. And this being
cat Jim. on the night of November Is for
the last time. 1t was extremely cold,
think about 80 deg. below zero-cold enough
to freeze a man to death in a short time.
At the time 1 saw the deceased for the last
time. he was near the place at which
his body was afterward found, frozen stiff
other persons We're present and were en-
deavoring to assist the deceased to a warm
er place cHell, by gosh interrupted the
of the point, but he did not appear to
want to go. After raising the man from
the ground several times the persons pres
to induce the deceased to go willingly and
left him. That is the last time saw him.
until he was afterward found as I have
stated. frozen stiff. That Is all, gentlemen"
concluded the chairman.
It's every word true as Gospel" ex-
claimed the coroner.
NO question about the verdict. I s'pose."
Who'll fix it up?' inquired the coroner.
volunteered the chairman and main wit
ness.
That night the following legal document
was transmitted to the court in waiting:
The Verdict.
At a legal inquiry holden on the body Of James
Martin, known as Wildcat Jim, who came TO hs
death on the night OF November 16. the undersigned
sitting as a coroner's Jury, found the following facts:
First-The said James Martin was absent from hs
usual haunts for two nights before the discovery OF
his body, and when found his body was frozen.
Second-The weather at the time was extremely
cold, the temperature being 40 degrees below zero.
Third-The said James Martin was seen by several
men on the night of November 16 near the place
where his body was found. and they endeavored to
get him to go to a warmer place. but he refused 10
| go willingly. After raising him from the ground sew
\ eral times. he struggling violently all the time. they
left him.
On these facts we. the undersigned jurymen. be-
| lieve 1t will he evident 10 the court that the sfore-
said James Martin persisted OF exposure. It is posi-
BILE that other causes contributed to his death, but OF
these the jury would not like to attempt to state.
The finding of the jury was signed duly
by the coroner, the sheriff and TIE proprie-
tor Of the Nugget. A few days after its
dispatch. the coroner received Z note from
| the district judge. as follows:
Dear Sir:-The finding OF the Jury has been re-
ceived and fled. It was a peculiar case. There was
q similar one in Texas a few years ago. The Jury
there. however, leaned to the opinion that the de-
ceased had come to his death from fright, due to Q
premonition Of sudden death.
tUnofhcial)
The coroner read the note to the sheriff
and the proprietor of the Nugget.
well. I'll be hanged" he said.
The sentiment was echoed by the sheriff
and the proprietor of the Nugget.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06

Stanley has been giving some uncompli-
mentary notes about Dom Paul Kruger.
The Atlanta Constitution rises to remark:
explorer in his days. He is said to have
been a strong man in dealing with infer
Tor races and all that sort of thing. But
he is evidently not a safe critic when IL
comes to character. Bismarck said OF
Kruger that the Boer was the greatest
statesman he ever met. We rather fancy
that such a definition Is worth a thousand
articles by a thousand African explorers.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06

the cables are slackened and the device
lowered to the track the pin on the rear
shaft is allowed to turn out of the way of
the push bar SO that the locomotive can
run up the incline and thus be brought to
a standstill.
To Stop the Other Train.
An invention operating on the same prin-
ciple as that described is shown. but in this
case provision is made for stopping the
opposing train.
1t consists of two frames like simple roof
trusses supported on wheels. The inclined
members of the frames are provided with
rails that curve slightly to meet the track.
The most audacious scheme for prevent
ing collisions is a plan which cortemplates
running one train over the top of the
other. To accomplish this the cars at both
ends of each train are inclined on top. A
railroad track runs from the level of the
rain track up these inclined cars and along
tbs top of the train to the other end. where
ii passes down to the other end, where it
passes down to the main track again. The
track on the train Is provided with sidings
and hinged joints to allow for motion be-
tween the cars. The end rails of the train
track are vertically adjustable by screws.
This scheme is intended not only to prevent
collisions, but to enable trains to pass each
other on single track roads and to enable
a special to pass over slower trains running
In the same direction.
An anti-telescoping car is the subject Of
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06

to run some distance ahead of the locomo-
tive. BY electric connections it will apply
the brakes and reverse the engine. A series
of telescope tubes is fastened to the front
of the locomotive frame. and is attached at
its forward end to Il truck This series is
extended by compressed air and held in
position by a series of spring catches
operated by a cord running to the cab.
Springs coiled on the outside of the tubes
force them into each other when the catch
es are released. There is a headlight on
the truck. and above this a figure of a
man, whose arms are operated from one
of the track aXleS so as to strike the bell
in front of him. y suitable device is pro-
vided to make an electric circuit when the
is stopped by mechanism in the cab operat-
ed ~ electricity over the circuit thus COM
pleted. Provision is also made for STOP
the track.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
Need. n clever Man to Play II.

From the Detroit Free Press.
Algernon-"What makes you so enthusi-
astic about golf?"
Henrietta-"Well. 1t Is played out doors
and gives one such a fine chance to get
away from stupid people"
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
To Prevent Accidents.

In case. however, the collision does take
place. something must be done to prevent
mischief. a structure intended to be at
tached in front of the locomotive. the
general form being that of a wedge up
Hhich the engine is to run, was designed
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
JORKlNS In REAL LIFE.
GEORGE H. ADAMS PLAYS BUFFOoN
WHILE HIS son LIES DYING.
Sorrow of an Old Clown. Who Must Be
Funny on the Stage While His
Heart Is breaking for
His FavOrite SON.
From the New York World.
III tell you my story:
hope you won't mind.

Hopt you won [ Dllnt.
I've a little one dying at home.
Jorkins. the brave kindly clown of fiction.
uttered these words. He. the great favor
lie. had been Kissed that night for the first
time IN his life He had tried to be funny,
but had failed. His audience could not
understand ii. Perhaps he was drinking.
They Missed him and then he told why he
could not amuse them
The Jorkins of real life lives in Paterson.
N j. He is George II. Adams. of Il famous
FAMILY or circus people His grandfather
was a circus rider when the nation was
scarcely out of its teens. He was a clown.
TOO. and amused the contemporaries OF
Jefferson. Jackson and Madison. His father.
his mother, his brother. his cousins. aunts
ana uncieS We're all in the circus business.
His children he has trained for the stage.
FOR the past two weeks he and his two
aauShterS Lille and Tonrina. and his
ing a comedy pantomime called
"a County Terror" !
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
FROM TIMES LONG PASSED.
ONE OF A TYPE OF wESTERNERS
WHICH Is DISAPPEARING.
Oscar Bailey, of P~ittsburE, Kas.,
When n Boy Worked With Mark
nin-INn the Life of
Early Days in kansas.

PittsburG, Kas, has an interesting char
Rcter in Oscar Bailey, the old government
Scout. gold miner and steamboat pilot. He
Is i contemporary of Mark Twain. having
worked on the same boat with the well
known Missourian when both were boys.
and he IS just such q character as Mr..
Clemens often pictures in his Mississippi
river stories. He is full of honest humor
and can entertain a crowd for hours with
"reminiscences of the happy and e%ventful
past. While getting along in years. the
man who FOLLOWED Jim Masterson through
some of the hardest Indian fights in the
history of the frontier is still comparative
u a young man-so young that he is talk
Ing seriously of Drawing the dangers Of
chilcoot pass next spring for some of the
golden treasures OF the Klondike.
known in Kansas City.
Mr.. Bailey is well known in Kansas City
and. in fact. all over the West, especially
by the old-timers. AS a friend of his re-
marked the other day when his name was
mentioned. they know Oscar all the way
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
~ County Tcrro.

at the little Wonderland heater at New
Brunswick George H.. Adams was the