davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
Lynching I'm Kansas

Great Bend, Kas., June 13.-In the
public square, fronting on the princi-
pal business street Of this city. a MUIR
derer was lynched at s o'clock this
evening by a mob Of probably 500 per-
sons. 1t is estimated that at e
!. 900 men Of Great Bend witnessed the
tragedy. The victim was John JONI
Becker, a young white man who on
April Sth killed Myrtle Hunmeister
the 16-year-old daughter Of William
Huffmeister, a farmer living midway
between Great Bend and Ellinwood.
Becker was employed by the farmer
and the tragedy followed h girls
refusal to accept his advances. When
she came to the stable in the evening
Becker shot her to death. after which
he set fire to the farmers stables am
escaped. On April 18th a posse OF
farmers captured the murderer neal
st. John, Stafford county, and he was
kept for a time at Hutchinson
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
GIadstone,s Poem at Sixteen

Mr.. Gladstone as a poet was hardly
at any period OF his life as admirable
as he was interesting. Here is his
Sonnet to a Rejected Sonnet" which
he printed in The Elton Miscellany
more than seventy years ago:
Poor Child of sorrow! who didSt boldly
spring,
Like sapient Pallas, from thy parent:
brain,
All armed in mail of proof! and
though wouldSt fain.
Leap further yet, and, on eXultant
wing,
Rise to the sumit of the Printers Press,
But cruel hand hath nipp'd thy buds
amain,
Hath fx'd on thee the darkling inky
stain,
Hath soiled thy s%plendor, and defiled
thy dress!
Where are thy "full-orbed moon" and
sky s~erene?"
And where thy waving foam" AND
"foaming wave?"
All, are blotted by the murd'rous pen
And lie unhonored in their paper!
grave!
Weep, gentle sonnets! Sonneters, de
pfOre!
And vow-and keep the vow-you
write no more.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
Millinery. Ladies Hats.

up to 25c. Silk Yelling, beautiful goods
from 10c to soc. Ladies' Calico Wrap
pers from soc to $1.00.
We have just received n nice line OF
China Dishes. which we are going to
give TO our cash customers. We give
for a So purchase a set Of silverplated
spoons or six nice Tumblers. For a
$40 purchase six nice large China
Dinner Plates or a beautiful China Tea
Pot or three pieces him Set. For a
SIS purchase a beautiful set OF China
decorated Plates a handsome Berry
or Ice Cream Set or n handsome Oak
Table. For a $40 purchase we give n
nice colored edge China, Is pieces set.
For q SIS purchase we give a fine Arm
Chair or a beautiful Clint Set OF Is
pieces, or a book or a fine Table. For
a $S5 purchase we give IS pieces OF fine
Gold Band China set. absolutely free
to you. Bring your card and get *
punched with every cash sale at the
largest and cheapest Wholesale and
retail department store in the state.
at W~iimington's Big Racket Store. op-
posite the orion Hotel, near the Post
office
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17

Late to BED and early to rise, pre-
pares a man for his home in the skies.
Early to bed and a Little Early Riser,
the pill that makes life longer and bet
ter and wise. For sale by R. r. Bel
lamy,
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
Nominations and Combinations

Washington. June 13.-Tne president
today sen these nominations to the
senate: Mary H. S. Long, to be post
master at Charlottesville. Va, William
W. Stratham, Virginia, to be commits
siary of subsistence, with rank Of Cap
tain: Edward Ellis, South Carolina, to
be assistant Quartermaster. with RAM
of captain; Rev. Samuel F. Chapman,
Virginia, to be chaplain, and Theop-
polls Parker. Virginia, to be major
Fourth regiment United States volun-
teer infantry; Robert S. Thompson,
South Carolina, for appointment in the
volunteer signal corps.
The senate in executive session to-
day confirmed these nominations: Third
regiment of volunteer infantry to be
captain, Edward w. Wilson, OF Geo
gia., Seymour W. Hancock, to be post
master at Newborn, II. G.. Rejected
O'Brien Moore. of Texas. TO be addi-
tional paymaSter.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17

Late to bed and early to rise, pre-
pares a man for his home in the skies.
Early to bed and a Little Early Riser,
the pill that makes life longer and bet
ter and wise. For sale by r. r. Bel
lamy.
The War Board
There appears to be a great miscon-
] ception on the part of the public and
the as to the nature. of
this board, it's composition, functions
and manner of work. According 10
the popular mind, this board sits in
the navy department., and, with au-
tocrat orders, directs the movements
of fleets n the execution of plans of
! campaigns down to the every smallest
details. This conception has led to a
good deal of comment, some humorous
and some serious, at the expense
of the board, and the idea had even
spread to Europe, where so conserva-
tive a paper as The London Times has
delivered itself of his criticism:
1T would be wise in the future to
leave the direction of operations to ma
val commanders. Councils have e
proved capable directors Of war. Their
proper function is to obtain informa-
ton and to forward it to the admirals,
who must be, as Nelson claimed the
right to be, free to act when the OPP
portunity arrived"
Now, Secretary Long is a member Of
the war board; at least he is frequent
ly with it during its sessions, and he
says that the views of The Times as
to the proper functions of a war coun-
Gil express exactly the functions con-
ferred upon and exercised by the ma
val war board. 1t has worked cease
lessly and intelligently to learn the
| movements of the enemy and the enc
my's plans. and to gather all kinds OF
! information that would be Of value to
| the United States naval commanders
now at sea- 1t has not undertaken
| to hamper them with unnecessary in
structions, but, supplying them with
| all information obtainable that might
assist, has kept ever in mind the prin-
| ciple that the commander on the spot
| is the person best qualified to act. The
| board has not made a single mistake
| since the beginning of the war, was
the tribute that Secretary Long paid
It. iessa: s2.Ef.xsfslHN
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17

Another distinguished confederate
soldier, General Stephen D. Lee, of
Mississippi, was ~''honored' CD by
President Mckinley with a brigadier
generals place, but declined, as he
ought to have done. His friends
thought very properly that the place
rendered was beneath his rank sta
ton and ability" and so it a Think
of the president offering a brigadier
generalship to the senior surviving
lieutenant general of the confederate
armies, after giving the place to so
many small fry" soldiers not worthy
to sit in Lees presence-hOliday SOL
diers. We are glad indeed that both
Generals Lee and HOke showed aside
the contemplate proffer. The presi-
lent Ga major himself once) ought tc
/ quit such stupid attempts at humilia.
| ton. How will he like for some dem.
| ocratic governor of Ohio to offer hin
after his four years are up as CHIEF
Executive of the United States, {
| squire's place in his town?
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
RuckIen's Arnica SaIve

The best saive IN the world for Cuts,
Eruises, Sores. Ulcers, Salt Rheum,
Fever Sores, Tecter. CAapped HandG,
C~niIblains, Corls. and ali skin Errp-
tons, and positively cures Piles, OK nc
pay required II - guaranteed % give
perfect Satisfaction or mousy refund
ed. Price Is cents pe- box. Pr sAla
Hy r. =. Ralamy.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
THE SEMI-WEEKLY MESSENGER: FRIDAY, JUNE II, 1895.

fighting, for war is a great nuisance.
The modern tendency and practice are
to make it as short as possible"
After our navy and army have
cleaned out the S%paniards in the is
lands named, then send, If necessary,
our great fleets in search Of the enemy
even into European Spanish waters.
But hal may be ahead sometime yet.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09
A Tom Thumb Train.

A Tom Thumb train, so-called be-
cause it is supposed to be the smallest
In the world, is to be exhibited at the
Trans Mississippi Exposition at Oma-
ha. 1t was constructed by young
man, who, without any technical train
ing, made all the patterns, did all the
casting, and put together the whole
train with his own hands. The engine
weighs $50 pounds. Its length, with
tender. is feet ~ inches; the size of
the cylinder is 11a by 212 inches. The
driving wheels are s inches i'll diameter,
and yet the locomotive hauls six OBJ
servation cars, in each of which two
children can be comfortably seated.
these cars are Al inches long and Il
inches wide, and covered after the
fashion of the ordinary observation car.
The entire train, consisting of engine,
tender, four observation cars, one box
car and caboose, is but % feet in
length Six gallons of water in the
tender tank and five in the boiler will
furnish steam TO propel it for two
hours. Coal Is hauled and shoveled
out of the tender in the orthodox man.
ner. In fact, the little engine is COM
plete in miniature In every detail. In
stead of us;nG oil in the headlight a
small electric battery in the engine I'M
der the cab seat furnishes an mean
descent light, which is described as
sparkling from the pilot like the dia-
mond in a hotel clerks shirt 'front.'
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09
Ancient Extrayaeance.


The great display of jewels by women
of fashion on both sides of the ocean
has been severely criticised, even by
those who could we'll afford to wear
them If they desired to. But if the
precedent of history furnishes any jus
LITIGATION OF this fashion, the jewel
wearers of the present day are thor
oughly justified. According to Pliny,
Lolita Paulina, the wife of Caligula,
wore on her head, arms, neck, hands
and waist, pearls and emeraldS to the
value of one million six hundred and
eighty thousand dollars. Faustina had
a ring worth two hundred thousand
dollars. Domitia had one worth three
hundred thousand dollars, and Kae-
sonia had a bracelet worth four hun
dred thousand dollars. Seneca be-
walls that one pearl in each ear no
longer suffices to adorn woman; they
must have three, the weight of which
ought to be insupportable to them.
There were women of ancient Rome
whose sole occupation was the heal
ing of the ears of the bellies who had
torn or otherwise injured the lobes with
the weight of their pendants. Pop
naea's earrings We're worth seven hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars, and
Caesars wife, Calpurnia, had a pair
valued at twice that sum. Marie de
Medici had a dress made for the cere
mony of the baptism of her children
which was trimmed with thirty-twO
thousand pearls and three thousand
diamonds, and at the last moment she
found it was so heavy she could not
wear it, and had to get another.
But men led in the splendor of the
middle ages, and Philip the Good, of
Burgundy, often wore jewels valued at
two hundred thousand dollars. When
he walked along the streets the people
climbed over each other to look at him.
The Duke of Buckingham wore a suit
at the Court of st. James which cost
four hundred thousand dollars. The
dress of the mobiles during the middle
ages was literally covered with gold
and precious stones.-San Francisco
Chronicle.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09

without any assistance on their part, and
that if an outside explosion is proved and
an indemnity demanded Spain would
nearly certainly refuse it and thus justify
the President in interfering actively to
preserve peace in Cuba. IL is said at bot h
the State and Navy Departments that
there is no disposition to delay the publ
cation of the finding of the board but it
is more than limited that in all probability
the board will merely present the facts
and say that they are too vague to make
a positive declaration one way or the 9TH
or.
That contingency will produce new COM
phcatlons, and it Is probably this which
has induced the President to say positive
~ that there is no immediate prospect of
any war between this country and Spain.
for if the board of inquiry is not able to
reach positive finding it will be exceed
ingly difficult for the State Department to
formulate any kind OF a demand upon
SIain. The President will not preciptate
the country in war unless the facts are
such as to justify him in the eyes of an
overwhelming majority of the people He
evidently realizes, however, the strained
relations between the two countries and
the active possibility II not probability of
q dispute arising which could only be set
tied by a show of force on the part of this
country.
The Presidents desire for and belief in
peace has not interfered in any way with
the orders issued to the army and navy to
put the armed forces of the country into n
condition for active service. 1t is dis
tinctively announced that this is the ounce
of prevention rather than the pound of
cure and that the preparations will con-
tinue until all possibility of actual war
has been disposed of.
So far as the general public is concern
ed the war scare has subsidized, for the
present at least. There may be more ex-
element when the report of the court of
inquiry on the Maine disaster is received.
but it may not be easy to stir the country
up again. Besides, it is now pretty well
understood that it is going to take long
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09

time to get at the facts. Secretary Long
received letter from one of the officers
at Havana, in which the statement was
made that so far the result of the investi-
cations made by the divers within the
wreck has been rather unsatisfactory.
The writer explains that the water of
Havana harbor is so foul the divers can
not see their way about and have to de-
pend upon the sense of touch. 1t is I'M
derstood the writer of the letter was rath-
or pessimistic as to the outlook for getting
at the actual facts.
At best it is going to take time to ascer-
tain the truth, and the country will have
need of all its stock of patience. The
court of inquiry will return to Havana
10 be present after the wFeeking opera
tions have been started. Although no
official news concerning the movements of
the court has been received, the authori-
ties think the court will need at least two
weeks, and perhaps n much longer time,
for completion of its work. This inquiry,
the conservatives say, is too important to
be rushed through. Too much depends
upon its results. Most serious is the re-
sponsibility which the members of this
court have assumed. As highminded Off
GERS they are naturally eager to acqut
themselves with credit The issue of war
or peace between nations may depend
upon their verdict, aud this is no tritiing
matter to be rushed through in haste. All
the investigation the court has so far been
able to make in Havana was of purely
preliminary character The members will
now have to carefully and patiently watch
the wreeking operations for further evil
dcncc.
Secretary Long does not profess to be-
lieye in the accident theory as he did for
several days after the Maine was blown
up. Other members of the cabinet be-
lieve. as does Secretary Long, that the
ship was blown up by design. The ex-
perts in the navy also believe this. or now
profess to believe it. but they will await
facts before expressing positive opinions.
Method in the Silence.
II may be truthfully asserted. however.
says wcll-informed Washington CORE
spondent, that nine out of every ten men,
bers of Congress believe there is deep
significance in the seemingly dilatory tao
ties of the administration in regard to
the disaster. They believe that President
Mckinley and the members of his cabinet
are not so much in the dark regarding the
information secured by the court OF in
quiry as is indicated by the official bulle
tins, ana that there is method in the ST.
lcnce. Many of the members are convinc-
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09
TO the Point.

A certain Eastern company, that
some time ago was anxious to purchase
q silver-lead mine, found itself in a
state of uncertainty. What seemed to
be a really attractive mine was found
to be in the market, and negotiations
Tor its purchase were entered upon
The result of these negotiations is re
ported by the Spokane Miner and Elec-
trician
as the ore assayed well, and every
thing looked propitious, a mining ex-
pert was sent to examine the mine
His report was favorable, in fact, it
was too favorable. He certified that
the ore was there in large quantities,
ana that it was extremely valuable.
His unqualified praise aroused the sus-
picion of the would-be purchasers. If
the mine was indeed so valuable, why
was the price so low? The company
determined to investigate more closely.
AT this point a well-known mining
man OF Spokane recommended that a
certain rough-and-ready genius, man
who had graduated from no college,
Ofh NC StliJ u look at the UllHe.
You can depend on his judgment"
said the mining man, "and he will tell
you nothing but the truth. You had
better trust to his report, which, in all
probability, will be short and very
much IL the point
The advice was followed, and the
event showed the wisdom of the ad-
wiser. AS he had predicted, the report
was short and full of pith 1t read sub
stantially as follows:
Dear Sirs-I have made an examina-
ton of the Cliff Dweller' mine, and re-
port that the ore is there as ripresinted,
that it assays high, that it is there in
plenty, but to get your supplies in and
your ore out you will need pack-thrain
OF bald agles."
The mine was rejected on the ground
of inaccessibility.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09
warded Sagasta's first reply to his note OF
Instructions.
sIGHT.HoUR LAW is UPHELD.
Important Supreme Court Decision on
q Cas. A nnealed from Utah


In the Supreme Court at Washington
an opinion was handed down in the case
of +. +. Holden VS.. the sheriff of Salt
Lake County, Utah, upholding the con-
sttutionality of the territorial law fixing
days work in smelters and mines in the
territory at eight hours.
Mr.. Holden was arrested for violating
the law and was sentenced to imprison-
ment. He brought the case to the Su-
preme Court in an effort to secure a writ
of error on the ground that the law was
unconstitutional in that it was calculated
to deprive citizen of life or property
without due process of law. The court
held that such was not the case, but that
the law was an exercise of the States
police powers.
Justice Brown said in passing upon the
case that it was not the intention of the
court to pass generally upon the constitu
tionality of eight-hour laws, but that in
so far as State laws were exerted for
the protection of the lives, the health or
the morals OF community there could
be no doubt of their propriety or of their
constitutiouality There could be no doubt
of the exceptional and unhealthful char
acter of work in smelters or mines, be-
cause of bad air, high tempera ture and
noxiors gases, and hence the ,,isdom of
the State legislation. The decision of
the Supreme Court of Utah was affirmed
in this opinion.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09
a BOON FOR SUFFERERS.
A Remedy Which Has Cured More
than 100000 People.

20 Drops" is the name of powerful
remedy which is guaranteed to cure
rheumatism, neuralgia, catarrh, asth-
ma, la grippe and kindred ailments.
The company is entirely safe in making
the guarantee, because every month
they receive thousands of grateful let
tiers from those who were sufferers,
but have never received one complaint.
The effect of IS Drops" is felt at once
James Williams of Regent, Ill. writes
on Nov. II, 1897: MY wife has been
suffering two years with rheumatism.
She used about one bottle 0f Is Drops,
and can now go without her crutches."
To more extensively advertise the mer-
its of this remedy the producers will
for the next thirty days send out 100,-
600 of their sample bottles of this posi-
tive cure for 25 cents bottle by mail
prepaid. Large bottle, 800 doses, 81
(for thirty days 3 bottles $3.50. Those
suffering should write to the Swanson
Rheumatic Cure Company, 167-169
Dearborn street, Chicago, ILL.,, and take
advantage of this generous offer. This
company is reliable and promptly fill
every order.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09

George Rucker, aged Il, son of l. G.
Rucker of Paint Lick, Ky, was caught
in the shafting of his fathers rolling mill
and killed.
Count Esterhazy, speaking of the Zola
trial, predicts that "the streets of Paris
will be strewn with 100000 dead before
this miserable business is brought to q
conclusion"
Johnnie Simmons, 9-year-old boy, was
bathing in the Comal river, at New
Braunfels, Tex, when he got beyond his
depth and was drowned His body was
recovered.
In the forest fires throughout the State
of South Carolina during the past few
Gays several persons have persisted and
more than 100000 acres of forests and
fields haze been devastated.
The Paris court has just handed down O
decision fayoring the heirs in the contest
over the will of the late DR.. Evans, the
celebrated millionaire dentist, who dice
recently in the French capital.
For the fourth time Gov. Hastings OF
PENNSYLVANIA has respited Frank Jon
grass, the Lawrence County Pa.) muir
derer. the last time in Difference to request
of Assistant Secretary of State Day.
The remains of James L. Berry, the
late millionaire tramp who died al
Paducah, Ky, have been shipped to q
wealthy brother in Gloyersville, n. Y
He had gained wide reputation by
squandering 100000 in less than eigh
teen months When he died, in January
there was no money found upon his per.
son. and his friends declined to claim the
body until few days ago.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09
CANNOT INSPECT MEAT.
Federal Officers Deprived of Thei
IaxSxx- L. l.

Federal Officers Deprived of Their
Power by Decision in Court.
BY decision handed down by the Unit
ed States District Court at Kansas City.
Mo-, by Judge John T. Rogers at Fort
Smith, Ark, the entire system of Govern
ment inspection of meat was declared I'M
constitutional. The opinion of the jurist
is to the effect that Congress has no au-
thority to create the office of meat inspec-
tor and to place such an official in the
packing houses in the United States to
examine the product before it is packed
and shipped or delivered for consumption.
The opinion was handed down in the
case of man named Harry Boyer, who
was indicted by the Federal grand jury
on the charge of attempting to bride
Government meat inspector. Boyer is
foreman in the fresh meat department of
the Jacob Dold Packing Company. The
court holds that Congress exceeded its
power in creating the Office of meat in
spector and that even if Boyer had at
tempted to bride such an official he could
not be held as az offender. His act, the
court decided, was not a crime against
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09
Birds as Insecticides

Birds arc natures great check on the
excess of insects, and keep the balance
between plants and insect life. Ten
thousand caterpillars, 1t has been esti-
mated, could destroy every blade of
grass on an acre of cultivated ground.
In thirty days from the time it is
Matched, an ordinary caterpillar in
creases 10000 times in bulk, and the
food ii lives and grows on is vegetable.
The insect population of a slugIe
cherry tree infested with aphides was
calculated by a prominent entomologist
at no less than 100000. The bird
population of cultivated country dis
tricts has been estimated from 100 TO
1000 per square mile. This is small
compared with the number of insects.
yet as each bird consumes hundreds OF
insects every day, the latter are pre-
cented from becoming the scourge
they would be but for their feathereC
enemies.