davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
More About the Janitorship.

1t will be unfortunate as well as
political blunder if Mr.. Murdock turns
down the coloeed man for Henry Chad
for ianitor of the postoffice. Mr. Chad
went before the republican county
convention, received the nomination
for sheriff. The colored people stood
by him throughout the campaign, gave
him triumphant victory at the polls
but for the i'll feeling between himself
and his own German friends he would
have been elected sheriff. Thus his
defeat can not be laid at the door OF
the negeo, but with his own national
itv with whom he should straighten
his political fences before he is consid-
ered as an available man for politi-
cal lob. 1t is our candid opinion that
Mr.. Murdock will follow the same
course outlined by his predecessor, Z.
B. Jewett, and appoint colored man,
Mr.. Murdock owes his appointment to
Senator Baker and Chester |. Long.
It will depend largely upon the color
ed vote as to whether either of these
gentlemen, will be returned to con
gress again. So far as to what they
have done for the negro neither OF
them deserve to be returned. Long
WAS in congress two years represent
ing the largest district in our unior
and never found a single thing that 9
negro could do: yet he wants our vote
to send him back again. He may fine
out on the 9Th day of Nov that he il
rot SO warm after all; that there arr
others. We feel quite sure Mr.. Muir
dock is too able journalist, and far
seeing politician to ignor a race O
people that have the power with thel
ballot and are the balancing power Il
the county to pass unnoticed thei
claims
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Attacked by Her Pet Rooster.

From the Philadelphia Record: South
bethlehem special: A woman residing
near Springtown, Bucks county. has a
mammoth rooster which has become
a great pet. The fowl is so big that ne
can stand on the floor and pick crumbs
off the table, and he usually dimes with
his mistress. Last evening she TOOK
from him some article he had picked
off the table and he resented the act
bv attacking her. The rooster peckeo
the woman's face and hands and dis
colored both her eyes by the terrific
blows of his wings.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Grim VeSuvius, Terror
of Cuba's Coast.
The Little Ship That Amazed the Spanards by
Flineine Earthquakes at the Santiago Hills.

The whirligig of time brings in it's
reve15es.
Six months ago the Vesuvius was
airily consigned to the junk pile by all
save few despairing zealots. Her day
was done, her reputation was a thing
OF shreds and patches.
Today she is giving new cares to
anxious admiralties; she is the IN
known, not the discredited, factor in
modern naval warfare, and her whist
ling tubes are awakening echoes that
circle startled world.
1t is not given every nation to pro-
duce at the automatically exact mo-
ment the mathematically exact rene
dy for desperate disease. We did it
once, surely, when the Monitor, the
cheese box on a raft, defied the flying
wedges of the Merrimac. That revO-
lutionized modern warfare and ushered
in the clanking age of iron and steel
Have We done this again in the first
successful employment of high explo-
sives afoat? Who may tell but when
1t comes to heaving earthquakes at al
! enemy, Of noiselessly depOsiting vol
canoes, eager and ready for eruption
in his midriff we may without undue
boasting believe that the material revo
luton of this war will be in this safe
handling of untried forces, and it i:
American to the core.
The Vesuvius deserves her good lucl
| avery ounce OF II: and when one con
siders the fight her champions had t.
make before practical proof established
their theories, our regret for their neg
lect is made more poignant by the NOR
al every other inventive crank will
draw from her to adorn their tales O
woe. We may expect a deluge of dyna
mite mechanism, flood of guncotto
fuses, a tornado of desperate device
which IN jiffy will extinquish fleet
and obliterate landscapes. The Span
ish druggist (or is he a Spanish bar
ber?) who is to smear the ocean wit
an explosive oil and change the face c
nature will be nothing in promise whe
compared with the threatening shOal
of highly explosive inventive gentleme
or with what is left of them afte
their experiments-tha are to haur
admiralties and devastate war Offices
Some good. Of course, will come OF
of them, but it may be we'll to stat
that the field has long been exploited
that chemists and engineers have striN
en- for years to attain the perfect con
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

The rear end of the shell is fitted
with wings rfans to insure the tor
pedo's preserving it's horizontally dur
ing it's time of flight. This torpedo is
loaded to the gun at the breech, near
which there is a revolving chamber
holding five other torpedOes, quite after
the manner in which the cartridges of
a Colts revolver are carried; hydraullc
power is used to manipulate this car
rier. Once in place and the breech
closed the air valve is opened, the
compressed air rushes into the firing
chambers and away speeds the most
deadly M oiectile mans ingenuity has
thus far devised.
The one respect in which the dyna-
mite cruiser, speed excepted, is inferior
tn the torpedo boat destroyer is in the
important matter of aiming the guns.
These being immovably fixed in the
vessel cannot be trained and handled
like other guns, they cannot be laid to
hit the target by moving them to the
right or left or up or down; instead the
Vesuyius herself must be maneuvered
so as to get within the range. She thus
becomes the gun carriage, her helm and
her screws being the means employed
bv her for the accurate laying of her
guns.
Herein lies an objection to the dy-
Mantle gun as it is emplaced on board
the Vesuvius, and for a long time IL
was thought to be insuperable. sc
convinced were naval men of the i'm
practicability of this methOd of point
ing that the navy department made
preparations for removing all the pneu
matte fittings and dynamite guns ant
substituting automobile torpedo appur
tenances. A lack of funds alone pre-
vented the carrying out Of this lnten
ton
The ship being laid fair for the tar
oet the range of the dynamite proJec
tile is controlled by means OF tn
amount of compressed air admitted t
the gun. No torpedo of the Whitehead
or Howell type can approach this,
thousand yards being an extreme rang
for them, and for effective work no
over eight hundred should b6 attempt
ed.
For getting In her fine work the bes
distance at which the Vesuvius shoul
operate Us about mile of. and to Ian
) her uroiectiles on shore or st y ts<s
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

"See," he said, as he repeated his dem
onstration. The bat in the meantime
was Tapping it's wings excitedly anu
trying to grope its way to sa1ety.
That's a peculiar thing about Owls
and bats" the wise one went ON, that
they can see only in the night time.
Now, you just watch for yourself.
Again he tortured the frightened night
bird. By this time the worm turned
The bat fought back, and by quick
movement caught the torturing hnger
in it's beak. The wise man jerked his
hand away, and with loud 'Oucn!
put the digit into his own mouth TO
suck the blood. Eyes, I see" said his
friend
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
A June Fantasy.

Juno Fantasy.
June time-joy time-nature all aglow'
And the land a-glittering
With the vernal show.
Happy birds a-twittering
In each shady nook
What delight to look,
In and out, all about. as we come ana
60,
At the glory and the glamour OF
June!
Sunshine, funshine, thrilling as kiss.
Flirting in the merriest
Mimicry Of bliss.
Dawdling Is the veriest
Disregard Of time
Making blooms Of CRIME
BY playful, gayful metamorphosls,
Mysterious as imperious June!
Play days-heydays- ana
long,
Flowerful and powerful,
And hourful Of song
But, alas! the powerful
Whirligig OF time
Soon will end the chime.
Then will wander far afield the frollc
throng
OF fascinating fantasies of June!
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

a feet. They play an important part,
but not the most important.
The Guns of the vesuvius.
The main armament carried by the
Vesuvius consists of three pneumatic
dynamite guns placed side by side, close
together, in the forward part of the
ship. These three parallel tubes are
built into the ship, about fifteen feet
of the mizzles prOtruding above the
forecastle deck, inclined at an angle
of about twenty degrees, the ends OF
the muzzes of the tubes rising about
five feet above the deck planking. The
remainder of the tubes runs down to
the hold of the ship, where the COM
pressed air machinery is, and where
the ammunition and the breech and
loading mechanism are situated.
The tubes are made of light cast iron,
are fifty-five feet in total length and
have an interior diameter Of fifteen
inches. There are two air compressors
/ to compress the air that is used as the
propellant to discharge the aerial tor
pedoes from the long tubes. The sub
aqueous torpedo with which ordinary
torpedo craft are supplied is discharg-
ed usually with a charge Of gun powder
which is quick in acting; hence the or
binary torpedo gun is short not above
eighteen or twenty feet long; but the
slow, steady action of the compressed
air cannot reach its maximum intensity
for some time after impinging on the
base of the projectile. 1t begins tt
move the torpedo gradually and, rap
idly increasing in propulsive force
drives the shot out of the long barre
at high velocity.
The great benefit derived from th'
slow steady, gradually increasing pres
sure of compressed air is that it allow
the use of thin gun barrels or tube
and the employment of immense quan
titles of the highest explosives. Their
is an absence of all shock and a con
sequent avoidance of the danger ordi
narily connected with the firing of dy
Mantle or gun cotton.
The charge of explosive at first trie
in the pneumatic dynamite gun wa
five hundred pounds of explosive gela
tine. This has been changed to aboU
three hundred pounds of gun cOttor
. the latter being safer to handle. Thi
charge is held in the front end of c
gar-shaped shell seven feet long an
= not quite fifteen inches in diameter
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

Tie time is short, the appointment
will be made in few days. A meet
mo should be held and a committee
selected to wait on the newly appoint
ed P. NJ. The following gentlemen
should compose that committee: DIR.
Harrison, George Mcdonald and Revs.
Frazier, Copeland, Hardy, McTurner,
and J. E. Lewis, Phillip Hyde, Mayo
Israel, Charley Mills, James Harper,
AL Covington, John Covington, G. H.
Young, Chas Shoots, Frank William,
w. II. Clark, John Chinetth, julius
Gaines, Benz. Topp, Benz. Wilson, 5. Z.
Williams, Mrs. M. A. Hodge, Mrs. In
gram and jackson. Such committee
is bound to have its effect.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Is This Bat a Bird and Has 1t a Beak?

From the Chicago Journal The wise
one was explaining to the other that
the bat cannot see in the daytime. 1t
was in me basement of a butter, eggs
and chicken place on Washington
street. You see," he said, as he stuck
his finger close to the wide-open eyes
of the bat, "he can't see thing. Now
watch" He jabbed his finger into the
eyeball of the unsuspecting little vic
tim. which at once threw up its wings
and hoped to the further end of the
perch. But the wise man was not sat
isfied. He wanted to demonstrate his
knowledge still further mo, he can't
see a bit" he said, jabbing his finger
the second time into the staring eye
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

hination of tremendous destruction al
lied to safe handling, and that, after all
has been tried and done, the only ac-
tual success is that achieved SO won
drously by the Vesuvius off Santiago.
The Vesuvius.
The Vesuvius is in every way unique,
nothing like her in any respect exist
ing in any other navy. She is long,
narrow, and sits low in the water. Sne
is constructed of unusually light scant-
ling and plating, has powerful engines
and attains high speed, though moth
ing like as high as destroyer. Sne
was designed especially for torpedo
work. like the destroyer, but was to
fre her torpedo in the air, and not, like
the destroyer, under the water.
The Vesuvius was built by the
cramns. of Philadelphia, and was
launched in 1888, ten years ago. Like
the monitor of Ericsson, she was prac-
+icallv the invention and production OF
nriyate individuals, though her con-
struction was authorized by the govern
ment at a contract price of $35O,OOO.
Her principal dimensions are; Length,
GAG feet: beam, 26.5 feet; depth, IA feet;
mean draught of water, 8 feet, and dis
placement. 805 tons.
There was much speculation as to the
ntility of such a craft as the Vesuvius
Many able men opposed her construc-
ton and style of battery, but quite as
many took an opposite view, extollins
to the utmost the ship, her speed and
especially her battery of pneumatic dy-
Mantle guns. Stripped of all exagger-
alton the Vesuvius represents new
and formidaule element in warfare ant
one which can no longer be disposed O.
by airy critics.
1t is not for a moment thought, ever
after the splendid recent performanc;
of this boat, that she will create
revolution in naval tactics. as was a
first contended by her projectors. Sim
liar exaggerated offensive capabilitie
were for long time ascribed to tor
pedo boats, and very recently to torpe
do boat destroyers, but the more sobe
minded naval men and tacticians, 1t cal
be asserted, realize that the armore'
ship and the cruiser are the true type
of ships for fighting battles at sea
These others are serviceable for specia
purposes <-A are necessary adjuncts o
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
at this remote distance would require
an air pressure of about eight hundred
pounds.

at this remote distance would require
an air pressure of about eight hundred
pounds.
Attack Against Forts
The tremendous efficiency of shells
charged with large quantities of high
explosives having been thus demon
strated, even the most bitter opponents
of the Vesuvius have conceded that
wherever one of her shells struck de-
struction would surely follow. Doubt
less many Spanish soldiers within
large radius o. where the pro]ectlles
struck in the Santiago batteries can at
test the value of the dynamite gun as
weapon to oppose the fortiticatlons.
Herein lies both her uniqueness and
usefulness, and her superiority to yes
sells Of the torpedo type.
The Vesuvius was not designed to
attack Notifications, yet it would seem
as though for such a role she is ad-
mirably adapted; better than for the
role of ship attack, where the time
needed to get herself in position for fir
ing would expose her to a hot rapid
fire that would certainly annihilate her
But give her time and a fairly darl
night and a Spanish fort for an object
and no shot or other destructive mis-
sile thus far known can work sucf
havoc.
Silently can she take her stand, ant
by means of range finders accuratel.
determine her position then, withou
more noise than a big popgun woul'
make, she can send her projecttle
gracefully curving through the air in
to the enemys camp. In short, the We
suvius has a distinctive part to play il
this war we are now waging agains
Spain. 1t is purely an offensive part
for she is so pitiably weak defensively
being entirely without any protection
that a we'll directed rifle bullet coul
wreck her.
, The Vesuvius should never enter
combat unsupported, but always unde
cover of some large vessel able to dra'
!, al enemy's fire and receive the punish
ment that would be otherwise directe
toward her. When thus safeguarde
the Vesuvius serves a most valuabl
purpose, and the work cut out for he
will greatly conduce to shortening th
=, bombardment of the Notifications {
Cuba.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
THE NEW HONEYMOON.
Best Man Arranges Everything Now
The One Disadvantage.

Honeymoons change with the fash
ion as well as other wedding customs.
Once upon a time the turtle doves
went on long trip, visiting cities tnaI
they perhaps had never seen before
or never hoped to see again. says the
New York Commercial Advertiser. For
the last five or six.years cruise on
yacht or a journey in private car
alternated with a sojourn at some
body's beautiful country place lent TOT
the occasion. But the very newest 1of
a honeymoon sounds more interesting
than any of it's predecessors. The new
ly made benedict tells his best man
how long a time he may absent MIN
self from town or business, gives nlu
check for a generous amount anu
tells him to arrange the rest. NeltneE
he nor the bride knows where their
HONEYMOON is to be passed until they
are on the ship or train, as the pest
man accompanies them to the station
or wharf, checks their trunks ana
hands the bridegroom the tickets at
the last moment. When this is done
the happy man opens an envelope
finds his route all laid out for him,
and is saved the annoyance OF tele-
graphing to hotels and arranging
minor details. "The plan is an awfully
good one in some ways" said a vile
of five weeks, who, of course, speaks
as if she had spent her life trying the
different sorts of wedding tours. Fly
ing about sightseeing is absurd when
YOU have eyes and thoughts for one
person only and staying in the coun-
trv is apt to be dull and damp If one
is married in April or very early in
June. The one disadvantage OF the
secret honeymoon is that the poor
bride does not know what to wear.
The best man ought to give her hint
as to whether the Rangeley lakes OF
the Keys of Florida are to be her des-
tination. Our honeymoon was spent ur
in Pike county, heaven on earth II
the mountains. We lived at delight,
full club house and spent our days
.. rambling in the woods and fishing.
had brought several pretty, thir
frocks. but only my travelling dress fo1
day wear, as we were only to remain
away ten days. You can imagine m.
, Might when l found that fishing wa
t the order of the day. I sacrificed tn
t travelling dress. 1t was beauty an
$ cost more than my white ball dress
D but one is bride only once and I ha
< to enjoy my honeymoon. But if tina
8 tactless best man had only warned m
V that | would need a short skirt an
e high boots what a weight of wOrr
: he would have spared me!'
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Charged with kidnapping His Mother.

CnAKEOu WIIH HIUH"PFTHS 1HES 4fAOUHOH'
From the Cincinnati Enquirer: Woo
ster, O., special: Mrs. Rebecca Weaver,
aged 81 years, of New Pittsburg, Wayne
county, on Wednesday night Of this
week disappeared very mysteriously,
with all of her household effects. 1t is
now stated that Mrs. Weaver was kid
mapped by a son, John Weaver of
Cleveland, and taken to that city. An
other son, louis Weaver, began pro-
ceedings to have the old lady adjudged
an imbecile, and threatens to cause the
arrest of his brother for kidnapping
the mother. The cid lady is quite well
to do.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
praxnr Waa Needed.

Mrs. Slimson-"My little boy has
heen very wicked today. He got INTO
a fight and got a black eye Inc
Rev DIR. Drowsie-"So I perceive. Will
lie, come into the other room ana
will wrestle in prayer for YOU" VIII
,fe-"You'd better go home and wres-
tic in prayer for your own little boy
He's got two very black eyes,
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Wasted Sympathy.

"Be still, sad heart, and cease repiHias,
Rehind the clouds the suns still shin
ing;
A good man said unto a grievins
brother.
well, let it shine" returned the strlcK-
en- one;
"I don't care anything about your elam-
ed old sun;
The girl love has welded with an
other!"
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

1t is said that the United States
wants an indemnity of $24o, 100000
from the Spaniards and the Independ-
ence of the Island of Cuba. Reasona-
BILE enough for the loss Of $50 Ameri-
can sailors and a great man Of war
like the Maine.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
A TrinIe Combination

The teacher asked her class to put
the nouns boys" bees" and bears
into a sentence. The scholars thought
intently for few moments, when one
ragged youngster, with a look of VIC
tory on his face, raised his hand'
well. Johnnie. what is your SEN
tence?" Boys bees bare when they 60
in swimmin'"
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
A Sad huf Glorious DaY.

"Victory!" cried the Spanish minis
ter. Write out a proclamation at
once authorizing our people TO cele-
brate!"
"Why, your excellency, what has
happened? Have our forces fallen upon
the Yankee pigs and compelled them to
cry for quarter"
mo, but one OF our battlesnlps nas
tust been scuttled and sunk before TIE
cowardly swine could gain possession OF
it."
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

The Negro is interested in this war;
it means more to him than anything
that has happened since the morning
stars sang together. 1t will shape his
destiny as fellow citizen and bring
him up to the full measurement OF a
man the world over.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
She Could See EN-.

He lin the grand stand)-Those fel.
lows don't seem to get onto that pitch
er's curves at all She (new to The
game)-Why, I did as soon as l saw
him. He's-he's dreadfully bowlegged
isn't he?
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
A Now Process.

Judge: Beth entered the house mhch
excited one morning, after seeing her
grandfather at work grating, What do
you think?" she exclaimed, "Grandpa's
out in the orchard vaccinating the ap-
pies treeS!'
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

twill be time enough to boast when
the Spanish flag is displaced in all the
provinces of Cuba and old glory takes
its place, not before. The surrender
of Santiago is only beginning of the
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

What we need is a committee OF one
hundred representing all linec of trade,
business and labor. Such a committee
could accomplish much for the race in
Wichita
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
,.,nn,... Own Interpretation.

Sunday School Teacher (sadly)-
I'm afraid, johnnie, that l will never
meet you in heaven" Johnnie-"Why?
What have you been doing now?'
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
generals

The war with Spain will cost your
Uncle Sam something like billion
dollars. But the American people
never hesitate at cost when honor,
credit and humanity is at stake.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Rumoyeut Reason.

Judge-Can you give any reason why
sentence of the court should not be
pronounced on you for picking that
mans pocket? Culprit-Yer honor, l
-er-did it in a fit of abstraction
New York Journal.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

The Alabama negroes have set an
excellent example to be copied by 9th
er states, the naming Of an entire state
ticket composed Of colored men.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
4 Victim tn Scienc &C.

ma-"Rememher, frankie, what
the dentist said about candy running
vour teeth" Frankie-"Yes; but why
don't you let me prove it, like we do
in 'rithmetic?"
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

How Mr.. Gladstone Lost His Finger.
Among other "reminiscences of the
great English statesman, a writer in
the New York Independent gives this:
observing that Mr.. Gladstone had
lost a finger of his left hand, | later
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
A Can{ug.

Mrs. Wickwire-Whyd don't you exer-
else the talents the Lord has bestowed
on YOU, instead of begging? Dismal
Dawson-Lady, the Lord has given me
tbe best beggin' talents in the profes-
sion.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Women's ContrariAess.

Bagley-"Do you think women will
ever quit wearing corsets?"
Howland-"Not as long as there are
any obtuse men around to maintain
that the things are detrimental to
health"
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
EviI Propeusites.

'I notice." remarked Rivers, "that
this submarine boat Holland appears
to have a decided fondness for low
dives"
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23

President Mckinley has truthfully
borne out the statement that there is
no north or south by appointing con-
federate sons to colonies, majors and
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
Exclaimed.

WOOL don't see how dealer can
afford to iron all the silk hats he sells.
Van Pelt-Has to do it; they'd last too
long if he didnt.-Harlem Life.
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
The Child Wives of India.

The latest government census in In
dia showed 6,O16,759 girls between five
and nine years of age who are already
married, Of whom 10000 had become
widoTR
The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
We must organize or perish.

Spain will learn that it is one thing
to commit an outrage and another to
strike first class powerful nation.