davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
How To Steer a Dog Sled.

Those who are going 20 Alaska would
DO we'll to profit by the experience Of
men who have been there. The weather
there FOR greater portion q the year
is so severe that the acquisition OF
knowledge by experience Is likely 20
prove extremely hazardous. A man who
has spent several winters In Alaska Of
fers the following suggestions as 10 the
best means Of handling a sled:
Travellers in Alaska are finding that
about the best way To manage sled on
bad trail Is 10 rig handles to Il and
to follow il as a farmer does a plow.
Going down a Hill il can he held back
by the handles. and on Siding places IL
is about the only way that Il can De
kept under absolute control. II the sled
is to be pulled by dogs. handles are al
most Indispensable. II two men furnish
power. II is well for one OF them 60 pull
and the other 10 push Lnless they hap
pen to be brothers. In the latter case
il prevents trouble In Alaska. as else
where, TO hitch both abreast and put
no stay chains on the doubletree.
The framework which supports the
handles by being laced 10 the side ~ the
sled With strings % rawhide forms a
the load. A rope is looped along the
edge OF the sled all the way around and
made stationary. Through these loops
from side 10 side the lash rope Is pass
ed, and thus the load IS quickly Sc
cured.
The problem Of pitching the tent at
stops and lighting a Ere Is a serious
one. When the thermometer registers
20 or 40 degrees below zero. man
hardly dares to remove his NIT 10 start
fire. And then. during the winter.
which is the longest part % the year
in Alaska. IT Is very often difficult 20
find dry wood. The best thing I have
found to get quick blaze is 10 carry
balls OF cloth saturated in coal oil. Place
one Of these In the stove. light IL. and
10 viii ignite almost any kind OF wood.
The windproof matches which I have
seen in the stores OF san Francisco
should form a part Of every Klondikers
outfit.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

the largest city. with a population Of
10000, on the south coast, and the 9TH
er port cities mentioned.
san Juan. on the north side, with its
Formidable castle on hilltop TO the
east, is said TO be the neatest city in
Spanish America Within the harbor
are a Square turreted. little stone
battery and a liilioutian fort oddly
picturesque. but practically insigniti-
cant. on q high point OF land within
the Castle Wales stands a tai light
house. This is the real gateway TO the
island.
Ponce de Leon is buried in san Juan.
his dust incIosed in d box that is await
ing interment beneath a proposed mon
ument. and perhaps the most noted
building in the city is the Casa Blanca
iwhite house, that De Leon built for
himself in 1899 and which he occupied
during his long term as governor Of the
island
Puerto Rico. like Cuba. IS overrun
with Spanish soldiers Every officer.
private. petty official and custom house
inspector is imported from Spain, and
the island must support them
The people are unalterably opposed 10
all things Spanish. They have good
reason 10 hate their oppressors, and
they Go il heartily.
Il was supposed in 1895 that there
would be a violent outbreak there
serving as an aid 70 the Cuban cause.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

transportation for torpedo boats. Some
years ago Lieutenant r. +. Fletcher. "a
command OF the Stiletto. made the trip
from New York 10 Washington by canal
and river TO demonstrate the fact that
there was a protected route o. use Ia
time Of war. His demonstration was
valuable and may be OF service 20 the
navy department in the near future.
The canal and river route is quite prac-
ticabie at this season Of the year. tn
winter, however. both canals and Tiy-
ers are frozen. and at that time the rail
route alone would be feasible Tor inland
transportation.
Some years ago. when torpedo boat
transportation was under consideration.
the navy department planned 10 have
special trucks built for the work. % be
kept in reserve. But the prospect 81
war seemed 50 remote that. like great
many other defense measures. II Was
neglected II would not take many
weeks for the great railroads of the
United states 70 improvise these trucks
and cradles. however.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
Year 1898 Is Worth Watching.

4 German statistical scientist calls
attention to the remarkable attributes
Of the year 1898. no man IN the pres
ent generation has lived or VIII live
under such peculiar circumstance. a
condition that has not appeared since
the year 1851 and viii not APPEAR aRaiH
until the year zli9 People imbUed with
superstitious belief and mcmbers -
IL clubs ought 70 watch closely the
events az THIS remarkable year. A. a
starter the numeral Isas ran pc divided
by -. and the four figures added to-
Rather give -. which can also br dlvlf-
Fl ~ u. The numerai - the year 1853
also belongs % the remarkable group -
four sided numbers ~ which only eight
have existed since the birth ~ Christ
1885 being the ninth. Take ists f1r eH-
ample. Eubstraet the first figure from
the third. and thu vaiss ~ ere second
and fourth iH obtained. Those PECULIAR
year numbers have aeen ie.4. 1881 iE2
1913. 1854 1855 1876 l5s7 and now tsss
The laat tirna fhr peculiar condition -
70 existed vaa ln 1851. This could even
ly re- divided ~ l1. and tne figures 7. Z.
8. / added together give -
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
IS THIS ANOTHER CUBA?
The Island of Puerto Rico and How
Spain Controls Its Over
taxed People,

generally termed, is the smallest and
most easterly of the Great Antilles and
has an area. including its dependencies
Cthe isles of Nieque. Culebra and Mo-
ma, of $500 square miles, with a pop
ulation of about 100000 Of whom $50,
600 are whites. the remainder mixed
breeds. 1t is separated from Santo Do
mingO on the west by the Mona pas
sage, in which lies the island Of Mona,
and from the Virgin islands on the east
By the Virgin passage, in whose wa
tiers are NieQue and Culebra. 1t is
nearly rectangular in shape, with a
length east and west of about 100 miles
and a breadth of 40. There are many
bays and inlets. and the north coast is
lined with navigable lagOons. The
principal ports are san Juan. Arecibo,
Aguadilla, Mayaguez, Ponce. Guayanil-
la. Humacao and Fajardo. 4 range Of
mountains extends through the island
east To west, having general height Of
500 feet, with one peak in the north
east, Luquiiio, whose summit the In
dams called Yunque of 3,67S feet, merg-
ed in the clouds.
From the dark green hills descend
many small streams, some of which are
navigable a few miles inland. There
are plains in the interior and level
tracts from five to ten miles wide on
the coast The soil is exceedingly fer
tile and produces in great abundance
coffee. tobacco. cotton, rice and maize.
The amount Of sugar raised is greater
for a given area than on any other is
land Of the West Indies. There are
scarcely any wild animals, birds or
flowers to be found there. Gold. copper.
lead. iron and coal abound. though no
mines are worked. There is cog.sidera-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
IN WARTIME,
Transporting Torpedo Boats and Big
Guns by Rail From One End of
the Country to the Other

I have no difficulty making its way up
the coast without attracting attention
from an enemy.
The French sent a boat JOB feet .
inches long, 10 feet inches beam, 3
feet deep and OF so tons displacement
from Toulon 10 Cherbourg by rail. The
boat was mounted on two SIX wheel
trucks Of special design, each having a
pivoted saddle 10 counterfeit the change
OF direction OF the cars in going around
curves. TO meet the problem OF tun-
mel clearance the trucks were made
very low. They were OF iron and steel
/ Ordinary fat cars were run ahead and
behind the trucks. The boat was lifted
from the water by a heavy derrick and
/ lowered into place on the trucks. All
/ stores, coal. anchors. movable uachn-
1 cry. compass, skylights, tunnels the
/ rudder and the propeller had been re-
moved and were put on ordinary freight
cars The train was run az an average
I speed Of = 10 IS miles an hour where
the track was straight, but u slowed
down at curves for fear Of strainiug the
/ hun OF the boat Al one time for ex-
/ perimentaI purposes the speed was in
! creased to "a miles. The entire trip. Gfs
miles was made in four days. At the
/ end of the journey another big crane
/ lifted the boat from the trucks and de-
/ posted 10 IN the water. II was found
I 20 be in good condition. and the crew.
which had Travelled on the same train.
very soon put II in fighting trim.
| The French experiment VAS ~ the
greatest value % the United states. be-
cause We are better supplied wlth rail-
roads than any other country IN the
world. We know that in an emergency
( the single warship which our treaty
with Great Britain now permits Us 90
keep IL service on the lakes could be
supplemented promptly with FIVE CT SIX
torpedo boats, carried % any ~ the lake
ports b. Pail. II would - possible g.
carry torpedo boats over 10 the Pacific
coast IN an emergency IN two or three
weekF II an enemy should blockade
New Orleans and threaten inland cities
by way ~ the Mississippi river. as
could have \ feet - TORPEDO boats
steaUing doHn the river from -. Loa.8
u three or four days.
Along the Atlantic n Paciac coast 4
would be important 70 - able % shifs
torpedo boats from place O. place p8ta-
cat expos ug them o. the snemys ara.
II would D. especially important be-
cause the torpedo boat - uot = very
sea aorthy vessel A few days oIt n
the ogen wiI shake up the rrss -
ttsroognly Ghat detention io port Ali
81 necessary ser TIE p2rposs q rest AID
ECCuperatior-
Another advantage which ths poEsi-
niAty 81 raH era nFp1rfat.on - torpfso
heats gives tire government r. nat
small TORPEDO boats can Re bait lnlaud
n tizae ~ stress
TIE navy 8epzrtrasrt has eTrrEt-
tneuted wIth another means q lz5ab1
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

bic salt to be found and a great variety
of precious woods. The climate, though
exceedingly warm, is more healthful
than that of the other Antilles and, in
fact, is superior in all respects. The is
land has suffered much from huIri-
canes, those of 1742 and 1925 being par
tiCularly destructive.
The natives called the island Borin-
quin, but when it was discovered by
Columbus in 1893, who was surprised at
oysters growing on trees, the Spaniards
christened it Rich Port" Ponce de
Leon then invaded it and in few
years eXterminated the natives, esti-
mated to be $50. 900 in number. Slavery
was only finally abolished by the Span
ish cortes in March, 1873.
The chief towns are San Juan Bap-
tiste de Puerto Rico, the capital brief
ly called San Juan; San German, Ponce.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

never a penny TO spend. The house was
very large and very comfortable. The
only servant was the porter. The negro
girls waited on the creoles. the creoles
On the Spanish girls. and all were serv-
ants to the Turkish mistress. The
don's wish was her law.
But what il the Senior Don leaves
Havana I asked at parting. Surely
he cannot stay here always. His du-
ties VIII eventually cali him TO Mad
rid"
Then the place will be sold out"
she said. TO another Senior Dou. The
house viii be sold as il stands. As many
OF the girls viii be sold with the house
as the new Senior Don wishes. There
are II here now. II the new don cares
only for seven, the seven he does not
want VIII be turned into the street. An.
senior. here comes the sonora Adios"
gibson wILLETS.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
copyright, 1881

Havana, April IL have passed the
sacred portals of a real harem. have
penetrated to the innermost courts of
orientalism. have visited one of these
places, and know positively that there
are two more-not in Constantinopie,
not in Teheran, but right here in Ha-
vana.
In each Of these harems there are
from six to 20 young girls-Spanish,
creoles and negroes. The girls are prac-
ticalIy slaves. The mistress of each
harem is Turkish woman who knows
her business. The master in each case
is a Spanish official Of high rank and
great wealth.
The accompanying photographs were
made possible by the vanity of a Span
ish girl in the harem l visited. But for
the desire of that young lady TO perpet-
uate her beauty on paper even snap
shot would have been impossible. The
pictures were taken on the roof of the
house 1t was taken in the middle of
the afternoon while the other inmates
were enjoying the customary midday
siesta. The girl shown in the photo
graph was Spanish, aged IS, beautiful,
refined, misguided and a slave, actual
property owned by a Spanish official
1t is hardly necessary to say that the
startling discovery of these places was
made only after a long period of wire
pulling. a New York friend, a leading
cigar manufacturer while in Havana
buying tobacco introduced me To a
Spanish official, a don whose rank is
high above the multitude. 1 met this
prominent Spanish merchant whose
wife is an English woman. There was
also present that night a young Eng
ish girl, my hostess niece. She was
engaged TO be married to the Spanish
official there present. She was 49, he g.
She was sweet; he had the face Of
brute.
We spent a very pleasant evening.
The Spanish official drank a great deal
Of wine. When he arose to go, he stag
gered. Il will see Senior Don home"
volunteered. Ny services were ac-
cepte1.
We got into volanta and drove to
the senor's home. We entered. the senior
Gaming heavily upon my arm. He tried
to talk, but he only succeeded in be-
roming more and more maudlin
A very stout woman in a slouchy
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

harem. The harem and all that was
in it, human beings included, were his
property. And yet that lordly emulator
OF the sultan of Turkey is at this writ
ing engaged to marry a sweet and pure
girl of the best blood of England
My information regarding the harem
was obtained from one of its inmates
the Spanish girl shown in the photo
graph. She was very pretty and very
silly In her crimson satin costume, with
its baggy trousers and turban a la Con-
stantinople and her gorgeous beads and
bracelets a la Persia, she looked very
foolish and very bewitching. She wore
crimson silk stockings, which were not
full Of holes, but OF conspicuous punches
of black thread with which the holes
had been sewed up. Her red satin slip
pers were very much down at the heel.
Her eyes were wicked and glorious Her
smile was that of a baby.
While The Turkish woman dragged
away the drunken master l saw the
Spanish girl just described passing
through the courtyard. Thinking that
I would not be understood, I muttered
to myself, BY Jove, that's a mighty
pretty girl"
My words. however, were not only
heard. but understood. The girl stop
ped. turned and smiled. Did you
speak, senor?"
Great heavens. the girl spoke English!
was delighted. 1 showed it. Yes,
yes" I said. do you? I stopped in
with the seven. Er-ah-that is, is he
your father?"
She burst into harsh laughter Eyes.
IL &c 70 20 .
the flesh sold me to this pretty father.
Understand"
l did not comprehend. ! thought she
was jesting.
You have camera" she said, her
eyes on the kodak which 1 happened to
have with me. Il want you to take
my picture, senior"
l explained that I could not take pic
lures at night; that 1 needed sunlight.
But explain, senorita. How do you
mean? You say your father sold you
to the Senior Don"
Yes, for Spanish gold. My father is
dead. He was a soldier He sold his
machete while on duty to an Ameri-
can for gold. He sold his gun, his
shoes, his uniform and then his daugh-
ter for gold. He is dead, and l am in
InlS place.
This place! What sort Of place is
this?"
She looked around furtively. I under
stood We were alone. We spoke in
English, and no one would understand
even if eavesdroppers We're near. The
master was drunk. The mistress was
putting him TO bed. We were probably
safe for a few minutes.
.'Senor, listen. In this place there are
II girls like me, all sold by our fathers
TO the Senior Don. We would like to go
out for walk in the evening. We are
not permitted to pass the porter at the
gate. We would like to run away, but
we have no place to go to. no money, no
friends. no anything. / learned English
from my father. He taught me before
he came to Cuba to fight. But I have
not spoken English or heard English
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

oeived the following reply from the
Maine statesman; Buy q new shirt and
come anyway
There are two blind beSgaTs n New
York who have stood AT their respective
corners on Firth avenue every day for
> years. II Is believed that both have
accumulated fortunes
The Emperor William q Germany has
discarded mechanical rowing exercise
in his bathroom for tennis Even IN ;1 :
respect his policy OF thorough Is a6-
hered To. During the whole o. his win
ter residence II Berlin be has been
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

playing tennis Tor two hours daily on
his private court in the HoheHzollern
gardens
Senator Bruce. who rscsrtly DIED after
long career ~ puzzle usa- claFss hzd
fer many years supported fhe willow
and daughter ~ bis former master ~
was under us !egal obligation ~ -aeH1
% hatsver bvt hy BIS bounty eTp-esse5
a.s EratttuLs tor tae k.n1 lre1tnat
accorded hi- vren slave and f7r tns
ru1irlFrtarE eauestlru ~ rf1lVe1 zrem
the tutcr q bis nlGsgsrs sou-
There Is 70 show Eog TIE ooE preach
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

but for some reason there has not been
any determined resistance as yet. Pos
sibly they lack the facilities of their
brothers in the larger island to the
west.
DR.. ]. Julio Henna, president of the
Puerto Rican Revolutionary party, has
said: Il realize that a few men have no
right to force a revolution even in the
cause of liberty, but our people are
waiting only for leaders, and revolu-
ton is what the people want. Our
plans are maturing"
Among the leading officials of the rev.
dictionary junta are Senior Gerardo
Forrest and DR.. r. Z. Betances.
There have already been many muir
murs of discomfort among these people,
and when the time comes for insurrec-
ton it is probable they will be more
quickly successful than the Cubans. II
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

not go out The Senior Don will be
ugly when he is sober and finds you
came in with him"
l had an idea. "Senorita. listen.
will leave the camera with you. You
viii hide it in your room. Tomorrow
when the Senior Don is out you Will go
on the roof and take a picture of your
self. You have a friend here perhaps.
She must press this button, so" And
in few minutes I had taught her how
to take a snap shot. Then bring the
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

camera to the court" continued. and
set il in that corner. / viii call and
tell the porter at the gate that I left
ny camera here by mistake when
came home with the Senior Don The
porter will ind the camera and hand it
out to me"
This plan was afterward carried out
letter perfect.
During the few minutes further con-
versation with that very pretty and
very vain Spanish girl l learned, be-
sides the facts already mentioned, that
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

the attempt to keep the harem sacred
from the eyes of men was not success
full. In one way or another a friend
of the don passed the porter though
the friend was always a Spanish official
of wealth and rank. The girls were not
required TO wear wells. but the costume
of the women OF the Turkish harem
was insisted upon. The don gave his
slaves many trinkets. but no money.
He kept them supplied with necklaces
and bracelets and imitation jewels. but
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS,

lea. but since her marriage to II. Labor
she has retired from public 3te-
Speaker Reed recently wished u see
a political friend on some very iUPor-
tant business ana teleE~aphed him 10
90 at once 10 Washington The friend
took the first train, but a waShoUt On
the road soon stopped hifu. Coins 10
the telegraph flee. he sent this mes
sage, "Washout on the Hne cant
come" 10 which in due tine he re-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

George ". Vanderbilt intends % con-
tinue the development OF his model Wiz
lage Of Biltnore. y. G. by the erection
OF schooIhouse for white pupils. the
building Of several handsome dwellings
and the establishment OF an electric
light plant.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

The wife of Labor. the barrister who
defended n. Zola. is the British pianist
once SO popular as Miss Maggie Oakley.
This lady. who was a student at the
London Academy of Music. first ap-
peared at the promenade concerts il
1882, and after a tour in Germany she
in 1854 married NJ. Vladimir d. Pach-
mann. the Chopin player, though some
years later the union was dissolved In
1881 she had a successful tour in Amer
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
CITY OF SAN JUAN BAPTIsTE. PUERTO RICO.

is known now that serious trouble for
Spain is imminent. and the cruiser Viz
caya when she leaves Havana viii go
10 Puerto Rico in order to strengthen
the power Of the government officials
there. ALBERT P. SOUTHWICk.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

There is an island, one Of the Ioveliest
on earth, only a few days sail from
New York, that might become Il famous
winter resort for the northern invalid,
little known to the people of the United
States because of the scant commercial
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
THERE ARE HAREDLS IN HAVANA

since have been here until now. Senior.
you viii take my picture in the sun
when?"
Tomorrow; any time. senorita, glad
ly."
But you cannot come in, and I can
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
Young Girls Kept In Slavery by Spanish Army
Officials Photographs of the Inmates
Secured With Difficulty,

wrapper advanced and took the very
rich and very drunken Spanish official
away from me. She spoke TO me in
strange language. I learned afterward
that she was speaking in the tongue of
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

Turkey: that she herself was a Turk,
the guardian of the household. When
l left the house 10 minutes later, l had
learned the exact nature of the Spanish
officials home" His home was a
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

communication and whose Importance
is not properly estimated; but. like Gu
la, il has a revolutionary junta and
seems TO be only awaiting the auspi-
cious moment to strike a decisive blow
for freedom.
Puerto Rico. or Porto Rico, as it is
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10
[ConrrIght. 1851

Washington, April 5.-The part the
railways will play in time Of war is
varied and interesting. Just now they
are engaged in hurrying supplies from
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-10

factory To post and transporting troops
under orders Of the war department.
They may be asked in the near future
10 carry torpedo boats from one port to
another. Experiments were made some
years ago % see n this were possible
According 10 the calculations made at
that time. We have now SIX torpedo
boats which can tr put on railroad cars
and carried from one point % another.
They are