davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-09
PIXIES PEAK PILLAR OF
FIRE.

q dull, parti-colored glow, which deep
ened and grew stronger and more in
tense with every pulse beat of the shiv-
ering men, who almost held their fro
zen breaths as they bent to watch 1t
struggle with the wind.
Down below in the gigantic amphi-
theater of which the Peak was the
center and horizon of lightning-riven
thunder clouds was the circling wall,
other hearts were beating high with
eXpectant excitement.
Far up above the black timber belt,
at the very edge of the rounding cone
Of snow-laden rock which seemed to
touch the frowning heavens above.
the darkness.
Larger they grew and more luni-
nous. Higher they mounted and wider
they spreAd until the world-famous old
mountain wore upon its noble forehead
a liberty cap of our nations colors-
the glorious red, white and blue for
which our sires and sons have so
bravely fought and for which they will
fight even to the death whenever stain
or dishonor menaces them.
The busy men up amid the SHOWS
could not hear the almost frantic
cheers which greeted the evidence of
their successful efforts, but they saw
the answering lights flash here and
there, glowing spots Of crimson flame,
shooting stars and showers Of scintil-
lating fire, and their hearts were glad.
Cold. tired, blaze blinded and smoke
choked, they shouted and sang as they
worked and worked the better because
of it.
Pixies Peak of the New World became
for the time being q rival to Mount
Etna Of the Old. A pillar Of fire.
stretched from its summit into the re-
gions of air and the dense smoke
brooding over it seemed itself full of
lurid flames, menacing disaster to all
below.
From Pueblo in the south to Chey-
enne, distant IT'S miles to the north, the
Illumination was seen and understood.
The dual celebration struck respon-
sive chord in every heart and thrilled
every soul with patriotic fervor. AS
the nations coloTs blazed on high those
of the nations children who read the
message in the sky voiced Columbia's
praises with speech and song, or with
the mighty cheers which mean so much
in times like these.
Even Nature herself smiled upon the
audacious novelty of the grandest
spectacular entertainment that the
world has ever seen and prepared for
it a background of rejecting clouds,
which made it absolutely perfect.
Surely no Independence day that we
have ever known has been SO glo-
riously marked as this, the last of our
century Surely no hero was ever more
supremely honored than has been
brave Admiral Schley, the destroyer of
Cervera's threatening fleet, by the
grateful people of the fair State of
Colorado
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-09

glowing patriotism were anxlous!y
heating in fear of the possible failure
of the plan so carefully studied But
such failure was not to be-
Eager hands, benumbed with coiu put
swiff to do their duty set off the charge
-. ,,o11der which was to be the reas-
sI,ring word from them TO the world
et their feet, and Colorado Springs sls-
nailed hack with a sudden lurid plaze
which told that all was well and that
visual communication between the Two
points so far removed was perfect.
Denver still lay under veil OF cloud
70 the northward. but even that par
rier melted away later on, and gave her
an unobscured view Of one or the
grandest spectacles prepared by mortar
hands that man has ever seen.
Hastily the busy workers unpacKed
the boxes which held prisoners the trl-
icolored fires, and forming themselves
tnto three parties made their way
through snow and ice and over preclpi-
TONS and sleet-covered rocks to the sew
eraI noints agreed upon as bases of ope-
rations The wind blew at tornadoltke
speed, tearing at their garments and
chilling them. in spite of the burden
some clothing, almost TO the hearI; Ine
boxes were heavy and the trail was
tortuous and full of peril, but not one
turned back or even faltered by the
wayside.
They were Americans, full Of sturdy
American spirit; and they were sent
there, the representatives of thousands
of their fellows. to celebrate an Ameri-
can victory of the present, and Ameri-
can emancipation from the control of
another country in the past. Their
duty in such case as this was their
pleasure, and they plunged onward
through the darkness as merrily as
schoolboys at play.
At last the long-looked- for moment
came. A system of we'll arranged sig
nails between the three groups of op-
orators made 1T possible for the torches
to be applied to piles of powder at al
most the same moment. Then came a
sputtering, creeping sizzle followed by
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-09
A SIGNAL LIGHT IN THE
CLOUDS.

n OLORADO SPRINGS. Colo, July
At has been left to Colorado to
u plan and carry to successful
conclusion the grandest celebration of
our nations birth and glory ever
dreamed Of by the most patriotic of her
citizens.
From time almost immemorial, ever
since war has been a part of human
life, watch-fires and Signatures, have
blazed on cliffs and hill tops as warn
ings of danger or signs Of rejoicing, but
never one has blazed so broad and high
as the mighty beacon that our State
held aIoft in dual celebration Of our
country's day of independence and the
reception of that key of victory which
was presented to her by her gallant
son, Admiral Schley, a twelvemonth
since.
Think of a ton of red, white and blue
fire blazing on mighty pedestal three
miles above the surface of the seas.
upon which Schley won his victory, and
two miles above the surface of the sur
rounding country Think Of it flashing
out its message Of far-reaching import
10 city and village and hamlet. to
mountain and vale and plain, against
background of frOwning storm clouds.
amid the blackness of a moonlesS
night!
This was Colorados celebration-a
celebration which has never been
eQualled, and will, most assuredly,
never be. eXcelled.
Pixies Peak, the goal Of wearied
westernbound pilgrims in the past, and
the historic monument of the present,
was chosen to wear, set in It's crown Of
summer snow, the glowing jewel SYM
bolical of the rejoicing Of a nations
sons over a nations achievements.
On the summit the United States
signal service building, the highest OBJ
servatory IN the country, offered its
hospitality, and the over 1000 pounds of
chemicals provided by the loyal-spirited
citizens were conveyed thither during
the eventful day.
sent up from Manitou by Manager Sells
of the Pixies Peak Cog Railway to take
charge of the affair, and before night
fall q dozen more came up on a special
engine to assist in making it a glorious
success.
Up they went on the steeply -slanting
cog railway which looks so dangerous
and yet is so safe; up through canyons
and natural parks, through the timber
belt and the arid region where bloom
the brilliant Alpine flowers and small
MOSES nestle amid the sharp edged
rocks And as they climbed higher and
ever higher the suns rays grew paler
until the low gathering clouds shut IT
away altogether, and the breeze turned
to chilly wind that had become a
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-09

raging gale by the time the mountain
top was gained.
Snow and sleet beat upon and blinded
the brave men as they alighted upon
the apex of the lonely peak. A dense
sea Of cloud shut them away from all
the world; a sea through whose depths
no message could come or be sent. Lit
tie wonder is X that their hearts sank
within them, weighted with the thought
that their journey had been in vain and
that disappointment was to be the por-
tion of the waiting people whose bid
ding they had come to do.
Thousands in the towns and villages
on the hills and plains below were gaZ-
ing eagerly toward the mighty pile of
rock on which they stood in helpless
idleness, expecting with every passing
moment to see a f1aring signal rush up
ward into the inky skies to tell the
story of the beginning of their stupend-
Gus undertaking.
But the signal did not rise. The Storm
King held sway on that bleak island in
the great cloud ocean, and not until he
had proven his power and worn himself
out with the violence of his unres1sted
rage did he give the human intruders
into his lofty domain the opportunity
they sought.
Wearied at last, and perhaps feeling
an admiration for and sympathy with
the bravery of soul which enabled them
to withstand his attacks IN the nope OF
ultimately carrying out the provisions
of their mission, he sank TO rest ana le1t
thorn nndisturbed, bestowing. however,
the gracious gift of a continuous sue
cession of his own lambent lightning
Aeshes overhead and around the border
of the horizon to add an element OF
heavenly grandeur to their mortal
efforts.
Strings cleaned up from below, to the
south a glittering line marked the town
of pueblo and on every side points OF
fire grouped together told of clusters Of
human habitations, where hearts full or
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

the Spanish, and the Portuguese have
at different times tried to conquer the
islandS but have always given it up as
n bad job. During the early part of
this century Formosa was known as
'the graveyard Of mariners" because
once a sailor set foot on its inviting
shores he was never seen again. In
1867 an American bark, the Rover, was
wrecked on the island, and the crew
was massacred by the natives accord
ing to their usual custom. The Asiatic
squadron Of the United States was sent
to enforce satisfaction, and several
landing parties were sent on shore.
They met with warm reception, how
ever, and finally 1t was decided to try
peaceful means. Seven officers took
their lives In their hands and went
ashore unarmed. After a conference
with the natives a treaty was made,
and since that time European sailors
have not been molested. Formosa sup
plies the world with camphor.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

A little church In q rural district Of
Pennsylvania has been saved from dis
solution by the happy demise Of a dog.
The parish was once large and pros
porous one, but the congregation dwin-
died and debts gathered until SOME five
years ago the place was closed on ac-
count Of back pay to the rector. The
main support OF the church was an old
lady, whose family had attended 1t for
more than 100 years-it lies In one Of
the old aristocratic sections Of vir-
ginia--and all of whose small property
1t was supposed, would go toward its
maintenance. But on her death great
surprise was sprung. The little old
lady had loved her church and parish
much, but small poodle dog had
claimed her affection more. She left
her entire fortune to keep this pet so
long as he should live, the money going
to the church upon his death, which
long-looked-for event occurred recent
ly. The debts can now be paid and
the dusty pews reopened. There Is
hardly another case on record of one
small dog being the main donator to
the support of q house Of worship.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

Weiss was instrumental In saving the
lives of $50 souls, passengers aboard
the Cunard steamer Palmyra. Coming
up to the disabled steamship at point
$50 miles east of st. Johns, Newfound-
land, he sent line to the ship and tow
ed her into st. Johns. For this the
crew and owners of the Brooklyn City,
the Captains steamship, received
$4,000. All sorts Of thrilling stories
are told of the perils the crew of the
Captains ship incurred In their efforts
to save other imperiled sailors. Among
the vessels towed into port by the Cap
tain have been the steamship Albano,
for Baltimore, disabled for IL days 500
miles off the English coat. with 300
men on board and rudder gone, and
the steamship Strathleven, three feet
Of water In her bottom, and 40 souls
aboard. The captain, wife and II men
of the German bark Margaretha Blan-
ca, adrift $50 miles off Halifax, IA men
in the Norwegian bark Corilan, s In
the Norwegian bark Emil, II in the
French bark Louis, and French fisher
men are also among the lives saved by
the captain and his men.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

of styles permitted in skirts is suggested
by these pictures. whcrin is no one much
like another; and as for bodices, the field
of permissible arrangements is quite as ex-
tended.
As to the upper half of you, the wisest
course in selection is To be guided by the
needs of the figure. This can be taken
with almost entire literalness, once the
fashions have been carefully examined
and kept in mind. One who prefers the
blouse to its would-be successor the
straight-front bodice, can stick to it and
feel perfectly safe. 1t is considered as
pretty as ever. 1t suits the slender figure,
adapts itself to the requirements Of sum-
mer materials as well as to heavier goods,
and is always comfortable. Though it has
been a favorite for three seasons, there
are new forms Of it that are all right. The
initial shows one. 1t was cut low at the
neck and open to the waist to show a
contrasting yoke and an extension to the
belt 1t was as simple and becoming as
could be. This season the yoke is of open
work lace and the collar will usually be a
perfectly simple folded affair Of lawn
without ear-tabs or back frill. Very often
there is a suggestion of waistcoat, the
edges Of which seem to show in little lines
of contrasting material down the front of
the outer bodice or in pair Of turn-back
revers. Sometimes pair of such revers
are fastened on under the collar without
any further pretense at wastcoat and are
valuable only as relief of colors. Orange
velvet was used in this way for this model,
with cream lace, the goods being putty col
ored cloth. White or even butter colored
lace could be used on goods of this color,
and any light colored stuff could be EN-.
ployed after this manner.
A great many summer dresses are not
more elaborate than was this simple
blouse design. Indeed, the number of
dresses that include new fancies yet that
are in the simple gown classification is
usually large for this time of year. Lawn
dresses may be made in as severe outlines
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15
Umbrella Diplomacy.

A man with an umbrella was walking
in the rain; an umbrellaless friend join
ed him and shared the protection. The
umbrella owner noticed that now he
was getting only half protection, as the
rain and the drippings from the umbrel-
la as well fell on one shoulder. Seeing
another friend without an umbrella he
invited him in out of the wet, saying,
There Is plenty Of room for three"
BY this new arrangement he now had
complete protection, as he had to move
the umbrella to the position he carried
1t when he was using 1t alone, and a
friend on either side protected him from
the rain while receiving the drippings
from the umbrella.-Woman's Home
Companion.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

are very stylish and pretty. From looking
at this dress one would almost think that
her last years silk would do for this sea-
son. The trouble is that its skirt was
made with insertion to effect an overdress,
and the gown below the insertion fared
according to the fashion of this, and not of
last, summer. To be sure, one can make
last years skirt the overdress to a skirt
that shall match the yoke. That will be
pretty, but her best friend will surely
know it for a make-over, because probably
she has one herself of the same kind.
AS was limited in the foregoing, the en-
ployment of black velvet on summer
dresses is peculiar. That will be readily
understood after reading q description of
the fifth Of these Of these pictured dresses.
First it should be understood that it was
planned for a viewer of races or other
outdoor sports, so its distinctly unexpecr-
ed features were not so startling as though
it had been intended for other Use. Re-
member, too, that black velvet is used by
fashion leaders on organdie in rows and on
pique in frills, so don't be alarmed at un-
usual Developments. The gown was a
wonderful creation Of tucked India null
made in combination with ilmy lace, the
whole in soft ivory-white. The two oc-
topus-like rosette bows of black velvet en-
closed handsome buckles of pearl, which
were all that harmonized with the rest.
This get-up was extravagant both in its
scheme and price, and it is not held up as
a model for copying. But it does serve
we'll to point the fact that black velvet can
be used safely in original ways. AS a
method Of giving an up-to-date touch to
a costume it is worth remembering.
Exquisites are becoming more and more
averse to appearing outdoors without
wrap. this in all seasons. Spring saw this
fashion develop noticeably, and there is
promise that its adherents are braced for
considerable discomfort in midsummer,
for though some of the wraps are gauzy in
the extreme, others are so elaborated that
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

black veil. it made stir throughout
the country. The name Of Drexel for
years has been synonym for wealth
That one Of the daughters of the great
Philadelphia house would give herself
to the church seemed hardly credible
to those who had never met her and
who knew nothing Of her family. She
took the step cheerfully, and so far as
known has always rejoiced in her self
sacrifice. No one save herself and a
few officers of the church know the
whole extent of her benefaction or Of
her sacrifices. OF late years little has
been written or heard of her by the
world at large. No woman who de-
ponds upon her daily labor for food
and shelter has worked more arduous-
ly than she in carrying out the great
plan to which she has devoted her en-,
ergies and resources.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15
MAKING BIG ORGANS.
ST. LOUIS ONE or THE osNrERs
oF THls:iNoUsTRx.
Factories Hsunts Of Magicians whose
Product Comes as Near to Having
Nerves and Soul as II 4, Possible to
Bring Insnimate Matter.

That St Louis. No., Is an organ
building center Is a statement which
VIII surprise not few OF Its citizens,
but that 1t contributes a larger num-
Der Of church organs to the religious
denominations OF the United States
than any other city west of New York,
VIII probably be regarded as intelli-
.gence even In well-informed musical
circles. This. however. Is the case, for
st. Louis has three organ-building fac
tories which have been In operation for
many years, one Of which has placed
In position about 1000 organs In the
churches Of the country, while the
combined output Of the others may
bring up the number which, st. Louis
has built to 5000.
The organ factory Is the workshop of
a magician. Great barn-like rooms,
with lofts overhead, on which are
mounted old, unused organs, dusty and
spider-webbed skeletons or organs
from which pipes have been removed;
dislocated parts Of organ frames bear
dng traces of their former employment.
On the floor stand more organ frames,
new and Incomplete, In process of
building. In the corners, against the
walls, lying about on the floor, In piles
In long boxes, In baskets, are organ
pipes. Queer, necromantic-looking in
struments lie about. used In construc-
ton and repair. For the organ builder
is a magician, and the, thing he builds
is a living creature. The work of his
hands has heart and lungs, arteries
and veins, nerves and sinews, skele-
ton and frame, soul and myriad
voices. The great windchest Is it's
heart, the conductors are its arteries,
the bellows its lungs, the beams and
framework its skeleton, while the in
finite network of rods and wires which
confuses the Imagination by their
number and direction are its nerves
and sinews. For that matter, every
pipe has its own individuality, In the
parlance OF the profession, each has
body, foot and toe; every pipe has a
mouth, tongue, teeth, lips. ears, a
beard aud voice.
In this strangest OF. all factories,
where wood and metal are taught to
sing automatic praises, the materials
are many. OF the woods, common
white pine is the most important, and
highly esteemed from the fact that in
every climate, cold or hot, moist or
dry, 1t remains almost unchanged
while many other woods shrink and
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

ant, is but one among the many called
into play before the organ Is finally
looked upon by its maker and pro-
nounced good, for the organ 4 stand
ing monument to the ingenuity Of ages.
The brains and laborious lives of many
thousands of men are represented In
it's intricate frame. 1t is the embodi-
ment of long centuries of civilization
and prosperity, for only the highest
culture could render possible its devel-
opment; only leisure and wealth could
bring it to perfection. To attempt to
enumerate the thousand ingenious APP
planes by which difficulties have
been overcome would be impossible,
but by the application Of every me-
chanical principle known enormous re-
suits are produced by apparently insig-
nificant means. The organist draws
stop with thumb and finger, but that
slight action puts into motion masses
Of wood and metal distant from him
perhaps sixty or seventy feet.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15

miscellaneous duplication are. as usual.
the cheap ones Yet woman to whom
wardrobe doesn't spell dozen trUnks full
of fine dresses, can manage at least one
costume that she can he reasonably sure
will not appear like an imitation Of her
neighbours. That she can do this is ex-
planned in some measure by the variety of
materials that are available. This is NOT
a summer when two or three sorts of dress
stuffs are being run to death, and the list
of fashionable fabrics is very large. But
the feature that is more potent than the
range of fabrics is the existing variety in
cut and finish. Here, again, there is no
one style that everybody is rushing into.
True, the sheath fit Of skirt is well nigh
imperative, but in other respects the range
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15
HOW PADDY COMMITS SUICIDE.
An Old Police Sergeant's Observations
on the Weather and Its Effects.

An Old Police Sergeant's Observations
on the Weather and Its Efects.
"Good suicide weather." the grizzled
old sergeant behind the desk of one OF
the New York police stations observed,
as he glanced out at the dull, over
whelming clouds from which the rain
sifted down in never-ending drizzle.
"a good day for suicides over here"
he continued, musingly. IF a Ger
man is going to kill himself he waits
for just such day as this. Even If
he don't intend to kill himself three or
four days like this will soon drive him
to it. Well be apt to have three or
four cases reported before roll-call.
Now, it's different with French
man. When German feels blue 1t
makes him all the bluer If the wealth
er's bad But a Frenchman, when he
Is crossed in love or has gone broke,
thinks the weather Is sympathizing
with him If 1t rains when he Is feeling
badly. When he makes up his mind
to commit suicide he'll invariably car