davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-04-06
For the Reporter:
How Some Maine Ghosts Were
Laid.
BY an Old Correspondent

Only % or 30 years ago, In one OF our
small Maine towns, a family moved out
of farm house in the fall and no tenant
WAS secured until the following spring.
Then family moved In, but in less than
week moved again. They said little
beyond that there were things about the
house that they could not endure.
Two or three families more were in
duced to try 1t but the stay of each was
short aud the neighbors became sure
that the house was haunted. The place
WAS one of considerable value and the
proprietor very naturally wanted to test
the truth of the stories that were told
about 1t. To that end he hired three
Young men to remain 10 the building for
few nights.
The watchers had only been on the
spot a short time before dusk came, and
with its coming strange happenings oc-
Cured. They were seated Ia the sitting
room when first one and then another OF
the doors blew open. They were closed
and remained so for few moments and
then open as before.
Soon a deep groan was heard and a
door slammed somewhere. Then an
other door opened and as 1t did so one OF
the fellows Jumped out of 1t. His name
was Baze Hinckley and he was as far
from being superstitious as airy one
could be. Yet AS he went through the
door he became conscious of something
moving silently away from him In the
darkness. He pursued this unseen object
up the stair and into the farthest room.
A window flew up, white object was
outlined for moment In 1t, and then,
crack went Baz.'s revoer. A wild veil
followed the report and some object
struck the ground beneath with far TOO
much force for spirit. Two more shots
were sent after the ghost which was
creeping around the corner of the house
and at the second it collapsed and lay
writing on the ground.
Bazs hurried back to his companions
and the three took lantern and went to
look at the victim. Trampled and blood
stained grass was all they found. For Il
week the young men continued to watch
but, after remedying defective latch,
nothing unusual happened.
There was man 10 the neighborhood
who owned farm adjoining the one on
which these events occurred. 1t had
long been known that he desired this
farm and Baze and his comrades were
not at all surprised to hear that he had
accidently shot himself In the leg. AT
ter his recovery he sold out and moved
away. The neighborhood has never had
any supernatural visitors since.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-04-06
Madison Centre.

Warren Clough is quite sick.
Willie Hayden of Augusta, visited at
Mrs. w. D. Hayden's over Sunday.
Our good sleighing is fast failing.
Robert Hayden of Athens, was at
Madison Centre last Sunday and Mon
day.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-04-06

To Cure Constipation in One Week
To Purify the Blood in One Week
To Strengthen Nerves in One Week
To Cure Sick Headache in One Day
Take Cleveland's Celery Compound Tea
25c, trial size free. IL it fails to cure
your money will be refunded. II. w
Cushing, Skowhegan, Me.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-04-06

Situated in a township in Northern
Somerset County lumber man, whose
name Is too well known to mention,
cleared a farm and on it raised hay,
grain and potatoes for use 10 his camps.
Quite commodious farm house was
erected as well as good out houses. The
buildings were occupied and the farm
carried on until he ceased numbering.
Afterwards he sold the grass standing to
lumbermen operating on adjoining town
ships who harvested il and in the winter
hauled 1t to the camps.
The furnishings of the house were not
considered of sufficient value to be re
moved. The place was many miles
from any settlement and the hay makers
each season took In all necessary sup
plies and lived in the old house till their
work was done.
One year the crew went in as usual in
July to gather the crop. They were
obliged to pass one night on the way
and they arrived at the farm in the fore
noon. They moved aud partially dried
some hay during the day and at night
they logged it into the front room and
there made large bed which they
covered with comforters.
After time they retired leaving a
lantern handy. Sometime 10 the night
one OF the party awoke and heard foot
eteps In the hall.
He listened for little Time and then
awakened the others. First the foot fall
sounded near at hand and then gradually
grew fainter as II someone slowly
climbed the stairs. Then it would stop
altogether and after brief interval re-
commence as before.
"Hoboes," whispered someone.
"Ghosts," ventured another. Somebody
lighted lantern and the bravest opened
the door. Nothing was in sight, but the
football moved steadily on up the stair
way and died away in the distance, and
then began again very near to them.
The whole party was thoroughly
frightened but all favored an immediate
investigation, so the search began.
Every room was looked into on the
ground floor and revealed nothing but
shabby furnishings. Then they ascend
ed the stairs, and as they went up, the
steps seemed to pass them on the wall,
The attics were rs empty as the rooms
below. They came down again, still
hearing the mysterious tapping of un-
seen feet. Only one place remained
the cellar No one seemed willing to go
ahead now. This was the last place and
gruesome relics. The majority wanted
to go to the barn and spend the re-
mainder of the night, but after mo-
ments deliberaton, IN which the mys-
FERROUS sounds were heard again, the
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-04-06

Only few miles south of The Forks
of the kennebec there once stood an old
deserted house. Everything of value
had long since been removed. The out
side door had gone. The stairway had
nearly tumbled down. Most of the
flooring in the upper rooms had been re-
moved and only the bare wall joists and
beams formed the sides and ceiling of
the rooms.
During severe thunderstorm a young
man took refuge in the old building. He
remained for long time In the front
room on the first floor, waiting for the
storm to abate, but instead it grew
worse and furious gale of wind arose.
The lonely occupant of the house sud
denly became aware of loud whirring
noise above his head. He looked up
through space where the flooring had
been removed and saw 10 the room above
an old spinning wheel going like mad
and no one near 1t. He watched it for a
moment and then with yell he dashed
out into the storm and an hour later
reached the settlement with wild eyes
and chattering teeth, thoroughly drench
ed. He told HE story and people won
dered. Many visited the old house dur
ing the next rev udys, Dub lne Wnetl
WAS still With superstitious awe 1t was
left standing as 1t had been. Once or
twice some stranger visited the old
house to escape storm and heard and
saw the wheel In motion.
One day in winter a traveller became
snowbound near the place and taking his
horse in with him, kindled fire on the
hearth and tried to keep from freezing.
A fierce gale began to inc ease the al
ready impossible drifts and as it in
creased in fury he heard the loud whir OF
a spinning wheel in the upper rooms.
He climbed the broken stair and saw be-
fore him In the loft an old wheel, uB-
banded, and going faster than it ever did
when nimble feet trod briskly back and
forth beside it, and deft fingers held the
rolls and whrling pin.
The traveller stepped up and grasped
the wheel and as he did so draft of icy
air struck his haDd. He released the
wheel and stepping forward found where
the air entered. He moved the where
out of the draft and il refused to go.
Replaced In It's former position it started.
The mystery was solved.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-04-06

a weak Bulgarian outpost, but the Bull
garians, aided by armed inhabitants,
repulsed their assailants after four
hours fight. Both sides suffered losses
of killed and wounded.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
PERSONALS.

H. K. Street Is in the city.
81. M. Spaulding went to Jarilla to-
day.
L. B. Keiser left on the G. b. this
afternoon for Houston.
Harry Carpenter and bride returned
from California today.
Miss Newcomb returned home to
Las Cruces this morning.
J. G. McDermott and wife came up
from chihuahua last night.
Prof. Hiram Hadley went up to Ala
mogordo TODAY on business.
Horace Blum arrived on the +. P.
this morning from ST. Louis.
h. Parker and wife came down from
Mesilla Park this morning.
B. N. Walker and James Curran
came down from Jarilla last night.
Mr.. and Mrs. FELTON, arrived from
Denver this morning on the Santa Fee.
I. L. Weber went up to the White
Oaks country this morning on business,
Rabbi Cohen returned this morning
from Alabama, where he has been for
some time.
Mrs. George Leonard and mother,
Mrs. E. B. Smith, returned from Fort
Worth today.
Miss J. Stickford, who has been in
the city for some time past left for
Denver today.
A party will be given a. the residence
of sthe Misses Logan at Fort Bliss
tomorrow night.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sutherland and Miss
Maggie Lyons and mother went up to
Alamogordo today.
General Superintendent Stiner, of
the Mexican Central, came up last
night in his private car.
n. B. Abbott, city passenger agent
of the S. P. at New Orleans, is in the
city. guest of Harry Turner.
A. S. Greig and A. j. King went up
to the Jarilla mining camp today to
look after some mining properties.
Carl Ennis went up to Cloudcroft TO-
day to join his wife and mother, who
have been there for the last few days.
Mrs. V. Long returned today from
eastern Texas, where che was called
to attend her father who has been
quite i'll.
F. M. Weston, of the Roosevelt
Rough Riders, came up from Mexico
last night and left for Denver this
morning.
q Mrs. J. S. Morrison, wife of the
Santa Fe city ticket agent, and chill
dren left this morning to spend the
summer months in Denver.
A. Flohr, German consul to Mexico,
and wife, and M. d. Fredricks and wife
came up from Mexico last night and
left this afternoon for Los Angeles
over the S. P.
CAV, our special Jarillas correspond
ent, went for short trip down into
Mexico over the "Sierra Madre Line"
this morning and will doubtless make
notes of his observations that may be
of interest to some of our readers.
THE HOTELS.
Center Block: Mrs. w. B, Compbell
and children, Pueblo; B. N. Walker,
Alamogordo: James Curran, Jarilla; a.
7. Taylor, Ill.
Grand Central: F. G. Ellison. F.. w.
Parker, Las Cruces; O. Bailey, Waco;
II. B. Abbott, New Orleans; F. Escan-
don, Mexico; @. l.. Biggert, Topeka;E.
T. Price, Newton: 81. @. Avis, ST.
Louis.
ST. Charles: E. l.. Jones, Durango,
w. T. Coleman, K. c.; Mrs. r. G.
Banks, San Marcial; II. K. Street, I.
W. Turner, FIT. Worth; J. G. Bush,
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
A MYSTERIOUS AMERICAN.
A Queer Man Who Lives On an Is
land All Alone Off the Mexican
Coast

"There are some queer freaks in this
world" said visitor from the interior
last night, land one of them lives over
on the west coast of Mexico. He is an
American, according to all reports, but
so far no one has succeeded in penetra-
ting the mystery that surrounds him.
Down toward the isthmus, not far from
the mainland, is small island, and it
is on this that the American lives.
Very few people, says the Two Repub-
lies, know how long he has been there
them can tell anything about his fret
coming. He has resided on the island
for so many years that he has become
as much of q fixture as the rugged rocks
that stand out on the coast.
81 saw him once on the mainland as
he came to little village to procure
supplies. About four times q year he
makes trip to some village on the
mainland to buy such things as he
needs. He never has anything to sell,
and always pays in gold dust, the origin
of which is as much Of mystery as the
man himself. His appearance is pa
triarchal now. His long gray
beard, white hair and wild look make
him an object of great curiosity to
stranger. He speaks Spanish broken
ly, but with an accent that does not be-
tray his nationality. His complexion
Is dark, probably due to the rays OF the
sun, but he has q certain air about him
that indicates he ia not q Mexican.
"There has often been much specu-
lation as to where his gold came from.
Many think he has q secret mine on
the island which he, from time to time
works. Explorers who have visited
the island however, report that it is
barren, and gives no Indication OF
mineral deposits. 1t is said that the
old man lives in a.cave in the rocks, and
that his food ia birds and fish. He is
we'll armed and alwa ysbuys con Id cradle
ammunition on his trips to the main
land. A number of times people have
tried to drew him out, but he refuses
to talk of his past or present mode OF
life. and such attempts are seldom
made now. He is entirely alone On
the island, and seems to
love his solitude. His trips to and
from the island are made in an old
ships boat, which he has had ever
since the present generation has known
him. His expert handling of the sails
and oars leads some to believe that at
one time he was sailor.
MANY think that he is the sole sur
vivor of a sbipwreck that occurred on
the coast about forty years ago.
Among the legends of the coast Ind
ians is one which tells of the wreck of
q big ocean vessel one stormy night
and of the loss of every soul on board.
There is superstition that at times
this vessel strikes q rock and goes
down, just as it did so many years ago.
It is said that the means and cries of
the passengers and crew can be heard
at these times. There are other people
who say that the old mans self Danish
ment is due to a crime committed in
California. But nobody is sure, and
probably never will be. Meantime,
the old man continues to lead his
mysterious life,''
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
THE BIGGEST GRAPEVINE.
One of the Sights of Santa Barbara,
California, is About to be De-

California, Is About to be De-
stroyed.
Albert MCGEE, the owner of the IA
nous big grapevine of Ell Montecito,
has announced his intention of cutting
down the vine. This is hard blow to
Santa Barbara, as the vine is one of
it's best known sights and is great at
traction to tourists. 1t is, with the
possible exception of big vine a few
miles below Montecito, the largest
vine in the world.
Its top covers acres and its trunk is
almost az large around as mans
body. The fruit is picked yearly, not
by the box, but by the ton, and it is a
great curiosity.
A curious legend attaches to the vine
and an older vine, from which the
present vine is an offshoot. Accord
ing to this story the old vine was plant
ed years ago, about ITS, by beauti-
full Spanish woman from Los Angeles,
Donna Maria Marceline Feliz. She
was about to make the trip on horse
bara, and upon her leaving, her lover.
Don Carlos Jose Maria Dominguez,
gave to her a cutting from q grapevine
to be used as riding whip.
This cutting Donna Maria stuck into
the soil upon reaching Montecito. and
it f1Ourished as no other vine in Santa
Bar bara county had ever flourished.
The older vine was cut down in 1876
and taken to the Centennial exposition,
where it attracted general attention.
The daughter vine, which is to be cut,
will find hum bier quarters in the rooms
of the Santa Barbara chamber of COM
MERGE. The vine is to be cut, first, be-
cause its presence on Mr.. McGee's
grounds keeps the grounds forever
overrun with sightseers: and second
because the vine itself is beginning to
show signs of decay.-San Francisco
Examiner
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
MRS. RICH
Time Drags Heavily For Her In the
County Jail.

Mrs. ], D. Rich finds life dull enough,
she says, in the county Jail.
"No stranger has called on me since
1 have been in jail" said Mrs. Rich,
Except one woman whose name was
also Rich. She had been receiving
letters from home asking about the
murder and called around to straight
en- matters up.
"No, can't let you have any of my
full length pictures, for I don't want
that kind published, and I sent off the
other one to paper which offered to
pay me $40 for it. told them l would
not charge anything for it.
ST want to su bscribe to the HERALD
and 1 wish you would have it sent
down here for me. L don't have much
to read in here and time drags pretty
slow. 1 do q little sewing to pass away
the time"
The papers in the Rich extradition
case will be forwarded to Washington
within the next day or two.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
Chicago; Fl. Parker and wife. Mesills
Park; w. S. McCraw, Dallas.

Park; w. S. McCraw, Dallas.
Pierson: B: F. Cason, Kansas City
S. S. Smith, Mrs. r. M. Dudley, New
York; Mrs. Lula Brown, Deming; F.
M. Dedliff, John Pollock, Kansas City
B. T. Wsther, Mr.. and Mrs. j: G. Nc
Dermott, chihuahua; w. w. Lowe, ST.
Louis.
Orndorff: J. r. Fisk, Hillsboro; Mr..
Flor and wife, Mexico; Mr.. Atkins, D.
D. Gray. Tucson; v. w. Boazin, G. F..
Roazin, La; Thos. Sewell, Tucson; w.
B. Hem wood, Alamo; DR.. b. b. Stone,
W. J. Clay ton, M. D. Fredericks and
wife, Mexico; F. M. Weston, Boston
F. Wilmsus, Nj. J. Long, Mexico: w.
L. johnson, Kansas;C. G. Patterson,
Brooklyn.
Lindell: James McCorrister, Albu-
querque; J. o. K. White, Cloudcroft;
Mrs. W. A. Gum, Alamogordo; F. M.
Spslding, Jarilla; Geo. Estes, Pecos;
Miss Lizzie Ethridge, Miss BERTHE
Coleman, Mesilla Park; n. A. John
son, Mexico; b: B. Reiton, G: G. G.
Co.; Jos. Beck. City; Zeno M. Johnson,
Colonia Diaz; w. ". Fisher, -Philadel-
phia; Phi. Suberlie and family, Chicago,
Ill.
Commercial: George Vaughn, city;
E. Stearns, Tucson; Chas. E. Farris.
w. G. Worley, Denver; Dan F. Shee-
han, California; w. b. Roteet, Geo.
Steinkamper, St. Louis: L. Marabesu,
J. M. kaufman, Tularosa. N. M;
Geo. Bailey, San Antonio; w. h.
Conley, 81. J. Burkline, Chas. Camp,
Chillicothe: D. w. Baillie, City: D. K.
McBain, G. G. CASTOR, Brooklyn; A.
N. Minter, J. F. Taylor, ST. Louis; T.
Hagsn, San Francisco; w. G. Klein,
Rochester; G. w. Alexander, Pekin.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
COUNTY PRINTING.

Was awarded This Morning BY the
Commissioners Court.-The
Times and Its Little Rival Bid
the Same But the Times Lost
Again.
Bids for the county printing for the
ensuing year were received and open
morning and the contract awarded to
the Graphic.
The bids follow:
Independent (brevier type) 2ct. per
inch.
Industrial Record-total sum of 25ct.
for all printing except tax list and
citations which will publish at rates
allowed by statute.
HTimes-total number of notices the re-
quired number of times the bala ice of
the term of Office of the court for total
amount of lie. except the delinquent
tax list, which will be published for
statutory fee.
HERALD, all matters covered by re-
vised statutes, except the annual de-
linquent tax list, at SC per inch, body
type of the paper.
Graphic, all publications under revis-
ed statutes except the delinquent tax
list, for balance of term for l cent and
the delinquent tax list at legal rate
and accept general fund scrip at par in
payment there for.
1t will be seen that the Times and
Graphic bids are entical, but the
Graphic offered to accept general fund
scrip in payment for delinquent tax
list.
EOTHER BUSINESS.
The commissioners also ordered that
L. G. Martin be awarded the work OF
whitewashing the courthouse trees for
$40.
The quarterly report of Charles Ker-
ker and Praxedes Rivera, J. P.'s, were
approved.
The resignation of P. Rivera, Jr.,
was accepted and T. Holguin was ap-
pointed to succeed him as justice OF the
peace at Socorro.
SIDEWALK BIDS.
Bids for the sidewalk on the south
side of court square were opened and
read as follows:
w, S. Haltzman-1Sc square foot;
SOC curb running foot.
Nick Carson-17c square foot; SOC
curb.
Geo. Stempemper & Co.-S2 square
yard; 75c linear foot curb.
James McCarriston-20c superficial
SO. foot: 81. so linear foot curb.
The contract was awarded to Nick
Carson.
City Engineer Wimberly was allow
ed S75 for 25 new city maps. The fol-
lowsng bills were allowed, court ad-
journing until July "a to meet as q
board of equalization.
BILLS.
Ell Paso Water Co. .......s 1913 Sc
Times Pub. Co. ..... II 90
T. 81. Springer ..... . 1876 O5
T. & P. Ry. Co. 9 20
b. B. Chairman. ................ 2 90
Gas Co. 25 so
Park Pitman. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 10 90
Pillsbury's Best Flour is the best
in the world. Ell PasO Grocery Co.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11

The ladies OF the Trinity M. E.
church will give sociable at the re-
sidence of J. N. Hughes, sol N. Stan
ton street Thursday evening, July 18th.
No admission. Ice cream and cake
will be served at Is cents per plate.
Music and recitatiops will furnish 8
delightful evening to those who at
tend.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11

AT Aberystwyth, Wales, a wedding
was solemnized lately in which all the
parties concerned bore the name of
Jones. The bridegroom was Richard
Jones and the bride was Elizabeth
Jane Jones. The witnesses were John
Robert Jones and Anne Jones. The
minister was Rev. r. E. Jones, and the
registrar Rev. William Jones.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11

European railroads have smoking
compartments for men. and women's
compartments. They have now to deal
with women passengers who insist on
smoking, and will not go into the mems
compartment. Belgium. where the
first cases have arisen. now puts up the
sign "Smoking forbidden" on all wo-
mems compartments.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11

Buy your coal from "O'Brien Coal
Co., the agents and direct shippers
from the Cerrillos mines. phone 8.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
Money to Loan.

If you want to borrow any amount of
money go to E. Sambrano, the new and
second hand furniture dealer 311 Ell
Paso street.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
Filled for Record.

Deeds were fled for record yesterday
as follows:
Catherine Scherrer to Frank w.
Brown the south of block 5, Alex
ander's addition, 800.
Sarah ]. Gist to Alice Cantwell,
lots IA and Is block 5 sSatterth waite 3
addition fronting on Ell Paso near Mis-
souri, street 5000.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
Bound Over

Rodrigo Herrera, who stabbed AL
berto Salas in the shoulder July l, was
given a preliminary hearing before
Justice Spencer this morning and
bound over to the grand jury in the
sum of $500.
Salas was quite seriously wounded
and was not able to appear as witness
until today.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
How to Keep Cool.

1IUW % httP OOUI'
Protect yourself from the sun, by
getting bow wagon top for q 90, q
big 6 wagon umbrella for rs or bug
gy um brelles to be found at West Tex
as Saddlery Co. corner Oregon and
Overland SITS.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
NATURALIZATION in MEXICO.
Some Interesting Figures From The
DlariO Official.

From the report of the Mexican de-
partm emit of state and foreign affairs,
published in the "Diario Official" at
the City of Mexico, we learn that Is
foreigners were naturalized as citizens
of our sister republic during the year
ending June 3Oth, 1899. Nstionalities
were represented as follows:
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11

Try that lunch. Hours 1890 to 2
Bank Saloon.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11

P. II. Clark has moved his law Office
to the Wells-Fargo building, where he
now occupies an Office on San Antonio
street over the Santa Fe ticket office.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11
A. oo P1ss. Phone &c., N hs S11a.0n
The Pioneer Grocery Co.,
Wholesale and Retail.
The A TT Of Tivir1U 49,

And living we'll is in judi
cious marketing. Where
you buy is of as much inn
portance as what you buy,
You want to know the
surroundings ofthe things
you are going to eat.
Take a walk through
our store and see the per
feet cleanliness of every
department-the healthy
atmosphere. Everything
fresh and clean. Cleanli-
ness is an essential point
to think of, especially this
warm weather.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-11

FiXit
Has new wheels for rent.
Merchants lunch at Bank Saloon.