davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-06-01
Written for The Prls0n Mirror.
A GHOST STORY.

"Man your top gallant and royal
clewlines and buntlines, fore and main
clewgarnets and bunt-whips! Jib and
flying jib dOwnhaul Let go and
overhaul your weather lift, and send
two more after guards to the wheelw
the lieutenant added, as l, being miz-
zen topgallant guardsman, sprang for
the rattlines.
We were aboard the old U. S. training
ship Portsmouth, and had been cruising
for the past week in the Gulf of Para,
taking soundings. Running short of
stores - or, should say - fresh pro-
visions, our skipper, Barclay, thought
to kill two birds with one stone, by put
ting into Trinidad, getting a fresh
supply of stores aboard, and allowing
the crew liberty for run ashore, which
they had not enjoyed since leaving
Martinique.
We had just relieved the port watch,
it being few minutes past eight-bells,
when we were rapidly approached by
one of those West India zephyrs, which
had promptly laidthe ship on her beam
ends, and threatened to send us all to
Davy Jones' Locker, for which journey
I was not fully prepared, there being at
the time one hundred and some odd
dollars to my credit on the ships books.
1 had nearly gained my station aloft
when something below me caught my
eye, moving softly in the inky darkness.
The object, whatever it was, seemed
lowering just above the miZZen top.
The fierce wind was clutching and tear
ing at my clothes; the sails tapping and
popping about me; and over and above
all was the deep boom and roar of the
sea. l will admit that I was little
disturbed in mind.
At last 1 made my way out on the
yards and managed to use that sea-
gasket to good effect, considering the
circumstances under which l was
placed.
1 had made things pretty snug and
was preparing to descend to the deck
when, to my horror beheld that white
spot in the blackness moving in my di-
rection. A chill ran up my spine, and
my hair took an erect position. The
only possible way to escape it was to
let 60 my hold on the jacobs ladder,
which I would have done had I not
thought of the hundred odd, due me
on the company's books.
The object still slowly advanced to-
ward me and was almost within reach
of my foot as I stood irresolute be.
, tween two minds whether to drop into
eternity, when a familiar voice hailed
, saying:
"Want any hely up there, Charlie?"
1 felt more like telling him to go te
, the happy hunting ground, than giving
| him a civil answer, but L managed tC
sing out that had her furled.
7 1 enquired as to his being aft, and he
t said that the boatswain's mate had
called the watch below. 1t was Wilson
Q of the port watch who had been relieved
. at midnight. He had not turned in
t and consequently still wore the regula
4 ton white duck uniform, which haG
:, made me believe, for moment at leas
r that I should never enjoy that hun
f dred odd. YORKTOWN.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-06-01
Written for The Prison Mirror.
A RAT STORY.

There is one class of people who don't
consider rats as pests, and always ac-
cept their presence as matter of course
and rather cause for cOngratulatlOn,
and that is sailors. Their depredations
seldom result as disasterously however,
as the time am reminded of, when l
and others were on board the ship
Dauntless, of Machias, Maine, Captain
Wilbert.
She was small ship, only 800 tons
registered, and the first merchant ship
on which I had ever sailed. She had
wooden water tanks to carry the fresh
water in. We were bound from Frisco
to Liverpool with cargo of wheat and
rats. That is where the trouble began.
The steward had orders to put fresh
water in drip pan for the rats, and
place it in the hole for them to drink
from. But he heedlessly omitted to do
so, and the rats gnawed a hole in the
bottom of the water tank, and let all of
our drinking water into the bilge water
which you know, is as salty as Lots
wife, after she looked back.
So there we were somewhere about
48 south lat. on the Atlantic side OF
Cape Horn, where it never rains, in the
midst of summer, with fifty gallons Of
water to last twenty-o one men eight
thousand miles. There was the chance
of catching rain on the equator; you
must know that it rains there some
times every day, but it was too risky
a chance to take, so the captain pu
into Rio for water.
In the meantime the rats took charg'
of the ship. If you turned in to sleel
without your shoes on, they would ca
your toenails and the thick callous ski
on the sole of the foot to the quick
which would lame one for week O.
more. 1t is impossible to get rid O
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-06-01

A small boy was struggling with a
multiplication sum, and the teacher,
noticing his woebegone countenance,
asked him what was the matter.
"Oh, teacher" the youngster replied,
81 do wish was a rabbit, for they mu.-
tiply so easily."-Fun.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-06-01

It was evident that he was rather
nervous, and she enjoyed it. When
matters reach a point where girl is
satisfied that she can land her fish at
any time, she rather likes to play with
him little.
After several absurd "bluffs" he mus
tered up sufficient courage to occupy
half the settee with her, but somehow
he didn't seem to be able to keep his
eyes off the door.
"Why, you know what little bit of
man papa is," she said, reassuringly
His heart gave lean and he edged
closer as he recalled the physiological
fact.
"But you also know" she interrupted
'that mamma is big and strong and ag
gressive."
That was true, he reflected; and he
began to think it might be wise to post
pone what he had to say, when she sug
gested, in her artless way:
"But mamma isn't n."-Chicago Post
| o X O
Down in New Hampshire tht
telegraph poles are all painted
green. It's hard to tell whether
that state is catering to the Irisl
or trying to get rid Of the potato
bugs.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08

Mrs. Belle Claflin of Skowhegan, gave
a missionary lecture June l, under the
auspices of the WomaH's Missionary
Society, which was very interesting as
she told US of her work on the Congo.
The church at the conference June 3,
voted to have Mr.. HAITI remain the next
year which will commence September
first. The annual meeting of the church
will be held June 10th.
The new communion table which WAS
presented by the Christian Endeayor
Society, and individual cups were used
for the first time Sunday.
The Grange hall is raised, the two
stories boarded and the roof being put
on, 1t is strong substantial building
and an ornament to the place.
The farmers have sowed more grain
and planted more corn than in years
past. They should be self supporting in
feed.
The grass gives promise of bounti-
tul crop. There can not be many apples
gathered, as very few blossoms were
seen. The second growth of poplar and
white birch belonging to Edward Russell
ia striped of all leaves and the caterpillars
are piled up on the fences before going
to pastures. They attract so much at
tention that people come to see them.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
Resolutions of Respect.

Whereas, North Somerset Grange No.
218, z. of H., Scion, has been called to
mourn, by the removal OF our Oldest and
much esteemed brother, Zenas F. Ha-
thorn of Scion, from the cares and
troubles OF this uransitOry existence to a
state of endless duration, thus severiug
another link from the eternal chain that
bind US together, therefore,
ResolUed, That by his death this
grange has sustained an irreparable loss,
aud the fraternity is bereaved of a genial
and sympathizing brother. We shall
miss his words of counsel and instruc-
ton and it is but just tribute to the
memory Of our brother to say we mourn
for one who was worthy of our respect
and regard, and we will ever cherish his
memory.
Resolved, That we as grange express
our fraternal sympathy to the bereaved
family for the loss of one whose place
In the home can never be filled.
Resolued, That our charter be draped
for thirty days, a copy of these resolu-
tons be presented to the family, copy
placed on our records, also a copy sent
to the SOMERSET REPORTER and Scion
Times for publication.
w. =. ROwELI, ! Committee
Mrs. w. T.. HOWELL, on
Mrs. A. HEALD, } Resolutions.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
HARMONY.

Mrs. Francette leighton is visiting
her daughter, Flora Spauldlng.
A movement is being made to have a
Fourth Of July celebration here.
Mrs. Mabel Mclaughlin of West Med
ford, Mass, and Mr.. Drake of the
same place were in town last Saturday.
Mr.. Caleb Davis OF Wellington, had
his arm very badly cut with circular
saw while saving shingles one day last
week in the mill in that town.
DR.. A. B. Clark WAS in town several
days last week, and had double head,
stone of fine marble set up in the village
cemetery for his deceased wife and son.
Last Saturday w. Scott Merrill had
ten head of neat stock killed and buried
according to the instructions of DR..
Bailey, State veterinarian. He had
three killed before, making thirteen in
all, which left him only one yearling
heifer he had bought of Mr.. StarBey.
The stock consisted of four cows, six
two years old, and three calves. They
found that one or two cows were quite
badly affected with tuberculosis, some
OF the rest of the stock slightly, while a
few could not be found any traces of
the disease so far as they could discover.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
Grange at Scion.

North Somerset Grange met at their
hail in Scion at 10 "A. M, June Sd, to
hold their regular meeting at which they
conferred the final degree on two new
members, after Vhich they and several
other new members were invited to the
banquet hall below to repast prepared
for them, to which about 40 Patrons
and friends sat down. At p. M, order
was restored ard the w S. presented
the following program Song by choir,
after which the w. M, G.. c. Patten,
read a nice piece, followed by readings
by sisters II. F. Thompson, Flora F..
Pollard and Sarah b. Pierce; song by
choir, SIT is be not afraid = reading by
sisters Emma Irvine and A.. Patten
song by brother and sister Z. 5. Long
ley; recitatons by Elsie Holway and
Flora K. Pierce; song by choir, INC
time like the present." recitation by
Carrie G. Pierce, Laura B. Pierce, Her
bert Thompson and Leland Clark; song
by Bro. S. p. Tinkham; speaking by
Chester Grant and WILDER Grant, after
which the choir gave the closing song,
bud and Bloom" MEMBER.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08

She is clever woman, past master
in the art of strategy. So agree all who
rode down town ON the street car the
ether morning.
She got on Il south bound Clark street
limits train at Belden avenue. Every
seat was taken, and almost every strap
had man or woman suspended from
il. She looked about hesltatingly for
an instant, but every man was wonder
fully interested in his paper. Then she
took hold of a strap almost in front OF
a young man. very young man, who
was blushing guilty as he pretended
TO read.
While the young man hlushed and
the woman thus hung her handkerchief
futtered, accidentally by all appear
ances. to the floor The yonng man
looked up Just then and saw the white
bit of cambria The feeling of chiyalry
which he evidently was trying to stihe
would not be stified longer.
He arose and stopped for the hand
kerchief This was the woman : oppor-
tunity. While his back was turned she
gently slipped into his seat. When he
turned about and saw what had &C
CURED, he almost collapsed But the
woman did not. She took her handker
chief out of his hand, smiling limo
Gently.
THANK You. she said sweetly.
lyon are very kind. Chicago jour
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
East Skowhegan

The warm weather of last week has
given hoed crops aud grain quite a start
as well as grass.
The telephone poles are up connecting
Skowhegan and c ihaan, and only one
man on the route Directing to have poles
set on his land, and one man said set the
pole anywhere excepting where my
cook stove is. Most of the people are
pleased to see the poles up aud it looks
rs though people lived in the vicinity.
Landlord Washburn has the poles nearly
all set connecting the Mohican House
with the main line. We hope to see the
wire stretched this week and in the near
future extend to Pittsfield.
Much improvement has been made at
Lake George and among them a fine
band stand has been erected.
The second anniversary of Canaan
grange was we'll attended Saturday, and
the little folks performed their part of
the program with honor to themselves
and friends. Three large tables were
well filled twice and all had good
dinner and the day will be remembered
by all.
Capt. Henderson, who is boarding at
Mrs. Oscott's in this place, has been and
is now very sick man.
Mrs. Ireland is gaining slowly and
Mrs. Bigelow is doing her homework.
A. R.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
st. lAlDans.

Mrs. BRIGHAM is suffering from get
ting poisoned while out picking greens,
5. B. Prescott is nursing a broken
bone of one of his hands.
Folsom Emery intends to go to \. H.,
this week. Mr.. Emery is in poor health.
There is warrant up to call a town
meeting next Saturday, the 10th. The
tax payers are very much dissatisfied the
way the highway money is being ex-
pended.
There will be but very few apples in
this section this year.
Some have tried to get rid of the cat
erpillars, many have not.
Mrs. Emery fell and broke her hip
while walking the floor. Mrs. Emery is
quite old and feeble.
Mr.. Southland is very busy at his mill
getting out boards for the corn factory.
Clover fields are looking very promis-
ing old fields grass rather thin. Grain
has come up we'll and is growing fast.
Dir. Bowman of Lewiston was in town
last week.
There was a very fife entertainment at
the Grange hall last Saturday evening
Some very fine singing and a harvest
feast.
w. O. Hilton can play the violin to
beat the Dutch. Mr.. Hilton is a great
farmer.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08

In a signed article in The Electrical
Review Nicola Tesla describes some of
his experiments in the line of electrical
currents of high voltage and gives de-
tails Of the coil which he used. THE
discharges of such coil. he adds,
"when of an electromotiye force of a
few millions of volts, excite powerful
affinities in the atmospheric nitrogen,
causing it to combine readily with the
oxygen and other elements, particularly
in the presence of aqueous yapor.
$50 energetic are these actions and
80 strangely do such powerful discharges
behave that | have often experienced a
fear that the atmosphere might be
ignited, a terrible possibility, which
Sir William Crookes, with his piercing
intellect, has already considered. Who
knows but such calamity is possib BILE 2
And who can tell with gertrude that
periodical cessations of organic life on
the globe might not be caused by igni-
ton of the air and destruction of it's
life sustaining qualities accidentally
or as "A consequence of some accumula
tive changer A lump of coal will lie
for centuries unaffected in contact with
oxygen, but. the combustion once start
ed. the process continues as long as
there are elements to combine.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
ALL THE NEWS
from Somerset Towns
West Athens.

f. w. Sherhurne of Newport, was ia
town, Wednesday.
Mr.. Byron Harville of Cornville, and
Jasper K well of South S)lon were ia
town, Sunday,
Mrs. Leroy Gray of East New Port
land, is in town visiting relatives ana
friends.
Mrs. B. J. Tilton Is very poorly.
She has gone to Athens to stay with her
daughter-n-law. Mrs. Franc Fellows.
Mr.. Frank Kilgore and Addie Corson
went to North Arson, Friday.
Fred York of Coruville, was in town
Wednesday.
Mrs. Warren Corson held meeting at
Union Church, Sunday, June 4th.
There was a lecture at Union Church,
Sunday, June 4th, p. m. There was a
large attendance. The speakers were
Mr.. Burke of Bingham, and Mr.. Cain of
krnnebunk.
Mr. and Mrs. Burke and Alice Owens
Of Bingham, were in town over Sunday.
Mr.. Selden Kineaid of East Madison,
was in town. Monday.
Miss Almyra Weseott has gone 10 So.
Scion, TO work for Ruel Rowell.
Miss Katie Leavtt has gone to solon,
to work for French.
Mr.. Henry Cooley of Bingham, was in
town, Sunday. h.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
II, j. Emery.

Passed away at his home In Athens,
MAY %, T. Judson Emery at the age of
50 years.
Mr.. Emery was the third son OF
Deacon Z. and Abbie Emery, his father
dying in 1881, his mother living on to
the good oh age of ninty years, passing
away last August, and so parted from
this beloved son by only brief space of
time. He was true gentleman, faithful
in all the relations OF life. Always a
most devoted son TO his aged parents he
was ever ready to make any sacrifice TO
give them pleasure or add to their happi-
ness. He was true ana loving brother.
husband and father.
The disease to which he at last sue
cumbed had been preying upon him for
many years. In fact 1t made its first
appearance when an enlisted soldier at
Augusta, during the war of the rebellion,
but at times seemed to lie dormant yet
reappearing at different times all along
through life, blasting his hopes and
plans in business ventures aud causing
much expense when attacked away from
home as his business WAS on the road
turned from his last trip Of three months
away in December last, sick and enact
ated but still hopeful Of recovery.
Mr.. Emery gave himself TO the Savior
when a young man and was member Of
the Bates st. Baptist church of Lewiston,
where he once resided and was an active
worker in the Y. NJ. &. A. society. He
always maintained his religious Integrity
and his hope in Christ sustained him
through the intense suffering of the last
weeks of his life. When convinced that
his disease could not be stayed he made
his arrangements with as much COM
posture as If for long temporal absence
from home. The day before his last on
earth his voice was raised In singing
Home Sweet Home, also-"How
Firm a Foundation.
Mr.. Emery leaves q wife to whom he
was married In 1880 and five children,
also three brothers, Asa c. and Chss. E.
of this town and n. II. of Waltham,
Mass, also four sisters, Mrs. A. Lock,
Mrs. w. Leighton and Mrs. M. A.
Goodrich of Athens, and Mrs. Alice NJ.
Wood of West Medford, Mass.
The funeral occurred Thursday, May
25th, at the church, Rev. Mr.. Preble
OBLIGATED, speaking appropriately from
the last verse in the last chapter of
Daniel, and quartette of friends rem
dered beautiful service of song.
In closing this account quote few
| lines found ia the diary OF the departed
after death and written by him on the
occasion of the sudden death of be-
loved nephew, many years ago. The
writer adopts the language in this be-
reavement. "As he is gone no more to
be seen in the flesh, will God grant that
all who feel his loss and in whose hearts
he occupied place, give room there for
the love of Jesus, whose love to US is
greater than all the world beside.
Cor
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08

stands ready at any time it may appear
necessary to authorize the enlistment of
the volunteers should more men be
deemed necessary, Gen. Otis is to be
given the 10000 men for which he has
plead. The additional 5000 troops nee.
essary to make up the 10000 are to be
taken from the regulars now serving in
Porto Rico, Cuba and this country
The Queen Regent of Spain, opened
the Cortes, Friday, with the usual cere-
monial, and in the speech from the
throne announced that Marianne, Caro-
line and Palaos islands we're coded to
Germany by the late Spanish cabinet.
During the course of speech, Her Males
ty said: cat the opening of the Cortes
all sorrows which have wrenched our
hearts, through the disasters which
have visited our country, are re.awaken-
ed. We must preserve sadness in order
to derive experience therefrom, but the
woes of our country are of such a
nature that reticence and silence avail
better than complaints
r. G. Dun & Co.'S. Weekly Review of
Trade last week, says: April failures
were the smallest ever reported in any
month. May failures are nearly $1,000,
600 smaller, only 62.8 per cent of the
smallest previously reported in any
month and only 34.3 per cent of those in
May last year. Comparison with pre-
vious years indicates that the ratio of
defaults to solvent business has never
been as small in any other month as in
May, 1890 Both in manufacturing and
in trading, failures were the smallest
ever known in any month, and in each
branch eight of the ID classes showed
smaller failures than in May of any
other year.
Marion Clarke, the 81 months old in.
FAINT kidnapped from her parents Mr.. and
Mrs. Arthur Clarke of New York city,
on May 81, was found two miles south of
Sloatsburg, village about eight miles
from Garnerville, N. Y, June l. The
baby was discovered at the farm of
Chas. Youmans and was in the custody
of Mrs. Jennie Wilson, who took the
child to that place during the early part
of last week. Mrs. Wilson was accom-
panied by her husband and stated to
Mrs. Youmans that she wanted board for
the little girl for the summer. Mr..
Clark, the father of the abducted baby,
arrived at $50 o'clock in the evening
and Immediately identified the child
found in the custody of Mrs. Wilson as
his child. The woman and her husband
were arrested.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
Timber FARM Lands
In the Town of MayfieId,
FOR SALE! ......,,.,>

The County of Somerset offers for sale
the following described land in the town
of Mayheld.
Lot numbered six in the fifth range Of
lots in said town, containing 100 acres
more or less, also lot numbered six in the
fourth range of lots in said town, contain
ing 40 acres more or less also the west
half of lot numbered six in the third range
of lots in said town, containing 70 acres
more or less, together with right of way
from said lot numbered six in the
fourth range of lots in said town, also
together with the right of way from lot
numbered six in the fifth range of lots in
said town across lot numbered six in the
third range of lots; being the same
premises conveyed to Benjamin Keen by
Sylvester J. Walton ct ais, and dated
August 3Ist 1896, and recorded in Somer-
set Registry of Deeds, B. 1877, page SIS
towhch reference is hereby made.
All numbers of lots and range above
given being according to Joseph Spauld,
ing's plan and survey of said Town Of
Mayheld
The County of Somerset also offers for
sale certain lot or parcel OF land situated
on the new road, so called, leading from
Kingsbury to Mayfeld and bounded and
described as follows On the South by
Kingsbury Pond, on the West by land
owned by F. Wyman, on the North by
land owned by Chas. Hilton, and on the
East by Kingsbury town line; containing
200 acres more or less, the same being the
premises formerly owned by Chas. Whit
man.
inquiries concerning the above may be
addressed to ROLAND T. PATTTEN,
County Treasurer, Skowhegan, Me.
The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-08
An Appeal.

Wednesday evening of last week Tay-
lor's Band gave a concert in Monument
square and although the evening was cold
and uncomfortable d large crowd gathered
to hear the music. Three weeks before.
the band gave an entertainment in Central
Hall for which they had devoted a great
deal OF time and practice. In addition to
the concert the ladies' furnished supper
and dance followed the concert yet from
all these sources, and by exercising the
utmost economy in expenses, they only
netted about $50. We have not heard
the band complain of this but they would
be justified in doing so. A place the size
of these villages needs band and makes
use of one. During the summer nearly
every church society in town expects the
band to furnish music for a lawn social for
which the members receive some straw
berries and cream. When a library build
ing is to be dedicated or any thing of that
nature takes place, the band is expected
to furnish music and at some expense, too,
for many of the members have to leave
their work and lose their time In short,
we as people, expect the band to exist
and help us, but are too apt to forget that
it takes money for it to maintain an
existence. In times past our citizens
have contributed literally to help the band
but it cannot exist on the past, it has
needs that must be supplied by the present.
Let US keep these facts in mind and when
the band comes before us again asking
our patronage, respond as we should =
PSfafaqHiy Observer.