davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07
LOSS OF LIFE AT SEA.
List OF Fatalities Last Yenr Consid-
erably Lower Than for Pre-
viOus Year. #

The annual report Of the supervising
inspector general of steamboats,, which
has just been made public in the form
OF f5f1 an q S abstract, contains highly inter
esting exhibit of the numbers of lives
lost at sea from American vessels dur
ing the last calendar year, together
with other important correlated infor-
nation. It appears from this document
that the total number of persons
drowned, or who came to their death in
other ways, was 404, which is consid-
cradle increase over the previous year,
when the aggregate Of fatalities was
123 less. This increase was due to the
laundering of the steamer Portland off
the Massachusetts coast during the
great gale on the night of November 81,
1898. Every one of the 1877 persons on
board perished.
OF the totalfof 4O4 sc fatalities were
5chargeable to accidental drowning, 213
persons went down with wrecks, 13
succumbed to fires, 81 were killed in
collisions, "A were the victims of ex-.
plosions or of accidental escape of
steam, and in 81 cases miscellaneous
causes were reported.
The chapter on destruction ofyessel
property shows that 4S vessels met with
accidents, seven had fires; 13 were in
collision, eight experienced a breaking
OF steam pipes, TWO had explo and
18 encountered snags and wrecks or
developed leaks. As the duty of the
supervising inspector generals Office is.
to ascertain whether steam vessels have
complied with all the safety require.
smentsi in the matter Of liye-saving appl-
ances and relative to the condition of
boilers the report may be considered a
favorable exhibit. The destruction Of.
the Portland was not due to laxness on
the part of inspectors, hut to the reck-
5lessness of her captain, who insisted on
putting out to sea in the teeth Of a fierce
storm.
Except for this disaster, the loss of
life would have been comparatively
small Only two vessels were damaged
by explosions an excellent record con-
sidering the extent Of steam water
traffic Bal timore Herald,
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07
RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.


In the report just made by the assist
ant postmaster generalt there is crafty
ing information in regard to the re-
suits Of the experiments in free mail
delivery in the rural districts. 1t ap-
pears that the service SO far has re-
suited in increased postal receipts. an
in the condition of the
roads traversed by the carriers and ma
terial benefits to the farmers. Not only
has the value Of farm land risen. but
better prices for farm products are OBJ
tanned as a result Of daily touch with
the markets. Educational benefits are
also conferred through ready access to
periodical literature.
tits no doubt a great accommodation
to the farmer to be spared a drive Of
several miles over country roads and
some loss of time in getting his mail.
The argument approyingly cited in the
report to the effect that some statisti-
clan figured out an annual loss of many
millions of dollars to the agricultural
interests of the country through the
necessity Of sending to the village or
town for the mail does not Impress one
very much, to be sure, for it savors Of
the absurdity Characteristic of all such
calculations. Farmers lose millions by
talking politics or indulging in neigh
borly gossip, but they are not altogeth-
er economic men" or producing ma
chimes, and have other interests and
needs besides agriculture. Far-fetched
arguments are not necessary to show
the expediency of extending rural mail
delivery if it can be done without ma
terial loss and without increasing the
deficit.
We learn from the report that at the
present time there are in successful OPP
Grafton over 3S3 services radiating over
40 states and one territory. The only
states unrepresented are Mississippi,
Montana and Idaho. Between the be-
ginning of the new fiscal year and No
vember 1, with an additional e1pendi-
ture of $150,00O, rural delivery has been
EXTENDED to nearly 189, 900 persons. at an
annual cost of about 81 cents per cap
ita. In small towns of 5000 population
the average per capita cost is much
higher, being about $3.50. These fig
ures lead the assistant postmaster gen
eral to advocate vigorously further in-
PRODUCTION of the system so. advan-
tageous to the farmers and so keenly ap-
preciated by them. But the summary
of the report does not tell us anything
about the financial effects of the re-
form. Our progress is certainly rea-
sonably rapid at the present rate.-Chi-
5cago Post.
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07
E1Wlide ana Narrow Tires.

The fol- flowing test as reported by.
the Michigan station shows a compar
ison Of wide and narrow tires on wag-
sons and also the Importance Of suffi-
.cientu ST axle grease. On good roads
the drafts of wide and narrow-tired
wagons were about equal; on plowed.
land q narrow-tired wagon pulled IS
per cent. harder than one with wide
tires; on 4 road with sand twosinches
deep 2ss per cent. harder, and on sod !,
ten per cent. harder, wagon not
creased pulled 1s per CEN. harder than
when creased y
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07
THEY WORK TOGETHER.
Now Interested In Promoting the
Good Roads Agitation.

The increasing interest in the subject
of good roads is now one of consider
able significance, owing to the class of
men who are working up the agitation.
In the western states the farmers and
wheelmen are working together in alb
solute harmony, and the interest they
are arousing is little short Of remark
able.
The enactment of good road laws in
the eastern states was secured through
the combined efforts of the farmers and
the wheelmen. In New Jersey the move
ment was initiated by the farmers who
sought the aid Of the wheelmen and
found their assistance Of incalculable
value. This was not unexpected, for
the wheelmen have always been con
5sistent advocate Of highway improve
m11ent, and the Gospel of Good Roads"
formed the chief plank in their plat
form when the League of American
aWheelmen was organized. It has been
charged that the motive of the wheel
men was selfish one, and, in the early
days of cycling, when every wheelman
FsvAS OeAu AAoSA anu = OuC WuSc1,
there may have been some ground for
the charge, but no foundation for such
"a belief exists to-day. Since the adop-
ton Of the safety machine as busi-
ness vehicle by all sorts and conditions
of men, not one city wheelman in ten
is seen upon a country road more than
a few times each year, and the wheel
mans interest in good roads is purely
a business proposition, the adoption Of
which would benefit him only in pro-
portion as it would benefit any other
member of the community.
The young men who formed the
League Of American Wheelmen 90 years
ago are now the substantial business
and professional men of their respec-
tive communities, and their connection
with the organization is maintained
chiefly for the purpose of aiding the
movement for better roads. Many Of
them seldom ride wheel, and their
work for good roads is simply in the
line of public improvement, which is
neither more nor less creditable to
them than to the member of an agri-
cultural or other organization.
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS

3g94 - ts,r,I q ].
seui ! als s Doresi
-. y,. n1lliA - s. cont
Ton;cs.I Tan ..I II s4 ~ - s !" d
sss3 81,
1. Is j . = IL sou sMean :, ene eolnslon
:sIUa11 .s1,i,s1I - =. y ) : =
! !, s,s. ssei 'i'lh : & 'ns W.
b M. na,s 81 IS 3 - : 5.
~, ~ :. .sdhe leaeii news l,s
- . IL ial n, 8 s .i
n1ana = =; 5. = s 81 { ys. ! = - I
: papar,. pt,,s = alse 1Deails' = liau ne
49, 8. .i'. ..,,, s.,sts sssss5
slai .i'assso 'n, Ven, lne pore.
.a ,,S e 3 'l.oss nis3lot, g lne leller
~, 1 \. M 8 !, Z :. u
IT, = ..1Az $. = :. u ooil 4 ene.'s.'
80 ,-1 = ul s. y :, Z .' 5
.s uill poinal 20 :, aWira y, =, Pian1 ~
'ne z. ys1us .s, ,silsl. : : ela' ], So 3. u
al. ~ o1sl ..nh 70, : sNsea. siey ~,
.nal WhalS you leec
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07
CORDUROY FARM ROAD.

device was seen in successful use this
season. Split cedar or pine logs in
two and lay then, sawed side up, on; the
wet ground, as shown: Two strips OF
board can be laid down lengthwise on
each side and nailed to the slabs to hold
them in place, or iron dogs" can be
used. The diagram A B shows how to
saw the logs for such corduroy road.
Orange Judd Farmer.
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07
CORDUROY FARM ROAD.
How to Saw Logs for Roadway Of
This Description and How to
Lay Them Down.

The clhronically wet spots in the
farm roads can be well treated by the
plan shown in the illustration. Such
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07

3dissuade my brother from this fool
sishness. I would give thing toshaye
been able to prevent it. 8 s3Is1
& But the piece Fpleases, as you set. .''s
L People are Laughing at my brother,
and it seems to me as if myself must
run the gauntlet of their ridicule.'
ss Fraulein Greta became very thought
ful. The second act was sent tai.
The audi ience, in spite of a kindl effort
to seem appreciatiye, al. length showed
signs Of WEAKNESS. FrauleinS Greta
now and then stole a glance at her
sneighbor. She inst inc tiyel " OWNED
his thoughts. She saw with his eyes.
saw what she had not seen before, that
the play was indeed very weak.
There is a great difference. between
seeing the lines on paper and hearing
them spoken Z she vent tured timidl
And I have used my u tmost: en-
ldeavor to make q stron g,f sensible man
of my bro ther. And this issny reward
this evid Of sh al llowness and con-
ceit, q groaned the Herr Assessor.
Fraulein Greta sat silent, with down
cast eyes. She was quite as pale as her.
neighbor.
hat such disgrace should be his
murmured Richard. 10. q never sus-
apected that he could Be 50 callow! 1T
is a bitter reyelati ion, sudd denly to dis
cover that person WI nom one has
thought possessed Of a1certain earnest
ness Of snllrnose has in rea lifvs gheen5
Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07

The next morning, IS the Herr AS
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12

Wm. A. PETER, he of the luxuriant whis-
kers who was tloated into the United States
Senate by the high tide Of Populism which
swept over Kansas, is now said to be writ
ing editorials for a small weekly paper at
Independence, Kansas, for a salary of $40
a week. He started paper of his own
when he returned from the Senate, but the
people were tired Of him. He proved a
false prophet, and being driven ont by his
old political associates, he accepted NOM
ination for governor on the Prohibition
ticket and got 1000 votes. Populism is
dead in Kansas. The people of the state
were never so prosperous and their greatest
interest at present seems to be in the ac-
cumulation of wealth. The men who for
merly counted themselves as Populists are
described as Creeping back under the
tents of the old parties
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12

The dispatches from Cuba last July
hinted at the decentralization of the list
New York volunteers while under fire at
San Juan, but the board of inquiry ap-
pointed by Gov. Roosevelt pins the badge
of cowardice upon the breasts of the lead
ing officers, and says that the men in the
ranks only wanted proper leadership to
prove themselves equal to the highest de-
mands that could be made upon their
courage, their patriotism and their sense
of soldierly duty. Col. Downs, comman-
der of the list, disobeyed orders in not
taking his regiment forward, the officers
and men cTouched in the bushes, and five
regiments of regulars literally walked over
the volunteers. Col. Downs, Lieut.. Col.
Smith and Major Whittle were ignobly in
active in the rear and could not be found
with the men while the latter were under
fire. Many of the men Joined the regulars
marching past and thus helped in the as
sault on the enemy, and some of the CON-
panies were led into the fight by their Off
GERS despite the lack of regimental orders
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12

The I'd Massachusetts regiment had
the most creditable rec d of any New
England volunteer organization in the war
against Spain. 1t is unfortunate that
few of the members of this regiment, who
went to Cuba to bring back the bodies of
their comrades, should have shown such a
lack of fine sensibilities as indicated in
their action in gathering skulls and bones
of Spanish soldiers as trophies Bones of
a Spanish soldier taken from an open
grave near FL Caney were exhibited in a
store window at Florence, Mass, recently.
Americans did not have exalted opinions
of the Spaniards previous to the war, but
whatever we think OF their treatment of
the Cubans or of their national Character
istcs we must admit that they fought us
fairly and treated our men who fell into
their hands with great consideration. I'm
agine the feelings of the Massachusetts
boys if they had found the graves of their
comrades empty, and had been told that
the bones of those they loved were relics
in the hands of morbid Spaniards.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12

Gen. Irving Hale, who has won dis
tinction in the battles near Manila, is only
81 years old. He was born in North
Bloomfield, n. Y, but his parents went
when he was four years old to Colorado,
where his father was a prominent educa-
tor, being the last territorial school super
intendent and subsequently president of
Colorado university The general is OF
New England ancestry on both sides. His
mother, who was Eliza Huntington Of
Barre, VT, traces her lineage back to Pill
grim days. Gen. Hale graduated from
West Point in 1884. His marking there
showed a percentage of 2070.4 out of a
possible 2075. This is the highest record
ever attained by graduate of West Point.
The general is also one of the finest shots
in the American army. In the four days
competition at Fort Niagara in 1888 he
won the gold medal which signifed that
he was first in the United States army in
known distance and skirmish firing. Gen.
Hale resigned from the army in 1889 and
became manager of the General Electric
company in several western states. He
went to Manila as colonel of the Colorado
regiment, and after the fall of Manila was
promoted to the rank of brigadier genera
of volunteers, having been recommended
to President Mckinley by Gems. Merritt
and Greene for "gallant and distinguished
services" He was wounded in the victo
rious charge at Polo.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
Suit Agaln.. Heuy Green for $4,000.

Smith K. Lane, former park commits
sioner and now an East River bridge CON-
missioner, who says that in 1895 he was
employed by Mrs. Hetty Green to protest
against tax upon her personal property,
which was valued by the Commissioners of
Taxes and Assessments at 81, 800, 900, and
assessed for that year a. $2S, 800, is suing
the wealthest woman in America to re-
cover 5000, which he claims as the value
of the services he rendered to her in that
matter. The case was brought to trial at
New York Wednesday in the supreme
court, before Judge Fitzgerald and jury.
Mr.. Lane asserts that it was through his
instrumentalty that the assessment was
vacated, as she declared that she was then
a resident of Bellows Falls, VT, and upon
this ground the commissioners set aside
the assessment. Mrs. Greene says that her
agreement with Lane was that she should
pay what was satisfactory TO her. She
thinks 500 is sufficient for his services,
and this she is willing to pay and no more.
When Mr.. Bowers took the witness in
hand he showed Lane paper which read
as follows: GAS to what | shall charge you
in the matter of your tax assessment, it
will be made satisfactory to you after the
approval of Mr.. Green" and asked him if
he had signed it. Mr.. Lane said that he
had signed it under stress of circumstances
while he was with Mrs. Green in her pri-
vate office. 81 signed that under duress,"
he declared. 81 was forced up against the
wall in the Office by Mrs. Green, who
shook her finger in my face and told me to
sign it," When Lane was asked if he was
in moral or physical fear of Mrs. Green he
said he was in fear that she would put
him out of the case. The case was taken
under adVisement
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12

The Boston Globe has called upon the
New England representatives to rally to
the support of Mr.. Moody of the 9th Mass
achusetts district as the speaker to succeed
Thomas B. Reed. There seems to be little
hope for Mr.. Moody, however. The three
Connecticut representatives are not talk
ing, Congressman Powers of Vermont sees
no hope for this section in the speakership
fight, Mr.. Weymouth of Massachusetts is
committed to Mr. Sherman of New York,
Boutelle of Maine thinks this is too early
to discuss a New England movement, Sui
loway of New Hampshire says he is not in
"the favorite son business" and four
Massachusetts representatives and Capron
of Rhode Island intimate their friendlness
to Mr.. Moody.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
Not an Experiment station Plan.

A remarkable demonstration took place
today at st. Hilare, says Montreal des-
patch of the 10th. Caterpillars which last
year played havoc with apple and sugar Or
chards seem to be more numerous and
vigorous than before. A crusade against
them was formally opened in the parish
church here where mass was solemnized
after which religious procession, headed
by the priest, M, Laflamme, and the choir
boys, followed by one hundred and fifty oil
more parishioners, marched through the
infected section with fervent prayers, ask
ing Divine assistance in their battle against
the nlaoue
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
Massachusetts. GOvsrnor.hlp sImpllnsd.

W. Murray Crane, the Dalton paper
manufactures, will be the next governor
of Massachusetts. Hosea NJ. Knowlton,
the attorney general of the state, who was
expected to contest the nomination for
governor with Lieut.. Gov. Crane, wrote
public letters yesterday, Withdrawing as a
candidate. One letter was addressed to
the Republicans of Massachusetts, and the
other to Mr.. Crane. 1t had been evident
for some time that Mr. Crane would re-
ceive very strong support, and the with
drawal of Mr.. KnOwlton MAKES him the
unanimous choice of the Republicans of
the Bay state
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
NIiIIInn nnIInr plays.

Some industrious statistcian has made
list of the plays of the last quarter of a
century which have brought in upward of
a million of dollars each. They are Is in
number: "Trip Van Winkle" leads with
5000 performances, which have realized
S5, 900, ,O00 Then comes, in their order,
"The Old Homestead" a." "Erminie," \" "The
Silver King" "Robin Hood" "Shore
Acres" kerry Cow" "Shaun Rhue,"
"The Two Orphans" "a Parlor Match"
"The World,' "The County Fair"
"Adonis," "Hazel Kirke" and "Shenan-
doah. - K. NJ. Clark in the Independent.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
Gbe Urrnrurrt 39Beuin.
TEN PAGES.
BRATTLEBORO:
FRIDAY, MAY II, 1899.

Andrew Carnegie has sold his interests
in the Carnegie Steel company and other
big concerns in Pennsylvania and else
where. He is said to retire with fortune
of s1OO,O0O,0OO. He says his business
was never so prosperous, but he long ago
determined not to spend his old age in
struggling after more dollars. 81 believe
in developing a dignified and unselfsh life
after CO." he says. A man with $780,
100000 roll can afford to be magnanimous
and philosophic.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
Newfoundland is Angry.
Reid Contract Makes IL Wish AnneIR-
tIon TO the United states,

Rt. Rev. Bishop Hawley of st. Johns, n.
F., in an interview at Marshall, Mich, yes
terday said; "The public sentiment of New
foundand is more in favor of annexation to
America than of confederation withCanada.
This feeling has been accentuated by the
fact that the country has been recently be-
trayed and drawn into a most shameful rail-
way contract by Canadian syndicate and
Canadian politicians. 1t amounts to
virtual swindling to the country out of
S13, 900, 900 railway and all our coal, miner
ais, forests and agricultural lands. A des-
perate fight for our freedom is now immi-
nent. The local Parliament opens to-
day, and it is believed the government
will be defeated and the contract broken
up. / do not believe there is any immedi
ate prospect of settlement of the French
shore question. The complication arises
not from any intrinsic difficulty in the case,
but because politicians have always thought
of it rather as a means of exploiting their
own popularity, than of relieving the coun-
try of the grave burden of the French ag-
gressions,"
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
A Terrible Tragedy.
A Michigan Man KIDS His wife, Ills
Uncle and His Grandmother.

Uncle and His Grandmother.
Joseph Harvey killed his wife, his uncle,
Robert Pierson, and his grandmother at
Howard City, Mich, Wednesday night.
He also wounded his three-months-
baby and his father-in-law, John Logon
slayer, and finally shot himself, inflcting
a wound which is expected to prove fatal.
Harveys uncle and grandmother live a
mile north of the town. The murderer
went there in the evening he asserts that
Person, his uncle, was quarreling with
his grandmother and that he interfered
that thereupon Pierson stabbed and killed
the grandmother, aged 20 years, and that
he (Harvey) retalliated by shooting his
uncle dead. After shooting Pierson Har-
vey stabbed him three times.
Harvey then returned TO his home, two
miles southeast of the town. Arriving
there he shot his wife twice, killing her.
He then fred at his three. months-old ba-
by, the ball going into its arm. Next Har-
vey entered his father-in-law's room and
shot him twice, inncting, however, no fa-
tai injury. Ha then turned the revolver
on himself, shooting himself in the neck.
Harvey's wife when attacked was sitting
up with the body of her mother, who died
Tuesday.
Harvey himself informed the sheriff of
the murders at Persons house Thursday.
He was then arrested for numbering his
wife. He has nothing to say about the
tragedy at his own house. There are
strong threats of lynching
Harvey is only 20 years of age. The
cause of his terrible work has not been de-
termined. At his home Harvey fred a
shot at Miss Labar, boarder, without eff
La.L
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
A Magic City.

The greatest town building record in
Oklahoma was won by Mountain View,
Washita county. Monday the town site
was prairie, the same day it was plated,
surveyed, and large portion sold and set
tied upon, the Washita river bridged, the
town organized, officered, and all lines of
business professions started on the lines of
organized society. The town in one day
became a city of 800 population with a
mayor and full complement of officers.
Some of the lots sold as high as 5000 in 80
minutes from the time the surveyor drove
his stakes.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
Forest Fires in Northeastern Vermont.

Destructive forest fires are raging in
Canaan and Ayerill, Essex county, on the
tracts where E. c. Goodhue has been get
ting out pulp wood for the International
Paper company. Thousands of cords of
wood ready for removal are threatened
with destruction and wide territory is al
ready burned over. A large crew of men
have been fighting the fires night and day
for the past two days. The loss will reach
thousands of dollars. The origin of the
fire is unknown
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
MInIsIer-Burgia who Welded "A Ra-

Elijah Harvey, a mulatto of Boston, a
graduate of well-known educational in
stitution at Andover, Mass, and who stud
led for the ministry, was held IN $1,000 bail
at New York yesterday on the charge of
burglary and $1,000 on the charge of en-
deavoring to slash policeman with a ra-
zor The charge of burglary consisted in
robbing the mansion in New York of G.
II. Yerkes, the Chicago millionaire. The
plunder consisted of silver basket valued
at $1,000. He is also suspected of having
attempted to rob the house in New York
of George Crocker, the California million
aire. When arrested Harvey lunged at
Policeman Glynn with razor, but was
disarmed before he could infiict any inju-
ry. The police say that Harvey has served
a term in Massachusetts, prison, but the
Boston officers say that no man named
Harvey has been imprisoned there.