davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28
REAL THING IN CYCLONES.

"Now the people back this way may
think it something wonderful that big
safes were blown about like toy bal
looms during that Wisconsin cyclone.
said the veracious Kansan with the
inquiring eye, to the Washington
Post, ''but bless their simple souls,
that's nothing at all to the shines cut
up by cyclones out in Kansas! Die
ever see a tree with feathers on it, in
stead of leaves? Nope? WE'LL I did.
Did they grow on the tree? guess not.
They were put there by a cyclone.
Happened in Emporia bout six years
ago this summer. The tree, a big
maple, in my front yard. had several
hundred chickens and geese in my
yard when this pea-green, funnel
shaped cloud came prancing along
and dipped right in front of my
house The wind struck the chick
ems and geese so suddenly that
it just ripped all the feathers right off
them. At the same time it tore all
the leaves off the branches of the
maple trees. The feathers were picked
up and druv right through the air with
such force that when they struck the
maple tree, as bout a billion of 'em
did, the quilts went bout half way
through the trunk and branches, so
that when me and my family came out
of the cyclone cellar we had to just
open our eyes to- see a seventy-foot
tree covered over with feathers so
thick that you couldn't see the wood of
any part of it. That same cyclone eat
up all the ground and masonry around
my 185-foot we'll. just as this hap
pened a whirlwind came along, as a
sort of a sideshow to the big blow, and
for an hour it just hung over that we'll,
holding the water up straight and spin
ming it around. When the whirlWind
passed on, the well broke and flooded
my place. That's nothing, either, to a
cyclone they had in Leavenworth in
the early eighties. just to show you
the force of the wind, about fifty men
were working at the bottom of coal
mine, about 1913 feet under the Mis-
souri, river. The wind blew so hard
over the top of the shaft that it just
sucked the whole bunch of 'em to the
surface and then dropped 'em into the
Missouri. They weren't hurt, outside
of the wetting"
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28
THE FILIPINO sCHooLBoY.
His knowledge of the United States
is Very Limited.

It has been frequently remarked that
the Filipinos could have no conception
of the extent and resources of the Uni
ted States, or they never would have
been deceived into the hallucinatiOn
that they could successfully combat us.
In going through their school here, I
found little manuscript volume in
which, in less than a hundred manu-
script pages, was comprised all of syn
tax and geography that was taught the
children here. And it must be remem-
bered that Malolos, before the insur-
rection, was an important city in this
part of the world, and one where the
children would be expected to receive
the average education. Turning to
one of the pages in this book that
picked up, I found the United States
of America discoursed upon, immedi-
ately after Nigricia, and just before
Mexico. Here is the entire lot of in
formation given as to the United
States, in the form of questions and an
sWers:
where is this country (the United
States) situated? In North America.
"What are it's boundaries? To the
north, British America; to the east, the
Atlantic ocean and the Bahama chan
mel; to the south, the Strait of
Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and to
the west, Mexico and the Grande (Paci-
fic) ocean.
'"What is the form of government?
1t is a federal republic
"Of what is this republic composed
Of forty different states.
''What are it's rivers and mountains
The most notable rivers are the Mis-
isipi (1iteral spelling), the Niagara, the
Missori (again the literal spelling), the
Colorado, and the ST. Lawrence, and
the principal mountains are the Cum
berland and Rockies.
what is the capital? Washington;
but the most important city is New
York
Professionalism prevails, but there
are Catholic archbishops
And this is the sum total of what
the average Filipino boy has been
taught about our rather considerable
and somewhat prosperous country
Les1ie's Weekly.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28
SOME SENSATIONAL METHODS.

The evangelistic band of the Chris
tian Endeavor Society met at the Cen
trial Presbyterian church, in Detroit
and was given instruction in the work
by Rev. H. B. Gibet of Springfield
Mass, who has become famous in the
east for success in evangelistic work.
Some of Mr.. Gibet's instructions
Journal and are reprinted here for
those who are interested in the SEN
sational methods. Said Mr.. Gibett:
there'll be some noise around where
the crowd is likely to be, but if you
want quiet go to the cemetery.
Get above your audience. Stand on
a beer key or a soap box. In Boston
they gave me a title. They called
me the S. B. D. D.-Soap Box Devil
Driver,
I get upon beer key and tell the
crowd I'd rather have it under my feet
than going in this way and getting
into my feet this way, said the evan
gelist, tipping across the platform
That gets the crowd with you.
Look cat for Interruptions and steer
clear of them. IF you see a dog COM
ing down the road to meet another
dog, don't ever think you can stand up
against a dog fight. Stop your speech
too.
Avoid argument. A fellow asked
me once where Cain got his wife. l
told him that fellows cot. into tro11h1e
before now by concerning themselves
with other mems wives and he'd bet
ter let the subject alone ga good
wife is of the Lord" the Bible says,
and you get right with the Lord and
the other matter'll take care of itself.
Hand out tracts at the close, only
don't call 'em tracts, and don't get
those handful tracts that we're printed
centuries ago. My tracts are called
''Put the Baby to Bed Early" every
man with a baby wants to read 1t;
"Black Crook" "And the Barber
Kept on Shaving" They'll read things
like that
When I go to the horse races to do
evange1istic work I do something like
this:
And Rev. Mr.. Gibet whisked a
pack of cards out Of his grip and shut
fled them into shape, suspiciously I'M
like Christian Endeavor delegate,
ratified off a good imitation of gamblers
iargon, and with a skilful hand he
threw the cards out into the audience.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28

They were discovered to be good i'm
itations of playing cards on the back,
with few pointed gospel messages on
the other side.
There are doubtless many people who
will question whether this is in good
taste, but Mr.. Gibbett says that
good taste can't always be relied on
to induce a man to think about his
souls salvation.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28
CLOSE QUARTERS.

"What a pity" said the germ, as he
chung frantically to a window sash as
they went around the curve, chat in
sleeping-cars we have no opportun-
tiles"
"Isn't it," said his companion, des-
pondently, "a great field, if only we
had air enough to get about in. Life.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28
AN UNPARDONABLE INSULT.

Maud-Capt Dash, of the rough
riders, has broken his engagement with
Miss Miner.
Marie-How aid she offend him?
Maud-Sent him gold mounted sus-
penders as a birthday present Jew
elers' Weekly.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28
MUST HAVE BEEN AWFUL.

ri hear that some of the ways in
which Gotrox made his money were
rather shady"
Rather is hardly the word. Why,
even his church came near firing him"
Indianapolis Journal. q
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28
To be Continued.

Bil1-Gill wouldn't think of fishing
on Sunday.
Jil1-No; but he'll sit around and lie
about it, all the same.-Yonkers States
man.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
UNDERGOING A CHANGE.

There is announcement for the gov
eminent, from the revenue standpoint,
if not to American workingmen, in the
fact that imports from abroad have be-
gun to increase. In relation to the
change which foreign trade is under
going, Mr.. Henry Clews in his Weekly
Financial Review says:
1T begins to appear probable that
we are entering upon an appreciate
abatement of the extraordinary sur
plus Of exports over imports that has
prevailed for the last Is months. The
imports are gaining upon the figures of
several months past. The January fig
ures are about $4,000, 900 below those
of 1895 and 1896 respectively; but they
exceed those of 1898 by $7,6O0,000 and
those of 1897 by $7,1OO 900. The exports
for January exceed those for the like
month in any previous year, being ST.
500, 900 above those of 1885, the next
highest antecedent year;-but they fall
S13. 900 below the average for De-
eember, November and October; which
is no more than is due however to the
usual curtailment of shipments after
the close of the year. The January
excess of merchandise exports over i'm
ports, however, has fallen to the stand
ard Of one year ago, namely S57, 000, 900;
which is $25. 200, 900 below the balance
for December, SIC, 500, 900 below Novem-
Der, So. 900, 900 less than October and
S14, AGO. e0 over September. Still, the
January balance is at the rate of $685.
100000 per annum. These facts indl-
cate that the accumulation of balances
to our credit in Europe must have very
much more than suficed for offsetting
the extraordinary return of home Sc
curities since the beginning of January;
and it seems reasonable to infer that
the liquidation of the settlement with
Spain must leave still a very large
sum to our credit abroad, liable to be
liouidated in gold upon our demand"
1t will be observed that Mr.. Clews
does not attempt to explain the change
in the trade situation, but it is possible
that it is due to the advance in prices
of many commodities, made by the
trusts.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
DEMOCRATS, ATTENTION..

A delegate convention is hereby called
for Friday evening, March 3, at o'clock
at Flambeau hall, S12 Kansas avenue,
for the purpose of placing in nomina-
ton a Democratic city ticket.
Caucuses for selecting delegates will
be held at the following precincts be-
Wednesday evening, March 1. Each
precinct will also select a city central
committeeman at the same time.
Each delegate is entitled to one al
ternate, and returns should be handed
to the chairman and secretary by 1870
p. M, March 3, 1899. Following are the
polling places and the representation
allowed each precinct:
FIRST WARD.
First precinct, delegates; Second
precinct, A delegates; Third precinct, 5
delegates. Caucuses will all be held at
SECOND WARD.
First precinct, delegates, 202 Mon
roe street; Second precinct, 3 delegates,
235 jefferson street; Third precinct, 4
delegates, 906 East Fourth street; Fourth
precinct, 4 delegates, 111S East Sixth
avenue; Fifth precinct, delegates,
Veaie block, Quincy street.
THIRD WARD.
First precinct, four delegates, 104 East
Tenth street; second precinct, 3 dele
gates, 933 Kansas avenue; third pre-
cinct, delegates, corner King and
Clay streets; fourth precinct, dele
gates, corner Huntoon and Lincoln
streets.
FOURTH WARD.
First precinct, delegates. Fraser
Bros grocery store, West Sixth street;
Second precinct, delegates, city pr1s-
on; third precinct, 8 delegates, I'll West
Fourth street; fourth precinct, dele
gates corner Sixth and Western ave-
nueS.
FIFTH WARD.
First precinct, 8 delegates, 100 To-
peka avenue; second precinct, 2 dele
gates sos East Tenth street.
Committeeman will see that caucuses
are properly organized and returns
made out and sent in.
LEE JONES,
Chairman City Central Committee.
G. MAX CLAUDY, Secretary.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
SENATE HANGS OUT.
Another Conference Ordered in the
Fast Mail Approximation.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-When the SEN
ate convened today at IL o'clock Mr.
Frye, chairman of the committee on
commerce reported the shipping sub
stdy bill with a good many restrictive
amendments" At his request it took
the place on the calendar of the bill of
the same title previously reported.
A partial conference report on the
postOffice appropriation bill was agreed
to. The matter remaining in disagree
ment is the subject of special appropria-
tons for fast mail service for the south
and between Kansas City and Newton,
Kan. The senate further insisted upon
its amendments and another confer
ence was ordered.
The following bills were passed: Es-
tablishing a branch home of the ma
tional home for disabled volunteer SOL
diers at Castle Pickney, in Charleston
Harbor, S. c., for the use of disa bled
officers and enlisted men of the volun-
States, regulating the postage on letters
written by the blind, in point, or raised
characters, making them the
third class matter; for the
erection of a public building at Tampa,
Fla, to cost not exceeding $3.50, 900; en-
titling DR.. Vim. A. Hammond, late sur
geon general of the army to the pay of
a brigadier general on the retired list;
for the relief of the International Cot
ton Press company of New Orleans,
La; authorizing the president to ap-
point to the naval academy acting
naval cadets who served during the
Indian territory certain provisions of
the laws of Arkansas relating to cor
porations and to make the provisions
apply to territories.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
new COLLINS WITNESS.
L. w. b. Grant Denies Testi-
mOny of Mrs. Gilmore.

The crowd in the district court room
this afternoon was larger than the
| crowd of the morning. Many men were
| compelled to stand around the walls.
AT the opening of court Milton COun-
Gil, the Topeka contractor who made
an affidavit for the defense and later an
aIndaVlt for the state, qualifying some
of the statements made in the first affi-
daVit, was called by the defense. The
examination and cross examination re-
suited in bringing out no new informa-
ton. MIR. Council said that he under
stood Juror John Dickey, who with
Juror r. S. Butner, was boarding at his
house during the trial, to say that the
letter written to Frances Babcock by
John Collins was DANA ging'' and that
he thought the case lone sided" Also
that members of his family had joked
Mr.. Dickey and Mr.. Butner about haV-
Christmas day, and that they said they
hoped they would not have to be locked
in.
After Mr.. Council had finished his tes-
tinony, Attorney Harry Stafford COM
pleted the reading of the states aft
davits. At the conclusion of the read
mentioned in the affidavit of Mrs. MatiI-
da G. Gilmore, was asked to take the
stand by the state. Before taking the
stand Grant was identified by Mrs. Gill
more, who was in the court room, as the
man with whom she had the CONVERSE
ton sworn to in her affidavit
THE NEW WITNESS.
Grant was examined by Mr.. Stafford.
His testimony was as follows:
Q--Are you acquainted with Mrs.
Gilmore?
Al have seen her.
Odd you have a conversation with
her in May, 1897, in reference to Jas. S.
Collins?
Al never did.
Odd you ever tell her that you
disliked J. S. Collins and that he had
never treated Cnl0rRd
erly?
Al never did.
Odd you ever tell her that J. s.
Collins would be killed by a negro with
in a year and that his son would be
accused of the murder?
A.-No, sir. didn't know Collins had
a son.
Odd you ever have any trouble
with Mr.. Collins?
A.-No, sir. only knew him as cit
izen.
Characterization by Mr.. Hayden.
Q.-You are acquainted with Mrs.
Gilmore?
A.-No, sir. I simply recognize her
face.
Q.-Can you remember any conversa-
ton you ever had with her?
A.-No, sir, don't recollect anything
was ever said.
Qr-Were you eve. arrested?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-When last.
A.-About a month.
Q.-On what charge?
A.-No charge at all.
Q.-What was done with your case?
A.-Didn't have no case.
Odd you have a trial?
A.-No, sir, no trial. When was
arrested they told me to come down to
the police court at o'clock the next
day and I came.
Q.-Is your case still pending?
Al guess it's pending for somebody,
I appealed it.
The laughter over Grants replies was
by this time general in the court room,
and Judge Hazen stopped further ques-
tioning, saying that the matter brought
out was not material.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
KANSAS NEWS.
Mrs. Healey Investigates Mys-
terry of Her Husband.
Was known as Wells by Cherry
vale Citizens.
ARE THEY THE SAME?
Lieut.. Colonel Little Accident.
ally Wounds Himself.
Congressman BOwersock APP
points His Son His Secretary.

Cherryvale, Kan, Feb. 2S-Mrs. F.
Healey, who claims to be the second
wife of Fred Healey, who was thought
to have been murdered at Elkport, Ia,
in 1874, arrived from Kansas City in this
city at 4:3O yesterday afternoon for the
purpose of clearing up the supposed
murder mystery which has remained
unsolved for nearly twenty-five years.
Mrs. Wells claims that all the hand
writing that Mrs. Healey has so far
produced is the same as that of her
late husband, who died three months
ago at Valeda, Labette county, about
twenty miles southeast of this city. Mrs.
Wells has refused to produce any of
hers. She says she has plenty of wit
nesses in this city who have lately
moved from Valeda, Kan, that the late
Mr.. Wells was her right husband
Mrs. Wells was willing to go to Kan
sas City a week or SO ago to hunt up
the people to give her evidence for the
purpose of looking up the estate which
was left by Mr.. Wells. They imme-
diately wrote back and said that the
expense was too great. Mrs. Wells also
wanted to go to Iowa to hunt some of
Fred Wells brother. The late Fred
Wells had told her enough to convince
her that there was an estate, but they
wrote back that they. could tell more
than to take the expense to go up there
on.
All the evidence that Mrs. Wells has
given proves Wells and Healey to be
one and the same man. The description
of Fred Wells corresponds exactly with
the late husband of Mrs. Healey. The
weight of Wells and Healey differs
eight pounds in four years. Hea1ey went
to school for a number of years with
the present Mrs. Healey who was mar
ried to him eight years. When
shown the picture of Mr.. Wells at the
Wells house, which was enlarged for
that sole purpose, she claimed that it
was not the same man that she had
married. Mrs. Healey'S brother of Kan
sas City, Mo, claims that Mrs. Wells
late husband was his sisters husband
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
WANT A CONVENTION HALL
Fort Scott Will Try Kansas City Plan
to Secure One.

Fort Scott, Feb. 28.-Some of the
prominent men of this city have under
taken to erect a $1,000 convention hall
here by the means used by the Kansas
Convention hall committee.
Grant Hornaday, chairman of the
state board of charities, has contribu-
ted a $500 Hereford calf from his ranch
near town and has offered to give as
much money as any other one man
toward the project. Other liberal sub
scriptions have been made. 1t is pro-
posed to erect a hall that will seat 1000
or $500 people and to demand the next
Republican state convention. An or
ganization to perfect the plans is
being matured. State Coal Oil Inspec-
tor Spencer is the author of the move
ment.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
DEATH OF A PIONEER.
Mrs. Prudence L. Murdoch of Marshall
County Passes Away.

Blue Rapids, Feb, 2s-The mother of
the editor of the Wymore (Neb.) Re
porter, is dead.
Prudence L. Smith was born in Green
county, Pa, December Z, 1920 She
was married to Rev. Daniel A. Muir
dock, Presbyterian minister. April 6.
1S41. They moved from Pennsylvania
to Ohio in 1S49, from Ohio to Iowa in
1858, and in 1857 moved to the Otoe and
Missouri Indian Mission House near the
state line in Marshall county. Kan. In
1859 moved to southwestern Missouri, in
spring of 1861 moved back to Marshall
county, and in 1862 settled as they
thought for good in Washington coun-
ty, but in September of that year, Gov
ernor Thomas Carney issued a COM
mission to Mr.. Murdoch as chaplain of
the Thirteenth regiment Kan. V. l..
which he accepted, moved his family to
Marysville, Kan, and reported to his
regiment for duty.
To Mr.. and Mrs. Murdoch were born
nine children, the oldest, c. NJ. Muir
dock, editor Wymore Reporter was in
the army with his father.
The interment at Wymore, Neb., was
attended by q. large number of old set
tiers of Marshall county.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
POTWIN PAVING BILL.

"A bill has passed one branch of the
Legislature enabling the city council of
Potwin to order paved any block or
avenue of the city petition of more
than one-half the property owned on
said block or avenue by residents of the
city. The petition of the majority of
the owners is not even necessary, but
only the owners of a majority of the
front feet abutting on the block or av-
enue Is necessary to enable the council
to order the paving to be done, at the
expense of all abutting owners. One
man owning one foot more than one
half the property on a block or avenue,
under the bill pending, can force all the
other owners on the block or avenue to
pay their portion of the paving tax,
even against their will. and, if they
chance to be poor, may confisCate their
property to his own pleasure or cen
venience. 1t may be that all the other
owners are pedestrians, too poor to own
a horse or vehicle, yet their property
may be taxed and sold to pay for pave
ment which is of use or benefit to
them, but solely for the use or pleasure
of another. Such confiscation is none
the less robbery though done in the
name of law" The supreme court of
the United States has held that such
assessments are radically wrong; that
ments is special benefit to the property
taxed.
Potwin is strictly a residence city.
Its streets are not martS of commerce
with heavy drayage. Many of the homes
are owned by families of limited means,
who, as it is, can scarcely pay ordinary
taxes and living expenses. Pavement
taxes mean to many deprivation and
hardship, to others confscation of the
homestead. Pavement to Potwin is not
a necessity,-it is a luxury. Property
abutting it will be harder to sell on ac-
count of the heavy taxes. To those
who own homesteads there it will in
most cases be a burden without a ben
eft. The bill before the legislature is
pushed by a few of the wealthy pro-
perty owners in total disregard of the
property rights of others. 1t will if
passed only minister to the pleasure of
these few and to the satisfaction of
pleasure seekers from the city of To-
peka, the wheels of whose gay carriages
will roll smoothly over pavements made
Of broken hearts and confiscated homes.
Justice and right demand that this
bill do not pass. Let the legislators
who love justice and right protect our
homesteads and attend the early fun
eral of this most unjust bill.
A. BUNKER,
A resident and tax payer Of Potwin
Place.