davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
CANADA'S HANGMAN.
An OfIiciSl who Was CIIb Stew
ard When Hc Hanged His
First Sub;cct.

For the first time i'll IS years man
has been sentenced to death in Mon
real. and he Will be hanged in the yard
the old Jail there, which since 1897
as witnessed the official taking-off OF
eembers of cid French families who re-
elled against English rule as we'll as
cf common Elalefactors.
The occasion will bring to Montreal
I. Il. Il. Ratcliffe. official executicrer
Of Canada. For almost seven years Rat
eiiffe has practiced his profession. and
III that time he must have launched
very nearly some five dozen people into
the great unknown. His of!icial ap-
pointment is cf a mere recent date. lie
receives regular salary and IS COM
PEELED to travel to any part of the
Dominion where Il man is to be hanged
bis travelling expenses and the expenses
cf the execution. such as these en-
eendered by the building of the scat
told and the GallOws, etc. being borne
by the government OF the province
whose courts have ordered the execu-
tion In addition TO his regular salary,
he has certain peIquisites. such 2s are
derived from the sale CT fractions OF The
rope which furnish the roose and such
articles OF wearing apparel as are often
given him by the laws victims. In
scl@c cases these things are boaght ont-
right from Eir, Iy- dme-lcccl srccu-
lator. and the latter often supplements
his stock Of Grucscne relies thus ac-
CURED with others less genuine. In all
Lis executions Ratcliffc has never made
a mistake CT failure frc-n the time that
he made bis debut. which waslthe ocea
sion of the hanging Of Dirchall. who
made a business Of inyeig}ing wealthy
young Erglishmen to Canada On the
rreteXt cf teaching them scientific
farming and then numbering them.
Eatclitfe's home is at So Fern -ayenGe.
Toronto. where he lives in a pleasant
Ettle house with hiswife and children,
and where his rcighbors and ell those
with whCm he is acquainted have roth
ing but coed to say for him. He has
his own circle Of acquaintances and
mikes very little with the general pub
lie; in fact. so unCstent2tiCus ere his
ways that in the city of Toronto itself
very few people know who he is or
where he lives. eaFs
Who and what he was before he came
to Canada is a mystery. The first time
he became known was through
Birchall's crime. When the murderer
was condemned to be hanged the au-
thorities were in a quandary as to
where they could find nan to carry
out the sentence. Formerly some Jail
official. chosen by lot. orasome prisoner
who was well paid fer his work had
done the actual hanging. In this case,
however, no cne could be found wiling
to undertake the job, Suddenly the
steward CT the Sunnyside Boating club
of Toronto. very swell organization,
offered to do the work. This man
proved to be Ratcliffe. As lie did his
work remarkably we'll ard as the boat
Jig club cid not want to have anything
more to co with him after thai. lie
stuck to The business.-N. Y. Sun.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
ANTS EGG TRADE.
How the Collectors OF These Tiny
Articles Go AHout Their
Strange Work.

Ants eggs are the base Of a rapidly
increasing business in the British isles.
Hundreds weight of the tiny spoil are
imported yearly by the bird fanciers,
who feed them to young pheasants,
canaries and aquarium fish They are
coIected for the most part in a certain
district in the south of Russia, where
many thousands Of peasants make
living by them. A collector. going out
upon a sunny day to some hills he has
in mind. piles upon them little twigs
and sticks. Then he rudely disturbs the
ants in their busy home. Their first in
stinct on having the roof torn OIL their
dwelling is to fly to some shelter. They
make for the pile Of twigs, just as the
peasant had thought they would. He
does not wait for them to hide all their
eggs there, but goes off to repeat the
trick at dozens OF other hills. returning
in the evening with stiff paper bags to
collect his spoil This is very simple, as
all he has TO do is to sweep the tiny clus-
ters of tiny cGgs oif into the bag. Ii is
said that an Industrious man may in
cneday collect as much as eight pounds.
These are, in turn. gathered up by
agents Of large firms, who handle for
expectation. At present, Russia is the
only country where ants eggs are gath-
cred. although the forests of South
America, where there are said to be hills
12 feet high and IS feet round, ought to
be q good place to gather them.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
OUT OF TUNE,
stoves Cnevcnness On Its Feet A.
fects "a Pianos Sweetness
Os Tone.

The girl had new. piano. She was =
musical girl, and it was as nice a niaDo
as could be found. When she bad it
properly set up and ready for use there
was probably not a happier girl. Dnt
as she sat down to play & leck Of els
content and wonder spread over her
race. 1t was strange, but this new
piano was certainly out of tune; GER
tain notes sounded like the hammering
Of a piece of iron. That would never
do; she couidn't play OF 4 piano like
that; she couldn't understand it, either,
forcertaialy thatpiano had 2 very sweet
tone in the shop. So The piano man was
sent for in great haste, and came to see
what the trouble was, very much as
tonishcd himself. He ran his fingers
over the piano and then, turning, gazed
curiously around the room.
THAT is most curious and i'm
pertinent man." thought the girl, as
she watched him, his fingers moving
over the keys, but his eyes wander
ing searchingly from one piece OF
furniture to another. Finally he left
the piano, went to 4 stove IN the room
tucked a piece of paper under one leg,
and went back to the piano, VIXEN,
strange to say, every note was as sweet
and clear and full as could have been
desired and there was rot a suspicion
Of discord. During the cold weather a
stove had been placed in the room, and,
not standing evenly, with certain vi
brations OF the piano it was made to
move and there followed a little clat-
tering Of iron, which, coming simul-
taneously with the striking Of the keys
en- the piano, sounded as ii that instru-
ment had produced the disagreeable
sound.
"That is all right now" said the man
as he left the piano, "only it was stove
man you needed instead of the piano
man"
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
A MAINE HERO WEBS.
Ensign Pcwe1son Marricd to Col.
M liars Daughter in Hospital.
Green Confined 10 IIls Ded with a
Broken Leg, tIse Result cg an Ac-
ciGet.t =" ;:,@ .suiscr
81. Eozal.
Ensign William Van Nest Powels,

Ensign William Van Nest Powelson,
Gle Of the survivors OF The battleshiD
Maine and here Of the war VITA
Spain. was married in his room ia the
Episcopal hospital, Philadelphia, to
Miss Margaret Olivia 8tillar, of Wvo-
ming, O., daughter of Col. Millar,
L. S. A.
Around the ceremony was an air
of romance. Ensign Poweison could
ret stand as he made the promise 10
cherish the woman who was about to
become his wife lie was kept a pris-
orer in bed by broken leg. The Won
an who checred him in his sickness
who cared fer him and supplied him
with delicacies, was his bride. She
was his nurse, but her services were
those Of love. She had long been his
sweetheart, and when he was sick She
insisted On nursing him The cere-
mony over, she assumed the rioht 10
keep On nursing him because she was
his wife.
Ensign Powelson asked to be trans
ferred to another warship. AS soon
as the war broke out he was all carer
ness to fcht ans 0 strike for the
Maine. Ee was burning With ardor to
avenge the blowing up Of the vessel
in which he took SO much pride. lie
was finally assigned to the auxiliary
cruiser ST Paul and though this was
act an actual fighting ship he was
with his old commander. Capt. Sirs-
bee. and &c expected that the St. Paul
would be able to fight a little against
some of the smaller Spanish war YES
sells
lie had long been engaged to Miss
Millar. But for the breaking out of
the war the couple would have been
married late in the spring. Ensign
Powelson was doomed. however. to be
placed out of the fighting force by an
inglcrious accident. Stepping back
ward on the deck of the ST. Paul Gre
day be fell down an open hatchway
and his leg was broken
The alnost cherries hospital room
had been transformed into yeritablc
bower Of roses for the occasion, and,
notwithstanding the temporary in
trinity CT the groom, the occasion was
as joyous and happy as though the
marriage had been celebrated in the
church in Wyoming. o.. where it was
originally intended that the couple
should be welded.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
FRENCH MINISTRIES.
They Have Been Numerous and Many
of Them HIVE Been of Short
Duration.

There have been &c ministers in
France during 81 years. The average
term of q ministry has been nine
inertrs. In England during the same
perlot there have been nine ministries
and iour prime ministers.
The English view of French politics
is t..--t these frequent changes cf gov
e11Eaent are fatal to the security of
the republic. On the other hand it NAV
be said hat there have been six French
prezilents in comparison with four
knG.'sa prime ministers, and that the
Tep1a-icaas Lave remained the dom
inaat parry ii France since the down
fa-l of t. second empire.
flenchc.en do not take as serious a
view e the weakness of their ministry
as foreigners take. They say that the
Fepuodt is political engine. run at
hlsh pressure by an excitabie nation.
a']1 thaf -ninisterial crisis is q safety
VsiFe. Naea ministry is upset, steam
IS les of orl no harm is done. The
engine rcuains. and a competent chief
eneineer is always at hand to take
Char of i.
ntIe IS. however a new element in
;-ic rohucai experience of France. This
j. tiae 5-tuence of the army. For 81
years ministers have been subject to the
ooptrci = the legislative chambers. and
the generals of the army have been the
servs ats VI the state. The friends of
republican Institutions now fear that
ministries WIN be dependent upon mil
ltaiE control and protection. HclGing
o. r re mercy of a praetcrian
i'iatt-os Te2arais will not be republican
l. sp,rit or in methods. It will be mil
itary dictatorship. Youths Com
palion.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
ARE BADLY USED JfP.
Most of the Ships of the Mosquito
Fleet Are Disabled.
Rough Usage Received During the
War Has Damaged Seriously the
Engines ana Bcilcrs-Thcir
Disposition a Problem.

1t is learned from a Trustworthy
source that number of the warships
now at anchor in Hampton Roads off
the Chamberlain and Hygeia hotels
viii become tn. objects OF unfayorable
reports by the board Of survey, which
has begun It's work of inspection. TIE
condition of not a few of the best
known vessels Of the mosquito feet
is said to be such as to render them
useless for either the purpose OF
peace or war until extensive and cost
" repairs have been made.
Since coming to Old Point Comfort
Capt. Higgirson, Capt Taylor, Lieut..
Brunson and Chief Engineer Stivers,
comprising the board CT survey, have
been actively engaged in making
e2reful examination of ali the vessels
of the auxiliary fleet.
In mere than one-half OF the vessels
already examined it is said the ma
chineVy has been found by the in
spec1iHg beard to be so badly dam
aged that new engines and boilers will
have to be supplied before they viii
be is proper condition for the pursuits
in which they were formerly engaged
while in merchant service. Others, it
is said, have sustained serious injuries
to their decks and hulls, not being
strong enough to stand the strain
caused by the discharge of the guns
with which they are equipped. IL adj
dition to this, the little warshirs we're.
severely injured by the rough usage
incident to blockade duty. in which
many OF them figured prominently be-
fore Havana and other points on the
Cuban coast.
As the men from whom these now
disabled vessels were bought will
hardly be willing to take them back,
IT is likely that some bargains in yes
sells will be offered at an early date.
Some Of the vessels went through
without damage and will probably be
bought back by their original owners
in the event the government is de
sirous Of disposing of them, but, Of
course, at a price far below that at
which they were sold to Uncle Sam.
The auxiliary cruiser Dixie. for in
stance, will probably be eagerly
sought by the Morgan line of steam
ers. which disposed of four of its splen-
did ships to the government. 1t is net
probable. however, that the Dixie will
leave the naval service, and it is under
stood Capt. Higginson. as president Of
the board of inspection, will recon-
mend that this ship be retained by the
government. The Dixie carries ten
slX-lneh guns, the heaviest armament
placed on an auxiliary cruiser, and the
tact that she stood the test so well
reflects great credit on her builders.
lhe board made thorough exa1aina-
ticn CT this ship and found her to be
as stanch as when she set sail on her
mission Of war
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
A POSSIBILITY.
The Railroad Mans Guess Why Tick
cts Were Selling at Bargain
Counter Prices

She was portly lady with a lot Of
bundles-and it may be noted at this
point that it is almost always the case
that the larger the lady is. the larger
and more numerous are the bundles she
carries-and when she entered the rail
road station she was putting so that a
drowsy man on the front seat jumped
up suddenly, thinking it was the engine
of the train he was waiting for. She
approached the ticket window and there
she put her bundles in all the available
space. They were nice, new, store bun
dies, however, and no objection was
made.
as the train for JunglevilIe gone
yet?" she inquired.
mo, ma'am," responded the clerk
SLOW far is it there?"
"About 70 miles, guess, ma am for
he was new to that place. and was not
thoroughly conversant with details.
whats the price of ticllet?"
"One ninety-eight ma'am."
"One ninety-eight?' she repeated.
"How does that happen?"
81 don't know, ma'am, he replied as
he eyed her bundles. 81 guess it must
be marked down from two dollars"
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
DESIGNED NAMES ENG MES.
Henry Mason, a Former Resident Of
the City of Chicago, Dies In
Brooklyn.

Henry Mason, who designed and in.
stalled the engines of the battleship
Maine, has just died IN New York city.
Mr. Mason was well known ia Chicago.
having been resident of his eiiy for
12 years. The widow Of Mr. = tsoa te-
sides in Chicago, as co also Ms' son
Thomas, who is in charge q BE en-.
gineering department of The f.e.d Co.
Iumbian museum, ard his daughter
who is the wife of Robert l.. Chaplin, Of
No. 772 Warren avenue. 1t issth0ught
by his friends that Mr.. Mason s, end
was fastened by the disaster of the
Maine, the first reports having inti-
mated that the explosion was due tc
defective. boilers. For days aftsrathe
Maine went down in Havana bay. Mr.
Mason, who was marine specialist for
the Quintard iron works, Of New York.
was prostrafed with aPopleXy and
paralysis, and raved constantly about
"his ship" and her sad fate. It was
thought he would recover, but during
his convalescence heart trouble set in.
Mr.. Mason came 10 Chicago sor1e years
ago TO install the engines Of the West
side water works on Ashland avenue.
and was afterward retained by the city
to superintend their operation Later
he returned to New York to reepter
the service Of the Quiutard iron works.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
Remarkable Loss Of Memory.

Writing of diseases of the memory.
a Russian doctor gives an interesting
account of some OF the eccentricities
of his patients. In the case cf a literary
man. some time previous to his seek
ing advice he has been troubled with
an absolute failure of memory. He
could remember exactly everything he
had done more than year ago, but oc-
currenees of later date he had entirely
forgotten. When attacked by the dis
ease he was engaged in writing novel,
which he had half finished. lie remem-
bered the first half, but could not tell
how he had intended 10 finish it. lie
was at last unable to remember whether
he had dined. In another case the
patient tells of his travels but repeats
the tales a dozen times an hour, with
the same phrases. lie would play
game OF cards carefully and well; five
minutes afterward he would mention
that he had not played for weeks. He
would say Good morning when the
doctor made his first visit cf the Cav
but did not remember the visit three
minutes later. il the doctor again looked
in.-Washington Star.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
IN The DRY DOCK.
Cruiser New York Being Cleaned
After Nearly "a Year CT Neglect
Not Very Dirty.

The cruiser New York, flying Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS pennant, was
placed in dry dock No. at the Brook
-yn navy yard the other morning. The
admiral was not aboard during the
locking process, but arrived later in
the day and had dinner with Capt.
Chadwick.
When it is considered that the big
cruiser had not been in a dry dock
since last October its bottom was in
wonderfully good condition The sail
ors s2y that the cruisers went so fast
when chasing Spanish warships that
the friction of the water washed off
the baruacles and seaweed.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
Is This Truas

Men" claims an observer. 'taIk less
among themselves ABOUT women than
women about men, reticence not 50
much due TO the chiya!Tous sentiment
which prohibits the mention of girls
name where only men are gathered, as
a genuine Indifference to the subject
The truth is mems lives are 50 full Of
interest that wcmen are far less i'm
rortant to them than they themselves
realize. or than women would ever ac-
knowledge. ."--PhiIadeIphia Inquirer.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
Football and the Seed Market.

An agricultural seed market .eport
is surely the last place in which one
would expect 10 find i discussion on the
influence of football. In the last re-
port of the London agricultural seed
market. however. the connection is
clearly pointed out. There has been
steady decrease in the sale of canary
and other seeds, and this has been
traced to the fact shat huge numbers
Of people. especially in the north OF
England. who used formerly to keep
cage birds or devote their leisure 10
snail rordo7s now rive al their spare
u1re arr interest 10 otbaIl.-West~
:. e. "----..P
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
MEMORIAL TO LIEUT.. JENKINS
the Naval Academy at Annap-
0iis--Efs Inscription.

One Of the first permanent mcmori-
als of the Spanish-American war 10
be erected in this country has been
placed in the chapel of the naval
acadernJ at Annapolis, in memory CT
Lieut.. William Jenkins, who perished
in the explosion CT the hattleship
Maine. The memorial. which takes
the form Of mural tablet, was sub.
scribed for by the classmates cf the
unfortunate officer and has been cast
in bronze from design by Mr.. Charles
Follinson Lamb. 4 faithful model in
high relief Of the Inflated vessel is
shown above the inscription, which
reads as follows:
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
Ingenious Woman.

No one is more prolific CT clever
ideas in aiding the escape of prisoners
than an ingenious woman. The story
is told of some criminals who were
handcuffed and with their escorts stood
waiting for the train to convey them to
iail. Suddenly woman rushed
through the crowd and looking
through heavy tears, cried out: Kiss
me eocd-by, Ned!" The escort good
naturedly allowed the ''proeess of os-
culation" to be performed, and the
sheriff smiled feelingly. The train had
not gone. far when the favored prisoner
unlocked his bracelets and escaped.
The woman had passed small key
from her mouth to his during the fond
farewell.-Detroit Free Press.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
TIE SCOTCH RU5HLTGaT.
I'm tlae Days cf the Candle Tax 1t was
Made nt Niesi.t in tssc Great
est Secrecy

Home-manufactured rushlights and
candles were in constant use by the
Scotch peasantry, says Good Words.
Boiled animal fat gave the required tai
low, and Tie same green rushcs as were
used for cruisie wick supplied it also in
tbs case.
In making rushlights all the green
coating Of these rushes was stripped off;
but for candle wick thin strip was left
on either side of the pith to strengthen
and support it. Otherwise the manu-
facture OF these two lights was very
similar This substance from the
rushes. when dried, was tied to a rod
then dipped into the boiling fat and al
lowed o cool, and this process was re-
peated until the rushlight. or candle,
had become the desired thickness. In
later years candles were made in molds.
The tape was passed through hole in
the center Of the mold and knotted to
prevent it slipping. The fat was then
poured in and allowed to cool
These raolds. during the days of the
candle tax, were jealously guarded by
the owners. and hidden ia the most
secret corners from the prying eyes of
the eXciseman. The candles were usU-
ally made at night in some clubhouse,
and watchers were posted at convenient
corners to give timely warning of any
approach OF the ubiquitous officer.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
Makes nn Intercstins Souvenir.

The big punch bowl which forms a
part CT the silver service presented to
the battleship Indiana by he people
of the Hoosier state acquired added
value IN the eyes Of the officers and
crew during the battle Of July 3. A
piece OF exploding she'll from ore Of
Ceryera's ships penetrated the cabin
and firmly iubedded itself in the bowl,
thus making that vessel one of the
most interesting men2entos of the war.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
soIomon on me Bench.

A man in Tarnclytown, n. y, had
his wife arrested for throwing a shoe
and showed ostensibly the marks on
his face where the heel struck. The
Judge promptly discharged the woman,
saying: The fact that she hit you in
throwing at you Proves that it was
entirely unaimed and unirtended."
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
GINS EnGe CT Paner.

Krupp is building I've centimetres
two-inch) paper field guns for the
German infantry. They are SO light
that a single soldier can easily carry
one, while the resistance ofthe paper
is greater than that of steel of the
ne calibrc
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
searchiights fer Use in RoIloons.

searehiights fer Use In Balloons.
The searchlight has proved useful far
beyond the expectations Of its invent
ors. LOcomotiTesare now equipped with
it, besides ocean-going vessels, river
steamboats, and men-of-war. In
smaller way it is used by bicyclists and
policemen hunting down burglars. And
the searchIight is TO be used in bal
looms. The Russian war department
is conducting series of experiments
with searchlights mounted in captive
balloons. The current is supplied
through the cable holding the balloon
to the ground. The largest search
light used so far is CT 5.c00 candle
power, which, it is stated, viii thor
ouShiy illuminate a circular area 500
yards in diameter when at an altitude
Of 600 yards.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
II, qc~4rr1ta Eect.

"De trouble bout advice" said Uncle
E5en, is cat De man who has EaGe
sho-nuT success in life is gia'rally too
busy ter stop m give lessons. wash
ingt0. Star.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
American Churo3 Pxa,c,4-

The people Of the United States have
over $350,0O0,OCO invested in church
property.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
- e....r-..r;-,e 1-o.c-,,ons-

Submarine volcanoes are constant
y being discovered and are at times.
owi3g II fhe:r sue e1 aupccrarce. .
great da7oer to EasiGat.cn.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20

women Criminals Have Bis Eect.
1t is said that women criminals have
larger hands and feet than average
women
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
..ansln.n rsnuse rentiIes.

Cne lecture Of the houses in Manila
which 5 rather hard to get accustomed
to is i.e presence of the great number
OF lizaTCs which crawl around the cell
1ngs Of the rooms at night. They are
harmless. but the thought that they
may occ1sionally lose their grip and
droH down in ones face is not calcu-
lated & lake them welcome members
of the household. There are many
scornions about, but they keep exciu.
siVelv IN tie dark corners of the house
and yard and otherwise behave them
selves well. 1t is said that nearly all
the older houses are populated with
house snakes. which wage q relentless
war upon the rats: but so far have
not found any beneath my pillow or
seen any wandering about.-Chicago
Record.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
ro simnl;c. tne Commandments.

Edinburqh's school board has de-
aided II 7plify the Ten Command
nents taught the children inthe
public schools.
The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
E!ectr.e q. E.. =, E.co-ce.

Electric or'Dibuses now ply between
the French cities ..-ilaa al .1feaux.