davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The record-union., 1899-12-31

The year just passed has been sue
ceSsful one, commercially: the travellers
and their firms are happy and sincere
ly hope that the high watermark has
not been reached.
IF push and determination count for
anything, you may rest assured that
the boys Of the road from Sacramento
will keep her flag In the front rank Of
the progressive column.
1T is indeed gratifying to know that
during the year we have not lost any
members, and barring few bruises
which time and our accident policies
will heal. we are just as healthy and
jolly a lot as we were q year ago.
Last September we appeared before
the public Drummers' Day at the
State Fair was the feature. ana from
opinions expressed by the press and
public our work on that day was high
ly satisfactory, and I take this occa-
sion to officially thank those who aided
us, and particularly the press Of the
city. who have always been our friends.
I'm a gathering Of this kind we cast
have a happy time, so let happiness
reign supreme, and when you drink let
your toast be that we all may be spared
to meet again year hence.
'sAs many as can will be called to do
turn" and accordingly to the full
measure of his ability and inclination,
let him add to the evenings enjoy
ment.''
And then. the evening began in earn
est, and, assisted by N aale's excellent
orchestra, no time was lost about 1t.
Song and story and good things to eat
and drink followed one another without
intermission. And excellent voices were
among the travelers-voices which, had
not their possessors preferred to cast
their lot with the knights of the sample
case, might have created furore in
operatic or other circles.
Late In the evening, after songs,
speeches and stories had had full swing,
the Murray & Mack Quartet arrived
from the Clunie Opera-house, and 1t Is
safe to say they never sang before
more aEpreciativa audience.
R. T. Cohn ard other local talent also
added their mite to the jolliest, most
whole souled, sparkling smoker given
in this city in many moons. The COM
mercial travellers did themselves proud,
and they will be remembered by their
guests until the suns roll around and
the second annual smoker is an
nounced.
Sacramento Council, No. 14O, Unit
ed Commercial Travellers of Amer
lea, was organized nearly a
year ago, with a membership or
thirty To-day there are sixty-four
members on the roll. It's officers are;
Senior Councillor, James b. Treadwell;
Junior Councillor, r. M. Richardson:
Past Councillor. W. =. Peterson; Sec
rotary, H. c. Fisher, Conductor, A.
Harnpel; Page, c. M. zeitler; Sentinel
C. B, Wilson.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
THE TREATY WITH FRANCE.
The New Convention Causes Stir
Among California Exporters.

SAN: FRANCISCO, Dec. 30.-Oficial
copies of the reciprocity treaties nego-
tiated by Kasson and representatives OF
France and Great Britain have been
received in this city. The fact is de-
veloped that this State, if it has any
share in reciprocity, has so small a one
that it is not visible. On the other
hand, it is developed by the official text
that the grossest discrimination has
been practiced against those products
which California has been shipping
abroad, and working to make a market
for during a period Of years. Some of
the exporters of California dried and
canned fruits are very angry, and they
will prepare a communication that will
be addressed to the California delega-
ton at Washington.
The list of articles upon which France
will reduce her duties if the treaty is
adopted is as follows: Horses butter,
lucerne and clover seed, fodder, cast
iron, skins and hides prepared, boots
and shoes and parts of the same, bolts
and cords and other leather manufac-
tured for machinery, dynamos, machine
tools, dynamo conductors and parts,
arc lamps, known as regulars, sugar,
chicory roots (green or dried}, eggs,
cheese, honey, porcelain, cardboard
Trough in sheets). Prunes or dried fruits
are not mentioned.
Among the articles the United States
will let in at lower duties are the foi-
lowing articles in which California is
especially concerned: Nuts, prunes,
olive oil, plants and seeds.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
AARON woLFsoHN.
The Man Thought to be Dead
Proves His Identity.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3O.-Aaron
Woifsohn arrived here from the East
this evening and was identified by S.
A. D. Jones, local agent of the New
York Life Insurance Company, as the
man he had insured for $4,000, not
withstanding his previous positive
declaration that the man who commit
ted suicide in lodging house in this
city several weeks ago was Wolfsohn,
and whose heirs We're entitled to the
amount of the policy which was paid
over to the Public Administrators of
this county.
The man who arrived from the East
tonight to help unravel the mystery
was recognized as Aaron Wolfsohn
not only by Jones, but by hotel clerks
and others who had reason to remem-
Der him, and the admission of Jones
that he was mistaken when he identi-
fed the suicide as the policy holder has
thickened a mystery which the police
authorities will endeavor to solve. The
identity of the dead man will be a sub
ject Of investigation, and the cause OF
his death will be more closely looked
into.
The record-union., 1899-12-31

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 80. = Mayor
Phelan tonight announced the follow
ing appointments to the commissions
and boards under the new charter:
Board Of Public Works-Colonel
George H. Mendell, President, term
three years; jeremiah Mahoney, term
two years; Marsden Manson, term one
year.
Civil Service Commission John p.
Quinn, Jr., Richard Freud. P. II. Nc
earthly.
Board of observation-disclosures Denman,
John B. Casserly, c. w. Mark, Mary
w. Kincaid.
Police Commission-William Thomas,
]. Bigby, George A Newhall DR.. w. F.
McNutt.
Fire Commission-Rolla v. Watt, Da-
vid I. Mahoney, M. H. Hecht, John H.
Grady.
Election Commissioner. w. voor-
sanger, Sheldon G. Kellogg, Jeremiah
Deasy. M. Greenblatt. Oliver Everett.
Park Commission-Frederi w.
Zeile Jasper Mcdonald, A. B. Spreckels,
John A. Stanton, Reuben H. Lloyd.
Board of Health-Dr. Louis Bazet,
DR.. R. W. Baum. DR.. w. E. Hopkins,
DR.. ]. M. Williamson. DR.. William D.
Mccarthy.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
with Perquisites."

Senator Pomeroy used to tell of a
local preacher in Kansas who had
forced himself upon the stump after
Lincolns nomination and who demand
ed recognition of the party for his SER
vices during the campaign. He said
he would like to- be sent as Minister
Plenipotentitary to England or France,
and when told it was impossible in
sisted on being appointed Consul at
Liverpool. Finding that the powers
that be- considered that equally pre-
posterous, he was quite offended at
what he considered a lack of apprecia-
ton Of his services in a State that Moth
ing could have turned against the Re-
publicans Finally, Senator Pomeroy
said to him: I'm going to Washington
in about two weeks time. Think the
matter over, and if you should light on
something in reason, I'll aid you in get
ting it." In ten days he called on the
Senator again, his head still away up
In the clouds, and being assured of the
impossibility of getting what he
thought. was about his due, said:
Senator, can't you think Of some
place that would suit n1e?"
yes. said Pomeroy. i've thought
of a place that would suit you and that
you would suit, and that there is a
possibility OF getting for you. It's an
Indian agency"
IAN Indian agency? What's thatf'
queried the preacher.
"Well, you are to look after the well
fare of our red brothers, and sec that
their supplies are properly and hon
estly delivered to them..'
What is it WORTH"
"One thousand five hundred dollars
and perquisites," returned the Senator
"Perquisites-what perquisites?"
"Well, you see, my friend, the Gov
eminent contracts for so many head OF
beef cattle averaging about so many
hundred pounds. Now, in delivering
these cattle, they are to be counted
while being driven into the Enclosure,
and if a yearling should happen to slip
in now and then, you are not to make
too much fuss about it, and there you
will find your perqusites- Think II
over"
"I'n take it, said the reverend gen.
tleman; "I've already thought 1t over
and do you know, Senator, think veal
is a blamed sight better than beef for
Indians, anyway. Utica Observer.
The record-union., 1899-12-31

the merging Of that company and the
Wagner Palace Car Company under the
name of the Pullman Company. 1t was
claimed in the bill Of complaint that
through the consolidation Of the COM
panies, monopoly Of the sleeping car
business would be secured in violation
OF the anti trust Act.
Judge Tuthill held that the sleeping
car business was in the control Of the
railroad companies, and combination
between them would have to be shown
before any monopoly of the business
could be declared.
The sleeping car companies" said
Judge Tuthill, ARE but the agents Of
the railroads, acting under contracts,
as do the other employees Of the rail-
roads"
The transfer of the stock of the Pull
man Company for the purchase of the
Wagner Company can be contaminated
with no fear of judicial interference.
The decision Of the court sustained the
contentious advanced by the counsel for
the Pullman Company.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Death of a Newspaper Man.

SAN FRANCISC@Dec. 3O-H. John
son, a newspaper man connected with
the Chronicle" was found dead in the
bath tub at his home to-day. 1t is sup
posed that he was attacked with heart
failure after getting out of his bath,
and fell back into the water and was
drowned. tt had been1the dead mans
custom to take bath each night on
returning from his work, and before
going to bed He must have been pre-
pairing to leave the bath room when he
was attacked, because he had his moe
casins on, and the towels showed that
they had been used Deceased was
about "a years Of age, and was a ma
tive of Walnut Creek, where his par
ents reside.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
II HUNG CHANG.
Appointed Acting Viceroy Of Two
Provinces in China.

Provinces in China.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.-The Chi
nese Minister, WI Hung Chang, has
received a dispatch from China stating
that Lii Hung Chang has been appointed
Acting Viceroy of two provinces in the
south of China adjacent to Canton.
The Minister says this is a marked
distinction to the venerable Chinese
statesman, as the provinces are among
the most populous and commercially
important in the empire.
Mr.. Wu's dispatch clears up a mis-
apprehension created by recent un-
official dispatch stating that Earl Lii
would be made Viceroy of one prov
ince, that of Canton, and that this
would be followed by degradation. On
the contrary the Minister'S advices
show that the double Viceroyalty is
an unusual proceeding, said to be an
alagous to that Of Viceroyalty of In
dia.
The appearance Of Ii Hung Chang
at the head of affairs in Southern
China, it is believed, will have an i'm
portant influence in that quarter where
the French sphere of influence" is sup
posed to be located.
The record-union., 1899-12-31

copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press
BERLIN, Dec. 3O.-The South African
war overshadows everything else here.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press has just had an interesting in
tervfew with the Liberal leader, DR..
Barth, who is one of the most stead
fast friends of Great Britain and
America, but who also condemns the
war. DR.. Barth said:
AT present it looks as if England
might lose the whole Of South Africa.
l have private information from Africa,
via Holland, according to which the re-
bellious movement among the Cape
Beers has assumed much more serious
proportions than the English news
papers admit. There never was a
greater piece of political stupidity than
that shown by Mr.. Chamberlain in pro-
voking war, without having made the
necessary military preparations. II
England had only waited few years,
she could have had everything without
war.
IF England is totally defeated, this
war will be the best thing for the world,
even for England. 1t will be a lesson
she will not soon forget. 1t will have a
wholesome influence upon the jingoes
Of all countries including the German.
Our navy scheme, which is almost sure
Of adoption. must be understood to be
in connection with the war in South
Africa, all fine phrases offered in ex-
PLANTATION Notwithstanding. The in
crease was decided upon because Ger
many has lost confidence in the men
who are shaping Englands policy.
1,a 1,r,,t fol; of l. l,,l,
policies renders Germany's position too
insecure. What happens in the Trans
vaal to-day on land may happen to
Germany upon the sea tomorrow. Dis
trust of England makes it necessary for
Germany to be so strong at sea that the
English jingoes will think twice be-
fore attacking Germany. If the Eng
lish statesmen of to-day We're Of the
type of Gladstone and Morley, we
should have no concern; but with such
political Jack o'Lanterns' as Mr..
Chamberlain at the helm, we don't
know what to expect, and must arm
for any eventuality.'
The German press generally during
the last few days has expressed the
opinion that Great Britain will lose not
only the war, but also South Africa
From an excellent authority the cor
respondent Of the Associated Press
hears that Great Britain has instructed
her Minister at The Hague, Sir Henry
Howard, to sign the peace convention
with the reservation of Article No. 10,
all the conference Powers having con-
sented to such reservation.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press also learns in Government circles
that Germany does not believe the re-
port that Great Britain intends to take
decisive steps soon at Delagoa Bay. 1t
is admitted that Germany would be in
formed beforehand of any serious steps
intended, and the reports circulated are
considered to be ballons d'essay, issued
by the countries interested in prevent
ing Great Britain from getting Delagoa
BAY.
The record-union., 1899-12-31

San Francisco data: Maximum tenn
perature So, minimum Al, mean o.
The weather is cloudy and threaten
ing over the country west of the ROCKY
Mountains, and rain or snow has fallen
in all districts. The rain was heaviest
in the Sacramento Valley, where 1t av-
erages over an inch. A thunderstorm
is reported at Eureka.
The pressure has risen rapidly west
of the Rocky Mountains, but the WIND
remains southerly, and conditions are
favorable for showers tonight, and IN
the northern portion Sunday.
The temperature has risen generally
over the Pacific Slope.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Filling a Long Felt Want.

Professor Charles G. D. Roberts, the
poet, reads the modern languages very
easily, but speaks them imperfectly. AT
a reception held in New York just prior
to his leaving for Europe, Roberts was
introduced 10 distinguished French
artist, who was here on visit. The
artist asked in his own tongue, "You
speak French?"
NO" answered the poet; II am sorry
I do not, but understand it well when
it is spoken to me-"
IT am so glad" replied the French
man; you are the audience I have long
wanted. I can talk to you all please
and you cannot talk back!"-Philadel-
|phia Post.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
WEST INDIA FAMINE.
VIII BE Far More Distressing Than
That Two Years Ago.

BOSTON, Dec. 3O.-The American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions has received from Rev. R. A..
Hume, d. D., at Ahmednagar, India, a
letter dated December I'd, in which he
says that the present famine in West
ern India is sure to be far more dis
tressing than even the awful famine
of two years ago, as a severe drouth
already has begun in the Ahmednagar
district, and no rain can be expected
until the middle of June.
The writer says that Ahrnednagar has
suffered also from the plague, and is
not free from it. Sholapus is now in a
severe epidemic, and Bombay is perhaps
in the beginning Of another plague ex-
perience.
In view of it all, says the cores
pondent, the Government, as always,
is acting most nobly, but official relief
never can meet the multitude of neces-
stiles.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
FOR vAGRANUY.
Arrest Of George Harris, Habitue
Of L Street.

Officers Max P. Fisher and Logue.
who are on the downtown beat"
which includes the L-street crib quar-
ter, have been doing some shaking up
among the class of loafers who are
supported by women. Several of these
fellows have left town, the officers say,
and few have actually gone to work.
Last night the officers arrested
George Harris, alias Brown, whom
they booked for vagrancy. lie had
been warned to go to work, but sneer-
ed at the warning. A woman named
Della Fox, who occupies one of the L.
street dens. where Harris has been
seen nightly, has made halfway adj
mission that she and Harris are mar
ried.
If this is found to be true a more
serious charge will be laid against
him.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Cannon Was Discharged.

The other day Judge Arnold laugneu
heartily at little episode which oc-
Cured in his court says the Phlladei-
phia Record" and which was relish
ed by all who heard 1t. Representative
John Fow was attorney for several peo-
pie who had been charged with some
triding violation Of the law. The de-
PENDANT was man named Cannon, ana
as the matter was settled before the
trial began Cannon did not think ms
presence necessary, and, therefore teft'
AS there were several others Jointly ac-
cused Mr.. Fow asked the court to dlss
charge them. "Well," said Judge ART
mold briskly, where's Cannc1lf 'Chss'
replied the Seventeenth Ward states
man, VITA twinkle in his eye, me
lust went off, and I'm trying to dis
charge the rest Of them, although ne
was the Ms gun of the party" Judge
Arnold laughed heartily at the joke.
and entered dnto the spirit Of 1t. well,
Mr.. Fow," he responded. where there's
SO much smoke think there must
have BEEN some firing, but as Cannon
has gone Off Til discharge the rest OF
them for you"
The record-union., 1899-12-31

NEW YORK. Dec. Boulevard j.
Rothschiid, an American citizen, who
was employed on the STANDARD and
Digger a. mining paper published I'm
johannesburg, has just got back to New
York from the Transvaal.
Mr.. Rothschi1d was at Pilgrims Rest,
a little mining camp $50 miles northeast
of johannesburg, when the Beers de-
clared war, October 18th.
There were 800 whites, mostly Amer
leans and Englishmen, in Pilgrims
Rest said Mr. Rothschild, when the
war was declared. The gold mine there
is owned by the Ecksteins. who own
| other mines in the Transvaal. We asked
permission to stay, and the Beers at
first gave us permission to do SO, on
the understanding that we would form
home guard to protect the place from
| the British or any one else. We ac-
cepted these conditions, but next day
we were told by the Burghers that we
had twenty-four hours either to enlist
in the Boer army or get out of the
place. Most of us decided to get out
There was $4,000 in gold. which
had been taken from the mine, and the
Burghers seized this, first giving B. f..
of the mining company, q receipt and a
note promising that the Transvaal Gov
eminent would repay the money upon
the conclusion Of the war. OF course, II
the Transvaal is beaten by England
no return will be made. This same
proceeding took place at all the mines
not shut up in the besieged towns.
Mr.. Thompson and I went to tha
stables to get horses to ride out to IN
spect a mine some miles in the country.
when we were approached by an Amer
lean named Blake, uniformed as q Sec
ond Lieutenant in the Boer army
Blake. who had recruited 200 Amerl-
cans for the Boer army, showed US a
proclamation which had just been is
sued by the Transvaal Government,
confscating all horses, fodder, gold and
stores to carry on war against Eng
land, and promising to pay for them
on the conclusion Of the war.
Thompson and 7 returned to ms
house, and there we found that the
Boer commander had taken possession
of his residence, worth $4,000. In IL
was the finest collection of gold mug
gets in South Africa, worth at least
$4,000 Mr.. Thompson also had $40
600 In gold of his OWL all OF wnicn
went to the Transvaal. Thousands OF
F,nglishmen were treated in the same
way.
.sWhen the Beers took possession OF
the gold mine at Pilgrims Rest tney
turned out all the Kaffir laborers, proKe
the pumping machinery and flooded the
mine. They also flooded the Bonanza
and the Robinson deep mines near
Johannesburg, two of the richest goio
mines in South Africa
1.-THE Beers furnished us with horses
and an armed escort for the long rae
to Johannesburg No man in the party
was allowed to take away with MIN
more than $50.
"Being unable to prove that l was an
| American citizen. I was treated the
same as the British subjects.
1.-THE Government has taken all tue
most fertile lands for the raising OF
crops for the Boer army. The Boer
women, the young boys and the oiu
men have left their own farms. and are
working the Government farms, aloeo
by Kafirs. In thiS way they can keep
their army we'll 'provisioned. At all OK
these Government farms we saw tne
Boer women plowtng and doing tne
hardest kind of manual labor.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Taken at His Word.

Evan P. Howell tells the New YORK
telegraph" a rather good story about
a Southerner who brought suit some
years ago against the South Carolina
Railroad for damages to his property
He lost the case in the Superior Court,
but insisted upon carrying 1t to the
Supreme Court, where he represented
his own cause. He began his argu-
ment by saying whimsicaliy:
s.May it please the court, there is an
old French adage which says, A man
who is his own lawyer hath fool for
a client
The next week the Supreme Court
pronounced it's decision, which was adj
verse to the Southerner. He was in
Augusta at the time, but received the
announcement of his second and final
disappointment by means Of a tele-
gram sent him by prominent Judge,
who was an intimate friend of his. The
telegram read as follows:
Judgment for defendant in error.
French adage affirmed by Supreme
Court"
The record-union., 1899-12-31
The Raisin Industry.

FRESNO, Dec 3O.-The proposed plan
OF combine in which raisin growers
and packers shall be equally repre-
scented has been laid before meet
ing of Fresno and Kings County pack
ers, and after decision in a favorable
spirit Messrs George B. Noble. Thomas
H. Lynch, Charles King, w. H. Grit
fin and G. G. Bonner We're appointed
a committee to confer on the subject
with the Raisin Growers Association
Directors next Monday. The project
involves the purchase Of all existing
plants at fair valuation and concert
ed action by all packers.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
The Lawton Fund.

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 3O.-The
total contributions to the Lawton fund
tonight on the Pacific Coast amount
to $6,366.5 80. OF this amount, $5,S67 90
was contributed by this city and $49S
by Portland, Or Among to-day's con-
tributors was Mrs. John A. Logan, Jr.,
whose husband, Captain J. A. Logan.
was recently killed in the Philippines.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Four Men Killed.

LANCASTER (Pa.), Dec. 80. = Four
men were killed and several others in
jured by a boiler explosion one mile
west of Elizabethtown this morning.
They We're employees Of Kellar & Kres-
ser, railroad contractors The dead:
Donald Haldemann, Witt Sherbairn,
Harris (colored), and an italian known
as Toney, who was hurled $50 feet
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Value Of silver Decrea.e..

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.-The quar-
terly statement of the values of for
eign coins issued by the Director Of the
Mint shows that during the last three
months the value of silver has de-
creased .1SS cents per ounce, and the
value of foreign silver coins has de-
creased accordingly. These figures will
be followed in. estimating the value OF
all foreign merchandise exported to the
United States on and after january l,
1900.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Death Of a Pioneer.

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 30.-General
Joseph G. Wall, pIoneeis and promi-
nent citizen, died at his home at Ala
media to-day of pneumonia The death
was sudden and unexpected. General
Wall was a native of Ireland, but came
to this country when quite young, Gen.
eneral Wall was 20 years of age.
The record-union., 1899-12-31
Santa CIara's Grand Jury.

SAN JOSE, Dec 30.-The retiring
Grand Jury for the year reported to-
day. Among the recommendations is
an urgent request upon the Supervisors
that they indorse the ordinance requir-
ing all dairy cattle to be subjected to
the suberculin test. There is also de-
mand that some steps be taken to stop
the useless complaints in Chinese cases,
which cost the county heavily.