davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

he would carry her to the street
1.-The ladder was getting pretty hot af-
ter the fourth story and the fire was get
ting pretty close" said Cumisky, in tell
ing the story. when I got up there she
was standing in the cornice, holding with
a death grip to the standpipe. She was a
good-looking, tolerably large woman,
about go 1 guess. Her hair was all down,
her feet were bare and she had on only a
skirt over her nightdress. She was
screaming when I got up there, and did
not seem to realize where she was. One
foot was out over the cornice and if she'd
let go that grip she'd have fallen. Before
1 reached her L expected to see her drop
any minute. When I took hold of her [
whipped a bowline knot around her and
then she tainted.
1.-The fire began to come out of the man
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

That was how two medals were won.
Shaughnessy hurried on around to the post
he had been absent from for eight or ten
minutes in technical violation of orders,
and for long hours he and Assistant En-
gineer Wills fought the flames from the
Baldwin annex. Cumisky came down the
heating ladder like squirrel and went
to work about the water tower with little
further thought of the rescued.
1t was but few minutes later that the
crowd was thrilled again. Away up on
that same cornice. six stories above
ground, a man was running back and
forth, half hidden by the smoke and
quickly TO be reached by the eager
flames.
Look! Look" yelled the crowd.
Fred Savers, a fireman with Engine
Company No. 1, heard and looked up.
There were two fire escapes on the Ellis
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

sistant Engineer Wills for heroism at the
collapse of the Brighton lodging house at
% Fifth street on June %, 1896. An exca-
walton next the four-Story building under
mined its foundations and the whole
building fell in a tangled mass of debris,
burying a score of people. Many were
quickly rescued by willing hands. Wills
made two especially perilous trips far into
the mass of still creaking and falling tim
bers, safely dragging out Miss Bessie
Wilson and taking out also Mrs. Ernesttne
Silverstein, who soon died.
District Engineer Dolan distinguished
himself in April, 1897, at fire on Blu
chanan street, near Ellis, at which he was
in charge. A narrow passage beside a no
ton store led to the coal yard and stable
OF John H. Rufus, in the rear Several
cans of oil in the rear of the store
quickly set store and stable afire
Rufus and young man he employed ran
to the stable to save three horses, but the
blazing oil cut off their retreat and
quickly surrounded them by fire. The
young man escaped through the stable
roof but the older man was overpowered
by the smoke and fumes.
Dolan, working in the passageway,
thought he heard groans. The little coal
yard was getting to be veritable fur
mace, but into it Dolan sprang. Past
the nearest flames, he CROPPED around in
the dense smoke. Then the stream
struck him and bowled him over, knock
ing him against the insensble form of
Rulffs. The burden was a heavy one,
and Dolan was half overcome. He called
for assistance. Foreman William Ken
nealy heard him and came. In mo-
ment they together dragged out the old
man to safety. He could have lived in
that fiery atmosphere but little longer
That is the sort of stuff the San Fran
cisco Fire Department is made of. They
are proud Of their big gold medals, but
to them their deeds were merely part Of
fireman's duty.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

street side, but the excited man away up
there amid the smoke did not see them.
"I'u get him down." said 'Sayers, and
he made dash for the same fire escape
that had presented the spectacular feat
of a few minutes before.
A. ]. Christie, a Milwaukee travelling
man, in an outside room on the mansard
story, had been awakened by the break
ing of his transom and the shooting in OF
flames. Pulling on pair of trousers,
which he did not stop to faSten, he rushed
to the window and sprang out upon the
broad cornice. Smoke and fire seemed
all about him. He ran along the cornice,
but missed the iron ladders and could see
no possibility of escape. Deciding quick
ly that he would not be burned alive, he
hurried back to his room, secured
razor and was out on the cornice again,
ready at the last moment to cut his own
throat.
With this resolution he stood there,
razor in hand, giving a last thought to
the wife and children he had left 1000
miles away when he realized loud'
calm voice calling to him.
Here, throw that away" it said. Now
keep cool. I'll get you down 1t was
Fireman Savers speaking. from out of
the smoke, twenty feet peloW: -,
keep your head and you'll be all
right" repeated Savers in natter-of-
fact way as he came up. Elk up your
suspenders there. Now, can you climb"
Yes"
''WelI, as I go down you drop your legs
over my shoulders, and I'll help you
down"
With this burden on his shoulders the
strong young fireman went quickly down
ward through the smoke, past windows
where great tongues of flame from within
and the stream from the water tower
were alternately striking and countering.
Safe on the ground at last and relieved of
his human burden he too, went coolly and
quietly back to his hose lines
The first Scanneu medal went to As
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

r- HBaScanneu- medal does more than
reward once a year some heroic
member of the San Francisco Fire
Department. It recalls the fact
that the heroes are not all registered
in the records of grim war. 1t
brings into clearer view heroes of the life
about us, and in so doing raises up ex-
ampleS of human nobility and helps ones
faith in human nature.
So 1t was not all for Messrs. Shaugh-
messy, Cumislky and Savers that nearly
the whole Fire Department marched
down Market street on WaShingtOn's
birthday escorted by a big battalion Of
police and a brass band, and helped fill
Metropolitan Hall to the doors, while
they and the Fire Commissioners and
other big men heard words of praise and
saw the Mayor of the City and the
president of the Merchants Association
pin heavy gold badges of honor for he
Toism" on the breasts of three blue
coats. It was good for every man and
woman there to see and hear the tribute
to brave deeds paid amid flowers, music
and oratory.
When old Dave Scanneu died he left
$1,000 to be invested with the provision
that the interest should be used to pur-
chase annually a gold medal to be pre-
scented to some member of the department
who had distinguished himself in the per
formance Of his duty, particularly in saw
ing human life.
Five members of the Fire Department
have been thus decorated since the prac-
tice began in 1885,
When at a. m. of November % that
ever-dreaded fire alarm from box AZ
brought fire apparatus from all parts of
the city to the Baldwin Hotel it was on
the Ellis street side that the most thrill
ing scenes were witnessed. District En-
gineer Shaughnessy, who had come at a
gallop from Stockton and Greenwich
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

umphantly held up in evidence of his
prowess.
OF late years missionary effort partially
abolished the barbarous custom and vic
tors were content with victims ear as
a badge of courage. The man who could
show the most ears was the hero of the
hour. This, however, did not altogether
commend itself to the Samoan mind. and
for reasons. 1t was discovered that brag-
CARTS had a habit of slicing off both ears
thereby multiplying their feats unwar-
rantably, and In this last war the ghast-
ly heads have again been displayed
The heads are invariably male. Hith-
erto the Samoan woman has borne
charmed life. She has been allowed free
access to opposing camps, has carried pro-
visions, water-and occasionally useful
information-to her belligerent relatives,
and no finger has been raised to harm
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

n milf oti," killing knife, is the pride
~ and delight of the modern Samoan
~ warriors heart. In olden days, be-
n fore the white man had brought in
n struments of civilization into use,
he was satisfied with the heavy club,
which stunned an enemy; but now every
man fit for fighting considers himself I'M
armed unless he be the happy possessor
of a murderous looking butchers knife,
with it's sharp point cut off. He wraps
the handle round with sinnett, so as TO
insure a good grasp. and then woe betide
the fallen enemy whose head lies at his
mercy.
In times of peace the nif oti is in
daily use without unpleasant associations;
it is satisfactory when pig requires dis
memberment or cocoanuts and bananas
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

PROV of boat; a fair taupo stabbing the
air with it in her pantomime of pursuit
and escape; a make-believe warrior
flourishing it as he capers about in green
leaf kirtle, his face smudged with blue,
and no harm ever results.
It is a different matter, however, when
the ktrtled and smudged warrior capers
in grim earnest. True, he is the owner of
a white mans gun, which the white man
has taught him to use, but he has the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

'1aguest ideas about taking aim. If 1t be-
a question of a wood pigeon hidden away
among leafy branches where no whitel
mans eye can detect 1t, the Samoan gen.
orally brings 1t down at the Arst shot;I
but when human body Is his target he
fires at random, and If you want to court
danger the best way is to stand apparent
ly out of range. When, however, he does
succeed in killing or mortally wounding,
the JOY of battle begins. With the whoop
and Shrek Of the victor ne is down on the
fallen foe, the milf oti comes into vigorous
action and a dripping human head is tri-
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23

tain that sacred and Inspired instru-
ment.
II has been noted from the very In
ception OF the Mormon" Church that
her nssailants either had an axe to
grind or that their private lives would
not stand close Inspection. one OF the
many now engaged In lobbying against
Mr.. Roberts IL an alleged lawyer from
this city. II has been said by more
than one that he In unworthy to unite
the formers shoes. Nothing more can
be said TO show the patient character
OF the Mormon people than that tin
horn gamblers and moral lepers can do
all In their power against the dominant
Church and atill be tolerated and UNI
molcated when living In strictly
Mormon" community Why they even
have the effrontery to ask the patron
age OF the Saints. Talk Of Satan re-
buking aln'
history II profile with Instances show
Ing that no weapon formed against
Divine truth can prosper From the
prophetic utterances Of Joseph Smith
concerning the fate OF stephen ~
Douglas down TO the Hitler souls OF the
owen stripe. II has become n house
hold word among young Utah. that he
who knowingly fights against Nor
monlsm'' VIII. sooner or later. go down
na did the mighty Douglas and die a
disappointed man.
Though Utah born. have visited
most OF the States In the Union and
when In the large cities ! have found
from the young men themselves. from
physicians and hospitals that nature IL
puniHhing her victims by the thousands
for violating the moral law. Nor did
Ind our national capital any exception
II was pretty well Understood that many
n clerkship upon the recommendation
OF members Of Congress. was filed by
pretty girls whose personal attractions
for their patrons Were their chief quail.
hcationa. Should not these Congrcssmen
clean out their own augenn stables be-
fore attacking their nelghbors3
II has often happened that fierce on
slnughts against people has resulted
differently to that intended by It's In
stlgators; so IL the present crusade
against the "NIormons' acting. I have
already noticed that more than one OF
young Utah has recently resolved that
happiness comes from within. and In
stead Of following the advice Of the
antl-"Mormon" paper. that political
prefcrmcnt can not come to those. who
like II. II. Roberts prefers to be right
than TO be President. they say with the
Danish queen who wrote on her prison
door "oh. keep me Innocent. make
others great"
When these tidal waves OF opposition
sweep over the Mormon" Church II on
~ cements the members the more solid
ly within when there ~ a little sharp
persecution from without.
YOUNG UTAH.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23

I mighty upon my efforts" This was the
testimony OF the widow.
Now, II has been said that we should
not obey this law because OF the bene-
fits we derive from It, but we should
obey II because II IN the law Of God
given as n law by which the temporal
affairs OF the kingdom OF God may be
carried on. Why. there II not q gov
eminent In the world that has not Its
revenue law. There II not n State In
this Union. there II not n city. a town.
or a village. but has provisions for the
raising OF the means necessary for It's
government. They all have to submit
to taxation, In order that revenue may
be raised for the making OF streets.
bitches, bridges etc, and for the
maintaining OF peace and guarantee
ing good government to the people.
Shall not, therefore, the Kingdom Of
God have It's revenue law lH II not
right and proper that the Church OF
Jesus Christ OF Iattcr-day Saints
should have a revenue law The city
or county lcvics taxes upon us. What
for2 That II may have means with
which TO maintain the government. to
feed the poor, to make roads. To build
bridges. and TO do all things necessary
for the happiness and welfare of Its
people. This law OF tlthlng II the most
lust revenue law that has ever been
revealed to the children OF men. II IN
not an EMBARGO upon Improvement.
like the taxation laws OF our cities are.
why. In Salt Lake city. n you build n
good house and beautify your grounds.
they VIII Increase your taxes. You
have to pay dearly for making Improve
mcnts and for bcautlfylng and build
ing up the country. The Lord does not
do that. He gives law which falls
Justly and equally upon all men.
whether they are rich or poor. That
law requires the payment Of one-tenth
IL the tenth OF our Interest. that
il matter which Is left largely TO
the conscience OF mcr. And God
will measure men by then conaclences.
and by the iiberallty with which they
respond to His requirements. II we
are nlRgnrdiy and attempt to decker
with the Lord. He will decker with us.
and when you undertake to do this with
the Almighty. let me tell you lie has a
decided advantage. He rules the clc-
ments and controls all things, and He
can bless or withhold His blessings
from the children OF men. He does not
make this requirement OF US because
He needs the tenth OF what we earn
annually. but II IA because He wants US
TO obey Him In all things. obedience
IL better than sacrifice; and TO hcarken
than the fat OF rams" Jesus came In
10 tho world to teach the great Lesson
Of obedience TO the Father. II Is nee
essary that we should be obediont to
the laws OF God II we expect to receive
His blessings.
I desire 10 read little ancient Scrip
ture that has been revealed anew In
the dispensation OF the fulness OF
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23

Brigham City. beautiful for sltua-
ton" not only ION the sides OF the
north" but on the sides of the west and
south also. II Is not vain Boosting, but
simply stating geographical fact when
We say than Brigham City occupies one
OF the finest city sites In the State.
How appropriate. how fitting that this
should be the case The city Of Brig
ham Is the one city bearing the name Of
the great western Pioneer. lie who
founded hundreds OF towns ana cities.
should have one choice location to per-
pctuate his name. and Brigham Young
has that.
Away back In the formation ages the
water that poured from the Matura val
ley on the east carried with II vast de-
posIts Of gravel and dumped II on the
western base OF the Wasatch. In time
beautifully rounded bench or delta
was formed rising In gentle grande from
the bed OF the old lake to the sides OF
the mountain. This bench has no sud
den slopes, common to the torraccd
bench lands OF other locations but
slopes gently 10 the north. west and
south. on these three inclines the city
IL built.
Brigham is a city OF gardens and
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23

trees, and approached from amy Of the
three directions named. IL presents n
most beautiful appearance. ON the
southern slope large orchards attract
hrst notice. lying on the sunny hill side,
well down towards the base, while up
IN the more thickly built town. rises far
above all. the roof and splre Of the
Tabernacle. The traveller from the west
sees Brigham from afar on, a city on
hill which cannot be hid. From the bar
rem western mountains ho secs "A large
bulglng patch Of green nesting against
the Wasatch base, and AS he journeys
over the long stretch Of Bear River val
ley the green spot grows before him
Into q city of homes.
But perhaps the most beautiful APP
preach to the city Is from the north,
Rounding one Of the points ON the road
few miles north, the city suddenly
bursts before the gaze. From this side
II stands well out from the mountains
INTO the valley ana does not seem 40
cling so closely TO It's parent base, on
this side the city covered slope morges
Into green meadow lands and fields OF
grain which stretch around the town
above as a frame Of emerald.
II We enter the city by the railroad.
Forest street is ready 10 lead us up
eastward into town. Four rows Of Box.
elder and locust trees line he gldewllks
ana AZ Its end a mile away stands flc-
Ing the center NJ the street. the county
court house. II is cream tinted and.
IN Its beautiful surroundings OF trees.
grass and flowers. strongly reminds one
or monument 10 rome departed hero,
Forest sire cuds al Main street
which lntcrstcis H. extending from the
bhHe or the mountains IN the north
through the center Of the city. and con.
tinuing Ia he cad 20 h set,len nts Oh
me south; on this street the principal
business houses are located. occupying
me greater part OF three blocks ON each
side OF the street.
Note the streets Of Brigham lily
everybody does. How neat and clear
,hey are II your visit is In the sprlng
Nv WI see the less travelled street,
eolored with tint OF green. caused. MOI
~ eoatse, rank weeds. but by velvetrS
ssass or clover As the season advanc.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
DEsEREr EVENING SATURDAY, DECEMBER

Is not on the books. Ills record shows
that he IN a defuulter. that he has
robbed God. and that he has not ful
nlled the law. Yet that man may be
Teacher: he may be advocating the law
OF tithing. and calling upon you and
me TO pay an honest tithingi
Have we not robbed God? Think
Of Il: take Il home to your
selves, and see whether or not you
have paid mn honest tithinv 70 the
Lord. See n the words OF Malachi. re-
peated by the Savior unto the Nephite
disciples. and recorded In this Book
OF Mormon to come forth In the last dis
pensation. do not apply to you. and "
they do not have some meaning TO US
as well az to the ancient Jews. who
OF us have paid an honest tithingl
believe there are men who have done
II. believe that I now look upon
the faces OF men who have paid an hon
est tithinE--one-tcn OF nil their In
tcrest annually. But where you look
upon the faces OF such men as these.
you may look upon the faces OF scores
OF other men who have not given TO the
Lord onc-tenth Of their interest annu-
any. Wherefore, let US repent; Tor
toll YOU that sore consequences VIII
follow diHobedlencc and unrcpcntancc
In relation to these things.
Listen to what the Lord says further;
Bring yc all the tithcs into the store
house. that there may be meat In my
house. and prove me now herr ~.
saith the Lord OF Hosts, II I will not
open You the windows Of heaven, and
pour you out n blessing. that there shall
not be room enough to receive u.
And I will iobuke the dcvourcr for
your sakes. and he shall not destroy
the fruits OF your ground. neither
shall your vine cast her fruit before the
time In the nelds. saith the Lord OF
And all nations shall call you
blessed, for ye shall be "A dellghtsome
land. saith the Lord Of Hosts"
Here IL the thing for the widow to
look ut. and for the poor man to think
OF. Here IL the thing for all to CON
slider who want their names recorded In
the book OF the law OF the Lord. who
want to have an Inheritance In Zion,
who want to Hanctify this land and
make II land of Zion. that the bies-
sing OF God may be upon II. that the
devourer may he rebuked, that the vine
may not cast lta fruit before It's time.
and that the favor ,of God may be
shown toward the land until all nations
shall call n blessed John the Revcla-
tor tells us that he saw the dead,
small and great. stand before God; and
the books were opened and another
book was opened. which IL the book ~
life. and the dead were Judged out OF
those things which were written In the
books, according To their weeks. {.
And whatsoever was not found written
In the book OF lie was cast Into the
lake OF IRE" Now. you will not have
your name written In the Lambs book
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
WHEN NEW CENTURY BEGINS
Decree Issued by Catholic Church Says
the Date Is January 1, 1901.

a decree issued by the authorities OF
the Roman Catholic church at Rome
permitting the celebration OF midnight
mass on December n, 1899. and Deem
Der 81. 1900. has been interpreted In
some quarters as an approval by the
pope Of the contention that the TWEEN
tleth century begins on Jan. l. 1900 and
not on Jan. I. 1901. The translation OF
this decree, which has Just been re-
ceived here. however. proves thar such
conclusion IL an error. The decree
sets forth that the new century begins
on January !, 1901.
The decree referred 10 was issued at
the request OF the international COM
mittec for the Solemn Homage, a body
In charge Of the celebration OF the holy
year recently proclaimed by the pope.
In order tor ts,uctify the night of Dec.
81 1900. this committee asked the pope
to grant permission for the celebration
OF midnight mass In all the churches OF
the world at that time. Not only was
this request granted. but the pope ex-
tended the concession so that the mid :
night mass may be said also Dec. 81,
1899.