davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
THEY EXCHANGED WIVES.
story Back of a Lawsuit Just Decided
I'm the Pc ria Courts.

story HACK OF a Lawsuit JUST DECIDED
in the Paris Courts.
A lawsuit arising out of a very compli-
Gated conjugal situation has just been de-
cided by the Paris courts. reports a Paris
letter. In 1886, NJ. and Nine. Dutuc were
neighbors OF M. and Nine. Gertron. M.
Dutuc laid successful siege to Nine. Cert
ron's affections. His wife informed NJ. Cert
ron, who persuaded her that retaliation was
the best revenge. This situation lasted six
months, when suddenly all was discovered.
No alteration ensued. The two husbands
simply exchanged wives and signed a con-
tract engaging not to take any legal meas
ures. A year later, however, they arranged
for police raids on each other, and after
much difficulty, due to 1.-THE unworthiness
OF the plaintiffs" they both succeeded in
getting divorces. Then NJ. Dutuc married
Nine. Gertron and M. Gertron married Nine.
Dutuc. All this time the four were on per-
fectly friendly terms. They remained so
until other questions arose. In the matri-
monial reshufle NJ. Gertron kept his own
two children, and took in the three OF his
new wife. Lately he claimed half the cost
OF keeping the whole five from M. and Nine.
Dutuc (ex-Mme. Gertron) mother of the two
others. The amount claimed for the years
during which he kept and educated the five
children was 1000 francs. NJ. Gertron has
lost his case. The court declared yesterday
that the Dutucs owe nothing to the Cert
rons because the obligation OF parents to
bring up their children is not an in solido
obligation. Consequently the parent who
has alone discharged the obligation cannot
afterwards claim repayment from the other
of half the sum he or she has thus volun-
tarily disbursed.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
PUT A STOP TO SCORCHING
Reckless Bicycle Riding on the Streets to Be
Discontinued,
AUTHORITIES WILL ACT IN THE MATTER
Use of Lamps on wheels nj Night Will
Probably he Made Compulsory
EARLY Action by the
AUTHORITIES WILL ACT IN THE MATTE

Mayor Jennings communication to the
council Monday concerning an ordinance to
prohibit "scorching'' on the public streets
and to compel the carrying Of lamps at
night by riders OF bicycles was the subject
Of considerable discussion yesterday among
the wheelmen Of the city. Members OF the
wheel clubs are especially In favor OF such
an ordinance and 1t is only a short time
since Chief of Police Bixby was requested
by them to use all the authority he had to
stop the riding Of bicycles on the
and prevent reckless riding on the streets.
The use Of lamps at night has become al
most universal among the wheel riders OF
this city, so 1t Is conceded that an ordinance
making the carrying Of lamps compulsory
would not work any hardship. The num-
Der of bicycles in use this year is at least
double that of last season and the down
business streets are the principle resorts OF
riders after dark.
Pearl street with it's brick pavement Is
used more than any other thoroughfare at
night time by riders, and hundreds of BIZ
cycles are seen there every fine evening.
The smooth pavement affords a temptation
for fast riding and 1t is chiefly on account
Of the 'scorching" on this street that so
many complaints about reckless riding have
reached the mayors office. p.
The matter of drawing up an ordinance
is now before the committee Of the whole
Of the city council and 1t is understood that
the aldermen are all in favor OF such a
measure. 1t is expected that an ordinance
will be prepared and submitted at the regu-
lar meeting of the council in August.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
CRACKS GATHER AT oTTUMwA.

National Circuit Bicycle Meet Will
Open In the Iowa City Today.
OTTUMWA, Ia, July 1S.-(Special. 1.-The
town Is full Of League Of American Wheel
man crack riders, hard at work in practice
for the national circuit meet tomorrow. Tom
Eek, the veteran trainer, Is here with his
Canadian team, consisting of Angus Nc
Leod, Charles Mccarthy. Beake and Dun
bar, Jimmy Beler, Major Taylore. the But
Ter Brothers of Boston, and Lewellyn, Por-
ter and LAWN of Chicago.
Besides the above cracks Of national rep
utation, there are a number here from sur
rounding states preparing for tomorrow's
program. The trial heats will be run in
the afternoon and the finals at night by
electric light. The track is a new ten-lap
board affair and is, spoken of by all the
riders here as very fast. 1t Is directed by
the Ottumwa Bicycle Track association and
tomorrow's races will be its formal open
ing.
The events include a mile amateur, mile
professional, two-mile amateur handicap,
mile professional, 2:15 class, amateur half
mile open, professional one-mile handicap,
amateur two-mile open. professional ma
tional championship. Over $500 in prizes are
hung up for these events. Fred Gerlach,
chairman Of the national racing board of
the League of American Wheelmen, is here
and will act as referee. The judges will
be E. M. Newman, track architect Of Chi
cago; Ed F. Carter of Keokuk and Ed
johnson of Sigourney. Elaborate prepara-
lions are also being made for the two-days'
meeting of the Iowa division, League of
American Wheelmen, which will be held
on this track Wednesday and Thursday, July
26 and 81.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
FOR A FIvE-DOLLAR BILL.
An Automobile Drtver Had n VIII
Ride and Ended I'm I'm Jail.

An Automobile Driver Had n wild
Ride and Ended Up in Jail.
In his anxiety to get a passenger the
driver OF an automobile made a wild run
down Fifth avenue Tuesday night. says the
New York Times, and several bioyclists and
drivers of other vehicles had a narrow
escape.
At sos o'clock James Donahue, as years
old, with his automobile, was standing in
front of the Grand Central station. He re-
ceived word that a passenger in the Union
Square hotel wanted to make the 500 ex-
press and had a IS bill for the man who
could get him to the station in time. Dona-
hue said he would try it and with thoughts
only of the reward he opened wide the
lever and the machine jumped forward, al
most throwing him from his seat. He turned
into Forty-second street with a swing that
sent the vehicle over on two wheels and
almost capsized it.
Once into Fifth avenue he sent his ma
chine along at It's highest speed. The ave-
nue. was thronged with all sorts Of car
riages and with hundreds OF wheelmen out
for an evening spin. Donahue kept his foot
on the bell, ringing it constantly, and
worming his way in and out he knocked
one wheelman after another off his wheel
and scared a number Of teams. There is a
nedVy QrOp TOT three DOCKS JUST above
Thirty-fourth street and Donahue went down
this grade at a speed close to thirty-1ve
miles an hour. When he struck the Thirty
fourth street car tracks the machine bounced
at least six inches into the air. but the
anxious driver kept right on.
The frightened wheelmen had by this
time recovered their self-possession and a
score or more of them pedaled furiously
after the man, yelling for somebody to stop
him. Bicycle Policeman Dobson was at
Twenty eighth street and heard the rumble
Of the approaching machine. 1t sounded like
a small tornado. Dobson mounted his wheel
and as the automobile shot by he gave chase.
At Twenty-second street there were so many
vehicles in the avenue that Donahue had to
slacken his speed and Dobson was able to
run alongside. He ordered the driver to
stop and told him he was under arrest.
Donahue protested that a passenger was
waiting for the 500 train, but was COM
PEELED to go to the West Thirtieth street
station. There the sergeant told Donahue
hat the law permitted bicyclists to leave
their wheels for security when arrested for
violating the speed ordinance and that he
would give him, the same privilege. Dona-
hue was overjoyed and started to leave.
when the sergeant called him back. But
you must leave your machine in the sta
tion," he said. Donahue was unable to do
this and was kept in a cell until bailed out
by the Electric Cab company. by which he
is employed. 1t is not known whether the
passenger caught his train.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
war on Weeds.

'"h " N't"os
Alderman Casper is preparing to inaugu-
rate a war Of determination against weeds
which are so much in evidence In every part
of the city. An examination of the statutes
shows that the city has authority to pass
an ordinance, which, II enforced, will abate
the nuisance. The ordinance is now being
prepared by City Solicitor Wadsworth and
will, 1t is expected, be presented at the
meeting Of the council next Monday night.
The ordinance will provide for a penalty
for failure of property owners to keep their
lots free from weeds after being notified
by the city to do so. Further It will pro-
vide that in the case Of nonresident prop
erty owners the weeds shall be cut by the
city and the cost OF the work taxed against
the property. For a number Of years the
city has wrestled with the weed nuisance,
but the law was defective inasmuch as 1t
did not give the city the authority to abate
the nuisance and then tax the cost to the
property. The twenty-seventh general as
sembly amended the law SO as to give cities
this right.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
"THEY DO SUCH THINGS"
Features of Life a Westerner RAJ
Against in n Big City.

Features of Life q "esterner Han
Against I'm n Big City.
What kind Of a town is this you are get
ting?" breathlessly asked a bewildered
gentleman from the west as he arrived ten
minutes late at an important appointment,
looking as IL he had undergone a severe
shock of some kind, so the Criterion AYERS.
'Why, has anything struck you as being
out of the ordinary" responded his New
York friend, who was not a little pleased to
find that there was something In the east
that could disturb the equanimity of a man
from the west.
Huh" said the westerner, ~ should say
that something has, several times, in fact,
and this is why / am late In getting here.
To begin with, I was almost run over by a
cable car when I was crossing Broadway at
Twenty-third street. That was bad enough
for a man who has always liked horses and
has lived among them all his life, but 1t is
not the worst. AS l jumped out of the way
of the cable car l bumped into a horseless
carriage, and while / was getting way from
that I was almost run over by a man on q
bicycle"
That was rather rough" said the New
York gentleman, with affected sympathy
and a secret glow Of satisfaction, but you
must not be hard on us. We are in a sort OF
transition period just now. But / think that
may safely predict that II you come back In
a few years and get into a fix like that you
will be rescued by a policeman on a flying
machine"
And then the New Yorker proceeded to
skin that dazed westerner out Of hiss eye
teeth.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
Sc. That's the price. Metcalf's.
Insanity Is Alleged.

zachariah Taylor. living at 1920 Avenue
II. filed an information yesterday with the
insanity commissioners charging Mrs. Ar
Wiley Peasley with being insane. Ac-
cording to Taylor the woman who, with her
husband, has been living in part of the
Taylor domicile, is dangerously insane and
If not placed under constraint would pos
sibly do some one or herself injury. He
claimed that Mrs. Peasley had attempted
10 poison his children and he was afraid
she might commit suicide. A warrant for
Mrs. Peasley's arrest was issued, but when
Deputy Sheriff McLyman tried to serve 1t.
he discovered that the woman had learned
of Taylor's action and with her husband
had taken departure across the river. From
the testimony of some of the %neighbors 1t
appeared that the Taylor family and the
Peasleys did not live in harmony and that
being unable to get her out of his house
Taylor adopted this means of becoming rid
of her.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
'CROP CONDITIONS IN IOWA
Summary in Bulletin Form Issued BY the
Iowa Weather and Crop Service.
HAY INJURED BY FREQUENT RAINS
Harvesting Spring Grain Will BE
General Next week-Corn Will he
Fair-Total Acreage OF
the State.

DIES MONIES, July 1s.-(Special Tele-
gram.)-Crop conditions in Iowa are sum
married. as follows by the Iowa weather
and crop service bulletin issued today:
The week was warm with more than the
usual amount of humidity and cloudiness.
The weather was unsettled and threatening
with tendency to frequent showers, which
brought excessive moisture In portions OF
the east central, northeast, north central
and south central districts. In the balance
Of the state. however. the amount of rain
fall was not in excess Of requirements for
crop growth.
In about one-third to one-half Of the
state work in the hay fields was retarded
and a good deal of hay has been injured by
frequent rains and lack OF sunshine. In
the drier districts fair progress has been
made in haying and harvesting rye, early
sown oats and barley.
With favorable conditions harvesting
spring grain crops will be general in the
larger part Of the state within the coming
ten days.
Corn has made very good progress in all
sections and the bulk Of the crop has been
laid by in fair condition, but work Of cul-
~tivating Is in progress In late planted fields
and bottom lands. Prospects for this croI
as a whole are steadily improving.
Oats and other small grain crops are
standing up fairly we'll under somewhat ad-
verse conditions, and with a favorable har-
vest season the output will be good. Po-
tatoes, pasture and garden truck are doing
notably well.
The northeastern district experienced con-
siderable rain during the last week and
haying was consequently interfered with,
1t was a good week for the growing crops,
though the small grain is considered al
most too rank. The secretary of state has
just issued a crop report which shows total
acreage planted in the state as follows:
Winter wheat, 154,177; fall wheat, 1921
1876; corn, 1914. $50; oats. 4,076. $685.: barley,
576, 1856; rye, 1874, 176; flax, 159. 1888; potatoes,
155, 1s1: timothy. 2.1Ss.5s2; clover, 646,O47;
prairie hay. 1.1sS. 1892; pasturage, 7,4so. 922.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
KISSING BUG VISITS CREsToN,
One Man and n Young Woman Suffer
from Its Visits.

One Man and n Young Woman Suffer
from Its Visits.
CRESTON, Ia, July 18.-(Special.)-That
the new insect commonly termed the kissing
bug has formally made it's appearance in
Creston is now practically beyond doubt, as
there are at least two persons who are no
doubt suffering from the effects Of Its bite.
The place bitten Immediately became swol-
len. and all of the symptoms ascribed to
that dreaded insects work are plainly wis.,
BILE. A Creston physician yesterday cap
tured two insects, which upon examination,
were found to be of new or uncommon
species, and had the hard shell described to
the unwelcome newcomer.
G. w. Wills OF this city was bitten or
stung over the eve by a bug. and as a re-
suit that member Is now swollen entirely
shut. He did not see the bug and does not
know of what character the insect was, but
the result of its visit Is painfully apparent
to him. Remedies usually used In reducing
swellings were applied in vain In this case
and an analysis of the blood is now being
made to ascertain the proper remedy there
fore. The injury was received several days
ago and the eye has been entirely closed
since.
Another victim was Miss Blanche Win
chester. who resides with her parents on
North Oak street. A few days since she
was bitten on the lip by a bug and the re-
suit was an almost immediate swelling Of
that member to an abnormal Size. Efforts
to reduce the swelling were unavailing. and
the attending physician was forced to lance
the swollen part In order to give her relief.
The operation had the desired effect and
she is now getting along all right.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
IS, That's the price, Metcalf's.
LARGE CROP OF SMALL GRAIN.
Indications in Western Iowa Point to
m EnOrmOus Weld This Seanon.

Indications in Western Iowa Point to
an Enormous Yield This Season.
SIOUX CITY, Ia, July 18.-(SpeciaI.)-
large crop Of small grain this year. Early
in the year it was feared that the late
winter was going to prove a serious obstacle
to the farmers, but all fears now have dis
appeared. The facts of the case are farmers
have really more than they know how to
handle and they are simply unable in this
part Of the state to get men enough to han
die their harvest. In many sections farmers
are paying almost double wages to get hands.
Up to date 1t is an excellent condition so
far as the crops are concerned. Recent
weather has been admirable and scarcely
anything that might have Injured the crops
has turned up. There has been very little
hail so far this year and wind has not
lodged or tangled the stalks to any degree.
thing. Whatever may have been the record
for three or four weeks previous the last
week has surpassed all in the Improvement
Of the corn crop.
The good weather has allowed cultivation
to proceed almost uninterruptedly and the
nights have not been so cool that growing
could not go on as we'll as in daylight. 1t
is not thought the corn can possibly pull
up to an average crop. but even this may
prove a mistake-the people greatly hope so.
Already there are many fields OF barley in
shocks and soon the wheat will begin tum-
bling before the reaper.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
HARLEM GHOST WALKS AGAIN.
Mysterious PIunEer Reappears on tn
Famous Course.

SA
Famous Course.
Harlem bookmakers ~ruefully assert that
1.-THE Ghost Ia once more among them.
The Ghost has a notable local history, re-
ports the Chicago Chronicle. Some years
ago. perhaps a decade. before half OF the
present generation of racegoers knew a
thoroughbred Ally from a red rocking horse.
a mysterious unknown appeared at a west
side track and began a systematic playing
OF such "long shots as he might favor.
For a time no one noticed this foolish
stranger, but when he began to burn up
all the books with fives and tens on 100 to /
boys and that sort OF thing the layers Of
odds took to shivering.
The queer part of 1t all was that, though
his lank figure and pale, hollow-eyed face
were known to every habitue of the track,
no one ever saw him come in or go away.
He simply appeared and disappeared. No
one knew him. No one knew his name.
No one remembers that he ever wrote him
a losing ticket. Some days he would bet
on only one race. Some days he would not
appear at all, and then all the favorites
would win. The Ghost played long shots
only. 1t is computed that In four weeks
he took $50. 900 out OF the bookmakers at one
track alone and utterly broke a number
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
RAILWAY MILEAGE.
North and south America Credited
with One-HnIf the TnfnI.


with One-HnIf the Total.
The total length Of railroad in The world
amounted In 1897 TO 454, 730 miles, and in the
nve years from 1898 to 1897 the totar increase
was 34,4S5 miles. or $50 per cent. The same
year the total length of railroad in the
United States was 1874, 27S miles, al increase
In five years OF $50 per cent. North and
South America and the West 1ndia islands
are credited with over one-half OF the total
mileage, or 1886, 21S miles.
Next to the United States among the great
nations is the German empire, with a total
Of 29,SS0 miles, and then follows France,
with 2 s 1873 miles; Russia with 25, O03 miles,
although, II we include the transcasplan
district Of Russian and Siberia, Russia would
come third with a total OF 2S, 302 mites. Fol
lowing France and Russia are Great Britain
and Ireland, 81, 800 miles; British India. a.
900 miles; Austria-Hungary 20, 90S miles;
British North America, 1854 miles: Italy,
9,714 miles, and the Argentine Republic, 9,422
miles. Belgium has the largest amount OF
railroad in comparison with its total area,
the amount being 1922 miles for each square
mile Of area.
In comparing the countries by the length
of railroad compared with the amount OF
population that they serve, we find that the
colony OF South Australia stands first with
52.3 miles for each 10000 people, this result,
Of course, being due to the comparative
sparseness of the population. In the United
States there are twenty-six miles to each TO-
900 inhabitants.
In the more densely populated districts of
Europe the figures fall considerably, Ger
many having So miles for each 10, 900 people.
The small increase Of 3.6 per cent in the
total mileage for the United States is due to
the fact that the years 1893 to 1897 were
among the least active in railroad construc-
ton in the history of the country, the
previous decade having been one of
extraordinary increase, over IL, 1000 miles, or
more than half the present total length of
railroads in Great Britain, having been built
in a single wear.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
sunday Closing Crusade.

CRESToN, Ia. July DECENTRALIZATION
information sworn out by Rev. G. K.
Schlable of the Presbyterian church, Rev.
c. L. Nyce of the Methodist church. Rev.
d.. L. Snider OF the Christian church and
Rev. William Pearce of the Baptist church.
Constable Scoheld last evening arrested
John d. Eckert. Vernon Sowash. James and
Richard Mallory, Frank Zaun and c. s. Camp
bell, those owning and managing the
grounds. stands and amusements at Summit
Grove park. the accusation being that all
had violated the Sunday observance law.
Eckert Is owner and manager OF the
park, and by the way, he Is the same man
who, only a few weeks ago, snore out war
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19

OF very gallant sporting gentlemen. Then
the Ghost disappeared.
Now, II Is claimed, he Is back again. hun
cry for more blood. eager to battle in
bookies' gore, and the air is filled with APP
prehenslon. Som odds layers have gone
so far as to declare they will refuse any
bets he may offer, but the elder ones, those
who remember The Ghost OF old, asseverate
that when once he has fixed his glittering
eye upon the unhappy victim on the block
1t is all of. The Ghost gets what he
asks for. The old timers say the Ancien,
Mariner wasn't in his class. There are
those who profess to fear The Ghosts re-
turn may break up summer racing in Chi
cago, but the associations arrangements de-
clare this is untrue and that they will
finish their schedule.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19

SIOUX CITY, Ia, July IS.-tSpecial. =
There is a strong probability that the big
union depot in Sioux City will be turned into
a large warehouse for jobbirg houses Of Sioux
City. The fact that the Pacific Short Line has
passed into the hands OF the Great Northern
and the Sioux City & Northern will do the
same, thus removing the head ofices. will
leave only one other road using the depot.
The idea OF the owners is that the property
would bring in more revenue. but the people
of Sioux City would prefer to see the depot
continued as at present. II cost a great deal
OF money. but never has paid very much to
the holders OF the bonds.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19

rants against a couple Of citizens for hshins
on the Sabbath. sowash is superintendent
the park. James and Richard Malloy con-
duct a hooting gallery in the grove. Camp
bell has several Shetland ponies which he
hires to children at 8 cents per ride, and
Zaun conducts a refreshment etand, sells
lemonade, pop. candies, cigars, etc. II IL
rumored that other men who have been
transacting business on Sunday in the city
are to be arrested II they persist in keeping
their places OF business open on the Sabbath.
A majority OF the business houses are
closed on Sunday. but a few remain omen.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
Woman Routs a Highwayman.

IOWA CITY. July 1s.-(Special. Mrs.
Jennie Figg OF this place was attacked by
four highwaymen one mile south OF the city
Sunday evening and commanded to deliver
her cash. She showed one Of the bold rob-
bers the point OF her pistol and gave testi-
mony that she knew how to shoot. She es-
capped without injury and made her way to
town, where she reported the episode.
Shortly after Emery Holmes was held up on
the same spot and after a hard fight sue
ceeded in escaping. The robbers have not
been captured.