davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16
CHARACTERISTICS OF COLUMBUS

We possess more than twenty por-
traits of Columbus; but none is
authentic. Such of his portraits as we
positively know, however, point to
degenerate characteristics as
precocious grayness, most natural to
psychopaths. Las Casas describes
him thus: Long of body, aquiline nose,
brown eyes, reddish hair early grizzled
In the portrait by GIovio, which seems
to be the most reliable, we notice a
large upper jaw, the absence of beard,
and retreating forehead. In that 80
highly priced by Capriolo, we have
anomalous wrinkles and large arched
eyebrows. In his calligraphy can be diff
ferentiated two types absolutely dis
tinct from each other and different
from the style of the epoch. His writ
ing Is characteristic of a disturbed
mind. The directions of the writing
are self-contradictory now they curve
to the right; now they stand upright;
and now they curve to the left. The
whole Is full of dashes and enormous
fiourishes, all the more significant as
the calligraphic style of the period was
a sober one in this respect, without
either periods or commas. The con-
tinuous repetition of the same letters
and the same phrases has been noted.
Harrisse points out that in the Prophe-
cies seventy-five lines are rhymed. The
abuse of rhyme in the writings OF
paranoeics Is notorious. Columbus was
even more defective than the average
man Of his time in moral sense. One
not unjust cause of his prosecutions
was that, having found no gold, and
wishing to make some by the sale OF
the aborigines (under pretext that
they were idolaters), he seems to have
prevented their being baptised. In his
official correspondence he lied continu-
ally. He claimed to have found an
abundance of gold and spices. He lied
when he asserted that there had been
other admirals in his family, and when
he affirmed that he had navigated all
the west and the east He lied when
he said that for seven years all the
world had rejected him, that he was
the object of universal ridlcule. that
one monk alone had taken pity on him.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16

YES, papa"
Ibid l not issue an injunction
against his coming here any more?"
Yes. papa, but he appealed to a
higher court, and mamma reversed
your decision. "-Tft-Bits
One Jim Moyet of Texas was arrested
on a charge Of murder in 1859. When
released on bail he fed and was not
found until last March. He is now in
prison awaiting his trial.
The City Club of New York city will
introduce a bill in the next legisla-
ture forbidding the practice of asking
a campaign contribution from those
who are candidates for judicial offices.
According to the disclosures of the
Mazet investigating committee these
candidates are assessed from 81, 900 to
$4,000 each.
The lawmakers in Austria and
France are paid S. a day; in Greece
the senators get 500 a month and the
deputies $50; in Germany members of
both houses receive about $3.50 a day.
In Denmark the members of the lands
thing each receive about SO a day; in
Belgium each member of the chamber
of representative gets $S5 a month; in
Portugal the peers and commons are
paid the same sum, which is about
1856 year; in Spain the members OF
the cortes are not paid for their serv-
ices, but enjoy many advantages and
immunities; in Switzerland the mem
bers of the national council get $3.50 a
day and the counsel of states, the
lower house, s1.5O; in Italy the sena-
tors and deputies are not paid at all, but
are allowed travelling expenses. Eng
land is the only country where mem
bers of parliament are not only unpaid
but have no special rights or privi-
leges.
In Kansas City the Credit Mems AS
ISOLATION have raised $4,000 to pay the
expenses of committee which is to
investigate failures and find out which
are fraudulent.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16
WHAT MADE ARMoR OBSOLETE

Firearms and Armor is the theme OF
a paper by Julian Corbett in Long
mans. The traditional idea that fire.
arms occasioned the disuse of armor
is shown to be unfounded. In fact
plate armor and gunpowder were in
PRODUCED in the same century. lie
argues to prove: The real explana-
ton. then. OF the disappearance o.
armor Is. firstly. that with the de-
velopment of military science. light
cavalry proved itself more serviceable
than heavier cavalry. and. secondly.
that light cavalry in their origin were
mounted musketeers, and were there
fore unarmed. Except in their early
days musketeers, it must be remem-
bered, never wore armor"
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16
DING DONG BELL.

Tong, ting. pells
Pussy is in der wells,
She is up der creek.
Who maket her such toombling der va
ter in?
dink it vas der leas who pullet her
auf.
You gan sierch me, tittn't seen it.
III it wasn't my veil wouldn't care auf
she stay in it a gubble uf weeks
yet.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16
SHE MODELS WITHOUT SEEING
A Rich Blind Girls Wax Statuettes
to Go to the Paris Fair.

During a recent visit to nearby
southern city," said New Orleans in
surance man, 81 met young woman
who is blind, but who has become an
exceedingly proficient molder in wax.
She is now about 25, and over 10 years
ago she had the misfortune to lose the
sight of both eyes. For a long time
she was half distracted for lack of &C.
occupation, and then, fortunately, she
hit on the idea of trying her hand at
modelling. She found clay too soft and
pliable. She needed something she
could press harder and feel, as she ex-
pressed it, and was answered perfectly.
| saw a number of little statuettes.
busts, medallions and ornamental
pieces that she had executed, and
could hardly believe that they were
made without sight. She told me, and
it struck me as very curious, that she
does not get her sense of proportion
directly from touch, but as the work
proceeds she builds up a mental pic
ture. see it assuming shape in my
BRAIN she said, and when l get alb
sorbed l forget all about the part my
hands are playing That was as near
ly as she could explain what was prob
ably very subtle process. Some of
the busts were excellent portraits. The
young woman belongs to a wealthy
family and does this simply as a di-
version. Some of her work will be
sent to the Paris exposition. New
Orleans Times-Democrat.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16
CAN GERMANY AFFORD A NAVY7

Colonel Sir George Clarke's article
on Germany as a naval power in TIE
Nineteenth Century leads up to the un-
comfortable conclusion that a costly
naval competition seems likely to be
maintained until the burden becomes
universally Observation-Disclosures Daily
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16
THE TRACK WALKER
RESPONSIBILITIES, GREAT BUT
THEY BRING NO GLORY.
HE'S UNKNOWN AND UNSEEN

Spends the Seasons Going Over the
Track to See if it Be Safe-Never
Talks of His Work, but Performs 1t
With Fidelity and Care-Generally
Has About Six Miles to Cover.
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-30

and lose their skins the Russians can
hunt long time before they can puu EN-
on again or blame Us, especially If we
see EN- coming first" And hereupon the
captain gave US all broad wink
The weather is clear and we car see
the smoke of those hearties long before
they can see US Then with the wind
fresh and strong and blowing away from
NladivOstok. as it is. we could show them
a clean pair of heels and be in American
or English waters before they could know
what had happened" said he.
Then he told what our share would be
One man raised a kick but all the rest Of
us were in for the plan and l noticed
when we agreed to all terms and turned
out the boats for our attack on the island
that that man was the first one in; so L
guess his conscience didn't hurt him
We sailors couldn't then see any differ
ence whether we killed seals by spear and
got few or whether we shot them and
got a lot, except that the latter way was
easy and would make US rich-but you bet
we saw the difference later.
Well. found the island more than
stocked with seals and it was a snap. You
could. go right up to them, so we never
missed shot Day after day we worked
like beaVers-kill, kill. kill and then skin
them and stow them away in the schoon-
er. Our ammunition gave out, and still
there were plenty OF seals, so we sailed
into them with clubs and the work went
merrily on. We laughed and sang and
scoffed at the slow. clumsy Russians
frozen in at Vladivostok
On July we saw smoke t3 the north
west, but 1t was the wrong direction for
man-of-war and the captain decided
it was whaler, so We went 20 work again
with will and forgot about Russia or
anything else, except the gold that each
of US would have as share for the easy
work. My share alone was already up
in the thousand mark and plenty moro in
sight, so / felt more than happy. / was
large for my age and could do a mans
work in killing and skinning seals, so the
captain had agreed to do as well by me
as by the sailors.
At p. m. on the Fourth, a heavy fog
came up-so thick that you couldn't see
your hand in front of your face. Ed
Larkin Walter Pebbler and l were still
on the island busily at work and had
not noticed the fog until 1t was all around
us. Then we made a rush for the boat
and started to pull for the schooner.
which was lying off the island about a
mile and a half. Well, the fog settled in
so fast that we lost track of the ship
and had to turn about and spend the
night on the island. Mighty glad we were
to get back, too, for we had no compass
nor provisions, and the fog had become
30 dense that we nearly missed the ISL
and, as well as being unable to locate the
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-30

schooner. At s o'clock the next morning
it cleared and there right alongside Of
our schooner lay as ugly looking Rus
sian man-of-war as one could wish to
see. We knew at q glance that 1t was
all up. and in our blind terror tried to
hide among the dead seals, whose bodies
were strewn around by the thousands
over the rocky island
The Russians, however, sighted our
boat on the beach. It was probably just
as well for us, for If we had been left
on that rockbOund spot we should have
died of exposure and starvation. They
picked us up. took US aboard ship and
put us in irons with the rest Of the crew.
Six days later we were in Vladivostok
and being hustled through the formality
Of a trial for our enormous offense
against his Majesty the Gar" We were
all convicted and sentenced to twenty
years Imprisonment in that place of liv-
ing death-the Saghalien Prison, where
we were a once taken.
The sickening horrors Of that hole I
never shall forget I still bear the marks
of the knout and will take to my grave
the frightful physical ailments contracted
in the Shiny dungeon Of Saghalien. l went
in a hearty sailor led-strong and able
physically and mentally. 1 came out =
wreck At the time Of Imprisonment I
weighed 113 pounds; when released from
underground confinement tipped inc
scales at barely 62.
For three years-each one of which
seemed a lifetime--we were kept in a
rock cave about fifty feet square far be-
low the surface. In fact, this hole had
been followed out so deep into the bowels
of the rocky island of Saghalien that the
floor of our room was under tide level
and the water had to be pumped out
once week from a corner made deeper
for that purpose.
Three years we were kept in this hell
hole and saw the light Of day but three
times in all that period. The only break
in the horrible monotOny was when we
were taken into an upper room to be
1ogged like dogs and thrown into the
"sweat box The sweat box is the most
devilishly ingenious torture device ever
invented this side of purgatory. 1t is a
cell kept black as midnight, and all
around are steam pipes and a small jet
of escaping steam. They fog an offender
until the blood streams down his back
and then throw him into this place. The
salty perspiration gets into the cuts. the
enervating fetid air stiles and weakens
the victim and the intense darkness is
maddening.
How we ever lived and kept our minds
during those terrible years is to me a
mystery. Our food consisted of black
bread and once a month a little walrus or
seal meat; never any vegetables When
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-30

dangerously Ill we would be taken TO on
upper hospital for a few days and given
condensed milk and hot water.
Guards watched US night and day, and
whenever more than two would group
themselves together for a chat they would
separate US with oaths, blows and kicks.
Every morning some of the Russian pris-
oners from the upper world-a class OF
trusties-would come down to clean out
the place and incidentally kick and cuff
about any of us poor devils that would
get IN the way.
One morning a great strapping Russian
came about this work and passed where
our captain was sitting in the corner, his
head on his knees The captain had been
blue for several days and had not spoken
a word to any of us. He and the first
mate were always kept under the special
watch of the hawk-eyed guard, anyway,
they being the two men the captain OF the
prison seemed to fear the most. Well,
this great brute of a trusty leaned for
ward as he passed the captain, and with
an ugly chuckle deliberately slapped the
unoffenGing man on the face. For an in
slant there was a deadly quiet-Just sec
ond-Dut it seemed a lifetime. 1t was
as though every one had felt that blow on
his own face. The look on Captain Nc
Gregor's face as he realized the insult l
shall never forget and hope never to see
again: it meant death. He leaped TO his
feet and was on that man like wildcat.
The weight Of his body landed fair and
full on the big Russians chest and his
fingers gripped his throat like wise. The
big man fell like an OK, striking his head
with fearful force on the stone floor
A hoarse, animal-ltke cry went up from
the crowd, and then came the clear ring
ing voice of the mate, shouting:
"Ayast there and at the devils!"
And at them we went, hammer and
tongs.
Oh that was royal fight! It was we'll
worth the suffering it brought us all. for
we drubbed those TRUSTEES within an inch
of their lives.
At the first yell the guards had been re-
inforced so we didn't last long, but were
soon dubbed into submission.
The captain of the prison came down
and gave us a talk in very bad English,
but straight enough to the point. He said
he didn't mind our half killing the Rus
sian convicts so much, but he must main
tain discipline, so he ordered US all out for
general flogging-
Captain McGregor had nearly killed his
man. The fellows face was so battered
that his own mother would not have
known him. He never came near our
place again He had learned his lesson.
Well, we caught 1t heavy that day. They
took the captain first, strapped him down
and 1ogged him before our eyes until the
blood streamed from his poor scanned
back. and he tainted away. Then they
revived him and repeated the brutal
whipping.
The rest of us got our share. but not
such a cruel dose. They put the captain
in the sweatbox and kept him there for
ffty-two hours. He was brought back
to us unconscious, and when he finally
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-30

= WAS born IN Kansas on October 12
1879. lived a short time in Denver
and then came west to San Francis
4 co. which has been my home ever
since. From the first day that I saw
the ocean with all the ships standing out
to sea like big. white seabrds and
thought of the free life Of the sailor
was fascinated and made up my mind
TO go to sea as soon as a chance should
present itself.
If had realized then the awful tor
lures ahead Of me. the hell on earth into
which J should be cast, you could not
have persuaded me to come within ten
miles Of boat or a wharf. As 1t was,
however. spent my days on the water
front talking with the sailors, charmed by
their deep-sea stories. and every day more
anxious TO be away upon the life Of free
dom and adventure I had mapped out.
Finally one bright spring day I was
successful. I persuaded Captain Nc
Gregor OF the schooner Willie McGown
to take me with him as cabin boy. The
vessel was bound for the Arctic seal
hunting. ] could hardly sleep that night
for excitement. and my dreams were fun
Of boats, seals, sailors and the fabulous
wealth which I expected to bring back
as my share Of the hunt The next day
I was aboard ship sailing out through the
Golden Gate and the happiest boy in the
world. A sailor at thirteen years. I felt
as though my mark in the world was
clearly made.
On June 8, 1898 we landed at St Mich
ael and remained three days preparatory
to our trip into the Far North and set
ting down to the actual business of the
enterprise. The officers were kind. the
crew were all good fellows, and I was
more than pleased with my first stroke
+ovUa rd profession.
Three weeks later saw us in Russian
waters and in sight Of Copper Island.
Then the captain called all hands and
gave us a little talk. He told us that
where we then were we could spear seals
and il would be all right, but that to
shoot them or to kill them on the island
would get US into trouble-especially If
a Russian man-of-war happened about.
He said that spearing was a very slow
business. but that on the island over
there we could get them by thousands,
and easy game.
''These Internal men-ofwar are to my
certain belief all frozen UP solid in the
harbor Of Vladivostok, eight days run
from here" said the captain, "and
of course if some Of those seals fall dead
The San Francisco call., 1899-07-30

THE CREW
OF THE
willie MCGOwn
SUFFER UNTOLD
TORTURES.
GEORGE MATTHEW'S, a San
7 Francisco sailor lad of twenty
- years, is daily thanking his
lucky stars that ne is safe home
agair-that he can breathe once more
the free air Of Gods own country, feel
again the warm sunshine, and at last
resume the active duties of life.
He has been q convict under Rus
sian law for five long years; treated
as the lowest of felons; tortured,
starved and beaten; and all for the
shooting of a few seals-ani1naIs Of
the same family that we are endeav-
oring to exterminate.
Matthews and his comrades did
not suffer for the principle of the
killing, but because their act, if sue
cessful. would have deprived the
Russian Government Of a few dollars.
They committed a legal crime, but
Lardly moral one-nevertheless
they have paid dearly and Russia is
avenged.
Seven years ago Matthews sailed
from this port as cabin boy on the
schooner Willie McGown, bound for
the Arctic, and with crew of TWEEN
ty-seven souls. They cruised on the
Siberian coast, saw promising returns
in a seal hunt and commenced the
slaughter. A Russian man-of-war
unfortunately happened by at this
time, confscated the ship and took
the men as prisoners to VIadivostok,
where they were sentenced to a ST.
berian prison. The sailors suffered
the penalty of imprisonment for five
years. while the officers are serving
the SEVERE SENTENCE OF TWEEN
TY YEARS.
Matthews at the time Of his i'm
prisonment was fifteen years old and
weighed one hundred and thirteen
pounds. At the time of his release
Eve years after-he weighed sixty
two pounds. He gives below his own
account of those days of frightful
horror and prays heaven to help his
poor captain and first mate-if they
vet remain alive-who still have
fourteen years to serve in the expia-
ton of their sin against the Russian
Bear.
The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-29

the interests of the steel and iron in
dustry. The "Jarnkontoret" employs a
number of experts of different classes,
who make their headquarters in Stock
holm, going about the country as
manufacturers desire Experts of the
first class to which Mr.. Bildt has been
elected are four in number and are en-
ployed only in advancing the newest
and most scientific processes
Mr.. Bildt came to this country in
March, 1880, and since that time has
been constantly in the employ of the
Washburn & Moen company. He grad
uated from the Royal Schoolsof Mines,
in Stockholm, in 1879, and although
possessed Of an excellent technical edu-
cation came to America to work his
ideas out along practical lines He was
first employed in the yard of the Quin-
sigamond works at the munificent sal
airy of S1.S0 a day. He followed the
work of an ordinary laborer for about
i've years, and was then promoted by
degrees until finally made foreman of
the charcoal fire department in the roll
ing mill. Then followed considerable ex-
perience in the draughting and chem
ical department until he was made
chief inspector in 1886.
Since this last promotion, Mr.. BiIdt
has spent much Of his time travelling,
both in America and abroad, for pleas
ure and in the interest of his employ
ers. He has invented and sold several
patents both in this country and
abroad
The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-29
THE TRAMP QUESTION.
A Committee from the Welcome Mis-
sion, Will Confer with the Mayor.

A Committee from the Welcome Mis-
sion,Will Confer with the Mayor.
The executive board of the Welcome
mission met yesterday morning in the
board of trade rooms to talk over the
question of comforting with the city to
see if some agreement cannot be
reached in regard to the tramp ques-
ton. There We're present Vice resi-
dent Rev. S. B. ,Meeser, Rev. George w.
Kent, Rev. G. L. Short, Superintendent
W. e. Oakley, Alderman c. H.
vaughan, w. H. Cook and E. T. Chaplin.
The matter was talked over to some
length and the following committee was
chosen to confer with the mayor and
city officials: c. H. Vaughan, w. H.
Cook, Rev. DR.. Almon Gunnison and w.
p. Oakley. The committee will proba-
bly, call on the mayor this morning and
it is thought that some ARRANGEMENT
can be made to relieve the city of the
support of tramps
This matter was brought up last
spring and several members of the
board including Mr. Oakley, visited
other cities to look into methods used
there. 1t was thought at that time that
the city would probably be willing to
appropriate o certain amount toward
the support of the Welcome mission, the
mission in turn promising to take care
of all the tramps for the city.
The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-29
ME BISHOPS LABEL.

Bishop Huntington told this story on
himself during one of his last visits to
Washington. The good bishop, IL
seems, once went down to town in
Connecticut to perform a marriage GER
emory. He arrived the day before the
wedding, and he left at the same time
the bridal pair did, although he was
driven to a different railway station.
AS he passed through the station, car
rying his travelling bag, he was aware
that he was creating a sensation, but
was totally at a loss to account for It,
In the car he found that he was still
the object of amused attention. The
porter positively snickered as he passed
his seat, and finally, just as the train
drew out, he came UP and assisted the
churchman to remove his overcoat.
What is the matter with you my
man?' asked the bishop. The port@r's
smoker broadened into a laugh.
"Ain't you done lef' the lady, sah?'
he chucSled
"Eh?" exclaimed the bishop in sur
prise, Then his eve fell on the side Of
his travelling bag, which the porter had
just turned round. There glued to it
was wide strip Of white satin ribbon,
on which was painted in large letters:
Married this morning"
The facetiously-minded best man had
mistaken the bishops travelling bag for
that Of the bridegroom, and a chuekling
black porter worked late into the night
removing that ribbon.
Washington Post.
The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-29
CARL w. BILDT RESIGNS.
Worked Up From a Labor
er at $l.30 a Day to
Chief Inspector.

Carl w. Bildt. chief inspector of the
Washburn & Moen branch of the Amer
lean Steel and Wire Company, has re-
signed his position with the trust to ac-
cept q responsible position as engineer
Of the first class for the "Jarnkontoret"
in Stockholm, Sweden Mr. Bndt
leaves Worcester about Oct. 20.
The "JarnKontoret" is the title given
a sort of cooperative banking system
instituted about 200 years ago by steel
and iron workers of Sweden. Each
firm or corporation contributes a GER
tain sum annually, which forms part of
an immense fund, which is used for
mutual benefit in the way of advancing