davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22
1T SEEMED LIKE MAGIC.
tgGS the High Class Expert Picked
Ont the Old Masters.

Ont the Old Masters.
Speaking of old pictures said a
New Orleans dealer, lit is very inter
esting to see really high class Euro
pean expert making an examination.
The extent and diversity of the infor-
nation of such men are something as
tonishing. Some years ago L spent
couple of days with a gentleman who
connoisseurs of Paris. We visited sew
eral country places which contained
pictures said to be of great value, and
in all he inspected upward of two doz-
en- canvases.
I'm every instance he settled the
questions of date, period and painter
beyond all reasonable doubt The warp
and woof of the canvas, the wood
composing the backing, the nature of
the borings made by worms, the work
manship of the tacks, the character of
the pigment and certain minute pecul-
iarities in the mounting We're all like
SO many pages of print TO him. He
was intimately acquainted with the
style of hundreds of different artists,
the models they used, the colors they
most affected, their tricks of compost
ton and their peculiar methods of eN-
pressing the effects of light and shade
''To an outsider it seemed like magic.
"a COPY he would say, for instance.
after n swift glance at n painting 1t
was made by So-and-so, 4 pupil, who
had very much the style of his master.
The date is about (here he would
name it with infallibIe accuracy, and
if you clean that left hand corner I
dare say you will find the signature in
vermilion.' In several cases he was
fully borne out by documents in pos
session of the owner, and in all he was
sustained by circumstantial evidence.
He told me very modestly that he had
devoted 40 years to the close study of
his profession and was just beginning
to apprehend dimly how little he
knew" - New Orleans Times-Demo-
rr1t
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22
An Amendment.

Fools rush in where"-- begun Mr..
Van Braam, who was fond of quoting
proverbs.
He was interrupted by Dinwiddie,
who offered this amendment:
Where policemen fear to tread
Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22

The best donkeys come from Arabia.
They have clean, smooth coats, hold
their heads high and are used only for
riding purposes. Many are sent to Per-
sia, where they sell for high sums.
They are well looked after and their
barnessings are of the richest.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22
Import.nt sociar question.

When young man takes girl to
theater, and pays an extra dollar, and
goes after her and takes her home,
where does he get even? Is it the
pleasure of her company or the con-
sciousness that he has done his duty?
-Atchison Globe.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22
Tbe Land of Hor.e.hoe..

Horseshoes are an important branch
Of industry in Norway. About 6.000
tons are exported every year. Great
Britain and France. where horseshoes
are used not only for horses, but also
for donkeys and oxen employed as
beasts of burden, divide almost the
whole Norwegian expectation between
them in about equal quantities.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22
Buirt Tint wax.

''The worm will turn" she said.
"Of course" lie replied. @'The worm
is built on n plan that makes turning
comparatively easy. It's more or less
nf turn itself."-Chicago Post.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22
acknowledgements.

"Did the clock stop when you dashed
it down cellarZ'' asked the police judge
Of the man who was charged with be-
ing disorderly.
'-Of course it stopped Did you sup
pose it went through to China DE
troit Free Press.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22
worse Than the Disease.

Handout Harry-I wasted de hull
mornin yesterday readin piece in de
paper about how ter git rich.
Tiepass Teddy-Didn't it tell how
yer could do it?
Handout Harry-It didn't tell no
way but workin. Francisco Ex-
aminer.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22

Arnold's Bromo Celery cures head
aches; 10, 25 and so cents. Reiss'
drug store.
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22

To7EA.
Bears The 4, The Kind You Haze lWsys Bougtt
Rock Island Argus., 1899-07-22

''s,s'''' q; &MAzSzx
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
GREEN AND SMITH
READY FOR BATTLE
HEAVY wELTER-WEIGHTS ARE
IN FINE FORM.
The Western Club Expects a Large
Crowd to See the Fight Between
Tracey and Neill.

The boxing instructor of the Olympic
Club, Professor Van Court, is authority
for the statement that George Green, who
is matched to fight Billy (Mysterious)
Smith on Friday night, is now in better
condition to enter hard fistic contest
than he has been for three years to his
knowledge.
This will be cheering news TO some Of
the friends of Green who were of the
opinion that the local weter- weight had
already seen his best days as a pugilist
and that his chances of success against
such a hard puncher as Smith were only
slight. Green has been training since
the match was consummated near the
Cliff House and at the Olympic Club. He
expects to enter the ring at the limit
weight. which is 154 pounds; doubtless
his opponent, Smith, will fight at 152
pounds, which weight, he contends, will
land him in the ring feeling strong and
able to go any distance.
Smith, who is training in Alameda, is
very confident of success. A friend Of
Green said yesterday that, had it not
been for the excessive heat which pre-
vailed on the evening he was defeated by
Smith in New York. the Mysterious man
would certainly have taken the losers
end of the purse. Green could not stand
the fearful heat of the July night and be-
came almost exhausted after battling for
fifteen rounds. The local man must,
however, show considerable Improvement
in his gait on Friday evening to satisfy
the sports of this city that he has not
refrigerated since he received that whip
ping from black Walcott.
Manager Long of the Western Athletic
Club is exceedingly well pleased with the
match he has arranged to take place in
Woodward's Pavilion on the evening of
the 26th inst. Tom Tracey is one of the
most shifty lads in the fighting line. and
during his years of hard experience in
fighting all kinds of men he has gained
a fund of knowledge which makes him
a master of the game of hit and miss.
Neil is a strong and game fellow who
will take heavy punishment. He is not
as shifty or as cunning as Tracey, but
his friends are very confident that he can
whip the Australian by employing ag-
gressive tactics. The contest will, how
ever, prove what Neill is capable of do
ing when he comes into contact with
such a ringster as Tracey, who. by the
way has promised the managers of the
Western Club that he will not resort to
running and lodging tactics on this oc-
casion.
The San Francisco Athletic Club will
give its monthly exhibition this evening.
E. Come will box six rounds with C.
Vickers. kid Johnson will box six
rounds with J. Bell. kid" Hogan will
meet Art Granfleld in a six-round bout
w. Condor is booked to meet c.. Thurs
ton, and John Dean, clever lightweight
of the club. will contest six rounds with
George Baker of Salt Lake, who is here
looking for snaps.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
Pension Fund Law Is
Unconstitutional.
SUPREME COURT S0DECLARES
THE AUDITOR WILL NOT PAY
DEMANDS.
Acting on the Advice of His Attor-
ney-Deserving Pensioners Now
Face a Serious
Problem.

The money in the pension fund of the
Exempt Firemen's Association is no
longer at the disposal of the members of
that organization. AS a consequence
seventy-four aged, infirm or disabled fire
men, who have heretofore looked to the
city for support through the pension fund
provided for that purpose, are confronted
with the most serious problem in fife.
Many of them must either become
charges on their relatives or friends. be-
come inmates of the Almshouse or starve
TO death.
This serious condition of affairs was
made known to them on Saturday, when
Auditor Wells, acting on the advice of his
attorney, refused to audit their monthly
demands on the treasury. These demands
aggregate $1,000 and are for sums ranging
from $40 to $25.
For many years the city has paid an ag-
gregate of $4,000 a year in pensions to
members of the Exempt Firemen's AS
ISOLATION, such payment being authorized
by an act of the Legislature of 1895, which
act repealed a similar act passed by the
Legislature in 1889. BY the provisions of
the existing law the city is empowered to
set aside $4,000 annually for the payment
of pensions to aged, infirm or disabled
hremen. This has been religiously done
during. past years and the ttremen who
Exempt Firemen's Association have, on
the first day of each succeeding month,
received a total sum of $1,000. Now the
Supreme Court comes forward with a de-
cislon, rendered on the fourth of last
month in which it is held that the law
authorizing the appropriation of this
money is unconstitutional and therefore
without effect. Acting on this decision
Auditor Wells has refused to audit the de-
mands for March of the seventy-four fire.
men on the pension rolls of the associa-
ton.
The Supreme Court decision that has
caused ali of the trouble was rendered in
the case of George Taylor against the city
of Oakland. The suit was one in which
the plaintiff sued to compel the munich
pality to pay his pension under the law
authorizing the creation by municipalities
of a firemen's pension fund. The court
held that the statute of 1895 was in con-
1ict with sections 81 and 80 of article "
of the constitution of the State of Califor-
mia, which prohibits the Legislature from
making or authorizing the gift of any
public moneys, State or municipal, to any
person, association or corporation The
court says:
comparison of the act in question with
an act passed for a similar purpose by the
Legislature of 1889 will direct the attention
at once to the want of consideration for the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04

death, when she was but 10 years of age.
and, shortly after attaining her majority,
became the bride of Fritz Hinckley,
son of the we'll known foundry man. Mr.
Hinckley died of pneumonia year or so
ago.
The Kentucky" or Gypsy" Blythes'
claim was based on the supposition that
Thomas H. Blythe died without issue and
that inheritance therefore vested. through
common ancestry in John w. and Henry
T. Blythe of Kentucky. They maintained
that Thomas H. Blythe was of Gypsy
ancestry, though he ignored that fact on
coming to this country. and that his near
est kin are the descendants of a Gypsy
Blythe who settled in Kentucky many
years ago. Their latest contention has
been that an alien of British birth can
not inherit, there being no treaty to that
effect with Great Britain. and that Flor
ence Blythe being an alien at the time of
Thomas Blythe's death and for more than
the statutory limitation of five years
thereafter. could not legally claim the
dead millonaire'S fortune. The words of
the telegram, holding that the decision
of the State court disposed of the con-
stitutional and treaty question: would
seem to settle this matter once and for
all
But Attorney Edmund Burke Holiday.
who has the interests of the Kentucky
Blythes in charge, refuses as yet to be-
lieve that the new decision is all-compre-
hensive "Wait until we see the full text
of the decision he said last night, and
then we shall know"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
FLORENCE IS
DECL AIRED THE
SOLE HE|RESS
Gypsy Blythes' Claims
Are Dismissed.
SHE GETS FIVE MILLIONS
VERDICT FROM SUPREME COURT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
Final Decision Has Been Rendered
in the Long and Bitter Litiga-
ton Over the Big
Estate.
SHE GETS FIVE MILLIONS
VERDICT FROM SUPREME COURT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

The highest tribunal in the land. the Su-
preme Court of the United States, has
given its final decision in the Blythe liti-
CATION. and it seems that Florence Blythe
Hinckley. is at last secure in the possess
sion of the fortune left by Thomas H.
Blythe precisely sixteen years ago, for
his death took place on April 4. 1888.
The decision was in the suit of John w.
Blythe and Henry T. Blythe. known as
1.-The Kentucky" or Gypsy" BIythes,
against Florence Blythe Hinckley, and, as
reported in a telegram received by the
defendant yesterday afternoon from
Washington, D. c., recites that the
Blythe appeal has been dismissed on the
authority of the cases formerly cited.
Chief Justice Fuller to-day delivered an
opinion holding that the decisions of the
State court disposed of the constitutional
and treaty questions and of the objec>
lions respecting section 1873 of the United
States revised statutes" This decision
was given on motion of Attorneys John
CARRIER and Robert Y. Haynes to dismiss
or affirm a summary process that valves
argument in court and, disregarding the
court calendar, brings the case up for de-
cson on law and motion day"-the first
Monday in the month-thus saving many
weary months of litigation.
The property left by Thomas H. Blythe
at his demise in 1883 was estimated to be
worth $50OO,0OO 1t consisted chiefly of
San Francisco real estate, including the
famous Blythe block on Market and
Geary streets and Grant avenue, and it
produced revenue of more than SIS, 900
a month, and this is the fortune of which
Mrs Florence Blythe Hinckley becomes
possessed through the decision of the
United States Supreme Court. The at
torneys' fees in the litigation have been
heavy, but the income of the estate has,
it is said been sufficient to defray them.
Blythe died a bachelor, but there were
several lurid episodes in his career on
which colorado claim was made to
share in his estate. When the litigation
over the property he had accumulated
was fairly under way, there were no less
than thirty-one claimants to portions of
1t, the chief claimants being Alice Edith
Blythe who set up claim as the mil
Iionaire's widow, and Florence Blythe,
now the widow of Frederick W., or
Fritz" Hinckley. Alice Edith's claim
went glimmering under the sledge-ham-
mer blows of the many attorneys who
took part in the litigation, and Florences
attorneys downed one opponent after an
other until by this last decision her
claims stand incontrovertible. She is
the daughter of a woman whom Blythe
met in London while she was still un-
married, and the courts have held that
he recognized Florence as his daughter
She came to this country on Blythe's
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04

T. Fortman of the Alaska Packers Asso-
citation Joined the circle and the new
conner was notified that a story was ex-
pected of him. There seemed to be an i'm
preston that the gentleman was not pre-
pared. but he was. In fact he had a good
one, especiai!N as it was fresh and could
be verified by a number of gentlemen
well known in legal and commercial cir
CleS
Mr.. Fortman was one of a party of four
hunters who left this city last Saturday
evening and reached their destination sew
eral hours later. The place was Grand
Prairie, twelve miles from Elmira The
party consisted of Justice F. w. Henshaw
of the Supreme bench, w. G.. Henshaw Of
the Union Bank of Oakland Judge E.
NuSbaumer of Oakland. and Mr. Fortman.
The hunters were prepared to STAY the
geese that are at present destroying the
growing grain of the farmers of that To-
caltty, and from all accounts they had all
night with Doc Stewart and Abe Krumb
and under the guidance of their hosts
found tPa 9TH themselves in the pits or blinds in
hour the next morning. Judge Henshaw
Mr.. Fortman and Abe Krumb occupied
three of the pits, and about mile away
w. G. Henshaw. Judge Nusbaumer and
Doc Stewart hid themselves in similar
places surrounding the pits were a lot
of live and dead decoys to attract the
birds but better than the decoys were the
goose calls of Stewart and Krumb
AS soon as it was light the geese began
to fly and such a variety-Ross geese,
snow geese, Mexican. grey, cackling'
Hutchins, grey brant and others. they;
came in lunches flocks and swarms and
right merrily did the hunters keep up
shower of No. shot upon the flying birds.
When the time came for the hunters to
start for the train a count-up showed that
Mr.. Fortman and Judge Henshaw had
bagged l07 geese of various kinds, While
Judge Nusbaumer and w. G. Henshaw
had tumbled over 166 geese. At last ac-
counts their hosts We're still picking up
birds that had died out of bounds" and
had increased the lot by about fifty
II tell you it was great sport" remarked
Mr.. Fortman.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
Abe Schwartz Arrested.

Abe Schwartz, son of Henry Schwartz,
the bookmaker, was arrested at Emery
vile track yesterday and taken to the
Oakland City Prison on a warrant charg-
ing him with grand larceny. The name
was enormously reported previously as
Leo Schwartz through the error of a
track officer: He was later released on
$1,000 cash bail.
Schwartz is the young man who. it is
claimed, snatched a handful of currency
from the cash box of Bookmaker Johnny
Coleman during the progress of the races
on saturday last He disclaims all knowl-
edge of the affair. 1t is understood
though. that George Suydam, cashier of
the book, is positive that Schwartz took
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
OLYMPIC CONTESTS.
Finals in the Indoor Baseball and
Water Polo Tournaments.

There is boom in indoor athletics at
the Olympic Club at the present time.
On Tuesday, April 4. the final indoor base
ball game for the coast championship will
be played in the club gymnasium between
the olympic nine and a team represent
ing the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. The Reliance Club is out of the race
and the cup will go either to the clubmen
on this side of the bay or the Young
Mems Christian Association nine Both
teams are practicing for the match as its
victory means a handsome silver cup.
On April the Olympic team will go to
Stockton to play the Stockton Athletic
Club. The men will leave here on Satur-
day evening, travelling by boat The game
will be played the following evening in the
Exposition building. large delegation
Of Olympians will accompany the team.
The water polo tournament will come to
a close this week when the White Caps
under the captaincy of Tivoli Kreling and
the Red Caps under George A. Hinkel
meet for the championship cup. The riv-
airy existing between these two teams is
intense, and a hot time is expected in the
cold club tank. The teams will float as
follows:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04

gift contemplated by the act of 1895. This
act OF 1883 provides that no person shall
share in the funds of the municipality un-
less he shall serve in the Fire Department
of that particular municipality for fifteen
years or shall have received injury in the
actual discharge of fire duty therein. No
such condition restriction this is to be
found in the act of 1895. but. on the con-
trary, all exempt firemen by becoming resi-
dents and being enrolled must be permitted
to participate in the funds of the munich
pality when they become disabled, whether
they have ever performed any service in
such municipality or not. This constitutes
a gift and makes the statute subject to the
objections already pointed out and which
have already been laid down by the SUI
preme Court.
equally with every other municipality in
the State. Believing this to be so, Au-
ditor Wells submitted the matter to his
attorney and was informed that he (the
Auditory would be exceeding his authority
If he continued to authorize the payment
of money appropriated under an act that
had been declared by the Supreme Court
to be unconstitutional. When the pension
demands were presented on the 1st of the
present month the Auditor therefore gave
notice of his intention to withhold his
signature.
The last Legislature passed bill
which, had it become law, would have
ute. but Governor Gage in his wisdom saw
fit to give 1t a 7ocket veto. AS the case
now stands great number of deserving
pensioners in this and other cities in the
State are left without the means that an
appreciative public has provided for their
relief and support.
II see no way in which the situation can
be remedied - said Auditor Wells yester-
day, until the next session Of the Legis-
lature."
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
BALL TEAMS.
WATER POLO TEAMS.
Plat Caught No Fish.

A. G. Plat. special Assessor appointed
by the Board of Supervisors, called upon
Customs Collector Jackson yesterday
morning and requested the Collector to
inform him as TO the total value of the
merchandise now in the United States
bonded warehouses in this city.
The Collector declined to give the infor-
nation. His declination was based upon
the rule of the department enforcing Sc,
crecy in such matters and also upon the
fact that merchandise in bonded ware
houses is not the property of the import
ers, for IT may be condemned and confis-
Gated or destroyed or ordered shipped out
of the country for many reasons
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
SPORT FOR THE LADIES.
The Olympic Club Will Give an En-
joyable Entertainment This
Evening

The Olympic Club will give very pleas
ant entertainment this evening to its
members and their lady friends. 1t will
be known as ladies' night and the pro-
gramme of exercises consists Of novelty
indoor athletics. such as potato races in
the swimming tank and indoor baseball.
under the supervision of John A. Ham
mersmith. the leader of the club.
Following is the list of the ball and
water polo teams:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
Marine Firemen,s Funds.

The preliminary examination of Ber-
nard Ward, eX-financial secretary of the
Marine Firemen's Union. charged with
embezzling $4,000 drawn from the Hibernia
Bank. was held before Judge Conlan
yesterday. and after hearing the evidence.
which was very flimsy, the Judge re-
served his decision until to-day. The other
three charges against Ward were dis
missed owing to a defect in the com
,n1o
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
improvements Demanded.

The Federation of Mission Improve
ment Clubs has petitioned the Board Of
Supervisors to let the contract for i'm
proving Holly Park, for which purpose
there is $6250 available in the treasury.
The petition also asks that the board or
der Twenty-fifth street opened from San
Jose avenue to Guerrero street for which
$12 500 is available.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04

Fifth Race-six furiongs; four-year-olds and
Sixth Race-six furlonss; three-year-olds and
Selections for To-Day.

First Race-Carter H. Harrison Jr., FL sa-
lado, Highland Ball.
Second Race-Orthia. F1amora, Silver Tail.
Third Race-Colonel Bartlett, Joe Cotton,
Colonial Dame.
Fourth Race-Wyoming. Benamela, Stamina.
Fifth Race-Geyser, Harry Thoburn, Febru-
airy.
Sixth Race-La Goleta, St Calatine. Lime
water
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
Chinese Gamhlars Einad

The thrty-one Chinese, Filipinos and
white men arrested Saturday night by
Lieutenant Price and posse for playing
fan tan pleaded guilty in Judge Mogan s
court yesterday and were each fined S.
Won Chew. the keeper of a lottery
Joint, was yesterday fined 800 by Act
ing Police Judge Barry, with the aiterna-
tive Of fifty DAYS in the County Jail
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
GEESE ARE TUMBLED
BY EXPERT HUNTSMEN
FOUR YELL KNOWN MEN ENJOY
GOOD SHOOTING.
Grand Prairie Alive With Wild Fowl
That Are Brought to Earth
by the Sportsmen.

A number of well-known club men met
in the rooms of the San Francisco Club
last evening and the conversation turned
upon the subject of feats with rod and
gun. w. w. Foote had just finished a
yarn about the way he landed gamy
trout weighing - pounds when Henry
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
He Was Bind Drunk

Thomas Dunno. an old blind man, ap-
peared before Acting Police Judge Barry
yesterday on the charge of vagrancy.
He admitted to the Judge that he was
drunk when arrested and the Judge said
he would give him ten days for being
blind drunk"