davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1900-12-24
CENSUS CLERK PASSES AWAY.
Found Dead In His Room at the
American House.

American House.
BENJAMIN P. Seals, former resident OF
Waverly, Ala. who has been employed as
a clerk in the census office for severai
months, was found dead In bed at the
American House Saturday. Coroner Newt
decided that death was due to fatty degen-
Grafton of the heart and gave certificate
accordingly.
Seals, who was forty-seven years old. was
unmarried. He came here in May last TO
accept position in the census office, ana
he boarded at Sd and D streets northwest
Friday night he was sick He registered
at the American House and was assigned
a room Saturday, when the chamberniaid
found the room door locked and the key
on the inside of the door, an investigation
resulted in the finding Of the dead body OF
the clerk.
Coroner Nevitt was summoned and he d.
rected the removal of the body to the
morgue. Today Undertaken r. w. Barker
prepared the body for burial and shipped
1t to the late home of the deceased.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
Demented Man Arrested.

George Weber. a soldier. forty-five years
old was arrested at the White House about
10 o'clock yesterday morning. He had call
ed to see the President. Sergeant Goss and
Policeman Bramlett were attracted to the
stranger by his peculiar conduct, and when
they arrested him his conversation satisfied
them that his mind was affected. He
imagined that the Venezuelan government
owed him $1,000. 900. Sanitary Officer Frank
took charge Of him and today he was COM
mitted to the asylum.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
Christian EnleavOr Society Enter
faiuA.


The Christian Endeavor Society of the
Western Presbyterian Church provided a
genuine musical treat for it's friends at
it's monthly sociabe, last Friday evening.
The program included solos by Mr.. Percy
s. Foster THE Tin Gee-Gee," Cape, and
1.-THE Hoodoo Man." Evans; Mr.. J. D. Nc
Fall, "Gipsy john and Lock Lomond;"
Miss Emma v. Brandenburg, 1.-THE Echo"
Hawley, and Miss Annie Topley, Last
Night" and 1.-The Church Across the Way"
The instrumental numbers were: yale
March ivan Baar and Songs From the
Old Folks BenneD, by Messrs. H. 8.
Richardson. violin, and H. G. Kimball
clarinet, and Miss May E. Smith, piano:
Now 1 Lay Me Down to Sleep and Men,
delssohns "Wer Hat Dich Du Schooner
Wald," by Mr.. c. J. Woodin, cornet;
"Gavotte' Carl Bohm), by Mr.. H. s.
Richardson. violin; "Hussarenritt" Spin
dler) and "Con Amore' (Beaumont), by
Mrs. A. S. Merchant, piano. The accom-
panists were Misses Smith and McFall and
Messrs. Kimball and Foster.
At the close Of the program those in
the audience who had indicated their ap-
probation Of the various numbers by
hearty applause gave more formal express
sion Of their thanks to the performers by
a rising vote. A period Of social conversa-
ton followed, during which sherbet and
cake were served by the young ladies Of
the society.
Evening star., 1900-12-24

Mr.. George Shoemaker, sexton at the
Anacostia Methodist Church, sustained a
severe shock and painful. though not seri-
Gus, injuries Friday night last by . fall from
a ladder in the church building. Mr.. Shoe
maker was engaged in putting in place some
Christmas decorations, and for this purpose
was at the uppermost step OF twelve-foot
ladder A board suddenly gave way, and
he was precipitated to the floor. Both of
his feet were bruised. He is able to be
about with the assistance of a walking
stick.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
A Close Call.

Mr.. w. H Wills while wheeling along
Pennsylvania avenue Saturday afternoon.
about o'clock, just opposite Kann's store.
made a swerve to avoid collision with an
other bicyclist His wheel slipped and he
went down. Just at that moment q horse,
attached to q buggy, came rushing across
from the direction Of the market and be-
fore Mr.. Wills could get to hts feet the an
ninaal was upon him. The horse tramped
into the bicycle. tearing out the spokes, and
the wheels Of the buggy came In contact
with Wills body. partially running over
him.
Pedestrians ran to his assistance pick
Ing him up. and bringing his wheel to him.
He was very muddy, but not hurt.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
Drops Dead.

Jacob Dottery, colored, sixty-f1ve years
old, dropped dead in front Of his home on
the Piney Branch road early last night.
Physicians who were summoned to the
house pronounced life extinct when they
arrived. The coroner was notified, but as
death resulted from natural causes an in
quest was deemed unnecessary.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
Plead Guilty,

Florence Campbell. Agnes Gaskins and
Annie Rucker, small colored girls, who were
arrested by Officer L. A. O'Dea on the
charge of robbing the store Of Moses Else
man Of several small articles of wearing
apparel today in the Police Court pleaded
guilty, and each was fined IS by Judge
Kimball which was paid.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
Alleged Deserter Arrested.

John Francis Ellis, f1rst-class machinist
who is alleged to have deserted from the
Kearsarge at Newport News in March last
was arrested this morning by Detectives
Browne and Lacy. The prisoner, who Is
married and lives in Southeast Washington
admitted his Identity and was turned over
to the naval authorities.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
Fine Was $3.50.

Cora Bridwell Of No 361 NJ street south
west today pleaded guilty in the Police
Court Of keeping an unlicensed bar and
Judge Scott fined her $3.50. which was paid.
The house of the accused was raided yes
terday by Sergeant Dunnigan and three
other officers from the fourth precinct and
it was stated that they found several per-
sons in the act of drinking.
Evening star., 1900-12-24

Mr.. James Seldom Cowdon OF 524 10th
street has been Informed by the District
Commissioners. in reply to q request made
by him for hearing upon House bill 1921.
to establish a District Of Columbia public
Improvement currency in heu of interest
bearing bonds, that, after a careful consid-
Grafton Of the matter, they are Of the
opinion that no public interest would be
subserved by the proposed discussion Of
the measure,
Evening star., 1900-12-24

William Jones of New Jersey pleaded
guilty today In the Police Court Of the lar
ceny OF an overcoat valued at $40 from
Bernard Bowen. and Judge Kimball sent
him to Jail for three months. The arrest
was made by Omcer Cornweu OF the fourth
precinct.
Evening star., 1900-12-24

Tho second floor of The Evening Star
annex will be rented to desirable tenant
Size 50x100 feet. Steam heat. electric light
and motor power; elevator seTv1cA. Apply
ct The Star of1co.
Evening star., 1900-12-24

Cure before cost, OF course; but, besides being
wonderful curative for Throat and Lung disco ses,
DR.. d. Jaynes EXpectOrant is about the least
pensive remedy; 1t takes little OF 1t.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
MARRIED..

BRUCE-WILKINSON. In Baltimore, June 23,
1900, JOHN BRUCE and LAURA WIIKIN-
son. by the Rev. Joel Rossites. D. u. No
cards.
Evening star., 1900-12-24
Christmas Order for Post Office.

The schedule to be observed tomorrow by
the Washington city post Office will be as
follows:
The divisions named below Of the main
Office will be closed to the public on Tues
day, December 25, 1900: Money order di-
vision and registry division.
A delivery by carriers from the main
Office and station G will be made at 7:3O
am. and 1915 pm. Carriers window will
be open for delivery of mail to clerks in the
departments from am to II m. Collec-
tions will be made at the main office and
station G at 9:30 am. and ) and II 80 p. m.
Collections will be made at station A at
a. and and 11:30 pm; at station at
7:3O am. and and 1880 p. M; at stations
d and F at 9:30 am. and and 11:30 p. m.
at station H at IL am. and pm Deliv-
cries at stations at 7:30 am. and 1915 pm.
County collections at Q am and pm.
(and 9:30 pm, station F..
The following named stations will be open
to the public for the transaction Of busi-
ness:
Station Ask to II am; 5 to pm.
Station B-Six to Ii am; $50 to pm.
Station C-Seven to 10 am.
Station Disk to II am; $50 to pm
ton
Evening star., 1900-12-24

BURKE On Sunday, December %, 1900, at $50
O'Clock ELIZABETH, the beloved wife of MI
chael Burke, at her residence, 495 street
southwest.
Notice funeral hereafter
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
THE CHINESE NOTE.

The Register yesterday published
the fact of the signing by the inter
national ENJOYS at Picking of the joint
note addressed to the Chinese govern
ment. and published the full text of
the document. There is an interesting
story behind this action, however,
which is now available, and it demon
strates that the %appending of the name
of Minister Conger tothe ultimatum re-
suited in the disgrace of that official
in the eyes of the Washington admin
istration, and came within a hairs
breadth of leading to his recall, and
this largely through an error by a
telegraph operator.
The original draft of the text of the
joint note contained in the fourth
section of the preamble these words:
"Inasmuch as China has recognized her
respOusiblitv expressed regret and
eVinCed a desire to see an end put TO
the situation created by the aforesaid
disturbances, the powers have determined
to acccede to her request upon the lR-
1N1N ~ AbAAAA 49, "
low, which they deem indispensable to
expiate the crimes committed and to pre-
vent their recurrence
Mr.. Conger cabled the text Of the
note in CIPHER to Washington, where
President Mckinley and Secretary Hay
concluded that the word "ir~revocable"
was too strong. A draft eliminating
that word was prepared and sent to
Mr.. Conger, with instructions to
sign as transmitted" This was al
so in CIPHER, and the first figure for
the word "transmitted' was 81" At
some point along the wire a blunder
of an operator turned the a. into a
"G" and the cipher code made trans
mitted' "majorities' and the instruc-
tions therefore read. sign as MAORI
ties" instead of sign as transmit
ted" Mr.. Conger accordingly signed,
and the other representatives of the
powers followed suit. and HUI the note
goes to the high Chinese officials.
There was a momentary inclination
at Washington to disavow Mr.. Con-
gers action. but the situation has been
accepted, and the American minister
will not be recalled, although he is at
least temporarily in disgrace in the
eyes of the administration.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
In Life's Brief DAYS.
In these brief days we know
Each from his soul their lesson cont

In these brief DAYS we know
Each from his soul their lesson contem-
plating.
Surely We learn. as on our way we go,
There is no time for hating;
So swift the hours from dawn to twf-
lights sky.
Of tender comradeship so great the
needing.
oh, but the loss. il any hour pass by
Darkened with hate, when love for love
stood pleading.
In these brief days we know,
Each helping each, for fate's whims
compromising,
Surely it Is in this guise we should go,
Loving our kind, not hating;
Loving the living, waiting not the end
To cry that we have let them 1--we so
lonely
Oh. but the pity OF the way we wend,
II. for hates sake, love means re-
preaching only
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24

Netherlands some centuries ago. He is
burning farms, devastating fields, rob-
bing women and children of their
shelter-practicing every imaginable
form of barbarism-yet, nevertheless,
the handful of Beers still surviving
continue to destroy railroads, cut COM
~munications. attack and defeat Eng
lish detachments, capture men, sup
plies and ammunition, until Kitchener
cries for re-enforcements. Parlia-
ment is appropriating money at the
rate of 81, 900 goo a week to maintain
the war of determination in South
Africa, and 200, 900 soldiers are kept
and i~mperatively needed-there to
maintain even the fallacious p
ance of a military occupation.
This is the country whose newspa-
pers solemnly inform the United
States that the Nicaragua Canal shall
not be constructed without its permits
sion. And these are the newspapers
which gravely tell us that the limit of
England's f~orbearance has been reach
ed! Surely, in his most fantastic
dreams, Offenbach never conceived
anything as preposterous as this real
ity. The spectacle of England shak-
ing a fist OF menace at the United
States through the agency of a lot of
Stock Exchange bulletins called news
papers in London is enough to make
ten thousand MODES break into smiles.
England has bullied nations of the
size of Portugal and Nicaragua-she
would have bullied Venezuela six
years G had not this government
raised a hand of warning-she has, at
different times, cajoled, outwitted and
betrayed every Power in Europe that
ever trusted her. She is still able TO
crush, depopulate and loot any remote
people h~aoitually innocent of trousers
and limited, in the matter of arma-
ment, to breechclouts, javelins and
rawhide shields. By this token, Gen
eral Lord Kitchener is her most use
full and victorious General, and she is
welcome to him. But surely it is 0
possible hat England seriously ex-
poets the American people to take no
tice of her buckram frown or pause in
any purpose they may have at heart
because of her objections.
The whole situation has been suf-
ficiently amusing on this side of the
water. With the exception of a few
Anglomaniacs and toadies who have
designs upon British society and upon
the favor of our expatriated diplomat
ic representatives at London, the coun-
try has laughed as one man at the
grOtuesque suggestion that E~ngland's
approval or disapproval counts for
three straws in the determination of
our domestic policy. But it seems
high time to call in this ridiculous
b~ugaboo, which has been dangled be-
fore our eyes with tiresome iteration.
The American people have paused in
their merriment long enough to speak
their minds in serious earnest, and it
is evident hat they want the farce
withdrawn for good. They want, in
fact, an American canal across the is
thmus and the Monroe doctrine set
, anew and still more firmly on its once
threatened pedestal.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
PORTO RICANs STARVING.
Many Residents of the Island Abso'
lutcIy without the Common
est Food.
A Report Made by an United states
Army Surgeon Which Reveals IA
Horrible State of Affairs in Our
New Possession.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, December %.
DR.. A. B. Williams, assistant surgeon
OF the United States army, has arrived
from Porto Rico. where he was detailed
to make a report on the conditions Of
the people, as observed by him on a
march with the soldiers across the
island. That report was made to the
adjutant generals department of Porto
Rico, san Juan. \ copy Of the report
was given out tonight by DR.. Will
liams.
AT Los Marias,' the report says,
I'VE began to see the vanguard Of mis-
cry. In that small, squalid town there
Is no medical men. Many were sick.
A Mr.. ToncU3nd, the American school
teacher there, told me that mary of
the people, not only of the surrounding
country, but of the town. were in great
distress. asked him the cause Of 50
much sickness and 50 many deaths.
He answered, without hesitation, for
want of food"
The report continues:
AT Adjuntas the conditions were
appalling; men, women and children,
swollen, blo2ted. diseased and emacia-
ted, whose p.nched and haggard fea-
lures appeared weighted with the sor-
rows Of years. When | asked the city
physician Of Adjuntas the cause Of
such a large death rate-52 deaths and
four births the week Immediately pre-
ceding our visit there-he replied:
The death rate j. about the same
every week; the prime cause chronic
starvation"
DR.. Williams, i, this report, declares
that with fourteen patients in the hos
pital at this place and three nurses,
the municipal authorities allow the
steward to draw only one dollar a day
in municipal stamps for the subsist-
ence ana care Of the patients, and that
the steward can only realize fifty cents
for his stamps. ana with that amount
daily he has to provide for the scanty
hospital fc0d.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24

O.. well. Harrison is getting old.-Par-
kersburg State Journal.
So are we all. Yet must a man be
sneered at simply because of added
years? Some noted men were guilty
of the crime of being old. If we recall
Alright, Cato learned Greek at eighty,
Goethe gave Faust to the world When
eighty years were past" and Chaucer,
and Simonides of Coos, did some very
decent work after they were of the
same age. Harrison may be growing
old, but old age is reputed to bring
wisdom.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
WHEELING REGISTER, MONDAY DECEMBER a, 1900.

municipal officials not performing
sworn duties are not only silly, but
~nauseating. The plain ordinary truth
is that the free-and-easy element, de-
sirous of seeing everything wide
OPEN" is largely in control in
American cities, and public ofic-
ials with the law to maintain and an
oath of Office lately in their Threats, pre-
fer to set aside obligations to cater to
the wishes of the element mentioned.
Any other reason is false, and rests
upon the presumption that the public
is deaf, dumb and weak-minded.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
der the written laws, for anything
more than a misdemeanor.

oOh ~ "
more than a misdemeanor.
Recognizing the impotency OF the
criminal statutes to adequately cover
this particular crime, some members
OF the illinois Legislature are deter
mined that Illinois laws shall be so
amended as to make liable to the gal
lows any one who may commit a
crime in that State similar to that
so lately consumated at Omaha. Three
bills having a common purpose are
already being drafted. All the States
holding sessions of their Legislatures
this winter. ought to take concurrent
action, West Virginia among them,
and the Register recommends the sub
iect to the earnest attention of the
lawmakers who will oon assemble at
Charleston. Such laws ought to be
promptly introduced and passed unani-
mously. and it should be seen to care
fully that the extreme penalty is pro-
vided for the class of criminals in
volved. Abduction for gain should be
made a crime of the first magnitude
throughout the United States. There
is a manifest disposition to that end.
Let it be carried out.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
IT IS TO LAUGH.
Reasons Why n Threat of England
Against America is Amusing.

Against America is Amusing.
Washington Post.
The inability OF the British mind to
absorb even the simplest overture Of
humOr is now finding its most elo-
quent expression through the medium
OF the London newspapers. The spec
tacle Of these journals, especially the
ChrOnicle-oVer whose portals hang,
or ought TO hang, three golden balls
this spectacle is a fruitful cause Of
gayety. Almost without exception,
they solemnly declare that Great Brit
ain Il no possibly accept the Hay
Pauncefote treaty in its present form.
With a unaninity calculated to make
the very tOUahesl craven image grin
they assure q other that never.
never will the Davis amendment re-
ceiye their sanction. and they proceed
to hint that all sorts Of formidable
consequences will now from the stu
alton now confronting them.
Could anything be more pitiable?
Here is England. which for more than
q year past has been devoting all her
military energies 10 the suppression
OF two friGndIeSS and isolated South
African republics. Against these sim
pie farmers, inaccessible to the world.
cut off from every sympathy and help.
England has arrayed her greatest
Generals and the largest army she has
ever organized in the whole history Of
the nation. For every BOer il arms
England has had at least six of the
flower OF her fighting force. And yet.
for all this expenditure of life and
treasure, England has to show, to-day,
nothing but her W impudent procla-
nation of annexation and her own IN
supported claim Of conquest. The
Beers are still in the field. Not a day
passes in which they do no infict
some loss, defeat, or humiliation upon
their prosecutors. Kitchener is re-
peating in South Africa the infamous
and wantsp cyHsltiss Of AlYa IN the
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
Was f. Wonder.

Louisville Courier-Journal
Tor a wonder the House killed the
bill giving to former soldiers practical
ly a monopoly Of apNointive Offices.
Usually Congress is coyardly enough
to pass such legislation, leaving to the
executive department ON the govern
nlent the easy work o. hallifying it
The most lamentable part II such leg
aslation Is that It is originated ard
pressed by the ex-soldiers themselves.
The man who fEhts In the akujes Of
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
West Virginia's Governors.

Atlanta Constitution.
II has been discoved that Of the nine
governors in the West Virginian sue
cession six were r~ed-headed.
The new governor. Hon. A. B. White,
belongs TO this class. and was aston
ished on thfe morning after election TO
receive from his daughters a telegram
congratulating him on his "red-headed
way Of winning"
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
THE nEpuBLICAN PRIMARIES.

THE REPUBLICAN ffihAitiH9'
AS was anticipated, the Republican
primaries CT Saturday resulted in a
heavy vote, a total of 5,206 being
1escned in the contest for Chief OF
Police. AS usual, if reports are correct
these were not all legal voters, for 1t
i. asserted that votes from Bridgeport,
Martins Ferry, Aetnaville and Ben
wood were cast in the interests of
various candidates. This isn't a new
feature in Republican politics, howev-
Ell, and will occasion no surprise.
There are several opportunities for
comment in the published statistics OF
the result. For instance, it is strange
the the vote for Mayor should have
been the smallest cast for any of the
four offices. That may mean that
orite a number of those who went
tc the polls were not satisfied with
n one of the three candidates, or 1t
may be that the vote for Mayor was an
honest one, and that for the other Of
fees the total was swelled by impor-
tations under instructions to vote for
n office alone and drop everything
else. The total for Mayor was 1904,
for Clerk 5,179, for Sergeant 5,206 and
for Wharfmaster 500. Thus 142
more votes were cast for Sergeant
than for Mayor, and 115 more for
Clerk than for Mayor. Why practic-
ally $50 Republicans should scratch
eff all the candidates for the head of
TIE ticket is a matter for interesting
conjecture.
Both Maxwell and Norrington are
minority nominees. That is to say, a
majority of their party wanted neither
CT them, but were split between oppo-
sition rivals. Clenans, for Sergeant,
has a clear and handsome majority
over both his rivals, and O'Brien, for
Clerk, won out by a substantial ma
jority over his competitor, who was
apparently backed by the City Hall
crowd at large.
The endorsements by the Committee
OF One Hundred Jared rather
badly. Out of thirty-six Coun-
Gil nominations, but eleven Of
those endorsed by the Committee
pulled through, and two of these had
nc opposition for First branch. in the
Fourth and Seventh wards. In the
Second and Eighth wards every Com
mittee endorsement was turned down,
end only one of them pulled through
il the First and Sixth for Second
Branch. Outside of the Seventh
ward only seven Committee candidates
were chosen, indicating unmistahea-
bly, that the ring is still in control Of
the local Republican organization. and
that if the present controlling power
Wins out in Council at the coming
etecliop there will be a continuance Of
municipaTI misrule. In the Eighth
and SecoM wards, overwhelmingly
Republican, the Committee suggest
ions were summarially and indignant-
~ kicked out. while only two cut of
four pulled through in the Republican
Third ward. In the Seventh the Com
mittce met with better success, the
n~.anipulators being comparatively
powerless over there.
The returns afford interesting ma
terial for study and analysis.