davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
SCIENTIFIC TOPICS.
CURRENT NOTES OF DISCOVERY
AND INVENTION.
First Calling Cunts Origin Wrapped
In SONS Obscurity = Three Ecilpses
Visible This Year-A Life-saving Cot
lar-Bit For Nervous Horse.
First Gat,Inr Gun.

The early inception of the Calling
gun Is wrapped in much obscurity.
Some French critics claim that their
mitrailleuse antedates it, but there Is
absolutely incontrovertible proof that
not only is this not so, but that the
French government made strenuous
efforts to secure exclusive control OF
Gatling's invention; failing which
their competing mitrailleuse quickly
followed the adoption of the doctors
gun by the American authorities, says
Self Culture. Some good Christians
have claimed that Dr. Calling invented
his famous weapon from humanitarian
motives-an argument which has some
weight, as we well know that mob
or regiment even, will very quickly
get out of range and danger when
once it is known that such gun is
facing them. The doctor himself calls
his invention "peacemaker," but,
with the greatest respect to him, do
not believe he had any idea of saving
life or anything of that sort in mind
while at work upon the gun, whatever
AS AAoy AoNC SAOuSuI VI olACS. uClC
was field for weapons, offensive and
defensive, the more murderous the
former the better, and from what then
existed in firearms and from the fer
tility of his own brain the Calling gun
was evolved-the first of it's kind. His
| experimental gun was made and tested
before military men and experts at
I ~,
lot-paid for by DR.. Gatling-was
ready for shipment to Gen. Butler, the
factory burned and with it his guns
were destroyed and his hopes blighted.
Another year and many thousands of
dollars were spent to remake the pat
terms and drawings and a new batch
of guns-a year of heart-burning,
pinching and sacrifice that many of us.
at some time or another, have ex-
perienced-and therefore one with
which we can sympathize. Gen Butler
used some of these guns on the James
river, near Richmond, and the way in
which their inventor cherishes the rec
is amusing when one thinks of the hui
nlanitarian theories attributed to their
origin. In 1860 the government ofti-
cially approved the gun and. after tests
that make an inventor shiver to think
of, placed an order for 100. Then no,
only did the powers of Europe order
guns, but so did China, Japan, Siam
Egypt and the South American coun.
tries. A machine gun that spreac
devastation in swath wider than {
company of infantry and fired inch
bullets at the rate Of 1900 a minute
to-day, fired electrically, its speed i:
slightly in excess of 5000 per minute)
was revelation to most foreign ex
perts and no Christian or other power
could long Withstand the temptation o
moving down it's Christian or othel
foes at any such rate and by machin
ery.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

Since the discovery of the first dia-
mond at Reitfontein, in August 1897.
there has been a considerable develop
ment of the diamond industry in the
Transvaal, and in 1898 the output
amounted to HOPS carats, valued at
S43,151. The largest stone found there
this year weighed 3S1a carats. The
average value of the diamonds in the
Pretoria district is stated to be $3.50
per carat, those found at Kimberley
at $3.50 per carat and those occurring
at Jagersfontein in the Orange Free
State, $S.27 per carat. The area of dia-
mondiferous ground in the Transvaal
is very extensive, but its thickness is
not considerable The weight of the
diamonds found throughout the Tran
svaal in 1898 was 22.S43 carats, valued
at s2t2.Sl2
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
Brilliant Skating Exploit.

Few feats of skating have ever ex-
celled the exploit of one of Napoleon's
officers performed shortly after the
fight at jena in 1906. The emperor
dispatched an officer to Marshal Nor
tier requiring him to seize certain i'm
portant towns without delay. When
the officer arrived at the mouth of the
Elbe, where the river is seven and a
half miles wide. he was threatened
with serious loss of time. The river
was just covered with ice, therefore to
row over was out of the question. He
could not cross by Inc nearest bridge
without going twenty miles out of his
way on roads heavy with snow, and
he grudged the time that would thus
be wasted. So he resolved to skate
across the thin freshly formed Ice.
Had he tried walking he would have
sunk at once, but by skimming along
on his skates ct the top Of his speed
he got over the river both dry and UNI
harmed. BY this daring. if dangerous
deed he saved six hours, did what Ma
poleon babe him do, and won great
credit for his bold and clever exploit.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

From the Cornhill: There is at tn
present moment at the Natural History
museum model of the skull of an
eagle SO gigantic that the Imagination
can scarcely fit it into the life of this
planet at all. The whole head is larger
than that of an OK, and the beak re-
sembles pair of hydraulic shears. I'm
like most Of the giant beasts, this
eagle, which inhabited Patagonia, APP
pears from its remains to have diff
fered little in form from the existing
species. Its size alone distinguishes
it. The quilts of the feathers which
bore this awful raptor through the air
must have been as wide as oar blades.
1t could have killed and torn to pieces
creatures as large as bison, and
whirled up into the sky and dropped
upon the rocks the gigantic carapaced
animals of prehistoric Patagonia as
easily as a modern eagle of California
does the land tortoises on which 1t
feeds. Even today there are few car
nlyorous animals, whether birds or
beasts, which have so wide prey as
the eagles. Like the winged dragons
OF old story, they can ravage earth,
air and sea, and feed promiscuously on
the denizens of all three elements.
From serpents on the burning desert
to seals on the everlasting ice, from
monkeys In the tropical forests 10
marmots on the Alpine slopes. from
dead sheep on highland hills to pea
cocks in the Indian jungles, no form OF
fish, flesh or fowl comes amiss to them
and the young Eagle, driven by the in
exorable law of his race from the
home where he was reared, finds free
breakfast table wherever he flies.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
a STORY of LORD Mathuen.

A characteristic story is told OF Lord
Methuen. 1t seems that new chum"
had Joined the irregular horse. A
younger son Of noble family, this
young fellow had been sent to the coll
onies to get rid of his wildness, or to
increase it, as the case might be. He
had not long joined the regular horse
before he was sent up to Lord Methuen
for some gross breach of discipline
Not knowing before whom he had been
taken, the youngster resented, and sa.u
to Lord Methuen: "Do you know who
/ am? am Lord - There was
silence for quite minute, and then
came the answer: "Let me introduce
myself Paul Sanford Methuen sem
fences you to twenty-one days confine-
ment to the barracks for breach OF
discipline" The younger son Of q
noble family wore q crestfallen LOOK
for once In his life as he went back.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
The Present Aim OF PHYSICS.

In his evening address on The Cen
tenary Of the Electric Current" deliv-
cred before the British association,
Prof. Fleming referred to Hertz proof
that electrical energy could leave a rod
in which a rapid oscillatory current
was set up, and could travel with the
speed of light outwards in all direc-
tons. 1t existed as free radiant or
wave energy in the ether after it left
the radiator and before it reached the
receiver. Both opticaf ant eieotf ieiafi I
phenomena had compelled the assump
ton of an imponderable material which
could be the vehicle for energy in GER
tain forms. The aim of physical in
quiry at the present time was to de-
wise theory of the ether, such that
from the simplest possible assumptions
could be deduced the facts Of electric
ity magnetism and OPTICS
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
At THElPARIs EXPOSITION.
The American Pavilion Beautiful aud
Attractive STRUCTURE.

:
Attractive Structure.
Our cocher has been oruered to turn
into the Avenue de la Tour Marbourg,
and. suddenly I find that we have come
out upon the Quail d'Orsay, and are at
the entrance of the Pont des Invalides,
ssays the New Lippincott. Here cabby
Is ordered to halt, and looks on in sur
prise as we descend into the ankle
deep dust and proceed by means of
our open sesame, to the place where
four American flags at the corners of
large square indicate the Enclosure
chosen by our commissioning general
Tor the American pavilion. Here. on
the rive gauche, in company with 9th
ers Of the Pavilion des Etrangeres, will
stand the American pavilion, beau
tifuI and attractive structure, whose
Z sroad steps lead down to the water.
Here Americans may land, and at once
receive that welcome and attention
which the visitor soon discovers Is sec
ond nature to the commissioner-gen-
sral and his staff; and here. more than
anywhere else In Paris. Will he find
himself thoroughly at home. It Is to
our commissic ner- general and his un-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

yet to-day the demon of war is num- |
bering his victims by thousands.
When report Is sent by COM
handing officer. giving the numbers of
dead. wounded and missing, it is a
solace to think that but few of the
missing are suffering pain-that they
are probably prisoners. While not
kreated as honored guests, these pris-
oners are fed and protected until there
comes an exchange or the war is over.
One of the illustrations shows the
British loading the Boer prisoners
upon vessel. They do not sail as
evidently crowded, but they live
through these hardships and fare much
better than many of their brother
Beers, who are in their own lines, but
are destined soon to be killed or
wounded in battle.
Another picture of striking reality
is that showing the method of remov-
ing the wounded from the field Of bat
tie. Ladysmith has been thoroughly
invested by the Beers for weeks past.
Gen. White and his gallant little army
are defending, not only the town, but
British honor as we'll. The neighbour
ing hills are alive with Boer artillery
men, whose guns speak through night
and day in bitter tones of hate Now
the gun reports are few and far be-
tween; now they come in quick sue
cesston. telling with their angry voices
the Beers determination that Lady
smith must fall. And all this time the
British bravely wait for the relief that
does not come. Now the firing of the
Beers becomes more effective. The
i enemy has taken some new position.
4 All is lost If the enemy is not driven
further back, and for that reason the
commanding officer orders sortie 1t
Is 3takingsa great hazard, but the sortie
must be made, and the bravest regi-
ments are selected for the attempt. AS
they proceed. men are constantly fall
ing, dead or wounded.
The mule carts, for picking up the
wounded, follow, and as soon as one is
loaded 1t turns back and moves
heavily over the rough road to the city.
Two natives walk beside the wagon,
carrying the Red Cross flag.
The faces of the wounded tell the
story. Study the features of the SOL
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
I WILL OPEN IT FOR YOU" SHE

vas. There was a ripple of subdued
laughter as the little girl fell from the
ropes into the water, the dog swim
ming coolly off and leaving her there.
Picture after picture was then pre-
sented. There was the naval parade,
the warships passing up the Hudson,
the yachts Swimming swiftly in front
of them, partially obstructing the view
Of the sailors who stood like white
statues along their docks; next Hob
son walked leisurely down the deck
of the little cruiser; then review of
the troops at Tampa was announced.
Perhaps it is Arthur's regiment
that is to be reviewed." whispered Ma
bel, clasping her hands ecstatically to-
gether. "Oh, l hope sol"
There was drum-beat and before a
dim vista or white tents the troops
passed in review
Their faces look sad" said Flor
ence, land they walk as If they were
tired to DEATH"
A white dog. the mascot of the regI-
ment, occupied the center of the can
vas for a second. a soldieTs following.
A piece of paper foated along be-
hind. Then came row OF six stall
wart men. The man in front suddenly
turned his face toward the audience.
He looked straight at Mabel. His eyes
were hollow and sad. Intense weari-
ness was stamped upon every line of
his gaunt features.
Mabel leaned eagerly forward. She
laid hold of Florence's arm.
Look, Florence!" she gasped. Look.
1t is Arthur"
In moment the face was gone from
the canvas, others had taken it's place.
the drum ceased to beat, the review
was over, and the canvas was dark
again.
Mabel was white to the lips. She
hurriedly gathered up her belongings,
her fan, her handkerchief, her opera
glasses.
What are you about?" asked Flor
ence; "the thing is not half over"
Il can't help it," said Mabel II
must go now. The heat in here Is
sitting. l can't stand it. must have
the fresh air.
Outside she trembled so that Flor
ence took her arm.
"If were you," she said, II
should be glad that saw him. Why
do you worry so?"
His eyes were hollow and sad,'
stammered Mabel, land his cheeks
were thin. He looked SO tired, SO
dead tired. Oh, Florence, suppose he
is very Ill. suppose-Oh, remember my
dream!"
Florence affected an overwhelming
| surprise.
Il thought you didn't believe in
dreams?" said she.
II don't, don't. Who but an idiot
would believe in such rank foolish
ness-but you can't help thinking .
"Oh, yes. we can. Come, we will
take this car. and will see you home
myself. Don't be silly
BY the time they reached the house
Florence had coaxedl tho girl Into
something Ike her old gayety. She
laughed at 8 bi her nonsense d.
thu ran Up the
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
ITALIAN GIRL.
In cataleptic Vision Soes This World
Swallowed bv Apothcr

In cataleptic Vision Soes This World
swallowed by Another.
Rome cor New York World.-Scien-
lists and many other people here are
greatly interested in Mary d'Amato, a
young woman of Naples. The saYants
are studying this remarkable girls
mental and physical conditions; PEG
pie less learned, mystified by her pro
phecies, are astounded by the verifica
ton of one of them. Miss d'Amato has
been i'll for sixteen months. A large
part of that time she has been in
cataleptic state. She feels, or seems
to feel, neither the touch of hot irons
nor needles thrust into her flesh. She
loses her volition; stretch out her
arms, and they remain in that posi-
ton; raise them, and for hours they
are In the air This cataleptic state
sometimes lasts day at time. Dur
Ing 1t the girls heart beats feebly and
she scarcely breathes. When she comes
out of this state Miss d'Amato claims
to have Lad supernatural visions cf
what will happen. and then she writes
her prophecies. Almost a month ago
she prophesied events In the local af-
fairs OF Naples, and her prophecies
were 80 quickly realized that the police
had to draw a Gordon around her
house to restrain the excited people.
AT the same time this strange young
woman made a prophecy which has
just been verified in frightful way
Oracularly she uttered these words:
"A terrible disaster will soon occur on
the shore Of the Bay of Naples. Noun
talns VIII fall upon mountains, the
sea will open Its abyss, and in it pal
aces, houses and churches will disap-
pear Four days ago the rock on
which stood the Capuccine Hotel, at
Amaifi, on the beautiful Gulf of Saler-
no, slid bodily into the sea, and ten
people lost their lives. At the same
| time that Miss d'Amato prophesied the
disaster at Amalfi she gave utterance
to this: The first years of the new
| century will try humanity. Old and
civilized nations will be swallowed by
new world. Floods will drown the
earth. Leo XIII. will die before the
end of 1900, the holy year, and Italian
reyolutionists will seize the new pope
ir the Vatican and drive him from
Lombroso, the psychologist
ologist, visited Miss DANA
HE declares she Is
he,Chef 1nsan5 IoT 1yslsflc, and thai
her cataleptic state exhibits some curl
GUS phenomena.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
They passed into the hall. On : lit
tie table reserved for cards lay q let

They passed into the hall. On . lit
tie table reserved for cards Lay q let
ter.
Mabel took 1t up and held 1t between
her forefnger and thumb. 1t was old
and yellow. A dozen postmarks dis
figured the face OF it. upon which there
was no stamp.
Florence took 1t from her.
II will open 1t for you," said she.
Mabel sunk upon her knees on the
carpet. She remained there trembling.
her white face clasped between her
slender. bloodless fingers.
She saw once more the tired face on
the canvas, the weary limbs dragging
iagglngly along. the hollow eyes peer
Ing straight into hers In all the sad
ness of a last farewell.
For. before Florence could read the
contents OF the letter-her heart had
guessed the truth.-The Criterion.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
TRANSV AAL|
FUNNY OLD RAILROAD.
Cara Drawn bv Locomotive Which Gould
Not Turn Around.

Cara Drawn bv Locomotive Which Could
Not Turn Around.
According to DR.. w. w. Smith of
Williston, S. c., the first railroad in
the United States was the South Caro-
lima railroad, afterward called the
Charleston & Augusta railroad, run
ming from Charleston to Augusta,
distance of 14O miles. The road was
begun In 1926 and completed In 1888.
says the Augusta Herald. Some of the
queer things which distinguished it
from the roads of today were: The
first motive power used on this road
was wind. utilized in sails made of
cloth on the cars. The locomotives
had two smokestacks, one at each end
In going to Charleston one of the
stacks was used. and in coming back
the other. There were no spark ar
rosters, and everybody along the route
had to watch his property to prevent
its being burned up. One hundred
miles day was good travelling In
those days. When night came on all
hands struck camp and waited for day.
light to come in order to proceed. The
track was composed Of ties and thirty
two-foot strtngers, on which band OF
iron like a common tire was laid and
nailed down to the wood. A track
walker went ahead of the engine every
day to knock down the "snake-heads"
or nail heads to prevent accidents.
The dread of the engineer was the
"snake-heads" or nails protruding
above the iron rail, for they were pro-
life sources of accidents. The con-
ductors collected the fares from the
outside, walking on boards about like
the open street cars are now arranged
There were no conveniences on the
cars as in this day and time. The cars
stopped at stated intervals for the con-
venience Of the passengers. The mail
facilities were meager and very prim.
tive. A split stick served for mai
bag. as letters were put in sticks and
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

spring which is placed over the horses
nose without disturbing him unless
occasion should necessitate its use. The
bit is operated by the reins, or there
can be extra or safety reins added. AS
soon as the horse becomes FESTIVE OF
unmanageable, it is only necessary to
pull up little harder On the reins,
when the links slide Quit and cause
pressure on the horse'S palate and
tongue and forces the mi uth open, pre-
venting him taking the It in his teeth,
and at the same time t, curb presses
on his nostrils. The am al loses his
free respiration and soo1 comes under
control. The cut shows the BIT In its
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

Great BrLain's Automobile club has
adopted badge made as a pin, button
or pendant 1t is made up of ring
of blue enamel bearing the clubs
name, in the center of which Is a
small repFese ntation of Hancock's I'm
FAINT, a steam wagon built in England
about 1880
Four new vessels are being fitted up
by a couple Of prominent ocean-liner
companies with icemaking and refrig-
Grating machinery. In addition to the
usual cooling rooms and icemaking
plant, two of the staterooms are cooled
artificially. This is said to be the first
case in which staterooms have been
cooled with the aid of refrigerating
machinery.
Represectat of Bombay CONNER
cial houses AVE placed orders with
several manufacturing firms for Amer
lean textiles In the value of 100000.
The Indians are high in their praise
of American goods, and they seem
anxious to further trade relations be-
tween America and India. A scheme
for the establishment of two lines of
steamers between Bombay and ports
on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboard is
under discussion At present tramp
steamers carry all the cargoes that
are shippedj direct to Bombay. fl
The division of botany of the United
states department of agriculture is at
work to reduce the importation into
the United States OF some of the little
things which have been costing the
Americans $S,000,00O annually. West.
ern states are now growing chicory
In 1896 l6,S17 1888 pounds were import
ed, but in lS9S only 315,7O7 pounds Of
raw chicory we're imported The di
vision in boz my is also making tests
to protect armers and merchants
against frau dulently imported seeds
and tests tn importations of the de-
partment before distribution.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

firing industry that we are indebted
for the great amount of space which
Is to contain the great American ex-
hibtt, and even my gloomy guide is
tempted to break into triumphant
smile at this new proof of American
skill and energy.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

portraits of singers and actresses. In
Europe the photographs Of the pope
find the largest sale, $4,000 pictures OF
him being sold every year. This does
not include chronos and paintings
which also have an enormous sale.
Second only to the pope in popularity
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
Tho Horse stir An -

The largest riding academy In the
world Is to be built near Central park,
New York. 1t will have 400 stalls, a
ring 2oOx1OO feet. and seats for an
audience OF $500. Instead of a horse
less era. there will be one of more and
better horses.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

is the beautiful Alexandra of Wales.
whose photographs sell at the rate of
10000 per annum. The German en-
peror comes next with a record of 15,-
600 a year, and the car, who hates to
be snapshot" nevertheless Is pictori-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
Mans humanity to Man Vivid1y Brought
to the Surface.

Reports from England tell US that
the gray hairs of the beloved queen
are indeed "being brought down with
sorrow to the grave" Although other
heads have contrived and other heads
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

carry England into
the South African
war war. still the good
queen feels the ter
rible responsible
ties upon her own
shoulders.
This is perhaps
the most pathetic
incident Of the war.
A fearful old lady,
whose life has been
q plea for peace, is
grfef-stricken with
the thought that
her boys are dying
In battle.
It is pathetic in
deed to turn from
this picture of the
Borrowing queen to
scenes of war.
Nineteen centuries
have passed since
the Prince Of
Peace was heralded
to the world with
the song of peace
on earth, good will
toward men," and
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

0AOA III AAS ACAI VI
the picture. How
his heart throbbed
with hope in the
9 asrly morning,
when he knew that
he would be one Of
the attacking par
". Today would be
an opportunity for
glory, promotion.
perhaps even for
the Victoria cross
Of honor. But a
cnance outlet had
changed all this.
He; can bear the
physical pain that
comes from his
right arm. but 1t is
hard to think he
has SO soon become
tncapacitated for
deeds of glory.
Before him are
long weeks Of suf-
fering and hard
ship, ending per-
hapB In death. And
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15

then his thoughts fy over Ian
and sea. away to "Merrie Eng
land" where the folks" he knows ar,
5anxiously waiting for news from theil
soldier boy, and where the little girl,
who promised to wait until he re-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
An Indnc.ment.

The Face-"Ah. suicide hath
charms The Fairy That's SO. All
the papers would call you young and
beautiful. Kansas City Independ-
ent.