davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18
A GOOD STORY

John Drew gives the following as
"One of the Best Stories I Ever Heard"
He had lost his life in the great
Johnstown flood. He was dead, but
the appalling scenes and incidents of
that terrible event were still the only
things on which he could fix his
thoughts. AS he entered the pearly
gates of the spirit world he was so full
of his subject that he felt he must talk
of it.
He approached an aged man and
told him the story of how he died and
gave him a vivid word picture of the
scenes of devastation in connection
with the flood. IT was lurid tale; but,
to the Johnstown mans surprise his
auditor showed little interest in it-in
fact, he seemed rather bored. The food
victim told the next man he accostei of
the old mans Indifference to his story
That's not strange said the second
man. DO you know who that was?'
"I do not replied the PennsyIva-
nian. I've only just arrived
oh said the other, that accounts
for it. You were talking to Noah"
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18

wan, with which we were to ascend the
river to Tien-tsin, the water being too
shallow for our frigate, the PoWhatan.
We arrived at the anchorage at the
mouth of the Pei-Ho and found there
the French and English ffeets-the first
under the command of Commodore Tri-
cault, the latter under Sir James Hope,
the Chesapeake being his flagship. The
English and French ambassadors had
both arrived before me. We were an
chored about ten miles from the mouth
of the Pei-Ho, the coast being so shall
low that no nearer approach could be
made in large vessels. About three
miles from the mouth of the river and
at nearly equal distance from the forts
there is a bank about a mile wide,
across which no vessel of greater draft
than ten feet can go, even at high tide.
When that bank has been passed, you
are in the channel of the river, and
distant about three miles in a direct
line from it's mouth. On our arrival at
the anchorage we found that the Eng
ish gunboatS had already crossed that
bar and were anchored within two
miles of the forts. AS soon as it was
possible after my arrival Admiral Hope
called and informed me that he had
been up to the mouth of the river and
had found it so obstructed by chains as
to render farther progress impossible
"lthoul tHelr removal ana tnat ne nad
sent his boats on shore to say that the
English and French ministers had ar
rived on their way to Peking and de-
manded the removal of the Instructions
so as to enable them to proceed. The
reply was that these distractions had
been placed not to prevent the minis
ters from going to Peking, but to keep
out the rebels-a falsehood, because the
rebels had no boats. They also said
that this was not the Pei-Ho; that the
entrance TO the Pei-Ho was 10 or Is
miles farther north, and that the min
listers must go there to get to Peking.
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18
Personal Narrative Of
Our First Minister to China.
By John E. Ward.
By John E. w ard.

to be used as recruits for the vessels
and landing force. should land at
tack upon the forts be deemed expe-
dent. These vessels were passed in
the execution of my determination not
to be stopped except by actual force,
and we were within half a mile of the
forts when our steamer grounded,
which was not surprising, as we had no
pilot, and no officer on board had ever
before entered the river. At the time
we grounded the tide was falling rapid
ly.
The English admiral Immediately
sent his flag lieutenant in the gunboat
Plover to say to Commodore Tattnan
that he expected to see us fired on at
any moment, and that as the tide fell
our boat would certainly keel over
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18
PPoINTED minister 81 the Unit,

A POINTED minister of the Unit
A ed States to China by President
& & Buchanan in 1858, my diplomatic
duties really began at Shanghai in
June. 1859. I met there Quillian and
WaShana, the two imperial commits
sioners deputed by the emperor nomi-
nally to meet the foreign ambassadors
at Shanghai and make arrangements
for their visit to Peking. The real OBJ
ject of their mission was, if possible,
to dissuade them from going there. and,
failing in their efforts to do this, to in
terpose every obstacle. BY the Amer
lean treaty no place was designa ted
where it should be exchanged. The
English and French treaties each con-
tanned a clause providing for an ex-
change at Peking. In my first official
interview discovered that there would
be great opposition not openly, but
covertly. to our going to Peking. I
therefore proposed, as the time for the
exchange of treaties had arrived, that
the exchange of the American treaty
should be made then at Shanghai To
this the imperial commissioners replied
that the Chinese ratification of the
treaty being at Peking, no exchange
could take place until either it could
be received from Peking or we should
reach that place. Satisfied that this
was a mere evasion, I then required
from them a Stpula ton .that L Snoulu
have the right, without the exchange of
treaties, to proceed to Pekirfg with the
ambassador of the first nation that Wis
tied that place. To this they assented
and correspondence with them ceased.
On the arrival of the British and
French ministers, both Sir Frederick
Bruce and NJ. de BOurbillon refused to
hold any intercourse with the Chinese
commissioners at Shanghai, alleging
that by the stipulations of their treat
les they were to make the exchange at
Peking, and that that must be their
first business. This, in my judgment,
was a grave error and tended in no
small degree to produce the disastrous
results at Pei-Ho. A meeting and con-
ference with these high commissioners
could have produced no possible evil
result. Their refusal to do so irritated
and mortified them, as their rank was
next to the emperor's. 1 was accord
ingly officially notified by Quillian and
Washana that they would leave for
Peking, where arrangements would be
made to receive us. On the morning of
the 11th of June, 1859, we left Shanghai
for the mouth of the Pei-Ho, having in
tow a small steamer called the Toey-
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18

thrown across the stream at distance
of 20 yards from each other. On the
left bank of the river four large forts,
admirably built of mud, were connect
ed with each other by shore batteries
At the mouth of the river was very
large fort, from which were subse-
quently fired the heaviest guns. On the
right hand side a. the river were three
other forts, connected by shore batter
les. These forts and batteries We're
manned. as was subsequently ascer-
tained. by about 1000 men.
About D. m. one of the gunboats,
with the admiraPs flag flying, com
menced ascending the river, while the
other vessels remained at anchor. AS
soon as the Startling had passed the
first barrier. which had been blown up
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18


sentiment. Soon the nuns bought an
extensive farm, and, as they found
great difficulty in getting laborers, they
set to and plowed the land themselves.
But, alas, even in a convent accidents
Will happen, and one day the plowshare
was broken.
There was no blacksmith in the
neighborhood, and the accident to the
plow seemed quite a little calamity,
but the nuns grappled pluckily with
the difficulty and turned it to advan-
tage. They sent to Cape Town for ma
terials and tools and started a smithy
of their own.
A blacksmith was found to act as tu-
tor, and under his teaching the nuns be-
came expert as blacksmiths. Before
very long the pupils were the equals of
their tutor, for what they lacked in
strength they made up for in steady,
hard work, and when the worthy man
once so far forgot himself as to go off
ION a spree they decided that they
were better without him, and from that
time managed their smithy without any
help.
To do their own blacksmithing was
a considerable undertaking. but the
nuns were capable of greater things.
They found that such work was appre-
ciated by their British and Boer neigh
bors and. moreover. that it was well
paid Accordingly they built a smithy.
with a brick forge, and all the neces-
sary paraphernalia of the trade, and es-
tablished themselves as blacksmiths.
The blacksmiths of the Dominican
convent are experts at their art, and
their neighbors seem to take special
pleasure in seeing the hardworking.
brown robed sisters at their daily toll.
There in the smithy the visitor from
King Williams Town will see one sis
ter busy making hinges, staples, hooks
and other articles of builders hard
ware. while close by, with her nail box
beside her, is another member of the
community engaged in shoeing the
horse which stands so patiently with
it's hoof resting on her knee. Others
of the sisters are busy on the farm hoe
ing. planting or plowing, and the visitor
cannot but be struck with their healthy,
rosy sun tanned faces.
Toll at the forge or in the field makes
the members of this South African
community of Dominicans very differ
ent in appearance from the wan and
pale nuns we are SO accustomed to see
ing in this country, and they have an
air of health and happiness which is
most pleasant to see.
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18

senting a picture of happiness over
the doors of the rooms were various IN
scriptions; over my sleeping apartment
the following: "a silver candlestick an
nounces joy, and a flame radiates flow
ers.''
The boats were drawn by trackers.
and, the current running strongly
against us, our progress was very
slow. The emperor had issued an edict
forbidding the use of animals, because
of the injury done by them to the
banks of the river. The natural ques-
ton was asked, If the mules we saw
grazing in the fields had not better be
employed in pulling the boats, and the
% men used as trackers for each boat
be engaged in repairing the injury the
mules might do the banks? The Chi
nese reply was given that it was cheap
er to hire the men than to feed the
mules.
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18

seems strange.
Yet this is a
sight which may
be seen any day
at the Domin-
ic an conVen Mt
near King Will
liam's Town, in
Cape Colony.
When, years
ago, the good
sisters turned d
their backs up
on Europe and
settled down in
South Africa to
carry on the
work of their
h, tn e y
found that the
Beers looked up
on them with
considerable SuS-
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18

Pekne living
1s he IS 0
aneote
and
il the
discretion most crucial Apd o
President 0
Ward distinguished
The the occasion h
Democrat atona
Buchanan president
president
being ssppdntd es m
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18
DoMIN1cAN NUNS AS BLAcKsMITHs.

At the end of the nineteenth century
women have so come to the fore In
trades and professions which were for
merly the monopoly Of men that 1t is
not exactly surprising to find that there
are women blacksmiths, but to see
nun welding the hammer certainly
The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-18

They promised. however, to remove the
obstructions. and in pretending to do
this worked at them day and night,
making them still more formidable.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
ABOUT PUERTO RICO.
A Law Officers Opinion Concerning
the Status Of the Island.
REPORT ON THE FAMINE IN INDIA.
Military Departments In Cuba Merged
President Mckinley Expected to Sign
the Puerto Rico Bill To- Day-The
Case Of Jorge Cruise.

Washington, April 12.-The war de-
partment yesterday complied with the
recent resolution of the house of rep
resentatives calling for an opinion by
Mr.. Magoon, law officer of the insular
division, relative to the extension Of
the constitution over Puerto Rico.
The opinion was given in May, 1899.
After referring to Spain's cession Of
the island, the opinion says: There
upon the territory conveyed became a
part of the United States and as such
subject to the constitution. No fur
ther action by congress was neces-
sary or possible. The constitution
does not depend upon congress for au-
thority in any part of the United
States. The reverse of the PROPOSE
ton is the fact. From this time on
congress must look 10 the constitu-
ton for authority to legislate for
Puerto Rico"
Mr.. Meiklejohn, in transmitting the
opinion, says that when criticisms
were made on the practice of the war
department in maintaining the tariff
schedule adopted by the military gov
eminent, he requested Mr.. Magoon
to furnish him statement of the ar
guments against the continuance of
the practice. Mr.. Meiklejohn adds:
"The request was complied with by
the preparation of memorandum.
This memorandum was not made in
any case pending in the department
II was entirely unofficial and intended
for personal use. Upon consideration
the argument against continuance
was not considered to be well founded
and no change was made in said tar
if regulations" Subsequently, Mr.
Meiklejohn says, Mr.. Magoon fur
nished an opinion on the general sub
ject, which has been made public
heretofore.
Report Of the Famine In India.
Washington, ril12.-The state de-
partment has made public one of the
reports upon which it based its state
ment to the navy department relative
to the famine in India. This particu-
L. ,,~.,oxk a.. fr.,.. TTu:x.l g4a..- o.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
A BUILDING COLLAPSED.


Pittsburgh, Pa, April l3.-Without
warning and with rush and roar
the four-story brick building at the
corner of Second avenue and Wood
street collapsed yesterday, burying in
its ruins number of people, three of
whom were taken out dead, six were
badly hurt and several others slightly
injured The building was occupied
by the Armstrong-McKelvy Lead and
oil company. 1t was being remodelled
by Contractors McGovern and Lyle,
who were converting the lower floors
of the corner store and that next door
into one large room, which was to
have been occupied by the lead COM
pany About As feet of the middle
partition had been removed and steel
girders supported by heavy iron posts
were in place and the finishing
touches were being put on the re-
modelling work. The firm yesterday
morning began the transfer of their
stock from one room to the other
and apparently centralized the heavy
weight of the lead and oils about the
middle of the structure. Up to the
present this is the only solution adj
vanced for the collapse, which began
by the second floor breaking through,
carrying with it the two floors above,
making breach from top to bottom
through the center Of the building.
The fact that the rear portion of
the building on Second avenue did
not collapse saved many lives. 1t
was in that part of the building that
the offices were located, in which
there were about ten persons. Those
who were in the rear portion of the
building heard the crash and ran out
of the side door into Second avenue
and escaped.
Rumors of many people being buried
under the debris were rife, but the
list above comprises all of the casual
ties. The loss to the firm will be about
$4,000.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
DEED Of "A Lenlnua .Ynnnr Man.

Carbondale, Ill., April l4.-Gus
Young, a prominent young man OF
Murphysboro, shot and wounded Miss
Kate Van Clooster and then blew out
his own brains in temporary fit OF
jealousy. Young was real estate
man and the lady was one of the best
families of southern Illinois, She viii
recover.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
pest,uetiy, Fire MT Hone. Ida

Hope, Ida, April l4.--Yesterday a
fire broke out in Chase's saloon re-
sulting in complete destruction OF
the following property: Chase's sa-
loon, Lcet's restaurant, W. j. Quirk's
store and the post Office, barber
shop, Davis saloon, Mead's restaurant,
Mornings house, Mrs. Lemley's house
and church. The total loss is es.
timnted at $4,000. No insurance.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
choked HI. WIFE and Then shielded

Bakerield, Tenn, April 14.-Joe
Stringer yesterday killed his wife by
choking her to death and then com.
mitted suicide. Stringer used a dou.
ble-barreled shotgun on himself, his
brains being blown into an adjoining
room. The couple had been separated
and Stringer had called on his wife
seeking a reconciliation.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19

Washington, April ia statement
issued by the post office department
shows that there has been an increase
of S9,'594l5 in the value of postage
stamps, postal cards, etc, issued dur
ing the three months ending March
81, as compared with similar period
of last year.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
The Case OF Jorge Cruise.
Pension Measures Reported Adversely.

Washington, April 1.-THE senate
committee on pensions reported yes
terday adversely Senator Tillman's
bill increasing Mexican war pensions
to s12 a month; also Senator Sui.
livan's bill making widows pensions
on account Of the Mexican war SIG .
month.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19

Wichita, Kan, April 13.-The annual
meeting of Kansas undertakers adj
iourned last night The association
meets next year at Abilene in June.
j. NJ, Doyle, of 'Belleville, was elected
president; L. NJ. Penwell, of Topeka,
secretary; Mrs. II. W. Gates, of Rosen-
dale, secretary.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
The Engine ,Jumped the Track.

Tyler Tex, April 13.-A wreck oc-
CURED on the Tyler Southeastern rail-
road yesterday afternoon near Jack
sonville. Engineer Thomas Upton
was killed and Fireman W. Y. Thomp-
son fatally injured. The engine
jumped the track.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
Three Drunken Person, DROWNED.

San Pedro, Cal, April lS.--Peter
Larsen and Joseph Madsen and a
woman were drowned at the entrance
to the outer harbor Wednesday. They
were under the influence of liquor and
the boat was seen to oyerturn. The
two men were sailors.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
GOVERNOR OF PUERTO RICO.
The Present Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy Has Been rendered and Ac-
cepts the Post.

Washington, April 13.-Charles H.
Allen, at present assistant secretary
of the navy, will be the first civil gov
ernor of Puerto Rico, under the pro-
visions of the bill passed Wednes-
day by the house of representatives.
Toward the close of the afternoon
yesterday Mr.. Allen was summoned
to the white house by the president
and the formal tender of the post was
made Mr.. Allen returned a practical
acceptance. Then the president and
the next governor of Puerto Rico
spent an hour in, close conference
respecting the matters to be arranged
in the immediate future. Owing to
the fact that little more than two
weeks time interviewed before the
civil government must go into opera
ton, according to the terms of the
act of congress, it was decided that
II would not be practicable to COM
plete the cabinet Of the governor in
that time. Therefore Mr.. Allen will
go alone to San Juan at the earliest
possible moment after Secretary
Longs return to Washington, which
should be on Saturday next.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19

London, April BIAS the result of
the wreck of fishing boat on the
North Cornish coast yesterday morn
ing three fishermen and eight lifeboat
mcn were drowned.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
c. c. WYANDT, Agent
UNION CENTRAL LIFE INSURANCE CO,
OF CINCINNATI OHIO.

Below is the statement of the company for the year
ending December 81, 1899:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19
ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

My accident business has grown large proportions All CLAIM
been promptly settled The best companies represented only
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-19

curing the initial stages of the famine
three years ago. 1t then affected only
100000 persons; now the figure is
3,500,000, and the daily expenditure Is
placed at $4,000. The famine area
covers 100000 square miles with
population of 100000, and there Is
a further area of about $4,000 square
miles, with population of 21,0O0,O00,
in which more or less distress prevails
and where relief already has been or
will be given. The consul says that
the applications for relief are over
taxing the state authorities and are
increasing at an appalling rate, the
number of applicants at the relief
works during the last week in Janu-
airy advancing 100000 and bringing up
the total to 100000, with the most
trying period still two months distant.
In conclusion, the consul expresses the
fear that the South African war will
50 divert the attention and contribu-
tions of Engishmen as to oblige In
dia to fight the plague and famine
alone.
Mfitarv Departments in Cuba Merged.
Washington, April 12.-The presi-
dent yesterday issued an order merg-
ing the departments of Havana and
Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Under the com
mand of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, with
headquarters at Quemados. The
change will take effect May /. AT
present Gen. Ludlow is in command
of the department of Havana, which
is to be amalgamated with Pinar del
Rio. Quemados is the present head
quarters of the department OF Pinar
del Rio and is the site of the camp
where the major part of the Ameri-
can garrison is quartered.
The Puerto Rico B,ll.
Washington, April 1.-THE Puerto
Rico bill will reach the president
some time this afternoon. The en-
crossed parchment was prepared yes
terday prior to the final vote, which,
however. came so late that 1t was in
expedient to secure the signatures of
Speaker Henderson and President of
the Senate Frye to the engrossed bill.
This final formality will be performed
as soon as the session opens to-day,
so that by one o'clock the bill can be
taken to the white house.
The Case OF Jorge Cruise.
Washington, April 12.-In compli-
ance with the resolution of the 18th
instant relative to Jorge Cruise, native
of Puerto Rico, brought to the United
States under a labor contract, the Sec
rotary of the treasury yesterday sent
to the senate the papers bearing upon
The Newtown bee., 1900-12-14
great many around Botsford and V'c'I'-
LETTER2TOW. H. HuBBELL'
NEWrOWN.

Daar Sir: Paint Is one of the the tnlnR' that Railroad Companies know ah about. L Do you bnoww what altahous means It meanss, in paint, where to get It. ,s We sell the paint for two-thirdr of the cars aud stations, and ,brldgss and every' thing else, that railroad men Wsntto keep good d.iooking ana sound, all lover the country. | A man who wants . gallon or two or paint knows nothing ahont itsbuys what ever Is handy, or @getl some painter to .'make" 1t.
 A Railroad Company asks its chemist |: "wh'c1 Is the oestP"
 The cheapest thing, to preserve O beautify anything with, Is paint. Sothe whole world is painted; except, of courf G. the part of 1t owned by poor slow folks.
 And tha paint they use ia peoples h telligence.meter; or ignorance-meteT tells how much or how little they know
 Lead ard oil has had its day. Devot lead and zinc Is the paint, because 1t
The Newtown bee., 1900-12-14

Christmas is only few weeks eff and 1t is wise to make your selection of gifts early while stocks are complete. G. W. Fairchild & Son,, the jewellers of Bridge port, are holding . Christmas anticipa-
The Newtown bee., 1900-12-14

R. Randall Davidson, the Ansonia jew. eler, will celebrate his 15 years in the jswelry business. at Christmas time by giving unusual discounts to all his old customers and their friends. This is an opportunity not to be lost sight of in making purchases. His fair and square dealing is too we'll known to need com ment.
The Newtown bee., 1900-12-14

The familiar meat bell that Botsford
 D. o ole have heard twice a week at their ioor through the summer months has
 not been heard for the past two weeks,
 which has been . disappointment to
The Newtown bee., 1900-12-14

e B. Tucker of K aston was in the vi- cinity of Botsford, the first of the week, look after ant'qne furniture, etc. MT Tucker deals In rare old furniture and usually has collection on hand.
The Newtown bee., 1900-12-14

Thomas F. Bailey has recently put in sluice way for the town near the home of Matthias Carroll. This Is needed improvement and will be greatly appre. c'ated by the people of Great Ring.