davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09

There was one game in which
played" said the old poker fiend, that
beat anything in my life for excite
ment. 1t was played when we were
before Vicksburg with Grants army.
Beside myself there were Joe Antilles,
Jack Tucker and Bill Dasey. We
would sooner playa game of draw than
eat DO you know what the dead
mans hard is?
'Well, an old story has 1t that long
ago in Western town there was a
man who had been losing his money
steadily at poker for several days, lie
was getting down to close quarters,
and one night, he said in n Disguised
sort Of way. I believe If | did get
winning hand. Id drop dead The next
hand was a winner for him and be
pitched over the table, dead. The hand
was aces and Fights. and since then ii
has always been known as the dead
mans hand. Some poker players have
a superstition that it can't lose. Now,
Jack Tr .ker one of our poker playing
quartet. was one Of those plarers.
''On this particular day of which |
speak, the bullets were flying pretty
thick and we had been fighting like
thunder, when suddenly an order came
for us TO cease firing and to get some
thing to eat. Out came the inevitable
pack Of cards. After several hands, !
got pair Of fiyes. ! drew three cards
and caught a -four. "A nine and ten.
Tucker stood pat and so did Joe, but
the fourth man dropped out / deter
mined to try to win the pot by bluffing.
for Tucker, the only man of whose hand
| was afraid. ID Il habit OF making a
swell play. and YOU would come back
Mt him hard he would drop without
calling you But this time, TO my dis
may, Tucker played EN- good and hard
and finally Joe called the pair of ms.
I've got pair Of aces said Joe,
and ! believe tj}at you're all bluffing
and that it's tbe best hand out at that
I've got the dead mans hand
shouted Tucker. triumphantly, as he
reached for the pot L would bet on
that hand fill the cows come home. You
can't beat that HAND. Johnson
II was lying there on the ground
with my cards spread ont in front Of
my face like fan. just as | was about
to throw my hand on the ground bull
let came along and crashing through
the center Of one If the cards went
through my cap, was about to yell at
my narrow escape, when | noticed with
my characteristic perception and pres
ence Of mind, that the bullet hole was
in the four spot, and in whirling
through, the bali had torn a ragged
edge that made She four spot look ex-
actly Ike the five of clubs. ! saw that
the others had not noticed the circum-
stance, and 50 / co0ily laid down my
hand and said TO Tucker, Don't be IN a
hurry and burn your fingers with that
pot. I've got j..
say, Tue. ,ooG,d ~ the three figes
as he thought. aS if 10 could net be
lieve his eyes Before be could detect
the fraud the order came 20 renew
firing and Z scOoped in the pot IN the
confusion
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
keynotes Of the Platform
OHIO.

Strongly indorses the administration Of
President Mckinley and demands for
him another term.
Sustains the President and Congress in
legislation enacted for the conntry's for
eign possessions, and advocates fo' them
material advantages in the way Of
schools, security for life, liberty aud prop
erty, and the largest degree of self-goy-
eminent for which they are fitted"
Approves of the treaty of Paris, espe-
cially that part of ii providing for the
purchase Of the Philippines.
Declares there must be no turning
back" in the treatment the latter isl
ands.
Extends thanks to Senators Hanna and
Foraker and the Republican members of
Congress from Ohio for their loyalty to
the President.
INDIANA
Indorses all the acts OF Congress. in
GLIDING those regarding "our new pos
sessions" without specifically mentioning
Porto Rican legislation.
Warmly indorses the administration of
President Mckinley, declaring he should
be reelected.
Declares strongly in favor of the policy
ol eApdHslou
Reaffirms the St. Louis platform, g.
pecially the money plank.
Condemns trusts and asks for legisla-
ton to control them.
PENNSYL
Indorses President McKinley's admin
istralon and instructs delegates to Phil
adelphia to vote for his denomination.
Recommends the election of Matthew
S. Quay to the United States Senate by
the next Legislature.
Recommends election of United States
Senators by direct vote of the people.
WISCONSIN,
Expresses qualification at the recent
financial legislation by Congress.
Reafiirms the st. Louis platform and
declares it needs no alteration.
Indorses the administration of Presi-
dent Mckinley and declares the Repubh-
can party can be trusted to solve the
problems growing out of the Spanish war.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09

New York--So far as legitimate bust
ness interests are concerned the feeling
OF nervousness occasioned by the recent
closing of several steel mills seems to
have worn away. The iron and steel
trade Itself is still in a somewhat unset
tied eondI, ion, however. The export trade
is still large, and earnings of bo,S rail
road and industrial companies continue
to compare favorably with las year. The
stock markets have been irregular. Trad
ing has been largely professional in char
aeteF, the public showing little dispose
tion to take the long side so soon after
the shake-ouj There is also feeling
that with the approach of the time for
opening the presidential campaign there
will come a further material decline in
prices. The money markets continue
easy. Call rates in New York have been
quoted ut , to ~ per cent, and there is
an abundance of time money obtainable
at 4 per cent for the year. The Chicago
rates also have been shaded this week.
Az per cent being now generally quoted
on call loans
Chicago.--The most noticeable feature
of the grain markets during the week
was the marked change of sentiment as
regards wheat. For some time back the
feeling generally has been bearish. Crop
prospects have been most CHEEKY and
with the time for May deliveries drawing
near it has been felt that the natural
course OF the market was downward.
Thusrsday the first evidence of change
in sentiment was shown when France
wa. found to be in such Il disastrous coz
lltion regarding her crops. Her minister
predicted that because of injury from
various causes the country would be com
PEELED to depend upon foreign sources for
upward of 32.000,0o0 bushels. Despite
optimistic reports of growing crops il has
been known all along that Michigan,
Ohio and Indiana were below normal
condition. Kansas is complaining OF
chinch bugs and in some parts of the
State the Hessian fly has appeared, Idv-
erpool has been bearish. but reports that
Argentine arrivals from the interior are
falling off. Because of the uncertainty
of the conditions trade has been quiet.
The price of wheat is about Is ceLts be-
low the average, hence there is no great
induccment to sell. Corn contiDues to
show the firm undertone that has chaTac-
terized that market for SO long. Too
much rain has fallen to be of benefit TO
the crop. the truth being that planting
has been hiLdered considerably by thu
wet weather Stocks are light and there
is good demand for the article, especially
from across the water
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
PURSUIT is ABANDONED.
British Who Were After beers Return
20 BIoemfontein.

London alvices say that the Hood Of
newspaper dispatches describing the re
cent operations throws no light whatever
upon the present position of affairs o. up.
on the great question rs To when the main
advance is to begin. The Standards an
nouncement that Gen. Freneh's cavalry
are returning to Bloemfontein is clear
proof that there is no further hope OF
catching the Hetreating Beers aud the
London papers are beginning to display
Impotence at the practical failure Of the
elaborate operations Of last week.
The London STANDARD says: 1T is dis
heartening TO find that these elaborate
maneuyers have had 50 small result.
The Daily Chronicle remarks: 1--WE are
reluctant to criiicise Lord Roberts, but II
Is impossible TO shut oar eyes TO the f.ct
that during the last ten days we have
gained very little from our enc NOUS dis
play of force"
Without doubt these operations have
been of a very exhanstng nature and will
entail further delay. The Bloemfontcir
correspondent Of the Times, writing after
the Paardeberg affair, Describes Lord
Roberts army as ii wreck" because it
was without horses and without trans
port. The Bloemfontein correspondent Of
the Post speaks now Of the urgent need
at present and always of more horses,
There is very little news from other quar-
ters.
Col. Dalgety's force at Wepener mum
bered 200. His losses during the siege
were thirty killed and 40 wounded. The
Daily Mail publishes a statement from
Col. Long. who was blamed for the loss
of guns at Colenso. that in advancing the
guns as he did he merely oheyed orders
and that the staff was quite ignorant of
the proximity Of the Boer positions
The sudden decision Of the Boer peace
delegates TO visit America is attributed TO
the fact that the Government Of the Meth.
e7lands. after sounding al the European
capitals. cold them they ia1 nothing TO
hope from Europe.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
ATTRACTIVE MENUS.
What Passengers on the New York
Central Are Given.

What Passengers on the New York
Central Are Given.
A gentleman whose travels haze GOV.
cred the United States and an OF con.
tinental Europe recently remarked that
rleals on the New York Central are
rived with all the refinenents OF gas
economic art. 4 seasonable bill, prepared
by competent chef, and served by per
fectly trained walters, with table settings
Of the latest design, suns NJ the requir So
ments Of an enjoyable neal and is synon-
ymous with the Al IS u the New York
CentraFs cuisine
The passenger department las under
taken the operation Of dining and buffet
cars, and no expense viii be spared 10
make this prominent feature Of the ser
vice. The bills are frequently changed
and the aim is TO conduct the dining car
and buffet service on the most liberal
lines The following is - sample bill
which is offered at The present time
Dinner Shrewsburys cteam 81 Celery
Cux CrOutons. Consoumr Ceicstine: Plank
ed North Carollaa Shad Potgt0es Paris
ienBe; Queeh Olives. Celery. Sliced TOma.
toes: Lobster a Ia Newburg ia Cases. Fresh
Mushrooms on Toast. Peaches n Ia Cnndc.
CIarct Shcrhet Rpnsi Ribs Of Prime Beef,
Roast spring lufkpF cranberry sauce
Bermuda Potatoes. cauiHower au Gratin.
New Beets q Ia Creme, Green Peas. English
Supe with Watereress, Chicory Salad.
Plum Pudding. Hard OF Brandy Sauce.
SraBolitan lee Cream Assorted Cakes
Fruit water Crackers CamembeTt Cheese
Edanf Cheese Cofe. fiemI tassc. Tea
Meals one dollar " charge for coffee
demLtasse served IN 5HGet. smoking or OBJ
eeTrailDu car.
The drinking water served on ha Ncw
York Cels al Dining Cars is srom the
celebrated Polaris Springs, at Boouvjile
on the r.. w & q Division. IN tbe foot
hills ei the Adirondack Mountains, and
IS absolutely AibaEg Argus
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09

Two hundred and fifty lives were lost
in an explosion in mines No. i and NO.
OF the Pleasant Valley Coal Company
at Winterquarters camp, two miles north
OF Scofeld, Utah. Every man in the two
shafts was killed, not one escaping To
give details of The disaster.
At midnight 1877 bodies had been re-
covered and rescue parties, made up Of
friends and relatives of the victims, were
working in the leads in the vain hope
that some mi ght have lived through the
accident. Help was sent from Cotton,
sixteen miles away, on the Rio Grande
Western Railway, and all possible was
done to bring out the dead from the
wrecked mines.
The accidental igniting of blasting pow
der, of which a number of kegs were
stored in mine No. 4, is believed TO have
been the cause Of the disaster. This
mine was the first to suffer and the ex-
plosien in shaft No. followed almost
Immediately. The supposition is that
the flames were communicated to the
second mine BY gallery which connects
me two workings.
All the dead taken out of No. were
burned and charred, showing that the
hre must have swept like wave through
the entire shaft. In the other mine the
bodies We're not so seriously disfgured,
death having come from suffocation.
Many who were in the vicinity of the
mouths Of the shafts were injured by the
blast which issued from the openings.
The buildings at the mouths were dam
aged seriously, and the whole country
around trembled from the force of the
explosion. IS
The Disaster occurred while the $50
men of thc day shift were busy in the
various galleries and not one who was
inside had warning of che peril. Those
outside saw fame sHd smoke burst FROM
the openings, followed by dull rumble,
the tearing of timbers al5 crashing of
falling masses of earth AID rock and
then all was silent.
Immediately, from every direction,
came men, women and children to whom
the omiuous sound could have only one
meaning 1t was some time before aught
could be dcne and the wives, mothers
and children of those entombed in the
awful Geath tap crowded to the en-
trance vailing and crying for their loved
ones
News Of the explosion spread with
lightning speed through Scoield, which is
chiefly made up of families OF employees
of the coal company. Dispatches We're
sent to Cotton. from which place a train
with doctors and hospital supplies was
hurried to the scene AS 81 On as posi-
bile the rescue work was begun, but the
task was not rescue. only the bringing out
of the dead that was before the terror
stricken workers. Despite peril from
broken timbers and loosened masses OF
rock the miners and trainmen entered
the blackened shafts and dragged to the
light the mutilated eorpses of their
friends and neighhors
Officials of the company are upable to
explain the cause of the explosion. The
mines were comparatively fee of coal
gas and it is said that an ordinary flame
could not have caused the disaster. The
story that an explosion Of powder was
responsible for the igniting of the gas
and the awful hayoc that followed seems
borne out by the statements of all famil-
iar with the interior of the workings.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
MANY MEN NOW OUT.
THOUSANDS ADDED TO RANKS
OF THE STRIKERS.
Labor Tru ubles in Nearly All Parts of
the Country Building Trades Emu
pioycs Especially Couspicnous-More

Strikes have recently been inaugurated
in all parts OF the country, except the
extreme South and the Pacific slope As
consequence, $4,000 idle men have been
added To the thousands of building trades
workers and machiLists long Idle Mt Chi
cage and Cleveland, and to the strikers
OF New England, New York and Other
Eastern States, who have been out of
work fram two TO four weeks. 1t is con-
seryatiyely estimated thar 10000 union
workmen are now on strike in various
parts of this country. The latest addi-
tons to the list OF strikers are as fol-
lows;
At Philadelphia 5000 building trades
workmeu: for eight hours and % per cent
increase in wages
At Kansas City-l,000 hod-carriers,
plasterers, timers and quarrymen; Tor in
crease in wages,
At Buffalo, ~ Y.-3,000 ear repairers,
200 shop men. 1000 freight handlers $50
Bell telephone linemen, 800 exposition la
horers, for increase of wages.
At Duluth, Aiinn.-~700 building trades
workers; for eight hours and increase in
wages.
At Savannah. Ga.-S0O building trades
workers. for eight hours ami increase in
wages,
AT Minneapolis. Mimi, 100 wood
workers; for the discharge of non-union
men.
At omaah. Neh. 500 carpenters; for
eight hours, increase in wages and ex-
elusive use of union materials.
At Cincinnati 500 architectural iron
workers; for nine hours at old paw.
AT Racine, NiS.--230 tarpe4ters, hod-
carriers and masons; for &c ht hours and
increase in wages
At enver. Colo. 700 carpenters; for
eight ours and $3.50 per day.
At Pttsburg, Pal, 800 building
trades workers; for eight hours and in
crease in wages,
At East st. Louis, ILL., 900 building
trades workers; for increased wages
At St. Paul Minu-J00 union plumb
ers; for shorter day and increase in
wages.
At Great Falls Mont Freight CON
duclors and hrakemeu; against the new
schedule of wages.
At Ludington, Mch.-200 freight hand
lers; for ineI used wages.
AT Detroit. d4ch.-150 coremakers; for
increased wages.
AT Milwaukee, Wis.-l00 carriage and
wagon carpenters and 200 iron workers;
for new wage scale and against nom
union men.
At Memphis, Tenn iron molders;
for higher wages
At Port Huron Mich. 800 ship build
ers aud machinists; for increased wages
At Springfield ohio--250 ironworkers
in six shops; for a uniform scale Of
wages.
At Barherton, Ohio-600 boilermaKers
and lnolders; for increased wages
II Boston $500 brewery employees: to
enforce the demands Of engineers for
eight hours and higher pay.
AT Constable, \. LOCO copper
snIelter employees; for nine hours.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
eRANpEoRT IS TAKEN.
Its Occupation by the British Mos
Important Move.

Important Move.
News of the occupation of Brandfort
was issued by the British war Office Fri
day morning. II is generally considered
the most important communication re-
ceivcd from the front since the capture
of Gen. Cronje and the relief Of Lady
smith. The fact that the position gives
the key to one of the main roads 10 the
Drakensberg passes, which possibly may
he the means Of cooperation wl.h Gen
Butler later on, provides an advance base
Of supplies. etc, and at the same time
menaces the Beers now southeast of
Bloemfontein, is obviously the reason for
the Importance attached by all hands to
the intelligence.
The Boer army, which was at Brand
fort, commanded by Gen. Delarey. is
presumably retiring on Winburg. which
viii possibly be the next immediate ID.
jectiye of the British Braudfort. thirty
FIVE miles nearer the Transvaal capital,
is now Lord Roberts headquarters.
What particularly gratifies the British
public is the evidence that the army of
Lord Roberts in the Orange Free State
has recovered It's mobility and is again
capable of undertaking the general nd
vance 50 long retarded. II is hardly ex-
pected the Beers will make much Of n
stand south Of Krooustad, and possibly
not there, if Lord Roberts succeeds IN
capturing Winburg, thus interposl'g be-
tween the main federal army and the
Boer forces IN the neighhorhood Of Thaba
Nehu aud Uoutnek. In that case the
later would he forced to move far to the
eastward, in which direction their mo
bility would probably enable them to
reach the Bethlehem and Harrismiih line
of safety. The only opposition which
The British encountered at BraDifC'
seems to have come from the Iri,
American command
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
start for Cnne Nor,c.

The steamship JeaBic sailed Monday
from Seattle, Wash, for Cape Nome,
Alaska. gold fields with eighty passen-
gers aud 4Ou tons Of freight, the first ship
Of the season. Twenty-Five steamships
are scheduled 10 sail for Cape Nome ID
May. with J,S.'S passengers and 2I,22J
tons Of freight already booked. leaving
only about 200 passengers open. The
total earnings % the ships 10 Nay at rul-
ing prices will exceed 81 10000
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09

themselves from the Federal sharp
shooters, and dying Feds were lying
up 10 the very edge of those pits.
In one Of the pits was an ungainly,
raw, red-headed boy. lie was a retir-
ing lad. green as grass. but reliable
fighter, We never paid much attention
to him. one way or another
THE wounded had been lying for
hours unattended before the pits and
the sun was getting hotter and hotter.
They were suffering horribly FROM pain
and thirst. Not fifteen feet away. out
side the rifle pit lay mortally wound
ed officer who was our enemy.
AS tho heat ere " more intoIerable
this others cries Tor water increased.
He was evidently dying hard, and his
appeals were - the most piteous ma
ture. The red-headed boy found ii
hard 70 bear them. He had just Joined
the regiment and was not yet callous
TO suffering At last, with tears food
ing his grimy face he cried out:
~ can't stand it no longer, boys.
I'm goin' 10 take that poor Teller my
canteen
For answer 20 this foolhardy speech
one of us stuck a cap ON a ramrod and
hoisted it above the pit Instantly 1t
was pierced by a dozen bullets. To
venture outside step was the maddest
suicide. And all the while we could
hear the officers means.
'Water Water! Just one drop, for
Gods sake, somebody Only one
DROP
The tendeiehearted boy could stand
the appeal no longer, Once, twice.
three times, in spite of our utmost rem
onstrance he tried unsuccessfully TO
clear the pit. At last he gave a des.
perate leap over the embankment. and
once on che other side threw himself
fiat upon the ground and crawled to-
ward his dying foe. He could not get
close to him because OF the terrible fire,
but he broke sumac bush, tied to the
stick his precious calteen and landed
it in the sufferers trembling hands.
You never heard such gratitude in
your Efe. Perhaps there wa,, never any
like 1t before. The officer was Cor tying
his gold watch ON the stick AMI sending
it back as slight return for the disin-
terested act. But this the boy would
not allow. He only smiled happily and
returned as he had gone, crawling amid
a hailstorm of bullets. When he reach
ed the edge of the pit he called out to
his comrades to clear the way for him,
and with a mighty leap he was among
us once more. He was not even
scratched.
He took our congratulations calmly.
We said 1t was the bravest deed we
had seen during the war He did not
answer His eyes had a soft. musing
look
How could you do itT asked In
whisper later, when the crack of the
rifles ceased for a moment.
1T was something | thought Of he
said, simply. Something my mother
used TO say TO me. Il was thirsty and
We gave me drink" she said She read
II to me out of the Bible, and she taught
is to me until never could forget it,
When l heard that man crying for
water remembered it, The words still
stood in my head. ! couldn't get rid of
EN-. SO ] thought they meant me-and
| went That's all
This was the reason why the boy
was ready to sacrifice his life for an
enemy. And it was reason enough, :"
added the soldier, with a quavering
voice
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09

People marvel At the mechanism Of
the human body. with its 20S bones
and sixty arteries. But man is simple
in this respect compared with the carr.
That remarkable fish moves no fewer
than 1856 bones and muscles every
time it breatBes 1t has 1870 veins. to
say nothing Of its ninety nine muscles
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09

Kangaroo.farmns is to be 6 n establish
ed institution 10 Australia.
Dave Duncan went insane while dis
GUESSING religion az Newkirk. Okla.
Because EeiDhardt Tom killed Ida kel-
Ter at Chicago. Paul Wagner, Il. com
mitted ssicide. Wednesday night by
hanging.
Ike latest satisfies show that the Unit
ed States has over 2O00t0 miles Of rail
road. and less than 10000 miles Of good
wagon roads.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
The Rrn.e-t pee.l.

A group OF old soldiers. both Confed-
crate aud Federal, were recently swap
ping stories Of the civil war. At last
they fell 20 comparing the greatest acts
Of bravery that each had known. and q
S0atherner told t1e following story.
1T was a hot8uly day in 1864. and
General Grant Eas after us. 0ur men
had hurricdlyidug rife pits TO protect