davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Powder Burns In Shooting Cases.

Powder Burns In Shooting Cases.
Powder burns have played curl
ously important part before the courts"
remarked New Orleans lawyer who
has large criminal practice. ''Their
presence or absence is often depended
upon to determine proximity in mystic
rious shootings, and they have fire.
quently settled the question of suicide
or murder where the fact was in doubt.
81 was interested In q case of that
kind in the early days Of my practice
and prevailed upon a prominent sur
geon of this city who is now dead to
ascertain for me by practical expert
ment upon body In the dissecting
room exactly how far away the ex-
plosion of pistol would produce burns
and powder marks. He used 80 cal
iber revolver and found that the fame
of the discharge made a distinct burn
Mt distance Of 21a feet, and powder
marks were left at a distance of more
than two yards.
"Of course the grains were not actu-
ally driven into the skin, as they are at
shorter range, but the marks were
clearly discernible and could not be
easily removed. was surprised at the
result, and 1t satisfied me that many
erroneous conclusions had been drawn
from such evidence in the past 1t is
generally supposed that the weapon
must be held almost against the skin to
leave traces Of flame and POWDER
New Orleans Times Democrat.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
He Wanted Drink.

Some years ago Colonel Crisp was in
New York, and being in attendance at
certain notable political gathering in
Madison Square Garden was called up
on for speech. And did he accept? ?
Well, rather! Running his fingers
through his hair, adjusting his vest
and pushing up his coat sleeves, he
started in to sprinkle eagle feathers all
over the stage. Now, the colonel is a
stout man and has thirst in proper
tton. In the course of his passionate
harangue he became very warm and
asked that some water be provided. In
compliance with the request diminu-
tive pitcher and dainty little glass were
brought and placed before him.
Colonel Crisp looked at it intently for
few moments, and then "What is
thisF' he thundered.
"W-w-water," timidly answered one
of the vice presidents.
Young man." beloved the colonel,
his nostrils quivering with suppressed
rage, "either bring me bucket and q
gourd or lead me to the branch."-Kan-
sas City Independent.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Two straight r1u.Aa.

played poker for IL years and new
er saw straight flush. A few nights
ago woman in a millionaires' row
palace held one and, disdaining the
small pile of cash on the table. called
for her check book. Everybody ex-
cept an old bachelor who had learned
the game in the Union club laid down.
He, scorning to take advantage of a
weak woman, said:
Mrs. B., let me advise YOU to be
careful. shall see you for any amount
and raise you. The limit is off. I sup
poser
She said 1t was and cast a check
for $500 in the pot.
Before 1 see that may 1 ask a uues-
ton" he said to the assembled play
ers. IT want TO know this-in case
there are two straight fushes, each ace
high, which suit wins?"
Diamonds" was the unanimous re-
ply.
He handed to Mrs. B. her check and,
laying down ten, jack, queen, king
and ace of diamonds, remarked that
she was a very brave woman. But
she assured him that her hand was
worth $500 and exposed a ten, jack,
queen, king and ace of clubs.
How far would you have gone"
some one asked her, to which she made
answer:
Il shouldn't have thought of stopping
under $4,000, and I am half angry
that he didn't give me chance to bet,
it's such glorious fun."-New York
Press.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
He Saved the Bridge.

"At Harpers Ferry on one occasion
the flood in the Potomac was so great
that it threatened the destruction Of
the costly railroad bridge, which was
seen to shake in its unsteadlness." said
former Governor Thomas G. Jones.
when everybody present was looking
each moment to see the bridge go
down, President John W. Garrett Of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad arriv-
ed upon the scene. Approaching the
necessity of instant action, he gave an
abrupt order for a loaded train of
freight cars standing on a side track to
be- run with the locomotive on to the
bridge and kept there.
"fBut, Mr.. Garrett, that Is train
load of silk said the local superintend-
ent.
az don't care; run out the carsP
commanded the great master of rail-
roads. 1t would be easier to pay for
the silk than to build new bridge
"The silk train was run on to the
bridge, and the structure was saved.
The silk was being sent by rail across
the continent from San Francisco, at
which port it had been received fiem
China and Japan. Garrett was great
man, one Of the greatest of those who
have aided in the material development
Of America. In emergencies he was
very resourceful, as was demonstrated
in perhaps small wey by the. Har-
pers Ferry incident" - Birmingham
Age-Herald.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
HE SAVED The GIRL.
Am Adventure with the CannibaIs of
the Solomon Islands


One day, on Solomon beach, little
girl ran to me and, before l was aware
of 1t, placed my foot on her neck. One
knows what this means well enough.
In hot war it means that If chief al
lows his foot to rest on the defeated
ones neck the mans life is safe, but he
is slave forever, rescue or no rescue
was puzzled at the child's action 1t
was soon explained. Shortly afterward
down came lot of villagers and in
sisted on taking the youngster. 1 told
them what she had done. They said
they did not care. Her mother was
being cooked in the town, and the
child should go to the ovens with her.
"Neverw said. What! We who have
eaten betel nut together many times. to
quarrel for mere child, to whom |
have granted life in your own wayr'
swore they should kill me first. They
replied:
"Oh, that is an easy thing to do
A bold front was the only thing now
Luckily, had my 16 shooter. Spring
ing back and putting a mark on the
sand with my foot, 1 swore l would
shoot the first man who crossed it. As
/ said before, the natives do not care to
face an armed white in the open. They
knew l could answer for a dozen of
them or SO, and, although clubs were
up and bows bent, they hesitated, as
well they might, and l knew l had
mastered them. Then one proposed
should buy the child fairly; they cared
not to fight friend. To this at once
agreed, and a muss was thus avoided,
and a mission ak, worth tenpence,
made me slave owner. Tell it not in
Gath.-From "Among the Man Eat
ers," by John Caggin.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
A Spelling Competition.

The other day Jones said to Brown,
"Il bet you anything you like you
can't spell three simple words I'll give
you within 20 seconds"
.''T'll go you. What are theyf" said
Brown.
"Well, here goes" Jones said as he
pulled out his watch. Believe"
s"Be-Li-e-v-e."
Receive"
HRze-c-e-f-v-e," again Brown spelled.
"Wrongp said Jones.
"WhatT exclaimed Brown in sur
prised tones. 'T've spelled the two
words you gave me correctly. I'm
certainly not
Times upl" Jones said triumphant
ly. "Why didn't you spell the third
word-w-r-o-n-gF
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
CALLED HER SON.
BY Mistake She Communicated With
the Wrong Institution.


A Pittsburg woman tells this story
on herself: She hid son, attending a
preparatory school near Sing Sing She
went to New York not long ago to pay
him visit. She stopped at the Fifth
Avenue hotel on her arrival, and she
desired to call up the school by tele-
phone to inform him that she would be
up the following day. She asked the
young man in charge of the hotel ex-
change to call up Sing Sing for her
and get telephone No. II. He did so,
and she sat down to talk
"Hellow she said. '1s that Sing
SingP
at is.''
"Well, 1 want II. Pm Mrs. High
land, and want to speak to my son."
What number did you say, madam ?"
"No. 71.''
"Your son, you said?
"Yes, my son-Harry Highland"
"Hold the telephone a moment"
She waited a minute or two, and then
Sing Sing said:
Sorry, madam, but we can't allow
you to talk to him over the telephone"
whats that? Can't allow me to
talk to my son? What sort of an in
stitution is that, I'd like to know?"
"You must come here in person on a
visiting day with the proper pass be-
fore you can see him."
Indeed! Well, I'll fust come up
there on the next train and take him
right away with me-"
mo use to come, madam. He's got
315 years to serve yet"
ITO whom am talkingw
''This is the Office of the warden of
Sing Sing prison."
"oh! Ring off, pleasew-Pittsburg
News.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
The (Girane.. Timiditx.

A giraffe is very timid on hearing
slight sounds, but is Indifferent to loud
ones. A writer in The Leisure Hour
says:
Noisy sounds, like man walking by
with hobnail boots, it does not notice,
but lady coming in with hardly more
sound than the rustling of her dress
makes it start, with pricked ears and
eyes distended.
We remember well, after a terrible
explosion Of gunpowder on barge on
the canal, asking the keeper of the gi-
raffes Of that day how they had taken
1t, and he said he was surprised how
very little notice they took. They
jumped to their feet, but almost at
once lay down again when they found
nothing happened.
"But," he added, ''if 1 were at night
time to creep along that gallery in my
socks they would be so sea ed that 1
believe they would dash themselves to
bits"
They fear the lurking foe, and bing
bang scares them less than a faint,
rustling sound. They are in that re-
spect very deerlike.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
It Met Reauirement..

Charles Hoyt, the farce writer, once
invited a friend to 60 to the theater
with him.
What playp queried his friend
NAT Goodwin in Nathan Hale" I"
said the playwright.
"Pm very sorry" said the friend,
but you'll have to count me out"
whats the matterr asked Hoyt in
surprise.
"Wel, to be frank with you, I don't
like Nat Goodwin in anything. 1 hate
him personally and can't enjoy him as
an actor, and, as far as I am concern
ed, I wouldn't mind seeing him dead"
"Then this is your play" slyly added
Mr.. Hoyt in his peculiar Yankee dia-
lect. "You don't want to miss 1t. They
hang him in the last act."-News Let
ter.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Let 1t Go at That.

One day, in advocating a more liberal
loosening of the purse strings at a
Methodist conference in Washington,
Bishop W. A. Gambler said that several
years ago he sent an article to paper
in which he wrote that eve pray too
loud and work too little"
The intelligent compositor got in his
fine italian hand, and when the article
appeared it read, eve bray too loud
and work too little"
"I let 1t go at that" said the bishop.
'eThe fact is, believe the printer was
right, and I never attempted to correct
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Sheridan's wit.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan was one
day dining with Lord Thurlow when
his lordship produced some fine Con-
stantia which had been sent him from
the Cape Of Good Hope. Sheridan,
who saw the bottle emptied with un-
common regret, set his wits to work
to get another.
Failing in his attempt, however, he
turned toward a gentleman seated
farther down and said, "Sir, pass me
up that decanter for must return to
Madeira since I cannot double the
Cape."-San Francisco Argonaut.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Complete Extinruisbment.

Rupert-It was a strange case! He
left the club one night to go to the
opera and was never seen or heard of
afterward.
Harold-Dsappeared as completely
as if the earth had opened and swal-
lowed him up, eh?
Rupert-More so, if possible. In that
case he might have left his hat above
ground or there might have been a
crack left to show where he disap-
peared, but this fellow, mind you, dis
appeared as completely as If he had
married an authoress.-Puck.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Mixed.

Henry" she said, did you get those
shoe buttons for me today~
"Yep," he replied.
what did you do with themT
He felt in his pocket and presently
fished out little round box. Then a
scared look overspread his counte-
nance, and the lady wanted to know
what was the matter.
did you take any Of those complex
ion pills you asked me to bring home
for your he asked.
Eyes, one," she answered. "Why~
'That was a shoe button. Here are
the pills. Times-H Herald.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
And still He FaiIed.

He fattered himself that he was q
clever man, and he decided to propose
in a clever way.
'The use of shall and will always
puzzled me-" he said ref1ectively. 81
never know just which is the correct
word to use."
'The rule is very simple" she re-
piled innocently. "Just remember
that
"Oh, never mind the rule" he inter-
rupted. "Just tell me which is cor
rect-I shall marry you or I will mar
ry your"
Neither" she answered promptly
Cincinnati Post.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
: RAlNlESS.

When August burned upon the years declins,
stepped within the whispers OF wood,
Whose whitest day, pricked back by darkest pine,
Made shimmering tumut where the thick stems
stood.
Some scent of whitening sap-a seething wine
Made incense of the balsam breathed drought,
Sweet as the sigh of summer in the south,
Athirst for autumn and the purple vine.
Ny feet pressed down the moses fbrous gray;
dry twig cracked upon drier stone
All parched views of lavender and brown
Died in the channels of the rocky way,
And in the famished covert alone
Knew in what foods the thirst Of life may
drown.
cecilia Bcaux in New Iipnincott
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
she Was willing.

Young Bifkins-Before you give me
your answer, Miss Ethel, want to tell
you that 1 haven't penny can call
my own, but my father is quite
wealthy, and only yesterday he said
our home was sadly in need of a wo-
mans guiding hand.
Miss Ethel-Well, you might mention
to your father that 1 would not be
averse to accepting position as moth
er to bis only boy,-Chieago News.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Hard Woods In Paraguay.

Quebracho is one of the profitable
woods in Paraguay. 1t yields an ex-
tract used for tanning leather. The
forests of Paraguay are full of it. The
export of Quebracho is very considera-
BILE, going principally to Europe, though
much is sent to the United States as a
product of the Argentine Republic, be-
ing shipped via that county,
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17

consequence OF self abuse and excess produc-
ing the following symptoms: SalIow eonnte
nance, dark spots under the eyes, pain in the
5ead, 1i ringing in the ears, loss Of confidence,
utnaence In approaching strangers, palpitation
OF the neart, weakness OF the limbs and back
loss OF memory, pimples on the face coughs
DIX GlBBON has practiced in San Francisco
over 81 years, and those troubled should NOT
iall to consult him and receive the benefit Of
MS MS great skill and experience. The doctor
anteed. Persons cured at home. Charges reas
enable. Call or write.
DIR. J. F. GIBBoN, 625 Kesrney street, San
Francisco Cal.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Changed bx Oircum.tance..


where's your watchP' asked the
observant man.
"Why, here it is" replied the man
whose prosperity had slipped a cog or
two recently.
"But that's silver one. The one
you used to carry had a handsome gold
case"
"Well-er-circumsta alter cases,
you know."-Philadelphia Press.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
suspiciour ApproraI.

He-Why don't you wear your new
bonnet, my dear?
She-Oh, there's something wrong
with It, and can't find out what it is.
He-Then how do you know there is
something wrong with 1t?
She-All the women in the neighbor-
hood say 1t is just too lovely for any
tting-C Chicago News.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Slow Work.

Maria, you let that young BOLSTER
stay last night until 1 o'clock"
"But, mamma, you told me l must
give him time to propose"
But five hoursw
"Why, mamma, you know he slut
ters." cleveland Plain Dealer.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Too pr,~tt,v.

mo, Maria; I can't 60 to church until
l Mossess high hat and frock coat"
Nonsense. Think Of the primitive
fathers of the faith and their humble
altars."
Il should think you'd blush to men
tion them, Maria. If went to church
as primitive father, they'd send me
home in an organ pipe"
Plain Dealer.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
He Had Had Experience.

Miss sentiment-were you ever dis
appointed in love?
Eligible Widower-Two and a half
times.
Miss sentiment-Two and a half
times?
Eligible Widower-Yes; twice mar
ried and once rejected-Omaha Bee.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
Cnnifnrfinn

1T did your cold good to go and see
the doctor. knew it would"
Yes. He's got a verse cold than 1
have."-Chicago Record,
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
An.uerea the Innnirx.

What did you tell those people about
the fat, ElizaT
'oThey asked me If it was good walk
Ing distance, and 1 told them it was"
Gracious! Good walking distance
from what?"
How do l know? They didn't say
and 1 wasn't going to be inquisitive. y
Chicago Record.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17

1t destroys ones nerves to be amia-
BILE every day to the same human be-
ng.-Beaconsfield.
Amador ledger., 1900-08-17
TO THE UNFORTUNATE
DIR. GIBBoN

This old reliable and
themost successful Spe-
cialist in San Francis
co stillcontinues to cure
all Sexual and Seminal
Diseases,such as Ghon-
orrhea, Qleet, Structure,
Syphilis in all its forms
Skin Diseases, Nervous
De b ility. Impotency,
Seminal Weakness, and
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-04-05
PRIZE MONEY IN WAR.

Tho court Of claims decided that Ad-
miral Dewey was not entitled to extra
prize money for destroying the Span
ish fleet at Manila The Admiral con-
tended that the enemys force was su-
perior to his own, but the court holds
TO the contrary As 1t Is, Admiral
Dewey gets the snug sum Of $3.50,
which, IN view of The honors and in
creased pay that have been given
him, should in some measure compen-
safe him for his gallant exploit. OF
course, the Admiral took many risks
when he steamed into Manila bay to
attack the Spaniards. He did not know
that they could not shoot or handle
their vessels to advantage, although
that has been their record for many
generations. He did not know that he
could surprise them, or that their
torpedoes were worthless and their
land Notifications little to be feared
All OF these conditions existed and
made his victory an easy one-in fact
the easiest Of which there is any rec
ord The officers and crew Of war
ship expose themselves to great perlls
when they go into battle. and the dan
ger has not been greatly reduced with
the development Of naval vessels and
modern engines of destruction. AT the
same time it is doubtful whether the
'prize-money' system will not be
abandoned at an early day. The
army which attacks and captures
city Is NOT given bonus, and there
seems 70 be no reason, from a purely
logical point Of view, why discriml-
nation should be made In favor OF the
navy Possibly the sailor may think
otherwise, and he may in fact, be en-
titled to a reward for doing his duty
under circumstances which only those
can appreciate who have exposed them
selves 10 death in It's most horrlbleI
form. Nevertheless. men work every
day at callings which are equally dan
goroua and many are killed by acci-I
dents In mines or on railroads There
rs no prize money for them in lfel
and no pensions for their families lnl
case Of death Every year more men
are killed on railroads than we lost
during our war with Spain.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-04-05
BUILDING UP HIS CREDIT.

Mar. ] NJ Burke the manager OF
the Buffalo Bill aggregation, tells a
good story of his experience in helping
friend to get the girl of his choice.
He was a good fellow" said he.
but young and without much capital.
The girl was beauty and loved the
boy, but the father tthe same old irate
father objected, and demanded that
the boy show that he was capable Of
supporting a wife This was in st.
Louis about 10 years ago, and the boy
came to me with his troubles.
Never mind said l. Iii fix 1t up
all right. BY the way, how much will
you take for your right leg?
He looked at me as though were
crazy, but made no answer
I'll give you $4,000 for IT, said |.
VIII you take it.?'
No, | won't, said he. What do
YOU take me for?
Well, | knew the girls father; he
was merchant, and l called to see
him We finally drifted around to
talking about this young fellow, and
the old man Jared little, stating that
he wanted some one who could support
a wife to have his daughter.
g" support wife!' said |. IN sur
prise; why, he ertainly can do all that.
Only a few days ago he refused $40, 900
for a piece Of property.
His own property?' asked the
father
Certainly said I.
" Who offered him the money!
asked he
! did, and he refused IT,, ans
wered. He claimed 1t was worth
more.
We'll, this made a hit, and no more
questions We're asked. The boy Is do
ing well now and has a good family. /
haven't spoken to thn father since -
Washington Times.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-04-05

with II OF the North Wisconsin rail-
way MT Sawyer was made president
OF the new company. When with the
absorption Of other lines the powerful
Chicago, ST. Paul, Minneapolis & Oma-
ma company was formed, Mr.. Sawyer
was director and vice president until
1871, when he severed his connection
with the road. Mr.. Sawyer's principal
numbering interests OF late, aside from
logging and pine land operations, were
with the Sawyer-Goodman company,
which has an extensive plant at Me-
nominee, with headquarters in Chica-
go But there are many business en-
terprises in Oshkosh and in northern
Wisconsin that VIII miss Mr.. Savers
financial aid and encouragement. In
politics Mr. Sawyer was not less sue
cessful than in business. In 1863 and
1864 he served as mayor of Oshkosh.
he was member OF the legislatures
Of 1857 and 1861, In 1881 he was elect
ed to the thirty-ninth congress and
served continuously for ten years. In
1881 he was chosen United States SEN
ator and served for two terms.
ExSen. Sawyer was always in the
habit of subscribing for the benefit of
the public in many different ways.
Not only in Oshkosh but throughout
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-04-05
THE NEW LINE.
Greatest Engineering Feat the World
Has Ever Seen

When the Nile reservoirs planned
by the great Willcocks were first made
known to the world. and It was found
thai he, although offering six or seven
sites for his eyclopean designs, really
only highly recommended one. the CON
struction of which would wipe out the
island Of Philae, the loveHest spot on
the Nile, there was a universal howl
| OF opposition. This got to such
/ height that Sir w. Garstln and his en-
gineers may have felt grim kind OF
relief when they found that the French
would allow them no money from the
Caisse to realize their schemes for
storing the blessed water, and they had
for a time TO abandon the whole af-
fair. So when, one fine morning Mr.
John Arid, Sir Benjamin Baker and
their friends, Unexpectedly called at
the office OF works In Cairo, and offered
TO make any amount Of dams canals
ana locks, wherever they pleased, for
no present cash payment. in accepting
their wonderful offer the government
cut down the level OF the great reser-
voir by nearly one-half WHlcocks
wanted to store up 120 feet OF water
Sir Benjamin Baker was told to con-
tent himself with twenty meters
(about sixty-dye feeD OF Nile storage.
And so the artists ana the tourists
and the general opponents to the
drowning Of Philae were appeased. or
at least silenced. and the greatest en-
gineering work that the world has ever
seen was quietly started, and within
a year 10000 men we're employed al
As0uan and at the supplemental dam
OF Asslout
when the darn - completed and at
fits high level pbilae will have It's |
temple pylons, and few Of the higher
ruins standing ont Of the water, just 70 /.
mark whore SIS ancient beauties were:
but all rs loyelinCss. ITS yerdure. lts .
palms. several Of It's temples. its .
stored walls and its Nil0meter IFS col /
onnades. It's Roman quays. viii dlsap-
pear beneath the waters An island VIII
be lost but a continent Win be saved.
For my part. ] would rather they had
made Willcocks cycl0De8n granite
barrier Of about a hundred and fifty
fee, where the wall crossed the Bah
81 Kablr), ana that the whole island
had been sacrificed The fragments
let viii only serve 70 reopen the sad
affair IN peoples minds. However, we
must make the best Of IT. Even with
the sixty-fve feet OF water in the res
ary1r great advantages will be gained