davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
IRONcLAp FEVER.
Experiments Showed disease Was Due to

Experiments Showed Disease Was Due to
Lack of Ventilation.
In the fight between the Monitor and
not sufficient air in the turreted steam
er for the crew and that the suffocat-
ing gases generated by the explosion
of gunpowder found their way below
and rendered it practically impossible
for the men to work Necessity, there
some apparatus for artificial ventila-
ton. The old methods in vogue for
hundreds of years had been retained
even under the new conditions, and
but for the striking of direct interfer-
ence with fighting capacity would
nave remained for many years longer.
In the Monitor was placed a rotary
blower, worked by steam. Air was
thus drawn from one-half of the
steamer through system of pipes and
forced into the other. Various changes
were made in later ironclads of this
period. In some the air was drawn
down the turrets and forced through
out the vessel, thus rendering them
more than ever liable to suffocate the
men below in battle. while in others
the supply was obtained through ar.
mored cylinders and forced out
through the turrets. 1t was in the
early ironclads that a peculiar disease
developed which, being confined ia
those vessels, was soon designated
ironclad fever. In this affection the
initial symptoms were much like those
of typhus, but in short time severe
occipital pain was followed by COM
plete aphonia and this by coma and
death. The introduction of ventilat-
ing appliances caused the disappear
ance of this singular disease, and in
time these metal boxes, almost entire
ly submerged, came to be regarded as
probably the most salubrious vessels
afoat
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
LIZARD LARGER Than HOUSE

While hunting for fossils or prehis-
toric animals in western Colorado, AS
sistant Curator e. 8! Riggs of the Field
Columbian museum unearthed the
largest dinosaur ever discovered. A
carload Of bones has just reached the
museum in Chicago. The assistant
curator is at work setting up the bones
and arranging them for exhibition.
The find is said to be the most impor-
tant of its kind ever made.
1.-The thigh bone of the dinosaur We
found is six feet ten inches long and
weighs 500 pounds, says Mr.. Riggs.
1.-The lizard with thigh bone that
size must have been over eighty feet
long and twenty-five feet in height.
This is a fourth larger than any dino
saur ever discovered before. The fos-
sils were found in the 3sandhills of
western Colorado, but do not dare to
give the exact location, for others
might work on my discovery while I
am away.
"a cowboy sent me Information "a
year ago. The hill where we are dig
ging seems to be as full Of fossils as
Christmas pudding is Of plums. Car
loads of bones have been found al
ready.
1.-THE dinosaurs were huge lizards
that lived about two million years ago
They were vegetarians. eating grass
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
WONDERS OF NATURE
DESTROYED BY AN ALASKAN
EARTHQUAKE.
Tho Muir Glacier, Ono of tho Most,
Magnificent spectacles in All the
World Has Co,lapsed-A Rock Of

According to reliable reports one OF
the great natural wonders of America
has gone out of existence. Uncle
Sans great show glacier, the Muir, one
of the largest and most impressive in
the world, seems to have gone to
eces-presumably smashed by an
earthquake. ,
The Muir glacier is-or, perhaps. we
should say was-a great ''rock of
ice," from which, from time to time,
sections became detached and fioated
down the inlet. into the bay and thence
out into the ocean. These sections are
the icebergs, SO often encountered by
the vessels at sea and SO often destruc-
tive to their seamen. The face Of the
Muir glacier, when last seen, was two
miles in length and uplifted its verti-
cal cliffs 200 feet above the water. Be-
low the surface of the water lay about
720 feet of the ice wall. Anciently, the
glacier was vastly larger. One hundred
years ago, biologists say, it had a
magnificent front six or eight miles
across. 1t was first seen by Vancou-
yer, the explorer, but not until the
daring Muir visited it and traversed
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

III you are as fond of golf as you
claim to be" said the young man alb
ruptly, changing. the subject, land
ever pass through my present abiding
place. / can show you the finest links
on which you have ever played"
Il suppose when you are not
preaching you play golf?" Intercepted
the young woman sarcastically.
That is just about it, at least take
it for recreation and
Who is that distinguished looking
old MANI" interrupted Marion.
That" said her friend, with faint
suspicion of smile, ooh, that is Mr..
Miller. minister of one of the largest
Unitarian churches in the city,
is there any man in this assemb-
lage who isn't Minister"
why yes. none of the other men
present save Mr.. Miller and myself l
assisted him in the ceremony this
morning. You said that you were at
the church l believe
No, wasn't" answered Marion,
becoming somewhat convinced, and
speaking somewhat defiantly. 81 ar
rived at the church too late, SO came
directly here" She was about to ques..
ton him further when shouts of
goodbye" resounded. and rice was
thrown to speed the newly welded
couple. In the rush. Marion took pains
to separate herself from her COM
panion. She must find out if he were
quizzing her. She applied to the
bridesmaid who had introduced her as
the quickest solution of the problem,
and was informed that he was the
young clergyman who had assisted at
the ceremony, being close friend Of
the groom. And accused him of run
ming gambling house." thought
Marion desperately. Shall apollo
gize? No. it was just as much his
fault as mine. He didn't look nor
talk like minister. How could L
know? do like his looks. wonder
what he thinks of me-" And with a
shudder at her boldness. which now
almost amounted to sacrilege in her
eyes, she hastily babe the bridal party
adieu.
When she came down with her
wraps on, she saw the young man
gazing at her with smile why
did you run away from me? he queried
Because consider that l have said
unheard Of things to minister. 1t
wasn't fair of you not to let me know
in the beginning
But 1 supposed that you did know.
You see l was conceited enough to
think that everyone at the church
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

its icy surface did the real nature of
this vast freak of nature become gen.
orally known. 1t was in 1879 that Muir
made his explorations. This intrepid
explorer and scientist was born in
Scotland in 1886 and came to America
with his parents in 1850. He was edu-
Gated in Wisconsin university, pursu-
ing scientific studies chiefly. He made
botanical explorations in the southern
states and Cuba, and then went to
California. This was in 1868. Arriv-
ing there, he at once set out on foot
for the Yosemite valley. He made his
way into the valley without a guide,
while the trails were yet deeply buried
in snow, and after a stay of ten days.
his money having given out, returned
to the lowland and worked as harvest
hand in the wheat fields. The follow
ing winter, glad to find any employ
ment that allowed contact with nature
he herded sheep to earn a living while
studying the flora of that region. With
migratory sheep camp as his head
quarters, he passed the summer in
botanizing and in sketching the head
waters of the MERGED and Tuolumne
rivers. Returning to the plains in the
autumn, he worked on ranch for two
months, breaking mustangs and run
ming gang-plow, and then again
pushed over the mountains into the
Yosemite. There he was fortunate
enough to find employment. and was
lad - :,
his home. From time to time he made
his way through the valleys and can
yons and made discoveries that have
been of immense value to students Of
geography. He climbed the sierras
alone, carrying only notebook and
| pencil, few pounds of bread and oat-
meal, little tea and sugar and small
tin can. At night he built a campfire
and slept with no other covering than
| that which he hau during the day. At
an elevation of from 5000 to 10000
feet (the height of the timber line; in
| the Sierras the nights are severe, and
the fire required to be replenished at
intervals of about an hour, thus MAX
| ing his sleep broken one). But this
hardship was not without fine COM
pensation in enabling him to hear the
many strange sounds of the night and
to see the glories of the starry noun
tain sky. Blankets would have been a
convenience but in the rugged regions
where he climbed it would have been
impossible to carry them. A gun was
too heavy to carry, and pistol would
have been useless incumbrance.
Bears never molested him and other
animals were his companions. In this
manner for years he studied the chan
nels Of ancient glaciers, and noted the
forest-covered moraines.
In 1879 he made his first visit to
Alaska, and In a canoe manned by In
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

An ingenious Frenchman has pro-
iuced an improved form of the calico
graph" an instrument designed to ia
cilirate the copying of pictures. The
picture to be reproduced is fastened
upon a card, which is placed perpen-
dicularly. with It's back to the opera
tor. A silvered glass of about the
same size as the card is supported by
brace in front Of the picture; but
leaning away from it an angle Of
forty-five degrees. On the right hand
side square OF transparent glass is
set vertically against the edges of the
card and Of the .silvered glass. On
the table at the foot of the transparent
glass is laid sheet Of drawing paper.
Upon looking sideways through the
transparent glass, reflected image Of
the picture will be seen apparently
projected upon the drawing paper.
where 1t can be copied with a pencil.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

saw me as well as the bride. I didn't
know that you were not at the church.
You remembered the groom's shoes so
perfectly"
She colored slightly.
did you every hear the story" he
continued, "of the mother with five
sons all of whom she wished to be
ministers? Four of them obeyed her
wishes. but the fifth informed her that
he could not comply with her request.
Why not asked the irate parent. Be
cause l am not good enough an
swered the son. Then be Unitarian
minister ordered the mother. Now,
Miss Evans, I am a Unitarian minis
ter, so won't you please forgive me
and let me see you to your carriage?"
She bowed assent and looked at him.
II like that story and your way of
helping me out of my difficulty" she
said. at really makes me feel less
guilty, though why l don't know
But I don't want you to feel less
guilty, in fact 1 hope you realize that
you have committed such an unpar-
donable sin. that it ought to be dis
cussed by us at length"
"That is impossible unless we could
find time tomorrow afternoon" said
the girl archly. Il leave the next night,
you know"
well then, if I may will call to-
morrow afternoon and discuss your
sins with you.''
81 shall be more than glad to do
penance." she said as she drew card
from dainty case and handed it to
him.
Their eyes met. Until tomorrow
then" he answered. She looked back
as her cab drove of. He was still
standing there. II wonder"-she
caught herself saying aloud. "but III
see him tomorrow"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01


A Berlin correspondent writes: "An
almost incredible case of superstition
is reported from Czech village of Nets
chin. It appears that in the spring the
village schoolmaster there died, and
was, in due course, buried with every
mark of esteem on the part Of the in
.habitants. But now the villagers are
one and all clamoring that he may be
exhumed. The reason for this strange
wish is that he is held responsible by
them for the fact that long spell OF
drought has set in, to the great loss
of all the farmers in that district. 1t
is not so much the defunct schoolmas-
ter who is to blame as his sorrowing
relations, who, ignorant of the super
.stitions prevalent there, were unwise
enough to place under the poor mans
head cushion stuffed with feathers!
According to the ignorant peasants
this il a sure means Of causing pro-
longed drought, and until the feathery
inflow Is removed they maintain that
mo rain will fall.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
TRloLETs OF DISCRETION.

She drew her little hand away
And. pouting, warned me mot to tease"
Was it in truth. or just in play,
She drew her little hand away.
That rare and radiant summer day,
When we sat side by side at ease?
She drew her little hand away
And, pouting. warned me not to tease.
He drew his little hand away
And scanned it with inquiring eyes;
Remarking, 1T takes five to stay"
He drew his little hand away
And left me guessing how to play,
Tho while l stared in awed surprise.
He drew his little hand away
And scanned 1t with inquiring eyes.
Two bluffs. were those" perhaps you'll
say;
l didn't clearly see my way.
Two bluffs. We're those" perhaps you'll
say:
But if they weren't!--I must betray
shrinking from the marble fall
Two bluffs were those" perhaps you'll
say;
thought So too, but didn't call
John Pengrave.
Chicago, July 8. 1900.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
TI,e Rs.oprce. 81, s,berls.

Under government encouragement,
It is said that Siberia is gaining 2oo.-
900 farmers pereyear. Among its ex-
ports are cereals, butter, wool. leather,
and dried and preserved meats. AL
ready this remote country which the
popular imagination is apt to picture
as a vast waste, the abode of frost and
snow and misery, is becoming talked
Of as a possible competitor with the
we'll known cereal producing countries
Of the world. A member Of the French
bureau Of foreign commerce estimates
that. on the basis OF the present popu-
-lation in Europe, Siberia can sustain
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
Tho Photographic FIre-A,arn.

An ingenious combination of phono-
graph and telephone is described as
forming an effective fire alarm. In the
building to be protected, telephone
transmitters, provided with phono-
graphic rolls containing set Of words
precisely describing the location of the
fire. are connected in the various
rooms with thermostats. When the
temperature reaches a certain point.
the thermostats automatically switch
the monographs in front Of the
transtmitters, and set them at work
winding out telltale words which are
heard over the wire at the fire engine
station. informing the firemen where
they should CO.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
A SMOKE. CONSUMER.

Powdered coal is the fuel of the fu-
ture, according to the officials OF the
Illinois Central railroad, who, have
been experimenting for the last month
with device for making use; OF coal
dust. Two boilers at the railroads
power house, Chicago, have been
equipped with the new invention. and
tests Of efficiency and economy In the
use of coal will be continued for the
next thirty days. At the end OF that
time the railroad men claim they will
have demonstrated that coal when
ground fine enough is the best and
cheapest fuel available, as we'll as BE-
ing absolutely smokeless.
The subject of coal-dust firing has
occupied the attention OF engineers all
over the world for years, but the idea
has only recently been put into prac-
teal shape. For coal-dust firing the
coal must be ground to- powder as
fine as wheat flour.
The appliances now in use at the
railroad power house are simple. A
large hopper above the door of the fire.
box receives the dust. which is put up
in bags-seventy pounds to the bag.
From this hopper the powdered coal is
Jared down by an automatic shaker
to revolving brush with steel bristles.
At the same time currents of air are,
admitted at one side and the top Of the
brush. Revolving several hundred
times minute, this brush throws the
n9rfin1ps M irfo thn y1rhn orr
they are instantly in state of COM
bustion. Dampers for the further adj
mission of air are placed below the
brush.
These appliances were placed on ex-
iha boilers, the only change necessary
being the construction of front fac
ing of brick about two feet deep.
Tests were made yesterday after
noon. when the other four boilers in
the power house, which are hand-fired,
were shut off and the two boilers hav-
ing the new devices were used to oper-
ate the entire plant. Bags of dust
were poured into the hopper as re-
quired, and the fire got no other atten-
ton during the two hours test except
nm occasional adjustment of the damp
ers and the feeders. Illinois coal,
quoted at $1.40 per ton. was the fuel,
and the officials declared that. SO far
as they could see it was doing the
work as we'll IS the better grades for
merly used The coal is dumped into
circular pit, where six hammers,
each striking 100 blows a minute.
pound the mass until it is fine enough
to drop through meshes at the bottom
of the pit @
1t was claimed that the adoption Of
this arrangement by the city would
give an easy solution of the garbage
problem, as the intense heat would in
stantly consume the rubbish. Expert
ments are being pushed to demonstrate
whether the system is suitable for use
on the roads locomotives. Tests will
be made of the apparatus in several of
the large smelling works within the
next month.
John F. Wallace. second assistant
vice-president Of the Illinois Central
railroad. declared that the officials of
the company were satisfied that the
principle of the new invention was cor
rect, and that they expected to demon
strate that there was saving of from
Is to 40 per cent. on the same quality
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
Two Forms al, Tin.

Readers who are not familiar with
recent work in physical chemistry.
says Science, may be interested to
learn that many solid substances are
now known to have two or more forms
or phases. For instance. it has very
recently been ascertained that metallic
tin may exist. either as gray crys1
talline powder or in the. well knowI
form under which it possesses botl
lustre and ,ducrllity, AT a particular
temperature both forms may co-exist3
above that temperature only the or1
binary form is stable. and below thai
temperature only the powdery form. 4
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

Twenty of the largest cotton mills
OF the Piedmont district of South Car
DINA have gone on half-time, because
of the high price of cotton. Their
managers say that with cotton cloth
selling as it is, the working up of 10
and IL cent cotton offers no profit
And when the question arises of bring
ing the price of cotton cloth up to
the level of 10-cent cotton, the con-
sumers must be consulted.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

IN Southern Hungary are people
hungering and thirsting for the Bible
They came over from Bulgaria a CEN
tury and half ago. numbering now
some 10000 souls. They asked for a
translation of the New Testament and
e translation of ST. John was made
and 10000 copies printed. These have
been sold and they ask now for the
whole of the. New Testament. They
are related in tongue to the PAUL..
clans, near Philippopolis.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
IA library in a garden. the aspira

IA library in garden" the aspira-
kion of an old scholar who loved ma
lre as well as books, is in fair way
Il be realized for every body in Brook
lyt. BY the cooperation of the public
library and the park commission there
were reading rooms and libraries in
three Of the Brooklyn parks during
the summer, and one of them was
visited by more than 5000 persons in
month. People who used to sit
around stupidity half asleep, read
while enjoying the peace and quiet
of the place, and children found some
thing to do beside playing until they
were tired and quarrelsome. They all
are to be congratulated, but equally
warm congratulations are due to the
public library. which has found one
more way to fulfill its mission Of
reaching the public.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

One of the notable actions taken by
organizations this year in behalf Of
the Sabbath was that by the Modern
Woodmen of America, fraternal So
ciety with membership of nearly
half million. The official organ
says: IF your camp has planned a
Sunday picnic change the date to
some other day. The head consul has
authority in a summary manner to re-
ceive charges against loca! camp for
Falling to prosecute members guilty OF
holding Sunday picnics under the aus
pieces of the society or any local
camp"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
Objection to Initials.

Ogden H. Fethers of GAINESVILLE, Wis:
the new supreme chancellor of ths
knights of Pythias, becomes greatly ir.
ritated upon receiving letter ad.
dressed 20. H. Fethers" His peculiar.
ity in this respect is explained amonA
his friends by relating the story of q
wag who once referred to him as "Old
Hen Fethers.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
she Wa. Not Ready.

From the Kansas City Star: He
was six feet tall If he was an inch
and the shoulders of the girl at his
side were on level with his own.
1t was plain they didn't belong In
Kansas City, and as they came into
the county courthouse yesterday in an:
awkward, hesitating way with mani
glances at the lofty ceilings and broa
staircases, the loungers in the corridd
gput.them down for pike county. The
had just been married; that mucl
was learned later, and they were tai
Ing in the sights of the city before
turning to the country, After sat
Tying their curiosity regarding
first floor Of the courthouse the =
decided to risk ride in the elevat
Approaching the cage they scrutiny
every part of it carefully. and en-
ing the car, the man said to
O'Hare. the conductor, When
| start?"S 4
OHare nearly fell off his sto
surprise, but said, as he sized
visitors. We start now and
ming, the door of the.g eleyatl
pulled over the. lever and the
upward with twice its usual
In fact. SO quickly did the ca
that the bride fell to the "a
clasping the knees of her
cried loudly: Il ain't read
amt readyl', ~
They were the most surpris
couple that ever came up
and when they had reached q
floor the groom turned to- o.
inquired: How much do I
They walked downstairs.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

A Swiss genius has invented a pith
cloak weighing about one pound
which will hold up fully equipped
soldier on the surface of the water.
Successful experiments were made re-
Gently on the Lake of Zurich. The
cloak is provided with waterproof
pockets in which food and drink may
be carried as we'll as blue lights, ir
Ease the wearer is shipwrecked in the
night
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

A liquor dealer of Boston recentl,
referred to depressing features in his
business as follows: ITO begin with"
he s.sts. 8. the multiplication .os.
saloons, but OF even more moment in
my mind is the fact that The younger
zpzepsSatiG1lui no. king as the old
nd IA she pl[ye!l ~ ~ stes.how .goaa
socially men were they thought moth
Ing Of setting in for drinking bouts
ut tables or at the bar. Now the aver
age man, if he drinks at all, either has
1t at his house, bought in bulk, SO that
the retailer is cut out, or else he drops
in for a drink in a hurry and gets out
again. It hurts my business
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
Whale Fishing Not Extinct.

Whale fishing is not extinct in th.
United States, but it is gradually and
slowly becoming so. From 1850 to
1875 the annual product of the Ameri.
can whale fisheries fell from 100000
barrels of sperm oil to $4,000, o..
whale oil from 100000 to $4,000, and
Of whalebone from 100000 pounds
to 400. 900
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
Sacred rs Relics.

An attempt to remove the Illinois
battle flags from their cases in the
capitol, to carry them in parade, was
abandoned, as the flags fell to pieces
when exposed to the air.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
NGE AND.
ROC RESs

S0,00O.00o inhabh ants, although now
!, it has not, one-tenth Of that number.
II produces one-tcnth of the worlds
yield OF gold, but owing to. climatic
obstacles many Of its mines are no
worked, and its imanense coal depps
Its have hardly been touched.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01

says an old bachelor: Before TAX
ing the leap through the wedding ring
a man should be sure the net of con-
nubial bliss is properly stretched on
the other side"