davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Mystery of a Lost Ring

l was told a true iost-ring story the
other day which 1 believe has never
been in print, although such may be
the case. A well known society woman
suddenly missed a valuable diamond
ring from her finger. 1t was a ring she
seldom removed, but all that could be
remembered about it was that she had
just washed her hands Fearing it had
slipped off in the operation h plumber
was quickly called in and all h traps
opened, with the faint hope Of finding
the jewel, but without avail, and sor-
row reigned in the HOUSEHOLD, for the
diamond was not only i~ntrinsicAlly
valuable, but a dearly priced souvenir.
Some time later the set bowl in bath
room had to be replaced, and when it
was removed, 10 and behold, crowded
in behind the water pipes was the
skeleton of a mouse, and round the
skeletons thread of a eck hung a lila
mond ring. Identification was imme-
date and the mystery quickly cleared
up by h poor little beast. He had
feasted on a box of bran which milady
kept to Written her fair hands and into
which she undoubtedly dropped the
ring. Mousie, through vanity or acct
dent, slipped 1t over his head, but in
rying to escape with the loot he died
a felon's death.-Boston Herald.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27

Negotiations Pending for It's Lease by
the Pennsylvania System.
New York World November 1s.)

CNew FORK World November 1s.)
A series of conferences having in
view the passing OF the control of the
Southern Railway system to the Penn
sylvania railroad have been held dur
ing the week at the Office of ]. P. Nor
gan & Co, at Broad and Wall streets.
Nothing has as yet been accomplish
ed, though the deal, it is said, hinges
upon the amount of the guaranty on
the preferred stock.
II is said that the Pennsylvania is
willing to ease the Southern railway
for 999 years n guarantee the hold
ers OF the preferred stock 81 per cent.
On their investment, while the holders
insist upon a guarantee of 5 per cent.
According TO a report heard in Wall
street late yesterday afternoon it is not
improbable that a compromise may be
effected on a basis of 4 per cent.
The terms TO be given to the holders
of the common stock do not appear to
have beeen considered up to this time a
matter OF much moment on the part Of
the conferrees-
The anxiety Of the Pennsylvania rail-
roa to get control Of the Southern
railway is said TO be based on its ambi-
ton TO control the bituminous coal
trade of the country. Within the last
l"O years Il I hdS dhCh Oili tIilpOI ldlll
steps in this direction by the purchase
of a majority interest in the stock>of
the Chesapeake and Ohio and Norfolk
and Western railroads., two of the
largest carriers of bituminous coal in
the United States.
1t is said that the object of the re-
cent trip of A. j. Cassatt, President Of
the Pennsylvania, to Europe, was TO
colse contracts in England and France
for an enormous tonnage of soft coal,
which can be shipped profitably across
the Atlantic, now hat the cost of
mining coal at Newcastle has been so
greatly increased by the depths of the
shafts.
With the control of Southern railway
will pass to Pennsylvania the Air
Line known officially as the Louis
vile, Evansville and st. Louis railway.
and the old "Monon" road Both of
these properties. will be valuable feed
ers to the Pennsylvania, with which
hey will connect at Louisville.
The Southern railway at present is
controlled by j. Pierpont Morgan, who
has taken a great man Improbable
Southern lines, reorganized and ANAL
gamated them into a trunk line, which
has now just begun to ear a small per-
centage on the investment.
The Southern railway has in late
years built up a big bituminous coal
traffic. 1t now amounts to about % per
cent. of the total freight it carries.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Lillian Bell at the Passion Play.

1t has been quite a trial for me to live
in the house with Judas. He plays
with such tremendous power. He
makes it seem so real, so close, so
near. Once / asked him if he liked the
part, n he broke down and wept. He
said he hated DIT, that he loathed him
self for playing it and that his one am
bition was to be allowed to be the
ChristuS Off just one time before he died
in order to wipe out the disgrace of his
part as Judas and to cleanse his soul.
I cried, too, for I knew that his ambi-
ton could never be realized. 1 told
him that perhaps they would allow him
to act the part at a rehearsal if he told
them of his ambition, and the thought
seemed to cheer him He said he had
studied h part and knew it perfect
ly and had often rehearsed it in pri-
waite to comfort his own soul.
Such was his sincerity and grief, such
his contrftion and remorse after a per-
Torrance. that 1t would not surprise
me some day to know hat the part had
overpowered him and that he had
actually hanged himSelf.-"Lilian Bell
on Her Travels" in Woman's Home
Companion.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
THEDIvINE HEALER.
His First Meeting at Front and Market
Streets Yesterday n Last Night
Largely Attended-He Employed His
Healing Power on About Eighty Peo-
pie-Meetings Today and Revival
Services Tonight.

Dr. w. S. Gilbert, known as the di-
vine healer, and the Rev. Otis NJ. SUIT
ton, who accompanies him, held their
first meeting in Wilmington at 1879
o'clock yesterday at Front and Market
streets. A good crowd was present, but
contrary to expectations, there was no
preaching. DIR. Gilbert knelt on a box
and remained perfectly quiet. as if he
were deaf and dumb, while Mr.. Sutton
stood by and answered inquiries about
the healer and took people to him for
treatment. The healer never opens his
lips to speak a word. People approach
ed him but he would make no answer,
leaving that TO Mr.. Sutton. He prays
silently. A number Of persons white
as we'll as colored, advanced to be
healed. The healer, without saying a
word, lays his hnds on his subjects and
looks silently to the heavens in prayer.
Yesterday afternoon at $3.50 o'clock
there was another good crowd at the
meeting, and again a number of people
went forwrd for treatment. Neither
DR.. Gilbert or Mr.. Sutton made a talk.
Last night at 1880 o'clock a trench
dous crowd assembled. After several
hymns had been sung, the crowd join
ing in, Mr.. Sutton addressed a few re-
ton as to the health and the object of
their visit to Wilmington. Quite a
number of people went forward to be
healed. One negro woman who was
suffering with a sewers pain, profesed
instant relief. Mr.. F.. K. Futch, who
resides at 704 South Third street, who
has been sick a year and who went to
DR.. Gilbert with a pack that has been
aching a week, authorized h state
ment that he was instantly relieved
more pain at all. Others also express
themselves as elieved
expressed themselves as relieved.
This morning at 10 o'clock and this
afternoon at 3::30 o'clock there will be
meetings, and at 7:30 o'clock tonight,
the Rev. Mr.. Sutton will preach and
enter upon a series of revival meetings.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
yEsUvIUs Is ANGRY.
Scientists say the Volcano VIII soon
be In Eruption Again.

The committee OF scientific men ap-
pointed to investigate the matter has
announced that an eruption OF Mount
Vesuvius 5 to be expected It has
been some time since there has been
a dangerous outbreak OF the volcano,
and no prophecies are made as to the
probable force OF the one that Is now
predicted The observatory at the base
or the enables the scientific
experts to tell the condition of the
interior OF the crater may be, and the
-premonttory signs OF an explosion are
unfaihngly indicated by means of the
delicate instruments invented to mark
the phases Of che volcano. The observ-
atory has now existed Off ~sixty-oae
years. and the predictions OF past explo-
sions have always been verified. Now
adays h explosions of Mount Vesuvius
are not accompanied with the disas-
trouS consequences they were usually
supposed TO bring, and this IS in a large
measure the result OF the preliminary
knowledge that the volcano is about TO
burst forth. There have been losses of
life in the later explosions. but they
We're generally due to sudden accidents.
such a. the flow of lava, which killed
ten persons at the outbreak in the early
seventies At thai time, from the re-
port of the professors in the observa-
tory, the inhabitants OF Naples and
other nearby cities knew that h
eruption was coming and that il would
be possible for them TO go up TO the
top of the mountain and view the out
break. Ten persons who had taken
advantage of his opportunity were
engulfed in an unexpected outpour OF
lava and died a horrible death.-New
York Sun
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Popular Presidential Votes.

The Philadelphia Record tDem.),
says: In 1896 the plurality of McKin-
ley over Bryan was 596. 749 votes, while
the plurality this year is not far from
$40, 900. Grants plurality over Greeley
in 1872 was 763, 001-the largest in the
history of the country till this year.
1 1892 Cleveland's plurality over a
rison was 393, 63S, and over Blaine in
1884 his plurality was only 23,0O5. Har-
rison defeated Cleveland in 1888 by j
plurality of ia, $50 votes. In 1880 Car
field had a plurality owe Hancock of
only 7,01S, and a majority OF SO votes
in the electoral college. Tilden had a
plurality of PSI, 645 popular votes in 1876,
and Hayes was counted into the office
of president by one electoral vote. In
1868 Grants plurality over Seymour
was 309, 51S. Lincoln's plurality over
Mcclellan in 1864 was AL, 2S1, and over
Douglas in 1860 his plurality was 49,
295, while in the latter yea the total
votes for Douglas, Breckenridge and
Bell were 947, 2S9 more than the popu-
lar for Lincoln. Buchanan's plurality
over Fremont in 1856 was 497, LIS.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Timber Lost by s Fresnet

Memphis, Tenn, November 21.-Lum-
Der firms whose mills are located on
Wolf river, the northern boundary of
the city, suffered damage estimated
at more than $500 900 by the overflow
ing of Wolf river during the night A
sudden rise resulted from a heavy rain
fall throughout this section which at
Memphis was &c inches. An immense
lot OF logs and RATS. moored in Wolf
river. broke loose and were carried out
into the Mississippi river. A vast num-
Der or logs were scattered for miles
down the river and. although strong
efforts were made to recover the tim
Der, a large proportion Of IL viii be
lost.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
One Good Nerve Deserves Another

Ono UOOu NeFNe DeScTNcS auCUuer
The following is good reading and
will be appreciated by our readers, ex-
cept those who do" the newspapers,
as Mr.. Cinnamon was guilty of:
Mr.. Cinnamon, one of the village
grocers, walked into h office of the
village paper, and laying down a. ticket
and fancy circular on the desk, thus
spoke to the editor:
Here's a little church entertainment
we are getting up, and we would like
you ITO give US a little notice in the To-
calls for the next two weeks, and print
some Of their recommendations"
"All right" said the editor, but
where did you get your printing done?"
Oh" said the grocer, 1--WE got that
done at the other office"
WELL" replied the scribe, "I shall
have to charge you for the notices, so
much per line"
"oh. but" satd h grocer, 1--WE don't
to give us these notices, for the good
of the cause, and to help us along"
well, WE'LL" h editor replied;
when o want free notices, you come
to me-; but when you lave work that
is to be paid for, you take it some
where else. Is that the racket"
wen, you see, Sd1Q MI.
your paper has the largest circulation,
and all the people read it: that's why
we want the notices in it, but we don't
want to pay for Them
"Au right" said the editor; "Tu
think it over"
Next day the editor walked down to
Mr.. Allpice's and bought a pound of
coffee, Of rich aroma. Then he went
up to Mr.. Cinnamon's and said to him
thusly: II would like you to make me
a present of seven pounds of sugar to
sweeten this coffee with, when l drink
it,"
Where did you buy your ~coffee?"
said MIR. Cinnamon.
Il bought it down the street, at Mr..
Auspices grocery" said the editor,
land paid cash for it."
Then you must go and ask him to
give you the 6 to Sweeten it with;
don't ask me. If you. have the money
to buy his coffee with, don't come to
me for free sugar.
turnabout was fair play. You came to
you free notices to your show, after
You had got your printing done some
where else. 1t is a poor rule that won't
work both ways, isn't it?"
Well, yes" said Mr.. Cinnamon,
"but I hadn't thought Of that before
The mora of this is hat there are
some country newspapers that cannot
be worked" for dead-head advertising;
and the Mount Kisco IN. W Recorder
is n of them.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
THANKSGIVING for the Orphans

AT the last meeting of the Cape Fear
Lodge, No. . /. Q. o.. F., h customary
steps were taken to provide the chill
dren at the Odd Fellows Orphan
Home at Goldsboro, with tokens of re-
membrance on Thanksgiving day. A
committee, consisting of Mr.. N. Jacob,
Colonel Walker Taylor and Mr.. W. II.
-Yopp, was appointed to V the
city and solicit donations for this pur-
pose.
The committee will go out at once,
and when the donations are ready TO
go forward they will be shipped by the
n. jacob Hardware Company. 1t is
hoped that there will be a liberal re-
Spouse.
Last e h donations TO
Ave draw loads, besides money gifts.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
They F1frted.

Mrs. Mutsu, whose death has recent
ly been announced, was one of the
most attractive women who ever pre-
sided at the Japanese legation at Wash
ington. Her end, 1t Is said, was has
tened by her sorrow for h death OF
her husband, which occurred three
wears ago. Mr.. and Mrs. Mutsu were
a most devoted couple, and when Mr..
N,rts1l was stationed at the national
capital they We're constantly seen to-
pefher. Asked at an afternoon tea
what was Minister Mutsu's favorite
sport. his gentle little wife looked up
archly and said: ooh, madam my nus
band he like ito firt best OF All things
in the world. He think this American
snort most adorable. We flint and firt
all the day long. 1 f1irt with him; he
firt with me-"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Formulation Of several States.

Washington. November 22.-The pop
ulation of Mississippi, as officially an
nounced today, is 1851, go, against l.
289, 600 in 1890, an increase since 1880
of 261 $40 or 20.2 per cent. The popula-
ton in 1880 was 1,131. 5S7, showing an
increase of 15S, 003 br 1879 per ent from
1880 to 1890.
The population of the state Of Mis-
souri, as officially announced today. Is
BLOC, 665, against 2,679, 14 in 1890. an in
crease of All, 4S1 or 1873 per cent.
The population of West Virginia is
95S, 800, against 762, 794 in 1890. an in
of 1876. OO6 or 25.6 per cent.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Death of a Young Man

Mr.. William Franklin Davis, son OF
Mr., A. F. Davis, of this city, passed
away yesterday at 1:55 p. m. at the
home of his father. on MacRae and
Chestnut streets. He has been II
with consumption for some time.
The young man was only nineteen
wears, six months and four days old,
and will be remembered as a former
clerk at the store of Messrs. Holmes &
Waters. He had the reputation OF
having many fire qualities, and a
manly disposition. He leaves a faith
er, sister and three brothers, the latter
Saiss Katie May Davis, N Messrs.
Herman, Clarence and Roscoe Davis,
who have the deep sympathy of their
friends.
The remains will be taken to Rocky
Point this morning for interment.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
The Storm Mt Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colo, November
22.-The damage by yesterdays storm
Will approximate 5000. 900 and Is due
entirely to destruction by the wind.
Light wires and telegraph wires are
still strewn across the trolley wires in
many places, and street railway traffic
will not be resumed until some time
tomorrow. About one hundred houses
and business buildings are damaged
n many trees were uprooted. No
lives were lost in the storm.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Cancer g; e: 8: I: f.: II: i: !; :;
the blood &c

polluted and the system thoroughly con-
terminated by this deadly virulent poison.
Then a sore or ulcer appears on some
part of the body; it may be small and
harmless looking at first, but as the can
cerous cells form and are deposited by
the blood near the sore, it increases in
size and severity, with sharp shooting
pains. No matter how often the sore is
removed by the surgeons knife or flesh
destroying plasters, another comes and is
worse. The real disease is in the blood,
and the treatment must begin there. The
poisoned blood must be invigorated and
purified, and when this is done cancerous
cells can no longer form and the sore will
heal naturally and p~ermanentlx-
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Consolidation of Telephone COMPANIES

atlanta, Ga, November 21.-The
Journal this evening says the South
ern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany and the Cumberland Telephone
Company, operating exclusively I'm the
southern states, are to be consolidated
under a single management in the i'm
mediate future.
Following this will occur a grand
consolidation of all the Bell system, in
Guiding the consolidated companies of
the Cumberland n Southern Bell, the
Chesapeake and Potomac, the Chicago.
New York and Boston, and all other
systems under the direct management
of the American Bell Telephone and
Telegraph Company, with headquarters
in New York.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Funeral orCharIes III. Hoyt

Charlestown, N. H, November PA
statement as to the funera OF Charles
H. Hoyt the playwright. was given out
by Hon James o. Liford. the guardian
of h estate of Mr.. Hoyt. tonight IL
follows:
THE funeral will be held on Friday,
November 23rd, at las p. m, from ST.
Lukes' Episcopal church in Charles
town. Services Will be conducted by
the rector, Rev. S. 3. Lassiter, assisted
by Rev. Howard T. Hill OF Concord,
n. H, who was a fellow member of two
New Hampshire legislatures with Mr.
Hoyt.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
False Report of the Cars Death

London. November 23.-The rumor OF
the cars death appears to be inbound
ed. Nothing to confirm 1t has been re-
ceived at the Russian embassies in Ber-
lin and Paris, and the embassy hero
has received nothing since the bulletin
yesterday (Thursday).
st. Petersbur, November 22.-To-
days bulletin from Lavadia apparent
ly indicates that the crisis Is past.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27

The smoke from the candle wick, af-
ter the candle is extinguished, is pois-
onous, and breathing it in quantity
would cause death. A medical journal
mentions a case Of a company of car
ousers who tricked a boy, sleeping in
the corner OF a room, by one of their
number holding to the boys nose the
smoke of a blown-out candle. After
half an hour the boy fell into short
breathing, cramps and died in three
days. The composition of this smoke
is carbureted hydrogen, carbonic oxide.
acrolefn, etc. No burning wick should
be left to poison the air of a room.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Death of Sir Arthur Sullivan.

London, November 22.-Sir Arthur
Sullivan. the musical composer. died
at 9 O'Clock this morning. of heart fail
ure. Sir Arthur had been ailing since
he returned from Switzerland in the
middle of September. He caught a
chill and his hest and lungs became
affected. He to his bed a fort
night ago, but was c~onvalescing and
sitting UP in his bed laughing and ak
ing lust before he expired.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
The Cars Condition.

Livadia, European Russia, November
22.-The car passed q fairly good day
yesterday. AT . o'clock in the ;.fter>
moor his temperature fell to 1908. In
the evening it had risen to 101.7; pulse
6S. During the night his majesty slept
a little. Early in the morning the "a
tents condition was good. His strength
was also satisfactory. At 9 o'clock
his temperature was 101. i; pulse 72.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
A Powder Mil Explosion

Removes everything in sight; so do
drastic mineral pills, but both are
mighty dangerous. Don't dynamite the
delicate machinery Of your body with
calomel, croton oil or aloes pills. when
DIR. Kings New Life Pills, which are
gentle as a summer breeze. do the
work perfectly. Cures Headache,
Constipation. Only Is cents at r. r.
Bellamy's Drug Store.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
Naturally Turn to America

The Suez canal is to be deepened
and widened. 1t is proposed to make
it available for larger ships than can
now pass through it The man who has
been selected to superintend the work
is L.. w. Bates, an American hydraulic
engineer. Somehow the world seems
to turn naturally t. America when there
is a gigantic piece of work to DE done.
Savannah News.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27

Richmond Pearson made a speech,
and in it he compared the present gov
ernor of North Carolina 10 the ruler of
the internal region. Pearson having
given considerable study TO the history
and surroundings of that torTied re-
gion and its satanic ruler, is doubtless
in a position TO make proper and just
Observation-Disclosures Dispatch.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27

Mrs. Sarah NJ. Keesliug,
o4I Windsor Ave, Bristol,
Tenn, writes: II am II
years old, anil for three
years had suffered with a
severe form of Cancer on
my jaw, which the doctors
said was incurable, and
that I could not live more
than SIX months. Iaccept-
ed their statement a. true,
and had given mp all hope
OF ever being well again.,
when my druggist, know
ing OF mycondidon recon-
mended s. S. 8. After tax
a~1 - h~otk1>z kL- co~A
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
The Fields Trials

Newton, N. c., November 22.-Ihe
race which began yesterday with the
running Of two braces, was
today with increased interest. Inc
weather was fine and the general conol-
tions satisfactory.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27
One Cent Damages Awarded

Washington, November 21.-In the
criminal court today a verdict of n
cent damages was rendered in the case
brought by w. II. Ferguson, a colored
man, against P. B.. Chase, proprietor OF
a local theatre, for 100000 damages for
election from the theatre last Novem-
Der.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27

strengthens the body and builds up the
general health.
If you have a suspicious sore, or have in
book on Cancer, and write to our medical
department for any information or advice
wanted we make no charge for this ser
vice. Your letter will receive prompt and
careful attention, and will be held in
strictest confidence.
The SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA. GA
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27

began to heal, to the surprise of the physicians,
and in a short time made q complete cure. Ihave
gained in nesh, my appetite is splendid, sleep is
refreShing-in fact, am enjoying perfect health"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-27

overcomes this de-
structive poison and
removes every vestge
of it from the system.
makes new. rich blood.