davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

like a revolver, pointing west, with the
magnificent harbor in question In the
trigger guard upon the southern side. 1t
is the topmost ridge of small chain of
mountains now submerged. Its 5000 in
habitants, mostly blacks, occupy twenty
three square miles.
Army engineers will not in st. Thomas
be faced with the hygienic problems met
in Porto Rico and Cuba. Charlotte
Amalie. once a pest hole, has been inn
proved by modern sanitary methods.
drainage canal has been opened from
the harbor to the sea-a task proposed
but never yet accomplished for the health
of Havana. Charlotte Amalie, further
more. is thoroughly flushed by water
flowing down its terraced hillsides when
ever it rains. This island and Santa
Cruz are now favorite health resorts
for invalids suffering from pulmonary
diseases. The heat OF the tropical sun
is constantly modified by refreshing trade
winds.
Santa Cruz, forty miles south of ST.
Thomas, while of little or no strategic
value, Is the largest and most productive
of the three isles likely to become Ameri-
can property. Its population OF 10000
consists largely of plantation negroes.
It's western half Is rectangular, but It
tapers to point on the east Two cities.
each as large as Denver. could be built
upon Its area OF about 100 square miles.
Denmark's governor general Of West In
dian possessions, who spends half the
vAer In ST. Thomas AND tina othar half
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

in Santa Cruz, administers the affairs of
the latter at Christianstead, the capital
and principal town. His presence and
that of a small garrison are the only
evidences Of Danish supremacy to be seen
today upon the largest isle. The only
other town of Santa Cruz Is Frederick
stead, upon the west coast, which can
be reached only by small ships.
Less than 1000 new subjects would be
added to the United States by the ac-
QUESTION of st. John, only six miles to
the east of ST. Thomas. The total area
of this. the smallest of the three, is Just
equal to that of the city of Boston-forty-
three square miles. 1t is OF irregular shape,
having upon the eastern end a curved fin
ger of land including a coral bay, good
harbor, little used except by fishermen.
Practically all of the inhabitants dwell in
small town named after the island. Santa
Cruz and st. John are both more produce
tive than St Thomas. They yield sugar,
rum, luxurious tropical fruits and vege-
tables.
In all three islands of this group recon-
struction under Yankee supremacy would
be task proportionately much less diff
cult than In Puerto Rico. English today
is the universal and official language in
the churches and schools.
The only warm-blooded quadrupeds i'm
habiting the Danish West Indies are the
agouu and the rat. The former IL priced
for food by some natives. Its meat Is
white, tender and sweet. 1t is about the
size Of a rabbit, Asta liz. snuirrel and
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

scend to the Mediterranean below mar
bonnie. The engineer OF genius 10 wnom non
france owes tnc Sahai uu M'oi--in o'u
nm, n, ,ne Una, ue Asnsueuou ~ . 10.
IIs,re a", nleues' nsss -. In,,.s
S w 'nen -ount VI ,s,n H. ~ .S"n..
NAs., 90 ,ons "eo az ioeo. % up , st"n -.
Iarrieu ,ns SISTER OF tne iaas r III, uo
Inlmay before ,he urect ma.e ,ne ., ne
sane eAu. On wncn essns ~. ..,v
WIS t,ahs,erreu 70 ms uescenuan n,s'. now
propery ,he mouse o. IN ny,
INV WHEN A warn, pes ST.
iroin De'roit, harrleo, Oily 70 apai 'a,o,, -
~ company u iiunshrin" , Sypsy v.vnn
,st OF tne hane oI niso nis Sa .ss y,
I.ansueuoc WAS tne MT. sreat arti nla.u
wa.c.was =, nuIopc, anu lh9 s.,e" r,,e'u.
century genus Oh rierre Iaul n.auee
SHINES as prlgnty at the opening OF tne
.wehtlstp century ~ ever ane naiu n
TASK OF mooeIn ens'neers VII " " .oi-
low nun over the Meek OF Naurou1t, tne
piacK mountain, wnere tne cuuLnes
must De sixty-iive rect deep. Miiiions
ana minions IL VIII cost 10 WIDEN ana
deepen the old canal through TINS most
difhcult part OF It's route.
Where the canal boats now drag @heir
slow way the Canai des Deux-Mers VIII
give passage to the heaviest men-of-war
whirled across France through nils ana
valleys, NOT by mules put py steam loco
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

burrows I'm the ground. Some giant lizards.
or iguanas, are also edible. There is an
abundance of small lizards and a species
of harmless snake. Birds are scarce, ow-
ing to an absence Of forests.
But why Is Denmark so anxious to get
rid of these islands? They, especially st.
Thomas, once afforded their mother coun-
try a handsome revenue. Not many years
ago Charlotte Amalie was hive of in
dustry and the market of the West In
dies. The decline of this commerce was
the indirect result OF the perfection of
steam vessels and of the abolition of
slavery. Before the civil war in the Uni
ted States sailing ships carried on the COM
merce of the surrounding seas. Vessels
then could not make long routes. and st.
ton and. excellent harbor. became the
trading center of the West Indies. The
perfection of steamships made direct ship
ments possible. The English, French and
Dutch in the West Indies thereupon began
TO send their agents directly to this con-
tinent and to Europe. They were thus en-
abled to buy in their home markets and
to have their goods sent directly to their
colonies without passing through st.
Thomas.
1t was a sore blow to the little island
when the Royal Mail and Steam Packet
Company, of Southampton, later trans
ferred its workshops to the British West
Indies. The old commercial importance
OF Charlotte Amalie entirely disappeared,
chiefly from this cause. twenty years aro.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
PROJECTED SHIP ELEVATOR.

arsenal of France. Then. from every
point. French railways will bring troops,
provisions and munitions Around Tou-
louise will be grouped cannon and ammu-
milton factories.
route of the great canal is along the old
Canal de Languedoc, of Clara Wards an
cestor by marriage. The old canal abounds
in locks To lift 1t up 900 feet. In one
stretch. there are seventeen of them.
The descent Of the Aude-3o0 feet-requires
more than fifty. 1t is in its cuttings and
locks that the projected canal is to be
most extraordinary. Sixteen locks are
planned to do the whole job OF the water
shed that has its apex in the dreaded Col
de Naurouze, and they are to be the an
swer of French engineering science to the
lamentable failure of Panama.
At the beginning 1t was seen that ordi-
nary locks would not serve; with them the
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

TUNNEL UNDER
GIBRALTAR AND RAIL.
ROAD TO ORIENT.

- HOSE who believe that the beginning
" OF the twentieth century In 1901 Is
to be marked by q long line OF 81
Y, gantic works. for which the dlscov-
cries Of the nineteenth are the prep
artion. sec in ''The Canal of the
Two Seas" and the Mediterranean tunnel
the first examples of the coming wonders.
France heads the projects--Francc, that
has shown the way 30 often, only to be
outstripped by other peoples: France OF
the Suez canal and Panama. This time,
however, the work il for herself, and not
for others. The tunnel that, by the cour-
tesy of Spain and Morocco, Is to unite her
to her African possessions may have a
military and Industrial outcome undreamed
of now. while the canal that is to open up
the Mediterranean to her as to no other
power may make France independent of
Gibraltar. The possible effects Of the lat
ter are so revolutionary that 1t Is easy for
Erenchmen to believe what an English
statesman Is pretended to have said: "If
France IL willing to spend 800 millions to
make the Canal -Mers, we will be
willing to spend $500 millions to prevent
hsri'
From Paris to the eoudan without
changing cars!' This is the cry of the
tunnels partfsans. 1t Is the answer OF
France to Cecil Rhodes conception From
the Cape to Cairo
When Spain ana Morocco grant the priv
iiegc, the work becomes simple matter
or French finance and French engineering.
On clear days you can see Gibraltar from
Tangiers; and, while the spot has not yet
been made public. 1t is said that the Eu-
ropean end of the tunnel IL to be not many
miles from England's stronghold. Tho
consent Of Spain and Of Morocco? For
long time. says Sterling Heilig in the. New
York Press. all the European nations have
had their eyes fixed longingiy on the land
Of "The Sick Man OF the West" His policy
has been to play one on against the other,
yet u has always been acknowledged that
Spain has a vague kind of claim upon him.
Spain persuaded. and France backed up
by the cxar. the concession OF the tunnel
becomes almost probable. It il said by the
French that the chief work OF Count Mura-
Wen. Russian minister of foreign AFFAIRS,
when he passed through Paris. was to
make plans for the time when France
should make her claims In this direction.
AZ for Spain, II is said that she sees in
dustrial salvation in this scheme that
would place her on the direct line Of the
immense development OF Africa, and the
persistent rumor that she has given to
France and Russia permission to fortify
Ceuta is looked on as especially significant.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
A STRING OF TOWING 70RPEDOEs.

intents and purposes, is an automobile
weapon. but is much simpler, and prob
ably much less expensive, though special
arrangements have to be made for its
use. An endless chain is stretched round
four horizontal wheels or pulleys SO as
to cover the portion to be guarded, and Is
set in motion by means of second chain,
driven by an engine on shore To the
first chain series of Lege torpedoes are
attached at intervals. and the idea Is
that as the chain moves round on it's
rollers the channel is patrolled constantly.
as it were, by two lines of travelling mines
moving In opposite directions. so that 1t
would be practically impossible for ship
to pass through this guarded zone UNI
scathed. immediately the chain is stopped
the torpedoes become harmless, for on the
strain being taken off the towing lever 1t
automatically folds back against the
head, and in. so doing moves a safety
catch into such a position as to prevent
the striker in the point Of the torpedo
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

that the vapors which give the black
lines In the solar spectrum are situated
somewhere above the intensely luminous
surface of the sun. But how far up?
Prof. Young, OF Princeton, was led to
believe some thirty years ago that the
reversal of the lines of the spectrum was
wrought by a distinct stratum of mingled
vapors at the very base of the chromo-
sphere. and close to the light-giving cloud
shell OF the sun. This conclusion, which
certain other astronomers did not imme-
diately accept, was based on profound
ly interesting observation during total
eclipse.
Prof. Young was following with his
spectrum the advancing edge of the moon
over the suns disk. So long as any of
the true solar surface was visible and
there was a source Of light below or be-
hind the gases. the lines remained black.
But Just at the instant when the sun
was hidden, and the gases shone by their
own light alone, the lines of the spectrum
became bright and then Immediately died
out. The abruptness and brevity of the
event led the professor to call the phe-
nomenon the Flash spectrum" BY adj
justing his spectroscope so as to inspect
the region little further away from the
suns surface he perceived the charac-
teristic lines of the chromosphere. These
incidents, and their precise sequence, have
since been observed by others; and in
1895 and 1898 photographs of the flash
spectrum were obtained Little doubt is
now entertained as to the correctness of
Young's notion: but further observation
will help to establish the truth.
Aside from its scientific significance,
Mr.. Shackleton's picture of the flash spec
trum in knowledge is an interesting Curl
osity. The short, straight lines in an or
binary bright line spectrum are merely
luminous images Of a vertical slit in the
spectroscope. But If the opening which
admitted light to that instrument were
ring-shaped the lines would be rings,
though they would occupy the same rela-
tive positions. Now, when the moon COW
ers the sun. the brightest part of the
latter's envelope forms a complete circle.
And IL q prism be suitably adjusted in
front of the telescope with which observa-
lions are being made a spectrum made
up of more or less perfect rings will
be noticed at certain stages of the eclipse.
And IL, just when the flash occurs pho-
Geographic plate be exposed, one can per-
manently register the most prominent
members OF the series. Partly from force
of circumstances and partly from the
preference Of the astronomer, the pho
tograph will sometimes show merely short
arcs. and not complete circles. After
little practice with an inexpensive spec
troscope, attached to a binocular, the am
ateur can observe the flash spectrum al
most as well as the professional astron-
omer.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

are now in Berlin, and are regarded by
German professors on anthropology and
comparative anatomy in the universities
of Berlin and Vienna as undoubtedly the
smallest adults In the world. Fatma Is
Is years old. Her height is 10 inches and
she weighs IS pounds and 3 ounces Her
brother is three years her junior, measur-
ing 1874 inches and tips the scale at 12Hz
pounds How small the dwarfs are can
be easily comprehended by comparing
their height to that of an ordinary chair,
which, when placed by their side, is about
the same height as the two. These dwarfs
were found three years ago on the Bengal
coast, not far from the River IrawaA,
which flows through Burmah.
For the usual freaks of nature. the mid
gets born to Mr.. and Mrs. w. Il. Taliey.
of $40 Franklin avenue, Brooklyn, are
worthy of mention. Dorothy, now 8 years
old. weighed pounds when born; William,
now ~ years old, weighed only pounds
when he arrived, and when Edith was
born recently she weighed but 2 pounds.
She has gained "A half pound In weight
and measures IA inches from tip to tip.
Her head Is the only approach to the nor
NAL in her physique The chest measures
IL inches across A wedding ring would
make bracelet for Ediths wrist. A table
spoonful of milk every twenty-four hours
will suffice to keep life In the little one at
present.
In the family OF good sized parents in
Brooklyn, famous now for its epidemic of
small children at BIRTH was recently born
what is believed to be the tiniess baby
that ever lived. Grace Eberhardt has
broken the record. Her father John
Eberhardt, resides at 40 Hhnrod street,
and his home is besieged by all of the
baby kissing fraternity since Grace be-
came popularity known as too cute and
lovely for anything" in the parlance OF
the women. When born Grace weighed
III pounds, and was placed in mans
derby hat 6ss inches In length, 5la inches
in breadth, and 5ta inches In depth. She
did not fill half the hat. At months old
she only weighed pounds, her hands were
the size of the bowl of a teaspoon, and
her feet were much too small for a dolls
shoe. Her wrists and ankles were no
longer than a mans thumb, and her little
legs looked like drumsticks The family
physician prophesies that Baby Eberhardt
will live and thrive and grow to be a
strong, vigorous child.
The smallest bicycle In the country was
built by Joseph Smith. Haines street, Phil
adelphia, and is ridden by his little 5-year-
old daughter Hattie. Mr.. Smith Is q Jew
eler. and after hours worked on the wheel
for his little daughter. The frame is eight
inches high, wheels thirteen inches, wheel
A->- A-ls t---~.S-anA inches. and thu e~-
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
CHECK FOR NEARLY $50. OOU, OvU.

price of this curiosity Is E400
r. FL. Kiddle, of Kinsman, o., has con-
structed the smallest locomotive. 1t runs
in his shop on guage of road ~ inches.
There are four driving wheels. 81
inches In diameter each, four front
truck wheels "a inchess 1h-inch
cylinders. stroke rs inches. boiler
s inches in diameter. length of fire
box s inches. The tubes are but 1-6
inches, 151s inches long. The tank has Ca
pacity of twelve quarts and the entire en-
CINE and tank is 60 inches. The steam
pressure obtainable is ITO pounds and the
entire engine is constructed of 1874 parts.
Mr. Riddle is a machinist and built the
engine for the amusement OF his boy
The smallest railway is located In the
back yard of friend Of James William
Edward Dillon, years old, of Anderson,
Ind. II is known as the Rillon Short
Line and has been In operation for several
months.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
WARSAzPS WHRLED THROUGH FRANCE.

home will give the French investor con-
fidence that he might lack since Panama.
1t is proposed, by taking advantage of
the present waterways of the interior Of
France, to make ship canal from a
well-guarded port on the Atlantic coast
to as well-guarded a port on the Mediter-
ranean. From Bordeaux. up. the Ga
rome river, the canal boats that carry
freight SO economically throughout all
France plod their way to Agen. to Tou-
louise, and then through the Canal du
Midi, by a great lock system, they climb
and descend the watershed of the At
1antic and Mediterranean by way of the
formidable Neck of Naurou.e. Below
Carcasonne the Canal du Midi strikes
the River Aude and then starts of north
east along a winding route to Beziers,
completing great complicated system.
BY way of the Aude the canal boats de-
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

astronomer to study the solar chromo-
sphere and prominences at almost any
time, but the amateur can see them only
during total eclipse.
Perhaps no questions relating to the
SUMS appendages has received more at
tention in recent years than those IN
voIving the existence and location of the
so-caled reversing layer" Somewhere
in the solar atmosphere there exist. In
the form OF intensely heated vapors, more
than half of the chemical elements known
to man. Each of them has it's own char
acteristic lines In the spectrum. In some
instances an element is revealed by no
no less than a Thousand lines. Now, when
an incandescent gas is being examined
with spectroscope. and no other source
of light Is at hand, the lines produced
are bright. But those Of the ordinary
solar spectrum are black. This reversal
can be effected in laboratory by plac-
Ing a powerful light back of the gas.
so that the latter somehow exercises an
absorptive influence on the rays. Hence
the astronomers are perfectly satisfied
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

~HE Danish West Indies, which
Uncle Sam will have to purchase
to prevent their acquisition by
- some European power, will add to
this countrys already vast insular
domain three small specks In the sea with
an aggregate area only as great as that
of the city of Philadelphia. OF their 3d.
900 human souls, likely to become. Ameri-
can subjects before the birth of the new
century, five-sixths are negroes and en-
gagged mostly In sugar culture.
The sacred Monroe doctrine has been
but one factor in Uncle Sans concern in
these isles. Lying from thirty to forty
miles off the eastern end of Puerto Rico,
they hold the strategic key to what in
time of war would be the most dangerous
approaches to the United States valuable
West Indian possessions.
st. Thomas, says the Chicago Tribune,
Is the only one of the three islands OF
which Uncle Sam Is sorely In need on this
latter account. 1t lies in the track of all
vessels from Europe, Africa, South Amer
lea the East Indies or the Pacific bound
for the West indies, and of many plying
for this continent by southern routes. st.
John and Santa Cruz, the two sister isles
of st. Thomas, will have to be acquired
with the latter for the sake of the Monroe
doctrine.
examined st. Thomas agree that It pos
sesses the choice Of all West Indian har-
hnrs Todsv. "naAr Danish rule 1t Is I'M
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28

Ia. Half OF the objections to its colonial
ton by French farmers, artisans and in
dustrials- all the worst kind OF stay-at-
homes--must disappear. The French hor-
ror OF sea voyage-something inexplie-
able to Americans and English-is no long
er to stand in the way Of tourists, settlers
and SPECTATORS.
But this is only beginning" says the
Frenchman. glibly. '.rhe projected rail-
way line along the northern coast of
Africa will extend to meet the line of
Tripon, and so continue to Cairo and
the isthmus OF Suez There another
tunnel will be cut under the Suez canal
itself, and the railroad will continue on
triumphantly along the shores of the
Persian gulf, on, on, across the corti-
nent of Asia to-Bombay." 3
NJ Berlier. engineer Of the Gibraltar
tunnel, declares that the work will not
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
AMERICA in PATHWAY OF NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.

-N astronomical spectacle Of ex-
quisite beauty, not seen before in
the eastern part of this country
for more than twenty years, yisi-
BILE without Instruments, and
therefore available to the unscien-
tific public, is promised for May Is. 1900.
This is a total eclipse of the sun. The last
event Of this character which was wit
messed east Of the Rocky mountains &C.
CURED in 1878, and the next one prior to
that was in 1869. No repetition Of the per-
formance-that Is, on the same stage
may be looked for before 1915.
In forecasting the eclipse the New York
Tribune says:
The line along which the eclipse will be
total will be only about 100 miles wide. 1t
will extend UP from Mexico into Southern
Louisiana, North Carolina and Virginia,
passing out at Norfolk to the ocean, cross
ing to Spain, and finally reaching down In
to Algeria. At the center of the path the
totally will last one minute and forty-ive
seconds; near Inc edge for a much short
er interval. Outside Of the favored belt
the eclipse will be partial. and hence de-
void of certain exceedingly lovely fea-
lures which will make the sight of 1t
memorable experience.
Inc only OCCASION IOT uoupt AWFUL tIo
success of this exhibition arises from the
uncertainties of the weather. Eclipses are
predicted with unfailing accuracy. But
a special study of the records for several
years past shows that late in May there Is
one chance in four that cloudiness will
prevail in the interior of the South At
lantic and Gulf states.
The most impressive object seen during
a solar eclipse is that silvery and curious
~ formed envelope, the corona. The deli
cate streamers composing 1t gradually d.
minish in brilliancy from the limb of the
sun out into space, but under favorable
conditions they can be traced to a dis
lance of two, three and even, four solar
diameters. The sun is seven-eighths of
a million miles through. Portions of the
corona unquestionably extend several
million miles from the body that 1t sur
rounds.
The structure of this envelope excites
wonder even in the inexperienced OBJ
server; but 1t is made the subject of care
full research by the scientist. Why are
its constituent plume5 shorter and more
feathery near the poles than elsewhere?
Why are these streamers curved instead
of straight What Is their real starting
point? Are the dark lines that separate
the bright ones merely void spaces, or
are they composed of different kind of
matter? Or is the difference due to tenn
perature merely? How much has cleo
tricity to do with the shaping of this
strange halo? Is it anything more than