davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

to sell to the crews of ships which
anchor of the island to take fresh wa
ter. These average about thirty-fve a
year, but the Pitcairn folk are rather
strict about letting their crews land
for fear Of disease, as wrecked ships
company cast up on the island in 1894
brought typhoid fever and started an
epidemic that came within an ace of
wiping out the little community.
The oldest man in the island bears
the euphonious name of Thursday Oc-
tober Christian. possibly in celebration
of the day of his birth. He is a grand
son of the masters mate of the Boun-
ty. one of the mutineers. and Is now
SO. Two others of the men are more
than rs, while the eldest of the women
is r.
None of these old people has any
ailments beyond the feebleness OF old
age; in fact. the only flaw in the 9TH
erwise perfect health enjoyed by the
members of this isolated community
Is a queer affection which attacks the
teeth of the upper jaw, generally caus-
ing their total loss early in life 1t
probably is this feature which has Civ
en- rise to TIE stories of physical de-
generation among the Pitcairnites. Its
cauDe IL supposed to be the excessive
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

cotrt ruled thas. he had no authority
to grant the release of one OF our men,
whA was held prisoner by force
which, b. the way, was all that caused
us % surrender today. The judge gave
as Isis reason that he had no jurisdic-
tioD- One man was carted back to the
county jail and then quietly let &C.
We claim the ownership of the land
through right of discovery. The sur
vev of 1921 established the line of the
stsfe of Illinois, and there has been no
territory annexed to the state since
that time. There is clause in the con-
stltution which gives people with the
standing we have the right not to be
interfered with when we are covered
by a treaty, and we are covered by a
treaty, which the United States made
many years ago with Great Britain.
Why, they couldn't find a court to try
us year ago, and they can't find onl
now, They have been all through thu
courts, and this is the net result G.,
their work. We claim we own approx
imately 1856 acres lying in the District
of Lake Michigan"
The End Not Yet.
What will happen next the future
alone will tell Streeter was in Wash
ington as late as last April, demanding
that he be recognized as duly elected
delegate to Congress from THE Dis
trict of Lake Michigan" He says he
will build a police court on his curl
ously acquired 1and-if his it be-and
that a defensive force will be organized
forthwith. Whether Streeter wins his
queer contention at the last; whether
Chicago wins, or whether the state OF
Illinois is victorious, ''The District of
Lake Michigan will be pointed out by
future generations as one of the most
remarkable plots of land in the whole
world.
One of the most essential equipments
of the district is building, the sec
lions of which are loaded on several
wagons and are ready to be put to-
gether in moments notice. The only
drawback to this scheme is that the
police have not given Streeter time to
unload the sections and put them to-
gether. A large furniture van is the
principal government building. 1t is
the capitol, executive mansion, state
department building, treasury building
and the home of most of the other de-
partments. Entrance is gained through
the rear by means of two gang planl
leading up to gate. The gang plan.r
are lowered like medieval drawbridgs
to admit welcome visitors.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16
A Great Invention.

An Atchison (Kan.y woman has q
babit of eating too much, and she in
vented method of knowing when she
had enough, and will have her discov-
cry patented An ingeniously made
little alarm bell is set in her corset,
and when the pressure of the corset
from eating amounts to so many
pounds to the square inch the alarm
is set OF and the woman must Quit
Sometimes she is in the midst of a
juicy steak, or she may be just tasting
delicious dish of ice cream. or she
may have just reached her coffee.
when the pressure sets the alarm on.
but she then quits When visitors are
at the house the alarm startles them
little at first. but they soon get used
to the gong. The inventor says the
alarm has been Of more benefit b, he
than . score OF doctors-EL
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

The people of Pitcairn are generally
of good stature and good looks. Their
hair is deep black. their skins have
brownish tint and their faces are usu-
ally open and intelligent Some of the
women are really beautiful, and all.
men and women alike. have distinct
ly English cast of countenance-
Their island is thickly wooded and
so mountainous that it can be sighted
from ship when it is still forty miles
away 1t is about four and a half
miles in circumference The climate
is, of course. mild, and the chief nat
ural products of the island are such
natural vegetables as sweet potatoes,
yams, bread fruit, maize and beans.
and such fruits as bananas. pineap-
pies, oranges, melons and cocoanuts-
CURTIS BROWN.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16
Capt. 6. ". Streeter
Unique Character
of District of Lake
Michiean."

said the registrar was wrong and re-
versed his decision. The registrar
thereupon handed in his resignation,
which was accepted.
Organizes q Govern ment
Then the indefatiga5le Streeter
played another trump card He got the
pepole who resided on his curious plot
of ground to organize government"
This occurred, to be exact, on the first
Tuesday in April, 1899 The constitu-
ton of the United States was adopted,
the American flag was chosen by
unanimous vote as the emblem of the
community, and the place was styled
1.-THE District of Lake Michigan" Laws
for the government of the District"
were framed, and Captain Streeter was
made clerk. Other chief officers were
designated, and this body of men, on
April 25, 1899, filed into the Office of
Clerk Durham of the United States
court for the Northern Illinois district,
and formally took oath to uphold the
United States laws in their District"
The mayor of Chicago, with the police
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

been elected by his followers a dele
gate to Congress, and only last April
was in Washington to see what was
going to be done about the matter.
Captain Streeter says mis- ship was
wrecked 451 feet off shore, out today
the spot is half a mile inland. He could
not get his vessel off the bar, SO he
stood by and let things happen"
After a while it became possible to
walk ashore on the growing sand bar,
and soon the city authorities began to
dump their refuse there. Today 3
boulevard borders the water, and off Ia
the other direction runs the North
shore drive.
Makes a Map of the District
In 1890 or 81 Streeter mad a map of
his District properly drawn to scale
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16
Chicago Lottery

around the wreck of the light
draught steamship Reutan on a Lake
Michigan sand bar, near Chicago. June
10, 1886, has been woven one of the
strangest and most complicated ro-
mances of American history; ro-
nance in which Captain George We'll
lington Streeter of the wrecked vessel
has figured prominently, together with
the authorities of Illinois, Cook coun-
ty, and Chicago. The last chapter OF
the romance is yet unwritten, and
Streeter and mis- clan still claim the
200 odd acres of land on the lake
shore, IN the very heart Of Chicago.
which has been washed up around the
Reutan's hulk by the storm-swep.
waters, or deposited there by munich
pal rubbish carts in the space of Is
years.
The area of land which Captain
Streeter claims by right of discovery
is worth at least $25. GOO, 900, if not
more. Streeter calls his territory TIE
District of Lake Michigan. He has
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

1t was nearly three years since any
thing definite had been heard of the
queerest community in the wor1d-the
Inhabitants of the little dot of land In
the Southern Pacific known to fame as
Pitcairn island but now the captain
of H M. S. Icarus has paid them a call,
and he says that apparently things are
going well with the descendants of the
good ship Bounty's mutineers-
They live 1000 miles from the near
est point of land and have intermarried
and reintermarried until every one is
every one else's cousin, to say the
least, and yet they object strenuously
to any new settlers in their island
They have no medicine and yet they
are healthy-possibly because they
have no liquor of any sort and no to-
5acco.
Conflicting reports had come recent
iy from Tahiti, Pitcairn's nearest
neighbor, one of which said that these
exclusive islanders were rapidly de-
generating, while according to the 9TH
er the Pitcairn folk were so far from
degenerating that they had grown tired
of being merely picturesque and want
ed to be a commercial community
Captain Knowing, the latest visitor,
/
are only twenty workingmen on
the island, but they have just finished
building a new model school, and now
are alternately occupied with putting
up church, laying the timbers Of a
new whaling vessel and making a road
to their little harbor. Their great am
bition, however, is to establish regular
trade relations with the points nearest
them.
Yankee enterprise has stepped in to
help the island folk out. The British
consul at Tahiti has just reported that
!. service is to be established during
The next few months by vessels sail
ing under the American flag"
Fortunately for Pitcairn, the able
Mr.. Mccoy, who is now president OF
the community of 142 souls, seems to
be made of good stuff, and until he dies
affairs in the island probably will gu
well. Some time ago President Mccoy
was obliged to be away from the island
for nearly year, and during that time
things went rather badly-a murder
occurred, the first one since the is
lands settlement-but when the pres
ident.returned it took him only short
time to set matters right. To illus
cairn folk tell how he went on board
burning ship and himself piloted her to
Mangareva, in the Gambler island,
thousand miles away, and beached her
there, rather than to allow her cap
tain to run her ashore on Pitcairn is
land, as he had intended to do.
With such a man for their president
it is not surprising that there is re-
markably good discipline in the is
land, especially as Mccoy is well back
ed up by the other members of the fun
ny little t'parliament'' of seven, elected
by the people. All the male adults
have to give half their days work to
public enterprises. They get up at
in the morning, have breakfast, and
work until in the afternoon, which is
dinner time After dinner every mans
time is his own, and he spends it in
gardening, repairing his boats or
shooting wild goats for food The
women, besides doing the housework,
smooth and paint cocoanuts in an odd
way, or make different plated things
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

chief and such other officers as were
intimately concerned, were directly
thereafter warned that, beginning with
the next May day, they would be look
ed upon and treated as strespassers
should they intrude on the territory
ef the District
On May Streeter and some 25 citi-
Gems of his District" took possession
Df The District of Lake Michigan
Streeter's home was made the center
of government, and above it the Amer
lean flag was hoisted- Chicago awoke
70 the ringing alarms of war. At the
city hall it was decided that Captain
Streeter must be suppressed by force,
and 100 soldiers were sent to perform
the work. Military Governor Will
liam H. Niles objected He and IA OF
his men were captured and put into
Jail for unlawful assemblage," and on
May Streeter's settlement was wreck
ed by the neighboring landowners. But
no court could be found wherein to try
the Streeterites. They were released,
and Immediately sued their captors for
false Imprisonment.
Fort streeter Captured.
A year later-on Saturday, May 26,
1900-there was another exciting fra
Gus. Streeter's force had again in
trenched itself and was ready for BUSH
ness. In the afternoon of that day
500 city police officers were modified.
and. armed with rifles and revolvers.
they prepared to advance on Niles and
his men, who held possession of the
property on the lake shore between
Oak and Huron streets.
The news flew around like wildfire
l ~
water front at 100 that morning, had
thrown up two formidable rifle pits,
hoisted the American flag, and were
! offering armed and riotous resistance
| against the combined authority of city,
county and state on behalf OF their
self-constituted sovereign state of the
District of Lake Michigan"
The police planned to make a de-
mand for a formal surrender of the
handful of men. first through the Lin
coin park police. and, if that plan
failed, through the high sheriff him
self Governor Niles accepted the
advice of Park Officer Walter Hayes
and surrendered ere his diminished
| force of five men was still further re-
| duced. There was a good deal of shoot
| ing during the day, and when the
casualty list was made out it was found
that eight men and girl had been
more or less hurt
Statement of the Government
| The war was over, for time at least
After his arrest Niles made a state
ment: 81 am the military governor oil
the District of Lake Michigan he
said. land was elected to that position
by the citizens of the district What
are they going to do with us? A year
| ago they couldn't find a court to try
/. us In Judge Kohlsaat in the Federal
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

FORT STREETER, Captured BY
POLICE MAY 26. 1900
and duly filed with the Cook county
registrar of deeds After this he sold
the property, and ere many moons
there was a village on the site. Cap
tain Streeter spent weary weeks in a
study of maps, and finally recorded his
claim with the Land Office in Washing
con d. C. He had come to the con-
clusion that the land was unknown
till h. discovered 1t, and that no
authority in Illinois had any claim up
on it. Not satisfied with his single
claim at the national capital. he took
out two military territorial warrants
covering some $4,000 in script After
much cudgelling of brains on the part
of the Secretary of the Interior. Street
er got location certificate" since it
had been decided that the United
States government had no claim or til
tie to the land. Now Captain Streeter
was happy; he mad obtained an Of
1ciai national document recognizing
his claim
Then began a bitter fight In the
end the national authorities surveyed
the land and the registrar of the Land
Office calmly announced that it was
government property This decision
naturally reused Captain Streeter's an
ger. but he finally convinced Secretary
Bliss that the ..Districs was new
land. located by nature in an inter-
national highway Secretary Bliss
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16
Tribute of One Genius to Another.

Tribute of One Genius to Another.
Genius seldom withholds from
genius it's fair need of praise. That
Victor Hugo could recognize a master
mind in literature is not surprising.
His tribute to Shakespeare is one OF
the most eloquent ever penned.
Shakespeare, like Aeschy-us,' he
once said, lis prodigal with the un-
fathomoble. The unfsthomable is the
inexhau1tib-e The more profound the
thought tse more vital the express on.
Out of blackness comes color The
life of the abyss is hidden; the central
fire produces the volcano, the volcano
the lava, the lava oxides. The oxides
seek meat and fertilize the root; tho
root creates the flower. Thus tha
rose springs from the flames The
labor of the abyss is repea led in the
brain of the genius. The idea. the
abstraction within the poet is charm
and reality in the poem. What dark
ness beneath the earth, what tingling
life on its surface, Without the dark
ness there would be no life The vege-
tation of imagery and expression is
rooted in mystery. The flowers are the
proof Of the Depths
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16
MARRIAGE STATISTICS.

Showing That Woman is Forsakins
Factory and once.
People who urge that the proper
sphere for woman is the home may find
much encouragement in the figures
showing an increase of fifty per cent in
the number of marriages in Cook coun-
ty, Illinois, since 1899. Cook county
includes Chicago. Still more to the
poifIt is the fact that the license books
clesrly show that an increasingly large
percentage of the brides are young
women formerly engaged as wage
Gamers on their own account. Mega
tive proof of the same fact is found in
the reports which show that the num-
Der of young women seeking employ
ment as stenographers and clerks has
correspondingly decreased. Some au-
thorities are inclined to credit the
prevailing business prosperity with the
increased number of marriages among
working women. Others declare thai
men are just beginning to find out that
women with a business experience
make better wives. All are inclined to
think that the somewhat general reac-
ton against the new woman has had a
considerable influence. Certainly the
sign is healthy one. There are few
who will deny that the ideal place for
a woman is in a home of her own, and
there will be universal acceptance OF
homes are yearly increasing and null
tiplying is likely to be safe, prosper
Gus and happy.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

very few people ventured to st down
thirteen to dinner, for fear of dying
within the year, albsit reasoners were
beginning to explain that one in thir-
teen was something 1 Ike the ordinary
rate of mortality. Nor would many
have set out on journey or transacted
business of consequence on a Friday.
Westminster Review.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-11-16

Germany and England are alike In
one thing Each has thirty three cite.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-05-09
Aiguiilettes or Spikes.

These charming, gay, jingling, gold
en- ornaments had their origin in
Spain, far back in the days of Charles
the Fifth, when black was the court
dress, and the influence of the Inquisi-
ton peryaded everything in the land.
1t was to relieve this depressing
solemnity of black that some clever
man or woman-it is not stated which
Invented these pretty golden bau-
bles for the ladies of the court, for the
purpose of Frightening up their
gowns and giving a little brilliancy 10
their toilettes, says Vogue. Jewced
aiguilettes were also introduced, SUI
perb and costly treasure. When the
lnfanta Maria Theresa married LOUIS
XIV this bit of her modishness so
pleased the French court that they at
once entered into the spirit of the lad
and carried it to such an eXtravagdnt
pitch that small fortunes We're spent
in the wearing of them, each duch SIS,
marquise and countess trying TO out
vie the others in the size and beauty
of their jewels. These were fastened
on to the ends OF laces. ribbons ana
bits Of velvet and brocade which
served to trim their regal gowns. Such
is the historic interest associated with
this revival from two of the must IA
nous courts of Europe.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-05-09
How to Treat Your Guest.

Remember. there is such a thing as
overtoing the attention paid guest.
Do not feel that you must be forever
at her elbow; do not think 1t neces-
sary TO plan something for every
minute Of her day. Nothing is more
annoying. People, even when they
are visiting, like to have moments 20
themselves. They like to go places
where they feel at home, and no wo-
man feels at home IL her hostess Is
continually at her hand suggesting
tt ings for her amusement; nor does
1t conduce TO her comfort II she
feels that the whole household has
been turned upside down because or
her coming. Alice ! Eaton In Home
Companion.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-05-09
Rune in Urhe.


Brother of Orchards far afield,
Does the corn yet follow the mar
row?
Chirp sweet. chirp sweet. is there
aught 20 eat?
Seed for thee, but crumbs for my
meat,
For am London sparrow!
III springs fun edged IL our murky
town,
And flowers bloom on the barrow.
For your primrose bed we have May
instead;
Our trees are leafing month ahead
For ! am London sparrow!
Chirp, there's my mate in her house
bound nest
What lack though the caves pe
narrow
] cry my "tweet!" to the passing feet.
have no fear Of the busy street,
For | am a London sparrow!
Brother, the season blooms in town,
A cockney to the marrow.
With fiutter Of dress for fiutter Of
wing,
With women's faces to make my
spring,
For am a London sparrow!
-Dolf Wyllarde in the Lonoon Gentle
woman.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-05-09
Catarrh Cannot be Cured

With LOCAL APPLICATIONS, as tney cannct
or constitutional disease and Ia order to cure it
you must take internal remedies. Hall S Catarrh
lure Is taken internally, and acts directly on
me blood and mucous surfaces. Halls Catarrh
lure Is not quick medicine. 1t VAS prescribed
D. one Of the best physicians in this country fol-
years, and rs a regular pfeScri ption. 1t Is com
posed Of the best tonics known, combined with
The best blood purifiers, acting directly on the
Macoas surfaces. The perfect c.s;hiDation OF
the two ingredients is what produces such won.
oeTui results in curing Catarrh, Send for tes
hmouials, frcn
+ J. CHENEY 4 co, Props, Toledo, o.
99id by Druggists, price &c.
HSiI Family Pills are the best.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-05-09

tate you, Peruna will make you feel like
another person inside OF week. have
now used it for three seasons and lind It
very reliable and cilicacious. Marie
Coats.
Mrs. AL Wctzel. II South nth street,
Torre Haute, Ind, writes:
"Peruna Is the greatest medicine on
earth, | feel well aud that tired feeling
is all gone When began to take your
medicine | could not smell nor hear
church bell ring Now | can smell and
hear. When began your treatment my
head was terrible. all sorts of huzzing,
chirping and loud noises. Three months
ago | dragged around like n snail; now
| can walk ms briSkly as ever, | am
going 10 go and see the doctor that said
| was not long for this world. and tell
him that Peruna cured me. Mrs. Al
Wetzcl,
IL all the tired women and all the nee
vous women. and all the women thst
needed tonic would read and heed the
words OF these three fair ladies who
have spoken right to the point, how
many invnlils would be prevented and
how many wretched lives be made
happy.
Pcruna restores health in norma
way,
reruna puts right all the mucous mem
branes OF the body, and in this way
restores the functions of every organ.
If it is the stomach that is out OF
order, and the digestion Impaired. Pe-
runa quickly makes things right by
restoring the mucous membrane OF the
stomach.
If the nerves tingle. il the brain Is
tired il the strength IN tagging and the
circulation OF blood weakened by ilabby
mucous membranes OF the digestive
organs. Peruna reaches the spot AT once
by giving to these membranes The vi
tally and activity which belongs to
them.
The pelvic organs are also lined with
mucous membrane which in the female
sex is especially liable 20 arrangements.
peruna is an absolute specific IN tltese
cases. The women everywhere are
prasng it. No other remedy has ever
received such unqualified praise from
such II multitude OF women,
II you dc not derive prompt and salts
factory results from the use of Peruna.
write at once TO DR., Hartman, giving
full statement OF your case and he will
be pleased to give you his valuable 0d-
vice gratis.
Address Or. Hartman. President OF
The Hartman Sanitarium Columbus q.