davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

corners of the house. This makes a
small front yard which has but one
gate.
1t is supposed that the two monster
alligators were prowling along the
irrigating ditch in search Of food
when they encountered the foot bridge,
and in crossing over it they may have
pushed the little gate open. Miss Sa-
vanah Walston was sleeping on a
cot on the little porch in front of the
open door of her mothers room, and
a little negro boy 6 years Of age was
lying under a china tree in the yard.
Mrs. Walston, who was sick at the
the cottage, and her little baby was
lying in a cradle within easy reach of
her hand. She says that she heard the
alligators for some moments before
she called her daughter. The moon
was shining almost as bright as day.
and when Miss Savannah was aroused
by her mother she raised up on her
cot and put one Of her hands on the
head of one of the monsters. At that
instant a little dog that had ran out
Of Mrs. Walston's room was snapped
between the jaws of another alligator
at the young girls side.
In her fright she sprang over one
of the monsters in order to reach her
mothers bed. Both OF the alligators
pursued her across the floor and one
Of them Erned the cradle ever. The
little boy fell out on the carpet. Miss
Savannah had reached the bed in safety.
but when she heard the cries OF her
baby sister she sprang back on the
carpet and rescued the child almost
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
GIRLS WITH ALLIGATORS

an end to the existence to the two ter
rors. Her brothers gun was hanging
against the wall on the opposite side
of the room. She determined to take
advantage OF the first opportunity and
get hold of the weapon. Her mother
tried to dissuade her from such a des-
perate venture, but the moment thai
the big saurian left the room she
sprang out on the carpet and a after
the gun. The alligator heard her steps
and he pursued her to the bed, snap
ping his hideous jaws and making a
noise that would have paralyzed a less
courageous girl.
Miss Savannah says that she had
never shot a gun before in her life.
but she had often seen her brother
handle a rifle and she had some
knowledge of the way the liner was
worked in order to load and eject the
shells from the barrel. Her heart
bounded for joy when she found the
magazine of the gun full of. cartridges.
Aiming well at one eye of the big
bull she fired and had the satisfaction
of seeing him cavort about over the
carpet as If there was something hot
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
INDIAN BUILT A ROAD.
onLy MEMBER OF RACE WHO
DOSE TO SUCH DISTINCTION
Matthias spiitiox This shrewd but ii'''er-
~. Redskin-Line Wal Constructed To
Develop "saIted- Gold Mine-Red Mans
Money Hidden In Missouri

An Indian whose name is familiar In
portions of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas
and the Indian territory and who en-
loved the distinction of having built u
railway line which has grown TO be
one of the most important in the mid
die west vas Matthias Splitlog, whose
death occurred a short time since.
Splitlog was born in Canada in 1910,
and was of French and Indian descent.
He was brought up in the woods oil
the far North and was unable to read
or write, but he could count money like
a banker and was shrewd at driving a
bargain. Like most Indians. he was
reticent. cautious and suspicious.
Although without schooling or me
chanical training, splitlog was a nat
ural mechanical genius, and to hat he
was indebted for his start in life. He
had built a f%erryboat at Windsor, Can
ada. in the early '40s. and ran a ferry
between Windsor and Detroit. He had
also built a sawmill there and dis
played other indications that caused
the United States government to no
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
Shooting a Horse In China

In China the shoeing of horses is a
very different process from that en-
ployed by an American blacksmith.
The Chinese leads the horse up to a
framework composed Of two posts and
a horizontal beam. Then with a long
pole attached to the horses head he
runs around The other post and thus
binds him between the two. The rope
is then brought around tho body and
over the beam to which both body and
head are firmly secured. and the horse
is thus unable to move sideways or
lie down. The smith then puts a
small stool under the foot to be shod
and thus trims the foot and drives the
shoe.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
AN OLD QUAKER CHURCH.

Mrs. Mary Emma Walker Is D
granddaughter of one of the austere
charter members OF the church. She
sits on one of the original benches
and looks upon the crude furnishings
of the church, which are almost as
well preserved as IL a caretaker had
been in charge OF the building. Her
prayers are silent Quaker prayers and
no one disturbs her. Down the center
of the building is the partition which
served to separate the sexes in meet
ing. The st~raight-back pews are as
uncomfortable as ever. Outside are
the dead Of 100 years ago. Inside on
each seventh day only is there life
When II Is gone the town of Catawlssa
may preserve at least the temporal
church.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
Hes 1t

"Our town." said a mar from Lam
b~ertville, N. j., boasts OF being the
residence of the original fellow who
doesn't know enough to come in out OF
the rain. I'll tell you how it was. This
young man is employed in the Penn
sylyania railroad shops, and the other
day he was sent to Phillipsburg to re-
pair the roof on the station. and give 1t
a coat of paint. After he had been at
work an hour or so a heavy rain be-
gan to fall and the following telegram
was received by the foreman at the
shops: 4 am on the roof and 1t IL
raining: shall ] stay up or come
DOWN. You can imagine there was
considerable sport at the fellows ex-
pense when he came back in the eve
ming"
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
HAVE NO RELIGION.
several Nations Have Not the Slightest
yestige OF Creeds.

The savage's conception Of religion
is very different to that of the civil
lied man, and the lower orders of
savages are exceedingly shy with
white men on this subject, hence Max
Muller may have been right when he
said that wherever there is human
life there is religion. At tho
same time the evidence of many
noted travellers and keen OBJ
servers goes to show that there
are tribes in existence which ap-
pear to have no conception of religion
in the usual acceptance of the term.
Among these may be termed the Pig
mics of the Aruwimi forest, the Bush
men of South Aria, the Veddahs of
Ceylon, the Fuegans Tin which OAR
win was unable to discover any trace
of religion). the Indians Of the dran
Chaco in South America and some In
dams In California. In former times
many OF the south sea islanders had
no religion, but have since become
Christians. 1t Is also said that those
extraordinary people. the gypsies,
have no definite conception of religion.
At the same time it should be remem-
bered that II the word religion" Ia
held to cover belief in good and evil
spirits. witehcraft, and SO on, then it
is apparently universal.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

tice him, and he was selected as a suit
able man to go to the Wyandotte In
dian reservation In Kansas to build
houses for the Wyandottes.
After completing his work among
the Wy%andottes, Splitlog moved to the
Seneca Indian nation, close by, and
built a gristmill and sawmill there. His
counsel and energies were so highly
appreciated by the Seneeas that they
adopted him as one of their tribe and
he married a Seneca woman. A lew
years later he became chief of the
Senecas.
When. in 1866. Splitlog conceived the
mine proved a failure and the old
wealthy man. He bought an alleged
rich gold mine and it was with the
idea of bringing his gold fields in
touch with the large cities that he
started his line. In 1887 t~hirty-five
miles CT railroad had been put into
operation, or under way. and Splitlog
had put $685. 600 into his scheme. But
his troubles began to grow. and finally
he was compelled to sell out. His gold
mine proved a failure and the old
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
Rescues Her Baby Sister from
Souridn's Jaws.

from the Jaws of one OF the saurians.
Mother and daughter were now
standing up on the bed. but they were
not sure that they occupied a position
beyond the reach of their hungry as
sailants. The noise awoke the little
negro, and the women saw him run
ming towards them. They shouted to
him warning him of the danger, and
telling him to run outside of the yard.
Evidently he did not know what was
the trouble. for he ran towards the
bed, stumbling over one of the alli-
gators. and falling with his head right
into the mouth OF the other.
The women were helpless to defend
the unfortunate little African. The
monster crushed the little Negroes
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Savannah Walston. a pretty Texas
girl, is the heroine of the little town
Of Tunis, on the Bayou Sarah, an arm
Of the Brazos. She made herself ia
nous a few days ago by killing two
monster alligators that had entered
her mothers cottage during the night.
Few men would have been capable OF
performing the feat that this brave
girl accomplished. The house occu-
pied by Mrs. Walston stands within
twenty feet of a large irrigating ditch,
across which there is a small foot
bridge. The yard gate opens at this
little bridge, and a wire fence extends
some twenty feet either way along
the bank Of the ditch and then turns
at a sharp right angle and joins the
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

chief lost considerable Of his vessss
In 1880 the road passed out Of his on
troll. It was pushed through to the
gulf and almost to the great lakes bv
the new owner and proved a paying
venture.
Splitlog had many pecullarities, but
was always thoughtful. considerable
and charitable. and may be classed as
one of the most remarkable of Indians.
Upon his death he left over 500. 900,
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

head between its jaws, and the women
could plainly see the child's blood
streaming over the carpet.
ITO add to the terror of the scene"
says Mrs. Walston, "the other alligator
seized the little negro's legs and they
tore the child's body to fragments be-
fore our eyes. We did not know what
to do. At one moment we thought of
springing out on the floor and trying
to escape and run to the house OF a
neighbor."
While the women were hesitating in
their fright a curious thing happened.
On the previous day Mrs. Walston had
ordered a large mirror which she had
set ON the floor against n of the
walls of the parlor. The male alliga-
tor caught the reflection of his own
image in this glass and with a furious
below he plunged at 1t and shivered
the costly mirror to fragments. This
seemed to enragc the creature and he
began to below and run about over
the house, overturning everything that
came in his way. Miss Savannah says
that she threw pitchers. wash bowls,
glass tumblers. and boxes of matches
into the monsters mouth and he
would crush and swallow such things
rs IL they were delicacies that tickled
his palate.
While the smaller of the two crea-
lures was overturning the stove and
destroying the kitchen furniture the
other remained in the parlor terroriz-
ing the two women. He would doubt
less finally have succeeded in overturn-
ing the bed II Miss Savannah had not
adopted a plan of battle which put
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

When the Roosevelt train pulled out
of Greeley, Col, a woman climbed or
the back platform in order to give a
homemade cake to the governor. The
train gained such momentum that
when the time came for her to get
OF she was Obliged to make a flying
trapeze leap for terra firma. She rolled
owe a few times in the sand. got up
and smiled at Roosevelt as he stood
worried for her safety on the back
platform. Then she waved her hand
kerchief in evident delight, and be-
came the envy of a hundred women
who had watched her acrobatic ef-
fort.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

The total cost Of the Pan-American
exposition to be held in Buffalo next
year is estimated at $40, 000, 900, and
John N. Scatcherd, who is chairman
of the executive committee, says that
the u now in sight amount to
about Sc. 900. 900. Progress on the work
Of construction is proceeding rapidly,
nearly 5000 workmen now being EN-
ployed. The midway" at the exposi-
ton will cost $4,000. 900. The exposi-
ton grounds will be half a mile wide
and a mile and a quarter long, and
will comprise $50 acres. 1t will open
May ]. 1901.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

A firm in Lyons, France, takes ad-
vantage Of the shortening of cotton
fbers under nonmercerized treatment
by caustic potash to produce in silk
webs certain peculiar and very rich
embossed effects. The silken webs
have cotton threads at fixed distances.
which, when the chemical solution is
applied, shrink, while the silk, keep
ing its original length, is gathered in
tiny folds. In this way the most di-
versifed patterns are produced.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

mirer of the world-renowned hero,
Colonel Cody, tells us "the buffalo Is
the one animal Of the temperate zone,
which belongs to the Wild Man, and
adds: 1.-THE horse is an animal what
plays and dances as soon as he hears
music" Another brilliant one gives
the somewhat startling information
that "the rhinoceros has a stone nose"
and that dogs is a domestic animal,
which chews homes" We are also told:
THE llama is a beast of burden and
we get clothes off it's back" Another
animal evidently in the clothing busi-
ness is the seal, which, We are inform
ed, makes coats" Upon other sub
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Two of the old cannon which the
English took from the French in 1745
and threw into the harbor Of Louis
bourg have been brought to Toronto.
They are among 3 number recently
fished out of Louisbourg harbor and
have been purchased by the govern
ment. The cannon have been lying
at the bottom of the sea for $50 years.
Eech cannon is about nine feet long
and weighs over 5000 pounds.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

New Zealand seems to be prosperous.
The revenue for the year shows a rec
ord surplus equal to than S3,000,-
900 over expenditure. The public debt
of the colony stands at 247, 000, 900
($22S, 715, 000) and the financial state
ment proposes that parliament should
authorize another G1, 900, 900 (s4,S66,-
000) loan to be expended chiefly in the
extension of railways. The loan will
no doubt be authorized.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Micrebs light is the latest Paris in
vention. A French chemist, Raphael
Dubois, has found a way of nourish-
ing phosphorescent animalcules in
glass vessels, which oon emit a light
about as bright as the moon. He ex-
poets to increase its intensity and be-
lieyes that its being entirely free from
heat will give it a scientific value.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

In England during the past few
years, it is claimed, lac, 1920 farm labor,
ers have been displaced by machinery,
while the making of the latter, 1t Is
asserted, required only the labor OF
1900 men for one year.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Train robberies have become so fire.
quent in the west that one railroad,
the Oregon railroad and Navigation
company, regards an investment in
bloodhounds advisable. A litter OF
the puppies has been distributed
among the agents along the line. with
instructions to rear them for the sole
purpose of man catching.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Sweden is suffering from the effects
of a boom In manufacturing which
has drawn thousands of the country
people to the larger towns and caused
house rents to advance 20 to 80 per
cent. Many of the manufacturers have
invested beyond their capital and are
in distress. Money is very scarce and
q crisis Is threatened.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Sunday laws are strictly enforced in
Honolulu. Not only are all saloons
and bars kept tightly closed and stores
forbidden to sell, but anyone who at
tempts to play ball or indulge in any
other sport on Sunday is carried be-
fore a magistrate to pay a fine or go
10 Jail.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

inside of his head. She pumped a few
more shots into his body behind his
forelegs and it was not long before
he rolled over llfeless. The female
came crawling into the Dom
Savannah sent a hot bullet into Its
body. The furious animal turned and
ran straight towards the bed with wide
open jaws, and, furious with pain and
rage, she got her forefeet on the bed,
and the women were now worse fright
ened than before. The horrible jaws Of
the maddeped creature were close to
their bodies. Savannah pushed the bar
rel of the gun into the alligator's
mouth and fired. 1t was a fortunate
shot. The big ball tore through the
full length OF the creatures backbone,
and it fell. Quivering and l~ifeless. on
the carpet.
The smoke had hardly cleared and
the women had not yet dared to ven-
ture from the bed when A. Nelson, a
neighbor, entered the gate and asked
If they were having a battle with bur-
glars. The man could hardly credit
his own eyesight when he saw the car
casses OF the two big alligators lying
on the carpet. Other citizens of the
little town were soon gazing in won
der at the dead alligators and the
wrecked furniture. They proved to
be two of the largest alllgators ever
killed in the country. The people Of
the little trwn AVE voted Miss Sa-
vanah the bravest girl in Texas, and
the young lien OF the place gave a ball
in her honor and crowned her mascot
of their military company and the
queen OF the hunting club.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
QUEER FACTS"

About Animals Told by tuPis OF u
Philadelphia School.
A teacher in one Of the public
schools of the Quaker City who has a
sense of humor, has culled some re-
makable bits of information from her
examination papers. Questions bear
ing upon the habits of animals were
found to be particularly amusing. One
small boy declared, in a fit of poesy,
that "the lion is the queen of beasts"
From another more practical "the lion
has a great big mouth, and roars
something fearful" One evident adj
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Paper money is at a premium at
Nome. Miners find 1t more convenient
than gold and pay as much as 2 per
cent in excess of its face yaise for 1t.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

A minister shakes your hand and a
lawyer pulls your leg, but a politician
will shake your hand one minute and
pull your leg the next.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

jects the W wero equally as en-
tightening. The miner, we learn, al
ways had a donkey to pull him out Of
the mine. which is full of gas and
chokes him." One future citizen in
forms us that "the chief occupation of
Philadelphia is taking ferry boats
across the river"
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

It is claimed in Denver that $1,000
900 were wagered in that city on the
result of the Presidential election.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07

Lots of people who are inclined ro
do good keep putting it of until to-
morrow.
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
FAMOUS LABOR LEADER.

sick pay. and a large number Of them
are provided with free quarters. coal
and gas. The council has built a num-
The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
In an old log church, built in 1775
and now standing in the edge of Cata-
A CHURCH WITH A SINGLE WOR-
SHIPPER.

wissa, Northumberland county, Pa,
there is one lone worshiper to kssp up
the spiritual Quaker fire ehat once
blazed ON its altar.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-02-01
hAYDOLE'S HAMMER.
(bslS0HS Plaster Is PAINS H3ster)

When Maydole was told that he made "a
pretty good hammer" he said, mo, don't
make pretty good hammer make the
best hammer that ever tcds made"
Every carpenter who saw Maytlole ham
mer wanted one. 1t was of the best ma
terial, perfectly balanced, and the head
never flew of. Hammers were divided into
two classcs-1st, Maydole's; I'd, all the rest.
Plasters are separated by the same line
of cleavage; list, Benson's Porous Plaster;
I'd, all the rest. When. for rheumatic pain,
a cold, cough, kidney trouble or any
other disease or ailment that may be treated
externally, you ask for plaster, any hon.
est, reputable druggist will give you Ben
sons. He kn0rs it Is incomparahly the
best, and he assumes that you know it too.
AS the name of Maydole stood for hammers
the name Of Benson stands for plasters-
the "real thing" All the medicinal poten-
cies that are valuable in a plaster are in
Benson's. Capsicum, Strengthening and
Belladonua plasters are out of date.
An army of physicians and druggists, and
millions Of the people, have written of
Benson's Plasters as arsmedy to betrusted.
Benson's Pla,ters have ffty-fve hiqAest
dsonrds. Accent no substitute.
For sale by all druggists, or we will pre-
pay postage on any number ordered in the
United States, on receipt of $50. each.
sesbury & johnson, Mig. Chemists, n. z,
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-02-01
Superstition and "a 1EoIc.

"I wish I wasn't supcrstilious," said O
well arown young man. I'D have it tax
en- III.
Have what taken OFF,"
Why, This great big mole on my nose
what are you afraid of about it,
bleeding to deatb?"
'No. no. It's just bad luck to have Il
mole taken off. It's worse than having Il
black cat cross your path or even to have
hootine owl light on the roof.
Il dent know why it is bad luck. hut
my black nanny used to say, Chile,
don't yo' nchber let 'em try to take dat
mole olf'n your nose
"'What'l happen, Aunt Sarah, if do 2
l used to ask her.
"'I dunno, chile. Some folks say as the
place won't get well and some say as two
mofl nehber come back. Don't nebbcr
poster what de Lord has gin yo', or no
mought make it wo'se.'
1.-THE old negro woman's doctrine was
too deeply imbcdded in my early educa-
ticn for me to outgrow it, even after 20
years. "-N-rDhis Sclr1it&l.