davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

silver dollar while at full speed and
shooting a hole through 1t. If a chick
en- is seen running through the street
IL Is at once beheaded by a pistol shot
which, by the way, is IN ordinary shot
at a distance of so yards. The cowboy
does not raise the revolver and sight
IL, but shoots as he raises II to his side
In the position OF his elbow resting
against the right side. This degree CT
experiences is acquired only after long
practice, and a necessity for being
quick with a gun has tended to bring
1t about.
While the average shooter Is raising
his weapon to sight II the cowboy, who
has only to raise his hardware" about
half the distance, has brought down his
victim.
After these exercises gambling is In
order, faro being the principal game.
The cowboys are reckless bettors and
lose with gracefulness. but when some
Of the bunko sneaks attempt TO rob
them by means OF n brace game" he Is
usually shot dead in his chair without
and quite cheerfully. The
cattlemen understand all OF the tricks
OF that trade, having learned from ex-
perience, and when one Of the Skin
game" dealers is killed the proprietor
hastily dlsclaims any previous knowl-
edge OF the attempt at swindling. The
game is continued and the affair soon
blows over. To attempt to arrest one
OF them would cause a general fight,
and the citizens would get much the
worst OF the engagement.
In the evening there is a grand BALI
at one Of the music halls" the music
consisting OF n squeaky violin and a
"hurdy gurdy" organ. The repertory
OF the artist on the violin is limited to
two or three hackneyed airs and there
Is little difference in his playing-each
seems alike. A poster at the door OF
the ballroom" reads, Gentlemen will
please check their revolvers.' But this
is a mere matter of form, and IL is not
expected that any one will obey the In
function, and they do not. When the
dance becomes unusually lively, the
amusement Is increased by some Of he
cowboys shooting out the lights. This
is an old form OF amusement, and now
the inconvenience is anticipated by
having on hand n supply OF extra
lights, so that the dance may be q con-
tinuous affair. After each dance the
gentleman waltZes his more or less fair
partner up TO the bar. This is a point
Of etiquette that is seldom IL ever
omitted.
The ball continues until daylight, IN
less there has been a very serious
shooting affair and several people kill
ed. The wounding or even the killing
OF one person is not considered Of suffi-
cient Importance TO break up the fes-
tivities Of an event which comes only
once a year" and which the cattlemen
have waited so anXiously to participate
in. The corpse is removed, the blood
washed from the floor and the frontier
revelry continues. 1t is seldom, how
ever, that there are such embarrass-
ments. The cowboys are usually in the
majority at these functions, and their
we'll known desperate character and
disposition act as a leaven toward
keeping down such diversions. 1t Is
only when a discordant element of
miners and teamsters appears at these
socials hat the programme is varied
by an occasional killing.
j. M. SCANLAND.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Rider jumped at the proposal.
Whether he would return or not was q
question he could settle later on. At
present II was enough to be rid OF the
desperate man who eyed him as IL
reading his very thoughts.
You'll come back. i shall have gold
enough to make us both rich or else ]
shan't be 'bove ground. I'm takin' all
the resk, an IL yer don't come back
/ shall prob'ly miss yer. I'll do my part
an you see you do yours"
IT was evident hat he was about to
engage In some desperate scheme, and
Rider FASTENED to assure him thai he
would be pack as fast as possdbfA
You'll travel light an you otter Do
back in twelve days" said Bowers. II
shall look fer yer bout that time. So
long"
Rider started off on the back trail at
once, and while he is making his way
TO Dyea we must follow Hank Bowers
as h rides around the boulder and ap-
proaches the spot where Tom Scott and
his party had camped the night be-
fore.
He a no means of telling whether
his approach was observed or not, but
he rode boldly forward and soon
reached the deserted camp. Here ne
~dismounted and walked toward the
cliff between the scattered rocks In the
same direction he a seen the OUTFIT
carried.
I'm swear his is the way they
went he said aloud as he paused be-
fore the face of the cliff and looked
keenly about him. They hain't got
wings an they must be here some
where or they'd never drove OF them
horses. They're in some place horses
couldn't be took. but whar Is II? Taint
up Their valley, cause / seen EN- come
In here with my w eyes"
For some time he paced abou the
spot. examining each boulder to see
that there was no hiding place near 1t.
but he could discover nothing and be-
gan TO grow angry.
wouldn't 1t be slick IL that cuss
| should sell the bosses IN skip out an
| shouldn't find these-Hello! What's
that"
His restless eyes at last noticed the
mass of vines which covered the open
ing in the cliff, and with a wrench he
tore It aside.
i've got 1t now he cried. as he en-
tered without hesitation and made his
way along the rocky passage. What
luck! No wonder they let the critters
go! This beats all l ever saw!"
Ahead of him was a sharp turn, and
Just before he reached 1t there was a
crash like thunder, and an instant later
the way was blocked by q massive rock
which would have crushed him had he
been a few feet further ahead.
In spite OF his wonderful nerve Bow
ers was so startled that he uttered a
shout OF dismay, which reached the
ears Of the men above.
Continued Next Weekly
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21
Christmas AMONG
The Cowboys.

n CHRISTMAS on the cattle trail OF
~ southern Utah and Arizona Is a
lively affair and has in It's celebra-
ton the elements of both amusement
and danger. The danger adds Zest 10
the event, which is looked forward to
with much anxiety by the cowboys.
Early on Christmas morning the cattle
men round up at the nearest village,
which is mainly composed OF saloons,
With their necessary adjuncts-gam-
bling rooms. The boys" mounted on
their mustangs, charge upon the village
with a whoop and a yell, firing a volley
as they enter. Every one rushes to the
door OF his hut to see the grand en-
try, II another volley is fired as they
draw up in front OF the most popular
saloon. In front there Is q long rack
or log into which pegs have been driV-
en-. This is the hitching post, and after
each OF the boys has thrown the rein
over a peg they enter the saloon in a
body. The door is wide, having been
constructed on lines favorable to the
admission OF large crowds or a hasty
exit when there Is more than the usual
amount OF trouble.
The cattlemen are each armed with
a rifle, a pair OF revolvers and a bowie
knife. The rife is left swinging from
the saddlebow, but the revolvers and
bowie knife are carried along as an
evidence of good faith and to play an
important part in the celebration fes-
~tivities. The boys line up in front of the
counter two or three deep. The bar
keeper at once sets out the black bot
ties. They know what they want, whis-
ky being the only kind of drink they
have. The boys drink and fall back and
amuse themselves by firing at pictures
on the wall, generally patent medicine
advertisements. They occasionally take
a shot at one OF the bottles, knocking
off the neck. On special occasions like
Christmas the proprietor usually
strings several tin cans along the top
OF the doorway for target practice.
This saves his bottles and somewhat
quiets his fears as to the result of Il
shot in his direction.
This pleasantly" as 1t is termed, Is
resented by the saloon men or the
people OF the town. 1t would be USE
less and lead to more serious shooting,
the cattlemen are expert shots and
ready at all times for a gun fight.
Furthermore, their custom Is profitable
are the main support Of the sa-
and gambling houses in these
villages,
The day is spent in drinking. horse
and shooting up the town"
The feats OF Craftsmanship are remark
able, also the Workmanship, and a
great deal of money is bet, also whisky,
for every event presupposes drinks for
those engaged at the cost Of the loser.
One of the feats is hat OF a horse
man running at full speed and checking
the animal to "A full stop within the
space of a horse blanket. The very sud-
don stop is likely TO throw the rider
over the horses head unless he is very
expert. The cruel Spanish bit is used
IN this feat, and ii is extremely hurtful
10 the animal.
Apother feat is that Of Tossing I'm n
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21
CHAPTER XI.
JUST TOO LATE.

When Joe Tarbox left the mate and
his companion and started on his way
TO Dyea the latter watched him until
he disappeared behind the first hill.
Then he turned to Rider and rubbed
his hands together gleefully,
You done tina lne!" he exclaimed.
I'VE are all right nowl Let's make
tracks. I'm itchin' ter git my hands on
some of the yaller boys. Did yer notice
how that Teller choked himself off when
he started ter say somethin' bout a
nugget? l wouldn't give a cent for his
chances Of seem 'em agin."
Their horses We're soon ready, and
once more the two adventures took up
their route. Several times they missed
the trail, but after four days travel
they came to the white cliff mentioned
In the letter.
miner, and Rider produced the precious
ut says keep to the left" he n
nounced.
"All right. Here goes, but l don't see
no signs OF any trail. Well have to
keep our eyes open for that feller's
tracks, ! suppose" reJoined Rider,
wheeling his horse as he spoke. IT'S
a mighty blind sort Of a route along
here, but III find it If there's gold at
the enu OIL our lTlp "dlllh leI U.s. oCe
IL l don't. I'm as good as n o them
divinin' rods any time
He seemed to be light, for he picked
his way along with marvellous accuracy
until at length they reached an open
spot. Here he paused n said:
ITS guesswork, now, but we'd bet
ter keep as nigh the same direction as
we kin. We arn't far from the end
now"
But for once he was wrong. Had he
diverged more TO the left he would have
O reached the turn from which a
view of the gorge was to be had. AS it
was they inclined to the right, and as
It was nearly dark they decided to
camp for the night. Hank Bowers
restless eyes were always On the alert,
and as they were unsaddling their ami
mails he suddenly gripped Riders arm
with one hand and pointed with the
other.
See that smoke!" he exclaimed.
Look"
Rider did look, and there, plainly de-
fined against the setting sun, was a
column Of black smoke curling upward
far to the southwest.
What do o suppose 1t is?" he in
quired.
"That is a signal! No fool would try
to cook with wet wood when there's
plenty o. dry ter be had! You stay
here and don't move till l git back!"
Without another word he strobe off
In the direction of the smoke, which
seemed to be beyond a heavily wooded
hill not more than a mile away. At the
right of the hfli stood a ragged rock
like a sentinel on duty, and toward this
he benz his steps. He was not only
reaching 1t and from it's shelter he
peered cautiously around the outer cor
ner.
A party. of men were unsaddling their
horses near the foot Of a high cliff. and.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

could be eaten, as the inside was not
boiled through. Last year, at a large
church bazaar at the same town, a
more modest pudding was built out of
sections, but as it only stood four feet
high, and its weight was but $50
pounds, it compared very ~unfavorably
with the giants previously mentioned,
or with the ton weight of pudding
cooked in a new oblong boiler, which
was thus inaugurated at a weaving
establishment at Aughton-on-Halton
a little more than a century ago. This
latter festival is repeated every TWEEN
ty-one years at Aughton, and on the
last occasion, in 1886, the pudding
weighed 1000 pounds.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

The strangest golden wedding pres
ent ever given to n celebrating aged
couple Is a tombstone sen by an enter
prising marble dealer to the sexton Of
the Baptist church at Danville, Mass.
on that occasitn. Both golden bride
and bridegroom. however, were
charmed with the attention, and have
ordered the stone to bet set up in their
lot in the cemetery.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21
THE SPELL or THE MIsTLETOE.

Among the Celtic nations the mlstle-
toe was an object OF veneration, ana at
the festival OF the winter solstice the
Prince of the Druids himself cut a
bough of 1t. The people were assem-
bled and Their were led to the woods by
tho nriests. who drove in advance or
the company two snow white bullocks'
when the oak tree was found which
bore the mistletoe. the plant was cut
with a golden sickle, and the buiiocKs
were sacrificed.
At present it is the custom for the
Young men to carry out the doctrine
taught by the Scandinavian myth
print a smacking kiss on the lips or any
maiden thoughtless enough to stand
beneath the suspended mistletoe Dough,
But for every such kiss one OF the
white berries of the mistletoe be
removed, and when all the berries nave
been kissed away the spell is o
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

pounds of sugar, 800 quarts of milk,
and eggs in proportion. 1t was cooked
in sections, which were afterward put
together and conveyed to the green
by eight horses. Here $4,000 people
made a rush for the confection and
fought for it until nothing was left.
This was also the fate of a 0O0-pound
pudding which took fourteen days to
boil, and vas carried in a procession
as an advertisement for a tooth pow
der quack early in the eighteenth CEN
fury to ST. Patrick's Fields.
In 1919 Paignton made a 900-pound
pudding. which was boiled for three
days and three nights in a brewers
COPPER. but only the outside portion
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

On February /, 1902, an international
system OF magnetic observations will
be established. There will be several
stations in the United States. from
which periodical circulars will be is
sued. giving the variation OF the needle
at certain dates. The main purpose IL
TO ascertain the law OF magnetic var
iation and minimize errors In naviga-
ton and land surveying.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21
Parental Sarcasm.

Washington Star: Yes" said Farmer
Corntossel, ''our boy Josiar is devotin' a
ture jes' at present"
Isn't that a rather Improbable pur-
suit?"
Eyes. But, you see, all the cabinet Of
fcers an big diplomatic places Is filled,
SO i reckon Josiar feels that there Amt
much else fur him to do at present"
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21
PUDDINGS THAT ARE PUDDlNGS.

English "Plums'' That Weighed
More Than 1000 Pounds.
Philadelphia Record: The largest
plum pudding that has yet seen the
light of day vas made at Paignton,
in Devon, in 1858, to celebrate the OPP
ening of the railway, and weighed one
ton and a half. According to the
Westminster Gazette the ingredients
of this Gargantuan pudding included
573 pounds of -four, 1871 pounds of
bread, 1882 pounds OF r%aisins, 101
pounds of c%urrants, aS2 pounds of
spet, $50. lemons, l4l nutmegs, 95
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

New York Times: One OF the fash
ionable tailors in Fifth avenue was
asked IL he had any customers h
having notions of their W about
dress, dictated how their clothes should
be made. He replied: "All my Gus
toners have a clear idea OF what they
want, and none hesitate TO give instruc-
tions as to both cut and nt." And do
you follow these instructions?" He
answered with a shrug: THAT is O ten
tatiye question"
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

The first geography printed In his
country was complied by Jedcdiah Moss
and published In 1889, for the use OF
schools. The attempts at maps In his
publication were extremely crude, n
gave a very imperfect idea Of the out
lines OF the countries they were sup
posed TO represent. II is said that only
twenty-four or thirty copies OF this
work are now In existence.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Chinese girls are to be employed In
San Francisco as telephone operators.
There are so many Chinese inhabitants
using the telephone there that oper-
ators who speak the language are In
demand. An interesting feature OF the
innovation will be the making OF tea,
since Chinese etiquet requires that Gus
toners should be entertained while
waiting for the public telephone.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Peat is being made into n kind OF
that VIII answer admirably for
paving and railway sleepers. Peat wood
can be made TO resemble any kind,
from willow to oak. II will not warp, is
very durable, holds nails and screws
with n firm grasp, and becames hard
er when aid or damp surfaces.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21
CUSTER CHRONICLE
JOSEPH KUBLER, PUBLISHER

A Springfield (Mass.) bridal couple
who planned TO outwit their tormentors
recently were victims OF their own clev-
erness They went TO the railroad sta
ton by separate routes, and IL was
also In their plan to get into separate
cars. The Bridegroom comfortably To-
Gated In the smoker. and the bride
sought an inconspicuous seat I'm a pas
senger coach. The bride. however, In
her furry. got the wrong train, and I'M
aware of her mistake went on to Pitts
field, while the groom went unsuspect-
ingly north and arrived at Northamp-
f0n.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

The South Carolina Legislature looked
with disfavor upon a proposition to
compel street car lines to provide ves-
tibules on their cars for the protection
of the motormen, 1t being asserted that
the v%estibules are liable TO be the cause
OF accidents when the glass becomes
frosted or bespattered with rain.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

A proposed strike for the right to
keep dogs is to be considered at the
next meeting OF the northumberland
England Miners association. At sew
eral colleries the county workmen are
being forced by the owners TO do away
with their dogs or themselves removed
from the colliery.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Notary Angelo Alviti, OF Alatri, In
Sardinia, age 100, has just married a
26-year-old wife. He has a great
grandmother descended from one OF his
previous marriages. His mother knit
ted n pair OF silk stockings for Pope
PIus XIX when she was 105 years old.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

James Anderson, a deputy sheriff Of
Springfield. Mass. has the unique dis
tinction OF being the only man who en-.
joys membership In the Grand Army
of the Republic and in the correspond
Ing organization Of southern soldiers,
the Confederate N%eterans.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

A lady was looking for her husband,
and inquired anxiously OF a house
maid: ID you happen to know any
thing of our masters whereabouts? %
I'm not sure, num-" replied the care
full domestic; but I think they're in
the wash"
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

A Kansas physician, who Is suing
his wife for divorce, asks not that he
be given the sole charge OF the chill
dren, but that the wife be compelled
TO return to him the autograph letter
from the late United States Senator
John j. ingalls,, which she carried
n vNaV
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Prairie dogs occupy and render
worthless or nearly so, for agricultural
purposes, 1924 54 acres OF land in Kan
eas. All efforts to eXterminate the
dogs have failed. even with the coop
Grafton Of the department of agrlcul-
fIIra
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

1t is proposed by the Boston branch
OF the Christian I1ndeavor union to
utilize the street cars for the dissem-
mating OF biblical quotations and other
edifying sentiments In the same way
that ordinary tradesfolk advertise
their wares In the vehicle.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Glasgow Evening Times: Hell must
confess to n great deal of egotism. She
Indeed? He-Yes; / think about my
self a great lea too much. She-Oh,
that Isn't egotism! That's merely the
usual human tendency to worry over
trihes.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Mrs. Theresa Wilcox, wife Of the del
egate TO congress from Hawaii, Is pro-
prietor of n newspaper, the first issue
OF which was recently published I'm
Honolulu. The paper is semi weekly,
and is printed partly in English and
partly In Hawaiian.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

At Mailing, Kent, n man named An
drew King dropped dead recently while
laughing at a friends joke. An au-
topsy showed that his heart was five
times the size OF the normal human
heart and twice the size OF that of an
nv
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Scientists OF Oregon State Agrlcul-
tural college have made a discovery
that Will be worth n large amount to
all prune growers on the coast. They
have found that from refuse prunes,
too small to be marketable, the finest
vinegar may be made.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

In South Carolina there is an instru-
ment called the h-chin, a crude violin.
The body is made OF the half OF a CO.
coanut shell. There are two strings
and the instrument is played with a
bow. he scale is from G TO c above.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Harlem Life: Major Quiz (ex-confed-
erate)-Say, Paddy, were you at Bull
Run? Paddy-Oi was, sur. Major Quiz
And did you run? P~addy-Faith. OF
did sur; and all that didn't run are
there vet.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

Kansas has q compulsory school law,
but the state superintendent of pub
lie instruction asserts that OF the 4O0,-
900 children of school age In the state
1901 900 do not attend school, :
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

An investigation of the affairs of the
Lowell, Mass, poor farm developed the
fact that the large use of Insect ex-
terminator'' was chiefly a supply of
choice Kentucky whisky, dated 1884.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-21

The oldest existing church In New
Hampshire is the Congregational at
Hampton. which was organized in Au-
gust. 1888.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-09-05

tlons, teaches foregoing langua .es, ~ d
is especially calculated to drive dnll c r,
away In the parlor, in the nursery in
the sick room--evctvwh the whole
house over-the eraphophone finds ils
place, for the variety OF things it does
enables tt to meet the requirements of
every taste and adapt itel to the moods
OF all, When it plays march your
spiut are stirred by the martial strain;
II II renders a song, the naturalness with
which the selection is given brings
smiles OF tears, accordingly as the song is
humorous or pathetic, and by number.
lees means, it WINS i,s way to the heart
aud when it is silent we feel as Il liv.
ing, breathing member OF the household
had ceased to speak
And, besides being an enlertaiuer Of
the first magnitude, the graphophone is
treless educator. II teaches the child
rem the newest aud brightest musia and
in that way brings, not only them, but
their parents mp 10 date.
Columbia rhonosraph Co., worlds
headquarters ioy talking machines ana
supplies; san Francisco office and store,
l2j GeaIy street.