davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
BQST0N'S BIG RESERVOIR
WILL WIPE OUT FIVE THOUSAND
ACRES OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Four Towns to Disappear-Celnetery and
Iailrond to lie Moved-state Pays Dam
ages to Mill Hands for Loss of Work.
Planned to Provide for People OF 1850.
"The site selected for Boston's new
reservoir is in one of the prettiest
counties of central MASSACHUSETTS.
1t Is about 80 miles northwest of Bos-
ton and about seven miles northeast
of Worcester. The contour OF the VAL
ley, broad here and there. and narrow
ing to almost a gulch near Clinton,
seems fitted by nature for Just sucn
usage. The scenery is diversified,
consisting of hills, wales and WOODS.
Nearby toward the north STANDS
Mount Wachusett like guardian SEN
tinel. The climate is that OF Ne"
England, somewhat drear in winter,
but hospitable, kindly and open. ON
account of the rocky nature OF the
soil very little opportunity is afford
ed for agricultural pursuits, and the
population is therefore small. being
only SO to the square mile. Thls
point, it will be easily understood,
had considerable bearing on the sell
ection of the site.
"To secure a supply of pure water
for multitude of people it was nee
essary to collect that water from
shed unpolluted by the living or by
the dead. A population Of 69 to the
square mile was not dense enough to
afford even a suspicion of danger.
"a proof of the broad spirit shown
by the commissioners and their grasp
of engineering feats in their treat
ment of the mechanical problems pre-
sented in planning the reservoir. The
flooding of a valley even sparsely set
tied meant the annihilation of homes,
the wiping out of small towns, the
destruction of farms and the chang
ing of the course of public roads and
railways. These problems were looked
upon as mere details by this daring
board.
when is was estimated that total
of 5163 acres were to be taken from
the different towns in the valley, 20
wit: Clinton, 1925 acres; Boylston,
2761 acres; West Boylston,. $40 acres
and Sterling, 407 acres. and that the
lands required for the reservoir con-
tanned six large mills, eight school
houses, four churches $50 dwelling
houses, a large Catholic cemetery, and
railroad, all of which it was neces-
sary to remove, the board simply
made plans for Kidding a newly ac-
uuired strip of lad of obstructing
stumps and rocks.
Three principal features in connec-
! +inn with the construction of the res
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
CAp7vRING A BO0MsLANGE.
BY q. R. GREELEY.


At Grahamstown, South Africa, IN
1878, had a large collection of living
snakes which l kept in glassfronted
cages for the purpose of studying the:r
habits. temperaments and intelligence.
They were all caught by my own
hands. Out in the country, on the veiat
and in the bush, had watched thcm
as much as possible in their naive
state, and now supplemented this study
by keeping them afterward under my
ewes at home. This work l had car
ried on since September, 1875, so that
| had acquired pretty extensive
knowledge Of the snakes Of southern
Africa.
All the vcnomous kinds were already
in my collection, and OF the harmless
snakes had over so different species.
There was, however q much desired
one still wanting to me, one OF the lars-
est, most interesting, most graceful anu
beautifully colorcd CT all the snakes OF
the African woodland-the famous
tree-snake, Bucephalus capensis, the
"boomslange" or trea-snake of the
Dutch settlers. Miles CT bush hunted
through, but could never find BOOM
slange.
One day had strained my foot, ana
it panied me so much that | declared
at the breakfast table that until 1t was
better l did not propose to do any
walking, but would give my foot rest
Before we rose from the table, a
Katfir boy came to the door with a
letter from Tidmarsh, the director OF
the Grahamstown Botanical gardens
which said: Come down here as
quickly as you can. l have large
bcomslange in the oak trees over the
avenue
Up 1 jumped from the table, seized
NV hat and stick, and away ran On
the strained foot. Nov it didn't pain
me- How could think OF pain, while
the much-desired bocmslange was
waiting for me?
At the other side of the town lay the
Botanical gardens, but the distance
didn't matter; in few minutes | was
there. Painting, rushed in at the
gate; voices rang out; a dozen mer
called me. They were gazing upward:
into the trees. evidently watching th'
snake. They stood iii the middle O
the avenue, each side Of which VA
bordered by line of leafy oaks 81
branching as almost to meet over tn
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13

from man than man IS " get ay iuin
them. If given the opportunity, they
will always slip away and run, and if
they fight it is because they believe
that they have been cut off from every
avenue of escape. Where an animal
has been wounded it is different
matter. Then, often, considerat ,ons
of prudence are forgotten and the anil
NAL acts on impulse, instead Of doing
what he knows to be wise: but even
so there is much more danger from
wounded deer than from wounded
panther, and vastly more from a
wounded moose.
But for the average man who it
travelling through a new country
where wild animals may be plenty,
who stops when he has made a days
march and is at home where night
finds him, there is not now, nor ever
was, more danger from the wild ami
mas of the country than from the
lightnings which blaze in the summer
sky. Many more people have been
killed by lightning than have been
run over by stampeding buffalo herds,
or killed by unwounded grizzly bears,
or by all the other animals of the
prairie put together. One might al
most say that more people have been
struck b. falling meteorites than
have been killed by panthers or
wolves. And yet from day to day the
newspapers continue to print bear
stories, catamount stories and wolf
stories and probably they will do so
until long after the last bear, cata-
mount and wolf shall have disappeared
from the land.-Forest and Stream.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13

did, ready to spring and grab at me.
No; I would try to make him move, TO
follow him. and then suddenly snatch
him by the neck, as he glided along
some branch.
Accordingly climbed nearer to him,
l got within four feet of him. I could
seize him now, but it would never do
to risk those channelled teeth. There
fore got myself in position to poke
him with my stick, so as to make him
move. meant to try to grab him as
he started off, Little did dream how
he would surprise me.
I poked him with the stick, but he
did not glide away-not he! He got
ready to fight me. His anger, or fear,
or whatever feeling possessed him,
transformed him in an instant. He
became terrible to look at. drew back
three or four feet from him. feared
him. Is
He was now no longer the graceful
thin-necked tree snake of specklsd
green and greenish yellow. His he{d
was fattened out, and his neck had
swelled to an enormous size in com-
parison with the thickness Of his body.
1t was bloated up with tie air with
which he had inflated himself. TIE
color of the bloated part was entirqy
changed 1t was now purple, the
skin being stretched so that the scales
were far separated and appeared ike
little green spots scattered overgi its
surface.
Very clearly. he was ready to bite
me. But as knew that snakes, wlep
disturbed with a stick. will bite ratler
at the stick which touches them tlan
at the hand that holds it. did Tot
hesitate moment. but poked Hm
again. II
AS l did so, he made dash at the
stick, and then darted away through
the leaves, so suddenly that l COLD
not tell whittier he had gone. Iae
rapidity with which he disappeaRd
startled me. If he should always mtye
as quickly as that. I could have no
chance to catch him in the tres.
Nevertheless, | determined to follow
him. The men running along onthe
ground below and holding him in
view directed me.
He was now farther up the avenue,
lodged in the second tree from hat
which he had left. The oaks geW
pretty close together, SO that teir
branches more or less interlfed
-'ided from one to the oter
ending wouldIfol
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
Removing a Mountain With Water.


The principal railroad of Costa Rica,
now about III miles long, is being ex-
tended to reach from. San Jose to the
Pacific coast The general manager of
the road, in speaking of the enterprise
recently, said:
There is one place on the road
which has given the engineers great
deal of trouble, and which has cost
many thousands of dollars every year
since the road was built. This place is
about 45 miles from Port Limon. and
is called Bluemud.
"For about 600 feet the track runs
along a ledge on the side of a noun
tain with the river Reventa Zon below.
The mountain is composed of blush
clay, which turns into mud during the
rainy season and keeps constantly slid
ing down on the tracks. We have to
keep big gang of men at work day
and night cleaning the road of this
blue mud, and when the rains are
very heavy traffic has to be suspended.
In July so much of the mud slid down
over the roadbed that we could not
run trains there for three weeks.
"To add to the difficulty there is
lake back of the mountain and the
water from this lake percolates
through the mountain and keeps it
constantly wet. The lake was drained
by the engineers. but they discovered
that it was fed by springs and still the
mountain was kept in wet state and
the mud kept sliding down over the
tracks.
"At last they obtained what is
known in California as a hydraulic
giant, and which throws a very power
full stream of water with great force.
They rigged up this hydraulic giant
and when | left Costa Rica they were
washing the mountain away with it
into the river. Cleveland Plain
Dealer,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
A DeIft.Haven Relic,

During his trip to Europe last sum.
mer, Senator George F. Hoar secured
a piece of the threshold of the old Pill
grim Church at Delft-Haven, from
which port the Pilgrims sailed in Au-
gust, 1920. On his return to Ameri-
ca Mr.. Hoar wrote to the trustees Of
the First Parish Church of Plymouth,
Mass, saying he would gladly present
it to the church if they could use it.
The trustees were delighted with
the offer and accepted it. A few days
ago the piece of stone. which meas
ures about by IL inches, was re-
ceived and inserted in the floor of the
new edifce, in front Of the gallery.
An inscribed bronze tablet has been
placed near the stone.-New York
Sun.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13

our boyhcUu -
was that l could not see ,.-
had to go entirely by the direction
of those upon the ground beneath
BY and by l came in sight Of i'm
again. He was lashed in one of the
topmost branches. When | approch-
ed close to him he swelled out his
neck and faced me. as if to spring at
me. But I did not get so near to lim
on this occasion. for l was still esht
feet away, and was just getting ready
to poke him with the stick, wher he
darted off afresh in the same drec-
tioD.
Over and over again he repeated
this running and halting. Perhaps he
thought he could tire me out. II so,
he was mistaken. I was too deter
mined to get him. l dropped the
stick, so that could go faster. On
went after him in mad rush, crash
ing through the branches. When he
would halt. would sneak gently
through the leaves. so as to get close
to him.
At last he reached the upper end
OF the avenue, and so, painting and
breathless, did /. He crossed to the
trees on the western side of the road
way, and | did the same. Down the
western side he now came. but he
made far fewer and shorter halts than
before. was coming on fast behind
him. From one branch to another
often had to jump. Sometimes, where
the limbs were far apart, springing
bough beneath me would serve to as
sist the leap by throwing me forward,
till | would alight with clinging hands
On another farther on. Once I swung
myself on yielding branch over a
wide vacant space, where the break
ing of the bough would have precipi-
tated ME to deat,i. Still this clase
through the branches was perhaps
easier, than continual ascending
and descending of the trees
When the hunted boomslange had
got threefourths Of the way down the
western side Of the avenue, estopped
once more and showed fight; but after
a vigorous shaking of the branches
he darted away, and crossing the
avenue upon the overlapping branch
cs made another halt on the eastern
side, in the very tree from which the
chase had started nearly half an hour
before
Like him l tried to cross the avenue
upon the interlacing branches, but
their twig-like ends, although stout
enough to bear him, were not suffi-
cient to support me. So l descended
from the trees, crossed the roadway,
and climbed again on the side where
he was. Here l found him at bay,
lashed in the very tip of branch.
] had failed so often in trying to
grab him as he glided along the
branches, that I now resolved to try
another plan, namely: to snare him
by passing a running moose over his
head. Consequently l called for my
long stick, which was passed up to me
with the moose fastened to the end of
it. Then l slowly climbed toward
him.
AS usual. he faced me. By moving
very cautiously | succeeded in get
ting within six feet Of him; but when
] pushed out the stick. with the moose
dangling from the end of it within
foot of his nose, off he darted.
dashed the stick among the leaves in
front Of him. and back he turned.
| was desperate. could not grab
him, for he was on the very outer
ends Of the branches,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
The Enc on Mars EXPLAINED

The : flame-like projection of
NJ we'd in December by AS
~ A. E. Douglas, of the Lowell
S>seryatory, Flagstaff, Ariz., and
which revived theories of ultimate
communication between inhabitants of
earth and the Martians, have been
pronounced projections from the ter.
minator, and not efforts to signal
earth.
a letter was received yesterday by
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
A Grcat ennnye ia Eos,on,s Streets

One of the greatest changes that
have occurred in Boston is the trans
formation of the overcrowded thor
oughfares around what was known as
"Scollay's buildings" into the spacious
pleasant area I'VE now call Scollay
square. All OF the original is
gone except the distinctive appellation.
and what has existed in some form for
iwo centuries has vanished "like the
bas' ess fabric of vision, ,"-Amcri.
cau CuItivatOr,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13
While The Lamp Held Out to Burn.

During the recent heavy storm a
house near Los Nietos was swept off
its foundation and carried downstream,
where it lodged i'll the willows. The
family, who vacated it, had left Il
lighted lamp on the kitchen table, anil
next morning the lamp was still burn
ing, although the house had floatci
for considerable distance,-Los An
geles Times,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13

Mr.. Justice Stain, secretary Of the
astronomic section of the Academy
of Sciences, from Astronomer Doug
las:
Dear Sir:-The projection which
observed on Dec. Z at Ii hours, that is
." - tho morning of
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13

The London Athenaeum recently
quoted a passage from the IndiaDapo-
lis News, Chicago"
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13

-O>S P..~SS
larus as evenly and drive nails as
truly as any workman gifted with
sight. He puts up his own scaffolds,
and does as much work in day as
any man in his trade.
Professor Hans Tietgen is reported
to have discovered plants which are
sensitive to music. One of them is
said to unfold it's leaves at the sound
of melody but to close them at once
if discords are played. Music, it is
further stated. stimulates the growth
of certain varieties.
A curious old method of letting
church and town lands which prevails
at Corby, near Kettering, England,
was put in force recently. The par
ishioners having assembled in the YES
try, with the rector in the chair, a
candle was lighted. with a pin stuck
+ in the wax Bidding then proceeded
until the pin dropped, when the last
bidder was declared the purchaser.
A thousand-legged worm was taken
from the cheek of John Shafer of
Shelby, Ohio. He was a volunteer
in the Spanish-American war, and
spent a great deal of his time at
Chickamauga and Chattanooga. The
physicians who performed the oper
alton state that Shafer was most prob
ably stung by some mysterious in
sect. His cheek was swollen TO lwice
its normal size.
At a banquet in Sydney. descend
ant of the Macdonalds massacrcd at
Glencoe passed knife, with the
blade foremost" to member of a
famous old family bearing the his
toric name of the Macdonalds' be-
trayers Most of those who looked on
stigmatized the action as one of con-
temptibly bad breeding. But one or
two understood the significance and
knew that the betrayal is still unfor-
given.
One of the curiosities of Wimborne
minister in Durham, England, is the
tomb of Anthony Etrickc. the first re-
corder Of Poole. and the magistrate
who committed the Duke of Mon
mouth after the battle of SedgmoOr.
Tradition says Etricke had a. quarrel
with the people of Wimborne, so made
a VOW that he would met be buried
in their church or churchyard. under
their ground or over" To carry out
this VOW he obtained leave to cut q
niche in the wall of the minister. and
there he placed his own coffin, fixing
at the same time the date he supposed
he would die-1691. He did not die,
however, until 1903. and the figures
were altered accordingly. The coffin
is brilliantly decorated with the arms
of the Etricke family, and to prevent
it from going to decay sum of one
pound year was bequeathed to keep
the niche and coffin in good repair.
While the lamp Held Out to Burn.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-13

,auus as evenly and drive nails as
truly as any workman gifted with
sight. He puts up his own scaffolds,
and does as much work in day as
any man in his trade.
Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-08
1T WILL ALL COME OUT
when 4 Congressional Committee
Gets Its investigating Clothes
Ou.-Have Patience.
ITO be continuedl

EaV0J G18bf.
II is said in Postofice circles that there
are other officials as deep IN the mire as
Mikey Lewis Is in the supply division
scandal
There is a board 10 the supply division
for the purchase of an supplies-inks.
twines, papers, envelopes cutlery, blotting
papers, pens, pencils and many other ar.
ucles too numerous to mention.
The chairman Of this board is the present
chief clerk of the p O. Department who
was the predecessor of "NIikev" as super.
intendent Of the supply division, Mr..
Blaine Taylor by name who is also pro
tege Of MI Perry NCeipn Heath, who was
most summarily, but not too soon, bounced
by the late President when even his friend
Mark Hanna could not save him from his
ire.
It will be remembered, and is well known
by all in the Postofiice Department, that
Mr.. Heath made his name famous Or in
famous by his connection with the biggest
contemplated steal connected with airy de-
partment Of the government only that il
was detected in Time Now that Congress
is in session this wholesale robbery
and scandal of the supply division
should come TO light when no doubt
but our brave and fearless Execu-
tive will act promptly and let no guilty
man escape There is some considerable
excitement in Post Office circles i'm the en-
deayor at the present time being made to
save Taylor and Lewis for one is as deep i'm
the robbery as the other and the opinion is
that no ink was destroyed without the con-
sent of the chief clerk who IS well known TO
work 10 with his friend Lewis for no pur-
chase- are made without his consent. be-
Eng so well couversaut with an the de-
tails of the supply division rake oFn
since he was In charge of the same
division II is said the p. M c. will
do all loo his power to save Taylor on
account of his recent change In politics
from strong Democratic to the Republican
fold for tis we'll known that he went down
TO his state of West Virginia to work for
Bryan against Mckinley in 1890 and worked
for Mckinley at his late election
win this fact cover up the downright
robbery and scandal connected with this eN.
pcnsive supply division that the p. NJ. G..
is known never yet to have visited or looked
into and which he is responsible for to an
outraged country. JUSTICE.
Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-08
BATS OF GREAT SIZE.
In Some Parts Of the Philippine Is
lands They Form a Part of
the Poor Mans Diet.

The horrible bat of the islands grows i'm
many cases to the size of the American
chicken hawk and is eaten 100 some sections
of the Philippines. The best classes of
natives, however do not eat the bats The
mode of catching the bats is peculiar The
cities towns and barrios of all the islands
of the Philippine group are quite overrun
with bats which fly through the streets in
large numbers They fly slowly and seem
incapable Of dodging articles in their path.
Therefore, the native takes a long pole.
puts a sort of combination hooked arrange.
ment at the top and takes position in
street. and with the pole erect waits for bats
TO come along and bump into the hooked
portion. As the native sees a bat coming he
plans TO have the hook in its path, and as
he moves the pole so as to bring the hook
into contact with the head of the bat, the
latter usually strikes IL with a bang and
drops to the earth stunned when the native
proceeds to promptly put the bat to death
After standing In this position for an hour
or more, the native has pile of bats at his
feet These he takes TO market the next
day and receives about two cents each for
them. The bats are eaten only in small
part. The wings, head, and, in fact, all but
a small portion of each side is thrown TO
waste A
Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-08
AFunny but Grusome story.

A family residing IN the northwest part Of
Washington employed a new servant, and
for lunch ordered her to bring TO the family
room cold meat and other things together
with the pepper and salt After lunch the
family attended church, but before going
gave instructions for dinner, and roast beef
was a part of the bin of fare, and all was to
be well seasoned When the cook came to
that part of her orders she could not find
the salt and pepper Thinking she had left
them up in the family room where lunch
had been served she went and found what
she supposed was the salt and also the pep
per, and made use Of them. When the
family returned they questioned the cook as
to the dinner, and the daughter went with
the cook TO see that all was right To her
horror She discovered that the contents Of
the urn that contained the ashes of her
dead father had been used to season the
dinner The servant was discharged
Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-08
A WORD OF CAUTION.
Addressed TO Boys who Have Bi-
cycles, But Equally Pertinent to
Those Of Larger Growth.

Although it may seem selfish to say so
everyone who owns a bicycle should make
resolve and stick to il to never lend the
wheel to anyone. This does not mean that
a boy should refuse to let another boy take
trial spin for a block or two but under no
circumstances should he loan his wheel for
day, or even for a ten-mile run, Any
rider who has a wheel fitted to him knows
that II has certain peculiarities, almost like
horse which only he knows 1t runs bet.
ter when pedalled in a certain way, and the
borrower, having style Of his own, is al
most certain to injure the machine triiiug
perhaps, but to an extent that the owner
will notice Then there is the risk of
damage. If the machine is broken in any
way the borrower may profess willingness
to pay for the repairs, but at heart he is
very unwilling. He acts as if he had been
induced to ride a machine liable to break.
and the chances are that he feels a resent
ment toward the lender Or perhaps he is
not able or willing to repair the damage
In any event, 1t will be found that the bor-
rover Is never particularly grateful for the
favor, and no matter how many times the
wheel is loaned to him, If il is once refused
he IS your friend no longer Therefore the
best for all concerned Is to refuse at the OUT
set to lend your wheel 90 anyone.