davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
sLEUTHs OF THE MAIL SYSTEM.
Tho Small Body Of Men who Keep ths
Great Department Straight,

Tho Small Body OF Men Who Keep ths
Great Department Straight.
To guard the interests OF the mil
lions who use the mails il Is neces-
sary not only for Uncle Sam to have
at his disposal railroads and steam
boats and other conveyanCes, and a
great force of efficient clerks and car.
riers, but 1t is all important that those
who handle the mails be kept under
reasonable surveillance and that the
vehicles OF transit and the Offices OF
deposit be protected from the on
slaughts OF thieves and rogues.
For this purpose the present excel
lent Division OF Postofiice Inspectors
and Mail Depredations" was organized
In 1872. 1t Is composed OF only 1875
men, but they are thoroughly trained
and possessed OF great perception and
keen detective ability. Their duty IA
to cope with mail robbers who attack
the vehicles of transit en- route, to fer.
ret out frauds perpetrated on the gov.
eminent within the service. to watrb
ceaselessly those who are entrusted
with the handling Of the mailed mat.
ter, and to inspect the accounts ana
supervise the management of the poat -.
offices everywhere under the T'uited
States Jurisdiction.
These men are divided into II diet
sions, and their work Is OF tho rnng,
trying kind. They have no time for
rest. They are continually ON tho 90
or Immersed in the routine wort =,
their respective Offices. They ara
charged with all Investigations in 70
lation to complaints against postno,
ters and other employees OF the noat,t
service, allowances for clerk hlr. ara
other expenses for poBtofTices the c,l
lection OF balances due to the UnI,ea
states by delinquent and retiring po,st
masters and establishment or diao,n
tinuance of postoffices. postal stations
money order Offices and free doIIyo,,,
service; determining the respnneth,tt,,
OF sureties on the official honda -,
Dostmasters at money order ofIicey ,ha
inspection of the accounts and 49,
management Of postofIices. tho instr,o
ton OF postmasters and other AZ,
ployes in the regulations and usaves u
the service, Investigations pertainino
to the burning OF postofIices, losses a,
mail locks and keys, the locatIon
change OF name or site OF postof1coa.
the leasing and equipment of premise,
for postoffice purposes; the wrong mi
ment OF money orders. and many caas,
relating to detentions, losss, ana e.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

The protracted struggle In south
Africa between. Briton and Boer shows
little sign OF ending. True, we are be-
ing repeatedly told by British generals
and the British war office that the emu
of the war is in sight but as such
statements have been repeatedly made
Tor almost year. while the war, new
ertheless, ragged on. the public are Just
flied in taking British war office an
nouncements with the proSerbial grain
of salt
Not long since it was authorttatiVely
stated In the house OF commons that
the Beers had 10000 men in the held
divided into numerous small and mo-
bile commanders, with remarkable
ability to concentrate at any given
point. Surely this does not support the
contentious OF British tory leaders that
the policing OF South Africa was the
main problem to be met. At no time
did the Beers have twice that force In
the field and 1t is easy 10 see that their
present force under the guerilla-like
tactics pursued Is more effective than
were their armies when they fought In
regular military way.
There Is no Disgusting the fact that
the Beers are causing the British no
end of trouble not only in the Trans
vaal and Orange Free State. but In
Cape Colony as well. Recently reports
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
VERY COSTLY METALS,
one which Can he bought for s.on,
$4,000 For popBd

People do not speak OF irnn ,s 49,,
vi the precious metals" said a weII.
known metallnrglst to the reportor
and yet all concede that II Il H. -.
tne most precious Of metals whtta
We could get along nicely wltbon, F.
gold watch chain or pair n cmN ~,
IONS Il forced to do 30. thsn wonla
pe some trouble in getting along wftb
ont iron bridges iron structural 49,.
'or houses, ships. machinery ana ,bon
s'hdS OF other things of iron nott.
os s'NS ana the like. On the standpoint
" co8tiinssS gold Is by no means IN,
most precious metal any moro ana =
'ot even IN the precious ctaa. M.
-. me star metpi is RaIlinm !,
S'ng'e grain Of which costa 40 =.
, 60, Quantities IT can be bought a..
s',yoV per pound. Calcium. tho met.t
VI i'ihe, IS not so plentiful oltbor :,
,"7'S $lo per grain. or about az oon
per pound. Gold can be bough, ~,
Wv an ounce. or 1920 per pouna az.
o o,l'fr Tor about one-sixtoenth or he,
amount amount or $40 per pound compsrsa
, m,,a Kaliinm. therefore. tho latter "a
"oItn ABOUT 400 times az much 81 eo,a
rnat - weight for weight. What makas
n ",.aIS costly IN the difficulty ana ax
p r,, OF reducing them TO tho mata,t,.
ao,t Ihelr extremely limited ami
., ls another factor in tho o.
non OF cost. The most yalnab,s o.
precious are, metal is the one we wont, ~
Ns o IT a. hardest to dispense with ~
"0" orleans Times Democrat,
hVery man knows worae !, h,.,
man he knows of others ''eii
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
rrss@..a.i.s IN. e.-w-H

An exchange gives the taawM
method Of protesting plaHsz isaa q
worms.
Cut newspapers into squares 4 u
inches. Take a needle aRa shrssi 6.
string about 100 pieces b. O@s urs'
Tis tho string tight, 40 loose iaa {
papers will spread apart. Assash re
To a button on your scat PA Y 4
tomato OF cabbage plant wiih oss Ankl
tcar OF a paper with The o,ha a. ~
u around the plant 10 = part y W.
10 undFr ground and a part asas I
10 quickly done and will last 60 :
danger from cut worms Il ovF. hsl I
IL effective. | have saved acres 4 2
matoc plants this way shes TeH
were abundant and plants scrsA
might add the rcaean cot pinsisg Is
IN tho fall 10 keep free frum sat ssrs
The beetles are said 20 lay tatf ~
under any litter on che atgehle rras'A
~ wei! az in sod fields Eaflf 80
Ing leaves a ciaan surface free tiun Z
ter and no ngsR are laid HAros -
after blowing. a. 4 general faiA
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
A DeIasion 10 Befiee's
5baf SranSx,aai war
is O0er.
The BOer
IfrzfGSie

~ engagements, each lasting a day,
have been sent out by the British CEN
sor and only last week England was
electrified by the news OF sharp nght
AZ ylakfontein. where the Beers under
cover of yeldt fire. attacked the rear
guard OF British column, temporarily
taking two guns and killing those In
charge. only after desperate struggle
and that at the point Of the bayonet
were the Beers finally repulsed. An.
other British force was compelled 10
retreat In the eastern TransVaal and
now Lord Kitchener reports an all-day
night at Nquta, in which the Brilsh
were worsted, being forced 20 retreat
OF course, many OF the engagements
result adyantageously TO the British.
but the fact that these engagements,
and many OF them. are being fought
proves conclusiyely that the war Is by
no means ended.
One OF the Bosr leaders active In
keeping up the struggle, but about
whom little appears In print. Is Gen.
schalk Burger, actihg president Of the
Transyaai. He succeeded Kruger when
the latter embarked for Europe. lie il
serving In the field and helping 70
carry out the determination OF the
hardy burghers 70 die in the last ditch
rather than surrender their indepsn'
denee
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
some Peculiar city streets.

Pennsylvania avenue, Washington, Ia
said to be the longest street in the
world, extending. as 1t does, for seven
teen and one-half miles. The shortest
street Is the Rue Bile. Paris, which Is
thirty feet long. Havana has the mar
rowest street In the world in the Via
Sol, which Is only three and one-half
feet wide. Main street. Denver, is be-
lieved to be the highest street, and
Main street, Georgetown. Demerara,
the lowest street. The most crowded
street is probably the Rua do Ouyidor,
in Rio de Janeiro. This narrow thor
oughfare is as crowded at all times as
Nassau street, New York, in the bust
est portion OF the day, and no animal
or wheeled vehicle is allowed to enter
1t. 1t is lined with houses painted
white, blue, pink, yellow and other
colors, and opening of the street are
the shops Of the dealers in diamonds
and other precious stones, the workers
in silver and gold and the beautiful
shops Of the feather workers, who man
ufacture the most exquisite feather
flowers and fans.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

Come amusing letters find their way
into the government archives. One
federal officeholder recently made an
appeal for screens for the building
where he worked, saying that within
hundred yards were three livery sta
bles, one mule boarding house, one
horse sanitarium with operating table.
and one fish morgue. He added that
his handwriting had been spoiled by
the constant endeayor to write and
keep OF flies at the same time. He
had pasted ten sheets of sticky fiy-
paper, and while they carried of thou
sands of victims they seemed to occa-
sion no vacancies In the ranks of the
survivors. The pathetic appeal was
in vain. Uncle Sam is rich enough
to give us ALI screens, but he is toe
hard-hearted to do it.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

reEularities In the registered and ordi.
nary malls. and other violations Of the
postal laws. as we'll "a special lnyssti.
cations. which may BE- assigned them
by the postmaster EeneraY and the
fourth assistant postmaster general
Nearly all ~ the Inspectors have
come up to thsiy present poaltions
from other places in the pastofBss
service They arc. as a rule. a dtlipsn,
courteous. efficient. but unogtsn,a,,nn,
Iot OF men, The starting salary a
$1,000 year, with 81 per diem for sarb
day an inspector haa TO travel i,
large cities the inspectors 20, a. noo
year with no allowance srrrp, ~,
emergencies. An inspector I'm rhnrys
or one at tho head OF a dlyision -
eeives $4,000 year and certain :,
penses.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

Rape has been grown sn..
for fall pasture in this 49,.
the experience with this plast
use Is somewhat limited, ana i,
considered so sure crop as Kss.
and sorghum. II Is a cool w.. -
plant. and requires a ra..sss
amount OF moisture; but ,hs
sownrapeh has stood the droutb 49,.
OF the summer quite wen On M
lese Farm this year. Rama NJ.
sown In the corn where ths ny,
not good. or where the grown 49,
seriously retarded by the drou,A !.
Ing al tbs rate OF about two nan.A. =
acre. and covering lightly. IL No.
rain comes 70 start Il well. il xiIl ~,
large amount OF excellent -
for sheep, hogs and cattle ~
continue green until the 49,,
freezes, Its greatest growth NJ
eur after the corn is cut Ran. ",
better. however. II sown alo.s
which case three pounds 81 -
acre should be used. Dwarf -.
The variety 10 use. The seed v,ll :.
from to 10 cents per pound !, -
IL 70 20 cents per acre "a a. \
farmer will not be- al much a..
even II the season is not hyw.T.
enough TO make crop.
Turnips. On land especially u.,
70 this purpose. turnIps would Y -
sowing for the farmer who ssa.,.
winter any considerable uua's.s
sheep. While in ordinary seasOn, 4.
crop Is not considered espeelaIIy " +
table except in a small way n
view OF tho great scarcity y ~
WIZ be well worth growing lis ~,
a large area OF rye and wAsa, sAss
De aown as early as possihls d, 4
winter and early spring pAs,ars
of course Il IL understood ina, 4.
dFoath continues through JAY i. & |
gust. all Of the crops recommsra.s |, I
hay ~isl fail. bur Ia view q IAe ra
scarcity OF feed. /, will b. veil WA
tho Investment and risk 10 us w.
available acre In something IA, Vi
produce feed II II FAina Il i AZ.
necessary 70 add that ali IA IN
SHOULD b. carefully saved los reed n
all the corn fodder should b prssssssI
and arrangements made 10 pfossa !,
stock against the wlalsr HDsaa II
make the feed SO a. Gar as pmaAa
Tho experience o. 1881. me ras II
tho last disastrous druHih II sAa|
tho eontinaed rain o, the sissa II
80 mitch damage 10 the snail anaa
OF tved OF hand. saOald nos es srss
ton. and every TcasOuabls pistasas|
saould be taken 70 pruvsat Ia roc
lion this winter. I'll. Water. Ea's
Tor Missouri Experiment stailsa
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
FRANCE Will LEAD THE WAY.
Likely to BE First to Use Wireless reie-
Eraphy Extensively.


The French government is likely to
be the first in the world to adopt the
wireless system OF telegraphy on an
extensive scale. Encouraged by the
helpfulness of the system to the Brit
ish army in South Africa and by the
results of the experiments made by
the prince OF Monaco, France has de-
termined to take steps In tentative
way to introduce the system into the
African colonies. Arrangements have
been made to carry out the expert
ments simultaneously both in the
moist tropical regions and in the dry
Sahara. The work is to be advanced
only so far as its success seems to be
assured between the stations where
the apparatus Is placed. The expert
ments in the moist tropical regions
will begin in Senegambla and Gaboon,
on the west coast of Africa. They will
be under the charge OF NJ. Magne, d.
rector OF the postal and telegraphic
service in the French west coast coll
onies. He has recently left France
with apparatus sufficient to equip sew
eral stations. His first endeavor will
be to establish wireless communica-
tons between Rufisque and Goree. The
latter town is mile and half from
Dakar, the excellent port OF Senegal,
where large ocean vessels ride safely
in deep and smooth water and where
the Atlantic cable from Europe first
reaches the mainland. About twenty
miles to the east Is Ruhsque. separated
from Goree only by water surface
Magne's second experiment will be fur
Their south in the still more humid eli
mate. Of Gaboon, where he will test
the practicability of the wireless sys-
tenn between Libreville and Denis
These towns, about twenty-five miles
apart, are also separated only by
water surface, the purpose being in
both these experiments to have the
most favorable conditions as to surface
and thus be able to study under the
best circumstances the meteorological
influences that may determine the
practicability of the system in trop-
ical Africa. II wireless teIegraphy
proves to be success at these sta
tons the next step will be to extend
it inland.-Chicago Chronicle.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

There appears TO be a fair 80
for horacs at the Chicago Horss Nra
especially for big hoTss ne
prices realized at the sale last We
day were $3.50 for = slr5Hs
bay mare OF 1900 pounds weishI
for a black pound gesdias
years: s225 for Is0o.pouad baI ri
Ing OF 8 years: $3.50 for isesF
brown gslding of years IT,
year old bay geIdings Of lls :
each. drivers. sold for wa
Good to choice carriage team
bringing $500 to 800: drivers Y.
$500: draft horses $3.50 TO ssssi y,
chunks 800 to $3.50: general ass h
$50 TO 500. Prices on poor % J. !.
fsrings are about so per cent pe@'
figures quoted,
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

The London Lancet. high medical
authority, says that the habit of self
,druggging has grown to be a source OF
untold mischief The practice has been
greatly assisted by the enormous i'm
proyements in pharmaceutical prepare
tons. Treating symptoms without
medical advice may be temporarily
satisfactory, but what if the physical
disturbance be the sign OF fatal dis
ease? A little knowledge, coupled
with overconfidence, is dangerous
thing in dealing with the ailments
which come in so many forms. Vary
ing the adage, it may be said that a
man who is his own doctor has a fool
for patient.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

How many persons who daily eat
sandwiches are aware that 1t is to an
ancestor of the Earl of Sandwich that
that popular form of food owes its
name? The story runs that the earl in
question was very fond of playing
cards, and in order to prevent having
to stop to.eat he used to have slice
Of meat put between two slices of bread
and eat these as he played. This got TO
be called sandwich" but gradually
the inverted commas were dropped as
the word became an accepted one In
the language.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

He began his trip on the Seine and
he is now on the Marine He will sail
down the Yohne, the Saone, the Rhone
and its small branches flowing into the
Mediterranean. Then he will go on
the Loire and end his voyage through
France on the Rance, which will con-
duct him to ST. Malo, where he will
take a steamboat TO Jersey. The
name of his canoe is oithona, and is
SO constructed that it can be wheeled
on terra frma whenever its occupant
gets tired OF being on the water,
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
SHARPSHOOTER DUEL.
4 GRAPHIC STORY OF THE CIVIL
WAR.
How the Fatal Reign of "suredeath's.
Gun Was Ended-an Early Morning
Battie-A Little Girls Lstter-Master-
mans Order.
(special Letter.l


At Lincoln. Neb., lives a man named
Masterman, now nearing his Goth year,
who acted as guard at the marriage
OF Queen Victoria and who fought as
a sharpshooter in the Union ranks dur
ing the civil war. IL was while the
war was raging along the southern
boundary of Tennessee that the wing
OF the army in which Masterman be-
longed was sorely beset by the enemy's
sharpshooters. Most of these Confed-
crate rifiemen were well known to the
Union soldiers. There was some pc
euliarity in mode of operation or sound
OF the gun which distinguished one
from the other. and as time went along
glimpses OF them were caught, so that
even the rank and file of the Federal
soldiers had good idea of what these
dangerous men were like.
One of them was dubbed "Suredeath,"
and there was good reason for giving
him the name. He was the prince OF
the Confederate sharpshooters. At any
hour Of the day the clear crack OF his
rife might sound, and the men always
looked TO see who the victim was. for
there was always one either killed out
right or mortally wounded. One even
Ing the colonel sent an orderly to the
company quarters with instructions for
Masterman to report at once at his
tent.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28
Masterman finally sent In a lucky sAna
and saw the other man

Masterman finally sent In lucky sAoa
and saw the other man
Tumble from the Tree.
At this sight all Masterman's hatred
vanished. II was no longer the MUIR
dering rebel sharpshooter, but dead
or wounded man. II the latter. hui
manity called upon him to do some
thing. He made his way to the base OF
the tree. He went cautiously, for the
man might still be able to fight or
there might be other sharpshooters
watching. His first view of the Con-
federate told him the shot was fatal.
1t had gone through the body. The
unfortunate soldier was lyinf on his
side, and when Masterman came up
was fumbling for an inside pocket.
What is 1t, Johnny. what do you
want?" asked Masterman kindly,
kneeling beside him.
In -letter-my little girl, /"
was the almost inaudible reply.
Masterman put his hand inside the
mans blouse and brought forth a let
ter. The envelope was red with blood.
rs this 1t, Johnny" he asked.
The Confederate nodded.
rs this from your little girl,
Johnny?'
Again nod. The Union man. with
tears in his eyes. drew the letter from
the stained covering. A curl OF brown
hair fell to the ground. The dying
father tried to speak, but only gurgled
instead, and died before Masterman
could raise the canteen to his lips.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

Future punishment? Let's not dis
cuss the theological side of it just
now" said the old clergyman, gently.
to his hot-headed young parishioners
But did you ever think of it from the
domestic and family side? When these
babies of yours begin to grow up. and
you see them initiating your faults and
hampered by your weaknesses, and
know that you're to blame-ah, there's
kind of future punishment there can
be no two opinions about"
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

1t isn't against the law in Minnesota
to kill gambler il he has been cheat
ing. and will not return the money to
his victim At least, case at Granite
Falls has Just been decided to that
effect. DR.. Wintner pulled his pistol
and shot gambler with whom he was
playing cards. because the gambler had
cheated and refused to pay the money
on demand. A jury declared upon oath
that DR.. Wintner was not guilty OF
murder.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

American Roman Catholics contrib
uted during 1900 for foreign missions
s71,2SO, the amount being sent to the
Central Council OF the Congregation
for the Propagation of the Faith. The
headquarters of the propaganda are in
Paris. France. and from there the
money is sent to support weak mis-
sions in all parts of the world The
American contribution is much larger
than previous ones
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

During the famous Douglas and Lin
coin debate and subsequent campaigns
the point was frequently brought out
by the supporters of the Little GIANT"
that Mr.. Lincoln had served only a
single term in Congress, but that Sen
ator Douglas had enjoyed for years a
national reputation. This point, says
writer in Lippincott's, was urged in
a heated discussion between an ardent
supporter of Douglas and a German
voter who favored Lincoln. Finally the
former, thinking to overwhelm his OPP
ponent, said: Who is this Lincoln,
anyhow? Nobody ever heard OF him
until Senator Douglas brought him into
notice by holding joint debate with
him. Senator Douglas, ON the other
hand, is a great statesman. Why, he
has had his eye on the presidential
chair for the last ten years.' "Vot is
dot you say?" was the reply. you say
Meester Dooglas have hat his eye on
der president chair for ten years."
Eyes, that is just what I said" "Vell,
you shoost tell Meester Dooglas IL he
will keep his eye on dot chair shoost a
leedle vile longer he will see old Abe
Lincoln sitting down in it." This closed
the debate, amid roar of laughter
from the bystanders.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

An indianapolis woman called I'D her
grocer by telephone the other morning
and, after she had sufficiently scolded
the man who responded, said:
And what's more, the next order
you get from me will be the last ri
ever give you"
ut probably will, madam" said the
voice at the other end OF the wire;
you are talking to an undertaken"
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-09-28

There are altogether in Yucatan
seven cities, thirteen towns, sixty-two
ruined cities, 14S villages, fifteen aoan-
doned settlements. and 80 haciendas.
Scarcely any of these places has as
many as 10000 inhabitants, the popu-
Iation of the great majority falling be-
low 1000.