davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
The First IRON Ship.

The first iron ship has more reputed
birthplaces than Homer. Both the
Clyde and the Mersey claim pre-emi
nence in this respect. Sir E. ]. Robi,
son Of Edinburgh designed an iron YES.
sci in 1916. which was not launched
till three years later, and it is said
that IN iron boat was worked on the
Severn even as far back as 1877. Steel
was not used in the construction OF
merchant ships hulls Until 1859. Old
salts were not alone in their belief that
wood was meant by Providence tc
feat, but iron to so to the bottom. a
naval constructor Of some repute once
said: Don't talk to me Of iron ships
They are contrary to nature" Now
none but small craft are built Of wood
in this country.-Chambers' Journal :
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
TIE NEW MANAGER.
Why he DID Not Discharge Certain
Railroad Conductor.

Railroad Conductor.
Among the first railroads built in tbs
United States was little line abou-
twenty miles in length. In the course
Of time big tunnel line was construct.
ed through the same country. The orig
inal line became merely branch. For
many years it was run in cheap way,
with one locomotive. one engineer and
two or three freight cars.
Finally q new general manager was
appointed He had been in the office
but a week when he sent for the one
lone conductor who had held the posi-.
ton ever since the road was built.
81 would like to have your resisna.
tion." said the general manager when
the conductor appeared.
MY resignation% inquired the con.
ductor in astonisbment.
Yes. sir. yours
What for, pray?"
'sWell. want to make some changes
and get new blood in the line was the
general managers reply.
Il won't resign" answered the con
ductor.
Then VII be compelled to Gis-
charge you. a step which for your sake
! had hoped would be saved from
taking"
Young nan. yon will rot discharge
lne. OWE Il controlling interest in the
stock OF this rai!r9ad and elect the
president AID beard Of directors
shall lave ycu fred
The o,d conductel did really own the
majority of the seek and. as he sad
PIT in lis ov-n board OF directors and
president
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29

cided that in case of his death she
would surely marry again. Shed have
that insurance money. and she'd spend
it with liberal hand. and along would
come some piano man or sewing ma
chine agent and snap her up as q prize.
She might possibly erect fifteen dol
lar headstone over his grave. but she
wouldn't go a dollar higher. and the
clothes he left behind would be given
TO some neighbor's hired man instead
Of being preserved and wept over.
Thoughts as hard and bitter passed
through the mind of the wife. Jacob
had always been kind and loving, but
there had never been 5000 at stake
before. With her out of the way and
that money in band he would repaint
the house, get a new team Of horses.
buy a top buggy and cut great swell,
and she even figured out who ne Sgou:t:
take for his second wife They weat
TO bed in an unhappy frame Of :.:::... :.::::....
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
Soothing.

Ii Hung Chang had beyond ali doubt
an iron will and a very unsentimental
heart. Once when he was viceroy OF
Chill a man who had tampered with a
telegraph wire was brought before
him. The man wrung his hands and
begged for mercy. saying that he would
never touch the wire again.
Don't be yeSed. my good fellow.V
said Ii. "or trouble yourself any fur
ther about the matter. shall take care
that it does not happen again"
Then he turned to the jailers and
gave the order, Cut off his headp'
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
A sERPENT's APPETITE.
His Meal OF q Rubber Boot Was c
Disastrous One.


Disastrous One.
From q gentleman who was at Ole
time q resident of Brazil comes { re-
markable story about snake that lie
encountered in the woods one day
which followed him with much persist
ence
Sitting on a stump, became aware
Of the approach CT liuge SNAKE.
writes this gentleman. He m@s, l.:a:,.:'
been fifteen feet in length. There v.:::;s
no doubt the snake was about TO at
tack me.
"Without hesitating for u moment /
discharged my two barrels. For Z s!so;;
time the reptile ragged furiously. ard !
climbed nearby tree. lad hardy
reached the first boughs when | saw
the snake approaching the tree. and il
climbed up behind NE.
Higher and higher | vert. E;@:ie.
and higher came the serpent. Ny heavy
rubber boots were great drawa;.ci: %
my climbing. so tried to get ri.i CT
them. 1 took ore off and dropped i;
and just as had the second = E!y
hand the snake reached NE. ard I. il,
my desperation. tried to shield myself
with the rubber boot.
'"Thcn the snake made dash ;;:::.l'
getting hold OF the boot. turned and &c.
scended the tree. was saved. b..t /.
had not the courage to leave the rTcc
before my friends arrived. l told them
Of the adventure had and rode home
minus one rubber boot Of his snake
ship nothing could be seen.
ga few weeks later on another hU2t-
ing trip we found in the road a big
dead snake. terribly swollen. We cut ii
open and found, to our astonishinert.
my rubber boot not in the least in
jured."-New York Times.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
! Mutual
Insurance
By HOMER LEE WARREN
} Copyright, 1901,
By A. S. Richardson.
Copyright, 1901,
BY A. S. Richardson.

Jacob Fletcher and his good wife
Mary had lived together the lives Of
farmers for twenty years or more and
had never had an hours misunder
standing. They had no children, but
their company was all sufficient for
each other, and at the age of forty-6ve
they were in the best Of health and
without regrets. Then the serpent
crept in. He was the agent, Of life
Insurance company, and he sat down
In the kitchen where Mrs. Fletcher
was making pumpkin pies and talked
her to standstill. What he wanted
was to secure mutual insurance, a pol
icy by which the surviving husband
or wife would profit in the sum Of
$1,000. The farmers wife had heard
of such things, but was opposed to
them, and the agent had to talk for
two long hours before he could secure.
her promise to sstalk to pa about it. /"
That night she did talk, though with
out any heart in it and was much re-
lieyed when the husband turned to
her and said: i.
MARY, it would be like fyin' in the
face Of the Lord, and wouldn't think
of such a thing"
He had to think, however. The agent
came back again and again, and at
length his persistency received its re
ward. After much doubt and hesita-
ton policy was duly taken out and
fled away in the bottom drawer Of the
bureau, and the serpent had inflicted
its sting. That afternoon as the hus-
band followed the plow in the field he
found himself wondering whether he
or his wife would die first and whether
it would be good policy for him to
build new barn out Of that insurance
money in case he was the survivor.
And the wife, as she sat peeling pota-
toes for supper and opening the oven
door now and then TO look at the bak-
ing bread, found herself wondering
what she should do with the farm and
all that money in case Jacob met his
death. Two or three days later a wind
mill agent called, and as he incidental
ly heard of the mutual insurance he
laughed and said:
stMay be all right in your case, but
should look at it as a temptation to
my wife to get rid Of me. Husbands
have been poisoned for less than S5,-
ooo.''
He was speaking in levity, but he
sowed seed. On that same day the
wife of a neighbor dropped in for a
gossip, and of course she was told
about the insurance policy. 1t struck
her at first as q good thing, but two
minutes later she held up her hands
and exclaimed:
Mary Fletcher, do you know what
you have done2- You have prepared
your own grave.''
'.La, but Low you talkr'
Eyes, you have There isn't a hus-
band on the face Of the earth who
wouldn't throw his wife down the eel
lar stairs and break her neck for So
900. You won't be alive to see Thanks
giving
Here was another seed, and that
night for the first time since their mar
rage the farmer couple felt suspicion
and disrust. AS they sat together the
husband looked the wife over and de
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29

and two OF three cimes during Tie
night each woke up and wondered
about hot lead being poured into hus-
bands ears and wives being smothered
with pillows as they slept.
The next four weeks were wretched
ones. Not meal did the husband sit
down to without wondering if the food
or drink had been sprinkled or mixed
with poison, and hardly an hour passed
that the wife was not on her guard
against some sudden attack on her life.
One day the milkhouse door blew to
on her and made her a prisoner, and
she uttered such screams Of fear that
the tramp on the highway who heard
her did not dare go to her assistance
until he had summoned help. At an
other time she slipped on the cellar
stairs. and after much looking about
she discovered a peach stone and treas
ured it up as legal proof of the hus-
bands planning. Love, trust and con-
fdence had flown out Of the window.
and the neighbors sagely shook their
heads and observed that they were
prepared to hear Of an awful tragedy
any day.
One night the husband woke up with
chill Of fear. He had dreamed that
he saw his wife standing over him
with a butcher knife raised to strike.
He found her beside him and SEEM
ingly fast asleep, but he determined to
pass the rest Of the night on the hay
in the barn. He had scarcely left the
house when the wife woke up. She
had dreamed OF being hacked to pieces
with the ak, and her husbands alb
sence seemed to be proof that he had
gone out after the weapon. She would
battle him by hiding in the carriage
shed until morning. It therefore hap
pened that while he was skirting the
duck pond on the right to reach the
barn she was skirting it on the left to
reach the carriage house, and presently
they came together in the darkness.
Murderer" she shouted as she
turned to fee.
"Murderess!w he shouted as he start
ed back.
Then both went slipping down the
bank, claWing and clutching at each
other, and brought up with a great
souse in the pond. Wet and bedrag-
gled, they climbed out on opposite
sides, and while she spent the remain
der Of the night shiyering under the
currant bushes and wondering if he
would kill her at the first blow or chop
her up by degrees he sat on the door
step and made up his mind to appeal
to the law without further delay.
Morning had come. and the pair had
just confronted each other when
neighbor who was passing halted at
the gate to say:
"Hello, Jake, have you heard the
news?
NO. was the reply.
.Ain't you and Mary insured in the
Sure Pay Life Insurance company"
eyes"
"Well, she's busted higher'n kite,
and your policy amt wuth corncobs."
shes busted for surey queried ia
cob.
''Sure's you live.''
"And I amt insured and Mary amt
insured, and we wouldn't get a burned
cent If either died?"
'sNot burned red"
.Then-then. come here, Mary, come
and kiss me- said the husband as he
opened his arms
"'Pears to me like you might be glad
Of the bust up" remarked tie neigh
sbor.
'.Durned If I ain't.w replied Jacob.
with tears in his eyes.
"And som Lr' sobbed the wife as she
threw her arms around his neck.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
Nice For Lovers.

eff am not too presumptuous,' said
the young clerk, II will ask you to look
at our new typewriter especially adapt
ed for writing love letters
"Oh," exclaimed the blushing maid.
sis there any difference|
eyes. indeed. Among the punctuation
points there is a little star for marking
kisses.''- philadelphia Record
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
Not Necessary go TaIk Much.

'You know" she said. Il am not
much OF a conversationalist'
This seemed to him the opportunity
for which he had been waiting.
We'll" he returned. ''if do the pre-
liminary talking your conversational
ability will be sufficient to enable you
to say Yes won't it?''
After all, in courtship there is moth
ing like getting your answer before you
ask the question.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
Literary Subjects.

"Whom did you discuss at your liter
ary club this afternoon. dear?" asked
the husband in the evening.
s'Let me see." murmured his wife.
"Oh, yes. remember now! Why. we
discussed that woman who recently
moved into the house across the street
from US and Longfellow.'-Ohio State
Journal.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
Causc For Doubt.

"a public Official" exclaimed the or
diDary man heatedly. should be our
servant. But is he?'
"Hardly." ventured the suburbanite.
"He stays with US too long for that
Judge
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29
Department Store Rcpartee.

Department Store Rcpartee.
"What are these things?' asked the
customer.
blackboard erasers." said the shop
girl.
81 don't want anything that will
erase a blackboard. want chalk
mark eraser
That's what l meant. These are
chalk mark erasers Anything else:'
Eyes. want some lead pencils
"We haven't any lead pencils. We
have some wooden cylinders with
graphite on thc inside of them. Will
they do as well?"-Ehicago Tribune.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29

With every exertion the best of men
can do bat a moderate amount Of good,
but it seems in The power OF the most
contemplate individual to dc incalcula-
bic mischief. Washington Irving.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-29

The man who gets up to make the
fire does not always get his share OF
The heat.-Saturday Evening Post.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-11
Maryland Affairs.

Safe and house burglars are operating in
Washington county.
Three negroes are to be tried for murder in
Prince Georges county next week.
Henry Bloom, aged rs years, well-known
farmer of Catonsville, Baltimore county, died
on Thursday. He is survived by six sons and
and four daughters
The terms of Judges McSherry, Dennis and
and Waters will expire next month, aud
Governor Smith is expected to shortly make
the appointments for the interval between now
and the next general election.
Harry Bosley, aged 40 years. of Keyser,
W. Va, was brought to the hospital at Cum
berland on Thursday with both legs and his
right arm crushed. Both legs had to be am
putated. He was working at the stone quarry
and fell in the stonecrusher.
An attempt was made last Thursday by the
45 prisoners In the Towson Jail 10 escape.
Fortunately the sheriff was informed by a
servant and in short time all the prisoners
were locked in their cells. A hole nearly
large enough TO allow man to crawl through
had been cut in the wall.
The annual meeting of the Maryland Synod
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church will be
held at Hagerstown, Nd, beginning October
20. Inc opening sermon VIII be preached by
the president. Rev. j. E. Maurer of Blooms.
boro, Md. The synod is composed of all of
the ministers of the church in Maryland and
the District of Columbia, numbering about
100, and an equal number of laymen.
Robert E. Fennell, one of the most notor-
Gus rogues III the the country, was arrested
at the Rennert Hotel, Baltimore on Thusday.
He was arrested at the instigation fthe Wash
ington police, who want HIM on the charge of
larceny of two gold watches aud a diamond
brooch. valued at $500. When taken into
custody the man had grip which contained
checks and other articles valued at about SIS,
900.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-11
Manchester Items.

The Burlesque Sporting Club held their first
meeting OF the season on Wednesday evening
at the home of Mr.. III. d. Garrett. They have
selected and ordered number of dramas and
farees with view of entertaining our public
during the long winter evenings.
Mr.. Charles NJ. Masenhimer is having his
dwelling painted.
Messrs. Bail, Englar & Co. are moving their
goods from this place to their other stores.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Kneller, of 2l7 East
Cross street, Baltimore, gave most enjoyable
musical and social at their home on Wednes-
day evening in honor of their sister, Miss
Annie E. lGrof, of this place. The parlor and
diningroom were beautifully decorated with
golden rod and cut flowers. At a late hour
refreshments were served in abundance, after
which all departed for their homes, perfectly
elated over their delightful evenings enter
tainment.
Mrs George A. Shower and Miss Emma
Shower are visiting friends in York, Pa.
Mrs. George E. Leese and two sons, Ernest
and Paul, are visiting her brother, Mr.. Stephen
Baltozer, in York, Pa.
Mr.. John S. Wentz, of Melrose, has pur
chased the two-story brick dwelling and store
room of the executors of Cornelius Wentz,
deceased, for $1,000.
On account of the disagreeable weather last
Sunday Rev. H. H. Flick. pastor of Emanuel
Lutheran Church, will administer the COM
munion in German and English at 80 next
Sunday morning. Rev. E. J. Wolf, of the
Gettysburg Seminary, assisted Rev. Mr.. Flick
last Sunday, and preached an excellent SER
mon.
Mrs. Lydia Sherman, who spent the past
summer with her daughter, Mrs. William 81.
Shaffer, in Indiana, returned home this week
accompanied by her daughter Irene, who
went out few weeks ago to bring her home.
DR.. John F. B. Weaver is slowly improving
and is now able to sit up short while each
day, though very weak.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-11
New Advertisements.

Executors Sale of Valuable Residence
and a Desirable Home and Wood Lot.
Wesley aud Theodore Fl Biggs, Executors
There'll Be Merry Doings Among the Car
pets and Draperies-The Miller Bros. Co. 5
Popular Stores, Westminster, Nd
Call at Keefer's and Get Prices on Gro
ceries and Feed, SO East Main street, West
minister, Md.
Farmers, Cattle Feeders, Dairymen and
Horsemen-M iller's Double Store, Westmin-
ster, Md.
Specials for this Weeks Selling Ma,hers'
Department Stores, Westminster and Man
chester.
Two Remarkable Attractions at Charles E.
Hering's Department Stores, Westminster,
Md.
A Good Opportunity for Bargain Hunters
Thomas H. Easley, Westminster, Nd.
Coal-James 81. Cassell, Jeweler and OPP
tician, Westminster, Nd.
Fall and Winter Clothing-Stoufer & En-
sor, New Windsor, Md.
George O. Brilliant, Attorney at Law,
Westminster, Nd.
List of Unclaimed Matter in the Postoffice,
Westminster, Nd.
The White Palace-John D. Bowers, West
Minister, Md.
Ordinance No. 145-H. B. Grammer,
Clerk.
Dividend Notice-Thos. E. Reese, Treas
urer.
For Sale-Sarah E. Shower, Manchester,
Nd.
Circus Day will be Monday, October 20.
Wanted-Mrs. Jenkins, Baltimore, Md
Wanted-R. B. Ball, Manager.
Notice to Farmers-R. Taylor.
The Great Frederick Fair.
Legal Notices.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-11
Help to a Young Wife.

''Kentuckienne' gives to young wives the
following practical advice in the Frederick
Examiner
You are certainly right, my dear young
wife, in wishing to please your husband and to
have dainty table every day. This does not
necessarily mean expense or large outlay
of materials. 1t means work and every day
vigilance. | must say that silence cloth is
almost necessity in this refined day. 1t saves
the table-linen and deadens the sound of dish
es. If were you would prefer the white
table cloth. By being careful with them they
do not need frequent laundering If you will
make you a good many plain center pieces
and doylies for side dishes they can be washed
out directly ind put back. and they will save
the table cloths. You ask about washing the
handsome center-pieces with colored silks.
Wash them always yourself-never put them
out. Never wash them until much soiled.
Make warm suds of rainw and add
enough pearliue 10 make good suds oil to
cleanse them. Never put soap upon such
pieces it will fade the delicate coors. Wash
very lightly and rinse through tepid rain
waters. No starch is needed If you will iron
them while damp with hot IRONS Turn the
embroidery on the wrong side, and iron the
linen on the right side.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-11
Uniontown Items.

Mrs Thomas Gill; Mrs. Wrightson and
children, Edith, Emory, May and Gilbert, of
Emory, st. Mary's county, Nd, are guests of
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. W. Gilbert.
Miss Matte Smith, of Chambersburg, Pa. j,
is visiting her aunts, Mrs. Hamilton Singer
and Mrs. Missouri Routson.
Mrs. William Segafoose spent the last week
in Baltimore, visiting relatives.
Miss Ellen Kuhn, of Baltimore, who was
visiting at Mr.. Thomas H. Routson's returned
home last Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Brough spent several
days visiting Mr.. aud Mrs. Jacob Reindolsr
and other friends at Fairfield.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Segafoose and Mr..
Guy Segafoose spent Thursday at Winfield as
guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Howard lille at re.
union of the Stem family in honor of Mr.. and
Mrs. Stem, Mrs. Segafoose's brother, of one
of the Western States, who is native of Car
roll county, and had not visited this county
for "a years.
Mr.. Walter McAlister is visiting his broth
er, Mr.. Stewart McAlister, in Washington,
d. G.
Mr.. William Shaw and Tomrnie Haines
spent the week in Washington, D. G.
Miss Minnie Devilbiss, of Baltimore, is WIS.,
iting Mr. and Mrs. William Segafoose.
Miss Luretta Weaver attended Miss Alice
Martins birthday party in Westminster, on
Tuesday evening. She spent the night, and
returned on Wednesday morning with hei
father, Mr.. Harry Weaver.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-11
KILLED AT MOUNT AIRY.
George Bell Kills Herman Hammond, But
Claims the Shooting Was Accidental.

Herman Hammond, celored. was shot and
killed on the railroad station platform at Mt.
Airy by George Bell, colored on Thursday
night of last week. Bell claims the shooting
was accidental He first denied the shooting.
but later admitted it,
On the night of the shooting several colored
youths, aged 18 to 70 years, Jeff Ridgeville To
go to Mt. Airy. In The party were Hammond,
his brother Claude, Jim Gray aud George
Bell. Hammond was employed on farm at
Ridgeville and Bell on the farm of Mr.. May
nard at Mt. Airy. As they we're leaving
RidgeviIie Bell pulled out pistol and fired
into the ground.
After the party reached Mt. Airy game of
crap was played for about two hours. There
was not much money in the party, aid at the
conclusion one person, Holland or Hopkins,
had won all. The game was without dispute
or quarrel, and the players loitered about the
station for some time after it was over.
Holland or Hopkins asked Claude Ham
mond how much he weighed. Hammond said
he did not know. Holland or Hopkins then
gave him penny to get weighed. As Ham
mond was going toward the weighing machine
he heard pistol shot, and turning around
saw his brother, Herman Hammond, Keeling,
Bell called out, sswho shot? Claude replied
'syou did, knowing that Bell had a pistol.
Bell said he did not shoot, and told Claude to
search him, and if he found pistol he would
acknowledge he did the shooting.
Claude then went to his brother Herman
and said leone on, let's go home" Receiv
ing no answer he said to Bell you have killed
him.
Claude Hammond, Jim Gray and George
Bell started to tell Herman's mother, and on
the way Bell confessed to the shooting. claim
ing that the pistol was fred accidentally.
After Hammond was shot Bell threw the
pistol away, but il was subsequently found,
and identified by Jim Gray as his property.
Justice Frank l. Lewis, acting corner, sum
moned jury and held an inquest ON Friday.
After hearing evidence Bell was held for court
and was brought to Jail here on Friday night.
States Attorney Weant happened to be in
Mt. Airy on other business, and attended the
inquest.