davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
BRYAN TALKS OF
 SILVER DECLINE
SAYS THE DROPPING OF IT AS eTANDARD BY SEVERAL CoUN- TRIES NATURALLY MAKES IT GO DoWN-IS IN MEXICO.

Mexico City, December 26.-The papers Bryan here, but it Is understood that his visit Is merely one of pleasure and recre- ation being accompanied by his wife and children.
 Talking on the silver question, he said: While India has suspended the coinage of silver. she still uses silver as her money, and England coins a large num- Der of rupes annually for India's needs. If Mexico were to adopt the gold stand ard 1t would naturally still further re- duce the price of silver. and If Mexico in spite of being a large producer of silver, were to discard that metal as the standard money it is not improbable that India and China might be led by the same influences to do the same thing While this is only speculation. it is a pos sibility that must be considered. An addi- ton of seven hundred million of people to the present gold-using population of the world would cause an enormous de- mand for gold over and apove the present demand. No one can estimate accurately the effect of such a demand on the pur- chasing power of gold. but it could hardly fall to materially reduce prices and en- nance the value of money and fixed in- vestments."
 MT. Bryan proposes to make side trips to the hot country and also to Toluca, capital of the state of Mexico, where Governor Villada, a warm personal friend, is chief magistrate
 MT. Bryan was received by President Diaz this afternoon, and the interview was very cordial, but of purely per- sonal character.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
MINERS EXPECTING
 INCREASE IN WAGES
Movement on Foot to Raise Salaries of President Mitchell and Secretary WiSon-The Wage Conference at Indiana
 polls is Expected to Break All Records

of the organization, takes 1t for granted that an increase will be allowed. The only speculation it sees is as to the exact in- crease to be determined on.
 The credentials and auditing committee of the mine workers will meet here again Monday to begin the canvass of the vote of the locals for the national officials and the credentials of the delegates to the annual wage conference to be held here in January and February The polls in the election of officers will be closed on Wednesday, and the credentials of all delegates must be received at the national headquarters here by January g.
 The wage conference will break all records for labor conventions. Last year there were about 1000 delegates. repre- senting a membership of nearly s50,000 It is expected there will be over 200 delegates to the coming convention, as the organization has had a great growth
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
SPECIAL COURTESY
 HAS BEEN ABUSED
TREASURY DEPARTMENT FORGED TO STOP GRANTING PRIVILEGES TO GREAT MANY PERSONS WHO WANT TO PASS PORTS.

Washington, December 26.-Because of abuse of the practice of extending special courtesies to arriving passengers at ports of entry. the treasury department has issued the following circular limiting con siderahly the granting of such courtesies in the future. The chief officers of cus- toms are hereby instructed that the ex- tension of special courtesies to passengers will hereafter be limited to foreign am- secretary, naval and military and other attaches of embassies, and legations and high commissioners and to similar repre- sentatives of this government returning from their missions.
 All of the above officers are entitled by International usage to the free entry Of their baggage and effects of them selves, families and suites without ex- animation. In the case of invalids and their companions and of persons arriving in charge of their dead or summoned home in haste by news of affiction or disaster, instructions will be issued to facilitate the landing and examination of their baggage. But such instructions will be construed as only relieving persons from waiting their turn in line. Their baggage will be carefully examined and duties in full collected as though no fa- Yor had been shown The word "cour- tesy' has grown to have a meaning never intended and its use must be avoided in the issuance of personal considerati tion cards. No requests for special courtesies will hereafter be granted except under the above conditions. It is also found imperatively necessary in the interest of revenue, to hold the issuances of passes 10 revenue vessels which carry boarding ofhcers to their assigned vessels, as such passes will not longer be furnished ex- cept under the retrictions above set forth regarding courtesies and by the special authority of this department"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
HORRIBLE CRIME DISCLOSED.
Robbery Committed, the Storekeeper
 Murdered and House Burned.

Matthews, Ga, December 26.--At a late hour Christmas eve night an unknown man called at the home of Edward Gay, six miles from here. and asked him to change bill. MT. Gay. not having the change, walked with the man to his store not far distant and they entered it. It is supposed the stranger then drew a re- volver on MT. Gay and forced him to open his safe, which contained s12O0. He then probably murdered MT. Gay and sci hre to the store to hide his crime.
 The store was completely gutted and yesterday the safe was found open and the skull of Mir Gay was found in the ruins. The whole community is in a high pitch of excitement. So far there Is no clue to the perpetrator of the crime.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
MORGAN HAD CHRISTMAS TREE. Each of the Servants Presented With
 an Extra Months Wages.

New York December 26--J. P Morgan and his family held their celebration Christmas night around a huge electric lighted tree in co of the conservatories of their home. The electric lighting de- vice is said to have been Mrs. Morgans idea.
 Late in the afternoon the tree was com pletely laden and a private watchman took his stand in the conservatory, f[r some of the gifts were of great value. After dinner the servants filed into the doorway, where they were received, by MT. and Mrs. Morgan. As their naites were called they stepped to the tree where they received envelopes containing new crisp bills to the amount of one months wages from MT. Morgan. Mrs. Morgan and her daughters also had gift for each of them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
Four-Masted Bark Aground.

masted bark, name and nationality un- known, is aground and abandoned on the north shore of Terra del Fuego, about thirty miles from San Diego point. The news of this marine disaster was brought here by Captain Craig. who arrived to- day in command of the British ship, Af- ghanistan The description of the wreck fills a number of overdue vessels Among them is the Paul Rickau, twenty-seven days from Bangcock, for Germany; the bark Columbia, twenty-one days from Philadelphia, for Piopho, and the British bark Crompton, which sailed from here September A.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27

INDIANAPOLIS, December 26.-It Is
 probable that at the coming conven- tion of the United Mine Workers of America, a movement will be inaugurated to increase the salaries of President Mitchell and Secretary Wilson. At pres ent MT. Mitchell receives $1sOO year. while MT. Wilson's compensation is $500. During the strike both of these men, with the other officers. contributed 25 per cent of their wages to the strike fund The friends of the officers will ask that the salaries be raised The miners are look Ing forward to securing an increase in pay for themselves inasmuch as they claim the operators have had a success ful season and they want to share the profits.
 The Mine Workers Journal. the organ
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
ONE KILLED, THREE INJURED.
Were Walking on Track and Failed to
 Notice Approaching Train.

Ridgewood N. J., December 26.-One man was killed and three injured, one probably fatally, on the railroad tracks here today The man killed was Edward Martin, who was employed by H. B. Strong & Co. of Cleveland, Ohio.
 The injured: Henry Naholic, Berea. Ohio, skull fractured; Stenil Stanislauski. Berea, injured about face and body: VII liam Shields, undercliff, N. J., back in- jured.
 The men were walking on the west bound track and failed to notice the ap- proach of a passenger train.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
INDEX TO TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.

Washington, December 26.-Following Is the weather forecast for Alabama: Fair continued cold Saturday; Sunday fair with rising temperature; light to fresh north to east winds.
 Page One. Venezuelan controversy goes to the Hague tribunal Cold wave still hovers over the south. Destructive gale strikes Denmark. Kansas mob hanged wrong negro. Miners expect to ask increase.
 Page Two. Fatal wreck in Canada. Mrs. U. S. Grants will probated.
 Page Three. General state news. Speakership race grows warmer. Several fatalities reported from Selma.
 Page Four. Editorial comment. Gossip heard in the Hobbies.
 Page Five. Appointment of receivers Jails overcrowded. Cold weather in Birmingham. Production of iron and steel in the United States. Miners in this district taking little holi- day.
 Page Six. Social notes and personals
 Page Seven. Local and foreign market reports.
 Pag, Eight Dun and Bradstreet's trade reviews. Island of Guam in bad straits fnan- cially.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
Station Conference Falls Throuuh.

Memphis, December 26.-The proposed conference of executive officials of the Memphis Initial railway lines to consider ways and means for building a union station in this city, has been postponed indefinitely owing to the fact that sev- eral interested lines could not be repre- sented. The meeting was called for Jan uary G. by Russell Harding, vice president and general manager of the Missouri Pa cif1n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
To Investigate the Plaque.

Washington, December 26.-The United have decided to dispatch an expert to the coast of the Gulf of California in Mexico to investigate the reports of the appearance of plague among the immi- grant Chinese there, but no one has vet been designated for the service The bu- reau already has received authentic e. ports of the appearance of a suspicious disease among those people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
KANSAS MOB LYNCHED
 GUILTY MANS BROTHER

Plttsburg, Kan, December 26.-Inves- tlgation today tends to show that Joe Cooley brother of Montgomery Cooley who was Iynched by a mob here yester- day for killing Policeman Hinkle, Is the man the mob intended to hang. It seems that Joe Cooley escaped during the lynching.
 It is now thought that Joe Cooley fired the shot which killed the policeman, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
WRECKED ON CORAL REEF
Steamer Reaches Galveston Having On
 Board Rescued Crew.

Galveston, December 26-The Gulf Fish cries company's steamer Anstice arrived in port today from the fishing banks off the coast of Yucatan, bringing with her the crew of the wrecked schooner Mizpah.
 The Mizpah, while under full sail dur ing the night of the 2Oth inst ran on an exposed coral reef, known as Key Adena, and was later broken up by the seas. The crew of nine men escaped in small boats and were rescued by the schooner William Young. Later they were taken aboard the steamer Anstice and brought to this port.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27

that the man who was lynched was the wrong one. The mother of the Cooley boys is said to have asked a physician here to treat Joe for gunshot wound abouts of her son and the doctor refused to go with her. The officers revolver, with which he was killed, has not been found. and it is believed that the man who did the killing has the pistol in his possession.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
BIG FIRE IN MISSISSIPPI.
Glen Allen, a Village In Mississippi,
 Almost Totally Destroyed.

vicksburg December 26.-Glen Allen, a village in Washington county. with a population of between 400 and 800. was al- most totally destroyed by fire this morn ing, only two business blocks and an oil mill being saved.
 The following mercantile establishments were burned:
 James Haber & Co.,, Ben Lee, Potask & Co.,, A. D. Jones. Charles Youngblood, S. N. Spencer, J. R. Gage and the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley railroad depot
 The financial loss has not been estimat- ed, but it will be heavy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
MEMPHIS DEAL DECLARED OFF. Principal Owner of Street Car System
 Is Unwilling to Sell at Any Price.

Memphis. December 26.-The deal look ing to the purchase of the. local street car system in this city was declared off today. Vice-President and General Man. ager Frank G. Jones, who named a price of S7000,000 to Hart D. Newman of Isa- dore Newman & Sons, New Orleans. pros pective purchasers today stated that c. K. G. Billings, the principal stockholder. is unwilling to sell at any price.
 MT. Billings is preparing to sail for Paris with Anthony E,ady of New York in connection with the formation of a European gas deal now under way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
Christmas Shooting in Kentucky.

Grayson, Ky, December 26.-Thomas Friley was shot and killed, and his wife was dangerously wounded by Clyde and Claude Hall near Branigan. in Carter county. Mrs. Friley was shot while she was trying to prevent the killing of her husband The Hall brothers have sur rendered. They claim the shooting was h self defense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
An Ex-Rouuh Rider Dead

New York December 26.-Dr. Frederick l.. Brady. who was member of Roose- velt's rough riders in the Spanish-Amerf- can war, is dead in a hospital here from typhoid fever. In the Spanish-American war he was in the engagement at Las Guasimas, the battle of San Juan hill and the siege of Santiago, making an honorable record
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27

the decision to refer the Venezuelan mat ter to The Hague is the radical Daily News which sees a chance of making ar bitration once more a reputable theory. Paying tribute to the coolness of Pres ident Roosevelt and the correct attitude of the United stated during this sorry business" the Daily News says:
 ''The Venezuelan crisis has done much to enhance MT. Roosevelts reputation and to bring home to Englishmen the essential friendliness or the American people,
 The Daily Mall In an attack upon the government says:
 Thus end. perhaps, the most inglorious episode in which Great Britain has en- gagged in recent years"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
s. A. E. Grants Charter.

Washington, December 2e.-The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at today's ses- sion granted charters to the following chapters: University of Wisconsin, Uni versity of Chicago. University of Kansas, Virginia Military institute and the Colo rado School CT Mines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
SUITS ARE FILED
 FOR S6,OOO,OOO
ATTORNEYS FOR THE UTAH FUEL e COMPANY BEGIN LEGAL ATTACK ON COLORADO FUEL AND IRON coMPANY-LAND TITLE IN IT.

Denver, Col, December 26.-Suits rep resenting in the value involved $5,00O0oO have been filed in the United States land office at Pueblo by attorneys for the Utah Fuel company against the Colorado Fuel and Iron company These suits are forty in number and involve title to 9OO0 acres of coal land on the western slope valued at $1000 an acre.
 It is alleged that the Colorado Fuel and Iron company is holding the land as agri- cultural land and the patents and appli- cations so read. and the Utah company will lose heavily in coal mines already opened unless the titles obtained by the Colorado company are set aside. The suits, it is believed are a side step to the merging of the two corporations. the action being taken to clear the titles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
Passenger Commits Suicide.

Havre, December 26.-Officers of the French line steamer La Touraine from New York, December 16, which arrived here yesterday, report that saloon pas senger, Juan Exchyerrai. committed sui eide by jumping overheard December 21.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
Office of coadjutor Created.

Cincinnati. December 26.--An official let ter from Rome, creating the office of coadjutor to Archbishop Elder has been received in Cincinnati.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
Cardinal Gibbons at Baltimore.

Baltimore, December 26.-Cardinal Gib- bons left here tonight for Pittsburg where he will take part in the celebration in the golden jubilee of the passionlsts orders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
Roosevelt VIII Positively Not Act as Arbitrator in
 the Matter
POSITION TAKEN IS
 APPROVED BY CABINET
England Is Not Exactly Satisfied at the Turn or Affairs, But Accepts 1t With as Much Grace
 as Possible.

Washington, December 26-President Roosevelt will not be the arbitrator or the Venezuelan controversy. The whole vexatious question will be referred for adjudication to The Hague tribunal.
 Epitomlzed, this was the situation as 1t had resolved itself into at the conclusion of the cabinet meeting today. The meet ing was not so long as the sessions of the cabinet usually are. All the members except Secretary Root were present. The Venezuelan question was the principal and practically the only topic of general concern under consideration. Secretary Hay presented the net results of his cable correspondence with the governments at London, Berlin, Rome and Caracas.
 In accordance with the suggestion made several days ago by President Roosevelt through Secretary Hay, President Castro of Venezuela was reported to have agreed to submit the differences between his gov ernment and the European powers to the arbitration of the tribunal at The Hague. The European powers not only consented 10 submit the controversy to arbitration. but while they had expressed a preference President Roosevelt they had assented to his suggestion that the matter be re- ierred to The Hague.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-27
MET WITH HEARTY
 APPROVAL OF CABINET.

The presentation of the case met with hearty approval of the members of the cabinet. No fear is expressed by the administration that the Monroe doctrine will be brought into the controversy in any manner that might result in an em- barrassing situation for the United States. Secretary Hay is preparing note to the powers in which the qualification of this government is expressed for the course agreed upon by them in settle ment of the pending difficulties
 No intimation is given of the conditions which may have been imposed by the European powers or by President Castro precedent to the arbitration. 1t is known that Great Britain was willing to submit the subject to the arbitration of Presi- dent Roosevelt practically without condi- tions, but the suggestion is made that one and perhaps two of the other powers involved proposed some conditions which might have proved embarrassing to the President, had he undertaken the respon- slbility of determining the question.
 It is understood some money must pass, but is also known that the amount of cash to be required of Venezuela before arbitration is not nearly so large as has DeeH Sldleu. IL IS HOl poSSlDle lO learn either whether the allies insist upon apol- ogies from Castro, and. while it is as- sumed that the-blockaGe Will be speedily raised, no arrangements to that end has yet been made: The energies of the nego- tiators are now being devoted to the framing of what will be known as a con- lition protocol, and it is hoped that while this class of document does not under take to closely define issues to be pre- ,ented it will still contain provision for the removal of the blockade
Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-09-20
.ospyrighs 1901. Street and Smith. New York.
CHAPTEK X.-LContIn

CHAPTER x.-(ContInued.
Charlie did not spare himself one
tota.
He had recovered his senses just as
the baron. who had been engaged look
ing after the security of the fair cap
tive, entered the prison
The baron stormed and rayed more
'or less when he discovered how they
had been taken in so neatly by this
ex-sailor, whom he looked upon as a
bungIer.
Charlie begged the baron to trouble
himself no longer about Capt. Brand
since Airline was doubtless by this
time safe on board the steamer.
Very good" was the baron's reply,
with sigh of relief, for he seemed to
be overburdened of late with official
cares, or something that pressed upon
his mind; "but if you hope to get
aboard before the steamer leaves you
must hurry, for there is just a scant
half hour.
4 Charlie called for a cab and said
'good-by to his friend. the baron. He
would always have a lingering sus
picion Peterhoff was glad to get rid
of him, as though he thought Charlie
and his affairs took up too much of
his precious time, which should be de-
voted to matters of more serious con-
sequence.
He managed to get aboard just as
the order to draw in the last gang
plank was given. This sailing at night
was something quite out Of the usual
run, but there was a special reason
for it, quite satisfactory to the officials
of the line, and all intended passen-
gers had been warned to be on board
in time.
1t happened that Charlie discovered
Capt Brand in the smoking saloon in
time to keep beyond the range of mis-
vision.
To Charles establishment when
Brand took notion to retire, he blum
dered into the wrong stateroom, which
chanced to be the one that had been
assigned to Stuart.
This might have been deep design;
but, after carefully considering it from
all sides, Charlie felt disposed to call
it an accident.
He found rest in another room
which the steward opened for him.
And now here they were, with an
elephant on their hands, so to speak,
bound to come into daily and hourly
contact with the strange man whom
they strongly suspected, and with good
reason, of being a most stupendous
fraud
Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-09-20
CHAPTER Nj.
OF Fire Island Light.

On Fire Island Light.
Charlie had written from Antwerp
to certain quarters in London, from
which he might expect to receive posi-
tive information regarding Captain
Brand.
He had done this to satisfy Airline.
So far as he himself was concerned
his mind was already made up most
positively.
If Brand was surprised to see Char
lie on board, he gave no evidence of
it.
He concocted some affecting story,
which he spun in Arline's ears, and
with such success that he actually
gained little of his former ascen-
dency in her mind, since she was
haunted by doubts which it seemed
impossible to dispel.
Artemus amused himself studying
the old mariner. He even played a
few games with him in the smoking
room, where men of all degrees are
socially inclined.
Captain Brand was the same as of
yore.
The tales he spun of his wonderful
adventures in the African deserts
were weird enough to take ones
breath away
Artemus listened, almost charmed;
and his interest grew apace until one
day it struck him that the personal
adventures which the captain so mod
estly ascribed to himself had some
what nusty flavor, as became ancient
chestnuts.
This aroused suspicion.
Artemus set about an investigation.
Lo and behold. upon secretly looking
into the captains stateroom, while
the gentleman was holding forth among
his cronies above, Artemus discovered
a well-thumbed volume of Adventures
and Explorations in the Dark Contin-
ent''
The captains secret was out
For once he had carelessly omitted
to keep the source of his knowledge
under lock and key.
Artemus borrowed the volume and
took copious notes, intending to have
a little fun al Brands expense from
time to time.
He took occasion to relate all this
to Charlie, who, in turn, told Lady Ar
line.
Strange that even this new and
blackening evidence could not wholly
convince her. Filial love must have
had a strong hold indeed upon the ten
der heart of this girl who had from
Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-09-20

We must be as careful to keep
friends as to make them. The affec-
tions should not be mere tents of
a night" Friendship gives no privi-
lege to make ourselves disagreeable,
Lord Avebury
Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-09-20
A WARRIOR BOLD.
By ST. GEORGE RATHBoRNE.

Asthor OF Little Miss Aitlions,- .7As spidsr's
Wac, "'"Dr Jack's Widow" Mise Caprice" etc