davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05
AN ALI BABA
OF THE SIERRAS
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyright, 1902, By Bret Harte)

The sentinel was examining the ground
near the heap Of debris.
What's up2" grOwled the desperate.
"Foot-tracks, Weren't here before.
And fresh ones. too"
Johnnys heart sank 1t was where
he had just passed.
Spanish Pete hurriedly joined his
companion.
"Foot-tracks he -" he said scorn-
fully. What fool would be crawlin'
round here barefooted? It's a young
bar"
Johnny knew the footprints were his
own. Yet he recognized the truth Of
the resemblance: it was uncOmplimen-
tary. but he felt relieved. The desper-
ado came forward. and 10 the boys
surprise began to climb the small ridge
of outcrop until he reached the fallen
tree. Johnny saw that he was carry
ing a heavy stone. What's the blam-
ed fool goin' to do?" he said to himself:
the mans evident ignorance regarding
footprints had lessened the boys awe
OF him. But the strangers next essay
took Johnny's breath away. Standing
on the fallen tree trunk at its axis on
the outcrop he began to rock it gently.
To Johnny's surprise il began to move.
The upper end descended slowly, lift
ing the root in the excavation at the
lower end. and with it a mass of rock,
and revealed cavern behind large
enough to admit a man. Johnny gasp
ed. The desperate coolly deposited the
neavy stone on the tree beyond its
axis on the rock so that it would keep
the tree in position, leaped from the
tree to the rock, and quickly descended
At which he was Joined by
the other man, who was carrying
two heavy channels leather bags
They both proceeded to the open
ing thus miracuously disclosed, and
disappeared in it.
Johnny sat breathless, wondering. ex-
pectant, but not daring to move The
men might come out at any moment;
he had seen enough to know that their
enterprise as well as their cave was
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05

secret. and that the desperate would
subject any witness to it, however in
nocent or unwilling, to horrible penal
ties. The time crept slowly By; he
heard every rap of a woodpecker in
distant tree, blue jay dipped and
lighted on branch within his reach,
but he dared not extend his hand: his
legs were infested by ants, he even
fancied he heard the dry hollow rattle
of a rattlesnake not a yard from him.
And then the entrance to the cave was
darkened, and the two men reappear-
ed. Johnny started. He would have
rubbed his eyes if he had dared They
We're not the same men! Did the cave
contain others who had been all the
while shut up in its dark recesses
Was there a band? Would they all
swarm out upon him? Should he run
for his life?
But the illusion was only momentary.
A longer look at them convinced him
that they were the same men in new
clothes and disguised, and as one re-
mounted the outcrop. Johnny's keen
eyes recognized him as Spanish Pete
He merely kicked away the stone. the
root again descended gently over the
opening, and the tree recovered its
former angle. The two hurried away.
but Johnny noticed that they were
empty-handed. The bags had been left
behind.
The boy waited patiently, listening
with his ear to the ground, like an
Indian. for the last rustic of fern and
crackle of underbrush, and then
emerged stiff and cramped from his
concealment. But he no longer
thought of flight; curiosity and ambi-
ton burned in his small veins He
quickly climbed up the outcrop, pick
ed up the fallen stone, and in spite of
it's weight lifted it to the PROSTATE
tree. Here he paused and from his
coign of vantage looked and listened
The solitude was profound. Then
mounting the tree and standing over
its axis he tried to rock it as the 9TH
ers had. Alas! Johnny's heart was
stout, his courage unlimited, his per-
ception all embracing. his ambition
boundless; but his actual avoirdupois
was only that of a boy of ten The
tree did not move But Johnny had
played see-saw before. and quietly
moved towards it's highest part. 1t
slowly descended under the changed
center of gravity and the root arose
disclosing the opening as before Yet
here the little hero paused He waited
with his eyes fixed on the opening,
ready 70 fly on the sallying out Of
anyone who had remained concealed.
He then placed the stone where he had
stood, leaped down, and ran to the
opening.
The change from the dazzling sun
light to the darkness confused him at
first, and he could see nothing On
entering he stumbled over something
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY OCTOBER 5 1902

which proved to be a bottle in which
a candle was fitted, and a box of
matches evidently used by the two
men. Lighting the candle, he could
now discern that the cavern was only
a few yards long-the beginning OF a
tunnel which the accidenl to the tree
had stopped. In one corner lay the
clothes that the men had left. and
which for a moment seemed all that
the cavern contained, but on remoV-
ing them, Johnny saw that they were
thrown over rife. a revolver and the
two chamois leather bags that the men
had brought there. They were so heavy
that the boy could scarcely lift them.
His face flushed, his hands tremDled
with excitement. To a boy whose tru-
ant wanderings had given him fair
knowledge of mining, he knew that
weight could have but one meaning,
Gold! He hurriedly united the nearest
bag. But it was not the gold of the
locality, of the tunnel, OF the bed
rock" 1t was flake gold" the gold Of
the river. II had been taken from the
miners sluices in the distant streams.
The bags before him were the spoils
of the sluiCe rObber-spoils that could
not be sold or even shown in the dis
trict without danger-spoils kept IN
Ill they could be taken To MarysVille
OF Sacramento for disposal All this
might nave occurred To the nina OF
any boy of the locality who had heard
the common gossip of his elders, but
to Johnny's fancy an idea was kindled
peculiarly his own Here was a cavern
like that of the Forty Thieves" in
the story book and he was the Ali
Baba who knew it's secret, He was not
obliged to say open, sesame but
he could say it if he liked. if he was
showing it off to anybody.
Yet alas! he also knew II was a Sc
cret he must keep to himself. He had
nobody to trust it to. His father was
a charcoal burner of small means: a
widower with two children, Johnny
and his elder brother Sam. The lat
ter, fragrant incorrigible of %, with
a tendency to dissipation and low
company, had lately abandoned his
fathers roof. only to reappear at in
terVals of hilarious or maudlin intoxi-
cation. He had always been held up
To Johnny as a warning. or with the
gloomy prognosis that he, Johnny, was
already following in his tortuous foot
steps. Even if he We're here he was
not to be thought of as a confidant
SIN less could ne trust his father, who
would be sure to bungle the secret
with sheriffs and cons stables, and end
by bringing down the vengeance of the
gang upon the family. AS for himself
he could not dispose of the gold if he
were to take it, The exhibition of a
single flake of it to the adult public
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05

would arouse suspicion. and as it was
Johnny's hard fate to be always doubt
ed. he might be connected with the
gang. AS a truant he knew he had
no moral standing, but he also had the
superstition-quite characteristic of
childhood-that being in possession of
a secret he was a participant in its
criminality-and bound, as it were, by
terrible >0aths! And then a new idea
seized him. He carefully put back
everything as he had found il, eXtin-
Suished the candle, left the cave, re-
mounted the tree and closed the OPEN
ing again, as he had seen the others
do it., with the addition of murmuring
shut, sesame" to himself, and then
ran away as fast as his short legs
could carry him.
Well clear of the dangerous vicinity.
he proceeded more leisurely for about a
mile, until he came to a low white
washed fence, enclosing a small Gull
tivated patch and a neat farm house
beyond. Here he paused, and covering
Dehlnd the fence, with extraordinary
facial contortions, produced a cry not
unlike the scream of a blue jay. Re
peating it at intervals, he was pres
emily relieved by observing the APP
proach of nankeen sunbonnet within
the enclosure above the line of fence
stopping before him. the sunbonnet re-
vealed rosy little face, more than
usually plump on one side and a neck
enormously. wrapped in a scarf. 1t was
Nicely" (Amelia) Stryker, a school
mate, detained at home by
mumps, as Johnny was previously
aware. For. with the famous indiscre-
ton of some other great heroes, he was
about to entrust his secret and his
destiny to one of the weaker sex. And
what were the minor possibilities of
contagion to this?
"Playin' hockey agin?" said the
young lady with cordial and even
expansive smile, exclusively confined
to one side of her face.
"Um! Sod you be eff you'd bin whar
l heV," he said, with narrowing mys-
terry.
"No-say!" said Nicely, eagerly.
AT which Johnny, clutching at the
top OF the fence, with hurried breath
told his story. But not all. with the in
sunct of a true artist he withheld the
manner in which the opening of the
cave was revealed, said nothing about
the tree. and, l grieve to say, added
the words open sesame" as the i'm
portant factor to the operation. Meth
er did he mention the name of Span-
tsh Pete. For all of which he was aft
erwards duly grateful.
Meet me at the burnt pine down the
cross roads at O'clock" he said. in
conclusion, land I'll show We"
why not now?" said Nicely. impa-
tiently
couldn't. Much as my life is WORTH
Must keep watching out! You come at
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05

She was a teacher in one of the lower
classes, and she was trying to remind
the young scholar of the letter 81"
Now, Tommy. what comes at the
end of dinner?' ooh, yes, pingpong!"
shouted Tommy joyfully.-Yonker
Statesman.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05
(THE END.o


-"Alice says that book she's reading
is very good" Yes. she even got so
interested in it in the street-car that
she let several women get up and go
out without looking up TO see how
their dresses hung Philadelphia
Evening Bulletin.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05

why" said the indignant house
keeper, Il gave you a piece of cake
last week. sir" "Yes'm." replied
Weary Willie, but dey's been so
many tragedies lately l wanted Z ease
yer mind by shown v dat I'm stu
hvin'."-Ra&iniore News,
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05

digestion, Cures Dys
pepsia. Composed of
pure Botanic Ingredi
ents, A h orc ug hl3
tested for thirty years.
Druggists. or by e.
press. Il per large tot
tie, with complete di-
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05

rections or home cure. Sample free ana ma.
paid by writing Blood Balm Co.. Atlanta Ia
Describe trouble and free medical advice N
suit your case, also sent in a sealed letter.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
DOIEGS OF CRAFT
ALONG THE RIVER

The tugboat Iyanhoe, belonging 10
The Delaware Mining and Granite
Company, (which recently was destroy
ed by fire at the wharves of the Dia-
mond Ice Company was towed to the
wharves of the local branch of The
American Car and Foundry Company
today to be rebuilt.
The oil tanker Major Barrett was
hauled from the marine railway today
and will leave for Philadelphia late
this afternoon. The craft has been
sheathed with galvanized iron and
other repairs have been made.
steam barge belonging to The
Charles Warner Company has been
taken to the yards Of the company fol
general overhauling.
The three-mast schooner Anna f
Conley. with a cargo Of pine lumber
from the Keystone Lumber Company
arrived at the wharves of the Harlan
and Hollingsworth Company yesterda
afternoon in tow of the tugs Ale
| Y. Hanna and Philadelphia.
The steam barge Bill Miller, o
Philadelphia. is discharging a cargo o
sand at Market street wharf.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
ANOTHER QUIET SESSIOH
OF THB CITY COURT

There was another quiet session OF
City Court today. which leads to the
belief that New Year resolutions are
being kept.
James Johnson was the first pris-
oner arraigned, and pleaded guilty to a
charge of drunkenness. He was fined
81 and costs.
John Malavin, whose face is famil-
lar to all who visit the court, was
again in the prisoners dock, and in
order to keep him away for several
months, Judge Churchman put the
fees at $40 and costs.
James Milbourne was fined 80 ant
costs for begging in the French stree
station. Milbourne was arrested b,
Officer Gordy while begging in th'
waiting room.
Patrick Schagin, wild-eyed, with hi
attire in shreds, and a heavy stock o
matted hair about his face, ere
ated q stir in the court room. Tn
other occupants OF the pen got as ia
from him as possible. He was arrests
by a special officer of the Baltimor
and Ohio railroad. and was fined 5
and costs
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
NEW YEAR 5 CELEBRATION
DELIGHTFUL OCCASION

There were about 500 persons pres
ent at the New Years reception given
by the local Y NJ c. A. last evening
A general open-hOuse was held. Rich
ard Mclaughlin was I'm charge OF the
affair." and a corps Of ushers took care
of tho visitors.
Mumuth UlTich opened the exercises
with a piano solo, The seniors next
took the floor and performed a series
.of difficult feats Miss Anna a. Sim
mons gave a vocal solo and Charles B.
Palmer recited j. j. Grubb sang a bass
solo. Miss Edna Bradheld played on
the violin. The program was COM
pleted with an exhibition drill ON the
llh'orse and a tug of war by the mem-
bers Of the gymnasium class. and a
recitation by Professor Douglass, of
Goldey College
W. II. Bryson, a member of the as
sociation. entertained the little fo,S
with his wit and funny acting Among
those present was Former Secretary
Williams, whose time expired at 10
lo'cloclg on the evening of December 81
His successor has not yet been ap-
pointed. and IN the meantime Assist
amt Secretary Raymond Cotton anC
! Physical Director Wales will look af
ter the interests Of the association.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
NO CHURCH CANON VIOLATED
Sensational Publication Given a Mar
riage by City Church Pastor

AS result of having married
Charles Elliott and Virginia Hollis,
minors, by which ceremony City Solici-
tor Reinhardt contends that the Rev.
IF. b. Short defeated justice, the city
Official says he will present charges of
conduct unbecoming a church pastor
against Mr.. Short at the next meeting
Of the Wilmington Conference. IL is
almost certain that the charges viii
fall. however, Presiding Elder Watt
Of this district Of the Wilmington Con-
ference. having said that Mr. Shcrt
violated no canon of the church in
marrying the coupe. Sensational pub
| llication of the matter appears unwar-
lranted in the light Of the facts.
When asked about the marriage Mr..
Short said:
During the almost ten years that !
have been ia this city ! have tried to
\ be law-abiding citizen. and to con-
duct myself in a manner becoming 40
my profession. But it now seems that
] am guilty of O. most serious charge
and that / may be most severely deaa
with at THE coming session Of the Will
lmington Conference. For wihat2 Marry.
ling Charles Elliott and Virginia Hol
lis
Eyes, / married them. but ] did no
know at the time that Judge Church
man was holding them I'm bail charged
with any crime. The simple facts il
the case are: Julian G. Walker. witt
the boys father and the girls mothe
(the only living parents OF either o
them) came to my house by engage
ment with Virginia and Charles.
Before performing the ceremony
asked Virginia: DO you love Charlie
and want 10 marry himg She answer
ed. yes. Speaking to Charles, I said
DO you love Virginia. and want
marry her?'
"He replied, I do Then addressin
Alfred L. Elliott. the father Of Charlie
y / asked. Are you willing for Charlie
= Ito marry this girl? He replied, Il am
s Finally I asked Mrs. Futon. the motihl
1 of the girl. Do you want Virginia
r marry this man? She replied, L do,
order to save her from disgrace.
"The foregoing, or words to thi
effect. is the conversation that toe
d place before the ceremony was pc
q formed in the presence of the abov
|, named witnesses.
:, "In thus doing I have not viOlat
y any law or canon of the Methodi
~ Episcopal Church. or amy statute Of d
u State Of Delaware for THE licen
% which they submitted to me gave n
or any ordained minister of the GOse
the right TO marry Charles Elliott al
% Virginia Hollis"
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
FOR HARBOR
IMPROVEMENT
Congressman Ball Interested
in tho Work
MILL MEET DELAWAREANS
is With WilmingtOnianS This After
noon and Will be Down The
State Tomorrow

CONGRESSMAN Ball will confer with
the Wilmington Board Of Trade this
afternoon relative TO the city's needs
in river Improvement The subject will
be discussed at tonights meeting Of
the board. but DR.. Ball will not be
present he having an appointment for
that time with the Milford Board OF
Trade. which body wants a Govern
ment appropriation of $4,000 for Mis-
pillion creek improvement
The subject of improvement to the
harbor of Wilmington will be dis
cussed at length before the local board
by those men of the city who are in
terested in manufacturing establish
lments. They will point out the advan-
tages to be gained by a deeper and
wider Chrisuana creek. and will urge
the board to ask for a large appropria-
ton. Dr. Ball being convinced that
! Christiana creek improvement is nee
essary to the prosperity of the bis
lshipbuilding and other plants located
lalong it, and to the city's general busi-
mess interests. will lend all his inflenc'
lin obtaining whatever appropriation
the local Board of Trade may ask for
Tomorrow afternoon Congressman
Ball will meet a delegation of Ken
Icounty citizens who desire a $4,000
appropriation for ST. Jones creek i'm
provement. They want the waterwa.
dredged to a depth of seven feet.
Committees representing the thre
creeks mentioned viii go to Washing
ton with Dr. Ball in the near lHture t'
press their claims before the Join
River and Harbor Committee of Con
gress.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
TRUSTEES AWARD CONTRACTS
ether Business to be Transacted by
Stata BOARD This Altern0Nn

Trustees OF the Delaware State Hos
pital for Insane are in session at Fam
hurst today.
Reports submitted show thc number
of patients admitted during December
to be one male and two females. There
was one death during the MONTH The
population on January ! consisted oI
ISL males and 1873 females Jesse r.
shepherd. of Middletown. was award
ed the contract for clothing and dry
goods John T. Dcvine received the
contract for beef and w E Frank for
groceries The contracts are for -four
months Others will be awarded at
the afternoon session.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
RESTRICTING DIVORCES
No Separation In District Of Columbia
Except For lniidelity.

ENNNHN " AfANfN~f'~ys
Washington. Jan. "a new code Of
laws for the District Of Columbia went
into effect yesterday The code is moi
a complete body of laws for the gov
ernment of the district, the old Mary
land statutes, the common law, and
the statutes Of congress relating tc
the district remaining in force, except
where inconsistent with the new body
Of laws The code was passed at the
last session of congress. The fea
ture of most popular interest is
section prohibiting the granting OF di
vorces except for inhdelity, divorces
no longer being procurable for deser
ton, drunkenness, cruelty and othei
offenses against the marital relation
for which a divorce formerly might b'
secured. There is also a considera
Bile change made in the practice be
fore justices of the peace, the city be
ing divided into ten districts, with on
salaried justice in each district.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
Cousins Cannot Marry.

Harrisburg, Jan 2.-The new stat
ute which prohibits first cousins be-
ing joined in wedlock went into force
in this state Yesterday, and hereafter
men and women of such close blood
tie may not marry under the jurisdic
tion Of Pennsylvania without incurrine
the laws displeasure. The new law
makes a ceremony between first cous
ms void as a marriage bond and re
fuses to recognize such ceremony, Il
performed within its borders, as legal
The idea OF the act is based on the
belief Of physicians that marriages be
tween first cousins are detrimental t'
the stamina of their children.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
BURNED FILIPINO BARRACKS
Twenty Armed Insurgents Put to
FLIGHT BY Three Soldiers.

Twenty Armed Insurgents Put to
Flight BY Three Soldiers.
Manila, jan Lieutenant Charles
d. Rhodes, of the Sixth Cavalry ac-
companied by two orderlies, when
within six miles Of Manila, yesterday
came across 20 armed insurgents in
a cuartel or barracks. The insurgents
shouted "Americanos,' and Lieutenant
Rhodes feigned retreat. But in reality
he took the cuartel in flank and drove
out the insurgents, capturing two
rifles, three revolvers and some am
munition. Rhodes then burned the
barracks down and proceeded to
Manila.
General Wheaton's report from the
island of Samar indicates that little
has been accomplished there. The
attitude Of the natives is even more
unfriendly than ever before. On the
other hand, in Batangas province, the
organized campaign against the IN
surgents is progressing favorably, anc
speedy results are expected
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
YOUNG GIRk
AMONG THR MISSING
Thought to Have Come tC
This State But Police
Can't Find Her

Philadelphia. Jan. 2.-The strange
disappearance on Sunday last of Mary
NJ. Harrison. a prepossessing girl of l6
years. has worried the members of her
family and puzzled the police. She
lived with her uncle. George Morris,
No 22O0 North Twentieth street.
The girl left her home, ostensibly to
attend services at the Bethany raber-
nacle Church. Twentieth and Dauphin
streets.
II was thought that she had gone to
see her father Benjamin Harrison, OF
Grubb's Corner. Del, with whom she
has not lived since the death of her
mother. twelve years ago. Mr.. Harri-
son was telegraphed to, but wired
back that his daughter had not visited
him.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
Race Horses Burned In Wreck.

Keithville, La, Jan 2.-One life
was lost, two persons were seriously
injured and part of car OF valuable
race horses enroute from the winter
meeting at New Orleans were de
stroyed I'm q disastrous collision be
tween a Texas Pacific fast freight ano
a Houston east and west Texas freight
on a siding here yesterday Twelve
cars of the Houston east and ives
Texas train caught fire and burned t'
the tracks or the racers the mos
valuable animal is said to have beel
George Arnold, winner of the Christ
mas handicap, the premier stake rae
at New Orleans, who was killed, hi
body being roasted in the fire tina
followed the collision.
Evening journal., 1902-01-02
LOCAL CUPID
WAS BUSY
JanVier Issued zoos Mar
riage Licenses Last Year
INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR
Even Greater Work Is Expected BY
The Clerk in The License Bureau
Tho Present Year

Cupid made n record for himself
during the year just passed Deputy
Clerk of the Peace Janvier issued H.,
O61 marriage licenses. In 1900 he is
sued 1,OOS. a gain of SO.
When Mr., Janvier hands his record
to the Register of Deeds for his in
spection e will show that the first year
Of the new century eclipsed all records
as a marrying year Perhaps Mr. jan
vier Is responsible for this condition.
and perhaps he is not. Anyhow he Is
beginning TO believe himself a sort of
a reviviiied Cupid. he has been con-
nected with the Office so long and has
lassisted so many couples TO take this
sten.
or course the licenses issued cover
great scope i'm ages. The oldest appli-
cants for legal permission TO wed dur
ing the year were 75, and the youngest
Ia lad of rs.
Mr. Janvier Is not the only official in
the city however, who dispenses mar
riage licenses. Any of the city magis-
trates does. and at cost not i'm excess
Of that charged by Mr.. IanVler All
the money finds it's way into the State
treasury. and frequently amounts tc
$4,000 Magistrates issued about 150 OF
4 lthe documents.
The fact that but $3.50 Is charged foi
q the licenses Is an indication that
y was not the low price that prevente'
d $500 young men from visiting tn
offices of Mr. Janvier and the magis
tratea last year.
Mr.. Janvier expects things to hun
y In the license business this year.