davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-10-17

CAT AND SNAKE FIGHT.--The fer.
defiance is one of the most deadly poi
sOnous snakes in the world. 1t is COM
mon in Brazil and some of the West
Indian Islands, and was particularly so
in the forest of Martinique, now destroy
ed by the volcano. The head is flat and
triangular, the leagth five to seven feet
a horny spike on the end of the tail. that
rasped against hard objects. The bite is
almost instantly fatal, and even when
immediate death is ayerted, serious, and
eventually fatal, troubles may set in.
The creature which fears the monster
least is the brave cat Seeing snake,
she at once carries her kittens to place
of safety, then boldly advances to the
encounter She will walk to the very
limit of the serpent's striking range and
begin to feint, teasing him, startling him
trying to draw his blow. A moment
more and the triangular head, kissing
from the coil, flashes swift as if moved by
wings. But swifter still the stroke of the
armed paw that dashes the horror aside,
fiinging it mangled in the dust.
Nevertheless, pussy does not yet dare
to spring; the enemy, still active, has al
most instantly reformed his coil; but
she is again in front of him, watching.
vertical pupil against vertical pupil.
Again the lashing stroke; again the
beautiful countering; again the living
death is hurled aside, and now the
scaled skin is deeply torn, one eye socket
has ceased TO fame. Once more the
stroke of the serpent; once more the
light, quick, cutting blow. But the
trigonocephalus is blind, is stupefed;
before he can attempt to coil pussy has
leaped upon him, mailing the horrible
fiat head to the ground with her two
sinewy paws Now let him lash, writhe,
twine, strive TO strangle her. In vainl
He will never lift his head; an instant
more and he lies still; the keen white
teeth of the cat have severed the vertebro, |
just behind the triangular skull.-[Scots-
nan.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
NEWS OF ARKANSAS.
Old Claims to be Paid.

The senate has passed, without op- position, a bill for the payment of large number of claims for stores and supplies reported by the court of claims under what is generally known as the Bowman act. Many persons in the south and southwest are benefciaries under the bill, which will undoubtedly pass the house and become law. The claims are largely for quarter-master's stores taken by federal troops during the war and the uses of churches and other buildings as hospitals and army headquarters. The allowances for Arkansas are as follows: Samuel F. Davidson, of Phillips county, $1, ,579; John B. Henderson, admin istrator of Michael c. Henderson, deceased, Benton county, $677 1; Louis Bondlin, administrator of Charles Hogan, deceased, of Craw- ford county, $1,270; Richard T.. Policeman, Ouachita county, $540 ; W. D. Rogers, administrator of Eliza Miller, deaceased, of Drew county, $1, 1,2S0; Martha A. Payne, administrative of Samuel H. Payne, deceased, of Sebastian county, $755 :; Felix G. Smith, administrator of Sarah J. Smith, deceased, of Jeffer- son county, $580; s. s. Faulkner, administrator of John R. Williams, deceased, of Phillips county, $1,845 ; James K. McCurdy, administrator of Samuel McCurdy, deceased, of Crawford county, $229; Elizabeth J. Hampton, of Pulaski county, $4S0; Marion A. Horn, administra- trix of John A. Horn, deceased, $145; Ernest Neill, administrator of Joseph H. Egner, deceased, $1,- 632; A. P. Rutherford, administra- tor of William Kountz, deceased, $S85; Louis T. Penn, administra- tor of William Kountz, deceased, $1,873; Elias R. Core, $693; F. M Holthoff, sole heir of Frank Holt hoff, deceased, $325.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Close of Celebrated Case.

The death of V. A. Potts at Esau, Perry county, closes remarkable criminal case that has been in the courts several years. Potts death was due to the kick of a horse. In 1898 Potts, who was employed as a guard at a convict camp in Pulaski county, shot and killed Warden Giles Hudson The trouble arose over the killing of convict by another guard, P. Fulgum, who was exon erated on the ground of self-defense. Potts was indicted October 3, 1898, for murder in the first degree and his bond fixed at $5,000, a change of venue taken to Perry county, where he was convicted and sentenced to serve five years in the penitentiary. A new trial was granted by the su- preme court after he had served a portion of his sentence, and he was released. But the new trial never took place.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
NO. 49.
Fatal Row Near Forrest City.

William and John Gossett, broth CTS, were killed in difficulty with Vim. Walker at Goodwin, near For rest City. It is said the Gossctts went into a store where Walker was and started a fuss. They were told to leave, and did so, but later re- turned and ordered some molasses. While Walker was filling the order one of the Gossetts attempted to draw his pistol. Walker, seeing this, drew his pistol and emptied every barrel into his body and then picked up Gossett's pistol and shot the other Gossett.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
BRIEF MENTION.

A man named Odell was caught between the cars on logging road in Jefferson county and instantly killed.
 The nomination of $. F. Stahl as marshal of the western district of Arkansas has been confirmed by the senate.
 The receipts of the state treasury since December 31, 1901, have been $134,O2195, of which $132,038.60 was in currency and $1,983.35 in scrip.
 A party of Nebraska capitalists who recently visited this state, upon returning home sent check for $111.55 to Gov. Davis for the drouth sufferers.
 Billy Rice, the veteran minstrel, died at Hot Springs last week of dropsy. Though at one time Rice was quite wealthy, he died in indi- gent circumstances.
 J. M. Bates, who mysteriously dis appeared several months ago from Hatfield, Polk county, is reported to be in Washington, D. O., looking after some legal matters.
 'Umbrella" Bill Michigan, the famous owner of Lady Inez and oth- CT celebrated race horses. is one of the democratic nominees for the leg islature from Garland county.
 Gen. Powell Clayton is reported to be i'll from rheumatism, and has been compelled to leave his duties in the City of Mexico and Is seeking relief in the mountains of the Aztecs.
 Engineer A. Hannerkan was found dead, his head hanging out of his cab window, at a small station near Coal Hill. It is thought he was killed by being struck in the head by an overhead trestles.
 A young man named H. s. Foster is thought to have been drowned in the Saline river near Warren. He was employed by lumber company in looking after floating timber, ts- ing a naptha launch, which was found floating in the river
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Prominent Man Arrested.

A sensation was created at Casa one day recently, when a deputy United States marshal appeared and placed under arrest J. A. Alexander, one of the most highly re- spected citizens of the community. It is alleged that Alexander's real name is Huddleston, and that in 1890 he was convicted at Paris, Tex, of passing counterfeit money, but escaped before sentence was pass ed upon him, forfeiting his bond of $5,000. Alexander, or Huddleston, so his friends claim, purchased a bill of goods, and among the money rendered in payment were a few counterfeit silver dollars. Judge Trieber, at Little Rock, before whom he was taken for an order of remov- al, gave him a personal letter to the federal judge at Paris recom- mending that the court exercise clemency and suspend sentence. He has led an exemplary life since com ing to Arkansas, and his neighbors are positive he is a victim of cir. cumStanceS.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
In Good Condition.

Estimates filed with Engineer Pharr, of the St. Francis levee board. show that $17,0O0 worth of work was done in February on the line from Scanlan to Cat Island. The contract was to have been com pleted by March 1, but bad weather prevented this. About mile of work is yet to be done. The gap at Pecan Point has just been complet- ed, and the repair and wing work are practically complete. As a whole, the St. Francis line in this state is considered in good condition to with stand any flood which may reason ably be expected from the Ohio riy- or
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
prouth Sufferers Still in Need.

Notwithstanding contributions of money and food already donated the drouth sufferers of the northwestern counties are still greatly in need. The citizens of the afflicted territory are among the most industrious in the state, and their present distress is not due to any fault of their own. In each county affected committees composed of thoroughly responsible parties will distribute any funds or provisions sent them, seeing to it that none but those actually worthy and in need receive assistance
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Non-Expert Testimony No Good.

In the case of John Jarvis KS. State, the supreme court held that the opinion of non-expert witness as to the sanity or insanity of de- fendant is not admissible as evil dence, unless accompanied by state ment of the facts inducing it. Jar wis was tried in the Washington cir cult court for murder in the first de- gree. He pleaded insanity, but on trial was convicted and sentenced to hang. The opinion of the court re- verses the verdict and new trial has been ordered.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Wife Murderer Hanged.

Kit Helton was hanged at Van Buren on the 7th. The crime for which he paid the penalty with his life was the assassination of his wife on September 18th last. Hell tons wife had him arrested on charge of bigamy and he was held by Justice O'Kelly under bond to answer to the grand jury. On the morning of September 28th Helton appeared at O'Kelly's home and af- ter paying him fifty cents that was due, suddenly and without warming pulled a pistol and shot O'Kelly in the abdomen. O'Kelly recovered from the wound. After shooting O'Kelly Helton went to his home and, calling his wife to the gate, shot her through the heart, killing her instantly. He then left, express ing determination to hunt up and kill Brush Stewart, his stepson. Late that evening Helton was dis covered by some farmers who were looking for him; after a pitched battle in which Helton was wound ed, and his pistol becoming broken, he surrendered. Helton expressed no regret at any time for his crime, and met his fate cooly. He was about 50 years of ace.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Accidentally Killed with roy Gun.

Bessie, the 11-year-old daughter of Wm. E. Farrell, was accidentally shot and killed at Little Rock by Rusfsell May, ten-year-old playmate. The children were examining a toy rifle the May boy had just been presented with, and in some manner the weap- on was discharged, the ball entering the little girls temple.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Change in superintendents.

J. G. Hartigan has succeeded W. J. Mckee as superintendent of the Arkansas division of the Iron Noun tain and Southern railway. MT. Hartigan comes to the Gould system from the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe, having been division superin- tendcnt of that road at Cleburne, Tex for the past eight months.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Republican Executive Committee.

The republican state executive
 committee met at Little Rock on the
 9th inst, and made recommends
 tions for the appointment of the fol- lowing parties to the officers named: |:
 United States marshal of the eastern
 district, Col. A. $. Fowler, to sue ceed Hon. Henry M. Cooper; col lector of internal revenue, Capt. F. W. Tucker, of Clover Bend, to sue ceed Hon. H. l.. Remmel; John E. Bush, to be receiver of the land of flee at Little Rock. The following recommendations for postmaster
 ships were also made: At Fayette- vile, B. F. Campbell Rogers, W. R. Cady; Bentonville, E. o. Leforce. Resolutions were adopted condemn ing the course of the faction known as insurgents, who preferred charges at Washington against number of officeholders, and who, it is said, are responsible for the coming retire ment from office of one or two lead ing members of the party. The strength of the insurgents in com mittee was not strong enough to mar the plan mapped out by the regu- lars, but the former threaten to carry the fight into the rank and file of the party in general cam paign. Col. Foreman, of Texarkana, resigned from the committee, and is succeeded by J. W. Harriss. It is the general belief that President will recognize the commit tee by appointing those recommend ed to fill federal offices in this state.
Woodruff County news., 1902-03-13
Business Done by Insurance Companies

A statement has been prepared at the auditors office showing the finan- cial condition of the fire insurance companies doing business over this state, also showing the volume of business transacted by them in the state during the year 1901. The premiums collected were $1 ,258,S7S, and the total losses were S717,83S, a loss ratio to premiums of 57.3 per cent. The ratio of losses to pre- miums was 73 per cent in 1900. There were fifty-eight companies named in 1900, and they received $139,171 less in premiums than did the fifty-three companies in 1901, but paid $130.479 more in losses.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17

he came back and handed in a message,
MAKE Havana smoke" using a code word
which had been agreed upon between him
self and his telegraph editor.
oh said the censor, looking at the
message, perhaps you would better make
the correction yourself" and he handed
him back his first dispatch. which had not
been put on the wires; nor was 1t.
All sorts of codes we're arranged, but
none Of them worked successfully, though
one mar did get through from Key West
an important piece Of news by telegraphing
his wife, a purely imaginary person, to kiss
a purely imaginary baby for him. Some
times & man would file a number Of SEEM
ingly harmless kilograms which, however,
could be understood by his telegraph edi-
tor. The censor would receive them smil-
ingly and at night hand him back the whole
bunch. Meantime the newspaper mans
office might be abusing him violently by
cable at great expense and length for not
sending any news. One man got a tabooed
piece Of information to his paper by going
by train from Tampa to Savannah and tele-
graphing there TO his editor, personally. at
his house address that he had shipped
him 100 boxes of Havana cigars with
some details Of their quality and price, all
Y NElNu was lIhHSllstu DY Int use OF a
code by the editor into an interesting story.
He did not repeat the exploit. however, for
somehow his action became known to the
government and after that there was a
censorship established at Savannah and for
that and another successful operation Of the
sort the correspondent was temporarily for
hidden entirely to use the telegraph.
One Commander Threat.
One naval commander was so enraged at
finding that a correspondent had sent a
cable dispatch saying that the feet had
passed a certain point in the West Indies
that he summoned the newspaper man on
board his ship, where he rated him soundly
before all hands. ordering him not to bring
his dispatch boat near the feet again on
the penalty Of being fired upon and declared
In a passion that he had a good mind to
order up a hle OF marines and shoot the
delinquent. Yet the man was not only
doing what mis- paper had sent him out to
do and what the secretary Of the navy had
allowed him to Join the fleet to do; the
dereliction, II there was any, was at the
New York end Of the cable, where the gov
eminent should have eonhscated the dis
patch II II were Objectionable.
When the fleet OF transports was ready
70 sail from Tampa all news from that
place was shut OF. Washington gave out
a dispatch saying that the feet had al
ready sailed, and the wires were kept hot
with the seornful words Of irate editors.
b~erating their men for not having sent
them news Of such an important event.
The Meet was still in the bay and did not
sail for two days afterward, but all tina
the censor would allow to go out, in
response 70 the entreaties Of the news
paper men 20 be allowed 70 square them
selves" with their ofices. was only the
single sentence: Censor absolutely re-
fuses to pass any news pertaining to the
neet'' But the eensors and the news
paper men got along we'll together and
Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17

building. Two nights deputies watched In
vain. The third night they were rewarded
by seeing a load of beer backed I'D in
front Of the hallway entrance between the
saloon and clothing store and apparently
carried upstairs by some mysterious
process.
Next morning the whole force Of liquor
deputies, aided by one OF the civil deputies.
worked two hours with axes, crowbars and
jimmies before they located the hide" The
process of disposing Of the barrels was to
run them into the saloon and with a wind
lass hoist them to the second story, then
run them along the floor through a big hole
that had been cut in the solid wall separat-
ing the two buildings and then into a secret
chamber whose entrance was covered by
wall sheathing. This chamber floor was
lined with mattresses and there was a pile
of extra mattresses for use on the floor be-
tween the hiding place and the saloon ele-
VatoF to prevent making noise and Starring
the floor when moving barrels in or out.
The hole in the wall was ingeniously closed
on each side by a steel door, over which
sheathing was laid.
After finding the beer and whisky barrels
that were on tap the deputies followed the
supply pipes along by tearing up floors.
The two pipes connected with a chimney
and through that ran into the saloon under
a false floor. An improvised triple shutoff
arrangement in the middle faucet completed
the scheme. An outlay of $4,000 went to
cmash when the sheriff and his men ripped
up that bar and carried of the piece CON-
tanning the row Of faucets.
Those faucets constituted one Of the most
interesting Of the prohibition sherir's ex-
hibits. With 1t were several copper tanks
his deputies dug out of hotel and saloon
walls; a triangular piece Of flooring from a
tenement house parlor, which operated on
hinges and concealed a storeroom for
whisky a boarding house bed, which was
used as a hiding place for whisky bottles; a
cradle in which was found, underneath a
Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
G

Rev. DR.. Thomas Kennedy OF Philadel-
Rhla, rector Of the American college in
cipal object of his visit being TO secure
FUNDS for enlsrging the college property.
A memorial book In memory of the late
Archplshop Corrigan Is being compiled by
the Cathedral Literary association OF New
fork. IL Will include the sermons preached
by Archbishop Ryan and Bishop McQuaid,
Young Mems Christian ASSOCIATION Of New
YORK has Just received two gifts, sis, 900
sneh. f9r the erection Of buildings at Forts
Gladding and Miss Helen Miller Gould.
The yearly expenditure OF the Vatican
In Italy and abroad amounts, II is stated,
from the Peters pence, which alone gives
an average Of $4,000. more than half Of
which is contributed by the United States.
The city OF New York is building three
ehapels for the benefit of prisoners. In the
new cit. prison nov building on the site Of
the old Tombs WILDE two chapels, one for
Protestants and one for Roman Catholics
The new chapel on BlackwelIs Island will
serve for both Catholics and Protestants.
church In America is the archdiocese OF
New YORK with an estimated Catholic pop
ulation Of 2 - is to say, nearly
States, while its numbers surpass those Of
all the most crowded centeTs of Italy. in
cluding Rome, Naples or Milan.
Al. the seventh International conference
Petersburg, Russia. there were present
English admirals, Swiss jurists, American
surgeon generals, with many representa-
uves or other powers, and foremost of All.
an American ~woman-Clara Barton.
on. the eastern shore OF the Turkish pen
lnsula OF the khakidide is a settlement OF
Greek friars. The brotherhood houses IT,
self In a ship painted black, bearing al It's
Prov a white cross, and lodging over eighty
monks; The ship is fitted with a beautf-
fully, decorated chapel, containing richly
leweLled images Of the saints, The crew
eonsists wholly OF monks. Voyages are
Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17

news from being carried ashore by then
which will give the commander Of any fort
an inkling OF the direction in which the
hostile squadron Is moving. Ships will try
to run by the forts In the dark, and such
torpedo boats as are supposed to be left for
the purpose Of defense will try to steal out
and torpedo the approaching vessels. When
a warship is discovered the forts will open
on 1t and 1t will reply. Umpires stationed
on the forts will signal by rockets when a
ship is in a concentrated fire which II could
not withstand II the shots from the forts
were real ones and It will be declared out
Of action. The same thing will be done
when a suppositious mine is exploded upon
a ship, and, in short. all the conditions OF
actual warfare Will be simulated as nearly
as possible. The portion of the arm not
used as garrison for the forts will be held
in readiness at some strategic point to strike
wherever the enemy may appear. This will
involve the working out Of many practical
problems in rapid transportation.
The Spanish war was the first war in the
history Of the world in which the news
papers played any important part in naval
operations. In that war the press dispatch
boats we're regularly documented by the
secretary Of the navy and provided with
permission TO follow the fleets and generally
to cruise wherever they pleased within the
sphere Of operations.
Censorship During the War.
It would have been impossible TO have
maintained any secrecy whatever as to
naval movements had not a rigid censor
ship been established. At every American
port from which dispatches could be sent
there was a censor and there was a censor
at the end Of every cable, who took care
OF what was sent from foreign ports. No
attempt to conceal operations from the
newspaper men was made, but they were
not allowed to send what they knew to their
papers. In the present maneuvers more
attention will be paid TO preventing the
newspaper men from obtaining information
than in preventing them from sending 1t
after they have It, though in some cases
that may be done, too.
Many we're the eXpedients TO which the
men with the newspaper feet r~esorted
during the war with Spain in order to get
the best Of the censor. but In most cases
these expedients. though ingenious, did not
succeed. It should be said that the mails
and the express service were censored as
well as the telegraph during the Spanish
war, and that rigidly. No one knew Of the
censorship Of the express until a reporter
at Tampa, having had his dispatches held
up by telegraph aud mail. sent a package
OF manuscript by express. When he thought
bis package was well on its way to New
York he boosted 10 SONS OF his fellow cor
respondents Of how he had utwitted the
censor! Just at that moment Lieutenant
Brady came up and eourteously handed him
back his manuscript, which had been cap
tured BY one Of the lieutenAnt's men before
Il got to savannah. One man at Key West,
when the feet sailed TO lombard San Juan.
sent a dispatch saying: "Fleet sailed Tor
Havana" Being a bit OF false news, he
thought the censor would pass IT, Later
Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
The First Automobile.

The claim that the first automobile used
In America was made in 1884 is being dis
puted by an inventor who claims the COR
rect date should be 1864. While there may
be some doubt as to the correct date of the
hrst automobile, there is no dlsputing the
fact that Hostetter's Stomach Bitters, the
famous family medicine. was first intro
duced about fifty years ago, and during
those years 1t has never failed to cure
insomnia. dyspepsia, Indigestion and con-
stipatton. Give It a trial.