davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

the fool, is eager to rush in where angels fear
to tread.
How much will it pan OUT? asked after
thinking a moment
IN give you six ounces OF dust and a quart
of the best whiskey in Circle, said he
This offer about whiskey should have enlight-
ened me to the object of our trip, but it went
right over my head. I accepted without delay.
BE ready at . o'clock, then, said Bill, and
come down to my shack for breakfast 1t'n
time.
AT the appointed hour I was ready for the
trip, as far as a heavy mackinaw suit 'parka'
Of bed ticking, woollen mittens and socks. moe
casns and fur cap could make one ready for
travel in weather which beyond the ther-
mometer's limit of record. Bills' squaw-he
called her his klootchman' after the Alaskan
fashion-was on time with a breakfast of hot
cakes, beans and coffee
1T took only a moment to put the dogs into
their collars fasten the belly bands and hook
up the traces to the long narrow sled Of hard
wood BilP chirped at the leader. waved his
hand at his kIootch, and we were off. AS soon
as the dogs had scrambled down the steep bank.
they set off over the rough river trail at trot.
Occasional eager whines told Of their interest
in the expedition.
1T seemed an age before BIZ called a halt.
We had really travelled only an hour. AS soon
as recovered my breath I complained II Ia
known how cold It really was I'd never have
started
Must be forty below muttered BIZ In an
swer, but that's nothing when you get used TO
it. VIII do you good. Besides, it won't be so
cold when we get the smooth stretch below
''Nigger Jim's" cabin. We more than five
miles out from Circle already. and there's little
more rough ice
by this time the seriousness of the trip was
beginning to impress me, and asked:
u say, Bill. what's really doing on this trip?
I'm sure we are not going for canned meat as
you said
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

old warehouse this afternoon, though, and it's
just possible few kegs may be overlooked.
You'd better let me take Of this sack OF
dust. It's dangerous to be carrying it over the
trail
Not another word was said The men were
on their honor, and that was enough. Bill
gave me a wink we went out OF the office
door.
When we reached the warehouse, Just before
midnight, we found the whiskey-just ten kegs
of it-and the usual guard missing. We
lost no time in fastening 1t to the sled. The
load was heavy and we harnessed ourselves to
either side of the sled, i order to the dogs
much possible. Hour after hour
mushed along until the dogs could go fur
ther. The sight of a deserted cabin on the river
bank persuaded Booth to halt for the night.
There way Of making a fire, but
was hardly necessary with six redhOt dogs to
keep warm
Some hours later l was awakened suddenly
by a string of strenuous oaths A blizzard was
blowing outside, and Bill cursing it out.
1t ordinary blizzard at that
there anything ordinary about his swearing.
The snow falling in layers, but its move
ment toward the ground was hardly percepuble.
A gale blowing down the river carried the snow
along with it. One could hardly stand with back
TO the blast, let alone face it, l was for waiting
in the bin for better weather: the
dogs but Bill would not listen to delay.
The blizzard may last for a week. he
gued, and our grub wouldn't keep alive three
days. If we don't want to eat dog we've got TO
face it. and with that we went out into the
storm. torn .,,,s...,...
got the dogs headed up the river Bill swore
and cracked his whip; the dogs hOwled and tried
TO break the traces. Then Metey, the leader,
showed his training. He among them at
the first sign of mutiny, swapping and growing,
driving them into line. Once started, covered
our faces entirely. and stumbled blindly along
behind the sled trusting Metey to keep the
way.
1T must have been 80 below zero that day,
and the air was filled with snow that the
sun did not show itself for a minute. At last
the snow became deep that we had to go
ahead and break trail for the dogs. How Bill
ever managed to find the tent and stove which
we cached the down trip is beyond me.
Had he failed. some one else would be telling
this story. AS it was. We were nearly frozen
getting the tent anchored in clump of trees
and starting a fire.
Guess you'll earn your hundred this trip
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

said Bill when everything was in shape for the
night. He was right. l wouldn't go through
another day like that. not even If I had to
main in the Yukon Valley all the rest OF my
life, and you fellows know how like New-York
We must leave here at noon tomorrow in
order to reach Circle in time. I told Jennie we'd
get in about midnight, and she'll warn us IL
Holmes is suspicious Then he rolled over and
was asleep in minute.
The blizzard had worn itself out with excess
siVe fury, and the plan carried out without
great difficulty Shortly before midnight the
cabins at the lower end of the camp began to
appear. 'Bilp stopped swearing az the dogs and
called halt to remove the bells from their col
You take hold of MetIey. and on your life
don't make "A noise he said, slipping a big six
shooter loosely into his belt, after examining
the cartridges.
II was getting decidedly nervous as the ex-
citing point of the smuggling trip approached,
and seriously thinking OF beating a cow
ardIy retreat to my cabin at the other end of
the camp At this moment MetIey answered a
low signal from his master by starting up the
bank, and the die was cast At first the dog
resented my hold on his collar. but soon quieted
down and entered into the spirit Of secrecy
which had suddenly fallen around us.
There was no sound. except that Of the sled
runners grating on the frozen snow. Passing
the cabin in which the customs officer lived was
the tiCklish point and there was no Wav Of
avoiding It, Even the dogs seemed To realize
the danger slipped down the dark street
The cabin was I'm darkness. and In another mo-
ment our Illicit cargo would he safely stored in
Harrington's just around the corner
Then In a second the whole aspect Of the
lhluE 'hdnStd. IN" door or the customs house
opened, and a we'll wrapped figure appeared.
Metley gave low growl which hardly antici-
pated the sharp bark OF Bits revolver. The
figure in the shadow toppled over in a heap
upon the snow.
We stood in the road as though planted there
listening intenty for sounds and lights which
would warn us that curious ones were coming
10 Investigate, II takes more than a pistol shot
however. to arouse Circle miners curiosity to
the point or getting out OF bed on a cold night
A dog, tied in a shed few cabins down the
street, barked once or twice. but beyond that
We heard nothing alarming
Then there single word. SPOKEN little
above a whisper. 1t brought life to both Of us
BIZ exclaimed the fallen figure and the
big man staggered as though bullet had en-
tered his own body.
" My Cod It's Jennie he whispered hoarse-
ly. He went to her. reeling like n drunken man
g l fixed him, Bill l told you | would she
was saying as | reached them. He held the little
Fquaw's body almost clear of the snow in one Of
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

altogether. I did it once, six winters ago. at
Circle City. on the Yukon"
There's a story in that. know" said one oI
his friends. "Out with IT, old fellow; We al
tired talking copper stock
Did YOU ever hear an Alaskan miner talK
about the Yukon thirst. He can bring tears
TO the eyes-to his own, at least-eVery time
he tries to describe it, and shipwrecked sailors
are put clean out of the running 1t is not
thirst for water, nor even for CIVILIZATION put
for ,yhiskev-the fiery stimulant which many OF
the GOLD diggers consider the only thing Whlch
makes the long, semi-arctic winter worth living
Every drop of whiskey IN the camp was used
up the night of the Christmas celebration and
New Years Day was about the most sorrowful
have ever experienced. The shortage was due
10 an early winter which caught the river
steamers in the ice below the Yukon flats In
cidentally. the government was at fault, for IN
those days the federal authorities were trying TO
run Alaska on strictly Temperance basis
Being a rank .checharko,' as they call new
Corners on the Yukon, l not suffering from
the drouth not having acquired a Yukon thirst
OF course / knew what was troubling the men;
even the camp parson knew that, and l believe
that down in his good old heart he was sorry
for them Yet I did not think Of whiskey when
nv cabin door was pushed in one night by Big
FilP Booth the bartender at Herrington's. Per
hans this was because I was overpowered by
the honor Of the visit, for Big Biz was more
than bartender He was one OF the oldest 'dour
dough stifs' on the Yukon. the best shot on the
river. and had the reputation Of being the most
daring winter trail traveller in the Territory.
That he should call on a 'checharko was almost
beyond belief.
His greeting pleasant enough. and he
quickly came to the object OF his visit by asking:
How would you like to 'mush" down to
Fort Yukon
"'Mush' is Yukon for following a river trail
over the fee, with dog team setting the pace.
Fort Yukon was many miles away, and a par
ticulariy severe winter al its height. Yet
'T3iP asked the question if it involved moth
ing more than a moonlight walk in Central
Park
The old has some canned meats in
storage down there he continued. and We've
got 10 get them up
"A trip over the frozen river, ] had been
longing for the very thing-a tenderfoot is al
ways curious TO inordinate degree. and, like
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

1T was early morning. but there was no
light, nor would there be any until late in the
afternoon, when the tardy Alaskan sun would
show itself for little while far to the south.
We kept the trail constantly, except for a short
halt at noon. when the dogs got an extra ration
Of dried salmon.
About midnight we began to pass dark
gloomy looking cabins clearly outlined against
the white, cleaning expanse of snow, which
seemed to stretch boundlessly In every direction.
There was not a light in the camp. and no one
seemed 10 be stirring except ourselves and the
dogs.
we passed a dozen cabins without stopping.
and l was beginning to think that this was not
our destination after ALL when Bill stopped the
dogs and began to kick at the door of a small
cabin 1t was the home OF the squaw man who
was 10 be our host until we got our return load
The next morning my first attempts to rise
met with absolute failure. Ny limbs were as
SUN as though iron rods had been run through
'Hein. RUBBING at length brought back the cir
cuIauon' and managed to reach the floor. My
uoInIes I We're not over. for the pain in my
swollen blistered feet made me stagger For a
moment considered the prospect OF spending
me rest OF the winter at the fort. The trip
pack TO Circle seemed absolutely out OF the oues-
uon; un; BlH laughed me into moving about and
the commercial companies
Ihere was plenty Of whiskey at Fort Yukon
Dut IL was another thing 10 get It. 1t was spend
had guaranteed that it would be taken across
the Canadian border soon as the river
opened. Inc crafty Yankee who managed the
station dld not care to mix with the customs
olncers' ana persisted that he had nothing 10
sell US BIZ used all his eloquence in describ-
ing the parChed thrOats that eagerly awaited
his return to gloomy Circle with the drink kegs
Beng Yankee, the manager was not 10 be
moved by sentiment, and, seeing this Bill took
another turn.
" Here is $1,000 worth Of the best Birch Creek
dust, he said. throwing a heavy buckskin bag
dred gallons
gave UP hope when the manager answered:
Iheres no use talking about H. The law
Is against the business and there would he
trouble about it in the spring when the officers
found the seals disturbed. All the stuff we've
got 10 spare Is bound through TO Forty Mile
'Btll just looked him and said nothing
After time the manager continued:
We're going to move the whiskey out OF the
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

his great arms. With his right hand he fumbled
at the fastenings of the jacketke garment of
deer skin from which the blood was SLOWLY
trlckling. He found the wound shortly and
looked about for something with which TO stop
the flow. L gave him a big silk handkerchief a
relic OF the States. and he stuffed a corner of II
into the jagged hole in her breast with ten
derness l would never have believed possible
:" Here is the key to the back door of the sa-
loon, he said, turning to me. Get the stuff
stored In the cellar, unharness the dogs and
come to the cabin. l may want your helm
Then he picked Jennie up without the slight
est difficulty and strobe off through the snow
in the direction of their rough home When 7
reached the cabin half an hour later I saw 'Riu'
seated on the edge of the low bunk on which
the little Indian woman lay mOtionIess He
rested his head on his hands and his ewes
stared blankly into space. He did not look nm
when l entered, and l asked no questions The
whole story was written that rough fearless
face
For an hour we sat in sullen silence Then
in answer to some sudden impulse of a grief
maddened brain, the big man arose took his ca
and went out into the dark Geld night
Dead" he muttered he passed out the
door"
Not once during the long tale had the ex-
Yukon miner been interrupted. and for mo-
ment after he finished spoke.
Here's TO Jennie toasted the New-Yorker
as he filled his Classified 1t with whiskey
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

nteTefeatt St ' 6f mysterious silence due the
ceedins dTect tgO 80 se{s or sound waves, one Pro
SIrlklng the surface Of the water near the
VINO HHnG We're IN charge OF the experiments al s.
alHeriheS Point obtained little new Iighr sI-h,ugh
silence are developed around a single fot5or1 n
the Cornrns no Al4Wh way 10 overcome this trouble,
frl1,e sSon ADVISES the mariner his lead
HtSty when caught in a fog near a coast
It was noticed that echoes Of the signals coTd
otSJaslonaliy be heard and that these were often
The days which the phenomenon was notirss
were clear, as well Is calm The commission sI1s-
And inaSmuch the echo seems 70 come from & RE
opposite direction that from which the Urinary
SOUND prdceedS. II might fool the navigator In a
rather unfortunate manner "
Inc ne superiority of the siren over the reed as
sound producing device has been so genera Iv rec
oshzed thaI II IS surprising learn that the aues-
Point. The accepted BELIEF was not r1Ssr how
49, 01lll, III new nght was obtained on related ques
stance, when the normal pitch OF the annexed
advocated mouth having an eUipticaI cross sec
tIon m r. and the commission embodies the suggestion
,,s sun another trumpet which has been introduced
IS EMPLOYED Wber i'Asu IL i u}uShroon head ms
sound i'm all directions rs rom Iibtsri- 5,I| az
sea. The trumpet is adjusted So as 10 polrt up
trauy over the mouth in such waJ t5s+ fbs
sound waves are detected and flow ont horizon
tally on all sides The commission expresses great
satisfaction with this apparatus.
AmonE the most recently invented methods Of
CN'htnu1lcatiNn between land and sea are wireless
teIeEraphy and submarine telephony The latter is
NOT yer fully developed. At any rate ir has not
T"'le INTO actual service. like the Marconi system.
~ seems probable. though. that il will be heard
rom ] ne British commission which had charge
or thlS fog signal Investigation CoUsdera1 qr one
or IFS early meetings whether not II would look
INTO these and other electrical systems But saws
The London Times" ''it was Thought thar eXperi-
mental trials of that We're bevond the scope
OF the inquiry and the means at the committees
disposal although they quite recognize that II such
q method could he brought into practical service
! 9caO Of fuf4a anc
or atmospheric conditions Evidently there IS
where
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23
A TRAGEDY OF THE YUKON
SMUGGLING WHISKEY IN A BLIZZARD
MINER SHOT HIS SQUAW FOR
CUSTOMS INSPECTOR.

There were four in the party and they had
been drinking all the evening, though you
would never have known it from looking at
them. Three OF them were mining men rom
the West. and they ordered whiskey every time
the waiter came. They drank 1t straight, with
long water chasers afterward- The fourth man
was q born and bred New-Yorker. He had
never been west Of Buffalo, which may have
been the reason he was drinking champagne.
Have drink that's worth while" protested
one Of the Westerners. Don't see why you
drink that stuff when there IS whiskey 10 be
had"
Well" returned the New-York man, II don't
really Ike the bubble stuff It's just habit
that makes me drink it. and I suppose you lay
your perpetual whiskey drinking to the same
cause"
Habit. Not at ALL said Of the miners.
in a tone of protest Habit has nothing what
ever 10 do with it"
Nothing whatever" interrupted another OF
the party I acquired my whiskey thirst in
Butte, sir. Twenty years ago, sir. And hope
I may die before l lose it, / haven't doubt
that my friends here can tell you the day they
first slipped whiskey from glass, and they
must agree with me that it is the best liquor
that IS put UP in bottles or kegs
Then spoke a who seemed younger than
the rest in spite Of his gray hair. He had an
interesting voice, and you knew from his first
word that he had something to say.
ITO really appreciate what whiskey means to
men, you must spend a winter in an Alaskan
mining camp. watch the supply Of red water
grow smaller and smaller, and finally see it fail
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23
ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHAIR.
From The London News.

From The london news.
In antiouarian circles considerable doubt exists
as TO the authenticity of the chair at present in
the Municipal Museum at Canterbury, which the
RishOn of Hereford wishes 10 be returned its
original quarters in the chancel of the village
church at Stanford Bishop. The chair Is supposed
10 have been used by St. Augustine when spread
ing Christianity in the Herefordshre district. IL
was discovered a few years by the late DR.
lanes Johnston, and is claimed to be the most per
feet example of ancient British carpentry in ex-
istenCe
The chair is made of roughly hewn oak boards
fastened together with wooden pegs. II is oblong
in shape measuring 80 inches in breadth and %
inches in width The seat is 26 inches in length
is inches width. and appears to have been origi-
nally two inches in thickness 1t is movable like
the lid of a box the hinges being two round lemons
inserted into mortice holes in the rear posts The
construction of the chair is similar in many re-
spects to an old Roman soum. The chair may
date from the year $50. but it is doubtful If Angus
tine used II.
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23

shoe department will also find place on this
second floor.
The mems department, where an attractive STOCK
Is laid out, will remain the main floor. Sprlns
overcoats shown in three lengths For smart
coat. there is the short box topcOat This Is made
up in light coverts with overplatd effects IN rec rsa
and green and other colors At the other extreme
OF taste IS the long overCoat, cut about midway
between the ankle and the knee. in light and dark
Coors. Finally. the Chesterfield falling about 20
the knee. remains the favorite coat for the con-
serVative. In spring suits, the military broad
shoudered sack coat, cut to the form Is still much
in vogue. though NOW hanging slightly longer than
last year. Opposed 10 this in style the loose sack
still remains ia evidence, ana holds It's pOpu-
larity The materials used at present are worS-
teds. CaSSrneTeS and CheviOtS. In pattern. stripe
plaid and Overplaid selling well. Some OF the
most attractive Overpaids have body colorS in
grays and overmesh OF lighter color. such as
green red, brown and olive The result is a
sober of color without any suggestion or som
breneSs.
The novelty in derby hats is extreme cone
shape the sides tapering to the crown, which Is
high and small. These made in two styles,
being larger lines. with larger brim and
roll. In soft hats the same tendency has resulted
in a shape between a cone and wedge, there
being less slope from front and back than in the
hard hat a striking soft hat is made with SOM
brero poke crown and Panama brim.
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23
BOYS FIRST SHOES.
GREAT CARE TAKEN IN THEIR SHAPE AND
CoNsTRUCTIoN-THE SHORT SKIRT TIE

CoNsTRUCTIoN-THE SHORT SKIRT TIE.
Spring styles IN footwear exhibit few radical
changes from those of preceding seasons; but such
novelties as have been introduced may be found
Frank Bros. No. 9S4 Thrd-ave. The Louis
Quinze heel is still as firmly intrenched in the
popular esteem as ever. and, though more hygienic
models have been persistently thrust upon the
market. the high heel still remains the favorite
one. The bulldog" toe mas entirely lost its sig
nifcance, being replaced by medium. round ef-
feet which is much more graceful because less
exaggerated. A distinguishing feature of the
spring boot is its high lnStep constructed as 10
give the desirable Spanish arch
Patent leather will be employed almost exclusive
ly in the construction of the slipper and OK
ford ties. The carriage automobile shoe is an
extremely high heeled affair. made of the lightest
possible patent leather variously Ornamented with
ribbon bows. steel rhinestone buckles on the in
step. The Gibson tie is of patent leather
laced with wide satin ribbon and has slightly ex-
tended sole and Cuban heel.
kid appropriately called gun metal" The eN-
pattern. This is called the short skirt tie One OF
this firms speCialties is the Orthopedtc or hrst
walking shoes for children. in which great care Is
exercised in the shape and construction OF the 1T
tie boot. The softest leather is selected and the
shape is such that it allows the foot TO spread
naturally. insuring perfect freedom.
New-York tribune., 1902-03-23
FOG SIGNAL STUDIES
BRITISH EXPERTS LAY STRESS "a,
LOW PITCH.
BELTS OF sILENCE-PUzZLINc Eruov,
MUSHROOM HEAD TRIyNrPFTs

D@A-AS Or SILENCE-PUZZLINC ECvLIOrs
MUSHROOM HEAD TRUMPErs
Since the introduction OF the steam siran ,o-
sishalllns quarter Of a century ago. compara,
lively little progress has been made in tbs. .
Nevertheless. the apparatus now in usa 4. art
efficient as could be desired and the possihiI,, :.
improving ii has long been under consfdarat,.
During the last summer a series of Experiment
having this object in view was conducte5 a. g
GATHERINGS Point. the Isle of Wight unda- -,
combined auspices OF the Trinity House which =
charged with the English lighthouse service s,5
the Scottish and Irish lighthouse boards Io-s
Rayleigh as the chief scientific adviser OF tbi.
joint commission
One OF the questions which was investigates
lated to the pitch of the tone which wouId \.
audible for the greatest distance. In some OF TIA
trials ii was found that siren yielding a ratba-
low note ninety-eight vibrations to The seco,1
greatly surpassed all other instruments in carrv
ing power. The sound from it was easily heard
more than twenty miles off, while notes Of hirba-
pitch were lost at distance of ten miles Thasa
results however, were obtained only on calm davs
When the wind blows in the wrong direction or
the sea Is rough enough to be noisy the Iov
pitched signal would be audible only two nn,Ia.
away, while the high pitched sound could ba baas
a little further. Still fog rarely accompanias
breezy weather. 1t usually prevails in a cal,,
Hence the adoption Of the low pitched signal vyonld
seem to be advisable.
Another phenomenon to which the cornr,iss5o
gave attention Is the occurrence OF soundIezs zo,
not far from the foghOrn although al 4 gr.a+-
distance the signals would again bacor1a au5iL1~
The American lighthouse authorities seem 70 be1
been the first TO discover this strange obtsrs+icss
of properly uttered warnings When TrJ-T5eTII aIon n
twenty-Seven years ago he studied the matter So
1uIy ana oHered theory to explain it he be-