davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08

his eyes and in a faint. agonizing cry gasped, Pray for me, Jack" Then to the ambulance surgeon: Dear doctor, will be good. Tell me what to do and I'll obey"
 Then the man fainted and did not come to himself again until 8 o'clock the next morning in the Fordham Hospital.
 He seemed to wake out of horrible nightmare.
 He stared wildly at the nurse and ask cd where he was Then he tainted again.
 Yet he gained strength slowly and finally was strong enough to talk intelli- gently and realize that miracle had hap pened.
 The faithful young evangelist rejoiced greatly and assured the sufferer that the | Almighty had saved him and that it was a warning to the unconverted. Fad. with wild, far-away look in his eyes. said to the parson:
 You can't tell me anything I don't know about the other world.
 T have been there. have been in hell and coming out of hell I've been | in heaven. No man has seen what have seen and lived" At this Flad went into another convul- l sion. and it was many long days before he would speak of the subject or explain | what he meant.
 A Sunday Republic correspondent was l present when he told the story in detail. T remember I was handling some con duit pipes for the wires that were being installed in the second gallery back of the big switch yards in the power house. l q knew that I was in a dangerous po- sltion. but thought was all right until stepped too far on one side and felt the plank slip on the sawhorses. which were four feet above the floor.
 "As I was getting my balance I shouted to Mallory, Look out!' From that mo- ment I remember nothing of what hap pened until I awoke in hell.
 There I found myself in a vast vol canic plain of rocks and hills. with tre- mendous buildings of massive construc- ton towering on every side. They looked like fortresses almost as big as noun tains.
 But they were full of fire. and flames came out on all sides.
 Between the buildings and out in the open country, everywhere. were rivers of blood. tumbling and dashlng over clifrs and breaking in whirlpools around those dreadful buildings.
 T was naturally dazed for a moment, but coming to my senses found myself walking and slipping, partly through space and partly on the ground. going (Continued on Page I9.l
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08
Who Do the Business.

The United States ought to nave more trade on the Congo. but it will not get 1t until 1t sends it's own steamers from New York to Africa. At present all the busi- ness is done by European companies. The Belgian Commercial Company deals large ly in the Upper Congo. It has stations at Matadi and all along the river.
 There are also large Dutch firms. At the time that Belgium took possession of the country there was Rotterdam Company with 8 capital of three-quarters of a million dollars. which had eighty different stores on this great river. It had five steamers and 15o white agents.
 Another big firm was Daumas, Beraud & Co.,, founded forty-eight years ago. 1t had twelve trading stations. with head quarters at Bona. In addition was Hot ton & Cookson of Liverpool and the Central Africa Trading Company, which was afterwards reorganized as the British Congo Company with its offices at Man chester.
 Belgium Has the Trade.
 At present the Belgians are crowding the British and Dutch out of business. They are increasing their trade right along and are rapidly developing an Afri- can market for their factories. They had practically no trade when the king took possession, put now the imports amouhe to about 50,OO0.0o0 francs a year. and the exports to more than 100. 900 francs. of which Belgium has by far the lions share. Belgium gets about nine-tenths of the products of the Congo shipped abroad, and It's tariff arrangements are such that 1t promises to do better in tha future.
 It has now export duties on ivory and rubber and there are import duties as well. It Is selling factory rights and oth- CT rights along the Congo, and is dispos- ing of farm lands and estate sin the interior. At present lands are selling for less than $1 an acre and factory sites for $100 and upwards an acre, with minimum price of $500 if they are sftu- ated beyond Stanley Pool.
 A license of s1. 900 is charged to all who engage in the rubber business. and there are other taxes as well. The Government Is now establishing plantations of Ha- vana and Sumatla tobacco, 1t is setting out coffee plantations and cocoa orchards and in time it hopes to be able to raise enough cotton to supply its own facto- ries. Frank G. Carpenter.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08
$500 VOLTS
 THROUGH BRAIN
Fred FlAm Lives to Tell of His Visionc of the Life
 Hereafter.
St. Louis Republic.

St. Louis Republic.
 He died. and yet he lives.
 The story Is unparalleled in the his- tory of electricity's accidents.
 About S:S0 o'clock on the afternoon of Aug. Il. Frederick Flad of Jersey City. employed by the Westinghouse Eleciri- cal Company at the Kingsbridge power- house. had half the voltage of the en- tire plant shot through his body-3 300 volts, of 265 amperes.
 He was holding up a joint of iron pipe conduit for containing electric wires at the time. which a workman. Mallory. was measuring. when the plank on which Flad stood tipped.
 To save himself from falling on a nest of deadly wires below he threw up his arm to get his balance. touched other wires. and like a thunderbolt. twice the voltage required for electrocution in Sing Sing prison shot through the in- sulation and through his body.
 Fad strengthened up, and as he stiff fened like a coypse his head came near enough .o still other wires above to form complete circuit.
 Mallory saw a stream of blue flame eighteen inches long and six inches wide roaring out of F1ad's head with the noise of a trolley car.
 He saw this flame melting the iron pipe above and the molten metal drop ping white and hissing on the back of his head.
 How could the man be saved7
 To put hands on him to pull him away meant death.
 It was a sweltering August afternoon. Men and clothing steaming with perspi- ration were perfect conductors on the awful current, and there was no time to shout for help.
 But Mallory was an expert.
 He kney what to do, Instantly like a catapult, he hurled himself headlong against the paralyzed burning man. broke the circuit and they both tumbled to the floor together.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08

huts; the common people sleep on the floor. ..+
 Each village has it's garden and palm grove. The chief food products iae pea nuts and mandioca, the roots of the lat ter forming the native bread. which is made with fermented palm sap for yeast
 Most of the work is done by the wom- en. They cultivate the gardens, make the bread and do the cooking. Some of the men are fishers and huslters, and in some tribes they have trades, being blacksmiths, tailors and house builders. Everything, however, is of the rudest de- scription, and most of the tribes are bar barous to an extreme.
 Slavery and Cannibalism.
 The Belgians claim that they are try ing to put down slavery. but their ene- mics say they are forcing them to work their plantations. There is no doubt but that slavery is still common in the great CT part of the territory. It .,as been so for ages. and 1t will take a long time to break 1t up.
 In times past slaves have been raised not onfy for work. but for food. There are some tribes in which human flesh is sold, the slaves being fattened with bananas, fish and oil, that they may bring be worth more than that of women and to have a better flavor.
 Many of the slaves are taken in war; and common tsuntsof Congo cannibal to his adversary Is:
 You shall rest in my stomach tomor- row."
 The most common of the slavetraders have been the Arabs who have gradually moved down from northern Africa. They are shrewder and braver than the Congo negroes. and in the past they have made a business of dealing in ivory and slaves. Bands of them will collect a lot of ivory forcing the villagers to aid them in doing so. They then kill off the useless mem bers of the village and force the others to carry the ivory to the seacoast, where they sell both ivory and bearers. the lat ter going as slaves. In the interior slaves have been very cheap. A bottle of gin was fair price for one, and a few beads, buttons or bright coiored cloths was enough to buy a whole family.
 Both the missionaries and the govern ment are to a certain extent doing away with these practices. but 1t will be long before they have abolished them.
 The New Railroads
 The secretary of tine Congo State tells me that the railways which have been
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08

of the Congo basin have here brought Together. The museum Is divided into sthree sections-artistic, scientific and eco- homie The artistic section has beautiful woven stuffs and carvings made by the African tribes. It has many remarkable |creations in ivory. as well as paintings of |the country and home life by Belgian 1artists.
 In the scientific department one sees Africa in miniature. The huts of the peo- snle and their villages are shown. The money of copper and iron is displayed. land all sorts of woven stuffs, dresses, stools and musical instruments are to be sseen. In another section are the animals sof the Congo, from the giraffe to the monkey, and in the industrial section are 'the various products, such as cotton, ra- mic and tobacco. The secretary tells me sthat cotton plantations are being set out, and that negroes may be brought from our Southern States to teach the people how to cultivate them. Tobacco is al- ready raised in many regions, and there Ms now something of an export of 1t to foreign countries.
 Ivory and Rubber.
 ] I was much interested in the exhibits of ivory and rubber. These form the two great exports of the Congo. bringing in millions of dollars to Belgium every year. At present about 5000 600 worth of rub Der is exported, and almost a million dol lars worth of ivory The rubber comes From lianas. or climbing plants, and not from trees. as on the Amazon. The plants are now carefully cared for, and hm told that in the Upper Congo there hre so many of them that the rubber exports will steadily increase. In the ower part many plants have been de- btroyed by the ignorance of the natives In gathering the product
 In tkis museum I saw ivory tusks at least ten feet in height. some of which yeighed almost two hundred pounds rhink of an animal which carries two Eusks weighing twice as much as a good Bized man. and you have an idea of the big elephants of the Congo. I stood be- elde one of the tusks and had the cura- tor take my photograph. I could not leach to the top of the tusk.
 As looked at the ivory the curator told he that the tusks ranged in size from a lew pounds up to two hundred pounds. In bringing the stun from the interior much
 f it is carried on the shoulders of men,
 tusk of sixty-fve pounds is a load for
 man. and a two-hundred-pound tusls Requires four men to tote 1t.
 Live and Dead Ivory.
 Much of the ivory is dead ivory; that is, comes from elephants killed long ago. b soma tribes the kings have been stor-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08

ing ivorS from generation to generation, some burying 1t and others piling it up as treasure. Indeed, 1t Is said there IS enough ivory of this kind in the interior of Africa to supply the world for fifty years to come. In some parts of the backwoods chiefs have stockades of ivory around their dwellings.
 Live ivory is that cut from freshly kili- cd elephants It Is worth more than dead ivory and is more difficult to get At present the Belgians are protecting tho elephants In some regions one must have a license in order to shoot them. and the probability Is that in the near future there will be an ivory monopoly, just as there is a diamond monopoly at the present time.
 Much of the ivory now found is brought from the Upper Congo. It is carried by river to Stanley Pool and thence down around the cataracts to Matadi by rail. where it is loaded upon the ships bound for Antwerp.
 What the Belgians Own.
 These African territories are called Tn" Congo Independent State" but they may now be looked upon as Belgian colony. King Leopold's claim to them came from his sending out Stanley and other explor- CTS and exploiting the country. He spent something like seven million dollars In his various enterprises. and when he said that he expected to build up an indc- pendent state in Africa which should be free to the trade of all nations, the other powers. agreed and the United States rec ognized the new country. Leopold began his explorations about twenty years ago. and the Independent State was founded about thirteen years ago. It was the idea that the Belgians were to suppress the slave trade, to put down cannibalism and to shoulder the sixteen millions of savages in the country well on the way to civilization. They were to take all the responsibility and pay all the bills and the rest of the world was. to have share
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08
CARPENTER IN
 CONGO STATE
How the Belsians Are Carrying the White Mans Burden
 in Africa.
kCopyright, 1903. by Frank G. Carpenter.)
 BRUSSELS.

kCopyright, 1903. by Frank G. Carpenter.)
 BRUSSELS.
 What is Belgium doing on the Congo?
 asked this question of the secretary of the Independent Congo State, as we sat together and chatted of Africa in the big Government building back of the Kings palace in Brussels. In reply the secre- tary touched a button and sent a mes senger for about a bushel of documents. which he ordered to be carried to my hotel. He then pulled down half dozen maps and went over the ground with me, laying down the projected railroads, pointing out the sites of new factories and plantations, and giving statistics of the millions being spent iii river and har- Dor improvements. He seemed to know Africa as well as I know my own back yard. and he made my head buzz with the names of peoples. towns. rivers and ge- ographical localities. He described the condition of the 100000 natives who now form Belgium's share of the white mans burden. telling me what the Government was doing to keep them from enslaving and eating one another. and in advancing them on the road of civilization.
 In this connection he spoke of our mis- Bionaries. who have many stations along the Congo, and said they were doing great good in teaching the natives trades, as we'll as the Scriptures
 The secretary spoke very kindly of the United States. saying that it was the first to recognize the Congo State and the first of the great nations to make treaties with 1t. As I started to leave he gave me a note of introduction to the curator of the great Congo Museum at Trevuren, near Brussels, and advised me to visit it for an object lesson of what the Congo is in this year 1908.
 The Museum De Congo.
 Since then I have spent a day in the Museum de Congo. talking with its cura- tor and looking over the great collections which Belgian explorers from every part
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08

after which, becoming sensible of his danger. he called in the best medical ad- vice in the city. But the disease could not be arrested, and after an illness of only four days duration. he breathed his last. It has been written of MT. Dexter
 that, 1t may be truly asserted. he never allowed an opportunity to pass of re- lieving the distress of a fellow being" and as an instance. that, on one occa- sion he explained a prolonged absence from home. when he was residing near Montgomery. in 1s2S by stating that he had been detained in the nation (as the country inhabited by the Creeks was then designated in endeavoring to save the life of poor Indian at whose cabin he had happened accidentally to stop.r
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08

(cOntinued on Page 19,2
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
blackstone. Va. Dec. Is, 1908.

Dear Santa Claus: Hoge wants gun to
shoot with and he wants some rubber
balls too Please bring me FIRE engine
and control wagon with man sit
ting In each one and band wagon with
mo sitting In that and q captains" car
and some box cars and an engine to IT.
Please send mo Ratchet too. HoRe
wants to cut down little trees and you
can get them at the Blackstone lcct
store. Hoge wants a dump cart to put
sand In and hole through the horses
mouth SO you can run string through
1t and believe that's all Santa Claus. IS
HOGE YOUNG.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
Richmond. Va. Dec. H. 10

RICHMOND, va, Dec II, 1VU5.
Dear Santa Claus: AS Christmas is al
most here and all little children are writ
Ing to you / am going to write you let
ter and let you know | am Il good girl
and go to Sunday School and help my
mama all / can. hope you VIII remember
me and my brothers and wee baby sister
when you come around. want n nice
doll and carriage some candy and nuts
and oranges and a broom Johnnie wants
some pop crackers and /, horn. Willie
Sam wants a wagon and bull puppy. Jeu
ME Sippl wants a bottle OF milk and
rug doll. Please don't forget us as pans
Is not rich enough TO get what We want,
GERTIE VIRGINIA. GOLDEN.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
MARVIN l.. NEWSOM.

Richmond. Va, Dac II. 1908.
Dear Old Santa Claus: please bring mo
a book. a horn. fire crackers torpedoes,
and fire works. Also some nuts candy
and Cakes. And bring me somc toys to
play with. And will be a good boy II
you bring mo a lot OF nice things to play
with. From your little friend,
LINWOOD DlckEY,
SOC West Main st.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20

Is ono Of the Greatest Healers OF tho Sick on
Earth. Cures all y seases or no Charge. 1 cula
all diseases that are known to the human rac-
or no charge. no matter what y.ur dIsease Q. SICK
ness. or addiction may be. und restore you to
perfect health. cure the following di-esises;
Heart Disease Consumption Bloou.N l>idney.
Liver, Biaduer. Piles IN any FORM. Vertigo.
ton Constipation Rheunat. SIN In any form
Pains, and Aches OF any kind. Colus. Bi onchlal
Troubles. Sores, Skin Discusses oil Itching Sen
buncles. l3os. Cancer. tne MS. forms, VITA
out the use OF knife or Instruments: Eczema,
Pimples on face and body: Diabetes OF kim y.
or Br gifts Disease OF the Kidneys ture any
disease no matter OF what nature. Medicine
sent to any address by express. For full par
store. No. 4oL West Broad Street. Richmond va.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
Louisa va. Dec, Is, 1908. Z

Dear Santa Claus: ma little boy
seven years old. Please bring mo sled.
a horn, two roman candles. pretty story
book. some candy and nuts. Do YOU
reckon you can bring me toy gun? My
little brother Is four years old-le says
please bring him o story book. a wagon
and some candy. My little sister Is two
years old. Plense bring her q doll that
won't break, and orange. and some candy.
i wish you merry Xmas.
Your little friend #
s,s sE,{44 f&t.HART,ES W. HILIMAN
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20

Denr Old Santa Claw: My name Is Marie.
and am years old, am real sweet
little darl, i want you to bring me doll
baby, go-Cart, set Of Furniture. set
OF dishes have a little bnby sister. she
is too small TO write you letter, but
Santa Cav please don't forget her.
will love you whole lot and Santa Cav,
have a big sister, II years old, sho
wants you to bring her watch, II II
don't tost too much please bring 1t TO
her and will lobe you so much.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
MARIE PEAY.

Richmond. Va. Dec. a.. 1903
Dear Santa Clause: have been good
little girl this year please bring mo these
little things, Sc, OF furs. watch and q
cloak and plenty good things to eat
and don't forget my little cousin George
From your little girl
ETA LEE HOUSCH. !.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
Rlchmond. Va. Dec. IA, 1903

Richmond. Va. Dec. II, 1903.
Dear Santa Claus: am q little boy 8
years old. Please bring me q foxey
Grandpa walking toy. express wagon.
printing press and writing desk, a
game, candies, nuts, oranges and figs and
lots and lots Of fireworks.
Good Bye,
From your little boy.
CHARLES II. O'DONNELL,
No, 60 N. 21St,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
richmond. Va. Dec. ID. 1908.

Richmond. Va, Dec. ID. 1908.
Dear Santa: would like to have
china press with a lot Of nice dishes.
nice game and please have my doll that
Mama brought me from New York
dressed I wish that l had another bed
but am afraid that ! am asking for too
much as would like Carrie to get what
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
Rlchmond, Va. Dec, IA, 1908.

Richmond. Va, Dec, H. 1903.
Doar Sanity Clause' am little girl
six years old and Please bring me a
large doll and a bed room suite OF furnl-
tlrp and a little piano and you can bring
me any other present that you chofe
and Please dress my Xmas tree With cam
dies so that can light II up and make
It look bright and cheerful now Please
don't forget to come to see me. rAmaln
Your little friend
ANNIE MORRTsSETTE.
1922 lIggleston 81,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
-
RIThmOnd

Richmond, Va, Dec. is, 1903
Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a
slay, horn and great big DOLL" Some
candy, nuts and an orange. Your Little,
HARRY GRANGER,
1923 W. Clay.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20

Richmond, Va. Dec. 18th. 1868.
Dear Santa Clause will again ask you
for something. | want you bring me q
sleigh, horn, and Il little fire engine and
some hose and hook and ladder and q
little automobile, and pair Of Ice skates
ana any other you can bring me. 1 am
q little boy 10 years old, and will not
peep when hear you come down the
chimney. heard you last Christmas.
Goodbye Santa.
EDDIE GAFZERT.
!. -1D1 q
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
Richmond, Va, Dec, II, 1908,

Dear Santa Claus: AS you have, been
away such long time will tell you
what 10 bring mo when you come, Amaa.
! want large doll and q carriage and
a tea set and a trunk, and some books.
and games and a caster. and lots Of good
things From your little girl,
ALlNE RlrPnM,
zoos L.. Marshall st.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20

Dear Santa Clause: AS I have always
written you little letter every Xmas.
thought would write and ask you TO
bring me some more things. have moved
long ways. live now In Fulton. but
hope you wont forget me. want you TO
hring me m engine O pr. Of leather leg.
gings. and d whole lot Of good things. and
I will be good little boy.
Good bye old Santa Claus.
EUGENE PEAY.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
3Gl1 e Marshall st,
HenrIco CO, Va, Dec. 14th, 1908.

Hcnrlco Co. Va, Dec. l4th, 1908.
Z Dear Santa: Please bring me drum,
and sleigh. some candy and nuts. and
an orange. and do not forget my little
sister Gladys, she wants a doll-baby. and
piano and some candy. Goodbye Santa.
Your little friends.
f GLADYS AND WALTER z LOTSEY, 4
$500 e. Marshall ST., Henrico county, Va.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
LILA MAuDE NoWLAN,
Richmond. Va, Dec. 15, 1909

Richmond. va, Dec. 15, 1908,
Dear Santa Claus: am SO glad another
christmas has come, and youswll pay us
n visit. am little boy six years old.
and real good, so please bring me a train
OF cars nice umbrella, q book, boat, q
Autobile, Noahs Ark. a Wind mill, and
lots Of things. Don't forget to fill my
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
Yours affeclionntely,
| p q. WI NSTON.
Richmond. Va. Dec. 18th, 1873.

Richmond Va. Dec. 18th, 1903.
Dear Santa Claus: am little girl
eight years old, and / do not want very
much this year.
want you to bring me rocking chair.
school umbrella and u ring and any,
thing else you choose to bring
am us cvdr your little friend.
BESSIE SIMS.
r, S. + live at 25l4 Eust Broad St.