davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-03-29

the chickens and fruit i'm sight often in
broad daylight. with no apparent fear Of
the consequences The negroes taking
these chances positively believed that
they were Invisible. while wearing their
charms, TO the owners OF farms whose
grounds they set out 10 loot. and il took
a lot or buckshot judiciOusly placed TO
convince them that they had been de-
ceived and that their charms from the
hands OF the mother OF the Voodoos'
had only a theoretical value The au-
thorities OF Florida got after this black
man. but 1 believe that he wasn't pun
ished
The "Blue- -Gummed" Brother.
notwithstanding the vltuperation and
scorn with which the blue gummed Mig
ger is mentioned I'm some Of the cur
rent coon songs OF the day. the so-caIled
blue gummed negro OF the more remote
coloTed settlements OF the far South is
very much feared individual by his
neighbors, who attribute all sorts OF su-
perstitious powers 10 him. The blue
gummed negro practices the voodoo
business with profit, and any old sort
OF a phiIter that he rigs up finds a
ready sale among the Ignorant blacks.
Consequently. a good many OF the fore
handed darkies down in the obscure re-
gions want to be blue gummed negroes,
and they are easy victims for the black
con men. who sell to them. for figures
ranging from s. to 500. certain nostrums
which are guaranteed to change their
gums TO the blue hue within certain
space OF time.
1T has never been satisfactorily eX-
planned to me why certain negroes pos
sess blue instead OF red gums. but | have
seen a large number Of the blue
gummed negroes. / take IL that their
gums are blue because Of disease pc
culiar to certain individuals in the At
rican race. Know that in many sec
tions OF the South no black would take
a chance OF doing anything calculated
10 raise the ire Of a blue gummed ne
gro.
Brish Trade in Love Philters.
The superstitious black girls-'h house
as well as field niggers easy prey
for the purveyOrs OF love philters. who
have become as thick as blackberTies
all over the South in the last decade.
They readily give up months wages
for a little vial Of colored water which
is solemnly guaranteed to bring the man
of their choice TO their feet In little
less than no time.
But the black girls are not alone in
Welding TO the Establishments of the
colored con men who sell philters.
There are philters devised for the film
famming OF the male blacks A smooth
black CRATER got away with lot OF
money throughout Louisiana a year or
so ago by selling TO black youths little
walls which he guaranteed would make
the other fellow lose at craps or any
other game OF chance once he had invOl-
UNFAIRLY absorbed the stun into his sys-
TEN. For while large section OF the
black populaoe Of interior Louisiana was
trying 10 sneak these drops Of cOlored
water into each others drinks.
The Washington times., 1903-03-29
Romantic Life Story Of Mrs.
Noyes and Her Daughter,
Who Were Captives of the
Fierce Anacosta Indians in
the Forest Where the City
of Washington Now Stands

~ NE of Washington's interesting
and historic places is the home
OF Mrs. a. NJ. Dean. known as
Oak Lawn. which is situated on the
northeast corner Of Connecticut and
Florida Avenues The dwelling occupies
the crest OF a prominent hill. and is today
the picture of peace and content.
The house has been the home OF the
Dean family for the last thirty years.
and the present owners have added TO
the limits Of the place from time to
time
The history Of the site is romantic in
the extreme. and the events which have
taken place within the original limits
OF the property have been embodied in
a pamphlet with the title The widows
Mite. or the Continual oak"
Monarch Of the Wood.
The huge oaks scattered over the
place Immediately attract the eye. and
OF the number. one which stands at the
head OF the drive. is the patriarch. It's
age has been estimated az over 900
years by those who have knowledge OF
the growth Of the oak. and the branches
CT this father OF trees spread over eighty
feet. and almost hide the west side o,
the Dean residence. The history of the
beginning OF the property and OF this
oak. follows:
Where Washington now stands up
ward Of one hundred years ago there
was vast unbToken forest. inhabited b.
the Anacosta Indians Their chief
Mannacasset. OF a low. vet powerful
stature, and the very personifcation of
ferocity. upon being placed in power Sc
lected site for his wigwam beneath the
shade OF young. powerful oak. situated
on an emincnce from which he could
have view OF The surrounding coun-
try. This location he had selected in
preference TO the one occupied by his
ancestors. near where the Naval OBJ
servatory now stands. as being more
suitable and affording a better retreat
for his maTauding expeditions. II was
the most eligible site from which fun
view can be had Of the basin in which
Washington now stands. Here the coun-
ellis Of the tribe were held. and here
many poor captive offered up his last
prayer.
Captives of the Anacosta Chief.
1t so happened that the chief and his
followers surprised small party Of
emigrants on the banks OF the Potomac
among the number being Mr.. Noyes and
The Washington times., 1903-03-29
~rhe Continual Oak" Under Which Mrs Noyes Lived.

his wife and two children. one an infant.
Mrs. Moves. though feeble from over
exertion. retained much Of her former
prepossPssing appearance. and by her
pitiful entreaties to the chief attracted
his notice. He Immediately signi6ed 10
her his intent of retaining her as his
squaw The harsh treatment received
from the savages caused her to fan into
a swoou. during which she was con-
veyed. with the other prisoners, to the
chief's rendezvous. She partially re-
vived the following morning. and. finding
herself I'm an Indian hut. with no one but
her infant. shrieked for help and called
aloud for her husband and elder child.
The coarse laugh Of an Indian was the
only response
Murdered By the Savages.
Endeavoring to rush out OF the hut.
she was met by the chief, who forbade
her stepping any farther. md in ap-
parently as kind accents as his savage
nature would admit, Informed her in
broken English that. her husband and
child. with the residue OF the prisoners.
had last night entered the Great
Spirits domIniOns. on the journey to
which his tribe had entertained them
with 2 scalp dance
The chief told her that II she would
now consent to be his squaw, she should
be free to roam about With the women
This proposition she Indignantly re
The Washington times., 1903-03-29

fused acceding TO. stating that she
would rather die. The chief, after a
moments hesitation. in peremptory
manner. said You do not choose 70 be
my squaw? | then choose TO keep you
a prisoner. and henceforth you shall not.
under pain OF death. wander beyond
the shade of this oak which over
spreads this hut Two middleaged
women we're Mrs. Noyes' constant guar
dians, and provided her with food and
clothing.
Gwawa and Her Playmate.
In this manner eleven long years had
passed. and the fair captive's child had
grown to be a beautiful young girl whom
her mother delighted In calling Gwawa,
or hope
Little Gwawa had but one playmate
little boy about her own age. whom
the Indians called Tschagarag (skyiness)
from his being OF very light complexion.
and having extremely beautiful blue
eyes. He had been captured two years
others. but escaped their horrible fate
by his amiable conduct and the par
ticular fancy all the Indian children had
for him. He was. OF all children, the
most beloved. while Gwawa. II she ven
tured among them, was sure TO be tor
mented. Tschagarag would seem TO pity
her. and often went to her mother 5
like her. received instruction from Mrs.
The Washington times., 1903-03-29
Il BLACK BUNCO MEN OF TIE SOUTH AND THEIR TRICKS n

"T-HE South is comparatively free of
white confidence men. The bla.l,
brethren OF the bunco brigade are get
ting the money below Mason and Dixon.s
line in these days" said postofice in
spector. who returned TO Washington
one day last week from a trip over a
large section OF Southern territory
The colored con man works his own
race exclusively. and some of his
schemes for fooling the ignorant ne
groes out OF their hard-earned money
are mighty ingenious
In a Mississippi town. the other day.
had chance to watch the operations
of a notified colored man who was max
ing money hand over 1st. I say mot
tied because he had pure white or pink
spots all over his face and hands. and
was told. over all the rest OF his body.
A few years ago. while up North. he
had some sort of a disease which caused
these white spots to appear upon him.
His Own Testimonial.
His afiction puzzled the medical
men, and great deal was written about
his case az that time in the medical
press as welI as in the daily papers. It
was thought that he was going to die in
the hospital 70 which be was taken. but
he recovered from his illness, The white
spots stopped appearing. and when he
found himself on his feet he was about
half black and half white The white
spots on his face we're as rosy. and the
texture OF the skin where they had ap-
pcared as silky as those OF a young
white girl.
'Msye You White" Medicine
well, i,-thfs colored con man was SELL
ing make -you-w white medicine TO the
colored folks in the Mississippi towns
price $50 for six bottles. 20 be used at
the rate OF bottle month. aud guar
anteed to render 'em just like white
folks at the end OF six months. when
they had finished taking the six bottles.
The darky working this game was
dressed to the mines, wore diamonds.
and had money in every pocket He
didn't sell his 'make-you- white medi-
cine publicly or advertise it IN any way.
bur disposed OF it by the visiting
method. lie had list OF the black peo-
pie who were known to have little piles
OF savings tucked away. and he called
upon these and stated to them the
marvellous nature OF his medicine.
Proof on Exhibition.
fTne stuff. as a physician down there
told me. was nothing but water colored
with harmless dye and favored with a
few drops OF some essential oil. But the
man had only TO exhibit himself to prove
the efficacy OF his treatment He told
them that he had only been taking the
medicine for three months himself and
that the white spots on him were
spreading every day He would partly
disrObe 10 show prospective male pur-
chasers OF his marvellous 'make-you-
white dope the fine pink spots on his
torso
4of course he got the currency Of the
black believers in lunches and bundles.
Few OF them could doubt the evidence
The Washington times., 1903-03-29
y THE TRUE STORY OF THE WIDOWS MITE GROUND x
Lived Many Years in a Hut
Beneath a Venerable Oak
Tree, Whose Spreading
LIMBS Still Shade the Beau-
tiful Lawn of the Dean Es-
tate on Connecticut Avenue.

ton city. He then spoke OF building a
house in the city. and desired them 10
occupy part OF it. But Mrs. Noyes re-
fusing. he entreated. at least. 10 allow
their cottage 70 be repaired. Even 10
this request Mrs Noyes reluctantly as
sented. stating she preferred TO live the
remainder OF her life in an unchanged
home.
Welded to Gwawa.
One year had not quite elapsed when,
although having some very wealthy
rivals. Tschagarag was blessed with the
hand OF her whose heart he had long
possessed-his beloved Gwawa. Some
two years after their marriage Mrs.
Noyes ended life which had been one
OF resigned suffering, but toward its close
had received new hope and Joy at the
prospect OF her chiIdren's future happi-
ness She made will. which was found
beneath her pillow 1t reads as follows:
The Widows Will.
Il. Msgdalena Noyes, bequeath to my
daughter. Gwawa. and her husband.
Tschagarag. all my property. consisting
of I71z acres OF land, the house 1 live
in being the center thereof: also the
house and all herein contained. furni-
ture and personal effects. belonging to
me- And II cOntentment and germ Of hap
pines be transferable may you re-
ceiye. and. like me. enjoy it through
life.
Il have also three requests, which I
beg you to fulfill. The first is to retain
our old coIored servant and provide
amply for him in his Did age; the SECOND,
TO bury me in the cemetery at the base
OF the hill. on which stands cur dwell
ing: the third is TO regard the oak which
overspreads our cottage as a sacred
relic; cherish il through life as the
talisman OF a resigned sufferer. And
should you be blessed with offspring,
install them with the reverence for the
tree as will transmit from generation 10
generation These fulfilled. accept my
thanks and consider the little I give
you. dear children. as the Widows
Mite TO her pOsterity.
Your ,affectionate mother.
''Magdalena Noyes.
Near Washington, ID. c.. November.
The following spring Tschagarag,
known by the name OF David Nourse
since having left the Indians. built a
large stone dwelling beside the majestic
oak. Both are yet in good preservation.
The oak. in particular. is known as the
largest and most beautiful tree in the
District. and the estate is yet known By
the name given IL by Mrs. Noyes-the
Widows Mite"
The Washington times., 1903-03-29

port fro" Portugal. stiIl and sparkling
ones from the Rhiue. and every brand
of champagne that France has made
famous. California had a special section.
for our native wines have wedged their
way into the favor OF the discriminating
public. and now take a large place in
the liquid menu OF the cultivated Amer
lean.
Poultry in Cold Storage
But a step distant was the cold stOr-
age room. and this was a sight indeed.
In the first place there were eggs by the
crate. for the hotel consumes I50 dozen
a day. and in juNtaposition 10 this fruit
OF the domestic fowl were the birds
themselves. They were not laying. how
ever, but hanging. for their days OF
COmmendable labor were over. and they
hung in rows, denuded of their plumage
and ready for the grill or the oven at the
rate OF fifty or more every day In addi-
tion TO the chickens there were swans
ducks. turkeys. pigeons and game Of
every kind that the season provided.
until the place N.as remindful OF a bird
morgue. The temperature OF this room
was two degrees below the freezing
be as fresh five years from the date Of
his execution as five minutes after the
AK had fallen on his martyr neck.
A Piscatorial Museum.
Then came the fish room. aud a look
at that was sufficient 10 convince the
reporter that he had much to learn re-
gsrding the denizens OF the deep. There
were fish there OF which he had never
heard. but the chef assured him that
they were frequently called for by guests
living In the localities in which they
were caught and they had TO be kept
on hand for just these people Next
were the great freezing boxes. where
the large meat was kept. and these con
taineG rows upon rows OF beef. mutton.
veal. and their like. until the wonder
was where II all came from every day.
and Why the supply did not fail.
Thoughts began to accumulate as 20 the
wonders Of a country that could supply
all this. aud when the multiplication
table asserted itself in the brain of the
reporter aud when he tried 10 make a
few statistics he was threatened with
paresis by continuance of the unusual
process and quickly desisted.
One Days Consumption.
He learned from the chef that the
average daily consumption by the no
tells guests from the stores which he
had seen was $50 loaves of bread, 200
quarts OF milk. and half as much cream.
seyenty-ive gallons Of coffee from the
grocery store in the nearby cOmpart-
ment, four TO five entire beeves. and two
to four sheep, 81 900 worth of wines and
liquors, many dozen chickens, ducks. and
o1her fowls. and oysters by the gallon.
Fish. shell and other, are disposed of
by the score. and OF potatoes there are
several barrels eaten every day
The way led to the cigar room. where
there were enough of the smokers joys
TO stock large store. $4,000 being tied
up In that room alone The entire trip
through the warehouse was productive
The Washington times., 1903-03-29

Another very successful philter was
one that an Alabama darkey. with an in
genious turn Of mind sold TO a large
number or victims OF his color. II was
guaranteed TO make the employers %
the blacks leave them good-sized lega-
cies in their Wills when the employers
died. The sinister character OF this
scheme. IN the temptation II offered 10
the purchasers Of such phIlters 10 do
away with employers TO whom had been
secretly given the harmless contents OF
the little yials. was apprehended by the
Alabama authorities. and the black
CRATER who engaged in this trade was
roughly handled when the story OF his
scheme came out.
Jordan Water" at S. a Pint.
The more ignorant blacks of the cot
ton belt are in such a constant state Of
fear Of the evil eye that The colored
bunco men who sell contraptions guar
anteed 10 render the evil eye Intellectual
have as much business as they can han
die. One OF them made a good thing OF
il by selling at s. apiece small quarter
pint bottles Of Tombigtee water which
he vowed he haG got from the River
Jordan
Another OF the grafters sold seidlitz
powders TO his brethren for dollar a
throw. He described them as powdered
alligator's teeth and that a mess Of
powdered aIligatoT's teeth taken inter-
nalIy would knock the tar out OF any evil
eye spell that was ever devised. The
effervescence Of the seidlitz powders
gave him his stronghold in the manipu-
lation of this game. for not one far
Southern black in a thousand knows
anything about enervescing powders.
Hundreds OF freckled yellow darkies
were done OF sums ranging from $40 10
$50 few years ago by black buncOist
which claimed that he could infallibly
remove their freckles. He sold his vic
Tins some sort of mixture that had
phosphorus in it, and told them 10 rub
the stuff all over their bodies for six
nights running and then go swimming In
the nearest stream after nightfall. The
glow they emitted in the water made
hit with the freckled ones. who were
convinced that they were burning their
freckles on
Not Much PesteIed by the Law.
The authorities in most OF the
Southern States rarely bother to ap-
prehend the black con men who make
a business Of preying upon the super
stitious beliefs of their fellow negroes.
mainly because they appreciate the vir-
tual hopelessness Of such efforts. The
swindles are by and between the blacks,
and the victims rarely or never complain
10 the authorities.
But several of the States are now
endeavorinS 10 stamp out the insurance
swindlers, most Of them educated black
grafters, who have been preying upon
the ignorant negroes for a number OF
years. These fellows represent no COM
panies, OF course. and every cent they
take from their credulous victims goes
into their own pockets. But they issue
elaborate policies with ornate seals and
stamps. and the blacks who fall TO the
game exhibit these fake policies TO each
other with delight"
The Washington times., 1903-03-29

GntD you ever stop to think where
l. all the food that is consumed
in a big hotel during the day and night
that il is in working operation, was kept
and how much OF it disappears down
the throats OF the hungry and thirsty
multitude during that time. to say moth
ing OF the total for the week, month.
or year?"
This question came from the lips o,
the imported French chef OF one OF
Washington's largest hotels. and the re-
porter 10 whom the query was address,
ed admitted that he had not given the
subject that careful attention and con-
sideration IL perhaps demanded.
Come along with me and I will open
your eyes" was the inviting answer
10 the admitted ignorance OF the young
man. and the Gentleman OF France" led
the way up the Avenue.
Your True and Only Chef.
He was clad in the raiment OF the
true boulevardier. his mustache point
ing skyward with its Persian haughti-
ness. his feet shod in patent feathers.
his figure encased in a frock coat. which
was covered with a Yicuna topcOat. and
a silk hat. fresh from the most fash
ionable block. topping off the whole
exquisite creation. He did not look like
the cc> as we are inclined TO think
of him; he was not a cook. Never, He
was a chef. and the gulf that divides
a chef from a cook is broad and deep.
He had long since graduated from the
ranks OF the cooks. and 10 is his salts
faction now 10 draw salary that would
be the envy OF Cabinet officer. to
smoke the best cigars and drink wines
10 which only connoisseurs and men o.;
wealth can attain. From his lofty
height he commands the forces Of the
kitchen. but his delicate hands never
touch a pot or a cauldrOn. he enters
his domain more often than not iE even
ing dress. and his appearance Is the sig
nal for a respectful attention shared
only by those in places of the very high
est authority. This seeming DEPRESSION
is necessary TO illustrate just how the
great hostel of the city treat their
chefs. for upon these men depends the
vogue OF the cafe, and the successful
life OF the hotel itself. for let IL once
become known that the kitchen OF ho-
tel IS it's weak point. and that house is
doomed.
Treasures of the Wine Cellar.
Entering the hotel he led the way to
the very bowels OF the building begin
ming his self-appointed task at the cold
storage department and the wine eel
lars. In this latter place there was more
than 800 600 worth of LIQUOR stored
Ranged carefully along the walls were
almost priceless crates OF rare wines.
the cobwebs formed there in sunny
France having been carefully preserved
during their long trip across the At
lantic. for to the epicure there is moth
ing 50 gratifying as sight OF these cob
webs around the neck OF a favorite yint-
age There were liquors in bottles. casks,
barrels and hogsheads: aromatic wines
from Hungary. sherry from Amontilado,
The Washington times., 1903-03-29

the name of Holmead:s Burying Ground
Advancing old age was very pereep-
tibly showing itself on the fair form
OF Mrs Noyes; her beautiful tresses had
changed to gray. her form was bent. and
time had deeply furrowed her fore
head.
The nineteenth century had opened
when one Sunday afternoon a we'll
dressed young man. with remarkably
beautiful eyes, knocked at the door OF
Mrs. Noyes cottage. and. on the door
being opened. said. Does Mrs. or Miss
Noyes live here"
Return of Tschagarasg.
why. Tschagarag. is 1t you2 Oh.
how glad l am 70 see you again" ex-
claimed Gwawa, for 1t was she that
opened the door She recognized him
almost Immediately. and rendering him
her delicate hand, said:
Come in and see mother: she will
be overjoyed at meeting you again; we
have often. very often. thought and
spoken of you. and mother has always
said she knew we would meet again. -
BY this time Tschagarag had entered
the room of Mrs Noyes. and she. too.
recognized him Immediately and. aris-
ing from her chair, she embraced him
while tears OF joy were streaming down
her cheeks.
Tschagarag related briefly the prinei-
pal events OF his life since having parted
with them, stating that he had travelled
as far Is the Ohio River with the In
dians- While encamped there some trad
ers had taken him prisoner and brought
him to New York. That he there received
education and had studied architecture
and lately had received an appointment
as assistant architect on one OF the pub
lie buildings then erecting in Washing