davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27
The Earliest sur.eon..

Surgery is said to be older than
medicine. and probably, in its simplest
Offices. it is as old as human need for
it Skulls of the neolithic period give
evidence that the operation of repan-
ming was then practiced
The Hindoo surgeon Susruta, who
lived several centuries before Christ
had more than a hundred different
sorts Of surgical instruments. and there
is abundant proof that his countrymen
were skilled in amputaton, lithotomy
and operations for hernia. flstula and
even for restoring lost ears and noses
Hippocrates. who lived 400 B. c., was
skillful surgeon, and discoveries by
Ebers and others in Egypt prove that
the ancient Egyptians practiced sur
gerry. with suitable Instruments, nearly
5000 years ago.
Among the six hermetic books OF
medicine mentioned by Clement of
Alexandria was one devoted to sur
gical instruments. The Greeks are
thought to have learned the Hindoo
methods. and the Romans were skilled
in surgery.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27
THE CODE IN ANCIENT lth5
Famous Duel III the Days Of Gooss
q A. Queen Anne.

Famous Duel III tht Days Of Gooa
5ss 0ue<n Anne.
In the reign Of good Queen Ann
;duels were no less frequent than Ill
the rowdy, siotous days Of Charles Ii.
Lord Mohun, a dissolute, remorseless
nobleman, was the terror Of honest
London citizens at this time, ard
many were the infamous escapades in
which he played chief character. He
was guilty of one act which bears no
other name than that Of murder the
killing of poor Mountford, the actor.
In cold blood because he endeavored to
protect the honor of Mrs. Bracegirdle.
the famous and beautiful actress. II
was Lord Mohun who fought and kill
ed the Duke of Hamilton. an affa II
which all will remember who BIZ
read Thackeray's great novel. Il
mond."
The duel was fought with swords Is
Hyde park, the challenge having becp
seat by Mohun to the duke. who h:
with perfect accuracy, stated that one
OF Mohun's creatures chad neither
truth nor justice in him." The Duke
of Hamilton received wound in the
right side of the leg about seven inches
long, another IN the right arm. third
in the upper part of the breast, run
ming downward toward the body;
fourth on the outside Of the left leg.
Lord Mohun himself was MORALLY
wounded. receiving large wound in
the groin, another in the right side
through the body, in which the sword
plunged right up to the hilt, and
third In his arm. There is no doubt
he rightly deserved his death, because.
departing from the rules of fence
among men of honor, he shortened his
sword, thrust under his opponents
guard and stabbed the duke in the
manner of common assassin.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27
Mri.sltler.

do you think Skinner can make q
living out there =
Make . livinsi Why. he'd make .
lving on a rock In the middle of the
isesan Il there was another man on the
3rock" "a ;.5;
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27
How Hen. Roo.t.

The mechanism of the leg and foot of
q chicken or other bird that roosts on
a limb is a marvel Of design. 1t often
seems strange that bird will sit on q
roost and sleep all night without fall
ing off. but the explanation is-perfectly
simple. The tendon of the leg Of
bird that roosts is so arranged that
when the leg is bent at the knee the
claws are bound to contract and thus
hold with sort Of death grip the limb
round which they are placed. Put a
chickens feet on your wrist and then
make the bird sit down and you will
have a practical illustration on your
skin that you will remember for some
time. By this singular arrangement,
seen only In such birds as roost, they
will rest comfortably and never think
Of holding on, for It Il impossible for
them to let go till they stand up.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27

poening jury and witnesses. %
Alex Morrison appeared before board
and asked that the board pass resolu-
ton authorizing the cancellation OF the
ditch tax spread on the tax lists for the
year 1903 ON the following lands assessed
tor benefits for construction of drain No.
8, SEA Sec IA, E u sec % and NV X
sec "a, all in twp 1853 range So and gave
as his reason that said drain No. 8 is of
no more benefit to him after the recent
changes than it was as originally con-
structed.
The matter was laid over until January
9th, 1904.
Board adjourned until 9 m Nov 10Th.
Board met as per adjournment. Present
NIL board.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27
Scotch coolness.

Speaking of Scotch characteristics, an
EnGiishman travelling in this country
told story illustrative Of Scottish COOL
ness under trying circumstances.
"a number of Scots" he said, were
working on fifteen story building.
One up near the roof lost his foothold
and fen. But even in hissswift descent
through the air be remained quite cool
and calm. In fact, as he shot past
friend on the twelfth story he sang
out:
: Eth, Sandy, man. sic fall AZ I
shall haef"
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27

eeA story of Young Dsa Webster.
i A New York lawyer recently told an
interesting story Of Daniel Webster's
hoyhoDd.
Little Dan and his younger broth
er.p said. the legal light, had each
been given some money. They started
out 'gleefully. and 1t was evening be.
fore they got back home.
- !" sWell. DAM said the senior Web
ster. what did you do with your mon
eyr -.
Spent it. the boy answered stur-
Oily.
.'And how about you7 What did
you do with your money! the father
asked the younger brother.
= Il loaned it to DAM was the reply"
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27
orixi. Of Life Insurance.

II don't have to have my life insur-
ed" said the business man to the agent.
but l do want to know how life insur-
ance originated. Can you tell me?" II
can" the agent answered. 1T original
ed in 1908 in London. In that year
there was formed the first life insur-
ance company. 1t was called the Ami
cable Society For Perpetual Assurance
Office. 1t was a mutual benefit con-
Germ. Each member. without reference
to age, paid fixed admission fee and
a fixed annual charge per share on from
one to three shares. and at the end Of
the year portion of the fund accu-
INFLATED was divided among the heirs
of those who had died in accordance
with. the number Of shares each dead
person had held. Out Of this company.
with its crude and imperfect methods,
life insurance as it exists today has
grown" Philadelphia Record.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27
clubl.nd,. Submerged Tenth.

There is hardly club. even among
the oldest. that does not possess its al
most woefully poor members; men who
dropped ambition and their tailor 81.
simultaneously. who try to hide even
from themselves the whereabouts Of.
their dismal chambers" which is one
room: who have no want that does not
begin and end with their clubs and
would fade away and die miserably II
its doors were closed to them. Court
journal. III.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-27

Bills allowed
Spriggs Bros, balance on contract
for heating plant acct. .1O68 SO
Joe Gislason, bridge work. ....... 10 90
w ] King, do.................... so
w King, do. 36 IS
Louis DeHeilly, painting Walhalla
brldgee.. ....................2 ~ 90
Gibson Bros, goods furnished co
poor Carrier and Latrialle. 80. u 90
VIM Ardies, board of prisoners &C "a IS
do do 126 O5
do do 50 20
do do 81 80
D Wallace, fees insanity case of
Levi Williamson ............ 18 90
Louis Mcleod, bridge work as per
contract Observation-Disclosures 80 rs
Joseph Fay do. Is 90
Say!or & Co, goods co poor POLL
ard family3. ................. 5 90
Wilmer & Derby, telephone acct
county business. .......... 2 70
Alex McFadden, bridge work per -,
contract with NORM. ......... Is 90
WV Scott, prof services co poor
Kwcker girl ................ II 90
T R Shaw. telephone acct to Oct
39th. -. commandments. % Is
Goods furnished court house
to Nov 18th. 81 As
Wilmer & Derby, medicine for CO
poor Geo Brown. 10 40
NV King. bridge work and spikes IA so
Board adjourned until 2 p m:
Hurry up and get acquainted With the
keystone Maid" Cigar. At w. c.
Shorts.
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09
NeW State Constitution
Springs From Sand
Lot Agitation.

~Y that peculiar power which gives
* force to popular agitations. Kear-
ney's party grew in strength until
it gained control Of most OF the city Of
fees and aspired to success on a State
ticket. When the question OF a new con-
stitution was submitted to the people
Kearney's party, united with the so-called
Granger movement among the farmers
OF the interior. carried the day, and
a constitutional convention was called In
the summer Of 1878, when the delegates to
the convention were elected, the Work
ingman's party AZ the farmers OF the
valleys were in the preponderance. The
history Of the drafting Of the constitution
is best shown IN the text itself OF the re-
markable instrument which was put be-
fore the people for adoption in May, 1879
The struggle over its adoption was Sc
we're. The mOneyed men declared that its
provisions were ruinOus to commerce and
industry and calculated TO drive capital
out Of the country; some Of its provisions
were alleged to be contrary to the consti-
tuition Of the United States and therefore
null But the Changers and Sand Lot par
ty were strong enough to carry the meas
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09
Mk ~ RcWM q'As NESTERK GIANT ~GGz>1

acknowledged to be under the thumb OF
the railroad while in San Francisco bald
faced corruption was rampant Juries
were weak, judges weaker, and il be-
came a proverb that one might safely
commit a murder if he took the advice OF
the best lawyers.
Things had reached this pass when
mass-meeting held IN San Francisco In
the fall OF II for the purpose Of express
ing sympathy for the striking railroad
employees at Pittsburg, Pa, developed into
a demonstration against the Chinese.
which looked for time like general at
tack on Chinatown. Out of this first rath-
er aimIess demonstration was born the
Sand Lot party, with Denis Kearney at
its head. Kearney, who was power in
the Draymen's Union at the time. en-
braced the opportunity offered by the Sep
tember elections for municipal. State and
Congressional officers to call meeting OF
workingmen and malcOntents with a view
to forming a permanent organization for
the purpose OF insisting upon elected Of
hcers living up to pledges made before
election and to oppose Chinese tmmigra-
tion.
Upon the sand lot where the City Hall
now stands and where only the Hall OF
Records had been completed, Kearney and
his rapidly growing band Of agitators
were wont to hold monstrous open-air
meetings, whereat the speeches both OF
Kearney and his fellow workers took
more and more turbulent character. At
one night meeting held on Mob Hill
Kearney delivered himself OF the opinion
that the millionaire railroad magnates
living thereon deserved to have their
houses burned, whereat he was arrested
But being released. Kearney became the
hero OF the masses and his Workin sman's
party fourished, embracing the whole
State, with Kearney as its president.
Wherever Kearney spoke he decreed that
the Chinese must go.
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09

nrst editor Of the Bulletin. In HIS fear
less editorials, King had openly attacked
the boodlers, notably James P. Casey
who had fraudulently elected himself Su-
pervisor. On May IA. 1856. Casey met the
editor on the corner OF Montgomery ana
Washington streets and shot him dead.
Immediately a crowd Of exasperated cit
izens gathered before the jail wherein
Casey was incarcerated and from their
anger was born the second Vigilance
Committee. On May Is select few met
in a hall on Sacramento street, near
Leidesdorff, selected William T. Coleman
chairman Of the executive committee and
enrolled 1900 members the first day. With
In a week 5000 men were assembled into
companies, armed, drilled and stationed
in various armories about the city. This
perfected organization on the Sunday fol-
lowing the shooting of King, marched
through the streets in full military array,
halted at the Jail on Broadway and with
a brass cannon pointed at the door, de-
manded the person OF Casey.
Casey, together with Charles Cora, who
had murdered United States Marshal
Richardson, was delivered over to the
Vigilantes and py them taken to the head
quarters on Sacramento street. With all
Of the forms Of procedure Of court Of
justice, Casey and Cora were given a
fair trial before jury, being allowed the
services Of an attorney for their defense.
They were found guilty and while the
whole city was on the streets to attend
the public funeral OF King, the two men
convicted by this summary court Of JUS
tice, were strung up in front Of the Vigil
ance headquarters.
The committee continued in its work,
driving gamblers out OF the city and de-
porting boodlers, when they came into
clash with Governor John N. Johnson,
who ordered Major General William T..
Sherman to use the militia Of San Fran
cisco to put down the Vigilance Commit
tee as participators In armed sedition.
Sherman resigned rather than execute
his orders. The frantic Johnson then
petitioned President Pierce to use the
military and naval forces Of the United
States to put down what he termed a re-
bellion, but his application was denied.
Meanwhile the Vigilantes, behind their
Fort Gunnybags," were continuing their
perfect military organization, even pre-
Stunning to keep as a prisoner for seven
weeks and then release after trial D..
S. Terry, Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court of the State.
On August IS, after remarkable career
in purging the city Of crime, the Vigil
ance Committee dissolved. Such was the
appreciation accorded it by the citizens,
that the dissolution partook OF the nature
Of a triumphal public procession. Thus
passed into history that remarkable or
ganization which upheld the law and
maintained order while itself technically
a lawless body.
The great stress of the Civil War which
racked the States east Of the Rockies in
the throes of internecine bloodshed
scarcely affected California Our land was
then too remote to hear, except in soft
ened echoes, the thunder Of the cannons.
Though there were enough Southerners
in the country to make feeling run high
for time, no doubt Of California's 10y
atty ever existed and the stream OF gold
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09

ure by a small majority. This done. they
proceeded to elect a Legislature to put
the instrument into effect, but a reaction
set in against their propaganda. and when
that body met a strong conservative ele-
ment passed statutes which gave effect to
the provisions of the constitution in a
form far less harmful than was expected.
The Sand Lot party then gradually sank
into insignihcance and finally disappeared.
OF the history of California during the
last twenty-five years there is much that
can be written in the future when the
lapse Of time has thrown events into a
proper historical perspective. Much that
has happened and is happening. savors
now of personal or party prejudice and
cannot be dwelt upon until the passage
of years makes it pure history.
Now at the ffty-third anniversary Of
the birth of our State we have the oppOr-
tunity to pause and reflect on the future.
Consider how, up to fifty years ago. Cali
fornia dreamed away her days IN luxur-
ious Incidence. contented to bask lazny
in the glad sunshine OF hsr own skies.
Then, as if by the touch OF a magician's
wand, she reused herself to unceasing
energy. The wealth Of mine and field
which had lain hidden for centuries was
brought to light. A stable commonwealth
was built out OF the exfgencies OF the
moment hardy race OF men was
tanned to the task of upbuilding an en-
pire. Peace was established where dis
order reigned- The new State was raised
to be leader among her sisters OF the
American Union.
Now stands California on the edge Of
the continent with her eyes to the West.
whittier ever the touch Of destiny has led
the American people. California has
ceased to be the frontier; that has been
moved to lands below the sweep Of the
horizon Instead California stands a. the
keystone of the arch OF American empire
which springs from Porto Rico to Luzon.
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09

which she sent back to the impoverished
treasury at washington did much to fur
nish the sinews Of war for the North.
Close upon the reign of peace came an
event which was fraught with much
significance to California. The iron
ribbons of the Central Pacific, which
had been stretching toward one another
from the East and the West, were at last
ioined in May, 1869, at Promentory Point,
Utah.
This was the bond which cemented the
far distant commonwealth on the Pacific
to the East and made California a power
in the Union rather than the isolated en-
pire which she had been. With the open
ing of traffic and the contemporaneous
discovery that gold could also be found
in orchard and wheat field as we'll as in
mountain, the young giant on the western
sea leaped into his manhood by a mar
velous growth.
The "Great Bonanza" excitement of the
early'7Os had introduced among all classes
a widespread mania for stock gambling.
The millionaire on Mob Hill and the hos
tier in his stable alike invested their
money in wildcat schemes. But in 1877
the wave of hard times from the East
struck California and the bubble of false
wealth was instantly pricked. The
moneyed kings could stand the crash. but
the farmer, the poorly paid store clerk
and mechanic felt the pinch severely. The
farmer claimed that the great railroad
system which controlled the State was
wringing his sustenance from him. The
great army Of unemployed which collect
ed at San Francisco demanded that
somebody give them work. Everywhere
the Chinese were working for wages
which were impossible as far as white
labor was concerned.
Another undonbted evil existed in the
wholesale corruption which had honey
combed State government and munich
pal machinery sTke. The Legislature Was
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09
Hndrchy Raises It's Head
OUer a Land DeUoid
of Government.

- HE double stream of humanity
pouring in from ship and trail
- dissipated itself in a thousand
branching channels among the gulches
and canyons Of the Sierras. Towns
with unspeakable names sprang up
like mushrooms along the length of
the gold fields. Rough manners and
a rougher justice were their charac-
teristcs. There were no courts of law;
each man was unto himself a court
OF first instance and Of final appeal. The
time was even seen when IL was a mooted
question whether or not murder was a
crime or even II there was any such thing
as crime.
Such desperate condition of public senti-
ment was due entirely TO the unparalleled
situation in which California found her
self during the years Of '49 and 80. By
the end Of '1e there were 100000 people in
the territory and yet there was absolute
ly no system Of judicial procedure for
their governance nor yet any legal status
given TO the territory by Congress. Since
peace had been made with Mexico in As
there could be no shadow of authority in
military rule. according to the conception
Of the majority of settlers, and since Con-
gress had provided no civil government,
the territory was practically in state Of
anarchy With hundreds Of murderers,
blacklegs and unscrupulous politicians in
the new country. with the small military
organization powerless to inaugurate ac-
tion and TO pursue ii If inaugurated, Ger
tsinly no state or territory of the Union
was ever in position so perilous. But
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09
Iron Hand of DigiLdntes
Sn1iteS L0WLeSSneSS
q Death BLOU.

%Y0HILE the first Legislature is un-
" /der consideration, a brief history
of the peregrinations of the State
capital may be noted at this point
Monterey had always been the seat
of the Spanish and Mexican gov
ernments, and was naturally chosen as
the first capital of California. At tho
very first meeting of the Constitutional
Assembly, San Jose and San Francisco
put in a bid for the location of the seat OF
government. San Jose won out, and the
first Legislature met there in December,
1S49. But this town was not destined to
hold the honor long for General Vallejo
offered to lay out a city on Carquinez
Straits, to grant the State 156 acres of
land therein and to donate 500 900 for the
erection of State buildings. This munii-
cent offer was accepted favorably and an
act passed to submit the selection of a
site at the next general election. Vallejo
was the place chosen by the suffrage Of
the voters.
When the time for the next session of
the Legislature drew nigh, General VAL
lejo had so far failed to keep his promise
that preparations for the reception of the
solons were very inadequate, and their
session was marked by a scarcity of food
and the total absence of a washerwoman.
San Jose renewed its offers and Benicia
and Sacramento appeared as new contest
ants in the field. Before the Vallejo ses-
sion was completed the disgusted mem
bers moved bodily to Sacramento. But
this was only temporary, and the State
archives and machinery of legislation
were removed to Benicia upon the passage
of an act making that the capital city.
Finally the last change was made by the
Legislature of 1854, which decreed that
Sacramento should be the chosen city for
the State government, and there it has re-
mained, notwithstanding continuous ef-
forts made by Oakland and San Francis
CO during the next few years to have it
removed.
Hardly had there passed away the phe-
nomenon of the California people organ
izing a government independent of Con-
gressional action, when there came into
existence still more remarkable prodigy,
the Vigilance Committee. Twice was San
Francisco destined to see band Of deter
mined men WELD executive and judicial
powers without a shadow OF authority
and even in armed opposition to the
rightful officers of the government. Twice
was she to witness the phenomenon OF
The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09
-21zV1ug z5sF 1Z4sar cEuHx, 4aaz750o1Y H2hgw
AM[HY NONLs60

little else besides dogs and old women.
Everybody who could handle a shovel
was hurrying up the bay in every con
ceivable manner Of craft to Suffers Fort,
whence they could strike out for the
colleen streams Of the mountains.
But from a deserted village San Fran
cisco sprang like magic into teeming
city Of shaclzs and tents when the news
Of the gold md had once been carried
through the Golden Gate. The old
Mexican WALLACE of adobe huts grew
within a year into a fevered center Of
trade. Those merchants who had re-
nained perf0rce OF through the wisdom
OF their foresight were now enabled TO
bring streams Of wealth to their doors
Supplies became so scanty that fabulous
prices were charged for the bare neees-
sities Of life. When shovels and picks
became scarce one shrewd Yankee made
a fortune alone in retailing butcher
knives for digging in gravels at $50 and
$50 apiece.
The expense and the discomforts Of the
Panama route 10 San Francisco impelled
most Of the argonauts from the Middle
West TO cross the plains. The story Of
the great migrations across the parched
sands Of the desert, through the midst
OF cruel and vengeful Indians, and over
the snowy crest OF the Sierras, will never
be fully told Many a hidden skull is
there along the length of the old Cali
fornia trail, whose cleft crown could add
its mute testimony 10 the narrowing tales
Of bloodshed. Many a bleached bone,
hidden in the blown sands of the desert,
bespeaks the last agony of some thirst
--fTGa~ u-rof~H