davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15

Capt. G. A. NJ. TABER, Como, Fla,

Having made many searching
cruises while employed in the whal-
ing service on that part of the Allan
tic sailed over by Columbus while
performing his famous voyage, |
have been considerably interested in
the comments of the press on Mr..
Henry Vignaud's new Columbus
book, particularly in regard to the
plausibility of the old pilot story.
The story may appear plausible
when not subjected to a marine in
spection. But the requirements seem
too broad for person to entertain
who is familiar with the prevailing
winds of the Atlantic.
The story relates how a merchant
ship in 1854 while striving to make a
passage from Spain to Flanders en-
countered a strong easterly gale
which blew with such unabated fury
for twenty-nine days that the ship
was driven westward from her course
across the Atlantic Ocean, where ref
uge was found among strange islands
peopled by savages. The ship at
length in great distress gained the
island of Medeira, where Columbus
gave succor to the ships crew, con-
sisting of four dying sailors. The
captain, who was the last to die, out
of gratitude to his host, gave Column
bus chart, showing the position of
the strange islands.
so it seems that the requirements
to render the story plausible consist
in the possibility of an easterly gale
blowing with unabated fury for TWEEN
ty-nine days across the Atlantic
Ocean in the latitudes of Europe.
The easterly gales that blow with
sufficient force to drive a ship from
her course in that region are cyclonic
storms, which move over the Allan
tic from the west towards the east
while circulating around a storm
center.
Therefore the northern quadrant OF
the storm is the only area to afford
an easterly gale, which necessarily
is of short duration and extent, and
so fails in the requirements which
the pilot story demands. 1t may be
suggested that the trade winds may
have proved of sufficient force to
drive vessel westward over to the
West India Islands against the en-
deavors of the crew TO prevent 1t.
But 1t happens that the trade winds
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15
OH, YES, TOMMY PLAYED POKER.

OH, YES, TOMMY PLAYED POKER.
Tommy" said Tommy's father,
as he caught the boy counting a roll
of bills, "where did you get that
money!"
"Playin' POKER answered the boy.
"Tommy," said the old man stern
ly, "you follow me out back O the
house."
But, dad
Amt told you never to tackle
no game of chance till you"
"But this wasn't no game of
chance" protested the boy. "Why.
dad, run acrost Il couple of tender
feet from the east that didn't know
no more about poker than to buck
ag'in Il pat hand in a jack pot with
only pair of tens"
"The old man had picked up a strap
but now he dropped it..
"What's that?' he asked.
Fact dad replied the boy. AN
on the next deal one of 'em had three
queens an let me bluff him out on
an ace high"
Didn't know no more about play
in poker than that?' asked the old
man.
"They sure didn't dad"
The old man began to show signs
of excitement.
Have they left town yet, Tommy?"
he asked.
mo dad"
"Well, this here poker is a bad
thing fer boys, an I don't stand fer it
noh0w," announced the old man,
'but if you'll jest steer your poor oil
dad up ag'in them suckers, Tommy,
we won't bother with the strap this
time. Somebody ought to git that
money that can take care of it, fer it
would be a cryin' shame to leave it
with two sech careless fellers as
that. .n-Brooklyn Eagle.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15

This is tale told for the benefit of
the ovcrzealous salesman and sales
women who think they know better
than their customers what their Gus
toners want to buy. A man walked
into a haberdasher's shop and bowed
politely to the clerk.
II should like to look at some
black gloves stitched with white, "
said he.
"BIack gloves stitched with white
are not fashionable now,' replied the
clerk"
~ beg your pardon" said the po-
lite customer. "You evidently mis-
understood me. | said should like
to look at some black gloves stitched
with white"
"They are no longer fashionable" !"
reiterated the clerk, with impatient
superiority.
II find | must apologize again,
said the other. 81 came in here
thinking it was haberdashery; !
find it a bureau of information. Pm
sorry to have troubled you with so
unimportant a matter, for | really
don't care whether the gloves i
wanted were stylish ornot. Perhaps
| can buy Il pair of some sort at the
place across the street.-BaltimOre
News.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15
How Hawaiian Natives Go After the
Einny Tribe.

'Lau melomelO" is the name of de-
COY used by the native fishermen of
Hawaii. 1t is made of the hardest
wood to be found on the islands and is
carved and rubbed till it assumes the
shape of a club with a little knob at
the smaller end, to which the line is
tied.
The club is from one to three feet
long. A village sorcerer performs GER
tain rites over it over a sacred fire.
After this is done the club is magic,
and the fisherman must be extremely
careful of it. If a woman should step
over it or enter a canoe in which it lies,
the club would lose all its power and
would be useless ever afterward.
After the club has been charmed the
fisherman mixes candlenut and cocoa
nut meat, bakes it and ties the mixture
in wrapper of cocoanut fiber.
At the fishing grounds the club is
covered with the oily juice of the
stuff and is then lowered carefully to
the bottom. The scent of the baked
nut meat attracts certain kinds of fish,
which soon gather and begin to nibble
at the club. AS soon as enough fish are
around the decoy a small bag shaped
net is lowered very gently until its
mouth is just over the club. The latter
is then pulled up carefully and cum
ningly till it is within the bag. The fish
are so eager for the stuff with which
the club is covered that they follow it
into the net without fear. AS soon as
all the fish are in it a fisherman dives
and closes the mouth of the net, where
upon the rest haul 1t up quickly
Washington Post
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15

in case it was possible for them to
accomplish such feat, are l,20O
miles distant from the track of a
vessel bound from Spain to Flanders.
Therefore when the marine diff
culties which weaken the plausibility
of the pilot story are considered, it
seems reasonable to believe that
Columbus, after examining the drift
that gathered on the seashores of
Madeira and Azores, had sufficient
sagacity to conclude that undiscOv-
cred lands could be found beyond the
western ocean.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15
Too GREAT A RISK.

In almost every noighborhood some
one has died from an attack of collie or
cholera morbus, often before medicine
could be procured or physician sum.
moned. reliable remedy for these di-
seases should be kept at hand. The
risk is too great for anyone to take.
Chamberlin's Collie, Cholera and Diarr-
hoea Remedy has undoubtedly saved the
lives of more people and relieved more
pain and suffering than any other medi-
cine in use. 1t can always be depended
upon. For sale by Ackerman q Stewart.
G
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15

Ink of various hues was used by the
ancient Romans, that of a purple tint
being considered the exclusive huld TOT
the execution of all royal writings, as
it was distinctively the royal color. 1t
II said that Homer's works were writ
ten in letters of gold on a roll 120 feet
in length, formed of the intestines OF
serpents, but we are left in ignorance
az to the method Of preparing this ink,
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15
The Man Who Has
Confidence in Us

and himself hands well ed Every
SUIT Hat article OF ha6ersery for men and boys that bought for this
includes the
fabric pattern oniednOt detail of fashion
We the extremely beautiful perfect fitting
and Trousers
prices was great and we feel that
faction for every that
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15

An Irish undertaken was laying out
the deceased husband of a weeping
Hibernian widow. The corpse wore Il
wig and it was very difficult to in
duce it to stay on straight, as wigs
ought always to do, even if they
don't. The bereaved widow was
called in to assist. 500 and git me a
pot of glue, Mrs. McGovern, said the
undertaken, 80 that may keep his
wigg on where it belongs"
Mrs. McGovern sent out after the
sticking material and after time
she returned. "Here is the glue for
We" she said with sigh.
Mrs. McGOvern you kin take back
the mucilage," said the undertaken,
"the difficulty is fixed, | used a
tack
And that was what caused the
rOw.-Bradford Era.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15

John T. Howard, one of the oldest
and best citizens of Quincy, was as
sassinated on Tuesday. He was shot
with buckshot from ambush and no
clue to the murderer has been found,
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-15

The Epworth League held social
at Mrs. J. n. Walton's last evening.
The attendance was large and all
present report a jolly good time.
This was the first social of the league
which was recently organized, and
Mrs. Walton's was the place to have
such meeting,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07
RADIUM AS A CURE.
animals.

n ONE days ago there from Europe story
OF partially successful effort to overcome total
- blindness by the OF radum, and shortly
afterward much more elaborate story was reported
of similar experiment in New York. The New
York test was said in the early dispatches to have
been completely successful but later there came re-
ports that good many experts doubtful OF
the genuineness of the test and intimated that
experimenters should be careful in exposing the
delicate parts OF the human body the power
ful influences OF radio activity.
An emphatic second is given the warning by
Thomas A. Edison, who is reported as saying that
there is danger more harm than good may be
done by the use of radium in the treatment Of blind
ness disease by inexperienced practitioners Edi-
son has had experience for he has not only suf-
ered himself, but has had some of his workmen
severely injured by exposure to the rays In recent
interview he is quoted as saying:
Besides nearly losing my sight I am suffering ter
riby from my stomach The powerful X-rays and
the rays from the radium with which experimental
have caused big knots to form in my gastric regions
and no physician seems to know exactly what they
are have consulted many specialists but they all
admit they puzzled. / have been unable to get
any relief because no one can diagnose my case
This is only instance of what fuorescents dc
to man. The rays work in some mysterious way
and can't tell what harm they going do be-
cause don't know how they will do it."
! Benjamin s. Baker in a recent review of some o.
the wild expectations which human credulity has built
upon the of radium energies saws: "Radium
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07
DISCREPANCIES IN BUILDERS FIGURES
AS TO COST OF SHEATHING WARSHIPS

builder to explain the discrepancy be
tween his estimates OF s279. $50 and s155 900.
To those unfamiliar with the terms
"shesthed" and "unsheathed" ships, the
difference may be briefly explained as fol-
lows: A sheathed vessel is one on which
the bottom plating is covered with wood
planking. teak or pine. fastened TO the
skin by means of naval brass screw bolts
This Dlanking after being thoroughly
calked is covered with felt sheets upon
which copper sheeting. Weighing about
eight pounds per square foot is laid and
fastened to the wood skin with compost
ton nails. The lower half of the stern
and stern post are made of bronze and
great care has TO be taken in order TO in
sure tight work and preventing access of
water between the planking and the steel
skins. which would set up galvanic action
owing to the copper sheathing. and thus
destroy the steel. This mode Of cOnstruC-
ton is Of course expensive and requires
good workmanship. but II properly done
compensates for the initial increased cost
at sea without frequent docking and
maintaining its initial speed. whereas the
unsheathed ship with a painted bottom
rapidly accumulates marine growth,
thereby decreasing it's speed and increas-
ing its coal consumption unless locked
three times a year. The sheathed ship Is
always ready when wanted for the ser
vice it was built for. while the IN
sheathed vessel can only be counted upon
when Just out Of dock.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

-HE armored cruiser Pennsylvania.
launched August % last at
Cramps yard, Philadelphia. is the
third vessel in the United States
navy bearing that name. The original
Pennsylvania was a battleship pierced
for 136 guns. and carried sixteen
S-inch and one hundred and four
Sc Founders on three decks. The
keel was laid at the Philadel
phia navy yard in 1922 but the launching
did not take place until July 1887, Commo-
dore Biddle performing the ceremony Of
naming the ship, by breaking a bottle Of
greg on the stern as the vessel moved
down the ways. The Pennsylvania was
a giant of those days, with a tonnage of
3241, a lower deck length of 220 feet 80
feet extreme breadth. her main yard 10
feet in length and a sail area of 1884
yards Her total cost was S694, 800 and the
complement of officers ana crew 100. Her
annual expense of commission was 1882
1872. but barring few short cruises the
ship had no active service and was util-
lied at the Norfolk navy yard as a re-
ceiving ship, where she was burned with
other naval vessels April, 1861. The sec
ond Pennsylvania, originally named Ke-
wayden, was a screw steamer of 1000 tons
displacement and was built at the Boston
navy yard during the Civil War The
ship was never launched and was broken
up on the stocks in 1884, realizing about
SIS, 900 for the old material of hull and
machinery, upon which nearly 81 600 00J
had been expended in construction.
The steam trial last week of the cruiser
Cleveland, one of six vessels under con-
struction since December, 1899, is rather
disappointing. 1t was confidently antici-
pated that a speed of II knots would be
reached, but it fell below 161z required
by contract. 1t is possible that with inn
proved propellers the speed may be in
creased, but even at II knots these ships
do not compare favorably with similar
! types in the German navy The latter
have a speed of % knots, an advantage
/ somewhat offset by carrying only ten 4
/ inch guns. whereas the American ships
carry ten 5-inch guns. but a difference of
! five to six knots is. however, very i'm
| portant factor.
The Navy Department and shipbuilders
have been struggling for seventeen
| months with the problem determining
! the contract cost of three battleships and
three armored cruisers now under con-
struction. On December T. 1900 bids were
opened for building five battleshps and
six armored cruisers, and in January and
February following contracts were
awarded to six successful bidders. Three
of the battleships and three of the ar
mored cruisers were to be wood-sheatheo
and coppered. while the remainder were
| to be unsheathed. The several bidders
| had graded their prices accordingly, vary
! ing in their estimates of extra cost OF
| sheathed and coppered ships from s36. 60t
to $4,000 By act of Congress of March
8, 1901, 1t was left discretionary with the
Secretary of the Navy to have the YES
sells sheathed and coppered. and upon rec
| ommendation of the board of bureau
| chiefs and the several contractors, he
! consented to the simpler and less costly
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07
CONTRACTORS.

Cramps bid of s.. S9O,0OO for the armored
cruiser Pennsylvania did not include the
cost of coppering, which may be set at
$4,000, including dockage, making a diff
ference of S155,OOO in the contract price of
the sheathed and unsheathed ships. On
the Nebraska the difference was only
$685. 6OO Fore River estimated the extra
cost of battleships at $150.OoO and SITS. 600
on the armored cruisers. while the New
port News gave the corresponding figures
at $4,000 and $4,000. The Union Iron
Works submitted $4,000 as the excess in
cost of an armored cruiser sheathed.
The board of construction. com
posed of the bureau chiefs, were not
agreed on the sheathed ship proposition,
only one member, Chief Constructor
Hichborn, being in favor of 1t and the
other four vigorously opposing. Mr.
Hichborn. however. carried his point
with the Senate and House, and contracts
were made for the ships shown in the
tables On March T. 1901, Hichborn was
retired. having reached the retirement
age of So years, and was succeeded by
Bowles. the designer and builder of the
Texas BowIes does not favor sheathed
ships and the board of construction be-
ing thus unanimous against this mode of
construction Congress repealed its former
act and the Secretary modified contracts
already entered into. The question of
cost was one of the objections raised
against sheathed ships. Hichborn. who
was the only practical shipbuilder on the
board estimated the extra cost of
sheathing at s1H,512 for the battleships
and S12S $50 for the armored cruisers. The
other bureau chiefs, not having any per-
sonal knowledge on the subject. obtained
estimates from a prominent Philadelphia
shipbuilder, who gave the figures al
S243, $50 for battleships and s279, $50 for ar
mored cruisers. The board, having ac-
cepted and quoted the latter estimates
must. in all consistency, base its reduc-
tons on these figures. and it will be some
what difficult lor the Philadelphia ship
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

has powerful effect in causing substances on which
its radiaons fall to become radio active IN their
turn. This result was notably shown throughout
Becqueres experiments the metal fittings of his lab
oratory acquiring strong induced radio activity The
effect on Becquerels own body was so pronounced
that for days after of his more prolonged tests
of radium he could go his delicate electrical
measuring instruments without their showing the dis
turbing influences of the induced radiations from
him. Such action has been commonly noted by those
who have used X-ray machines for various purposes
The object of those who giving these words OF
warning is not to discourage experiment but to I'M
press upon rash expermenters the need OF great
caution in applying the strange force to the human
system 1t appears that the force that improves
one may njure another Edison tells OF case
in which the Xray acted as curative to the person
to whom it applied, but so njuriously affected
Edson's assistant who handled the rays that he has
lost and is in danger OF losing the other
Such being the results thus far noted it IS evident
that it will be we'll to proceed slowly with radium as
curative force until something more is known OF
the method of its work and its effects on the human
system.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

Lafayette County Missouri
On April Is, 1916, Mr.. York started in
Captain John Grigsby's company Of more
than one hundred men across the plains TO
California, arriving at Johnson's Ranch
on October Is. With three other men Of
the party he continued his journey to
Napa County. arriving at Cahstoga, then
known as the Hot Springs. in November.
He resided in Calistoga until the Bear
Flag war in June 1915. when for protection
he removed his family to Sonoma.
Lieutenant Pevere. in command of a
Government vessel at San Francisco.
upon taking command OF the forces at
Sonoma entrusted York and Sam Kelsey
with the important duty of carrying the
American flag from Sonoma to Sacra-
mento and delivering it to Captain Suffer
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

- T. HELENA. Sept 6-An interest
~ ing feature of the Admission day
~ celebration in st. Helena Will be
the presence of Uncle Jack York
and wife. who tomorrow will observe
the sixty-second anniversary Of their
marriage surrounded by their children,
grandchildren and Observation-Disclosures
John York was born in Granger County +,
Tennessee, June Is, 1920, and is a son of
Enoch and Nancy Hill York. When Is
years old with his parents he moved 10
Warren County, Tennessee, where the
family resided until 1S41. He then emf
grated west and settled in Dade County,
Missouri where he engaged in farming
until 1854. On September .. 1871 he was
married to Lucinda Hudson, a native OF
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

at his fort. which duty these two brave
young men faithfully and promptly per-
formed. In the fall Of 1876 Mr.. York re-
turned to his ranch at CaHstOga. where
he remained until 1913, when upon the dis
cOveTy OF gold he moved his family to
the mines and began operations below
ColOma. He continued there for two
weeks and then proceeded to Hangtown
(Placerville), where he mined until Sep
TENDER meeting with success, after
which he returned 20 his Napa County
home. In 1919 he returned to the mines
for about six weeks
For the past fifty years Mr.. and Mrs.
York have resided at their present home
on the outskirts of town and are now en-
jOying good health in spite OF their ad-
vanced age and many hardships.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

A Michigan man mistook his child for crow
few days ago and killed her. 1t is such incidents as
this that make wonder why the directors OF our
civilization, who have given us<much to protect us
against criminals, have done nothing to guard us
against fools The silly season has driited into
continuous performance in the United States.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

class of ships The question then arose
as to the amount of reduction which the
builders were to make. The latter claim
that only about 100000 should be deduct
ed from the original contract price Of the
six ships while the Navy Department s
estimate is about 81 800, 900. The variance
in bids on the several ships identical as
to classes and differing only as to sheath
ing and coppering or unsheathed is shown
in appended table. the sheathed ships be
Ing indicated by a star:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

The new method of sewage disposal b.
bacterial treatment in a septic tank Is
not altogether free from danger. In this
process the sewage Is stored IN closed
tanks for variable period, during which
time it is acted upon and dissolved BY the
agency of the bacteria present Probably
marsh gas and other gases are generated.
which become explosive when mixed with
oxygen and fired.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07
THE CALLS
GREAT ATLAS OFFER

Will close on September "a.
1908, and all holders of Atlas
Coupons are requested to pre-
sent them Immediately, as this
great opportunity to secure one
Of these splendid Aliases at The
Calls premium rates will be
brought to a close on Septsm-
Der "a
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

One thousand OF the troops of the Sultan OF Mo
rocco were ambushed few days ago and slain. And
still insist that the human makes its progress
through the world in vastly different from
the beasts OF the forest The survival of the httes
is stern and memorable law to men as it is to
animals
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

Townsend's California glace fruits and
candies. soc a pound, In artistic fire
etched boxes. A nice present for Eastern
friends us Market St. above Call bldg =
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-07

Special information supplied daily to
business houses and public men BY the
Press Clipping Bureau (Allen's). 23O Cali
fornia street. Telephone Main 1912