davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

GRAVES KEPT IN ADVANCE OF THE FLOOD.
which would not have been created if
it had not been for the cheap power
furnished by Mill river.
There are times in the summer when
the water in the river is very low. and
in order to obtain supply the manu-
facturers down through the valley
formed little corporation. with cap
ital of something like $4,000, and built
reservoir high up on the hills. 1t
contained when full an enormous
amount of water. no less than 116.043.-
$40 cubic feet
The reservoir was filed for the first
time in 1866 and for nine years there
after and for about seven years had
been under the charge of Joel Hayden,
familiarly known as "Guv" Hayden
from his service as lieutenant gov
ernor
"Guv" Hayden was man of great
judgment. and he knew when it was
entirely safe to have the reservoir full
and when it was not. He had been
succeeded by another man. however.
On the morning of May 16. 1874. the
reservoir was full. George Cheney,
the gatekeeper. was at his post of duty.
1t is claimed that even the night before
leaks in the dam had been discovered
and that higher officials had been told
of them. However that may be, dan
ger was not feared. The water in the
river was low.
The Cheney family was at break
fast when q great noise was heard,
and Cheney's father. who was stand
ing by the window, exclaimed. For
Gods sake. George. look therev'
Looking out of the window, it was
seen that about forty feet in length Of
the earth portion of the dam upon the
lower side beyond the gate was giving
out. and the mud and earth were slow
ly going down the stream.
Cheney .hen and now was a modest
day laborer. but he took in the situa-
tion at a glance. He opened the gate
full width. but realized that this would
pressure. Pausing an instant. he saw
portions of the stonework falling and
streams of wafer washing their way
through. Hurrying to the barn. he
threw a bride upon his horse. and.
springing upon the barebacked animal.
ne began a ride which has passed into
history.
1t is stated that he covered the three
miles between the dam and the house
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
II Race 6)nb
Death i !: ;:;';;::. S:';: !! :; e..

of o. G. Spellman, the agent. who then
and now resides in Williamsburg, in
fifteen minutes.
Mr. Spcllman by nature andN training
was conservative. He had s&en the
dam the night before and could NOT be-
lieve it was possible that Cheneys sfSQ-
ry. which he hurriedly told him, was
true. Convinced. however. that there
was danger, he sent Cheney to Belch-
er's stable. a stones throw away, for a
fresh horse tn ride down through the
valley and give the alarm.
Another simple toiler in the valley,
! Collins Graves. on his morning ride de-
livering milk saw Cheney and Belcher.
heard the story the former was telling
and. as the histories record it. said, 'Tf
the dam is breaking. the folks below
must know it," and started out as rap
idly as his horse could carry him from
Haydenville. He gave the alarm to the
best of his ability. and. whatever cap
tious critics have said. there is no ques-
tion that he saved the lives of hun
dreds. At Skinnerville he was but a
short time ahead of the flood. although
he was not aware of the fact. At Hay
the valley. there was even less time.
for the dam had given way, and the
angry waters were turbulently rushing
down the narrow valley.
The power of the flood was tremen-
dous. Two millstones near the store Of
Edison Ross and weighing a ton were
picked up and carried to the button
factory. half a mile.
A writer of the time of the flood thus.
pictured it and the destruction which It
caused: IAN instant sufficed for the de-
struction of everything touched by the
mountainous flood. which rolled on in
its appalling force for a briefer time
than many dream. speedily became ex-
hausted. and in an hour the river had
nearly subsidized to its wonted bed. The
citizens walked the roads and began to
search for the dead.
''The river flats and all the banks
were crammed with the debris - great
drives of timber. trees intermingled In
the strangest, most shocking way with
ICSS Ottcu Will
mems; with mattresses, quilts and
sheets: with betting and machinery
from the mills. with fragments Of bills
and letters. with soap and potatoes and
stove wood. with rocks and stone steps,
with fragments of chairs and tables
and now and then a piece of piano or
cabinet organ. with little children's
hats and tiny shoes, with household
utensils and all the fragments of man.
ufacture and domestic life. -
And then. most horrible and soul
narrowing. the bruised. disfigured and
sometimes MANNED bodies of human
beings which an hour before had been
in the full flush of life. these were the
ever recurring pictures"
Without question, time has not
changed the verdict-Graves was the
principal hero of the day. The next
place belongs to Myron Day. a farmer,
who did noble work. Mr.. Graves horse.
fine little bla k mare. was ruined by
the terrible race with the flood and had
to be shot. Both Graves and Day still
live in the valley.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

Il was nearly twenty-nine years
ago. May, Ii, 1874. that the Mill
river valley, i'm the town of Will
liamsburg and the city of North
amptcn. i'm Hampshire county.
western Massachusetts, saw one of the
most destructive floods that have ever
been recorded certainly in that state
and taking rank with the great disas-
ters of the country.
BY il fifty-eight persons lost their
lives i'm the main village of Williams
burg thirty eight in Skinnerville and
Haydenvillc. both villages in Williams
burg town. and fifty-two i'm the village
of Leeds. which is one of the wards of
Northampton, then town. but now
city
The loss of property was very large.
Along this valley were mills and fac
tories. shops. offices. banks and happy
homes. The flood swept number of
the factories down the valley, it
brought financial ruin to scores. 1t
swept the homes out of existence. and
i'm a number of instances whole fami-
lies were carried quickly to death.
AS a general thing Mill river is
little stream. noisy and turbulent, par
ticularly in the spring. rising quickly
after heavy showers and rain in the
hills and occasionally causing trouble
not unlike that of Il lively boy in the
household who must have a vent for his
exuberance. but in the long run is so
useful and obedient that he more than
compensates for the annoyance which
he causes when on n frolic
After the New England custom, for
years and years the waters of the little
river have been employed to turn the
wheels of industry. and so for about
six miles little villages have grown up.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
EVERY CHURCH

tion supported bv voluntary contribu
tion will be given Il liberal quantity of
the Lougman & Martincz Pure Paints
whenevei they paint.
NoTE: Have done so for twenty seven
years Sales. Tens of millions of gal.
Ions; painted nearly two million houses
under guarantee to rcpaint if not salts.
factory: The paint wears for periods up
10 eighteen years Linseed Oil must
be added to the paint. (donc in TWO
minutes } Actual cost then about 81 ~
Il gallon. Samples free. Sold by our
agents: Selby q Bishop. Snow Hill;
Scarborough Only q Co. Girdlelree;
Bowen q Bro. Newark
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
Boiling Water Ordeal.

The Shintos of Japan perform an ex.
traordinary feat. 1t is known as "yu-
baua." an ordeal by boiling water. At
this the devotees literally drench them
selves with water out of caldrons at
L galloping boil. 1t would take the skin
of any one else. but not a blister ap,
pears upon the bodies of these Shinto
priests. The only explanation the
vouchsafe is that they draw out
spirit of the water. and 80
zones harmless.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

Report of Spence School.

Examination for term ending Febru.
AIRY l3, 1903.
The following report shows which
pupil stands list. I'd and Sd, in their
different studies. also which ones OBJ
tanned the highest general average in
all studies for the different grades.
1ST CLASS, SIXTH GRADE.
Spelling-lst. Edna Beauchamp and
Ethel Guthrie, tie; I'd, Fred Hudson, Sd,
Edward Boehm.
Geography-lst, Fred Hudson, I'd.
Edward Boehm. Sd, Edna Beauchamp
Physiology gy-lst, Fred Hudson and
Edna Beauchamp, tie; I'd, Edward
Boehm and Ethel Guthrie, tie; 3rd,
Lowder Beauchamp.
History-lst. Edward Boehm. 2d.
Fred Hudson, Sd. Edna Beau champ and
Ethel Guthrie. tie;
Grammar-1st. Fred Hudson, 3D.
Ethel Guthrie and Edna Beauchanp, tic:
Sd. Edward Boehm
Etymology-lsi, Edna Bealchampand
Fred Hudson, tie; 2d. Edward Boehnl
and Ethel Guthrie. tie; Sd, Lowder
Beauchamp.
Arithmetic-lst. Edward Boehm, I'd,
Fred Hudson and Edna Beauchamp. tie
Sd. Ethel Guthrie.
Reading-lst. Edna Beauchamp, 2d,
Fred Hudson, Sd. Ethel Guthrie.
Writing-lst, Edward Boehm, 2d
Edna Beauchamp 3d, Fred Hudson.
Drawing-lst. Fred Hudson. ed. Ed
ward Boehm. Sd, Edna Beauchamp
Highest average in all studies lst,
Fred Hudson, I'd, Edna Beauchamp,
3D.. Edward Boehm.
SECOND CLASS.
Spelling-lst. Otho Tull and Edna
Dryden. tie; I'd, Minnie Dryden, Sd,
Ollie Hudson
Physiology Spry Guthrie. 2d,
Edna Dryden. Sd. Minnie Dryden.
Arithmetic-lst. Otho Tull. I'd, Spry
Guthrie. Sd. Edna Dryden.
Geographv-lst. Otho Tull and Minnie
Dryden. tie; I'd, Edna Dryden, Sd. Spry
Guthrie.
history-lst. Ohio Tull. I'd. Edna and
Minnie Dryden, tie; Sd, Spry Guthrie.
Reading-lst. Edna Dryden. 2d. Otho
Tull. Sd. Minnie Dryden.
Writing-lst. Mary. Mount and Edna
Dryden, tie; I'd. Otho Tull and Spry
Guthrie. tie; Sd. Minnie Dryden
Drawing list. Otho Tull, I'd. Mary
Mount. I'd. Sprv Guthrie. Minnie and
Edna Dryden, tie;
Highest general average in studies, lst.
Otho Tull, I'd, Edna Dryden, Sd, Minnie
Dryden.
THIRD CLASS.
LIST. Marvin Tull. 2d, Marcie Hudson.
Sd, Jester Stanford.
Geography list. Jester Stanford. 2d,
Alice Borhm, Sd. Marvin Tull.
Language-lst. Alice Boehm. I'd, Mar
vim Tull, Sd, Jester Stanford.
Arithmetic-lst. Alice Boehm. I'd, Jes-
ter Stanford. Sd. Marcie Hudson.
Drawing-lst Alice Boehm. I'd, Jes-
ter Stanford. Sd, Marcie Hudson.
Writing-lst. Alice Boehm and Jes,
ter Stanford. tie; I'd. Marcie Hudson
and Marvin Tull. tie: Sd, Kate Beau
champ.
Highest average in all studies LIST.
Alice Boehm, I'd. Jester Stanford, 3D.,
Marcie Hudson.
MARY V. RILEY.
Teacher.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

missionary and
at last told him
a piteous story
of how he had
pawned every
thing before TAX
ing TO crime.
What he most
regretted was his
old mothers BIZ
bic. and if the
missionary would
only recover it
for him he would
be everlastingly
grateful. The Wis
itor promised to
do W b at he
could. Carey
gave him the
n a M g of the
pawnshop. and
[ here. sure
enough. the book
s till remained.
The pawnbroker
was glad to sell
1t, and the vol
ume thus passed
into the prison
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
Notice to Teachers.

Teachers are requested to take to the
Institute any work they are having
done in their schools that they think
will be helpful to other teachers, such as
pupils daily written work. examination
papers. teachers daily schedule. draw
ing, manual training or any other work
they may think of interest To other
teachers. f. w. MCMAsTER. Sec.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
WAITING AT THE DOOR.
Written in rIemory of the Death
bed OF Mrs. p.

"ittCh hi tCubOhy VI NuC OCdtn-
bed OF Mrs. p.
Only waiting at the door
For the time to pass away.
When life's cloudy pilgrimage
Shall break in brightest day;
With all our sins and sorrows.
AT His feet to lay;
Only waiting at the door
For heavens cheering ray.
Only waiting at the door
Who shall bid us enter in,
Fling wide the tight closed portals
When saved from every sin,
Our purer hearts and purer lives
Shall be offered up to Him;
Only waiting at the door.
TO share the joys within.
Only waiting at the door,
And shall we walt in vain.
When all our many, many sins.
We at His feet hath lain?
No, though we sinned a thousand sins,
He can remove all stain,-
Only waiting at the door
His saving grace to gain.
EDWIN J. DIRICKSoN,
Berlin Nd
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
Cabbage Plants

WINTER KALE and SEED POTA
TOES. have fine lot of Early Jer.
sey Wakefield Cabbage Plants for sale
Fall sown and strong and vigorous
Price 81 - per 900 f. o. b. shipping
point. Also Scotch Kale. and Early
Rose aud other varieties of Seed Pota-
toes. Address all orders to
j. +. PESNEwEL.,
Cape Charles. Va.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
N otice To Teachers

The Teachers Institute for Worcester
County will be held III Pocomoke City
on Monday. TUESDAY, Wednesday and
Thursday. April eth. 2Sfh. 29h and
30th. 1903. The institute for colored
teachers will be held in the same town
OH April 29th and 30th.
BY order of the School Board.
3t L. w. MCMASTER, Sec'y
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
How a Clever Convict ,
Escaped From Pris

A prison visitor was made the UNIV
ting means of helping a burglar nam
Carey to escape from the Jail In Ne
Orleans a few years ago. Feigning RI
pentance, this ingenious criminal grad
ually enlisted the sympathies of :
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

The kidneys are your
blood purifiers. they fiji
ter out the waste or
impurities in the blood.
If they are sick or out
OF order, they fail to do
their work.
Pains. aches andrheu-
matisn come from ex-
cess Of uric acid in the
blood. due to neglected
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
Notice to the Public.

Snow Hill, Md, Feb. Is. 1903
We have as fine IA lot of garden and
truck fertilizer as can be- found any
where for the same money Call to
see us. HEARN & TOWNSEND.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

without the usual examination. A few
days later Carey had vanished. The
bars of his window had been neatly
rut out with steel file. The family
Bible. which lay on the floor, gave the
secret away. In the center of its leaves
q hole had been cut, and, snugly stored
therein. parcel of steel saws had been
completely hidden.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
Tendency of The Times.

The tendency of medical science is
toward preventive measures. The best
thought of the world is being given to
the subject. 1t is easier and better to
prevent than TO cure. 1t has been fully
demonstrated that pneumonia, one of
the most dangerous diseases that medi
cal men have to contend with. can be
prevented by the use of Chamberlain S
Cough Remedy Pneumonia always re-
suits from cold or from an attack of
influenza (grip), and it has been OBJ
served that this remedy counteracts any
tendency of these diseases toward pneu-
monia. This has been fully proven in
many thousands of cases i'll which this
rem .dv has been used during the great
prevalence of colds and grip in recent
years. and can be relied upon with i'm
plicit confidence Pneumonia often re-.
suits from slight cold when no danger
is apprehended until it is suddenly dis
covered that there is fever and difficulty
in breathing ana pains i'll the chest.
then it is announced that the patient
has pneumonia Be on the safe side
and take Chamberlain : Cough Remedy
as soon as the cold is contracted 1t al
ways cures For sale by p. ID. Cotting.
ham & Co. Snow Hill, Md. l
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

A Coioner's jury at Havre de Grace
on Saturday night decided that the kill
a rifle ball was purely accidental. Will
liam Forsythe. the boy who held the
rifle at the time it was discharged, was
exOnerated
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
OVer-WOrk WeakenS
Your Kidneys.
Unhealthy Kidneys Make Impure Blood.

All the blood in your body passes through
your kidneys once every three minutes.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21

kidney trouble.
Kidney trouble causes quick or unsteady
heart beats, and makes one feel as though
they had heart trouble. because the heart is
over-work.ng in pumping thick, kidney
poisoned blood through veins and arteries.
II used to be considered that only urinary
troubles were to be traced TO the kidneys
but now modern science proves that nearly
q constitutional diseases have their begin
nag in kidney trouble
If you are sick you can make no mistake
by frs; doctoring your kidneys The mid
and the extraordinary effect OF Dr.. Kilrner' s
Swamp-Root, the great kidney remedy is
soon realized. Ii stands the highest :or its
wonderful cures of the most distressing cases
and is sold on its merits f-<t@c
by all druggists in fifty q. 3. -:
cent and one-dollar siz
es. You may have ~. IL. $, y = z
sample bottle by mail Home OF swam,,Roo,
free. also pamphlet telling you how TO find
out if you have kidney or bladder trouble.
Mention this paper when writing DR.. kilmer
8, Co., Binghamton. N. Y.
Don't make any mistake, but remem-
ber the name, Swamp Root. DR. Kilmer' :
Swamp Root and the address. Bingham.
ton. n. Y. on every bottle.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
Seed Potatoes.

have 200 Barrels of Southern Seed
Potatoes. Early Rose. Crown Jewel.
aud Thoroughbred to be sold at rea-
sonable price.
JAM ES $. CLOGG,
Pocomoke City. Md.
The Washington times., 1903-01-04

glass shaped Jars Of bright brass set here
and there. They are about three feet in
height, they come from China. and into
them are thrown the hundreds of cups Of
coffee that are made each day>and tested.
In a Roasting Plant.
The coffee expert tests his coffee green,
roasted. and in the cup. He makes the
first two tests to get the aroma. and it is
strange to see him take up the coffee
berries in a double handful, plunge his
face deep into them, and sniff, sniff. pas
5icnately.
To test the liquor, he pulverizes the
berries, and uses an ounce 10 a cup.
Here. again, he does not swallow the cot
fee which he tests, but only lets it touch
his palate Of course, for testing. he
uses neither cream nor sugar. though it
The Washington times., 1903-01-04

fimsy consistency of d rag. consequent
ly she takes advantage OF his desire to
avoid anything Of the kid on every pos
sibIe occasion
Peace at Any Price.
a man VIII bear wffe's TRADES and
viii lie TO her and deceive her on the
slightest pFetext. rather than admit ths
truth of some accident, perhaps. which
ne knows viii provoke her.
The average married man is the most
abject Ct towards where a wife is con
ceIned He VIII do anything for The
sake OF peace He Viii lie. he viii de-
cetve. he viii submit; in fact. he is SO
afraid OF the soul of his soul that ne
VIII try TO purchase peace at any price.
ana even then-he don't.
The Washington times., 1903-01-04

welI-were imputed by the late Prof.
Vircbow aud by other European scien-
lists Of note TO the excessive use o,
coffee that prevails here.
What virchow would have said if he
could have visited an American coffee
roasting plant If he could have seen
the men AT work there. each with a
peeuitar little pocket OF pouch. sewed
On The breast Of his jumper. and each
putting in his mouth from this pouch
every little while a baIf-dozen grains
of coffee. it is dimcuIr 70 imagine. He
would perhaps. have made a close study
Of the effect OF habitual coffee chewing.
just as DR. Joseph smurI. Of Philadel-
Dbia has done
Dr. SmUrI says
Coffee chewing is a habit easily con
The Washington times., 1903-01-04

come and a cold freeze-out. is the de-
light of the average matrimonial better
haIl
There are some husbands who would
gladly give a wife q small fortune. with
a diamond tf-ra-ra thrown in. if she
would only 20 to bed and 90 TO sleep.
and not over-taz her solicitude for hub
by's welfare by failing 10 take her beauty
sleep on schedule time. but when hubby,s
Whereabouts is unknown even WON
ans vanity simply can't. and won't. play
TO the grandstand. She wants to know
when hubby comes in. and whether he
comes in empty" or 'fuII. and she IS
going to find out despite beauty sleep
or wrinkles. or any other old thing.
It Wearies Him.
and how a man hates it, He would
rather face a calling gun. a cbimpanzee.
of a whole zoo on a rampage. aban the
woman's tongue which IS sharper than
q serpanrs Tooth. and which can pene-
trate with The most iucisiye jabs the
most befuddIed brain.
4 man may start home so festooned
and permeated with spiritual consola-
ton that he cant keep his legs from
rangline into knots 10 save his life. He
may not know whether he walked home.
The Washington times., 1903-01-04
COFFEE TESTER STUDYING ARom a

is tue that sometimes he adds, as final
test a little cream, in order TO see If the
black liquor then viii change its color
properly. Its proper color with cream is
Il golden brown; its wrong enc Is a duII
gray. Cafe au Iait that changes 10 dun
gray is thrown out discarded. as worth
less.
It is not in the testing but the roasting
room that the coffee chewers are to be
found All wholesalers Of coffee have
a roasting room. The plant with twelve
cylinders, or roasters. turns out 1oo. coo
pounds a day; that'of six cylinders. 81. COG
pounds; that Of eighteen, o.o0o pounds.
and 50 on UP and down.
IN roasting plant the coffee is first
cleansed in a big machine. a machine
wherein it is famed with huge fans.
while-.at the same time a draft or air
PUSHES through it, sucking from it the
chaff, the dust, and other impurities
The cleaning diminishes its weight 70 per
cent.
AFTER its cleaning it is roasted for
thiFty-fve minutes in cylinders six feet
Ions In these cylinders. which are all
directly over a hot fire. the coffee moves
with a constant motion in two dfrec-
tions-round and round IN steady rev
oiutions and also back and forth. from
che end Of its receptacle TO the other.
We're it not for all this motion # would
burn Even as things are. il burns
sometimes. and then it can only be sold
for . or Z cents a poInd. a loss of - or
/ SO per cent
Cooled IN Great Bins.
The roasted coffee is cooled in great
clean bins OF polished steel wire. and
then receives its last and most thorough
cleansing. Huge pipes are placed over
it. and through these pipes a suction is
forced that is Just sufficient TO draw the
grains through them But any heavier
foreign element in the coHee-stones. or
bits Of iron or nails-are left behind IN
the bins Only the coffee itself passes
up into the pipes, and thence into the
bagging bin prepared for st: anything
heavier than coffee grain the suction
in the pipes is not capable Of drawing
up This room, with its complicated ma
chinery, with its great bins where coffee
is piled IN mounds like coal. is permeat-
ed with rich aroma, and every man
in it. in niEe cases out OF ten, chews COT
fee. having a coffee pouch set in the
breast of his jumper.
The Washington times., 1903-01-04

to become more and more exacJing. She
starts out with the idea of training
hubby in the way he should go and
takes precious good care that ne should
go in the way she marks out or she
viii know the reason why. She has heard
of their various and devious ways and she
is determined to bring her hubby up
ticketed and tagged as a model for
inventors. The consequence is, in his
desire to please her in the beginning.
and his fear Of scenes. he humors her
once too often. which encourages her
to control the upper hand and from
that on hubby might as we'll spare the
throttle and give the engine a ruH head
Of steam and let her 90.
Makes a Scene.
The woman who has not the pride TO
restrain her temper, but who will make
scenes on the street, is the woman who
holds lash over husbands head
And there are many such. who. in re-
sentiment of the most triaing infringe
ment of what she considers her due. will
say or do the most eNtrayagant things
that mortify man until he is pitiable.
Such one Viii ask his woman friends
what on earth he should do. she is my
wife, after all. and I can only submit '
y woman does not entertain the dread
of scenes that reduces = man to the