davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24

ing We are putting q stop to feet binding.
Therefore should think the American women,
who claim to be progressive would follow our
example. Why don't they throw away their
corsets?'
Another proof of the advancement of the Chi
nese who have settled here is to be seen in the
career of the joss house There was a time
when 1t was a Mecca for the denizens of this
punk scented neighborhood. It's image Of QuOng
Tai the mighty warrior who deif1ed many
thousands of years ago because of his warlike
deeds centuries before Russia emerged from the
barbarism of the steppes. received the genuflex-
ions of almost every almond eyed inhabitant.
At the present time Quong Tai's influence has
sadly waned. Not Chinaman in five climbs
the shacky stairs of No. II Mott-st- to his
dragon guarded shrine. Nearly 10 per cent have
become Christians and the rest, like some Amer
leans, have religion
The Chinese of New-York have not heard
about American methods of finance, of corpora
tons. billion dollar capitalfZations, combinations
ana companies without taking it all much to
heart. Shrewd in business by nature, they now
believe that they establish a system Of
finance in China which will be based Ameri-
can IDEAS. With the recent formation OF the
Chinese Empire Reform Association for the pur-
rose of supporting the liberal policy of the pres
tut Emperor turning the temples into schools,
drilling the army after the fashion of European
troops, and building railroads and telegraphs SO
= bind all China together, a meeting was
held by the merchants of NETWORKS China
town and $4,000 was raised in night The
money will De used to open bank at Hong
Kong for the association, to finance railroad
projects Lung Kai Cheu, the founder of the
association, was present, and his words of en-
coura cement were greeted with applause and
h+nd clappings in true Anglo-Saxon fashion. A
branch bank will be started in this city,
and American capital will be invited to carry
cut The development plans Of the association
The passerby may the flag of the
new society waving from the porch of No 20
hottest, where it was raised a few days ago,
beside the grotesque Chinese flag, with its huge
o.>Wed dragon. 1t is white, with two red
stripes and three stars:
I Will tell you what the stars mean,' said
Pow Chez, the interpreter and fdus achates of
Lung. The three stars the three principles
OF the modern Chinaman-education equality
and unity
The boyish looking founder OF the new order,
which has four millions in China and nearly
half the American Cinnamon enrolled, nodded to
Pow Chez and the Interpreter added, solemnly:
And the red stars will drive back into
darkness the yellow dragon.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24

the stream. He drops the mule" into the water
again, and while he is taking the clans from
the first drag the second is filling up In thlS
Uav he goes as far down the stream as he de-
sires provided he does not catch a snag-
The pearl seeker usually works on the river III
the morning and spends the afternoon IN camp
boiling out" This is the process by "hlch
the pearls are found. the shells cleaned ana
made ready for market. \ tank constructed Of
planks with metal bottom, is used for thls
purpose and the CLAIMS are placed in it with
about enough water to cover the bottom Iheh
the whole is covered with boards or blanket
A fire is built underneath the tank, and the
clans steamed or boiled until they are 50 thor
ouehlv cooked that the meat viii drop out OF
the shell. Contrary to the general belief, th's
does not injure the pearl for the reason that
it is protected by the shell Of the clam and Is
not exposed to the direct heat. The cooking
requires an hour two and when 1t IS mn
ished the clans are shovelIed on to a sorting
table. where the search for pearls is made, and
the shells graded and placed in bins This WORK
is extremely disagreeabIe, and if it were not for
the fact that there is a possibility of finding
something valuable it would be a great drudS-
cry.
There are some fifty varieties of shells, most
of which are valuable The largest shells, or
..xashboards" are too brittle to be worth any
thing for commercial purposes. The smaller
shells are all good for pearl buttons and bring
the clammer SIS to $50 a ton The shell buyers
come with barges and take the shells at the
camps Very often a steamboat is sailing down
the river pushing several barges, each of which
contains in the neighbOrhoOd Of five hundred
tons of clam shells. These shells are made into
pearl buttons at factories at various river
towns. The buttons are sawed out Of the SHELL
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24
MISSISSIPPI


snag is not conducive Of good morals Tbs
hardships real and the returns uncertain.
and every one who tries it for a season IS ant
to wonder eff the game is worth the candle"
The history Of fresh water pearl fishing forms
an interesting chapter in the DEVELOPMENT Of 4
number of river towns. Some twelve or fifteen
years ago some fishermen on the Sugar River
a small stream in Wisconsin. made the discov-
cry that fresh water clans contained pearls
People looked on these finds as curlositias.
pretty. but Of little value. and they were fsbad
by those living in that vicinity as a Sunday
diversion and the one lucky enough TO find
pearl priced it as one would an odd shaped
stone and would usually part with it for little
or nothing. 1t remained for a firm Of MiIwau-
kee jewellers to be the first to consider them
objects Of value This house. in spite Of the
warnings OF others. invested large sums in
these gems, paying what was then thought to
be fabulous prices. II was at the Worlds CO.
lumbar Exposition that fresh water pearls were
first brought before the public The exhibit at
tracted much attention. and was the principal
factor in putting the pearls on the general mar
ket. The largest and finest pearl shown at
the Worlds Fair sold for $3.50, but now that
identical pearl cannot be bought for $500.
Until the year 1898 pearl fishing was carried on
only on the Sugar River, but with the knOwI-
eedge that a pearl might mean a small fortune.
those persons living in the vicinity OF other
fresh water streams took hand in the pearl
fishing business. The effort was generally with
out success. In the course Of these exploring
expeditions. it was found also that the Missis-
sippf contained clans in numbers that are
equaned by no other fresh water stream in the
country The magnitude and age Of these beds
can be imagined when one learns. as was dis
covered by contractors when putting in bridges
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24
FRESH WATER PE1RLS.
Found IN CLANS on Upper Missis-
sippi and Its Branches.

Along the upper Mississippi and some of its
tributaries the pearl fisher has started forth
again to seek his fortune. During the winter
months he has stayed on land content to tell
stories of his past misfortunes of the luck which
he expects in the future, and the various ways
he viii spend his Wealth-When he gets it.
In the winter time the pearl fisher may be a
farmer, who sticks to his section as long as
the rivers are frozen over, but who cannot es-
cape the get-rich-quick contagion which comes
with spring skies and the return of the pearl
fishing season. Occasionally a tale reaches his
ears Of how some fellow countryman has at
tanned sudden wealth by discovering a STRAW
berry pearl, and the mere routine of farm life
leeon-es all at once Il slavish drudgery. \ day
later the farmer is off for the clam beds.
hundreds of pearl fishers also come from river
towns where they have lived precarious life
through the winter, and having spent what
Httle they earned the foregoing year are eager
T. get back to the clam beds at the earliest
syn Of a thaw. Men who have families, as a
general thing take their wives and children
with them. When the season, therefore, has
really opened, many of these communities along
tie rivers of Wisconsin and Iowa are prac-
lIcaIIy deserted There is fortune lurking in
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24

and in this rough form are sent East to be fin
ished. There are some fifty factories on the
Mississippi, each employing from ten to sixty
hands the year round.
The clammer's life is not of pleasure. He
must rise with the sum- be as busy beaver
all day. in all kinds of weather, doing dirty.
wet and hard work. His hands continually
sore and chapped from the dirty water and his
back acquires a crook that it takes months to
get rid of. His food is cooked over an open
fire, and often. when it rains, Is not cooked at
all. He is forced to battle in the muddy river
water, and sometimes must even drink it.
Rowing heavy boat against a current of four
miles an hour taxes the endurance of the best;
lifting out a heavy drag loaded with clam
shells all day long is not easy; pulling, sweating
and swearing. trying to pull the drag off from
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24

at Prairie du Chen and elsewhere, that the bed
of clamshelIs extends to depth Of thirty feet
more.
In the early days OF clam fishing the perfect
pearl was the only one marketable, while now
all sizes and shapes are made use Of. When the
formation is round, or partly round. it goes by
the name of pearl. One which is perfect on one
side. the other being fiat, is termed button
pearl Buttons are divided into "haystacks
and ''turtlebacks.' according TO the height Of
the projection above the fiat surface BY lar
the greater number OF pearls are Of this Va
riety. There are also numerous imperfections
that are distinguished by various names. as
''birdseyes,'' referring to little projection on
the best surface of the pearl that seems Co De
the finishing off place that the clam has left IN
smoothed. Ring arounds' are those with
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24
BoATHoUsE AND CLAIMING OUTFIT.

the turbd waters, and the crowd Whlch PUSHES
thther has much of the nervous anxiety vi
adventures which flock to newly discovered
gold field.
The pearl fisher with a family soon finds a
home near the clam beds. He either pitches
tent on the rivers edge or rigs up house
boat In any case, it is miserable hab1tatlon'
visited at all hours of the day and night by
mosquitoes which would drive even Jersey
man frantic, and filed frequently with the
miasma which breeds malaria.
Having thus cared for the domestic or social
side of life, the pearl fisher equips himself for
business. If he has fished for pearls before he
knows that he cannot depend alone on these
foundIings Of fortune for a livelihood. The only
practical way for him is to dig up CLAIMS and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-24
GREAT TRUST CO.
 FUR BIRMINGHAM
Strong Financial Interests Are
 to be Represented
NEED MOST KEENLY FELT
Alabama Trust and Banking Go. Has Decided to Have It's Headquar- ters In This clty--A Solid
 Board of Directors.

Birmingham is to have a great trust company in the near future managed and directed by some of the wealthiest men in Birmingham.
 Associated with the Birmingham people will be several strong eastern parties, who are already somewhat interested in Birmingham properties.
 The announcement of the new concern as given out yesterday was as follows;
 The Alabama Trust and Banking com pany, Birmingham organization which has been successfully conducting bank at Sheffield for the last three years. has decided to carry out the purpose contem- rlated in it's original conception by in- creaslng .ts capital stock and establishing It's principal banking headquarters in Birmingham.
 The financial business of the country in certain channels has for several years past been largely transacted through the medium of trust companies, and the need of a strong trust company in Birmingham has been keenly felt by local financiers The present board of directors of the Alabama Trust and Banking company are: c. B. Mccormack. Joseph H. Wood ward, T. G. Bush. Erskine Ramsay, pa- vid Roberts A. M. Shook, H. B. Urqu- hart. H. L. Badham and Welker Percy. It Is understood that other strong finan- cial interests will be represented on the board
 The corporation proposes to devote its energies exclusively to the trust and sav- ings business. The officers of the institu- tion are: c. B. Mccormack, president H. B. Urquhart. cashier. The Sheffield branch still continues, as heretofore. to transact a general banking business
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-24
ACTIVITY AMONG
 T. P. A. MEMBERS
PRIZES OFFERED TO THOSE WHO BRING IN CANDIDATES BE- TWEEN NOW AND MARcH-NA TIoNAL MEETING IN JUNE.

The directors of the National Travellers Protective association have set the date for the next meeting of the national body at Indianapolis on June to IS. Sirce must hold their meetings at least thirty days before the meeting of the national association, they will have to meet before May April is the usual month for the holding of the. Alabama association meet ing, and it will probably be held this year during that month.
 Post B, the local body of theTravelers' Protective association. will have an en- tertainment during March. but the date has not yet been determined.
 A committee consisting of J. A. Daugh- erty, president of the state association; R. E. Collins, J.. R. Copeland and Col. E. L. Higdon, has been appointed to make all arrangements necessary for the Post B affair. Within the next few days they will decide on the date and nature oA thc chict taihhiSAl lo us SiNth ! Hci . will probably be a banquet and the gen. eral sentiment favors making the meet ing very large and important one.
 Post B is at present conferring with the officers of the new Hillman hospital with reference to furnishing a ward In the institution when completed.
 More than usual interest is being mani- fested in the local post. just at the pres ent time. Every man who brings in five new members who are accepted by the post before the date of the meeting in March will receive a handsome gold T. P. A. emblem ring.
 Directors of the Alabama state division have just appointed a committee to go before the members of the finance com- mittee of the legislature at Montgomery. and use their influence to protect mem bers and others from exhorbitant taxa tion. The Travellers Protective associa- tion is made up. of jobbers, manufactur- CTS and travelling men all over the state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-24
LEGAL NOTICE.

Annie Webb, complainant, vs. Corinthia
 o. Burnett and C. B. Burnett, her hus-
 band, Columbia E. Mccoy and Benj.
 H. Mccoy, her husband, Columbia F.
 Mccoy as executrix of the last will and
 testament of John B. Webb and Colum-
 bia E. Mccoy, as guardian of Sarah
 Annie Mccoy, minor, Valentine Emma
 Mccoy, minor Mabel Euell Mccoy,
 minor. Corinthia Odessa Mccoy. minor.
 Nellie Louise Mccoy. minor, and Webb
 Brady Mccoy, minor. and also Sarah
 Annie Mccoy, minor, Valentine Emma
 Mccoy, minor, Mabel Euell Mccoy. minor, Corinthia Odessa Mccoy, minor.
 Webb Brady Mccoy, minor and Nellie Louise Mccoy. minor.
 The State of Alabama, Jefferson County City Court of Birmingham, in Chancery,
 No. 3302.
 In this cause 1t being made to appear to the judge of this court in term time by the affidavit of Joseph T. Collins, Jr., solicitor and agent for complainant that the defendants. Corinthia o. Burnett and c. B Burnett. her husband. Columbia E. Mccoy and Benj. H. Mccoy, her husband, Columbia E. Mccoy as executrix of the last will and testament of John B. Webb, and Columbia E. Mccoy as guardian of Sarah Annie Mccoy, minor, Valentine Emma Mccoy, minor, Mabel Euell Me- Gov minor Corinthia Odessa Mccoy. minor, Nellie Louise Mccoy minor. and Webb Brady Mccoy minor, and also Sarah Annie Mccoy, minor, Valentine Emma Mccoy, minor, Mabel Euell Mccoy. minor Corinthia Odessa Mccoy minor. Webb Brady Mccoy, minor, Nellie Louise Mccoy, minor are all non-resdents of the state of Alabama and Corinthia O. Burnett and c. B. Burnett, her husband, reside in St. Augustine, Florida, and all the other defendants reside in Plant City, Hilisborough county, Florida, and fur ther that in the belief of said affiant, the defendants are over the aga of 21 years. except said minors. who are under l4 years of age,
 It is therefore ordered that publication be made in The Birmingham Age-Herald. q newspaper published in Jefferson coun- ty. Alabama, once week for four consec- utive weeks, requiring them. the said defendants, to answer, plead or demur to the bill of complaint in this cause by the 18th day of February, 1903, or after thirty days therefrom a decree pro-confesso may be taken against the adult defendants. It is further ordered that a copy of this order be sent to Benj. H. Mccoy and Columbia b. Mccoy, as the parents of the above named minors and at the address or residence above named.
 This sth day of January, 1903.
 CHARLES A. SENN. Judge of the City Court of Birmingham.
 Filed in office this sth day of January, 1903 JOHN s. GILLESPY.
 1-10-4t-sat Clerk and Register.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-24
HIGHWAYMEN ATTEMPT
 TO HOLD UP ALDERMAN

Not content with trying to hold up policeman the highwaymen have made an attempt on an alderman.
 Thursday night, the same night that an attempt was made to hold up Policeman Rrizendine. J. R. Copeland had m ex- citing experience with two highwaymen near the duck pond between Pratt City and BirmIngham He was rsturning from his brick plant In a buggy with negro driver and while on a dark part of the road two negroes sprang from the trees on either side of the road and grabbed for the bridle of the horse.
 As the highwaymen jumped out the sprang forward, causing the hlghwayrnen to miss their hold. and one of them mar rowly missed being struck by the wheels. The horse was whipped up and the ne- groes were left behind
 As this was the second attempt ..n city official 1t might look as if highway men were making speciality Of muniei- pal officers. e s'e
 This was only one of the numerous crimes committed Thursday night In several parts of the city the highwaymen and burglars seemed to be at work, and it seemed as if Birmingham was to have a second epidemic which will rival the first Three negroes have been convicted of highway robbery and are sentenced to hang; the jury is still cut on fourth case, and there are several other negroes in the county jail awaiting trial for high way robbery and grand larceny. The Alabama fish market on Fourth avenue. just three doors from the city hall building, was burglarized early yes terday morning Some hams and quan- tity of meat is missing. The cash regis ter was broken open. but nothing was ob- tained.
 A Smith & Wesson pistol was stolen from the residence of Sidney Moore, ssS South Twentieth street. The house was entered by burglar climbing one of the posts of the front porch and opening a blind to room oh the second floor.
 A negro servant found a negro man in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-24
TRIAL OF ANOTHER NEGRO HIGHWAYMAN Jury Has the Case of John E..
 Bryant
VERDICT EXPECTED TODAY
W, E. Scott, the Man Held Up By the Gang of Five Negroes, Testified to the Identity es ths
 Accused.

John E. Bryant was tried in the first division of the Criminal court yesterday on charge of highway robbery. The case went to the jury about o'clock last night. At o'clock the jury had not agreed on a verdict and the jurymen were taken to a hotel A verdict will probably be returned early this morning.
 Bryant Is a member of the gang of five negroes arrested by the police on the morning of the fourth of this month. Abe Williams, Will Jones and Will Hud- son, members of the same gang, were tried this week and sentenced by the jury to die.
 Robert Lee is another member of the gang and will be tried next week. He was indicted jointly with the others. but a severance was granted and he will be tried separately.
 The case on which Bryant was tried yesterday was on the indictment returned by the grand jury. charging him with holding up and robbing W. E. Scott near the corner of Eleventh avenue and Sev- enteenth street about Il o'clock at night on the third or tniS month'
 MT. scott's Testimony.
 MT. Scott took the stand first. His tes- timony was to the effect that he was held up by five negroes and robbed of about ss He said Bryant was the negro who took the money from him while the others held their guns on him. The defense put Will Hudson and Abe Williams on the stand and they testified that MT. Scott said that Will Jones was the one who robbed him when he went to the city jail Scott was recalled and stated positively he made no such statement.
 The defense also put a number of negro witnesses on the stand to testify as to the movements of Bryant few days be- fore the robbery took place. They said he was at Pratt City Friday night, but left there Saturday morning before the robbery, The defendants mother testi- fled that her son came to see her in Bir- mingham about o'clock on the night when Mir. Scott was held up and robbed.
 When Bryant took the stand he said: 'I am as innocent of this as anybody in this courtroom. I did not rob MT. Scott"
 Youngest of the Five.
 Bryant is the youngest negro of the five. He is very black. and like Abe Williams, has receding forehead He seems to bs more nervous than the rest but stoutiy maintains that he is innocent. He gave as an excuse for being in the room with the others when the capture by the police was effected that he went there to shoot craps, He says that when the officers came into the house he was asleep in a chair, and when arrested made no resist ance. He asked what was the matter when the officers appeared, and one of the other members of the gang said: Why. man, the house is just full of them police"
 Today Is sentence day In the Criminal court and it is probable that Judge Dan A. Greene will fix dates for the execu- ton of the three already convicted un- less an appeal is taken The attorney rep resenting Hudson and Jones was asked yesterday If he would appeal the cases. He replied that he had not yet decided
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-24
CLEVER BOY. Took the Teachers Food.

Careful observation on the part of par ents and school authorities as to proper food to use to bring up children will lead to healthy generation.
 A pupil in a Philadelphia, Pa, school says, "I had severe attack of typhoid fever, after which I was so very weak and delicate that l could not attend school regular.
 One day our teacher, who is great student and able teacher, gave lesson in physiology. in which proper food was discussed She recommended Grape Nuts to the class, as she had used the food long while and watched results
 thought that If Grape Nuts had en- abled her to teach a class of boys as she taught us the food would do me good in my weak state and I commenced eat ing 1t.
 I have used Grape-Nuts steadily for over year, am little past IS years old, and now measure 5 feet inches weigh 137 pounds and am strong and we'll having entirely recovered from my weak and delicate condition. I am very fond of athletics and join actively in all the sports in our vicinity.
 I can truthfully say that Grape-Nuts is just the food for me and has built me up into strong active boy" Name given by Postum Cereal Co.,, Battle Creek, Mich |