davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

goat in the navy. the greatest trouble
with this little black and white native
Of St. Thomas is providing him with
such food as he relishes. Canned
goods, beans. and bacon and grass and
vegetation are abhorrent to Mike"
Gunner's Mate Staples. his captor and
guardian, says that Mike" will eat
rusty nails, pieces Of old gum boots,
tin cans, leather Harness. bits of win
dow glass, paint, razor strops, cigar
cites, and stumps of old cigars.
There is a tradition on the ship that
Mike" has eaten concentrated Iye. The
goat was very sick for some time after
this feat. but he finally recovered and
has by this time forgotten all about the
event.
Once while the Kearsarge was in Gulf
waters the goat got shore leave. and
when a big. fat Southern policeman
tried to run him in he retaliated with
butt that put the officer on the sick list
for three weeks. On another occasion.
while visiting the battIeshlp Massachu-
sets. he got mad at the after turret.
and, butting into It with all his might.
came within a fraction OF displacing
one Of the monster thirteen-inch guns.
At least these are stories that are cur
rent in the navy and that are told when
the subject of mascots. and Mike" es-
pecially. is preached
Mike" is very popular just at the
present since the Mailed Fist has
stroked his head. He expects to have
another jolly when the Kearsarge touch
es at Spithead. He has impaired to
his intimate friends his desire to shine
before the President when the big re-
view is held next month.
Mike" is not the only mascot at
present with Rear Admiral Cotton'g
fleet. On the cruiser Chicago there is
fouT-footed sailor named Georgia
Ike" Ike" is not a goat. but what is
commonly known in Georgia. the State
OF his birth, as a razor back pig, owing
to the peculiar formation Of his spinal
column. Ike" has been in the navy
long time and was al Venice when
several OF the Chicago's men got In
the brawl that came near causing inter
national complications. Ike" is not
nearly 50 smart as Mike" but he is
far from being a fool. He is very fond
OF music. and every time the band
strikes up The Star Spangies Banner"
10 Is sure - do few Stunts.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12
HOW THE VELASCO WAS RAISED

NK ANILA papers just received in
W Washington give details OF the
raising OF the velasco. the sec
ond of the Spanish ships to be recovered
at Cavite. The Velasco is one OF the
vessels that Lieutenant Hobson declared
to be not worth the raising.
Although the Yelasco is not as large
as the Reina Cristina, her reclamation
was a work OF much difficulty. The bot
tom upon which she rested was OF soft
ooze. and the rising and falling Of the
tide for Eve years had half buried her
This made It impossible for the divers
to get well under her bottom and to as
certain Just what caused her to founder.
Like the other Spanish warships, her
crew had set fire to her before she was
scuttled, and the interior OF the vessel
is a mass OF ruined machinery and
broken and twisted iron Orders.
Captain Garry. of the Philippines Sal
wage Association. worked on the Velasco
for a week with crew OF Filipino divers
stopping all openings that could be
VI.
Der. and getting the big pumps into
position. OF these pumps one was a
Worthington wrecking pump. with a ca
pacity of 1900 gallons minute. and two
others were centrifugal pumps. with
capacities respectively OF 1900 and
$500 gallons a minute
Everything being ready, the pumps
were started at 10 o'clock at night. the
Worthington forward and the two cen
trifugals aft. As the streams from the
pumps lowered the water in the hull
small leaks appeared in different places,
and the Filipino divers were kept busy
stopping them. The work of these men
Is described as wonderful. Whenever a
stream OF water was found pouring into
the ship, a diver would go overheard
with a hammer and an armful of oakum
Dipping under the surface he would find
the leak and stop IL from the outside
emerging at incredibly long Intervals TO
tALA hraath> Tha uWRn we're kept
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

hour in the day by simply looking at his
handiwork
do you intend to sell her. Mr..
Barnes" he was asked.
NO" he replied, in a somewhat ag-
grieved tone, Il didn't build her for that.
intend to place her in some public
building or institution. where she will
be an object lesson Of patriotism to the
people" The reply speaks volumes for
the builder OF Constitution II as a good
citizen in the right meaning of the
phrase.
Immense Labor Expended Upon Her.
The construction of the model involved
labor of q trying character. The
frigate's hull was not carved from a
block OF wood but built up" as design
ers say. OF a hundred strips Of pine,
properly shaped and glued together.
lines, which can be appreciated even by
the landsman.
Her superstructure. including guns.
masts, boats, rails, and deck furniture,
is composed OF about one hundred and
seventy-hye pieces OF wood. Some idea
OF the seIf-sacrilc necessary to build the
Constitution II may be gained from the
fact that Mr.. Barnes spent two or three
hours each evening during eighteen
months at work on her.
The vessel was too large TO rig under
cover and Mr.. Barnes was Obliged to
take her out on the side lawn Of his
house. There was plenty of elbow play
here but every time II rained the model
had to be taken into the house
She weighs 400 pounds. and Mr.. Barnes
had TO summon assistance every time
she was TO be moved.
Facts Connected With the Model.
Floating at the end OF the gan is a
miniature American flag, a facsimile OF
the original one made by Betsy Ross.
This little flag is the work OF Rachel
Albright. of Fort Madison. Iowa. who is
a splendid needlewoman despite her
ninety-one years.
Mr.. Barnes also built the two four foot
models of the Monitor and Merrimac
which float in the central basin of the
court. 1t gives you thrill to see these
little vessels. the Union and Confeder-
ate flags flying bravely as they move
slowly round and round under the &C
ton OF the fountain.
The model Of the Maine. a splotch OF
white paint showing where the torpedo
struck her, is also of his workmanship.
as well as the miniature Holland sub
marine. Captain Sigsbee considered the
1t to illustrate his lecture on the dis
aster in Havana Harbor before the
students of Columbian University. a
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

it in subsection. for fear that It would
run out OF fuel and come to earth with
a crash, for no means had been discov-
cred TO keep It in control. The difficulty
about the fuel may one day be overcome
by the use Of gasolene. IL is thought:
still. the way out is not yet clear.
Neither Prof. Langley nor Alexander
Graham Bell has attempted to cover his
essays in aerial navigation with a nat
ent- A good many small affairs which
Will go into the air and stay there
a while. but will not carry human passen-
gers, have received the sanction Of the
Patent ONCE, but only as toys. Anvbodv
can get patent on a toy of this sort
If 1t Will perform gyrations in the air
Dirigible balloons are not treated nv tho
office as machines for mechanical flight.
the balloon is an old device. and all
that can be new is the steering apnar-
atus. which. owing to the way the field
has already been covered. is usually re-
jected on the ground of lack of novelty
without any serious examination OF the
broader claims.
The experts seem still unconvinced by
what they hear of the advance made
in France. Until a balloon can main
tain n speed of twenty-five miles an
hour and be subject to human direction
they assert that it gives no assurance
of ability to keep on it's course in a
wind Of any strength. and is, therefore.
not 10 be set down among the larger
possibilities. Gas bags are no part OF
flight" remarked one Of them. senten-
tiously, the other day. flight is the
rAsuit af rnotinn alana-'
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12
~ r. HOLMES stirring verses
| focused the popular dispIeasure

n r. HOLMES stirring verses
focused the popular displeasure
upon the Government when It
was proposed TO dismantle the Consti-
tuition; they voiced the tenderness with
which everyone thought OF the old ship
more than half century ago. But the
feeling of generation for "old Ironsides''
is Just as strong today though there is no
Autocrat of the Breakfast Table TO sing
OF It. Still there is some one here in
Washington who has done much to keep
our memory Of her alive. Where DR..
Holmes fashioned his picture of the
Constitution out OF words. this artist
made his with nails, glue. paint. straight
clean pine and patient industry that
passes all understanding.
A Miniature Man-o'- War.
In the great central court of the Pen
sion ONCE. with it's huge pillars and tier
after tier OF arches. is a reproduction Of
the Constitution, complete In every par
ticular, save men, interior furnishings.
and powder and ball in the guns.
She is a good eight feet long. with a
three-foot beam and the top Of her main
mast is nine feet from the deck II takes
no great stretch OF imagination to fancy
the blue water swirling from under her
forefoot, every sail set, her decks
crowded with men and an officer pacing
the quarterback with a spyglass under
his arm Each detail is perfect even TO
the gratings over the hatchways and the
metal sheathing on the tiny stairway at
her side. Her rigging is movable in every
part. not excepting the booms and half
inch blocks. The stern windows are
adorned with ornamental carving.
the hgurehead is a reproduction Of
that borne by the famous frigate,
anchor chains are looped up the side
and the ships boats are even fitted with
thole pins.
Work of Pension Office Employe.
The miniature man-o-war was built
by George W. Barnes. superintendent of
the Pension Building. from the original
plans OF Joshua Humphrey. drawn up in
1894.
Eighteen months were spent By Mr.
Barnes in the construction OF the
frigate. He worked upon a balcony OF
his home and did not even have the as
sistance OF a carpenters bench. Educat-
ed as a naval designer. the building OF
the vessel was with him a labor OF love,
and he gets the reward Of his work every
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

that anyone skilled in the art to which
the device belongs could produce a
specimen from the pictures and descrip-
lions. and would know In advance that
IL would work. Not so with a flying
machine. which has thus far defied the
brightest wits trained upon it. There
never was an inventor of a flying ma
chine who did not know" that 1t would
work: but. on the other hand. there
never was a model which fully bore out
fits claims. The applications for flying
sea for multitude.
The Patent ONCE patiently responds to
each that the inventor may submit o
machine. or a satisfactory working
model. for a practical test. If he as
serts that he has made a full-sized ma
chine that will fly, he is requested to
furnish adequate testimony from wit
nesses who have seen il fly; no one yet
has met this requirement.
Patent experts all agree that the man
who has made the best hit at solving
the problem of human flight is Hiram
Maxim. the gun inventor. He built a
huge aeroplane. which was propelled by
a powerful steam engine, and which ran
between upper and lower rails. It
demonstrated the ability of a self-pro-
PEELED aeroplane to elevate itself. but
was not regarded as a successful flying
machine because it could not run long
enough-the engine required so much
water that II could not carry the weight
Of fuel needed for sustained flight.
Mr.. Maxim never allowed his machine
TO aoa< RlEsV tram tbs rails which hsid
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

steadily at work all night. and early in
the morning the after part OF the ship
was afloat- bulkhead forward. which
prevented the water in the bow from
flowing Into the pumps. had to be blown
out with dynamite. and afterward the
whole Of the ship was raised.
II Is stated that the hull Of the Veins.
co Is little damaged. and that IL has
been protected from corrOsion BY the
heavy growth OF bErnacles. seaweed. etc.
which had collected on it. The interior OF
the vessel is in ruin. and the upper deck
Is completely gone. No shotholes OF any
considerable size were found in the huh.
and the theory that the vessel was sunk
ny her own crew. who opened her bilgo
cocks and main injection valve proved
TO be correct.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

~ NE day not long ago the Patent
once received an application
for a patent on the Ezekiel
flying machine" The applicant proved
to be a minister Of the Gospel, and he
explained to the examiner that the Book
of Ezekiel was not mere prophecy. but
contained a full and practical recipe for
aerial flight This he had worked out
with India ink drawings and diagrams
which he was positive would settle the
case. The examiner answered that he
had no doubt II would; but, meanwhile.
the applicant would be required 10 sub
scribe the customary oath. The min
lister seized the paper with avidity, but
laid It down sadly when he discovered
that he was required 10 swear that he
was the original discoverer Of the in
vention. AS he could not afford 10 dis
credit his favorite book OF Scripture. he
withdrew his letter OF application and
sketches.
The secrecy with which so many in
ventors OF flying machines surround
their experiments is usually due not
alone 10 the desire to be sensational
but quite as much to the fact that they
cannot get a patent on their inventions
and thus protect them against ruinous
imitation. The patent law requires that
an invention should be both new and
useful: and to be OF use a flying ma
chine certainly ought to fly.
In the case OF any ordinary mechan-
ism IL suffices to make a series of draw
lngs to Ale with the specifications. the
principles involved being so familiar
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

CCORDING to cablegrams re-
IA ceived In this country last
week, Emperor William has
seen and admired the mascot OF the
flagship Kearsarge. The present incum-
bent OF the responsible post is an edu-
cate goat named Mike" brought from
the Danish West Indies.
Mike" is enlisted just like any other
sailor, and underneath his enlistment
is a minute description, so as to make
possible his recovery should he desert
or be stolen. By FAR the most fact!dious
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

Oh, better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave.
Her thunder shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave.
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail
And give her TO the god Of storms,
The lightning and the gale!
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-12

~ NE day not long ago the Patent
once received an application
for a patent on the Ezekiel
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-02-27
HORACE oREELEr.s DEATH.

Senator Depew's eulogy ON the life
and public services OF the late Congress.
man Amos j. Cummings, delivered in
the Senate the other day, contains the
following reference to Horace Greeley
and tile sad ending OF his LIE:
No proper appreciation Of the life and
services. Of the ability md character OF
Horace Greeley has ever been written.
There was a time aud that time Cum
mings was with him, when there came
every day from the Tribune Office a
newspaper with editorials written by
that pen which influenced the judgment
OF millions. which controlled the action
Of parties, and dominated the legislation
Of the country.
The NEST guileless man I ever knew,
the most simple, the most credulous,
the most unworldly. and yet with a pen
in his hand the strongest aud wisest.
was Horace Greeley. One can imagine
the influence Of such a character upon
such an impressionable youth and OF
such a makeup as Amos j. Cummings
| have seen many a deathbe in my
life; l lave witnessed life go out under
conditions tint were sad or sweet, hope
ful or despairing. never but once saw
a man die OF n broken heart, and never
do wish TO see such h tragedy again.
made a speech with Mr.. Greeley in
his Presidential campaign, just before
it's close. We spoke from the same
platform, and both Of us knew that he
was to be beaten. We returned to bis
home, and he was ieered on the train
and at the depot when he arrived. We
went into his study, which was Uttered
with those famous caricatures Of Mast,
representing him lis the embodiment Of
all that was evil or vile in expression or
practice in life.
Mr.. Greeley glanced them over for n
momenl, and then he said:
MY life is a failure; | never have
eought to accumulate fortune; / never
have cared for fame; out | did want to
leave a monument OF what | had done
for my fellow-men, in lifting them up,
in doing away with the curse OF slavery
and the curse Of rum; but hc:e | am at
the close OF this camraign so misrepre-
sented to my countrymen that the slave
will always look upon ME rs having
been one of his owners, and reform will
believe me "A fraud Then. his head
falling upon his desk, he burst INTO un-
controllable sobs. | sent for his family
The brain that had done such splendid
work snapped. The next morning he
was taken to an asylum, where he died
His heart literally broke at the moment
when he bowed his head upon las desk.
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-02-27

AL agree that the ball at the opera
house last evening was something per.
feet in the way OF a social function and
a general success in all respects. When
the music struck up and the grand
march opeued, the scene from the stage
was altogether glittering and bewilder.
ing.
Tho opera house was lavishly deco.
rated in pink and white, which under
the ~festoons Of electric lights, presented
a delightful color schcme and this back.
ground Of decoration sortened the light
effects.
The center Of the ball room ceiling
was occupied by HI immonse seal OF
State, from which draperics swung to
the sides OF the rooms and ladders OF
incGdescent lights separated them into
four divisions.
The front Of the gallery was festooned
with the same colors and SO WAS the
space under the gallery.
In addition we're ipDumerable Ameri.
can flags gracefully arranged and the
stage was presented with a set scene in
front Of winch was a design in electric
lights md dra perics.
The gallery was simply packed with
spectators. and the scene WIS one which
will not loon be forgotten.
Nevada society was out in full force
and the Indies appeared in gowns fully
BETTING the occasion. They had left
nothing undonc in the way OF expense
to give proper cclat to the occasion, aud
it Is safe to say that II Nevada ball roor
never in its palmiest days. presented q
more bewildermg picture OF handsome
women aud stunning effects in dress
and decorations.
Tho law makers md politicians were
there in full force and all hands had d
very Jolly time,
Some OF the politicians seemed to pay
more attention to the punch bowls be
hind the scenes than to dancing, but
that is just what the refreshments were
there for.-Carson Appeal.
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-02-27
" husr VI onry l. II:

When the Nevada Legislature gave
Hearts, newspapers some free alvcr.
tIsing 10y resolution. MIR. Hearst was so
pleased that he immediately tclcgraphed
Controller Davis $3.50 to blow in on the
Nevada %soluns, by banquet or other
wise, us AN appreciation-oI perhaps Us
payment in full, at regular advertising
rates of the Nevada Legislature.
Mr.. Davis announced the fact of Mr..
HcaTsts generosity, and has been pond
ering some weeks upon how t. purchase
the biggest box Of fire works for the
money.
The Assembly, however, appears to
have become impatient, for yesterday IA
resolution WAS introduced i'll that body
donating the money tn the Orphans
Home.
Now Controller Davis is wondering
what the Assembly thinks it has to do
with that money. He figures out that
the money is not 'heirs, INT merely to
Se spent Oh them. and as il has never
been put into the State Treasury. aud
not likely to be, the Controller is work.
nights Ia stud! ont how the Nevada
Legislature Is going tO come ont in mp.
propriatiuy money from the pocket If
IN individual vino owes thom nothing.
int" 1t State iunu Carson News.
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-02-27
Forests In Nebraska sand His.

The task OF growing valuable forests
on tho barren Sand hills Of Nebraska
will begin this spring, when the Bureau
OF Forestry will seed about 100 acres Of
the Dismal River Forest Reserve near
lIalsey with Red Cedar and Jack Pine.
IL the seeding succeeds and is done with
economy, the bureau will seed and plant
the following year probably 1000 acres
40 cedar and pines and will ultimately
extend the forest by gradual paintings
over n large part OF the 20S,000 acres in
the Dismal River and Niobrara reserves.
a nursery has been established nj
flalsey, in the valley Of tho Middle
Ioup River. with a hali.acre seed bed
protected by latIs. a tool house and
Office building have been built. Nearly
GOO pounds Of seed, principally West.
ern Yellow Pine, has been collected for
planting IN tho spring,
The sand hills are unit for agncul.
tue, IL large forests can be grown on
them, the timber will be of worry groni
value to n country now without trees.
where lumber brings high pricee. Tho
attempt OF the Bureau has every chance
Of success.