davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
a FIGHT IN
THE FOREST.
Vermont Woodmdn Has Dec
PerdTe Encounter WITH
q Big Lynx.

Henry Billings, wood chopper who
has been at work on a lumber job well
up the side OF killingtOn peak, Yer
mont, in one of the widest and mos
inaccessible sections of the Green
mountain range. had 4 battle recently
with big lynx which he will remem
Der as long as he lives.
Billings had been chopping with a
man named Grout. but one morning
went to the job alone. as Grout was i'll
He had with him double edged AK
and q pail containing his dinner. He
chopped until noon, when he sat down
on Il rock TO eat. He had some cold cot
fee. in the pail, and this he warmed.
Later he went to u spring Il short dis
lance away TO get drink of water.
He was lying on his stomach when he
heard a ruStling in the underground a
little beyond the brook and, looking up.
saw Il small doe looking at him and
shifting.
The animal evidently wanted water,
and Billings withdrew a little distance
to give her Il chance TO drink. When he
had backed up few rods the doe adj
vanced cautiously and took long and
copious drafts from the cool spring.
Suddenly she raised her head. shifted
suspiciously and began to tremble. The
next moment a male bay lynx, with the
hairy tassels of his ears standing erect,
leaped from the thick cover back of the
doe and struck the animal with great
force. at the same time burying his
teeth and claws in her neck and side.
The deer emitted an almost human
grOan and, dropping to her knees. rolled
over on her back and tried to shake off
the lynx. At the same time she struck
out wildly with her razOr-like hOOfs in
an effort TO cut her foe to death. But
the lynx was too wary, and little by
little he worked his 1.-the and sinewy
neck around until he fastened his fangs
in the does throat. Then he snapped
his tremendous jaws together and hung
on with the tenacity of q bulldog.
Up to this time the lynx had not OBJ
served the chopper. or if he had he
paid no attention to him, and Billings
thought he saw Il chance to kill the
feline and collect u reward from the
county worth two weeks of chOpping.
He was so excited that the danger of
the thing hardly occurred to him, his
only thought being to kill the lynx.
So, taking his AK in his right hand, he
dropped on all tours and worked his
way forward.
He had reacfrpd point ten feet from
the struggling animals before the lynx
turned his head and growled. For an
instant he paused, but the taste of
blood had whetted his appetite. and
in another moment he had again fas-
tened his teeth on the throat of the
now nearly dead doe. Fearing that the
animal would again turn. Billings
sprang to his feet, leaped forward and
aimed a vicious blow at the lynX's
neck.
How the great forest cat could have
got from under the blade the chopper
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09

does not know, but il did, and before
Billings could raise his weapon a sec
ond time the lynx had left the deer
and had sprung for his throat. One
fore paw struck him in the shoulder,
ripping open the flesh and stripping the
sleeve of his jumper to ribbons, but
the body of the lynx crashed into the
bushes and gave the man time TO raise
his ak before the attack was renewed.
When the cat sprang second time
Billings dealt him blow that disabled
a hind leg.
After that the fight was more even.
Time and again the lynx struck the
man. tearing his clothing TO ribbons
and leaving long, deep gashes in the
flesh. But with every onslaught Bill
lings got in q cut with the AK 1t was
desperate work, for the chopper knpw
that should the animal strike him down
his doom would be sealed So he fought
on. lodging behind rocks and trees.
diving through the underground. hut
always keeping an eye OF. his foe.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
ANIMAL SURGERY.
wild Beasts Are Wise In Medicine
and EasiLy Heal ThemseIves.

Most people have seen u sick eat eat
grass or an uneasy dog seek out some
weed and devour il EreGdily TO make his
complaining stomach feel better. Some
few may have read John Wesley's di-
rectiOnS on the art of keeping we'll
which have not. however. found their
way into his book. of discipline for the
soul-and have noticed with surprised
interest his claim that many medi-
cines in use among the common people
and the physicians of his time were
discovered by watching the animals
that sought out these things to heal
their diseases. IF they heal animals,
they will also heal men, is his irwin
chile argument. Others may have
dipped deep into Indian history and
folklore and learned that many of the
herbs used by the American tribes, and
especially the cures for rheumatism,
dysentery. fever and snake bites. were
learned direct from the animals by
noting the rheumatic old bear grub for
fern roots or battle in the hot mud OF Il
sulphur spring and by watching with
eager eyes what plants the wild crea-
lures ate when bitten by rattlers or
wasted by the fever.
The most elemental kind of surgery
is that which amputates a leg when it
is broken-not always or often. but
only when the wound testers from de-
cay or fly bite and so endangers the
whole body. Probably the best illustra-
ton OF this is found in the coon. who
has Il score Of traits that place him
very high among intelligent animals.
When coon's foot is shattered by a
bullet he will cut ii off promptly and
wash the stump in running water, part
~ TO reduce the Inflammation and part
ly. no doubt. TO make it perfectly clean.
As ii heals he uses his tongue on the
wound freely. as a dog does. TO cleanse
it perhaps and by the soft massage of
his tongue TO reduce the swelling and
allay the pain.-Outlook.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
APHORISMS.

Set a beggar on horseback and he
will ride a-gallop.-ButtOn.
The hearing ear is always found close
to the speaking tOngue.-EmersOn.
To be conscious that You are ignorant
is a great step TO nOwledge.-Disraeli.
Humility is Il virtue all preach, none
practice, and yet everybody is content
to hear-Scidon.
A life spent worthily should be meas
ured by nObler iiue-by deeds, not
years.-R. Il. Sheridan.
Health is the second blessing that we
mortals are capable of. blessing that
money cannot buy.-Walton.
When Il man assumes a public trust
he should consider himself as public
property jefferson.
Everybody likes and respects self
made men. 1t is great deal better to
be made in that way than not to be
made at all.-O. w. Holmes.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
THE WORKMAN PERFORMED HIS TASK.

opening had been made in the wall.
In this cavity crOuched young woman
who seemed stupetied with terror.
The men then showed the Workmen
u heap of stones and mortar and the
necessary tools and told him that they
had brought him there in order that he
might fill up the opening, and they as
sured him that if he refused they
would blow his brains ont. They add
ed that The woman whom they intend
ed TO imprison in this awful tomb was
q Mohammedan who had been unfaith-
full to her husband. The task required
of him was so terrible that the work
man hesitated, but two revolvers We're
promptly placed at his head, and 50 he
took up the tools and began to make an
impossible wall in front of the unfOr-
tunate prisoner.
When his work was done the bag
was again thrown over his head. some
money was placed in his hand, and he
was driven back to the street from
which he had been taken. There he
was left. and before he was able to
free his head from the bag the car
riage had disappeared.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
LAYING the aGhost."

The Earl of Onslow tells very eff
fective story. His beautiful old place.
Clandon, suddenly became possessed of
ghost and the servants of the
place were almost terrified out of their
wits by the noises they heard and the
sights they saw orr ina Gined. The
reputation OF the mansion became nois-
ed abroad, and at last Lord OnslOw
took 4 short cut to end the mystery
He assembled lis servants and gave it
out to them that he was determined TO
have no more of this sort of thing.
For the future all members of his fam
lily would sleep with loaded reviewers
by their side. and at the first sugges-
ton of noise they would send bull
let in its direction to investigate the
cause Clandon nowadays is quite
commonplace i'll its immunity from
the uncanny.--London Globe.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
THE MES WATCHED THE APPARITIoS.

white lady is of the utmost Importance
n affecting the public view of the en-
peror's chance of recovery.
The facts concerning the appearance
of the white lady in the imperial palace
a few weeks ago are brief.
on the night of the 4th of November
Il manservant in the imperial palace at
Berlin had occasion 10 pass through a
large banquet hall in Il part of the
building that has not lately been occu-
pied. y gallery runs around part OF
this lofty room. and in the corner are
men in armor. while the walls are
adorned with paintings of the kaiser's
ancestors, emblazonries of the imperial
arms and hunting trophies.
The servant in question had entered
the room through a door outside of
which a sentry was stolidly pacing
back and forth. He closed the door be-
hind him and started to walk to the
other end. When halfway across the
room he suddenly beheld a spectacle
which almost froze his blood. Far
above the floor and apparently walking
on air, clearly defined and unmiStaka-
BILE in its outlines. was the famous fig
ure OF the white lady. known through
out the length and breadth of the Ger
man world as the harbinEer of disaster
To- the Hohenzollcrn family.
The servant paused in establishment
and watched the figure as il swept w
and down the hall along the gallery. 1t
was that of a lady dressed in the cos
tune of bygone age. and she APP
peared TO be weeping. The servant ran
To the door through which he had en-
tered and called the sentry. The two
men watched breathIessly in silence as
the figure slowly moved. Then after
few moments the apparition began to
fade away, and it disappeared without
n sound.
This fact was reported to the officer
of the guard. who passed IL along the
following day TO his superior officers.
none of whom knew at that time that
there was anything the matter with
the health OF the kaiser. Nevertheless.
so firmly rooted is the tradition of the
white lady of the Hohenzollerns among
all Teutonic people that the report re-
ceived considerably more attention than
would otherwise have been paid to il.
Ii has since then been recalled that
the last appearance OF the white lady.
which has been well authenticated, was
in 1879. just prior 10 the death OF
Prince Waldemar. Upon that occasion
a soldier ON guard at the old castle was
n witness of the apparition. which oc-
CURED in very much the same manner
as that now described In his fright he
fled to the guardroom, where he was at
once arrested for deserving his post.
Prince Waldemar at that time was
perfectly well. but within a few weeks
he was dead.
II IL were not for the recent operation
on the kaiser German people would not
know Just what member OF the impe-
rial family. was likely 70 die. after the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
LITTLE Henrx.s arestions.

Little Henry was reading ancient his
tory stories Pa" said he suddenly,
"can ask you question:"
Il guess you can, Henry. You seem
to have a fair command of English"
well, may /, then?" little Henry
continued.
YES" said pa. Fire ahead"
THAT'S funny" said little Henry. 81
was just thinking of such things. Now,
did the old Romans light their houses
with Roman candles:"
II shouldn't wonder" said pa, chuc-
king Nero, at least, INDUCED in a
good deal of fireworks. Anything
else?'
Yes" replied little Henry. Did the
people of Athens do all their cooking
with Greek fire.
Then pa got mad and said he couldn't
be bothered with any more silly Ques-
tiOns.-HOusehOld Ledger
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
FAvORITE AGES OF WOMEN.
They Appear to Range Between Six
teen and Twenty-fOur Years.

1t may seem strange that women
have preferences for particular ages.
An inspection of the census, however,
leaves no room for doubt that certain
years are preferred and certain other
years disliked by the members of the
gentler sex.
OF children fourteen years and under
the number of boys is nearly 100000
greater than the number of girls; at
fifteen the boys are still 5000 ahead Of
the girls; at sixteen the girls are COCO
the more numerous. and each year
thereafter until the twenty-fourth
there is an excess of women over men.
The favOrite ages within these limits
are eighteen and twenty. There are "a,
600 more misses of eighteen than there
are boys of that age, and the young
ladies twenty years old exceed their
masculine companions by $4,000. At
twenty-fOur and twenty-five the num-
bers of the two sexes are nearly equal.
Then the women begin to grow less
with great rapidity. The most unpop-
ular ages are thirty and forty. AT the
former age there is a difference of 49,
600 between the two sexes; at the latter
$1,000.
One peculiar circumstance is that
there are more women twenty years
old than there are girls of thirteen or
fourteen or any age up TO twenty.
This fact conclusively demonstrates
that twenty is a very healthful age.
But if the younger ages are unhealthy,
where did the increased number who
are twenty years old come from? No
women are born that old.
Only an unusually elastic theory can
account for these peculiarities with be-
coming gallantry to the lOvelier sex
J. S. Gillian in Ladies' Home Journal.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
GaIiIeO'G wit.

Galileo's wit. according 10 a biogra-
ply, got him into trouble when he put
into the mouth of SimpliciO, the foolish
opponent OF the COpernican theory in
his Dialogues" an argument that
Pope Urban VIII. had himself devised
and insisted on Calico Incorporating in
the work. Calico made Simplicio quote
it as an argument he had from Il very
eminent and learned parsonage" The
enemies of Calico persuaded Urban
that he had been made game Of" and
this was the Offense of which Calico
was guilty. II was not for uphOlding
the theory that the sun stands still and
the earth moves that Calico was tried
by the inquIsition. Urban himself had
supported the COpernican doctrines
both as cardinal and as pope.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
PHOSPHORESCENCE.
Animal and getabIe Light Rank
Among y fure'S Mysteries.

Among ~ fure'S Mysteries.
Animal ThosphOrescence is one Of the
most surprising and least understood
of natures phenomena. The pale. blu
ish white light of the GlOwworm has
been found by naturaliSts to be de-
pendent upon the motion Of the insects
body or legs. From this it would seem
that the phOsphOreScence depends upon
some nervous action. regulated at pleas
ure by the insect. for it has the power
of Obscuring it entirely. If the glow
worm be crushed and the rlce or hands
rubbed with il. luminous strcaks like
those produced by phosphorus will APP
pear. They shine more brightly in OXy-
gen gas and in nitrous acid
The power of emitting luminous rays
belongs to several varieties of fly and
three species of beetle of the genus
elater. One of the most brilliant of
these is the great lantern fly Of South
America, which gives enough light to
enable a person to read by the rays
from a single insect. Numerous classes
Of these flies are found in Surinam.
where they illuminate the darkness in
a most remarkable manner.
HI >JAliN- VI iDt- DUES III lItIull lives
a worm which gives out a bright green
light, Il fitting color for the Emerald
Isle. There are many other kinds of
insects which become luminous in the
dark
Yet there are many curious instances
of phOsphOrescence in dead animals
and vegetable matter, the lobster
among crustaceans, the whiting among
fishes and decayed wood being striking
examples. Their emission Of light
seems to depend. however. not upon
putrefaction. for as this progresses
their luminosity diminishes. but upon
certain unknown atmospheric condi-
tons This phosphOrescence Of decayed
matter has been regarded as somewhat
different from the slow combustion of
phosphorus. but upon examination all
the chemical conditions are found to be
the same.
The strange phosphorescent quality
Of some plants and flowers is not ex-
actly. the same as thIt possessed by
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
BURIAL ALIVE
OF "A WOMAN
SerribIe Punishment Inflicted
on an UnfaffhfuI eODe
In the CducoSxs.

A workman was recently repairing q
street in Bakou. a city in the eau
casus, when suddenly n handsome car
rage stopped near him, and two men
descended and approached him. The
next minute a bag was thrown over his
head, and he was dragged into the car
riage, which then started off at break
neck speed. In about half an hour it
stopped in Il large courtyard, where the
two men got out.
The bag was then taken from the
workman's head, and he was conduct
ed down a narrow passage and into a
large room, in one corner of which an
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
THE WHALE LEAPED INTO THE AIR.

entered Juneau" said DR.. Fox. I'VE
were on the steamer Cottage City, Cap
tain Wallace.
AT o'clock we were leaving Admi-
rally island. The sheltered sound at
this point is the play and feeding
grounds for countless whales, and on
this memorable afternoon we had been
running through a school scattered on
either hand, blowing and diving and
sleeping on the surface.
"This in itself was a wonderful spec
tacle, and / was watching it with keen
delight when | was startled by an eX-
cIamation from my wife.
Il followed the direction of her out
stretched arm, and as ! looked n huge
black form rose swiftly through the
water and then fell back with Il ire
mendous splash. 1t was Il whale, and
as IT spOuted and took fresh air Il long,
black, shiny, snaky something hurled
itself over the huge form and, posing
an instant, descended with fash and
a crack like that from bull hide whip.
Some one on board shouted that a
thresher was attacking n whale. The
ships speed was slackened. and as the
eager passengers crowded TO the rail it
gave a list to port. Man has never wit
messed n more fearful conflict than that
which occurred the next half hour.
THE threshcr is most peculiar fish.
While it is I'm shape something like
shark. its main weapon of Offense in
stead Of It's mouth is its tail. the tips OF
which are as hard as bone.
Before the startled whale could get
into motion the long, black, fiail-like
tail we had seen poise and strike re-
peatcd the blow three or four times in
quick succession.
Then the whale dove, and it was
plainly his intention to sweep the en-
envy from his hold by rush. But nell
Their fish remained under water long.
With a leap like that OF a monster
brook trout the whale cleared the sur
face and for an instant formed huge
arch
Notwithstanding that up to this time
we had noticed only the whale and the
thresher shark. it quickly became APP
parent that a third cOmbatant was in
the field. This combatant we soon
learned was a swOrdfish, the thresher's
inevitable hunting companion.
The swordfish grows TO length OF
twelve and fifteen feet. with a sword
three or four feet long. but small as he
is in comparison to the whale he is ca
pable Of doing terrible execution with
his weapon.
When the combat had continued for
fifteen minutes the shark accomplished
what appeared 10 be his objective
point. He obtained grip with his
teeth upon the whales jaw and as he
chung there delivered blow after blow
upon his monster enemys side.
And so the fight ragged. The whale,
driven from the depths by the sword
fish. would leap clear Of the water and
then. falling back. would. dash back
Cnnttnned n Fa1e FIeven
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09

animal matter. but it is as little Under
stood. 1t seems to be an absorption of
light and a subsequent liberation of it.
If a nasturtium is plucked during sun
shine and carried into Il dark room. the
eye, after it has reposed for n few mo-
ments; will discover the flower by the
light emitted from its leaves.
The phoSphorescence of the sea is due
TO Il living animal. which gives out its
light under nervous excitement, as
when it is stirred by the motion Of Il
passing vessel.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
YANKEE DOODLE.
The Original Version Dates From
the Time of Oliver Cromwell.

The Original Version Dates From
the Time of Oliver Cromwell.
The lively strains of Yankee Doc
die" are heard at every patriotic cele-
bration, says writer in Golfers Week
ly, vet perhaps few of those whose
pulses stir at the sound of the familiar
notes are aware that it dates from the
time of Oliver Cromwell and crossed
the seas with the Puritans.
"Nankee Doodle" was one of the nick
names bestowed by the Cavaliers on
the hated ROundhead, and verse writ
ten upon CrOmwells entry into oxford,
riding on Il small horse with a plume
twisted into a sort of knot called a
''macarOni," runs as follows:
Nankee Doodle came to town
Upon little pony,
With a feather in his hat
Upon a macaroni.
The transition from Nankee to Yam
kee-which came from Yengee, the In
dian word for English-was very easy,
and the ROyalists used it as a jeer at
all New Englanders.
When the COlOnials in Boston, pre-
pairing for the coming war, Struggled
muskets into the country, cOncealing
them in loads Of manure, the Tories
sang to the old tune of Lucy Fisher"
Yankee Doodle came to town
For to buy a firelock
We will tar and feather him,
? And so We will John Hancock.
When the British forces marched to
the battles of Concord and Lexington
their approach was heralded by God
Save the King" but when the Yankee
farmers saw the foe in full retreat the
strains of Yankee Doodle" accompa-
Eied their flight, and from that hour.
wherever the stars and stripes have
fioated, the once despised tune has been
heard.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
FOrebode
Of E,il
W6ife Lady offbe Ho6en-
zoIIernS BeIieUed TO
FOrefeu Death.
Why the Recenf Appearance Of
the Apparifio1 In Berlin
Palace Alarmed All
Germ any.

The white lady Of the Hohenzollerns
has appeared again. At least that is
the information that recently came TO
this country in private letter.
The fact that the white lady should
be seen is in itself sufficient to startle
the Teutonic world; but. taken In con-
nection with the surgical operation per
formed upon the larynx Of the kaiser
two days after the seeing Of the appari-
ton, the sudden appearance of the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
An Irish Compliment.

When Earl Spencer was lord lieuten-
ant OF Ireland the people Of Dublin
called the beautiful countess. one Of
the loveliest women of her time. ''Spen-
ser's Faerie Queene"
But when their eXcellencies were
about TO return to England Irish gal
lantry was shown in = characteristic
way. At the farewell banquet in their
honor an Irish gentleman got up and
said. with much fervor and many
bows:
I'VE all hope soon to see you back
again, you and the work Of art by your
side"
Energy will do anything that can be
done IN this world. and no talents, no
circumstances. no opportunities, will
make man without iit-Goethe.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
Monsters
In Battle
Thrilling Spectacle Wiz
messed on f6e CooSf
Of ALASKA.
HosO @ ObreS6er Shark and q
-SeOordfTrb Killed a Whale
In Bloody Combdf--A
Mighty Struggle.

One of the rareSt spectacles ever be-
held by human being was witnessed
in the waters of the Alaskan coast by
DR.. l.. w. Fox of Philadelphia, who
recently returned from the Klondike.
He saw thresher shark and Il sword
fish attack Il whale and kill the huge
cetaccan. Not Dir. Fox alone. but a
ship load Of passengers. saw the COM
bat
The fight took place on Il Saturday
afternoon. Aug 20, shortly before we
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
TOpSy's FuI1 Name.

"Mamma, what is Topsy's other
nameT"
'Topsy in the play? 1 don't know,
dear. l guess she hasn't any other.
It's Just Topsy, thaI's all
''Oh, she has another name. 1 heard
papa speak Of it yesterday. but can't
think Of it now. Oh, yes. / remember
It's Topsy Turvy"-Kansas City Jour-
nal