davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
!. CURIOUS SWINDLE.
FRENCH FORTUNE TELLER
FINDS AN "EASY MARK"
Woman Induced to Bury Money as
III. Bait for Spirits Robbed by Sor-
# ceress and Her Friend
ST., Arrest of the Couple.

So, The Paris criminal authorities have
just unrayeled story of deception and
%swindling made possible by the ignor-
Eance and superstition OF a victim whose
#credulity is so amazing as to be almost
incredible.
Nine. Fourier, stationer in the Rue
de Meaux, about year ago made the
acquaintance of a fortune teller, Nine.
Salignac, of the Rue 'Allemagne, where
she enjoyed the reputation of being en-
dowed with truly supernatural powers
She is now under arrest, and before the
examining magistrate Nine. Fourier
told an astonishing story:
II went to consult Nine Salignac last
June" she said. "She read my hand,
and, looking tixedly at my eyes, told me
I should be immensely rich before very
long. How the promised wealth was
to come to me could not say. It was
necessary for her to consult the spirits,
and she promised to give me further in
formation at a subsequent interview. At
the second visit found Nine. Salignac
in the company of gentleman elegantS
ly dressed. He, was informed, was the
medium who hypnotized Nine Salignac,
or rather put her in communication
with the SPIRITS
This individual, who is named Flau-
menbaum, has also been arrested.
When he had made some passes before
Nine Salignac and evoked the spirits
from the other world, the medium fell
into sleep in which she beheld golden
vision. II see millions. millions of
francs" she cried. "They are hidden
in the bottom of cellar quite close to
here in the Rue de Meaux The cellar
belongs to stationer. She for whom
the treasure is intended is here" and
with divining finger the sorceress
pointed to Nine. Fourier, who listened
enraptured to the tidings of the good
fortune reserved for her.
The seer continued to the effect that
fortune Of $700.O0O and a patent of
nobility were buried in the cellar and
advised the victim to deposit "bait" in
the form of gold and banknotes to draw
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

other chair. Again the cat wasn't
there. Again the chair splintered.
1.-TWO of mahogany. That's $780,"
walled the husband.
Never mind the chairs, James. Kill
the cat before it kills me-"
The cat crawled under the ice chest.
The ice chest weighs 200 pounds and
the ice weighed so. McDonough moved
the ice chest, while his wife, with a
stove poker on chair that she pro-
PEELED dexterously, followed the ice
chest, waiting for the cat to appear. 1t
didn't appear until the ice chest
reached the hall. Then it darted
through the chair legs in a manner
that nearly undid Mrs. McDonough. It
ran to the bedroom.
McDonough, somewhat excited, took
the poker and went at it again. 1t got
under the bedclothes. The poker
ripped the bedclothes to shreds, but
not the cat. McDonough took the bed
apart. His wife, from chair, used one
Stat, he another. Then, one by one,
the nine lives of poor Tom went out.
"Thank heavens, James, am saved"
cried Mrs. McDonough
But not yet. That marvellous cat
opened one eyes, then another Then
it slid between the feet of the unpre-
pared Mrs. McDonough. With shiek
she ran from the fiat The cat looked
wild-eyed at James. Then James beat
an inglorious retreat. He ran as fast
as he could to the station
'Come quick, with the reserves" he
cried.
Policeman Heidelberg followed Nc
Donough. The cat had disappeared
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
.BRUlN MEETS A BUzz-SAvQ..
And, Of Course, Comes Out Minus Sew.
q eral Indispensable Parts Of
i His Big Anatomy.

A black bear invaded J. F. Henry &
Sons big sawmill at Lincoln, N. H.,
the other afternoon and tried to eat
up the crew. but came to grief when
it started to knock out one of the big
saws %
The bear, huge one, but lean from
it's winter fast, came down the woods
on the back side of the mill pond and
crossed over on the boom of logs. The
first seen of the brute was when he
was coming up with yell that could
be Heard for half a mile The man on
the slip threw up both hands and dived
off into the stream. Half a dozen men
poked out their heads to see what the
row was about. They got. under cover
as soon as they could.
The men Started back into the mill,
the bear after them. Up came the
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
THIS CAT HAD TEN LIVES.
New York Flat Dweller Spoiled Lots
Of Furniture in Vain Effort
to Kill Tom.

The wellmeaning tramp cat that
paid a visit to the family of James
McDonough. at 444 West One Hundred
and Twenty-fifth street, New York,
the other evening has more than it's
allotted number of lives. TON" en-
tered as the family were at dinner.
Now, Mrs. McDonough has an aversion
to cats. That started the trouble.
McDonough took his place as the head
Of the family and said "Shoo." The
cat didn't "shoo," and McDonough
seized a poker
Its mad, I'm sure" screamed Mrs.
McDonough. Her husband seized
chair. The cat wasn't there when the
chair struck the spot it ought to have
been in, and the chair splintered. His
trusty wife was by his side with an
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
a TOUGH u JCK COIN.
DISASTER ALWAYS OVERLOOK
ITS 1LL-FATED PossEssoR.
Columbian Half Dollar Conclusivsly
Proves Itself Harbinger Of Ill
Question Is ttWhere Is
the Jonah Now ?"
Who has it?

Who has it?
II you possess Columbian half dol
lar, II you have been carefully pocket
ing it as souvenir and can look back
over trail of inconceivable hard luck,
then rid yourself of the coin and witness
your rise into normal condition of life.
For in it's time-and the story told in
the New York Times is backed by the
words OF men who know-it has killed
the hopes of many men and destroyed
the lives of at least two.
There is in this tale no fabric of super
stition. Facts do not deceive. To "see
with ones own eyes" is to know. The
writer is one who has suffered.
In 1892 there had been little game in
a little club in the city of Pittsburg.
"Charley" McSwiggan, until recently
press representative of the Carnegie
Steel corporation, invariably took a
hand. For weeks he was invincible.
Nightly did he clean the table, stake his
friends with car fare, and then bolt for
an all-night conveyance to his suburban
home. In time McSwiggan's affluence
induced him to journey east for rest.
He came to New York. 1t was during
the year preceding the Chicago fair.
One day, when passing the subtreasury,
he entered and awaited himself of shin
ing Columbian half dollar.
McSwiggaR's dairy shows that from
that minute his god of good fortune de-
serted him. He went to the Sheepshead
track. The "bookies" hit him hard. He
rode on Broadway car, and pick
pocket pumped him dry. He boarded
train for Pittsburg with railroad tick
ct, pain racking hunger, and his Co.
lumbar half dollar.
The "boys" were glad to have Nc
Swiggan return, but sorry to learn that
he had left all his money in the metrop-
oils. While he had been away they had
been preparing for vigorous attack.
They had to wait several weeks, how
ever, until he pulled himself together.
Then he "sat in"
McSwiggan was now the easiest
money they had ever known. He.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
RAN HOME IN DEsHABlLLE.
Yale Student Lost Clothes in q Poker
Game and Appeared on Street
- ~ in Pajamas. -

. A Yale "freshie" dashing home across
York street to Pierson hall, at New
Haven, Conn.,, with an electric light
burning bright on corner two rods
away, a policeman standing under the
light and men and women pedestrians
passing to and fro from the theater, led
to an investigation by the policeman.
and the discovery of the most remark
able game of poker ever played at Yale.
According to the "freshie," who told
the story only on threat of arrest, half
a dozen of his fellow classmen gathered
in a room across the street from the
dormitory. AS is usual this season of
the year, none of them could raise a
"sou," not having heard from home in
a long period. A game of poker was
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
GIRLS DISPLAY READY2aWIT.
Adopt Unique and Effective Method
Of Winning a Contest with
Gang of Men.

BY the quick wit and courage of two
pretty girls the telephone company was
prevented from erecting q pole in the
alley in the rear of 703 Kenyon avenue,
Cincinnati. Mrs. L. H. Reed owns the
place, and, after workmen had dug
deep hole in the "shot gravel" it
seemed to undermine the foundation of
her house and she complained to City
Electrician Weissleder and Building In
spector Tooker. These officials hurried
to the place, but declared the founda-
ton would not be affected after the pole
was in the ground. They left and the
worlzmen continued digging. AS soon
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
THE DRJJMMER'S LIE.
IT WAS A BOLD. ONE, BUT IT
CARRIED THE DAY.
Incidentally It Also Shows That the
Veracity Of the Father Of This
Country Is Not Hered-.
itary Virtue. ~

According to the Kansas City Star
George Washington Smith proved him
self: full f1edged commercial traveller
upon one occasion at least. He used
TO go on the road for a Kansas city
firm, whose name might have been
Billings, Wentworth & Ward. Mr.
Ward, junior member of the firm, had
Travelled and as his front name was
George, he had taken fancy to G. W.
Smith, a young man of promise who
was about to be sent on the road far
away to the west. Economy being q
source of wealth, George Ward sug-
gested to Smith that a certain mileage
book partly used up by him might just
as we'll be finished up by Smith as far
as it would go, and the latter acqui-
esced, taking the book with a caution
from Ward that he should practice his
signature and be mighty careful not
to give the snap away or the. book
would be taken up by the conductor.
When George Washington Smith
struck the road and got aboard his train,
and the conductor came around for the
first time Smith looked at him calmly
as he handed him his, or rather George
Wards book. Mr.. Conductor looked
at the book and then at Smith.
"You don't look at all like George
Ward" ventured the conductor.
do you suppose I am lying about
that book?"
mo, SIR" replied the conductor, "but
| am ordered to have every man sign
his name on piece of paper, and if it
is not the same as that in the book
I'm to take it up
"All right" said Smith, bold as a
lion and sure of his ground now; "give
me paper and pencil"
The signature was made and the con-
ductor closely scrutinized it. He was
not entirely satisfied and felt sure it
was an imitation. There was no proof
however, and he could not without
some further fact take up the book.
1t was night train, and Smith had
to make long jump on the sleeper. In
the morning he arose, and, taking
from his grip his sponge, soap and
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

bear, and the first man he set his eyes
on was the marker, who had been
busy at his work and had not had
time to run. The bear jumped on the
carriage that moves the log up to the
band saw and at the same time the
marker gave jump and disappeared.
The sawyer, who had not taken
alarm, probably because the rip of the
saw had drowned all other noise, was
the only man left in view Now the
bear, which had crawled upon the log,
made lurch for him. The motion of
the log evidently deceived the bear,
for he lurched up against the big band
saw with violence that nearly broke
it in two. A rip in his shoulder only
served to make the bear more desper-
ate. Another big rip by the saw teeth
practically put his right paw out of
commission, and by that time the crew
had rallied and knocked him out with
canthooks and sledgehammers.
The bear was one of the largest ever
seen in this vicinity, measuring fully
five feet and weighing $50 pounds
The skin will be patched and mounted
and will be sent on to the St. Louis
fair to be put on exhibition in the New
Hampshire building.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

towel, which useful articles had been
presented to him by his best girl, who
had also beautifully woven upon it in
large letters the initials of George
Washington Smith, C. w. S." pro-
cseded to the end of the car, where was
located the wash basin.
George was great lover of soap, and
while he was lathering himself pro-
fusely all over his frontispiece, eyes
and mouth shut, the conductor sudden
ly opened the door close by and yelled,
"Tickets!" Smith said nothing, but
went right on with his additions, sput-
terlng and throwing the water about
him like porpoise The boss of the
train stopped, of course, and looked at
his passenger, then at the bag, which
was hanging, innocently enough, just
over Smiths head. Then he smiled.
Smith went right on, but the conductor
did not. He stood still and laughed.
George Washington, despite the soap
in his eyes, lifted his head, looked saw
agely at the conductor, and wanted to
know what he was laughing at.
I'll take that book" said the con-
ductor.
mot on your marriage certiffcate!"
remarked Smith.
Il told you that you did not look like
George Ward" said the train boss, un-
able to control his laughter at the
joke.
What makes you think I'm not
George Ward?" queried Smith, BEGIN
ming to think the man might have
some proof against him, but never
thinking of the letters on the bag.
Roaring with laughter, the conductor
pointed to the bag, and when able to
speak said:
Them letters, G. W. S. is a dead
give away. Gimme yer book that was
issued to George Ward"
you're crazy, man." coOlly replied
Smith. II tell you my name is George
Ward and that is my sponge bag, given
to me by my sister, and you don't yet
no book"
But" said the other man, his laugh
ter subsiding at the cool and self-as-
sured manner of the passenger, them
initials says G. w. S. and George
Wards is G. W.
"Of course, you're right as far as
you go,' replied Smith, "but see what
a foo! you've made of yourself! The
initials are all right If you understand
them. My name is George Ward, and
the letters mean George Wards
Sponge don't you see?'
The conductor shook his head and
did not see, but had to give in and
passed or without Smiths book.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
GIRLS HELD THE FORT.

as the hole was completed, one of the
men jumped In, as he feared the woman
or her daughter might throw an obsta-
Gle into it. To his surprise the two
handsome girls sprang into the hole
after him, and refused to get out. The
man climbed out and left the girls hold
ing the fort: Only the heads of thu
young ladies were above the ground,
The other men had the pole ready to put
into the hole, but could not do so with
out injuring the girls. The scene at
tracted a large crowd, and excitement
ran high. At this juncture City Electri-
clan Weissleder came back and. sizing
the situation, advised the foreman Of the
labcre1s to give It: up and erect thepole
elsewhere. The plucky girls refused to
get out of the hole until assured that it
would be filed up with dirt at once.
which was done, amid the cheers of the:
amused spectators.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

proposed, but how to make it interesting
without some cash was question.
One freshman proposed that they
play for their clothing. The idea was
seized upon at once. 1t was decided
to set price on each piece of clothing
won by the various youths and use them
by removal as needed in the game and
depositing the same in the chair OF the
winner. 1t was agreed that if any one
lost his clothing he must seek his abid-
ing place in night attire only, to be
loaned by the man who occupied the
room, the clothes to be returned to the
owner next day.
The game grew exciting. Some of
those engaged lost so heavily that at
times but one sock remained in their
possession. Then luck changed and they
won back portions of their attire which
they donned again. It was near mid
night when the unlucky freshman
went broke"
A freshman yell rent the smoky at
mosphere of the apartment and, dressed
only in pajamas "Freshie" was turned
out into the cold.
"For excitement it's the greatest
poker game ever sat in" said he to the
policeman y
1t is thought the fad is likely to
spread
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

couldn't touch anything. Every time he
sat down he was separated from every
thing excepting carfare and the Column
bian half dollar. Finally he said he had
lost faith in his mascot. He played it in.
Presto! He picked up instantly. He
redeemed the half dollar and carried it
away.
The next time he played he got down
to low water again, and in went the Co.
lumbar coin. Once more his luck came
back. And so, night after night, Nc
Swiggan lost, parted from his mascot,
and then redeemed it. 1t dawned upon
him that the coin always marked the
turning point, and he finally abandoned
it to the banker.
Harvey Reese, another of the group,
came into possession of it. Finding it
Jonah" he cast it away. All around the
table it went. Every man who got it fell
under it's influence. 1t was consigned
to the chip box, where it remained for
weeks.
A little later Coroner Heber Mcdowell
came into possession of the CON- 1t had
OCCA 1OuAu III INC pOChCI VI oil O4u Uldu
named JOpe, who had been murdered,
beaten to death, in the cellar of the First
Avenue hotel.
Mickey Hughes, dealer at Connol-
ly's gambling house, had appropriated
k the coin for souvenir, but unknow-
ingly had passed it over the First Ave-
nut bar. JOpe, who was the cashier of
the hotel, also had appropriated the coin
upon finding it in the cash register.
Il know the history of this CON-" said
Coroner Mcdowell after the inquest to a
group of reporters and loungers in his
office. II am going to put it in this
drawer, and any person with reckless
disregard for life can cart it away"
For weeks the coin remained undis-
turbed. One day an old man who had
haunted the coroner's Office seeking
jury duty was found dead in the back
room of saloon. That day the coin was
missed. 1t was never traced.
Where is it now?
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

h. READ NINE. FOCRNIER'S HAND.
the fortune from the depths. The treas
ure was declared to consist of gold pieces
and 20-franc notes. The magician then
awoke and the same night saw begin
ming of the search for the treasure.
Nine. Fourier began by depositing
gold louis ($4) in each corner of her
cellar, but the treasure did not appear.
You must use more bait" said Nine.
5alignac, and SO the stationer deposited
successfully two, three and ten notes
of $50 each. But still there was no sign
of the promised millions.
1.-The amount is not sufficient" de-
clared the sorceress, and Nine. Fourier
revisited the cellar, taking with her sew
eral banknotes of $500 and 5000 each.
/ Still the hidden fortune gave no sign.
/ II shall go myself" said Nine Salig-
nae. land charm the spirits with my in
1 cantations. So when night had fallen
on the Rue de Meaux the magician, TAX
Ling in her hand further Offering of
i-banknotes from the confiding stationer,
|; descended to the basement, and for half
an hour practiced the rites of her witch
craft. When she reappeared her hands
were empty. She had, she explained,
buried the banlnotes deep in the earth.
| The process went on for some time,
1.-THE guileless victim handing over fur
isther "bait" as often as it was asked for,
Another night. when Nine. Fourier
could not close her eyes for thinking of
/ the millions which were certain to be
hers, she resolved to visit the cellar
herself But not only did she fail to
Find the hoped-for treasure, but she
could not discover the faintest trace of
1.-THE money which should have been de-
posted there.
~That is not surprising." observed
Nine. Salignac 1.-THE spirits take pos
session of it as soon as it is buried. and
the last time went to the cellar they
tore the notes from my hands before
had time to hide them in the earth.
But have no fear. you will get it all
back with interest once the treasure is
discovered"
But one evening. when the medium
vas supposed 10 be invoking the spir-
ssfg IN the cellar, the stationer watched
sS6f through q hole in the door and saw
|s6F aaSkiEg the bapknotss in her cor
~, Nexs day the dfstItustoned victim
sHqGigsseef the Dg5iee and Nine, Saltgnac
VA arrested
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

his college days. and they had been watt
ing for the opportunity to work of their
energy in emulating his undergradu-
ate deeds.
Mr.. and Mrs. letters were taken into
the schoolroom and called upon for
speeches. The superintendent intro
duced his bride. and parade If the
streets followed. Mrs. letters was
wheeled about and carried on a ladder
by the girls of the school, and the teacher
was lifted high in the air by some of the
sturdy boys. He took the joke good ma
turedly, only occasionally pulling the
hair of handy student to keep his fin
gers w:7m.
When Mr.. Teters thought the celebra-
ton W as all over some of the boys pro-
cured a rail and tied him on it. Hehad
on house slippers. which dangled in tho
chilly air.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
= r. = -.
Cork Leg Won the Race.

A funny walking watch was recently
witnessed in Haywood, England, by an
immense crowd of spectators. The con-
testants were a man with one leg and a
crutch and man with cork leg. The
distance was one mile, and the wager,
e1O side The cork leg won easily.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
HAD A WHEELBARROW RIDE
Indiana Teacher and His Bride Are
Given a Novel Celebration
by Their Pupils.

John w. letters, school superintendent
of Carmel, Ind, was married to Miss
Nellie Hawley, and he and his bride were
takeaDto school in wheelbarrows. The
girls OF the school conveyed the bride
and the boys handled the superintend-
ent. He had told them experiences of
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15

my wife's. l fancy know my wife's
hair when l see it,
"Well, you certainly ought to-" said
the friend. But are you sure?"
"Sure? OF course am. Why do you
ask"
ooh, thought, perhaps, there might
be some mistake. You see, found it on
Browns shoulder just before saw
you." - So, ...-5. 80,
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
SMILED A SiCKLY SMILE
Why Mr.. Ticker, Disputative Lon
don Broker, Did Not Pursue
Racy Argument.

A member of the London stock ex-
change was married short time ago,
and of course the first time he appeared
on change after the honeymoon he was
subjected to many congratulations and
much good-natured~ bantering. One OF
his friends, after congratulating him,
suddenly reached over and took a long
brown hair from his shoulder.
Looks bad in married man, Ticker"
he exclaimed, holding it up to the light.
''Oh, that's all right" replied Ticker,
smiling; cts my wife's.''
mo, no; that won't do" responded
the friend; syour wife's hair is darker
than that -
This made Ticker trifle angry, and
he exclaimed, excitedly: "Ltell you it's
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
The Long and Short of It.

The native countries of the tallest
and shortest people of Europe-the
Norw-gians and the Laps--aLjoin each
other. ]: zss5s .z
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
sawdust Sold in Bricks.

Sawdust is converted into portable
fuel in Germany by very simple proc
ess. tits heated under high steam pres
sure until the resinous ingredients be-
come sticky, when it is pressed into
BRICKS"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-15
Many Holidays in Russia.

The Russians saints days and i'm
perial fete days are SO numerous that
he works not more than 81 dayz in =
month. - - Z. -