davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

Korea is the only foreign country in
which Americans have taken the lead
ing part in it's commercial exploita-
tlon; and it was purely by accident
mat Americans began to play the inn
portant role in the development of
Inc hermit kingdom that she has play
ed during the past generation.
1t was just twenty years ago, after
the emeute Of 1884, that an American
medical missionary. DIR. Horace Allen,
was called upon to perform a serious
operation on the mangled body of
Frince Min Yung TX, a Korean noble
man. The operation was successful
and attracted the attention of the
Korean Emperor, who Immediately
appointed DR.. Allen Kings physician.
The American missionaries. other
imam medical, were also achieving the
beginning of their successes. At the
same time, in order to found a school
Tor the training of Korean noblemen's
sons for government and diplomatic
POSITIONS, the Korean government
sent to America, asking for three
1edchers to found a government school
OF royal college. Thus, In the space
or few years, Americans took the
cad IN Korea In missionary, medical
ahd educational lines. They were
looked upon az friends by the natives,
sna We're loved. they were not med
allng IN politics; not asking for coal
'"S stations or open ports. They came
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

gentleman overwhelmed me with re-
grets and apologies, and begged me
to pardon the soldiers excess of zeal
He wound up by giving me a beautiful
letter, which charged all and sundry
officials to place the resources of the
government at my disposition and not
to interfere in any way with my men,
my goods or my mules.
1t might be supposed that such a
letter would smooth the weary trav-
eler's path. AS a, matter of fact, it
rendered it more difficult Every two
cent alcade in the villages through
which / passed regarded the missive
with the greatest suspicion. These
alcades could not read, but they
knew the appearance of a passport,
even if they did have a habit of hold
ing it upside down when the inspect
ed it. This document wasn't a pass
port, and they thought seriously Of
throwing its owner into Jail. How
ever, judicious brides removed their
scruples, and eventually / reached the
towns in the Tolima department, sold
my goods at a decent profit, and
bought rubber with the proceeds.
But when ] started to return home
was faced with new imposition.
You need a passport to leave the
department with your mules and rub
ber," said the Tolima officials, land
you will have to pay US for it."
But I have passport and a letter
from the Governor Of the Cauca,"
protested. "See what he says"
THAT is no good here" they re-
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

piled. I'VE don't even know who the
Governor of the Cauca is. You can't
leave without our passport"
What will it cost?''
They figured it out, and told me it
would be $500, paper money, charg-
ing 800 per mule, $500 per load of
rubber, and sundry other items. OF
course, there was nothing to do but to
pay and the sum just about swallowed
up all the profit of the trip.
/ fed from this nest of brigands and
journeyed homeward without much
adventure until ! got to a village
called La Plata. There / was advised
to halt, as the government troops
were annexing all the mules they
could catch in the Parimo Pass,
through which l had to journey, and
would certainly seize mine. But hav-
ing the letter of the Governor of the
Cauca forbidding anybody to inter-
fere with me, thought it was safe
to go on.
At the village of Inza was held
UP by band of a hundred and fifty
government soldiers. They had been
numbering and pillaging the Indians
for miles around, and needed mules to
carry their loot. The officers had
boxes full of silver coins, ingots, mug
gets, and other valuables which they
had forced the Indians, by torture, to
disgorge.
IT need your mules" said lieu
tenant.
you can't have them. want Them"
l replied.
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

insects. l naturally wanted to know
what offense l was charged with, but
blows with the butts of rifles were my
only answer. My imposing docu-
ments from the Cali officials were
treated with scorn, which was hardly
surprising, seeing that nobody could
read them.
Like most Colombians, my captors
hated foreigners, and they were de-
lighted to have one at their mercy.
They refused to give me any food, or
even to let my men give me any.
was famished, for l had eaten nothing
since morning, and they had stopped
my dinner.
But that was not the worst of it.
The insects swarmedS all over me.
When i stood up they ran up my
legs; when 1 sat down, they ran up
my back-so there was nothing for it
but to walk around and around the
cell all night. The soldiers on guard
kept beating on the floor with their
rifles, telling me that / was going
to be shot in the morning. 1t was
not a cheerful night.
Next morning the commandante of
the garrison. entered the cell full of
apologies, and told me that l was
free. There had been a mistake in
telegram, and he trusted the illustri-
Gus senior had suffered no inconveni-
ence from the brief hospitality he had
been constrained to afford him.
l did not want any more mistakes
of that kind, so I rode back to Cali,
and saw the Governor. That polite
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

II need your mules
II am an American citizen. If you
interfere with me"
81 need your mules"
Here is passport
II need your mules"
"And here is a letter from the Gov
ernor of the Cauca forbidding you or
anybody else"
IT need your mules"
He took them. While the argument
was proceeding the mules had gone
on down hill, so the officer sent four
soldiers after them to dump the car
goes and bring the mules back. These
soldiers never returned, wherein
hangs a story.
l sat down in the village store and
cursed the government roundly. /
had lost all my profits by the taxes
of the sharks in Tolima, and now
had lost my mules and rubber, and
would have to pay up the bond for
S24, 900 when / returned to Cali, for
failing to bring the mules back.
AS | gloomily reviewed the situa-
ton, a dirty, ragged Indian, who was
lounging in the store, came up to me
and whispered:
do not despond, Senior Americana.
The Liberals are coming into sight.
Say nothing, keep quiet, and to-mor-
row you shall have your mules back,
1 promise it,"
/ slept that night on the floor of an
adobe hut. At in the morning / was
awakened by pandemonium of
shrieks, yells and rifle shots. A strong
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

very stately race of men; they move
slowly and have no wit in avoiding ac-
cidents-and the trolley car the world
over is no respecter of dignity. The
commonest surgical operation in Ko-
rea, the medical missionaries say, is
to pull a two or three-foot plpestem
out of the back of a Koreans neck;
by accidents, in wheeling around cor
ners, or by falling down when intoxi-
Gated, these pipestems are damned
downwards or backwards, ad infini-
tum.
other more marvellous objections
have been raised to these make
themselves-go machines" so named by
the people who call the bicycle the
man-make-himself-go machine" The
people affirm that a recent drought
had been caused by the electric wires
which are strung across Seoul, in all
six miles in length. They declared
that the wires cut off the influence Of
heaven. Others were not satisfied
whether the blame should be given
the wires or the location of the pow
err house of the electric plant; 1t was
found on examination of the records
that the house stood on a sacred spot
and desecrated IL. The power house
remains, however, on the hallowed
spot.
During these years of commercial
exploitation the American mission
aries have not been backward; the
Presbyterian missions in the North
number 1000 converts, and the Meth
odist missions in the center of the lit
tie kingdom count over 5000. The
Methodsts have paid special attention
to publishing; their first plant, the
Trilingual Press, having played an
important part in the opening of Co
rea. The Roman Catholics number 49,
900 converts; they entered Korea two
centuries ago, when the Jesuits were
leading the way into the heart of the
American continent The Koreans
have practically given up Buddhism
and confucianlsm." according TO Min
lister Allen.
A few American trading houses
have sprung up; the Standard oil
Company does a large business in Ko-
rea; but the future OF American trade.
Of course. depends, like everything
elFe, upon the political turn which
things may take in the future IN the
land Of the Morning Calm. Seventy
per cent. Of the trade Of Korea is with
England; Japan and Russia have a
little on the east and north.
Thank 10 the wisdom Of her repre-
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

Korea. The total length of the bridge
is 2,450 feet, including approaches.
Upon completion a Japanese company
secured the road.
This road had its terminus without
the West Gate of Seoul. American
enterprise now put on foot an electric
railway running from the railway
terminus into Seoul, through the city,
and out to the tomb of the murdered
Empress Min, three miles east of the
city, and a mecca for Koreans. The
Seoul Electric Company was organ
lied; it comprised Koreans only, with
the governor Of the city as president.
The franchise came from the Depart
ment of Public Works. The company
was capitalized at $500, 900; one-half Of
this sum was Immediately paid to the
same construction company which had
built the Seoul-Chemulpo Railway.
The motormen have been Japanese
an the conductors Koreans. OF
course, a number of accidents have
happened; at one of these a car was
demolished and the company's plant
was endangered. The Koreans are a
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

band OF Indians, In the service Of the
Liberal revolutionists, had burst into
the town and taken the government
troops by surprise.
The bullets whistled through the
thin walls of the hut, which seemed
to be right in the line of fire. l lay
fiat on my stomach on the floor, and
covered my head with pillow, ex-
pecting every moment that a bullet
would search out some vital spot.
Presently the firing ceased. ar
gued that If the Indians burst into the
hut and found me there they would
think / was hiding from them, and
would speedily hack me to pieces with
their machetes. So ] put bold face
on the matter, wound a red handker-
chief-the Liberal emblem-around
my head, and walked out into their
midst.
They hailed me as a comrade. "All
foreigners are our friends" they de-
clared. They had won an easy vic
tory over the government soldiers,
most of whom had been killed, while
the rest had fed to the woods. My
Indian friend of the night before SEEM
ed to be in command, and he kept his
word. He had a lot of mules led up
and paraded before me, told me to
pick out mine, and advised me to get
away before the government troops
came back in force.
I felt 1t was cup to me" to make
him some return for his kindness, so
/ opened the village store-the owner
was a government man, and had fed
and invited the Indians to help them
selves. "All you want Is yours" I
said. Help yourselves" OF course
they would have taken IL anyway, but
they seemed to think it very generous
on my part.
After helping to doctor the wound
ed and bury the dead, I proceeded on
my journey, having recovered all my
mules, rubber and poems. But when
got to the next river, / found the
bridge over it had been burned. The
four soldiers who had been sent after
my mules the night before had not
returned to the village. Being tired
they had tethered the mules and slept
beside them. They had heard the
firing, fled to the nearest government
post, and set fire to the bridge after
they had crossed it.
This meant that we had to cut our
way for two days through the jungle
which grew along the river bank until
we found a place shallow enough to
ford. 1t rained in torrents all the
time, and there was hardly anything
for either the mules or the men to eat
This is one of the common delights
of travel in Colombia.
Then we had to cross the terrible
Parimo Pass. In good weather and
with the road in good condition, this
usually takes two hours. But the
weather was vile and the road quag-
mre, so 1t took us two days.
1t was an awful journey. The pass
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

If YOU want to find a short cut to
bankruptcy go down to Colombia and
try to do business there in revolution
time.
In July, 1900, I was living at Cali,
IN the department of the Cauca, Re
public of Colombia. Hearing that the
neople in the next department, To-
lima, were badly in need of cloth
goods and other merchandise, supplies
having become short owing to the rev.
oIution, 1 bought twelve mules, loaded
them with valuable cargoes, hired
poems, and prepared to set out on the
difficult and dangerous journey to To-
lima.
No sooner had 1 got ready than
the Governor of the department issued
a decree to the effect that no mules
were to be taken out of the Cauca
into another department unless $1,000
per mule was deposited with the gov
eminent as a guarantee that they
would be brought back. The depart
ment, it was contended, was running
short of mules, and every available
beast was needed for the prosecution
of the fight against the revolutionists
So ! had to put up a bond of $24,0
Colombian paper money, worth $500
gold, that would bring back nay own
mules. If 1 was considerate enough
to sell them, or allow them to die, or
let the government seize them, 1
would have to forfeit my money.
But this was only the beginning of
my troubles. / had to go before the
Governor and the Secretary of the
H. -.
and the registratio and half a dozen
other officials to swear that 1 was
good Catholic, an honest merchant and
well-wisher to the government; that
! had never had smallpox or been in
Jail, and that all my family and
friends were equally innocent and
harmless people.
This done, 1 was allowed to buy
sheets of official note paper, at 81 per
sheet, on which to write petitions for
the necessary passports and permits
for the journey. There was bound to
be some mistake in the wording of the
first six or seven petitions, and they
had to be written over again on other
81 sheets. This is one of the delight
full little ways adopted by the Colom-
bian government to raise the taxes
Nobody may correspond with the gov
eminent except on these sheets. Of
ed with numerous and expensive
stamps, and when, after weeks hus-
ting, the passports were obtained,
they had to be stamped also.
At length my strenuous encounters
with the officials were over, and the
little expedition was at liberty to de-
part, armed with many weighty docu-
ments giving it the right to live and
move. My men and 1 rode on for
f1Ve hours to a place called Jamondi
near which we pitched camp.
AS we were getting dinner ready
two Colombian soldiers rode up on
horseback and announced that they
had orders to arrest the "gringo'' and
take him to Jail. / protested, but they
held the trumps. They simply leveled
their rifles at my head and told me
that If I didn't come at once they
would shoot me-
They took me to Jamondi and flung
me on to the stone floor of a dirty
CELL which was bare of furniture, but
very much inhabited by cockroaches,
scorpions, ants and variety of other
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

is 1900 feet above sea level, and in
tensely cold. The road is strewn with
the corpses of mules and men. who
persisted there long ago. These
corpses do not purify in that cold
and rarefied atmosphere. They sim
ply swell up, and remain in that con-
dition for any number Of years,
suppose.
We lost one man and three mules
in crossing the pass. The mules fell
oevr the precipice, and were lost, with
their cargoes of rubber. had to pay
up my bond on those mules when
returned to Cali, as well as on horse
which some government soldiers stole
afterward. l took back several other
mules which l had bought in ToIima,
but the authorities would not accept
those as fair exchange.
The man died because he insisted
on drinking "aguadiente," the fiery ma
tive brandy. If you drink water and
eat pamela" coarse, brown sugar in
cakes), you are all right. This man
would not do so. Presently he stag
gered and sat down, and when / went
to him / found that he was dead.
AS we left the pass we met strong
force of government troops marching
towards Inza. They had come from
Silvia, the town to which the four es-
capped soldiers had fed and told their
story. Gen. Perez, the commandante
there, was hot to avenge the defeat;
but he became the victim Of an anus
ing little comedy of errors.
He marched on to INA, but the
victorious Indians had followed in one
wake, and they lodged him on the
way without letting him know they
were in the neighborhood. Then they
quietly descended on Silvia, annihilat-
ed the small force he had left there.
and captured the town. The unsus-
pecting Perez got to Inza, planned a
great surprise, and attacked the place
at night But the government SOL
diers who fed when the Indians cap
tured the village had reoccupied it
after they left, and the two govern
ment bands fought and killed one an
other in the darkness for half an hour
before they discovered their mistake.
We got safely back to Cali, after
nearly perishing in a bush fire. After
paying up my bond for the stolen
horse and the lost mules, found that
I had lost over $4,000 on the trip, be-
sides my living expenses and those Of
my men.
That was my reward for all those
months OF hardships and peril, and
when / think what might have hap
pened-what nearly did happen--I
comfort myself with the reflection
that came out OF the business pretty
well. But cannot advise anybody to
go down to Colombia and try to make
a living there as an itinerant mer-
chant.
Copyright, 1908, by Thomas 8. Alex
ander)
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

From Leslie's Monthly.
AS one result of the struggle between
Clark and Daily in Montana, there rests
to-day in the hands Of the Montana
Legislature the sum of $4,000. Nobody
knows, or rather nobody win tell. who
owns It. Eventually it will probably be
used for the school fund. While the
Legislature which ultimately sent SEN
ator Clark TO the Senate was In session,
a member walked up to the speakers
desk and handed him the sum OF &c.
600 In cash. This money. he declared.
he had reason to believe was offered to
him as a bride TO vote for Clark, but
from whom he had received Il he re-
fused 10 divulge. Opinion on this ex-
traordinary happening was divided.
Many thought the money came from
Clark, others that DAILY furnished Il.
hoping 20 cast the odium on HIS rival
outsiders win never know. but the in
cldent shows how they DO things IN
Montana
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

1t came.
There is something splendid in the
mere fact that America has taken ne
advantage of the inside track that
she has secured in Korea to gain po-
Htical power. Her refusal to take adj
vantage has given her almost the
power that others have desired; and 1t
would be a small surprise to the we'll
informed in Far Eastern politics IL
Americans should possess an infu-
ence in storm-tossed Korea which, ir-
respective of the outcome of any war
between Russia and Japan, should, for
one thing, put serious prohibition on
Russian advance in that direction. II
would be interesting If American in
fiuence in Korea should be the real
power that Russia should find in Ko-
rea when she raps at the door again.
Note.--Inded, there is a treaty, in
force since 1883. between Korea and the
United States, clause of which reads
as follows:
IF other Powers deal unjustly or
appressively with either government,
the other will exert it's good offices, on
being informed of the case, to bring
about an amicable arrangement, thus
showing their friendly feelings. Ed
itor.
Copyright, 1904. by Arthur B. Hull
bert)
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21
CURE GUARANTEED on MONEY REFUNDED.

Mr.. =. T. Sims. Brookiyn, N. T., writes:
use my name as twenty-ycar drunkard
restored 70 manhood and health by four
boxes of 'ORRINE.' II is a wonderful and
marvellous cure for the drink habit"
Mrs. n. Wyciif, New York City. writes:
"'ORRINE cured my husband, who was a
steady drunkard for many years. He now
good and he is fully restored 10 manhood.
He used only Eve boxes Of 'oRRINE.'"
Mrs. WI. D., Helena, Mont, writes: 81
have waited one year before writing you
Of the permanent cure Of my son. He took
sanitarium treatment az well as other adj
vertised CURES. but they All failed uutii we
gave him ORRINE.' He u now fully re-
stored % health and has 10 desire for drink
Mr@U 4. r., Kansas City, Mo-, writess
- am satisfied that druHkenness Il n dis.
ease and the worst IN the world. 'OhkfNE,'
10 my opinion, will cure ang case u taken az
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21
STRANGE STORY OF
AMERICAS LEAD IN KOREA

AMERICANS BECOME THE CONNER
HERMIT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DISTINGUISHED OF AMERICAN MISSION
KOREA CONCESSIONS TO THEIR COUN-
TRYMEN-IOW HAVE OPENED GOLD MINES
AND BUILT RAILWAY TROLLEY LINES IN KOREA
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

you direct. was a common druukard for
twenty years, but to-day / am free Of any
desire for liquor. You have found the spe-
cihc. God bless youw
Mr.. A. Z. L., Atlanta, Ca, writes; at was
born with love Of waisxey and drank IL
for thirty-two years. II finally brought me
70 the gutter. homeless and friendless. I
was poweriess TO resist the craving aud
would steal and lie 70 get whiskey. Four
boxes of 'ORkIkE' cured me OF all dAir
and now hate the smell Of liquor"
Price 81 per box, boxes for Is. Mailed In
plain, sealed wrapper BY Orrine Company,
BIZ 18th street, Washington, y. c. Interest
Ing booklet fseaied) free on request
Sold and recommended Nv
KNIGHTS PHARMACY CO.,
Cor. 0MIefhorpe Ave. A. DraytOn ~
LTPFMAN DRUG CO..
AipDman Block, Savannah, Ca.
The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21
Whiskey and Beer Habit

SAFE, SURE AND I5ARMLEss SPECIFIC.

of
vug
be
The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-17
EXCHANGE OLD SCHOOL BOOKS.

Everything is ready for the opening
of the new school year early next
month. Mr.. Otis Ashmore, supern-
tendent of public schools, has furnish
ed all book dealers with the lists of the
school books to be used in the differ
ent grades this year and the supply is
already on hand. 1t is hoped by Mr.
Ashmore that the parents will buy
their children's books early and avoid
the rush incident to the opening of the
new year.
Old books that were used in the
schools last year may now be ex-
changed at the Conner Book Store, No.
6 State street, east. This is the only
place where books are authorized to
be exchanged. Half-price will be al
lowed on books. though before the ex-
change can be made. the parents or
guardians of the children must sign
the exchange blanks which are to be
pasted in the books. These blanks
must be signed at the store and no
books will be exchanged until this rule
has been complied with. The blanks
are in the hands of the regular au-
thorized agents, the Conner Book
Store.
The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-17
POLITICS TOOK OFF
THIRTY ODD POUNDS.
Sheriff Sutherland, of COffee County.
Was in n Tight Place.

Sheriff Sutherland, of COffee County,
Was in Al Tight Place.
Because he was running for re-elec-
ton and feared to appoint a deputy
until after the primary, Sheriff w. w.
Sutherland of Coffee county, who was
in Savannah yesterday, lost about thir-
ty pounds, by reason of the extra work
that was thrown upon him.
He could well afford the loss, how
ever, and stills lacks a great deal of
reaching such a point as would excite
sympathy. His present weight is 2S5
pounds.
The primary in Coffee county has
just been held and Sheriff Sutherland
was reelected by the largest maj rity
he has ever received. In the midst of
the fight for his office, his deputy re-
signed to make the race for tax colec-
tor.
AS there were several applicants for
the place of deputy it would have been
poor politics to make a selection until
after the primary, as the unsuccessful
candidates would probably have be-
come offended.
So the sheriff determined to do all
the work himself. AS court is about
to convene and papers had to be served
all over the county, he has been kept
very busy. But he managed to do the
work and win his race also. His ma
jority over his opponent was over 300,
while two years ago his ma ority was
only 80 and four years ago, only AZ.