davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
Is 1t Aztec Gold

IT IS the second gold mine that has
ever been discovered in this neighbor-
hood; perhaps the first discovered for a
second time For the Breyfogle mine
which was discovered there years ago
was SO ricn that it crazed the man vino
had discovered it, and he never reaped
the benefit of II, nor could he tell anyone
else where to find the mine. Therefore,
il has been sometimes asserted that
Scotty's is the lost Breyfogle mine
Others who know something of the
country declare that there are no gold
veins TO be found in Death Valley or
even in the mountains which surround
II. but that hundreds of years ago the
Aztecs buried vast treasure in that
neignborhood. and il is Scott who is
reaping the benefit of their labors. If
this be true the Indians must have car
Tied the gold there in the rough for It
is said that all the gold Scott brings
cut of the valley is indisputably taken
from gold quartz. 1t is possible that the
miner has really discovered an isolated
vein of gold bearing quartz Of great
value However that may be, the gold
must be easily extracted or one man
could not bring such quantities from
the mine single-handed as does Scott.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
With Buffalo Bill.

II his thirty-two years OF life this
~rotsus ~ the West has had about as
many experiences as are crowded into
The lives of score of other men. His
one thought today Is to discover a new
sensation, and his endeavors along this
Hne may Trove an epic of a new va
Tlefy that will make the troubles OF
-aneas and Achilles look like the PROV
erhial 30 cents
scott was born in Nevada and saws it
Is good place to come from At any
rate, ne has not passed much time there
recently. He early earned a reputation
Tor daring and ability in the saddle. He
travelled with Buffalo Bill and his Wild
West show when he was little more than
a boy.
About eight years ago Scotty met his
late in BROOKLYN and was shortly after
ward married He gave UP his work
with the snow and returned West TO
raise cattle. 1t was while he was
sEirting the edges of Death Valley with
q herd that he did a little prospecting.
and discovered the immensely rich gold
mine of which he alone knows the Sc
eret.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
LochinDar of Death Valley

Oh, a new Lochinvar has come out
Of the West,
With wads in his trousers and more
| in his vest;
From the Coast to Chicago his dol
lars are strewp;
His manner is free ard lis move
/ ments are soon,
He came with a whoop that went
/ echoing far
Stand back and make room for the
new Lochinvar
He stayed not for freight train, he
stopped not for grade;
He asked what the price was and
careIessly paid;
He flashed through the desert, he
few Ger the plain
AS if from cannon they'd fred his
train;
He has money to melt, he has gold
by the bar;
There is nothing too rich for the
new Lochinvar.
His whoop is so loud aud his trail is
so broad
That the modest fall back and the
tinid are awed;
Through the windows he tosses his
coins for the sake
OF the joy that is his when he hears
the glass break
Oh, youH have to look well and
you'll have to hunt far
To discover a more highly geared
Lochinvar
With a critical eye he looked over
the town
And inquired the price, but, at last,
turned il down,
Not because that he hadn't the
money to spare
He has money to throw at the birds
in the air
And he takes only bank notes to
light his CIGARS
On, he is the boss Of all bold Lochin-
vars
There was fighting for tips by
the cab-driving clan.
The cops heard the toot Of his
whistle and ran;
The newsboys rushed in TO be first at
the gate,
The gamblers were waiting-his well
come was great
AS he hustled away to the handiest
bar
The air rang with cheers for the
great Lochinvar.
He has come from Death Valley on
purpose TO show
That he IS "a live one"-to let the
world know
That he cannot be equaled for speed
or for style
The world is his plaything, at least
f. while.
Sur a heart-breakng bump and an
e.Fe-closing jar
Are whiting somev here for the bold
Aochinvar.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
A Unique Cleft in the Earth

The valley proper is about seventy
I'VE miles long by ten to fifteen miles
wide On the east side stand the
uneral mountains, rearing their heads
d mile INTO the air. and falling off so
abruptly that that side of the valley is
almost sheer precipice. On the west
ere sun higher mountains, the Pana
mints- These two ranges, comparative
ly close together. with the valley of
oeath between, form a unique cleft in
the lace OF the earth. For the floor OF
th1s valley lies $50 feet below sea level
undoubtedly it was at one time :,
great inland lake, but some volcanic
eruption in prehistoric days drained the
wafer and left the veritabIe hell hole
which lies there now.
Death Valley lies directly In the patb
winch the immigrants took when they
ieft Salt Lake City and pushed on to
southern California In 1S49, when the
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
Death Valley Gets Its Name.

1t was impossible for them to retrace
their steps. however, and the next
morning, with great difficulty because
or their weakened state. they descended
into the valley All day they struggled
in the intense heat to reach the noun
tains which seemed so near, but were
rot That night they pitched camp as
usual 1t was the last camp that they
were to know, with the exception of
few more LUCKY or stronger thar the
rest That camp was found just as 1t
was made nearly ten years later, with
the bones of the men and women it had
one time sheltered strewn near Sy or
covered with sand.
a few of the immigrants. however.
did make their escape and told a tale
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
A Place of Many Contrasts.

Death Valley abounds in contrasts,
At one time II is the hottest place on
earth, at another the cold there is
sufficient to freeze water; when the
traveller looks doEn upon the valley
from the summit Of Funeral mountain
the sun glistening upon the rocks and
sands makes a picture so brilliant as
to dazzle the eye; when he stands on a
level with the valley there is something
somber and sinister IN the white of the
alkali desert; on the mountains which
edge the valley are many colors, bril-
liant reds and ye1lows and green's, due
to the vegetation and the rocks; in the
valley itself there is no color, though
the thorny mesquite trees, the grease
bushes, and the sage wear a tinge of
green; at one season OF the year rabbits
and birds and other small animals ven
ture into parts of the valley, while at
another there Is no sign Of life to be
found there, not even a lizard
There are two reasons why the narrow
valley may rightfully claim its sinis-
ter name. The first is danger during
the great heat and lack of water which
the traveller must experience should he
attempt to cross II, ana the second hes
In the carbon monoxide gases, which
are found in some Of the lower parts
of the valley. These heavy gases,
which prove fatal instantly to the man
or animal breathing them, have probab-
ly lain in the valley since the volcanic
eruption which caused them They
are much heavier than air and can be
scooped out OF a hollow much the same
hn u xppJ
A man may walk through one of these
fatal pools with the gas up to his knees
and never be affected. out should he
stoop down to pick UP stone he would
stand a good chance of a speedy death.
1t is a rash man, therefore, who goes
even a little way into certain parts of
this valley.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
" Harvest Hands Scarce *

TOPEKA, Kan, July S.-AI Kansas is
struggling with its wheat crop, and har-
vest hands are at premium.
From all sections OF the State hurry
up calls are sent in to the State employ
ment bureaus at Topeka and Kansas
City, Kan. Pratt wanted 100 men, Great
Bend wanted 1000 men, St. Johns want
ed 500 and so on Carloads of men are
started TO points where the demands are
most urgent. but most often few get to
their destination. they being coaxed
away by eager farmers along the line.
These laborers come from all sections
of the East and South Many are trans
lent laborers, who spend each summer
IN the harvest fields, going from Kansas
up through Nebraska the Dakotas
Minnesota, and even into Canada Some
are college students, dubbed Here
lords because of their white faces.
These will spend the season in the har-
vest fields and go back in the fall with
a pocketful of money bronzed faces. ant
muscles hard as nails.
The harvest hand has a strenuous life
He usually puts in fourteen hours in the
field. eating breakfast at 4:30 a. m. din
ner at noon. and supper at s p. m Some
farmers also serve lunches at a m.
Out Of 100 harvest fields, the writer
found only eight who complained Of
either food or treatment.
In the wheat belt one hears nothing
but wheat at tffis season of the year.
SpecUlations on the effects of weather
on the ripe grain, the progress of the
harvest, the probable yield per acre. and
future of prices are the topics eXclu-
sFely. In this section every mans liv-
ing depends on the wheat crop
For the last four years the wheat
farmer has been prosperous Mortga-
ges are almost unknown. Where they
do exist it is where some farmer has
mortgaged his land to buy the adioin-
ing farm
Barton is one of the two largest pro-
ducing counties in the State. 1t is good
for nearly 100000 bushels annually
On January l, 1901. the banks of this
county had less than $l,000,010 of de-
pOsits. On January ]. 1905. the deposits
were over $2-250 CG0-ail farmers money,
or money from the sale OF wheat-an
average Of SIS for every man. woman.
and child in the county.
In 1908 this county had 130 pianos In
1905 there were 19l pianos listed. Since
1901 the number cf carriages owned has
almost doubled, being now over LOO
Nearly dozen automobiles have been
The Washington times., 1905-07-16

sold to farmers this season. The Bar
ton county farmer Is even paying his
taxes before they ar due.
Land in the wheat belt has advanced
30 per cent in value in the last four
years. 1t is now worth from $50 to s75
per acre. The little two-room cottages
are being replaced by modern homes
and new red barns are seen everywhere.
The farmer is educating his children He
gets at least one daily paper Almost
every home has & telephone and is
reached by a rural mail route
1t costs S6 per acre on an average to
/ produce Kansas wheat. The avera ge
yield is about fifteen bushels per acre.
| At so cents per bushel this leaves a net
| profit of So per acre.
| The small farmer who only grows
Va hundred or so acres does nearly all the
work himself and produces enough other
| farm products to keep himself and fami-
| ly. Hence all his wheat money can be
| saved for investment. The capitalist
who owns a section and rents it out
usually gets $3.50 to $1,000 net income
from It
Harvesting is done with either bind
ers or headers. The header is quicker
| but requires more labor TO operate and
, does not make So clean job of it, the
! farmers say. Two men and four horses
can operate binder and cut twelve to
fifteen acres daily. 1t requires six men
and ten horses to operate a header, cut
ting twenty to twenty-five acres a day
and putting it in stack
The writer was talking to a banker
about financial conditions when the tele-
phone bell rang.
Hello
Yes"
Range 3, township 7. section IA, six
teen stacks. You want SO, 900 insurance?
All right. l will mail your policy
Explaining it. he said he was writing
fire insurance on harvested wheat and
that he ofter did over $4,000 worth of
business in one day over the telephone
The rate on this kind of insurance is
very high, being So per 81 900 for three
month term. One fire, however, is dis
astrous enough to justify insurance at
this rate
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
Kissing the Stone.

At the top Of the castle we found a
party of people, or several parties, hest
tating about kissing the Blarney stone.
The stone is maintained in its place by
iron bands since one of Cromwells can
non balls disiodged 1t from it's place 251
years ago. and It's position Is strangely
inaccessible. Ono has to let ones self
down or be let down over one of the
square top openings of the battlements
and thus kiss the stone from the under
side. The stone formerly bore the title
In Latin, "Cormac MacCarthy. Forts
Mi Ffer Fecft. 1916" and for many
years tradition has endowed it with the
power of comforting on all those who
kiss It a sweet. persuasive eloquence
which none can resist
a young Philadelphia man. whom we
called Tom" on the voyage over was
the first to kiss the stone, we holding his
legs during the operation. I was the
next to osculate the ancient relic. Other
less adventurous travellers from several
continents stood and looked on, shaking
their heads A New York dandy. with a
v
1900 miles for the purpose, TO kiss the
stone. After mos: Of the visitors had
gone down two young ladies with their
escort, Il brother. | presumed, seemed
exceeding anxious to do something that
we could not understand. Finally, one
of them. to my astonishment, said I'm
kiss it If I die for it," and with consum-
mate grace and modesty. she actually
went through the operation of kissing
the stone. her fair companion blushing.
following her. We helped hold them in
place as they kissed the stone. ] said,
Il know you are Yankee girls; nobody
else but an American girl would have
such consummate pIuck!' That's where
you're wrong" they said; I'VE are both
natives Of County Cork Afterward /
was introduced to them. and found them
to be quite cultured people.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16

him the tests which were made for
borax Winters asked a few questions.
but kept his own council. Later he
bought the necessary acids for the tests
and taking his wife with him ventured
into the valley. He made many tests
and at last his exultant cry: ''She burns
green, Rosie. We're rich, by -
told the story of success.
1t is froru such a spot as this that the
new Monte Cristo has wrung his wealth.
There is small wonder that he takes
pleasure in spending it.
Scott is at heart largely a boy still.
He delights in playing pranks with his
money, in astonishing the pablic, In
lavishing gold upon the urchin who
has never before seen the yellow metal.
When he picked up yellow dog in Jos
Angeles and bought a collar for him
which costs hundreds OF dollars, he was
in his element-folly. He tipped rile por-
ters who opened champagne for him on
his trip East a hundred dollars each
But aside from this folly of the spend-
thrift, Scott is a shrewd. hard man. He
has never been known to give even
hint as to where his mine is located no
matter how much whisky or wine he
may have imbibed He can guard
secret. Tai, broad-shouldered and of
great strength Scott would prove Tor
rnidabIe enemy-a man TO be at peace
with rather than at war One of his
idiosyucr;2sies IS dress or rather dis
taste for dress If he did not spend any
more money on other things than he
does on his clothes he would be as
noted for miserliness as he is now for
the opposite thing. He appears at all
times in a rough blue outing shirt and
boots OF the variety frontfersmen wear
He does not care a twopenny bit for his
personal appearance. 1t remains to be
seen what the Eastern talors viii do
for him.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
A Virginian's Visit to Blarney Castle

~ NE of the first things that an
american does when he reaches
Ireland is to get lonesome.
writes Plummer f. Jones from
h1ilarney. to the Richmond Times-Dis-
patch Everything in and about the
country-from the climate down to the
hotel service-is so strange that a feel
ing Of isolation instantly takes posses
sion of one and makes him sigh. as did
Leon IN the comic supplement when he
was wont to say Ito be back in that
dear old United States once more,''
Inc only let-up at all in this feeling
or unutterableness comes to the Ameri-
can traveller in Ireland when he gives
himself up thoroughly to the enjoyment
or the amazing sights to be seen at
every turn If there is a greater show
upon earth than the city of Cork and
It's surroundings / do not know where
lt may be found. When the FIVE or six
members OF the party of our trans-At-
iantic friends, just before bidding each
other long farewell arrived at Cork
from Queenstown. we determined to
take a parting jaurting-car ride and go
out and kiss the famous BIarney-stone
Two Jauntfng cars were chartered al
our MOTEL door, and the one which I was
fortunate enough to occupy had as a
driver one of the wittiest and best in
FORMED drivers in the city [ posted
MN beforehand with the show of a six
pence and told him we wanted TO be
taken 10 places of interest. and TO he
told what We ought to hear In this I
was not disappointed
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
Sootty the Miner" Whose Mysterious Gold
Supply Enables Him to Break Railroad
Records and Perform Other
Spectacular Feats
Spectacular Feats

Two freaks of nature-,avish
''Scotty,' the miner. and the
mysterious Death Valley of Cal
ifornia. where the eccentric
Monte Cristo of modern times has an
unlimited supply of gold whose hiding
place is known only to himself
Scotty's" legitimate claim to freak
dom lies in his ability to spend money
more recklessly than did even his pro
totype in Dumas famous novel, to drink
more whisky and champagne and still
ike than any other artist OF straw and
glass IN thirsty country and to live
Tor months the life OF a hermit while
gathering the mass or gold which he
spends in weeks
That Death Valley is q freak of nature
those who have passed along it's edge or
Fentured within its burning trails can
voueh and thank heaven that it be so.
Waiter Scott, the miner, more famil-
larly known as Scotty the Miner, has
seen a picturesque figure in and about
os Angeles for a half dozen years, but
his fame had rarely penetrated to the
Atlantic coast until he started on his
record run from the California city to
Shieago just week ago In his special
train for which he paid TIE fabulous
price of $500, Scott made the trip. a
distance of 2.2H miles in fortv-four
hours and ffty-four minutes. causing a
new record in long distance railroad
runs. Since he has been in the East he
has warmed the heart of every pettv
srafter OF modern life from the news
hoy up. ard the misers Of the country
are holding up their hands il. horror.
W ilere his extravaganza will lead him if
ia impossible to conjecture. Probably
hack TO his wonderful mine for more
sod TO continue his race with folly.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16

gold fever was at its height. Because
of the tales the Indians told. most Of
the immigrants avoided the easy-look-
ing bat treacherous trails which lead
into the valley. But one party of thirty
Including men. women. and children
determined to beat their competitors in
the race to the field of gold
Across the allIali desert the train of
white covered wagons wound its way
Even when they Were sdll to the west
of the Funeral mountains the men and
The Washington times., 1905-07-16

the draft animals were weak and worn
because of the lack OF water. They
managed, however, by filing casks at
every spring and stream TO which they
came to reach the lofty edge of Death
Valley 1t was sunset when they stood
and looked down upon the strangely
colored rocks and sands beneath them
The light Of the sinking sun painted
strange pictures. a lake appeared in
the distance, and the valley seemed to
promise the relief so lonGed for. But
The Washington times., 1905-07-16

the Blarney stone known to all t
world.
The groves Of Blarney,
They look so charming,
Down by the purling
OF sweet silent streams,
Being banked with pUsieS
That spontaneous EroW there,
Planted in ordeI.
BY the sweet rock close.
'Tis there's the daisy
And the sweet carnation,
The blooming pink,
And the rose so fair,
The daffadowndilly,
Likewise the lily.
AL flowers that scent
The sweet fragrant air.
There is "A stone there,
That whoever kisses,
OH he never misses
To grow eloquent
'Tis he may Chamber
To Il ladys chamber
Or become A member
OF parliament.
A clever spouter
He'll sure turn out, or
An out and outer
TO be let alone.
Don't hope to hinder him,
Or bewilder him.
Sure he's q pilgrim
From the Blarney Stone
We groped our way down through II
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
Keeping ii Secret.

The question is sometimes asked, how
has Scott found IL possible to conceal
his coulings and goings for the better
part OF half dozen years. 1t would
seem a simple thing to the initiated to
follow the miner through the valley to
the seat of his operations. There are,
however. several circumstances which
aid in the conceaIment of his move
ments. The first is The free and easy
temperament Of the West. The West
erner is not prone TO search too carefully
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
The Drive to Rlarney.

The glorious drive from Cork, six
miles north TO Blarney is one Of the
real wonders Of the world. On every side
are evidences of the greatest prosperity.
for somebody Magnificent roads, beau
tiful fields. ali divided by stone wsIls and
hawthorn hedges. the finest and fattest
cattle and sheep: old, old stone arch
ways and bridges. and now and then
an ivy-clad castle or tower. . thousand
years old. looming up to view.
Ii seemed but an instant before our
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
SHOCKING.

Mrs. Gramercy-You ou look aWfUlly Wor-
RED. my dear girl
Mrs. Park-it all ON account of my
stupid maid. She let me go out with
F'ido when | was wearing the gown that
harmonizes with BabeIte.-Puck.
The Washington times., 1905-07-16
"GIoves of BIarrey. :

one Of She sweetest poems of the last
two centuries was wrItten By Hsiiilin,
the Irish poet on the Groves OF Blar
hey" This poem has helped to make
The Washington times., 1905-07-16

the immigrants had had experience witt
mirage before, and were not deceived
The Washington times., 1905-07-16

NE of the first things that an
American does when he reaches
Ireland is to get lonesome.
writes Plum NOR I, I..a.. e..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-05
TO RELIEVE THE NEWARK.
Withdrawal of the Brooklyn From the
Haitian Capital

Orders have been issued by the Navy
Department for the L. S. S. Brooklyn,
which arrived at Port au Prince a few
days ago, to proceed at once to Monti
Christi, Santo Domingo, with a view of re-
lieving the L. S. S. Newark as flagship of
the Caribbean squadron, commanded by
Rear Admiral Sigsbee, the vessels of which
squadron are specially engaged in patrol
ing the waters of Santo Domingo.
The withdrawal of the Brooklyn from the
Haitian capital was due to- reports re-
ceived at the State Department from
United States Minister Powell yestes-
terday and today saying that every
thing was quiet in Haiti with no
prospects of trouble and that there is no
need for the presence of an American war
ship The outbreaks which We're appre-
hended by some people at Port au Prince
on the first of the month on account of
the local feeling against Syrian mer-
chants did not occur.
When relieved by the Brooklyn, the
cruiser Newark will proceed to Norfolk
and be fitted out for special service at
Annapolis for the benefit of the midship-