davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

told this: In lSG4 some one stole horse
blankets from the troops stationed nj
Fort Wadsworth and sold them to an
freshman who lived in the vicinity.
When they We're traced and he was ar
rested the judge said, why did you
steal these blunkets?' "Oi daidn't steal
'em. Yer honor: they belongs to me-
was the reply, But" continued the
judge. they are branded U S. which
means United States. " NO. sorr, yer
honor they be my name. because T.
stands for Michael an s. for McCar-
thy"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27
Bids for Cement Walks
Mineral Point, Wis, July II, 1906
Office of the City Clerk.

Sealed proposals will be received
at this Office until July q, 1905, at 4
p. M, for laying cement sidewalks
and furnishing material, labor, etc.
for 10000 feet, more or less, of cement
walk, to be laid in this city in such
places and locations as the Board of
Public Works in this city shall de-
eide. The work to be done in ac-
cordance with the plans and specifi-
cations adopted by the common
council of this city and on file at the
office the city clerk.
II, M. PRIESTLEY,
Deputy City Clerk.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

pulled over and struck her "A giunc-
ing blow on the bach. She was very
severely bruised. yet there is occa-
sion for thankfulness in that she was
literally but an inch from death, and
escaped.
Mr.. John Alton was Knocked down
by an electric current that issued
from the phone in the rear room OF
his meat market during the storm
last Tuesday evening. He came In
from attending to his horses and was
passing the phone when he received
the shock. He speedily recovered so
as TO move about, but even yet he
feels the effect Of the shock, and is
likely to for some days.
Mr.. John Richards had one Of his
legs broken just above the ankle
while working in the Mifflin-Linden
Co.'S mite today Thursday. He
operates one Of the air drills While
he was at work u car behind him up
set and the contents fell toward him
and struck his leg with such force as
to break it. 1t is bad break. He
was brought up from the shaft and
DR.. Blanchard OF Linden and Dir
Bailey of Mineral Point attended to
him.
Wednesday of this week did not
promise a fine day in the morning,
but Notwithstanding about 600 PEG
pie boarded the cars Of the NJ. y. &
the joint picnic Of the NJ. +. and P.
NJ. Sunday Schools of that city, 10 be
held in Smiths park, near the depot
in Linden. The seven carloads of
people arrived at Linden promptly
on schedule time, 900 n IN. Thence,
to program, after unload
ing five two-horse loads of eatables,
ing behind Messrs. Allen aud Hen
dra to get things ain Goose" for din
additions - there would have been
more had there been no misunder-
standing as to the time OF the trains
arrival - rolled away to Highland.
A fter an hour or such u matter spent
in looking over that village they
returned about noon with sharpened
appetites to such an extent as to
make dinner enjoyable. During the
afternoon half of the village went to
the grounds, and eventually helped
them mt supper = for the Mineral
Pointers were thoroughly hospitable
that they might not have too much
to carry back with them. To
make IA long story short, everybody
had joyous time. In Linden in the
evening they described it as san old
fashioned picnic.o And that is the
highest praise that Linden people
can bestow. 1t is meant to express
the idea of generous hospitality,
kindliness and good fellowship. AT
7 100 p. IN. the cars rolled away down
the hollow toward the Point. bearing
a crowd of happy children-and Il
lot of grown up children feeling
pretty well themselves. And Linden
has recorded this as one of the red
letter days Of 1905, the first year of
the railroad and the new era.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27
Dissolution Notice.

The partnership of Engels & Mar
mann has been dissolved by mutual
consent. All persons indebted to said
firm are requested to call at their
earliest convenience and settle. f.
at the old stand.
25 ENGELs & MARMANN.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

An lrishman on being made foreman
OF gang ot laborers wished to show
his authority to those under him on
the first morning of his promotion
Now. look here. boys" said he.
when say 'Commnce' You have all to
commincc. and them t&at don't com
mlnce when ! say commnce won't
commince. So commince" 49, London
Standard.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27
a Summer Bargain.

For 50 90 you can get the National
Daily Review, of Chicago, n clean
for one year, and the Mineral Point
Tribune. This offer is only for linn
tied time. Further particulars furn-
il he'd on request.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27
Mems NcrXcs.

Not 50 very long $50 a man who oh
mIttcd the possession of nerves would
have been regarded as an effeminate
milksop Nowadays. however. he Is
much more frequent sufferer from the
than is womankind Com
ing Modes
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

Did Jones make much money giving
memory lessons asked Mr. DobbS.
and his friend explained. says London
Modern Society. the reason why Jones'
business was not success.
NO" was the reply Most of his
students forgot to pay him"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

Bridget, l have TO 20 out this even
ing and | want YOU to see that your
mistress gets this note without fail as
soon - she comes in"
'Aiss, SCR, I'll just leave II in the
pocket of the trousers we've taken of
She he sure to 90 through them. -
London Taller.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

What is the difference between his
tory and tictiout"
We'll" answered the unbelieyiug
person, "oue great difference is that
fiction frankly owns UP TO being large,
IL untrue Washington Star.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

Where are you sick ? Headache.
foul tongue, no appetite, lack ener-
w, pain in your stomach, constipa-
tionr HOLSTERS Rocky Mountain
Tea will make you we'll and keep
you well. 80 cts. Meserole 4 Horn.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

Pearl All of their friends J.ised
them TO clopc instead of being mar
ricd IN the regular way. RUBY don't
SOC WHY their friends should care.
rearl-Oh ycS' EloperS never expect
wedding pre- cnts Chicago News.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

EluShyIt mus take remarkable
skill 10 raise check. Harlup-oh. |
don't know Its how to get hold OF il
in the first place ihat | can't see
through Detroit Free Press.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

You cannot dream Yourself into a
character You must hammer and
forge one for yourself -Froude.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27
'ALvERT sPENsLEY. G, W. Nc LION
SPEN SlEY d MCILHON.

Point, Wis. Office in First Nat. Bank building
Will practice in all State or U. S. Courts.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27

MRS. w. :. Ross. Pres.
Miss l.. STEPHENS. Sec.
MISS n. SPENsLEY. Treas.
The Washington times., 1905-08-13
Faced Sea of Trackless Sand.

Mile after mile they drove. The OBJ
tect Espulviada had described as
train had been swallowed up in the
night. He wondered why he did not
reach the rails. but only when the flush
of morning opened before him sea
of trackIess sand on all sides would
he admit that he had been deceived and
was in a worse plight than ever
He found himself and family far out
on scorchiug desert the sun already
above the eastern horizon and not 4
sign Of shelter in sight How they pull
ed through that day, which was blister
ing hot the man cannot explain. He and
his wife endured the pangs of hunger
and suffocation without muTmur, both
fearing to touch a drop of the precious
supply Of water for fear the children
might need 1t.
Late IN the afternoon their hopes
were again raised by the sight Of a
clump OF trees and lake They could
see the surface of the blue sheet Of
water ruff1ing beneath the breath OF
wind and it almost seemed that they
could feel the cool breezes.
Fer fear that they were deceived, he
held the four-year-old child in his arms
and pointing toward the picture, asked:
What IS over there" Water" was
the reply. But the peaceful lake was too
ethereal to last, and had soon faded
away in rolling billows Of heat. which
The Washington times., 1905-08-13

servations. He declares that a gentle
man now (ls261 in this city New York;.
who resided twelve years In Colombia,
and who has Travelled over every part
of tRe route from sea to sea" Is his
source OF Information. He furtheT
states:
'sThe utmost confidence may be re-
posed in his statements: he has. more
over, constructed a map in which tha
entire tract of the country is accurate
" laid down. IN 1921 this gentleman ap-
piled TO the government of Colombia
for permission 70 open this communities
ton at his own expense, with exclusive
privilege for 100 years. Congress- passed
a vote IN favor of the application, but
IL was objected TO by Bolivar on the
ground that It might afford facilities To
the enemy
THE applicant. however, was request
ed to renew his proposal for a term less
than 100 years, which he is now about
TO do, and nothing, we believe. VIII de-
feat his object but the fact Of the gov
ernment undertaking the business ITSELF
which is not probable
The naive historian who takes so
much pains to conceal everybody's ideB-
tity then tells Of the organization n
New York of a company OF merchants
who proposed to take up the matter IN
case the gentleman failed in his nego-
tfations with the Colombian government
a surveying party was sent out and re-
ported favorabIy on the proposed ronte.
The unidentified gentleman did not get
his franchise from the Colombian states;
the association of New York merchants
did not take up the canal; weeds of ne
glect covered the priest-buiIt ditch.
while forgetfulness cobwebbed the mem-
ories of those who knew.
That is about all the available infor-
nation concerning this lost canal Of
New Grenada When de Lesseps built
the Suez Canal out Of the savings of the
French working people. he realized a
vision long before seen by dreaners. He
| made a new geography in tiIe old dacoun-
try, and started to make one zfn-U6e new.
He called again upon the French peo-
/ pie and gain they responded -nagnifI-
Gently. But the result was a. stupen-
dous failure. Thousands Of lives were
snuffed out in the pestilentiaI swamps
of Panama. Millions Of dollars were
| dumped into the great ditch The canal
| became dirt heap and machinery cum
/ bered the ground and rested where il
| stood. A great nation Is now cleaning
up the wreckage of that stupendous
| biunder. It VIII cost more lives and
more millions to complete the enormous
task which de Lesseps left unfinished.
! And one wonder whether. when It is
/ done, there will ever come a time when
some other nation Will ind hidden in a
/ ravine III Colombia the remains o. the
| little channel cut by Indians, engineered
! by a priest, which once cut the CONT
nent in two and Joined the oceans7 VIII
! Panama ever be duplicated in Choco?
| VIII some other nation reopen what
| Spain closed up so jealousy nearly a
century ago? Probably not-for the test
| of any project nowadays is ..WIll It
| pay?" And what might hav paid royalty
| a hundred years ago with Panama. ur-
/ dreamed of, would not pay twenty
| years hence with Panama AZ accom-
| plished fact.
The Washington times., 1905-08-13

today was after when it tried TO get
permission TO improve this canal on the
understanding that it should be allowed
to lease it for Il hundred wears. That
project Is set forth in a queer little
volume published in 1926 entitled "A
View Of South America and Mexico -
by - Citizen of the United States" IN
ii one finds the following:
Nature seemed 70 have designed this
place for the passage referring to the
ravine De Ia Raspadura)- The Andes
are here for the moment lost and seem
10 have defled, that commerce may
march from The Old World TO the New.
1T is n fact no less curious than true
that a canal did formerly exist in this
SPOT About the year l745 priest of
Citira, with the assistance of the In
dams. opened this same communication
known as the Rasp9dura canal through
which loaded canoes passed
\ careful perusai of preceding pages
Of the volume discIoses much which
only added interest to interest.
The anonymous ehronicler is descrIb-
ing that portion of New Spain known as
New Grenada. HIS words are:
The next most considerable river to
the lett Is the Atrato, which falls into
the gulf of Darien. This stream. to-
gether with the San Juan, is said TO af-
ford the best route for a canal 10 unite
the two oceans. y communication can
The Washington times., 1905-08-13
The Long Lost Canal.

Which, u course, is final and com
piete as to the feasibility Of the route
Of the first inter-oceanic canal in this
day and generation. As already stated.
no less a person than Alexander de
Humboldt. the famous traveller and
geographer, is the primary source of
Information on this little old canal. In
his Political Essay on the Kingdom Of
New Spain" translated in 1914 there IS
this statement.
In the province OF Choco, the small
ravlne De Ia Raspadura united the
reighbOring sources of the Rio de
NOanama. called also the Rio San Juan.
and the small river Quito. The latter
is a tiny feeder to and one OF the
sources Of the Rio d'Atrato This river.
Quito, the Rio Audagda, and the Rio
Zitara form the Rio d'Atrato. which
discharges itself into the Atlantic ocean.
while the Rio San Juan flows into the
South sea. \ monk of great activity.
cure Of the village OF Navlta, EMPLOYED
his pariShioners to dig small canal in
the ravine De Ia Raspadura, by means
OF which, when the rains are abundant
canoes loaded with cacao. pass from
sea 10 sea. This communication has OK
listed since l7SS unknown 10 Europe The
small canal OF the Rapadura unites on
the coasts Of the two oceans two points.
seventy-dve leagues from one another. %
Humboldt then prints a quaint map of
the country and locates the lost canal
This old map is reproduced for the
benefit Of The Sunday Times readers,
and is a remarkable piece of map-nak-
ing. It Is remarkable in that il con-
taius So much that Is correct and at
the same time So much that cannot be
The Washington times., 1905-08-13

in obedience TO the law of gravitation
because of a little range Of hills, a dip
or two. and a few stones which separate
them. 1t was somewhere here in this
little ravine De IA Raspadura that the
Indians made their cut and were en-
abled $50 years ago u pass from the
Atlantic 70 the Pacific in heir dugouts-
a thing which the white man with all
his mighty ships only hopes to do ten
or fifteen years hence.
Humboldt recorded the existence of
canal connecting the Atrato and the San
Juan, at least century ago But at
the Offices Of the Panama Canal Com
mission no one could be found who hEd
ever heard Of IL Major 2. N. Harrod,
10 whom the reporter was referred in
the absence Of General Haines, said:
'I never heard OF q canal there. but II
Humboldt says there vas one, there
was. He's perfectly good authority
The so-called Atrato route, however,
was Very thoroughly surveyed and con-
sidered before the Panama route was
decided upon--and it's no good. It would
mean the joining Of a couple of little
bits Of rivers. entirely inadequate to
the demand of the worlds commerce
today. They and the ditch that ap-
Iarently at one period Joined them may
have answered very well for Indian dug
outs, but they wouldn't do for an iron
clad, nor yet for an ocean liner. and
they couldn't be mace to do. Then. of
course. they are pretty we'll down in
Colombia canal there would be
something in the nature Of a private
ditch and the route would be several
hundred miles long instead Of the short
fifty OF the route chosen"
The Washington times., 1905-08-13

found in modern maps. Compare the
curve Of the coast IiEc with that of the
map nf today. which is also shown on
this page. Eote the strange rivers
Cow.ng into the sea at points which
cannot be identified with present rive
mouths, and observe the caution with
which the Bay de Cupica is set down as
though, If It IS not exactly where indi-
Gated. It may be found nearabout some
Y here Yet the Bay de Cupica comes
in for some remarks at the hands OF
Alexander dc Humboldt. and he also
makes n prophecy.
To the southeast o Panama, fol
lowing the coast Of the Pacific ocean, "
he says from the Cape San Miguel 10
Cape Corrientes we find the small port
and bay Of Cupica. The name OF this
hay has acquired celebrity in the king
dom of New Grenada, on account of u
new plan of communication between the
two seas. From Cupica we cross. for
five or six marine leagues, a soil quite
level and proper for canal. which
would terminate at the embarcadero Of
the Rio Naipi The last river is nayi.-a-
BILE and flows below the village Zitara
into the great Rio Atrato. which Itself
enters the Atlantic sea. A very intel
hsent Biscayau pilot, NJ Goguencche
was the first who had the merit Of
turning the attention of the government
10 the bay of Cupica, which ought 10
be for the new continent what Suaz
WAS formerly to Asia ~
The Washington times., 1905-08-13
" "
Caught in the Storm.

That night they were again caught IN
a violent storm. which soaked them
through. but replenished their water
supply, and undoubtedly saved them
from perishing OF thirst. Next day they
kept the children wrapped in rain-soak-
ed blankets as "a protection from the
heat, and that afternoon another electric
storm arose, and when at its height the
horses became frenzied with fear, and,
running away. wrecked their wagon.
Only when the wagon was upset and
broken and one horse had been SO badly
injured that it was useless did the rrJn-
aways stop. and then 1t was found that
the smallest chifd was missing. Dis
tr&eted with grief the father set back
afoot to ind it, and after wandering
aimlessly, vas found by two miners.
They guided Espulviada back TO his
wrecked wagon. and assisted the family
TO camp. and were preparing to take up
the search for the missing child when
another Mexican arrived
He was worked 10 q high pitch of
excitement and told how he had been
chased by d Wild animal He ex-
planned that just at dusk some strange
and frightful looking object had sud-
denly sprang up from the sand, and,
rearing upon its hind feet, had started
toward him. uttering a wild cry,
while its forelegs were outstretched
in his direction He would have shot
the creature, bat was too scared.
EspuIviata grew excited when hs
heard the story. and hardly giving the
other two miners time to collect their
thoughts. he had grabbed the Mexican
by the arm and was dragging him to-
ward the desert, eXclaimipg. Tell me
xE-fa Won saw nv child. (yTicl< pI
me" It was a fact that the Mexican
had been startled by the child. who. see
ing the man, had rushed crying toward
him for succCr The Mexican was as
diligenr as The others IN the search when
he realized that out there on the desert
he had left a lost infant, ard his com
panons had 10 run % keep up with him
as he retraced his steps and soon had
The child tight in HIS arms ss=
The miners took tse family into IVAN
pah. where Hunter met them and gen
eTal division Of money and provisions
look place the iItt.e fantly leaving for
their destination well supplied for the
remainder Of the trip a7gd Withmen who
knew the read thoroughly 10 guide them.
The Washington times., 1905-08-13
Like the Fingers of a Hand.

The Atrato starts Ia what is called the
IsthTnus OF San Pablo, between the low
rounded sIIs of the CordiHera del Choco,
and the more important elevation of the
Cordiuera Occidental. II begins IS a
small stream. scarcely more than a
brook Fed by the everlasting rains Of
the region. il trickles over moss and
stone. and gathers volume until it
sweeps along and becomes ere IL emDties
into the Gulf OF Darien majestic
stream fit for the uavies Of the world TO
float on The Ric San Juan starts in
the same valley, but separated from the
Atrato by q little range Of hills which
runs ac5oss the ravtne De Ia Respa-
dura, and divides it in two. il reaches
the Pacihc-never a very big stream as
South American rivers go. But they arc
the mightiest IN the world. and COM
are odIous.
The sources Of these two streams in-
terlace ike the fingers Of clasped hands;
get the oae flows north, the other south.
The Washington times., 1905-08-13
Why Spain Closed the Canal.

one other historian is worth listening
10. a captain Of the royal engineers,
r. II. BOnnycastc. wrote book on
Spanish-AmerIca, which came from th"
London press in 1878. in it he tells Of
the Raspadura canal, and states that il
was made under The direction Of the
Cftira priest by the Indians. He sug-
lests the reason why Spain caused 1t
to be closed and why she guarded the
secret of its location so carcfulIy-gold.
IN Choco." he declares. the country
Yields the greatest quantity Of gold, In
a country famous for the wealth Of its
gold mines, stiH uudeveloped. this Choco
province is the richest. Choco is stiu
wide. continuous forest without trace
Of cultivation road or pasture. 1t -
Inhabited chiefly by negro natives AMI
some few miners. tempted thither by The
gold which is TO be found The largest
niece 3 gold found there weighed TWEEN
tv-fve pounds, but the negro slave who
found 1t did not even obtain his liberty,
and the master who presented II to the
Kings cabinet IL hopes Of obtaining q
ritle had difficulty il getting even the
value Of ITS weight; 10,SOo marks is the
present annual output OF gold from
Ch0co, and the metal is generally about
tyventy-one carats fine
ono wonders whether Spain did not
covet this gold herself and preferred 10
let commerce go by, One wonders, too,
whether il was commerce or gold a
number OF American merchants -
syndicate We would probably call them
The Washington times., 1905-08-13
Here's Proof That in Colombia, a Hundred
Miles South Of The Panama Project, 4 Canal
Connecting Two Rvers---Knowedge Of
Which Was Concealed by Spain---Let
Loaded Canoes Pass From Ocean to Ocean
Over 4 Century Ago :. :. :, :. ::

Esv=sssz dERICANs given to re-
Szsss. va gardirg the establish
s 81 ment Of inter-oceanic
81 communication by way
ESISES4SSI OF the Panama Canal a.
ssysSssSSssS:sssss enc Of the great prospec-
tive achievements of the
twentieth century viii
be pained and surprised to learn that
such communication was established in
the eighteenth century, and that 100
years ago at least. when these United
States were still in thelr colonial swad-
ding ceothes, a canal was opened which
completed waterway between the At
ianuc and Pacific oceans.
What France spent twenty years and
&53.oo0.Cen trying 10 accomplish; what
oEe Of the greatest engineers OF his
day, Ferdinand de Lesseps. broke his
heart over; what thousands upon thous-
2Eds have laid down their lives for;
and what Uncle Sam is now prepared
y spend ten years and $I20, 0JJ.C1 more
On was done IN the middle Of the eight
eenth century by some primitive simple
minded South American Indians work
ing under the direction OF a Roman
Catholic missionary priest.
. The Panama route is 49. 3 miles long,
about third of that distance This
third Is admittedly the one which IS
likely ultimately TO give the most trou-
bic, bec9use during the rainy season
the Rio Chagres and the big marshy
lake from which it flows become so
terribly swollen that they rise to thirty
five or forty feet beyond their normal
depth. and spread over much of the
surrounding country. So that the prob
lem OF keeping it within bounds IS as
important as almost any other of the
canal problems.
But there Is spot in the United States
OF Colombia where a fiyc-miIe ditch
would connect the waters of the Atlantic
with those Of the Pacific. In fact, there
is q spot In the province OF Choco, where
Il primitive home made canal existed
over a century and q half ago II con
nected the RIO d'Atrato. and the RID
San Juan, and it IS written that by II
Indians passed in their canoes from the
one river which cmpties into the Pa
eidc 10 The southwest. 10 the other
which makes its way northeastward into
the Gulf Of DarIen and the Caribbean