davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21
N7IsT 4ND soE PICTURES SHOWING THE

foot. 1t exploded. killing him in
stantfy His comrade was thrown
down, but was not hurt
DETERMINED BY CAUSES
This goes TO prove that people
should not play with lightning 1t does
not like to be interfered with and the
lessons it reserves for the imprudent
are cruel.
Sometimes it splits man neatly
m two as with an ak. This happened
to a miTler,s boy at Croix, January 20,
1858 He was cut straight up from
the legs TO the top of the head In
1889 lightning struck a mirror, making
ten holes in the gilt frame, vo1atizing
the gliding and transporting it to the
face of the mirror. while the quick
silver on the back was traced in the
most beautiful designs
I'VE call such things freaks but they
are rather apparent than real. for they
are determin ed by causes So it is with
the prettiest woman; without knowing
it. obeying internal or external causes.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

the room He remained unconscious
for time and blind for ten hours
Having had rheumatism for some
years, he could not take step without
the aid of a stick Since then he no
longer requires stick, but can do
what he likes.
Politics also appear to have their
power of attraction. When Mckinley
ran for the Presidency with Hobart a
large barn had been built by an ardent
Republican named Abner Milikan and
decorated with litnograph pictures of
the two During a storm the building
was several times struck by lightning e
and seemed wrapped in flames No
harm was done. but it was found that
the pictures had disappeared and
silhouettes of them were traced on the
wall.
Ball lightning is the most mysteri-
Gus form of lightning. 1t sometimes
behaves like a small animal with the
most evil nature And yet its cruelty
is not necessarily pushed 10 the extent
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21
New Theory Of It's Franks Put.
Forward by Flammarion.
ITS SECRET IS STILL UNKNOWN
Queer Freaks of Fire Flashes
and Flaming Globes.
KILLS OR NOT AS IT LISTS
Special Gable to The Call.

PARIS, May 2O-"It would seem that
lightning is a subtle being, whose nature
comes between the unconscious force of
plants and the conscious force of animals
1t is like an elementary spirit, eccentric
or rational. clever or silly, farseeing or
blind headstrong OF Indifferent, passing
from one extreme to the other 1t wrig-
giles through space, it moves among men
with surprising agility, appearing and
disappearing like-lightning.
The speaker was Camille Flammarion,
the world famous astronomer and scien-
tist, who has devoted much of his recent
time and study to exploring the mystic
ries of lightning which have baffied the
ages.
Then even the freaks of lightning fol-
low determined laws?" was asked.
In answer to the question he pointed to
a pile of papers on his desk
Each year l receive from. the Ministry
of Justice official accounts Aof all acci-
dents from lightning, as described in po-
lice reports. Here ightnipg kills, there
it passes without injuring. Farther on it
seems absolutely froicking. ! have under
my eyes hundreds of examples. And yet
it is not possible to draw from them any
conclusion to law. Sometimes 1t
gives rise to the hypothesis that ii is
IQOuS0I WHICH, lnSl6du Ol Dt1uS dtldCACO
to a brain, is attached to an electric cur
rent.
''All that can be affirmed for the pres
ent is that in spite of it's apparent inde-
pendence lightning does not act as freely
as we might be inclined to believe. 1t
obeys certain laws still undetermined,
and its actions, seemingly so unregulated
and so capricious, are not the result OF
sheer accident. The plea of chance is
sought as a refuge for our ignorance, but
nomena.
The only sure way to reach general
facts is by consulting particulars. This is
the method 1 invariably adopt in inves-
tigating any scientific subject. Now here
ming which have succeeded in bringing
together.
FIRE GLOBE ATTACKS GIRL.
"Abbe Spallanzini relates that on
August %, 1871, a peasant girl was in
a field during a storm. when suddenly
a globe of fire, the size of a billiard
ball. appeared at her feet. Gliding
along the earth this little ball reached
her bare toes, which it appeared to ca
ress, then rose under her clothes. open
ing out her skirts like an umbrella and
came out by the middle of her bodice,
leaping into the air with a great noise,
having retained its globular form. The
girl fell backward. Two witnesses ran
to her assistance She was uninjured.
Medical examination proved that there
was only superficial erosion stretch
ing from the knee to the middle of the
chest, and that her clothes were cut
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

pranks as these. But it must not be
forgotten that some strokes of light
ming are veritable catastrophes. One
day during religious ceremony at
Carpentras fifty persons were killed
or injured by lightning. On the sloop
Sappho, in February, 1890. six men
were killed and fourteen seriously in
jured AT Grosshad. near Duren Ger
many, July II, 1857, 100 persons were
injured in a church and six killed At
Mount Pleasant, Tenn, July II, 1887,
nine persons were killed under an oak
during storm.
"As rule those killed by lightning
maintain an appearance of life, stay
ing in the attitude which they had
when struck. but if touched they crum-
BILE TO ashes Many mysterious his
torical disappearances may be attrib-
uted TO this phenomenon, notably that
of Romulus. while reviewing the troops
in the Caprian Marsh.
TN the town of Everdon ten har-
vesters had sought refuge under a
hedge during storm. Lightning
struck and killed four. who were left
as if petrified. One was found holding
in his fingers the snuff which he was
about to take. Another had a little
dead dog on his knees and had one
hand on the animals head while hold
ing in the other some bread with which
ne had been feeding it.. A third was
sitting with his eyes wide open and
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

his head turned toward the storm.
May "a 1904. at Charolles, France,
MademoiseIle Moreau was stricken
while sitting at the ffreside with some
friends They were unhurt. but she
was killed outright, the lightning bur-
rowing under the right ear and pass
ing out by the left
ANTICIPATES THE MOOSE.
1--WE sometimes find lightning TAX
ing a part in Judicial matters. July
20, 1872, negro named Norris was to
be hanged for murder in Kentucky.
lust as he was stepping on the plat
form formidable stroke of lightning
killed him. The Sheriff was so inn
pressed by this occurrence that he re-
signed.
"Or again. it may play the physician.
In September, 1898, at Romaines,
France, a tavern keeper named Finot
was standing on his doorstep watching
the storm when a stroke of lightning
upset him and threw him to the end of
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

she is less capricious than we believe.
These curious facts show US once again
that our knowledge OF the universe IS
incomplete and that it's stDdy is inter-
esting in all it's phases 1t is certain
that electricity has In nature a part
more important than we generally
think and that in human life IL has an
almost perpetual part which Is nearly
unknown. Sensitive beings notice tnis
at the approach of storms and feel the
most extraordinary relief when the
storm has passed. We have mere
physical influence followed by moral
influence, the two coming very near
together with the residents of our
planet
in the wild state, coming directly
from the atmospheric regions. the cleo
trio fluid is the most dreadful mes
senger of the air. Conquered by the
genius of man. it has aided powerfully
in the progress of modern civilization
If lightning should be tanned and It's
sparks directed. it's services would be
innumerable. And this Is poss1bihty
within the limit OF science.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21
WnIfam TeII I'm Japapexe.

TOXIC. May zO.-Schiller's famous
drama. William Tell" has been per-
formed in japanese at the Imperial
Theater at Toxic. Tell was represented
in the character of a japanese hunter.
who fights a tyrannical Chinese man
DARN named Gessler.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

of death; fainting. fright. 1ooting
house or destroying a building some
times suffice to quiet it. Its shape is
not always spherical. though generally
So Sometimes oval. sometimes it has
a flame like a shell, or else is quiet as
a shooting star. 1t is often like an
orange and moves so slowly that one
can follow it for. several minutes
zone day at Secondigny two boys,
one aged twelve and the other fifteen,
were playing in the street when they
saw a ball like an orange rolling
toward them. One touched it with his
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
80 Says attorney Hamilton, Great Legis=
lation Prevention of the Life Insurance
Con1pdnies===He States He Has Had
Experience Uith Every Legislative
Body in the United States and Should
Kn0W I'LL .Ab0ut IT.

reau of taxation and legislation for
the New York Life, it became ap-
parent to the officers of the com.
pany as well as to officers of other
companies that ii the mass of pro-
posed legislation was passed the
companies would be legislated and
taxed out Of existence. They decid-
ed if secret service was permissible
as governmental agency, conf
Dental service would be the only
effective and at the same time prop
er plan to guard the most extensive
commercial interest in the world,
the life insurance business of New
York state. By this plan | was
able to have as my representatives,
frequently, men who would not
have accepted a retainer were it
known that they were interested in
insurance legislation. Their en-
ployment was known only to me.
| always kept my word with them
and the companies did not even
know who they were. The protec-
ton to the companies became am
pie. Each company was supplied
daily with a list of legislative pro-
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
LIVED TWENTY YEARS
IN COUNTRY AND DON'T
KNOW IT'S A REPUBLIC

applicants for final citizenship
papers should learn to answer ques-
tions which almost any grade
school child is capable of answer
ing, or not present themselves be-
fore Judge Poindcx,er for approval
as children of Uncle Sam.
"WlIt form of government Is
this?" asked Judge Poindexter OF
Joe Kepl, butcher. who has lived
in Spokane for 20 years and speaks
and writes the English language.
Kepl was dumb.
Don't you know what form OF
government means?"
More dumbness.
what form of government has
Germany
81 was so young when left
there" was the answer.
"Who is the head Of Germany"
1.-THE king"
"Who's the head OF this govern.
ment?"
1.-THE president"
did you ever hear Of a repub-
hc?"
More dumbness.
81 don't believe in admitting to
dtizenship In this government per
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
(Scripps News AssociationJ

(Scr1pps News Associatton)
NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-John G..
Mccall, secretary of the New York
Life, was a witness in the insur-
ance investigation this morning. He
said he saw Attorney Hamilton in
Paris. His condition was serious
and submitted a certificate from a
Paris physician. He said Hamilton
declined to give up his checks or
check books as they only had to
do with private matters. The state
ment, which is long, was read into
the evidence.
Hamilton's statement was a mas
terful defense of the legal and leg
islative business done by him for
the benefit of the New York Life
and other companies. He says in
1899 he made an exhaustive report
upon accounts, management and
conditions of the New York Life
for the Prussian government which
report was passed upon and accept
ed as satisfactory. The statement
says:
when given charge Of the bu-
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
LEGISLATORS ARE JUST AS
HONEST AS OTHER PERSONS

Il have found in my work that
in every legislative body in the
United States there are a large
percentage of honest men as there
are in any walk of life. | never
found it difficult to defeat black
mailers. The best years of my life
were devoted to the work of defeat
ing legislation hostile to policy
holders. The injunction of the pres
ident of the New York Life was al
ways unmistakeable and explicit
that should confine my work with
in the law of the land Regarding
accounts, no vouchers were taken
from me nor by me in consequence
of the agreement that l was to have
proceedings secret"
Hamilton appended a table show
ing his expenditures from the time
of the Prussian report in 1889 to
1895, including his own salary and
excepting a quarter of a million.
Hughes asked to have explained in
1899, $76,050; 1900, $4,000; 1901,
$4,000; 1902, $4,000; 1908, $780,
300; 1904, s142,100; 1876, $147, 200.
In regard to the quarter of million
he says he was entitled to apply 1t
to other accounts. He says obliga.
tons were incurred which are yet
to be paid from it. However. he is
willing to place in the custody of
a company 100000 to be paid back
in the future wholly or In part as
the auditors may determine.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
COlORED WOMEN
GET BIG FINE

Sadie Hood and Jennie Lawrence
the two colored women who tried
to rob Detective Thompson last
night, were fined 500 and costs
this afternoon by Judge Hlnkle.
Last night Mr.. Thompson was
coming down Front avenue when
he heard one OIL the women talking
to him. She asked him to go with
her, which he did. When they were
in an alley the Lawrence woman
stopped him and, reaching around,
tried to take me officers pocket
book. He took them to the police
station.
81 have caught many robbers and
bunco men, but this is the first time
| ever had the pleasure of arresting
any one for trying to rob me-" stat
thompson after the trial.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
CANADA KICKS But IS
Still BUYING FROM us

per thousand. If this fails, the aim
Is to obtain a tariff impost of some
kind so that the lumber shipments
from Washington and Oregon may
be brought within the provisions of
the anti-dumping clause.
With all the opposition to Ameri-
can good, Mr.. Pepper says every
factory is speaking catalogue of
American goods. A saw mill in
Vancouver, for instance, draws it's
supplies as follows: Steel plates,
Washington. Pa; grind stones,
Cleveland, O.; milling machinery,
Seattle, Wash; saw gummers, Ia
coma, Wash; saw anvils, Trenton,
N. j.; blanks for band saws, Brook
Ign, N. Y, and fire bricks, Troy,
N. Y.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
TO
ASSASSINATE
CALIFORNIAN
(Scripps News Associatior)

EUREKA, Cal, Dec. q. The
explosion of several sticks of dy-
mantle late last night in the rear
of the residence of Justice of the
Peace Baldwin leads to the belief
the deed was inspired by some one
with grudge against the official
and who would take his life The
blast was heard all over the city.
A deep hole was torn in the ground
and a portion of the stable wreck
ed. The police are investigating,
but there is no clue. Baldwin is
convalescing from an illness which
nQrly proved fatal.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
LOBBY OF new
WASHINGTON IS
ABOUT CONFLICT

Work on the lobby of the new
Washington theater Is now nearing
completion, and when finished 1t
will be one of the finest of any in
the entire Inland Empire. The en-
tire lobby will be decorated in has.
relief staff work design, the whole
being emblematic of the presiding
muses. over drama, comedy and
music. The holiday bill at the the
alter is tracing wide attention. 1t
surpasses any so rar given in the
new house. a
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
Reu0luti0nistS Hold Hall
the City and Their En-
durance Jurpasses that
of Cars Troops--=Both
Sides have Fought Bit
terly--Czar said to hare
Turned Against uitte.

CHICAGO DEC. 27-THE DAILY NEWS CORRESPONDENT AT
MOSCOW CABLES THAT THE CONFLICT HAS RACED THREE
DAYS AND STILL is UNDECIDED. woRkMEN AND
OTHERS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ABOUT 10000 WOUNDED
THE STREETS ARE sTREwN AS 1T MUST HAVE BEEN AFTER
NAPoLEoNs VISIT, WITH DEBRIS EVERY CHARACTER
HUNDREDS BEEN DESTROYED BY ARTIL
LERY. AMONG VICTIMS SCORES WOMEN AND
CHILDREN. TROOPS ARE LOYAL TO THEIR COMMAND
ERs AND FOUGHT vALIANrLY AGAINST A WORTHY Foe THE
REvoLUToNisTs HAVE SHOWN GREATER ENDURANCE THAN
THE CARS TROOPS THE CENTRAL REVOLUTIONARY CON-
MlTTEE COMMANDS HALF THE CITY.
PETERSBURG, DEC PA PLOT TO CAPTURE WlTTE
WAS FRUSTRATED AND THE PLoTTERs JAILED. WHITES Po
sITioN is sHAkY. THE WISHES TO OVERTHROW HIM.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
MOSCOW RESEMBLES THE CITY NAPOLEON SACKE
PRESIDENT
DISAPPROVfS
THE GIFT
(Scripps News Association.)

(Scripps News Association.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., DEC. 81
THE PRESIDENT WAS SHOWN
A DISPATCH FROM BAKER CITY
OREGON, TO THE EFFECT THAT
A POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION FOR
A GIFT TO HIS DAUGHTER HAD
BEEN STARTED. HE SAID HE
APPRECIATED THE SENTI-
MENT, BUT HOPED NO SUCH
COLLECTION OF FUNDS WOULD
BE MADE.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
SQUARE DEAL
FOR CHINESE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Car-
rying out the presidents determi-
nation to have square DEAL" for
visiting professional Chinese, Sec
rotary Metcalfe is paying personal
attention to the matter. AS a re-
suit, fewer Chinese OF high charact-
err are being subjected to indigni-
ties, and fewer appeals are being
made from decisions of immigra-
tion officers.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
NINEVEH IS
GIVEN BAD
REPUTATION

Nineveh of old was in disrepute,
and according to complaint filed
today modern Nineveh is not so
good as he ought to be. Mrs. Mary
E. White alleges that Nineveh
White, whom she married last June,
has been guilty of cruelty and sew
eral other things. She says that
he threatened in the presence Of
her children last September to cut
her throat. Uneven has money in
the bank and a farm on Moran
Prairie, and Mrs. White asks for
divorce and division of the prop
erty.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
DINNER FOR
OLDER ELKS

Several Of the Elks of the city
are planning for big dinner for
some Of the old members of the
lodge who belonged in the early
days when the rooms were in the
Simons block.
There were about 20 members
when Henry 1Seiffert had the chair.
1t Is the idea Of several of the old
members, who met the other night,
to have the dinner about the first
of the year.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
fight
WRECKS firm IN
San FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 27.-The
Pacific Grain and Stock Exchange
suspended business this morning.
The exchange is operated by Will
liam and John O'Brien, formerly
telegraph operators, who are also
connected with the firm of e. G.
Hetzel & Co. The loss by the fail
ure is estimated as high as $4,000.
A clerk in the firm stated this morn
ing that during the past three
weeks, the firm lost $4,000 in the
fight between Lawson and the
Standard Oil. This is said to be re-
sponsible for the failure.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
WILL
LIQUIDATE

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Dec. 27-The
Merchants Trust company of this
city went into liquidation today.
The American Savings Bank and
Trust company closed its doors to
avoid a run. The Merchants Trust
company has capital of $500, 900.
and deposits of 100000. The Am
erican Savings Bank and Trust
company has capital of $3.50, 900,
and deposits of $625, 900.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
CABINET CONFERS OVER
SAN DOMINGO AFFAIRS

rights to establish and maintain
the receivership arm of this gov
eminent, and also may consider any
new government arising from the
present revolution as no govern
ment at all and under provisions of
the pending treaty maintain order.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
ASSAULTED BARBER

Austin Bell was fined SIS and
costs this afternoon by Judge Hin
kle for being implicated in fight
in the Spoke saloon few nights
ago.
Bell was accused of whipping a
barber, J. Bassett. A man named
Hicks, who runs the place, was
fined $50 and costs few days ago
for not protecting Bassett.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
PORTLAND IS
BREAKING UP
(scripps News Association.)

SEATTLE, Dec. 27.-The steam
ship Portland is breaking to pieces
at the point where she piled up on
the rocks on the Alaska shore a
few days ago, according to a mes
sage received this afternoon at the
local office of the Canadian Pacific.
The telegram came from Skag-
way where the Canadian Pacific
steamer Amur had arrived after
passing the Portland. The Amur
reports that the Portland's pas
sengers are coming to Seattle on
the steamer Alkl.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27

sons who can not tell the form Of
government they have been living
under for 20 years. You may be
a good citizen, but you've got to
learn some of these simple answers
before l can admit you"
County Clerk Koontz was one Of
the sponsors of KEPT, and he blush
ed furiously as his protege fell
down before the questions of the
court.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
ROBBED WHILE ASLEEP
ON A RAILROAD TRAIN

Two robberies were reported at
the police station this morning.
One was the robbing of Gus Smith
on a Great Northern train and the
other the strong-arming of Andrew
Peterson.
Peterson called at the station
early today and reported that he
met three men in front of the
Headlight saloon last night and was
relieved of about sl40 in cash and
his purse. Peterson stated that he
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27

lived over John Jadies' saloon and
was coming down town when the
robbery occurred. Two Of the men
grabbed him by his arms while the
other went through him.
Gus Smith reported that some
man touched him for SO in cash
and a check for $50 while he was
asleep on Great Northern train No.
3 last night. The check was made
out on the Exchange National bank.
The bank was notified not to pay
the check should ~ be presented.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
(Scripps News Association.D


WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 27.-
Special Agent Charles M. Pepper
of the department of commerce and
labor is just back from tour
through the Canadian Northwest.
Just now, he says, the Canadians
are attempting to prevent the ma
tural flow of traffic from the Can
adian northwest southwark across
the border into and through the
states.
A movement is under way, he
says, to secure a duty on American
rough lumber imported into Can
ada equal to that laid by the United
States on Canadian lumber import
ed into this country; that is, 81
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
(Scripps News Association.)

Z (Scripps News Association.)
|. WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 81
The president, Root, Taft, Bona
parte and Long had a conference
on Santo Domingo affairs this af-
ternoon. 1t is possible Root may
decide he can exercise inchoate
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27

ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 81. -
Newspapers appeared this morning
with communication from Mos
COW. The lines are restored. The
officials monopollze them. The
news is not So encouraging from
some outside points. Abnormal
conditions remain in Warsaw and
Lodz.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
ROCKEFELLER SAYS
LAWSON WINS

CLEVELAND, O., Dec. q. -
Frank Rockefeller, a brother of
John, says it is his guess that Law
son made more money in the last
few days than he ever did before.
He says he is sure Lawson is too
shrewd to get caught short of the
market as reports say he has been.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27

positions and the progress in com
plete particulars. The zeal of leg
islatOrs unfamiliar with legal anG
insurance matters led them to at
tempt to enact tax insurance bills
which would discriminate against
the masses not resident in theiI
particular state"
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-12-27
SENT MONEY
(Scripps News Association.)

(Scripps News Associatfon.)
NEW YORK, Dec. 81. - The Ma
tional bank of this city sent $780,
600 to Memphis after the failures.
The National Bank of Commerce
of st. Louis sent s750,000.