davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Dig Coal With Ice-Cream Spoon.

Go on; get out of here interjected
the man on the platform. Get out OF
here and go to bed; it's morning, and
you're bold in the vest But I'm look
ing for work. I answered, and then the
crowd fairly exploded. The man on tho
platform appeared to be suffering from
a violent attack of cramps. and the fell
low to whom l had just made the propo-
sition for an exchange of clothes leaned
up against the shafting of the mine for
support.
Maybe said one of the miners.
choking with laughter, maybe he wants
to dig coal with an ice cream spoon,
and that settled my chances for work at
The mine.
ION my way back 1 had the shame
and degradation of my attire rubbed
into me at every step. Children guyed
me and hurled bits of dirt at me until |
felt acutely conscious what an invita-
ton to missile throwers my shirt bosom,
no longer. immediately white, was
Women ran to the doors of their houses
to have a look ana a laugh, and, to my
mind. my silk hat was no longer merely
q hat, but veritable Nanking tower on
my head. Drivers pulled UP their teams
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Treats the Town.

"Old Crump has fGund the treasure of
Packsaddle," were the words upon every
tongue The town did not have to wait
long for further developments. Early
the next day Crump appeared in the
streets, with Mrs Crump and the chill
dren, in a fine carriage. The strange
character saluted his friends, bowling
and smiling TO the yelling crowd that
had collected. The Crumps were on their
way to the governors ball, but hosts of
friends determined that the journey
should end on the shores of the pictur-
esque Llano, and they soon had Mr..
Crump in such state of mind that his
liberaiity and his convivial nature were
superior to his better judgment. He was
suddenly seized with 4 bewildering de-
sire to treat the whole town, and he did
that very thing many times over, pay
ing for the liquids with glittering gold.
He kept the whole town in a perfect
furorc Of eXcitcmcn for three whole days
but, no matter how far he strayed from
the path of sobriety, his lips remained
sealed as to the mysterious source of his
great wealth. After buying everything
that excited their curiosity. and sowing
gold as Il they owned a mint or pos
sessed the touch Of Midas, the Crumps
quietly returned to their cabin, to be fol-
lowed soon afterward by crowd of
treasure hunters
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
A Texas Girls Revenge.

When Miss Lola Flame went to the
visit relatives. ii never occurred TO her
that the star of her destiny was direct
ing her footsteps toward great heap
of shining gold and q handsome hus-
bard The story Of the buried treasures
Of Packsaddle was familiar to her. and
she had often heard the names OF Roar
ing Cat and Red Hand mentioned in
connection with the mysterious affair
Her father had caught an Indian arrow
i'll that last battle. which gave him pain
for many years
When a resident of the village where
the Texas girl was stopping pointed out
old Gotabee to her she cienched her lit
tie hands and whispered, He may have
shot my father. How l wish I could
get at him. | bet you would make him
tell me where he hid that gold" These
sounded like Idle words, but it was not
long before she had an opportunity to
try her skill, and she must have PLAYED
her part Well. No one knows how she
accomplished her purpose Making the
acquaintance Of Humming Bird, Red
Hands favorite daughter, the Texas girl
taught her how to sew and TO sing and
dress like her white sisters. This pleased
the old chief very much Miss Flame
was quick to take advantage of this
first step on the way to the confidence of
the man who possessed the great secret.
She allowed no day to pass without walk
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Crump, the Human Knot.

At q time when the excitement over
the hidden gold was passing droil
character by the name OF Crump startled
the public by d series of puzzling and
ludicrous exploits that were closely
coupled with the stories of the hidden
gold of the mountains.
CrurpD was "a Texas nomad. Hunter,
trader and a genius, he divided his time
for years between Packsaddle mountain
and the Indian camps of the frontier
and the reservations. His cabin at Bully
Boys spring was an old landmark well
known to hunters and Texans who tray
eled the old. trail leading from Llano to
the Rio Grande. Crump was dark and
tough. He called himself "a human
knot" thought he denied that there was
Indian blood in his veins. He enjoyed
poverty for long time, but one day he
surprised the natives. A traveller who
was passing Bully Boys spring was at
tracted by the sound of music 1t the
door ofsthe old cabin he met Crump with
a new boot in one hand. The traveller
could hardly find breath to utter an ex-
clamation of surprise. The old nomad
,yas dressed as if he wore going to q
fancy ball. He wore silk plug hat, a
claw-hammer coat, white vest, and i'm
macuIate shirt front, and standing
collar.
II can't get it on he roared. flourish
ing the boot, but no matter / viii just
prance around barefooted."
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
"Some Strange Looking Man"

What d'you want?' was her cordial
greeting
~ wish to see Mr. Murray I an
wered.
He amt up yet came the response,
but as an echo to her remark a deep
voice bayed down the hall to know who
was at the door.
Some strange looking man wants to
see YOU. answered the woman ar the
crack A moment later the door was
jerked wide open and a huge man, par
TALLY dressed, stood before me.
well, what the What do you
want?' He looked at me as a man might
at one demented and l hastily let him
into the secret of my identity and the
object OF my visit. For a minute he
couldn't stop laughing.
Come in Sai6 he at last, you're a
sight. AS q daylight vision l felt / was.
'.I haven't got a thing / could let
you have he said, after we were seated
in the parlor, and the only place / know
of where you could get any work is out
at the Donberry coal mine. just about
mile from here. It's not union mine
and you might have a chance to catch
something Better be there before S
O'Clock, however, he admonished. and
as it was then after !. l bade him good
morning and started. stopping on the
way at the only clothing store in town
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Tn Fool the Landlord.

We'll. when l was with the East
LYNNE company. doing Sir Francis Levi
son. my trunk and clothing was seized
while | was on the stage one night do
ing the elegant heavy in dress suit and
a silk opera hat. l was sore on the
guileiess countryman's bunco game, as
practiced on threatical companies, by
this time. and determined to fool land
lord. constable and justice bv remaining
until the property rights trial l had no
money. so il was a case of get out and
hustle for work to provide the necessa-
ries during my stay Of ten or twelve
days in the town, something l believed
I'd have no difficulty about getting, for
the burg appeared to be in fairly pros
porous condition, though not inclined to
spend its money for an East Lynne
performance
After night spent on the stage at
the opera house l rose early and decided
to consult with the manager of the estab-
lishment about the most likely places for
work, as well as trying to arrange for a
more suitable garb. He lived next door
and in answer to my repeated knocking
n woman, | presume she was his wife.
her eyes still clouded with sleep. jerked
open the door, gasped as she saw me
standing on the porch half shrouded in
the early morning mist and shut 1t
quickly again so that l could only OBJ
serve her nose back of the crack left
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
In the Coal Mine

Pretty soon a stout man mounted a
small platform near the shaftins and
began to call out numbers. The crowd
melted beyond the stand as mis- voice
continued droning out its sing-sons o4
numerals, and n about three minutes T
was one of a group of four or five
standing patiently before him. He
didn't see me until he had finished with
the others, and alone, in all the glory
of my evening raiment, there was moth
ing TO distract his gaze from the nm
exampled vision.
For the love of -, what's tbe rv,a+-
ter with your Then he began to laugh.
and the men who Were still waiting
around the shaft for the cage to carry
them down chimed in.
He missed connections with Mrs.
Vanderbilt's reception last night and
thinks he'll find it here shouted one.
Don't believe it's real called anotf,-
er: its what you see when you've had
too much booze.
III tell you what I'll do, said l
to miner who had just then approached
the little platform IN shift this coat
and vest with You for that blouse,
pointing to his greasy jeans jacket
What" answered ne with a roar.
What do you think 1 ann And a
bunch of knuckles that looked about a
yard long waved menacingly in my face
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Dishing Out Lard in Dress Suit.

1.-The printer needed some one TO help
him run off a lot of handbills on foot
press, and as I could jump a press all
right I earned my meals and a nights
lodging in the shop for a couple OF
hours work. Through the printer I se-
cured work in a grocery the next day,
and fer about forty-eight hours that
grocer did q land Office business in small
sales It was something new to see a
fellow in 4 dress suit dishing out lard,
potatoes, sugar, and all that sort OF
thing behind a counter. and the towns
folk improved the opportunity to the
full 1t was pretty tough TO stand for
the chickering's Of the girls, the observa-
tions of small boys. and a few hundred
other things that were handed out my
way daily, but I stuck TO the gaff for the
sake of my trunk full of clothes and the
desire to foil the landlord, ah, ha. and
had a measure OF satisfaction out OF my
rosition in the sensation I created in the
country when I was sent out 10 deliver
goods to the farmers. l heard more
land sakeS' and well, 1 nevers' como
from astonisbed females in the farm
house kitchens when l loomed up in the
doorway with a load of groceries on my
arms and my head crowned with silk
hat than I have heard before or since
in the whole course of my lifetime III
wager they haven't gotten over talking
about that apparition in those country
homes yet.
Did 1 get my trunk? Sure, and when
/ left that town, on a railroad pass Iur-
nished by the editor of the legal weekly,
fourteen days after my arrival. l was
regular hero; had a crowd at the stauon
to give me a hurrah send-oh-
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Crump Surprises Neigh
bors by Display of
Wealth.

w he f f E: Il: s:1 3 ;:sss ;s: @ I'D
into Texas he waylaid and
captured a rich gold train from Color
ado. But hardly had the Indians ac-
complished the murder of the guards
and the miners who accompanied the
train when they were oyertaken by
Uncle Sans troopers and a body of
Texas Rangers. A desperate battle fol-
lowed at Packsaddle mountain in which
the Indians received crushing defeat.
Nearly all Of them were killed or cap
tured. But the gold was never found.
Soon after the. battle Red Hand, fear
ing that speedy punishment would fol-
low his atrocities, tried to bribe his
guards with promises of the hidden
treasure. but TO no purpose Since that
time, many years ago, the old chief has
frequently alluded to the gold on Pack
saddle mountain. but he has been
shrewd enough not to tell where it was
hidden. Many persons have searched
for it. Their search has been fruitless
unless there is truth in two stories Of
the buried treasure which have recently
come out of Texas.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Clothes Attached During Play.

at always seemed to be my share of
luck to be with show that was attach
ed while I was on the stage, and there
fore nothing was left me TO wear but my
stage togs. These country town con-
stables take everything in sight when
they are making theatrical raid. and
the justice generally arranges that the
property rights trial doesn't occur for
about ten days after. AT the property
rights trial you may make oath that
your baggage isn't the property OF the
manager OF owner Of the show, and
therefore not liable to attachment for
its debts, and with a little additional
formality the goods are returned to you
Fixing the trial ten days after the col
lapse OF the company puts the members
in a bad way about securing their goods,
and many never obtain them, unless
they have money enough to pay the at
taching landlord a part OF the manager
debts, when the matter of remaining
for the property rights. trial is. conye-
niently waived.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Explains to Sheriff.

by the time I reached the town
was a sensation with a comparatively
large and decidedly Ioud-mouthed fol-
lowing. Realizing the futiiity of seek
ing employment in any of the stores un-
der those conditions, was crossing ths
town to make for the open country be-
yond, when 1 encountered the sheriff.
His appearance caused majority OF
my queue TO vanish, but I was placed
under the need of a detailed explana-
ton to save myself from falling into
the clutches of the law as a suspicious
character In the end I succeeded il.
getting out of town, shaking off my fol-
lowers. and enjoyed the opportunity of
a wash in creek, coupled with an hour
OF quiet meditation over my position.
81 discarded the idea of leaving my
coat, vest, and hat in some sheltered
nook and seeking work attired in trous-
ers and shirt Banished two or three
other schemes and ended by fastening
my coat tails up under the back of my
vest. carrying my hat in my hand and
tying the lapels OF the coat across my
shirt front with bits of cord. I was
probably more ridiculous in this guisa
than I was before, but 1 felt that the
chief points of my offending were con-
cealed and in calmer frame Of mind
made my way along an almost deserted
road into the town, where l fortunately
arrived at a printers shop with.dt at
tracing any especial attention
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
End of the Find.

Again old Packsaddle commanded at
tention. When party of gold-seekers
came to Bully Boys Springs they were
surprised TO find Crumps cabin in ashes
Mrs. Crump sat on q log by the side
of pile of bones and fragments Of flesh
which she said was "all that remained
OF Mr. Crump and a mule" When
asked for an explanation, she said:
They was all blowed up and the cabin
burned up"
1t appeared that Crump had brought a
box or dynamite home with him from
Llano, which he had carelessly left
within reach of the mule. Mrs. Crump
said that Crump went out to cuss the
mule for Draying, and the next minute
she heard an awful roar and that when
she ran out into the yard 1T were just
a-rainin' piece of the mule and poor
Crump all mixed together" The amazed
treasure hunters expressed their sym
pathy.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Dress Sait Made a Hit.

Il hadn't proceeded more than a couple
of hundred feet before I encountered q
group OF miners trudging along the
dusty road and my appearance moved
them. That / made hit 1 haven't the
slightest shadow of a doubt, but their
humorous observations only quickened
my steps and twenty minutes later l
was the center of admiration for a crowd
of about hundred men grouped around
the shaft house of the coal mine The
mundane affairs Of life We're forgotten
on my appearance and the joy of the
crowd knew no bounds. I'm not a model
of good humor, you know, but I had to
stand for the worst that was handed 20
me that morning. If I'd have tried auy
of the injured dignity tactics on that
bunch imagine my finish. Just imagine
what would have occurred if I'd have
folded up my opera hat against the ex-
panse OF white shirt bosom that orna-
mented my front and, turning to the
crowd. had remarked: Gentlemen. it is
Impossible for me to appreciate the bu-
NOR Of this situation and 1 cannot toll
crate your Jests any longer Well r
didn't DO 1t and they contented them
selves with jibes.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Miss Flame Gets Secret
of the Old KioWa
Chieftain.

Mrs. Crump said that the accident
left her "a lone lorn widder," with
hardly money enough to enable her to
move to the territory where she had
relatives and she asked the men to
help her to separate Mr. Crump from
the mule and give the remains decent
burial" This was done with good VIII.
for the gold hunters doubtless hoped
to gain some information from the un-
fortunate woman while she was in dis
tress. In this they failed, though 1t is
now believed that the simple woman
told all that she knew. and her story
was true
Mrs. Crump saiG that her husband aud
Roaring Cat were great friends The
old Comanche chief told Crump that
when the Indians plundered the Colo
RADIO train they found two mules pack ed
with sacks of gold, and that the Kfowas
took one Of these and the Comanches
The other. When the Indians were
W hipped in the Packsaddle mountains.
they hid this gold, but not in the same
place. Roaring Cat may have told Mr..
Crump where the Comanches hid their
mule load of gold, but he did not
know where the kiowas hid their share.
Mr. Crump was sly and chuck full of
wisdom" SAID the sorroyFng widow.
'and he did not tell me much about it,
and now he mas blowed up everything
and burnt up the house ana eft me q
weepin' in the mountains"
Packsaddle rested for a while. 1t has
required a little romance in which the
diplomatic ability Of a prAt,y Texas
girl and the courage Of dashing young
Iran played a conspicuous part to draw
the attention of the public for the last
time to the buried treasures of Pack
saddle mountain.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
The Great Sahara Railroad.
IT JE Sahara railroad. one OF the
most important works undertake
en- by the French government

IT AZ Sahara railroad, one OF tba
most important works undertake
en- by the French governments
road that is to connect Oran and
1lmbuctoo, and open darkest Africa to
commerce and trafTlc-is nearing comnln-
non. The line from Saida to Beni JJnif
mas peen opened already, and the coun
ty, winch was once the scene of San
Bulnary encounters between the French
ana Arabs, is being traversed bv trains
carrying to The north the products of
me inner country. dates and Alta grass
me latter being used for the fabrica tion
oI paper and some kind of cloth. Even
passengers are travelling on the road
and the traffic is sure to greatIv IN IN
crease within another year. AZ
1Wo tfa1ns only are being run daily
DetWeen Salda and Benz Unif and re.
lnrn- one train leaves Saida at G In
the morning and arrives at Ain-Sefra az
in the evening. Night trains are not
Gea,,as YET auhhing; IN ana the next train that
O'Clock reaches Benz Unif at 4 ia
the afternoon. IA
Another train leaves Benz Unif in the
morning and arrives in the afternoon Of
the next day at Saida. where the fifteen
or more passengers may find connection
for Oran and Algiers
The construction of the road has been
a most difficult task A great p1onv
had TO be bored. and many hills had to
be blasted. In addition. every tie had
TO be laid in the intervals of lighting
with the fanatical natives The con-
struction expenses have so far amount
ed 10 $4,000 per ililometer (3,GOl feetl
and the last part of the road may prove
equally costly. So far, good results
have been noticed from the opening of
the road, inasmuch as the uprisings of
the natives have ceased in the districts
crossed by the line.
Fortified stations have been establish
ed along the route an intervals of
twelve miles The road is narrow
gauge. except the line from Saida to
Oran. which is of standard gauge, Beni
Unif Is al present one of the most
strongly fortified depots. Large stores
are located there and extensive camps
have been established for the convicts
by whom the road was built under
guard of soldiers detailed to prevent
the attacks of the natives.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Husband Wanted.

To bosom friend she said: AZ need
but one thing and that Is an intelligent,
handsome, courageous husband She
had scores of admIrers-iots of lovers,
at least one of whom she had made des-
perate.
Moyne Clair, a gallant youth Of the
vicinity, had adored the erratic belle
from her childhood, but Lola had looked
higher Moyne had nothing but his
spurs, good looks, and courage. She
had sent him away. just before she went
TO the Territory Would he ever come
back to her? Now she often thought of
his devotion, his good looks. his courage,
and his poverty.
One fine evening as she. for the hun
dredth time rode away from the summit
of Packsadd1e che found herself In
front of Il band Of wild horses. They
were coming toward her at full speed
seemingly mad with excitement "A
stampede she muttered. Just as her
horse threw up his head ana sprang for
ward with the bit in his teeth. He
plunged right into the midst of the run
ming herd and when she put all her
strength on the reins the bit snapped
My God! exclaimed the frightened
girl, Il am lost The whole bride slip
ped from the head OF the flying horse
and AZ every jump she expected to be.
hurled upon the rocks to be trampIed
to fragments She heard a rope whiz
through The air and she saw the moose
fall over the head Of her horse The
halt was sudden, but it did not move her
from the saddle. Her horse was jerked
around and she looked into the face of
Moyne Clair.
Now, what have / caught?" said the
smiling youth. who sat in his saddle a
few steps away, holding the rope that
mad stopped her runaway horse
You have caught said Lola "a wife
and the long-hidden treasures of Pack.
saddle mountain"
Before the honeymoon ended the han
Ply pair bought one of the finest ranches
In western Texas and now they take
pleasure ir scattering gold as if tbo
mines CT California were at their com.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02

Sl1aggs, Why, sir, 1t means that Crump
and luck are synonymous terms. For
tune, sir, has rained upon Crump. You
are just at the beginning, Mr.. Skaggs.
Look through the back door and let your
eyes fall upon Mrs. Crump's thousand
dollar carriage"
THAT is not ALL" said Crump, drawing
a watch from his pockets that glittered
with brilliants Mrs. -efump and I, sir.
are going to Austin 20 attend the gov
ernor's rail-"
Stupefied with wonder and amazement,
Mr.. Ska ~~s returned to Llano to tell a
story that excited public interest 20 a
decree beyond restraint
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Tickles Red Hand.

Old Red Hand was pleased to tho tins
OF his fingers. 1t was not long before
it became evident that he looked ,,pon
Lola Flame as one superior to all others.
AS time passed his fever grew. ..All Is
fair In war" said the girl When /
look at that deceitful old chief I think
of the arrow quivering in my fathers
flesh" The time came when Red Hand
Worshiped the Texas beauty. He look
ed upon her as a goddess
When Lola Flame left the Territory
to return to Texas the secret that Red
Hand had carried locked in his bosom
for more than thirty years had gone
from him forever
Many things that have since happened
in the vicinity OF Packsaddle prove that
this theory is correct
Lola Flame came to her home in Tex
as greatly changed. She excited amaze
ment by her constant talk of vast
wealth. "paIatiaI homes.'' "gorgeou;
apparel and a tour of Europe as Il
fabulous riches were in her grasp.
The Washington times., 1905-04-02
THE CRITICS

Once q painter wove a web;
We've q web OF glowing glory.
In and out the colors flashed;
Flamed and filcker'd; rose and fell
Like a wond rous spirit robe
In an Eastern fairy story.
And the public looked and spoke
With a wealth CT solemn structure,
''He must mean it for joke.
For it cannot be picture"
Once a poet flung glow
From his per upon his paper.
Sweet scents sprang from open buds:
Sounds rose high, then dropp'd and died:
Flames writhed red, like shreds of light
On a wind blown altar taper
AND the people saw. and said
Ere they'd half perused the proem,
He must have been off his head
When he called that thing a poem. u
Once n master wrote a score.
Great and grand and fun of wonder.
In il was the joy OF life;
In it was the grief of death:
Laughter and the wall of tears:
Lightning CLEAN and crash of thunder
And the many headed heard.
With a froWn of deprecation.
As they murmured, "On my word.
What a mad congIomeration.'
Westminster Gazette.