davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12
THE FAD FOR
FENCINCl II
BY AUBREY NEWTON


Dear Stan: There's not a word OF
truth in il, as | telegraphed you, and
don't read the papers II you could
see the headlines: What the New
Woman's Fad for Fencing Is Leading
To-" and the feneers dragged into IL.
and my picture in fencing clothes
Oh. don't look at a single paper until
tell you'll
To begin with. Why did you leave
me? Why did you leave me in the
care Of your dear little chum2"
Early Tuesday morning be sent over
hcm the hospital with a ncte asking
me 80 so with him TO see "SherloeA
Holmes" Well. We went
There's lots OF high lights and iots
of inky darkness in that play. and It's
a play where you want to watch the
stage every minute; but right in from
Of us Eat Amy Wilmot- You remem
Der sic was the girl who fenced with
me in the tournament last spring, tn
one who was so angry with th'
fencers for something Crawford saiS
about z foul thrust She's gone OF
the stage, and is to lead in a new
company.
She wore a black hat with thre'
enormous plumes, so that neither Her
bert nor / could see at all and W
couldn't change our seats, and she re
\ fused TO take 1t of
Finally Herbert wrote on he mar
gin OF his programme: How mucI
longer are We going to stand it," An
wrote back: If had pair Of scis
sors I'd cut them of.
Well. just then the lights wer
turned down in the house and on ia
stage. and felt Herbert lay some
thing heavy and cold In my hand
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12
Girl Lives on Desert Island in the Indian
Ocean for Fifteen Months.
IS SHIPWRECKED BY A TERRIBLE TYPHOON
Pet Lion Her Sole Living Companion Is Finally
Forced Kill Animal to Save Own Life-At
Last Rescued by Passing Vessel
and Returned Parents.

They went 20 New Zealand and tray
cling along the coast from Palmerston
through Christchurch, Timaru, Nelson.
over 20 Wellington. Oh the North island,
they added TO the menagerie.
Shipwrecked by Typhoon.
Early In December they were ready.
They loaded the tents, and the animals.
and all, aboard the Lilly and started for
Melbourne. The typhoon struck on De
cember Is in the morning, and for over
three days the little vessel. under bare
poles, fed before IT, The men. exhaust
ed and worn from working the pumps,
fell faintng Three times they tried to
turn and ride in the face Of the storm.
but could not. They were driven north
ward. always northward-loGt. hopeless
and dying.
And during It all Leila helped the
ton she worked at the pumps. strong,
vigorous. tireless. her athletic training
standing her in good stead. On the 18th
hope was abandoned. The storm was
abating a little. but the vessel was
hounderng heavily and had lost its
buoyancy. At ten o'clock sea after sea
pounded upon the decks, and still the
vessel staggered on.
The tired vessel. worn out by the bat
tie with the sea. gave up about noon
The steering gear broke. The little
barkentine turned broadside, wallowed
a few moments. and sank.
The Ponquet fortunes were swep;
away. and the family separated. In an
instant. The father and mother reached
/ the boat, but Liela. with seveG others
was swept overheard.
Alone on Desert Island.
Then began the strange career OF the
girl She remembers struggling in the
waters: then she lost consciousness
Hew long she was in the water she does
not know: II could not have been long
She was aroused by being hurled upon
sand. She felt the wave that had cast
her up drag her back into the sea, and
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12

lns from a high wire. and the other boy,
weak and sickly. never would DO Tor an
athlete. so he was sent TO school ana
then Into the priesthood, and he was the
pride CT his mothers heart.
But liela. from her earliest childhood
took to the ropes and the rings and the
bars as II by second nature, and before
she was 12 years old her feats OF daring
and strength and agility won her APP
plause aud caused her father to believe
her the most wonderful acrobat In all
the world. She was strong, healthy.
5eautiful-beautiful. as more than one
young man thought who saw her at the
little country fairs in Breton.
But the Ponquets were poor. They
made but little money at the fairs, and
they talked often Of America or OF Aus
tralia. so at the eEd OF one season they
decided to cast their fortunes In a new
world There was a sad leav e-taking
with the son, who soon was to become
priest, and they sailed away to Austria
la
That year Liela was 13 years old. Her
beauty. her grace and daring attracted
stention TO the grimy. sordid little trav-
cling circus, and prosperity came to the
family Ponquet began to think that
his fortune was made. He had dreams
OF being the proprietor OF a great cir
Gus, with hundreds of men and WON
On, with great gilded wagons. At Mel
buIne. at Sydney. at Clarendon. New
Castle, Brisbane--everywhe 1t was the
sano, aud the gold rolled In
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12

T.e story Of Robinson Crusoe and
h pmarkable adventures is familiar
m a MOST every man. woman and child.
To move the old saying that truth is
STRANGER than fiction this interesting
IA. Ids been enacted by a handsome
your- French girl. and IL anything her
exrerlences we're more remarkable.
cast away on an almost desert island
IN Tie middle of the Indian ocean.
thrown on her own resources. Liela
ponquet. a pretty young trapeze per-
former now about Is years OF age,
lyef Tor Is months before she was
p..tfl up by a passing vessel and
mia sent back to her home in
France.
Waea she arrived at Marseilles she
va reunited with her father and
mother who for nearly two years she
IA relieved dead. and who believed she
has perished when the little French
bark Lilly sank on December is, 1903.
They had parted when the little vessel.
srer a brave fight with the typhool,
lur led and sank. They had seen her
lifted on a wave. with life-preseryer
cia-Ded about her, and they had fought
win ne sailors in the boat for chance
"a 4vr their daughter. She had caught
oro glimpse Of them as she was buried
under a huge roller. and the boat was
lfted above her. and then they parted.
Nearly four days later the boat had
reached one of the Belep islands, on
New Caledonia. and after day or two
Or rest and preparation had crossed to
IT, larger island and reached safety.
An Acrobatic Family.
The Ponquet family-father. mother
srG daughter-were acrobats and ami
nal trainers, and Ponquet. the father.
hal for many years been the leader Of
lt'ie circus. sometimes with dozen or
more men in his employ, sometimes
with ouly the members Of his family to
assist him in giving performances His
Oldest son. promising acrobat, had
been killed at fair in France by fall
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12

after a short despairing struggle
reached land and threw herself. exhaust
cd upon the sand.
when she awakened IL was dark. She
felt something warm upon her face and
starting up in alarm. found Mons, her
net lion. licking he face. The lion had
been cast ashore. and. although one OF
his legs was badly hurt, he was still
alive. and together the exhausted girl
and the cripplel lion lay down and slept.
That was the first night Of 553 that the
young girl and the lion lived on the
speck of land in the center OF the vast
ocean.
Liela did aot know then, or until she
was rescued. where she was, but the III
tie speck in the sea upon which they bad
been cas-, was one Of the minute Islands
northws ID OF the Bellona reefs, towards
the Chesterfield islands. and from the
south side of their little island home the
girl could see palm trees or another Is
land southwark.
Builds Home for Herself.
Like Crusoe. the girl made the exam
nation the day after she was cas-
ashore. and in less than an hour had
learned the worst She still hoped thai
the boat would And her. for she thought
perhaps Il had been cast away also
possIbly on the speck Of land TO thu
southwark. Some driftwood, few biz
OF rigging from the lost vessel. CHECKER
coop filed with dead fowls, few tas
tered bits OF sails. and two large TIN
OF sea biscuit were al! that the CIR
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12

al rare intervals she caught gull. and
once she caught a small green parrot
Hope still lived. She believed that
some day she would be saved. Her only
hardship was loneliness. and she talked,
or sang TO herself to keep her mind busy.
and she climbed to the top OF the trees
and sat there gazing out across the sea
She was in a tree top on the afternoon
she was rescued. She was sitting gaz-
ing southwark toward the familiar
speck. day-dreaming of her beautiful
France. and wondering whether she ever
would see If again she had been there
for hours. when suddenly she gasped
and almost fell out Of II. tree top. she
heard voices.
A moment later. with cry that star
tied the sailors. she slid and jumped
down the tree. and rushing towards
them across the sand. laughed and cried
and laughed again, begging them 10
speak 10 her. one OF the sailors spoke
French. He told her they were from
the trading schooner Cyprus. and would
take her aboard.
Then the strange. sun-browned- grass
CARRIED beauty fell still laughing fell
fainting upon the sand. and before she
recovered she and her little store Of
tools she had made. were safe on board
Z the vessel. bound for Noumea- New Cal
edonia. and. eventually. France wher.
the happy family was reunieed.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12

huge pair OF cartilage scissors, that
he had in his pocket when he eft the
hospital. suppose
Dare you" he Whispered.
Now comes the horrible part Stan
ley, you know l never could take a
dare. | didn't mean to cut of her
feathers wouldn't do such a thing.
| only meant to pretend l lifted the
scissors-in the dark. you know-and
opened them close TO the feathers and
the deadly things must have been
razors. Before knew it-Stan. I'd
have given my life 10 put those feath-
ers back. But there they were, light
and long and curling. IN my hand.
Nobody saw it done. Amy put her
hand to her hat as If she felt it had
been jostled, but she did not feel that
the feathers were gone. Well, Her
bert was enchanted. and the play went
on. We saw very well after that.
I But felt-oh. has Herbert written TO
you? lie insists on treating 1t all as
a joke.
Finally the play came to an end.
Everybody rose to leave the theater,
and | touched Amy Wilmot on the
arm. Il am very sorry" / said. "but
but | cut these OF accidentally.
and handed her the feathers before
7 Herbert could stop me.
She Just stared a moment. and then
her hand went up to her hat ! could
hear Herbert catch his breath. ca1
see her face. the bewilderment chang
ing into Indignation. the-oh. tbs
everything-tne people all pouring
past Us. dropping their programmes
putting on their wraps, laughing an.
criticising the play.
Then Herbert put his oar in ant
started to take all the blame, but sh'
turned squarely away from him an'
said to me in a voice choking Will
rage: "You shall pay dearly for thi
little Joke. | demand en- apology
with all my heart" l said. "
feel worse about this than you do
you know very well that am no
speaking about the hat she ex
, claimed. Il want you to make you
fencers friend-you remember whom
-retract what you got him TO sa
against my fencing in the tournamen
to retract IL In print"
Then I was angry. Stanley. dreV
myself UP and said: Il had nothin
., do with the judging, Miss Wilmo'
but that has nothing TO do with this
Cor which | am horribly sorry. and III
, ready to do anything to prove IL"
Miss Wilmot did not lift her hea'
but she raised her eyes SO that the
met mine squarely. Are you pre-
pared. she asked. Ito try that cour
ter-th. est over again without the bu
tons on the swords"
Hold on" said Herbert; but ~
him aside and said: Whenever 20
choose"
Then come here TO the theater 4
, morrow morning at 1890. ! have
|. rehearsal at IL. and little practi'
: BEFOREHAND will do me good. We shs
have the stag 10 relges"
This is all nonsense" Herbert |
terrurted. Miss Whiteside viii do
such hing
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-12
Roraltv En- Tour.

The prince Of Wales has sent strict or
ders TO India regarding the careful OBJ
servance OF Sunday during the royal
tour. when the prince and princess are
ira Yelling on that day their II ,in Will be
sto )ped d-rirg the time Of divine sssv.
ice
New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
BOYS ODD STORY.
Charged soith Forging Check, Tells
Tale of a HOld-Up.

A young man Of about seventeen years entered
the Fourteenth Street Bank yesterday and ten
dered to the paying teller. Charles c. Schmeckle
a check for S21 90 1t was shortly before closing
hours, and the check apparently signed
by one OF the banks large depositors. Samuel
Levy. the clerk counted out the money and was
on the point of paying it out when he happened
to notice that the two Endorsements the back.
and the name of the bearer on the check were
In exactly the writing. Then he sum-
moned the banks special policeman. and the lat
ter placed the boy under arrest and took him to
the Essex Market court. where Magistrate Stein
ert held him $1,000 Bond for examination
on the charge of uttering forged check.
In court the boy told peculiar story. He
said his name was Harry Benderfosky, seventeen
years DID, of No. 1O2 West 54th street. and that
ne had come downtown to look for a position in
a tailoring establishment He unable TO
tell just where the shop was, but said that as
soon as he got inside the door three mon stepped
up to him and placed pistols TO his head, COM
mandng him to take the check and pass 1t, or
they would shoot him. He claimed they fol-
lowed him to the bank, and he was afraid TO tell
anybody about 1t for fear they would carry out
their threat.
New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
WHOLE FAMILY POISONED
Ouerdoses Of arsenic SaUed House.
hold from Death.

Auburn, y. Y, Nov 27-After investiga-
ton taking a month by physicians and chem
lists 1t has been found that the illness of the
family of William F. Wait, the wealthy carpet
manufacturer, IS due to arsenical poisoning. Mr..
Wait is still i'll at the City Hospital. and his
son, Bryan, recently graduated from Yale. is
also there. partly paralyzed.
Tho Rev. Harvey Clements of Gloversvnle a
son-in- law who recently spent few days in the
Wait household, was all ready TO go abroad,
but on reaching New York stricken also.
and was Ill for some tiTre. Mrs. Wait also was
i'll for several days Not even the servants in
the household escaped
al symptoms pointed conclusivey to arsenical
nnisoning Detectives aid the local police were
called IN, the greatest secrecy being observed.
Analyses OF foodstufcs in tie Wait house showed
nrce.1tc in sufficient quantities to produce death.
II IS supposed that the victims received over
doses for nausea followed their meals, and this
may nave averted speedy death. The inve9t-
ration fs still going on. but there IS absolutely
no Glow TO the poi5oneF
New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
TO URGE CITIZENSHIP.
TWO SPECIAL MESSAGES.
President Would GiUe Right to the
Porto Ricans.
1Frorn Tho Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. Nov. 27.-President Roosevelt is
preparing two special messages to Congress as
the result Of his journey to the Panama zone
and Porto Rico. The first message. dealing
with affairs on the isthmus is now being rap
idly whipped into shape and will be submitted
to the two houses within a fortnight. and the
second. document Porto Rico. which will
be shorter, will follow soon thereafter as
the President can prepare the copy for the
printer
The Panama Canal message will give a COM
prehensive account of conditions the Presi-
dent found them, and will urge on Congress
certain legislation which. in the opinion Of the
Executive. is of vital necessity to the speedy
and economical completion of the great water
way.
The Porto Rican message will bring to the
attention Of Congress a number of laws that
the President believes ought to be passed for
the benefit of the island. First among these is
an enactment comforting on the Porto Ricans
immediate American citizenship. The President
was greatly pleased with the condition OF affairs
as he found them in Porto Rico. He regards
the present government admirably suited to the
conditions of the island. and is OF the opinion
that affairs are being splendidly conducted by
Governor Winthrop and the other officials In
charge, but he believes it is nothing short of an
injustice that the right OF citizenship is de-
MED the inhabitants Intelligent. progressive. up
to-the-minute as they are in everything that
goes to make up a high class people
AS an example of the odd state of affairs
existing. Tuo Larrinaga, the representa-
tive that the United States appointed to the
Pan-American Congress at Rio Janero to speak
for Porto Rico, not able to call him.
self a citizen of this Republic when he Joined
the delegates at that important conference
New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
GIRL NEARLY SCALPED.
Hair Caught IN Belt and Skull
Fractured Die.

Rose Creghino's scalp was nearly torn from
her head and her skull was fractured a result
of her hair getting caught in a belt in the Auer-
bach Candy Company's factory, at No 334 West
3eth street last night. The unfortunate girl
was taken TO Bellevue Hospital. where 1t was
said early this morning that ner condition
serious.
The girl. who is Twenty-Five years old and
lives at No. 42S West 39th street was combing
her hair preparatory to going home. In tossing
her hair over her head 1t caught IN the fast
revolving belt
Before any Of her companions could seize her
she was whirled into the air. Her screams and
the cries of the other girls created great excite
ment The girl pulled about fifteen feet and
then threw her hands above her head, hoping to
free herself. Her thumb caught in the betting
and was crushed, but rhis action released her
hair and she fell to the floor unconscious.
The last rites of the church were administered
bv Father Foddiana In the ambulance on the
way to the hospital.
New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
AUTO KILLS OLD MN.
Chauffeur Speeds on after Running
Him DG7Cn at 81st Street.

Frederick W. Baecht. seventy-seven years old.
OF No. 75 Webster avenue. Jersey City. was
struck and fatally injured by an automobile at
S1st street and Amsterdam avenue last night.
He died an hour after he admitted 10 Roose-
Welt Hospital from fracture of the skull and
internal injuries.
Baecht was an upholsterer and decorator. and
had his Office and shop at No. 2o4 West S1st
street Shortly after o'clock last night he
closed his place and started to- take car TO the
ferry He walked west on S1st street. and when
he crossed Amsterdam avenue an automobile
which came flying UP the avenue struck him and
hurled him into the air. Policeman Grinthal. of
the West 6Sth street station. who was standing
nearby saw the accident and glanced quickly
after the machine, the chauffeur OF which made
no effort to stop. He reported that he saw either
tho number "A 12i or Ia. .124.
New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
HILL BLOCKED MERGER
BIG RAILWAY DEAL OFF.
Says He Would Not Enter Combina-
ton of All Western Roads.
rBy Telegraph TO TIL. Tr.eune. ]

Minneapolis, Nov. PA movement to COM
bine all the railroads in the West between the
Canadian border and the Mexican line was
checkrnated by the refusal Of ]. ]. Hill to enter
the combination. Mr.. Hill made this disclosure
while testfying before the Minnesota Railroad
and Warehouse Commission to-day. He as
serted and reiterated the honesty Of his pur-
poses in his large transactions.
Stockholders of the Great Northern road he
said, have received the equivalent OF 147 per
cent in dividends during the last year. made up
Of per cent from operation of the road 40 per
cent in a stock dividend and 100 per cent from
the ore land deal. the last being almost free
gift of Mr. Hill to his stockholders, as he could
nave retained the profit for his personal account
as was clearly demonstrated in the examinat ation
Of Mr.. Hill by Edward T. Young Attorney Cen
eraI.
Mr.. Hill further testified that the $50 900 900
IN ore, to use his words. stands as not costing
cent" The lands We're originally bought by
Mr.. Hill with his own money and credit and
not a cent. said Mr.. HILL of the Great Northern
company surplus was used in the deal. Through
skilful management of the ore lands since OBJ
tanning them Mr. Hill recovered all they cost
him while holding most Of them. He then
placed these holdings in the Superior company
and distributed that companys stock among his
Great Northern stockholders gratis. Mr. Hills
statements along this line were brought out by
Mr.. Young after severe cross-exa rnination Some
Of the questions evidently nettled Mr. Hill.
He hinted at plan for a combination Of all
Western railroads. with himself at its head
which plan had not nnatured because of his re-
fusal TO take charge.
II could have accepted" he said, the man
asement OF all the railroad lines in the West
between the Canadian boundary and Mexico,
but refused, that might continue in charge
Of my interests in the Northwest and the devel-
opnent OF this part of the country
Mr.. Hill. after much cross s-examination admit
ted that the stock of the companies which the
Great Northern had bought Is still held by the
Great Northern
You may sell such stock at any time" said
Mr.. Young. II suppose there is nothing to pre-
vent you. and thus get double money for these
lines, as Great Northern stock has already been
issued and sold 10 cover their purchase price"
Yes. the heavens may fall down and crush
every one on earth" replied Mr.. Hill with some
heat, but don't think they will"
Attorney General Young said to-day:
LAS result OF the evidence obtained in the
examination of Mr.. Hill, showing duplicate Is
sues OF capital stock for the Great Northern
branch lines, am considering how to bring pro-
ceedings to compel the retirement of one set of
is still adoat and paying dividends, or that of
the main line issued for the purpose Of buying
up the subsidiary company"
New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
TWO DIE IN C4VE-IN.
Tzcelue WOrkmen Buried an Deep
Hole by Shifting Sand.

Two men known to have been killed and more
than a dozen Injured in a cave-in caused by quick
sand last night in excavation In Claremont
Park at Morris and 172d street, The Bronx.
II is believed that three other men We're also
caught IN the quick rush of sand.
The greatest excitement prevailed in the neigh
borhood which for years has been noted for quick
sand beds.
For the last month laborers under William J.
Flanagan. of Jerome avenue and 1I2d street. have
been OF work excavating for sewer At li2d street
and Morris avenue. to havc the sewer level. the
shaft was dug to depth OF about % feet Boards
were placed alongside the walls of the excavation
which was about 25 feet wide. -
A bout forty men were at work laet night. While
al the deepest part of the excavation a creaklnS
sound was heard. Some moved away, put others
naid no attention until IL too late Inc boards
parted and tons of sand poured INTO & the M ns noie
dozen aborers were caught in the rush, me ott RS
Succeeding in climbing up the LADDERS the , cries
OF ti1 @ coon as the sand stopped shifting the men
TctTrned 10 tho place and started to dig out their
felloy workmen . - -, ~. g., ,
-. bo5Ins OF two mon. They were identified as
Inris Rorri of No. l2i Macdougal street ana PaGl
Pit1mori twenty-four years Old OF ls'ih and Hor-
man streets. Inc 6Fonx