davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

in a country store, that one day I'd re-
cline on a spotted divan and have a
private yassal to keep the flies off
of me- To say nothing of bein' wait
ed on by Signor Mosquito
tried to hold down the safety valve
of my wrath.
I'VE have just held meeting, and
by unanimous vote, we have decided
that you are an irresponsible flush. a
night blooming sWozzle and a vitrified
spingo," l said.
Thanks he replied. I'll do as
much for you some time"
Are you aware of the fact that the
boat departs in twenty minutes?"
asked No. 2.
The boat will not leave its moor
ing uni Peasley of Iowa is safely
aboard he replied. "Why is it that
you fellows begin to throw luck fits
every time we have to catch a boat
or train? Kindly send my luggage
aboard. and as soon as Signor Mosquito
has concluded his amputations | shall
join you"
Words failed us. We hurried to the
boat, feeling reasonably certain that
ne would follow us to Assouan by rail.
When 1t came time to cast off, Mr..
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

| Peasley had not appeared, and our IT.
rieation was gradually softening I'M
to deep joy. The warning whistle
blew twice, and then Mr.. Peasley came
down the bank, carrying Nubian
spear eight feet long over his shoulder.
By the time he had arrived on the
upper deck the gangplanK was drawn
and we were swinging in the current.
He bestowed on us a cool smile of
triumph and then removed his hat. His
hair had been given a shellac finish
and smelled like the front of drug
store.
"Signor Mosquito is we'll named, "
said Mr.. Peasley. when he got
through with me he stung me for fif-
teen piosters."
For several hours we refused to
speak to him or sit near him ON deck,
but finally we needed him to fill out
a four-handed game of dominoes and
he was taken back on probation. While
we were engaged in very stubborn
session of double mines" we noticed
that most of our fellow-passenger
and especially those OF English per-
suasion, were making our little group
the target of Mortified glances. Some
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24
(The End.)
Caught a Sea Serpent.

From the New York American.
After enjoying fine bass fishing in the
streets of Harlem. the boys of that Sec
ton of Manhattan yesterday exhibited
the largest snake that ever was displayed
IN the city outside of a reptile house.
With the irldescent colors of the famed
okapi and measuring Is feet Z inches,
aside from its mashed head, the reptile
was hauled out of the river by intrepid
small boys, after its discovery by Capt.
"Bill' Woods, Waterman on the Third
avenue bridge. With the well-known
methods of the Court of BioyviIle the
youngsters proudly carried the huge SER
pent ten barrel slaves through the
streets of upper Manhattan.
The appearance of the snake procession
in front of cafe at Lexington avenue
and One Hundred and Thirteenth street
created small-sized riot among the
habitues of the place. They all declared
that the reptiian specimen measured at
least 80 feet and that 1t grew in size as
it was observed
With due appreciation Of the occasion
the policemen along the line of march
failed to make any demonstration against
the snake bearers, and the procession
moved, unmolested along One Hundred
and Twenty-eighth street, into Park ave-
nue., to One Hundred and Twenty-nnth
street, to Lexington avenue and One Hun
dred and Thirtieth street. Large crowds
viewed the reptilian wonder, which was
declared by all to be the longest levia-
than that ever dangerously lay upon the
limpid waters of the Harlem
The part of the skin of the reptile was
confscated by Electrician Hultzren of
the Third avenue bridge, who has con-
structed two life preservers therefrom-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

of them actually glared at us. We be-
gan to wonder if dominoes was re-
garded as an immoral practice In
Egypt.
"1hese people keep on looking at us
as if we were happy band of burg
lars" said Mr.. Peasley. 1--WE think
we are travelling incog, but our repu-
tation has perceded us"
Then we heard one old lady ask an
other if there would be any evening
services in the dining saloon, and Mr..
Peasley, who was reaching into the
bone yard" suddenly paused with his
hand up and exclaimed: "Sanctified
catfish Boys, it's Sunday"
1t was. We had been sitting there
among those nice people throughout
the calm Sabbath afternoon playing
wicked game of "draughts." After
two weeks among the Mohammedans
and other heather, with every day a
working day and the English Sunday
a dead letter, we had lost all trace of
dates. Mr.. Peasley said that if any
one had asked him the day of the week
he would have guessed Wednesday.
The unfortunate incident helped to
deeped and solidify the dark suspicion
with which we, as Americans, were
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

the face For three weeks I have
tried to let on to pretend to make a
bluff at being deeply interested in
these open graves. Other people
gushed about them, and | was afraid
that If | didn't trail along and show
some sentimental interest they might
suspect that | was from Iowa and was
shy on soulfulness. I'll say THIS much,
however-I'm mighty glad I've seen
them, because now I'll never have to
look at them again.
Egypt is something like the old set
tler-you'd like to roast him and call
MIN down, but you hate to jump on
anything so venerable and weak.
Egypt Is so old that you get the head
ache trying to think back Egypt had
gone through forty changes of admin
istration and was on the down grade
before Iowa was staked out.
The principal produces of this coun-
Try are insects, dust, guides and fake
cur1os. | got my share of each. am
glad l came, and may want to return
some day, but not until have worked
the sand out of my ears and taken in
two or three county fairs. | have been
walking down the main aisle with my
hat In hand SO long that now I am
ready for something lively.
Americans are popular in Egypt.
during business hours. Have not been
showered with social attentions. but
am always comforted by the thought
that the exclusive foreign set cannot
say anything about me that I haven't
already said about it. OF course, we
could retalliate in proper fashion If we
could lure the foreigners out of Iowa.
but that seems out of the question.
They think Iowa is in South America.
I shall mail this letter and then
chase it all the way home.
Give my love to everybody, whether
l know them or not. Yours,
PEASLEY.
P. S.-Open some preserves.
Not a comprehensive review of the
fruits of our journey and yet fairly ac-
curate.
(The End.)
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

two dollars day. There are thirty
of them. Couldn't we compromise
for lump sum of fifty dollars?"
you do not understand" said the
captain. I'VE are asked to pay eight
shillings for the whole crowd. think
that six would be enough"
Whereupon Mr.. Holmes gave them
ten shlllings, or 1-3 cents each, and
as he sailed away the grateful assem-
blage gave three rousing cheers for
Mr.. Rockefeller.
When We left Assouan we scooted by
rail direct to Cairo, and in a few days
were headed for home, by way of
Italy, France and England, all of them
seeming painfully modern after our
sojourn in Egypt.
1t is customary In winding up n
series of letters to draw certain pro-
found conclusions and give hints to
travellers who may hope to follow the
same beaten path. Fortunately, Mr..
Peasley had done this for us. He
promised a real estate agent in Fair
field, Iowa, that he would let him
know about Egypt. One night in AS
souan he read to us the letter to his
friend, and we borrowed it:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24
Hep! Hep! Horayi
Hep! Hepi Horay!
Hep! Hep! Horay!
All right! Thank you.

This effort represented their sum
total of English, and they were very
proud of it, and we like it, too-that
Is, the first million times. After that
the charm of novelty was largely dis
sipated..
Many people visit Assouan on ac-
count of the kiln dried atmosphere,
which is supposed to have a discour-
aging effect on rheumatism and other
ailments that flourish in damp eli
mate. Assouan is as dry as Pittsburg
on Sunday. 1t is surrounded by desert,
and the sun always seems to be work
ing overtime. The traveller who does
much rambling out of doors gradually
assumes the brown and papery COM
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

, excitement, so after that we followed
the more placid waters.
The black boatmen had a weird chat,
wnlch they repeated over and over,
keeping time with the stroke. 1t was
combination of Egyptian melody and
American college yell, and ran as fol-
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
PLAN PORTRAIT
FOR THE KAISER

NEW YORK, June 22.-To demon
strate to the German Emperor that
there is no personal animosity in criti-
cism of his portrait presented recently
to the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and
Sciences and hung in the Eastern
Parkway Museum. the trustees Of the
institute have started a movement to
raise by popular subscription a large
sum with which to pay for portrait
of President Roosevelt to be sent 10
the Emperor on behalf Of the citizens
of New York.
Franklin W. Hooper, director of the
institute, who has characterized the
Emperor's portrait as worthless and
white elephant" announced yester-
day that the trustees of the institute
had started the movement to send the
Presidents portrait to the Emperor.
Professor Hooper said he was confident
that the plan would be carried out and
that the best artist in this country
would be asked to paint the portrait of
the President.
Bitter feeling has resulted from the
Emperor's presentation to the Brook
lyn Institute of the portrait of him
self. Professor Hooper's criticism was
made In a letter. in the course of which
he criticised the portrait because 1t
was a copy of the Corcos picture and
OF mo value as work of art"
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
WILL SUE GERMANIA.
DIR. G. E. Davis Refuses to Accept Dis
count Settlement.


DR.. G. E. Davis of 1908 Geary street
declares that the Germania Fire IN
surance Company of New York, which
has withdrawn from the State so far
as writing new insurance is concerned,
but which has announced its intention
of paying all Just claims dollar for
dollar, is not living up to its public
statement Because they offered him
IS per cent in settlement of his claim
he will sue them for payment OF his
whole policy.
Dr. Davis carries policy for $1,000
with the Germania His sworn state
nent of his loss is S5400. He says that
his proofs show the earthquake caused
no damage of consequence except to his
furniture. which is deducted from his
statement of loss. On this $1,000 poll
icy, he claims, he was offered $3.50 In
pavment. He refused TO accept the
sliced settlement.
Il may as well tell you," DR.. Davis
saws was told TO him by Pacific Coast
Manager H. H Breeding OF the Ger
mania, that we purpose paying rs
cents on the dollar and no more. You
will not get any more by waiting, so
you had better take that"
Il determined then and there to sue, >
said DR.. Davis yesterday, "if my at
torney would consent. But what makes
me so mad about it all is the effront
cry with which the Germania says it is
paying it's legitimate losses dollar for
dollar. l believe. however, that it will
pay me dollar for dollar, for / have a
clear case against it,
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
STANDARD
OIL To Be
IN COURT

WASHINGTON, June 22.-FormaI an
nouncement of the purpose of the Gov
ernment to prosecute the Standard Oil
Company was made today by Attorney
General Moody. 1t appears from his
statement that the proceedings in the
first Instance will be held under the
term of the Elkins law which prohibits
rebates in interstate commerce. The
Attorney General, however, gives no.
tice that in all probability, should the
investigation he is still making JUS
tfy it, he will bring further action
against the Standard Oil Company un-
der the terms of the Sherman anti
trust law, and also will take steps to
insure against the continuance on the
part of the company of Determinations
in trade and transportations, not now
a subject of prosecution under the ex-
listing law, but especially provided
against in the pending rate bill. The
Attorney Generals statement follows:
After full consideration OF all infor
nation now available, including the re-
port of the Commissioner of Corpora
tions and the evidence taken by the
Interstate Commerce Commission, /
have reached the conclusion that GRIM
inal proceedings against the Standard
Oil Company should be begun IN cer-
tain cases where there appears to have
been violation of the law regulating
Interstate commerce and prohibiting re-
bates and other unlawful discrim-
nations Accordingly such proceeding
will be begun at once in the appropri-
ate judicial districts. These cases are
regarded and will be treated as of i'm
portance. 1t seems clear that In so far
as the Standard Oil Company has OBJ
tanned monopolistic control of inter-
state trade, the control has been in
large degree made possible by discrim-
nations in transportation rates or ia
cilities, the Determinations being In
some cases in violation OF law and in
other cases. though Injurious to the
public welfare, not in violation of law,
and therefore subject only to such cor
rection as may be afforded by the rail-
way rate legislation now pending in
Congress-
Il shall continue the investigation of
the affairs of the Standard Oil Com
pany and of such complaints as have
been or may be brought to the atten-
tion of this department with the view
of ascertaining whether or not there
has been any violation OF the antitrust
act or any other Federal law. This in
vestigation will require the assistance
of the department, and / have en-
ployed as special counsel crank B. Kel-
logg of ST. Paul who was one of the
counsel for the Government in the re-
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
SAVINGS BANKS GET FULL
PAYMENTS FOR THE LOSERS
Even "Six Bit Insurance Companies Honor De
mands That Are Properly Backed Up
Property Owners Who Gave Mortgages on Realty
Find Good Champions of Their Cause

Interesting information for policy
holders in fire insurance companies
and corroborative of the suppOsition
that different persons fare differently
in settlements for losses is derived
from statements made by many per-
sons who had mortgages in savings
banks in this city and who are receiv-
ing 100 cents on the dollar from COM
panies that rank as the "dollar-for-
dollar" companies and also the six
Bit concerns. Such statements were
made yesterday and were verified by
careful inquiry at banks.
In each bank lists OF persons who
have borrowed money from the bank
on the security of real estate and who
lost by the great fire in April are
made. On such lists appears the num-
ber of the mortgage loan on which the
money was borrowed, the location of
the property, the names Of the insur-
ance companies carrying the risks, the
amount of loss adjusted and the terms
of final settlement.
These lists therefore anf)unt to off,
cial statements of the highest possible
value to those concerned, either as
the banks who do business with insur
ance companies and to the insurance
men.
The statements so prepared make 1t
clear that the banks and their clients,
through the agency of the bank insur-
ance departments, are getting their
money claims at the rate OF 100 cents
on the dollar.
BANKS HOLD LEVER.
How this can be when the individual
property owner who was not so fortu-
nate as to be jointly interested with a
bank or banks in losses gets less than
his claim iG Silv q N {
that loan money on real estate security
are particularly concerned that the Sc
curity shall be the best possible. The
ability of the borrowers to pay inter-
est often depends In part upon the Inn
provements The fire destroyed thou
sands of homes and small stores upon
which money had been lent. This made
the savings banks active parties in In
terest in the settlements the insurance
companies would offer and effect.
When a loan on real estate security
is made where there are improvements
the bank in interest demands and files
away in big vault an insurance pol
icy. So when the bank vaults were re-
opened after the fire in April the bank
ers at once were able to see what COM
panies were to be dealt with and the
terms and conditions attending every
policy. -st1
The savings banks are the most pow
erful of all the influences that the in
surahce companies meet. Unless the
insurance company is good in the view
of the bankers its policies are not ia
vored when they are presented by bor-
rowers of bank money. Unless the COM
panies treat the clients of the banks
we'll they may be sure that they will
do no more business where the banks
are concerned.
These facts fully explain why the
policy holders who have borrowed bank
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23

money on improved real estate within
the burned district have been getting
100 cents on the dollar almost without
exception, the. variations from the 100
per cent payments being due to reasons
that are accepted by the banks as fair.
DISCOUNT IS SMALL.
Where a man desires his money i'm
mediately to rebuild he accepts the
face value of the adjusted loss less a
percentage, which in some instances is
as low as per cent, for cash. II he
desires to wait the full period of sixty
days, which the insurance companies
are entitled to before paying losses.
he gets his full amount of coin without
deduction.
What this means is made clearer by
the statement OF a banker that three
large banks alone-the Hibernia, the
German Savings Bank and the San
Francisco Savings Union-had some
thing like s20,0e0,o00 loaned on prop
critics in the burned district in this
city where the improvements were cost
ly and material. The interests of the
other savings banks were also very
large. When the fire was put out the
savings banks lost no time in getting
their insurance departments organ
lied and made as effective as possible
for immediate work.
The bank premises being burned in
whole or in part, 1t became necessary
to engage separate quarters for the In
surance departments. In these quar-
ters were installed attorneys, insur-
ance clerks and experts and indexes of
insurance policies held by the banks as
security. Thousands of policy holders
focked to confer with the bankers and
were at once put in touch with the in
surance clerks and attorneys There
was no need for the bankers to go to
the insurance companies for any in
formation, for they had 1t all in their
own hands, together with the great
power over future insurance business
to be done with their consent.
BORROWERS FORTUNATE.
The insurance companies knew all
the advantages Of the banks and ma
turally wished to keep their good will.
So the money borrowers from banks
have Jared well. This is admitted by
bankers who know all the facts. There
was no need for any individual bank
client to deal with sharp adjusters who
have been sent out from the East to
bulldoze them. For each and all Its
clients the banks have stood Loyalty.
All the individual losers had to do was
to make proof of loss and then to veri-
fy their statements at the proper time.
The banks have attended In thousands
of Instances to the filing Of proof of
loss In proper form through their at
torneys, who are engaged by the year.
The policy holders having Joint in
terests with the banks have therefore
occupied an ideal position. The banks
receive the money in each instance and
then settle with the clients, as the In
surance policies are assigned to the
banks when the loans are made. What
the policy holders canont do for them
selves the banks are effecting with GER
tainty.
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
CnIifornians in New York.

NEW YORK, June 22.-The following
Californians are in New York: From
San Francisco-H. Bahle at the Herald
Square; o. Gibson, T. Gibson, at the
Broadway Central; A. ]. Buckley, at
the Herald Square: S. M. Foster, at
the Victoria; Mrs. J. p. Gray, at the
Grand; r. g. Hanford and wife, at the
Wolcott; A. P. Lundin, at the Grand:
Mrs. @. G. Phumay. at the Imperial; M.
w. Solomon, at the Herald Square; w.
Breerwood. at the Grand Union: Mrs
Z. w. Draper, at the Park Avenue;
William Flood, at the Victoria; Mrs c..
w. Kist. at the Navarro; E. r.. New
man. at the Continental: L. J. Scarffy,
at the Seville; c. Smith, at the Nor
mandie. From Los Angeles-A l.. Aus
tin, at the Navarro; r. Bernstein, at
the Cosmopolitan: w. T. Burkhardt, at
the Broadway Central; C. w. Risden,
at the Ashland; H. w. Louis, at the
Herald Square.
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
KISSES THE Man
WHO SHOT HER
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.


FRESNO, June 22.-Maddened by
jealousy Jesse Truitt last night shot
and seriously wounded his former
fiancee, Nina Lindsey, and killed her
new lover, James McMullen. All the
parties are colored. The tragedy oc-
Cured at the Lindsey girls home. She
and McMullen were sitting on the
porch, when Truitt crept up from be-
hind and fired two bullets with fatal
effect into McMullen and then turned
the weapon on the fleeing girl. Two
bullets struck her. The shooting oc-
Cured shortly before midnight, but a
large crowd of excited colored people
Immediately gathered. Truitt. f1ouriSh-
ing his revolver, declared he would not
shoot again If the girl would kiss him.
The Lindsey woman thereupon went
up to the man who had just killed her
lover and whose bullets were then in
her body and kissed him on the mouth.
She then tainted and was taken to a
hospital. Truitt disappeared, but this
afternoon was arrested.
The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
HEAVY PENALTIES IMPOSED
IN THE BEEF REBATE CASE
BIG FINES AND PRISON TERMS

doer in one way and another in a diff
ferent way for the same offense:
There have been three trials In this
court this term, in which the defend
ants have been convicted of giving and
receiving concessions and rebates. Are
you going to fine some and tmprlson
President Roosevelt and his special
counsel split on the question OF how
the prosecution should be Iramed attnr and
ney Justify his demand for greater
punishment in the Thomas and Taggart
easss easxsr. than and ne the fskin BurIngtos II
cases? If so. on what grounds? Is
II on the ground of larger sums of
money? No. Or different crimes? No
For both were refunds on freight or
said, during this trial. there is no real
distinction. The crime is the same In
ment and the name Of the crime is diff
ferent in the one instance than in the
BIG LEGAL VICTORY.
Van valkenburg. the District Attor-
ney who has directed for the Govern
ment the suits in the rebate cases, said
after court had adjourned:
/ am entirely satisfied with the judg-
ments. The Government has been
aghsnin,g for a great grinHcipis fHd a5+ In the he
punishment. although necessarily in
cidental. Is. after all. secondary
Tne results are OF enormous DenenI
to society. So far as the ruling OF a
trial court may be effectual. the follow
ing propositions have been established:
"That the conspiracy statute applies
to the combined efforts OF individuals.
seeking by device and indirect methods
to evade the interstate commerce law.
That Congress has Jurisdiction over
within the limits Of our own territory.
and has enacted laws which provide
for remedy against favoritism and
unjust discrimination.
That export as well as other tariffs
must be filed with the Interstate Com
merce Commission and maintained.
Neither shippers nor carriers can by
contract among themselves render the
provisions of the law imperative.
Finally. tx any error has been COM
rnftted, opportunity Is given to have
that error corrected by the highest
court OF this land, to the end that the
laws as enacted by Congress may be
well understood and established and
settled"