davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
Small Farms Within City Limits Lent for a Noble Pur-
pose by the Astor Esate-More Applicants Who Want
to Raise Vegetables Than There Is Room For.

soil. They can get no other employment. being
victims Of circumstances for the most parI,
forced into idleness by strikes lockouts. the
shutting down of factories. the killing of certain
long established trades by the invention OF
machinery. Only one man in a hundred who
belongs to this unfortunate class has fallen
there from sheer shiftessness. OF course. drink
is the curse of many. but not as many as some
people imagine. 1t is estimated that only one
in four paupers in New York is the victim of
intemperance."
Mr.. Hall paused moment as il calling back
60 mind the first sentence that he had uttered,
and then added with emphasis:
Think Of it. Above 155th street. in Man
haitian and The Bronx. there are enough vacant
lots to provide a livelihood for all the unen-
ployed people Of this whole city"
Inquiries made among the owners of large
tracts Of unimproved land in this city soon dis
closed why it has been so difficult TO open up
vacant lots to the poor, and why at the present
Ilme only twenty acres are available. 1t was
learned that land was bought and sold rapid
~ IN New York that few owners cared to en-
cumber their property in any way. II can't
afford to be bothered said one big proprietor.
This cultivation OF vacant lots by the poor
folks looks like cheap yet splendid kind OF
charity. but in fact, it may prove tremendously
expensive. Yes, yes, 1 know these people won't
hurt the land by planting vegetables on it.
They'll improve it, if anything but that isn't
the question. The trouble is this: If let them
in may miss a good sale. If I permit them
to work my land, 1 would of course have to
guarantee them the crops. Vegetables lake SIX
weeks TO two months to mature from the time
of planting Suppose. then, that the day after
the potatoes were in a builder came to me and
said:
"'rn pay you $4,000 for your property If
can have immediate possession. I want to put
up row Of houses on the plot right away.
We'll, as soon as I say that have guaranteed
the tenants of that land the right to work it for
TWO months more, the builder says 'goodby.
The only way to clinch the bargain is for me TO
pay those tenants to get out. And that wouldn't
pay me. This cultivation of vacant lots may
prove no annoyance to Phiadelphians. but the
land there. like the people, moves more slowly
Talks with some of the settlers the Bear
Swamp Farm show how unfortunate it is that
New York real estate moves so swiftly that 1t
hasn't time to raise a crop Of vegetables. All
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20

hood by the name of Hensel, who had pair
of fast horses and would be glad to put them
and his carriage and himself as driver at our
disposal.
''On November 4 took leave of DR.. Franken-
thai. I slept that night in Spandau. and passed
the larger part OF the following day with Kru-
ger. Leddihn and Poritz in going over the
chances Of our enterprise, in order to make pro-
vision for all not yet foreseen accidents. At
last the evening came. put the money for
Brune into cigar box and went to his dwelling.
1 found him alone in his scantily furnished but
neat living room. and handed the cigar box to
him with. Here it is; count it.
There, you do not know me- he answered.
IF between US a mere word were not sufficient,
we should not have begun together. What
comes from you I don't count
rs there anything to change in our plan?'
Nothing.
"'To-night. then
Tonight and good luck"
Indeed we had good reason to be confident
Of the success of our plan. barring 1ncalculabe
accidents. The pententiary building sit
uated in the centre OF the town. large bar
rackike edihce, the bare walls Of which were
pierced by one large gate and a multitude of
narrow Sits Of windows. On all four sides it
surrounded by streets The entrance was
on the main street. It led into large gateway.
Inside Of that gateway there was on the right
a door. opening into the official dwelling of the
director Of the institution. and the left
door leading into the guardroom Of the soldiers
on duty in the prison. At the end of the pas
sage third door opened upon an inner court
stone staircase leading up from the hallway
united the lower with the upper stories High
up the second story was Kinkel's cell 1t
had a window toward the rear of the edifce
This window guarded by a screen, which
opened upward so that little daylight fell in
from above and only a small bit Of sky could he
seen, but nothing OF the surroundings below
The window also guarded by strong iron
bars, wire lattice. and a wooden shutter which
was closed at night-n short by all the con-
trivances that usually employed to shut off
a prisoner from all communication with the
outside world Moreover, the cell was divided
into two compartments by a strong wooden
railing which reached from the floor to the cell
ing. One Of the compartments contained Kin
kel's bed; in the other. during the day, ne did
his work. The two compartments were united
by door in the wooden railing, which every
evening securely fastened. The entrance
TO the cell from the corridor was guarded by two
heavy doors. with several locks. On the street
under Kinkel's cell stood day and night a SEN
tInel Another sentinel watched during the
daytime the gate Of the building on the main
street. but he was transferred to the inner court
during the night-a regulation which proved
very important TO Had it not been for this
stupid arrangement we would never have at
tempted what we did The cell, the doors the
locks on the railings. were all examined several
times every twenty-four hours by the 3ailers
on duty
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20

TIE life of Carl Schurz. who died last week
mas if,l Of dramatic incidents. for he was
mar. willing to dare anything for the sake Of
-rineirle or a friend. These qualities are aptly
illustrated in his efforts, when only twenty
,,ears old. to rescue Professor Gottfried Kinkel.
first his teacher and afterward his fellow revo-
-utiorist. from the penitentiary at Spandau. near
Berlin. where he had been imprisoned for his
,artcipatIon in the Revolution OF l848 Young
scb1rz, who had escaped to Switzerland, re-
ursed disguised and undertook to get his friend
ut of the prison. The account, from his own
iand. which was published in "McClures Mag
azine' in April a part Of his autobiography,
exhibits his qualities as a writer. This narra-
i've. which is printed here in part by permis-
ion Of the magazines publishers, has all the
ascination Of a detective story of the first
Crde-.
Immediately after my arrival in Berlin,
-rote Mr. Schurz, 'T put myself in communica-
on with several persons who had been desig-
ated 10 me as trustworthy by Nine Kinkel
and by my democratic friends I spent some
trne in studying them carefully as 1 could not
c lnhde the purpose of my presence in Berlin to
a " one Of whom could not convince myself that
he would be useful in its accomplishment. After
1lis review communicated my secret to one of
Il en- only. DR. Falkenthal. a physician. who
.-actised and lived the life Of an old bachelor
s. the suburb OF Moabit. Falkenthal had
ready been in correspondence with Nine.
JGinkel He had an extended acquaintance in
Spandau and took me there 20 an innkeeper by
the name Of Kriiger. for whom he vouched as
4 thoroughly reliable and energetic man. Mr..
RrF .er occupied in Spandau highly respected
position He had for several years served his
town as a member Of the Common Council; he
conducted the best hotel. and he was a man OF
some property, generally liked on account OF his
honorable character and his amiable disposition.
He offered to me his hotel as headquarters for
my enterprise"
AR. Schurz then described how he took up his
abode in Berlin under the assumed name OF
Herbert JGssen, going back and forth TO Span
dan; told OF Krdgers acquaintance with the off,
cfaIs Of the Spandau penitentiary, which enabled
him TO gain information about the interior of the
prison; Of Krdger's introduction to him OF two
young men named Poritz and Leddihn. who
were IN friendly intercourse with some OF the
prison ofcials; OF his tests of some OF the turn
keys 20 discover If they could be depended upon
70 assist In the escape OF Kinkel and the failure
OF the men for various reasons to respond IA
vOrably; Of his success finally in securing one
named Bruno TO release Kinkel from his CELL and
Che making OF arrangements for relays OF
riages 10 transport the prisoner 70 the seacOast
az Mecklenburg the night OF November g.
1880. when Bruno said the prison guard would
be so arranged as 20 meet the plans OF Mr..
Gchurz
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
RUBBER SHOES.

"On the same day Leddihn and Poritz had In
trusted two good able bodied friends with the
charge OF guarding the street corners nearest &c
the penitentiary building during the night and
Of coming TO aid IL necessary. About mid
night all my people We're at their posts and af-
ter the night watchman had passed down the
street 1 approached the door OF the penitentiary.
had covered my feet with rubber shoes. so as
70 make my step inaudible. second pair Of
rubber shoes had with me for KinkeL In my
belt carried the pistols given to me by Dr.
Falkenthal; in one pocket we'll sharpened dirk
and in another slungshot with which TO arm
Kinkel in case OF stress. had thrown across
my shoulders a large cloak with sleeves. which
should serve Knkel a first wrap So equipped
I softly opened the postern gate 70 step into
the gateway OF the prison. left that little
gate a1ar and the key sticking In the lock The
gateway was dimly lighted by lantern hang
ing from the ceiling. MY first task was 10 pre-
vent the opening from the inside OF the direc-
tors doors on the right and OF the guardroOm
door on the left. ana did so bY tying the door
handles 70 the iron fastening OK the bell ropes
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20

were happy. All enjoyed the outdoor life, and
not few said that their health had been bene-
flied by the fresh air and sunshine And they
had such tremendous expectations Of what they
were going to earn. One or two talked il
they would make more money out Of the vege-
tables from 1900 square feet of soil than if they
had struck gold.
It costs man nothing to start a garden on
the Bear Swamp Farm. All he needs is ac-
tive body. The land is given him. all ploughed.
narrowed and staked. The tools and the seeds
are also furnished him. bit Of brains, too,
If necessary is given him. If he does not
know how to farm. how far apart to dig the
rows how deep to put the seeds he is instructed
in these essentials by the superinte tendent. II he
lives too far away to reach his ranch except
by car. he can save money by putting up a rain
proof tent Several Of the Bear Swamp farmers
have erected shelters of this kind. and say that
they never enjoyed their sleep more than with
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
VRS#zN CAM -

No o-7rs~
ana Esyp Greece s56 by its saTers Csidea
sac;on not IN the fields but in the narrow lanes ana
g - m R sreets and in the palaces OF their nobility
esE tle movement countrSaI abandoned farm
founder the United Society OF Christian indeavor
The cry Of Tolstoy. Back to the landg is
beard IN this country in these days Of rapidly
growing cities. and il is cry that is growing
luder and more insistent New movements are
instantly being instituted to get the crowded
eople OF the streets to the idle land of the
ountry. In this city. for example, the Jews.
many Of whom live in the most congested dis
t.icts and who are being crowded closer and
closer by the tremendous immigration of He
brews from Europe. have organized a society
70 remove all who can go to other parts of the
United States. The New York Italians likewise
are shifting as many Of their country folk as
possible TO less crowded regions. The aban-
doned farms Of New England accordingly are
again being cultivated Waste swamps In the
south are being drained and peopIed. and desert
reas Of the Far West are being turned into
ardens by the irrigation ditch.
Nor is it necessary even to go outside OF a
ity nowadays to see this landward tendency.
n several large communities in the United
tates associations have been organized 70. en-
bic the poor OF the crowded quarters to culti-
ate vacant lots in outlying districts Right
ere IN New York a tract of unimproved land
vas opened TO the public few days ago, and
already twenty-five families from the East Side
nave moved onto it and established twenty-five
miniature farms.
There are twenty acres in the whole tract,
and each farm" consists OF three city lots.
There is still room for about thirty families
more, but according to the way applications are
pouring in. the vacant homesteads will soon all
be snapped up. The tract is situated on the
Bear Swamp Road. not far from the old Morris
Park racetrack and comprises about twenty
acres. Il belongs to the Astor estate. 1t may
be reached by taking the West Farms branch
Of the subway TO the end of the line and then
transferring 10 a BrOnXdale avenue trolley
so many people have written me asking for
q chance TO cultivate vacant lots" said Bolton
Hall, OF No. IS Pine street, secretary and or
ganizer Of the committee which has charge OF
the Bear Swamp Farm. that If a hundred acres
were thrown open to them there would still be
not enough land to go round. 1t is indeed a
pity that more ground is not available Ia my
mind the cultivation Of the vacant lots Of city
would go a long way toward solving the prob
lem Of city pauperism.
Right here in New York. for example. we
have on the one hand many thousand acres Of
idle and and on the other many thousands OF
idle people. a great majority of those who are
out 4 work could obtain living from tine
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
SUCCESS At LAST.

at a little distance we heard male voices sing,
Here we sit gayly together What q that
asked Kinlsel. while we hurried through a side
street toward Krugers Hotel
Your iailers around bowl Of punch
"'CapitaI,' said Kinkel. we entered the hotel
through back door. and soon found ourselves
in a room in which Kinkel was 70 put on ths
clothes that we had procured for him-a black
cloth suit big bearskin Overcoat ana a ca1
like those worn by Prussiau forest OficsEz.
From room near by sounded the voices OS the
jewellers. KrIger. who had stood few minutes
looking on while Kinkel was exchanging his cln-
viCt's Garb for an honest mans dress, suddenly
went out with a peculiarly sly smile. When ne
returned he carried few filled glasses
e Herr Professor he said. in room near by
some OF your jailers are sitting around a bowl
OF punch I have just asked them whether ehey-
would not permit TO take some for fAv
friends OF mine who had just arrived. Tii-s ha
objection. Now. Herr Professor, let IS rink
your health first out OF the bowl Of your ia Ars
We found il difficult not TO break out ln lo,.a
laughter. Einkel was In his citizens clos h<4
and his lacerated hands were washed and pa
daged with handkerchiefs. lie thanErl H.
faithful friends with few words which ntoUg
tears to their eyes Then we tumned inf5 Hen
sells vehicle. The penitentiary officers we're still
singing and laughing around their punch bow
Tho two refugees succeeded in reaching the
seacOast and eventually, IN a vessel provided hy
friends gained the Scottish coast
1T Is rerna arlSable how the memory OF that al
venture has remained alive in various parts o.
Germany" wrote Mr. Schurz In ''AtcClure'
Ad5dAlAe lVI May HdlOty year leS rsaSS-
since 1870 without bringing me in new space
articles or letters new versions Of the ola story
some OF them extremely fantastic. ~
January, lVui. nearly htty-three years after Ou
drive from SpandaU 20 RoStOck. I received =
pictorial postal Card signed by a uember OF III
German Reichstag and several other e-utleraer.
who sent me their cordial greetings and a ptc:-
ure Of the White Cross Inn. near RostoeE.
marked 'kiRkefs Corner where we had stopp- 4
tn our dight. and where the room in which We
took an early breakfast Il seems IS stiu pointr
out 20 glests.s
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20

with stout strings. This was the most delicate
piece Of work had to do. Nothing moved My
gaze was riveted on the passage opposite where
Bruno was to appear with Kinkel
so I waited One minute elapsed after an
other but all remained still. I waited a full
quarter of hour. but nothing stirred, What
dill this mean? According to all calculations
they ought to have joined me some time ago.
My situation began to appear very precariOus
Was Bruno, after all. faithess? I took one of
my pistols out of my belt and held 1t in my left
hand ready to fire, and my dirk in the right But
1 resolved to remain at my post until could say
to myself that the last chance Of success was
gone Half an hour had passed and still every
thing was quiet as the grave. suddenly heard
a faint rustic, and at the other end of the gate
way l saw a dark figure appear like spectre, as
if it had stepped out of the wall. My hands
closed moro tightly on my weapons. The next
moment recognized in the dim light the form
of Bruno. There he was at last. but alone He
put his finger upon his lips and approached me-
l awaited him, ready for the worst.
A FAILURE.
~ am unfortunate ne whispered, with his
mouth close to my ear. L have tried everything
I have failed The keys we're not in the locker
Come to me tomorrow and get your money
back
II said nothing in reply, but quickly united the
strings from the door handles right and left and
then stepped out through the postern gate
locked it and put the key into my pocket. l was
hardly on the street when Leddihn and Poritz
hastened TO Join me. With few words I told
them what had happened. We were afraid you
had been trapped said Leddihn. You stayed
so long inside that we were the point of COM
ing after YOU to fetch you out
Soon W. reached Krtiser's hotel. whore Hen
sci stood ready with his carriage 10 take Kinkel
and me away. The disappointment that followed
my report was terrible
Mr.. Schurz Immediately set out IN Hensers
carriage to inform the next relay that the plan
for the rescue had failed He did not return to
Spandau until toward evening the next day.
November 6. Learning from Kriiger that every
thing was quiet. ne forthwith went 10 Brune's
rooms
That was cursed i'll luck last night he
said, but it was not my fault. Everything was
in the best Of order. but as l opened the locker
in the Revier room could not find the keys
to the cell. searched and searched for them.
but they were not there. This morning learned
that Inspector Semmler had accidentally in
stead OF placing them in the locker. put them
into his pocket and carried them with him to
his hOme
For moment he was silent There is the
money he continued. pointing at the cigar box
Take 1t; count it first: no thaler is missing
"'What comes from you. / answered. re-
peating his words OF yesterday VIII not De
counted. But what now? / do not give up.
Must we wait until you have the night watch
We might walt he replied. and in the
mean time duplicate all the keys that we need
so that this difficulty may not arise again. but,
he added. Il have thought over the matter to-
day. II IS a disgrace that that man should sic
IN the convict's cell a day lonseE viii try
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
The Eminent IdeaIiss Own Account of His Intensely
Practical Rescue of Old Friend from
q German Pententiary.

during the night and the key had been conhded
to another superior officer. he had availed him
self of some opportunity to procure wax I'M
preston of that key, from which duplicate key
was made. enabling him to enter the Revler
room during the night The key TO the locker
containing the keys to Kinkel's cell was. as
Bruno knew, in the evening put on top Of that
locker, so that without difficulty he could pos
sess himself of the keys to the cell. Thus Bruno
believed himself fully able to enter the cell dur
ing the night and to take the prisoner out. Now
it was agreed that Bruno. who had the watch
in the night Of the 9TH to the 9th OF November
on Kinkers corridor. should bring Kinke down
the stairs into the gateway. He was sure he
could take him without danger past the turnkey
watching the lower floor. Whether he intended
to interest that man in our affair or to divert
his attention in some manner Brune did not tell
me. He only assured me l might depend upon
there being no difficulty about this. AS soon
Kinkel had been conducted into the gateway
below I was to be there to receive him. In one
of the wings Of the great door that opened upon
the main street there was a little postern gate
to facilitate the daily passage in and out. OF
the key OF this poStern gate We had also pro-
cured a wax impression, and from it a dupli-
cate key. Now 1t TO be my task shortly
after midnight. after the town night watchman
for in Spandau there were at that time sun
night watchmen with spear and rattle-had
passed by the building the street, TO open
the postern gate, to step into the interior OF the
gateway, there to await Bruno and Kinkel; u
wrap Kinke up in cloak, to take him through
the postern gate into the street, and to hurry
with him to Krtger's hotel where he was to put
a suit Of ordinary clothes, and then step with
me into Hensels carriage and away.
Il had asked Bruno TO provide Kinkel with
plentiful supply of food so that he might be in
good physical condition. But to avoid long eX-
citement Kinkel 10 be informed only on the
evening of November >. the night of the attempt
that something was being done for him. and that
he should go to bed at the accustomed hour. rise
Immediately before midnight, dress himself and
be ready for the venture.
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20

the roof Of the penitentisry building. the dOrmsl
windows of which 1 could scarcely distinguish
The street lights hared dimly. Suddenly there
up and down: that was the signal hoped Tor.
With an eager glance examined the street right
and left. Nothing stirred. Then on my part
gave the signal agreed upon. striking sparks a
second later the light above disappeared and
perceived a dark object which slowly moved
across the edge OF the wall My heart beat
violently, and drops OF peTSpiratiOn stood UpOr
my forehead. Then the thing had ap1Te.
hended actually happened-tileS and brick l0os-
ened by the rubbing rope rained down upon the
pavement with loud clatter. Now. good heaven
help US! At the same moment HenSeiS carf1aSs
came rumbling over the cObbleStOnes. Tht
noise OF the falling tiles and brick was no longer
audible: but would they not strike AinRei's head
and benumb him?
'sNOw the dark object had almost reached ths
ground. 7 Ieaped forward and touched ~: "
was indeed my friend. and there ne stood GliFe
and on his feet. That is a bold deed were tnt
first words he said to 'Tk3nk God an
swered. Now off with the rODe and away
labOred in vain to unite the rope tnar was WotlQ
around his body.
I cannot help YOU Kinkel whispered. 'fOE
the rope has fearfully lacerated both my hands
I pulled out my dirk and with great effort sue
ceeded in cutting the rope. the long end OF which
as soon as it was free was quickly pulled up
and helped him to get into the rubber shoes he
looked anxiOusIy around HenSefs carriage haG
turned and was coming slowly back
What carriage is that? Ktukei asked
'''O Our carriage
Dark figures showed themselves az the street
corners and approached US For Heavens sasls,
what people are those?
'1Olr friends
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
PLANS FOR THE RESCUE.

This is Mr. Schurz's story OF the effort TO get
Kinkel out OF the prison safely:
After journey OF several days my relays
were arranged and could hope that a drive Of
less than thirty hours would take US from Span
dau 20 RostoclC. There we might confde our
selves TO our good friends until a vessel should
be ready 20 take US across the sea- To carry
Us from spandau 20 the Arst relay KrGger ap-
r-.ed % Well-tO-do farmer Ga the neighbor-
New-York tribune., 1906-05-20

Dolly Madison Girls" from a Settlement house.
on the East Side. have secured a bit OF the farrr
on which to grow flowers When the harvesf
comes they will take these blossoms down into
the slums and brighten the rooms OF the SICK
with them. Under the guidance OF Miss Fair
field, diTeCtress. the girls have worked with q
Will