davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-07-14
Was First American BattleShip, and Redeem
ed Herself Through Gallant Performance
at Santiago Under Captain Philip

the reputation Of being the 'hoodoo"
ship OF the American Navy. owing to
the number of seemingly unaccOuntable
accidents that overlook her from time
70 time. and this name stuck 90 her till
the Spanish-American war. when, under
the new command OF Capt. Jack %
Philip, she redeemed herself and did
fully her amount Of valiant service at
Guantanamo and Santiago.
Regard Her Kindly.
Since Jack" Philip brought her
through safely. made her show her
speed, the strength and reliability OF her
guns. and her ability 10 keep her feet. "
the old vessel has been looked upon
kindly and tenderly by the older naval
officials, more particularly since the
hero that commanded her I'm the only
real action she ever experienced, passed
away two years, almost 20 day,
after her work before Santiago, after
having been raised to the rank OF rear
admiral.
IN the early days she was the butt
Of every joke ridiculing the navy. both
at home and abroad. till the Texas be-
came known the world over as a
clumsy, imitation battleship. that would
sink herself the moment she saw an
enemy's gun pointed toward her,
It was near the close OF Cleveland s
Administration that construction OF the
The Washington times., 1906-07-14

ship was begun. The work was done
at the Government yard at Norfolk. and
under the supervision Of Naval Con-
structor BoWles. now al the head Of a
big shipbuilding company in Massachu-
sets
After nearly four years work. tie
ship was finally completed and launch
ed at the Norfolk navy yard IN the
spring Of 1892. IT was "A great official
and social eyeuJ-the launching OF
Americas first great battleship-so the
cream of Washington official circles
and society was present. Even foreign
diplomats were invited.
IN describing launching, IL is usually
said that the gallant ship glided
gracefully down the ways into the
waves" but I'm describing the launch
ing OF the Texas writer might have
disposed Of IL briefly by saying that
the cumbersome Warship slid awk-
wardly down into the water and turn
ed turtle
Born Unlucky.
That was the beginning of the bad
luck OF the Texas-the ship was born
unIucky, everyone said The frst time
the T,~as was ever taken into New
York larbor for the people OF the
metropolis 10 view the nations battle
slip. she ran her nose into the mud,
and IL vas several days before she
could be pulled out.
When the vessel was sent out 70
sea. she would roll and tumble in a
storm like a frail craft. - was even
said that IL there was a rock IN the
bottom Of the sea she was sure 20
scrape Il; she seldom entered haTbor
that she did not get stuck or bump into
gs
enough to declare that she could run as
swiftly backward or broadside as Tor
ward.
Then il was declared that her guns
The Washington times., 1906-07-14
NEW PHONE SYSTEM
PUT IN OPERATION
Quick Communication Now Between the
Several Government
Departments.

The recommendation of the sub
committee Of the Keep Commission
relative TO the establishment Of the in
ter-department telephone system went
into effect on the first Of July. when
the system was installed in all OF the
departments.
When the lines are not direct from one
department to another, as they are with
the White House. which has ue-line
vet with the special switchboard in the
Telephone Exchange, one department
can connect with another almost imme-
diately, so that in point of time hardly
a second is lost.
The new system works to perfection.
The departments and their branches are
as heretofore. the department. swtth-
hoard going direct to all branches.
The Washington times., 1906-07-14
MAIL DELAYED
CAUSES SUICIDE
Anxious Wife Took Poison,
Then Three Letters
Come.

JACKSON. Mich. July l4.-Because
three letters from her husband. William
Hyzer. OF Pittsburg. did not reach her
when they should. Flora Bycrsft Hyzer
committed suicide. The drst mail de-
livered after the girl wife's death
brought the three letters from the hus-
band. marked with a rubber stamp. De
layed" and ''Missent."
Hyzer and Miss Bycraft were secret
ly married six months ago in Yypsi-
lantI, in spite Of opposition Of the girls
father. Shortly after Hvzer returned 10
his parents home in Fittsburg. When
his letters stopped his g!ri bride feared
he had repented and deserted her. She
waited two weeks and then swallowed
stryChnlne
The Washington times., 1906-07-14

With her days OF usefulness in the
work for which she was designed
passed, tho Texas, the first battleship
and hoodoO OF the American navy. will
spend the remainder Of her time quietly
IN harbors as a reserve ship. Old. time
worn. totally out-of-date in plan and
manner OF construction. 1t has been de-
Cided by the Navy Department officials
that the warship named in honor OF the
Lone Star State will never again take
her place IN line with other battleships
or with any warships IN fleet or
squadron formation unless she should
be pressed into use by the advent Of
war. and this is not probable.
Can't Make Her a Fighter.
A few weeks ago tho Texas was
docked in the Norfolk navy yard for
repairs. when an examination con-
vinced the officials that II would be use
less 10 overhaul the ship. Consequently
IL was decided to hold her IN reserve,
and now Secretary Bonaparte has prac-
ticauy concluded that she shall be sent
10 the new navy yard at Charleston. S.
c.. TO serve indefinitely as receiving
and training ship.
The six 6-inch guns Of the Texas
have been removed at tho Norfolk yard,
but il is likely that the two S-inch
turret guns will remain on the ship for
some time yet.
In her earlier days the Texas acquired
The Washington times., 1906-07-14

was in a position to deal IN large guam
titles. The plant at Twentieth and
Campbell streets at first had a capacity
of I25 tons per days. but has just been
enlarged to a capacity OF $50 tons IN
this enterprise he invested S2O,Oo, JUST
900 times as much as he had loaned 10
his friend four years before.
He worked early and late. spending
eighteen hours day Tor weeks ana
months building up his business, making
himself thoroughly familiar with all its
details. and organized the Central Ice
C,omDany, in which he owns all the
stock.
From $500 he has built Up plant
larger than any ice-making plant in the
United States outside OF New York and
Brooklyn. The combined output OF the
three other largest factories here just
about EQUALS that OF his.
The Washington times., 1906-07-14
KISSED COMPANION,
HELD FOR ASSAULT

NEW YORK. July 14.-Does kissing
constitute assault and battery? That is
a question the New Jersey courts are
called upon to decide. Mrs. William c.
MACDONALD, Of Tenaf1y, holds the
affirmative, William Perry of the same
place. the NJ Eatiye.
According TO Mrs. Macdonald. she
and and Perry returned from New York
on the same train, and. knowing each
other they chatted. While he was ac-
companying her home, she says. he SUD-
denly embraced and kissed her. She
caused his arrest, and he has been held
for trial.
The Washington times., 1906-07-14

were defective. They wouldn't carry
straight the ships enemies declared
and II was a demonstrated fact thai
every time one OF the e-Inch guns
was fred the ship would ste gger around
IN the water and II would be FOUND
that the firing had loOseUc1 screws ana
done other damage,
Her War Service.
Captain Philip was placed in COM
mand OF the Texas in the fall Of ~.
and il was said ut the time that he
wondered what grudge the Navy De
partment had against him When war
was on the Texas. under the capable
command OF Philip. did her share Of
blockading duty. both at Havana and
Santiago. She silenced the guns or
Guantanamo forts, in a most remark
able manner When Philip was ordered
10 hiy task he feared ne would never
be able TO bring the cumbersome craft
safely out Of the harhor channel But
he did and every Cue maryeled and con-
graduated him. In the battle OF San
tiazo, the Texas was right In the fore.
and her activity and reliable re-
spOnEe was clearly demonstrated when
her captain suddenly saw, through the
smoke. that Admiral Schley's ship, the
Brooklyn. was bearing down upon her
iu the famous loop made by the BroOk-
lyn Both engines were quickly re-
versed. and the big ship managed 20 get
herself out OF the way Of the swift.
sharp cruiser Captain Philip in his
story OF the battle. said the Texas was
not built for Tamming. and her ability
TO get out of the way quickly no doubt
saved one or both OF the vessels
But now the Texas IS old and obsolete
She can sfl, but not fast. she can
shoot. but not often. For number OF
years she has been kept close 10 shore,
as the flagship OF the coast squadron,
under command Of Rear Admiral
Francis ". Dickins Her last com
mander was Capt. George a. Bickneu.
The Washington times., 1906-07-14

He-BuI YOU don't know how I love
YOU. I would like 10 die kissing you.
She-Wel, II YOU call this evening
when papa is at home, he MAJ be will
ing 10 oblige yOu.-Floh.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-25

teurs.
The, brilliant little stage, with its well-cos
tuned conJurers and the exceeding ingenuity
Of the chief magician, formed topic Of which
the whole town talked for days after.
As for Short Tom, he felt amply repaid by
two, weli-heaped dishes of ice cream and as
much cake as he could eat. Edgar contriyed
that he had a sicl5ly father who worked when
he could, and an invalid sister. His mother
was dead.
The little beggar was wonderfully handy
handkerchief well filled with goodies for the
as l told him, but he suggested one or two
things that led to quite brilliant results.
wonder el1dt where he got his knowledge"
Whatever his knowledge is, his means
must be very limited" said Edgar.
,'WeelIs | should say So" the other respond
ed. The Jacket out at elbows, the trousers
baggy, at the knees and the patched shoes
tell the story. I wish / dared give him one
Of, my old suits. Do you know where the
fellow lives?"
around the corner in that little onestory
house that stands so far back from the yard.
Ills father her sets glass and does odd, jobs when
a penny, too. Did you notice the smile when
you gave him the cake to carry to his sister ?''
Yes, l. did, and it redeemed his. ugliness.
On second thought, | don't know that he is
Lediiy ugly: ne looks gloomy ana dlSsatlS-
flee, and then that hump!"
Perhaps you would look gloomy and dis
satistied-and feel so, too-if you had sick
father and sister and nothing to look forward
to but poverty" said Edgar.
I'm afraid / should" answered the other,
with comical grimace. Suppose we get
better acquainted with him. What do You You
say to coming around tomorrow and taking
some roses from the greenhouse to that sick
sister Of his"
:, ''Nothing 1 should like to do BETTER" said
Edgar.
The next day Edgar, with bunch of roses,
the tairest and most costly of their kind,
knocked at the door of the little one-story
edihce in the street. "around the corner" +"
At first no one answered, but on the repeti-
tion, of the knock. childish voice cried
Come in!"
81 brought some roses, thinking perhaps |
should see your brother-but these are for
you," the boy said, going towards the bed
on whose clean white spread lay the thin form
OF little girl, with wonderful eyes, that
looked out from a face already lined with
long years of pain and suffering
ooh, how lovely-how lovelyl are those all
for me?" and the child held them close to her
bosom, looking at them, her yes fairly shin
ing with delight Won't you sit DOWN. she
rPm sorry Tom isn't here. He took his cart
to find sticks in the woods hereabouts Tom
is SO goodi He always makes me comfortable
before he goes out; he has been so good to
me since mother died."
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-25

den of sweets, the happy faces, the merry
laughter, all combined to make the occasion
joyous one; but Edgar hurried past the
merry group and went out into the circle be-
yond, where he looked this way and that
to ind the lounging, hunchback figure OF
At last he espied him in the shadow of an
oak tree, whittier he had gone to avoid OBJ
servation.
Don't you want to go inside?" he asked,
as he came up to the boy. ~
Il! No" said the latter taken by sur
prise; ;, How can 1 go inside? I've got no
"You wont need ticket if you come with
me-, said Edgar. "We want to get off some
slelght-of-han tricks, and one of our assist
ants has failed Us at the last hour. We want
you, to help us"
The boys face frightened at once. Edgar
could see that, even in the shadow.
Who wants me?" said Short Tom, Civ
ing rapid glance at his dingy clothes, and
putting his hand up to where his collar should
have been.
Jack Elliott, Doctor Ellott's son."
"But-l-Pm not fit" said the boy, evil
IDENTIFY struggling between desire to 90 and
a @ consciousness of his mean appearance.
oh, yes, you're fit enough. You won't be
help you out. Come on. II will be a great
disappointment to Jack if he doesn't do those
tricks, and he can't possibly without more
help"
''Why don't you get some of the fellows in
there?" asked the hunchback but he had
risen from, his, seat on the curb. There's
plenty of EN-"
Because they have paid their money to
then they don't know anything about such
matters, and you do" venturing upon what
he had heard OF the lads talent aYou'n come
nov, that's good fellow"
Yes, I'll come, if you'll take me round
by the back way. If I'd known about it
sooner, though, l might have tidied myself
"Oh, that's no matter The boy we had
always wore a cap and apron. You can have
them, and all you have TO do is to obey orders
Ias l do" he added, seeing scowl on the
boys dark face. "Jack is master of cere-
monies here. | only help"
'.All right" muttered Tom.
And by this time they were at the back of
the stage.
$50 you didn't get the"-beggar, Jack was
about, to say, but was silenced by an express
sive look from Edgar, and continued, with
greater Volubility, "Oh, he came, did he?
That's good-we're saved Have YOU ever
seen anything Of this kind" he asked Of
the boy who stood before him ON the rude
board floor.
81 have practiced some simple tricks N.Y.
SELF" replied the hunehback, quietly; "but /
was told must obey orders Pm used to
that" he added, with curious emphasis.
Every trick was success and the an
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-25

1 hope he has plenty Of books, and things
Edgar, quite, at a loss what else to say.
On, no; he has read our old books over
most know them by heart. If he skips any.
thing, L find it out and then he laughs. No,
Ion Iom doesn't have money to buy things with.
When he does get it, it all goes for food and
while new dress for me, Tom does ali the
work, too. Doesn't he keep it nice here?"
Very" said Edgar, absently, wondering
what there was in the scantily furnished room
to keep nice.
"And Tom makes things almost out of
nothing-oh, you ought to see the things he
makes! He has been thinking up telephones
something to talk through, he tells me,
though l can't quite understand. But we're
SO poor, you know, he can't get the money
man, then perhaps he'll have chance. He
ought to have-he's so good!"
Edgar carried the picture with .him-the
scantily furnished room, the pale, old young
of Tom making things with his meagre op-
portunities-to Jack.
IF that's what he does" said Jack, 'T
can can help hin him I've got closets full Of stuff
buys me everything that comes out, you know,
hoping that l shall develop taste for me.
chanics but I've no bent that way Look
here, Ed, I've tive, tool-boxes, and can't use
Oucj anu ali InO5e elecJrlcdl Things, bat
teriess, and magnets. wonder if he would
like them%
Like them!' exclaimed Edgar. '"I should
like to see him refuse They would lust
make him the happiest fellow in the world!"
Let's turn them out" said Jack
And the two boys went to work. What
there was not in the way of toys it would be
hard to tell. Among the rubbish, as Jack
called it, was a miniature typewriter, two
batteries, a whole outfit of type, two or
three musical instruments telephone, with
instructions how to set it up; a camera, that
Jack had tired of. with all its appendages
boxes of paint, with instruction books; vol
umes of holiday books, a toy steam engine.
yacht that could be worked by steam, and
numberless things that had seen their day'
but were still useful
"Whew" whistled Edgar. "What would
shortt, Tom say if he saw all these treas treas
ures?"
Rubbish, you mean," said Jack, laughing.
Treasures to him, poor fellow, TO whom a
nickel looks larger than dollar would to us.
l say, don't you really want them, Jack?"
NO." said Jack. "Glad to get them ont
of the way, Take your pick, il there's any-
hunchback
II won't take thing" said Edgar, 'thouah
the typewriter and steam yacht look tempt.
ing; but il you are going to give them away,
let Tom have them all
CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-25
copyrIght by James Elyerson.

~HE boys, Jack Elliott and Edgar
Hughes, had done their best for
the evenings entertainment.
HNISEsND DIR. Elhott's lawn was transform
- ed into a veritable fairy garden.
:, Rows of Chinese lanterns illuminsd
tne great tree trunks outside along the road
and the grass and the flower patches in the
mere and there, and an ample red curtain
1ld stage, from within whose recesses Won
dertui things were expected.
Jack Elliott, now sixteen, was called ''The
Magician" by his schoolmates for his skill in
feats of legerdemain. Tonight he was to
give an exhibit of his more mature powers
for the benefit of sundry sufferers by fire
and flood.
His assistant Edgar Hughes, lad of about
his own age, was helping him arrange things
at the back of the stage, when little boy
called Edgar's attention from his work and
handed him a note, which read as follows:
Il am sorry that Will is too sick to come
out tonight. l have waited till the last mo-
ment, hoping he would be better. He is very
much disappointed"
Edgar handed the note to Jack, who read
it and threw it down with a gesture of i'm
patience.
always sure to happen So" he said
when fellow wants things to go particu-
larly smooth. Now we've got to give up some
" ouh DSo0 ulShSS anu ~ dlluOsC lluue 10 Ue-
gin'
Cant you think of some one who will fill
his placer asked Edgar, who seemed cutie
as much disappointed as his friend
No one who knows enough to obey orders
and keep out of sight No, the whole thing
is ruined!"
II think ! can get you substitute" said
Edgar, i!g{n, his face Frightening.
'The boy they call Short Tom. l saw him
standing out there by the gate"
That beggarF said Jack, with sneer.
There spoke the arrogance of BIRTH"
laughed Edgar. "That beggar, as you call
him, is remarkably bright fellow He can
do some pretty good. things himself. Besides,
he has the merit of modesty, and will keep
will come!"
"Come He'll be only too glad" said Jack,
his lip curling Such as he. don't get into
good society very often. Tell him I'll pay
But Edgar had gone. He had reasons of his
own for wanting to help the boy for whom
his kind heart felt great pity.
That evening he had caught sight of the
pathetic face Of Short Tom, shadowed by an
expression that bafAed analysis, and which had
haunted him ever since
1t was very bright on the lawn, the gay
dresses OF the women and the children, the
ladies. now fairly groaning under their bur
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

panied Lord Crawford rs naturaiists
during his usual wints cruise. Both
are well known natura1ises, and one is
a member Of the Council OF the Zoolog-
ical Society. The story they unfolded
to breathlessly excited assembly OF
the fellows Is briefly this: When OF
Para on December Z, 1906, at 10 a. m.
they we're standing on the deck OF the
yacht when their attention was s-caught
four feet long and two feet high wav-
ing from side to side in the water.
No sooner had they turned their
glasses on this strange object than
there appeared n huge eel-liks neck.
some six feet long and an thick as a
mans thigh. and this neck was sur
mounted BY a great turt1e-like head
with large eyes. now borne high above
the sea, which was quite calm. It wal
dark colored above and silvery white
below. After few moments the head
and neck were slowly lowered. and
when level with the water were vi0-
lently lashed from side to side. churn-
ing up the sea into a great sheet OF
foam, and then II vanished.
This Is noteworthy. because when Mr..
Nicoli came on deck after breakfast
one Of the officers came up and re-
ported that during the night he saw q
strange commotion IN the water. At
hrst he thought II was a rock "awash."
but more careful examination showed
that IL was beast OF some kind,
travelling faster than the ship. which
was then making only about eight and
q half knots. The officer hailed the
deck" and the lookout man. and thus
got witnesses to this weird phenome-
non.
Seriously. we can no longer regard
the sea serpent" a. . myth. There
can be no question that the ocean har-
oors some secret which we. have not
yet penetrated. II seems unlikely that
this. evasive creature should be a de-
scendant OF the old Plesiosaurs which
became extinct millions OF years ago,
though the resemblance to those mon
sters Is striking More probably II will
prove to be some bizarre form Of reDx
tile But the resemblance between N y
descriptions given by these gentlemsn
and that given by the officers OF the
Daedalus agrees too closely to the
passed by, and. Furthermore. both agree
with the description OF a similar crea-
ture seen of Tonquin some four years
since 1t Is possible that il may even
prove to be serpent" For IL Is we'll
known that the land snakes once pos
sessed limbs. and some gigantic forms
of sea snake may well have preserved
their limbs. though now transformed
into paddles, like those OK the turtle
and whale.
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

- ~ERILY, the perversity Of
mankind passeth all under
|. W standingi And II there be any
" who would challenge the JUS
tice Of this aphorism let him
reflect for moment on the fact that
we talk of the phoenix as IL II were
real and Of the sea serpent as though
Il were q purely mythical beastl But
the sea serpent Is probably himself TO
blame for this, inasmuch as he Is indis-
Greet enough to show himself from
time to time to those who go down to
distinguished mortals, everybody VINO
has occasion to cross the ocean burns
for an opportunity to boast an ao-
quaintance with this dtstin gu1sneo
dweller In the deeps.
A vast amount has been written
about the sea serpent, but of all the
stories that have been told 1t Is sad
to reflect that those of the clergymen
"surpasB IN wildness or elaboration
even the yarns invented with intent to
deceive" At least, so says Frank Bull
len--and he ought to know
One or two OF the more serious ac-
counts are worth repeating. No longer
ago than 1891 one Peter Nelson, a
Quartermaster, and therefore 'an hon
orabIe man." saw from the deck OF the
Rotomahana a beast with the head OF
an eel and Ans ten feet long rise thirty
feet out of the water. 1t was dark
above and white below He gave long
account Of this strange beast, yet, so
far, those whom he intended to con-
vert only reply that II was very like
a whale"--in short, that he saw moth
ing more than a whale preaching"
Captain McQuhae OF H M. s. Daeda-
lus and his officers in 1S48 created q
great sensation in England by q sea
serpent story which at the time was
discredited by the late Professor Sir
Richard Owen. But time brings It's re-
venges, for II may turn out that the
professor was wrong. Briefly they re-
ported having seen an enormous SER
pent with head and shoulders some
four feet out of the water and some
sixty feet OF its body on the surface.
1t passed rapidly so close to the ship
that a mans features at the same dis
tance could easily have been -iistin-
guished. 1t had no fms. but something
like seaweed washed about It's back
Now within the last few days the
honor of the captain and his officers
or rather, their credit as observers, has
been singularly vindicated, for at the
last meeting of the geological Society
of London E. B. Meade Waldo and M. ].
Nicoll described a creature seen by them
from the deck of the Earl of Crawford's S
yacht, the Vaihalla, which bears a re-
markable resemblance to that seen from
the Daedalus. These two men accom-
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

" ERrLY, the perversity Of
y mankind passeth all under
standing! And II there be any
who would challenge the JUS