davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

this clever young Connecticut engineer
had plodded at his Bridgeport home.
sans friends, sans influence, sans
capital. Every effort that he had made
to win the recognition of the naval au-
thorities had resulted in failure. FL
naliy, weary of the constant aloofness
of his countrymen, he accepted q
rather fattering offer to settle in Ber-
lin. and at the German capital his
merits have attracted the attention of
the naval experts of all Europe.
The account of Simon Lakes strug-
gle to secure a hearing in America
reads like d romance. Under the cir
cumstances it is almost incredible that
such series of untoward events could
have happened. In 1893 the United
States navy department issued an in
vitation to naval architects and engi-
neers interested in the development of
submarine torpedo boats to submit
plans for such a vessel. Captain Lake,
then in his twenty second year. ac-
cepted the invitation and sent in de-
sign and the specifications for such a
craft.
But he was doomed to disappoint-
ment. His proposal lacked technical
form. and he was not prepared to
guarantee that he could furnish the
goods" AS a consequence his bid was
rejected. Although he did not know
it at the time. his design received much
verbal commentator from some of the
departments experts. Had he known
of this, it might have dulled the sting
Of disappointment, but he only knew
that the award had gone to the Holland
design, End later he found that a sub
marine was under construction by that
company at the Columbian works in
Baltimore. It was the original Plum
ger. the pioneer of q type of sub
marines TO which the government has
remained faithful until the present day
It was in a. boat Of this kind. the most
recent Plunger. that President Roose-
Welt was submerged for a brief period
one day last summer.
Lake did not become hopelessly dis
couraged at his failure to interest the
government in his design. He Went
Immediately to work and built a crude
submarine of modest dimensions. and
when it was completed gave public
/ demonstrations which proved the fun
damental soundness of his idea. This
boat was a sort Of homemade affair
made of pine planking tarred on the
/ outside But the performances Of the
-AfsenaHt. Jr for 50 Lake named hei
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21
BACKING A FISH TO WIN.

A favorite recreation in Siam IS
watching the fighting fish, q species OF
fish found in the waters of no other
country The fish cannot live in unity.
and if two are placed in bowl they
viii instantly engage in a struggle ito
the DEATH
It is no unusual thing to see in the
streets of Siam crowds of natives chat
tering and gesticulating round a bowl
containing a number Of these fish,
which they bet on in the same way as
more civilized people do on race horses.
Intense excitement reigns among the
natives as they watch the fish fighting
within the bowl.
These. peculiarly quarrelsome fish are
very similar to the common pike in APP
pearanee. with the exception that they
are not in the possession Of gilIs. Their
fins. too, are remarkably sharp. and
these they use with terrible effect upon
one another. Blood oozes from their
sides. and yet they persist in f~hting
until perhaps only two are left air..
and then the survivors turn on one an
other until only one IS left out of per-
haps a dozen placed in the tub
Although the fighting fish are ex-
ceptfonally good to eat. the majority Of
natives esteem them only for their
fighting propensities. which affords
them amusement and excitement every
day.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

were sufficiently convincing to bring
about the organization of a stock COM
pany for the building of a much more
ambitious craft
This second vessel, built of steel and
with a spindle shaped hull, was also
called the Argonaut. It was finished
and launched about the same time as
the original Plunger It made a far
better showing than that craft, but the
government was obtuse to its superb
GRITTY During the first year of its ex-
istence the Argonaut Travelled over
1000 miles under water and on the
surface and carried a crew of five per-
sons. But on congress Lake still failed
to make a lasting impression He was
encouraged, however, to observe that
he and his boat had put an end to
partisan legislation. and some of the
chiefs of the technical bureaus of the
navy department advised him quietly
te persevere-
He began the construction of the
Protector, which was launched at
Bridgeport in November, 1902 This
he sold to Russia, then in the Asiatic
struggle 1t went overland 10 Vladi-
vostok and was so long en- route that
it was too late for use The Russian
admiralty, however. was satisfied with
the Protector and ordered i've similar
boats built
one of these craft the Sig. made d
phenomenal run last October from
Cronstadt to Libau. Nothing to equal
it had ever been known in submarine
navigation, and the Lake vessel took a
tremendous boom. It became current
at once at all the European admiral
ties that the inventor was man of
genius In a short time Lakes head
quarters, then removed to the UniVer-
stat strasse, in Berlin, became the
Mecca for marine architects from all
the corners of the world
only the designing departments are
located permanently at the German
capital When a power orders boats,
Lake and a STAFF of engineers go to the
country into whose service they are
about to enter, and the construction is
completed there with all possible Sc
erecy Work on two additional sub
marines for Russia is now in progress
under Lakes direction on the Neva,
near st. Petersburg
Thus far the United States is far
behind most of the other powers in
this branch of the naval service. Eng
land and France have done most to-
ward the DEVELOPMENT Of the sub
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

rapidly. II IS almost 1mposs.s,s 10
blow out candle II a pressure Of fifty
pounds. N case Of a cross circuit cleo
trio wires flare UP in a moment
Because of the frequent deaths from
caisson disease and accident. especial
~ IN the Pennsy ivania's East river
tunnel from Thirty foarthz street. Man
haitian the New York authorities be-
gan proceedings on June to inquire
into the sanitary conditions OF the tun-
mel works and the causes conspiring to
produce such a large and unprecedent-
ed death record. Il was matter of
record that twenty-one deaths had been
reported from Jan 9 TO May % in that
tunnel alone from "the bends" and from
accidents, including burning. In nine
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

others succumb on their way home.
A policeman testified that at differ
ent times when on duty near the foot
of East Thirty fourth street he had
seen the bodies of men stealthily re-
moved in the early hours of the morn
ing from the tunnels to the morgue.
He also said he had frequently seen
men with the bends returned in
ambulances from the hospitals, pre-
sumably to die in the shaft
Employees of the contractors testi-
fed that all laborers must sign pa
per releasing the company from all pc
cuniary liability in case of death or
injury by accident. Foreigners who
are employed are ignorant of the fact
that such a release has been held by
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

% HE recent successful exploit of
Captain Simon Lake in navi-
eating d submarine built at
Newport News, Va, from that
point to Bridgeport, Conn. a distance
of about 400 miles, is evidence that
there is no let up in the DEVELOPMENT
of this species of naval fighting ma
chine. No other submarine in this
country had ever attempted a test of
this severity Heretofore all that have
Ventured out To sea have been accom-
panied by tow or at least one escort.
The Lake, as this newest submarine
wonder is called. seems to be a great
advance in modern naval science. She
gut TO sea with d crew of eight men,
and forty hours later made her ap-
pearance off Atlantic Highlands, n. J..
having reeled of 900 miles of sea
travel as unconcernedly as coast
liner. Thence she proceeded up the
east river to her destination. The fact
that She made this considerable dis
lance entirely without assistance from
any other craft and under her own
power is causing those who have never
lost faith in the submarine to expert
ence the deepest satisfaction and those
who have been doubtful to exchange
their misgivings for enthusiasm.
The Lake is equipped with two kinds
of motive power. When moving on the
surface she is propelled by powerful
gasoline engines The moment she be
comes submerged the motor is changed
TO electricity. She is eighty-five feet
la length and is reputed to be the
largest submarine ever built in Ameri-
ca She is provided with three tor
pedo tubes and has carrying. capacity
for five large torpedoes.
According to the log Of the skinner
the Lake encountered some rather tic
klish weather on the voyage up this
coast but the boat met it without
hinching- She proved herself to be The
stanchest kind of sailer. and her pro
polling machinery worked like a charm
Most of the difficulties which have
made the navigation of the submarine
q matter of a good deal of uncertaint,
seem to have been overcome by the
designer of the Lake, and it looks VERY
much as if the day had come wher
his form Of sea fighter is to be in tn,
ascendant
The triumph of the Lake has certain
given "a tremendous boost to til,
enutation OF it's designer. For wear,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

cases, however, the victims names
were not even known to the authorities.
In addition to the deaths reported by
the police and a few by the hospitals.
there was reason to believe that many
died at home.
At the end of the first days pro-
ceedings and after only three witnesses
had been examined the coroner ex-
pressed himself as Mortified at the
revelations that had been made. The
physician then employed by the con-
tractors who are building the Penn
sylvania tunnel attended the inquiry
partly in an advisory capacity to the
coroner. He was at first incredulous
when witnesses testified that the air
lock keepers had been discharged and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

the laborers were compelled . lock
themselves In
"In my estimation said the ply
stefan, the lock tender is the most inn
portant man in the tunnel The lives
of all the others depend on his intelli-
gence and expert knowledge
He declined to express an estimate
on the number of deaths in the eight
tunnels on both sides of the river. be-
cause so many men die at home. He
explained that Iaborers who get the
bends are usually green men. foreign
ers who cannot speak English and are
therefore unable to tell their physicians
where they have been working. Many
men also die from caisson disease, or
the bends in the tunnel shafts, and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21
Experience With Those Now Being Beneath
Yor Great Tidal Rivers Has Revealed Unforeseen

Normal air pressure : about fifteen
pounds to the square inch. In the
working chamber Of tunnel it is sup
posed to be thirty-five pounds. but
many of the workmen have declared
that at times the contractors are com
PEELED to force it up to from forty to
fifty pounds. With every additional
pound of air pressure to bear the
chances of a workman surviving many
days decrease.
The mere working under such high
air pressure is not the only danger
In case of accident or an attack Of the
bends" it takes twenty minutes 10 pass
to the outer world. If that amount Of
time is not spent in the air Jock while
the pressure is gradually reduced the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

dangers and sufferings come merely in
the daily grind
Although many lives have been lost
and many employees have been in
Iured in a long series of accidents in
the Hudson river tunnels the work
under the East river has proved to be
far more dangerous. That is because
of the treacherous nature of the river
bed Far down where the sand hogs
are working the material excavated is
principally silt. holding large quanti-
ties OF water. Occasionally the borers
strike rock, which must be blasted
away.
1t is in the work around that com
plicated mechanical device called
shield, which is forced forward by hy-
draulic jacks. that the sand hog
takes his life into his hands 1t is
there that he must use the shovel or
pick or must blast. while an air pres
sure that is supposed TO be not more
than thirty-fve pounds to the square
inch counterbalances the pressure of
the surrounding earth and the water
above. thereby keeping the tunnel from
eaving in. caisson workman re-
mains in the compressed air chamber
three hours. Then he comes out for a
three hour rest.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

results may BE- fatal The companies
digging the tunnels have physicians in
attendance, but they stay on the out
side Il takes a victim of the bends
twenty minutes to reach him. If he
rushes ont Immediately mis- sufferings
are increased many fold.
The pressure is dangerous in other
ways. II is i difficult matter to fight
fire in the compressed air chamber be-
cause the additional quantity Of oxygen
makes it burn tns mara hsrceiy and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

The English is a living language
and is bound to change both in spelling
and grammar. There was a time when
the split infinitive was more widely
accepted than it IS today and the dou-
bic or quadruple negative was III good
repute There was also a time when
spelling was so different from present
usage as to be nearly uninteiligible
now. which caused Artemus Ward
witty remark that Chaucer may have
been a great poet, bilt he could not
spell As long as q language is alive
change is its order. rs it is with any
living thing-change is life.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

through the completed part of the tun-
mel, lined with water and air tight steel
plates, until they come to the com
pressed air lock. They climb into that
and then compressed air is driven in
so that they may gradually become ac-
customed to it. They then go 10 the
forward compartment and relieve the
gang that is on duty. Workmen are
supposed to spend twenty minutes in
the air lock to become accustomed to
the change
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

the river tunnels of today during their
construction. They wildly recall Vic
tor Hugo's description of the huge
sewers Of Paris, through which Jean
Vatican passed to save the life of his
enemy and his own. But that hero
was working under circumstances such
as inspire all unusual and brave deeds.
In the case of the tunnel workers their
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

The strongest man cannot stand
more than six hours of the twenty
four under the high air pressure. His
wages are about $3.50 a day. The la
borers are of that class that would
earn much less at any occupation not
50 hazardous. Upon going to work
after donning oilskins and rubber
boots. they descend the shaft and walk
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

marine. The French government places
great reliance on these disappearing
craft. having forty built and thirty
under way. England has over fifty.
Some of these boats are of 500 tons
displacement, the largest ever built.
Great Britain is also practically COM
mitted to the Holland type.
JAMES SCHREIBER, JR. I
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

~-N i@-N41A1s3 VI ttNf77 az c~iH5
sacrificed 50 that millions OF
" persons may gain fifteen MN
utes Ia reachlhs OF leaNl'is
~ ~. anna 'ah Island NOT week passes
sli.I mere IS not at least one aeeluent
- me Iallroau ana tIoliey tuhIeis 'ilal
oeiils Dulll under the HUDSON ana
last rivers. When the WorAmen es
cdpe ueatn or INJURY IN an acclaeh. !.
my nave niue or no Tune 20 thlhh OF
men sooo fortune fhey must hasleh
70 repair the damage ana continue 70
woiA' me puohc wants no delay IN
'si5 cohlpietlon OF tnese WoluerAu vi
-, "a, ''Ss'uS 2''si5 Il tile woiilisll
- ii a. -
- :. s'i.. l-il17 ii''' IL
- q 777''S 'iie 81 'i'i'
auNallclhg iool by 1901 some Gays
men oy men, the sand hogs' as the
supaqueous tunnel workmen are call
Cd iace many hidden dangers Labor
ing IN an arr pressure OF thlrty-HVe
POUNDS or more 70 the square men
HiSl alone threatens lheh win the
1leau ealsson disease SHOWN as the
oehus' lney are also hkeiy at any
moment 10 experience a blowout or d
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21

The Gigantic Scheme of
SubaqueOus Excava-
ton Which Has Been
Going on For Several
Years Has Claimed Its
Army of Victims--An
Undertaking Practical
~ Without Precedent.
Engineer SOOysmith's
Freezing Process Being
Tested.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-05-11

We have always had q preference
for having the nests Of sitterS low
down, if possible, on the ground. In
some cases we have scattered barrels,
laid on their sides and slightly sunk
into the ground, all over the orchard,
which served as run for our laying
hens. The hens would select them for
nests, and when they became broody,
could be allowed to sit and hatch, and
take care of their brood for at least a
few weeks, right in the nest of their
own selection. In the Matching room,
too. we have regularly endeavored TO
have the nests near the ground, and
if possible on the natural earth floor;
or if in tiers, at least the lower one
on the ground. Eggs usually hatch
well on the natural earth floor. A
reader Of the Farmer, William Elwick,
of Hankinson, n. Oak, gives herewith
a plan of coop for sitting hens, that
may prove decidedly serviceable in
many cases. He makes these coops in
rows, 16 feet long, 10 nests in row,
and 16 inches square. The nests are
covered by a board Is inches wide by
10 feet long, and inclosed by slide
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-05-11
WHEN NEW YORK DID'T VOTE.
1t Couldn't Agree on a Candidate at tn
First Presidential Election.

Indiana cast three electoral votes for
President before its formal admission
into the Union, under circumstances de-
scribed i'll The New York Sun, and it is
the only state which has done such Il
thing.
New York. long recognized as the most
important state politically, took no part
most persons will be surprised to know
| in the first Presidential election. 1t was
the only state of the Union, as then con-
stituted, which did not.
Prior to the election of 1924 there was
no popular vote for President through
Presid entail electors. The Legislature
of each state selected a candidate for
President and the voting for President
included the vote for vice president as
well, the candidate receiving the second
highest vote for President being chosen
vice president.
The first choice of President was
made on March 4, 1879, in this city
The New York Legislature met in Jan,
uary, but its members could not agree
upoh a candidate though popular senti,
ment pointed to George Washington as
the first President of the republic.
The two branches of the Legislature
had Il deadlock, and as it couldn't be
broken before March New York was en-.
tirely unrepresented in the first Presi
Dental election. On April 80 President
Washington was inaugurated in this
city, and thus New York had some
share, at least. in the election of a Presi
dent in a contest in which it did not
cast q solitary electoral vote
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-05-11
A Trite Saying.

1t IS a trite saying that no man Is
stronger than his stomach. Dr. Pierce's
Golden Medical Discovery strengthens
the stomach-puts it in shape to make
pure, rich blood-helps the liver and
kidneys to eXpel the poisons from the
body and thus cures both liver and kid
ney troubles. If you take this natural
blood purifier and tonic, you will assist
your system in manufacturing each day
a pint of rich, red blood, that is invigo-
rating to the brain and nerves. The
weak, nervous, run down, deblitated
condition which so many people suffer
from, is usually the effect of poisons in
the blood; it is often indicated by pimples
or boils appearing on the skin, the face
becomes thin and the feelings "blue."
DIR. Pierce'S discovery" cures all blood
humors as well as being a tonic that
makes one vigorous, strong and forceful.
1t is the only medicine put up for sale
through druggists for like purposes that
contains neither alcohol nor harmful
hablt-fOrming drugs, and the only one,
every ingredient of which has the profess
sional endorsement of the leading medical
writers of this country. Some of these
endorsements are published in a little
book of extracts from standard medical
works and will be sent to any address
free, on receipt of request therefor by
letter or postal card addressed to DR.. r.
V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y. 1t tells just
what DR.. Plerce'S medicines are made OF.
The UWords of Praise" for the several
ingredients of which DR.. Pierce's medi
cines are composed, by leaders in all tho
several schools of medical practice, and
recommending them for the cure of the
diseases for which the Golden Medical
Discovery" is advised, should have far
more weight with the sick and afflicted
than any amount of the sO-called "teSti
monials" so conspicuously Haunted before
the public by those who are afraid to let
the ingredients of which their medicines
are composed be known. Bear in mind
that the "GOlden Medical Discovery" has
THE BADGE OF HONESTY on every bottle
wrapper, in full list Of it's ingredients.
Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets cure con-
stipation, invigorate the liver and regu-
late stomach and bowels.
DR.. Pierce's great thousand-page illus
trated Common Sense Medical Adviser
will be sent free, paper-bound, for 81 one
cent stamps or cloth-bounG for 81 stamps
Address DR.. Pierce as above.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-05-11
The Success Tomato,

One of the most promising of the sew
eral new varieties of tomatoes afforded
to planters this spring is Success. 1t
has its chief merits in it's brilliant red
color and its splendid shipping quail
ties. 1t ripens evenly and almost to the
very stem, the skin is smooth and, as
yet it has shown no tendency to crack.
1t is very firm and yet the flesh is not
hard, but yielding and juicy. In habit
of growth 1t is exceedingly promicing,
the vines being vigorous and compact
and the fruit setting abundantly in
clusters. Taken altogether it is sort
that will make mark for itself I'M
less it should develop, under field cul-
ture, some traits not now seen in the
testing grounds.
1t ought to be variety of great val
ue for shippers and those who grow
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-05-11
How Bees Embalm.

Bees can embalm as well as any under
taker All intruders on their hives are
slain and embalmed carefully.
If a worm, or a roach, or any insect
plumbers into hive, the bees fall upon
him and slay him with their stings. TC
get the corpse out would be a difficulty
therefore, embalming it, they let it re-
main.
The embalming process of the bees is
simple. 1t consists in covering the
corpse with q hermetic coat of pure wax.
Within the alright envelope the body re-
mains fresh. 1t cannot ~ any way con
taminate the hive.
When a snail blunders in among the
bees they cannot kill him on account of
the protection of his shell. So they EN-
balm him alive. They cover him, shell
and all, with snowy wax. He is d pris-
oner whom only death releases.-Mnne-
apolis Journal.